Hidden Pursuit

The Living Oracle #3

by Melissa McShane

The oracle Helena Campbell can’t ignore the threat posed by elves bent on destroying humanity. But despite the viciousness of the elves, she worries more about the dangers posed by the Savants. This secret cabal of humans who want to use Faerie’s magic to conquer the world won’t hesitate to do everything in their power to take control of the oracle.

And now they may have Helena’s children in their sights.

Between searching for murderous elves secretly entering our world, evading the attacks of the Savants, and discovering the secrets of new acquaintances who may be on the run, Helena tests her oracular gift to its limits. There’s only one question the oracle won’t

Is she the pursuer—or the pursued?

Genres: Fantasy

260 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 24, 2024

About the author

Melissa grew up a nomad, following her family all over the United States, and ended up living in the shadow of the Wasatch Mountains with her husband, four kids, and three very needy cats. Her love of reading was always a constant during those uncertain years, and her love of writing grew out of that. She wrote reviews and critical essays for many years before turning to fiction, and was surprised at how much she liked it. She loves the fantasy genre and how it stretches the imagination.

Reviews

[Jacob Proffitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is third in an ongoing modern magical series so I recommend reading them in order. The series itself is a follow-on from The Last Oracle, so if you want to full backstory, you'll want to read that series first.

My standard non-standard disclaimer applies. I actually made it into the afterword in this one for my help during it's creation. Because I'm awesome. I do my best to be honest in all of my reviews, but have zero defense for anyone who wants to question that for Melissa's books.

The magical world has expanded since they ended the threat of the invaders, including both new enemies and allies, but you know that already having read the other books. The incursion of the elves continues on a slow burn (or is it?) while human forces willing to use anyone or anything for their own selfish purposes are bent on harnessing what they see as untapped power for themselves. And Helena knows that she and her children would be in the crosshairs of those who want to rule the Earth if they become known. Their anonymity is at least partially blown and those forces are circling in this book.

I loved seeing Helena deal with these external threats while trying to help her children with their gifts and the pressures that creates for these young, gifted children. I feel so much for Alister as he tries to understand his need to fight evil and curb his first impulse of direct confrontation. He is such a wonderful blend of his parents with Helena's absolute determination to do right and his father's willingness to put himself on the frontline of the fight.

And I particularly love the reveal regarding Helena's non-standard magical gifts; particularly in the frame of helping Jenny with her own version of that blessing/curse. It's some of my favorite moments of the story as a final piece of that puzzle comes together.

Melissa has a talent with the characters, each child having their own place and distinct personalities. It doesn't hurt that many of the Mom moments resonate with our experiences raising our own non-standard children (is there really such a thing as a standard child?). It makes me grin any time she includes an event or detail that seems like a stretch and know they reflect historic events in our adventures of child wrangling.

So that got more personal than I usually get with these reviews. Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and was deeply engaged to the very end.

A note about Chaste: Helena and Malcolm have a healthy marriage that includes sex. None of that is on screen, though there are some awesome intimate moments along with some kisses and cuddles. I find this pretty chaste and feel that most would agree.

[Melissa McShane]

I use these reviews to talk about some of the details of writing the book, maybe a few little spoilery secrets. Here, I want to reveal something that happened in the writing of this book that amazed even me--one of the beautiful outcomes that result from leaving things open. I'll tell as much of this publicly as I can.

So. When I wrote The Book of Peril, book 2 of the Last Oracle series (yes, that far back) there was a lot I hadn't worked out about the world or Helena's abilities. I hadn't decided anything about why she could see through illusions, for example. And when she and Malcolm are trapped in the warehouse, attacked by invaders, and one of them bites her, I decided it should make her euphoric. I still don't know why. I, again, didn't have a plan in mind beyond "this would be a cool difference."

Fast forward to The Book of Lies, when at the end the other custodians tell Helena that whatever causes her ability to see through illusions, it's not being a custodian. Still had no clue what it was. By the time I wrote The Book of Harmony, I'd figured out that the two things were related, but there wasn't room in that book for Wallach to have the discussion with Helena revealing the truth, so it was The Book of War that revealed that Helena was, in fact, a genetic sport whose genetic difference meant she was immune to being drained by an invader (theoretically by any means) with a side effect of seeing through illusions. And then there were all the other sports, and I sort of left it at that.

Here's the spoiler part: When it came time to write Hidden Pursuit, and Rick Jeong is coming up with a plan to reveal all the elves in the world, it came upon me with stunning clarity that I had left myself wide open for Helena to be descended from elves. It brought that mutation into line with the rest of the story instead of being this free-hanging plot device. I absolutely did not have it in mind at any point in the planning of this book. I love when this happens.

I still enjoy writing the adventures of a mom with small kids having power in the magical world. I sometimes imagine what the kids will grow up to be--Alastair being this brooding, intense teenager who isn't suited to become a steel magus, Duncan taking on the role of wood magus with his typical cheerful aggressiveness, and Jenny... I don't know about Jenny, except that a sane empath is a force to reckon with, and if it turns out she has telempathic powers as well... yeah. I hope people are still enjoying this series.

[Book Geek Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helena and her family are up against the Savants again. This time the entire family is in danger. And the Elves are somehow sneaking into the human realm, wreaking havoc, then disappearing. It's hard on the children, especially her youngest who can feel the emotions of those in her visions. But her boys seem to be handling things… or are they? [cue mysterious music].

It's interesting to see how the children are handling the oracle powers—and the lengths Helena will go to in protecting them. And then there's the new family she can't quite figure out—are they friends or foes? That provided several interesting twists.

But after all the twists and turns, the whole plot explodes with action, running for safety, tracking down the enemies, and always feeling a step behind. This one kept me up reading way too late. I loved it.

Some violence. Mild language. Recommended to older teens and adults. 4.5 stars.

[Lisa Venerussi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author has said that this was a challenging book to write, and I think I can see why, but I really liked it, probably better than the first book in this arc. It answered a lot of questions for me (what happens when the kids tell their friends about being an oracle? What if their enemies find out what they can do and want the power for themselves? How will the children handle the power they have as they mature?), and moved us nicely from focusing on the Savants as the primary enemy to the elves. It’s clear that the problem of the elves invading Earth will be the focus of the next book, and as I can’t envision how Helena and her family and friends will manage this, I’m hoping it comes out soon! I’m enjoying this series more than I thought I would, and am so glad it’s been continued.
I was lucky enough to receive this book as an ARC, but reviews are optional and all opinions are my own.

[June Calvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hidden Pursuits lives up to Melissa McShane's usual excellencies: high excitement, fast paced, action packed, and downright addictive.
This time, it is Helena and Malcolm's children who are at the center of the story. Arch villain and leader of the Savants Michael Castellan has mounted an elaborate plot to kidnap one or more of them from their school, intending - what? He claims just to question them. But his capacity for evil deeds in pursuit of magic and power knows no bounds, so Helena is justly suspicious of him, and he lives up to all of her suspicions.
It almost seems as if Helena and Malcolm have made new friends at the school, as Maddy and Bronson Hubbard, parents of Liv, their daughter and Alastair's friend, reach out to them, encouraging the children's friendship and offering friendship themselves. The friendship goes pear-shaped in the course of the abduction attempt, and Helena goes on the warpath.
She had warned Mr. Castellan not to come after her children. Now she determines that he must pay. but vengeance must wait as elves suddenly erupt into the human world and begin slaughtering people wherever they encounter them, before slipping back into fairie. Castellan offers a truce and a plan for them to work together to get rid of these most unwelcome intruders.
But we know Castellan is a slippery sort .... many must die before Helena, Malcolm, and some unexpected allies bring that chapter to a close.
I am on pins and needles for the next installment. I continue to be fascinated by the children's continuing roles, and all the numerous story possibilities their abilities offer as they mature.
If you like fantasy, magic, and adventure, you must read Melissa McShane's series The Living Oracle. Hidden Pursuit is book three, and I can see that many more books may be coming. Let them come!!! As quickly as possible.

[Diana Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting adventures

These books are hard to put down. So much is happening it keeps your attention. Melissa Mc Shane knows how to tell a good story.