Stone Cold

I've gotten so used to series where you can read any volume more or less independent of each other that I thought it wouldn't be a problem starting with volume eight of this, but unfortunately it wasn't the case here.

The pairing seems to be a new one, but the plot and the world building are so advanced at this point that my head was spinning and I had trouble making sense of what was going on. I think it might be a good idea either making clear in the description that one should really start at the beginning to be able to properly enjoy this or do the necessary exposition in a way that doesn't lead to more confusion. Because while there was some information given, it was by characters you are made to feel you should already know, which only adds to the feeling of confusion. It does get better as the book progresses, but in the beginning my head was spinning and I had trouble figuring out what was going on.

This doesn't mean that this is a bad book, though I do think it would work better if it was more accessible - I've read enough series in different genres and media to know this can be done more smoothly, and I think this would be the better for it.

I do have to admit though, the characters are likable - mostly the two main characters, since there you never get the feeling you're missing something. I also did like the setting and what I understood of the world - there are Fae sharing souls with humans living in Washington, D.C., and they're fighting an enemy called the Marfach.

I'm never a big fan of fantasy stories using too many made up words, no matter if there is a glossary or not. It takes me out of the story more than it does add to the world, in my opinion, and while I get the urge to want to include it, it lessens my enjoyment while reading, and there was a lot of that here.

The overall writing was solid enough, although there was some overuse of phrases like "the blond" which always makes me cringe. If the name is known, it just makes no sense for a character to think about another character in that term. I'll let slip the "the male" when it's a Fae thinking because they're different and I can see why it makes sense there, but in Terry's case it just grated on me.

The sex scenes didn't do much for me- they weren't bad but didn't add anything to the story either.

What I loved, apart from the characters, was the humor. I laughed out loud several times and that made it fun to read, despite my confusion, and that is definitely worth something.

The plot also gripped me once I got past the initial confusion, and while it does move a bit fast, it had me interested until the end.

I highly recommend starting with volume one of this series, and I certainly will do so at some point because I found the world and its characters intriguing enough to want to do so. Recommended to fans of urban fantasy who like big casts of characters, and some humor along with their romance.

This review will be posted to Goodreads.

I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review. It was an interesting book but there were times I was lost as to who was talking. It was sometimes hard to follow what was happening. I have not read the first book and that might be the problem. I did enjoy the relationship between Maelduin and Terry and how it developed throughout the book. I think a lot of people would enjoy this book but not me personally.

Okay, so it took me a while to get into Stone Cold, but once it grabbed me, it didn’t let go. I didn’t have this issue with the first 5 books in the series, but it’s been a while since I’ve read any of the books in this series (I read Blowing Smoke in 2015.) Also, I inadvertently skipped Mantled In Mist (#6) and Undertow (#7) so I’m pretty sure both contributed to the slow start. Sometimes you can fall effortlessly back into a series after a break, but so much happens in the SoulShares series and what affects one pair seems to affect them all and not knowing all the characters made things just a little confusing. Lesson learned. 😉

Once I caught up, I couldn’t put Stone Cold down. Terry’s a character that’s been around for a while in the SoulShares series and finding his SoulShare was long overdue. Both Maelduin and Terry had their reasons for fighting the pull that they felt toward each other. Maelduin was cursed to never love and Terry was unlucky in love. He either picked the wrong person or pushed the right ones away. Things are never quite what they seem in this world of magic.

The Marfach was as gruesome as ever and magic was running rampant – and not always in a good way. As I said, a lot happened in Stone Cold and evidently a lot happened in the books I missed. I’m definitely going to have to go back and read those two books before the next one is released. Stay tuned!

It took a while for me to finish this book because I struggle to like the new characters introduced in Stone Cold. The nexus, the pattern at the fae realm had all undergone a shift since the last installment to the “SoulShares” series. And this - I assume - what triggers the handicap Maelduin Guaire trapped in when he went through the pattern; to buy time for the Purgatory fae to warn his uncle.

It’s not Maelduin’s bloodlust that irked me though. Heck, I’m down for antihero or wicked traits in a character. It’s that he intentionally planned to use and duped Terry that just doesn’t sit well with me. Added to that is the pity party Terry throws for himself. Kinda a buzzkill for me.

Fortunately, Stone Cold is a multiple POVs sort of book with multifaceted revelations from recurring characters. I don’t know how the author did it, weaving complicated tale after tale that has ripple effect from the first book up to this one. For that alone I will continue to follow this series, to find what next adventure would bring.

Stone Cold might not be my favorite entry of the series. The newest SoulShares pair is too bullheaded and foolish to my liking, their journey to come together as whole rather too simplistic and really rushed. But on the flip side, the other factors in the story - the bigger picture and not a single SoulShares - are quite riveting. I foresee a showdown somewhere down the road with the turn of event in this book. I needed more patience that I’m willing to give reading this, but Stone Cold’s definitely a crucial read for fan of the “SoulShares” series


Advanced copy of this book is kindly provided by the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I had started this series and gotten up to Book 4 but then I apparently lost track of it. When I saw this – Book 8 – I was psyched! I haven’t gone back to read Books 5, 6, or 7 and I think it would have been better if I had.

A lot has changed since I was in this “world” , and it’s a very complex world.

If you’ve not heard of this series – here’s the basics:
There’s a very bad guy – Marfach – and he’s trying to take over everything. The Fae need to find their soul mate and bond with them to be strong enough to fight him.

There are a lot of obstacles in the way, lots of magic and a fair amount of sex – though that isn’t overwhelming.

If you love high fantasy and other dimensions and the Fae – this is something you should look into. The books are long and very complex and detailed.

Since I’d not been following along I found myself skimming through all the back and forth which involved characters I’d not read about yet.

I didn’t particularly care for either MC in this story and though I loved the magic and seeing some of the MCs from earlier books, I wasn’t invested in this relationship very much.

It’s a great series for those fans of fantasy/urban fantasy/ Fae .

3.5 of 5 stars

Not having read the first eight books in the series, I was a little confused at first, but was quickly pulled in to the story Maelduin and Terry. I loved seeing glimpses of the other SoulShares and want to go back to the very beginning to read all of their stories!