Storm's Heart: Elder Races series: Book 2 [Kindle Edition]

The Dark Fae King, Urien Lorelle, is finally dead. Urien's segregationist rule had isolated the Dark Fae society from the rest of the world. Unlike their kin, called the Light Fae, the Dark Fae was known for subterfuge and silent political allegiances. Long ago Urien had taken the Dark Fae throne in a bloody coup. He had slaughtered his brother, King Rhian, and the entire royal family to get it - or so he thought. There had been one body unaccounted for.

Niniane Lorelle had been seventeen-years-old when her uncle had butchered her family. She had run straight to Dragos, Lord of the Wyr, for sanctuary and had been part of the Wyrkind inner circle for almost two hundred years. She was known as Thistle "Tricks" Periwinkle, Public Relations spokesperson for Cuelebre Enterprises in New York. But with the death of King Urien, it was time for Tricks to reveal herself as Niniane, rightful heir to the throne.

Niniane met with a small delegation for only a short time, one of whom was her cousin, before she was stabbed. For the second time in her life, Niniane had been betrayed by her own blood kin. Someone caught the assassination attempt on video and uploaded it to the web. This was how Dragos found out about the attack. Tricks was in hiding, if not dead somewhere. Dragos sent his best man to locate Tricks and to keep her alive until after her coronation.

Tiago Black Eagle is one of only three known thunderbirds in existence. When not in his human form, Tiago is a gigantic bird of prey with a thirty-foot wingspan. He has been the head of Dragos's private army for several hundred years now. The other Wyr sentinels call him "Dr. Death" behind his back for good reason. He is a killing machine quick to anger and fueled by immense Power. He has an intimate understanding of vengeance, hunting, and killing. When he loses his temper, thunder rolls and lightning strikes. For Tiago, tracking Tricks is easy. Tending her wounds and keeping the spitfire alive is not. She is a fragile faery yet, unlike any other sane creature in the world, she did not hesitate to needle a pissed-off thunderbird. She may not be a warrior, but she is nicknamed "Tricks" for a reason. Dragos's sentinels, who are mostly gryphons, had taught her to fight dirty, and the little faery has managed to get under his skin somehow. When a second assassination attempt occurs, Tiago is prepared to shoot and ask question later. Niniane refuses to return to New York and Tiago refuses to leave her side.

Niniane is in pain, has no idea of whom she can trust, and the warlord sentinel is tap dancing on her last nerve. The man is always angry, irritable, rude, protective and sarcastic, comforting in danger and calm under fire and unrepentantly, aggressively antisocial. His is an unconquerable spirit and his bedside manner is sociopathic. But he is also the only one she can totally trust to guard her back. With Urien dead, Niniane can finally help her people return to a better way of life. She would be firm but fair, as her father had been. During this time of transition, Niniane needs all the help she can get; however, she cannot ask for too much more from the Wyrkind. Niniane must be careful not to alienate any powerful government officials and much-needed Dark Fae allies. No other Elder demesne will tolerate it should they believe the Wyr to be getting too much favoritism. Power among the United States Elder Races is carefully balanced and needs to remain so for the sake of peace. So when she finally becomes the Dark Fae Queen, the thunderbird must return to New York. Taking her broken heart with him.

**** FOUR STARS! Though this is a stand-alone story, I strongly urge you to read the first title of this series (Dragon Bound) before beginning this one. In the first story, readers not only get to enjoy watching Tricks and Tiago clash, but they also get some foreshadowing for this current story. It will help you understand Tricks and Tiago just a bit better. However, you do not HAVE to. The author has done a terrific job of introducing the pair. In this story, the backgrounds of Tricks and Tiago become fully developed. They are opposites. Yin and yang. In short, exactly what each needs to make them whole.

Thea Harrison keeps events moving alone at a good pace. Danger, suspense, and political intrigue are everywhere. But best of all are the clashes between the hero and the heroine, both in and out of the bedroom. Delicious! ****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

This is the second book in The Elder Races series by Thea Harrison. It was a very good follow up to the first book (which I absolutely loved) but was a little lacking on the action side for me, so it doesn't quite get the full five star treatment as that one did.

Whereas in book one we had kidnappings, incarceration, prison breaks, shock twists and surprises and all sorts of yummy things to keep us entertained, this one was more based around the political machinations of the Dark Fey as they accept (or not, as the case may be) Tricks, aka Niniane Lorelle, back into her rightful place as Queen of the Dark Fey.

We learned a little about Niniane in book one: that her family, the previous Dark Fey royals, had been brutally murdered by Urian, the baddie from the last book. Since Dragos more than took care of him in that story, this opened the way for Niniane to finally return to her home after hiding out with the wyr for nearly 200 years. Niniane wasn't entirely thrilled at the prospect of returning, afterall, all that she would find there was bad memories and constant reminders of all that she'd lost. But she also felt a sense of duty and obligation, so off she went. I liked what little I'd seen of Tricks in book one. One of my favourite scenes, actually, was her and Pia drunkenly making the tablecloth of shame. So funny. I found her initially to be just as amusing in this book, but as the story progressed, it was almost like her light-hearted side got knocked out of her bit by bit by having to deal with all the conspiracies, murder attempts and betrayals, which was a bit of a shame.

Tiago, the ancient, tattooed Thunderbird, was the one who volunteered to go and be her bodyguard. The wyr protect what's theirs and no matter where Tricks resides from now on, she will always be one of theirs. Tiago though, suddenly finds himself thinking more along the lines of "mine" instead of "ours", and it's fun watching the big guy fall and fall hard. I really enjoyed Tiago's character. He was a bit of a contradiction, though; one minute he was the sweet, caring bodyguard stroke mother hen. The next he was a dirty-talking stud muffin. Some of the things that came out of that boy's mouth! I ought to wash it out with soap and water! Tsk, tsk *grin*

All of their scenes together were enjoyable, both the sweet moments and the smexy ones, and they made a great couple. We were also introduced to the female for the next book in this one too. I'll be honest, I didn't care for her, so I will start the next book with a little apprehension. I have faith in Thea Harrison's writing by his point, though, and I'm sure she'll have changed my mind about her by the time I finish her and Rune's book.

There were a few things that slightly jarred on me with this book, one of which was the rapidity with which Tiago 'fell in lust' with Tricks/Niniane. If you have read the first in the series (Dragon Bound), then the exchange between them in that book kind of sets up the attraction, but if you haven't, then it seems a tad sudden. Having said this, the rest of the book was excellent, again with a central mystery/action plot that keeps you wondering - in this case, it's who is behind the attempts on Niniane's life. It is signposted slightly obviously so you do expect it when the final attempt pops up, but it isn't massively clumsy.
Basically Niniane was revealed as the heir to the Dark Fae throne in the last book (once Urien was killed) and she now has to take up her position. At the end of book 1 it had been decided that, for political reasons, none of the Wer could go as protectors or bodyguards, so she has to do it all alone. There is an attempt on her life, which is video-d and put on youtube, and Tiago leaves to find her and 'take charge'. There is a second attempt on both their lives, confusion in the Dark Fae court, the involvement of the vampire Carling (who stars in book 3) etc etc. Meanwhile Tiago decides that Niniane is his mate, she realises that she loves him but her court will never accept him (or their children). A truly spectacular near sacrifice at the end brings everything into perspective and all ends well. All good fun that keeps the pages turning.
Still interested, and now moving on to book 3