ARC Review: Ancient Warrior (Ancients Rising #8)

Ancient Warrior (Ancients Rising #8)

Katie Reus

Blurb:

The last time she saw him…

Long before The Fall, before the world changed forever, tiger shifter Harlow worked in Black Ops for the safety of all shifters. She excelled at her job, loved everything about it, until the male she loved tried to kill her. So she was forced to kill him first.

She killed him.

Now Aodh is back. And this fierce, dominant dragon shifter won’t stop until he gets answers. But things aren’t what they seem and now he has more than a battle with Harlow on his hands. If they want a chance at a future, they’ll have to take down an ancient enemy who has targeted not only them, but their friends—and it’s going to take uniting all their skills to survive.

Themes:  Paranormals, Shifters, Dragons

Rating: 4.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

The long-awaited story of Harlow, one of the sexy, deadly tiger twins has finally landed, and the fall was earth-shattering for those of us that have been fans since the beginning.  We have gotten many hints in recent books that there was so much more to her than she shows the world openly, a heartbreak and sadness that she masks, but only as we’ve gotten little glimpses have we experience her true pain—until now.  Katie Reus has a magnificent ability to draw readers into the worlds and lives of the characters she creates, making you wish you never had to return to reality, and the epic reunion between Harlow and her mate was definitely a perfect example. IF you are new to the series, you will by no means be lost, but you will miss out on a lot of the subtle undertones and backstories of characters the rest of us have come to know and love. All that said Harlow and Aodh drew me in from the very beginning as they found not only the truth of their separation, but a way to forgive and find their hearts reunited.  If you are looking for a light fluffy romance, with an easy route to love, you’re looking in the wrong place, but otherwise come into the den of a master and read this tale of loss, tragedy, ecstasy, and love as two lovers find their way back together after hundreds of years apart.

Harlow once had all she ever wanted, the love of her life and the man she thought she would mate, a job she loved working with the family she cherished, and a future she looked forward to.  Then it was all ripped from her when she was forced to kill the male she loved—except now he’s back after hundreds of years claiming that she deserted him to horrific imprisonment. Aodh has finally escaped the horrific captivity he has lived in for too long and he is hell-bent on tracking the woman that betrayed him to that existence, the woman that he once planned to take as his mate.  When confronted with one another, both are amazed by the others claims and only with the help of a powerful truthsayer do they learn the true depths of their loss and the deception they both were dealt.  Now they will have to work together to kill the witch that took their future away from them, and despite all that’s come between them they both still feel the pull, but Harlow doesn’t believe Aodh could ever forgive her and love her again.  Spending time together and learning one another again is enough to remind them of their passion, but can the love forgotten love neither of them ever let go of be enough to overcome all they’ve lost or will they lose one another all over again?

This story was beyond heartbreaking, bringing me to tears again and again, for both Aodh and Harlow, not to mention their friends, but as we watch them overcome challenges and move obstacles from their path we come to understand why they were so perfect for one another.  Harlow is a single-minded warrior, unwilling to ever give up in a fight and willing to sacrifice everything for those she loves.  Her strength, cunning, sass, and loving care are just what Aodh needs to help him get through the trauma off his imprisonment and find a way to embrace his freedom, even though she doesn’t think he can love her anymore. Aodh had had such a tough time, dealing with imprisonment and separate from his mate, but also believing she betrayed him to said imprisonment, and you just want to cry for him all the time.  When he finally finds freedom, he goes searching for him, telling himself he simply wants answers –of maybe revenge—but truthfully he never got over Harlow and just wants her love once again.  His determination to his mission, unwillingness to settle for losing Harlow again, and willingness to forgive once the truth is uncovered show that he’s truly a great male.  The heat between Aodh and Harlow is undeniable from the beginning, even during flashbacks and the fights between them, and once they begin to allow their hearts back into the equation that simmer becomes a fire to burn through time and space. I also loved the side romance, giving us a conclusion that was satisfying all around for four characters unexpectedly.  I am dying for the next story, hoping to see more of my favorite characters and hoping for a happy conclusion for one VERY special couple (like vampire and sexy lion-shifter).  Reus’s magic streak continues as this Ancient Warrior finds his places in the modern world and the hearts of readers.

*eARC provided by author for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.