MOONSHADOW is book one in the new Moonshadow sub-series by the amazing Thea Harrison, and it's also sort of book 10 in the Elder Races series. It is still set in the magnificent world of the Elder Races, a magical paranormal world. The original Elder Races books took place in the demesnes in the US, however, and the new Moonshadow series is set in the demesnes of the UK. Readers already familiar with the series will find familiar names and concepts, but new readers (welcome to you!) will find it easy to jump in without the requirement of prior Elder Races familiarity.

The Elder Races and Moonshadow books are set in a world where Light and Dark Fae, Nightkind, Demonkind, and Wyr live, work, and love right alongside humans. It's a captivating world that has kept me mesmerized from book one, DRAGON BOUND. The wonderful news, if you're just discovering Thea, is that there are now 21 books and novellas to indulge in in the Elder Races world.

LAPD witch consultant Sophie Ross is on leave from her job after being shot by three bullets on the job. Several of her partners died, and Sophie is suffering from residual PTSD. She travels to the UK on a quest, where she meets a Daoine Sidhe knight of the Dark Court, Nikolas Sevigny. Nick tried to kill Sophie in a vision a few weeks before they meet in person, so needless to say, they don't get along right away. Nick has been alone for a long time, and has grown surly and distrustful. He's been barred from Lyonesse for a century, along with a small number of his brothers in arms who have been trapped on earth after the crossover passageway connecting their homeland to earth was severed. Nick sees Sophie as a tool to be used and discarded, because Sophia can magically realign broken passageways to allow Nick and his brothers to pass back to their homeland.

I love the enemies to lovers trope, and Sophie and Nick hit all the right notes in their song of growing love. Initially suspicious of each other, they grow to realize each others strengths as they fight together to avoid death at the hands of the Light Fae who want to prevent them from restoring the passageways to Lyonesse. There is lots of great snark between the couple, which I adore. Nick is a prime alphahole at the beginning, and I cheered so much as Sophie stands up to him every time. Sophie totally champions female agency, and she spouts off about healthy sexual attitudes and self determination. And Nick eventually learns that Sophie is her own woman, so yay! An alphahole who is redeemed and learns to treat a woman with respect and agree with her autonomy is an oh-so-lovely thing.

MOONSHADOW contains adventures, intrigue, and romance. I love the characters this series contains, with fae and witches, shapeshifters and fantastical Djinn. Thea's worldbuilding is always stupendous. MOONSHADOW is a fantastic start to this Elder Races spin-off series, and Harrison retains her standing as royalty in the PNR authorial world.

Book Summary

From bestselling author Thea Harrison comes the first in an explosive new trilogy set in the Elder Races world....

Her past is a blank, her future uncertain....

Recovering from a shooting, LAPD witch consultant Sophie Ross leaves her job and travels to the U.K. to search for answers about her childhood. When she encounters a Daoine Sidhe knight of the Dark Court, she becomes entangled in an ancient hatred between two arcane forces.

He has given his body and soul to fight for his people....

Barred from his homeland along with his surviving brother knights, Nikolas Sevigny is embroiled in a conflict that threatens everything he holds dear. Only by uniting his people's resources can they hope to prevail against Isabeau, the deadly Queen of the Light Court. He will do anything and use anyone to return home to Lyonesse.

When Nikolas encounters Sophie, he sees a tool to be used. The insouciant witch might be the key to unlocking every passageway that has been barred to the knights of the Dark Court, even as a fascination for her takes root in what's left of his soul.

Sophie has no intention of becoming anyone's pawn, yet the fierce Nikolas is so compelling, she can't deny the temptation that endangers her guarded heart.

As magic threatens Lyonesse, Queen Isabeau unleashes her merciless Hounds, and Nikolas and Sophie become embroiled in a race for survival. Meanwhile, the passion that ignites between them burns too hot to be denied and quickly turns into obsession.

Thank goodness they both know better than to fall in love...