Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Review: Oracle's Moon

ORACLE'S MOON
(A Novel of the Elder Races #4)
Thea Harrison
Adult Paranormal Romance
336 pages
Berkley
Available March 6th
Received from publisher for review

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
As a second daughter, Grace Andreas never had to worry about the intrigues of the Elder Races. But when her sister, Petra, and Petra's husband are both killed, Grace inherits the Power and responsibilities of the Oracle of Louisville, as well as her sister's two young children - neither of which she is prepared for.

Yet, she is not alone. Khalil, Demonkind and Djinn prince of House Marid - driven by his genuine caring for the children - has decided to make himself a part of the household both as their guardian and as an exasperating counterpoint to Grace's impudence toward the Elder Races.

But when an attempt is made on Grace's life, she realizes that Khalil is the only one who can protect her - and offer her more than a mortal man...

MY THOUGHTS
Where the first three books in the Novels of the Elder Races gave us the deeply passionate, intense, and funny stories of three powerful members of the Wyr demesne and their mates, this fourth installment leads us away from the Wyr connected to Dragos Cuelebre and gives a humorous and fresh romantic pair. One of the highlights of this paranormal romance series in general is Ms. Harrison’s focus on lesser known supernatural entities, and Oracle’s Moon entertains us yet again as a Djinn prince who can exist as nothing more than smoke and air finds himself drawn to a woman who has inherited the ancient power of the Oracle of Delphi. Ms. Harrison has an innate ability to make each novel distinct and unique, with each of her alpha heroes and strong-minded heroines setting themselves apart from those who came before to give us something unexpected and immensely appealing each and every time.

Grace is a young woman who fully embodies the radiant beauty and stunning spirit implied by her name, stepping up to take care of her niece and nephew without a single complaint or hint of resentment for the unexpected turn her life has taken. Her love for her sister’s kids shines from every page, and their family interactions have us laughing, smiling, and feeling an intimate kinship with them as they struggle to not replace what was lost, but rather rebuild it in their new image–a family whose cracks show through in body and mind but who are rendered more stunning for their imperfections. When Khalil insinuates himself into her life against her wishes, she holds her ground and stands up to a man whose power cows most of those with whom he comes in contact, forcing him to toe a line she defines with regard to the children and herself, and ensuring the balance of mental and emotional power is as equal between them as the ancient Power that emanates from both of them physically.

Khalil is perhaps the most enjoyable of Ms. Harrison heroes yet, his interactions with Grace and the little ones incredibly charming and endearing, the hilarity completely at odds with what we expect from someone as ancient and compelling as he. Khalil is so old that not much about life surprises him anymore, and he approaches each event or interaction with a type of detachment that results from having seemingly experienced everything at least once before. With Grace and the kids however, he shakes off his complacency in adorable fashion, venturing into human interaction with his own child-like curiosity as he tests boundaries, asks questions, and makes demands in a way that is remarkably lacking in authority despite the exquisite intensity of his Djinn energy. For him, everything with Grace is a new tactile or abstract sensation, and there’s nothing more satisfying than watching a man that has seen, felt, and experienced everything find joy and contentment in the simplest of everyday pleasures.

Even with the seriousness of the challenges facing Grace and the pain of Khalil’s past with his daughter, Oracle’s Moon has a lightness to it that's infectious and completely addicting, and we close the last page with the almost overwhelming desire to just flip back to the beginning and start all over again. Though we get a complete tale for Khalil and Grace, there is enough room in their physical relationship and the complexity of their distinct Powers for their story to not be fully concluded, and we can only hope that as with Pia and Dragos, Ms. Harrison might return us to their story again in the future so that we might get to treasure them one more time.

Rating: 4.5/5


I'm typically not a reader who highlights favorite or meaningful quotes while reading, but this interaction between Grace and Khalil was just too cute not to share (please note the below passage is taken from the ARC and may differ from the final printed version):

She did not protest, and he thought it was a measure of how the vision had shaken her. He looked at Chloe. "Come over to the table. Sit with your aunt. I will clear away this mess and...I will achieve pancakes."

Grace's lovely, tired face wobbled with what looked suspiciously like mirth, but she had been under so much stress he decided his first impression could not be correct. "You'll
achieve pancakes?"

"I do not see why not," he said.


"Have you achieved them before?" she asked. A touch of liveliness came back into her vivid eyes and they sparkled.


"That question is irrelevant," he told her, while his eyes narrowed in suspicion on her tired face. On a Djinn, her expression would definitely be laughter. "I will achieve pancakes now."

25 comments:

  1. Sounds like a fun series. Not enough paranormals incorporate humor into the writing. I'll definitely keep this in mind.

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  2. "I will achieve pancakes." <-- Best. Line. EVER! x) LOOOOL Jenny, I just love your review! The way you described Grace and her interations with the kids makes me smile, and it makes me smile even wider that Khalil approaches some things (like making pancakes) with that kind of adorableness. If the rest of the book is anything like the snippet you gave, I know I'd be grinning through the entire thing! ;)

    Amazing review, Jenny! It's cool that the author focuses on lesser known supernatural entities -- like a piece of gold in a pond of silver, I think! :)

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  3. I am freaking excited about this book! Seriously---she can do no wrong :)

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  4. LOL- well well well...its another series Ive never heard off....;D

    I hate to say this but I think that guy on the cover has a bigger boobs than me...........haha

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  5. I haven't read many paranormal adult books. I'm glad that your enjoyed this one. I have a hard time with paranormal, and I really need to be in the mood for it. Lately, I've been taking a break from YA paranormal.

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  6. Alison - I ADORE this series, honestly can't recommend it enough:)

    Mimi - Right? I snorted when I read that. Khalil was just too ridiculously cute. He can "achieve" pancakes for me any day.

    Amanda - I loved it, probably my favorite yet. Though Dragon Bound was pretty awesome:)

    Felicia - I agree. I will read anything and everything she writes and I know I'll love it:)

    Tina - I think men on all romance covers have bigger boobs than me. I've just come to accept it ;-)

    Jennifer - I read paranormal almost exclusively, it's just my thing:) I especially enjoy this series though, it's a fun break from the YA books for me!

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  7. Oooh, I love djinn stories...I grew up on them & write them. I was already looking forward to this book, but the "pancake" bit has me salivating :)

    Thanks for sharing!

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  8. I have to hunt this series to find out about the lesser known supernatural/paranormal creatures. The Djinn definitely piqued my interest. And I couldn't help but giggle at "I will achieve pancakes". If I was Grace, I would definitely do the one eyebrow raised (it frustrates me to no end that I can't do that in real life! LOL).

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  9. Mina - Was the pancake thing not the cutest? I just love Khalil:)

    Rummanah - I would do the one eyebrow raise too. The two of them together were just perfect I thought. I love this series so much!

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  10. I haven't heard of this series before, but it sounds like these books are great reads! I'm glad you enjoyed this one. :) Thanks for sharing that quote - that scene is hilarious! It definitely makes me more eager to check the first book out. Awesome review as always Jenny. :)

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  11. Oh this sounds like a series I'll definitely have to try! I'll watch for it at the used bookstore. I think I may have seen one of them not too long ago there...

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  12. Meh, book 1 did not win me over. It was the curse of PNR that struck again. Why can't I just fall madly in love with one

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  13. Humour is often lacking in the paranormal genre, but you've got me sold...as per usual. Damn you! :)

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  14. Sam - I love this series. I'm a huge paranormal romance fan, and these adult books help break up all the YA books for me. As much as I adore YA, I need something else to offset it sometimes:)

    Candace - I hope you do, it's a wonderful series. Fabulous characters:)

    Heidi - Khalil is ridiculously adorable. I just wanted to reach in and hug him. The books have been releasing quickly, I love it:)

    Linda - If you're not a fan of PNR, this probably isn't going to be a series that works for you:)

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  15. Melissa - READ THESE! Love them. You can borrow all of them when you visit before BEA:)

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  16. What? Book 4 already? Ms. Harrison must be a writing ninja! Gah! Why do I have to be such a fail in life? I've only read book one! Tragic, I know, especially because I want to learn how to achieve pancakes...all I can do right now is stuff my face full of them. :)

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  17. #4????? #4????? *sobs* I still need to read #1. NEED. Loved your quotes. Oh man... NEED THIS ONE TOO. See what you do to me? You make my caps light go on. :)

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  18. I loved people who are selfless. I wish more people are like that! This series sounds great! Thanks for the review.

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  19. Imagine inheriting the oracle of Delphi's power, Jenny! It'd be awesome to tell the future although I wouldn't really want to be talking in riddles or having to act crazy.

    I really like that this one features a Djinn - something new! - and a family that isn't perfect.

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  20. Aw, you're right, that was very cute. Having been so sheltered from adult PNRs, I think I have some crazy stereotyped idea that they are just action and sex romps... yeah, quotes like that dispel that idea. I know that's silly - I should just bite the bullet and read one. The mythology and world building of this one sounds pretty interesting!

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  21. OMGOMGOMGOMG!! Khalil's the most enjoyable hero yet?!?!? Now I really can't wait to read this one. I've loved her last two (ooh, Dragos...*drool*). Come on, March 6th! Okay. Sorry for all the exclamation marks. Great review as always. :)

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  22. I've never read one of her books, but I'm always seeing the best things about them. Her and J.R. Ward. And I know your love of J.R. I really need to just buck up and go to the library (and pay my fees) and get some books.

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  23. Another series I've yet to start but need to. One of these days. Great conversation at the bottom!

    Heather

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  24. I'm most of the way through this book and eeeeeeeee! I am developing an intense fondness for Djinn. LOVE. I could finish it tonight, but I want to draw out the experience.

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