Randa, of the Stone House has a stalker. Being a civilized, practical woman, she hires the notoriously uncivilized and deadly Light Phases to deal with the problem. Who better to stand guard than muscle-bound barbarians? In exchange, she offers to clean them up and teach them how to attract human women, so they can finally find their fated mates. It should be a very straightforward business arrangement. …Except for him.
Kahn, of the Light House’s entire family is dead and he partially blames Randa for it. He doesn’t like her scandalous past. He doesn’t like how easily she navigates the human world, while he flounders to understand grocery stores. He doesn’t like how beautiful she is, even when she’s arguing with him. He doesn’t like the pain and secrets lurking in her dark eyes. …And he especially doesn’t like that this mysterious, aggravating woman might just be the key to his whole future.
Book Seven of The Elemental Phases. M/F Fated mates Enemies to lovers Bodyguard romance 108,000+ words Can be read as a standalone, but it is part of an interconnected series. Each book is about a different couple in a shared universe.
10/10 Ms Gannon once again the trip into your incredible mind has been a journey and a half. BOY did I need this!!! I’m obsessed like beyond obsessed… it was funny, swoony, adventurous and just so frickin fun!!! I’ve missed the elementals sooooo much oh my
This is 100% up there with the fire kingdom and water kingdom books for me personally. The recaps on starturtlepublishing were needed as my reread didn’t happen in time but boy am I tempted to go back to the start. Kinda wished Gannon had added the scene where they first interacted or met? Just for context I suppose.
Gion baby you’re still the one
Honestly this book had me cackling it was finished far too soon and leave me with a massive book hangover.
I CANNOT WAIT for a Missy story the chaos I can’t even imagine it
I also absolutely need an isaacs story as well as a Freya (maybe together…) Also I need tharsis to be shaken up like a bottle of pop
Original review:
CASSANDRA GANON HOW DARE YOU SPRING THIS UPON ME WITH ONLY A MONTH OR SO FOR A FULL COLLECTION REREAD I HAVE OTHER THINGS I NEED TO DO BETWEEN NOW AND THEN
I don't even have words for how anticipated this books is. Rereading the elemental phases has been a yearly activity. I am literally counting hours until this is available.
*** Into the actual review. I think this was a strong follow up to the series and I loved spending time in this world. Randa and Kahn turned out perfect for each other and he was so so so sweet and sad yet so good for Randa. However, my favorite moments were certainly the Isaac dinner. I have always liked Isaac as a character because, in some ways, he is the most real feeling characters to me. I think I am more excited for his book then even for the Raiden/Daphne&Missy/Zack saving the world plotline. As the author mentions, this series has always been somewhat more complicated plot wise then some of her other work. In my opinion, that is what has made it so special, that even after a 12? year gap, it still hold such a special place in my and others hearts. I certainly recommend this book, and whilst you may start with this, you should definitely read all the books that came before as well.
Shaking, crying, curled up in a ball, until the next book comes out.
I have been waiting so long to read this and, unsurprisingly, Cassandra doesn’t disappoint!! I actually love this whole series so much. If you haven’t read it, even though it’s not yet completed, you are honestly missing out. It is such an original and amazing world. The characters are complex and different and so relatable but so funny!
Cassandra mentions in her authors note this series is less marketable because it’s not a standalone. I just want to say - it is even more worth it to read this series because each book has the readability and ease and fun of a standalone book, while being interconnected in this incredibly complex plot line. It is just so fun and a masterpiece of romance novels. I love the switching povs and different characters. You can never get bored that way. It’s the romance series equivalent of a symphony.
This is my favorite series and I'm so glad there is a new book in it. I love when authors have other characters appear and join the fun. It was a great reunion of characters you love and new fun characters!
I love the Elemental Phase series! This book was great, and I'm impressed that Cassandra can introduce so many new characters while balancing the old. Team Tallulah!
I'm so thrilled the author started writing this series again I started reading it at 3 in the morning and it is a fantastic book! Maybe the best in the series?
I have spent books seething about how Randa got treated and wanting her to have a happily ever after so I am sooooo happy she got her book and with someone that is the polar opposite of Parald. I was a little worried because Randa easily had the worst most tragic past of any woman main character this author has written about so far and I wanted so much for her but Cassandra Gannon absolutely makes it work.
I love Randa. How stubborn and determined she is, her obsession with human cities, how she is trying so hard to carry on. The scene at the singles mixer is high art. Rysimer and his love interest are so funny. If Isaacs doesn't get a book soon I will commit hara-kiri. I would share more but it's such a fun book I don't want to ruin anything.
I am really excited about Missy and Zakk. I have no idea what she is gonna do with them and it's gonna be really different and probably fantastic to read. Missy is an interesting character, super smart apparently like Tharsis and Ty but violent and dangerous. I've been wondering if her character is resentful of her family's devotion to Hope and a romance between the Fire House Princess and a banished screw up from the Smoke House has a lot of possibilities as a plot. Not sure how Gannon will make Zakk a desirable male lead since he's spent the preceding books being a charming "sneaky amoral criminal" type constantly talking about how he was in love with an unnamed sweet girl next door chick and Missy being a brilliant terrifying killer kind of seems like the polar opposite of his lost love (gag me) but I am very curious and I trust the author can pull it off.
I loved Randa in the prior books so I’m a bit bummed. Kahn also was such a sweetie!
Basically, what went wrong???
Well I do think this dragged a bit. And I’m not opposed to very long books. I was raised by AO3 after all. But here, it was just taking SO long to get to the juicy bits.
And I get the reason for that. I really do. Randa needed space and time. But it just meant I wasn’t SAVORING the story as much as I would have liked.
I also think there was a lot of random things going on. The plot was a little chaotic. Which I think is a little bit of calling card for this series so it’s partly on me. At the same time…. I was lost in the characters, the details, the separate plot points etc. I definitely feel for Cassandra when she says these are hard books to write (per her most recent author’s note).
At the same time, I LOVE the world. And I love the characters. And so I want more. Specifically, I am dying for Daphne’s story and also Zachary’s. WAIT AND ALSO MOST IMPORTANTLY ISAACS STORY PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PRETTY PLEASE.
But really Cassandra should know I will read anything and everything she puts out. No kidding. I will always be a most loyal reader. (I wish there was a prize for that).
it sucks to be rating this so low, especially since i was waiting for cassandra gannon’s new release for such a long time!! but it was so mid and i was bored. two stars actually feel like i’m being generous.
the beginning had potential and i was excited to be back in this world and with these characters, but i lost interest around the half of the book and the rest was a struggle.
this could’ve been twice as short and nothing would change, because there was nothing substantial happening and the story turned repetitive. the relationship didn’t convince me at all, i feel like they didn’t get to know each other very well and i don’t see them working long term.
i enjoyed the side characters and the humour as always, but there was just something missing for me. i’m so sad! :(
I'll give anything Cassandra Gannon 5-stars just because I vibe with her writing style. Her books always manage to lighten my days and make me feel good. And this book is no exception.
Heart of the Light Kingdom is not my favourite of all the Elemental books, since there are some continuity issues when it comes to the overarching plot that spans the series. But there's such a nice blend of humor and romance. I'm always charmed by her writing and since this came after such a long time, I couldn't rate it anything less.
I can't believe that CG finally wrote another book in the series! I really hope she continues it...
Both Randa and Khan were so fucked up, and when you looked initially, you would think that they would have nothing in common. But the more I read and the more I saw them, I could see how right they were for each other!
I was so excited to see this book pop up that I re-read the entire series. I liked this book alot and was happy to see many of the prior characters come back to see how they're doing. There were many laugh out loud moments. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. Please continue to write, your world building always draws me in.
Her books are just the best. Occasionally I’ll realize I’ve spent too much time on that other genre of romantasy, where it’s dark, and there’s a lot of struggle. Cassandra’s books aren’t just “light”. They’re fun and funny and the characters feel so real and genuine and unique. This one might be my favorite so far though. They all make me happy.
This was just lovely. Randa and Kahn were darling together. I really enjoy the Light Phases and there were a lot of cameos of characters from previous books that I have loved. This is such an enjoyable series for me and I am so excited for the next book.