Shadow's End

Elder Races Series #9

By: Thea Harrison

Narrated by: Sophie Eastlake

Length: 10 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's Summary

For Beluviel, consort to the Elven High Lord, and Graydon, gryphon and First Sentinel of the Wyr, even the slightest desire for each other is forbidden. But 200 years ago, after a desperate play to save Beluviel's stepson left them indebted to the cruel Djinn Malphas, they found their fates inexorably linked together - and the hunger between them growing too strong to ignore....

Two centuries later, with their debt to Malphas coming due, Beluviel and Graydon realize that if they are to stand any chance of saving their souls, they must once again work together - this time more closely than ever before. But every moment they spend with each other brings them nearer to losing something even more vital - their hearts.

©2015 Teddy Harrison (P)2015 Tantor

Critic Reviews

"Smoldering sensuality, fascinating characters, and an intriguing world." (Nalini Singh, New York Times best-selling author)

Graydon is wonderful!!! Incredible Story.

Some times a characters book doesn't seem to be as great as the character. Not so with Shadow's End, Graydon's story. He is so good and true and honorable just a great person. Thea takes you back in time to let you know that Beluviel has been in love for Gray and he with her for 200 years. They are being kept apart by the pariah djinn Malphas. Bel’s son racked up a debt he could not pay and lost part of his soul to the djinn. All the characters from the other books are gathered together to fight the worst foe there is, Malphas the first generation djinn. Julian and Melly are there, Carling and Rune, Grace Andreas' and Khalil, from Demonkind and many others. They are all going after this enemy. He has been murdering, enslaving, soul stealing and trying to takeover elvenkind, and the other domains. If you haven't read the other books you might be a little confused but Harrison fills in the gaps but you will know you have missed some things. It is the most incredible story, you will need kleenex, and time to enjoy the story. As you know some will die, but the story is heartwarming as well as heartbreaking. Sophie Eastlake does a wonderful job with the story and makes it even more meaningful. Listen and enjoy. If you loved the Elder Races stories this is one of the best.

Thea does it again!

This is the long awaited story about Graydon. I have loved him since the first book and it certainly exceeds my expectations. The love between gray and bel has been simmering for centuries and doesn't rush or come to a head immediately like some of the other stories. The writing is as in depth and heart rending as the other stories maybe more so. Fewer light hearted moments and some true heart breaking events but excellent story. Sophie does her usual awesome job narrating. The duo of Harrison and eastlake can't be beat!!

One of the best of the series

Thea Harrison has leveled up a notch with the newest in her original and imaginative Elder Races series. There's more of everything...sensuality, intimacy, heroics, sacrifice, yearning, heartbreak, and true romantic love. I'll listen to it again after I revisit Oracle's Moon. Sophie Eastlake is precisely the right narrator for Harrison's series. Love it.

WHAT A GREAT SERIES & WHAT A TRAGIC LOVE STORY

For 200 years the doomed lovers pinned for each other.... not because it was anything either of them did, no, it was the greed and twisted actions of a Djinn. Graydon selflessly helped Beluviel out in trying to find her wayward gambling Stepson and, along the way, they became very close and even managed one beautiful night of passion where they made plans as well as made love. But their joy was heartbreakingly and swiftly snatched away from them by the all powerful and manipulative Djinn and the actions of Beluviel's selfish Stepson who had regretfully made a horrific bargain with the Djinn that would tie their hands, lock their heart's up, bind them in an unspeakable bargain and eventually have far reaching deadly consequences.

Anyone who loves the Elder Races series, or are in awe of Thea Harrison's wonderful ability at worldbuilding that she does so well, won't think twice about getting this next slice of her paranormal action. There's so much to visualize.... the complexity surrounding the E.R. and their individual weird and wonderful realms, the characters and creatures that inhabit those realms and the deep brotherhood of Dragos' Sentinels. Then there's the doomed love story which is tender, romantic, dramatic and touching and is coupled with drama and a horrific fight scene as many come to Graydon and Beluviel's aid to try to rid their world of the malevolent Djinn.... but heartbreakingly not everyone will walk away from such a toxic encounter.

Dual POV's and it's great to have the same awesome narrator all the way through this series because Sophie Eastlake does a wonderful job with so many voices and, not only successfully brings each one to life, but manages to capture, express and inject such delightful personalities to them all.

Worth a credit? Well of course it's a YES silly!!!

LOVED IT

Another very good story by Ms Harrison this one is about Graydon/Beluviel . It has drama and action and a love so strong and a villain everyone want to see destroyed it bring quite a few fraction together in hope of success. Liam will surprise Drago with a request. SO GOOD!!!!

A bunch of changes in this story.

While this isn't my favorite book from the Elder series is still really good, it is a little bit slow in parts with only one really big action scene. This is really more of a romance than anything else. While there was a lot of discussion about what to do with the Big Bad, I would have liked to have had more action in the story. Maybe it was me, but I was a bit confused what exactly happened at the final battle. Without spoiling anything it took me a while to piece it together after the event. Then there seemed to be a really long ending it was almost like an epilogue but not. I liked the main characters and I did have a good chuckle at the end when Graydon panicked and texted an emergency when there really wasn't one. Narrator does a good job, same one as the rest of the series.

I have tried and tried and I just can't finish

I am three hours in and frankly it's painful! I have really liked every other Elder Series book and novella but gesh, this is like pulling teeth! It takes place 200 years ago, yes, Grayden and the Elfin lady Baluvial went on a sort of quest to find her step son. A quest that was beyond boring. No action, no adventure, just slow melodic voices that made me want to go to sleep. It wasn't that Sophie Eastlake was bad at narrating, she is great, but these two already had their vocal patterns set in previous books and the two of them together...better than warm milk and cookies to get me to go to sleep!

I'm sure I will have to try again, and again to keep up with what happens in the next book but for now I have to give up on it because it is just SOOOO BORING!

elder races series is awesome

Loved it. Narration is always good with this narrator. Thea Harrison is a great story teller and I get lost in her books. just awesome

Its shocking..!

Any additional comments?

IT was good until almost to the end...but I didn't like where the story went with the sentinals!!..What was the author thinking..?! Aside from Dragos and Pia's story and Grace and Khalil, those are the only books I think worth reading over again..or as in audible worth listening to over again but the rest of the characters especially this book..well..I'm not sure I want to visit it again.

Not as good

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Of course I would. It helps complete the series. It's still good, just not as good.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

This makes me think of beings refinding love in their 60s or 70s where things were always more complicated by personal difficulties

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

I liked the fact that two 'oldsters' could still find the spark.

Do you think Shadow's End needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

If they do, they should throttle both the djin and the son. Maybe then they could find more spark.