Morgan leFay was a villain in Moonshadow, the first book in this series, though there was a sense that he was a reluctant one. Spellbinder reveals the full extent of the geas that binds him to the will of Queen Isabeau of the Light Court. The geas also allows him to go on vacation in the human world when the Queen gives a careless command. That’s where he sees Sidonie Martell in concert and falls in love with her music.

In order to manipulate Morgan, the puck (yes, that puck) kidnaps Sidonie and delivers her the Queen. When Sid refuses to play, she’s thrown in prison to rot. Morgan does what he can to help her, but is forbidden from freeing prisoners. He can’t even tell her who he is for fear she’ll be questioned by the queen, but they form a connection nevertheless.

I thought Sid was an interesting heroine. She has OCD and is always counting things. She sits in a dungeon and ponders privilege. But despite being a magicless human surrounded by more powerful creatures, she basically saves herself. There are no TSTL damsels in distress in this series and I love that.

I didn’t like Spellbinder as much as Moonshadow though, in part because the world is so small. Sid and Morgan spend most of the story in isolation, either because she’s in prison or he’s in hiding. That makes for an intense romance, but I didn’t learn much new information about the Fae until the very end.

Though it’s not the main storyline, Spellbinder explains the fall of Camelot and what became of Merlin. I thought that story, the artifacts of the gods, and the connection to the Wild Hunt were more interesting than the romance. I also liked the tie in to Dragos and the main Elder Races series at the end. It reminded me that I need to go back and finish the Elder Races books. They’re really good!

When I reviewed Moonshadow last year I hadn’t read any of the original series but didn’t have any trouble picking up this one. Now I’ve still only gotten to the first two books so I don’t know if there might be more background on the Fae that I’m skipping, but I didn’t feel like I had missed anything. In fact, this story is only loosely tied to Moonshadow. The war between the Light and Dark Courts is mentioned, but the puck is the only character, other than Morgan, that really carries over. It’s his affection for the first book’s heroine that motivates his actions at the beginning of Spellbinder, but you could certainly read this book without knowing that.

And that bothers me a little bit. I was looking forward to spending more time with the Dark Fae knights and instead got moved to the Light Court. There are only three books planned in this series, but there are so many more stories to tell that I hope there will be more.

I love Thea Harrison's Elder Races series, but the last couple of books weren't as great. So when I heard she would starting a spin-off series across the pond I was apprehensive but intrigued...
Moonshadow caught me by surprise and I loved it. I am happy to say that Spellbinder is also quite fantastic!
I loved that Thea used the villain from Moonshadow as the hero and showed us that things weren't quite as obvious as they appeared.
Morgan is such a perfect anti-hero, I really don't want to spoil anything but be prepared for his awesomeness :)
Sid is one my favorite PNR heroines ever! She goes through so many horrific things and is still able to be such an amazingly strong character... Smart, resourceful, sweet, strong and so many more... I adored her and Morgan together!
All in all this Elder Races spin-off is just getting better and better and I for one cannot wait for Lionheart!

Morgan Le Fae is the hero of this book, which might stun those of you who read the other books where he’s a villain. This isn’t so much a story where Morgan redeems himself but a story where we finally get the full picture of Morgan’s situation. Turns out he’s magically enslaved to Isabeau, the Queen of the Light Fae, and he’s been forced to follow her orders to the letter for centuries. He’s been searching for an out the entire time, and when he finally gets a reprieve due to a poorly worded order from Isabeau, he’s hopeful he can find something to end his enslavement. However, he ends up putting it all on the line when a human musician he’s developed an attachment to gets kidnapped and turned over to Isabeau. Sidonie Martel is a genius musician, but when she’s brutalized by Isabeau, Morgan can’t look the other way. As he starts helping her, the two get closer, and both end up making decisions about how much they’re willing to risk for the other.

OMG Morgan. He is a total badass and an incomparable magician, and, finally, we get to see that he’s also an amazing person. He is entirely isolated from everyone by Isabeau’s machinations. Because of her orders and the fact that no one knows he’s enslaved, he’s seen as ruthless and scary, so naturally nobody wants anything to do with him, even at the Light Court. He’s spent centuries performing atrocities without being able to stop or even explain himself. Can you imagine what that would do to a person? He was so lonely and traumatized it made my heart hurt. The tenderness and genuine caring he shows Sidonie, though, reveals his true character, and it’s so clear why Sidonie falls in love.

While Morgan is really the heart of the story for me, Sidonie is also fantastic. She knows almost nothing about the Light Court or the Elder Races, so when she’s captured she’s in way over her head. She’s a quick learner, though, and with Morgan’s help she survives. In part because she has no prior knowledge, she’s the only one who isn’t afraid of Morgan and really listens to him, and it allows her to figure out what is happening and communicate with him in a way no one else has. I love it when both characters do everything in their power to protect the other one, and this book had that in spades. While Sidonie can’t do much for most of the book, she makes the tough call for Morgan in the end. I just ate it up.

Another thing I loved about the book was that Morgan isn’t the only complex character. A lovable character from the first book in the series is back, though he doesn’t always make such lovable choices here. Isabeau is a bit more complicated than just “cartoon evil queen” as well. I’m not saying I liked her, but it was interesting to understand how she too was kind of trapped by her enslavement of Morgan. Even the war between the Light and Dark Courts that makes up the central conflict of the series was cast in a new light. Innocent people like Morgan have gotten caught up in the war, and this book showed that most of the Light Fae are just regular citizens trying to live life as best they can. It makes for a rich and interesting world to read about. 

This book is pretty dark and angsty, which makes sense given the horror of Morgan’s situation and the cruelty of Isabeau. However, it did make it kind of heavy reading sometimes. I longed for some more lightness to counteract all the pain. Frankly, I was also pretty frustrated that the lovable character I mentioned earlier didn’t do more to help Morgan once he understood what was happening. Couldn’t he get some reinforcements or do more to help plan? I guess if this book has one lesson, it’s that trauma is messy, complicated, and long lasting, and people don’t always make the best choices in those circumstances.

I am totally torn about future books. On the one hand, I would love to see Morgan again, but on the other hand, I hope both the Dark and Light Fae just leave him the hell alone because he's suffered enough for their war! I really, really loved reading this book. It was smart and moving and made me look at book 1 in the series in a whole new light.

Grade: 4.5 out of 5

I read this immediately after the first book in this trilogy Moonshadow which I liked but it was about a 4 Star read for me BUT this book I thought would be about the same but the start was slow and then brutal but then things started looking up and I really got interested.

It has been awhile since I gave 5 Stars to any but a few of the top authors but this one just hit home for me and it built only slightly on the events of book 1 but without that knowledge you will not be able to enjoy this book as much.

Morgan (who the author uses as a Merlin-like sorcerer) is under a geas which requires him to do whatever evil Isabeau of the Light Court demands. He has been shackled like this for centuries it would seem but an action from our last book (another reason you need to read it) allows him a measure of short term freedom during which he discovers the music of Sidonie which he becomes enamored with and buys tickets to all her concerts but sadly this leads to some dark times for her but this is the real start of a great story that while totally original incorporates some elements of the Arthurian tale which I have always loved.

Bottom Line: A fine book of love conquers all, great characters, great story, evil people you will love to hate, what more could you want! I give it 5 Stars and hope the next book will live up to this one.

Wow. Spellbinder had me running a gamut of emotions. I was absolutely elated when I scored an arc, thrilled when I found out Morgan was the hero (I just knew there was more to him than we were being told) and a bit bummed when circumstances made it to where I could not start it as soon as it landed on my iPad. And yes, I was excited when I could FINALLY begin reading it.

It started out well, and I got a little thrill when it described the Djinn that popped into Sid’s concerts. I adore the Djinn and have since I met Khalil in Oracle’s Moon, a book within the Elder Races series. Then it happened. I never knew sweet little broken Puck would do something to make me so angry with him, but he did. His desperate play had me shouting at my iPad “Oh No, Puck, No!”.

Morgan won me completely over early on in the story. As we got more and more of his story and how truly evil Isabeau is, my heart broke. I loved Morgan. He was so very strong to not crack under the pressure of all that had been done to him. Ms. Harrison had an interesting/fascinating take on the story of Camelot and what brought it down.

What happened to Sid was horrid. She lost her entire world. After being kidnapped she did everything she was warned against and this did not end well for her. Broken both physically and mentally she imploded after being thrown in a dungeon and forgotten. This is when my frustration hit.

At this point of the story, I went from being happily immersed in a great story to feeling bogged down in a frustrating cyclic spiral. Sid was stuck in that horrid dungeon and Morgan’s situation began to feel more and more hopeless. I felt like I was in an inescapable lather, rinse, repeat cycle. In the midst of this, I realized how completely obtuse Sid could be. Holy cow, that woman just could not understand nor accept the phrase “It would be too dangerous to tell you”. I wanted to reach into my iPad and jackslap her to remind her of what was at stake.

I was now broken hearted for a whole other reason. A book I had longed to read was imploding in front of me. I even put it down and read another book. Finally, I girded my loins and dove back in. I knew no matter how I felt about this particular book, I would continue on with the series because usually Ms. Harrison’s books are freaking awesome. And that’s when the tide turned.

Things picked up, hope was restored, and I was rejoicing that I’d finally gotten out of that dark Dr. Seuss-ish useless waiting place that I found myself in for over 30% of the book. Finally, the four wheel drive of this particular book kicked in and traction not only was achieved, those wheels dug in and took me on the bumpy, thrilling ride I had been craving!

Spellbinder may have floundered a bit, but damn did it finish strong.


Rating: 3.5 The Waiting Place is No Place To Be Stars

Thea Harrison has created a world that I’ve grown to love in her Elder Races novels. The Moonshadow series is a spin off from the Elder Races, so the world and mythology are the same and if you are a fan of those novels as I am it’s easy to jump right in and feel at home. Spellbinder is the story of a famous violinist, Sidoni Martel, who is kidnapped after a concert and left with the light court as tribute to their Queen. This was done to punish Morgan Le Fae, the Queen’s sorceror and huge fan of Sidonie’s. As a human Sidonie is at the whim of this evil queen who punishes her with torture and time in the dungeon. This is where Morgan finds, heals and falls in love with Sidonie. This is also where the story gets interesting. There is more to Morgan’s story than we’ve been led to believe and in order for these two to be together they have a huge hurtle to overcome.

This story was not unique, it played on the legend of King Arthur and even the Devil and Daniel Webster, however it was imbued with such passion between Morgan and Sidonie that I threw away those moments of similarity and rooted for them as a couple. In Moonshadow, the first book in this series, we see a little of Morgan, and he is a bad guy in that novel, as well as in some of the Elder Races books. I had a moment or two of doubt that the author could turn my feelings around, but he was paired with Sidonie who I loved from the first note she played and she easily swayed me to their side.

The reason I read romance novels is for that fantasy element of true love and grand passion. If I can’t believe in the couple the story falls flat. The relationship in this story had heart and Sidonie and Morgan fought ferociously to be together. I love that in a romance!

5 - "I was broken, and broken again, until I became someone else..." Stars!

Thea Harrison takes her readers back to the Moonshadow series with the second book; Spellbinder giving us Morgan Le Fae’s story.

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There are so many things I can say about this book, it literally grabs you by the eye-balls and keeps you in its spell until the end. This isn’t your typical fantasy/pnr book, the author literally covers all bases and then some.

"What was healed can be rebroken…"

I think the other good thing is that although part of a series you can definitely read it as a standalone, because apart from Robin the puck I don’t recall any of the other characters involved having any major part of the first book. The story does follow on in the extent that The Queen of the Light Court is one of the main players this time, whereas she was sort of a secondary problem in the first book Moonshadow.

You will regret doing this to me. I will make sure of it…

I found it difficult initially to warm to Sidonie Martel at the start, although the situation she finds herself in, and the things she goes through after her kidnapping are quite disturbing, she still acted a little rashly at points, that-said though it was this behaviour that bought about some of the pivotal points in the story.

Sooner or later all the pieces would come together and she would fifure out who he was.

Her initial meeting with Morgan, and the virtual anonymity that then blossomed into a whole lot more gave this couple such a great depth, which added gravitas to everything that happened in the latter stages of the story.

There was no surviving some loves. No matter what happened to the love affair, whether it flourished or failed, those loves struck mortal blows one carried for the rest of one’s life. This love… this love was like that.

This is a battle of good against evil, the dark and light, those that were initially thought of as enemies eventually become allies. The players are so seamlessly moved around on the chess-board of the story that you are poised for disaster after each and every move that is made, it was a thrill-ride where you have no clue as to what may follow up next.

"The tide of war has shifted…"

And all of this played out around an absolutely captivating love story. I couldn’t predict how Thea would bring this couple together in the long term, and I absolutely adored the last couple of chapters because of it.

"I will come back."

Outstanding read, I cannot wait for Lionheart to be released in 2018, the author has me hooked!

ARC generously provided via Netgalley, and it was a pleasure to provide the above honest review in exchange.

I generously received a digital ARC of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

From the moment I read the first page, I was hooked and couldn't seem to stop reading. I've always been fascinated with the Fae, Avalon and King Arthur Legends which was in this book along with Thea's own unique spin to myths mixed with the modern world.

Sidonie Martel (Sid) is a very gifted musician whose parents encouraged her gift from a young age and worked hard to ensure she had every opportunity to succeed. She loves getting lost in her music especially with a violin in her hand and forgetting about her OCD tendencies, akwardness around most people and other troubles.
Morgan is a lycanthrope who was turned against his will by the petty Queen Isabeau of the Light Fae and has been under her control for centuries. He was once a very powerful human who helped a young boy become King but then was betrayed by Isabeau. Due to a geas, he's unable to pay her back for her deceit, offer help to prisoners or do anything unless Isabeau allows it.

When he becomes injured after a battle, he does everything he can to be free of Isabeau as long as possible when she sends him away and hopes to find a way to become free of her completely. He happens to hear Sid perform one night in London and finds himself drawn in a way he hasn't felt in centuries though his life is about to become even more complicated.

A foe who seeks to drive a wedge between Morgan and the Queen without being aware of what's behind the bond decides to kidnap Sid and in disguise manages to give her as a tribute to the Queen.

Sid becomes fed up with the treatment which ends up badly for her and it will take the unexpected help of a certain Magic Man as she calls him to find a way out of the terrible situation. She has no idea who he really is because he won't give a name at first for fear it could go badly for the two of them but Sid is tenacious and is determined not only to find out his name but to help him be free of the Queen.

Things become even more complicated as the story goes on but I don't want to spoil things. Let's just say that it's so worth reading to find out and some of it may be shocking.

This book was full of a fascinating mix of adventure, magic, steaminess, humor, mystery and the power of love. I'm so glad to have read this book and I can't wait to see what happens next!

This story is as spellbinding as the title with it's eclectic mix of Arthurian Legends and Midsummer Night's Dream featuring characters like Oberon, Isabeau, Morgan Le Fae, Mordred and Puck in interestingly different character. Sidonie Martel is human with no discernable magic except she makes music that make the Gods weep. Read on to see what happens when a human decides to take a stand against magic.
After the debacle which leaves the hell hounds defeated at the end of Moon Shadow, Morgan retires to a small town to hide and heal where he finds himself at a Sidonie Martel concert.  Her music is like a light that pierces the darkness that shrouds his soul.  Unfortunately for Morgan his interest in Sidonie has been noted and she becomes the perfect tool to galvanize him to action against the light court.  Perhaps even more unfortunate for Sidonie she finds herself kidnapped from her world and transplanted into the court of the Light Fae at the mercy of Queen Isabeau and her lover Mordred.
Resourceful Sidonie manages to escape from her prison and offer the Queen a musical treat as a bargain for her freedom. Morgan's help and healing has had a strong emotional impact on her quickly turning into lust if not love.  Puck also quickly learns of the truth behind Morgan's actions and becomes an ally to Morgan and Sidonie helping Morgan hide while Sidonie enchants the queen and the court with her beautiful rendering of modern tunes on a classical lute.  Clearly while its a love story with a happy ending the path to love is not smooth and there will be some interesting trials before Morgan and Sidonie can win free.
Sidonie is a delightful, three dimensional,  complex character.  I loved how she uses words and phraseology in a magical world to bargain for what she needs whether it be with the God Azrael, or the Djinns who come to enjoy her music or with the Queen when offered a bond. The encounter with the Wyr, Lord Cuelebre,  is very interesting and leaves some questions that I hope the author will answer soon.
A page turner with a very interesting twist on Arthurian legend.

Thea Harrison’s Moonshadow series weaves old English tales of magic and myth into her established world of shifters and Fae. In her new story, Spellbinder ,she blends legend and the paranormal together to tell the tragic story of Morgan le Fae, a sorcerer and kingmaker sentenced into a life of servitude to a petty and cruel queen.

To many of the Elder Races, Morgan le Fae is a feared enforcer for Queen Isabeau of the Light Fae Court. Leader of her Hounds and the most Powerful sorcerer ever born, Morgan has used his abilities to destroy lives and virtually cut off the Dark Fae demesne from the rest of the world. Sadly, Morgan was once revered as a noble wizard who advised a legendary king within the realm of Avalon; however that was destroyed when Queen Isabeau trapped him under a geas (a magical obligation or prohibition forced upon a person) and forced him to serve her.

Living hundreds of years under the control of a selfish queen has left Morgan bitter at his fate and desperate to break the bonds that hold him. His opportunity to temporarily escape Isabeau’s control comes when he appears before her wounded from a recent battle with the Dark Fae. Already angry at his losing to her enemies, Isabeau orders Morgan out of her sight until he’s healed, not realizing that the geas will keep him away until he is healthy. Morgan understands immediately that he’s been granted a reprieve from his confinement so long as he doesn’t hear a countering order from Isabeau. He leaves Avalon and hides out in London to recuperate and search for a way to break the geas. While there, Morgan tries to keep a low profile but finds himself drawn to a concert advertised in the hotel where he’s staying. The music Sidonie Martel plays is incredibly moving and stirs both painful and beautiful memories for Morgan, enough so that for the first time in centuries he feels something other than hate.

Sidonie is a violin virtuoso with a style that fuses classical pieces with contemporary arrangements. The performances in England have been her most successful but the strain of touring has made Sidonie eager for a break before her next show in Paris. While on route to Heathrow Airport her car is involved in a crash that knocks Sidonie unconscious and when she wakes up the she is abducted by a shape-shifter who apologizes for kidnapping her but will not release her. He claims that she will be the means to destroy the power of the Light Fae court; however Sidonie has no magic and is afraid that the creature has captured the wrong woman. Sidonie is transported to Avalon and presented to Queen Isabeau as if she were an object and the queen’s disregard for her welfare pushes Sidonie to her limit. When her demeanor towards the queen is less than reverential,l Isabeau orders Sidonie thrown in the dungeon but cruelly demands that all of her fingers be broken in order to teach her humility.

Sidonie’s anguish at seeing her life destroyed along with her hands is relieved when she wakes up in her prison a day later with both hands miraculously healed. Her happiness turns to fear when she realizes that another person is in her cell with her, but the man’s whispered words calm her. Without giving his name, her benefactor promises that he’ll take care of her but he cannot help her escape from her cell. Confused and alone, Sidonie has no choice but to believe the mysterious man has good intentions.

Hidden by the darkness of the cell, Morgan can be himself for perhaps the first time in centuries.  Once he learned that Sidonie had been kidnapped, a long dormant part of his soul reawakened and he knew he had to save her. The geas prevents him from directly helping her to escape, but through their conversations in the dark he can hint at ways she can help herself. The bond that forms between them is intoxicating for Morgan and the more time they spend together the harder it is for him to hide in the shadows. Sidonie’s trust and affection for him is a fragile thing that Morgan knows will be destroyed when she learns of the evil he’s done in the past.

Spellbinder could have been a tricky sell to readers of the Elder Races and its spin-off books. When I read the story description for this book I was confused as to why Ms. Harrison would pick Morgan as a leading man since she’d done a fairly good job of making everyone wary of him. Yet she turns him into a romantic hero, humanizing him and showing that he was just as enraged at his behavior as others were, but was unable to show it. We get to know a man who has given up on living and basically goes through the motions because he’s compelled to do so through a magic stronger than his own. The first cracks we see in his façade of indifference come as he watches Sidonie perform for the first time and he describes the experience as painful. Years of pent up remorse and frustration affect him as deeply as the new feelings of joy and exuberance brought out through her music. Discovering she’s been taken to Isabeau’s court against her will, Morgan knows that her life must be saved at any cost even at the expense of his own.

There’s an homage to Cupid and Psyche in how Sidonie gets to know Morgan and learns to love a man she cannot see. What Sidonie lacks in magic she makes up for in her intelligence. Understanding that Morgan’s ability to help her is limited, Sidonie is constantly looking for opportunities to change her circumstances and quickly works out that feeding Isabeau’s vanity is the quickest way to gain acceptance. She’s obsessive over minute details and that focus helps her to see avenues that could save Morgan from the hell to which he’s been consigned by Isabeau’s magic. Despite his own warnings against it, Sidonie’s unwavering trust in Morgan becomes the catalyst for his redemption.

The twists and turns Spellbinder takes to save both Morgan and Sidonie from Queen Isabeau’s clutches kept me biting my nails up until the end. Their relationship seems doomed because of the bonds that hold Morgan to another woman, yet everything he and Sidonie experience together ties them more tightly than any spell or chain ever could. A final choice made out of love is an incredibly romantic gesture that caps their story perfectly and makes this a book that I highly recommend.

Buy Now: A/BN/IB/K

Way better than the fist installment in this series. This novel eventually told us the story of Morgan Le Fae, whom we have met before in other installments of the Elder Races series and in the first book of Moonshadow. He is not a complicated character, but his story is and I have enjoyed that a lot, also because there are hints about who was his king ;). Sid is also interesting in her being a person with serious mental issues, and that is something you don't meet so often in paranormal romance.

Molto meglio del primo volume della serie, questo romanzo ci racconta, infine, la storia di Morgan Le Fae, che abbiamo incontrato in altri romanzi della serie Elder Races e nel primo volume di Moonshadow. Non é un personaggio complicato, ma la sua storia invece sí e mi é piaciuta parecchio, anche perché ci sono chiari indizi su chi fosse il suo RE. Anche Sid non é male come personaggio, soprattutto perché ha dei problemi psichici, che non é una cosa che s'incontra spesso nei paranormal romance.

THANKS NETGALLEY FOR THE PREVIEW!

Spellbinder is the second book in Thea Harrison's Elder Races spin-off series. This time around our antagonist from Moonshadow, Morgan, takes center stage as our hero.

Morgan la Fae has been ensared in a geas set by Isabeau, Queen of the Light Court, for centuries. After taking an injury from events that transpired in the first book, Morgan is sent away from the Court to heal. For the first time in all too long Morgan knows freedom, at least partial freedom. He's determined to do anything to see that his time away from the Court and Isabeau's influence. While away he discovers the wonderful music of Sidonie Martel. When Sid is kidnapped and taken to Avalon as a ploy to force Morgan's hand, he'll finally be forced to face his demons.

Sid is living the life she's always hoped for. Being a professional violinist was her dream, and being on tour allows her to stretch her wings and play the music she wants to play. But when she's kidnaped and transported to Avalon, she'll come to rely not only on her own cunning and determination to survive, but on the kindness of an unknown man who she begins to begrudgingly have feelings for. But when her very life depends on her talent, she'll discover that she holds the determination of her fate in her own hands.

I really loved the way that Thea Harrison turned Morgan from the villain in the first book into the anti-hero of sorts in Spellbinder. I wasn't really expecting Morgan to be the next character to get a story, but I was really drawn into his past. I loved the connection made within Arthurian legend. It's an interesting turn from the main Elder Races series, and kind of solidifies itself on it's own merits as a series, not just being a spin-off series.

Also, I loved Sid's strength and determination considering everything she is put through after she is taken to Avalon. Many would break under much kinder circumstances, but Sid will not give up, and I liked that a lot about her character. But, on the other hand, I also felt like this determination kept me from always liking her character. I found her to be a bit combative and not exactly nice sometimes. I know that she has no reason to be kind to those who took her, but not everyone that Sid encounters is evil. Some do show her kindness, but I didn't feel that same reciprocation from Sid, and it kept me from being one hundred percent behind her character oftentimes throughout the story.

I did enjoy the "masked" or "faceless" love interest in which the relationship between Morgan and Sid starts out. I was reminded of both Beauty and the Beast and Phantom of the Opera at certain times. This tactic helps build up the connection between Morgan and Sid, so when they finally decide to make that next step in their relationship you are just as ready as they are for things to move forward.

Overall, I really enjoyed Spellbinder. Despite not being completely on board with Sid's character, Morgan definitely shined throughout the entire book. I look forward to seeing where things go next. There are definitely quite a few secondary characters that I'd like to see get their own book, and a couple of those are anti-heroes just like Morgan. So far, despite being a spin-off series, the Moonshadow series stand well on it's own.

Book two in the spin-off series brings us Morgan Le Fae's story. We met him in book one, he was the bad guy that Isabeau Queen of the Light Fae commanded. But even in book one, we saw that he wasn't all that bad. In this one, we find out the truth and when he risks his freedom to save Sidonia, a musician he found while escaping from the Light Fae Court, we come to realize the depths of his character. When Sid is kidnapped by Robin and her livelihood threatened by Mordred's cruel actions, we see that she will be Morgan's perfect match. They were great together. Their story of getting to know each other, her tenacity to learn all of his secrets, and his draw to her no matter the risks was great to watch develop and grow. Their passion is so explosive and romantic. I loved the plot line, the conflicts they have to overcome and when Sid gives up her chance at happiness to set him free you can't help but get choked up along with her.  I loved the story a lot even more than I liked book one.

I want to start by saying that I did not read the first novel in the series, Moonshadow. I didn’t really have any interest in it and from reading both novels synopsis’ I could guess that this series was set-up like many other romance novels. While the novels are a part of the same series and set-up in the same universe, their stories are not dependent on each other and can be read like individual novels.

With that being said, I liked that I read it this way but other readers may not want to do the same. Going into the novel with no prior knowledge of the author or universe made many aspects confusing, especially in the beginning chapters. I spent most of my time focused on putting the pieces together for the story world and less time on the actual story. Thea Harrison truly fell short on introducing, or reintroducing her novel universe.

There were just too many things that were never truly explained, Thea Harrison kept relying on the assumption that her readers knew what she was talking about. That’s never something that an author should do; even if I had read the first novel, what if I read it a year ago and didn’t have time to reread it? I would expect that the author would at least give a short and very brief explanation of some things to jog my memory. Those brief explanations can also help keep new time readers stay on course with the story.

While I may not have agreed with Harrison’s world building I enjoyed almost every other aspect of the novel. The story was fast paced and the descriptions weren’t too drawn-out, which is something I prefer. There was a quick start beginning which is great to catch the reader's attention; no long boring intro, just jump right into the thick of it. But my favorite part was the romance. The romance between our two main bae’s, Morgan and Sid, was developed remarkably well and more realistically paced than other romance novels that I’ve read and that made their story stand out to me. While I enjoy a good fast, all consuming love like any other romance junky, having a more realistic romance is a nice and sometimes needed change.

Wrapping up, the world building was subpar but the rest of the novel was able to pick up the slack. If world building is important to you and you can’t enjoy a novel without it then I suggest you try to read the first novel, Moonshadow, before Spellbinder. Like mentioned early, I haven’t read Moonshadow but can only hope that Thea Harrison did a better job at explaining everything in that novel. If you’re more into characters and romance, then you can skip Moonshadow and go start to Spellbinder, if that is what you want.

Another wonderful story by Thea Harrison. Beautifully written with the two main characters written so well and strongly that they carry the book along almost by themselves. For readers who are fans of Thea Harrison and the Elder races series, you will just love this second instalment of the Moonshadow offshoot series.

Sidonie Martel is a famously talented musician who is ruthlessly kidnapped and transported the secret and mysterious Avalon. Ruled by Isabeau, Queen of the Light Fae Court, Sidonie is treated horrendously and struggles to survive and stay alive. She comes to depend on hardened Morgan Le Fey, a powerful historical figure who is known, hated and feared by most who know him.
The love story and relationship that develops between the two is amazing and powerful. The obstacles that they face are huge and overwhelming and the reader is rooting for them all the way.

I loved the world building in this book and the alternative aspect of the Elder Races world. A guest appearance by a well known character finished this book off nicely. A great series.

The tale that told everything came down to just one thing. I fell in love, he thought, and smiled. It was a miracle, and despite everything he had been through, he felt blessed with having been given such a fortune.
Morgan Le Fae one of the most powerful sorcerer’s in Avalon. Of earth magic and spells. Is most certainly not the man he used to be.
Isabeau the Queen of the Light Fae Court trapped Morgan a very long time ago. The Queen used Azreal’s Athame to gain his unwilling allegiance. A geas has kept him bound to a woman he despises and hates. To do what she commands. He can’t do anything to stop it. But wording is always the key. He can skirt them but not defy them. The tide of the war has shifted and it is not in her favor. But the Queen makes a mistake.
“What use are you like this? Get out of my sight. I don’t want to see you again until you’re fully healed.”
Morgan is a very patient man. And so, he has his freedom for while at least. He escapes to figure out how to escape his entrapment. He lands in Glasgow.
Sidonie Martel one of the best music players in the world. Sid has no spark of magic at all which makes things difficult for her. A wealth of favors by the Djinn. Flowing with music she becomes the music.
Robyn the puck is up to no good and drags Sidonie into the mess. The Puck knows nothing but he is about to learn what he cannot see. There is no reasoning with the Puck. Kidnapped and given to the Isabeau, Sid’s nightmare begins. Her future uncertain. Never to play music again. When all is lost a man comes to help her
Morgan feels manipulated into helping Sid. But things start to change. They become close. He has wandered alone for a very long time but with Sid he has someone at his side.
I loved Morgan. He is a fantastic Hero and I felt for him and his entrapment and his loss of free will. That is main goal was always to break it.
Sid is also a totally kickarse female. She plays on her strengths where others only see weaknesses. She gets herself out of many an awkward situation. She is sly and cunning. Two attributes I like in a heroine.
This could have gone terribly wrong. Why do you ask? Well I requested the book before I read the blurb. I read the blurb and it is with Morgan Le Fae. Shocked I didn’t know how that was going to be pulled off after what I saw of him in the first book.
The plot is brilliant so unique and creative. The author has added layer upon layer of plot that there is no way that you can be bored with this book. I need more of this series. I know that Lionheart is next but I don’t know who it is about. Please hurry up Ms. Harrison.

Spellbinder was a great read! The characters, plot, and diction were immersive and easy to follow. As I'm starting the series on this book, I rarely found myself confused with events. Morgan and Sidonie were enchanting. I'm excited to see what comes next! I would gladly recommend this book to anyone who likes magic and romance.

Spellbinder was a 4.5 star read for me. I love the strength and intelligence behind Sid's character, not to mention that the assumed evil guy gets to the girl.

Can you say intense emotional connection? Oh boy, was the Harrison's pen whipping out some seriously strong feelings. Intense, heartfelt and action filled, SPELLBINDER had me white knuckle reading from start to finish.

I received this ARC copy of Spellbinder from Teddy Harrison LLC. This is my honest and voluntary review. Spellbinder is set for publication July 18, 2017.

My Review: 4.5 stars
Written by: Thea Harrison
Series: Moonshadow (Book 2)
Paperback: 512 pages
Publisher: Teddy Harrison LLC (July 18, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0998139149
ISBN-13: 978-0998139142
Genre: Romantic Fantasy

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Shifters, fae, creatures, sorcerers! A bottomless well of magic and fascinating adventures! That's what you'll find in Thea Harrison's books. With her reliable wit and charm, yet again, she delivered an enchanting story that I couldn't get enough of. Characters with untold powers, awe inspiring gifts, and immeasurable courage. This book pulled me right out of my book funk from page one and took me on a wild, and fantastical ride. You do not want to miss it.

This book is about the bad guy. At least, that's what we'd been led to believe-not only in the Elder Races series, but in Moonshadow as well. Morgan Le Fae isn't a light or dark fae at all. He's the most feared and formidable sorcerer known by supernaturals and humans alike. But something told me that we wouldn't be getting a cold-blooded anti-hero, and my instincts were right.

Morgan was captured centuries ago by Queen Isabeau of the Fae Light Court, and his loved ones killed. Enslaved by stolen magic of a God, he's bound to obey any direct order by her. For hundreds of years, there has been no escape from the vile and evil deeds he has been forced to commit as her captive. As the commander of her vicious Hounds, he has been changed physically in irrevocable ways. But most devastating of all, through the loss of his free will he has lost all sense of hope and happiness. Morgan is a very stoic man, but it was clear from the very beginning the hate he held for Isabeau. The only thing he wanted more than escape was retribution.

Unexpectedly, he's handed a brief deliverance through a fluke loop hole in the magic. So he runs, with her Hounds on his heels.

Sidonie is a brilliant and successful musician, who has the world at her feet on the stage. But when it comes to interacting with people socially, she isn't skilled, nor is she comfortable. After spending her childhood studying and practicing, it left little room for making friends. To compound her difficulties, she has OCD issues as well, so this has caused her to live inside her head a lot. It wasn't until she caught the eye (and ears) of Morgan that would shake her tidy little world upside down.

Kidnapped and taken to the queen, she endured horrors she never could have imagined. She wasn't prepared for the cruelty, prejudice against her as a human being, and the fear that clawed at her for days on end. With no knowledge of the court and how the calculating inhabitants ticked, she needed a miracle, and she needed one fast. Just as she had given up all hope, a voice came to her in the darkness. A visitor who brought comfort, food, and care. She put her trust in him, and began to gain courage that she could survive in this nightmare she had fall into.

Sidonie and Morgan had a wonderful connection, I felt their spark immediately. She went through a lot of growth in captivity, losing her shyness and finding her strong inner core. I didn't see her as all that tough in the beginning, but her predicament made her adapt quickly. Morgan was never one you could imagine as protective in any previous books, but that's exactly what he became with this woman. He put his own tenuous freedom on the line time and again in order to be watch over her and help her survive. I absolutely loved them together, their passion and their unselfish love was amazing to see flourish in those desperate conditions.

There was tons of suspense, exciting magic, and a thrilling end that kept me on the edge of my seat. I just flew through this one, I loved every minute of it. There was an appearance from one of my all time favorite past characters, and I'm sure it will make a lot of readers happy when they get to see the little cameo. I love this detailed Elder world that Thea Harrison created, it never gets stale. With every book, it's more enriched and realitic. As long as she wants to create new inhabitants there, I will be more than happy to make their acquaintance. If you love paranormal and urban fantasy books, I highly recommend checking this series out!