Book 3 in the Moonshadow trilogy set in the Elder Races world, LIONHEART delivers Thea Harrison's characteristically superlative world building as well as a dreamy romance. This spin-off paranormal romance continues to focus on the fae and Wyr of Great Britain. This can be read as a standalone, although many of the same characters from MOONSHADOW,(book 1) and SPELLBINDER (book 2) continue to be front and center here. We have the evil Isabeau, Queen of the Light Court. We continue to learn more about dear Robin, a puck tortured by Isabeau for centuries. And finally, we get the story of Oberon, King of the fae Dark Court. I love this imaging of characters I have seen in so many other works like Morgan Le Fay of Arthurian fame and also the Seelie Court. The fae are an endlessly fascinating topic for me.

Oberon used to be a well-loved and caring king of his Dark Court. But Queen Isabeau from the competing fae court sent her number one assassin to attack Oberon, and Oberon was slowly leached of his humanity (fae-manity?!), slowly becoming cold and dangerous. He was forced to put himself in stasis so as to not die from the slowly-acting spell he was attacked with. Dr. Kathryn Shaw is a Wyr, an Elder Race supernatural being who can change into a falcon. She's a highly skilled trauma surgeon and magical healer, and she's so capable-I love her! She is hired to leave Dragos' demesne in New York (I haven't mentioned yet how much I miss Dragos, my favorite Harrison character, so let me just get that out here) in order to cure Oberon before he unwittingly kills everything in his kingdom while in stasis.

Kathryn is so awesome. As a surgeon, a highly competent woman able to deal with incredibly stressful situations, she is able to stand toe to toe with the dominant Oberon. I adore how Harrison has made her assertive but not overbearing. She's the perfect mate for Oberon, even though she' s a bird of prey and Oberon's Wyr form is a lion. Much of the early tension in the story is Kathryn and Oberon butting heads, but quickly they must team up to deal with outside perils.

Harrison's world-building always shines. Her nuanced characters are people I would want to have at my back in a fight, and would want to hang out with as friends too. So many of Harrison's characters endure arcs of redemption, like Oberon here, and come out the other side as perfectly lovely individuals that I cheer for. The romance and fantasy of Harrison's LIONHEART set against the backdrop of this alternate fae world of King Arthur's Avalon engross me utterly.

Book Summary

King Oberon reigned over his Dark Court in Lyonesse for centuries, until an assassination attempt laid him low. Now he lies unconscious in his snow-bound palace, while his Power battles the enchantment that threatens to end his life.

A skilled trauma surgeon and magic-user, Dr. Kathryn Shaw reigns at the top of her profession in New York. Then comes a challenge she can’t resist—she is asked to cure the uncureable. Just getting close enough to try healing Oberon is a dangerous proposition. When she does reach him, he awakens too soon.

Roused from darkness by Kathryn’s presence, Oberon confronts the beautiful stranger who claims she wants to save his life. But the enchantment has frozen his emotions. How can he learn to trust her when he can’t feel anything?

Oberon’s desire is icy, devoid of all tenderness. Not only must Kathryn match wits with him, she must also fight her reaction to his touch, because there is so much more at stake than her own endangered heart.

For the Dark Court faces its most deadly peril yet. Its ancient enemy Isabeau, Queen of the Light Court, is obsessed with its annihilation, and Oberon must be brought to remember his loyalty and affection for his people.

Because if he won’t fight for them, Lyonesse itself may very well be destroyed…

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