Shadow Heir by Richelle Mead

Release Date: 27th December, 2011

Publisher: Zebra

Pages: 390pgs

The Story

#1 New York Times bestselling author Richelle Mead returns to the Otherworld, a mystic land inextricably linked to our own - and balanced precariously on one woman's desperate courage . . .

Shaman-for-hire Eugenie Markham strives to keep the mortal realm safe from trespassing entities. But as the Thorn Land's prophecy-haunted queen, there's no refuge for her and her soon-to-be-born-children when a mysterous blight begins to devastate the Otherworld . . .

The spell-driven source of the blight isn't the only challenge to Eugenie's instincts. Fairy king Dorian is sacrificing everything to help, but Eugenie can't trust the synergy drawing them back together. The uneasy truce between her and her shape shifter ex-lover Kiyo is endangered by secrets he can't - or won't - reveal. And as a formidable force rises to also threaten the human world, Eugenie must use her own cursed fate as a weapon - and risk the ultimate sarcrifice.

The Review

SHADOW HEIR is the fourth and final installment of Richelle Mead's Dark Swan series, and if you haven't read this fantastic adult urban fantasy series, then I highly recommend it.

SHADOW HEIR picks up a few months after Iron Crowned (book 3 of the series and you can read my book review of it here). Our girl Eugenie has always been the heroine to be one step ahead of her enemies and manages to protect everyone she loves and cares about, with the generous help of Dorian of course, the Fairy King, because he's just awesome that way. As she's the Queen of two different lands of the Otherworld, it's hard to balance a magical life and still retain a normal one as well. But a so-called normal life is being thrown completely out of the window when a new enemy arises, leading Eugenie and Dorian to reunite with the most unlikely enemies for both the sake of humanity and of their kindgoms in order to survive on harsh times. With very surprising plot twists, tough decision making and even delightful characters to add to this wonderful story, this book will not disappointed you. Well, not so much.

To my surprise I found SHADOW HEIR to be - by far - my favourite book in this saga and for once in their very complicated 'little' lives, I felt Eugenie and Dorian had finally gotten back to their roots, deciding to be even more real and honest with one another. Finally! Regarding Eugenie's character, you have a few love and hate issues with her. You love her strength and admire her responsibility to protect people as a shaman, but on the other hand you also hate her rushed decision making and making stupid decisions for the wrong reasons. But you love her anyway despite her mistakes. In this fourth book, Eugenie has grown up a lot and I rarely found her annoying when it came to her final decisions for the greater good. She's learned from her mistakes. The same goes with Dorian's character too, whom I've loved from the very beginning. Unlike Eugenie, Dorian hasn't made stupid decisions except for when it came to his and Eugenie's relationship. And, for once, he finally laid everything down on to the table and became honest about how he feels about Eugenie. How I love you Dorian! You're the only man who IS a man. Just saying . . .

Now this leads me to the other leading man in the love triangle equation - that being Kiyo. He is the suppose 'father' of Eugenie's unborn children, twins in fact, and that just peeved me off because after a week or so after she had sex with Kiyo (yes how could she do that to my Dorian!!!!), she then slept with Dorian (yes thank god she did that!!!!), and as you can see Eugenie doesn't have a good head on her shoulders when it comes to her lovers. But whatever. Kiyo is pretty much the same Kiyo you've seen from book one to book three. He's the same egoist jerk who deeply believes in the prophecy of coming true in regards to the son Eugenie is currently carrying. Please note you'll have to read the other books in order to understand this one. Anyway, Kiyo just peeved me off and I wanted Dorian to do anyway with him. But again whatever. Just be aware Kiyo will be on your nerves and that Dorian will help you feel less stressful about Kiyo still being alive. Go Dorian!!!!

While I thoroughly enjoyed this book and while it's my favourite of the Dark Swan series, but the reason why I'm giving this book 4 1/2 stars instead of its well-deserved 5 stars is because of the damn ending! Sure, it ended in a way that made me jump for joy and left a partial smile on my face, but there's something that happened in the book - some rash decision Eugenie makes - that I could NOT support one bit. It didn't make sense to me. I understand why she made this certain 'decision' if that's what you would call it, but I don't know . . . it was sure disappointing. And so sad too. Anyway readers, if you do happen to read this book you'll need to prepare yourself for a not-so-smooth ending and probably find it the worst way to end a book while also feeling melancholy. Despite that, I still loved the rest of the ending. It's a half-love and half-hate thing going on here.

To wrap up this book review, do yourself a huge HUGE favour and pick up this series! With most of the storyline closed up nicely, SHADOW HEIR is another lovely addition to Richelle Mead's books and it's one of my favourites of 2011! So be sure to check it out when you can! Dorian people! Do it for MY Dorian!

The Rating

4 1/2 / 5 stars

Richelle Mead's Storm Born Issue #4

Book format: Graphic Novel

Publisher: Sea Lion Books

Pages: 32pgs

The Story

Eugenie Markham never asked for any of this. Until now, she's been content with her job as a freelance shaman, battling and banishing Otherworldly creatures. When a prophecy suddenly makes her the Otherworld's most popular bachelorette, Eugenie finds herself fighting off unwanted supernatural suitors, as well as the evils that begin emerging from her past . . .

The Review

A big thanks to Patrick from Sea Lion Books for sending me links to this issue!

This graphic novel series has become a dear favourite of mine and this fourth installment definitely tops the first three that have been issued. Not only do the colours pop out more and more to the readers as the graphic novel series progresses, but the writing itself is one of the best that I've seen in graphic form. The writers have managed to keep the storyline at its best - like in Richelle Mead's books - but they have also managed to keep the same old good snark in Eugenie's character, with all sorts of comments and comebacks that have made me laugh out loud on many accounts. To say the least, I'm impressed.

Unlike in the other issues of the series, this installment we finally get answers concerning Eugenie and why all the Gentry are after her . . . and how they know her name. Plus readers will also have a family secret revealed, and learn about the prophecy Eugenie is supposed to be apart of. So expect some really great stuff from this fourth issue.

On a whole, this was my favourite issue by far! Much like the other three, the artwork is gorgeous and absolutely impressive. Be sure to start this graphic novel series if you haven't already. Highly recommended.

The Rating

5/5 stars

Richelle Mead's Storm Born Issue #3

Book format: Graphic Novel

Publisher: Sea Lion Books

Pages: 32pgs

The Story

Eugenie Markham never asked for any of this. Up until now, she's been content with her job as a freelance sharman, battling and banishing Otherworldly creatures. When a prophecy suddenly makes her the Otherworld's most popular bachelorette, Eugenie finds herself fighting off unwanted supernatural suitors, as well as the evils that begin to emerging from her past . . .

The Review

A big thanks to Patrick from Sea Lion Books for sending me links to this issue!

When I received an email from Sea Lion Books with links to the latest STORM BORN issue 3 graphic novel, I was very, very excited to review this! Being an obsessed fan of the graphic novel series so far and of Richelle Mead herself, I was super stoked when I finished reading all of this third issue. Not only has the artist upped their game in terms of colourful graphics and wonderful drawing depictions of the characters, but they have also created a really great adaptation of this book series.

I think what I love most about this graphic novel is Eugenie herself. I just love how her character was drawn and her facial expressions are just really spot on! In this issue, unlike the other two I've review here and here, we finally get to meet the beloved king, Dorian. Now I don't know about you guys who've read the book series, but my absolute favourite character is Dorian himself, and while his character was drawn a little different to the Dorian stuck in my head, but the artists still kept his wit about him which I loved. And of course I just had to mention something . . . the COLOURS! With a fast-paced storyline and wonderful character drawings, the colours alone totally blew me away! So two big thumbs up for the artist who drew and inked these graphic novel pages! You are so talented!

Overall if you're a fan of Richelle Mead and of her Dark Swan series, then seriously start reading this graphic novel series.

The Rating

5/5 stars

And here's a little treat for you guys desperately wanting to read this third issue of Richelle Mead's Dark Swan graphic novel. Sea Lion Books has given me the first 6 pages of the third issue for your own viewing . . . so enjoy!

Richelle Mead's Storm Born Issue #2

Book format: Graphic Novel

Publisher: Sea Lion Books

Pages: 37pgs

The Story

Eugenie Markham is a freelance shaman, guarding our world from the invasion of Otherworldly creatures. Those who try have 'The Dark Swan' to deal with. But Eugenie's about to cross into the Otherworld alone to rescue a girl that nobody else will. Will she make it back across alive?

The Review

A big thank you to Patrick from Sea Lion Books for sending me links to this issue!

If you haven't read my review on STORM BORN's first graphic novel issue, then you can read it here. For issue #2 of Richelle Mead's new graphic novel series, it picks up exactly off where issue #1 ends - diving straight into the action. After some hot 'love-making' with a guy named Kyo and even before the night ends, Eugenie is met with something unexpected - something otherworldly - and soon learns that Kyo himself isn't all what he appears to be. When a creature attack goes wrong and Kyo awkwardly disappears into the night, Eugenie knows she's in a big fat mess. Again like in issue #1 Sea Lion Books has published yet another great installment in the STORM BORN graphic novel series and the action scenes were very awesome, much like I expected them to be.

What I loved most about this issue was the action! There was definitely more of it in issue #2 and they were shown through amazing scenes, vivid colours, and the overall story was developed so very well - even for a graphic novel it's surprising. Anyway, in this issue I'm glad that we got to see more of Eugenie and her well . . . her personal life. Readers will also learn a little bit more under that hardrock shell of hers and will appreciate Eugenie as the main character. And also - I can't wait to see what will happen with Kyo, especially after the way things ended with him in this issue. But I already know what happens since I've read the books that the graphic novels are based on, but still . . . it'll be interesting what issue #3 will bring up next onto the table! So graphic novel and Richelle Mead fans, you should definitely pick up a copy! Well worth it! Thanks again to Patrick from Sea Lion Books for giving me the opportunity to read this very awesome graphic novel!

The Rating

5/5 stars

Richelle Mead's Storm Born Issue #1

Book format: Graphic Novel

Publisher: Sea Lion Books

Pages: 36pgs

The Story

Eugenie Markham never asked for any of this. Until now, she's been content with her job as a freelance shaman, battling and banishing Otherworldly creatures. When a prophecy suddenly makes her the Otherworld's most popular bachelorette, Eugenie finds herself fighting off unwanted supernatural suitors, as well as the evils that begin emerging from her past . . .

The Review

A big thanks to Patrick from Sea Lion Books for sending me links to this issue!

For those obsessed Richelle Mead fans like myself, then you're going to love this graphic novel adaptation of Mead's adult book series, the Dark Swan series - which can also be known as Storm Born. When I first heard Richelle Mead was going to have yet another one of her books published into a graphic novel, I was super excited for this! Not only because it's another Mead book to collect, but it's because I'm a major fan of anything graphic novel! Comics, manga, graphic novels . . . you name it!

For the first issue of STORM BORN it went beyond my expectations! The drawings and the colours clearly spoke for themselves and I have to say two thumbs up for Sea Lion Books! They did a brilliant job with this! It brought a wonderful feel to the story and since I'm a big fan of the adult novel series, it was super awesome to see some of my favourite characters brought to life in graphic novel form! The only thing I was disappointed in was the length because it made me want more and more of it! Bring on more Eugenie Markham please!

If you're a fan of Richelle Mead (which is a silly statement to make since you ALL have to be a fan of hers) or if you're simply looking for a great graphic novel to read, then be sure to pick up a copy of this first issue since it's a very cool new addition to the graphic novel book department since it'll become one of your favourites! Though be warned to younger readers of Mead's Vampire Academy series, this graphic novel does contain some sexual content. Once again, thank you to Patrick for allowing me to review this early!

The Rating

5/5 stars