Review copy was received from Author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
First Light by Elizabeth Hunter Series: Shadowlands #1
Published by Self-Published on October 29, 2024
Genres: Fantasy Romance
Pages: 432
Format: eARC
Source: Author
Goodreads
Amazon
Lachlan Murray disappeared without a trace. As his girlfriend, twenty-nine-year-old Carys Morgan refuses to accept the police’s explanation—that he simply left her. She travels to Scotland to seek help from Lachlan’s twin brother Duncan, and learns she was right—Lachlan didn’t leave her, he left her world to return to his own.
The Shadowlands are a mirror of the world Carys knows. Every human in her world also exists in this one with one key difference—magic.
Humans aren’t supposed to be able to wield the magic of the Shadowlands, but when Carys learns she can talk to dragons, she’s drawn deeper into a complicated world that would as soon kill her as keep her. And if magic and murder weren’t enough to overcome, she must navigate complicated feelings for two identical men from vastly different worlds.
I’ve enjoyed most everything I have read from Elizabeth Hunter. I wasn’t sure about this new series, or duology?, as it has some aspects that are common these days – time / portal travel, Scotland, fae, dragons, etc. I’m here to tell you I was engaged and happy to read even with the grief I felt this week. Her ability to develop characters and build worlds solidly makes her books easy, interesting and fun to read.
Carys lives in California, a professor of mythology. Her boyfriend, Lachlan, disappears, leaving his car and many things. So she goes to Scotland to find him, discovers he has a “twin” and much more. I liked how Carys held to her convictions about some things. Certainly her education assisted with her journey. She ends up meeting people from Lachlan’s world. And it’s so cool, she is chosen by a dragon.
I realize that Carys was going through an emotional time with the “loss” of Lachlan and then learning some hard truths once she finds him. I even get how she still loved the him she thought she knew. But I didn’t like how she gave him a break. Her new relationship with his grumpy “twin” was one I enjoyed more. She also did some things which seemed a bit on the TSTL side.
The book ends with no certain romantic couple, more of a no romance interlude. Carys needs to figure out what she truly wants for her life. There is much for her to learn about her heritage and particularly who or what her mother was. And she will learn more about dragons! So I really loved reading First Light and look forward to The Shadow Path in April 2025.
About Elizabeth Hunter
Elizabeth Hunter is a contemporary fantasy and romance author. She is a graduate of the University of Houston Honors College and a former English teacher.
She currently lives in Central California with her husband, son, very ineffective canine assistants, and a pitifully empty fish tank.
ELIZABETH HUNTER is a ten-time USA Today and international best-selling author of romance, contemporary fantasy, and paranormal mystery. Based in both Central California and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, she travels extensively to write fantasy fiction exploring world mythologies, history, and the universal bonds of love, friendship, and family.
She has published over forty works of fiction and sold over a million books worldwide. She is the author of the Glimmer Lake series, Love Stories on 7th and Main, the Elemental Legacy series, the Irin Chronicles, the Cambio Springs Mysteries, and other works of fiction.
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 24-COYER
Very nice review. I have to say I love this cover. I haven’t tried this author, but I do have a few of her books and she’s on my TBR. Apricate your thoughts on this title.
I love this author and have read nearly all her books. I enjoyed this. It has a bunch of things in common with some other popular books lately like dragons, Scotland and a portal but it’s well written and she has a different take on things so I enjoyed it.
I do appreciate the way she can build a world and a cast of characters that draws me right in. It will be interesting to see how book two plays out for you.
yes I wouldn’t call this exactly my thing but I really enjoy this author and enjoyed this one.
This sounds really good despite the TSTL moments. I love the premise and the cover. I’ll have to look for this one!
This author is usually a win for me, and I enjoy her books. She does so well with world and character development.
DRAGONS?!
YES! This is one of my favorite authors too.