I read this series because it was recommended to me since I like The All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness. I do not like it quite as much as The All Souls Trilogy but it is good nonetheless. I like the librarian aspect and the historical research part but I also think the romance and story line in general is quite well done. It is a series that reads quickly while also keeping you engaged in the plot and characters. ( )

Elizabeth Hunter hits a home run again with this action packed paranormal romance novel. Excellent character, plot, & storyline development! This book can be read as a standalone novel or as part of the series. Patrick & Anne's story is explosive, dysfunctional, & passionate. Additional characters from the Elemental World are in this book. ( )

4.5/5
There was something really lovely, poetic and comforting about this book, peeps. Almost like going into Cambio Springs series rather than Elemental World.


Perhaps it's because The Scarlet Deep is a book about love lost and found again years later.


Anne and Murphy used to be a mated pair madly in love a hundred years ago until Murphy asked Anne to do something against her principles to help him solidify his power. The couple split, and a century later Murphy rules Dublin, and Anne has a quiet practice in Galloway, where she consults her various vampire clients with different psychological problems. Both can't forget each other no matter how much and how hard they try.


Murphy is in the midst of fighting to keep his territory free from the Elixir and at some point he decides that he needs to stop lying to himself and try to win Anne back. The problem is that together they are explosive, and he very often puts his foot in his mouth instead of saying something nice and profound to the woman he loves. *grinning* In a way these two reminded me of Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman in Far and Away. They were fiery!


So, the man has a cunning plan to make Anne stick with him for a few days, and hopefully she will see what she is missing and how much he still loves her. Unfortunately the couple lands in a pool of deadly intrigues when the war between Elixir makers and those who try to stop them evolves to a whole new level, but hey! Nothing like a little bit of danger, treachery and murder to spice things up, right?


The Scarlet Deep is sexy, earthy and beautiful. Anne and Murphy are compelling together, and you really want them to reunite. While we don't see Gio and Beatrice, there is plenty of Brigid and Carwyn, and we also meet an intriguing Russian, Oleg, whom I hope to see again very soon *wink*


Overall, it's an intense read, a delicious new installment in Elemental World series. Recommended. ( )

The Scarlet Deep by Elizabeth Hunter
Book #3: Elemental World Series
Source: Purchase
My Rating: 4/5 stars
My Review:

It is no secret I have been a long-time fan of Elizabeth Hunter and her Elemental World Series. I go into every single read knowing I am very likely going to simply adore what she gives. With that being said, I have struggled for several days with the most unusual sensation that I didn’t adore this read and it has taken me these past several days to pinpoint exactly what it is that kept me from absolute adoration. Go ahead, boo me now . . . .

What I Liked:

Patrick Murphy: Holy hotness, Batman do I loves me some Patrick Murphy. As the unquestioned leader of Dublin, Murphy has earned his position through ruthless control, absolute loyalty to his people, pure charisma, and shrewd business dealings. He holds his friends and allies close, trusts only a handful of vampires and people, and deals death to all who defy him or hurt those he calls his own. He is wicked sexy, funny, snarky, inquisitive, and completely consumed with two things, his mate, Anne O’Dea and protecting his people from Elixir.

Elixir: This long-term plot line is getting more and more interesting with each installment of the series. Its effects are being felt throughout the human and vampire worlds and to date, no one has any real answers about how to cure it, who’s making it, and who’s shipping it. It is still as nasty as it has ever been and there seems to be no end in sight.

The Summit: What a tricky business inviting the world’s most powerful vampires to a single location. That much power, intrigue, and distrust is just a recipe for disaster but, needs must. Elixir is a ferocious and uncaring enemy that has crossed into all territories and if it is to be contained, these immensely powerful creatures must share information and work together to achieve a common goal. With Patrick at the head of the event, and information coming in little by little, it is soon clear to all that there is more afoot than just the spread of Elixir. The summit tests each and every participant, strengthens some alliances while others are weakened, provides a great amount of drama and action, and is a wonderful way for new characters to be introduced and the long-term plot to be advanced and further developed.

What I didn’t like:

Anne O’Dea: Let the booing at me continue . . . . Anne is an older character (she helped Brigid control her fire!) whose time has come to have her story told. For the last century, Anne has hidden away from vampire society and lived a quiet life in her native Galway. She is close to her father (the extremely old and powerful Tywyll) and her sister and has earned a reputation as a caring, considerate, and ultra-private individual. Much of Anne’s seclusion has to do with her very unique ability, her extreme hunger for blood, and her heartache over the loss of her mate, Patrick Murphy. When her sister calls her into service to attend the summit in her stead, Anne is forced back into the world and into the arms of Patrick Murphy. Anne’s intelligence and ability to read the other summit attendees makes her invaluable to Patrick but that is where the goodness ends for me. Though she is a vampire and sired from a very old and powerful vampire, Anne is not strong and that makes her a constant liability to Patrick. Furthermore, though I fully appreciate Patrick was an ass in the past, Anne has really punished him for long enough. Her refusal to speak to him or be near him for fear of losing herself simply reads as selfish more than a sense of self-preservation. Finally, Anne’s relative weakness compared to the other females in the Elemental World is somewhat off-putting and makes her, in my view a poor choice of mate for a vampire as strong as Patrick Murphy.

The Bottom Line: As you can clearly see, I did generally enjoy most aspects of this read. The plot is once again strong and exciting with lots of intrigue and action, the reappearance of older characters (Brigid and Carwyn!) is always a bonus for me, the introduction of new characters not only enhanced the plot in this read but is a clear indication the series is going to continue for some time (YAY!!). Hunter’s writing style is clear and strong with no perceivable flaws. For me, the only negative in this read is a single character and now that her story has been told, she likely won’t be as large a factor in future reads. In all, The Scarlet Deep is a good book but not one of my favorites in the overall series. ( )