Reviewer: Holly Spellbinder by Thea Harrison
Series: Moonshadow #2, Elder Races
Also in this series: Spellbinder, Lionheart (Moonshadow, #3), Lionheart (Moonshadow, #3), Spellbinder, Dragon Bound (Elder Races, #1), Storm's Heart (Elder Races, #2), Serpent's Kiss (Elder Races, #3), Oracle's Moon (Elder Races, #4), Oracle's Moon (Elder Races, #4), True Colors (Elder Races, #3.5), Lord's Fall (Elder Races, #5), Kinked, Lord's Fall, Kinked (Elder Races, #6), Pia Saves the Day & Peanut Goes to School, Dragos Takes a Holiday, Night's Honor, Night's Honor, Dragon Bound, Midnight's Kiss, Midnight's Kiss, Dragos Goes to Washington, Shadow's End, Pia Does Hollywood, Liam Takes Manhattan, Pia Does Hollywood, The Chosen: A Novella of the Elder Races, Planet Dragos (Elder Races, #9.8), Planet Dragos (Elder Races, #9.8)
Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: July 18th 2017
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
Point-of-View: Alternating Third
Cliffhanger: View Spoiler »
Content Warning: View Spoiler »
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 512
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From author Thea Harrison comes the latest story in the New York Times bestselling Moonshadow trilogy....
Kidnapped while on tour, musician Sidonie Martel is transported to the mystical land of Avalon. A human without magical ability, she is completely vulnerable to the deadly forces surrounding her.
When she defies her captors and refuses to share her music, an act of violent cruelty leaves her broken, her ability to play silenced, maybe forever. Her only hope is a whisper in the dark, gentle hands that offer healing, and a man who refuses to show her his face yet who offers advice she dare not ignore.One of the most feared and powerful sorcerers in history, Morgan le Fae serves a Queen he despises, Isabeau of the Light Court. Once a famous bard and an advisor to kings, Morgan has been enslaved to Isabeau for hundreds of years, acting as enforcer and the commander of her deadly Hounds.
Sidonie's music touches Morgan in places he had abandoned centuries ago, and her fiery spirit resurrects feelings he had believed long dead. For Sidonie, trapped in captivity, passion offers a comfort she cannot resist.
But Isabeau holds Morgan bound in magical chains that only Death can break. And in the court of a cruel, jealous Queen, the only thing that burns hotter than love is revenge...
Spellbinder is the second book in Thea Harrison‘s Moondshadow series, an Elder Races spinoff. To date, Dragon Bound remains one of my all time favorite books. The rest of the series is really good, too. I was excited when Harrison announced a spin-off. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about Morgan after his actions in previous books, but he definitely won me over.
Morgan le Fae has been the captain of the Light Fae court’s hounds for centuries. He’s done despicable things on Isabeau’s (the Light Fae queen) orders. What no one knows is Morgan is under a geas and can’t refuse a direct order from her. He’s finally given a reprieve when he’s injured and Isabeau says she doesn’t want to see him until he heals, which allows him to technically avoid seeing her – and hearing any orders – until he’s completely healed. While he hides from her, he searches for a way to break the geas.
Sidonie Martel is a woman who has been blessed. She’s a very talented musician, which as gained her fame and fortune. She’s well loved and has faced very little strife in her life. So when she’s captured and given to Isabeau as tribute she doesn’t react well. And when she’s tortured for having an attitude about her situation, it nearly breaks her. Until a voice comes to her in the dark, promising to heal her and making sure she isn’t all alone. Through the darkest time in her life, Morgan is there. Together they bring light into the darkness as they find a way to break Sidonie free from captivity, and Morgan from the geas.
This was a pretty gritty book. The subject matter is dark and deals with torture and kidnapping. I really wanted to hate Morgan, but I never could. He was honorable in his own way, and suffered tremendously for his years under Isabeau’s thumb. I loved how he was Sidonie’s light in the darkness, and I really loved how their relationship progressed. It could have had the flavor of Stockholm Syndrome, but it never crossed that line for me.
I really enjoyed both Morgan and Sidonie. I even cried. I honestly can’t recommend this book enough.
This novel sparked a desire for Arthurian romances, so if you have any good recommendations, let me know.
Rating: 4.75 out of 5
Moonshadow
I enjoyed reading this when it was newly released; I’ll admit though that I don’t care as much for this spinoff series as I do for some of the earlier books.
I loved this whole series, although I think the first book, Moonshadow, was my favorite.
It’s completely different in tone, a bit snarky, a bit twisted fairytale retelling but I’d recommend The Kingpin of Camelot by Cassandra Gannon. I heard of it from Ilona Andrews. I enjoyed it but it’s definitely not true to the Arthurian legend.
I loved that Cassandra Gannon world. The Kingpin of Camelot was one of my favorite reads of 2018.