Orphan. Runaway. Thief.
Since the moment I was ripped from my mother's womb, I've been an outcast amongst my own kind. The Sidhe might possess magical Gifts, unbelievable wealth and unfathomable power but I don't want a thing to do with them. I ran away from their lands in the Highlands of Scotland when I was eleven years old and I've never looked back. I don't need a Clan. I've got my own family of highly skilled thieves who mean more to me than any Sidhe ever could.
Unfortunately for me, the playboy heir to the Moncrieffe Clan has something I desperately need. To get it back, I'm going to have to plunge myself back into that world, no matter what the consequences may be. I suppose it's just as well I have sense of humour. I think I'm going to need it
My Review
I received this copy from NetGalley.
Nameless, outcast, clanless (In Scotland, there are two kinds of people - Clan and clanless), silver hair, purple eyes sidhe. As a child she lived at the Bull of the Scrymgeour clan castle there they treated her less then a servant. No Body bother to tell her what happened to her parents, only hearing ugly rumors. Only eleven on mere of a whim she deiced to ran away from that life .
On the road she met and Taken by Taylor. When he ask for her name she deiced to name herself Integrity. Since then Taylor thought her the life of a thief, wanting nothing to do with clans and the sidhe. Despite being a thief she managed to live up to her name. She would steal without batting an eye, but she had a moral code: She wont take anything that would have sentimental value. She also, considered her fellow thieves - Taylor, Lexie, Brochan and Speck to be her 'real family and for keeping them safe she will do anything and the same they will do foe her.
One day she got a beautiful written summing to the court. She had no intention of going back. But they pulled her back kicking and screaming into their world of deceit and magical manipulation.
The one who responsible for pulling her back is Byron, prince charming of the clans. If she wont accept all her friends end up in jail, or with a hit on them. The only way to save her true family is to go back to the life she left behind.
Their she discovered that magic is failing, and they must have the heir of Clan Adair to help them. In order to help access the Foinse, where the magic is, she needs her true name. She doesn't have one! She ran away before she received it and therefore doesn't have her Sidhe gifts either. Wonder what they will turn out to be?
She is the last surviving member of her clan, it was all but wiped out, leaving a black mark in everyone’s memory. The deeper Integrity delves into her clan history the more she discovers that the history has been rewritten by someone who wishes determined to kill her in the process (What really happened to Clan Adair? Was Integrity's father really the cruel person he's claimed to be? If so, why do the Clanless keep saying otherwise? Why is Clan Adair being erased from history? Why is Integrity's life being threatened?).
The heroin- Integrity- Witty, unapologetic, determined, independent, and very smart. When forcing into a territory where no one liked her, she was holding her head high and made damn sure no one knew she was a bit intimidated. She also doesn't like violence, so she handle most of the "bad stuff" cunningly wise. One flow - loving pink color ( I understand the reason behind the using of this flow even it really annoying (because I couldn't relate to it), when, women are perceived as "girly girls" or "tomboys", it is kind of mixing both. Other flow - She love to through, in every opportunity, silly jokes that make most people groan or just stare. Her 'jokes' are so silly, they are amusing!
Side characters-
1. Byron Moncrieffe- the equivalent of a fae prince. He could be charming, sweet, and seductive. He also knew how to be manipulative. Integrity and many others perceived him as some pompous, playboy prince, but she was supried to discover otherwise. There is plenty of sizzling chemistry between Byron and Integrity but they both have their own agendas and things are about to get really interesting as these strong compelling characters demand the reader’s attention in this steady to fast paced and smooth flowing plot full of suspense, action and a touch of romance.
2. Integrity's 'real family'- Taylor, Lexie, Brochan and Speck. There is a level of complete trust and camaraderie between them. They are there for each other no matter what.
3. Bob - very small genie who lives in the "letter opener"(scimitar) and who is ready to grant three wishes to Integrity! Integrity doesn't fall for it -she knows how genies and wishes turn out after all!
My problem - I didn't really figure the world building of the story: How the the world and Scotland created ? How the Clan and clanless become to be? How come the Sidhe turn to be the dominant species ? Where exactly the veil is and why there is a place of Fomorians is dangerous? and why the hall you have to go to the highland through north Europe?
Overall - I think that the readers will have adrenaline pumping thrills from the fast pacing plot . The scenes are well written with vivid details that make it easy for the reader to become caught up in the story and the characters and the intriguing events ensure that the readers can’t put the story down. So in sum - I can't wait for book two. I'm very very glad it is coming out soon.
About Helen Harper
Helen has always been a book lover, devouring science fiction and fantasy tales when she was a child growing up in Scotland.After teaching English literature in the UK, Japan and Malaysia, Helen Harper left behind the world of education following the worldwide success of her Blood Destiny series of books. She is a professional member of the Alliance of Independent Authors and writes full time although she still fits in creative writing workshops with schools along with volunteering to teach reading to a group of young Myanmar refugees. That’s not to mention the procession of stray cats which seem to find their way to her door!
From almost the moment I learnt to read, I fell in love with the escapism provided by those genres. No matter how bad life gets, you can always find a route out, even if only temporarily, in the pages of a good book.The growth of urban fantasy fascinated her - the mix of reality and fantasy along with strong heroic female characters appealed from the very beginning, and inspired her to write her own. No-one is more astonished or thrilled than her that her characters have found an audience and that her books have achieved average reviews of 4 to 5 stars on Amazon and GoodReads.
Helen currently lives in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with far too many cats – not to mention the dragons, fairies, demons, wizards and vampires that seem to keep appearing from nowhere!
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