Serpent's Kiss (Elder Races Book 3)

Absolutely my favorite of the books so far. We have a women who yes does let her guard down...to let her “feelings” show more and more. Well after thousands of years it’s about time for her. I love the fact that she is strong and still vulnerable. And let’s just say Rune is just amazing. Yes they mate hard, but at least in this one you don’t have a women who is constantly woe is me the whole book. Glad to see this. And yes a whole lot of landscape description etc. But for me it was needed and I loved hearing it. I was able to close my eyes and I was taken to another place....

One thing that really stands out in Thea Harrison's third Elder Races Novel, is how removed the vampyre heroine really is from reality. Carling, once vampyre Queen, is now on the Elder Council. She is very old, and the bite that once gave her immortality, is now slowly killing her. She is desperate to find a cure, but is exhausted and about at the end of her rope. She has removed herself to an island located in Other Land, to live out her days because people are afraid of her. She goes into these episodes where she kind of zones out, but what we soon learn is that events can take place that impact not just present day, but events that have happened through time. She can't eat anymore, and is becoming weaker by the day.The one high spot in her life is her dog, Rasputin whom she now must learn to cook for because this is the one thing in her life that brings her pleasure. But of course, she has no idea how to cook.

Quote: Carling unfolded a well-worn piece of paper and laid it on the polished granite countertop near the stove. She consulted the handwritten instructions that had been prepared for her by a human attendant.

Step one, make sure the wood stove has been lit and the burner is hot. Yes. Did she place the skillet on the burner for step two? She checked the list. No. Step two, spray the skillet with PAM. She did and then she set the skillet on the burner. Now add a few ounces of raw meat to the skillet. Stir with implement. She picked up the implement and considered.

What is this thing called again? Ah yes, it is a spatula./Quote

I love the contrast of Carling being this vampyre that has been around for centuries and has ruled with an iron fist, yet the task of cooking chicken totally baffles her.

Soon, she meets up with Rune, an even more ancient supernatural being. Rune is of the wyr kind and can shift into a gryphon. Although he arrives because he owes Carling a favor of her choosing, he stays because he genuinely wants to help her find a cure for her illness. And because he is extremely attracted to her of course. Carling realizes that there is pleasure to be found again. Her life is not so far gone that her opportunity to interact with others is lost.

Rune was created about the time of the universe so his life really is a contrast to Carling's. The will to live is vibrant within him and he slowly shares that passion with Carling. He is also a big playboy and a sweetheart and has some extremely sexy scenes in this book. When Thea Harrison's heroes decide it is time to mate, you better watch out because they won't stop for anyone or anything.

This book is much different than the first two however. It is a quieter book. The action is more muted, and Carling and Rune are removed from the other Wyr kind. I can't help but compare each subsequent book Thea Harrison writes to her first amazing book, Dragon Bound. Serpent's Kiss has a different feel. While we briefly meet Carling in a previous book, she is much more normal than I expected her to be. I wanted a little more crazy in her, as is alluded to in Storm's Heart. While I like their eventual happily ever after, Carling didn't grab my attention as Thea Harrison's previous heroines have done.

Although this can be read as a stand alone, this is such a fun series, I recommend picking up the first two, Dragon Bound and Storm's Heart.

Having traded an unspecified favor for his friend life, gryphon Rune is called to San Francisco to pay off his debt, and discovers that vampire Carling is fading. Finding himself increasingly intrigued by the dying ancient, Rule is determined to help her find a cure. And while the mysteries of time may hold the answer, time is also the enemy, and Rune and Carling must solve the riddle of the Serpent's Kiss before time runs out.

I liked Serpent's Kiss every bit as much, if not more than the first Elder Races book Dragon Bound. The only place where I think Dragon Bound had this one beat is that I liked the straight into fire (from the frying pan:) beginning of the first book the better. Here the first chapter sort of regurgitates the world building and the key events of Storm's Heart. This is probably good for new to the series readers, but not so much for those who have read the previous book.

Really though this was just a small nit, since there was so much that I loved about this book. I was worried by the icy Carling after having met her in the last book but was happy to find that this Carling was incredibly interesting and I absolutely loved the evolution of Carling as she reconnects with her emotions and loved getting to see her background and how Rune was enchanted with all of her aspects. I also love everything that Carling being Python's 'child' and Rune being a creature of the 'between' brought to the story (trying to be non-spoilerish). And I liked the way that their relationship built slowly, and I really like the matings in Harrison's series in that they are a combination of attraction and choice - instead of a fated slam dunk.

But most of all I loved Rune, with his tenderness, ferocity, and sense of humor - he is my favorite kind of hero, probably since there aren't that many of them in PNR. (Singh's Drew from Play of Passion and Nora Robert's Larkin from Dance of the Gods are the only two who are at all similar and come to mind right off the top of my head.)

So I loved Serpent's Kiss, thus far Harrison can do no wrong, and I can hardly wait for the next book Oracle's Moon (A Novel of the Elder Races). Djinn Khalil who had a bit part in Storm's Heart is fleshed out a bit here and will be the leading man in Harrison's next book and, since his heroine will be the Oracle Grace, aka the "impudent disrespectful child ... Who doesn't' know the value of what she has been offered." Khalil has his work cut out for him and I perversely love to see an alpha male have to work for his HEA

I really enjoyed this addition to the series, but I have to say I was a bit miffed. Here's Rune, supposed to be Dragos's best friend, but he basically just up and abandons him (trying not to be too spoilery!) over a misunderstanding that HE caused? Not a fan of miscommunication tropes. Friends are supposed to give each other the benefit of the doubt, and that just ticked me off.

Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: Vampires and gryphons changing their past to save their future. Fun and easy read.

Opening Sentence: "I am a bad woman, of course," said Carling Severan, the Vampyre Sorceress, in an absent tone of voice.

The Review:

I must warn you, this is a romance story. Yes, it includes sexy scenes and undying love sentiments. And yes, there is a happy ending. Stop now if that's not your thing. If you are still with me, I think that you're going to enjoy this book for what it is, lovely and memorable. The story is not so much a fighting one, as in books past, but more of a journey. This is a story of two unlikely people, and I use the term "people" loosely, falling in love and overcoming the obstacles between them. Well yeah, most good love stories have this basic plot line, but Serpent's Kiss adds just enough of a twist to leave the reader happy to come along for the ride.

In the third installment of The Elder Races series, we follow Rune, the Lord of the Wyr's First and one of four gryphons on Earth, and his fulfillment of a favor for the beautiful and powerful vampire Councilor, Carling. The favor is for Carling saving Tiago's life in the last book, Storm's Heart. Rune is obligated by a magical pact to do whatever Carling chooses. He is strong, smart, easy-going, and considered the "rock-star" in the Wyr community. He is also loyal and gladly goes to Carling with a light heart, even with him not knowing if he will return to his life in New York anytime in the next millennium, while he fulfills his obligation.

Carling is dying and her Power is so erratic that she is secluded on a magical island for the safety of herself and others. She doesn't have a cure for her disease, vampirism, and is resigned to the fact. Rune arrives and challenges her to fight for her life; "do not go gentle into that good night" (Dylan Thomas people, go read some poetry). He stirs in Carling feelings that she hasn't experienced in a long time and it helps her get out of her funk. These two are so fun together, arguing and rediscovering things that only new couples ever seem to do. Carling, with the help of Rune, learns to find delight in things that she gave up long ago, and that includes sex. As Rune would say, "booyha." Though they are not my favorite couple to come out of The Elder Races series, they certainly pack a punch.

Rune ends up traveling into Carling's past every time she has one of her episodes, when her Power flares without her control and she fades away. Not literally fading, but she does get lost in her own mind. By changing her past, being in it for one thing, they both start to unravel the mystery of her "illness." Can Carling find a way to live, now that she has something to live for? Can Rune take hold of the gift he is given or will he turn it away like so many other times in his long life? Will the other beings of Power allow them to remain together or will they be killed? Can the other leaders of the supernatural community take on Carling if she does lose control of her powers? Can they take that chance?

A character we get to learn more about in Serpent's Kiss is Khalil, the Djinn. He was first introduced in the last book. Khalil is a very old and powerful Djinn and he owes two more favors to Carling. We get to learn how she was able to obtain such a rare and powerful gift and Khalil gets to show off more of his personality. He does so enjoy taunting Wyr's that are going through the mating frenzy. I can't wait for his book, Oracle's Moon.

I truly enjoyed the background of Carling's Egyptian beginnings. I think it's cute that she believes Rune is a god the first time she sees him, but refuses to acknowledge it in the future. She can't afford to inflate his ego anymore than it already is! I appreciate their story being a true journey, both emotionally and physically, through the past and into the future. Even Dragos and Pia, from the first book, make an appearance. Read this book and fall in love with the series all over again.

The Elder Races Series:

1. Dragon Bound

2. Storm's Heart

3. Serpent's Kiss

3.5 True Colors

4. Oracle's Moon

FTC Advisory: Berkley Sensation provided me with a copy of Serpent's Kiss. No goody bags, sponsorships, "material connections," or bribes were exchanged for my review. I only get paid in hugs and kisses from my little boys.

Ahhh, Thea Harrison has me so hooked on her stories of powerful, committed men and the feisty, independent women who love them. I must admit, I did not originally see how Carling fit the mold of previous heroines, but as I continued to read this book, the outer hardened shell of Carling cracked to reveal a woman whose heart still beat. Carling was a complex character and learning her back story was a revelation. Rune was also different, not at all as overtly intense as Ms. Harrison's previous heroes, but as with Carling, his easy going outer shell camouflaged the intensity that existed inside. I felt that they were a good match and balanced each other out. Rune and Carling are worthy additions to the mated pairs Ms. Harrison has introduced us to. As usual, loved this book. The sneak peek into the next entry in this series is enticing. I can't wait! Is it March 2012 yet?

I received this book from the author in return for a honest review.

I read this series completely out of order; although I enjoyed each book, I would have appreciated the character development and nuances if I had read the books in order. Having read this book before the second book, I was not able to immediately appreciate the author's long-range plot development. As a full body of work, Thea Harrison's series is very complex and the books interlock well without taking away from each set of characters' individual stories. Like all the books in the series this book was really well plotted and well written. I enjoyed Carling and Rune's storyline the best of all the books, there is a lot of plot complexity here, and some fresh ideas on the creation of the vampire race. This book features two very strong-willed and powerful characters- a nice change from the damsel in distress storyline. This is a wonderful series, and this is a very well written book; my personal dislike of the female character may not be an issue for others and this book is worth is as a continuation and blending of the ploy lines that seem to work somewhat concurrently, not so much as flowing from one to another like many series do. This type of plot weaving is the main reason I give this author kudos for being able to manage such a complex infrastructure.

Once again, everyone and their mother has reviewed SERPENT'S KISS. And, I know that nothing I'm going to say is going to stop you from reading this book, right? So, I'm just going to give you my impressions while I read instead of boring you to death with plot points.

SERPENT'S KISS had a slow start. However, if you're familiar with my opinions, you'll know that I believe all of Ms. Harrison's novels have a slow start. I'm becoming somewhat familiar with her books going like this . . . . yada, yada, yada, yada . . . WOW.

You guys must also know that I am not the most perky person on the planet, as a result I find perky heroine's kinda annoying as well. Can I just say, THANK GOODNESS CARLING WAS NOT PERKY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I know a lot of readers might be disappointed, but I was standing up doing cheers for this change. As a result, I liked Carling a lot better than I did Pia or Tricks. Give me an evil, vindictive b-tch with a heart of gold over an annoying perky one any day. LOL.

I also loved that SERPENT'S KISS seemed to be entirely focused on Rune and Carling and them trying to find a way to keep Carling alive. There weren't a lot of distracting side plots so that gave me the time to focus on Rune and Carling and their developing relationship. I love it when authors focus on their hero/heroine instead of their overall plot arc.

Things that drove me crazy.

SERPENT'S KISS is the first book in Ms. Harrison's series that I read in print instead of in eBook format. WTF is up with the small print? It killed me. I'm already nearly blind as a bat, but the small print was ridiculous. Really. What size was the font? Six point? Come on publishers, please, please, please work on that.

I was disappointed with the ending. Because Carling was so kick-ass, I was disappointed that no one really had to pay. I wanted Carling to kick butt and take names. I get that love is supposed to soften you, but come on. Some of those people really needed a beat down. That goes for Rune as well. He should've given a certain person a beat down as well and I don't care who they were. (Why yes, I'm trying to avoid spoilers here!)

Because no one got their beat downs, in my opinion a lot of plot threads weren't wrapped up as neatly as I would've liked. I don't know if they are going to be resolved in later books. I hope so, and please don't keep us waiting long.

Despite my quibbles, because of my relief that Carling wasn't perky. SERPENT'S KISS was my favorite in the series to date. I can't wait to see what's coming next.

I simply love this series. The characters are alive and vibrant. In this one, Rune, Carling, and Rasputin have such a story to tell and to live. The humor and realism (if one can have that with dragons, gryphon, vampires, and djinns) just makes the reader want to laugh out loud and scream with frustration. Loved this book.

This is the third novel in the Elder Races series and Rune's story, with the Vampyre Queen Carling as his love interest.

I do think this is a much better book than the travesty that was Storm's Heart, but it is nowhere near as good as Dragon Bound. It was okay.

Hands down the best thing about the book was the heroine, Carling. I liked exploring her backstory and her motivations for her actions. She was also a strong, likable character. I did not like Carling from the previous books, but I am surprised to find myself in love with her in this novel. She rocks!

The person that didn't rock, much to my surprise, was Rune. I have loved him through Dragon Bound and Storm's Heart, but that love stopped in Serpent's Kiss. He did not seem funny to me, and all his "cool-talk/witty repartees" missed the mark for me: I found them hollow, unfunny, and sometimes quite disrespectful. Simply put, I didn't like the person Rune was in this book, and I found myself liking him less and less as the book progressed; I did not like the person he became in the end at all.

I was also very disappointed that he did not share the fact of his changing the past with Dragos and the Gryphons, or the fact that he'd mated with Carling (until he couldn't hide it later). His excuse was that he didn't trust them. That doesn't wash with me. You would think you could trust people who had been your friends and comrades in arms for centuries. Especially as they could feel the effects of his changing the past. But apparently Rune's definition of friendship and mine are different.

Another thing that bothered me was the Rift between Dragos and Rune at the end. It just didn't make sense in the grand scheme of things, and I'd have expected Rune to be less of an ass. You don't hide essential info from your closest friends and yet expect them to act as if they knew the entire picture. Needless to say I didn't think he deserved the friendship of the other wyr, much less Dragos' friendship. Dragos did not do anything wrong and acted very fairly, given what little he knew and given that he had the interests of the entire wyr race to consider. Sigh. Rune was so much less than he appeared to be in the other books. Womp.

One final thing that didn't work for me was the love. I loved Carling, and I could see her relationship blossom with Rune. It just did nothing for me - I could see the love but could not feel it. I went into this book worried that Rune would be stuck with Carling, but now I am kinda sad that Carling is stuck with Rune.

Needless to say, I am not too keen on continuing the series after this one. I'll just read Dragon Bound to regain my happy memories and quit while I'm ahead. But I am glad I read this book. If nothing at all, it wiped the bad taste of Storm's Heart from my mouth. (less)

Serpent's Kiss by Thea Harrison
Paranormal Romance - Oct. 4th, 2011
4 ½ stars

This book will not disappoint fans of the series who have awaited the fall of ladies man and Griffin shifter, Rune. While this story is not as action packed as the first two books in the series, it really explores the two main characters and has a deep and meaningful romance.

Wyr sentinel, Rune, made a pact with the powerful, sensual and deadly Vampyre Queen Carling in exchange for his friend's life. Now it is pay back time, and she can ask anything from him until his debt is paid in full. The Queen is not known for her generosity or softness so Rune is prepared for almost anything and prays his debt will be fulfilled quickly so he can return back to his leader in New York as soon as possible. At the same time he looks forward to meeting the beautifully alluring Carling ever since he saw her lovely body and its mysterious scars. When he arrives to her seat of power in San Francisco to fulfill his bargain, he is surprised to find her court empty and a listless Queen. For Carling is dying of a Vampyre disease which causes magical havoc. Refusing to allow such a magnificent creature to go quietly, he will travel back in time if that is what it takes to save her.

This was an interesting story because the entire storyline revolves around trying to find a cure for Carling. Rune and Carling spend almost the entire time in Carling's island stronghold where they slowly grow to care for each. I loved how this book really focuses on the relationship between them. The best thing about this story is that is doesn't need all the fancy action since both of the two main character are so fascinating they literally carried the story. I loved how the author delves into Carling's past and explains her `dark' powers. Rune is known as the popular playboy and I have to say he is more charming than I imagined and actually exceeded my expectations. He is definitely one of my favorite heroes to date. He is tough, sexy, and strong but so confident in himself that he breaks the mold. I liked how the author made him an alpha but never overbearing. I would like to know more about Carling's island and the magical creatures who inhabit it. This world has so much to explore I can't wait for more.

This book was very romantic. The main characters had me turning the pages as I hoped their love and determination could find a way for them to be together. Anyone who loves a crazy cool world with a hero to die for will enjoy this knock-out story!

Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club

Rune Ainissesthal the Wyr Sentinel and dying vampyre queen Carling Severan the sorceress made a deal. To save the life of his friend Tiago, Rune will do Carling's bidding.

Thus he flies cross country from New York to San Francisco. He finds out that Carling is losing control of her paranormal skills due to the serpent's kiss disease that destroys ancient vampyres like her. She invested time and resources to finding a cure, but as time runs out so far her endeavor has proven futile. While her supporters flee in fear of her unpredictable power and others prepare to betray her in a power grab, Rune tries to save the female he is falling in love with.

The latest Elder Race romantic urban fantasy (see Storm Heart and Dragon Bound) is a great tale in which Thea Harrison deftly merges vampyre political and social backstabbing machinations with a cross species romance. Time is of the essence as the Wyr and the Vamp fall in love while her followers either distance themselves from her or plot to speed up her death watch. Serpent's Kiss is an excellent thriller.

Harriet Klausner

I think that this is Thea Harrison's strongest book to date. I fell in love with Carling in the first five pages as she considered the meaning of her long life and impending death.
Her ability xcand willingness to take a chance on Rune, to risk love and passion in the face of her private suffering, was to me very powerful.
Which is not to say, by any means, that this is a depressing book in any way. It is thoughtful, funny, and suspenseful. I laughed out loud at Carling's relationship with her dog. (Makes me wonder what Thea's relationship with her dogs is like :- . I found Rune to be sexy and funny. I wanted to raid Carling's closet;always a good thing.
This kind of maturity and thoughtfulness in a romance is rare. I can't wait until Khalil's book comes out.

Thea Harrison has been a delightful new find for me. She has created such unique and fun characters bringing Dragons and Elves and Unicorns and Gryphons and more all to life in a dance of power to survive. I love the wit embodied into her work. With that being said, I was predetermined to dislike this book. After reading Storm's Heart I had Carling depicted as a campy version of Elvira. I know, Elvira IS campy, what could be campier? And Rune was a much loved original player.. He is golden and sexy and strong and the epitome of balance. I seriously doubted that Ms Harrison could pull it off.

With that being said.. SHE DID. Serpent's Kiss was a fact filled, fun adventure. Ms Harrison was wise in the fact that she didn't immediately through these two together as a couple. No at best they were polite adversaries, each intrigued enough with each other to wait and see. To work towards a common goal. Carling as an ancient Vampyre was dying, a slow glide into permanent death. Although she was researching ways to counter her death she had pretty much accepted that her time had come. Then along comes Rune to mess with all her preconceptions. To remind her of feelings long dead.. buried deep within her innerself.

Over the course of the book both characters change.. Carling looses her Elvira act and Rune seems less the Wyr Hugh Hefner and more the intelligent being that he is. Together they fight betrayal, condemnation and rejection of the Elder Races. Each of them sacrifices things and people they hold dear to accept the other. In some ways this book was the strongest of the three (Dragon Bound, Storm's Heart and Serpent's Kiss) it held a depth of knowledge and the strength of contrasting characters. Neither Rune nor Carling was a dominant rather interlocking pieces of the same puzzle.

I also enjoyed some of the secondary characters most noticeably Grace the Oracle and Khalil the Djinn, (whom I am going to go out on a limb and assume that these will be the characters in Oracle's Moon. I certainly hope so because sparks flew). But we also get to see Daniel, Pia and Dragos again if only for a few minutes and there was some nice time spent with Seremela the Medusa ME from Storm's Heart. For me one of the best parts of reading a series is in greeting old friends. So this was much appreciated.

In all I must say this was a very good read and would seriously recommend that you read and enjoy it.

Shauni

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Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy;
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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 this magic and these 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 story.

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 some 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 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 peek at 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.

Sexual Content: Several sex scenes.

I loved the first book in this series...LOVED it. It had everything, exciting plots, great character development, and great hero/heroine interaction. So I was so excited that I didn't have t wait years for the next 2 installations of this series. Heart's Storm was also pretty good, again it had the exciting plot, great character development, and witty hero/heroine interaction which was LOL funny at times. What it did lack was the strong support and bond of the sentinels that was so evident in the Dragons Bound book. Oh, the sentinels were there at relevant events, but they were rather useless really. Warning flags started waving when the other sentinels was not supportive of Tricks and Tiago's union, which strikes me as odd since Tricks and Taigo were both well loved and the Wyr mating-thing only happens once in a lifetime, so shouldn't the event be a momentous celebration. So when this same lack of support/loyalty issue popped up in Serpent's Kiss with drastic consequences, I found it ridiculous and a deal-breaker for me with this series. The lack of loyalty over a slight misunderstanding was so unbelievable, that I actually visualized Rune pouting like a child. I asked myself "huh?! what just happened" and then "you have got to be kidding!" the author couldn't come up with a better story line than that?! Aside from this incredibly stupid story twist, the story is boring. Here you have 2 supposedly incredibly powerful beings and there was absolutely no action, no true evil villian to battle, nothing but petty misunderstanding and hurt feelings. This book struck me as rather amateur-ish. Too many great authors out there in this genre (Meljean Brook, Ilona Andrews, Kresley Cole, Nalini Singh, Patricia Briggs to name a few) to waste my time continuing with this series.

I was REALLY looking forward to this book. I really enjoy the world Thea has built in many ways. I read the last two books with enjoyment but they both had gentle heroines that needed rescuing by the big bad wyr. But in Carling, a woman who had raised herself up from slave to queen to the Councillor of the Nightkind through her own merit, determination and strength of character I was excited to finally have a story about a heroine who didn't NEED the big bad wyr to rescue her. I thought it would be a book about the two of them falling in love and her rescuing herself through that process. Or something like that....

I didn't get that. Of all of the things that I thought would happen in this book ... I didn't expect the author to figure out a way to wipe out all that Carling had accomplished herself and attribute it all instead to Rune. But the author did manage to do it. And I am so disappointed that instead of taking the opportunity to stretch herself and write a different story about two people who are equals joining to become an even stronger whole, Thea chose to write the same old story about the boy rescuing the girl.

I don't know if I will read another of book by this author. There is a preview of the next book in the series, Oracle Moon and it is more of the same. Female in trouble needs big strong man to make it all okay. Meh... I've read that. Again and again and again. And frankly I've read it better. I'm not interested in reading a series that just regurgitates the same book one after another.

and I mean literally fell asleep while reading Serpent's Kiss. As mentioned in other reviews it took a long...long...long time for Carling and Rune's story to get going - I think I was fully 200 pages into the story before I felt any of the magic of the first 2 books.

Serpent's Kiss is loaded with way too much description and not enough action.

Loved the first book, second one was ok. This one-I returned! I was about 35% in, and just kept waiting, waiting and waiting for the action to pick up. There was talking, talking and more talking. I gave up...

Ok listen up people! And I hope Thea is listening as well. Bring Dragos and Pia back pleaaaaaassssseeeeee!!! They should have had a sequel to their story! I mean, I wanted to "see" their child, who would he be like? The mom or the dad? Who is still after Pia? Will Dragos be a softy for his little baby? Will the kid be powerful because of his dragon and unicron(sp.?) blood? So may questions that I wanted to see an answer to. So please, Thea, do us ALL a favor and bring our beloved couple back to us!!!!!

Of the books so far, this one was indubitably the most austere in emotionality. It took me much longer or at least it felt like it took me much longer to complete this book as it was overflowing with so many conflicts. I found myself constantly casting introspective light while reading, as I witnessed our main characters grow and develop. Another book I have felt this particular combination of poignant emotions is in Nalini Singh’s Archangel’s Storm and in Jeaniene Frost’s Kiss of Eternal Darkness. These are stories of heroes and heroines battling a contest between a will to live or die.

I also loooooove the play on time paradoxes and loops. I love all things that bend the rules of time. There is something timeless (dry laugh) about a concept that has framed so much of who and what we are. I think Thea Harrison did a great job exploring those nuances we take for granted. With all these developments and exploration in inner conflicts,this book was a bit slow and scientific. It had a very different drumbeat compared to the boisterous and erratic romance of Tiago and Tricks. If you’re this far into the series, I think we’ve been brushed up on a ton of world building! I was hoping the ending would play out a little more dramatically because it was my guess from the beginning! But I still loved how all things ended- going off gently into that good night.