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Elder Races #7
Night's Honor
A woman finds herself in need of protection and seduced by honor in this Novel of the Elder Races from New York Times bestselling author Thea Harrison.
On the run from her former employer, Tess knows that she's vulnerable on her own amongst the Elder Races. That's why she decides to audition to become the human attendant of a powerful Vampyre of the Nightkind demesne. But while her position affords her the safety she seeks, her protector turns out to be more than she bargained for.
The right-hand man of the Nightkind King, Xavier del Torro is both terrifying and alluring. While his true nature frightens Tess, she can't ignore the appeal of his innate sense of integrity and self-restraint. Thrown into Xavier's world, Tess must quickly learn to navigate the dangers--both to her life and to her heart. But the biggest threat comes from her own past...
On the run from her former employer, Tess knows that she's vulnerable on her own amongst the Elder Races. That's why she decides to audition to become the human attendant of a powerful Vampyre of the Nightkind demesne. But while her position affords her the safety she seeks, her protector turns out to be more than she bargained for.
The right-hand man of the Nightkind King, Xavier del Torro is both terrifying and alluring. While his true nature frightens Tess, she can't ignore the appeal of his innate sense of integrity and self-restraint. Thrown into Xavier's world, Tess must quickly learn to navigate the dangers--both to her life and to her heart. But the biggest threat comes from her own past...
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 2, 2014
180 people are currently reading
3092 people want to read
About the author
Thea Harrison
63 books5,490 followersI 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!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 546 reviews
February 6, 2015
2...Rounded Down...
Dull.
That pretty much sums up this book.
The plot was dull.
In fact, nothing even remotely exciting happened until perhaps the 75% mark. But by then, I was already in a coma.
Xavier was dull.
Tess was dull...Andbitchy contrary just for the sake of it.
The only mildly interesting characters is this book were Melisande and Julian...and the epilogue...because it was about Melisande and Julian...
So hopefully that means the next one will be more exciting since it's about them.
What a bummer because I love this series (with the exception of Oracle's Moon...unless you liked that one...meaning this one might be right up your alley...)
So all in all, a bit of a letdown, but I'm still looking forward to the next installment. Thea Harrison is super talented and I love her Elder Races world.
Dull.
That pretty much sums up this book.
The plot was dull.
In fact, nothing even remotely exciting happened until perhaps the 75% mark. But by then, I was already in a coma.
Xavier was dull.
Tess was dull...And
The only mildly interesting characters is this book were Melisande and Julian...and the epilogue...because it was about Melisande and Julian...
So hopefully that means the next one will be more exciting since it's about them.
What a bummer because I love this series (with the exception of Oracle's Moon...unless you liked that one...meaning this one might be right up your alley...)
So all in all, a bit of a letdown, but I'm still looking forward to the next installment. Thea Harrison is super talented and I love her Elder Races world.
February 27, 2018
Xavier and Tess
Tess:
Tess does not really like vampires. She also does not like giving her blood willingly. Still she tries to earn a place as a vampire's attendant. And she succeeds.
Xavier:
Jackpot! Xavier is like the second in command of the vampire race and Tess really needs a powerful protector in order to survive from an evil djinn.
This is a slow burn romance. Tess gradually realises that Xavier is not a monster and she is proud and willing to be part of his household.
Xavier is definitely a mystery and as the story proceeds, we get to know his background story: how he became a vampire and his previous life.
Xavier is a man of honour and he will be very patient with Tess who is very young, very stubborn and very scared.
The next book is about vampire king Julian and it closely related to this book.
Tess:
My looks are entirely forgettable, and I'm smarter than almost anyone here.
Tess does not really like vampires. She also does not like giving her blood willingly. Still she tries to earn a place as a vampire's attendant. And she succeeds.
Xavier:
I will expect you at my estate tomorrow evening at sundown.
Jackpot! Xavier is like the second in command of the vampire race and Tess really needs a powerful protector in order to survive from an evil djinn.
This is a slow burn romance. Tess gradually realises that Xavier is not a monster and she is proud and willing to be part of his household.
Xavier is definitely a mystery and as the story proceeds, we get to know his background story: how he became a vampire and his previous life.
Xavier is a man of honour and he will be very patient with Tess who is very young, very stubborn and very scared.
The next book is about vampire king Julian and it closely related to this book.
September 26, 2014
Night's Honor is about Julian's right hand man, Xavier, who comes from Spanish nobility and is the epitome of etiquette. Tess is a human and on the run from a pariah Djinn when she decides to apply to be an attendant at the Vampyre Ball.
Tess is really feisty which I enjoy because really, no one wants to read about a doormat. But Tess has a real give and take problem going on because in becoming an attendant, she has to let them feed from her and she is terrified to do so.
Xavier is definitely swoon worthy. That should just be a given for TH's characters especially this far into the series. He is just so kind and respectful but a badass when he needs to be. I like that he takes Tess by surprise. And as always, I love getting both their POVs.
I was really happy about all the romancing! It's a slow build and it almost seems like it might not happen but just have a little faith. ;)
Tess' predicament was really intriguing and that particular Djinn sounded really scary. I think she got more of an education than she realized. It was great how both Xavier and Julian stepped up to help out but ultimately it came down to Tess' quick thinking that settled things. She really didn't seem like she was just twenty-four.
There's some interesting twists between Julian and Melly (Melisande) and I loved how the epilogue set things up for their book, Midnight's Kiss, which is the next full length book. (We get a novella, A Passion Sonata first.)
Favorite quotes
♥ "We need to be clear about one thing, Tess. I do not want you back as one of my attendants."
♥ "Thy love is better than wine."
♥ "I'm trying to run away," she said. "Inside my head."
♥ “Tell me it’s okay to fall in love with you.”
“You’d better. I’m not falling in love all by myself.”
♥ "Before we head upstairs, shall we try to waltz for ninety seconds?"
Tess is really feisty which I enjoy because really, no one wants to read about a doormat. But Tess has a real give and take problem going on because in becoming an attendant, she has to let them feed from her and she is terrified to do so.
Xavier is definitely swoon worthy. That should just be a given for TH's characters especially this far into the series. He is just so kind and respectful but a badass when he needs to be. I like that he takes Tess by surprise. And as always, I love getting both their POVs.
I was really happy about all the romancing! It's a slow build and it almost seems like it might not happen but just have a little faith. ;)
Tess' predicament was really intriguing and that particular Djinn sounded really scary. I think she got more of an education than she realized. It was great how both Xavier and Julian stepped up to help out but ultimately it came down to Tess' quick thinking that settled things. She really didn't seem like she was just twenty-four.
There's some interesting twists between Julian and Melly (Melisande) and I loved how the epilogue set things up for their book, Midnight's Kiss, which is the next full length book. (We get a novella, A Passion Sonata first.)
Favorite quotes
♥ "We need to be clear about one thing, Tess. I do not want you back as one of my attendants."
♥ "Thy love is better than wine."
♥ "I'm trying to run away," she said. "Inside my head."
♥ “Tell me it’s okay to fall in love with you.”
“You’d better. I’m not falling in love all by myself.”
♥ "Before we head upstairs, shall we try to waltz for ninety seconds?"
September 6, 2014
Spoilers
A decent enough PNR read. The story and the main characters didn't make much of an impression on me, they were both rather underwhelming but despite that I was still fairly entertained. It helped that the world was easy to immerse into and enjoyable and that a few of the secondary characters were fun to read about.
-Summary: Tess needs to hide from a bad guy so she seeks out protection by auditioning to be a vampire attendant. Super important/powerful vampire, Xavier, takes her on. Naturally, he's intrigued by her even though there's nothing particularly intriguing about her.
Also, vampire politics, bad guys, and sexy times.
-Tess was an okay character, she didn't have much of a personality, she was kind of a Mary Sue - she had no family, didn't fit in anywhere, worked hard and was oh so smart, brave and resilient. She was too perfect and had no realistic flaws or shortcomings.
-Xavier was bland for the most part, he didn't have much emotion or animation, he was just there. One thing that really bugged me about him was how he seemed to let his attendants push him around and question him, it made him seem weak. It was only towards the end that he actually got some personality and attitude.
-The relationship between Xavier/Tess was quite slow, which I liked, they were attracted/fascinated by each other very early on but it took time for anything to actually happen between them. I have to say I wasn't all that convinced by their feelings for each other - I didn't understand why they fell in love apart from them thinking the other was strong or honourable, it felt rather superficial. They were quite sweet together towards the end though, I just would have liked a tiny bit more depth or complexity from their relationship.
-I wasn't impressed with it taking almost half of the book for Tess to talk to another named female character, and that wasn't even a conversation, it was barely an exchange of words.
Through the whole book, she literally only spoke a total of three sentences to characters who were female. It was disappointing, especially when she had many, many long conversations with numerous male characters.
-I really enjoyed Melly/Julian's angry interactions, they were so funny. I was more invested in them than Tess/Xavier.
-A lot of the conversations between characters were actually just huge info dumps. It really slowed things down and got in the way of the plot.
-I didn't like the pop culture references, it took me right out of the story.
There was a bit of a cliffhanger in this one, it wasn't a bad one though. It has made me more excited to read the next book — hopefully, Julian/Melly's story won't be a let down.
A decent enough PNR read. The story and the main characters didn't make much of an impression on me, they were both rather underwhelming but despite that I was still fairly entertained. It helped that the world was easy to immerse into and enjoyable and that a few of the secondary characters were fun to read about.
-Summary: Tess needs to hide from a bad guy so she seeks out protection by auditioning to be a vampire attendant. Super important/powerful vampire, Xavier, takes her on. Naturally, he's intrigued by her even though there's nothing particularly intriguing about her.
Also, vampire politics, bad guys, and sexy times.
-Tess was an okay character, she didn't have much of a personality, she was kind of a Mary Sue - she had no family, didn't fit in anywhere, worked hard and was oh so smart, brave and resilient. She was too perfect and had no realistic flaws or shortcomings.
-Xavier was bland for the most part, he didn't have much emotion or animation, he was just there. One thing that really bugged me about him was how he seemed to let his attendants push him around and question him, it made him seem weak. It was only towards the end that he actually got some personality and attitude.
-The relationship between Xavier/Tess was quite slow, which I liked, they were attracted/fascinated by each other very early on but it took time for anything to actually happen between them. I have to say I wasn't all that convinced by their feelings for each other - I didn't understand why they fell in love apart from them thinking the other was strong or honourable, it felt rather superficial. They were quite sweet together towards the end though, I just would have liked a tiny bit more depth or complexity from their relationship.
-I wasn't impressed with it taking almost half of the book for Tess to talk to another named female character, and that wasn't even a conversation, it was barely an exchange of words.
Through the whole book, she literally only spoke a total of three sentences to characters who were female. It was disappointing, especially when she had many, many long conversations with numerous male characters.
-I really enjoyed Melly/Julian's angry interactions, they were so funny. I was more invested in them than Tess/Xavier.
-A lot of the conversations between characters were actually just huge info dumps. It really slowed things down and got in the way of the plot.
-I didn't like the pop culture references, it took me right out of the story.
There was a bit of a cliffhanger in this one, it wasn't a bad one though. It has made me more excited to read the next book — hopefully, Julian/Melly's story won't be a let down.
October 4, 2015
*I gave this audiobook a B for the story and A- for the narration at AudioGals*
Being a big fan of vampire romances, but having read only the first title in this series, I was a little skeptical to jump in at Book 7, as usually paranormal romance series are best read in chronological order. However, the blurb really intrigued me, and I decided to take a chance. Well, am I glad I did, as I really enjoyed the characters and the romance in Night’s Honor. I was also pleasantly surprised to find that I had no trouble following the larger backstory of this paranormal world, given that this aspect really took a backseat to the immediate danger and the romance. In fact, I imagine that if I were a long time Elder Races fan, I may have been clamoring for more progress in general in that arena. Nonetheless, it worked perfectly for me, particularly when you factor in Sophie Eastlake’s talented narration, which really brought this audiobook to life.
See the full review at AudioGals.
December 26, 2014
**2.5 stars**
There just enough story for a novella here. The couple wasn't believable and none of the main characters was particularly remarkable. This was me during most of the book:
Tess is running away from a serious threat so she decides to get a job with a vampire who can protect her. She makes a preposterous assertion (which she never delivers) and she catches the attention of a very powerful vampire, who decides to hire her. Even though the guy is all that is amiable and respectful, she's scared shitless of him because 'he can kill her at any moment'. As you can imagine, this is not condusive to romance. Neither seems to be too much into each other until around 3/4 of the way in and then everything happened really fast. I was even uncomfortable during the love scenes because I couldn't believe that they were really into each other.
Night's Honor is more of a setup for the next book in the series but I don't think you really need to read this to get the next book. I'm sure the author will do a nice recap and there's no other reason to read this book.
There just enough story for a novella here. The couple wasn't believable and none of the main characters was particularly remarkable. This was me during most of the book:
Tess is running away from a serious threat so she decides to get a job with a vampire who can protect her. She makes a preposterous assertion (which she never delivers) and she catches the attention of a very powerful vampire, who decides to hire her. Even though the guy is all that is amiable and respectful, she's scared shitless of him because 'he can kill her at any moment'. As you can imagine, this is not condusive to romance. Neither seems to be too much into each other until around 3/4 of the way in and then everything happened really fast. I was even uncomfortable during the love scenes because I couldn't believe that they were really into each other.
Night's Honor is more of a setup for the next book in the series but I don't think you really need to read this to get the next book. I'm sure the author will do a nice recap and there's no other reason to read this book.
June 12, 2022
I could see what the book is going for but I think the pacing and characters ruined the whole book.
First thing that could fix this book for sure was to remove that 6 weeks time jump. Rather than focusing on the physical training, I kinda wish the author developed the relationship between the heroine and the hero's staffs.
Instead of having the dynamics of the side characters shining through, this book focussed more on the training (and waltz 🙄). It just made the book super shallow and made me truly gave no fucks when something horrible happened to them.
Next are the characters. I hate how fast their relationship developed. They met, six weeks time jump, he taught her how to dance and suddenly they're in love? It was just so unbelievable.
Also the side plot with our girl and the jjin? Nothing ever came out of that, spoiler alert, other than to get the heroine and hero met through the Vampyre Ball.
All in all, it was super disappointing. The only reason why I picked it up was because I have the physical book staring at me in the face every day I went to bed. Now, one more unread physical book off the shelf!
First thing that could fix this book for sure was to remove that 6 weeks time jump. Rather than focusing on the physical training, I kinda wish the author developed the relationship between the heroine and the hero's staffs.
Instead of having the dynamics of the side characters shining through, this book focussed more on the training (and waltz 🙄). It just made the book super shallow and made me truly gave no fucks when something horrible happened to them.
Next are the characters. I hate how fast their relationship developed. They met, six weeks time jump, he taught her how to dance and suddenly they're in love? It was just so unbelievable.
Also the side plot with our girl and the jjin? Nothing ever came out of that, spoiler alert, other than to get the heroine and hero met through the Vampyre Ball.
All in all, it was super disappointing. The only reason why I picked it up was because I have the physical book staring at me in the face every day I went to bed. Now, one more unread physical book off the shelf!
September 8, 2014
3/5; 3 stars; B
I don't have a strong feeling one way or the other about this book and its part in the overall Elder Races chronicle. It wasn't bad but I found it to be kind of a non-event. The novel probably would have been much better as a short story and a lead into a book that focuses more on Julian, the Vampyre King. There have been hints for several books that something big is going down that involves the Vampyres. I appreciated the insights into Xavier's life and the exploration of his character but I'm left feeling a bit dissatisfied.
I love this series, that hasn't changed. Looking forward to the next book.
I don't have a strong feeling one way or the other about this book and its part in the overall Elder Races chronicle. It wasn't bad but I found it to be kind of a non-event. The novel probably would have been much better as a short story and a lead into a book that focuses more on Julian, the Vampyre King. There have been hints for several books that something big is going down that involves the Vampyres. I appreciated the insights into Xavier's life and the exploration of his character but I'm left feeling a bit dissatisfied.
I love this series, that hasn't changed. Looking forward to the next book.
December 20, 2021
I am conflicted about this book. It was good, but not on the level with the others in the series for me. I get that it was an intro into the vampire world so that Julian's book could be next. But compared to the other books, it's definitely weaker. Does that mean I didn't like it? No. I did like it. Thea Harrison can't write a bad book.
She writes a compelling story. No doubt. She put a lot of time into worldbuilding and explaining the way the Nightkind demesnes works. We knew a little about it from Caris' book Serpent's Kiss, and from tidbits in other books, but we are invited in with this book. Some aspects reminded of Mercy Thompson and how she writes about vampires. They form their own little demesnes, where a powerful vampire has humans that he feeds from but also gives a longer life to. They pledge a certain amount of time to the vampire and can leave when they want (if I remember correctly). They actually have to interview for it, because there are only so many slots, and being a vampire attendant, can confer healing, strength and long life to the person who agrees to the relationship. Of course, there are many rules and being part of a vampire's household is quite a commitment. Tess auditions to join Xavier's household out of desperation. She's actually repulsed by vampires and doesn't do a good job of hiding it. But she is fleeing a deadly foe, so being in a vampire household will confer protection onto her. Xavier picks up on her fear (he's a predator after all), but he's also intrigued with her, and Xavier has a softspot for vulnerable people. He agrees to take her in. The book is about their relationship and that is a way to show more about the Nightkind. Tess is 100% human, so that definitely makes her stand out in the series. Grace from Oracle's Moon didn't count because she's an Oracle, so even though she's human, she's empowered.
While I found that interesting, and I liked Xavier a lot, I wasn't that drawn into the romance. My favorite parts were the rest of the story, finding about how Xavier was as a human and why he became a vampire. He has a reputation for being absolutely terrifying, and it's well-earned. But he's also very kind, so that was an interesting dynamic. I found Tess okay. I didn't dislike her. I just wasn't super interested in her. But I do like them as a couple.
The action was really good and the vampire intrigue was pretty great. If you like movies like Underworld or Blade, you would like this aspect of the book because there is a lot of vampire soap opera and hijinks. There are some really kick-ass action scenes that I absolutely loved. Watching Xavier tear off that gentlemanly demeanor and let the beast out was really entertaining. There's another thread that connects the books but I won't go into that because I don't want to spoil anything.
While I can't give this one five stars, it was a good book. I think writing my review gave me food for thought and I realize I liked more about it than I thought I did. It just doesn't measure up to the other ones on the romance scale. I do love me some Xavier. I'm a sucker for the gentlemanly type who is absolutely deadly. If I have a type, it's that. I think he's such a nice contrast to the Wyr and also to Julian, the Nightkind king. They tend to be quite hothead, but Xavier has an immense amount of self-control that is really appealing.
She writes a compelling story. No doubt. She put a lot of time into worldbuilding and explaining the way the Nightkind demesnes works. We knew a little about it from Caris' book Serpent's Kiss, and from tidbits in other books, but we are invited in with this book. Some aspects reminded of Mercy Thompson and how she writes about vampires. They form their own little demesnes, where a powerful vampire has humans that he feeds from but also gives a longer life to. They pledge a certain amount of time to the vampire and can leave when they want (if I remember correctly). They actually have to interview for it, because there are only so many slots, and being a vampire attendant, can confer healing, strength and long life to the person who agrees to the relationship. Of course, there are many rules and being part of a vampire's household is quite a commitment. Tess auditions to join Xavier's household out of desperation. She's actually repulsed by vampires and doesn't do a good job of hiding it. But she is fleeing a deadly foe, so being in a vampire household will confer protection onto her. Xavier picks up on her fear (he's a predator after all), but he's also intrigued with her, and Xavier has a softspot for vulnerable people. He agrees to take her in. The book is about their relationship and that is a way to show more about the Nightkind. Tess is 100% human, so that definitely makes her stand out in the series. Grace from Oracle's Moon didn't count because she's an Oracle, so even though she's human, she's empowered.
While I found that interesting, and I liked Xavier a lot, I wasn't that drawn into the romance. My favorite parts were the rest of the story, finding about how Xavier was as a human and why he became a vampire. He has a reputation for being absolutely terrifying, and it's well-earned. But he's also very kind, so that was an interesting dynamic. I found Tess okay. I didn't dislike her. I just wasn't super interested in her. But I do like them as a couple.
The action was really good and the vampire intrigue was pretty great. If you like movies like Underworld or Blade, you would like this aspect of the book because there is a lot of vampire soap opera and hijinks. There are some really kick-ass action scenes that I absolutely loved. Watching Xavier tear off that gentlemanly demeanor and let the beast out was really entertaining. There's another thread that connects the books but I won't go into that because I don't want to spoil anything.
While I can't give this one five stars, it was a good book. I think writing my review gave me food for thought and I realize I liked more about it than I thought I did. It just doesn't measure up to the other ones on the romance scale. I do love me some Xavier. I'm a sucker for the gentlemanly type who is absolutely deadly. If I have a type, it's that. I think he's such a nice contrast to the Wyr and also to Julian, the Nightkind king. They tend to be quite hothead, but Xavier has an immense amount of self-control that is really appealing.
September 5, 2014
I am really conflicted about this book.
It was not a bad story, it was well written, I was entertained and even drawn into the story.
But I didn't love it. At all.
It was a lot of "meh" feelings and I mostly wanted to be done with it.
Maybe because the whole vampyre thing was a let down after the "Elder Races" that had been introduced and that are all more alluring and more original and more powerful than your good old vampire. It just fell flat compared with the rest of the series.
Xavier was the genuine good guy and was always said to be "dangerous" and oh so deadly. Well, I haven't seen anything of that, so he remained the good guy.
Tess started out really really strong. The scene at the vampyre ball where she wanted to attract a patron? Priceless - surprising, different, really really good.
And downhill from there. Of course the sports and the better nutrition led to a slim and perfect body and in some short weeks she became gorgeous.
WHY????
There was the best onset to be really different for a romance novel - really keep her unmemorable looks and make her special because of brain and character.
To make her beautiful only in his eyes!!!
Like it is in the real world - where my husband thinks I am the most beautiful woman in the world (which I am very definitely not), because he loves me above everything else.
How about that? Make me see Tess as something beautiful without having her lose weight - that would have been a marvellous book.
Oh, and the slow burn? Didn't work so well here.
Not enough interaction, so it felt more like insta-love. And boring on top.
Of course I'll continue with the series, but this one was a let down.
It was not a bad story, it was well written, I was entertained and even drawn into the story.
But I didn't love it. At all.
It was a lot of "meh" feelings and I mostly wanted to be done with it.
Maybe because the whole vampyre thing was a let down after the "Elder Races" that had been introduced and that are all more alluring and more original and more powerful than your good old vampire. It just fell flat compared with the rest of the series.
Xavier was the genuine good guy and was always said to be "dangerous" and oh so deadly. Well, I haven't seen anything of that, so he remained the good guy.
Tess started out really really strong. The scene at the vampyre ball where she wanted to attract a patron? Priceless - surprising, different, really really good.
And downhill from there. Of course the sports and the better nutrition led to a slim and perfect body and in some short weeks she became gorgeous.
WHY????
There was the best onset to be really different for a romance novel - really keep her unmemorable looks and make her special because of brain and character.
To make her beautiful only in his eyes!!!
Like it is in the real world - where my husband thinks I am the most beautiful woman in the world (which I am very definitely not), because he loves me above everything else.
How about that? Make me see Tess as something beautiful without having her lose weight - that would have been a marvellous book.
Oh, and the slow burn? Didn't work so well here.
Not enough interaction, so it felt more like insta-love. And boring on top.
Of course I'll continue with the series, but this one was a let down.
October 8, 2014
I always enjoy returning to Thea Harrison’s world of the Elder Races. It’s true that I haven’t loved every installment equally, but that’s because Harrison makes each of her stories and all of her characters and species so unique. You never get the same book twice, which keeps things interesting, but also means some books will resonate better with certain readers than others. This is a return to the world of the Vampyres. This didn’t excite me, considering the only other Vampyre centered book was one of my least favorite in the series. I ended up liking this book much, much more than that one, and it left me excited for the next installment.
Our hero is Xavier, right hand man to Vampyre King Julian. He meets the heroine, Tess, at an auction where vampires collect human attendants. I got the impression that he wasn’t there to find someone, but her blunt honesty intrigued him and he ended up selecting her for his flock. Tess doesn’t really want to be a blood source to a vamp, but she is in deep trouble with a Djinn and she is hoping that joining Xavier’s household will grant her some protection.
The story follows Tess as she faces her fears about Vampyres and Xavier, himself. Yes, there are some scenes from Xavier’s POV, but for me this book was definitely Tess-centric. She is the much more developed of the two characters, which is interesting since the hero is centuries old and she’s 24, but no matter. I found her very easy to relate to. She is unable to keep her mouth shut when she should. She follows her moral compass, even when it’s inconvenient. She is honest and blunt, stubborn and determined. And all of this gets her into trouble. I liked her and I really enjoyed the progression of her relationship with Xavier, though to be fair, he’s the one who went the extra mile to make it work.
The romance develops slowly, but I didn’t mind. There was some solid tension to sustain me, and if it had gone any faster, it wouldn’t have worked with Tess’s fear of Vampyres. The sexual payoff made the delayed gratification worth it. Harrison is always fantastic with the love scenes. Some people may find fault with the delay in the romance part of the story, though.
This book is almost completely cut off from the Wyr plotline, so don’t expect to see Dragos or very many familiar faces. It does draw some from the Vampyre history we already know, but this could be a great entry point for a new reader. Plus, the set-up for Midnight Kiss is great! Now I am actually looking forward to the next Vampyre book. Can’t wait to see where the story takes us next.
Rating: B
*ARC Provided by Berkley
Our hero is Xavier, right hand man to Vampyre King Julian. He meets the heroine, Tess, at an auction where vampires collect human attendants. I got the impression that he wasn’t there to find someone, but her blunt honesty intrigued him and he ended up selecting her for his flock. Tess doesn’t really want to be a blood source to a vamp, but she is in deep trouble with a Djinn and she is hoping that joining Xavier’s household will grant her some protection.
The story follows Tess as she faces her fears about Vampyres and Xavier, himself. Yes, there are some scenes from Xavier’s POV, but for me this book was definitely Tess-centric. She is the much more developed of the two characters, which is interesting since the hero is centuries old and she’s 24, but no matter. I found her very easy to relate to. She is unable to keep her mouth shut when she should. She follows her moral compass, even when it’s inconvenient. She is honest and blunt, stubborn and determined. And all of this gets her into trouble. I liked her and I really enjoyed the progression of her relationship with Xavier, though to be fair, he’s the one who went the extra mile to make it work.
The romance develops slowly, but I didn’t mind. There was some solid tension to sustain me, and if it had gone any faster, it wouldn’t have worked with Tess’s fear of Vampyres. The sexual payoff made the delayed gratification worth it. Harrison is always fantastic with the love scenes. Some people may find fault with the delay in the romance part of the story, though.
This book is almost completely cut off from the Wyr plotline, so don’t expect to see Dragos or very many familiar faces. It does draw some from the Vampyre history we already know, but this could be a great entry point for a new reader. Plus, the set-up for Midnight Kiss is great! Now I am actually looking forward to the next Vampyre book. Can’t wait to see where the story takes us next.
Rating: B
*ARC Provided by Berkley
April 18, 2015
Night's Honor
5 Stars
On the run from her former employer, a pariah Djinn, Tess seeks refuge with the Vampyres by applying for a position as an attendant. Thrown into the terrifying world of the Nightkind demesne, Tess must deal with her own fears as well as the dangers posed by the creatures around her, and soon comes to realize that her Vampyre protector, Xavier del Torro, is more than merely the monster she perceives him to be.
Thea Harrison’s Elder Races series is an excellent example of the best the paranormal genre has to offer - rich and detailed world building, captivating characters and gripping storylines. While there have been one or two weaker installments, this book is definitely one of the best.
The political machinations and social intricacies of the Vampyre race serve as a thrilling backdrop to Tess and Xavier’s slow-burn, office type romance. Their relationship is intense from the start and the subtlety of their scenes together only enhance their breathtaking chemistry.
Xavier’s reputation as a dangerous and ruthless predator precedes him and Tess is under no illusions as to the risk she takes by becoming his employee. Her intelligence and spirit serve her in good stead, however, and the more time she spends with her protector, the closer they become until her initial fear and reticence fades away and their attraction blossoms into a fully fledged emotional connection - no insta-love here.
Readers expecting a continuation of the Wyr storylines may be disappointed as the focus is completely on the Vampyres. That said, there are tantalizing glimpses into the tumultuous relationship between Julian, the Nightkind King, and Melisande, daughter to the Light Fae Queen, whose story is in the next book.
All in all, Harrison is the quintessential storyteller whose works range from the fast-paced and action packed tales of the Wyr to the more sedate but no less captivating stories of the Vampyres and the Elves. Anyone looking for an entertaining paranormal read should look no further.
5 Stars
On the run from her former employer, a pariah Djinn, Tess seeks refuge with the Vampyres by applying for a position as an attendant. Thrown into the terrifying world of the Nightkind demesne, Tess must deal with her own fears as well as the dangers posed by the creatures around her, and soon comes to realize that her Vampyre protector, Xavier del Torro, is more than merely the monster she perceives him to be.
Thea Harrison’s Elder Races series is an excellent example of the best the paranormal genre has to offer - rich and detailed world building, captivating characters and gripping storylines. While there have been one or two weaker installments, this book is definitely one of the best.
The political machinations and social intricacies of the Vampyre race serve as a thrilling backdrop to Tess and Xavier’s slow-burn, office type romance. Their relationship is intense from the start and the subtlety of their scenes together only enhance their breathtaking chemistry.
Xavier’s reputation as a dangerous and ruthless predator precedes him and Tess is under no illusions as to the risk she takes by becoming his employee. Her intelligence and spirit serve her in good stead, however, and the more time she spends with her protector, the closer they become until her initial fear and reticence fades away and their attraction blossoms into a fully fledged emotional connection - no insta-love here.
Readers expecting a continuation of the Wyr storylines may be disappointed as the focus is completely on the Vampyres. That said, there are tantalizing glimpses into the tumultuous relationship between Julian, the Nightkind King, and Melisande, daughter to the Light Fae Queen, whose story is in the next book.
All in all, Harrison is the quintessential storyteller whose works range from the fast-paced and action packed tales of the Wyr to the more sedate but no less captivating stories of the Vampyres and the Elves. Anyone looking for an entertaining paranormal read should look no further.
March 19, 2015
★★★½.
It was a slow burner but I liked the story. I didn't really connect with Tess but I really liked Xavier. Tess is a woman whose had to survive, never fitting in anywhere and having to watch her own back. When her actions goes against her bosses interests, Tess runs from the Casino and the Djinn who owns it.
She shows up at the vampyre Ball and offers her Services as an attendant. Her answer catches Xavier attention and he gives her a trial period of a year. The rest is Tess working to do what's expected even though she doesn't really want to fulfill all the obligations. I feel like her reticence is part of reason Xavier is attracted to her. I will admit her tenacity maybe the other part.
The rest of the story finds Tess trying to navigate the Xavier's household and also hid from the Djinn. She soon learns that she can't do it alone and finally has to ask for help.
This story is better than Rune and Carling's story, but that's about it in my ranking. I don't feel the chemistry between these two. I'm not sure Tess is a team player so it makes it hard to like her in Xaviers household. This one did show us there's trouble brewing in the Nightkind Desmesne. The ending of this book definitely sets up a really juicy battle as Julian hunts Justine who tried to assassinate Julian's progeny--Xavier.
It was a slow burner but I liked the story. I didn't really connect with Tess but I really liked Xavier. Tess is a woman whose had to survive, never fitting in anywhere and having to watch her own back. When her actions goes against her bosses interests, Tess runs from the Casino and the Djinn who owns it.
She shows up at the vampyre Ball and offers her Services as an attendant. Her answer catches Xavier attention and he gives her a trial period of a year. The rest is Tess working to do what's expected even though she doesn't really want to fulfill all the obligations. I feel like her reticence is part of reason Xavier is attracted to her. I will admit her tenacity maybe the other part.
The rest of the story finds Tess trying to navigate the Xavier's household and also hid from the Djinn. She soon learns that she can't do it alone and finally has to ask for help.
This story is better than Rune and Carling's story, but that's about it in my ranking. I don't feel the chemistry between these two. I'm not sure Tess is a team player so it makes it hard to like her in Xaviers household. This one did show us there's trouble brewing in the Nightkind Desmesne. The ending of this book definitely sets up a really juicy battle as Julian hunts Justine who tried to assassinate Julian's progeny--Xavier.
October 7, 2024
5 " In the mood" Stars!
Okay, so it is RARE that I go from 3 to 5 stars on a reread. It just shows how subjective reading is and how much mood can play a part. I admit this book was not action packed like a lot of the other books in the series, but I absolutely loved Tess and Xavier. Especially Xavier. He was such a romantic poetic gentleman. Until he wasn't. Fire! Whew!! Happy reading!
*It has been 8 years almost tp the day since I read this for the first time. 🥰
3 1/2 "Reserved, Under Control" Stars!
It was slow. Not much action of ANY kind until about 80%. But I did like the characters a lot so it was okay for me. On to the next book; which honestly I'm not all that interested in, but I don't want to skip it because I think I will miss something important. Or maybe I'm just nosey :-/ Happy reading!
Okay, so it is RARE that I go from 3 to 5 stars on a reread. It just shows how subjective reading is and how much mood can play a part. I admit this book was not action packed like a lot of the other books in the series, but I absolutely loved Tess and Xavier. Especially Xavier. He was such a romantic poetic gentleman. Until he wasn't. Fire! Whew!! Happy reading!
*It has been 8 years almost tp the day since I read this for the first time. 🥰
3 1/2 "Reserved, Under Control" Stars!
It was slow. Not much action of ANY kind until about 80%. But I did like the characters a lot so it was okay for me. On to the next book; which honestly I'm not all that interested in, but I don't want to skip it because I think I will miss something important. Or maybe I'm just nosey :-/ Happy reading!
October 17, 2018
This book was so interesting that I fell asleep while reading it.....twice! 😂😂
Tess is on the run from her ex employer the Djinn Malphas. For protection she interviews to be in a vampyre's household and Xavier takes her to his estate.
Then it's Xavier's responsibilities ,Tess's training and every day Life and that's it until idk about 75%?There was a small indication that Xavier was interested in Tess but up until an out of the blue kiss nothing happened between them!
The plot was weak and the romance was a joke.Xavier has to be the dullest mmc I've EVER read and Tess just grated on my every nerve.
On to the next.
Tess is on the run from her ex employer the Djinn Malphas. For protection she interviews to be in a vampyre's household and Xavier takes her to his estate.
Then it's Xavier's responsibilities ,Tess's training and every day Life and that's it until idk about 75%?There was a small indication that Xavier was interested in Tess but up until an out of the blue kiss nothing happened between them!
The plot was weak and the romance was a joke.Xavier has to be the dullest mmc I've EVER read and Tess just grated on my every nerve.
On to the next.
August 8, 2017
3.5 stars
There are a lot of mixed reviews on this book varying from two to five star ratings so I was a bit antsy before I started this book. But seeing as I have a stack of paperbacks on my bedside table and I must reduce them as the pile was getting too big what can happen apart from me not liking the book.
I went in with an open mind even though I am not always a fan of the fang.
Surprisingly enough I enjoyed Xavier & Tess’s story.
Every year the Nightkind host a New Year’s Ball where humans can introduce themselves to become attendants in the households of the vamps. Tess is in a spot of bother, she may or may not have peeved off a Pariah Djinn who wants revenge. Her only option to try and become an attendant.
Paraphrasing here with her saying “My looks are forgettable but I’m smart than all of you in the room” Tess gets her foot in the door and an interview with Xavier del Torro.
A trial basis of a year is set up between the two. Tess must overcome her fear of vamps and not are all the monsters she thinks they are. I liked Tess as she is sharp, tenacious and cunning. I did have one problem with her but you can read that below.
Xavier a vamp with a conscience, a former man of the church, a Spanish nobleman out to exact revenge is Julian’s right-hand man. He is the Spymaster and a good one at that. He has integrity and is a diplomat.
The plot of this book runs at a slower pace than any of the other books in this series. I still enjoyed it though and there is a subtle development between the two main characters and how their feelings for one another grow. The ending is where it really picked up and was unexpected.
One thing that did annoy me is Tess’s inner monologue that she is scared shitless of vampyres. Sweetheart you walked in willingly and had no other option so suck it up buttercup.
Now Melly and Julian are an odd pairing. Melly seems to be somewhat of a spoilt brat but only time will tell and while reading the second book.
There are a lot of mixed reviews on this book varying from two to five star ratings so I was a bit antsy before I started this book. But seeing as I have a stack of paperbacks on my bedside table and I must reduce them as the pile was getting too big what can happen apart from me not liking the book.
I went in with an open mind even though I am not always a fan of the fang.
Surprisingly enough I enjoyed Xavier & Tess’s story.
Every year the Nightkind host a New Year’s Ball where humans can introduce themselves to become attendants in the households of the vamps. Tess is in a spot of bother, she may or may not have peeved off a Pariah Djinn who wants revenge. Her only option to try and become an attendant.
Paraphrasing here with her saying “My looks are forgettable but I’m smart than all of you in the room” Tess gets her foot in the door and an interview with Xavier del Torro.
A trial basis of a year is set up between the two. Tess must overcome her fear of vamps and not are all the monsters she thinks they are. I liked Tess as she is sharp, tenacious and cunning. I did have one problem with her but you can read that below.
Xavier a vamp with a conscience, a former man of the church, a Spanish nobleman out to exact revenge is Julian’s right-hand man. He is the Spymaster and a good one at that. He has integrity and is a diplomat.
The plot of this book runs at a slower pace than any of the other books in this series. I still enjoyed it though and there is a subtle development between the two main characters and how their feelings for one another grow. The ending is where it really picked up and was unexpected.
One thing that did annoy me is Tess’s inner monologue that she is scared shitless of vampyres. Sweetheart you walked in willingly and had no other option so suck it up buttercup.
Now Melly and Julian are an odd pairing. Melly seems to be somewhat of a spoilt brat but only time will tell and while reading the second book.
September 7, 2014
4.5 stars - Desperate and on the run from a scary immortal Djinn, Tess manages to land a coveted position as a vampire servant in the household of Nightkind second in command, vampire Xavier del Torro - hoping that she'll be safe in the vampires desmesne. Xavier is intrigued by the intelligent Tess, who is not the typical fangfan and is obviously terrified of his kind, and finds himself hoping to win her trust. Despite her fear, Tess discovers that there is much more to elegant, thoughtful, Xavier than blood and fangs, and just as she discovers that she really wants what being part of his 'family' has to offer, her past may make that impossible.
Night's Honor was wonderful, I loved the both the of the leads, Tess is intelligent, and brave - and refuses to let her terror cripple her - and Xavier was just so everything - powerful, kind, dangerous, and sensual. Xavier's backstory is exceedingly well fleshed out, and since he is off-screen for awhile while Tess is training for her new life, we have a chance to get to know her very well too. That time apart also allows for a slow build in the romance. I liked that there is a shift in the balance of power in their relationship before it moves to the next level. And I liked that the move was romantic as well as passionate.
Even though I enjoyed the background plot as much as the romance, I was caught a bit off guard by the way it was structured. What I thought was the major conflict of the story is resolved a fair way from the end of the book and then things shift to a larger world conflict that looks to carry over into the next book.
So, Night's Honor was a great addition to the series and was so good that I did all nine plus hours of audio for this in one day and it left me wanting to go back and purchase the audios for the earlier books, so I don't have to leave this world co completely behind until the story continues with Julian and Melissande in Midnight's Kiss.
Night's Honor was wonderful, I loved the both the of the leads, Tess is intelligent, and brave - and refuses to let her terror cripple her - and Xavier was just so everything - powerful, kind, dangerous, and sensual. Xavier's backstory is exceedingly well fleshed out, and since he is off-screen for awhile while Tess is training for her new life, we have a chance to get to know her very well too. That time apart also allows for a slow build in the romance. I liked that there is a shift in the balance of power in their relationship before it moves to the next level. And I liked that the move was romantic as well as passionate.
Even though I enjoyed the background plot as much as the romance, I was caught a bit off guard by the way it was structured. What I thought was the major conflict of the story is resolved a fair way from the end of the book and then things shift to a larger world conflict that looks to carry over into the next book.
So, Night's Honor was a great addition to the series and was so good that I did all nine plus hours of audio for this in one day and it left me wanting to go back and purchase the audios for the earlier books, so I don't have to leave this world co completely behind until the story continues with Julian and Melissande in Midnight's Kiss.
April 15, 2016
Another one bites the dust. This book was pointless. Barely anything occurs in the book. There are two confrontations, but in reality, they're so minute in comparison to the rest of the book. Add in a super annoying female mc and a boring male mc, you've got some impotent magic.
The plot is about Tess, a human whining machine, becoming an attendant for vampire lord, Xavier Del Toro. She's running from a powerful enemy who'd love to end her (take a number, dude) and she takes the job working for a vamp in order to be under his protection. Because she's scared of vamps and can't get over the blood taking part, she's on a trial basis for a year and in training at Xavier's place. And that's the whole plot + Xavier doing some political tap dancing.
Tess is more unlikeable than Aryal the Harpy. Really, it surprised me, too. I only deem her more annoying because she's desperate and has nothing, yet she's constantly complaining, back talking, disrespectful, and disdainful to all trying to help her. Aryal was a pain, but at least she was self sufficient, ancient, and powerful. You are allowed to be haughty when you're older than dinosaurs. Tess, she's got nothing going for her except being a walking blood bag. None of Xavier's other employees like her, and she doesn't try to bond with them. No, she's too busy complaining and disdaining Xavier. It's a full time job for her, finding fault in everything and everyone. She also makes fun of Xavier, her employer and the only thing standing between her and certain death, for using words she's unfamiliar with. Fortuitous and behoove stumped her. I want to beat her with a thesaurus. Beat some new words into her empty brain.
Xavier may be a vampire from medieval Spain, but he's one of the most boring vampires. Edward from Twilight puts this guy to shame and old sparkly pants gets his kicks from watching twitchy girls sleep. Xavier reminds me of a butler. He's always hovering in the background, doesn't show facial expressions or have emotions, and lives to serve others. He takes in Tess because she intrigues him, despite his right hand man telling him she's no good. He's always trying to further her education, but she's petulant and inanely argues with his teaching. Sounds like high school, doesn't it?
Most of the book is about Tess going through training to become a vampire attendant. It's lots of physical training + etiquette lessons. Yay for free schooling, but old Tess likes to make everything harder and barely cooperates. She wants to get beaten is the reasoning I've come up with to explain her lack of thought.
There's some minute action/violence, but it's blink and you missed it short. That's so unacceptable. I thought these books would be full of something more than waiting around. This is why I skimmed a lot, a lot .
Another dud from The Elder Races. Pia & Dragos have turned out to be the only interesting couple. All the others lack pizzazz.
The plot is about Tess, a human whining machine, becoming an attendant for vampire lord, Xavier Del Toro. She's running from a powerful enemy who'd love to end her (take a number, dude) and she takes the job working for a vamp in order to be under his protection. Because she's scared of vamps and can't get over the blood taking part, she's on a trial basis for a year and in training at Xavier's place. And that's the whole plot + Xavier doing some political tap dancing.
Tess is more unlikeable than Aryal the Harpy. Really, it surprised me, too. I only deem her more annoying because she's desperate and has nothing, yet she's constantly complaining, back talking, disrespectful, and disdainful to all trying to help her. Aryal was a pain, but at least she was self sufficient, ancient, and powerful. You are allowed to be haughty when you're older than dinosaurs. Tess, she's got nothing going for her except being a walking blood bag. None of Xavier's other employees like her, and she doesn't try to bond with them. No, she's too busy complaining and disdaining Xavier. It's a full time job for her, finding fault in everything and everyone. She also makes fun of Xavier, her employer and the only thing standing between her and certain death, for using words she's unfamiliar with. Fortuitous and behoove stumped her. I want to beat her with a thesaurus. Beat some new words into her empty brain.
Xavier may be a vampire from medieval Spain, but he's one of the most boring vampires. Edward from Twilight puts this guy to shame and old sparkly pants gets his kicks from watching twitchy girls sleep. Xavier reminds me of a butler. He's always hovering in the background, doesn't show facial expressions or have emotions, and lives to serve others. He takes in Tess because she intrigues him, despite his right hand man telling him she's no good. He's always trying to further her education, but she's petulant and inanely argues with his teaching. Sounds like high school, doesn't it?
Most of the book is about Tess going through training to become a vampire attendant. It's lots of physical training + etiquette lessons. Yay for free schooling, but old Tess likes to make everything harder and barely cooperates. She wants to get beaten is the reasoning I've come up with to explain her lack of thought.
There's some minute action/violence, but it's blink and you missed it short. That's so unacceptable. I thought these books would be full of something more than waiting around. This is why I skimmed a lot, a lot .
Another dud from The Elder Races. Pia & Dragos have turned out to be the only interesting couple. All the others lack pizzazz.
October 14, 2024
This Was Really Good
4.5 Stars
TPAM BR Oct. 2024
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
I really enjoyed this one.
A different take in a different area of the Elder Races.
But a different light on Julian too
I loved Tess and Xavier.
I do feel like the Jinn got off way to easy. But maybe we'll get more of him later. I think this is the 2nd or 3rd time this particular Jinn was in one of the stories in this series.
The ending was pretty good.
The preview of the next in series left me with my jaw on the floor.
4.5 Stars
TPAM BR Oct. 2024
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
I really enjoyed this one.
A different take in a different area of the Elder Races.
But a different light on Julian too
I loved Tess and Xavier.
I do feel like the Jinn got off way to easy. But maybe we'll get more of him later. I think this is the 2nd or 3rd time this particular Jinn was in one of the stories in this series.
The ending was pretty good.
The preview of the next in series left me with my jaw on the floor.
July 29, 2019
Xavier and Tess are really sweet together.
June 6, 2015
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: A woman terrified of vampyres is forced by circumstances to become attendant to one in this captivating story in the Elder Races series.
Opening Sentence: Cautiously, Tess peered at the crowd through a side stage door.
The Review:
Tess is in a very difficult situation. She’s managed to find herself on the bad side of a powerful pariah Djinn, who will stop at nothing to find and kill her. She needs to find protection, and fast. Even though she has an overwhelming fear of Vampyres, Tess figures her only chance is to become a human attendant to one, as even a Djinn wouldn’t risk ticking off the Vampyre nation by attacking an attendant. Thus, Tess finds herself in the presence of Xavier Del Toro, one of the most powerful Vampyres in the world. Despite her fear, Tess begins to realize that maybe not all Vampyres are bad. She finds herself slowly growing closer to Xavier and actually begins to feel at home. Malphas the Djinn is still out there though, as is a threat to Xavier’s happy home. Will Tess and Xavier both be able to survive long enough to figure out just what kind of relationship they would like to have?
I’m always a little hesitant when going into an Elder Races novel, as they’ve been kind of hit and miss for me. I was also a little hesitant because this installment didn’t deal with any characters we’d met prevoiusly. Thankfully, my fears were unfounded because I thought this book was awesome. It was so good that I started reading one night at the 30 percent mark, and stayed up late to finish it because I simply couldn’t put it down. Considering I have an 8-month-old who sometimes sees 4am as a decent time to start the day, that is definitely saying something!
I think my favorite thing about this book was the slow build up to the romance. Harrison obvoiusly took Tess’ fear of vampyres into account when writing the book, as she doesn’t just jump into the romance. Instead, we get to see Xavier slowly break down Tess’ defenses, not even realizing himself that his interest is more than friendly. When they finally do get together, it’s full of heat and chemistry, and is everything I could have hoped for.On the downside, because of the slow build up, when they finally do get together, the rest of the romance sometimes feels a little rushed as the book pushes towards the end. This wasn’t a huge deal for me because I was so invested in the story and the characters, but I thought it worth mentioning.
All in all, this was a wonderful addition to the Elder Races series. I didn’t find myself missing the regular characters at all and really enjoyed the inside look at the Vampyre government. In fact, while the book doesn’t quite measure up to my feelings for book one, it is still definitely a five star read for me. I think fans of the series will not be disappointed and even newcomers to the series may enjoy this one as well. I’m definitely looking forward to the next one now!
Notable Scene:
Galvanized into action, she yanked out the keyboard tray and toggled the screen on, as she muttered under her breath, “Ten minutes? Excuse me, but you’re fucking nuts. It takes time to look for this kind of thing.”
“Nine minutes now.” He didn’t sound in the least perturbed by her agitation or her swearing.
Her mind raced through various possibilities. She had one potential rabbit in her hat that she might be able to use on such ridiculously short notice – she would bet everything in her inaccessible bank accounts that he was on the inside of the Evenfall security network. That would mean the network firewall would be configured to recognize his IP address and his email program.
Maybe she could get lucky. The quickest way to bypass firewall security was from the inside, through a client-side attack. If she could hack his email, she could send a rough, simple malware program to exploit the breach. He said he wanted her to “break through” the firewall. He didn’t say how, or what she should do when she did, or that it had to be an elegant job.
“Six minutes.”
“Shut up,” she hissed. Her fingers flew across the keyboard.
She hadn’t hacked in a while. It felt good, running hot against the clock. It felt crazy, and she wanted to laugh like a lunatic, except she had already sworn at one of the scariest men she had ever met, and she thought she should keep her mouth shut for a few minutes.
He said, “Time.”
She sat back. “You’ve got mail.”
Sleek as a panther, he moved up behind her. She was intensely aware of his closeness as he leaned over to look at the screen. As he did so, the cell phone he held in one hand buzzed. He thumbed it on. “Yes, Gavin?”
On the other end, she could clearly hear a strange male voice demanding, “Did you leave your email program running while you set her to hack into the network?”
“Of course I didn’t,” said Xavier. “I locked it down.”
“Well, I want to fucking know how she fucking sent a blast email to fucking everybody from your email address.”
She pulled back so Xavier could take control of the desktop, open his email account and click on his new mail.
In big red letters, the body of the email said: YOU SUCK.
FTC Advisory: Berkley/Penguin provided me with a copy of Night’s Honor. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: A woman terrified of vampyres is forced by circumstances to become attendant to one in this captivating story in the Elder Races series.
Opening Sentence: Cautiously, Tess peered at the crowd through a side stage door.
The Review:
Tess is in a very difficult situation. She’s managed to find herself on the bad side of a powerful pariah Djinn, who will stop at nothing to find and kill her. She needs to find protection, and fast. Even though she has an overwhelming fear of Vampyres, Tess figures her only chance is to become a human attendant to one, as even a Djinn wouldn’t risk ticking off the Vampyre nation by attacking an attendant. Thus, Tess finds herself in the presence of Xavier Del Toro, one of the most powerful Vampyres in the world. Despite her fear, Tess begins to realize that maybe not all Vampyres are bad. She finds herself slowly growing closer to Xavier and actually begins to feel at home. Malphas the Djinn is still out there though, as is a threat to Xavier’s happy home. Will Tess and Xavier both be able to survive long enough to figure out just what kind of relationship they would like to have?
I’m always a little hesitant when going into an Elder Races novel, as they’ve been kind of hit and miss for me. I was also a little hesitant because this installment didn’t deal with any characters we’d met prevoiusly. Thankfully, my fears were unfounded because I thought this book was awesome. It was so good that I started reading one night at the 30 percent mark, and stayed up late to finish it because I simply couldn’t put it down. Considering I have an 8-month-old who sometimes sees 4am as a decent time to start the day, that is definitely saying something!
I think my favorite thing about this book was the slow build up to the romance. Harrison obvoiusly took Tess’ fear of vampyres into account when writing the book, as she doesn’t just jump into the romance. Instead, we get to see Xavier slowly break down Tess’ defenses, not even realizing himself that his interest is more than friendly. When they finally do get together, it’s full of heat and chemistry, and is everything I could have hoped for.On the downside, because of the slow build up, when they finally do get together, the rest of the romance sometimes feels a little rushed as the book pushes towards the end. This wasn’t a huge deal for me because I was so invested in the story and the characters, but I thought it worth mentioning.
All in all, this was a wonderful addition to the Elder Races series. I didn’t find myself missing the regular characters at all and really enjoyed the inside look at the Vampyre government. In fact, while the book doesn’t quite measure up to my feelings for book one, it is still definitely a five star read for me. I think fans of the series will not be disappointed and even newcomers to the series may enjoy this one as well. I’m definitely looking forward to the next one now!
Notable Scene:
Galvanized into action, she yanked out the keyboard tray and toggled the screen on, as she muttered under her breath, “Ten minutes? Excuse me, but you’re fucking nuts. It takes time to look for this kind of thing.”
“Nine minutes now.” He didn’t sound in the least perturbed by her agitation or her swearing.
Her mind raced through various possibilities. She had one potential rabbit in her hat that she might be able to use on such ridiculously short notice – she would bet everything in her inaccessible bank accounts that he was on the inside of the Evenfall security network. That would mean the network firewall would be configured to recognize his IP address and his email program.
Maybe she could get lucky. The quickest way to bypass firewall security was from the inside, through a client-side attack. If she could hack his email, she could send a rough, simple malware program to exploit the breach. He said he wanted her to “break through” the firewall. He didn’t say how, or what she should do when she did, or that it had to be an elegant job.
“Six minutes.”
“Shut up,” she hissed. Her fingers flew across the keyboard.
She hadn’t hacked in a while. It felt good, running hot against the clock. It felt crazy, and she wanted to laugh like a lunatic, except she had already sworn at one of the scariest men she had ever met, and she thought she should keep her mouth shut for a few minutes.
He said, “Time.”
She sat back. “You’ve got mail.”
Sleek as a panther, he moved up behind her. She was intensely aware of his closeness as he leaned over to look at the screen. As he did so, the cell phone he held in one hand buzzed. He thumbed it on. “Yes, Gavin?”
On the other end, she could clearly hear a strange male voice demanding, “Did you leave your email program running while you set her to hack into the network?”
“Of course I didn’t,” said Xavier. “I locked it down.”
“Well, I want to fucking know how she fucking sent a blast email to fucking everybody from your email address.”
She pulled back so Xavier could take control of the desktop, open his email account and click on his new mail.
In big red letters, the body of the email said: YOU SUCK.
FTC Advisory: Berkley/Penguin provided me with a copy of Night’s Honor. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
September 12, 2014
4.5 stars
I love this book. It shows Thea Harrison's versatility as a writer. Different in tone and pace than the last book, Kinked, I like the quiet contrast to Aryal and Quentin's story. There are less action sequences, but I really, really enjoy the evolution of the relationship between Tess and Xavier. I am especially drawn to Tess. She's quirky, spirited, and I find her admirable in trying to overcome her prejudices. I guess it doesn't hurt that she gets to work for one the most honorable vampires around.
Not since Serpent's Kiss have we gotten this deep into the Vampyre demesne. I enjoyed delving into this group of the Elder Races. We learn a more about the functions of humans and vampires, the politics, and the history. The author continues to enrich her Elder Races tapestry with this addition. The story is vibrant and rich. Beautiful.
I love this book. It shows Thea Harrison's versatility as a writer. Different in tone and pace than the last book, Kinked, I like the quiet contrast to Aryal and Quentin's story. There are less action sequences, but I really, really enjoy the evolution of the relationship between Tess and Xavier. I am especially drawn to Tess. She's quirky, spirited, and I find her admirable in trying to overcome her prejudices. I guess it doesn't hurt that she gets to work for one the most honorable vampires around.
Not since Serpent's Kiss have we gotten this deep into the Vampyre demesne. I enjoyed delving into this group of the Elder Races. We learn a more about the functions of humans and vampires, the politics, and the history. The author continues to enrich her Elder Races tapestry with this addition. The story is vibrant and rich. Beautiful.
November 22, 2025
Tess is on the run from a corrupt and powerful Djinn. Her only chance of survival, find a more powerful being that will protector her. She chooses to attend the Vampyre Ball hoping to be given a one in thousand chance at becoming a Vampyre's chosen.
Tess does catch the interest of Xavier del Torro, the right hand of Nightkind King. While she needs his protection she is a highly reluctant servant.
I'm a huge fan of the Elder Race series. That being said Night's Honor was not up to the normal awesomeness of this series. Don't get me wrong, I really liked this book but in comparison to other Harrison reads it didn't have the normal WOW factor I've come accustom too. It was entertaining and a continuation that I wouldn't want to have missed.
Tess does catch the interest of Xavier del Torro, the right hand of Nightkind King. While she needs his protection she is a highly reluctant servant.
I'm a huge fan of the Elder Race series. That being said Night's Honor was not up to the normal awesomeness of this series. Don't get me wrong, I really liked this book but in comparison to other Harrison reads it didn't have the normal WOW factor I've come accustom too. It was entertaining and a continuation that I wouldn't want to have missed.
September 21, 2014
The romance in this book was a much slower burn than in Harrison's previous Elder Race books but I really enjoyed the build. And I absolutely loved Xavier. He was nothing like I imagined and that ended up being a really good thing. He was such a complex, honorable character and I found myself glad that there wasn't that insta-attraction between the H/h. The ending was perfect.
July 18, 2015
Featured on my 2014 REC IT post.
June 18, 2020
Night's Honor had a very different tone from the rest of the series. It felt a bit more insular in terms of the wider world. It could work as a standalone. I suppose the different feel came from the borderline regency setting and the old school characters, the political machinations etc. I think the naming of it was very clever, and the male lead did indeed embody knightly courtly kind of love that seeks to help and ease the problems of the woman with no return expected.
The vampire definitely gave more of the feeling of an old soul than any of the other elder characters of previous books managed to convey. Tess was an ok heroine. I like how long the author waited for them to move over to intimacy and that the male lead stuck to his principles.
The book was not as high on humour as some of them can be, it plodded along in places and had the feel of watching a tv training sequence of exercise and getting fit scenes flash by before the Big Fight. Overall though, it struck the right balance in terms of telling a new story in the universe.
It is enjoyable if you don't go into it expecting excitement or much in the way of awe inspiring magic.
It's a basic story, boy meets girl, girl works for boy, boy helps girl with problem, girl now free, boy fires girl so they can be together, random event of danger inserted, happily ever after.
The vampire definitely gave more of the feeling of an old soul than any of the other elder characters of previous books managed to convey. Tess was an ok heroine. I like how long the author waited for them to move over to intimacy and that the male lead stuck to his principles.
The book was not as high on humour as some of them can be, it plodded along in places and had the feel of watching a tv training sequence of exercise and getting fit scenes flash by before the Big Fight. Overall though, it struck the right balance in terms of telling a new story in the universe.
It is enjoyable if you don't go into it expecting excitement or much in the way of awe inspiring magic.
It's a basic story, boy meets girl, girl works for boy, boy helps girl with problem, girl now free, boy fires girl so they can be together, random event of danger inserted, happily ever after.
February 22, 2018
In Italy we have a saying, "Not every donut comes out with the hole", it means that sometimes, even if you use all the care and the talent and all you have in you, the thing you do is not good. And that's what happened with this book. It's well written, the background story is good but it's boring. Nothing happens for all the book and the little stunt in the end becomes boring as well, because it lacks of energy and suspence. Maybe is't the characters, also boring. I don't know.
Onto the next one!
Onto the next one!
May 4, 2018
A straightforward vampire romance. Doesn’t break new ground but it was a lot of fun.
September 3, 2014
Why you should read it: To start with, Thea Harrison is amazing, and her Elder Races series is not only a fun, steamy read, but I have devoured the audio books with gusto. Each installment of Pia and Dragos (now Peanut!) keeps me satisfied while the new characters keep me entertained. This installment is about Tess and Xavier. If you don't remember Xavier, he is with the Nightkind and was in Carling and Rune's book. He's a rakish spymaster and proves that there's always more beneath the surface of calm. Tess, I had a wee bit of a problem with. She was extremely stubborn, and I wasn't sure how I was going to read the rest of the book, but then she grew, and I adored her character arc and development. Did I also mention there was no insta love? It's something I always respect in an author. I love the whole insta mate/attraction, but love takes time, and this romance proves that it's better that way. For those readers wanting Graydon, that will come! This was a perfect installment for those looking for another Vampyre character, and I can't wait for the next Elder Races. For those of you living under a rock (I jest, I jest!), pick up Dragon Bound. Pia is still one of my all-time-favorite heroines, and the little side novellas/shorts we get of her Dragos and Peanut are just fantastic!
To see what Thea is working on next and more awesome recs head over to the HEA blog!
http://www.usatoday.com/story/happyev...
To see what Thea is working on next and more awesome recs head over to the HEA blog!
http://www.usatoday.com/story/happyev...
September 9, 2014
Favorite Quote: “My beloved is mine, and I am hers.”
Tess has made a powerful enemy among the Elders and needs protection fast. She decides to apply to be a human attendant to a Vampyre of the Nightkind in hopes that whoever chooses her is strong enough to defend her from what’s coming for her.
Xavier del Torro is the right hand man to the King of the Nightkind. The legends that surround this man scare even the most cautious of men and women. Tess’s audition to be a vampyre attendant intrigues Xavier so he offers her a trial period. One year to prove to him her loyalty and commitment.
Xavier frightens Tess but his old world charm and integrity appeals to her. As she learns to deal with the dangers of her new position, she begins to fear for the danger to her heart.
Night’s Honor is the seventh book in Thea Harrison’s Elder Races series. Harrison turns her sights onto the Nightkind and the vampyres who control it. We first met Xavier during Serpent’s Kiss. As the right hand man to the now King of the Nightkind, he was instrumental in helping to force the Queen of the Nightkind to abdicate her throne. Though touted as a bit of a villain in Serpent’s Kiss, Xavier proves most assuredly that he is not. Everything he does is to protect his king and his people.
Read the rest of my review at Smexy Books
Tess has made a powerful enemy among the Elders and needs protection fast. She decides to apply to be a human attendant to a Vampyre of the Nightkind in hopes that whoever chooses her is strong enough to defend her from what’s coming for her.
Xavier del Torro is the right hand man to the King of the Nightkind. The legends that surround this man scare even the most cautious of men and women. Tess’s audition to be a vampyre attendant intrigues Xavier so he offers her a trial period. One year to prove to him her loyalty and commitment.
Xavier frightens Tess but his old world charm and integrity appeals to her. As she learns to deal with the dangers of her new position, she begins to fear for the danger to her heart.
Night’s Honor is the seventh book in Thea Harrison’s Elder Races series. Harrison turns her sights onto the Nightkind and the vampyres who control it. We first met Xavier during Serpent’s Kiss. As the right hand man to the now King of the Nightkind, he was instrumental in helping to force the Queen of the Nightkind to abdicate her throne. Though touted as a bit of a villain in Serpent’s Kiss, Xavier proves most assuredly that he is not. Everything he does is to protect his king and his people.
Read the rest of my review at Smexy Books
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