Augiobook:

I was so happy to be listening to the rest of this series so soon after I completed The Highlander’s Curse. It is a compelling story and deeply entertaining.

Author Claire Delacroix puts to pen a place so real and rich with character conflict, a reader cannot put it down, and when it is so expertly narrated by Saskia Maarleveld, the experience totally satisfies my adventurous spirit. In this telling, Ms. Maarleveld's voices for Catriona and Raphael add to the mystic, Catriona is from Inverness and Raphael is from Spain. You won’t be disappointed in this listen. The difficulties each of these siblings find themselves, have me indulging yet again, in the next read of the series.

This is the story of the prodigal brother, Malcolm, who left his family seeking his fortune beyond Ravenmuir. When the caverns collapsed under the holding, portions of the keep slide into the North Sea. Malcolm had no way to rebuild his inheritance. He sold his sword as mercenary for eight years to achieve the riches he now has. His brother, Alexander, was angered by his departure, and not much changed apparently with his return. With the hard work and years away he has returned to rebuild. He brings to Ravensmuir, Raphael, a mercenary with questionable character. Frankly, I did not much like him at the beginning of the story. He was a good man to have as a friend, not foe. To me his loyalty was questionable and certainly he was very opinionated, particularly about Catriona—a man to keep an eye on. His presence added depth to the telling, giving the reader insight into Malcolm and Catriona’s characters.

Malcolm had learned much from his travels. His instinct was to protect women, children and animals and it had grown stronger through the years. When Catriona, a woman, very much pregnant, came to Ravensmuir with Vivian, Malcolm’s sister, we watch his interest grow for this woman, for she was a very beautiful woman. Every word she uttered only made him more interested in knowing her past and how she came to the predicament she was in.

Love, respect and admiration blossom between the two, yet both hold secrets. Would Catriona be able to save this man she holds such feelings for? Could Malcolm turn the clock back making different to ? And even if he could, would he be able to live with himself, knowing Raphael had watched his back for years, saving him many a time?

I simply love this series, learning how each brother or sister find the love they seek as man brushes up against the realm of the Fae. Returning to Ravensmuir was not an easy return for the Fae were yet again afoot. The Ravens had not returned. Was this place to be doomed forever?
If man conquers the Fae, what will become of the realm? What can the Fae King do? How will Elizabeth be involved? Next in the series is The Warrior’s Prize. ( )