Shadow heir (edició 2012)

***HAS SLIGHT SPOILERS***

I gave this book 3 stars solely based on the ending... I HATED it... completely HATED IT... I don't think I've ever hated an ending of a series as much as I did the ending of this book. I can't belive what Eugenie did, while her intentions are noble I think she is selfish.... completely selfish not to bring them to the Otherworld, and let them be with their father... and it ended not like an ending of a series would end it was like something is missing... but I can't believe they ended it with her leaving her children behind... man that pissed me right off there. Based on a possible threat, possible not plausible. I don't I must say that Ms. Meads direction in this book was not what I accepted and I must agree with the others that were dissapointed with this book, because I surely was.... and I wish I never read it but then it would have killed me not knowing what happened. UGH!


plus side though Volusian, Dorian, and Jasmin ROCKED THIS BOOK. ( )

I really like the series, but that end... ( )

Loved everything but the ending, I think she should have taken the babies back. :( But loved it otherwise ( )

Shadow Heir
3.5 Stars

In this final installment of the series, Eugenie takes a much needed break in rural Alabama from pregnancy woes and assassination attempts. However, just as she settles into a routine, word comes that the Otherworld is being plagued by a mysterious blight that threatens to wipe out the population. Eugenie and Dorian must rely on both allies and enemies alike in order to defeat a formidable foe.

The first 1/2 reads more like women's fiction than UF, and is excessively tedious and drawn out. Thankfully, the second half is much better with several twists and turns, some predictable and others quite surprising, that keep the reader engaged. The blight plot is good, but should have started sooner and been better developed.

In terms of the characters, Eugenie’s self-absorbed, conceited and arrogant personality have made her the least likable of all UF heroines. That said, she is not as bad in this book as in Iron Crowned and she finally seems to come to her senses, and is truthful both to Dorian and herself with regard to her feelings for him - about bloody time!

Moreover, her behavior at the end does not annoy me as much as other reviewers. In fact, while I do not agree with or like her decision, I can understand her reasoning. She is determined not only to keep her children safe but to allow them to have normal childhoods. That said, I do wonder how long she will be able to keep the secret because it is implied that she won't be able to hold out for long.

Dorian, on the other hand, is absolutely fabulous. Machiavellian machinations aside, his witty charm, undying loyalty and enduring love for Eugenie make him one of the more endearing and likable heroes in this genre. If only Eugenie actually deserved him, their romance would be perfect.

Kiyo is also on hand in this book - much to my chagrin. The man is simply horrendous with no redeeming qualities what-so-ever, and we won’t even talk about Maiwen whose true colors emerge in full force with heart-wrenching consequences.

In sum, the story is in dire need of some closure with one or two ongoing issues, namely Dorian learning he is the twins’ father and Kiyo and Maiwen getting their just reward, and I truly hope that Mead rewards her loyal readers with one more book. ( )

I wanted to read Shadow Heir because I love Richelle Mead, as well as the first three in this series. Eugenie is charismatic, and I love her passion and energy. She is now the queen of two kingdoms in the Fae world since she defeated its king and claimed the other with the famed Iron Crown. She is gaining experience with both magic and leadership, but she still has a long way to go. I love the cast of characters, they are flawed, complex and they all bring something to the table and to Eugenie's character.

The romance has been a true and complicated triangle and I can't decide how its going to play out and how it can work out in the way that I thought it would.

Eugenie once again has hard choices to make and is stuck in her battle of worlds demanding her attention. Since she is expecting, she doesn't want to give up modern medicine especially with the high risk, but it is hard to leave her kingdoms. Attacks and threats from Maiwenn and Kiyo and their allies are picking up, and her safety is so back and forth.

A somewhat compromise was made until after the babies were born when the Otherworld, both her kingdoms, Dorian's and Maiwenn's are in crisis, causing a temporary halt to the bickering about the prophecy associated with Eugenie's son. They have to work together to save their lands and people, but Eugenie is always leaving people behind and the constant danger and changes aren't easy on a new mom. But help comes from all sorts of unexpected places, and I didn't want to put this book down, just another page or chapter. But I also knew that I was barreling towards the end of this series and characters that I have come so quickly to love.

There was a huge surprise near the end that I never expected, but it certainly changed a lot. It never crossed my mind, but the person involved was never really on my radar. It totally changed the end of the series, and made a lot simpler and then other things harder because of the unexpectedness to everyone.

These last paragraphs get kinda spoilery because I am kinda ranty... And um. I love this series, the characters and everything except the ending. I do not agree with her decision, I think that it is selfish and deceptive. I understand what she thinks her reasoning is, but I think that it goes back so much on everything she was harping on about love, trust, respect, and manipulation, everything that made her angry and want to leave Dorian and Kiyo. I hear that there will hopefully be a fifth book. And there better, because I was not cool with it.

But then I read some reviews where it talked about the ending that left questions and a lot left to mystery. And someone linked to this article. So I read the last chapter again, and realized one sentence that turned all of that into more of a mystery because she says she didn't know if she could keep it from him... SO... I dunno...

On Richelle's site it says: Future Eugenie books?
At the moment, Shadow Heir is the conclusion to the Dark Swan series. As many of you know, there's definitely room for more of the story! I would like to write a fifth book, but at the moment, other commitments have taken precedence, so it may be a long time. But I'll keep you guys posted! Fingers crossed.
Bottom Line: Amazing, 5 stars until the ending that wasn't so neatly HEA bow wrapped. ( )