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Shadowlands #2
Kiss of the Goblin Prince
Trapped for centuries in the bleak Shadowlands, Dai clings to his humanity with a thirst for knowledge. But now he's free of the goblin curse, and some would say he knows too much—he can make nature bend to his will, influence the minds of others, and command magic. Yet love eludes him. Then he meets Amanda, a single mother with a sick daughter whom he feels compelled to protect. But could she possibly place her trust in the kiss of a goblin prince?
353 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2012
38 people are currently reading
1227 people want to read
About the author
Shona Husk
97 books620 followersShona Husk lives in Western Australia at the edge of the Indian Ocean. Blessed with a lively imagination she spent most of her childhood making up stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
July 28, 2018
3.5*
I liked this better than The Goblin King. After the first, I was intrigued about Dai and wanted his story. Overall, I enjoyed the slow burn between Amanda and Dai. I wished Amanda had realized much sooner that she really wasn't living. I understand losing someone, but to not move on after it's been years, was a bit extreme.
Dai, too, took along time to get over his fears and desire for vengeance. Amanda was good at reading him and giving him some suggestions. I thought his background and abuse was dealt with well, along with his PTSD and acceptance of his body- scars, tattoos, and all.
What kept this from being a 4 was the slow-burn. There were moments that were so slow. And I wanted more of a payoff between Dai and Amanda at the end. (But I think the ending was realistic and if both were running to the alter at the end, it wouldn't have been true to their characters). And, yes, those last 2 sentences contradict each other:-)
I liked this better than The Goblin King. After the first, I was intrigued about Dai and wanted his story. Overall, I enjoyed the slow burn between Amanda and Dai. I wished Amanda had realized much sooner that she really wasn't living. I understand losing someone, but to not move on after it's been years, was a bit extreme.
Dai, too, took along time to get over his fears and desire for vengeance. Amanda was good at reading him and giving him some suggestions. I thought his background and abuse was dealt with well, along with his PTSD and acceptance of his body- scars, tattoos, and all.
What kept this from being a 4 was the slow-burn. There were moments that were so slow. And I wanted more of a payoff between Dai and Amanda at the end. (But I think the ending was realistic and if both were running to the alter at the end, it wouldn't have been true to their characters). And, yes, those last 2 sentences contradict each other:-)
June 14, 2012
Review originally published at Reading Reality
Kiss of the Goblin Prince by Shona Husk is a story about second chances. And third chances. And twentieth chances. On the one hand, it's about realizing that we only have a short time at this life, and that we have to make the most of it. And at the very same time, it's a story about that classic conundrum that those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it. Literally, life after life, whether the person remembers those other lives or not. The soul remembers.
Amanda watches her sister-in-law marry a man that she barely knows, and wonders how Eliza could turn her life around so fast. Not that Roan isn't a major improvement over the now-residing-in-jail Steve. But Eliza and Roan haven't even known each other long enough to file the 30 days paperwork to make this wedding legal.
Amanda is a widow with a young daughter, a daughter with a fatal disease. A daughter whose father died before she was born. She was a wife for a year, and has been a widow for seven. She's poured all her energy into taking care of her daughter, Brigit. Watching as severe asthma steals more and more of Brigit's lungs every time she has an attack.
But in that church, watching Eliza marry Roan, she finds herself watching Roan's brother, Dai. And feeling things she hasn't felt in years. And isn't any too comfortable with.
Dai is no more sure of himself than Amanda. Roan and Dai spent almost 2,000 years under a curse. They were goblins. Slowly, slowly losing their souls to the lust for gold, cursed by a Druid priest during the Roman occupation of Wales for leading a failed rebellion.
Eliza's love for Roan cured the curse. Roan was the King, and curing him, cured Dai as well. But they were the only ones left in their band of warriors to survive the ages. And Dai, well sometimes, he's not so sure he came all the way back. In nightmares, he's still in the Shadowlands, still a goblin.
What he feels for Amanda, he's afraid to pursue. He spent those centuries researching their curse, researching magic. He's bargained away parts of his soul, many times over. Those vows still bind him. And in the human lands, he discovers that he can practice real magic. Magic that has not been seen since the Druids that cursed them died out.
With his newfound magic he learns much that surprises him about the modern world. He can see connections between people. He can see disease, even though he doesn't know how to cure it. He can actually see the growing attraction that runs between himself and Amanda.
And he can see the reason why he, Amanda and her daughter Brigit were brought together. In a previous life, Brigit was his sister. He couldn't save her then, but now, he feels that he must try, no matter what it costs him.
Even if he has to tell Amanda the truth, and he loses her. The only woman he has ever loved.
Escape Rating A: This story was complex, and it really drew me in. It kept going deeper and deeper as it went. On the surface it seemed straightforward enough. Eliza and Roan get married (after The Goblin King) and now it's Dai's turn.
But not simple at all. Dai is much more tortured, not just by the past, but by everything he studied. All those magic rituals and vows, one on top of another. He's been a scholar for centuries! All those secrets, and no one to ever tell. Starting with the biggest secret of all.
Amanda has been hurting too. She feels like she can never do enough for her daughter, and she's fighting a battle she can't win. Eventually she's going to be left alone. But all her energies are focused on taking care of Brigit.
Putting these two tormented people together made for one amazing story.
Kiss of the Goblin Prince by Shona Husk is a story about second chances. And third chances. And twentieth chances. On the one hand, it's about realizing that we only have a short time at this life, and that we have to make the most of it. And at the very same time, it's a story about that classic conundrum that those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it. Literally, life after life, whether the person remembers those other lives or not. The soul remembers.
Amanda watches her sister-in-law marry a man that she barely knows, and wonders how Eliza could turn her life around so fast. Not that Roan isn't a major improvement over the now-residing-in-jail Steve. But Eliza and Roan haven't even known each other long enough to file the 30 days paperwork to make this wedding legal.
Amanda is a widow with a young daughter, a daughter with a fatal disease. A daughter whose father died before she was born. She was a wife for a year, and has been a widow for seven. She's poured all her energy into taking care of her daughter, Brigit. Watching as severe asthma steals more and more of Brigit's lungs every time she has an attack.
But in that church, watching Eliza marry Roan, she finds herself watching Roan's brother, Dai. And feeling things she hasn't felt in years. And isn't any too comfortable with.
Dai is no more sure of himself than Amanda. Roan and Dai spent almost 2,000 years under a curse. They were goblins. Slowly, slowly losing their souls to the lust for gold, cursed by a Druid priest during the Roman occupation of Wales for leading a failed rebellion.
Eliza's love for Roan cured the curse. Roan was the King, and curing him, cured Dai as well. But they were the only ones left in their band of warriors to survive the ages. And Dai, well sometimes, he's not so sure he came all the way back. In nightmares, he's still in the Shadowlands, still a goblin.
What he feels for Amanda, he's afraid to pursue. He spent those centuries researching their curse, researching magic. He's bargained away parts of his soul, many times over. Those vows still bind him. And in the human lands, he discovers that he can practice real magic. Magic that has not been seen since the Druids that cursed them died out.
With his newfound magic he learns much that surprises him about the modern world. He can see connections between people. He can see disease, even though he doesn't know how to cure it. He can actually see the growing attraction that runs between himself and Amanda.
And he can see the reason why he, Amanda and her daughter Brigit were brought together. In a previous life, Brigit was his sister. He couldn't save her then, but now, he feels that he must try, no matter what it costs him.
Even if he has to tell Amanda the truth, and he loses her. The only woman he has ever loved.
Escape Rating A: This story was complex, and it really drew me in. It kept going deeper and deeper as it went. On the surface it seemed straightforward enough. Eliza and Roan get married (after The Goblin King) and now it's Dai's turn.
But not simple at all. Dai is much more tortured, not just by the past, but by everything he studied. All those magic rituals and vows, one on top of another. He's been a scholar for centuries! All those secrets, and no one to ever tell. Starting with the biggest secret of all.
Amanda has been hurting too. She feels like she can never do enough for her daughter, and she's fighting a battle she can't win. Eventually she's going to be left alone. But all her energies are focused on taking care of Brigit.
Putting these two tormented people together made for one amazing story.
May 4, 2012
I liked book 1 because it was a bit different, a goblin hero..and they ain't pretty, I'll tell you that. But in this book the curse is broken and we have a new hero, Dai. He may be human again but life is not easy.
Oh Dai, I wanted his story already in book 1 and here I got it. He is all things I want my hero to be, that's right, tortured and hurting. He feels that he can't let go of his horrid past and all the things done to him. He is suffering and he is just the kind of man you want to hug and tell that everything will be ok. Because he is also loyal, kind and good with kids. He is not that alpha when I think about it, he always shadowed his brother. He is the magician, the scholar, the beta, and I really liked that.
The story is a lot about he trying to come to terms with things, being human, the magic he can now use, and falling for a woman, Amanda.The lovestory is not rushed at all, another thing I liked as you do not need to jump in bed at once. Like I said, he has suffered and Amanda is a widow. They dance around each other for a while and think about if they want to pursue this. Yes, things should take time.
We also meet the hero of book 3 briefly in this book and I do want his story too, especially if the book is as good as this one was. At times I could not put it down because I felt for Dai and there are things going on too, that I cannot mention. All making it exciting at times.
Conclusion:
Who knew a former Goblin could be a hottie?! I liked the book and the series should keep on getting better and better.
Oh Dai, I wanted his story already in book 1 and here I got it. He is all things I want my hero to be, that's right, tortured and hurting. He feels that he can't let go of his horrid past and all the things done to him. He is suffering and he is just the kind of man you want to hug and tell that everything will be ok. Because he is also loyal, kind and good with kids. He is not that alpha when I think about it, he always shadowed his brother. He is the magician, the scholar, the beta, and I really liked that.
The story is a lot about he trying to come to terms with things, being human, the magic he can now use, and falling for a woman, Amanda.The lovestory is not rushed at all, another thing I liked as you do not need to jump in bed at once. Like I said, he has suffered and Amanda is a widow. They dance around each other for a while and think about if they want to pursue this. Yes, things should take time.
We also meet the hero of book 3 briefly in this book and I do want his story too, especially if the book is as good as this one was. At times I could not put it down because I felt for Dai and there are things going on too, that I cannot mention. All making it exciting at times.
Conclusion:
Who knew a former Goblin could be a hottie?! I liked the book and the series should keep on getting better and better.
May 15, 2012
The Shadowlands series by Shona Husk is a whole new brand of paranormal romance. Gone are the traditional paranormal characters of vampires and werewolves. Instead, Shona Husk brings in a seemingly obscure being, Goblins. I have only been familiar with goblins from fairy lore, so when I heard about books centered around these traditionally ugly beings, my interest was piqued. The Shadowlands series created by Shona Husk is detailed and intriguing and the heroes are spellbinding.
The first book in the series sets the scene for Kiss of the Goblin Prince. A group of men (brothers and cosigns) had be spelled/cursed to live as half-Goblins for close to 2000 years. They were trapped to live in the Shadowlands, a dark land full of magic and greedy goblins who would do anything for gold. Everytime the brothers used magic, they were closer to succumbing to the Goblin call and loosing their humanity for good. In the first book, the Goblin King (the oldest brother) breaks the spell by falling in love. This is where the story picks up in Kiss of the Goblin Prince. The oldest brother is happily married and readjusting to life as a human, but Dai is adrift, he may no longer be a goblin, but the knowledge he has gained over his 2000 years has taught him new, magical ways to look at the world.
I really liked this installment in the series. Now that I understood the background of the brothers, I was interested to see how Dai would cope with his life changing so drastically. He was surprising as well, his magical abilities are intriguing and really keep the paranormal alive in the books. He is cured of the Goblin curse, but he has to let the past go, and right some wrongs of the past as well. His relationship with Amanda is really sweet. Both of them are lonely people who have to let the past go and start living for the future. I was also happy to see how well Dai adjusted to spending time with Amanda as well as her daughter. I liked Amanda more than I liked Eliza (from the first book). She had a difficult time accepting the truth of the paranormal, but she didn't wig out as much as Eliza did, and she came around pretty quick.
Paranormal fans, I recommend reading this series. I found book 1 a little slow, there was a lot of world building and the heroine was not my favorite, but with Kiss of the Goblin Prince the series has a whole new feel, and I am intrigued. I do recommend reading book 1, there is a lot of backstory and complexity to the world building and the curse placed on the brothers plays an integral role in the series. I will be reading the third book in the series once it is released. For those of you who love paranormal books, but are looking for something a little different, the Shadowlands series is a good one to try.
I received this book for review*
The first book in the series sets the scene for Kiss of the Goblin Prince. A group of men (brothers and cosigns) had be spelled/cursed to live as half-Goblins for close to 2000 years. They were trapped to live in the Shadowlands, a dark land full of magic and greedy goblins who would do anything for gold. Everytime the brothers used magic, they were closer to succumbing to the Goblin call and loosing their humanity for good. In the first book, the Goblin King (the oldest brother) breaks the spell by falling in love. This is where the story picks up in Kiss of the Goblin Prince. The oldest brother is happily married and readjusting to life as a human, but Dai is adrift, he may no longer be a goblin, but the knowledge he has gained over his 2000 years has taught him new, magical ways to look at the world.
I really liked this installment in the series. Now that I understood the background of the brothers, I was interested to see how Dai would cope with his life changing so drastically. He was surprising as well, his magical abilities are intriguing and really keep the paranormal alive in the books. He is cured of the Goblin curse, but he has to let the past go, and right some wrongs of the past as well. His relationship with Amanda is really sweet. Both of them are lonely people who have to let the past go and start living for the future. I was also happy to see how well Dai adjusted to spending time with Amanda as well as her daughter. I liked Amanda more than I liked Eliza (from the first book). She had a difficult time accepting the truth of the paranormal, but she didn't wig out as much as Eliza did, and she came around pretty quick.
Paranormal fans, I recommend reading this series. I found book 1 a little slow, there was a lot of world building and the heroine was not my favorite, but with Kiss of the Goblin Prince the series has a whole new feel, and I am intrigued. I do recommend reading book 1, there is a lot of backstory and complexity to the world building and the curse placed on the brothers plays an integral role in the series. I will be reading the third book in the series once it is released. For those of you who love paranormal books, but are looking for something a little different, the Shadowlands series is a good one to try.
I received this book for review*
December 14, 2012
It can be a bit of a trap, reading a #2 straight after a #1 but I did not think of it until too late. I liked 'The goblin king' enough that perhaps no #2 could have lived up to it, maybe.
For the first third to half of this book I was definitely thinking "two stars at best, if the ending is really good. One star if it does not pick up". It more that picked up in the end but the first part cast a pall. The lead man in the book is the brother of the goblin king, pulled into this world by the curse breaking in the last book, the lead woman is the best friend of the goblin kings wife, but has been told nothing of the shadowlands.
The ending was really good however, good enough to redeem an extra star and to make me enthusiastic for the next one.
[spoilers]Early on I got pissed off at the lead man, I felt he was vacillating, uncertain, whiny and mopey all characteristics that I dislike in people, so much so that I could not slide into the admiration for the sexy bod I kept reading about. Am I superficial? I don't care, I need to find the lead man in a L&L book sexy. Not whiny.
I was somewhat pissed off with the lead woman for a similar reason. The whole 'I will never have another lover, must put my child first' has never appealed to me. I disliked her slightly less because her angst was at least slightly more sensible that goblin princes was.
I found 'the bank has confiscated my books' plot annoying because he didn't seem to want to do anything about it but whinge... and that just did not fit the character of the man, or his background in any way at all. However, then I realised it must be a plot builder. As result, the ending was no surprise. The ending though was very good and in general the last part of the book after the lead characters stopped wavering was good enough to be worth three stars. I am afraid prince is not nearly as sexy as king was before he cut his hair though. (That was a good metaphor by the way - wild King, joins the world, gets married cuts hair).
And I really, really liked the way Shona Husk led us into the next book. Normally I hate being reminded in a novel that is is one of a series and we should go ahead and get the next one. I take my hat off to Shona's method however; this book is a good stand alone, the last one was too. The lead up to the next book was deft, sensible and actually intriguing. One can clearly go for it or not without losing any of the enjoyment derived from the book one is finishing.
The overall story arc is a good one; (each man who was drawn in by the curse must find there way separately) and it leaves room of cameos of the characters we have already bonded with. And personally I have bonded with them.
For the first third to half of this book I was definitely thinking "two stars at best, if the ending is really good. One star if it does not pick up". It more that picked up in the end but the first part cast a pall. The lead man in the book is the brother of the goblin king, pulled into this world by the curse breaking in the last book, the lead woman is the best friend of the goblin kings wife, but has been told nothing of the shadowlands.
The ending was really good however, good enough to redeem an extra star and to make me enthusiastic for the next one.
[spoilers]Early on I got pissed off at the lead man, I felt he was vacillating, uncertain, whiny and mopey all characteristics that I dislike in people, so much so that I could not slide into the admiration for the sexy bod I kept reading about. Am I superficial? I don't care, I need to find the lead man in a L&L book sexy. Not whiny.
I was somewhat pissed off with the lead woman for a similar reason. The whole 'I will never have another lover, must put my child first' has never appealed to me. I disliked her slightly less because her angst was at least slightly more sensible that goblin princes was.
I found 'the bank has confiscated my books' plot annoying because he didn't seem to want to do anything about it but whinge... and that just did not fit the character of the man, or his background in any way at all. However, then I realised it must be a plot builder. As result, the ending was no surprise. The ending though was very good and in general the last part of the book after the lead characters stopped wavering was good enough to be worth three stars. I am afraid prince is not nearly as sexy as king was before he cut his hair though. (That was a good metaphor by the way - wild King, joins the world, gets married cuts hair).
And I really, really liked the way Shona Husk led us into the next book. Normally I hate being reminded in a novel that is is one of a series and we should go ahead and get the next one. I take my hat off to Shona's method however; this book is a good stand alone, the last one was too. The lead up to the next book was deft, sensible and actually intriguing. One can clearly go for it or not without losing any of the enjoyment derived from the book one is finishing.
The overall story arc is a good one; (each man who was drawn in by the curse must find there way separately) and it leaves room of cameos of the characters we have already bonded with. And personally I have bonded with them.
May 1, 2012
I am always on the lookout for a story with a great tortured hero. Shona Husk delivers in spades with Dai. He lived most of his nearly 2000 years in the goblin realm. He was cursed along with his family during Roman times to live in the Shadowlands, part-goblin and part-man. The curse was broken only recently, as his brother found true love. Now Dai is struggling to live among humans again and to let go of his hate and need for revenge.
Amanda is a widowed mother who has given up on finding love again. But when her sister-in-law marries Roan, Dai is thrust into her world. The attraction is instant, but both are wary. Amanda hasn't been with a man since her husband died seven years ago and her first priority has to be her severely asthmatic daughter. Dai isn't sure he even knows how to love or be loved. He's never been with a woman. Even before he was thrust into the Shadowland, he was a Roman slave --tortured not only physically, but also sexually and emotionally.
I really enjoyed watching the love story unfold between these two. While the attraction was immediate, the feelings and relationship developed more slowly and believably. Dai is the more dominant character in the story --and by that I mean, more of it is devoted to him. He's got a lot to work out. Not only with his past and his intimacy issues, but with his magic. He studied magic for centuries, as he tried to break the goblin curse and now he must figure out how this, too, will fit into his life. He is very damaged, but underneath, he is really a good man.
I liked this book a lot. It is the second in the Shadowlands series. Unfortunately, I did not read The Goblin King and I felt it in a big way. There were huge, huge gaps in Dai and Roan's backstory that must have been explained in the first installment. I was lost in the particulars of their curse --specifically, who cursed them? How does the goblin summoning thing work? In what circumstances could they come and go from the Shadowlands in the past? Stuff like that. The nagging questions distracted me from the good stuff on several occasions, which is a shame, because the romance part was right up my alley.
My only other beef was that the ending felt a little rushed. I waited the entire book for the payoff on the sexual tension between Dai and Amanda. I think another two or three pages would have gone a long way to leaving me satisfied.
Overall, I did like it. But I bet I would have liked it even more if I had read the first book. 4 stars.
*ARC Provided by NetGalley
Amanda is a widowed mother who has given up on finding love again. But when her sister-in-law marries Roan, Dai is thrust into her world. The attraction is instant, but both are wary. Amanda hasn't been with a man since her husband died seven years ago and her first priority has to be her severely asthmatic daughter. Dai isn't sure he even knows how to love or be loved. He's never been with a woman. Even before he was thrust into the Shadowland, he was a Roman slave --tortured not only physically, but also sexually and emotionally.
I really enjoyed watching the love story unfold between these two. While the attraction was immediate, the feelings and relationship developed more slowly and believably. Dai is the more dominant character in the story --and by that I mean, more of it is devoted to him. He's got a lot to work out. Not only with his past and his intimacy issues, but with his magic. He studied magic for centuries, as he tried to break the goblin curse and now he must figure out how this, too, will fit into his life. He is very damaged, but underneath, he is really a good man.
I liked this book a lot. It is the second in the Shadowlands series. Unfortunately, I did not read The Goblin King and I felt it in a big way. There were huge, huge gaps in Dai and Roan's backstory that must have been explained in the first installment. I was lost in the particulars of their curse --specifically, who cursed them? How does the goblin summoning thing work? In what circumstances could they come and go from the Shadowlands in the past? Stuff like that. The nagging questions distracted me from the good stuff on several occasions, which is a shame, because the romance part was right up my alley.
My only other beef was that the ending felt a little rushed. I waited the entire book for the payoff on the sexual tension between Dai and Amanda. I think another two or three pages would have gone a long way to leaving me satisfied.
Overall, I did like it. But I bet I would have liked it even more if I had read the first book. 4 stars.
*ARC Provided by NetGalley
June 7, 2012
Kiss of the Goblin Prince is the second book in Husk’s Shadowland series. I reviewed the first book The Goblin King and loved it because the author veered away from the same old PNR formula and gave me something different. I was hoping she would continue this in Kiss of the Goblin Prince. I won’t keep you in suspense though…Husk does it again with Kiss of the Goblin Prince.
In book one we met Roan, the Goblin King, and Eliza, the woman who rescues Roan and his brother Dai from the Goblin curse that imprisoned them in the Shadowlands for 2000 years. This book is about Dai and his struggle to find his place in the fixed realm now that he is truly free to make his own choices for the first time. Dai is scared figuratively and literally. His body is covered in scars from the 4 years he was a slave to the Roman General Claudius. He went from that to being cursed with his fellow soldiers who tried to rescue him. He spent the next 2000 years trying to find a way to break the curse while fighting to keep his humanity and not turn completely goblin. He learned just about everything there is to know, but magic wouldn’t work in the Shadowlands so he didn’t know how to apply all his knowledge. He has lived with so much guilt and vengeance and rage that it actually manifested itself as a claw that grips his heart.
Once in the fixed realm again, he realizes he can use his magic, but it is no longer used or believed making him possibly the last magic user. I loved how Husk explained Dai’s use of magic and the romantic way she used it in the connection between Dai and Amanda. Amanda found the man of her dreams 7 years ago. He died 4 months later and she was left to raise their unborn child. Amanda still wears her wedding band, not willing to let go of what she lost. Her daughter Brigit has chronic asthma that eventually will kill her. Amanda hasn’t felt a longing for another man since her husband and feels guilty when she finds herself attracted to Dai. Their love story is all about forgiving yourself for the past, letting go and moving on. These two don’t go...
read the rest of the review: http://www.loveromancepassion.com/rev...
In book one we met Roan, the Goblin King, and Eliza, the woman who rescues Roan and his brother Dai from the Goblin curse that imprisoned them in the Shadowlands for 2000 years. This book is about Dai and his struggle to find his place in the fixed realm now that he is truly free to make his own choices for the first time. Dai is scared figuratively and literally. His body is covered in scars from the 4 years he was a slave to the Roman General Claudius. He went from that to being cursed with his fellow soldiers who tried to rescue him. He spent the next 2000 years trying to find a way to break the curse while fighting to keep his humanity and not turn completely goblin. He learned just about everything there is to know, but magic wouldn’t work in the Shadowlands so he didn’t know how to apply all his knowledge. He has lived with so much guilt and vengeance and rage that it actually manifested itself as a claw that grips his heart.
Once in the fixed realm again, he realizes he can use his magic, but it is no longer used or believed making him possibly the last magic user. I loved how Husk explained Dai’s use of magic and the romantic way she used it in the connection between Dai and Amanda. Amanda found the man of her dreams 7 years ago. He died 4 months later and she was left to raise their unborn child. Amanda still wears her wedding band, not willing to let go of what she lost. Her daughter Brigit has chronic asthma that eventually will kill her. Amanda hasn’t felt a longing for another man since her husband and feels guilty when she finds herself attracted to Dai. Their love story is all about forgiving yourself for the past, letting go and moving on. These two don’t go...
read the rest of the review: http://www.loveromancepassion.com/rev...
April 13, 2012
The story picks up right where Goblin King left off, at Roan and Eliza’s wedding with sparks flying between Roan’s brother Dai and Eliza’s sister-in-law Amanda. Roan and Dai are now permanent and very rich citizens of the fixed realm. Roan is adjusting beautifully and loving life and his new wife. Dai is having major issues with the modern world, coming to terms with his past, and dealing with his budding feelings for Amanda.
The book is not fast paced or loaded with sex scene’s. However, in telling the story of a psychologically damaged former Goblin and a widowed single mother who has not dated or even thought of a man sexually in almost eight years, it makes perfect sense. I loved that the journey of healing for Dai took the entire book, and its clear he still has mending to do. It is annoying when you’re reading and the tortured hero is instantly cured of his ills by falling in love (usually over the course of a few days). I also loved Amanda’s caution. She is a single mother with a young daughter, she should be suspicious of the moody dude no matter how hot he is.
Birch Bank is pivotal in the book. I wondered what kind of bank would take gold from Goblin’s over the course of centuries never asking questions or affected by the oddness of it clients. I was not disappointed in beginning to find out why. We also discovered a lot about the other mentioned Goblin’s, which means there can be many more books to come.
Adventure wise the pace of the book could have moved had faster. There wasn’t much physical conflict, and I also wish the magic had been more prominent. Also, these character’s live in Perth, Australia yet there is nothing in the lingo of the character’s or the description of the environment that would distinguish Perth from any other city. To be honest when reading Goblin King for most of the book I thought they were in America.
Overall I really enjoyed the read and I look forward to reading the next book which I guess will be Meryn’s story.
The book is not fast paced or loaded with sex scene’s. However, in telling the story of a psychologically damaged former Goblin and a widowed single mother who has not dated or even thought of a man sexually in almost eight years, it makes perfect sense. I loved that the journey of healing for Dai took the entire book, and its clear he still has mending to do. It is annoying when you’re reading and the tortured hero is instantly cured of his ills by falling in love (usually over the course of a few days). I also loved Amanda’s caution. She is a single mother with a young daughter, she should be suspicious of the moody dude no matter how hot he is.
Birch Bank is pivotal in the book. I wondered what kind of bank would take gold from Goblin’s over the course of centuries never asking questions or affected by the oddness of it clients. I was not disappointed in beginning to find out why. We also discovered a lot about the other mentioned Goblin’s, which means there can be many more books to come.
Adventure wise the pace of the book could have moved had faster. There wasn’t much physical conflict, and I also wish the magic had been more prominent. Also, these character’s live in Perth, Australia yet there is nothing in the lingo of the character’s or the description of the environment that would distinguish Perth from any other city. To be honest when reading Goblin King for most of the book I thought they were in America.
Overall I really enjoyed the read and I look forward to reading the next book which I guess will be Meryn’s story.
February 8, 2013
Kiss of the Goblin Prince is Shona Husk’s second book about a group of Celtic warriors who are cursed by a Druid priest to slowly become gold-loving goblins while they live out their long existence is the bleak Shadowlands. They spend two thousand years trying to find a way to break the curse before they completely turn into goblins. This story follows the king’s brother, Dai, as he struggles to regain his humanity after the curse is broken. These books are character-driven romances with fairy tales and goblins.
The book opens in the church where Eliza and Roan are getting married. Roan’s brother, Dai, makes eye contact with the widow of Eliza’s brother. Both are interested and very, very cautious. He because of the torture he suffered as a hostage of the Roman commander. She is cautious because her last eight years have been devoting to her asthmatic daughter’s care. What follows is a slow unfolding of a love story between two wounded souls. They each must learn to take a risk and move on with life. That’s not a thing many people find easy to do. It is a story about second chances and the enduring loves that can cross multiple lifetimes.
There is a secondary plot about Dai and his library of the occult being held by the otherworldly Birch Trustees in their bank. Dai has spent two-thousand years learning magic that he couldn’t perform in the Shadowlands. Now that he is human and can perform magic, his reference books are being kept from him. It will be interesting to see if Ms. Husk takes this thread line and expands it in a future book.
The set-up for the third book is also here. Dai goes to the Shadowlands and brings back Meryn, who turned into a goblin early. The next book covers his story.
Overall, I liked this book better than the first because the characters were more believable and likable to me. I enjoy character-driven books so the slow unfolding of the love story was right up my alley.
jc
The book opens in the church where Eliza and Roan are getting married. Roan’s brother, Dai, makes eye contact with the widow of Eliza’s brother. Both are interested and very, very cautious. He because of the torture he suffered as a hostage of the Roman commander. She is cautious because her last eight years have been devoting to her asthmatic daughter’s care. What follows is a slow unfolding of a love story between two wounded souls. They each must learn to take a risk and move on with life. That’s not a thing many people find easy to do. It is a story about second chances and the enduring loves that can cross multiple lifetimes.
There is a secondary plot about Dai and his library of the occult being held by the otherworldly Birch Trustees in their bank. Dai has spent two-thousand years learning magic that he couldn’t perform in the Shadowlands. Now that he is human and can perform magic, his reference books are being kept from him. It will be interesting to see if Ms. Husk takes this thread line and expands it in a future book.
The set-up for the third book is also here. Dai goes to the Shadowlands and brings back Meryn, who turned into a goblin early. The next book covers his story.
Overall, I liked this book better than the first because the characters were more believable and likable to me. I enjoy character-driven books so the slow unfolding of the love story was right up my alley.
jc
March 15, 2013
I ended up really liking this book. I think I would've liked it more from the very beginning if I hadn't gone in thinking of it as a romance. Although there is a romance in it, I don't consider this to be a romance novel. It's a story about Dai's journey to harness his magical powers, forgive himself for past transgressions and accept his new life as a human. The vast majority of the book is told from his point of view, and the H/H spend very little time in the same room. Love interest Amanda, while an interesting and perfectly likable character, feels in many ways like an accessory. Though she is the inspiration for Dai finding inner peace, she does nothing to help him find it. He does it all by himself. Which, again, once I decided to look at this as one man's journey, is fine. Dai is a well written and fascinating character. The world is interesting and unique. I liked that it was set in Australia. (Never been, but I'd love to visit!) The writing is engaging. So if you're looking for a fascinating tortured hero to read about, this is a great book with a satisfying ending. But don't let the title trick you into thinking it'll take the typical romance path.
March 10, 2019
4.5 stars
It's been a while since I read book 1 of the series but I picked up the story quickly again. While the book had less 'action' as such, it followed a steady pace into Dai trying to fit into the modern world. The last thing he expected was an attraction towards Amanda, nor to feel for her sick child.
Magic is part of Dai's very fabric and he's finding it difficult to be who he is and who he had to become, especially with guilt plaguing him. Amanda soothes his soul in a way he never thought possible, and it's watching her strength that he finds his own.
This is a story where two people help make each other be a better version of themselves. Where the past pain exists and is accepted. It's also a story of the relationships of families.
Looking forward to the last book in the series.
Disclaimer: While I know the author personally, this doesn't affect my rating.
It's been a while since I read book 1 of the series but I picked up the story quickly again. While the book had less 'action' as such, it followed a steady pace into Dai trying to fit into the modern world. The last thing he expected was an attraction towards Amanda, nor to feel for her sick child.
Magic is part of Dai's very fabric and he's finding it difficult to be who he is and who he had to become, especially with guilt plaguing him. Amanda soothes his soul in a way he never thought possible, and it's watching her strength that he finds his own.
This is a story where two people help make each other be a better version of themselves. Where the past pain exists and is accepted. It's also a story of the relationships of families.
Looking forward to the last book in the series.
Disclaimer: While I know the author personally, this doesn't affect my rating.
July 6, 2017
meh. I could have started this book at the 50% mark and still knew exactly what was going on, minus all the boring repetitive self doubt/whining. Things did pick up about 60% into the book but it was still super lackluster. In the goblin king I was interested to know what would happen next. This book felt more like a filler book to get to Meryn's story. I would say Amanda and Dai spend about 10-15% of the book in the same scene together. The rest is in their heads wondering what to do in life but omg they're so attracted to the other... it just didn't flow or feel legitimate. Boring and not worth the energy to read it.
May 1, 2012
Kiss of the Goblin Prince by Shona Husk is a magical PRN read! Refreshing POV from Dai takes readers along for the ride as Dai overcomes the challenges facing him. Dai must learn to live as human again, during which his attraction for Amanda slowly evolves into love. Kiss of a Goblin Prince is a kaleidoscope of questions waiting to be answered, and Dai is the answer. Ms. Husk keeps the reader interested with her unique and colorful characters. I look forward to reading more from Shona Husk.
May 15, 2016
I would have liked more action, whether in Shadowlands or in the Fixed Realm, instead the most interesting thing about the book was the Birch bank.
July 14, 2012
From now on Shona Husk will always hold a pole position in my gargantuan TBR list: I fell in love with the fertile imagination, fluid prose, and introspective sensitivity of this Australian paranormal, fantasy novels author. My only regret, if any, is that I should have read this captivating Shadowlands series starting from the novella ”The Summons: A Goblin King Prequel” and the first full length installment “The Goblin King”, in order to fully appreciate the fairy-tale world structure that holds together The Shadowlands (a desolate land populated by the heartless Goblins), The Fixed Realm (our world), and The Birch Foundation (a mysterious organization that facilitates the transition between these two worlds). Reading the series in order would have certainly helped me from the start to understand the main characters’s backstories, the role played by the secondary characters, and the connections existing between them, adding to the enjoyment of a book that can be read as a stand-alone without loosing any of its alluring qualities.
Amanda Coulter is a young widow who has given up on happiness after the sudden death of her husband. She works as a youth counselor at the local high-school and her daughter, Brigit, is affected by severe asthma. At the wedding of her sister-in-law, Eliza, Amanda meets the enigmatic and fascinating Dai King. Sparks of attraction fly immediately between them. Dai is Eliza’s husband’s brother, apparently a normal young man, Welsh scholar, ancient civilization and dead languages expert, and world traveler. In reality, Dai is a Celtic Prince, as old as our civilization, a man who has been spending the past 2,000 years fighting against Romans, Druids, and Goblins, before breaking a curse and being reintegrated in the XXI century Fixed Realm (our world) as a free human, just like his brother Roan.
Dai is physically and emotionally scarred: in order to protect his younger sister Mave from the perverse attentions of the Roman General Claudius, he had to endure Claudius’ vicious tortures and abuses. Dai was eventually cursed by the Goblin King and held captive for centuries in the Shadowlands, only to endure more unspeakable acts of violence from the Goblins and to be turned into a Goblin himself. He used to be a mage, a man endowed with magical healing powers, but now that his curse is broken and he is back in The Fixed Realm, he is straggling with his new identity provided by The Birch Foundation and a deep sense of dislocation. In the transition between worlds he had to leave behind most of his treasures, but what bothers him the most is that he cannot get a hold of that wealth of knowledge he has accumulated over the centuries: all his books about magic are being retained by The Birch Foundation and without them he feels like he cannot recall his magical powers.
The Shadowlands series fictional worlds are built on the assumption that our universe is ruled by magic and held together by invisible strings: Dai and his brother Roan are able to control them in order to manipulate the fabric that makes the world. I like the way Shona Husk opens her slow-paced narration describing the chemistry and the bond existing from the start between Dai and Amanda. They are both initially unaware of the magical golden threads connecting their souls; although drawn to each other, they’re both very tentative at the beginning of the story and they will keep being hesitant for a good part of it. The emotional baggage made of sorrow, secrets, family tragedies, and responsabilities they both carry is too heavy for them to be rid of it and yield to emotions and desire, let alone love, no matter how bad they both need it. Dai has been “out of touch with the world for too long…to obsessed with the dead and obsolete.” Amanda can perfectly relate to his emotions, because she has been holding on her deceased husband’s memory for years, without being able to move on and look forward to another love relationship.
They are both very likable characters: the tortured and troubled soul Dai, the calm and caring counselor Amanda. It seems to be like a very good characters combination, perfect material for a sweeping and soulful romance. Dai’s numerous scars make him insecure: he’s afraid Amanda will loath him and reject him because of them. The darks secrets of his real identity and his past hold him from revealing his feelings for her, although the attraction is slowly consuming him. The biggest obstacle standing in the way is in his chest in the form of talons clutched around his heart, a magical grip placed there by the evil Goblin King as a reminder of the evil Dai has been a victim of and a perpetrator. Forgiveness is the only remedy that could set him free, but he is still prisoner of his resentment: the hideous tortures he has suffered for centuries fuel his hate and give strength to the King Goblin’s grip. Dai’s decision to remain celibate and avoid any kind of physical touch with other creatures poses an interesting challenge to his attraction for Amanda, but it also helps to build up an intoxicating and heart-melting sexual tension between them. They seek physical contact every time they meet, they haunt each other’s dreams, they leave each other breathless with stolen kisses and caresses, they hold hands interlacing their fingers in a promise of scorching sensuality, without abandoning themselves to a complete enjoyment. Every time they seem to be ready to get closer and open their hearts, their past stands in the way and breaks the momentum, prolonging that sweet torture up to the last chapters of the novel, when the barriers will be finally broken down and they will find an extremely gratifying release. As a whole, action and major developments are pushed at the end and my feeling is that the author aims to set up the scene for the sequel rather than advance this installment’s plot. The Kiss of The Goblin Prince mainly focuses on Dai’s and Amanda’s quest towards emotional freedom and self-forgiveness and I really appreciate this introspective tone and character development versus an action-driven storyline.
I personally loved the way Shona Husk uses the idea of the invisible threads to describe the different kinds of connection existing between characters and their world: gold strings binding Dai and Amanda, gray and thin strings connecting Dai and The Shadowlands, colorful and numerous strings connecting Amanda and her ill daughter Brigit, loose and pale strings connecting Dai to his brother Roan, fine as spider silk the strings connecting Dai to Brigit. Shona Husk did a great job building Dai’s and Amanda’s characters, painting them with the brushes of her rich and sensuous prose and the great emotional impact of her narrative style. I simply loved Husk’s description of Dai as a man in pieces like an image reflected in a broken mirror, a dislocated man who needs to borrow furniture in the same way he needs to borrow a life in order to start all over again and live in a different world, a man who has been studying hundreds of dead languages for century, but who will remain speechless in front of the woman he loves. I loved the fact he is a book hoarder, spending a good part of the story in the search of his magic books, when the real magic is in his own body (written all over with tattoes and undecipherable spells just like a book) and in his love for Amanda.
Amanda Coulter is a young widow who has given up on happiness after the sudden death of her husband. She works as a youth counselor at the local high-school and her daughter, Brigit, is affected by severe asthma. At the wedding of her sister-in-law, Eliza, Amanda meets the enigmatic and fascinating Dai King. Sparks of attraction fly immediately between them. Dai is Eliza’s husband’s brother, apparently a normal young man, Welsh scholar, ancient civilization and dead languages expert, and world traveler. In reality, Dai is a Celtic Prince, as old as our civilization, a man who has been spending the past 2,000 years fighting against Romans, Druids, and Goblins, before breaking a curse and being reintegrated in the XXI century Fixed Realm (our world) as a free human, just like his brother Roan.
Dai is physically and emotionally scarred: in order to protect his younger sister Mave from the perverse attentions of the Roman General Claudius, he had to endure Claudius’ vicious tortures and abuses. Dai was eventually cursed by the Goblin King and held captive for centuries in the Shadowlands, only to endure more unspeakable acts of violence from the Goblins and to be turned into a Goblin himself. He used to be a mage, a man endowed with magical healing powers, but now that his curse is broken and he is back in The Fixed Realm, he is straggling with his new identity provided by The Birch Foundation and a deep sense of dislocation. In the transition between worlds he had to leave behind most of his treasures, but what bothers him the most is that he cannot get a hold of that wealth of knowledge he has accumulated over the centuries: all his books about magic are being retained by The Birch Foundation and without them he feels like he cannot recall his magical powers.
The Shadowlands series fictional worlds are built on the assumption that our universe is ruled by magic and held together by invisible strings: Dai and his brother Roan are able to control them in order to manipulate the fabric that makes the world. I like the way Shona Husk opens her slow-paced narration describing the chemistry and the bond existing from the start between Dai and Amanda. They are both initially unaware of the magical golden threads connecting their souls; although drawn to each other, they’re both very tentative at the beginning of the story and they will keep being hesitant for a good part of it. The emotional baggage made of sorrow, secrets, family tragedies, and responsabilities they both carry is too heavy for them to be rid of it and yield to emotions and desire, let alone love, no matter how bad they both need it. Dai has been “out of touch with the world for too long…to obsessed with the dead and obsolete.” Amanda can perfectly relate to his emotions, because she has been holding on her deceased husband’s memory for years, without being able to move on and look forward to another love relationship.
They are both very likable characters: the tortured and troubled soul Dai, the calm and caring counselor Amanda. It seems to be like a very good characters combination, perfect material for a sweeping and soulful romance. Dai’s numerous scars make him insecure: he’s afraid Amanda will loath him and reject him because of them. The darks secrets of his real identity and his past hold him from revealing his feelings for her, although the attraction is slowly consuming him. The biggest obstacle standing in the way is in his chest in the form of talons clutched around his heart, a magical grip placed there by the evil Goblin King as a reminder of the evil Dai has been a victim of and a perpetrator. Forgiveness is the only remedy that could set him free, but he is still prisoner of his resentment: the hideous tortures he has suffered for centuries fuel his hate and give strength to the King Goblin’s grip. Dai’s decision to remain celibate and avoid any kind of physical touch with other creatures poses an interesting challenge to his attraction for Amanda, but it also helps to build up an intoxicating and heart-melting sexual tension between them. They seek physical contact every time they meet, they haunt each other’s dreams, they leave each other breathless with stolen kisses and caresses, they hold hands interlacing their fingers in a promise of scorching sensuality, without abandoning themselves to a complete enjoyment. Every time they seem to be ready to get closer and open their hearts, their past stands in the way and breaks the momentum, prolonging that sweet torture up to the last chapters of the novel, when the barriers will be finally broken down and they will find an extremely gratifying release. As a whole, action and major developments are pushed at the end and my feeling is that the author aims to set up the scene for the sequel rather than advance this installment’s plot. The Kiss of The Goblin Prince mainly focuses on Dai’s and Amanda’s quest towards emotional freedom and self-forgiveness and I really appreciate this introspective tone and character development versus an action-driven storyline.
I personally loved the way Shona Husk uses the idea of the invisible threads to describe the different kinds of connection existing between characters and their world: gold strings binding Dai and Amanda, gray and thin strings connecting Dai and The Shadowlands, colorful and numerous strings connecting Amanda and her ill daughter Brigit, loose and pale strings connecting Dai to his brother Roan, fine as spider silk the strings connecting Dai to Brigit. Shona Husk did a great job building Dai’s and Amanda’s characters, painting them with the brushes of her rich and sensuous prose and the great emotional impact of her narrative style. I simply loved Husk’s description of Dai as a man in pieces like an image reflected in a broken mirror, a dislocated man who needs to borrow furniture in the same way he needs to borrow a life in order to start all over again and live in a different world, a man who has been studying hundreds of dead languages for century, but who will remain speechless in front of the woman he loves. I loved the fact he is a book hoarder, spending a good part of the story in the search of his magic books, when the real magic is in his own body (written all over with tattoes and undecipherable spells just like a book) and in his love for Amanda.
November 21, 2014
A 5-Star Sequel: The Goblin King is a hard act to follow, but Kiss of the Goblin Prince is up to the task!
This book begins with the lives of our characters now that the goblin curse is broken. I thought I was going to miss that element. After all, a terrible curse that makes people dig deep and look past the exterior is juicy stuff - my oh-so-favorited storyline of tormented characters. [That actually sounds kind of sick and twisted when you say it like that, but you get my drift.] I was not disappointed, let me tell you…
First of all, Shona Husk's magical vision is superb. And I'm not just saying it because it's a bunch of "wibbly-wobbly timey-whimey stuff". No, really, it knits the characters together in a way unlike anything I've read before. Okay, seriously bad simile coming: you know how you track a package, and with every step on the checkpoint, the status bar moves over, telling you it's closer to its destination? The magical "weave" in this story is like that status bar. Every time Dai [The Goblin Prince] describes what he's seeing, since he's the only major character who can do magic now, it shows the progression of the story as it happens like a "real time romance tracker" for the reader.
I mean, isn't that the embodiment of every tentative glance and attempt at flirting right there??? Brilliant. And then, when the characters launch a futile battle against their attraction:
Just perfect. Now, it's one thing to say that a character has a past to overcome with regrets surrounding his heart, and it's entirely another thing to have it appear on another magical plane… Dai has a unique hatred for Rome [no spoilers on why], and this hatred is manifested in the Eagle of Rome, whose talons are wrapped around his heart... That's some pretty vivid imagery. I know the following quote is long, but I just couldn't shorten the beauty of it. [Plot-related name changed to X]:
Now, all readers of romance know to expect the "something" that will put a damper in the budding relationship we so desire. Maybe we expect it so much that we're almost numb to it some of the time and just want to read on to the HEA. Even though this "something" was there from the beginning and the result was inevitable, the effect on Dai sucker-punched me in the gut. Once again, I attribute it the "magical weave" of the story:
I've been kind of a downer here for a bit, but when Dai finally lets go of the regrets weighing him down - that is one of my favorite parts of the book. It's so wonderfully done, and it resonates deeply… Once again, 5 stars for this wonderful addition to an engaging series.
This book begins with the lives of our characters now that the goblin curse is broken. I thought I was going to miss that element. After all, a terrible curse that makes people dig deep and look past the exterior is juicy stuff - my oh-so-favorited storyline of tormented characters. [That actually sounds kind of sick and twisted when you say it like that, but you get my drift.] I was not disappointed, let me tell you…
First of all, Shona Husk's magical vision is superb. And I'm not just saying it because it's a bunch of "wibbly-wobbly timey-whimey stuff". No, really, it knits the characters together in a way unlike anything I've read before. Okay, seriously bad simile coming: you know how you track a package, and with every step on the checkpoint, the status bar moves over, telling you it's closer to its destination? The magical "weave" in this story is like that status bar. Every time Dai [The Goblin Prince] describes what he's seeing, since he's the only major character who can do magic now, it shows the progression of the story as it happens like a "real time romance tracker" for the reader.
"Even when he wasn’t looking at her, he’d felt [Amanda's] gaze on him. It was an odd sensation […] to feel the fragile magic of attraction spin out from her and reach for him, seeking a connection he doubted she even knew she was making and he wasn’t sure he wanted. For half a second he considered pushing the threads away, but he was curious."
I mean, isn't that the embodiment of every tentative glance and attempt at flirting right there??? Brilliant. And then, when the characters launch a futile battle against their attraction:
"He held his hand up and let his vision slip. The damage was worse than he’d thought. This was no tentative connection; instead a silken thread of sunlight passed through his hand, wove through the door and out. He knew where it ended. Amanda. Could he pull it out like a splinter? It didn’t hurt. He turned his hand over and examined it closer. It pulsed and glowed with a life of its own. Dai gave the thread a tug, but it remained enmeshed in the weave of his body."
Just perfect. Now, it's one thing to say that a character has a past to overcome with regrets surrounding his heart, and it's entirely another thing to have it appear on another magical plane… Dai has a unique hatred for Rome [no spoilers on why], and this hatred is manifested in the Eagle of Rome, whose talons are wrapped around his heart... That's some pretty vivid imagery. I know the following quote is long, but I just couldn't shorten the beauty of it. [Plot-related name changed to X]:
"He wanted to see [Amanda's] light run through his veins. To see if it felt better than the bitter blood that had fueled him for so long. He wanted his heart to be in her hands, not the grip of the eagle. He sank to his knees and held his head in his hands. Her words chased his thought. He had to free himself or [X] would always control him. The whisper in his soul echoed in his skull. Let it go. Just let it go. Dai reached over his shoulder. He knew the wings were there and that the talons lodged in his chest were preventing him from healing. His fingers closed around air, but he tried again. In his mind, he held the glimpse of what he’d seen. His fingers touched a silken feather with no more substance than a sigh. He pulled and it came free. So he used both hands to rip out more, tearing at the ghost that wouldn’t let him sleep. The more feathers he ripped out the more substantial they became. Blood welled. His blood since they fed off him. He didn’t stop until the floor was coated in crimson blood and black plumage. It wasn’t enough. His hands closed over the bones of the skeletal wings that still hung from his back, their roots in his heart. He tightened his grip ready to pull them free. The muscle of his heart gave a twinge. A stab of pain. Every tug would do him damage. Ripping them out would kill him. [X] and Rome would win. […] How did he forgive the man who took first blood? Tears formed but never fell. His vision wavered and the feathers vanished, invisible to the average human eye. His breathing rasped in his throat, pain burned in his chest as he fought with himself. He couldn’t let go."
Now, all readers of romance know to expect the "something" that will put a damper in the budding relationship we so desire. Maybe we expect it so much that we're almost numb to it some of the time and just want to read on to the HEA. Even though this "something" was there from the beginning and the result was inevitable, the effect on Dai sucker-punched me in the gut. Once again, I attribute it the "magical weave" of the story:
"[S]he’d walked away and he’d let her take the threads that linked them together. They’d trailed after her, shortening with each step. That way would hurt less. […] But he felt the loss of each one. The tear as it left his body and the raw, gaping hole that remained in him once she was gone.[...]And he had no one to blame but himself. His shoulders hunched as he battled the agony crushing him. The talons of his past had never cut so cruelly and made breathing seem like such hard work. He fisted his hand. He’d kept one golden ribbon, the first one that had moved through his hand when she’d touched him."
I've been kind of a downer here for a bit, but when Dai finally lets go of the regrets weighing him down - that is one of my favorite parts of the book. It's so wonderfully done, and it resonates deeply… Once again, 5 stars for this wonderful addition to an engaging series.
January 3, 2021
So, the first book was great. I loved the story. This book ?? It was good but the last chapters I felt like the author just gave up. She ended it with was a cliff hanger but really wasn’t. It actually confused me that I paused and was like is that it ? It genuinely felt like the author didn’t know what else to write or maybe was over the series she definitely had a good story going but she ruined it.
June 10, 2012
Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: The Goblin world expands with excellent world-building and a hot but reticent relationship.
Opening Sentence: There were no decorations in the church, no family or friends filling the pews.
The Review:
Dai has been released from the goblin curse but he isn’t truly free. Another force has a grip on him and as long as those talons are embedded deep within he can’t live as his brother now does. Dai brought with him strong magical powers that allow him to see the ebb and flow of life. He can also see how people are connected to one another. Dai is immediately attracted to Amanda when he sees her at Roan and Eliza’s wedding but like most damaged heroes, he believes he isn’t worthy of her. He needs to learn how to control his magic, unburden himself from his brother Roan and live in the modern world.
Amanda is also attracted to Dai when she sees him but she feels she is betraying her dead husband by what she feels for Dai. Amanda is devoted to her daughter, Brigit, who is afflicted with a serious form of asthma. Her lungs are failing her at an alarming rate, her prognosis isn’t good. Amanda is forced to move in with Roan and Eliza when a teenager she is counseling breaks into her home and attacks her. This allows her and Dai to have a little more interaction.
The world continues to expand in Kiss of the Goblin Prince. Dai discovers that a few characters are more than they seem in spirit. A brother is found and new supernatural creatures are introduced. The Birch Bank is so much more than it seems. Dai’s magic was at times heartbreaking and exciting. This world opened up in ways that I couldn’t fathom from The Goblin King and I can’t wait to see what is next.
I was engrossed in the relationship between Amanda and Dai. She tries to hide her feelings just like Dai does but they don’t do a good job of it. They have a slow courtship trying to learn about each other and learning to break away from their pasts so they can possibly have a relationship together. They act like nervous teenagers when they are together but once they are apart they can’t stop thinking about each other. The little bits at a time that they give in to each other, the sparks fly.
Dai is nothing like his brother Roan. He has lived in his brother’s shadow and devoted his life to breaking the goblin curse and now that that is done, he wants to make a life of his own. It may not be what his brother wants for him but he is uncomfortable about the relationship between Roan and Eliza and he wants to get away. Dai comes to several realizations about how the past and present have come together and need to be fixed. Dai is damaged in heart, body and soul and he slowly learns to heal himself.
Amanda has kind of been dealt a raw hand at life. Her soul mate was taken from her when she was six months pregnant with their child and years later she still hasn’t gotten over it. She is conflicted because she wants to move on but she also doesn’t want to. Once she realizes that she needs to live for the moment and not worry about how much actions can hurt her, she really opens up.
I think I may have fell in love with Dai, that may be why I enjoyed this book so much and couldn’t put it down. I wanted to know what was going to happen to him next. Amanda was a decent character and I truly wanted things to work out for her, but I wasn’t as invested in her as I was in Dai. My only complaint with this book was that it ended too soon, but it doesn’t matter, Amanda and Dai worked out what they needed to and they are comfortable with their decision. I hope to see more of Dai and Amanda in the next book For the Love of a Goblin Warrior.
Notable Scene:
Dai put his hands flat on the table. The skin on his palms began to heat. He forced cold through his hands as if he could will the wood to cool. “I need my books.”
Vexion tilted his head as if he were appraising dinner. “We let you live. It wasn’t an easy, or unanimousss decision. This world hasn’t seen the likesss of you since Merlin. The booksss you collected are best locked away.”
While his palms grew hot, they didn’t burn. “I’m not doing this for myself. There is information I need.” Important information if he was going to be able to save Brigit’s life and heal the damage he’d done to his sister so long ago.
Vexion dropped his gaze to the wood and then glanced back at Dai. “The fabric of society isss at risk.”
“A child will die.” And Amanda would break apart. He didn’t want to see her hurt.
“People die. You know that.”
“She is dying because of me.”
“Not my problem.” Vexion curled his lips. “You’re chilling my desk.”
Dai let thoughts of a bitter Welsh winter flow through his fingers. “Not my problem.”
The Shadowlands Series:
0.5. The Summons
1. The Goblin King
2. Kiss of the Goblin Prince
3. For the Love of a Goblin Warrior
FTC Advisory: Sourcebooks Casablanca provided me with a copy of The Goblin King. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: The Goblin world expands with excellent world-building and a hot but reticent relationship.
Opening Sentence: There were no decorations in the church, no family or friends filling the pews.
The Review:
Dai has been released from the goblin curse but he isn’t truly free. Another force has a grip on him and as long as those talons are embedded deep within he can’t live as his brother now does. Dai brought with him strong magical powers that allow him to see the ebb and flow of life. He can also see how people are connected to one another. Dai is immediately attracted to Amanda when he sees her at Roan and Eliza’s wedding but like most damaged heroes, he believes he isn’t worthy of her. He needs to learn how to control his magic, unburden himself from his brother Roan and live in the modern world.
Amanda is also attracted to Dai when she sees him but she feels she is betraying her dead husband by what she feels for Dai. Amanda is devoted to her daughter, Brigit, who is afflicted with a serious form of asthma. Her lungs are failing her at an alarming rate, her prognosis isn’t good. Amanda is forced to move in with Roan and Eliza when a teenager she is counseling breaks into her home and attacks her. This allows her and Dai to have a little more interaction.
The world continues to expand in Kiss of the Goblin Prince. Dai discovers that a few characters are more than they seem in spirit. A brother is found and new supernatural creatures are introduced. The Birch Bank is so much more than it seems. Dai’s magic was at times heartbreaking and exciting. This world opened up in ways that I couldn’t fathom from The Goblin King and I can’t wait to see what is next.
I was engrossed in the relationship between Amanda and Dai. She tries to hide her feelings just like Dai does but they don’t do a good job of it. They have a slow courtship trying to learn about each other and learning to break away from their pasts so they can possibly have a relationship together. They act like nervous teenagers when they are together but once they are apart they can’t stop thinking about each other. The little bits at a time that they give in to each other, the sparks fly.
Dai is nothing like his brother Roan. He has lived in his brother’s shadow and devoted his life to breaking the goblin curse and now that that is done, he wants to make a life of his own. It may not be what his brother wants for him but he is uncomfortable about the relationship between Roan and Eliza and he wants to get away. Dai comes to several realizations about how the past and present have come together and need to be fixed. Dai is damaged in heart, body and soul and he slowly learns to heal himself.
Amanda has kind of been dealt a raw hand at life. Her soul mate was taken from her when she was six months pregnant with their child and years later she still hasn’t gotten over it. She is conflicted because she wants to move on but she also doesn’t want to. Once she realizes that she needs to live for the moment and not worry about how much actions can hurt her, she really opens up.
I think I may have fell in love with Dai, that may be why I enjoyed this book so much and couldn’t put it down. I wanted to know what was going to happen to him next. Amanda was a decent character and I truly wanted things to work out for her, but I wasn’t as invested in her as I was in Dai. My only complaint with this book was that it ended too soon, but it doesn’t matter, Amanda and Dai worked out what they needed to and they are comfortable with their decision. I hope to see more of Dai and Amanda in the next book For the Love of a Goblin Warrior.
Notable Scene:
Dai put his hands flat on the table. The skin on his palms began to heat. He forced cold through his hands as if he could will the wood to cool. “I need my books.”
Vexion tilted his head as if he were appraising dinner. “We let you live. It wasn’t an easy, or unanimousss decision. This world hasn’t seen the likesss of you since Merlin. The booksss you collected are best locked away.”
While his palms grew hot, they didn’t burn. “I’m not doing this for myself. There is information I need.” Important information if he was going to be able to save Brigit’s life and heal the damage he’d done to his sister so long ago.
Vexion dropped his gaze to the wood and then glanced back at Dai. “The fabric of society isss at risk.”
“A child will die.” And Amanda would break apart. He didn’t want to see her hurt.
“People die. You know that.”
“She is dying because of me.”
“Not my problem.” Vexion curled his lips. “You’re chilling my desk.”
Dai let thoughts of a bitter Welsh winter flow through his fingers. “Not my problem.”
The Shadowlands Series:
0.5. The Summons
1. The Goblin King
2. Kiss of the Goblin Prince
3. For the Love of a Goblin Warrior
FTC Advisory: Sourcebooks Casablanca provided me with a copy of The Goblin King. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
June 30, 2012
I am so incredibly sad to have to write this review. Let’s just start by saying how much I adored the Goblin King and how much I was looking forward to reading Kiss of the Goblin Price. Goblin King is one of the most memorable books I’ve read so far this year in a good way; it was refreshing, fun and exciting. Regrettably, I cannot say the same for Kiss. I am about 45% of the way through this book, I put the book down about a month ago and I haven’t picked it back up since. I think it’s time to admit defeat. I really wanted to love this book, but I just don’t and here is why.
1. So we are about half way through and the only time the hero and heroine have spent together is 1 couple minute dance, an extremely awkward car ride where Dai spend the entire ride trying not to puke all over the place, and a conversation about a possible goblin kid. In fact Amanda hasn’t been in the book all that much so far, a bit here and there.
2. We are dropped kicked into the world of magic with no back up information. So I have read the first book in the series. I purposely read the first book because I wanted to read this book and I didn’t want to enter a world in the middle of a series not knowing what in the world was going on. What I got was entering a world not knowing what in the world was going on. So all of the sudden Dai is a magic user with thousands of years of knowledge, ok, cool. Got it. But apparently there are rules to magic use and only this “Bank” that has all of Dai’s books knows the rules to magic use?? Yet, Dai has been studying magic for 2000 years under masters of magic use shouldn’t he know at least some of these “rules”? And this Bank is not so subtly threatening him about magic use, but not telling him why, and he doesn’t seem to know why, so we don’t know why, so now I am half way through a book with no clue what in the heck is going and it was getting more and more vague and I just stopped caring to find out. You know how you get the burn to get to the end to find out everything, I just never got there and now I’m over it.
3. The magic use itself just isn’t that interesting. I am a big fan of the magic aspect of the paranormal world. Actually, that’s what brought me to paranormal romance. It wasn’t vampires like a lot of people, it was witches. I was reading all I could get my hands on with witches as the main characters and then there was cross over and now here I am. So I’m kind of picky with my magic use and Dai’s was boring. So, sure he was fledgling, ok, maybe my expectations are high and I’m sure it got better later in the book, but Huck didn’t keep my attention long enough to get me there. So the magic we have seen was, Dai, looking through the magic eye to see the magic weave everything is made up of, he tried to heal a tree, he transported himself and some beer and put together some furniture and that’s about it.
4. Whining: Dai is kind of whinny. I never thought he would be so whinny, but damn if he is. Yes, he had a hard life, he had the potential to be a strong tortured warrior type, but he just turned out to be sad and whinny. He had such great potential for so much, it was such a let down, it makes me so sad. His brother had it pretty crappy, but he came out strong tortured warrior type, so how did Dai go so wrong? I don’t understand! =(
Ok, so I hate to only have the negative in a review and the book isn’t all bad, I did enjoy Amanda. We didn’t see that much of her, but what we did see I liked. She was strong and determined and a good mother to her child. She is a character that I could have really liked and wished we had seen more of her through the first half of the book. She kept herself together and raised her daughter in the face of great loss, when others may have fallen apart. We also get glimpses of Eliza and Roan post Goblin King and I am glad to see them again. You also see glimpses of a third ex-goblin, I’m not going to spoil it, but this is a trilogy! I will probably pick this book up again someday, just for these glimpses because I do want to read the third book, but that day is not today, or tomorrow or the foreseeable future. I have not given up on Shona Husk, I loved Goblin King and the Summons and I am still looking forward to reading the third book in this series. If I do finish this book and my opinion does change I will update this review accordingly.
Rating:
2
1. So we are about half way through and the only time the hero and heroine have spent together is 1 couple minute dance, an extremely awkward car ride where Dai spend the entire ride trying not to puke all over the place, and a conversation about a possible goblin kid. In fact Amanda hasn’t been in the book all that much so far, a bit here and there.
2. We are dropped kicked into the world of magic with no back up information. So I have read the first book in the series. I purposely read the first book because I wanted to read this book and I didn’t want to enter a world in the middle of a series not knowing what in the world was going on. What I got was entering a world not knowing what in the world was going on. So all of the sudden Dai is a magic user with thousands of years of knowledge, ok, cool. Got it. But apparently there are rules to magic use and only this “Bank” that has all of Dai’s books knows the rules to magic use?? Yet, Dai has been studying magic for 2000 years under masters of magic use shouldn’t he know at least some of these “rules”? And this Bank is not so subtly threatening him about magic use, but not telling him why, and he doesn’t seem to know why, so we don’t know why, so now I am half way through a book with no clue what in the heck is going and it was getting more and more vague and I just stopped caring to find out. You know how you get the burn to get to the end to find out everything, I just never got there and now I’m over it.
3. The magic use itself just isn’t that interesting. I am a big fan of the magic aspect of the paranormal world. Actually, that’s what brought me to paranormal romance. It wasn’t vampires like a lot of people, it was witches. I was reading all I could get my hands on with witches as the main characters and then there was cross over and now here I am. So I’m kind of picky with my magic use and Dai’s was boring. So, sure he was fledgling, ok, maybe my expectations are high and I’m sure it got better later in the book, but Huck didn’t keep my attention long enough to get me there. So the magic we have seen was, Dai, looking through the magic eye to see the magic weave everything is made up of, he tried to heal a tree, he transported himself and some beer and put together some furniture and that’s about it.
4. Whining: Dai is kind of whinny. I never thought he would be so whinny, but damn if he is. Yes, he had a hard life, he had the potential to be a strong tortured warrior type, but he just turned out to be sad and whinny. He had such great potential for so much, it was such a let down, it makes me so sad. His brother had it pretty crappy, but he came out strong tortured warrior type, so how did Dai go so wrong? I don’t understand! =(
Ok, so I hate to only have the negative in a review and the book isn’t all bad, I did enjoy Amanda. We didn’t see that much of her, but what we did see I liked. She was strong and determined and a good mother to her child. She is a character that I could have really liked and wished we had seen more of her through the first half of the book. She kept herself together and raised her daughter in the face of great loss, when others may have fallen apart. We also get glimpses of Eliza and Roan post Goblin King and I am glad to see them again. You also see glimpses of a third ex-goblin, I’m not going to spoil it, but this is a trilogy! I will probably pick this book up again someday, just for these glimpses because I do want to read the third book, but that day is not today, or tomorrow or the foreseeable future. I have not given up on Shona Husk, I loved Goblin King and the Summons and I am still looking forward to reading the third book in this series. If I do finish this book and my opinion does change I will update this review accordingly.
Rating:
2
January 18, 2017
Originally published at Dark Faerie Tales: http://darkfaerietales.com/review-kis...
Quick & Dirty: The Goblin world expands with excellent world-building and a hot but reticent relationship.
The Review:
Dai has been released from the goblin curse but he isn’t truly free. Another force has a grip on him and as long as those talons are embedded deep within he can’t live as his brother now does. Dai brought with him strong magical powers that allow him to see the ebb and flow of life. He can also see how people are connected to one another. Dai is immediately attracted to Amanda when he sees her at Roan and Eliza’s wedding but like most damaged heroes, he believes he isn’t worthy of her. He needs to learn how to control his magic, unburden himself from his brother Roan and live in the modern world.
Amanda is also attracted to Dai when she sees him but she feels she is betraying her dead husband by what she feels for Dai. Amanda is devoted to her daughter, Brigit, who is afflicted with a serious form of asthma. Her lungs are failing her at an alarming rate, her prognosis isn’t good. Amanda is forced to move in with Roan and Eliza when a teenager she is counseling breaks into her home and attacks her. This allows her and Dai to have a little more interaction.
The world continues to expand in Kiss of the Goblin Prince. Dai discovers that a few characters are more than they seem in spirit. A brother is found and new supernatural creatures are introduced. The Birch Bank is so much more than it seems. Dai’s magic was at times heartbreaking and exciting. This world opened up in ways that I couldn’t fathom from The Goblin King and I can’t wait to see what is next.
I was engrossed in the relationship between Amanda and Dai. She tries to hide her feelings just like Dai does but they don’t do a good job of it. They have a slow courtship trying to learn about each other and learning to break away from their pasts so they can possibly have a relationship together. They act like nervous teenagers when they are together but once they are apart they can’t stop thinking about each other. The little bits at a time that they give in to each other, the sparks fly.
Dai is nothing like his brother Roan. He has lived in his brother’s shadow and devoted his life to breaking the goblin curse and now that that is done, he wants to make a life of his own. It may not be what his brother wants for him but he is uncomfortable about the relationship between Roan and Eliza and he wants to get away. Dai comes to several realizations about how the past and present have come together and need to be fixed. Dai is damaged in heart, body and soul and he slowly learns to heal himself.
Amanda has kind of been dealt a raw hand at life. Her soul mate was taken from her when she was six months pregnant with their child and years later she still hasn’t gotten over it. She is conflicted because she wants to move on but she also doesn’t want to. Once she realizes that she needs to live for the moment and not worry about how much actions can hurt her, she really opens up.
I think I may have fell in love with Dai, that may be why I enjoyed this book so much and couldn’t put it down. I wanted to know what was going to happen to him next. Amanda was a decent character and I truly wanted things to work out for her, but I wasn’t as invested in her as I was in Dai. My only complaint with this book was that it ended too soon, but it doesn’t matter, Amanda and Dai worked out what they needed to and they are comfortable with their decision. I hope to see more of Dai and Amanda in the next book For the Love of a Goblin Warrior.
Quick & Dirty: The Goblin world expands with excellent world-building and a hot but reticent relationship.
The Review:
Dai has been released from the goblin curse but he isn’t truly free. Another force has a grip on him and as long as those talons are embedded deep within he can’t live as his brother now does. Dai brought with him strong magical powers that allow him to see the ebb and flow of life. He can also see how people are connected to one another. Dai is immediately attracted to Amanda when he sees her at Roan and Eliza’s wedding but like most damaged heroes, he believes he isn’t worthy of her. He needs to learn how to control his magic, unburden himself from his brother Roan and live in the modern world.
Amanda is also attracted to Dai when she sees him but she feels she is betraying her dead husband by what she feels for Dai. Amanda is devoted to her daughter, Brigit, who is afflicted with a serious form of asthma. Her lungs are failing her at an alarming rate, her prognosis isn’t good. Amanda is forced to move in with Roan and Eliza when a teenager she is counseling breaks into her home and attacks her. This allows her and Dai to have a little more interaction.
The world continues to expand in Kiss of the Goblin Prince. Dai discovers that a few characters are more than they seem in spirit. A brother is found and new supernatural creatures are introduced. The Birch Bank is so much more than it seems. Dai’s magic was at times heartbreaking and exciting. This world opened up in ways that I couldn’t fathom from The Goblin King and I can’t wait to see what is next.
I was engrossed in the relationship between Amanda and Dai. She tries to hide her feelings just like Dai does but they don’t do a good job of it. They have a slow courtship trying to learn about each other and learning to break away from their pasts so they can possibly have a relationship together. They act like nervous teenagers when they are together but once they are apart they can’t stop thinking about each other. The little bits at a time that they give in to each other, the sparks fly.
Dai is nothing like his brother Roan. He has lived in his brother’s shadow and devoted his life to breaking the goblin curse and now that that is done, he wants to make a life of his own. It may not be what his brother wants for him but he is uncomfortable about the relationship between Roan and Eliza and he wants to get away. Dai comes to several realizations about how the past and present have come together and need to be fixed. Dai is damaged in heart, body and soul and he slowly learns to heal himself.
Amanda has kind of been dealt a raw hand at life. Her soul mate was taken from her when she was six months pregnant with their child and years later she still hasn’t gotten over it. She is conflicted because she wants to move on but she also doesn’t want to. Once she realizes that she needs to live for the moment and not worry about how much actions can hurt her, she really opens up.
I think I may have fell in love with Dai, that may be why I enjoyed this book so much and couldn’t put it down. I wanted to know what was going to happen to him next. Amanda was a decent character and I truly wanted things to work out for her, but I wasn’t as invested in her as I was in Dai. My only complaint with this book was that it ended too soon, but it doesn’t matter, Amanda and Dai worked out what they needed to and they are comfortable with their decision. I hope to see more of Dai and Amanda in the next book For the Love of a Goblin Warrior.
May 4, 2012
This is the first book I have read of Shona's and might I say, it was great! She brought two tortured souls together to make for some great chemistry. Let's take Amanda for example. She found the love of her life young but he was ripped away from her very soon after. She was left alone at the beginning of her pregnancy with her daughter. Fast forward to seven years later, she is dedicating all her time and energy into taking care of her severely asthmatic daughter. Amanda has never allowed herself to have any sort of love life because she knows at any second she could lose her little piece of her husband. Being a mother myself and married to a police officer, I know how hard it can be when they are not around to help out. I can't imagine how Amanda has pulled off being a single mother for seven years especially having to deal with her daughter's illness. The good part about this all? Amanda is much stronger than most women will be. Which she proves time and time again throughout the book. I don't normally get emotionally attached much to the female leads in books but I was right there with Amanda. What she felt, I felt. I don't think Shona could have written Amanda's character any better.
Now the bread and butter of this story...Dai. What can I say about this utterly tortured man. I am not familiar with his backstory since I didn't read The Goblin King, but I still wanted to reach in there and give Dai a big bear hug. Dai breaks a curse that has held him and his brother, Roan, in the Shadowlands for 2,000 years. Dai is nonetheless forced to live his life as a human but he doesn't think he deserves to live that way. He still feels unbelievable guilt for something he was forced to do during his time as a prisoner. Of course I would have a lot of guilt if I had to do what he did. Heck, I don't think I could even go through with it. Then on top of that, Dai had to watch his family succumb to the goblin side of life. I'm surprised he even has a heart left for as many times as it has shattered for his loved ones. We generally spend most of the story with Dai which was just fine with me. We already knew the score with Amanda, (Her issues are pretty simple compared to Dai's.) so it was nice to spend the time with Dai. I think that if he was never forced to interact with Amanda, I don't think he would have started to get better. Of course there were times when I was really concerned for his safety but we will chalk that up to being a typical male that is headstrong and likes to wallow in self pity. Work for you? Great.
There was one part of the book when Dai and Amanda are dancing that I just loved. You can tell that even though Dai has a dark and stormy past that haunts him every second of every day and night, he has a such a tender heart towards people he cares about. This itself is a blessing after spending 2,000 years fighting the urge to fully give himself over to the goblins. Now I do have a small complaint. After all we went through with these two, the ending could have been drawn out between our love interests. Come on! I want more of Dai's hottness! Lol! In all seriousness though, it was a great book. I do suggest reading The Goblin King though because there were some things that were mentioned or came up that I wasn't to sure about.
Now the bread and butter of this story...Dai. What can I say about this utterly tortured man. I am not familiar with his backstory since I didn't read The Goblin King, but I still wanted to reach in there and give Dai a big bear hug. Dai breaks a curse that has held him and his brother, Roan, in the Shadowlands for 2,000 years. Dai is nonetheless forced to live his life as a human but he doesn't think he deserves to live that way. He still feels unbelievable guilt for something he was forced to do during his time as a prisoner. Of course I would have a lot of guilt if I had to do what he did. Heck, I don't think I could even go through with it. Then on top of that, Dai had to watch his family succumb to the goblin side of life. I'm surprised he even has a heart left for as many times as it has shattered for his loved ones. We generally spend most of the story with Dai which was just fine with me. We already knew the score with Amanda, (Her issues are pretty simple compared to Dai's.) so it was nice to spend the time with Dai. I think that if he was never forced to interact with Amanda, I don't think he would have started to get better. Of course there were times when I was really concerned for his safety but we will chalk that up to being a typical male that is headstrong and likes to wallow in self pity. Work for you? Great.
There was one part of the book when Dai and Amanda are dancing that I just loved. You can tell that even though Dai has a dark and stormy past that haunts him every second of every day and night, he has a such a tender heart towards people he cares about. This itself is a blessing after spending 2,000 years fighting the urge to fully give himself over to the goblins. Now I do have a small complaint. After all we went through with these two, the ending could have been drawn out between our love interests. Come on! I want more of Dai's hottness! Lol! In all seriousness though, it was a great book. I do suggest reading The Goblin King though because there were some things that were mentioned or came up that I wasn't to sure about.
May 24, 2012
In Book #1, Goblin King, due to the love of Eliza, Roan, the Goblin King, was finally able to break the spell which doomed Roan and his brother, Dai, to live in the shadowlands. The curse was put on the brothers by a druid priest almost 2,000 years ago. They were cursed to live in the shadowlands, slowly losing their soul to the greed for gold which would turn them into goblins.
Kiss of the Goblin Prince tells the story of Dai, the Celtic prince of the Decangli. This story is a bit dark since the lives of both Dai and Amanda are both filled with trauma and they stumble a bit trying to overcome their pasts and their fears.
Amanda is the sister in law of Eliza, and Eliza’s brother Matt was killed shortly after he and Amanda were married, and which was shortly after she found out she was pregnant. Although her daughter is now seven, she has never worked past the trauma of watching her newlywed husband drown trying to save another surfer. Amanda is too focused on her daughter Brigit, who is slowly suffocating from chronic asthma, to realize that her life is passing her by. Once she meets Dai, he starts to re-awaken desires, both physically and a desire to move on with her life. Unlike several other stories that featured widows who mourned their husbands until the hero shows up in town and suddenly they toss off their grief and try to jump the hero, Amanda’s realization that she has stopped living her life was a gradual reawakening and she had to work hard to move past her fears and guilt of moving on without the husband she barely knew. The daughter Brigit was cute but underused as a character.
The story mainly focuses on Dai and trying to adjust to returning to being a man in the “fixed realm.” Dai was taken as a teenager from his father’s lands by the Romans to ensure that his people would not rebel against Rome. Dai was kept as a slave in the house of a cruel General. He only escaped the life of a slave when he was cursed to the shadowlands. Dai had spent most of his almost 2,000 years in the shadowlands learning magic in an attempt to break the druid’s spell. Dai spends most of the story trying to work past his hatred for the Roman General and trying to get used to being a man again. He also is being blocked by The Birch who were holding his books of magic in the fixed realm, so he is trying to relearn magic in this world by trial and error.
This story also deals with the premise of reincarnation and how our lives are continually connected to the same person, as well as the fact that unless you deal with whatever issues you have, you will constantly try to work past the same issue in your future lives.
This is not a quick, light read, nor it is sexy thriller. This is a very interesting and dark story, and it is truly compelling to watch these two interesting characters work through their fears and try to connect with each other.
Received an ARC from the netgalley.com, courtesy of the publisher. Thank you.
See more at http://ebookobsesed.com.
Kiss of the Goblin Prince tells the story of Dai, the Celtic prince of the Decangli. This story is a bit dark since the lives of both Dai and Amanda are both filled with trauma and they stumble a bit trying to overcome their pasts and their fears.
Amanda is the sister in law of Eliza, and Eliza’s brother Matt was killed shortly after he and Amanda were married, and which was shortly after she found out she was pregnant. Although her daughter is now seven, she has never worked past the trauma of watching her newlywed husband drown trying to save another surfer. Amanda is too focused on her daughter Brigit, who is slowly suffocating from chronic asthma, to realize that her life is passing her by. Once she meets Dai, he starts to re-awaken desires, both physically and a desire to move on with her life. Unlike several other stories that featured widows who mourned their husbands until the hero shows up in town and suddenly they toss off their grief and try to jump the hero, Amanda’s realization that she has stopped living her life was a gradual reawakening and she had to work hard to move past her fears and guilt of moving on without the husband she barely knew. The daughter Brigit was cute but underused as a character.
The story mainly focuses on Dai and trying to adjust to returning to being a man in the “fixed realm.” Dai was taken as a teenager from his father’s lands by the Romans to ensure that his people would not rebel against Rome. Dai was kept as a slave in the house of a cruel General. He only escaped the life of a slave when he was cursed to the shadowlands. Dai had spent most of his almost 2,000 years in the shadowlands learning magic in an attempt to break the druid’s spell. Dai spends most of the story trying to work past his hatred for the Roman General and trying to get used to being a man again. He also is being blocked by The Birch who were holding his books of magic in the fixed realm, so he is trying to relearn magic in this world by trial and error.
This story also deals with the premise of reincarnation and how our lives are continually connected to the same person, as well as the fact that unless you deal with whatever issues you have, you will constantly try to work past the same issue in your future lives.
This is not a quick, light read, nor it is sexy thriller. This is a very interesting and dark story, and it is truly compelling to watch these two interesting characters work through their fears and try to connect with each other.
Received an ARC from the netgalley.com, courtesy of the publisher. Thank you.
See more at http://ebookobsesed.com.
March 6, 2015
Review first posted at That's What I'm Talking About blog: http://twimom227.com/2012/05/review-k...
Kiss of the Goblin Prince is the second novel in the Shadowlands Trilogy and was even better than the previous novel, The Goblin King. The novel flowed at a better pace, although the plot did have a few slow moments. Dai and Amanda’s story is gripping and incredibly touching as two people learn to heal, forgive themselves and reach for a new beginning.
Gikany and Una thoroughly enjoyed the description of magic as a “fabric”. Magic had a texture and reality to the reader that we haven’t experience before. The world-building was fairly well established in the previous novel so the plot felt more character driven in this novel.
Kiss of the Goblin Prince chronicles Dai’s story – his “ever-after”. After being freed by his brother, Roan, and Roan’s new wife, Eliza, Dai finds freedom isn’t all that he thought it would be. Living for thousands of years in the Shadow realm and the horrors of his previous earthly life took their toll on Dai. What few interactions as Dai had as a goblin with the real world did not prepare for him for life as a human in the modern world. Neither did it prepare him for the attraction he finds in Amanda, Eliza’s best friend and a widowed single parent. Their chemistry and the inner battles they wage are touching and complex. Watching them slowly come together was heartwarming.
Another facet to the novel is the ever mysterious and foreboding Birch Trustees, the holders of Dai’s horde – his incredible collection of magical texts. With the increasing attraction between Amanda and Dai – he desperately wishes to control his magic so he can cure her daughter of her serious asthma affliction. Although Dai seems to crave a solitary life, his protectiveness of Amanda and the connection to her daughter pulls him into a far better life.
There are moments in Kiss of the Goblin Prince that dragged a bit. However, some of the slower moments were to build the mystery of the Birch Trustees keepers bank and build the tension between Dai and Amanda. We thought that there was too much of this novel spent in setting up the next novel. Dai’s story was shared with another character, presumably the next hero of the final book in the Shadowlands Trilogy. Gikany and Una would have liked to have seen more of Dai and Amanda’s happily-ever-after. Dai seemed to suffer so much and we would have enjoyed seeing more of his post-resolution bliss. As we did in the beginning of this novel (seeing Roan and Eliza’s HEA), we hope to see more of Dai and Amanda’s happiness in the beginning of the next novel.
Kiss of the Goblin Prince is a fascinating world and was an enjoyable read. If you want a slightly different take on the world of magic and alternate universes within our own, pick up The Goblin King and enjoy the Shadowlands Trilogy.
Kiss of the Goblin Prince is the second novel in the Shadowlands Trilogy and was even better than the previous novel, The Goblin King. The novel flowed at a better pace, although the plot did have a few slow moments. Dai and Amanda’s story is gripping and incredibly touching as two people learn to heal, forgive themselves and reach for a new beginning.
Gikany and Una thoroughly enjoyed the description of magic as a “fabric”. Magic had a texture and reality to the reader that we haven’t experience before. The world-building was fairly well established in the previous novel so the plot felt more character driven in this novel.
Kiss of the Goblin Prince chronicles Dai’s story – his “ever-after”. After being freed by his brother, Roan, and Roan’s new wife, Eliza, Dai finds freedom isn’t all that he thought it would be. Living for thousands of years in the Shadow realm and the horrors of his previous earthly life took their toll on Dai. What few interactions as Dai had as a goblin with the real world did not prepare for him for life as a human in the modern world. Neither did it prepare him for the attraction he finds in Amanda, Eliza’s best friend and a widowed single parent. Their chemistry and the inner battles they wage are touching and complex. Watching them slowly come together was heartwarming.
Another facet to the novel is the ever mysterious and foreboding Birch Trustees, the holders of Dai’s horde – his incredible collection of magical texts. With the increasing attraction between Amanda and Dai – he desperately wishes to control his magic so he can cure her daughter of her serious asthma affliction. Although Dai seems to crave a solitary life, his protectiveness of Amanda and the connection to her daughter pulls him into a far better life.
There are moments in Kiss of the Goblin Prince that dragged a bit. However, some of the slower moments were to build the mystery of the Birch Trustees keepers bank and build the tension between Dai and Amanda. We thought that there was too much of this novel spent in setting up the next novel. Dai’s story was shared with another character, presumably the next hero of the final book in the Shadowlands Trilogy. Gikany and Una would have liked to have seen more of Dai and Amanda’s happily-ever-after. Dai seemed to suffer so much and we would have enjoyed seeing more of his post-resolution bliss. As we did in the beginning of this novel (seeing Roan and Eliza’s HEA), we hope to see more of Dai and Amanda’s happiness in the beginning of the next novel.
Kiss of the Goblin Prince is a fascinating world and was an enjoyable read. If you want a slightly different take on the world of magic and alternate universes within our own, pick up The Goblin King and enjoy the Shadowlands Trilogy.
August 24, 2012
3.5 stars
I've read The Goblin King some time ago and absolutely loved it, so I was eagerly awaiting the release of the second book in the series. After reading Kiss of the Goblin Prince I am left with somewhat mixed feelings about it.
On one side Dai was my favorite even in the first book (ok I have a thing for hot nerds, and he is the ULTIMATE nerd), but on the other his endless pity party was just annoying. There wasn't much story in the Goblin Prince, but more like characters coming in terms with their changed circumstances or realizing that it was time to change their lives or let go. It was different, refreshing almost, from the usual paranormal books I read, but at the same time I was almost wishing for something to happen. Something DID happen at the end of the book, but it wasn't enough to make up for the overall slowness and the lack of action.
I felt that Dai was the type of character that would really benefit from a series of books, but I doubt that will happen. His story still has a lot left to tell, because he is still pretty much who he was in the Shadowlands (while Roan is happy to be "normal", and has no powers as far as I could see), he has powers, it was heavily implied that he WILL use them too. I hope Dai will appear in the third book and I can read even a little about his further adventures.
Amanda took a definite back step compared to Dai, and while I felt that her character was very realistic and true to life, she just wasn't as interesting. At least she was honest with herself about what she wanted, and I loved how, as book progressed, she slowly started to let go of her past and move on.
Overall I did enjoy this book very much, although I would have loved to see more action. Still, I recommend this book to anyone who would like to read a somewhat different paranormal romance, one with the emphasis on character development and not on a constant action.
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Disclaimer: A copy of this ebook was provided to me by Sourcebooks Casablanca via NetGalley. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.
I've read The Goblin King some time ago and absolutely loved it, so I was eagerly awaiting the release of the second book in the series. After reading Kiss of the Goblin Prince I am left with somewhat mixed feelings about it.
On one side Dai was my favorite even in the first book (ok I have a thing for hot nerds, and he is the ULTIMATE nerd), but on the other his endless pity party was just annoying. There wasn't much story in the Goblin Prince, but more like characters coming in terms with their changed circumstances or realizing that it was time to change their lives or let go. It was different, refreshing almost, from the usual paranormal books I read, but at the same time I was almost wishing for something to happen. Something DID happen at the end of the book, but it wasn't enough to make up for the overall slowness and the lack of action.
I felt that Dai was the type of character that would really benefit from a series of books, but I doubt that will happen. His story still has a lot left to tell, because he is still pretty much who he was in the Shadowlands (while Roan is happy to be "normal", and has no powers as far as I could see), he has powers, it was heavily implied that he WILL use them too. I hope Dai will appear in the third book and I can read even a little about his further adventures.
Amanda took a definite back step compared to Dai, and while I felt that her character was very realistic and true to life, she just wasn't as interesting. At least she was honest with herself about what she wanted, and I loved how, as book progressed, she slowly started to let go of her past and move on.
Overall I did enjoy this book very much, although I would have loved to see more action. Still, I recommend this book to anyone who would like to read a somewhat different paranormal romance, one with the emphasis on character development and not on a constant action.
~*~*~*~*~
Disclaimer: A copy of this ebook was provided to me by Sourcebooks Casablanca via NetGalley. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.
April 29, 2012
KISS OF THE GOBLIN PRINCE defies expectation, both as a sequel and a Paranormal Romance. While many in this genre paint each successive hero with the same brush, the challenges and mythology faced by Dai were unique compared to Roan’s experiences. I really enjoyed how this story took advantage of the progress gained in THE GOBLIN KING to continue developing and deepening this world. And on the romance side of things, Husk grew the relationship between Dai and Amanda from simple physical attraction to a deep bond that makes sense for them as individuals. While Dai’s goblin curse may have been broken before page one his wounds are far from healed, and Amanda’s counseling expertise gives weight and believability to Dai’s recovery.
By following Dai as he struggles to acclimate in the human world, Husk also gives us a rare glimpse behind the curtain of Happily Ever After. Roan and Eliza are canoodling newlyweds, but Dai is still struggling to adapt to modern life. Alongside the mundane concerns of learning to drive and finding a home, his struggle to gain control of his human magic was also fascinating. Husk kept me guessing as to whether or not Dai was in danger of harming himself with magic. The opposition of a shadowy organization added to this intriguing ambiguity. Did he need to master his magic to stand up to a corrupt enemy? Or had he been flagged by a watchdog organization that shuts down dangerous magic? Husk draws these questions out to the very end (and I switched sides multiple times), making KISS OF THE GOBLIN PRINCE as much a puzzle to be solved as a romance to be enjoyed.
Though KISS OF THE GOBLIN PRINCE is a wonderful Paranormal Romance, this book is strongly weighted towards Urban Fantasy as well. As I enjoy both genres I didn’t mind, but some reviewers were disappointed by the relationship side of the equation. I thought Husk did a good job making the romance a relevant part of the magical mythology, above and beyond the usual Paranormal Romance tropes, but the main focus is definitely on Dai’s struggles and this fascinating mythology of reincarnation, healing, and forgiveness. KISS OF THE GOBLIN PRINCE has greatly increased my anticipation of FOR THE LOVE A GOBLIN WARRIOR, as I know I can expect a whole new set of challenges, relationships, and magical nuances for the next hero to take center stage.
Sexual Content: A sex scene, references to sexual abuse.
By following Dai as he struggles to acclimate in the human world, Husk also gives us a rare glimpse behind the curtain of Happily Ever After. Roan and Eliza are canoodling newlyweds, but Dai is still struggling to adapt to modern life. Alongside the mundane concerns of learning to drive and finding a home, his struggle to gain control of his human magic was also fascinating. Husk kept me guessing as to whether or not Dai was in danger of harming himself with magic. The opposition of a shadowy organization added to this intriguing ambiguity. Did he need to master his magic to stand up to a corrupt enemy? Or had he been flagged by a watchdog organization that shuts down dangerous magic? Husk draws these questions out to the very end (and I switched sides multiple times), making KISS OF THE GOBLIN PRINCE as much a puzzle to be solved as a romance to be enjoyed.
Though KISS OF THE GOBLIN PRINCE is a wonderful Paranormal Romance, this book is strongly weighted towards Urban Fantasy as well. As I enjoy both genres I didn’t mind, but some reviewers were disappointed by the relationship side of the equation. I thought Husk did a good job making the romance a relevant part of the magical mythology, above and beyond the usual Paranormal Romance tropes, but the main focus is definitely on Dai’s struggles and this fascinating mythology of reincarnation, healing, and forgiveness. KISS OF THE GOBLIN PRINCE has greatly increased my anticipation of FOR THE LOVE A GOBLIN WARRIOR, as I know I can expect a whole new set of challenges, relationships, and magical nuances for the next hero to take center stage.
Sexual Content: A sex scene, references to sexual abuse.
April 3, 2012
Originally posted at: http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.c...
I'm betting you've never experienced Goblins quite like this before. Goblins traditionally are small little creatures sent to create havoc for us humans. Dai undoubtedly creates some chaos in the story. With his dashing looks and intriguing personality he wreaks havoc over Amanda’s libido and makes her want something she hasn’t had in years: a warm body laying next to her in bed.
Amanda is a truly inspirational women. She's been caring for her sickly daughter by herself for years without asking anything for herself. While some women may want to give up, or begin to resent their situation, Amanda uses her inner strength to do what's necessary to care for her child. I have to say this aspect of Amanda’s personality certainly left me in awe. Amanda’s situation had me wishing she and Dai could be together to help care for one another in a way no else has for as long as they can remember.
Dai is another person who has spent most of his life caring for others in his own way. As the second child of the king, he too often took risks with his life to ensure the safety of his older brothe, friends and family. I could tell he was used to taking care of everyone else but himself. It made him even more lost in a foreign world. After spending so much time in the Goblin realm he had to learn how to function in a world that had developed without him.
This story is a sequel to The Goblin King and I haven't read the first book. While many aspects of the story were easy to follow I was a bit confused by the goblin background of Dai. I did eventually begin to understand the previous events, but my ignorance of the back story took away some of my appreciation of certain parts of the story. I will say that now that I've experienced one of the Shadowland Stories I would surely enjoy and look for any future stories.
This story would be enjoyable for anyone who loves a delightfully sweet romance story with two deserving characters. The romance development, subplots and excellent characters were truly entertaining.
I'm betting you've never experienced Goblins quite like this before. Goblins traditionally are small little creatures sent to create havoc for us humans. Dai undoubtedly creates some chaos in the story. With his dashing looks and intriguing personality he wreaks havoc over Amanda’s libido and makes her want something she hasn’t had in years: a warm body laying next to her in bed.
Amanda is a truly inspirational women. She's been caring for her sickly daughter by herself for years without asking anything for herself. While some women may want to give up, or begin to resent their situation, Amanda uses her inner strength to do what's necessary to care for her child. I have to say this aspect of Amanda’s personality certainly left me in awe. Amanda’s situation had me wishing she and Dai could be together to help care for one another in a way no else has for as long as they can remember.
Dai is another person who has spent most of his life caring for others in his own way. As the second child of the king, he too often took risks with his life to ensure the safety of his older brothe, friends and family. I could tell he was used to taking care of everyone else but himself. It made him even more lost in a foreign world. After spending so much time in the Goblin realm he had to learn how to function in a world that had developed without him.
This story is a sequel to The Goblin King and I haven't read the first book. While many aspects of the story were easy to follow I was a bit confused by the goblin background of Dai. I did eventually begin to understand the previous events, but my ignorance of the back story took away some of my appreciation of certain parts of the story. I will say that now that I've experienced one of the Shadowland Stories I would surely enjoy and look for any future stories.
This story would be enjoyable for anyone who loves a delightfully sweet romance story with two deserving characters. The romance development, subplots and excellent characters were truly entertaining.
April 21, 2012
After spending the last 2000 years in the Shadowlands as a goblin, and all that entails, Dai finds it difficult to be thrust back into the human world after the curse was broken when his brother found true love. Dai never really believed it was his fate to become human again and now that he is, he’s not quite sure what to do with himself, so he focuses on his magic, as much as it is forbidden. Dai is a very tortured man and struggles to deal with the guilt of some of his actions in the past that he just can’t let go to forgive himself so he tries to find a way to get revenge and atone for his sins.
Amanda is a widowed mother who had found and lost love at such a young age. She keeps herself distanced from men and focuses all her attention on her daughter who suffers from a severe case of asthma. When Dai’s brother marries Amanda’s sister-in-law they are thrust into each other’s lives and they have an instant attraction for each other. They both lack the experience of relationships and struggle with what they feel towards each other and how to go about any type of relationship.
I felt this story was slow and that when things started to pick up, it was all rushed at the end. Although I liked Dai and Amanda and their struggles to open up their wounded hearts and embrace love, and help each other heal, I just wasn’t feeling this book which I found disappointing as I liked Dai in the first book and was looking forward to reading his story. I did like the twists that are revealed and how individuals from Dai’s past continue to play apart in the present and what fate Dai would encounter if he didn’t learn to forgive himself. I also enjoyed the side story about Dai and Ronan’s cousin who had embraced his goblin side and went off with the horde. He finds himself all of sudden returned to human and stuck in the Shadowlands, after the curse was broken, which sets up for book 3 For the Love of a Goblin Warrior.
ARC Provided by NetGalley
Amanda is a widowed mother who had found and lost love at such a young age. She keeps herself distanced from men and focuses all her attention on her daughter who suffers from a severe case of asthma. When Dai’s brother marries Amanda’s sister-in-law they are thrust into each other’s lives and they have an instant attraction for each other. They both lack the experience of relationships and struggle with what they feel towards each other and how to go about any type of relationship.
I felt this story was slow and that when things started to pick up, it was all rushed at the end. Although I liked Dai and Amanda and their struggles to open up their wounded hearts and embrace love, and help each other heal, I just wasn’t feeling this book which I found disappointing as I liked Dai in the first book and was looking forward to reading his story. I did like the twists that are revealed and how individuals from Dai’s past continue to play apart in the present and what fate Dai would encounter if he didn’t learn to forgive himself. I also enjoyed the side story about Dai and Ronan’s cousin who had embraced his goblin side and went off with the horde. He finds himself all of sudden returned to human and stuck in the Shadowlands, after the curse was broken, which sets up for book 3 For the Love of a Goblin Warrior.
ARC Provided by NetGalley
May 6, 2012
4.5 stars From the first moment they see each other Dai and Amanda experience an attraction to each other, but each will have to decide to let go of the pasts that hold them back if they going to discover whether the golden threads of attraction that are forming between them hold any promise of a future together.
Coming into the story - considering that Dai and his brother Roan are no longer hideous goblins trapped in the gray shadowlands and the curse that nearly stole their last shreds of humanity is now broken - I was really wondering where Kiss of the Goblin Prince was going to go story wise.
Resuming his life as a human after thousands of years, Dai has some serious issues which are making it hard to just learn how to live again, and only some of them are due to having lived (and planned on dying) as a goblin for so long. So in some ways it is natural that Dai gets the vast majority of the screen time in Kiss of the Goblin Prince. I am totally hero-centric and love magic so the story and the romance still worked for me even though there actually weren't a lot scenes with both Amanda and Dai together and there was with minimal smexy stuff. To me it made sense that Dai and Amanda's pursuit of the attraction between them was a cautious one and I liked that Amanda was willing to take a chance on someone as damaged as Dai. And I liked that Amanda actually had the skills to help Dai - I especially liked the part of the story where Amanda gets Dai to finally speak about his past by letting him tell it to her in one of the dead languages he knows - giving him someone to tell to his story to in a very safe way.
So, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed Dai's story - I actually ended up liking Kiss of the Goblin Prince even more than King of the Goblins - and, after having had a look at the teaser, am looking forward to the next book as Husk's Shadowland series continues with For the Love of a Goblin Warrior
Coming into the story - considering that Dai and his brother Roan are no longer hideous goblins trapped in the gray shadowlands and the curse that nearly stole their last shreds of humanity is now broken - I was really wondering where Kiss of the Goblin Prince was going to go story wise.
Resuming his life as a human after thousands of years, Dai has some serious issues which are making it hard to just learn how to live again, and only some of them are due to having lived (and planned on dying) as a goblin for so long. So in some ways it is natural that Dai gets the vast majority of the screen time in Kiss of the Goblin Prince. I am totally hero-centric and love magic so the story and the romance still worked for me even though there actually weren't a lot scenes with both Amanda and Dai together and there was with minimal smexy stuff. To me it made sense that Dai and Amanda's pursuit of the attraction between them was a cautious one and I liked that Amanda was willing to take a chance on someone as damaged as Dai. And I liked that Amanda actually had the skills to help Dai - I especially liked the part of the story where Amanda gets Dai to finally speak about his past by letting him tell it to her in one of the dead languages he knows - giving him someone to tell to his story to in a very safe way.
So, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed Dai's story - I actually ended up liking Kiss of the Goblin Prince even more than King of the Goblins - and, after having had a look at the teaser, am looking forward to the next book as Husk's Shadowland series continues with For the Love of a Goblin Warrior
January 17, 2013
I really enjoyed book 1 in this series and I had wasn't sure what to expect with Dai's book. I mean, the curse had been broken, Dai and Roan had escaped to the Fixed Realm, what was Dai going to have to overcome now? Turns out he had plenty of obstacles... the biggest one being his own guilt and the way he feels out of sync with the world around him.
Here's the thing... it took a looooooong time to get to the point where things were moving along. The first half (or longer) of the book was a lot of rehashing how Dai felt (guilty, didn't want to be powerless, alone) and how Amanda felt (guilty, lonely, powerless against her daughter's illness). I liked that these two lost souls were working toward one another and feeling each other out (VERY TENTATIVELY) about the potential for a relationship but the repetition slowed down the narrative. A lot. It wasn't until Dai started acting decisively that I found myself unable to stop reading. However, once he was kicking ass and taking names, things rocked.
I enjoyed the bits about Meryn and his troubles in the Shadowlands (dude is MESSED in the head from all his years as a goblin) and I liked seeing Eliza and Roan settling into a normal life together, I just wasn't enamored of the constant circular thoughts that plagued poor Dai and Amanda. Also, I think I would have punched the Birch Trustees in the junk after the stunts they pulled. IN THE JUNK. There would have likely been tears. Not mine this time, either.
Enjoyable once the action picks up and Dai starts revealing his secrets (I do love my tortured heroes, you know) but you have to wade through a fair amount of slow moving introspection to get to the fun. Still, I can only guess that the things we learned about lives and rebirth will have some impact in later books. Or at least I hope so because that part was pretty neat.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
Here's the thing... it took a looooooong time to get to the point where things were moving along. The first half (or longer) of the book was a lot of rehashing how Dai felt (guilty, didn't want to be powerless, alone) and how Amanda felt (guilty, lonely, powerless against her daughter's illness). I liked that these two lost souls were working toward one another and feeling each other out (VERY TENTATIVELY) about the potential for a relationship but the repetition slowed down the narrative. A lot. It wasn't until Dai started acting decisively that I found myself unable to stop reading. However, once he was kicking ass and taking names, things rocked.
I enjoyed the bits about Meryn and his troubles in the Shadowlands (dude is MESSED in the head from all his years as a goblin) and I liked seeing Eliza and Roan settling into a normal life together, I just wasn't enamored of the constant circular thoughts that plagued poor Dai and Amanda. Also, I think I would have punched the Birch Trustees in the junk after the stunts they pulled. IN THE JUNK. There would have likely been tears. Not mine this time, either.
Enjoyable once the action picks up and Dai starts revealing his secrets (I do love my tortured heroes, you know) but you have to wade through a fair amount of slow moving introspection to get to the fun. Still, I can only guess that the things we learned about lives and rebirth will have some impact in later books. Or at least I hope so because that part was pretty neat.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
May 15, 2012
Wow, wow, wow. Just when I thought I couldn't fit one more tortured hero onto my boyfriend list, Shona Husk gives us Dai.
Dai has some issues. If you were used by a Roman General to control your brother and spent hundreds of years being tortured by the same man in the Shadowlands, you'd probably have some issues too. Add on top of that the death of your sister on your hands and you'd have to wonder how the man is sane at all. Now in the Fixed Realm, he only hopes to gain his books back from the Birch Trust and keep the nightmares away. But at his heart, Dai is a man who needs to believe that he's worth loving and to let go of what happened in the past.
Amanda, widowed when six months pregnant, has lived with one goal...to try and keep her young daughter Brigit alive, even when it seems her body has a different idea. When she catches the eye of Dai at her sister-in-law's wedding, he reawakens feelings in her that died with her husband. There is something about Dai that calls to her, but she's not sure she's ready to jump into anything, with any man, after being by herself for so long. Amanda needs to come to terms with the fact that she is allowed to have a social life outside of what she does with her daughter.
The romance between Dai and Amanda is only a small part of this story. At the core, it's about Dai coming to terms with no longer being Goblin, but also discovering that he can weld magic he only thought possible in the Shadowlands. Of course, using that magic causes the Birch Trust to start watching and threatening him, but it also allows for him to discover that his cousin also had his curse broken and that he alone has the power to save him.
An interesting and entertaining story, but one that definitely should be read AFTER The Goblin King. That was my mistake, but one I will be rectifying soon.
Dai has some issues. If you were used by a Roman General to control your brother and spent hundreds of years being tortured by the same man in the Shadowlands, you'd probably have some issues too. Add on top of that the death of your sister on your hands and you'd have to wonder how the man is sane at all. Now in the Fixed Realm, he only hopes to gain his books back from the Birch Trust and keep the nightmares away. But at his heart, Dai is a man who needs to believe that he's worth loving and to let go of what happened in the past.
Amanda, widowed when six months pregnant, has lived with one goal...to try and keep her young daughter Brigit alive, even when it seems her body has a different idea. When she catches the eye of Dai at her sister-in-law's wedding, he reawakens feelings in her that died with her husband. There is something about Dai that calls to her, but she's not sure she's ready to jump into anything, with any man, after being by herself for so long. Amanda needs to come to terms with the fact that she is allowed to have a social life outside of what she does with her daughter.
The romance between Dai and Amanda is only a small part of this story. At the core, it's about Dai coming to terms with no longer being Goblin, but also discovering that he can weld magic he only thought possible in the Shadowlands. Of course, using that magic causes the Birch Trust to start watching and threatening him, but it also allows for him to discover that his cousin also had his curse broken and that he alone has the power to save him.
An interesting and entertaining story, but one that definitely should be read AFTER The Goblin King. That was my mistake, but one I will be rectifying soon.
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