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Blood and Bone Trilogy #3

The Symbiotic Law

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No family skeletons stay buried forever….

Ethan Ellison thought that the hardest thing after figuring out he was soul bonded to a werewolf would be letting the guy down easy. He wasn't prepared to open his door and find his Uncle Eoin standing on the other side, sporting a fresh shiner and a warning about Ethan's estranged father Alexandre Pelletier. Turns out his old man wants the Medusa's curl bloodstone Ethan inherited from his mother bad enough to send masked hitmen after it.
Pat Clanahan hoped that now, with everything out in the open, all he had to worry about was introducing Ethan to the pack. But Seattle is no longer safe and if Pat wants to make sure nothing happens to his mate, he'll have to follow him around the world in a desperate bid to stay one step ahead of Pelletier's men.
But Ethan and Pat are detectives, and neither of them is good at leaving a case unsolved. What is the Medusa's curl? Why does Pelletier want it? And can a mage and a werewolf find enough middle ground to finally fall in love in the final installment of the BLOOD & BONE TRILOGY!

This story contains explicit M/M content.

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First published January 1, 2015

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5 stars
81 (24%)
4 stars
133 (39%)
3 stars
92 (27%)
2 stars
21 (6%)
1 star
9 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
Profile Image for Anne Odom.
Author 3 books10 followers
February 2, 2015
Strong end to a solid series

WHAT I LIKED
-------------
* Ethan and Pat are attached at the hip for the whole book, unlike the last book where they spent the first half separated.

* Pat's patience and kindness, now that he's accepted the mate bond and wants it to work.

* Ethan's realistic reluctance to build a real relationship with Patrick, given the major changes he has to make at a personal paradigm level to do so.

* The slow but steady way the relationship builds, and the little ways Cooper shows love developing throughout the book.

I normally include a "what I didn't like" section of my reviews, but there wasn't really anything I could point out. Some of the non-romantic plot was a little weak, but it was good enough to keep things interesting. Some of the traveling got old after a while; it's possible Cooper could have sped things up a bit and still given us all the depth of character and relationship development that she did.
1,108 reviews
March 7, 2015
I have rarely been so disappointed by the end of a series.

The series started off great but this book is terrible. It's hard to write a review without including spoilers. Let's just say that everything in this book goes way over the top. Completely unbelievable with illogical motivations. The resolution/answer to the big mystery comes out of nowhere and makes no sense. The love story completely stalled and there is zero chemistry or sexual tension, just the two main characters hurt or pissed off with each other. Oh, and when did our wizard suddenly become bi? It was a hard read.

I would love to see what Lia Cooper can do in the future. I think the first book showed she has great potential as a writer and I would still be willing to give her another try.
Profile Image for Katherine.
350 reviews8 followers
November 9, 2015
I liked book 1 of this series. I skipped book 2. And this book was not the romance I was expecting after book 1. The MC'S were mated but barely tolerate each other through most of the book. Add in the unbelievable plot and the sister sex and I'm done.
187 reviews1 follower
December 11, 2018
Finally

Still love the books, still frustrated - but not as much.Loved that they finally got their act together. I'm loving the happy ending,but I have one more book to read before I can rest.
Profile Image for Kas.
23 reviews4 followers
March 25, 2015
My feelings on this book are a little mixed. I enjoyed it much more than the second book; it was nice to have the protagonists interacting so much. Seeing Pat and Ethan forced to stick together and really get to know one another was nice. I felt like their emotional attraction developed well, especially on Ethan's side. There were so many moments that tugged at my heart, which was all I wanted all along.

The plot felt a touch contrived and I feel like there are loose ends that need tying up.

Altogether, I am glad to see the boys end up happily together after everything. They are very sweet together and do well to keep each other in line.
Profile Image for Mandapanda.
843 reviews295 followers
January 14, 2015
3.75 stars. Good finale to this m/m urban fantasy trilogy (after the relationship frustrations of book 2). Pat and Ethan are on the run from Ethan's evil father and this takes them across the northern pacific and into south-east Asia. It forces them into a lot of alone-time in which they squabble and misunderstand each other before gradually coming to accept the bond and fall in love. There was plenty of time at the end of the novel to really enjoy their coming together.

I didn't think the mystery plot was so well executed this time and
Profile Image for DaisyGirl.
1,206 reviews68 followers
January 29, 2015
3.0 Stars

Huh. I'm kinda wrung out. And not in an entirely good way. This series stands out for me because book 1 was the best, which is unusual. Book 3 had me thoroughly irritated with Ethan for 50% and then struggling to come to terms with the surprising and unexpected (not to mention really weird and kinda gross) twisted ending. (View at your own peril.)

Bottom line: All in all, this series was just okay.
Profile Image for DeeNeez.
2,014 reviews13 followers
December 24, 2015
The last portion of the book seemed a bit choppy and rushed, but overall it was a grand adventure this time. Ethan and Pat are on the run around the world, literally. I really do like this couple. This book they really work on trying to make an understanding and working relationship, and somewhere along the lines, it actually turns into love and respect. Each man in turn makes the other whole. My only real disappointment was the author never took the opportunity to have Pat take his wolf form. I always feel cheated when the full shift doesn't happen.
Profile Image for Jaime.
92 reviews
September 17, 2015
This was a wonderful wrap up to the blood & bone series! One of the hard parts from the previous two books was the time Ethan & Pat spent apart from each other (and the sleeping with other people!) Well that wasn't the case with this book - they were attached at the hip! I loved to see how much Pat and Ethan had changed and grown together by the end.
Profile Image for FoxClouds.
310 reviews23 followers
May 26, 2016
Rating: 3.5 stars

Perfect ending for the series. It was not as fast paced at times as I would have liked and all that time they spent sailing was a bit ridiculous from the stand point of plot, although good for character development.

I liked the series and they are written well enough for the debut.

P.S. Gorgeous covers!
Profile Image for Skye Blue ☆*~゚ლ(´ڡ`ლ)~*☆.
2,813 reviews28 followers
December 28, 2015
Talk about a slow burn. It took all 3 books to get them together. Even in the last few pages they wavered. The story was good, but the follow through was lacking. After all the build up, I was expecting more. Overall I enjoyed the series.
Profile Image for Beth.
2,920 reviews27 followers
April 19, 2021
Took way too long to say way too little, poor execution

This series really frustrates me. I’m intrigued enough that I want to see what happens and the. The whole time I’m reading I’m thinking “why am I doing this?”

I really like Patrick. I think that’s what keeps me dialed in. Ethan annoys the crap out of me. He’s such a self-centered, selfish, obtuse SOB. This story takes way too long to achieve almost nothing. The story stretches out to what we think is going to be the big culmination which just fizzles. Then when the big culmination comes (which duh, everyone reading will figure out long before the so-called detectives...and I mentioned in another review that they are the worst detectives ever.) it is completely anti-climactic and over before you know it.

The ending is sweet and it’s supposed to be the end of the series but then I see there is a fourth book and I’m not sure I can do it. This one ends nicely and then it looks like we’re taking two steps back.

Additionally the editing, what little evidence there is of it, is horrid and the proofreading is non-existent. All in all this is just so poorly executed. There are the bones of a good story but it’s only an okay result.
Profile Image for Debby.
1,744 reviews76 followers
July 21, 2018
In the third novel in the Blood and Bones Trilogy, we find Ethan Ellison on the run from Ethan's father who wants the Medusa's Curl Bloodstone enough to send hit men after his own son. Ethan was going to run by himself but, after clearing the air and establishing that they are mates, Patrick Clanahan was not letting him out of his sight. Traveling around the world one step ahead of danger and death, the two realize the key is the Medusa's Curl and what it can do. Both men are detectives and need to use their skills to determine what is behind the threats and danger. In the midst of staying alive, can they also find love?

The Blood and Bones Trilogy was very exciting and action packed. You never knew what was going to happen next. Certainly the danger is stepped up in this one as well as some travel. We get to travel right along with them. Ethan is still a bit tentative but Pat has enough determination to overcome Ethan's hesitation. The two obviously belong together, they just need to work out a few things and work them out they do. How? Well, you will need to read this excellent trilogy, starting with book one to find out. You will be glad you did.
37 reviews2 followers
August 3, 2018
While I absolutely adored the first book of this series, they have gradually lost their appeal for me.
Not completely, but I am getting irritated with Ethan.
I excused the irritating communication problems of the second book, because yes, people are dense and sometimes extremely bad at talking, telling the truth, and fessing up when they've made a mistake. But the third book is irritating on a whole other level, because I never saw the conclusion of the first two books coming, and was pleasantly surprised at the end of both.
I saw the big finale coming from the moment he met , and his sheer stupidity in relation to that made me cringe so hard my teeth hurt. It might be because I had a lucky guess, or it might be because Ethan's obliviousness was elevated to a whole new level in order for the story to work and the clues are spoon-fed to us.
Let us simply say that the cluelessness of Ethan made for a very tedious, boring, and what ultimately felt like a pointless adventure.
Profile Image for Jenn (not Lily).
4,821 reviews28 followers
June 18, 2018
I'm torn here -- I want to love this story, if only for her including the library at Alexandria. There was so much going on, from fleeing Seattle to sailing around the Pacific to taking a cruise ship across the Indian Ocean...yeah, a lot of boats this time. Maybe if Patrick and Ethan could actually manage to use words instead of assuming that the other one understands how their baggage is pulling them each off-center, I would've been happier with the development of the relationship. I'm also somewhat mystified by the timeline -- I think the entire last chapter had the potential to have occurred while they were on the other side of the planet...and it would have negated the entire plot. I don't think I'll abandon this author entirely, but she needs a little more work on her story development.
Profile Image for dee~.
293 reviews3 followers
September 21, 2022
Relationship-wise this book felt rounder than the last one. The panic-stricken travel around the world for weeks and weeks set me off a bit. Cannot see my boss being that understanding, when I tell her that I need all of my vacation like yesterday and then stay away for months. I know you need to create tension in this kind of book, but still... the story seemed too far-fetched for my liking.
Again, the editing was rough, but I would have given the book four stars, if not for the last chapter.
880 reviews18 followers
February 3, 2026
After a somewhat dismal start in book one, author Lia Cooper makes up for it - and more - in books 2 & 3.

This book, The Symbiotic Law, literally follows detectives Patrick Callahan and Ethan Ellison around the world as they are shuttled from one port to the next in the hope of outrunning Ethan’s power-obsessed father. But the plot takes unexpected twists and turns; unlike book one, the author doesn’t take too many easy outs in book three, forcing her protagonists to work through some difficult experiences and emotions.

Be forgiving of the typos, homophone switches, and other grammatical issues. The author has grown over the course of these three books, and, while they still need a good proof-reader, you’ll be rewarded as Ethan and Patrick find a home in your heart. The book’s plot and pacing adds up to a pleasurable and fresh experience.
Profile Image for Angela Wintrow.
5 reviews
January 12, 2018
Fantastic trilogy

Please Please let there be another book here! Loved how the characters developed and the story line continued. Couldn't put it down! Definitely a keeper in my library.
Profile Image for Phoenix.
137 reviews15 followers
July 1, 2017
I found this a very disappointing conclusion to Cooper's trilogy.
Profile Image for Susana.
1,300 reviews36 followers
February 12, 2015
3.5 stars
Ethan and Patrick are on the run. After the hasty and somehow rambling explanations from Ethan’s uncle Eoin, they find themselves, penniless and undocumented, on a ship sailing towards Anchorage. This is only the first of many stops which will take them around the world, with the aid of Ethan’s extended family. But their pursuers seem to be always one step ahead. After both their lives have been seriously threatened, they decide to turn the tables and become the hunters instead of the prey. That proves the right decision; they manage to neutralize their pursuer and come back home. But home is not the safe haven it was supposed to be, and another completely unexpected danger comes up and threatens to destroy Ethan’s delicate balance for good…
The last instalment of the Blood and Bone trilogy is a pretty intense one. Things change completely from the second book, where Ethan and Patrick almost do not see each other. Here they are together all the time, practically living in each other’s pockets. It is quite difficult for both, what with their bond and different characters and all. But somehow they grow on each other. That’s the best of the book, the slow but steady way their feelings grow and change. If at the beginning we find a reluctant Ethan and a grumpy Patrick, by the end we see them completely committed to each other. On the other hand, the mystery feels a bit rough. There are many things left unexplained, the final confrontation with Ethan’s father is perfunctory, it makes little sense… As for the last chapters and Ali’s final role… I knew she was up to no good, but somehow I do not feel it was necessary. It seems to be it is the writer’s personal rebuke to Ethan’s way of life (if you sleep with whoever you feel like, you can risk sleeping with somebody… disgusting). That’s a judgemental way of thinking I do not agree with. And there is the typos again, messing with the story. It would improve a lot with a better editing.
All in all, I liked the book, because I liked the main characters. I would have loved to know a bit more on their day-a-day after the last chapter. I would love to have seen Ethan interact with Patrick’s crazy clan. And despite its many faults and inconsistencies, the story is enjoyable, and quite entertaining.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jaylee.
Author 16 books79 followers
September 3, 2016
I have to say about this series... the writing it solid (although quite a few typos that I feel should have been cleared up by any halfway decent editor), the characters are interesting and their relationship issues are honest, real, and well-handled. However, this is a romance series? And the romance is really like... it takes up a lot of the book, but you don't get a lot of feels over it. It's not very romantic, or heart-pounding, or any of that. It's a lot of relationship drama. The whole series I was waiting for them to sit down and have a real breakthrough... for Ethan to finally open up and share with Patrick and for Patrick to get to finally act on his werewolfy mate feelings. And while they did have some conversations, I never felt like they had any big moments that hit you right in the heart. It makes it not that enjoyable as a romance novel, honestly. :/

It's a good, solid series, especially for a fun blend of mystery/cop story + paranormal + romance, but I just really wanted more out of the characters' relationship.
Profile Image for Mike.
1,174 reviews30 followers
April 12, 2017
Interesting ending to a paranormal m/m romance trilogy

This third book seemed to be a very good ending to a paranormal trilogy that seemed to move all over the plot and genre map, overall in a good way. There were plenty of times I found the pace to be much too slow, and the relationship between the two protagonists to be extremely frustrating and not particularly compelling.

However, for me, a whirlwind, fast-moving ending made it worth it and tied a huge range of strings together in a nicely surprising manner. At times this series felt like a trudge (I'm not big into mystery, thrillers, or police work), and it took some big twists (from cop-themed to Indiana Jones), but in the end it paid off for me.

This author's writing style isn't always my favorite, but the plotting usually works well, the setting and paranormal world is always compelling, and, in the end, these characters eventually clicked for me (and, of course, each other).
2,922 reviews15 followers
January 12, 2015
This is a trilogy and the books should be read in order for full enjoyment.

The Symbiotic Law starts out at top speed. This time the two main characters are the chased instead of the chasers and it took me a while to fully appreciate it since it's very different from the first two books. If you like complicated characters and original mysteries without a total sex overload you'll enjoy this.

I liked it a lot but could have loved it. For me, it would have been better with a little less travel and chase time and more family and relationship time. Instead, that part was a little rushed. It would have been great to see more of Ethan integrating into the werewolf family and also what happened with his family after the mystery was solved.

I'm looking forward to more from this author.
Profile Image for Laura.
2,175 reviews76 followers
December 6, 2021
This was definitely the best book of the series so far. I loved Ethan and Pat together and them navigating their relationship and their mating and feelings. I enjoyed the seeing the world part and the additional history and world building that was going on. I have complicated feelings on Ali’s revelation and the direction that took, which is definitely a part of why this didn’t end up being a 5-Star read for me. A good conclusion to first trilogy (cuz I know Lia is writing a fourth book for Ethan and Pat) and nice rounding out of central mystery about the necklace and seeing more of Ethan’s family/background, especially after book 2.

Editing to add what was revealed by Ali in the very last bit of the book was
185 reviews2 followers
January 13, 2015
Good read

Reading the other two books made me have to read this one. It was a good finale. I think the only thing I didn't like was that they were traveling all over the place and getting beat up constantly. I mean there is a suspect at the beginning and two cops just leave without talking to him but willingly travel to other countries without a clue to why. That is the only thing I was having a hard time with. Well there is a twist towards the end that I really would have rather stayed in the dark about.
Profile Image for Chrissie Tc.
33 reviews
November 12, 2015
I liked the story, even if it was more detective than romance, I think we shld be informed b4
but the main characters waooh
u know when I read the first book of the Blood and Bone Trilogy only one thing was going through my mind the more I read about Ethan
"What a slut" and I was so happy somebody finally said it out loud in Symbiotic Law. Thank you Ali even if you urself were a bitch.
On the other side I loved Pat
This Trilogy is good if you like complex stories
563 reviews12 followers
May 21, 2016
Great story

I enjoyed this final book of the trilogy with its many twists and turns. It could use some more editing however. There are a few misspellings. There are way too many sentences that make no sense and it was not always easy to follow the voice in the dialogue. I didn't like how the two main protagonists would be hot and heavy while working on a case then would act like they barely knew each other. Do take the time to read it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews

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