Eva escaped Aiden's grasp but he hasn't given up. Even in New York, safe in her men's arms, he's invading her dreams, still proving his control over her. He's made it clear that he will get rid of her men and have her once again. She belongs to him. He's not the only part of Eva's life that has her confused and scared. Finding out that she was the fae queen of a lost kingdom should have been enough but she knows there is still much of her history that is unknown to her. Why does she keep seeing past pictures of herself that evoke memories? What other secrets has she hidden from herself? Each one that she discovers rocks her belief in who she truly is. And with each revelation, she worries that she will lose the men that she holds past connections with and that hold her heart today.
Faded Realms continues Eva's story. This is one of the most complex, detailed stories in RH combining multiple past histories for each of the main characters as well as the present day storyline. These relationships are so incredibly complicated; past love, past hurts, love found and lost, present-day jealousies and insecurities. When you stop and think about the amount of consideration given to Eva, each of her men, Aiden, Lexi, and even Eric it's mindboggling. The fact that it is addictively entertaining takes it up another level. This book continues the detailed excellence of the prior books. However, I can't give it my usual 5-star. Yes, it's well thought out, beautifully written but my rating can only be a 4.5 star this time because of Eva. I am not a fan of characters professing their love and then keeping secrets or offering up lies. I don't care about their reason whether they want to show their strength and independence or they want to protect someone, or they are simply scared to tell. Secrecy does not ever equal love. I am consistent with this belief but it is multiplied many times over in RH. RH is already stretching reality. One girl with three perfect men who could all get any girl they wanted, all compromising, sharing, putting the girl first. I LOVE RH so I suspend the arguments against this ever working. However, the girl is already demanding so much from the guys, if she starts withholding parts of herself or information the guys deserve to know, I can't get beyond this. Aiden has already put the guys through so much when he took her, he has threatened their very existence, she has a connection to Aiden that could be key. There is no excuse for Eva's silence. They deserve better from her.
This book focused on the relationships, settling bonds. It served as a set-up for things to come. I hope that when the next major challenge occurs that the men are armed with all of the knowledge that they need to be in a fair fight. I look forward to the past coming to light and Eva and her men moving forward together, solidly in their love.
Afternote: Does anyone else hold a grudge against Beckham over the past? Mason was beyond perfect in this book and Damon was his difficult, volatile, sexy self but Beckham and his widow lost some of my love. Lonely!?! Total fail on his part and I am holding it against him in this life. Yes, I am ridiculous!