Ryld's Shadows AURA Book #4
Fantasy, Mystical Creatures, LGBTQA Adventure Romance
Pride Publishing
March 8, 2022
Kindle
276
Amazon
Ryld must learn to control his dangerous shadows before they kill someone he cares about or someone unscrupulous learns how to control him.
AURA’s offices have been quiet since the mage tower incident—as quiet as they can be for an agency dedicated to policing holes in reality—and the department heads have been free to turn their attention back to mundane matters. The return to quiet bureaucracy gives AURA’s Director of Research, Kai Hiltas, the time to turn his energy to a new issue—a young drow with unusual and dangerous powers named Ryld.
Though his shadows always lurk at the edges of his vision, Ryld does his best to live peacefully and not let them hurt anyone. He has his work, his apartment and a succession of minders assigned by AURA who are, ostensibly, there to keep him safe in his new world and to prevent him from causing any scenes with his shadows. Most of the time, the arrangement works. But one disastrous incident causes Ryld’s minder to leave him unattended and lost—the precise thing he was hired to prevent.
To replace the faithless minder, Kai suggests Hank, a half-goblin accountant recently in the middle of a string of terrible luck, while Kai works out how best to get Ryld the magical training he so desperately needs. For his part, Hank truly likes Ryld and insists he would be happier working as Ryld’s companion rather than as a controlling minder.
As Hank and Ryld slowly come to terms with sharing space—and eventually more—Kai’s search for a teacher for Ryld takes them out west on the invitation of the Elvenhome’s aelfe queen and right into the lap of inter-elven feuds, ancient prejudice, conspiracies and trafficking rings. What should have been a pleasant visit soon turns into more than even forever-scheming Kai can handle.
Review by Gloria Lakritz
Review Chair for the Paranormal Romance Guild
It is always my pleasure to read a book written by either one of these authors…Together they are magic.!! This is Book 4 Of the AURA series Besides seeing Kai, a favorite of mine, we now meet Ryld and Hank.
Since The Event we are learning of other species that were pulled into our world. Since the first 3 books were written, the authors deal with the change of readers life experience have become more evident as bigotry is a constant reminder in this story. The authors brought that to the forefront, people being judgmental on what people looked like, what group they represented; rather then not who they were..
1-For example friendly beautiful Elven queens may or may not be trustworthy.
2-Dark Drow queens and drow mages with unknown powers aren’t necessarily evil.
3-And not every goblin is itching for a fight or suited only for manual labor.
Ryle’s Drow people bred and attempted to create a perfect weapon to command. Now in our world Ryld is always afraid, because he has no control of his powers. Kai helps and assigns him a keeper to help him cope with stress and handle the aftermath if Ryld lets a shadow loose. It is a hard task for a keeper and they do not treat Ryld well as they fear him….Fear of him makes keepers leaving like a revolving door.
Hank a Half Goblin and worked as an accountant has lost his job. Living from paycheck to paycheck he stops to check in at Aura for a job. He is given a construction job because that’s what they judge a goblin does. He is jumped after work walking to the train and is arrested.
Kai has a great idea !!!! Asking Hank if he would be a keeper, needing someone for Ryld. Ryld has just had an episode and has no keeper, Hank needs a job. We have the beginning of a wonderful story.The pace of this story is amazing, traveling to many places in the realm.
The Quinn / Martinez #4 is another winner!
