Carling is suffering from the serpent’s kiss, the Vampyric disease that is slowly killing her. She has researched the disease throughout her long lifetime but still has found no cure. Rune is not sure what he can do to help but he is not going to leave Carling to slowly die on her own, unloved and insane. And, there is something in the back of his mind that does not make sense with his wyr gryphon form. Something is just not right and he is determined to help Carling find the answers she seeks. But what starts out as a forbidden passion has a way of encompassing both of them to the breaking point. Carling and Rune are as far from soul mates as it is possible to be, yet, something between them grows stronger. Danger lurks, ready to remove Carling from her position of power. Only Rune stands between her and that danger, a ready protector. But can he protect his heart if Carling’s fate is indeed to die?
SERPENT’S KISS is the third book in Thea Harrison’s Elder Races series and as someone who has not read the previous books, let me just say Ms. Harrison does a fantastic job of setting up this story so you can jump right in and not feel like you are lost. Rune is quite the character. He is incredibly humorous and just jumps into things, ready to tackle the problem to the ground. He is sharp and highly intelligent and becomes a great shoulder for Carling to lean on. However, that is not to say that Carling is weak because she is not. This is a powerful woman who has accepted, for the most part, that there is nothing more she can do. Rune comes along and kicks her in the butt, showing her that she is not dead yet and that two heads may just be better than one. They are isolated together for much of the story, which proves to be fertile ground to fall in love.
The world building in SERPENT’S KISS is strong and serves a real purpose in creating a mythology and back story for the characters. Thea Harrison obviously has a plan for her series, and it shows because not a detail is wasted in this romance.
I am eager for more of the Elder Races and cannot wait to read the first two books in the series. Rune and Carling kept me captivated. Amidst the numerous paranormal romances on store shelves, SERPENT’S KISS is a book you do not want to pass by. Thea Harrison has the all the goods: writing, character development, and a fun sense of humor! Do not miss out.
