Storm’s Heart by Thea Harrison
The Elder Races #2
Paranormal Romance
Piatkus | August 2, 2011
About the Book: During the rule of her murderous Dark Fae uncle, Thistle ‘Tricks’ Periwinkle found sanctuary among the wyr in New York. Her ethereal beauty and sparkling personality won the hearts of the public, but after her uncle’s death, there are those who don’t want to see her ascend to the throne.
Able to wield thunder and lightning, wyr sentinel Tiago Black Eagle has ruled the skies for centuries. His massive build and thunderous power make him one of the wyr’s best weapons. And he’s sent to protect Tricks when she’s almost assassinated in Chicago.
Soon, both Tiago and Tricks will fall prey to the stormy hunger that engulfs them – a passion that will shake the very foundation of all the worlds.
There was a lot of build up for Tiago and Tricks when I was reading Dragon Bound. There was a chemistry between the Faerie and the Thunderbird I found myself drawn to. I thought I’d devour Storm’s Heart ravenously, but it didn’t end up happening for me like that.
I can say part of the problem was how I was trying to read between hospital visits, work, and trying to catch even a little bit of sleep. I also like to believe if a book hits me, my need to keep reading will transcend most things. (Sleep, at least.) I didn’t really feel the pull this time, though I did still enjoy it. I don’t have any complaints to talk about, I don’t think, so even though it didn’t draw me in I’m still going to mainly talk about things I enjoyed.
I love Tiago. It’s mentioned in the book he looks like The Rock and I pictured someone similar, just Native American not Samoan. (Native American because he is a Thunderbird.) Similar to how Dragos, king of Wyr, didn’t think he ever had to say please, Tiago always dared others to try and take him down. He’s a warlord, and the best warlord ever, and yet his heart is stolen by this little tiny big eyed faerie. I loved it.
Tricks started off full of piss and vinegar, especially in Dragon Bound. She felt peppy and bouncy. She started off the same way in Storm’s Heart, and I really liked her. I did think she faded a bit as the book went on. As Tricks became Niniane she seemed to get weepier and more lost. Maintaining a characters personality is seriously important, I think, and in this case, I felt like I didn’t know who I was reading in the end.
Unfortunately I think the amount of time Tricks spent curled up and weeping in the crook of Tiago’s neck also took a toll on their early chemistry. I stopped feeling the passion, and that’s a death sentence in a romance novel.
So, I guess there are more critiques than I originally thought. One thing Thea Harrison does do well is set up for the next story. She did it with Tiago and Tricks in Dragon Bound, and she’s done it again this time with Rune. So, even if this wasn’t the perfect read for me right now, I’m still going to buy and read book 3. I want to know how Rune falls for that vampyre.
Birdie Bookworm 