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Truth #3
Forgotten Truth
When a shapeshifting student is transported back four centuries, she is in danger of being permanently changed into her dragon form, with no memory of her human life - or love.
Apt and eager Alissa is the only student of the last surviving master of magic. She easily shifts from human to raku, or beast counterpart, and has learned many advanced magics on her own. One afternoon, a tiny miscalculation sends her back in time 400 years within the Hold in which she lives. Now it is peopled by names and faces from stories the master has told of his and the Hold's history. As Alissa and a new, young teacher search for how to send her back, another problem arises: the primal living force behind her raku form is surfacing more often and without summoning. It is just a matter of time before Alissa will be overcome. Her transformation to raku will be permanent. It will be as if she had never existed.
Apt and eager Alissa is the only student of the last surviving master of magic. She easily shifts from human to raku, or beast counterpart, and has learned many advanced magics on her own. One afternoon, a tiny miscalculation sends her back in time 400 years within the Hold in which she lives. Now it is peopled by names and faces from stories the master has told of his and the Hold's history. As Alissa and a new, young teacher search for how to send her back, another problem arises: the primal living force behind her raku form is surfacing more often and without summoning. It is just a matter of time before Alissa will be overcome. Her transformation to raku will be permanent. It will be as if she had never existed.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 25, 2003
29 people are currently reading
1436 people want to read
About the author
Dawn Cook
11 books396 followersaka Kim Harrison
Dawn Cook was born on 1966 in Detroit, Michigan, USA. She grew up in the Midwest as the only girl in a family of boys, and is a self-proclaimed "former tomboy". She grew up reading science fiction and fairytales. She discovered her talent for writing at the age of 15, when she began writing down the stories that she conceived. Despite her love of writing, she took an unorthodox approach to writing, and claims to have avoided English courses beyond the basic requirements in high school and college. After she obtained a Degree in Sciences, she moved to she moved to South Carolina during ten years, but now she has moved back to her home state. She married and had two children. She began publishing after the birth of their kids. After the success of her novels, she was able to resign from her day job, devoting herself to writing full time. She continued publising novels as Kim Harrison. She is a member of the Romance Writers of America and Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.
Dawn Cook was born on 1966 in Detroit, Michigan, USA. She grew up in the Midwest as the only girl in a family of boys, and is a self-proclaimed "former tomboy". She grew up reading science fiction and fairytales. She discovered her talent for writing at the age of 15, when she began writing down the stories that she conceived. Despite her love of writing, she took an unorthodox approach to writing, and claims to have avoided English courses beyond the basic requirements in high school and college. After she obtained a Degree in Sciences, she moved to she moved to South Carolina during ten years, but now she has moved back to her home state. She married and had two children. She began publishing after the birth of their kids. After the success of her novels, she was able to resign from her day job, devoting herself to writing full time. She continued publising novels as Kim Harrison. She is a member of the Romance Writers of America and Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
February 2, 2016
I was so tempted to do this when I was reading this on my netbook. Oh the plot is fantastic.
There is no smutty romance, or terrible cliche's. The characters are very unique and are simply put brilliant. There is a type of cursing that has worked very well with my vocabulary. Burn it all to Ash! Again inventive. Really wasn't expecting it out of this series, and was delighted.
Not to rush Ms. Cook/Hamilton, but I love the way you tell a story. It's smooth, imaginative, and at times brutally cruel when needed. So when can we be expecting more?
There is no smutty romance, or terrible cliche's. The characters are very unique and are simply put brilliant. There is a type of cursing that has worked very well with my vocabulary. Burn it all to Ash! Again inventive. Really wasn't expecting it out of this series, and was delighted.
Not to rush Ms. Cook/Hamilton, but I love the way you tell a story. It's smooth, imaginative, and at times brutally cruel when needed. So when can we be expecting more?
October 27, 2008
Story was going along just fine until Alissa started the "I love BOTH of you" crap. I have no patience for silly girls who think they can be in love with two men at the same time. That is completely high school, and unacceptable behavior from an ADULT. Plus, I don't think she is any prize herself. One of those guys needs to wise up and realize that if Alissa can't even choose which one of you she loves, she's playing you both and she is a waste of time. Unfortunately, they seem to be too stupid to care about whether she deserves their love. You don't love two men simultaneously. It is wrong and morally reprehensible, not to mention fickle and dishonest.
January 31, 2011
Yep, she still bugs me. And yep, I still don't understand why any of the other characters have such an attachment to her. The story is still entertaining enough, but I'm kind of hurrying through these now to get to the end.
June 11, 2017
This third book in the Truth series is better than the second book but still can't escape some of the problems with the series. This book revolves around some inadvertent time traveling as Alissa is transported to 400 years in the past and is trying to get back to her time for most of the book. That was a good part of the book though her meddling in the past seemed a little overboard. One thing that really helps the time travel bits is that the author foreshadowed it very well and it explains some odd things from the previous book. I disliked more focus on a love triangle and Alissa being such an overachiever especially in terms of magic. Over and over again it seems like someone is stunned or gaping due to something she did that has never been done before or something she should not be able to do. Still an OK series overall but not one that I feel I have to keep.
October 7, 2008
Speaking of Dawn Cook, I also started on the last two books in the Truth series. In this one Alissa travels back in time to when the Hold was populated. Overall, an enjoyable book. I did like that we learned more about the background of the raku and their interactions with humans. This heroine is much different from Tess in the Princess series, more conflicted and less sure in her abilities. However, Alissa also seems to be just a bit too talented, compared to the other raku, or even other transeunts. I understand that these abilities power the plot of this book [and the next] but it is slightly OP, as we would say in World of Warcraft. Good book, though.
January 10, 2008
A rather quick read, it does a good job of tying up some loose ends (makes me want to go back and read the first two books to see if I missed some good foreshadowing!) and introduces the final book in the series. Dawn Cook does an appreciable job creating characters with all-too-human flaws & turns it into some masterful character development!
August 19, 2018
Gods I detest the narrator especially when even though I got the fact they were yelling the unexpectedness of it blasting my eardrum and causing me to constantly jam the sewing needle into my finger really pissed me off, not to mention the detestable character voices
July 4, 2021
Alissa gets trapped in the past after she accidentally time travels. In doing so, she also creates a love triangle for herself. I really despise the love triangle trope, so I definitely wasn’t thrilled about the direction this book took in that regard. Since the two men are living in different times for most of the book, at least we didn’t get the typical wishy-washy girl who spends the whole book going back and forth between them. Based on how this book ended, I have a feeling that storyline might still be coming.
This book was okay. I felt like there were some holes in the plot, but maybe those answers are still coming. If there is a series arc, I have no idea what it is yet. That does continue to bother me. I certainly hope that all of this magic and time travel and shape-shifting into dragons doesn’t wind up being for the sole purpose of Alissa choosing a boyfriend.
This book was okay. I felt like there were some holes in the plot, but maybe those answers are still coming. If there is a series arc, I have no idea what it is yet. That does continue to bother me. I certainly hope that all of this magic and time travel and shape-shifting into dragons doesn’t wind up being for the sole purpose of Alissa choosing a boyfriend.
September 18, 2025
This is the book that took me from team Lodesh to team Strell. It’s really a fascinating book, almost like a side quest in the overarching scheme of things.
If you like going in without knowing anything, then mild, mild spoilers below.
.
It was so fun to see the Hold in all its glory and get to know other Keepers and Masters, and it was especially nice to have Alissa learn from another transient like her.
I have to say, I like the concept of time travel where the future is inevitable and unchangeable, even if you go back to the past, aside from tiny details like making someone good at making tea. The world building is again lovely, however the way it all wraps is all a little convenient, a little convoluted and not explained so well. But, very fun. Can’t wait to finish the final book!
If you like going in without knowing anything, then mild, mild spoilers below.
.
It was so fun to see the Hold in all its glory and get to know other Keepers and Masters, and it was especially nice to have Alissa learn from another transient like her.
I have to say, I like the concept of time travel where the future is inevitable and unchangeable, even if you go back to the past, aside from tiny details like making someone good at making tea. The world building is again lovely, however the way it all wraps is all a little convenient, a little convoluted and not explained so well. But, very fun. Can’t wait to finish the final book!
October 6, 2017
I liked the story itself and the writing style. The only thing that keeps this from being a five star book is the main character. Alyssa is starting to get more and more annoying. Her insistence on doing the opposite of whatever anyone tells her to do is childish. Shouldn't she be starting to grow up by now? Her stubbornness is paired with her belief that everyone needs to do things her way, or else. Like with her vegetarianism. If she wants to live her life that way so be it, her life, her choice. But her shoving her beliefs down the guys' throats is just annoying. I don't see why either guy would want to be with someone so arrogant and domineering.
June 5, 2017
Forgotten how much I love it!!!!!
The continuation of this series is amazing! I read it when we only knew the author as Kim Harrison...my paperback copy wore out so I got the kindle version...not the same but now I won't have to worry about tattering another book by rereading it 50 times...if only these books never ended. Witty and great character development!
The continuation of this series is amazing! I read it when we only knew the author as Kim Harrison...my paperback copy wore out so I got the kindle version...not the same but now I won't have to worry about tattering another book by rereading it 50 times...if only these books never ended. Witty and great character development!
June 9, 2019
A fabulous bookend to this series, except that there is another. That's kind of how this series rolls. Each is a wonderful stand-alone, but you will come back for the next one. I could not believe I was reading a coming of age story about a young girl and a dragon, but I surely was and could not stop. Thank you, Dawn Cook.
October 26, 2019
Great take on the travel through time thing. I get headaches trying to track whether things should work as they did/do so can't say it's 100% correct but was well done none the less.
And the twists at the end were great. Sort of figured some of the things would get tied up at some point but didn't see them coming like that.
And the twists at the end were great. Sort of figured some of the things would get tied up at some point but didn't see them coming like that.
July 18, 2018
Great read! The love triangle got a bit tiresome, but then, I'm reading this series for the magic and the world anyway. Alissa has really come a long way as a character since the first book, and it was SO fun to see the Hold and the city of Ese Nawoer back when they were full of life!
September 1, 2020
Love the series so far. I like the innocent flirtation and the easy way it moves into love. Wasn’t real keen on the time travel, that never makes sense to me but it did explain Lodesh. Fixing to start the last book. I would recommend this series.
November 5, 2020
Amazing story, beautifully told! Some things get wrapped up and explained while others are still a mystery! I love how Dawn Cook writes and I love her characters! I'm so glad there is one more volume!
December 27, 2020
So many people say they like Lodesh but I find his behavior horrid. On more than one occasion, he clearly sees she is panicking and yet pushes his advances. It frankly feels assaultish to me. The story is well written, but that abusive behavior being put forth as a romance just kills it for me.
May 9, 2022
Alissa gets one of her tracings crossed and is hurled back into the past. There she meets the one who loved her first. She gets to see the Keep in all it's glory. She makes friends yet tries to keep her secrets. Will she get back to the present and to Strell, or will she find she can love another?
February 14, 2019
Pour le moment, c'est mon tome préféré.
May 31, 2019
This book was a little better than the last. I liked the going back in time and how Allissa actions change events
September 13, 2021
A great narrator bringing a favourite series to life, it's been a good number of years since I read this and had forgotten quite a lot of Alissa & Strell's adventures.
April 19, 2022
I hate love triangles. 2.5 stars
June 12, 2022
I absolutely loved this book. Personally I think it’s the best in the series (so far). I can’t wait to start book 4.
October 15, 2022
12 Nah. YA. It like chalk and cheese when you compare this series to her Rachel series.
December 19, 2022
This is the first I've read of any of Kim Harrison's alternate name work and I enjoyed it.
Bulk Input Day
Bulk Input Day
December 22, 2025
My favorite installment in the series. The time-travel aspects may not be bulletproof, but they are buffered by elements from neuroscience, genetics, and Freudian psychology.
In this reread of this book from my childhood, I was more struck by the powerful friendship between Alissa and Connen-Neute than by her inevitable romance with Lodesh.
In this reread of this book from my childhood, I was more struck by the powerful friendship between Alissa and Connen-Neute than by her inevitable romance with Lodesh.
March 16, 2017
J'ai lu les premiers tomes il y a déjà un moment alors ça n'a pas toujours aidé mais dans l'ensemble j'ai trouvé ce tome très long et lent. Il se passe pourtant pas mal de petites choses mais rien de bien entraînant non plus. J'ai alors eu du mal à avancer dans ma lecture (il y a d'autres raisons aussi).
Ce n'était pas inintéressant de découvrir le passé de la Forteresse mais ce n'est pas fait de la meilleure façon non plus. Et la résolution est peut-être trop facile.
Quant à Alissa... elle et ses sentiments...décide-toi jeune fille.
Je lirai le dernier volume pour connaitre le dénouement de tout ça et j'espère qu'il répondra à toutes les questions soulevées ici.
Ce n'était pas inintéressant de découvrir le passé de la Forteresse mais ce n'est pas fait de la meilleure façon non plus. Et la résolution est peut-être trop facile.
Quant à Alissa... elle et ses sentiments...décide-toi jeune fille.
Je lirai le dernier volume pour connaitre le dénouement de tout ça et j'espère qu'il répondra à toutes les questions soulevées ici.
May 17, 2024
My all time favorite Fantasy Coming of Age Story. Read it with 15 the first time, coming always back to this one if I want good unique world-building, cozy vibes, no war, good character development, and interesting explanation for magic and of course DRAGONS. This one even fleshes out more the characters, adding a unique time travel twist into it as well.
April 19, 2017
Read this review and more at FaerieFits
February 14, 2012
Now we finally find out how it is that Lodesh knows Alissa before she's ever had a chance to meet him.
My one disappointment was the lack of reflection on anyone's part about whether this really could have been avoided, or if it had to be.
I anticipate that we'll learn in the forth book that what Alissa learned in the past is key to parts of the future.
So, Lodesh...
Yes, I'm questioning some of the right/wrong assumptions of the characters. I'm curious to see if there's more nuance in the fourth book, particularly since The Hallows is a series with a lot more shades of grey around morality issues.
IMO, there's reason to wonder if the there's a creator of the 'disease' - and that would be the person or persons who should carry the guilt, not Esnowr.
My one disappointment was the lack of reflection on anyone's part about whether this really could have been avoided, or if it had to be.
I anticipate that we'll learn in the forth book that what Alissa learned in the past is key to parts of the future.
So, Lodesh...
Yes, I'm questioning some of the right/wrong assumptions of the characters. I'm curious to see if there's more nuance in the fourth book, particularly since The Hallows is a series with a lot more shades of grey around morality issues.
IMO, there's reason to wonder if the there's a creator of the 'disease' - and that would be the person or persons who should carry the guilt, not Esnowr.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews