Storm’s Heart by Thea Harrison (Elder Races #2)
Paranormal Romance
August 2, 2011
Paperback
Berkley

Reviewed by Mandi

*Spoilers for book one, Dragon Bound*

By the end of Dragon Bound, Dragos had killed the crooked Dark Fae King, Urien, setting up Tricks, whose real name is Niniane to be the new Queen. Niniane’s father (the previous king before Urien) and family were slaughtered by Urien, but she escaped and for the past 200 years has taken refuge with the Wyr demesne. During this time, she became family to them – they accepted her, loved her and trained her.

But now she has a duty she must fulfill. It was decided that to show her strength, and for political reasons, to not drag the Wyr with her when she claims the throne – so off she goes alone. But things soon turn dicey. Her cousin and other Dark Fae companion attempt to assassinate her. Luckily her training and poison filled stiletto heels allow her to kill them and stay alive, only with a stab wound. Scared and tired, she flees to a hotel to hideout until she can think straight and heal. When members of Dragos’ Wyr clan see this attack on a viral cell phone video and can’t get in touch with her, Tiago, one of Dragos’ warlords goes to find her.

One of the best trackers the Wyr have, Tiago soon finds Niniane, drunk, wounded, and just silly. Tiago feels a strong, overwhelming need to protect Niniane and becomes determined to get her safely to her coronation. But after another assassination attempt, this one from what looks like Wyr, they have quite the battle on their hands.

I loved and adored Dragon Bound earlier this year. Storm’s Heart, book two in Thea Harrison’s Elder Races series is a  good follow up. I really love her voice, and the way she writes her characters. Tiago is just as bad ass as Dragos is. A hard core alpha, when the mating process starts, everyone better watch out, because he is going to have Niniane no matter what anyone says – even Niniane. He is so intense, so powerful, and he is nicknamed Dr. Death – and he earns that nickname time and time again in this book.

Tricks (as we know her from Dragon Bound) aka Niniane had me laughing out loud in the first few chapters of this book. Her and Tiago have known each other for 200 years, but have never acted on a physical attraction (which is my one complaint – I’ll get to that in a minute) When Tiago tracks her down to her hotel room, Niniane is so drunk, the things that come out of her mouth (and said in her head) made me giggle non-stop. And of course that just pissed off Tiago more that he had to deal with an injured, drunk faerie.

“Whoa,” she said. She looked up – or down, as it were – at Tiago’s crotch, which had stopped right in front of her. He was one scary mean-looking oversized barbarian, in black jeans, black boots and black leather vest. He bristled with weapons and anger, and muscles bulged everywhere. His crotch sported a significant bulge too. A very significant bulge. She licked her lips. She might be drunk but she wasn’t dead. She wouldn’t be forgetting this sight in a hurry.

Obsidian eyes glittered. “Tricks, what the hell? Seriously.”

In Dragon Bound, the romance was quick to happen and I didn’t have a problem with it. But I did question in Storm’s Heart, why now? Tiago and Ninane have known each other 200 years. Why the urgent mating and crazy feelings on both sides? Tiago just seems to come out of nowhere with this uber protectiveness. Now, once we get into the romance, I’m not complaining, I fell in love with both characters and I found their romance sweet and the actual build up – the doubt, the angst, the tension done well. They also have this very entertaining banter throughout the book.

He stopped the SUV dead.

She sat frozen as she stared at him, her mouth open. The fancy hybrid engine bawled a complaint and stalled.

Tiago came around to the driver’s side and yanked the door open, He gripped the edge of the roof with both hands and glared at her. He was already soaked. She watched with eyes gone huge and round as a drop of water slid down one lean, hard cheek where a muscle twitched.

The knife would had hurt too much for her to put on the seat  belt. Wincing, she swiveled with care to face him. The rain pelted her bare legs and arms.

Maybe it was time to get cute. Her lower lip stuck out and her forehead wrinkled. In a small uncertain voice, she said, “Sowwy?”

If anything, that seemed to make him angrier.

There are a fewer slower parts in the middle of this one, but I think this is a very solid follow-up to Dragon Bound and my excitement for this series is still very high. Besides the Fae and Wyr, we get a look into the vampire culture, and get a nice glimpse into Rune’s future mate in book three.

Rating: B

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