Review: Lionheart

Lionheart by Thea Harrison
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

KIng Oberon of the dark fae was poisoned by one of Queen Isabeau of the light fae's assassins fifteen years ago or 200 years ago (depending on whether you are on earth or in Oberon's demesne of Lyonesse), after trying to find an antidote and trying every magical trick in his considerable arsenal Oberon realises that he is losing the battle against the deadly poison and puts himself into stasis. Unfortunately the poison is leaching him of his higher feelings: love; empathy; friendship; compassion, leaving him cold, suspicious and uncaring. As his emotions slowly disappear his inhumanity transmits itself to the landscape around him making much of Lyonesse uninhabitable and in the grip of a bleak winter colder than anyone has ever known. In a last ditch attempt to save Oberon, or usurp him for the good of Lyonesse, his right hand woman Annwyn enlists the assistance of the Wyr doctor Kathryn Shaw, a brilliant surgeon who combines modern medicine with magic to heal.

Can Kathryn heal Oberon? Can he return to the man he used to be or will he remain cold, aloof and paranoid?

There is so much that is great about this novel. Kathryn might only be a falcon in other form but she is a giant of a personality. Brilliant, charming, friendly, with a desire to heal people she also has principles and a temper to match Oberon's. For his part, Oberon is far from the stereotypical paranormal hero. Of course he has amazing magical powers, he has managed to become full Wyr in his attempts to thwart the poison and has the form of a giant lion. Yet he is also capable of great gentleness, he loves the capricious Puck and he cares for his people, even when his heart is cold.

What I loved most about this is that really Kathryn is the hero, not Oberon. She is a kick-ass character that doesn't need saving by some big, strong man. Thea Harrison has turned some of the tropes of the genre around and infused a breath of fresh air into shifter novels. (Still don't like the cover though).

I received a free copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

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