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The Thief's Talisman #1
Mortal Heir
Changeling. Thief. Mortal heir in a world of treacherous immortals.Raine Warren, half-faerie changeling and master thief, wants nothing to do with the family who abandoned her in the human realm as a child. But when Faerie comes knocking, claiming she's descended from Sidhe nobility, she's handed an unexpected legacy.One it comes in the form of a sceptre containing dark power coveted—and feared—by every faerie court, and no instruction manual.Now her name's on every hit list in Faerie, and the other Sidhe will do anything to take her off the playing field... permanently. Her last hope is to strike a deal with a charming thief with his own agenda and his own plans for the sceptre.On the run from assassins and hunted by the most powerful faeries in both realms, embracing the dangerous magic of Faerie might be Raine's only means of survival.
258 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 30, 2017
417 people are currently reading
490 people want to read
About the author
Emma L. Adams
86 books949 followersI'm Emma, a fantasy author, book collector, gamer, and wanderer. I write urban and epic fantasy novels, including the international bestselling Changeling Chronicles, the Relics of Power trilogy, and the Death's Disciple quartet.
*Note: I use Goodreads only to keep a record of what I'm reading. Please don't send me unsolicited review requests.*
*Note: I use Goodreads only to keep a record of what I'm reading. Please don't send me unsolicited review requests.*
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
August 1, 2017
DETAILS:
Mortal Heir is the first book in Emma L. Adams's new series called The Thief’s Talisman. Released August 1st 2017, it comes in at a word count of 73,015 (or 188 pages) using details from my reading app. Moon Reader Pro+. Emma's series are considered to fit into the classifications of dark fantasy, urban fantasy, science fiction fantasy, and dystopian; however, I personally think it's fair to say that in many cases, or perhaps in all, her writing is a blend of classifications in this list. So long as we're speaking of blending, it could be a salient time for mentioning that one of the two environments of this new world also blends aspects of Faerie with the typical human landscape to make it a dystopian landscape.
In the interest of providing more info. about Emma's books I've included Amazon's Emma L. Adams page, and links to other books in her library that I've reviewed, which includes: Alight (Legacy of Flames Book 1); Arise (Legacy of Flames Book 2); Aflame (Legacy of Flames Book 3); Faerie Blood (The Changeling Chronicles Book 1); and Faerie Magic (The Changeling Chronicles Book 2).
Emma L. Adams Page - https://www.amazon.com/Emma-L.-Adams/...
Review - https://www.amazon.com.au/review/R1YY...
Review - https://www.amazon.com.au/review/R2N0...
Review - https://www.amazon.com.au/review/RH50...
Review - https://www.amazon.com/review/REW2774...
Review - https://www.amazon.com/review/R236AYM...
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
INTRODUCTION - THE STORY:
The Mortal Heir, a.k.a. half-blood scum (to some) or the Changeling known as Raine Warren (to others), hasn't had an easy life; not with the memories of her first six years of life being stolen by her Sidhe mother (Lady Whitefall of the Borderlands) who also abandoned her and her abducted father; presumably once they'd outlived their usefulness. Following their return to the mortal human reslm things were made more difficult too. Her DNA and youth permitted her to withstand the pressure of the hole in her memories and the abandonment, but her father's human DNA cracked considerably. The influence on his sanity and everyday well-being thereafter put them in the lowest of socio-economic brackets, any luxuries only ever coming later in Raine's life, her school of hard knocks upbringing making her a skilled thief in order to survive. A life of becoming a battler too skills that fate would see as serving her well.
Add into the mix a haphazard collection of friends and associates, some coming from before and after the latest event that rocked and shattered her world, and you have the somewhat miserable recipe for developing self reliance and an absolute loyalty to those bridging the gap from the latter to the former. Not to mention an appreciation for her father that ruled over any other consideration. There's the Ex- she fell in love with until three years into their relationship he buckled to external influence, a changeling from not only the wrong Court but also the wrong family despite living separate to those influences and hence a perceived betrayal. There's the not so average half-satyr friend with klepto issues even more hazardous than her own, and a score of other self-destructive habits. The two-hooved friend who might protect you if it didn't clash with his interests too much. He's also likely to go for a five fingered discount even in her rented flat. A relationship that culminates in sacrifices where she's forever bailing him out of shit.
In the Fae realm, there's a new friend who's the daughter born with the wrong gender, meaning she was once stuck being the 'male' child serving a soldier's vow dreamed up by her parents. The girl once lumbered into the same fate that was meant to be for the son they didn't have. After falling in love with the wrong girl, she necessarily followed a path to get out of the soldier's vow, only to have naively been roped into a lifetime vow arguably better than that which she tried to escape. Plus, there's the charming and handsome new acquaintance who's also a thief with commensurate skills to, or better than, her own. Yet another bastard child who made a promise or vow binding them to a path that conflicts with her own, as in the new female friend. The latter two are drawn to her in different ways, but may also ultimately betray her as did one of the first two.
The greatest development coincidentally kicks-off part way through the day of her twenty-fourth birthday, when a spelled message is found outside her front door, moments before a hellhound blasts its way in to kill her and her father. The note requests she do the unthinkable to her, to pass over into Faerie to see if her now deceased mother's legacy can be claimed by her; that is, to determine if she's capable of being the mortal heir. Attempts on her life before even reaching the undisclosed test bolster her resolve instead of preventing her from doing so, which might've been a certainty before they took place; an outcome her enemies might regret. To combat her and her father's poverty and hardship she sees a chance to make their lives better, a chance for her mother to finally offer them some salvation even if only in death. All things considered, her life is a rather good example of "with friends like this, who needs enemies?"
Her contempt for all things Faerie was well earned before being faced with the new baptism of fire. Her relationship to Sidhe nobility might earn her a coveted and powerful sceptre she has barely any ideas on how to unlock its secrets; an inherited legacy that instead of bringing riches she made the journey for, it brings complications to add to those she already had in spades. Inducted vicariously through this new unknown legacy into a culture she'd rather pluck out her eyes than have to deal with, she climbs to the top of a stream of Fae hit lists. The interests of Faerie were in her lifespan visited upon the human world when rogue Sidhe took it upon themselves to attack the mortal realm, and now it seeks to have a more direct influence. Her hopes of survival in part mean relying on two new half-fae friends bound by vows and promises they cannot openly speak of unless she manages to guess or rationalise their meaning close enough for them to admit. Perhaps she could do the unexpected by embracing the dark magic; if only the blasted thing had come with an instruction manual.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
OPINION:
With her trademark snappy pace jumping from one sequence to the next, Emma's style is not that unlike watching the scenes of a movie shift seamlessly without many of the sometimes incidental bits that cover the stages in between, but aren't necessarily required in the scheme of things. In other words, there's minimal superfluous stages that are unnecessary elements of the plot. For example, minus the particulars of the sceptre and how it influences the storyline, the expanse of details laid out in the intro above come from just chapter one - or roughly five percent of the book.
The world is made all the more interesting by the separate landscapes, and the human or mortal realm is made all the more interesting by certain assimilations from Faerie that begun twenty-two years ago. The general areas of Faerie take place in a minimal amount of detail outside of thoroughfares and Raine's palace, and a little of another. The Seelie and Unseelie Courts per se, where political espionage and ambitions often define most of the nobility aren't covered much more than in namesake, but like the mention of an established hierarchy of supernaturals in the mortal realm, they might yet all make their way into the series. In this regard the series has the beginnings of a thoroughly inclusive range of all things paranormal.
Inspiring and perhaps sage, the often succint wisdom and insight found throughout key figures' in Emma's whole library make for an interesting game of looking out for them in each new book. Herein, Emma defines the resilience of humans and mortals in relation to the immortal, which is one example I'd add to a list if I were collating one. She notes through Raine's narration very early in the book, that "Half-faeries are pretty resilient. It’s the mortal blood inside us. When you have little time to live, you rebuild fast." This construct plus some additional reasonings permeates endless other books in fantasy when regarding the notion of immortal races being intrigued by what they'd call the human condition; in just this aspect it's a concise idea. Emma often sagely and succintly notes wisdom about the experience of being human in her books, it's one of a good number of reasons that puts her on my TBR. It gives the impression of a wise or old soul. I'd be very surprised indeed to hear that in her personal circle of friends and family, or even for other readers, that this has never been said.
Speaking of Raine, though, she is slightly snarky, and is a straight shooter down the line. Though this isn't to say that when required she is incapable of tact or sheer silence. Given over to seeing the potential for traps or misdeeds she does lean toward a half empty glass outlook, which is totally reasonable given her history. Her quick wit and sharp tongue promotes a certain cynicism or sarcasm, which does bring a smile to your face. She also, rightly or not, falls afoul of the tendency of people with very strong emotions and beliefs regarding a given issue to become shortsighted in ways that seek to maintain those things. Through some of her stronger convictions, such as in wanting to have nothing to do with aspects of the neglected half of her heritage, namely because of her mother of course, she opts to walk the road where harm can come about because of her own abandonment of thinking more deeply about those things.
Thus, she initiates through her shortsighted actions certain consequences she could've seen arising from those choices in the absence of her biases. They aren't difficult to predict in the scheme of things or irredeemable, but because of how passionately she felt about her respective reasoning, the rational or objective elements were overlooked altogether. This aspect of human nature is so fundamental that it's seen in so many everyday habits that many systems seek to prevent them as best they can be. The judiciary system revolves around the usage of third parties in the belief that these agents are able to objectively handle disputes, as just one example; although this isn't to say whether the principles that a neutral third party can objectively avoid the trappings of ingrained subjective reasoning. Anywhere you can identify the notion of a neutral agent with no ties to a topic, interest, outcome or person, is where such human nature is sought to be removed or counteracted from the decision-making process.
This first book deals with the blowout of Raine's mother dying and the Fae legacy that is partially handed down because of it. The title is quite functional in this regard, but not all of the fallout is resolved, which is common in series based stories. I loved the environment, or perhaps it could be said that this relates to the full potential or untapped components that might find their way into the storyline. In which case future development may indeed heighten that appreciation. There isn't a great range of characters but enough to make it interesting, and a good number of these are well explored which is the benchmark, not how many. The potential for growth is a definite draw card. With Emma's style added into the mix I doubt there'll be any problems with the book selling or gaining her usual ratings and quality of reviews.
Where Raine's life goes from here has a lot of potential, and is one reason among many as to why I'll be awaiting Iron Bound, that is, book two which is due to be released in October. As absurd as it sounds, I'm going with a 4☆☆☆☆ rating as I feel like there's still so much more to be explored, and parts of the background that could've been more; especially the exploration of the supernatural that is mentioned before Faerie engulfs everyone's focus - including readers. I'm also looking for wiggle room to be able to show that appreciation of whatever further titles added that achieve these elements. I implore you however to not consider my four to put you off in anyway, you may not even agree with this once you've read it yourself.
Mortal Heir is the first book in Emma L. Adams's new series called The Thief’s Talisman. Released August 1st 2017, it comes in at a word count of 73,015 (or 188 pages) using details from my reading app. Moon Reader Pro+. Emma's series are considered to fit into the classifications of dark fantasy, urban fantasy, science fiction fantasy, and dystopian; however, I personally think it's fair to say that in many cases, or perhaps in all, her writing is a blend of classifications in this list. So long as we're speaking of blending, it could be a salient time for mentioning that one of the two environments of this new world also blends aspects of Faerie with the typical human landscape to make it a dystopian landscape.
In the interest of providing more info. about Emma's books I've included Amazon's Emma L. Adams page, and links to other books in her library that I've reviewed, which includes: Alight (Legacy of Flames Book 1); Arise (Legacy of Flames Book 2); Aflame (Legacy of Flames Book 3); Faerie Blood (The Changeling Chronicles Book 1); and Faerie Magic (The Changeling Chronicles Book 2).
Emma L. Adams Page - https://www.amazon.com/Emma-L.-Adams/...
Review - https://www.amazon.com.au/review/R1YY...
Review - https://www.amazon.com.au/review/R2N0...
Review - https://www.amazon.com.au/review/RH50...
Review - https://www.amazon.com/review/REW2774...
Review - https://www.amazon.com/review/R236AYM...
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
INTRODUCTION - THE STORY:
The Mortal Heir, a.k.a. half-blood scum (to some) or the Changeling known as Raine Warren (to others), hasn't had an easy life; not with the memories of her first six years of life being stolen by her Sidhe mother (Lady Whitefall of the Borderlands) who also abandoned her and her abducted father; presumably once they'd outlived their usefulness. Following their return to the mortal human reslm things were made more difficult too. Her DNA and youth permitted her to withstand the pressure of the hole in her memories and the abandonment, but her father's human DNA cracked considerably. The influence on his sanity and everyday well-being thereafter put them in the lowest of socio-economic brackets, any luxuries only ever coming later in Raine's life, her school of hard knocks upbringing making her a skilled thief in order to survive. A life of becoming a battler too skills that fate would see as serving her well.
Add into the mix a haphazard collection of friends and associates, some coming from before and after the latest event that rocked and shattered her world, and you have the somewhat miserable recipe for developing self reliance and an absolute loyalty to those bridging the gap from the latter to the former. Not to mention an appreciation for her father that ruled over any other consideration. There's the Ex- she fell in love with until three years into their relationship he buckled to external influence, a changeling from not only the wrong Court but also the wrong family despite living separate to those influences and hence a perceived betrayal. There's the not so average half-satyr friend with klepto issues even more hazardous than her own, and a score of other self-destructive habits. The two-hooved friend who might protect you if it didn't clash with his interests too much. He's also likely to go for a five fingered discount even in her rented flat. A relationship that culminates in sacrifices where she's forever bailing him out of shit.
In the Fae realm, there's a new friend who's the daughter born with the wrong gender, meaning she was once stuck being the 'male' child serving a soldier's vow dreamed up by her parents. The girl once lumbered into the same fate that was meant to be for the son they didn't have. After falling in love with the wrong girl, she necessarily followed a path to get out of the soldier's vow, only to have naively been roped into a lifetime vow arguably better than that which she tried to escape. Plus, there's the charming and handsome new acquaintance who's also a thief with commensurate skills to, or better than, her own. Yet another bastard child who made a promise or vow binding them to a path that conflicts with her own, as in the new female friend. The latter two are drawn to her in different ways, but may also ultimately betray her as did one of the first two.
The greatest development coincidentally kicks-off part way through the day of her twenty-fourth birthday, when a spelled message is found outside her front door, moments before a hellhound blasts its way in to kill her and her father. The note requests she do the unthinkable to her, to pass over into Faerie to see if her now deceased mother's legacy can be claimed by her; that is, to determine if she's capable of being the mortal heir. Attempts on her life before even reaching the undisclosed test bolster her resolve instead of preventing her from doing so, which might've been a certainty before they took place; an outcome her enemies might regret. To combat her and her father's poverty and hardship she sees a chance to make their lives better, a chance for her mother to finally offer them some salvation even if only in death. All things considered, her life is a rather good example of "with friends like this, who needs enemies?"
Her contempt for all things Faerie was well earned before being faced with the new baptism of fire. Her relationship to Sidhe nobility might earn her a coveted and powerful sceptre she has barely any ideas on how to unlock its secrets; an inherited legacy that instead of bringing riches she made the journey for, it brings complications to add to those she already had in spades. Inducted vicariously through this new unknown legacy into a culture she'd rather pluck out her eyes than have to deal with, she climbs to the top of a stream of Fae hit lists. The interests of Faerie were in her lifespan visited upon the human world when rogue Sidhe took it upon themselves to attack the mortal realm, and now it seeks to have a more direct influence. Her hopes of survival in part mean relying on two new half-fae friends bound by vows and promises they cannot openly speak of unless she manages to guess or rationalise their meaning close enough for them to admit. Perhaps she could do the unexpected by embracing the dark magic; if only the blasted thing had come with an instruction manual.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
OPINION:
With her trademark snappy pace jumping from one sequence to the next, Emma's style is not that unlike watching the scenes of a movie shift seamlessly without many of the sometimes incidental bits that cover the stages in between, but aren't necessarily required in the scheme of things. In other words, there's minimal superfluous stages that are unnecessary elements of the plot. For example, minus the particulars of the sceptre and how it influences the storyline, the expanse of details laid out in the intro above come from just chapter one - or roughly five percent of the book.
The world is made all the more interesting by the separate landscapes, and the human or mortal realm is made all the more interesting by certain assimilations from Faerie that begun twenty-two years ago. The general areas of Faerie take place in a minimal amount of detail outside of thoroughfares and Raine's palace, and a little of another. The Seelie and Unseelie Courts per se, where political espionage and ambitions often define most of the nobility aren't covered much more than in namesake, but like the mention of an established hierarchy of supernaturals in the mortal realm, they might yet all make their way into the series. In this regard the series has the beginnings of a thoroughly inclusive range of all things paranormal.
Inspiring and perhaps sage, the often succint wisdom and insight found throughout key figures' in Emma's whole library make for an interesting game of looking out for them in each new book. Herein, Emma defines the resilience of humans and mortals in relation to the immortal, which is one example I'd add to a list if I were collating one. She notes through Raine's narration very early in the book, that "Half-faeries are pretty resilient. It’s the mortal blood inside us. When you have little time to live, you rebuild fast." This construct plus some additional reasonings permeates endless other books in fantasy when regarding the notion of immortal races being intrigued by what they'd call the human condition; in just this aspect it's a concise idea. Emma often sagely and succintly notes wisdom about the experience of being human in her books, it's one of a good number of reasons that puts her on my TBR. It gives the impression of a wise or old soul. I'd be very surprised indeed to hear that in her personal circle of friends and family, or even for other readers, that this has never been said.
Speaking of Raine, though, she is slightly snarky, and is a straight shooter down the line. Though this isn't to say that when required she is incapable of tact or sheer silence. Given over to seeing the potential for traps or misdeeds she does lean toward a half empty glass outlook, which is totally reasonable given her history. Her quick wit and sharp tongue promotes a certain cynicism or sarcasm, which does bring a smile to your face. She also, rightly or not, falls afoul of the tendency of people with very strong emotions and beliefs regarding a given issue to become shortsighted in ways that seek to maintain those things. Through some of her stronger convictions, such as in wanting to have nothing to do with aspects of the neglected half of her heritage, namely because of her mother of course, she opts to walk the road where harm can come about because of her own abandonment of thinking more deeply about those things.
Thus, she initiates through her shortsighted actions certain consequences she could've seen arising from those choices in the absence of her biases. They aren't difficult to predict in the scheme of things or irredeemable, but because of how passionately she felt about her respective reasoning, the rational or objective elements were overlooked altogether. This aspect of human nature is so fundamental that it's seen in so many everyday habits that many systems seek to prevent them as best they can be. The judiciary system revolves around the usage of third parties in the belief that these agents are able to objectively handle disputes, as just one example; although this isn't to say whether the principles that a neutral third party can objectively avoid the trappings of ingrained subjective reasoning. Anywhere you can identify the notion of a neutral agent with no ties to a topic, interest, outcome or person, is where such human nature is sought to be removed or counteracted from the decision-making process.
This first book deals with the blowout of Raine's mother dying and the Fae legacy that is partially handed down because of it. The title is quite functional in this regard, but not all of the fallout is resolved, which is common in series based stories. I loved the environment, or perhaps it could be said that this relates to the full potential or untapped components that might find their way into the storyline. In which case future development may indeed heighten that appreciation. There isn't a great range of characters but enough to make it interesting, and a good number of these are well explored which is the benchmark, not how many. The potential for growth is a definite draw card. With Emma's style added into the mix I doubt there'll be any problems with the book selling or gaining her usual ratings and quality of reviews.
Where Raine's life goes from here has a lot of potential, and is one reason among many as to why I'll be awaiting Iron Bound, that is, book two which is due to be released in October. As absurd as it sounds, I'm going with a 4☆☆☆☆ rating as I feel like there's still so much more to be explored, and parts of the background that could've been more; especially the exploration of the supernatural that is mentioned before Faerie engulfs everyone's focus - including readers. I'm also looking for wiggle room to be able to show that appreciation of whatever further titles added that achieve these elements. I implore you however to not consider my four to put you off in anyway, you may not even agree with this once you've read it yourself.
September 27, 2018
51 points/100 (2 ¾ stars/5)
Raine is a half-fae thief who lives with her human dude, broken at the hands of the fae. When she learns that she is the heir to some land and a Talisman in faerie, and that her fae mother is dead, she doesn't want it. Yet, after assassins come so she can't claim it, she realises she has to try anyway so they'll stop. But, it doesn't stop. The neighbors want her dead and her Talisman for themselves. Raine has to figure out her powers and quickly - before they kill her and those she loves.
Mortal Heir is set after the events in The Changeling Chronicles. They're connected, and you would probably get more out of this if you read the main series, but this is definitely a standalone. We have a new protagonist, a half-fae this time. Yet, Raine's powers are almost exactly like Ivy's, they're just based in winter and Raine has no idea how to use them yet. This book isn't as frantic as the events in Legacy of Flames - there are no deadlines, the people trying to kill her aren't primary sources, etc. Yet it is still very fast paced, but also not as entertaining.
Not much happens in Mortal Heir that I didn't just tell in my brief description. Lots of assassins trying to kill her. Lots of trying (and sometimes successfully) to steal the Talisman. Lots of family issues and bad love choices. It was really predictable.
Raine is probably the most down-to-earth protagonist I've read from Emma L. Adams so far. She doesn't want any of this, she was forced into it. She just wanted to go back to her messed up father and her family issues. Caring for a parent is never easy, and it is even harder when you're a teenager, or in Raine's case 24 (though she feels 14). Now she has to deal with being a half-sidhe heiress and the politics involved. Mostly she is just really good at not dying so far.
I do have to comment on the "love" interests, though. Why does Adams write such bad perspective lovers? In this one we have the ex-lover, Robin, who was with her and then dumped her much like you would toss a piece of trash in the bin. He only comes around again because he thinks he'll get something out of the association with her again. He isn't really an option, but it is a poorly written attempt for the author to go "look at this choice you have hanging around, don't you want it again"? Of course he does end up betraying her.
Then there is the prettyboy, Cedar, who just happens to show up at the right place and time to help her. And is obviously not on her side. That was even before we learned he worked for the enemy, was a thief himself, and he constantly betrayed her in the guise of "vows". Of course he is going to end up being the true love interest for this series, because he is "just being used by his family" and "poor pitiful Cedar always having to follow orders, lets find a way for him to break out of that!". I mean neither of those have been said yet, but it is coming.
New adult series really, really should be marked better.
To read more reviews in this series and others, check out keikii eats books!
Raine is a half-fae thief who lives with her human dude, broken at the hands of the fae. When she learns that she is the heir to some land and a Talisman in faerie, and that her fae mother is dead, she doesn't want it. Yet, after assassins come so she can't claim it, she realises she has to try anyway so they'll stop. But, it doesn't stop. The neighbors want her dead and her Talisman for themselves. Raine has to figure out her powers and quickly - before they kill her and those she loves.
Mortal Heir is set after the events in The Changeling Chronicles. They're connected, and you would probably get more out of this if you read the main series, but this is definitely a standalone. We have a new protagonist, a half-fae this time. Yet, Raine's powers are almost exactly like Ivy's, they're just based in winter and Raine has no idea how to use them yet. This book isn't as frantic as the events in Legacy of Flames - there are no deadlines, the people trying to kill her aren't primary sources, etc. Yet it is still very fast paced, but also not as entertaining.
Not much happens in Mortal Heir that I didn't just tell in my brief description. Lots of assassins trying to kill her. Lots of trying (and sometimes successfully) to steal the Talisman. Lots of family issues and bad love choices. It was really predictable.
Raine is probably the most down-to-earth protagonist I've read from Emma L. Adams so far. She doesn't want any of this, she was forced into it. She just wanted to go back to her messed up father and her family issues. Caring for a parent is never easy, and it is even harder when you're a teenager, or in Raine's case 24 (though she feels 14). Now she has to deal with being a half-sidhe heiress and the politics involved. Mostly she is just really good at not dying so far.
I do have to comment on the "love" interests, though. Why does Adams write such bad perspective lovers? In this one we have the ex-lover, Robin, who was with her and then dumped her much like you would toss a piece of trash in the bin. He only comes around again because he thinks he'll get something out of the association with her again. He isn't really an option, but it is a poorly written attempt for the author to go "look at this choice you have hanging around, don't you want it again"? Of course he does end up betraying her.
Then there is the prettyboy, Cedar, who just happens to show up at the right place and time to help her. And is obviously not on her side. That was even before we learned he worked for the enemy, was a thief himself, and he constantly betrayed her in the guise of "vows". Of course he is going to end up being the true love interest for this series, because he is "just being used by his family" and "poor pitiful Cedar always having to follow orders, lets find a way for him to break out of that!". I mean neither of those have been said yet, but it is coming.
New adult series really, really should be marked better.
To read more reviews in this series and others, check out keikii eats books!
December 10, 2017
DNF 45%
Nope, nope, nope! Could not finish it, it was too stupid and confusing.
About halfway through I was tired of the cringe worthiness of it all, and I just gave up and stopped reading.
I'm sorry but I couldn't swallow this...
Nope, nope, nope! Could not finish it, it was too stupid and confusing.
About halfway through I was tired of the cringe worthiness of it all, and I just gave up and stopped reading.
I'm sorry but I couldn't swallow this...
September 5, 2018
*Source* Kindle Unlimited
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5
*Thoughts*
Mortal Heir is the first installment in author Emma Adams The Thief's Talisman. This trilogy connects with The Changeling Chronicles, but I don't believe you need to read it first to understand what is happening in this world. 24-year old Raine Warren is a half blood Fae changeling living in a post-Faerie War world. She is a thief who lost the first 6 years of her life's memories thanks to a mother she's never known, or can't remember.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5
*Thoughts*
Mortal Heir is the first installment in author Emma Adams The Thief's Talisman. This trilogy connects with The Changeling Chronicles, but I don't believe you need to read it first to understand what is happening in this world. 24-year old Raine Warren is a half blood Fae changeling living in a post-Faerie War world. She is a thief who lost the first 6 years of her life's memories thanks to a mother she's never known, or can't remember.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
August 6, 2017
Imagination and magic knows no bounds in this action packed tale, making it simply fun to read.
Raine is a half-faerie living in the mortal world with her human father, and she's very fine with that. Well, if they had a little more money. Even as a talented thief, it's hard to get by. Too bad, she wasn't born with any magic like most half-faeries were. When she's invited to Faerie to take over the inheritance of her passed away mother, Raine's isn't exactly thrilled but has no choice. The inheritance is extremely impressive, but she wants nothing to do with it. The Sidhe and Faerie have other plans, ones that despite what Raine wants, will change her life. . .and not in a great way.
Raine is an interesting character; spunky, a little snark, protective, determined to survive, loving and has a bit of a self-esteem problem. She has enough of a problem getting around in her 'home' realm on Earth, so to have her thrown into the Faerie world by no means creates more stability. Her love for her father is sweet, and there's even a love for her mother, but it's buried quite deep. She's warm-hearted, which she hates to show but it glows through anyway. And she can hold her own in a fight, although she's not all powerful either. All of this creates a balanced character with a couple sharp corners and dents...just like everyone has.
The Faerie world in this series is borrowed from one of the author's other series, The Changeling Chronicles. Although there are direct references to this other series, the stories are completely separate and stand alone. In this series, the world takes full flight, letting the reader immerse themselves into the Faerie world, which is only hinted at in the other books. Imagination has control, unleashing a realm where nothing is sure, nobody can be trusted and everything is possible. It's fantasy pure. And a dark one, at that. The faeries are not sweet. They are ruthless, cruel and cold even though they try to maintain a certain societal structure. It's the human part, which brings a touch of humanity and warmth.
There's the slightest hint at a romance, and that's already almost saying too much. Something seems to be brewing for the rest of the series, but this book is about Raine's fight and the troubles she's up against. There is much contemplation or deep meaning in these pages. Rather, it lets the enjoyment of a fantasy world, action, magic and fights flow through on every page. Simply said, it's a book to get lost in and entertainment pure.
I can't wait to see what happens next.
I received a complimentary ARC and enjoyed it so much that I wanted to leave my honest thoughts.
Raine is a half-faerie living in the mortal world with her human father, and she's very fine with that. Well, if they had a little more money. Even as a talented thief, it's hard to get by. Too bad, she wasn't born with any magic like most half-faeries were. When she's invited to Faerie to take over the inheritance of her passed away mother, Raine's isn't exactly thrilled but has no choice. The inheritance is extremely impressive, but she wants nothing to do with it. The Sidhe and Faerie have other plans, ones that despite what Raine wants, will change her life. . .and not in a great way.
Raine is an interesting character; spunky, a little snark, protective, determined to survive, loving and has a bit of a self-esteem problem. She has enough of a problem getting around in her 'home' realm on Earth, so to have her thrown into the Faerie world by no means creates more stability. Her love for her father is sweet, and there's even a love for her mother, but it's buried quite deep. She's warm-hearted, which she hates to show but it glows through anyway. And she can hold her own in a fight, although she's not all powerful either. All of this creates a balanced character with a couple sharp corners and dents...just like everyone has.
The Faerie world in this series is borrowed from one of the author's other series, The Changeling Chronicles. Although there are direct references to this other series, the stories are completely separate and stand alone. In this series, the world takes full flight, letting the reader immerse themselves into the Faerie world, which is only hinted at in the other books. Imagination has control, unleashing a realm where nothing is sure, nobody can be trusted and everything is possible. It's fantasy pure. And a dark one, at that. The faeries are not sweet. They are ruthless, cruel and cold even though they try to maintain a certain societal structure. It's the human part, which brings a touch of humanity and warmth.
There's the slightest hint at a romance, and that's already almost saying too much. Something seems to be brewing for the rest of the series, but this book is about Raine's fight and the troubles she's up against. There is much contemplation or deep meaning in these pages. Rather, it lets the enjoyment of a fantasy world, action, magic and fights flow through on every page. Simply said, it's a book to get lost in and entertainment pure.
I can't wait to see what happens next.
I received a complimentary ARC and enjoyed it so much that I wanted to leave my honest thoughts.
August 20, 2017
Pretty cool
Raine is a pretty cool girl. She has grown up tough and become a survivor. She is a thief now, and in need of money so when she finds out she could be inheriting a fortune you'd think she would want to go to faerie to get it. She is smart though and knows there are always strings attached. Unfortunately she is forced into this adventure. I think the only part that confused me was that Raine ends up killing people but she has no problems. Then other times she does. My favorite parts are her times with Cedar.
Raine is a pretty cool girl. She has grown up tough and become a survivor. She is a thief now, and in need of money so when she finds out she could be inheriting a fortune you'd think she would want to go to faerie to get it. She is smart though and knows there are always strings attached. Unfortunately she is forced into this adventure. I think the only part that confused me was that Raine ends up killing people but she has no problems. Then other times she does. My favorite parts are her times with Cedar.
July 17, 2019
I have really mixed feelings about this one , i do like it and there where some great things but there also where some big things that i wasnt a fan of so thats why the 3 star rating.
The things i did really like where both the plot & the worldbuilding. This is not like the standart fairy worldbuilding and it actually takes place mostly in the borderfamillys of the faeries teratroia witch i really liked , I also thought that the plot was full of action witch i liked & i loved the magic fight scenes
Then the things i didnt really liked. Basically the charracters , they are okay but i just coudnt connect with any of them because they just dont have a lot of depht in it almost none & i just feel like that is very important in a book because the charracters are a big part of the book
so meh, but i already have the next book on my shelf so i will continue.
The things i did really like where both the plot & the worldbuilding. This is not like the standart fairy worldbuilding and it actually takes place mostly in the borderfamillys of the faeries teratroia witch i really liked , I also thought that the plot was full of action witch i liked & i loved the magic fight scenes
Then the things i didnt really liked. Basically the charracters , they are okay but i just coudnt connect with any of them because they just dont have a lot of depht in it almost none & i just feel like that is very important in a book because the charracters are a big part of the book
so meh, but i already have the next book on my shelf so i will continue.
August 1, 2017
Faerie might be spectacular and full of awes.. but it's also a dangerous territory full of betrayal and twisted games.
Raine is a half-blood faerie living in the mortal realm with her dad who's gone a bit insane from the after-effects of faerie magic. When she discovers she is one of the potential heirs to a powerful Sidhe, Lady Whitefall, she is expected to come to Faerie and try to claim her inheritance- a talisman, sceptre full of magic that awaits the rightful heir to claim the powers. But all power comes with a price, and Raine must fight her way through the deceiving games of other Borderlands families who are power-hungry and snobbish. Her only allies are Viola, a family servant bound by vow, and Cedar, a Fae thief in services of one of the families. But both have their own secrets, and Raine can't be sure who to trust anymore.
I love the works of this author, every one I have read so far. She has very easy-going writing style, imaginative and descriptive, pulling the reader into the world of fantasy and magic and forwarding the sensations so that the reader has more intense reading experience.
The plot was really fast pacing and intriguing, developing quickly with many surprising twists, action-packed and suspenseful. I also loved the emotional side of the story, providing various feelings, ranging from love to grief, filling the whole emotional scale.
And of course I loved the characters. Raine is a thief with high moral standards, tough and fierce but also protective and loving, determined to do what she considers right. Cedar is mysterious and charmong, full of secrets and surprises that makes him a perfect male lead. Complemented by Viola, loyal and grateful, always willing to help but hiding her own dark secrets, the trio of lead characters is a guarantee of good story and fair entertainment.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC copy of the book and all opinions are my own.
Raine is a half-blood faerie living in the mortal realm with her dad who's gone a bit insane from the after-effects of faerie magic. When she discovers she is one of the potential heirs to a powerful Sidhe, Lady Whitefall, she is expected to come to Faerie and try to claim her inheritance- a talisman, sceptre full of magic that awaits the rightful heir to claim the powers. But all power comes with a price, and Raine must fight her way through the deceiving games of other Borderlands families who are power-hungry and snobbish. Her only allies are Viola, a family servant bound by vow, and Cedar, a Fae thief in services of one of the families. But both have their own secrets, and Raine can't be sure who to trust anymore.
I love the works of this author, every one I have read so far. She has very easy-going writing style, imaginative and descriptive, pulling the reader into the world of fantasy and magic and forwarding the sensations so that the reader has more intense reading experience.
The plot was really fast pacing and intriguing, developing quickly with many surprising twists, action-packed and suspenseful. I also loved the emotional side of the story, providing various feelings, ranging from love to grief, filling the whole emotional scale.
And of course I loved the characters. Raine is a thief with high moral standards, tough and fierce but also protective and loving, determined to do what she considers right. Cedar is mysterious and charmong, full of secrets and surprises that makes him a perfect male lead. Complemented by Viola, loyal and grateful, always willing to help but hiding her own dark secrets, the trio of lead characters is a guarantee of good story and fair entertainment.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC copy of the book and all opinions are my own.
August 19, 2017
It's my first (yeah I know, I'm kind of late) Emma L. Adams book... And my, I want to read more of them!
I loved this book. Really. The universe, the story, all is very well constructed, and Raine is a character I really liked. Which obviously is great, as she is the main character ;). Even if a bit impulsive, she's far from stupid and despite her being a thief, she has a good heart.
Nothing in her past could have prepared her for the news that came one night, with the unwanted presence of her ex-boyfriend. As a half-faerie, she always knew her mother was Fae, but, without any real power, she would never have guessed that her mom was actualy a Sidhe, Faë (powerful) royalty. And that she's welcome home. Sort of. Not that she could care less, all this side of her family have left her are erased memories and a broken father she'd do anything for.
What she didn't expected, is that she had no choice in the matter. Threats to her life and her fathers force her to come claim her birth rights, and quickly. But she's not the only one. Her mother is no more, she has siblings and only one will inherit.
Wether she wants it or not, Faerie is not done with her, and her newfound mysterious talisman. Along with her only real ally, Viola, and a hot half-faerie named Cedar with an agenda of his own, she will have to prove herself stronger than those who wish her dead. Stronger than any half-bloods. As strong as her mother.
All the characters are interesting in a way, and the story is quite fast-paced, even if not too much. There is some suspense and I still have a lot of questions that need answers... That's why I absolutely need book 2! And well, YOU need book 1, trust me ;)
I loved this book. Really. The universe, the story, all is very well constructed, and Raine is a character I really liked. Which obviously is great, as she is the main character ;). Even if a bit impulsive, she's far from stupid and despite her being a thief, she has a good heart.
Nothing in her past could have prepared her for the news that came one night, with the unwanted presence of her ex-boyfriend. As a half-faerie, she always knew her mother was Fae, but, without any real power, she would never have guessed that her mom was actualy a Sidhe, Faë (powerful) royalty. And that she's welcome home. Sort of. Not that she could care less, all this side of her family have left her are erased memories and a broken father she'd do anything for.
What she didn't expected, is that she had no choice in the matter. Threats to her life and her fathers force her to come claim her birth rights, and quickly. But she's not the only one. Her mother is no more, she has siblings and only one will inherit.
Wether she wants it or not, Faerie is not done with her, and her newfound mysterious talisman. Along with her only real ally, Viola, and a hot half-faerie named Cedar with an agenda of his own, she will have to prove herself stronger than those who wish her dead. Stronger than any half-bloods. As strong as her mother.
All the characters are interesting in a way, and the story is quite fast-paced, even if not too much. There is some suspense and I still have a lot of questions that need answers... That's why I absolutely need book 2! And well, YOU need book 1, trust me ;)
May 27, 2019
This was pretty entertaining overall. I just kind of felt like there was a lot of nothing going on for quite a while. Raine was interesting to follow around, as in she did interesting things, but I personally found her a bit too immature and one dimensional to really connect with her. She wasn't all that interesting from a personality standpoint. It's like watching an action movie with a cardboard cut out as the hero. It's still fun to watch but it's hard to care. I also had a bit of trouble getting into the plot and the world as a whole. Maybe I should have read another book in the world first. I wasn't confused by anything really. I just had a hard time connecting to the plot and world and story in general and maybe reading an earlier book would have helped because I would have been invested in the world and familiar with it already. It wouldn't help me connect to Raine, but it might would have helped with everything else. But this was still interesting. I'll probably go back and read one of her earlier fae books.
August 4, 2017
It started with Raine stealing a birthday cake, and I instantly fell in love with the novel and with the main character. You do not need to read the Changeling Chronicles series to understand the plot, and that is a bonus. I would like to think that Raine rolled a 4 on a D20, and she compensated by stealing food and inconsequentials to keep a roof over her dad's head.
This was not her only obstacle, since hellhounds suddenly break into her home, and in killing them, she meets a knight in shining armor (another thief). They have an on-and-off-again relationship which (as usual per Emma's novels) is chaste but intriguing, like a low-fat angel food cake. You want more; you want delectable and satisfying, but you will finish with a sense of dissatisfaction. But Raine proves that she does not need a knight in shining armor.
Just as in the changeling series, there is a lot of action and a complex plot. The romance is low-key and just fine for young adults. As an older adult, I want something steamier, but I dig the action.
The story is different enough from the earlier series to keep my attention in the world, which is great! I love her world!
I received an advanced copy for the review. The only reason I have not finished is because iBooks keeps opening up blank pages, so I suspect it is not recognizing the formatting. I intend to buy the book anyway to support the authorship. It's fantastic so far!
This was not her only obstacle, since hellhounds suddenly break into her home, and in killing them, she meets a knight in shining armor (another thief). They have an on-and-off-again relationship which (as usual per Emma's novels) is chaste but intriguing, like a low-fat angel food cake. You want more; you want delectable and satisfying, but you will finish with a sense of dissatisfaction. But Raine proves that she does not need a knight in shining armor.
Just as in the changeling series, there is a lot of action and a complex plot. The romance is low-key and just fine for young adults. As an older adult, I want something steamier, but I dig the action.
The story is different enough from the earlier series to keep my attention in the world, which is great! I love her world!
I received an advanced copy for the review. The only reason I have not finished is because iBooks keeps opening up blank pages, so I suspect it is not recognizing the formatting. I intend to buy the book anyway to support the authorship. It's fantastic so far!
September 19, 2021
Thief against thief
Raine has limited power as a half-blood, faerie magic so weak she survives by stealing from others to look after her human father who's mind was destroyed by her mother when she abandoned him and Raine.
The truce enacted by Ivy forced the faerie to acknowledge their half-blood offspring and now the gates are being opened for those who wish to find their past. Raine receives visits from a messenger.. her mother is dead and an inheritance awaits. She doesn't want to go but after being attacked she sees there is only one way forward.. claim her inheritance and return to the life she knows.
As always with faerie it's not that simple. A powerful talisman is the prize and it's not just her half siblings who want it for themselves. Raine wins it but then the battle has only just begun as one family after another tries to remove it from her.
Raine has limited power as a half-blood, faerie magic so weak she survives by stealing from others to look after her human father who's mind was destroyed by her mother when she abandoned him and Raine.
The truce enacted by Ivy forced the faerie to acknowledge their half-blood offspring and now the gates are being opened for those who wish to find their past. Raine receives visits from a messenger.. her mother is dead and an inheritance awaits. She doesn't want to go but after being attacked she sees there is only one way forward.. claim her inheritance and return to the life she knows.
As always with faerie it's not that simple. A powerful talisman is the prize and it's not just her half siblings who want it for themselves. Raine wins it but then the battle has only just begun as one family after another tries to remove it from her.
August 11, 2017
I had no problem in liking the MC in the beginning, but wished the story gave a little more background info - that said, this is a new series so am sure we will have more come book 2. At a point I felt that it could do with more explanation and it felt as-if I was sprinting to the end, instead of at a pace that was more manageable. The introduction to so many characters also had me a bit confused, but am sure this will all change for the better in the next book. Good start to new series, excited for the next one.
September 1, 2017
Mortal Heir
Mortal Heir by author Emma Adams continues with the story line first introduced in The Changeling Chronicles with heroine Ivy Lane. The heroine, Raine, is a half-blood living in the human world. It's interesting to view a new group of characters in this world, and the challenges they face dealing with their dual natures. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series.
Mortal Heir by author Emma Adams continues with the story line first introduced in The Changeling Chronicles with heroine Ivy Lane. The heroine, Raine, is a half-blood living in the human world. It's interesting to view a new group of characters in this world, and the challenges they face dealing with their dual natures. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series.
October 6, 2017
Loved it BIG time! Didnt realise this until i started reading it picks up
Where The changeling chronicles finished off. Dont worry if you dont want to read the first series you can pick up and go without missing anything compulsory. Its a great series so if you like good fantasy and into all things Faerie and supernatural you will really enjoy this. About to read the next one right now :-)
Where The changeling chronicles finished off. Dont worry if you dont want to read the first series you can pick up and go without missing anything compulsory. Its a great series so if you like good fantasy and into all things Faerie and supernatural you will really enjoy this. About to read the next one right now :-)
February 16, 2018
Kickass
I love this writer! The face she is not afraid to have gay\lesbian relationships. Her hero is kickass females! They speak their mind and have no problem taking care of what they believe in. The story line is interesting and keeps u wanting to flip the page. Well done #goindie
I love this writer! The face she is not afraid to have gay\lesbian relationships. Her hero is kickass females! They speak their mind and have no problem taking care of what they believe in. The story line is interesting and keeps u wanting to flip the page. Well done #goindie
March 29, 2018
Another successful series from this author
Ivy has been a favorite from the beginning and now the author has done it again with Raine and her merry band of friends and crew. I loved this first book and look forward to the rest. Magic, drama, mystery and physical attraction between two unlikely rivals.
Ivy has been a favorite from the beginning and now the author has done it again with Raine and her merry band of friends and crew. I loved this first book and look forward to the rest. Magic, drama, mystery and physical attraction between two unlikely rivals.
September 14, 2019
Great story
A great story with a great cast of characters. An urban fantasy in a magical world with many moving parts. This is one particular story and group of characters in a group of stories in a world of magic humans and the supernatural. Based
Check them all out in the united kingdom a half fairy inherits her Fai mothers magical talisman and the story begins.
A great story with a great cast of characters. An urban fantasy in a magical world with many moving parts. This is one particular story and group of characters in a group of stories in a world of magic humans and the supernatural. Based
Check them all out in the united kingdom a half fairy inherits her Fai mothers magical talisman and the story begins.
October 6, 2017
I'm not sure what I really thought about this book. I felt the main character was an idiot at times. But for some strange reason, I'm not ready to give up on this world.
So I will be reading the next book.
So I will be reading the next book.
October 15, 2017
Good
If you love fairies books, you will enjoy this story. Characters are interesting if perhaps predictable. Half humans in fairie..how will they survive? Good enough to buy the sequel.
If you love fairies books, you will enjoy this story. Characters are interesting if perhaps predictable. Half humans in fairie..how will they survive? Good enough to buy the sequel.
November 12, 2017
Pretty good
It's not my favorite of her series but it is ok. My big issue is that you really do need to read the Changeling series first for a lot of it to make sense which isn't true for her other series. I would still suggest it for a read but read the other series first.
It's not my favorite of her series but it is ok. My big issue is that you really do need to read the Changeling series first for a lot of it to make sense which isn't true for her other series. I would still suggest it for a read but read the other series first.
December 4, 2017
Not for me
This is an interesting take on faerie but it just wasn’t for me. The characters were somewhat shallow. The storyline wasn’t well thought out. The fight scenes were too long and the writing style was disjointed.
This is an interesting take on faerie but it just wasn’t for me. The characters were somewhat shallow. The storyline wasn’t well thought out. The fight scenes were too long and the writing style was disjointed.
October 30, 2018
Pretty impressed with this first book.
Although it is short it isn't too short and reading it doesn't feel like it is short.
I love Raine, she to me is a real go getter but also she feels and I was worried whether her character would be good or not. She is and I liked her.
Although it is short it isn't too short and reading it doesn't feel like it is short.
I love Raine, she to me is a real go getter but also she feels and I was worried whether her character would be good or not. She is and I liked her.
August 28, 2019
How can a person from not having any magic transform in one single day? And it's not that her powers were bound or something like that, nooo...she just got powerfull and knew what to say to the fairy kings and this all without any training or just from living near them...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2022
great world building
Meet Rain as she handles her Sidhe mother’s legacy while trying to navigate traps and assassins. She is also trying to stay true to herself and protect her father. No sex but some foul language
Meet Rain as she handles her Sidhe mother’s legacy while trying to navigate traps and assassins. She is also trying to stay true to herself and protect her father. No sex but some foul language
August 2, 2017
Excellent book!
I loved this book. It had everything faerie that I have ever wanted in a book. I can't wait to read the next book in this series. I love this author!
I loved this book. It had everything faerie that I have ever wanted in a book. I can't wait to read the next book in this series. I love this author!
August 13, 2017
Magic
I enjoyed this book even though at times it was long winded. I hope future books get to the plot quicker. Saying that it was a Damon good read.
I enjoyed this book even though at times it was long winded. I hope future books get to the plot quicker. Saying that it was a Damon good read.
August 12, 2017
The start of another stunning story
Emma L Adams has once again started her readers along an amazing reading journey. I cannot wait to read the next book.
Emma L Adams has once again started her readers along an amazing reading journey. I cannot wait to read the next book.
August 15, 2017
Mortal Heir is a great 1st in series. It is fast paced with in depth characters and filled with magic! I am looking forward to more in this series and from this Author!
August 19, 2017
Excellent, good story evolving around Faerie vows
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