Story Overview:
We’re back with
part three of the wonderful series developed written by India Drummond. In this installment we are another six months on from the last book. Queen Eilidh has
had a shaky start to her reign, but it is only the beginning for her troubled
beginnings. When a fae who is under arrest for crimes against the nation is
murdered and evidence points to her bonded Druid Monroe an elaborate plan is
hatched that could kills dethrone Eilidh and kill all the Druids who are under
her protection. But who is behind all the trickery?
Meanwhile Monroe researches the past about the Druids and finds a startling history that could have far reaching consequences for everyone. But will this change his relationship with Eilidh who is growing closer to her political mate?
Meanwhile Monroe researches the past about the Druids and finds a startling history that could have far reaching consequences for everyone. But will this change his relationship with Eilidh who is growing closer to her political mate?
Cover Page: 20/20
Again, the cover
aspects are much like the previous stories; very well professionally done and
very typical of the fantasy market. However what the previous two covers were
marked against is certainly not in question here. Although part of the story is
in modern day Scotland, most of it occurs in the Otherworld, which certainly
has a medieval feel to it. I would say that the rune on the center of the page
seems to cluttered, but it fits perfectly with the story.
Character (and
their development): 18/20
Again characters
are perfectly balanced and with each story are growing in different and
diverging ways. The emotions of Eilidh being tugged in two totally different
directions, with one being publicly acknowledged and the other a secret that
the three of them hold is beautifully told and the ending couldn’t be more than
a delight to read.
Monroe in this
book seems more like his cop self than he had been in any of the previous
books. Yet this is an important element in order to ground him to realization
of what he use to be and how he is different from the world he now resides in.
His logical thought patterns are brilliantly written and it is surprising how
he acts towards the Queens consort.
The true
masterminds behind everything are brilliant concealed right up to the end and
even in the last chapters the pressures on the young Queen are no apparent.
This adds to the need to continue to read the book until the very end as quick
as possible.
Storyline: 18/20
The story is a
great one to read. At the beginning of the book there are many story threads
that seem too unconnected that they can’t possibly be connected. And as the
book carries on you feel that they are divulging even more into a spate of
several separate stories; that at the end of the book when the all combine in
spectacular fashion you feel on such a high as a reader. Unfortunately, yet
again the author has done such a wonderfully deep story and with so many
illusions and deceptions that to reveal much more would be a huge spoiler.
Style: 19/20
Style is again
something that the author has truly excelled in. The writing is brilliant done
so that the reader can touch, smell and taste the world that they are reading
in such a way that it doesn’t hold down the pace of the story. Speaking of
which is done again in the authors excellent way of making action sequences
seem speedy and the slowing the reader down when there are slower more intimate
moments. It brilliant plays the reader to raise their heart rate and the
adrenaline as the action sequences play out.
The characters
seem real and so likable that the reader will wish to give them an open
invitation to come into their home. And as with other books in the series, the
reader will gain more knowledge about new characters that have thus far been in
the background or used sparingly until now.
Again with
previous books, the author has made the universe and this story so well written
that anyone could pick up this book and not need the previous ones to
understand what is going on. Yet the author has not loaded the book with long
explanations of previous books either, giving a balance that is refreshing and
avoiding the temptation that many authors give in to.
My one sad point
on the style is that there were a few times when the same point was mentioned
several times by a character when it didn’t need to be. But that is a minor
point.
Spelling and
Grammar: 19/20
There are a
couple of errors within the work, but to be honest, nothing there which slows
the pace down. And to be honest I’ve read a traditionally published author
recently and found nearly four times as many mistakes in a smaller piece of
work.
Conclusion: 94/100
The series is again
continued in excellent style. The author is developing not just the characters
but the world in which she has created the characters interacts with. The
writing is as ever sublime and the story compelling enough for one to read to
the very end as quickly as one can. If you’ve not read this installment yet, I
would truly recommend it.
Connect with the Author:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/
Facebook Fan page: http://www.facebook.com/india.
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