Spell of the Highlander (Highlander, #7)

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Spell of the Highlander (Highlander #7)

4.27 of 5 stars 4.27 · rating details · 12,298 ratings · 516 reviews

It's taken him eleven centuries to find the right woman. He's not about to lose her now.

Jessi St. James has GOT to get a life. Too many hours studying ancient artifacts has given the archaeology student a bad case of sex on the brain. So she figures she must be dreaming when she spies a gorgeous half-naked man staring out at her from inside the glass of an ancient mirror....more

Paperback, 394 pages

Published August 28th 2007 by Dell (first published August 30th 2005)

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Jul 30, 2011 Dina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-romance

I love KMM's Highlander series - I haven't read the 1st 2 books yet but the other ones were all 5-star reads to me - so I was really anxious to see if this latest installment would live up to my high expectations. Well, I'm glad to say it was another winner. :)

On a Friday night, close to midnight, Jessica St. James, an overworked and exhausted Archeology graduate student at the University of Chicago, is asked by her advisor, who's just suffered a car accident, to go to his office and receive a p...more I love KMM's Highlander series - I haven't read the 1st 2 books yet but the other ones were all 5-star reads to me - so I was really anxious to see if this latest installment would live up to my high expectations. Well, I'm glad to say it was another winner. :)

On a Friday night, close to midnight, Jessica St. James, an overworked and exhausted Archeology graduate student at the University of Chicago, is asked by her advisor, who's just suffered a car accident, to go to his office and receive a package for him. She wonders what kind of package gets delivered at such unusual hour, but it's not like she has a life and she can't really refuse her advisor's request. The strange delivery turns out to be the Dark Glass, an ancient mirror with a 9th-century hot Highlander Druid locked inside, and Jessi's life takes a turn for the worse... or for the better?

Cian MacKeltar, the Highlander hottie from the past, is the most powerful Keltar Druid ever born, but he was betrayed by Lucan Trevayne, a "fellow" Dark Sorcerer, 1,133 years ago and has been imprisoned in the Dark Glass since then. The powerful artifact is the source of Lucan's immortality, so he's more than annoyed when it's stolen from him - by a mere thief! - and he'll stop at nothing to get it back. Too bad Jessi is in the middle of the battle between Cian and Lucan now...

Cian needs Jessi's help in order to break the spell that keeps him imprisoned inside the Dark Glass and, after the initial shock - it isn't everyday that you find a hunk in a mirror and, worse, an assassin after you -, she realizes she needs him to keep Lucan's assassins from killing her. The trick is, Cian can be summoned out of the Dark Glass for short periods of time only, so he has to make the best use of his free time if he wants to play his revenge against Lucan and seduce Jessi at the same time. The outcome of his battle against the Dark Sorcerer is uncertain, but there's no doubt in Cian's mind that Jessi is his woman and, soon enough, there's no doubt in her mind either. But what will happen after the spell is broken? Will Cian be able to survive outside the Dark Glass?

Okay, I'm going to say it: I liked Cian, but I didn't love him. Don't get me wrong, he was hot and yummy, but I thought he was like a "mix" of the previous heroes in the series and, as a result, he paled in comparison with them. Having Dageus and Drustan playing strong secondary roles in this book didn't help Cian's "allure", as I found myself more interested in getting myself reunited with the MacKeltar twins than reading about Cian pacing inside the Dark Glass.

As for Jessi, I loved her. She was intelligent, brave and bold. The stunt she pulled at the Edinburgh Airport was a bit farfetched, but the whole ancient-Druid-imprisoned-in-a-mirror thing wasn't exactly ordinary so I went along with it happily. There was a scene near the end when I thought she was going to have a TSTL moment but, thankfully, she retreated before putting herself - and Cian, as a consequence - in danger. Gotta love a smart heroine!

The plot was interesting, the action was fast paced, and the love scenes were hot. The solution for Cian's "conumdrum" was kind of obvious, but I wasn't disappointed by it because it made sense and it was consistent with what had happened before in the series. The ending was a bit "strange", though. Instead of writing an epilogue, KMM chose to write a "Dear Reader" letter telling us that what happened to Cian and Jessi after their final confrontation with Lucan. It wasn't how I wanted to see the story end, but it wasn't "bad" enough to ruin the book.

All in all, this was another great installment in the beloved Highlander series. I wish KMM was still writing new books in this series but, alas, it looks like she's dropped it in favor of her Fever series - at least, for now. Oh well, it was good while it lasted.
(less)

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Feb 03, 2012 Laura the Highland Hussy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: highlander-books

Updated review:

A couple years ago, I discovered a fabulous author(Monica McCarty). When I finished with her books, I asked her who her "go-to" authors were. Monica's answer? Karen Marie Moning. Since my library only had this book by her, this is what I read. Wow, Cian is one hunky medieval male. I immediately returned this book and bought the whole series.

This book focuses on Cian MacKeltar, a 9th century druid who is trapped in a mirror..a mirror that is an Unseelie Hallow (a fae created relic...more Updated review:

A couple years ago, I discovered a fabulous author(Monica McCarty). When I finished with her books, I asked her who her "go-to" authors were. Monica's answer? Karen Marie Moning. Since my library only had this book by her, this is what I read. Wow, Cian is one hunky medieval male. I immediately returned this book and bought the whole series.

This book focuses on Cian MacKeltar, a 9th century druid who is trapped in a mirror..a mirror that is an Unseelie Hallow (a fae created relic).

Jessi is a grad student who accidentally sees Cian (aka the sex god) in the mirror. What she didn't know was that her professor had bought this antique mirror after it was stolen from Lucan during a power outage (that is alluded to in the Fever series), another ancient druid. Well, he wants it back. Lucan sends assassains after anyone who has had any contact with the mirror. Cian decides to help Jessi, so he tells her the spell to release him from the mirror. Problem is, she thinks it was just a dream, because super hot sex-gods don't live in mirors and help random grad students, right? Totally a dream.

Unfortunately, if Cian is freed from the mirror, its only temporary. And there's no set time-the mirror is fickle and reclaims him after a few hours, or after a day. It's never consistent.

Cian helps her, convinces her he's real and that her life is in danger. So they head off to Scotland, to MacKeltar land, hoping to hide her out in the Highlands. But lo and behold, there are many more MacKeltars than expected! Not only the current line of Christopher and Maggie, but Drustan and Gwen, and Daegus and Chloe!! The way Daegus and Cian meet is hysterical! I loved that scene and I loved the whole gathering of the MacKeltar clan.

[anyone who can get this on audio-do so! Phil Gigante doing all the Keltar men in one room? OMG I drooled]

They grudgingly help Cian and Jessi defeat the evil dark druid Lucan who had entrapped Cian in the mirror so long ago. But there's a twist-to escape the mirror permanently, will cause his death. How on earth will he do it? Will Daegus surprise us with his (still) dark knowledge from the Drughar? Will he double-cross Jessi and Cian? Gotta read to find out....

And at the very end, we get a brief glimpse of Aivheal the Seelie queen. That is the part that is important to the Fever series.

Total foreshadowing for the Fever series...if you don't like romances but like Urban Fantasy, read the Fever series, but add this and The Immortal Highlander to it, almost as prequels.(less)

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Aug 08, 2012 Blacky *Mistress of doom* rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, read-fantasy, best-of-the-best, mine, of-course, highlanders, 5-stars-for-quality, 5-stars-for-enjoyment, favorite-fantasy

These books just keep getting better and better! I simply ADORED "Spell of the Highlander"

For me, the most important thing while reading a book is to connect with the characters. You can add a storyline, a million storylines that will take your breath away, but if the characters are sh*t (pardon my expression) all the imagination in the world won't do for me. Well, as you'll figure it out, the characters in here were far from sh*t XD

In this novel, the story was in second place. It's about Cia...more These books just keep getting better and better! I simply ADORED "Spell of the Highlander"

For me, the most important thing while reading a book is to connect with the characters. You can add a storyline, a million storylines that will take your breath away, but if the characters are sh*t (pardon my expression) all the imagination in the world won't do for me. Well, as you'll figure it out, the characters in here were far from sh*t XD

In this novel, the story was in second place. It's about Cian MacKeltar, the most powerful druid from his line, being trapped in an ancient mirror for more than a thousand years (!!!) and seeking revenge to his jailor. That's basically it lol, Jessi finds the mirror and brings him out, she becomes prey to the ultimate druid bad guy, and they run to Scotland (

). He is constantly forced to return into the mirror by the magic, so their escape is not so smooth lol.
The story was good, although not so intense as some from the previous books, and the part I most loved about it is that I had NO IDEA how it was going to end till the very ending and when it was all explained. I just LOVE that in a book <3 Most of the time the end is pretty predictable, and although I knew there will be a happy end (duh), I didn't know how it will come to pass.

Now to the center of the novel - Cian and Jessi. I fell in love with them! They were so lovely, hilarious and adorable, they got me hooked from the start :) Cian, although a fierce warrior, made me laugh all the time! He was unintentionally hilarious, and I loved him for it! He always called Jessi "wench" or "woman", and that first command when he came out of the mirror, ahahahah oh man I couldn't stop laughing XD I have to put it in here loool it's hilarious XD (Cian just came out from the mirror and wants a bit of hanky panky, poor guy, being a thousand years without a woman, and he uses The Voice to command her to do his bidding XDXD)

“Cease speaking, wench. You will bring that sweet ass over here and kiss me now.”
Jessi gaped, mouth open, midword. Snapped her mouth closed. Opened it again. Her head suddenly itched just beneath the skin, above her metal plate. She rubbed at her scalp. “As if.” She meant to hiss it indignantly, but it came out more of a squeak. Sweet ass? He thought she had a sweet ass? They could form a mutual admiration society of two.
“Remove that woolen, woman, and show me your breasts.”
Choking on an inhalation, she sputtered for several seconds. Numerous were the men who’d tried to go there—even she knew she had exceptional breasts—but none quite so obviously and without exerting even an ounce of seductive effort. She clamped her hands over them defensively.

And his first ride in a car hahahah

"Cease ceasing movement so abruptly! Christ, woman, must you catapult forward after each cessation? Are you certain you’ve strapped the mirror securely? We should stop and check it. By Danu, wench, try nudging this beast gently, not kicking it with both heels! A silence, a slew of choked curses, then: Horses! What the bloody hell is wrong with horses? Have they all been slain in battle?"

Yup. LOVE him <3

This book had me from the beginning to the end :) And btw, the ending was great, we got to see the MacKeltar brothers again in action <3 and it was quite unpredictable <3 There had been a teary moment near the end

but surprisingly, the epilogue was not cry-worthy XD There was that bit with the Queen I did not get at all, maybe it's an intro to the upcoming books, or maybe it's a reference to the Fever series, dunno...

All in all, a very bright 5 shining stars for this one <3(less)

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Feb 12, 2010 Zeek rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites-all-time, hist-rom-scottish, rom-time-travel, alpha-hero, uber-alpha-male, favorite-hero, romance

Although I know many love the entirety of Moning's Highlander series, I found them to be hit or miss. A frequent reread for me, Spell of the Highlander, the final in the series before the author took the series in a whole other direction, definitely falls in the "hit" category.

The story essentially begins when our heroine accepts a delivery for an unusual artifact while at work. Assisting a professor while working toward her PhD, Jessi St. James's curiosity gets the best of her- especially after...more Although I know many love the entirety of Moning's Highlander series, I found them to be hit or miss. A frequent reread for me, Spell of the Highlander, the final in the series before the author took the series in a whole other direction, definitely falls in the "hit" category.

The story essentially begins when our heroine accepts a delivery for an unusual artifact while at work. Assisting a professor while working toward her PhD, Jessi St. James's curiosity gets the best of her- especially after the deliveryman forces her to help him uncrate the item before he leaves-visual verification needed.

The artifact, a mirror with ancient runes inscribed around it, cannot be as old as it seems- mirrors with that much clarity just weren't around until the last century or so. But when a mysterious man enters the room demanding the mirror and threatening her life, Jessi finds herself defending it. Suddenly, a voice is heard demanding she release a man who happens to be trapped inside the mirror- a man held there for a very, very long time. Certain she's dreaming, she plays along and speaks the words that will release one Cian MacKeltar from the dark magic that holds him imprisoned within the mirror. (Yes, that would be the 9th century ancestor of the infamous Mackeltar clan who populate the rest of Moning's highlander series!)

He, of course, rescues her from the sinister character threatening her life, but not before Jessi makes her attraction to the sexy, ancient highlander very obvious- it's a dream after all, why not taste the handsomest, most masculine man she had ever laid eyes upon?

All too soon, she realizes he is indeed not a figment of her imagination and that her life is in very real danger. Cian convinces her she must return him- and the mirror- to his homeland in Scotland so he can prepare properly for the final battle that will have to take place between he and the man who imprisoned him. While there, they meet up with Drustan & Daegus (Kiss of the Highlander & The Dark Highlander) and their wives, and convince his descendants to assist them on their quest to release Cian from his curse.

Of course Jessi & Cian fall in love in the process, a love Jessi thought would keep him by her side, but Jessi has no idea how far Cian will go to be set free- until she sees him about to give up his life.

Seductive and intensely romantic this story goes right to the heart. I found it to be the most romantic of the series- and the most sensual. I highly recommend it, even as a standalone, because once you've turned the last page, you'll find it's not enough and you'll want to go back and read about the rest of the noble, strong MacKeltar's Moning has created and just who are these fae wreaking havoc on their lives!

As I've mentioned, I re-read this one quite often, though I have no idea why I've never reviewed it before. If you like enticing romance mixed with time travel magic- you can't go wrong with Moning's Highlander series.(less)

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Dec 25, 2008 Felicia rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: highland-hunkfantasy

Ugh, I like this author's DarkFever books, but oooooo this kilted thing has GOT to stop! When do men EVER say "MINE" when having sex?!?! No man I would be involved in, that's fo' sho!

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Sep 06, 2012 Wendy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: hot-highlanders, kindle, pnr, time-travel

3.5 stars

To be truthful, I found the storyline to be on the same lines as the previous books. You know a heroine, that needs to get her "cherry picked", a hero that takes her back to Scotland to get away from the bad guys.

It did pick up for me halfway through the book, with Drustan and Dageus making their entrance in the story, which felt complete and far more entertaining!

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Jan 24, 2013 Jamie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: buddy-read, favorites, hea, hot-sex, other-paranormal, protect-me, suspense, tatts, kilts

"Excepting with you, Jessica. You, lass, are the exception to everything. I'm not just stuck with you. You fit me here, woman." He thumped his chest with his fist

Oh these sexy alpha Highlanders. They can be such arrogant arses when you first meet them but once they decide who their woman is then they turn into big huge possessive, sexy, sweet talking Neanderthals. Oh my gosh and since they are all from the past and have one way or another made it to our century can be quiet hilarious over the...more

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Apr 17, 2012 MrsJoseph rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: format-paperback, romance, series, 2012-read, 2012-reviewed, hero-alpha-male, romance-contemporary, romance-fantasy, series-to-build

http://osgabookreviews.wordpress.com/...

I really enjoyed this book! I’ve been in and out of a reading slump during 2012…I’ll pick up a book and put it down again. I’m tossing books here and there…being very much a slut about my reading and still receiving no satisfaction. Meh.

But I was rather interested in this book from the very beginning! Yaaaay!

There’s no need to rehash the blurb. What I can tell you about the book is that there was not a lot of eye-rolling moments. The hero – Cian – was very

...more

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Nov 14, 2011 Rebecca (everyday reader) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: time-travel, magical

Cian and Jessica's story is an epic one. Murder, mayhem, black magyck, passion, and Scotland all wrapped up in one great story. Cian is trapped in a dark mirror and hes been for over 1100 years, and Jessi falls in love with him anyway. We get to see Dageus and Drustan again . I love the MacKelters'. Cian gives up his long time vengence to save his mate/wife, very romantic. Great read and great series!!

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Jan 25, 2013 Sultan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Cain, Cain, Cain ... You sexy, arrogant, an rippling muscles of a man, nay of a highlander. Oooo what a sexy man to boot! KMM, I bow to you. You write some of the most deliciously amazing men and love stories, I have had the pleasure of reading and discovering. I wish they made men like this still. I could relate to Jessica in sooo many levels. For one I know the woes of having a rather large ...rack if you will. I, know how hard it is to find a good man and when you find said good man, you wrap...more

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May 03, 2011 Filipa rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own, portuguese-books, paranormal, gift, 2011-reads

Acabei.
E mais uma vez, adorei. Adoro esta autora. Faz-nos rir, chorar e fantasiar tudo no mesmo livro. As histórias de amor que ela nos conta parecem-nos sempre impossíveis e mesmo assim fazem-nos sonhar.
Gostei bastante do enredo deste livro.
A autora, com a sua escrita apelativa, consegue contar maravilhosamente as suas histórias de encantar. Para mim, são o que parecem as histórias dela. São românticas, impossíveis de resistir, mas em vez de termos os príncipes encantados, temos os grandes,...more Acabei.
E mais uma vez, adorei. Adoro esta autora. Faz-nos rir, chorar e fantasiar tudo no mesmo livro. As histórias de amor que ela nos conta parecem-nos sempre impossíveis e mesmo assim fazem-nos sonhar.
Gostei bastante do enredo deste livro.
A autora, com a sua escrita apelativa, consegue contar maravilhosamente as suas histórias de encantar. Para mim, são o que parecem as histórias dela. São românticas, impossíveis de resistir, mas em vez de termos os príncipes encantados, temos os grandes, machos-alfa Highlander de uma Escócia que não é do nosso tempo.
Quem não gostaria de se ver postada em frente de um exemplar destes?
Assim sendo, este livro - o 4º a ser publicado pela Saída de Emergência, não é excepção à regra.
É um livro altamente sedutor, apelativo, carinhoso e muito, muito romântico.
Gostei bastante do Cian.. Ele sinceramente, ficou mesmo, mesmo ao lado do meu preferido - o Adam Black.

Quanto às personagens - adorei rever os antigos personagens, mesmo que o Adam Black tenha sido apenas uma referência. Quanto aos gémeos, é sempre um prazer revê-los e acompanhar a evolução da vida deles conjuntamente com as suas mulheres.
Quanto à Jessica St. James, a protagonista deste livro é a típica heroína da Karen Marie Moning. É jovem, na faixa etária dos 24-28 anos, divertida, com respostas à altura e uma com um fascinação pela Escócia e pelo antigo/desconhecido.
Quanto ao Cian MacKeltar, acho que já disse tudo o que se precisa de saber.

Adorei ver a relação deles a evoluir. Ri-me tanto durante todo o livro, que parecia que estava a ler um livro da Jill Mansell.
Foi muito terapêutico.

Agora, sim, espero que a SdE venha mesmo a publicar os restantes 3 livros que faltam. São uma mais-valia neste panorama literário.
Adoro o mundo que ela criou, com os Fae - os Seelie e os Unseelie. Recordei-me com ternura da história do Dageus. Há muito paralelismo nas histórias deles os dois. Quem ainda não leu, faça-o. É um livro que se lê muito bem, nem se dá pelas páginas a passar. Uma história que nos enfeitiça desde o primeiro capítulo. (less)

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Apr 30, 2011 Mariya rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: pnr-romance, historical-romance

I swear every single one of these highlanders are too hot for the pages. It should be illegal to be THAT hot! I think I will never get enough.

I adore the Mackealtars. I mean, OMFG! I need to go to scottland and hear their accent for real. I mean in person it could sound 1000 times hotter, yes? Where I adored Drustan and Daegu's book I did not enjoy Cian as much. And I am thinking that this maybe just from the plot of the story.

Cian Mackeltar, reminds me a bit of Daegus(DARK HIGHLANDER) and Barro...more

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Aug 21, 2008 Theresa rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: dnf, 2008

8/21: I'm halfway through the book and my patience is thinning. My problems with the book so far (w/o spoilers):

1) I understand Cian, the hero, is Scottish, but after 1,133 years in a mirror, wouldn't he have dropped the Scottish highlands way of saying things for more modern speech? For instance, would he still be saying "doona ken" instead of "do not know" after watching TV and reading books from his mirror for so many years?

2) Cian has so many superpowers that it is hard to keep track of the...more 8/21: I'm halfway through the book and my patience is thinning. My problems with the book so far (w/o spoilers):

1) I understand Cian, the hero, is Scottish, but after 1,133 years in a mirror, wouldn't he have dropped the Scottish highlands way of saying things for more modern speech? For instance, would he still be saying "doona ken" instead of "do not know" after watching TV and reading books from his mirror for so many years?

2) Cian has so many superpowers that it is hard to keep track of them all. I get that he's the most powerful Druid in all of time, but seriously. Besides getting out of the damned mirror, is there anything that he can't do? It would be nice if he had some flaws or things that he had to do normally to add a little challenge to the story. Oh, and not to be forgotten, Cian is, of course, hung - as in "worrisomely large".

3) It is petty, but the cover bugs me. First, it is more porno-ish than most romance novels that I've read. I get embarrassed holding the damn thing. Second, the girl on the cover is blond and has long hair... Jessi, the heroine, has black, short, curly hair.

4) Sort of like # 2, it bugs that the bad guy sends these incompetant "assassins" that Cian dispatches in seconds. One gets dispatched after Cian throws a dagger from the mirror and kills them. If Cian can do that, why hasn't he killed his captor, Lucan, that way over the course of the last 1,133 years? Yes, I get that Lucan stands on bespelled ground whenever Cian is allowed out of the mirror, but what about all the other times?

5) I am so unbelievably sick and tired of heroines that are virgins. Especially when the author writes that they are these gorgeous women of, let's say, over 20 that "just haven't found the right guy yet" and act like it is some big, almost shameful secret. Since when is being a virgin a bad thing? Since when is being a virgin a big to-do in today's times? So what, she's selective, what is the big whoop? And, I haven't gotten to an actual sex scene yet, but how much you want to bet that Cian is completely shocked that Jessi is a virgin? *gag*(less)

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Apr 14, 2013 Ann Gimpel rated it 3 of 5 stars

Let me start with saying I really like KM Moning's books. I inhaled the Fever Series, at least the first five books. And I've read the other Highlander books and enjoyed them for the most part. Unfortunately, Spell of the Highlander got off to a mighty slow start. Jessi felt like the female leads in all the other Highlander books by this author. Except not quite as capable or as interesting. For a Ph.D. candidate, her ability to reason seemed fairly truncated. The writing was repetitive in place...more

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Feb 10, 2013 Marcia rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: uf-pnr

Eh, I guess I'm just not that into these Highland virgin books. This one had big sections of back story from book 4, 5, and 6 which I found really annoying. I'm a huge fan of KMM's Fever series, i guess due to the action and mystery and ofcourse barrons. These books while similar in character leads and fae story line are too cheesy for me. I'm glad I read them though because now i know that i am a UF, mystery and thriller gal versus a PNR or Historical Romance.

About this book specifically, our m...more

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Dec 14, 2012 Laura Ashlee rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, audiobooks, 2011

Okay, so whoa. That didn’t exactly end the way I expected. Don’t worry! It wasn’t bad. It was just different from the other books in the series. It left things really open for another book. Or, at least, it felt that way to me. I know I still have to read Into the Dreaming, but the synopsis to that has nothing to do with the way this one ended. Oh well. We’ll see if there was supposed to be more in time, I suppose.

First awesome thing about this book? More yummy MacKeltar. I’m really enjoying the...more Okay, so whoa. That didn’t exactly end the way I expected. Don’t worry! It wasn’t bad. It was just different from the other books in the series. It left things really open for another book. Or, at least, it felt that way to me. I know I still have to read Into the Dreaming, but the synopsis to that has nothing to do with the way this one ended. Oh well. We’ll see if there was supposed to be more in time, I suppose.

First awesome thing about this book? More yummy MacKeltar. I’m really enjoying their cameos and the story line staying in their family. Cian is older than any of the time-traveling, immortal (or, at least, for a little while) Highlanders we’ve met so far. He hails from the ninth century. It shows a little bit. He makes some cave-man-like demands at the beginning. Jessi, like the characters before her in this series, is incredibly likable and strong-willed. Well, she is until Cian kisses her. Then, she’s putty in his big, strong hands. Their relationship is fun, and sometimes really sweet.

Moning weaves a great plot, complete with faerie magic and the Highlander twins we all love. There’s not much I can say that I haven’t already said in the reviews of the previous books. If you’ve read them and you liked any of them, you’ll love this one. It wasn’t quite as good as the last one. That one remains my favorite. It’s interesting how they all line up and have little cameos. If you’ve never read the series, I suggest starting with the first one and moving in order. It’s more fun that way, though they could all stand alone. But they’re in chronological order, as far as plot goes.

Phil Gigante is, of course, amazing. The performance and production of the audiobooks for this series deserve a round of applause, or maybe an award. I know The Dark Highlander was nominated for an Audie when it came out. I think the whole series should have been nominated for an Audie. It’s superb. Seriously, if you’ve never tried audio, these are a good place to start.(less)

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Oct 29, 2012 Claire rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is an excellent example of Paranormal Romance. If the concept of fated mates seems too cheesy for you, don't read this book. However, aside from the unrealistic time span in which the relationship between the two characters developed, it was a very well-written novel.

There was actually an interesting enemy in this book. Not one that played a massive role in the story, after all it is a romance, but interesting nonetheless. There was a moment, albeit short, where you wondered if Cian MacKelt...more

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May 08, 2012 Nina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fae, fever, murder-she-wrote, sexy-banter, series, swoon, tortured-hero

Cian, you beast.

I really enjoyed this one. Did it help that I just did a Fever reread? Possibly. I've only read two of her highlander books, other than this one, (Dageus and Adam Black), but I just love the set up. At the end I could feel the pot being stirred for what would unfold in the Fever series, and man, she is good.

But, back to this one, Cian is stuck in a mirror for messing with dark magic and he is a MacKeltar Druid from the 9th century, so technically he proceeds the Druids we've alr...more

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Apr 11, 2012 Jilly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Why did I say I liked Dark the most? I can’t figure out where the not liking Spell as much if not more than the others came in? I mean I know why I LOVE Dageus but what made me think I wasn’t a fan of Cian?????

I don’t even know what to say except maybe Cian is a tad arrogant. Just a tad. Part of me thinks it is because he was Laird and doesn’t deal well with Drustan being laird now but hell who cares when your being kept safe?

Okay the book. I, for whatever insane reason, thought this book was ki...more

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Nov 28, 2011 Amy Jacobs rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own

After reading the Fever series by this author, I just knew I was going to have to read her other books. The only thing though is that I had never really read a book involving Highlanders. I didn't know what to expect because I thought a Highlander would be set in the past. I certainly didn't expect a Highlander to be so sexy and drool worthy!

When Jessi -- who is swamped with school work and such -- is asked by her professor to go sign for a package at his office while he is in the hospital, she...more

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Aug 01, 2011 Madame X rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-urban-fantasy, fairies-or-fae, romance-ends-with-hea-or-hfn

Huh. Well. This was interesting.

I got hooked on Karen Marie Moning via her FEVER series - wonderful but pretty dark urban fantasies with a romantic core. I love, love, love the FEVER series. I tried one of the Highlander books - THE DARK HIGHLANDER - hoping for a similar reading experience. But THE DARK HIGHLANDER was a very different kind of book, a much mellower, more typical romance. THE DARK HIGHLANDER wasn't half as dark as the more cheerful parts of the FEVER books, if you ask me.

When I...more Huh. Well. This was interesting.

I got hooked on Karen Marie Moning via her FEVER series - wonderful but pretty dark urban fantasies with a romantic core. I love, love, love the FEVER series. I tried one of the Highlander books - THE DARK HIGHLANDER - hoping for a similar reading experience. But THE DARK HIGHLANDER was a very different kind of book, a much mellower, more typical romance. THE DARK HIGHLANDER wasn't half as dark as the more cheerful parts of the FEVER books, if you ask me.

When I read the customer reviews of SPELL OF THE HIGHLANDER a little suspicion formed in my mind. A lot of readers who'd enjoyed other HIGHLANDER books were frustrated by SPELL OF THE HIGHLANDER. Everyone seemed to think that the romance was a little more intense, a little less romantic, while simultaneously pointing out that the adventure elements were more dominant than in previous books. Hmmm, I thought. It sounds like SPELL OF THE HIGHLANDER might be a little more like the FEVER series. I snapped it right up and...wow, it is a LOT more like the FEVER books. No wonder the romance fans were frustrated. The book is decidedly a romance, and the relationship between Cian and Jessi is the focus of the book, but its tone and atmosphere are straight out of the FEVER books.

Devoted FEVER readers will be thrilled by the crossovers here. The conclusion of the book is practically a spoiler for the FEVER series (and since it's definitely a spoiler for SPELL OF THE HIGHLANDER, that's all I'll say), and any FEVER readers who want to learn more about the Unseelie Hallows will find plenty of information here, since Cian is trapped inside of one - a mirror - and the villain of the novel is hunting for a certain Dark Book that has been at the center of the FEVER series from the beginning. The mirror aspect also sheds some light on the Sifting Silvers. The Barrons-curious will be pleased to know that we learn more about the difference between Druids and sorcerers, and the purpose of those red-and-black tattoos that sorcerers wear.

Also for the Barrons-curious: the hero of this book, Cian, is enough like him that reading SPELL OF THE HIGHLANDER is almost wickedly enjoyable.

Now, I've managed to get to the end of my review without saying a whole lot about the plot of the book itself. Personally, I loved it. I thought it was deliciously intense, that all the danger complimented the romance and all the romance enhanced the danger. Very steamy. Cian and Jessi are together pretty much 24/7, so they have a lot of time to interact over the course of the novel, building a relationship while the villain sends them on a wild ride.
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Jul 27, 2011 Tonya Warner added it · review of another edition

Jessica St. James has spent a lot of time working towards her PhD. Putting her life on hold, no man in sight, she dreams and fantasizes about when the day will come when she finally meets the Man for her.

Cian MacKeltar has always been a proud, determined man. Being trapped in the Unseelie Hallows Dark Mirror for one thousand, one hundred and thirty-three years by someone he had thought a friend, Cian is desperate to get out and end the torment. Being a Keltar Druid, he has many powers, but mess...more

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May 10, 2011 Regina rated it 5 of 5 stars

I enjoyed reading this book. The book was really funny to me, and at times very sad. I love the Highlander Series so far,(I’m a big Celtic, Druid etc.. History nerd) even though this is fantasy the author does use historical reference when writing the books. This book is the last so far in the series, I read book one first "Beyond The Highland Mist"(loved, loved, loved one of my all time favorite books now) then "Spell of the Highlander", now I’m reading the series in order(though not really nec...more

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Feb 26, 2011 Tracy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-romance, time-travel

This all started with a Kindle freebie months and months ago. Oh how things change. Once, I was unaware of Karen Marie Moning as an author and blindly oblivious to either the Highlander or Fever series. Now, several months and a lot of happy reading later, I'm sitting in awe of the mind that has created and penned two series with delicately interwoven stories and building drama. I've never even heard of an author able to do what KMM's done here.

Starting with the Highlander series, a solid and th...more This all started with a Kindle freebie months and months ago. Oh how things change. Once, I was unaware of Karen Marie Moning as an author and blindly oblivious to either the Highlander or Fever series. Now, several months and a lot of happy reading later, I'm sitting in awe of the mind that has created and penned two series with delicately interwoven stories and building drama. I've never even heard of an author able to do what KMM's done here.

Starting with the Highlander series, a solid and thoroughly well written time travel paranormal romance series, KMM's fleshed out and delineated a world full of magick, mystery, danger, and hot highlander men. Completely entertaining narrative with delicious humor and mouth-watering sensuality that, when read one after another, winds you through a path of increasing danger and intrigue and Tuatha Dé Danann machinations leading straight to the front door of the Fever series. Each book in the Highlander series gets darker and darker, and the tone of Spell of the Highlander so closely matches the start of that decidedly urban fantasy series that the transition is virtuously seamless. It's all due to KMM's phenomenal talent as an author and dedication as a story teller.

Spell of the Highlander was perhaps not my favorite of the Highlander series, but that's roughly akin to saying dark chocolate isn't my favorite of the chocolates - it's all delicious, decadent, and delightful. I just grooved on Adam Black a wee bit more than Cian. Totally loved Jessi, though. And their story was taut, tightly woven, and rich with history - like all the Highlander stories. What elevated Spell of the Highlander to nearly iconic stature in my eyes was how deftly KMM wove in details of things that I'd wondered about in the Fever series. That's just totally kick ass, and earned ultimate respect. If I'd read the Highlander series first, I don't know that I'd have truly appreciated the attention to the most minuscule detail, so I'm glad I didn't...but I fully intend to go back and read the first four books of the Fever series now that I understand more of the Fae mythos and KMM's rich, detailed world.

~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.(less)

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Feb 06, 2011 Ruby rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review was first posted on http://www.rubysreads.com.

I think one of the things I like about the Highlander books is their sameness. I know what I'm getting with each book because they all follow a similar pattern. There's always a highly masculine alpha-type Highland hero from another era and a smart, pretty modern heroine who, despite the lax sexual mores of her peers, is still a virgin. It's a foolproof formula, if you like that sort of thing. I've mentioned before that I like virgin her...more This review was first posted on http://www.rubysreads.com.

I think one of the things I like about the Highlander books is their sameness. I know what I'm getting with each book because they all follow a similar pattern. There's always a highly masculine alpha-type Highland hero from another era and a smart, pretty modern heroine who, despite the lax sexual mores of her peers, is still a virgin. It's a foolproof formula, if you like that sort of thing. I've mentioned before that I like virgin heroines as long as they work with the story and the character. KMM does a good job with this--her heroines are generally still relatively young. There tends to be something in the heroine's past that has led to her old-fashioned views towards sex, but that thing has made her cautious, not dysfunctional. Thank goodness.
Because Spell of the Highlander followed the pattern, it was an easy read. It also meant that my interest waned about three-quarters of the way through. I'd been through most of it before: the hero's past is not exactly lily-white. The heroine is convinced he is a Good and Worthy Man. He's attracted to her and is interested in "tooping" (I kind of hate that word) right off. Plus, the heroine is in Danger and must be Protected. As an interesting twist, the hero (Cian) is stuck in a mirror. He can come out if Jessi says an incantation, but he never knows how long he has before the mirror pulls him back. It makes him kind of unreliable. Add to that, Cian is from the ninth century and doesn't know Jessi's modern world and therefore its dangers (being tracked through credit cards, emails). Luckily, Cian realizes his limitations and he makes a plan: he's going to take Jessi to Scotland and they'll live off the land--he'll do the things a man did for his woman in his time: hunt food, provide shelter and, yes, "toop" her. Shudder. Like, a lot.
Predictably, things don't go as Cian plans. Being tied to the mirror has the kind of drawbacks you'd expect. Plus, Cian doesn't plan on sticking around after all the sex--he has plans for revenge on the man who imprisoned them in the mirror. Plans that don't include living afterward. Because he's a KMM hero, Cian doesn't share his plans with Chloe. It's the downside of her alpha heroes--they think they are protecting the heroine by withholding information, never realizing that the withholding is as painful as the secrets themselves.
In Spell of the Highlander, you'll be happy to know that we reconnect with some familiar characters. Drustan and Gwen make an appearance, as do Dageus and Chloe. Adam Black is briefly mentioned. There are babies--both in existence and in the offing. Lovely. I was tickled by a scene that features Chloe and Gwen checking Cian's butt out. It was gleeful and perfectly sweet. I like to think of Chloe and Gwen as good friends as well as sisters-in-law. Even if I haven't read Gwen's story yet. There are also plenty of chuckle-worthy moments when Drustan and Dageus meet Cian. Lots of testosterone in the room, lots of posturing, lots of jealousy over passing glimpses of male body parts. All the Keltar men are superb physical specimens and the ladies make no demure about appreciating them. It's cute.
I'll definitely be reading some of the other Highlander books, though I don't think I'll read all of them. A few years ago, when I discovered Linda Howard, I went on a binge. I read everything she'd ever wrote and then I started on similar authors. After a time I got sick of them--just like you do when you gorge on chocolate (it's sad, but it does happen). I have a feeling that KMM's Highlander books are going to be like that. I'll indulge in them and love the first four or five, but eventually, the formula will start to bore me instead of make me tingle. So, I'm going to enjoy the feeling while I can. I suggest you do the same. (less)

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Feb 05, 2011 (´*•.¸ღBexღ¸.•*´) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-books, own

Spell of the Highlander almost made me give up my long held favorite Moning Highlander, Dageus MacKeltar, for Spell's wonderfully written Cian. I loved this book and recommend this book and Ms. Moning's entire fabulous series to anyone who wants a read that will captivate, excite, charm, entice, and most of all make one yearn to fly to Scotland in the hopes of stumbling or falling onto one of these time travelling captivating and sexy Highlanders.

I also won't go into the synopsis, but Ms. Moni...more

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Mar 03, 2013 Shen rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved reading Spell Of The Highlander.
Cian MacKelter has been trapped in the Unseelie Dark Glass for 1,133 years. He has watched the world change while waiting for his chance if revenge against the enemy that imprisoned him. One fateful night the mirror is stolen and finds its way to a university in Chicago where Cian just may be able to finally achieve his goal.

Jessica St. James, PHD student of Archeology has no life. She is employed as a professor assistant full time and a full time studen...more I loved reading Spell Of The Highlander.
Cian MacKelter has been trapped in the Unseelie Dark Glass for 1,133 years. He has watched the world change while waiting for his chance if revenge against the enemy that imprisoned him. One fateful night the mirror is stolen and finds its way to a university in Chicago where Cian just may be able to finally achieve his goal.

Jessica St. James, PHD student of Archeology has no life. She is employed as a professor assistant full time and a full time student. Late one evening she receives a call that her professor needs a favor. He needs her to accept a package being delivered to his office. She returns to the university and accepts the package, an ancient mirror, not knowing that she has just turned her life upside down.

This book has everything, assassins, attempted murder, murder, humor, enough sadness to make you get a good cry on, and an amazingly sweet love story that made staying up all night sooo worth it.

I adored Cian's Neanderthal Alpha male personality. The ultimate macho man with magical powers that can control anyone, except the one person he wants to control, Jessica.

Jessica can't believe that she is being hunted by assassins because if an ancient mirror with, of all things, a huge hunky Highlander trapped in it. Overnight she has gone from her perfectly scheduled life to utter chaos, all thanks to the man in the mirror.

Their story takes you from Chicago to The Highlands of Scotland and brings back the delicious MacKelter twins, Drustan and Dageus. One of my favorite bits are of Cian trying to use the Voice of Power on Jessica when he first gets out of the mirror. I also laughed my butt off at Jessica's attempt to retrieve the mirror from the airport in Scotland. That running jump over the counter and subsequent knapsack to the head of the nasty airport employee was inspired! There are many times I wished I could do the same.

I highly recommend this and every other KMM book. The woman knows her Highland hunks!!
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Dec 21, 2012 Maria rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fae, magic

Another amazing book in this great series! Karen Marie Moning’s books are always good to read and this book is no exception. Darker and with more details about the world-building, this story is very well-written and captivates the reader from the beginning until the end.

Cian is a Highlander from the past and a powerful Druid. Many centuries ago he was betrayed by a man he thought as a friend. Now, after hundreds of years, he found his savior in the face of a young and beautiful woman. Jessie is...more

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Jan 24, 2011 Jen (Red Hot Books) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: highlander, pararnormal-romance, historical-romance

We’re not done with the McKeltar Highlanders just yet. Karen Marie Moning introduces us to a new member of the sexy clan, Cian. He was born in the 9th century and was probably the most gifted and powerful of the Druid line. But he met a Dark Sorcerer named Lucian who tricked him into friendship and trapped him inside a Fae mirror for over 1000 years. Now the mirror has been stolen and sold to a college professor. Lucian sends his goons to retrieve it –but not before the professor’s assistant, th...more We’re not done with the McKeltar Highlanders just yet. Karen Marie Moning introduces us to a new member of the sexy clan, Cian. He was born in the 9th century and was probably the most gifted and powerful of the Druid line. But he met a Dark Sorcerer named Lucian who tricked him into friendship and trapped him inside a Fae mirror for over 1000 years. Now the mirror has been stolen and sold to a college professor. Lucian sends his goons to retrieve it –but not before the professor’s assistant, the lovely Jessi, crosses paths with it. When her life is on the line, Cian tells her how to free him from the mirror to save his life.

Of course, enchanted mirrors and the Fae are a tough pill to swallow, but Jessi becomes a believer quickly as Lucian sends more threats to her life. And despite his dark edge and penchant for taking charge, she can’t help but being drawn to Cian. The two go on the run; Cian determined to protect Jessi. They only have to elude Lucian for three weeks, until Halloween. If Lucian doesn’t reclaim the mirror by then, the curse is broken. Unfortunately, Cian can only stay outside of the mirror for a few hours at a time before it reclaims him until the next day.

The couple decides to go to Scotland, to hide on MacKeltar land. And there, they run into Dageus and Drustan. Cian reluctantly seeks their help as Lucian closes in on him. In the meantime, the relationship between him and Jessi reaches a fever pitch. But he is holding a secret that will likely ruin any chance they have at a future.

The end of the book sets up the events that take place in Moning’s Fever series… which takes place five years after the conclusion of this story. We hear from the Fae Queen, an overview of what is to come in the dark days ahead.

I liked this book, though not quite so much as Kiss of the Highlander. It feels like every hero has to be more powerful than the last…. Enough already. The love scenes were very hot. And I was pleasantly surprised at the tenderness we see from our tortured Cian. One other little peeve: enough with the virgins already, sheesh! A heroine doesn’t HAVE to be a virgin in every book. Let’s change it up just a little every now and then m’kay? 4 stars.

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Jul 25, 2010 Danny rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: july-2010

Oh my Sweet MacKeltar's! I so adore those men! Cian is an ancient (9th century) MacKeltar imprisoned in a Dark Unseelie mirror so that a dark sorcerer can be immortal. In our time ( and 5 years before Mac begins her journey ) Jess finds herself freeing him and helping him.
I love this barbaric Highlander who is really well portrayed and one really feels that he's from a different time even than Drustan and Dageus who are from the 16th century.
Love the story of them falling in Love and meeting t...more

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About Karen Marie Moning

Karen Marie Moning (rhymes with 'awning') is the # 1 New York Times bestselling author of 12 novels, including the Rita-award winning Highlander novels and the internationally bestselling urban fantasy Fever series. Her books have been published in 21 languages, and her events draw fans from all over the world.

She divides her time between the mountains of Georgia and the beaches of Florida.
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Quotes from Spell of the Highlander

“The entire time I'm burning in Hell, I'll regret each tear I made you weep. But if Hell were the price for twenty days with you, I'd condemn myself again and again.

- Cian MacKeltar ” — 180 people liked it

“If she could have anything in the world, he'd asked her, what would it be?

She'd answered that one without hesitation: a best friend. She hastily added, a truly, seriously best friend; one that I couldn't wait to talk to first thing in the morning as soon as I woke up, and one that I still wanted to be talking to, right up to the last minute before I went to sleep.

He'd smiled faintly. You mean a soul mate, he'd thought but not said.” — 43 people liked it

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