With any great series, it's hard for each news book to stand up to high expectations. Add to that a first book that has joined the ranks of "re-read favorites", and I was paralyzed with excitement and fear when I picked up ORACLE'S MOON. No one is more excited than I to find that no only did ORACLE'S MOON stand up to how much I enjoyed SERPENT'S KISS, it has joined DRAGON BOUND as a book that I know I'll be re-reading to enjoy again in the future. Grace and Khalil's relationship, as well as the sub-plot of Khalil's acclimation to a human family, are both charming and unique variations of the rescue-the-single-mom-and-her-moppets romance trope. Even better, Harrison explores the relationship between an immortal, infinitely powerful non-human and a young human woman in ways that were not only entertaining but also completely enjoyable as a romance.

As difficult as it is to imagine, Khalil may actually give Dragos a run for the money as my favorite Elder Races hero. Not as alpha as that sexy dragon, Khalil shares a similar deadpan humor. Whether he's negotiating with a four year old or drunken college boys, he always had me cracking up. Couple that with being a one-man orgy (in one of the best written magical sex scenes I've ever read), or the description of him experiencing human flesh for the first time ever, and there is plenty of chemistry to balance the emotional richness of the story.

I have a hard time judging how well ORACLE'S moon would stand up as a stand alone. The relationship between Grace and Khalil is completely accessible, however the backstory of how they met (and the context of Dragos, Rune, and Carling) may be difficult to pick up without at least reading SERPENT'S KISS. Do yourself a favor, however, and pick up this series at the beginning. Harrison blends romance with a robust mythology that few, if any paranormal romance series can match.

Sexual Content: Several sex scenes.

Read #2 (3/1/2012): It may be a warning sign if you read a book twice before it comes out... Or it's a really great sign. Khalil and Grace completely hold up for a second time around (I'm even more in love with Khalil, which I didn't think could be possible). The teaser chapter at the end has me all worked up in a frenzy for Elder Races #5, too. More Pia and Dragos, *squeeee*.