Woman Reading

WARNING, reading this review if you have started this series but are not caught up may not be in your best interest!

The white horse stopped at the foot of the stairs and Charles noticed two things. First, the horse had bright blue eyes that caught his and studied him coolly before the horse moved on to stare at Lizzie. Second, that the horse's rider was Lizzie's father.

"I told them," he said in a clear, carrying voice, "that they should not give someone as old and powerful as I a daughter to love. That it would end badly."

His horse shifted, raising one front leg and pawing at the air before replacing it exactly where it had been.

"Now we shall all live with the consequences."

"Holy fuck a duck!" THIS was the first thing my brain thought, and the first words my fingers typed in a text to a friend. It pretty much sums it up folks. Shizzz is boutsta hit the fan!

Okay, breathe in, breathe out...

Our poor Charles is breaking down under the strain of being his father’s assassin. It is eating away at his soul, and in an effort to save him Bran, Asil and Anna decide that he needs to go be a hero so they send Anna (because Charles will be with her, and wouldn't be receptive otherwise) off to help the FBI stop a serial killer who is targeting Werewolves.

As far as the story goes, it was good. My favorite of the A&O books so far, as you can tell by the 5 stars up there. It's probably closer to 4.5... Anyway, it was a good story. Good characters, I particularly liked Isaac and wish he would be able to stick around a bit. I also liked Leslie, and I thought it was interesting that we even got a POV for her.

But the REAL reason this book got such high marks is because this book was a GAME CHANGER! Not just in the world of Charles and Anna, but this will be a game changer in the Mercy books too! I have a feeling we're going to see the repercussions of this book all over the wolf packs, and probably in a few other areas of the supernatural... I'm shivering with excitement for Frost Burned now!

The white horse started forward again, up the cement stairs. His silver-shod hooves clicked as he walked and Alistair Beauclaire crumbled the rue in his left hand and scattered it as they walked, leaving behind a trail of leaves that was too thick for the small sprig he had started with. The last of it fell from his hands as the horse stopped.

"For two hundred years I have been bound by my oath that I would not use my powers for personal gain, nor for the gain of my people. In return we would be allowed to come here and live in quiet harmony in a place unbound by iron."

Tipping his blade toward the ground, Beauclaire said, quietly, "The time of that oath is past, broken by those without regard to justice. I reclaim my magic for me and for my people. Our day begins anew."

Then he raised the sword up toward the sky and announced harshly, "We, the Fae, declare ourselves free of the laws of the United States of America. We do not recognize them. They have no authority over us. From this moment forward we are our own sovereign nation, claiming as our own those lands ceded to us. We will treat with you, as one hostile nation treats with another, until such time as it seems us good to do elsewise. I, Alistair Beauclaire, once and again Gwyn ap Lugh, Prince of the Gray Lords, do so determine. All will abide my wishes."

*I have edited out some information in the quotes to protect secrets of the book, leaving out important spoilers but maintaining the power of this scene. Or at least I did my best. :)