Mini-Review: Shadow Rising

Shadow Rising (Otherworld #12)

by Yasmine Galenorn 

Blurb:

We’re the D’Artigo sisters: savvy half-human, half-Fae ex-operatives for the Otherworld Intelligence Agency. My sister Camille is a wicked-good witch with three sexy husbands. My sister Delilah is a two-faced were cat and Death Maiden. And me? I’m Menolly, a jian-tu turned vampire in love with a wildly hot werepuma. Unfortunately, life is about to get very, very nasty…

Nerissa and I can’t decide on what we want to do for our promise ceremony and we’re bickering like an old married couple. My sisters and I head to Otherworld for a meeting with Queen Asteria. Once there, we discover that Shadow Wing has dispatched Telazhar—a malevolent necromancer—to reignite the Scorching Wars. And as soon as we return back home, we find Gulakah, the Lord of Ghosts, waging a battle to control the magical beings over Earthside. Caught between two terrible enemies in a battle spanning two worlds, we can only hope we’re in time to stop all-out annihilation.

Review:

This latest story in the continuing saga of the D’Artigo sisters was wonderful to read.  There was all the typical action and battles between the girls and their compatriots and the forces of evil that have been compounding against them  The personal lives of Menolly and Nerissa play a larger role in this story than normal.  The forces of evil have been building against the girls for a while and the battles just keep coming. 

The romance between Nerissa and Menolly plays a prominent role as they are working together to plan their wedding.  The planning brings up some issues and deep seated concerns between the women.  They are both dealing with their self doubts about each other’s feelings and how the outside world will interfere with their relationship, especially Menolly bond with Roman.  As danger stalks the girls and their lovers, Menolly must work past her doubts while working to defeats the Lord of Ghosts and his minions.  And only once they have accomplished all their goals can they work on their personal lives. 

This was a good story, though after twelve books in the saga there is always a bit of tediousness involved.  Especially with the style of repeating POVs, but it was a very good story in spite of that.  Menolly gains a lot of insight into herself and her feelings for her lovers.  She finally comes to terms with what she has become since she was attacked by Dredge all those years ago.  Embracing her true nature allows her to become e a better fighter, a better sister, and a wife to Nerissa. 

There isn’t a lot of physical romance in any of these novels but there were some fun scenes in this novel between Menolly and Nerissa and Menolly and Roman.  Even a lovely scene between Menolly, Nerissa, and Roman!  Of course it was nice to see all the sisters and their many friends and lovers again.  I was also thrilled that the girls’ father finally came to his senses and accepted them back into his life.

I very much look forward to the next book in the series, which will be another of Camille’s stories which are always a little more passionate.  But that’s not really surprising since she’s so hot and has herself not one, not two, but THREE super sexy alpha men as her husbands!

Rating:  3.5 stars

Rose Rating: