Kin & Kind

The Shard of Elan #4

by Laura VanArendonk Baugh

After generations of war, the fragile new peace hangs by a thread, as Ryuven attacks continue despite the treaty. Shianan leads an exhausted army facing a fresh and magically superior foe. Worried for Ariana, not yet returned from her own deployment, and as demoralized as his soldiers, Shianan is unprepared in every way when Flamen Ande, high priest of the Gehrn cult, reappears to demand Luca back.

Luca was once enslaved to Ande, but that was a lifetime ago, before the fall of the shield, before the battle that nearly killed the prince-heir, before the desperate truce and the unexpected massacre by magics they could not resist. But that was also only months ago, and thanks to Luca's devastating honesty, Ande is newly absolved by the court.

Tamaryl has sacrificed too much for this peace, and he will do whatever it takes to preserve it—even bring more Ryuven to fight in Chrenada. When he is given a cruelly impossible choice, he must decide where his faith lies and who can be trusted with the salvation of his people.

Ariana has irrevocably committed herself against the king's will, but that may be the least of her troubles as she is targeted by those who would use her for revenge. Between human and Ryuven assailants, she must risk all on a defense no one else can use.

Kin & Kind is the final novel in the action-packed Shard of Elan series!

Genres: Fantasy

435 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 10, 2021

About the author

Laura was born at a very early age and never looked back. She overcame her childhood deficiencies of having been born without teeth and unable to walk, and by the time she matured into a recognizable adult she had become a behavior analyst, an internationally-recognized and award-winning animal trainer, a costumer/cosplayer, a chocolate addict, and of course a writer.

Laura writes fantasy in a variety of subgenres as well as non-fiction in the art and science of behavior and training.

website | Newsletter | Patreon | Twitch | Twitter | Facebook

Reviews

[Claire Banschbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this series and especially my disaster boy Shianan. This was a perfect conclusion to the series, still with moments of peril, banter, "what the heck are you doing???", ships sailing, nail biting, not enough Soren tbh, and lots of fist pumping at the end. Azalie is a queen in every sense of the word. Just read these books because they are the best.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good clean series. It has likeable characters, humor, a good setting, and it moves at a rapid clip. Shianan and Ariana are particularly engaging. This one is the fourth in the series, and I have liked each one.

[Selina Gonzalez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This did start slightly slow, but the second half was non-stop until almost the end, then (maybe minor spoilers??? If you don't want any hints at all skip the rest of this paragraph, I guess) a very satisfying denouncement to tie everything up and leave me with happy feelings.

On to the gushing!

AHHHHHHHHHH *hugs the book because I can't hug fictional characters* I LOVE THEEEEEEEEEM

This series (and this book) is the kind that gets me so drawn in and attached that it gets me to REACT react--kicking my feet, laughing, grinning, "AH HA!" and "YES, YES, YES," out loud, biting at my fingernail, etc. I almost broke down and cried (in joy or sorrow I shan't spoil 😉) and for me who doesn't particularly like to cry or get moved to do so very easily, that's practically weeping on the floor.

I'M SO GLAD WHAT I THOUGHT WAS HAPPENING AT THE END OF BOOK 3 WAS IN FACT HAPPENING AND IT HAPPENED!

The characters, oh, the characters grew so much! And wrestled with so many hard decisions and injustices and questions of ethics and such and it was so raw and good. And things happened that absolutely melted my heart. Or threatened to stop it. 😅 I just--I can't say anything without spoiling things.

I'll almost certainly reread the series, which is, in my opinion, the highest praise I can give a book.

Also, it saddens me the cover is missing here, it's a good cover...

[Sara James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Satisfying conclusion to a wonderful series

I have loved this entire series so much. It's hard to find fantasy authors who hit the right note that makes me want to live in the world they've created even though hard things are happening. But The Shard of Elan features such a world and beloved characters. Although this series is concluded, I hope we haven't seen the last of Chrenada and the Ryuvens.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an outstanding conclusion to an amazing series!

During the summer of 2020, I downloaded the first book in the Shard of Elan series. My first impression was, "this book is too long, I'll never finish it. Why is the protagonist so unpleasant and grumpy?" But because it was 2020 and I was laid off my job (plenty of time on my hands), I decided to keep reading. Wow, am I glad I did.

This series quickly became a favorite, and the intricate, moving, action-packed story never lets up, not even on the very last page (can this keep going forever, please?). Shianan, Ariana, Luca, and Tam became close friends over the last year, and I've enjoyed anticipating their story's end, even if I also dreaded not having more books to look forward to. But I can honestly say that the last book did not disappoint or leave me wanting. It hit all the right notes and nicely tied up every storyline (not an easy feat for such a detailed plot!).

These next few paragraphs will include heavy spoilers!

First, Shianan and Ariana. They did the unthinkable in Crown and Creed and married against the king's wishes. Shianan could not have been closer to bringing down the full force of the king's wrath, but he married anyway, and I couldn't wait to find out how (if) they could get away with it. Turns out, marrying Ariana was the best thing Shianan could have done. They were adorable together (I mean, SO cute. I don't usually like romance in my fantasies, but these two I SHIP), and Shianan finally had someone to lean on for support, and better yet, a family! (Ewan to Shianan: "I wouldn't even mind if you called me Father." STOP!) It was so cute to read them stumble through marriage and find ways to keep it secret, and I'm just so happy Ariana could give Shianan the belonging and love he never had.

But their marriage was overshadowed not only by the king's inevitable discovery, but the return of the Gehrn priest, Ande, who WANTS LUCA BACK. I always had a feeling Ande and Luca would cross paths again, but I never expected Ande to fight so hard to reclaim his slave. His determination was frightening, and poor Shianan felt so helpless to protect his friend. He couldn't even warn Luca without the possibility of breaking him, and so Luca was totally unprepared when Ande finally came for him. The scene between Shianan, Luca, and Ande was easily one of the most intense, and I thought Laura did a great job resolving the conflict. Ande got exactly what he deserved. Shianan avenged Luca by smashing up a few priests, and Luca, though traumatized, moved on from the incident by writing arguments against the slave system in Chrenada! This was such a great plotline for Luca, and I was so proud of him for working so hard and gaining the confidence to confront Prince Soren on the topic. Dismantling an entire slave system will not be easy, but I love that Luca got the conversation started, and that Soren seemed particularly affected by the facts.

Moving on, there was also the impending Ryuven war! Not only did Shianan have to worry about hiding his marriage and Luca's well-being, but it seemed the climactic battle was to take place just outside Fhure, his own estate. I had no idea what to expect, and the characters seemed to be at an extreme disadvantage against the Ientu warriors. I had no idea who would live or die, especially when the Ientu cheated after the tentative truce. It was so satisfying when Shianan and Ariana dueled the dishonest Pairvyn of the Ientu clan, even if I was terrified for them the entire time. But what an awesome fight scene! Shianan got to battle in the Ryuven world, and Ariana showed off the full force of her magic to defend her husband. The battles even led Shianan and Tam to form a shaky friendship, something I never thought possible after three books of them hating (and trying to murder) one another.

There were also so many scenes I loved that I want to briefly touch on before I get to my FAVORITE MOMENT!

*Thir and Jarrick finally learning what happened to Luca. It was unfortunate Luca spent so long thinking his siblings had abandoned him again, and it was so great to have them finally reunited (even if the Roald family still are not my favorite people).

*Soren and Princess Calissa falling in love! I had a feeling it might happen, but it was so wonderful to see them so happy! They have so much in common, and I think they will make some great changes to the kingdom.

*Jarrick going to the salt flats for Cole! Poor Cole, who isn't quite a hero or particularly likable but is so darn realistic and flawed, gets saved, and although I wonder what his future holds, I'm glad he was given a second chance.

*The mages being awesome. Ewan will forever be my favorite dad character ever. He is amazing and the best parent of all time. Mage Parma had so many badass moments; I'm so glad she was given more page time. Mage Callahan, the complicated, bitter antihero, finally admitted to the shady way he helped bring about the Ryuven truce, but he also had some charming moments: "'Soats, who are you? Don't answer, just hug your table. Kitchen, you say." XD

*Shianan saving Tam's life (in the RAIN).

*Shianan saving the children (in FIRE).

*Alasdair being promoted from little turd to little adorable dork.

*Luca and Shianan's friendship despite changing stations, marriage, conflict, and trauma. Their relationship is everything <3

Okay, but now for my favorite moment!!

The best twist of the series by far was the Queen's change of heart. And the fact that all this time she planned to ADOPT SHIANAN absolutely ruined me. I knew she had changed, but I never thought she would go so far, and the fact that Shianan finally gets a parent who WANTS HIM was the perfect ending for the series. Shianan has a mother and brothers, and he no longer has to fear the king's abuse because Jerome can't touch him! I'm glad Shianan found belonging with his royal family, and that the king will wallow forever in guilt and misery for losing his chance to ever fix things with Shianan. It was the most fitting form of justice for the king who did so much harm. And three cheers to Shianan for finally standing up to his father and refusing to take any more abuse. He has come so far :')

I could talk about this book all day, but I think I touched on all my favorite parts. The last chapters brought up all the feelings, and I definitely cried once or twice. All the heroes had their own unique happy endings, and I'm glad they survived to enjoy the rewards of their efforts. I'm happy Laura took this route; she could have written a tragedy with great loss of life and a bittersweet ending, but I'm glad her characters get to live well after the end.

If you are thinking about picking up Shard of Elan, I highly suggest you do. If you love fantasy, vivid characters, lots and lots of angst, and epic battle sequences, you need to stop what you're doing and read this series right now. You won't be disappointed.

[Annie Lima · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, as I knew I would. The character arcs and plot wrapped up beautifully. The writing and editing were both excellent. I'm so sad this awesome series is over! I hope there will somehow be more stories to come, sometime. Meanwhile, I will definitely be looking into other books by this author!

[Erica Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect ending to an awesome series!
Once again, the author excels at detail-work—setting up bits of plot chapters before they happen and bringing everything together wonderfully. She excels at character development and the smaller, character-focused parts of a story, and bringing everything together to a crashing climax. I honestly have no idea how she makes all the moving parts work, but she does, and it works wonderfully.
Shianan’s character development really stood out to me—there’s one particular scene near the climax that gives me chills and shows how he’s really stepped into the role of a hero. And (spoilers) I appreciate that the story didn’t go the stereotypical route and have the king die—instead it addressed the complexities of a dysfunctional family in a way that didn’t sugar-coat it but also didn’t reduce it to black and white.
The only criticism (and it’s barely a criticism) I have is that the author dropped a tantalizing bit of worldbuilding about the existence of the human world and the ryuven world halfway through and never really followed up on it, and I wanted to know moooore, dang it!
Overall this is one of my favorite epic fantasy series I’ve read recently and this book was an amazing finish.

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 4 and such a satisfying end to the series. Seriously, this one filled up all the holes in my heart. Shianan grows so much and finally gets a happy ending. Luca finds purpose, Soren finds love, I stan the Queen, and Tamaryl gets off my nerves. Truly satisfying and definitely worth the read. This whole series is on my favorites shelf and I’ve bought both Kindle and paperback copies. Top of my recommendation pile, for sure.

Rated PG-13
—clean romance (more fade to black now that marriages have taken place)
—some language
—violence/some gore
—abuse/slavery themes

[Elizabeth Lavender · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fate of their people rests on trusting in one considered the enemy. It’s a double-edged sword, as both parties hope for one ending to the gamble. Friendships are being born in the most unlikely of peoples and long-standing animosities are at last laid aside. Too many lives hang in the balance not to cling onto this thread of a possibility that stretches between the two worlds.
That thread is even thinner that runs through the personal battlefields of some. Tamaryl finds himself, once again, caught between the human and his Ryuven world. Convincing the Ryuven to trust the humans has been a painful challenge already for him. However, when the answer to the Ryuven’s longtime suffering leads to a heartbreaking answer, Tamaryl’s trust in the humans will become his reckoning and seal the fate of countless innocent others if it’s wrong. But he’s shown himself willing to put his life on the line before to save his people, one of the things we have learned to admire about Tamaryl.
Shianan and Ariana share that same passion to protect those they care about, and perhaps that’s one of the many reasons they are so good together. Adapting to the enemy’s new tactics of battles and trusting their newly formed alliance with an enemy for answers has even Ariana questioning their success. But she’s strong and determined to keep fighting, whatever the odds or the arena. Even if that arena turns out to be closer to home, including the King himself. And that’s where Shianan and Ariana find themselves, their actions causing them to be at odds with the highest law of the land while defending his very realm. For Shianan, it’s been a long, ugly personal battlefield with the King. The title of the bastard son of the King and the shame of that has clung to him and despite all his efforts he hasn’t been able to escape its yoke. Each time he thought he had shaken off its ugliness, the King beats into him that his bastard birth will overshadow anything else he does and forever limit his world. Finally, though comes a final showdown and Shianan must decide if he’ll continue to chase after a father’s royal claim or at last abandon this ghost hunt. For it takes an Shianan that is strong enough to stand up for himself and finally see a simple truth. That he’s enough and has always been. In fact, more than enough and others have already seen that about him. Even the King has, but he’ll just never admit it. And for Shianan to believe this truth and claim it for his own, that’s power and we desperately hope that for him because his struggle has been so agonizing to get to that place.
Similarly, Luca deserves to find a peace for his battered spirit. Enduring the most awful abuse, facing betrayals of the worst kind, and escaping enslavement only to find himself ensnared again, it’s been a brutal road for Luca. And then he does what is right, only to see a future of being placed back into the most horrific abuse he ever experienced. He doesn’t need the shackles from Ande to drag him back because his own actions have created his prison again. But in truth, he knows he never left it. And that’s the scar that the trauma of the journey has left on Luca’s soul. And for Luca, just as Shianan, there’s a truth he needs to see to begin to heal. Luca needs to see he’s free. Not a verbal declaration. Not stated on a piece of paper, even a royal proclamation. Not a person taking off the metal slave cuffs from his wrists. Rather it’s a freedom that goes to the heart, one strong enough to melt the prison bars erected on the walls of his spirit. And we plead that for Luca because we have felt the depths of the despair he’s persevered through this journey.
But what a journey it has been to reach this final trek. It’s been battlefields filled with betrayals, yet friendships and alliances too. It’s been a field bathed in tears to mourn the losses of our world, yet to acknowledge that victories can still be found. It’s been full of pain, suffering, and heartbreaking sacrifice, but discovering comfort in shared experience and the assurance that we don’t walk through the trials alone. And in that it’s been an inspiring, beautiful journey and one worth each step taken.

[Beth Hatch · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good yarn

Really enjoyed this series for characters that are likeable, world weaving that is well-stitched, and a story that's engaging! Would love to see another series exploring the snake pit of ending slavery in a nation that's become dependent on it...

[Kaitlyn Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cried happy tears when it ended, what a wonderful journey, I think I liked this one a little bit less than its predecessors only because the stakes were more world focused then character focused, but I’m very happy that these characters have received the ending they deserve.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is absolutely my favorite series of all time. It had me cackling, crying, and at the edge of my seat. I cannot recommend this series enough, and the conclusion was perfect.

[Emmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very solid and happy ending to a very solid series. Great world building and complex characters make this a satisfying read.

[Kelly Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect conclusion to this wonderful series! Shianan and Ariana continue to be both formidable and adorable, but my favorites from this book might have to be Azalie and Elysia. A highly enjoyable read!

[Kristina Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic conclusion

In Kin and Kind we get a conclusion to the Shard of Elam series that ties up the ends and satisfied. I can't say much since it is the 4th book in the series, but I will always love these characters and while I was sad to see the end of this series, I can truly say I was happy at the end with how it ended.

[Jacque · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished! And it’s a good ending. We resolve some of the problems in the kingdom (slavery, royal family drama) and finally put the rogue bug demons in their place. I liked how the last epic battle was handled and the growth of the primary characters.

However, there are still one or two things that I wonder about. Not enough that I think we need another book or anything, but it seemed it should have added a bit more tension to the end rather than just being tossed aside like it was.

But most things are wrapped up beautifully. Almost too beautifully, as I don’t know if it really counts as “dark” anymore if everyone’s just going to hug and get married at the end. Not that I’m really complaining. I like hugging. Big fan of hugging. I just might have to try something else if I really want to feel like I EARNED the “dark” category in second adventurer wheel. 😛