Serpent's Kiss

Elder Races #3

by Thea Harrison

In order to save his friend's life, Wyr sentinel Rune Ainissesthai made a bargain with Vampyre Queen Carling - without knowing what she would ask from him in return. But when Rune attempts to make good on his debt, he finds a woman on the edge.Recently, Carling's Power has become erratic, forcing her followers to flee in fear. Despite the danger, Rune is drawn to the ailing Queen and decides to help her find a cure for the serpent's kiss - the vampyric disease that's killing her.With their desire for each other escalating just as quickly as Carling's instability spirals out of control, the sentinel and the queen will have to rely on each other if they have any hope of surviving the serpent's kiss.

Genres: Paranormal Romance, Paranormal, Romance, Fantasy, Vampires, Urban Fantasy, Shapeshifters

326 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2011

About the author

I write paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and other stuff. I taught myself to read when I was four. That was around the time I tried to ride my tricycle to work. I wasn't sure where work was, but I knew it had to be interesting if people went there every day. Now I combine my love of books with work, and I don't have to ride my tricycle to get there. My Elder Races series began May, 2011. You can also find me on Twitter and Facebook!

Reviews

[Jilly · Rating 1 out of 5]

Once again, a hot blonde guy disappoints me. That's right, Chris Hemsworth, I'm talking about you! You could have at least answered my letters, phone calls, or emails. But nooooooo, someone has to send a restraining order instead of a love letter. Fine. Just don't expect me to keep sending you locks of my hair. *sigh*


Well, it's obvious that I was running out of hair anyway...

For some reason, I expected Rune to be funny and adorable. He wasn't. He's just a boring guy in a pretty package. Shiny things distract me for only so long, ya know? And, basically if a guy doesn't make me laugh or chuckle or at least smile during a conversation, I'm done with him. He has been written off.


When he's so boring you'd rather die..

This is why I married a funny man. No pressure on him or anything... I just need him to make me laugh every day of his life or I'll leave him. Good luck finding another middle-aged chubby wife who sits around reading all day in her pj's and doesn't cook or clean! I am a rare treasure indeed.

Anyway, this book was hella boring and I put it aside to read something else, and then I realized that this book isn't the boss of me so I don't have to finish it if I don't want to. Nice! Sometimes, being an adult rocks.

[Sophia Triad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rune and Carling

A Gryphon who was treated like a god in ancient times and a Vampire Queen and Sorceress.

Although this is not surely my favorite book in this series, it contains unquestionably my favorite scene in the whole series:

She said, “Kneel.”
She felt his surprise as her command jolted through him.
But then he did a thing that surprised her in return. He raised his eyebrows, gave her that easygoing insouciant grin of his and said, “Okey-dokey.”
With a flourish he went gracefully down on one knee in front of her.
What was this? He was down on the floor, his powerful broad shoulders dipped in subjugation. He even bowed his head. He gave every appearance of submission, and performed flawlessly to the letter of her order, but . . .
Deep in the axis of that fierce remarkable soul, the alpha male still reigned. She circled behind him and stepped close to his broad shoulders to put her lips near his ear. She whispered, “You’re not really kneeling inside.”
He cocked his head to look at her over one shoulder. His reckless gaze laughed at her. He whispered back, “You didn’t order me to do that. It would require an entirely different bargain for me to really kneel to you.”
Caught in the unknown riddle, she asked, “What bargain would that require?”
He gave her a slow smile. “You must give me a kiss.”
The sleek arch of her eyebrows lifted. “Just a kiss?”
“Just that.”
“The bargain is struck,” she said.
“And answered,” he growled.
Carling put a hand onto his shoulder as she prowled to stand in front of him. Then she slid her hands along the warm sun-bronzed skin of his jaw. She tilted his handsome wild face up to hers and he let her. Then she bent to place her cool lips on his hot carved lips.
Her body moved in the impulse to breathe again, and she allowed it. His masculine Power enveloped her, and it was spiced with sensuality and warmth as it caressed her like a sun-filled breeze.
She lifted her head and stared down at him. She narrowed her eyes.
She said, “You’re still not really kneeling inside.”
Tap, tap, went her bare foot.
He cocked an eyebrow.
“What else did you expect, Carling?” he replied. “That wasn’t a real kiss.”

…And then he demonstrated to her what a real kiss is. And he kneeled again:

Carling stared. Rune was down on his knee again where she had ordered him, but this time she could sense from his emotions that he meant it. He gave full sincere, gracious homage to her. She could see it clear all the way through him, only instead of humbling that insouciant alpha male, somehow it ennobled him with the courtly aspect of a medieval knight.

My God, my poor poor heart!

Rune and Carling will not have an easy relationship. He is a hot-blooded beast and she is a coldhearted vampire who has lost her will to continue.
Lots of politics in this book. Vampires love politics and cook up lucrative schemes.
Lots of science. The author tries to explain how the vampires have been created somehow.
Lots of time travelling in combination with magic. Carlin is an expert in magic and Power.

The book has a slow pace that may discourage the readers. Until Carlin finds her will to live and her passion to love, readers may get too bored.
Rune’s enthusiasm will help you to finish the story.
Taken as a whole, the book is a great journey.

[Monty Cupcake ☠ Queen of Bloodshed ☠ · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you looked up fucking boring , under examples you'd see this book referenced. It was really fucking boring. I wanted to DNF it from the beginning, as that's when the fucking boredom started and didn't end, but I thought I'd miss out on crucial info to the series. I really don't think I would've missed out on much at all. This book barely involves any characters that appear in the proceeding books. It's mainly a vampire book.

Rune, a gryphon, owes a debt to Carling, the vampire elder - a queen, of sorts. He shows up on her mysterious island and gets degraded, slapped, and dismissed. Why? Because Carling is batshit crazy and losing her mind - the curse of super old vamps is they fade out, dementia & death. Rune, like an idiot, decides to stay and help Carling. She's sent away all her peeps, but one sniveling vamp servant chick and her Pomeranian dog, Rasputin. At least once a day, Carling "fades out", she zones out and looks like a corpse, and the magic around her surges and wanes. She doesn't really care about anything anymore, she's an empty husk with zero emotions. <--- I'm fine with her dying, btw.

Rune decides he'll save Carling, or cure her of the vamp disease of dying. He puts his sleuthing hat on and goes over her hundreds of years of research, all while annoying everyone on the island (all 3 living beings) and cops a feel on Carling. Some paranormal wackiness happens that only Rune is privy to, he thinks he's found the answer, and they run off to investigate. Blah blah blah, sexual tension, idiots blundering, blah blah blah.

The whole book is super fucking tedious and a giant info dump. Nothing happens on the island, which is about 60% of the book. Then they get off the island and some more nothing happens for 20% more of the time. There's maybe 8% action in this book and one murder. Do you see why this was boring? Completely lacking in festive murders. The book is all talking and thinking times. If I wanted that sort of non action novel all convoluted with thoughts, I'd read philosophy and btw, I loathe philosophy. I would rather read a box of user manuals than philosophy; at least I'd learn something useful from the manuals.

I hated Carling. She's supposed to be a super powerful vampire, but she's at that stage of life where she'd put motor oil on her cereal, aimlessly walk the highways in her robe, and tell you about wearing tinfoil to prevent people from stealing your thoughts, if she wasn't under supervision. See, this is very unsexy and uninteresting because she doesn't even have those antics to enliven her life. All she does is sit around and stare out the window, and then throw emotionally cold hissy fits. She's boring, more boring, and some more boring. And she only wears shapeless caftans - I can't condone this muumuu wearing behavior.

Rune, he can turn into a gryphon, which is cool, but he's got shit taste in women. By extension of hanging with Carling, he's boring as fuck, too. He was a fun guy in the previous books, but he's drained of all fun around Carling. Sure, it's serious that she's dying, but did you have to kill off your personality to match hers? I don't know what he sees in her. If it was just sex, he'd find more response from a blow up doll. The whole book, he's desperate to find a cure for Carling, all while she does nothing. I can't figure out ever why he's trying to save her. He also pisses off everyone he knows during this quest and he doesn't care at all. Rune, you're now on my "beat that bitch with a bat" list - the beating continues until the sense is knocked back into you or you grow a pair.

The best part about this book - when I saw the words "The End."

[XxTainaxX Curvy and Nerdy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've got to say this is my least favorite so far. I really like the characters in their own right and even together but the plot was a challenge for me. I see the potential but found it to drag on and on. It was difficult not to DNF when it felt like it was going nowhere... but again, I liked the characters, so I stayed. Carling is losing herself and Rune has these special powers that seem to complement hers. Together they make some phenomenons happen that hint at a higher purpose. All in all I'm glad I didn't skip it because it gives me a better sense of the world and the different players involved. Safety: No OW/OM/Sharing. Neither are Vs. No condoms. No rape. Yes to abuse.

[Alex is The Romance Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Serpent’s Kiss is the 3rd book in Thea Harrison’s Elder Races Series and is the story of Vampyre Queen Carling Severan and Wyr sentinel Rune Ainissesthai

In the last book, Storm's Heart, Carling saved Tiago's life at Rune request with the understanding that he would owe her a favor in the future. And the time has now come. Carling's power is slowly fading and the signs are that she is dying. Rune agrees to help her find a cure for the serpent's kiss, the disease that is killing her.

Carling turned out to be totally different to what I was expecting. In the last book, she was a total b...tch!!! Cold and unfeeling!!

But we get to see the real Carling here, not the face she shows the world. I liked finding out a bit about her past and how she became a vampire.

I adored Rune from the first time he was introduced. He's a total alpha male, kick

ass but with a tender side to him. His love for Carling was unwavering and he's not prepared to let her die....

One of the things I liked in this story is how much time the two spend together, getting to know each other......

The interaction, the sexual chemistry and banter between them is fabulous....

“’Don’t worry, darling Carling,’ he said. ‘I won’t let you fall.’
Darling Carling. She found herself grinning. What a truly awful endearment. Only he could pull off something so ridiculous.”
—–
“’Are you purring at me?’
‘I might be,’ Rune said. His deep voice was rougher, and lazy with intimacy. ‘Unless you’ve done something wrong. Then I’m growling at you again.’”

And I absolutely loved the scenes with Carling and her dog....and her cooking meals for it!!!! Total blast!!!

We get to see some of the characters from the previous books....which made me very happy!! We also get more of Khalil, the Dijnn and Grace, who are going to be in the next book, Oracle's Moon.

I can't wait!!!

I am becoming a total addict for this series and I'm only on book 3!!!

[Mimi Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

The Series Predicament

I may be the only one out there who says this-but I loved this book as much as the previous books in the series. For me, the problem with series is most often about books being all so similar they get...boring? Or something like that. Here the main problem, and the prevailing opinion is that the books after Dragon Bound weren't as good. Different maybe. Less focused on romance, sure. But, I think we forget while comparing, these are some pretty awesome books. I loved Dragon Bound and Pia and Dragos. I loved Storm's Heart, even though the couple wasn't my favorite, the book as a whole is awesome(yes, even with the human ending the way she did), and, yes I loved Serpent's Kiss and it would've been a full 5 stars if not for the time traveling confusion.

Carling

"Life had fashioned Carling into a sleek, lethal weapon, the double-edged kind that would cut off the hand of anyone who dared to wield it if they should try to grasp hold unwisely."

Carling is many things.
She's a witch.
She's a Vampyre.
She's Powerful.
She's a proud dog owner.
She's Wyr's mate.
And...She's dying
So, she calls in the favor owed to her, after she saved Tiago, and gets Rune to come to her to her far away mystical island. She knows the end is close, but when she meets Rune, vibrant, gorgeous, powerful, alive Rune things start to change. She starts to change. She wants things now, she wants to live and...feel, and for the first time in a very long time she believes those things can happen. With the also, annoying, gryphon's help.

I liked Carling. She comes across as cold and unapproachable, and she is at the beginning. But you can see how love and Rune change her, make her feel and that's awesome. Plus the makeover and the makeup...*sigh*.

"Throughout the unwinding scroll of centuries she had ruled more than one country with unwavering ruthlessness in her slender iron fist. She knew spells that were so secret the knowledge of their existence had all but passed from this earth, and she had seen things so wondrous the sight of them had brought proud men to their knees. She had conquered the darkness to walk in the full light of day, and she had lost, and lost, and lost so very many people and things that even grief failed to move her much anymore."

Fascinating, yes? She also has lots of interesting stories at the ready...

"She had met the original Grigori Rasputin once, as she had traveled through Russia to consult with a certain hermitic and irascible witch. She had found Rasputin to be an odd, intense man. He had been undeniably human and very likely insane, but anyone who could survive reputedly being stabbed, poisoned, shot multiple times, mutilated, and badly beaten before finally drowning, deserved a certain amount of respect."

I HEART Carling, and, of course, Rune.

Rune

“His massive head tilted. He regarded her with a gaze made tranquil by the bright sun and the limitless sky.
She said in wonder, "You are the riddle."
"Of course I am," said the gryphon.”

Rune is many things as well.
He's a Wyr.
He's Dragos's Second.
He's easy-going.
He's charming.
He's a mystery.
And he's in love with a Vampyre queen

He didn't expect it to happen. He didn't want it to happen, but it did...
A little more about Rune. I loved Rune. He's the guy who's playful and charming until he loses it. Then he growls. But he can purr, too, since gryphons apparently can. He's usually a rational man. Not now, of course, since he's mating and everyone's a threat. But you know, usually.
He stays in touch with the times. Listens to rock music, is not afraid to say he likes chick flicks, is hot. What more can a girl ask for?

And one of the many Rune-isms

If it walked, talked and quacked like a duck, if it tasted like a duck when he caught and ate it …

...It is apparently Carling, lol.

The Mating *aka Falling In Love*

"Goddamn, he thought, I don’t love you a little. I might actually love you a lot."

“Here’s the thing,” he whispered. “I love you. I didn’t want to. I fought it. I put up barriers, and they all came crashing down one by one. It wasn’t just one thing. It was everything you did, both here in the present and back in the past. It’s everything you were, and everything you are. So I just fucking love you, and you are going to have to fucking deal with it. You got that?”

I found this part interesting, as always. A revelation to me, is Rune's statement that mating really is a choice, when you look at it. And his comment that there had been women in the past, at whom he would look or spend time with and know that there was a potential for a mating there is intriguing. So, if you look at it, it's not ONE fated mating. It's a combination of more things. And falling in love is always unpredictable...

The love is not easy here. It's unexpected, but beautiful to see. These two people are such opposites, but, you saw Rune's quotes up there. He's a smitten kitten. Awwww.....

It didn't start out that way. First, there were her roadblocks ahead...

"But it was kind of a major clue when a lady ran away from a bloke.
That said something, it did. That was a signpost that read: approach with caution. Falling rock up ahead. Handle with care. You’ve come so far with her, much further than you ever thought you’d get. Don’t fucking blow it now, son."

"I cannot, darling, because you would never need me as much as I would need you. Your desire is beyond lovely, but it isn’t enough. I need to be needed. And I cannot become a supplicant to that kind of inequity and hope to survive."

Then, it was the disease...

"I fell in love with you earlier today in the hotel lobby. And everything you once said has come to pass. But so much time has gone by. Too much time. So many tomorrows, and tomorrows, and tomorrows, that the pharaohs really do no longer exist, and all the gods have changed and everything I once knew has turned to rubble or has completely disappeared. We have come together too late.
You must live or I will die.
Now I am the one who is dying, and you cannot mate with me and hope to live."

Well, that passed and they are now perfect together. So Cute!

The Time Traveling Issues

Yes, this was my only issue with the book. I didn't get the TT aspect, and didn't think it was explained enough. What started the episodes, anyway? Why? what did they change the first time around? Time loops? What about the last time? Two Runes at once?

I would've preferred the twist to be different. The paradoxes and the questions were a bit too much for me.

Rune and Dragos

I know some readers had a problem with this, but, frankly I didn't. Am I happy they're at odds? No. Did it make me enjoy the book less? No. Remember, the previous characters aren't pin up dolls. Yes, they are happy at the time, but there are still conflicts, especially with a contrary group like this one. It makes it more real. I still think Rune's primary reaction was a bit extreme, but he was mating for Chrissake. He was even growling at passerbys.
Do I think Rune will be a Sentinel again? Not sure.
Do I think he and Dragos will make up? Yes.

Am curious about Khalil, too! Can't wait to read OM...

[Ren Puspita · Rating 5 out of 5]

More than 5 stars and Top Read 2012.

I think I know reasons why readers will find this book hard to understand, and too slow for them. Because like Rune Ainissesthai ( very difficult to pronounce and write, huff!), Serpent's Kiss is a book that full of riddle. Waiting its mysteries to be solved. (I sound like Sherlock Holmes here, hmm).

The event of Serpent's Kiss is continue from Storm's Heart. Because Rune make pact with Vampyre's Queen (or ex-Queen) that also a witch, Carling Severan, to save Tiago's life, now he must oblige his promise to her. Dragos not amused. After he lost Tiago as his sentinel because Tiago mated with Niniane, the Dark Fae Queen, he must let Rune, his First, to go to Carling. Turn that Carling has a disease, called Serpent's Kiss. That symptom make she lose her ability to drink blood directly from the source and she succumb to something weird that she called "episode". Rune decide to help her fight this "episode". But then it seems what he do will affect Carling's past, power and her identity. Can Rune saved Carling from the disease that slowly killing her?

Rune is so hot, hot, hot! And he's officially become one of my nom-nom boyfriend ;). I love how he's so caring and gentle to his darling Carling (heh!). As for his attitude, well he's not always easy going. So much things he hide so well from people around him...

This gryphon call himself Rune Ainissesthai. Rune for gylph, a sigil that was stroke on a page, but more than that rune for mystery, magic. Ainissesthai was old Greek for speaking in riddle. The mysterious magical riddle

We will know about Carling past, and how its intertwined with Rune. This part can be so confusing, but I feel its so romantic. Because readers can read how deeply the connection between Rune and Carling.

I also love this couple. Both Rune and Carling are old, they're not new players at Elder world. Not like Pia Giovanni, Dragos's mate. Or Niniane Lorrelle (Tricks). Even Niniane already know the world and rules, she's younger than Carling. Rune-Carling relationship is mature.And even Rune want to resist the mating bond, while finally he's mating with Carling, its so.. wow! BTW not just the mating scene, the way Rune try to make Carling wear modern dress rather than her usual caftan, I find it to be.. romantic. :)

Alas, the ending kinda make me sad. Not sad ending of course. Rune and Carling finally find their happines even some problems not solved yet. But there are some event that broke my heart about Rune and Dragos. I hope in the future Ms Harrison can fix about it.


My fantasy cast

For Rune Ainissesthai, Thea Harrison pick Nicholaj Coster-Waldau as Rune, but I want to pick Josh Holloway or Chris Hemsworth for Rune. Since he described have a gold hair (or blonde, I assume) and well- built.I will choose Chris Hemsworth, even his hair is dark blonde (or I see it as brown) he can be charming and easy going like Rune (I blame it to my undying love to him, when he become Thor :P)



As for Carling Severan, I pick Eva Green. I know Carling from Egypt, and maybe Eva Green not suitable. But I can see Eva as a wicked witch and exotic woman, especially after I'm watching her in Dark Shadows.





My favorite scenes :


- "The mystery is written in your form,"she said. Your body is the rune".

His massive head titlted. He regarded her with a gaze made tranquil by the bright sun and the limitless sky.

She said in wonder, "You are the riddle"

"Of course I am," said the gryphon.


- "You've gone and done it now- you're so mine, Rune Ainissesthai - Rune - Rune, oh God-"

Thee times, the witching number.

"That's spell already been cast," he said into her hair. And he gave himself to her, spilling everything he had into his mate.

My favorite quotes :

- If you fail somehow-if you die-I will search for a way to walk through time to find you. No matter where you are. No matter when. I swear it

- I will never leave you. I will never let you go. I will not let you fall, or fail. I will always come for you if you leave, always find you if you're lost. Always.



Dragon Bound maybe not "wow"ed me like that book do to other readers, but I'm glad to decide to continue reading another book in Elder Races series. Turn some books that readers find it boring, I end up like it! Like Storm's Heart and Serpent's Kiss. Thea Harrison soon become my autobuy authors, her Elder Races series will become one of my favorite series, and I can't wait to read her new installments!

[Pepito · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Definitely better than book 2 which bored me a bit. This one had a nice beginning and amazing development, but then it got stuck with a boring-to-tears ending. Things were getting better and better and I really thought I would end up loving the book, but then the ending went ALL WRONG!

WHY did it go wrong?
I love strong and capable main characters more than any other type. I just adore to see a character who is able to ACHIEVE whatever he/she wants because he is powerful enough to fight whatever comes against him/her. That's what I love the most about this genre, reading about heroes and heroines with powers one could not even imagine possessing. But then there's nothing I detest more than seeing one of those heroines or heroes becoming weak and powerless.
So when I read about this amazing queen of the vampires getting weaker and weaker with every hour, loosing not only her life spam but her strength I just couldn't help to get mad. I loved the romance between this 2 characters, but I hated to see how this amazing heroine became this superficial being who would be completely happy for all eternity by just getting a life with the one she loved. Where went her power? where went her people? where went that fierce heroine who everybody feared? To stay to live Happily ever after in Miami Beach without a care in the world and nothing to do. I don't know, it just felt wrong to give a character like this one such a shallow ending. I felt the same way towards the hero: One of the most feared Wyr on Earth who dedicated his whole eternal life to fight for the Wyr king. Do you really see a guy like that spending the rest of eternity doing nothing? The ending felt so inconclusive and lame that it almost made me rate this book with even lower, but we are talking about the last 10% (20% at the most) of the book. The rest was magnificent. While it took them some time to finally accept they would be together once they did things developed swiftly. I'm really excited about next book.

Leaving the ENDING behind, I REALLY did ENJOY this book.
How not to with a dragon shifter, gryphon shifters,vampires, fairies, harpies, demons, witches, elves, trolls and many more different species...
To all that just add some time travelling, some cut and run, some persecutions and some murdering attempts. Can you help ADORING this book even though the terrible ending? I couldn't, so I ended up giving 4 stars to it even though the ending completely ruined everything for me.

But now I really got my hopes back for this series and I think next book is gonna be great.

[Stacie · Rating 4 out of 5]

June 15, 2024
I'm upgrading thus one to 5 stars. I absolutely loved Carling and Rune. And I guess since I have finished the whole series and this was a reread, I understood the "time travel' parts better. Or O just accept it and it didn't matter to me as much. Happy reading!


October 8, 2016
4+ "Time Traveling" Stars!

I absolutely LOVED most of this book. The main characters were great and the Idea of this story was awesome! This was a Paranormal/Syfi romance lover's (me!!) who also finds Egyptian mythology very interesting (me!!) dream. Rune was an overprotective secretly a sweetheart of an Alpha male (who was surprisingly in touch with his feminine side). Carling was a tough chick with just enough vulnerability to make you love her. The time traveling idea was so interesting. The problem for me was that the story got bogged down in the technical Quantum physics questions and details; and with all the round and round that went on, I'm still not sure this made sense- scientifically... Bwahahaha!! I still have that, "Now why did this all happen?" question floating around in my confused brain. But I still loved it! Happy reading!

[☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rated 3.5

This was the least favorite of the Elder series. Different from the first two books. With time traveling and changing this in the future and of blood pathogens. Not much action in this book. Carling and Rune's love story was sweet which of course made the stars. With all that was happening with Rune and Carling with everything its been causing problems with the other paranormals especially Dragos. Whoa! So now I wonder if things will be fixed in the next book in the series. We can see Ms. Harrison is going to clearly in Oracle's Moon and she's a bit funny so I'm curious

[Sharon ∞❥ is an emotional book junkie ❥∞ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy Cow....hands down this is the hottest book I've read in a long time and I'm not talking about the sex although that's really hot too. I'm talking about the romance and the lust and the desire...it was so intense and it starts right off the bat with the first kiss! And I know that hotel lobbies will never be the same for me!

So, if you didn't know, this book is about the Gryphon, Rune, and the Vampyre, Carling. In the prior book, Storm's Heart, we met Carling and when Carling healed Tiago, Rune promised her a favor. She calls in on that favor but instead of holding him accountable, Rune finds out that Carling is dying and he is determined to help her.

Most of this book is not about action per se and may be a deterrent for some people but I found it refreshing. I loved Carling and Rune together and loved watching them fall in love. I enjoyed learning more about Carling's background and Vampyres in general. When the "stuff" does start hitting the fan, Rune was amazing! He really reminded me of Wrath in Black Dagger Brotherhood when Beth was kidnapped.

Carling cooking for her dog, Rasputin, was hilarious and I always love the element having a pet brings to a story. The "marking" at the end was great!

I appreciated the (very) small parts of some of the prior characters but I could've used more Graydon!! And I was surprised we didn't get more of an update on Tricks and Tiago. I don't know what to make of what happened between Rune and Dragos. I was hoping for some sort of resolution at the end but maybe in future books?

I wasn't surprised to find out the next book, Oracle's Moon, is about Grace (the Oracle) and Khalil (the Djinn). I think TH set that up nicely. And I've heard the fifth book is back to Dragos and Pia which I'm really looking forward to.

All in all, I was very pleasantly surprised at how much I liked this book. I still like the first book better but this is a close contender!

Favorite lines:

“Just wait until you see what I can do with the fancy stuff, like a bed.”

And…

“I take it back," Rune said. "You're not an utter heroine. You're a drama queen.”

And the best one for last (even though it’s a bit Last of the Mohicanish)…

“If you die, I will find you.
I will never leave you.
I will never let you go.
I will not let you fall, or fail.
I will always come for you if you leave, always find you if you're lost.

Always.”

[Rachael*Caribbean*girl*bibliophile · Rating 2 out of 5]

reread still not a fan of this one 🤷🏽‍♀️


Original review
I think some of my brain cells are still stuck in this story 😂


This was a complicated mess of back and forth spanning thousands of years. Every time I thought I grasped the concept of what the author tried to convey something else would pop up that would confuse me all over again. In the end I just read on just to get to the end.

In addition to the quantum physics plotline these two are the first to fight against the mating.Carling because she thought she was dying and Rune because as a non Wyr she wouldn't be as invested in the mating as he would be. I think it wasn't until about 80% or later that I actually got the Mine! that I had hoped for,from Rune. As such I found myself disappointed in the romance as well.

I could not claim to like them as individuals either,Carling confused me almost as much as the plot and I genuinely feared for her sanity at times. Rune was too aggressive in his handling of Carling to suit me.All that pinning her down stuff did not endear him to me at all.

The last 15% was interesting but not enough to boost my overall impression of this book. My brain is tired from trying to grasp the mechanics of the plot , nevertheless I'm moving on to the next.

[Alex ☣ Deranged KittyCat ☣ · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

Things I liked about this book:

1. Rune

“I love you. I didn't want to. I fought it. I put up barriers, and they all came crashing down one by one. It wasn't just one thing. It was everything you did, both here in the present and back in the past. It's everything you were, and everything you are. So I just fucking love you, and you are going to have to fucking deal with it. You got that?”

Who doesn't love a hot, strong gryphon who's a ladies' man, but changes when he meets his mate? (pure fiction, I know!)

2. Carling

How like a male. Pull out some tools and start banging on something, and they flocked in from miles around. She pushed her hair out of her face with the back of one hand and scowled at him. "I am perfectly capable of breaking it down myself."

Vampire extraordinaire, Carling is a strong, beautiful woman who survived in a men's world.

3. The time traveling aspect
I liked how Rune's trips to Carling's past changed her present.

4. Rasputin
Who would have thought that the vampire queen would own a Pomeranian named Rasputin? And love the little dog?

Things I disliked about the book:

1. The gryphon-vampire relationship
The relationship between Rune and Carling felt fake to some extent. I don't really know why, I just know I don't see a gryphon and a vampire together.

2. The lack of actual action
Serpent's Kiss is static most of the time. I would have appreciated more action. And the ending is quite anticlimactic.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved Dragon Bound. It was an amazing and fresh book, with a good storyline, inventive action sequences, and lively dialogue. I'm a big believer in good dialogue, with characters having a sharp wit, and generally-speaking a touch of sarcasm and humor. The dialogue and action were two of the best things about Dragon Bound. I read in twice, then couldn't wait for Storm's Heart, even though it was out only a few months later. However, I was a little disappointed in Storm's Heart. Sure, I realize not every book in a series is going to be a favorite. But, I missed some of the humorous, witty banter. Tiago and Tricks just didn't seem to have the same chemistry as Dragos and Pia. All in all, I gave it a 4 rating, and I still had high hopes for Rune's story.

Rune was a great character from the beginning of the series. He was funny. He had good dialogue sequences with Dragos, Pia and the others. I had such high hopes for this book that I pre-ordered Serpent's Kiss, and read the entire thing in one sitting (which I normally do for books I'm dying to read). And... I have never been so let down with a book and an author. Rune was turned into some kind of almost cartoonish character, and Carling, whom I actually liked in Storm's Heart, became a weak-minded (and weak-willed) female (and I'm not referring to the "episodes").

But the thing that really got me, that made me furious with Ms. Harrison, is the way Rune treated Dragos. Dragos told Rune in Dragon Bound that he was his best friend, yet at the drop of a hat, Rune not only deserts him but wonders if he'll ever forgive him. And for what, you ask? NOTHING! Dragos did nothing!! He acted as anyone would do in that situation, without knowing Rune and Carling were mated.... because Rune didn't tell him. Then, even though it's affecting the other gryphons, Rune actually neglects to tell Dragos or his other supposedly long time friends about what's going on. I understand needing to protect your mate, but seriously... "bros over hoes" anyone? These are his BROTHERS/SISTERS for all intents and purposes, and he just leaves them out in the dark about a major events (trying not to be spoilerish). At least Tiago was upfront with everyone when he had to leave, so everyone knew it was because he was mating Tricks. Furthermore, Carling didn't even try to intervene, to try and help Rune repair his relationship with the other Sentinels and Dragos. She was truly selfish, basically just accepting Rune giving up everything to be with her as her due.

Pretty soon, Dragos is going to be left by himself with not one of his friends/sentinels to help defend him and his new mate and child. It's sad. Now, I doubt I'll read the new book. It's not even about any characters I have interest in, anyway. I may read Book #5, which is another Pia and Dragos story, but part of me is afraid she's going to ruin two of my favorite characters. I don't know if Ms. Harrison reads these comments, but please, just go back to the winning formula of Dragon Bound -- good snappy dialogue, strong females and action. If I wanted a introspective, sad sack of a female, I'd watch a Lifetime movie.

[Lady Jaye · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third novel in the Elder Races series and Rune's story, with the Vampyre Queen Carling as his love interest.

I do think this is a much better book than the travesty that was Storm's Heart, but it is nowhere near as good as Dragon Bound. It was okay.

Hands down the best thing about the book was the heroine, Carling. I liked exploring her backstory and her motivations for her actions. She was also a strong, likable character. I did not like Carling from the previous books, but I am surprised to find myself in love with her in this novel. She rocks!

The person that didn't rock, much to my surprise, was Rune. I have loved him through Dragon Bound and Storm's Heart, but that love stopped in Serpent's Kiss. He did not seem funny to me, and all his "cool-talk/witty repartees" missed the mark for me: I found them hollow, unfunny, and sometimes quite disrespectful. Simply put, I didn't like the person Rune was in this book, and I found myself liking him less and less as the book progressed; I did not like the person he became in the end at all.

I was also very disappointed that he did not share the fact of his changing the past with Dragos and the Gryphons, or the fact that he'd mated with Carling (until he couldn't hide it later). His excuse was that he didn't trust them. That doesn't wash with me. You would think you could trust people who had been your friends and comrades in arms for centuries. Especially as they could feel the effects of his changing the past. But apparently Rune's definition of friendship and mine are different.

Another thing that bothered me was the Rift between Dragos and Rune at the end. It just didn't make sense in the grand scheme of things, and I'd have expected Rune to be less of an ass. You don't hide essential info from your closest friends and yet expect them to act as if they knew the entire picture. Needless to say I didn't think he deserved the friendship of the other wyr, much less Dragos' friendship. Dragos did not do anything wrong and acted very fairly, given what little he knew and given that he had the interests of the entire wyr race to consider. Sigh. Rune was so much less than he appeared to be in the other books. Womp.

One final thing that didn't work for me was the love. I loved Carling, and I could see her relationship blossom with Rune. It just did nothing for me - I could see the love but could not feel it. I went into this book worried that Rune would be stuck with Carling, but now I am kinda sad that Carling is stuck with Rune.

Needless to say, I am not too keen on continuing the series after this one. I'll just read Dragon Bound to regain my happy memories and quit while I'm ahead. But I am glad I read this book. If nothing at all, it wiped the bad taste of Storm's Heart from my mouth.

[AH · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I finished Storm’s Heart, I was surprised that the next book was going to be about Carling and Rune. Rune, I understood. Carling? I didn’t really pay much attention to her in Storm’s Heart. I really didn’t think that she would merit an entire book.

What a pleasant surprise. Carling’s story was fascinating. I never expected Carling to have such a scientific mind, or that she was meticulous in her research about her condition. Carling’s impressive library of documents would make museum curators and archeologists drool with jealousy. Her magical abilities were also a surprise, as was her domestic side. I never in my life imagined a Queen of Vampires with a pet dog, much less a pomerian named Rasputin of all things. The image of Carling cooking chicken for that dog made me chuckle.

Of course, Thea Harrison’s books are not complete without a strong alpha male character. Rune, the Wyr sentinel and Dragos’ first, nicely fits the bill. Rune is a gryphon and when he is in that form he is the size of an SUV. Half golden eagle, half lion, Rune has a formidable presence. Protective, sexy, and dangerous, Rune also has a great sense of humor. I loved how he kicked back to enjoy his Japanese monster movies starring the flying turtle Gamera and Godzilla. Too cute!

The chemistry between Carling and Rune was absolutely off the charts. They constantly butt heads, but Rune is stubborn enough to stick around and force Carling to live. The sexual tension is great – a nice, slow, build up. When they were together, I thought that they would combust. These two characters were meant for each other.

The world building was well done. I loved how the author combines mythology, magic, and ancient history together to create her world. I especially liked how Carling’s back story was told through her memories and Rune heading back in time.

Of course, the Elder Races books are never complete without some kind of political intrigue and there is some jostling for position and power. We are also introduced to the characters of the next book Khalil and Grace.

All in all, an enjoyable read. I recommend it. I can’t wait for the next book Oracle’s Moon coming March 2012.

Review posted on Badass Book Reviews.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Posted at http://yummymenandkickasschicks.com/?.... I included quite a few quotes this time around. Lots of good ones. :)

Serpent’s Kiss is the third book in Thea Harrison’s Elder Races series. I adored the first book. I really enjoyed the second book. I loved this book. Thea’s writing is so solid, her world so well constructed, her characters so darned likable, it’s almost impossible not to think these books are simply wonderful.

Now normally in a paranormal romance series where each book focuses on a different couple we find out about the hero’s past and the heroine’s past and of course we witness the couple finding out how they can’t live without each other. The ‘normal’ was a little different in Serpent’s Kiss. We find out some about Carling’s past, but not much about Rune. But you know, it’s all good. Rune came into existence pretty much at the beginning of time. He has been feared and revered, and in many ways he still is. So really, there isn’t much to say about his past. Don’t worry, I didn’t feel like I missed anything and I don’t think you will either. His past story is just really not necessary. And even though we don’t get a whole lot about Carling and how she came into power, what we got is fitting to the story and helps us, not only to see her in a slightly more human light, but also to see Rune’s incredibly tender and romantic side.

*sigh* Rune… I love Rune. He’s an alpha male but he’s not all Neanderthal. He understands that Carling is a strong woman used to getting her way and if he tried to tell her what to do all the time, he’d lose her. Doesn’t mean he doesn’t try, it just means that he keeps himself in check more often than not. It’s actually a mix of cute and funny to watch him struggle with it. But all in all, he knows how he is and he is not about to change who or what he is nor is he apologetic for it. And ladies, Rune is such a sweetheart! He’s also super laid back and really accustomed himself to modern times. His dialogue, his mannerisms and his demeanour is all so against his actual self – the huge, powerful and scary Gryphon. I love that about him. He was before this book and he remains after his book one of my favorite characters in this series.

Carling was not how I was expecting her to be. In the last book, she seemed like such a smart, clever and conniving b*tch – but in a good way. But that was her public face. The truth is she is slowly losing her focus and her Power is becoming unsteady. In a Vampyre, these are signs that their end is coming soon. Carling has come to terms with that fact that she is dying…but Rune hasn’t. For some odd reason, he won’t let her go. Thea weaves such an intricate story with Rune and Carling. How things are familiar yet not with these two is really neat, and how it all happened is even neater. And don’t get me wrong when I say that Carling is not the cold woman she was in the previous book. She may have come to be comfortable with the idea of her end, but I did not find it made her weak. Yes, she was somewhat helpless when she would fade, but you always felt that this was a woman you did not want to mess with. I love how we got to witness her transform too. All really fun to read.

I loved seeing Carling with her dog. That dog was funny and I believe he did a lot to help us see the softer side to Carling – the side that Rune would fall in love with. The side that made us relate to her too. Because if she was like she was in the last book, I would have enjoyed reading her but I don’t believe I would have been able to relate to her as much as I did.

The story this time around is much quieter than the last two. There is some action and kick butt scenes, but mostly the plot focuses on Carling and how she and Rune are trying to figure out how to stop her from fading. I love it when, in a romance book, I see a lot of the couple all alone on the page. I’m not strictly talking hanky-panky alone time, but quality getting to know each other time. There is a lot of that in this book and that made me very happy.

I find Thea’s talent of writing couples to be wonderful. In each book, she has shown us an entirely different dynamic. Each couple is so different, yet each is amazing. And the next couple looks like they will be just as different as the first three have proven to be.

We see a little more of Khalil, the Djinn who is to be the hero in the next book, Oracle’s Moon. We also meet Grace, his heroine. Khalil is drawn to Grace, that much is clear, but she really doesn’t want anything to do with him. She is spunky and trying to deal with the situation she has been thrown into. It should be interesting to see how things develop with these two, even though neither are part of Dragos’ immediate circle and that means that we may not see the characters we love so much in this fourth book. Oracle’s Moon is due in stores March 6th 2012.

I was hoping Rune wouldn’t up and leave Dragos like Tiago did because I really enjoy his character and want to keep seeing him in each and every Elder Races book Thea writes. Now, I’m not going to tell you whether or not he does, but I will say that I thought things were going one way, then I thought they were going another way, then they ended up going a completely different way. We’ll just have to see where things ultimately end up where Rune and Carling and where they end up calling home, hopefully in future books. Hopefully in every book.

In my review for Dragon Bound, I mentioned that I don’t recall being this excited about a new Paranormal Romance series by a new to the genre author…and I’m still super excited about it after three books. These books are on my keeper shelf and will live a long and happy life there. The only down side about loving these books so much is that after being spoiled and getting three books in less than a year, we now have to wait a little bit for the next book. But it will be worth the wait. After all, Thea is writing it. And Thea writes gems.

[Laura..devouring books like crumpets · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

I did find Camila and Runes Story very slow... Although i loved Both characters and the story i was still a bit bored, not just with the relationship development but the story was slow....

Still some love a slow burn

Due to loving the Authors writing world and characters. i still enjoyed it.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I find an author I enjoy, I have a tendency to go from book to book, glutting myself on their entire catalog. This can be good and bad. It's great to immerse myself in a style I enjoy, but when I think about rating or evaluating the book, my scale is skewed towards rating in comparison to other books by that author. Thea Harrison's Elder Races novels are my current addiction, I no sooner put down one than I'm anxiously anticipating the next. SERPENT'S KISS is a bright spot in an already wonderful series, and I'll be able to fill some of the months before ORACLE'S MOON comes out in March by mulling over this magic and these characters.

The world building in SERPENT'S KISS is ambitious, delving into the mythology of gryphons and vampires, the history of Carling's origins, and the politics of her present day position. Harrison writes enough explanation and detail to make reading along with Rune and Carling interesting, without getting bogged down in inconsistencies or procedure. I was so fascinated with how the mystery was unfolding, I almost lost sight of the main characters themselves. Details about Rune's personality or Carling's history that seemed inconsequential at the start come together at the close to make this an even more satisfying story.

I am continually impressed with the attention Harrison lavishes on her character's relationships, going beyond destiny or chemistry to write pairings that compliment and strengthen one another. Rather than writing generically appealing characters, Rune and Carling are another Elder Races couple that have some quirks and rough spots that happen to fit just right with each other. What better balance for one of nature's most playful and mutable beings than the cool, capable steadfastness of a woman who has survived for millennia?

It is still frustrating to see glimpses of beloved past characters without getting to spend much time with them, but luckily, Harrison always gives readers a peak at the next relationship on the horizon. Based on the introductory chapter included at the close of SERPENT'S KISS, ORACLE'S MOON promises to be a thoroughly entertaining blend of human practicality butting heads with another charming, if arrogant, magical being.

Full review at All Things Urban Fantasy.

Sexual Content: Several sex scenes.

Read #2 (3/1/2012): Much like with STORM'S HEART, I liked SERPENT'S KISS even more the second time around. Rune's playfulness seemed a little juvenile on my first read, and I missed how perfectly it compliments the mutable nature of his immortality. I also misunderstood the origins of Carlin's name the first time around, and how she maintains a core of self despite changes in history. Of all the books I've read dealing with time travel, SERPENT'S KISS is the most accessible and elegantly done. Love it!

[Shannon C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Original, good PNR with very good world building. I liked seeing characters again from the earlier books. After the last book when we met Carling, I was worried if I would like her in this one. She seemed pretty icy/remote when we met her previously. However as I saw more sides of her in Serpent's Kiss, she grew on me. Even though she's uber powerful, she's also caring, smart, hardworking, shows some humor, etc. Rune was good as the lead hero...funny, powerful, smart, hot, etc. I liked how their relationship developed. They don't immediately jump into bed together (a pet peeve of mine).

I continue to be impressed w/Harrison's ability to come up with original stuff (even with so many PNRs out these days). Rune is a grphyon, which on its own is original in the PNR space. But then what Harrison finally unveils about his abilities is really cool. Although Carling is a vamp (which is pretty common), what Harrison does with it again I found really original....what's going on w/ Carling's character as well as how vamps were created and what they are. I don't want to get into details b/c it's too spoilerish. That plays out over the story. Also we see more of the medusa and djinn--two more character types you don't see every day in PNRs. She also introduced a new Oracle character.

I had a few nits:
- I would have liked some action scenes earlier on. The first part of the book seemed a bit draggy.
- Rune & Dragos disagreement seemed contrived, which always annoys me in books. You know if they just communicated a bit better it would have been avoided.
But overall I still enjoyed the book.

Also liked the bonus excerpt from Oracle's Moon, which will be out in March. The Djinn we met in the earlier books (the one that helped the vampire Carling) is the hero. His heroine is Grace the Oracle. Can't wait! March 2012 can't come soon enough for the next one!

If you haven't read the series, and you are a PNR fan I recommend it. It's one of the better new series I've come across in the past year. In writing style/feel, it reminds me to Nalini Singh's Psy Changelings (which I also love). And in world building/character setup, it's similar to Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark (again--another fav). The books are best read in order, since each one builds on the other and characters from earlier books show up in the later ones. First book: Dragon Bound

[Snarktastic Sonja · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok - I seriously did not like this one. I finished it solely because the next in the series was recommended to me and I just could NOT move on in the series without finishing this. It just goes against my nature. It struck pain in my heart to even THINK about it.

Ultimately - there just isn't enough going on here - No build up - no nothing. Just Carling dying and Rune trying to save her - and no real reason to save her. Somehow, he just falls in love with her . . . (Sorry if that is a spoiler - if it IS a spoiler, you probably haven't read enough romances.) The only people really involved in this story are Rune and Carling - so we don't even get to enjoy the people we have fallen in love with from earlier books in the series. There is just no reason for ME to fall in love with these characters.

Oh - I did love Rasputin. I *always* love the dog.

Somewhere toward the end, I became glad I had persevered through this book as we meet up with Grace - whom I loved immediately. And, as soon as I found her I just KNEW she would be the subject of the next book.

The WORST part of the whole thing was that the relationship I *had* come to love was destroyed at the end of the book with Dragos and Rune not speaking to each other - for REALLY stupid (or none) reasons . . . . And, the way these books are written, I'm not sure this will be fixed.

Ugh - I generously gave this 2 stars - but only because I finished it. But, had the next one (which I LOVED) not been recommended to me, I would have stalled here in this series.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my least favorite of the series and the pairing between Rune and Carling just didn't do it for me. I never found the character Carling to be all that interesting. Compared to the heroines in the last two novels, Carling is rather bland. The one scene that stood out for me, and not in a good way, was when Rune was trying to change the way that Carling dresses. Am I the only one who took offense at this? It was just so patronizing. He was hand picking everything from her underwear to her shoes and dressing her in a way that he deemed socially acceptable. Oh, and the scene with the makeup! I love how Rune holds the makeup up to her face to determine what shades are best for her skin tone. Please, can someone tell me how many heterosexual males they know who have a general knowledge of how to apply makeup and which shades to use on a particular skin tone? I really hope the next book in the series is much better.

Audiobook Narrator Rating - 3/5 Stars

[Saly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one more than the previous installment. It started of real slow and I was not hooked when Rune went to re-pay his debt to Carling and they just seem to research on her island but after that the book picks up really well and I liked seeing how Rune affected Carling and made her more fun and actually alive. And I love growling, jealous alpha men.

Rune was awesome as well, he actually talked fashion and stuff. I just hope that we see Dragos and Rune make it up in later books. The whole time thing kind of confused me and I would love to see an update on how things go with the cure and future plans.

[♡Karlyn P♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. I wanted to like it, but I was bored with the entire storyline. The romance was tepid, the storyline boring, the 'bad guy' lackluster, and the ending a bit frustrating. I almost DNF'd it but kept reading on as I planned to read more in this series and didn't want to be lost later on. But when I finally finished this, I was not sure if I will stick with this series or not. Will need to think on it.

[Lover of Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance

Serpent's Kiss kicks off when our hero, a Wyr sentinel Roan, has been called into the favor he owed the Vampyre Queen Carling. He has no idea what this favor will be or what it will cost him, but his friend and boss is NOT happy, Dragos doesn't want him to do this but Roan always lives up to his word. So he goes to visit the Queen Carling. Carling is dying, she has lived longer than most, and she goes into "phases" and she feels herself starting to slip away and she knows its only a matter of time before her mind is gone. But when the Wyr Roan arrives, her senses go into red alert, because he is making her feel things she hasn't felt for centuries and her emotions are out of wack. But with Roan's help, Carling is given hope that there might be a cure for the disease plaguing her. But there is more danger than Carling and Roan know, and soon they might be on the run from their own people, but will they be able to find the cure in time....

It has been SOOO long since I have picked up a book by this author, or gotten back into this series. I just adored books one and two, so I figured it was time to get back into the Elder Races and WHEW....this one was dang good y'all. I really had a blast with it, I will say that it wasn't what I was expecting to be honest which is a very good thing. But I did have some issues with the book.

My main issue that really cost some enjoyment of the story is how the heroine treats the hero in the beginning. Now I love strong heroines, I really really do. However, the hero, he is a fun one but a keeper. And I will say that Carling is a bit abusive to the heroine in the beginning, and this almost had me DNF this one because this really bothers me in romance and it honestly didn't make sense why she was doing it and it was never explained, just a "random" occurance, nope, not in my book. So I really had a hard time liking Carling for the first half of the book, because of a couple of scenes in the beginning that turned me off her character.

However despite my reservations about the heroine, this author won me over eventually with her character. I actually really liked Roan and Carling together. They just fit perfectly, and Roan seems to understand Carling and what she needs from him. There are so many precious moments between them that had me laughing and swooning.

She said, “Kneel.”
She felt his surprise as her command jolted through him.
But then he did a thing that surprised her in return. He raised his eyebrows, gave her that easygoing insouciant grin of his and said, “Okey-dokey.”
With a flourish he went gracefully down on one knee in front of her.
What was this? He was down on the floor, his powerful broad shoulders dipped in subjugation. He even bowed his head. He gave every appearance of submission, and performed flawlessly to the letter of her order, but . . .
Deep in the axis of that fierce remarkable soul, the alpha male still reigned. She circled behind him and stepped close to his broad shoulders to put her lips near his ear. She whispered, “You’re not really kneeling inside.”
He cocked his head to look at her over one shoulder. His reckless gaze laughed at her. He whispered back, “You didn’t order me to do that. It would require an entirely different bargain for me to really kneel to you.”
Caught in the unknown riddle, she asked, “What bargain would that require?”
He gave her a slow smile. “You must give me a kiss.”
The sleek arch of her eyebrows lifted. “Just a kiss?”
“Just that.”
“The bargain is struck,” she said.
“And answered,” he growled.
Carling put a hand onto his shoulder as she prowled to stand in front of him. Then she slid her hands along the warm sun-bronzed skin of his jaw. She tilted his handsome wild face up to hers and he let her. Then she bent to place her cool lips on his hot carved lips.
Her body moved in the impulse to breathe again, and she allowed it. His masculine Power enveloped her, and it was spiced with sensuality and warmth as it caressed her like a sun-filled breeze.
She lifted her head and stared down at him. She narrowed her eyes.
She said, “You’re still not really kneeling inside.”
Tap, tap, went her bare foot.
He cocked an eyebrow.
“What else did you expect, Carling?” he replied. “That wasn’t a real kiss.”

Yep this is one of the very first moments that they meet and yeah SWOON and boy does this hero know how to work the heroine or what??? The majority of their interactions are so addicting and I quickly became swept away in their story. We see them travel through history together, we see them solve a mystery surrounding Carling's disease and we have a betrayer and of course some badass moments with Dragos...of course because it wouldn't be an Elder Races novel without Dragos and Pia right?

I found this story to be a thrilling and edgy paranormal romance with enough light humor to balance it out just right. There is time traveling, adventure, intrigue, sexy times that are guaranteed to make you swoon and enough romance to make you curl your toes!!









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[Angela Carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Serpent's Kiss
by Thea Karrison
(Elder Races # 3)

Reviewed for Under The Covers Blog

I have to say that I am addicted to Thea Harrison's Elder Races World. It is a phenomenal world of Wyr kind, Elves, Fae, Demons, Monsters, Vampires and Witches. Thea Harrison did not disappoint. I was sucked in this original and intense world she has created.

I honestly was afraid to rate this book because I thought I may be biased. See, I attended a lunch get-together with Ms. Harrison on the day this book was released. She was uber nice, easy to approach and she even gave me a hug. Okay lame but because of that, I was sure to just rate it with most praise. But after reading this book I was relieved that it had lived up to my expectations and rating 5 stars was not hard to do. Let me tell you my reasons for loving this book.

First, this book had a heart felt story between H/H and the character build up is so incredible that made it easy for me to love them. Rune is the Alpha male who knows what he wants and is not afraid to go after it. He knows women’s fashion, knows how to suggest it well, he enjoys chick flicks, and knows how to pleasure. He really is the Alpha I like to read about. Carling, from the last book was the Ice Queen, the one everyone feared. But Ms. Harrison was able to bring out a more likeable personality. She was icy, recluse and deadly due to her predicament and pretty much this is how our H/H love for each other started. The relationship started slow and the sexual tension lacked at first. But the coming together between Rune and Carling was solid and strong. Any couple who has to deal with an illness and survive is just admiring.

Second, this book had Egyptian mythology, mysteries, and a bit of time travel (which I enjoy). There is also a tiny bit of Quantum physics that got me googling Schrodingers Cat....yeah, don’t look it up unless your in that part of the book. It's complicated. I love books that make me wonder how issues are solved.

Third reason are tid bits about the book that kept me interested. The book is set in San Francisco, where I grew up. Again, lame, but it was nice that Ms. Harrison mentioned real places and mixed it with fictional attributes. Other characters caught my attention and I kept wanting to learn more of them. There is a medusa that plays a good part in this book, a Witch, an Oracle and a Serpent who is there but not really there *lol*. Dragos and Pia also made their appearance. I have a feeling we will see more of Dragos in the upcoming books *fingers crossed*. Carling surprisingly has a pet dog, totally cute and he had a lot to do with her transformation from Ice Queen to Rune’s perfect heroine. I think we will see more of him as well.

Last, the ending of this book blew me away. It was unexpected and left me sobbing. There are betrayals that were heartbreaking, loss of a friend and definitely new enemies.

The set up and possibilities for the next book are endless and we get a glimpse of the H/H in the next book, Oracles Moon. The excerpt was good and will keep me anxiously waiting for it. Khalil and Grace will be sure to make us laugh and from what I’ve read, maybe even cry.

I highly recommend this series to any PNR fans.

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!! To save his friend's life Rune made a bargain with Vampire Queen Carling. Rune goes to pay up and is surprised to find a woman on the edge. This story was so awesome. Carling's disease causes her to have episodes that threaten her well being and puts her in dangerous position. Rune is a total alpha Wyr sentinel and is determined to save Carling no matter the risk. He is a dark, sexy, powerful alpha. One of my favorite scene is Carling as a little girl. Total awwe moment. These two hold their own with each other. Great book. Loved it, love the series.

[Lady Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, the author had a good ending but left SO much unsettled... because there is NO WAY that such strong, powerful, and dynamic characters would be left living like this... no matter how much they "loved one another."

I LOVE this series, and I LOVE this author's writing and characters... but, just a 'pet peeve' of mine .... once a story is written.. we never hear what happens to them!

.... that is why the "Night Huntress Series" and the "Kate Daniels Series" are so attractive to me in the PNR genre.

[Amber Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4-4.5 stars* Another great one from Thea :-)

[Jules · Rating 3 out of 5]

Come per il precedente libro, anche con questo ho avuto qualche problema. O meglio, se devo essere precisa, i problemi sono stati due in particolare: Carling e Rune.

Su Carling non mi ero fatta alcuna opinione in particolare ma, addentrandomi nella lettura, non potevo fare a meno di ripetermi quello che Rune dice a Duncan ascoltando le spiegazioni sulla complicata burocrazia dei vampiri: "Hai tolto tutto il bello ai film sui vampiri". Anzi, questo commento forse non riesce a rendere abbastanza a fondo quello che mi è sembrata Carling: una mummia, praticamente. Ma non una mummia di quelle cinematografiche (quelle sono fin troppo vivaci), no no: una vera mummia in bende, ossa e pelle incartapecorita e la sua presenza opprimente appesta, ovviamente, tutto il romanzo. Più di una volta mi sono ritrovata a pensare che sarebbe stato meglio scrivere per lei una morte gloriosa e farla finita lì e invece Rune la salvava ogni volta.

E adesso veniamo a lui, Rune, Primo di Dragos e... buffone di corte mancato. Fino a questo libro il carattere del grifone era stato descritto come posato, riflessivo, serio: proprio per questo era stato scelto per il ruolo di Primo. Qualche dubbio legittimo, però, nasce già la prima volta che viene descritto il suo abbigliamento (che non piace neppure a Carling, nonostante anche lei abbia gusti discutibili in materia, nonché l'abitudine che aveva anche Einstein di avere tutti i vestiti uguali), che è improponibile. In più scopriamo che ha un senso dell'umorismo agghiacciante e, come se non bastasse, soffre della sindrome di Peter Pan. Ho avuto come l'impressione che l'autrice si sia accanita ferocemente su questo personaggio: prima l'ha circonfuso di un'abbagliante aura di figaggine (Rune è "la rock star dei wyr", nientemeno!), poi l'ha devastato, ridicolizzato... roba da piangere per la disperazione. Si vede che ce l'aveva con lui per qualche ragione a noi ignota (insomma, la prima volta con Carling, lui dura anche poco! Vero che lei riuscirebbe a spegnere qualunque entusiasmo, ma questa mi è sembrata proprio una cattiveria). Il fondo lo tocca quando si improvvisa emulo di Amanda Lear ai tempi in cui conduceva "Il Brutto Anatroccolo" e si impegna per rinnovare il look di Carling, comprandole un nuovo guardaroba e facendole da make up artist. Lo confesso, queste righe le ho saltate perché leggere "faceva l'amore con il suo viso" mi ha fatto venire voglia di urlare. E poi ho saltato anche la parte dell'accoppiamento perché sapevo che non ce la potevo fare. Assolutamente.

Un altro punto a sfavore di questo libro è stata la dinamica della trama, basata, in sostanza, su un paradosso temporale. A dire il vero, creda sia soprattutto un mio limite, dal momento che questo concetto non riesce a convincermi mai del tutto, è un ragionamento in cui non riesco a trovare una logica convincente, quindi va tutto a farsi benedire.

Nonostante sia il secondo libro di seguito che non mi appassiona, non mollo la saga e mi fiondo sul prossimo (mi hanno detto che è meglio), che prende il via nelle ultime pagine di questo volume.
Ciao ciao Carling e Rune, vi ho apprezzati nel finale sopratutto perché era, appunto, il finale.