Kiss of the Goblin PrinceAuthor: Shona Husk
Release Date: May 1, 2012
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Shadowlands Trilogy #2
ISBN: #978-1402262067
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format(s): Paperback (353 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
Trapped for centuries in the bleak Shadowlands, Dai clings to his humanity with a thirst for knowledge. But now he’s free of the goblin curse, and some would say he knows too much- he can make nature bend to his will, influence the minds of others, and command magic. Yet love eludes him. Then he meets Amanda, a single mother with a sick daughter whom he feels compelled to protect. But could she possibly place her trust in the kiss of a goblin prince?
What G & U are talking about:
Kiss of the Goblin Prince is the second novel in the Shadowlands Trilogy and was even better than the previous novel, The Goblin King. The novel flowed at a better pace, although the plot did have a few slow moments. Dai and Amanda’s story is gripping and incredibly touching as two people learn to heal, forgive themselves and reach for a new beginning.
Gikany and Una thoroughly enjoyed the description of magic as a “fabric”. Magic had a texture and reality to the reader that we haven’t experience before. The world-building was fairly well established in the previous novel so the plot felt more character driven in this novel.
Kiss of the Goblin Prince chronicles Dai’s story – his “ever-after”. After being freed by his brother, Roan, and Roan’s new wife, Eliza, Dai finds freedom isn’t all that he thought it would be. Living for thousands of years in the Shadow realm and the horrors of his previous earthly life took their toll on Dai. What few interactions as Dai had as a goblin with the real world did not prepare for him for life as a human in the modern world. Neither did it prepare him for the attraction he finds in Amanda, Eliza’s best friend and a widowed single parent. Their chemistry and the inner battles they wage are touching and complex. Watching them slowly come together was heartwarming.
Another facet to the novel is the ever mysterious and foreboding Birch Trustees, the holders of Dai’s horde – his incredible collection of magical texts. With the increasing attraction between Amanda and Dai – he desperately wishes to control his magic so he can cure her daughter of her serious asthma affliction. Although Dai seems to crave a solitary life, his protectiveness of Amanda and the connection to her daughter pulls him into a far better life.
There are moments in Kiss of the Goblin Prince that dragged a bit. However, some of the slower moments were to build the mystery of the Birch Trustees keepers bank and build the tension between Dai and Amanda. We thought that there was too much of this novel spent in setting up the next novel. Dai’s story was shared with another character, presumably the next hero of the final book in the Shadowlands Trilogy. Gikany and Una would have liked to have seen more of Dai and Amanda’s happily-ever-after. Dai seemed to suffer so much and we would have enjoyed seeing more of his post-resolution bliss. As we did in the beginning of this novel (seeing Roan and Eliza’s HEA), we hope to see more of Dai and Amanda’s happiness in the beginning of the next novel.
Kiss of the Goblin Prince is a fascinating world and was an enjoyable read. If you want a slightly different take on the world of magic and alternate universes within our own, pick up The Goblin King and enjoy the Shadowlands Trilogy.
Their Rating:
Liked it a lot – recommend (B+)
Purchase Info:
Reviews of books in the series:
I liked this one, but also felt like we needed more time with the HEA. We wait the whole book for these two to get together. Even a few more pages of them together at the end would have made a big difference for me.