Despite the unlucky number, this crop of covers was particularly nice. Only two covers managed to tip all the way to a thumbs down, and neither of them unanimously. Of course, Abigail and I both started our cover art perusal with these gems… which is enough to put anyone in a good mood.
It’s no surprise, given how much I love reading and re-reading the Elder Races novels, that the chance to interview Thea Harrison is a special treat. In addition to her insights below, Thea also has two new novellas coming out this year (and with diligent re-reading, this will be just about enough to tide me over until LORD’S FALL is released this November). The hero of ORACLE’S MOON actually manages to tie Dragos as my favorite Elder Races hero, and luckily, I managed to squeeze in questions about both of these complex and sexy characters. As mentioned in my 5bat review of ORACLE’S MOON, “Harrison blends romance with a robust mythology that few, if any, paranormal romance series can match”, and I’m so grateful that she’s here at the blog today to give us a glimpse of the process behind these fantastic books. Enjoy!
ATUF: One of my favorite aspects of ORACLE’S MOON was how Khalil embodied both an ancient being as well as a baffled man out of his element. You did a fantastic job writing how Khalil’s other-worldly perspective would perceive mundane life with two small children, were there any “ah-ha” moments when he really came together as a character? (Or alternatively, were there any great Khalil moments that didn’t make it into the final draft?)
TH: The biggest “ah-ha” moment I had for Khalil was actually when I was writing SERPENT’S KISS. The whole time I wrote Khalil in that story (as a secondary character) I was poking at him, asking the character in my head, “You interest me. What makes you tick?”
 | Title: Oracle’s Moon
Sexual Content: Several sex scenes. Rating:
Near Perfect - Buy two copies: one for you and one for a friend. |
 | Title: True Colors
Sexual Content: Sex scenes. Rating:
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The Elder Races series is characterized by “interesting mythology, snappy dialogue, and smoking chemistry”, and is definitely among my all time favorite Paranormal Romances. The author behind the magic, Thea Harrison, has stopped by to answer some questions about her latest Elder Races novella, TRUE COLOR,S and give away an eARC to one lucky reader. TRUE COLORS is also available now from Samhain Publishing, so those who can’t stand waiting to win can enjoy the sweet, instant delivery of buying their own copy. In our interview today Thea talks a little bit about her writing career, offers insights into the hero and heroine of TRUE COLORS, and dropped hints about Elder Races #5 (that sound you hear is me squealing with joy, do not adjust your computer). I hope you enjoy reading this conversation as much I enjoyed having it, thanks for stopping by!
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Description: Cassel Sharpe knows he’s been used as an assassin, but he’s trying to put all that behind him. He’s trying to be good, even though he grew up in a family of con artists and cheating comes as easily as breathing to him. He’s trying to do the right thing, even though the girl he loves is inextricably connected with crime. And he’s trying to convince himself that working for the Feds is smart, even though he’s been raised to believe the government is the enemy.
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| Julia’s Thoughts | Abigail’s Thoughts |
| This run of covers is much less cinematic than the ones with real models, a much more fantasy feel. Given the edgy feel of the series, I think the live action covers fit the series better. This one is rather generically YA. | This has to be the UK cover…it looks nothing like the US versions, but I still think the purple almost disco vibe is a wrong fit for this series in any country. |
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 | Title: Serpent’s Kiss
 Sexual Content: Several sex scenes. Rating:
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In the latest Novel of the Elder Races, a Queen on the brink of sanity has no one to rely on except the Wyr warrior whose conviction is every bit as strong as his passion…
In order to save his friend's life, Wyr sentinel Rune Ainissesthai made a bargain with Vampyre Queen Carling—without knowing what she would ask from him in return. But when Rune attempts to make good on his debt, he finds a woman on the edge.
Recently, Carling's Power has become erratic, forcing her followers to flee in fear. Despite the danger, Rune is drawn to the ailing Queen and decides to help her find a cure for the serpent's kiss—the vampyric disease that's killing her.
With their desire for each other escalating just as quickly as Carling's instability spirals out of control, the sentinel and the Queen will have to rely on each other if they have any hope of surviving the serpent's kiss…
Thea Harrison's Elder Races novels are my current addiction, I no sooner put down one than I'm anxiously anticipating the next. SERPENT'S KISS is a bright spot in an already wonderful series, and I'll be able to fill some of the months before ORACLE'S MOON comes out in March by mulling over it’s interesting magical theory and characters.
The world building in SERPENT'S KISS is ambitious, delving into the mythology of gryphons and vampires, the history of Carling's origins, and the politics of her present day position. Harrison writes enough explanation and detail to make reading along with Rune and Carling interesting, without getting bogged down in inconsistencies or procedure. I was so fascinated with how the mystery was unfolding, I almost lost sight of the main characters themselves. Details about Rune's personality or Carling's history that seemed inconsequential at the start come together at the close to make this an even more satisfying romance.
I am continually impressed with the attention Harrison lavishes on her character's relationships, going beyond destiny or chemistry to write pairings that compliment and strengthen one another. Rather than writing generically appealing characters, Rune and Carling are another Elder Races couple that have quirks and rough spots that happen to fit just right with each other. What better balance for one of nature's most playful and mutable beings than the cool, capable steadfastness of a human woman who has survived for millennia?
It is still frustrating to see glimpses of beloved past characters without getting to spend much time with them, but luckily, Harrison always gives readers a glimpse of the next relationship on the horizon. Based on the introductory chapter included at the close of SERPENT'S KISS, ORACLE'S MOON promises to be a thoroughly entertaining blend of human practicality butting heads with another charming, if arrogant, magical being. I can’t wait!
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 | Title: Storm’s Heart
Sexual Content: Several sex scenes. Rating:
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During the rule of her murderous Dark Fae uncle, Thistle "Tricks" Periwinkle found sanctuary among the Wyr in New York. Her ethereal beauty and sparkling personality won the hearts of the public, but after her uncle's death, there are those who don't want to see her ascend the throne...
Able to wield thunder and lightning, Wyr sentinel Tiago Black Eagle has ruled the skies for centuries. His massive build and thunderous power make him one of the Wyr's best weapons. And he's the one sent to protect Tricks when she's almost assassinated in Chicago.
Soon, both Tiago and Tricks will fall prey to the stormy hunger that engulfs them- a passion that will shake the very foundation of all the worlds
In STORM'S HEART, Niniane is a Faerie princess struggling with the tragedy of her past and Tiago is a Thunderbird facing his future. Between the two of them, the chemistry, both sexual and verbal, is undeniable. While Tiago's introduction is a little clunky with assurances that he and Niniane don't know each other well, despite moving in the same circles for 200 years, once the story brings them together it's fireworks and fast action until book's end.
While STORM'S HEART doesn't evoke as much humor as DRAGON BOUND, if only because of the heartbreaking nature of Niniane's past, the story doesn’t suffer from the slightly more somber tone. The murder of Niniane’s parents and little brothers is a trauma that has always haunted her, and going back into the treacherous depths of Dark Faerie to claim her throne takes away whatever measure of peace she had found in the centuries since that night. Niniane's vulnerability touches the heart, and Tiago's protective nature is exactly the irrevocable support she needs. Despite the heavier subject matter, this is by no means a dark book. The sexual chemistry is potent, some of Niniane's "Tricks" side comes through for comic relief, and Tiago munching on pastries and deciding that he likes armchair warfare just fine is pretty entertaining as well. Tiago’s reactions and asides stole the show for me, and once again, I find that Harrison’s hero has charmed me alongside the heroine.
On the whole, STORM'S HEART is fast paced, heart warming, and entertaining. I really like that the sexual chemistry of mating is never used as a substitute for characters choosing to be in the relationship (and it simplifies trust issues significantly), making it a narrative device that works very well in these books. While STORM’S HEART hasn’t supplanted DRAGON BOUND as my favorite thus far, I can't put down one Elder Races books without wishing I could pick up the next immediately. Given the build up from STORM'S HEART, I'll be anxiously awaiting Rune and Carling's story in SERPENT'S KISS.
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 | Title: Dragon Bound
Sexual Content: Several sex scenes, one scene of magical coercion. Rating:
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Half-human and half-wyr, Pia Giovanni spent her life keeping a low profile among the wyrkind and avoiding the continuing conflict between them and their dark Fae enemies. But after being blackmailed into stealing a coin from the hoard of a dragon, Pia finds herself targeted by one of the most powerful-and passionate-of the Elder races.
In DRAGON BOUND, Thea Harrison has melded the animal alter-egos of her Wyr hero and heroine with their human behaviors to create one of the most delightful paranormal romances I’ve read in a very long time. While Dragos Cuelebre, the one and only dragon, may be too Alpha for some, I was a big fan of this eons old creature turned "boyfriend". Add interesting mythology, snappy dialogue, and smoking chemistry, and it’s no surprise that I couldn't bear put this book down.
Harrison does a fantastic job writing Dragos, her paragraph describing his birth with the Big Bang and early memories of sailing on solar flares is one of my favorites, and really drives home how ancient and alien he is. Dragos is a wicked old dragon, and anything but politically correct. Autocratic, high-handed, and a perilously close to a sociopath, Harrison manages to write a charming and sexy love story for this man without ever deviating from his true nature. His dialog had me laughing out loud, and my copy of DRAGON BOUND has more highlighted quotes than any other book that I own. True to type, Dragos is the ultimate adapter, and I share Pia's weakness for his crafty, charming ways. I enjoyed watching the ultimate predator and the ultimate herbivore dance with each other and fall in love.
Dragos and Pia have a very elemental relationship that ties in beautifully with their intrinsic animal natures. So much of their chemistry and interaction is tied up in Pia’s secret Wyr form, I found the story more plausible and even more enjoyable the second time around. I look forward to reading STORM’S HEART, the newest of the Elder Races series which was released this week, as soon as I can find the time to pull it out of my TBR pile. And I know I’ll be back to revisit DRAGON BOUND whenever I need some laughter and chemistry to brighten my day.
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| Julia’s Thoughts | Abigail’s Thoughts |
| I usually hate subliminal “horse” references, but that fits the other covers in the series. Something about this guy’s outfit (the half that he has on) reminds me of The Princess Bride, so he gets a thumb up just for making me imagine Wesley shirtless *happy*. | I like this too surprisingly. I think because it doesn’t feel exploitative like so many shirtless covers do. And who doesn’t love The Princess Bride? |
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| Julia’s Thoughts | Abigail’s Thoughts |
| The placement of the tiger face is just too odd. My mind wants to make it a tattoo, but the image just seems to be floating there. | Yep. It looks a little creepy which I’m sure is not the look they were going for. |
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Description: The pages of history are written in the blood of the undead… Caroline Clifford’s bland life as a London tour guide flips upside down when her beloved uncle is brutally murdered at a Bulgarian archeological site. While traveling to recover his remains, she meets a man who corresponded with her uncle. Jude Barrett is a biochemist on a mission—to eradicate the world of vampires… At first, Caro is dismissive of Jude’s beliefs, but she can’t ignore the signs around her—the human bites on her uncle, the strange men following her, the anguished cries after sundown. More…
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| Julia’s Thoughts | Abigail’s Thoughts |
| The style of this cover relies too much on the description in the upper left corner to mark this as “urban fantasy.” I missed the shadowy figure all together until I really studied the image. I would like less text, more mood. | I would have expected this to be a thriller not an UF based on the cover. |
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Description: Stephanie Rowe is an acclaimed author whose high-octane romances are attracting a growing readership. The third in a paranormal romance series packed with danger, sensuality and clever twists features Nigel Aquarian, a warrior with an artistic bent, and Natalie Fleming, a chocolatier who has a new lease on life. But her freedom comes with a dangerous gift she doesn't want. Nigel and his fellow warriors have only just escaped imprisonment when an even worse threat emerges. Natalie is the only woman who can help Nigel—but she's also the one most likely to bring him down.
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| Julia’s Thoughts | Abigail’s Thoughts |
| The title ruined this one for me. Aside from the distracting thought “Hey, if the guy can hold fire, he can hold anything,” that font is entirely out of place. I know they were following the style of previous covers in the series, but that shade of yellow and the vines on the capital are very distracting with this image. | I’ve liked the previous two covers in this series, but this one seems almost feminine by comparison. I don’t know if it’s his pose or what. |
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| Julia’s Thoughts | Abigail’s Thoughts |
| I was on the fence with this one, but the artwork tipped me towards a thumbs up. The title font and colors are terrible, however, even it gives the cover an oddly child-like note. A shame to splash that on top of such an intriguing image. | Love this. I really liked the cover from the first book, but this one is even better. She looks fierce and the background has me very intrigued. |
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| Julia’s Thoughts | Abigail’s Thoughts |
| Oh, if only laughter equals a thumbs up. Where to start with this one. His posture? His wig-like hair? The fact that he’s standing in a butt-level, lavender cloud of what I presume is his own “magic”? The only nice thing I can think to say is that I applaud his wrist-watch, it’s the most unique cover model accessory I’ve seen in a long time. | You are killing me, Julia LOL. The hair is wrong. The expression on his face looks confused, and the colors are way too soft. |
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| Julia’s Thoughts | Abigail’s Thoughts |
| The female cover model and the background are ok, they give a sense of the story and compliment the title pretty well. The male cover model looks like he’s CGI, I found that distracting enough that I couldn’t focus on anything but trying to figure out what’s wrong with his features. | Honestly, having just read book 1, I’m so excited to get my hands on this one that I’m not noticing any of the problems that bugged you. It looks good to me. |
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Description: In Angel’s Wolf a vampire becomes fascinated with the seductive angel who rules Louisiana. But all is not what it appears to be in her court. In Angels’ Judgment a hunter must track one of her own gone bad, while surviving the deadly tests placed in her way by the archangels themselves. Unexpected backup comes from a stranger who might just be the most lethal threat of all... Plus FIRST TIME IN PRINT In Angels' Pawn a vampire hunter faces off against two rival factions and the angel manipulating them both, and a vampire whose help is not entirely selfless... And NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED In Angels’ Dance an angel trapped in the mountain stronghold of the Refuge finds herself under siege by a warrior angel from a martial court.
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| Julia’s Thoughts | Abigail’s Thoughts |
| I agree with the author, this cover is lovely enough to stop me in my tracks in a bookstore. The artwork is gorgeous, and the title copy does a great job of complementing it and not disrupting the sense of movement. | Yes! We can now forget about the unfortunate cover on ARCHANGEL’S BLADE. This is just so many kinds of pretty. |
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Not Available for Pre-Order. |
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| Julia’s Thoughts | Abigail’s Thoughts |
| I love the progression from book one. The battered, numbered mask on the cover of ASHES is wonderfully creepy and ominous. | See I think this takes creepy too far. It’s unsettling for me. |
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| Julia’s Thoughts | Abigail’s Thoughts |
| I enjoyed reading DRAGON BOUND so much, the rest of this series could come wrapped in brown paper bags and I’d be pre-ordering. This cover is much, much better than STORM’S HEART but not quite as delicious as SERPENT’S KISS. Applaud the continuation of the t-shirt, though sorry we’ve regressed back to partial faces. | You read it? Write us a review :) I think one of the reasons I haven’t read them yet is because of the lackluster covers. SERPENT’S KISS is the best of the bunch, but None are great. |
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Not Yet Available for Pre-Order. |
Description: Set against the backdrop of a Coney Island summer comes The Vicious Deep, the story of sixteen year old Tristan Hart whose life is turned upside down when the mermaids make an unscheduled return to land in search of their new king. When a sudden storm pulls Tristan from lifeguard duty into a deadly riptide, he discovers what he really is—a prince of the Sea Court. Turns out, his girlfriend hopping and talents as a swimmer aren’t caused by his teenage prime hormones after all. In this modern Arthurian tale with a twist, when all a guy wants to do is get The Girl and enjoy the freak show that is a Coney Island summer, Tristan has to fight for his life, the lives of his friends, and his humanity, if he still wants it, as he’s caught in a race for a throne that is as ancient as the gods.
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| Julia’s Thoughts | Abigail’s Thoughts |
| This premise sounds interesting enough to put on the TBR list, but this cover is way too busy for me. The title font is good, but when coupled with the bleeding effect on both title and her lips, her eye shadow and scales and hair flying everywhere… it’s all just too much. One or two of these effects would have been much more effective. | Love the title font. Love the underwater floating hair. Love the shimmery scales. Love them all together. |
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Description: Dream-Hunter Lydia has been charged with the most sacred and dangerous of missions: To descend into the Nether Realm and find the missing god of dreams before he betrays the secrets that could kill her and her kind. What she never expects is to be taken prisoner by the Realm’s most vicious guardian… Seth’s time is running out. If he can’t hand over the entrance to Olympus, his own life and those of his people will be forfeit. No matter the torture, Seth hasn’t been able to break the god in his custody. Then there’s the beautiful Dream-Hunter Lydia: She isn’t just guarding the gates of Olympus—she’s holding back one of the world’s darkest powers. If she fails, an ancient curse will haunt the earth once more and no one will be safe. But evil is always seductive...
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| Julia’s Thoughts | Abigail’s Thoughts |
| This cover is a big departure from the previous books in the series, and has a completely different feel to it. On it’s own I like it quite a bit, and wonder if a cover art reboot is in the works for books 1-4? | I like this cover, but unfortunately all of Sherrilyn Kenyon’s new covers all blur together for me. |
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