Rating: 4.5 stars
Buy Link: Amazon | iBooks | Amazon UK
Length: Novel
Fae Detective Niko Spruce has been waiting three long months, with no word from his supposed soul mate, selkie Cobalt Sincloud. And while he’s waiting and getting angrier for the silence, he’s defending his and Cobalt’s actions where the nefarious Sade Hemlock was concerned. To Niko’s horror, Sade is released, and Niko knows just what the sadistic fae is capable of. So he tails Sade, only to find him murdered.
Niko is accused of the crime, but things get much worse. He’s told to flee or be arrested, and Niko doesn’t hesitate. But he doesn’t expect Cobalt to finally show up just as he’s escaping. On the run, Niko, Cobalt, Starla, and Cobalt’s sister Coral find a safe place to hole up. Niko can’t even deal with Cobalt’s absence or the fact that he disappeared without word. He’s being hunted for Sade’s murder, and he’ll be killed if he’s found.
But Niko knows there’s more going on with Sade’s murder than meets the eye, and he’s determined to investigate it. He knows it’s the only way to clear his name. But he’s putting the others at risk in his pursuit of the truth. Fortunately, he finds an unlikely ally, and is able to stay one step ahead of the supposed law.
But things with Cobalt finally simmer over. Niko has a bit of a meltdown, and finally the truth comes out. Cobalt can not excuse his absence, but he can explain it. Only Niko’s not sure if he can forgive Cobalt. There’s too many feelings and hurt tied up in what happened. But Cobalt is his soul mate, and his master, and they must work through their problems to survive. And even then, it looks like Niko will have to sacrifice himself to save the one’s he loves, and all of Maeve’s Court.
I’ve been looking forward to this book since I finished the first one, Out of the Blue. And they really do need to be read in order, as this is really a continuation of that story. The big bad gets their comeuppance in the end, and the whole mystery that has swirled since the beginning of the series is tied up. But the author skillfully leaves an opening for more in this series, and I’m very much looking forward to seeing what happens next.
First things first. I’ll be honest and say that when I saw the length of this book, my first thought was that there were going to be section where the pacing lagged and the actions dragged. But in a wonderful surprise, that didn’t happen. Which is a feat in and of itself, considering the length of this story. Every thing is perfectly placed, nothing drags out too much, and the action moves well throughout the story.
There’s a lot to unpack in this book, but I’m mostly going to focus on the MCs and their growth. Niko is a complex and layered character, and he’s had to put up a lot of walls in order to keep himself safe. He let Cobalt in, and then Cobalt seemingly abandoned him without a word. This hurt was almost too big to be mended, and given Niko’s past, it’s understandable. But Niko does a lot of mental and emotional work in this story, even when he doesn’t want to, and he begins to heal. He’s nowhere near where he needs to be, but he’s making progress. Cobalt, as well, had to prove himself, as someone who was worthy of Niko’s trust. He had to prove that he was the right man to be Niko’s Dom, lover, and soul mate. And let me tell you, the way these two characters fit together is amazing. Cobalt understand Niko on a level no one else does, and I loved watching them get back to a good place. I loved the way Cobalt took control when he needed to, but also knew when it was time to let Niko do his own thing or to take the lead. These guys work, and I can’t wait to see more of their journey.
The mystery surrounding The Woods is finally tied up, and I have to say, I was rather impressed with the author’s foreshadowing and development of this plot arc. It worked so well. And that, combined with the outstanding world this author has created (and keeps consistent through multiple spin off series), makes it more than a worthwhile read.
I really enjoyed this book and as I’ve said, I’m very much looking forward to more. If murder and mystery, magic and mayhem, and paranormal creatures falling in love is your thing, then this book and this series, should definitely be on your radar.
