Shadows of the Past (Fae Files, #5) by Cecilia Dominic – Review

Tags

4 stars, Book Review, Cecilia Dominic, fae, gargoyles, paranormal, romance, series, urban fantasy

Review of Shadows of the Past

The fifth book in The Fae Files delves into Reine’s past.  Let me start by saying Reine is fae.  (Fae Queen to be precise.) Anyone that expects her past to be without imperfections is just plain misguided.  Everyone knows that fae are selfish, fickle and tricky.  Reine’s banishment from Faerie means that the human world had tempered her fae personality….to the better.  

No longer banished, but back in the human world to ‘tie up loose ends’, Reine embarks on mission to find some friends.  On route, she is waylaid by unknown players.  She and her friends are stranded in a time bubble in an unknown time for an unknown reason.  While using her fae powers to determine a way out, Reine will end up witnessing events in her past.   The events Reine relives are not entirely new to the story, but do add more complexity to the story of Reine and her brother Rhys.

Meanwhile, Reine’s love interest, gargoyle Lawrence, is dealing with his own problems.  The top issues are 1) intrigue at the PBI (Paranormal Bureau of Investigations, 2) being apart from Reine, and 3) dealing with the young Kestrel who is considering leaving the world of paranormals.  In doing so, they meet a very elusive paranormal.  I’m not going to say what/who, but certain cryptologists will be very interested!

Some aspects to the story will eventually be tied together.  Reine will meet Lawrence in the dream world.   And she will end up in Faerie to face her enemy and her past.   

Other aspects of the story will not be resolved.  This book, more than any others in the series, seemed to ignore loose ends.  Many loose ends.  And a cliffhanger ending had me groaning.  Cliffhangers are evil!

Despite the incomplete story, Shadows of the Past does nicely enhance the overall story arc of The Fae Files.  This book is best read as part of that series.  

Thanks to the author who sent me a copy of her book.  My review is my honest opinion.

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About Shadows of the Past

No good deed goes unpunished. As for Fae deeds, well, those get a bit more complicated…

I thought I came to Scotland to rescue friends who disappeared under mysterious circumstances connected to the Fae. However, a deadly attack on the highway drives me and my allies into the woods and straight into my history.

History I’ve tried to forget. I’d avoided the witch’s cottage since the fateful night my brother Rhys and I were exiled from Faerie, and I soon discover the supposed sanctuary hides its own deadly secret.

To escape the trap, I need to confront the deeds of my past, which will require me to risk my own and the others’ futures. Can I figure out the puzzle in time to save us all, or will I have to sacrifice everything, including my gargoyle lover, to make amends for my mistakes?

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Links

Add Shadows of the Past to your Goodreads shelf:

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Purchase Shadows of the Past:

If you haven’t read The Fae Files, now is a great time to start the series. The Shadow Project is currently on sale for 99 cents!

Purchase books in The Fae Files series:

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Shadows of the Sky (Fae Files, #4) by Cecilia Dominic – Review

Tags

5 stars, Book Review, Cecilia Dominic, fae, gargoyles, paranormal, romance, series, urban fantasy

About Shadows of the Sky

Reine thought she’d reached the end of her Path… As it turns out, her challenges have just begun.

After she and Lawrence are whisked away to the hospital in the gargoyle enclave of The Aerie, Reine is torn between her responsibilities back in her kingdom in Faerie and wanting to see Lawrence healthy and whole. Plus, almost losing him means she can’t ignore her feelings for him any more.

Now that Lawrence knows who killed his father, he’s searching for a new meaning in life. A certain green-eyed Fae makes him fantasize about domestic bliss, but he knows she’s loyal to her kind. Plus, his mom isn’t a fan of his Fae bond-mate.

Reine and Lawrence soon discover that The Aerie isn’t the idyllic mountain town its inhabitants want others to believe. Loose ends multiply as Reine searches for the source of the spell sucking the life out of the town. Can she and Lawrence work together to unmask the villain and free The Aerie? Or will their conflicting desires and responsibilities tear them apart…and spell the doom of gargoyle-kind?

If you like snarky heroines, complicated slow-burn romances, thrilling mysteries, and hot heroes with heart, you’ll love Shadows of the Sky. Preorder the book and escape into the vivid world of Cecilia Dominic’s spellbinding Fae Files series today!

Note: these books can be read in any order, but it’s best to start with book 1, The Shadow Project.

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Review of Shadows of the Sky

In Shadows of the Sky, Reine and Lawrence have been magically transported to The Aerie.  The small town in the Georgia mountains is home to a clan of gargoyles, specifically Lawrence’s family.  His reunion and Reine’s introduction to the family will go just about how you think it might.  The fae is not welcome, even if she is royalty.  But she is not leaving Lawrence. 

Since Fae and Gargoyles to not typically mix well, there is bound to be trouble.  Does a dead man count as trouble?  By the way, there have been no murders in The Aerie since the last time a fae was in town.  Hmm.

The small town location and the mystery of the dead man combined with quaint businesses, gossip and a bumbling sheriff have Shadows of the Sky reading like a cozy mystery. 

The relationship between Reine and Lawrence is still complicated and undefined.  Attraction yes, commitment….well not yet.  The romance overlays the mystery and motivates the characters.  Besides romance, old magic, ritual, hope and family relationships are theme’s in this story.  

While Shadows of the Sky did not seem to advance the overall Queen of the Fae storyline for Reine, it did make the gargoyle clan a possible force in future chapters.  Kestal, Lawrence’s goddaughter, made a brief appearance.  Lets just say the trickster witch is not happy.  Another loose end for Reine to tie up.

Shadows of the Sky will be fine as a standalone, though you will have some insight if you have read the previous books in the series.  The entire Fae Files series is entertaining, magical fun!

Many thanks to the author who provided a copy of her book in exchange for my honest review.

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Links

Add Shadows of the Sky to your Goodreads shelf:

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Purchase Shadows of the Sky:

If you haven’t read The Fae Files, now is a great time to start the series. The Shadow Project is currently on sale for 99 cents!

Purchase books in The Fae Files series:

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Shadows of the Sky by Cecilia Dominic – Cover Reveal

Tags

Cecilia Dominic, Cover Reveal, fae, gargoyles, paranormal, romance, series, urban fantasy

Today, Cecilia Dominic is sharing the cover of her soon to be released book Shadows of the Sky.  This will be the 4th book in a series I have been enjoying called The Fae Files. Shadows of the Sky releases on June 29th.

About Shadows of the Sky

Reine thought she’d reached the end of her Path… As it turns out, her challenges have just begun.

After she and Lawrence are whisked away to the hospital in the gargoyle enclave of The Aerie, Reine is torn between her responsibilities back in her kingdom in Faerie and wanting to see Lawrence healthy and whole. Plus, almost losing him means she can’t ignore her feelings for him any more.

Now that Lawrence knows who killed his father, he’s searching for a new meaning in life. A certain green-eyed Fae makes him fantasize about domestic bliss, but he knows she’s loyal to her kind. Plus, his mom isn’t a fan of his Fae bond-mate.

Reine and Lawrence soon discover that The Aerie isn’t the idyllic mountain town its inhabitants want others to believe. Loose ends multiply as Reine searches for the source of the spell sucking the life out of the town. Can she and Lawrence work together to unmask the villain and free The Aerie? Or will their conflicting desires and responsibilities tear them apart…and spell the doom of gargoyle-kind?

If you like snarky heroines, complicated slow-burn romances, thrilling mysteries, and hot heroes with heart, you’ll love Shadows of the Sky. Preorder the book and escape into the vivid world of Cecilia Dominic’s spellbinding Fae Files series today!

Note: these books can be read in any order, but it’s best to start with book 1, The Shadow Project.

************************

Links

Pre-order Shadows of the Sky:

If you haven’t read The Fae Files, now is a great time to start the series. The Shadow Project is currently on sale for 99 cents!

Purchase books in The Fae Files series:

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