Shadow Heir Review

Shadow Heir (Dark Swan 4)

-         -  Richelle Mead

Publisher: UK – Bantam

**Warning contains spoilers from the first three books**

Shaman-for-hire Eugenie Markham strives to keep the mortal realm safe from trespassing entities. But as the Thorn Land's prophecy-haunted queen, there's no refuge for her and her soon-to-be-born-children when a mysterious blight begins to devastate the Otherworld...
The spell-driven source of the blight isn't the only challenge to Eugenie's instincts. Fairy king Dorian is sacrificing everything to help, but Eugenie can't trust the synergy drawing them back together. The uneasy truce between her and her shape shifter ex-lover Kiyo is endangered by secrets he can't--or won't--reveal. And as a formidable force rises to also threaten the human world, Eugenie must use her own cursed fate as a weapon--and risk the ultimate sacrifice...

As far as I know this is the fourth and final book in Eugenie’s story and a lot is packed into a short space! Not only does Eugenie have to cope with pregnancy and the disturbing prophecy that says her son will conquer the human world, there is a blight to deal with, her mixed feelings for fey King, Dorian and her ex-trying to kill her and her unborn children. Despite all this going, there doesn’t appear to much urgency for much of the book. As these events take place several months, the pace seems slower than previous instalments. There is a lot of introspective contemplation as Eugenie struggles to do what is right for her children, for her kingdoms and for the human world.

Eugenie is still a very proactive heroine, more than willing to tackle issues head on – whether that includes wielding gentry magic, kicking butt or speaking her mind. She feels much more comfortable in her role as queen now and her use of gentry magic is now effortless which is a big change from we started at book one. Her relationships with those around her have changed as well – especially with Dorian, her stepfather Roland and her sister, Jasmine. I also liked how becoming a mother changed her and even the little worries she had over regaining her previous physicality made her easy to relate too – always a worry with characters with such phenomenal powers.

I do have one issue with the story, which I can’t go into a lot of detail as it’s a big spoiler, but to me there is an element introduced at a late stage that seems very convenient – a get-out-of-jail-free card that spoilt some of the grey moral area that Mead had built up prior to that. Personally, I liked that there were no easy answers and this one introduction seemed to undermine some of that. However, it doesn’t  completely clear the deck as Eugenie is still left with a very big decision to make – the result of which has the possibility of dividing readers. However, I was happy with the ending although I could see plenty of opportunity to revisit Eugenie’s worlds in a few years’ time!

Recommended for fans of Jennifer Estep and Kim Harrison. 8 out of 10.

Iron Crowned Review

Iron Crowned (Dark Swan 3)

-       Richelle Mead

Publisher: UK – Bantam

Shaman-for-hire Eugenie Markham is the best at banishing entities trespassing in the mortal realm. But as the Thorn Land’s queen, she’s fast running out of ways to end the brutal war devastating her kingdom. Her only hope: the Iron Crown, a legendary object even the most powerful gentry fear…
Who Eugenie can trust is the hardest part. Fairy king Dorian has his own agenda for aiding her search. And Kiyo, her shape-shifter ex-boyfriend, has every reason to betray her along the way. To control the Crown’s ever-consuming powers, Eugenie will have to confront an unimaginable temptation--one that will put her soul and the fate of two worlds in mortal peril...

How to describe this book without giving anything away? It’s a bit like trying to describe a sculpture by phone...hopefully you’ll get the idea, but the best thing is really to go and see the sculpture yourself – or in this case read the book!

First thing to note, this is very much a continuation of the previous two books, Storm Born and Thorn Queen and so much that happens does depend on prior knowledge. Even Eugenie’s relationships with her two men it helps to know some of the past to put her thoughts and feeling into perspective.  And about her two men. I am very much in the Dorian camp – he is alpha male all the way and while he may not be the most honest of men – I think he is in his own way honourable. I am not a fan of Kiyo – he never seems be honest and I don’t think he trusts Eugenie.

The quest for the Iron Crown is over pretty quickly as the story returns to the story arc and the war. Eugenie is put through the emotional wringer here as her whole life comes under question. I loved how her relationship with her sister developed as she does seem to be lacking in female friends. Overall, though I felt like something was missing. I haven’t fully connected to Eugenie and she feels a little otherworldly – although being half fae that’s understandable! Still I enjoyed the ride which is a sexy adventure through the gentry world full of politics and fun.

Recommended for fans of Larissa Ione and Sherrilyn Kenyon. 7 out of 10.