M. C. A. Hogarth

Wooow. A worthy end to the trilogy. It starts right where the second book quits, with Morgan pinned to the ground by a dozen blades - and goes off in a dozen different directions from there. So many things explained - the lack of magic on the mainland, Sedetnet (on multiple levels)...the genets were a long-term plan, too. As usual, the characters are rich and complex - no black and white here. Some of them reveal amazing depths here - even more than we'd already seen. And some of them remain show more determinedly shallow - refusing to think for fear of changing their minds. There is a climactic battle, won in a sideways fashion...about halfway through the book. Then they have to deal with the rest of the problems between elves and humans, with all the politics and diplomacy that requires - the battle is a long way from the end of the story. A beautiful ending, which...well, there's lots more story there, but it tucks away most of the loose ends and leaves them going on into their future. Loved it; I'd be happy to read more in this world, but I think it's done. So I'll read other things by her. show less

Having spent as much time as I have in Hogarth's Pelted universe, stepping outside of it--no matter how sure I am of her talent--is a little unnerving. The Blood Ladders trilogy is definitely not the Peltedverse, and AN HEIR TO THORNS AND STEEL is book one of Morgan Locke's adventure into worlds he truly never believed to be completely real.

Morgan Locke is a student at Leigh University, studying philosophy and ancient legends. It's a prestigious school, and not one where any type of weakness show more is to be tolerated--which is problematic, because Morgan has suffered from intense chronic pain and seizures for most of his life. For the time being, he knows what pattern they follow and has managed to keep his friends and teachers in the dark as to his condition, but as it progressively gets worse...it becomes harder and harder to explain away. So when a curious twist of fate accompanied by two incredibly unlikely messengers comes by with a chance to turn his entire world upside down and maybe...just maybe...bring him a tiny amount of relief, it's a hard-pressed battle for Morgan to take the risk and jump into the unknown and likely unreal...or stay with the devil he knows.

Now, having not lived with chronic pain, I can't speak to the level of agony Morgan goes through. The attacks are constant and debilitating, and the amount of the book they consume truly emphasizes how much of Morgan's life has been chewed up by this. Others I've seen say that it slows the plot down, and I'd argue that it does--and it should. Morgan's entire life has been weighed down by this; it wouldn't make any literary sense to see time flying by. I've lived my whole life with someone with chronic pain, and I can absolutely believe every moment that Morgan endures. It also allows me to celebrate with him in the moments he is free of the pain.

I'm truly baffled by some of the reviews I've seen for this book. I will say that yes, there is a level of depravity in the elves that is truly unsettling, and it does border on a level of uncomfortable that makes me want to put the book down. But that's the point. We're supposed to see the dark sides along with the light, and it's certainly true that Kelu spends more than enough time telling Morgan how awful the elves are. And yes, their relationship with the genets is equally unsettling. Often times, relationships (and I use the term lightly) like this are.

Nothing about this book is meant to be easy. Morgan's life is a struggle, the balance between worlds is a struggle...and all in all, this is a very thought-provoking book with a brilliant world in the making. It's a smart book which will make you hope you have a dictionary nearby. It's a touching book which can have you laughing one moment and in tears the next. It's a perfect example of Hogarth's brilliant storytelling, and it is absolutely recommended. These are real characters who you will form real relationships to, and at the last page you will already be reaching for the next book.

Rating: **** (Recommended) show less

Talk about a guilty pleasure. I keep meaning to reread this, and then I remember that I really need to have my wits about me, along with a box of tissues, just for all the feelings this evokes. I am an unashamed devotee of Jahir and Vasiht'h, and was most displeased about the wait I was enduring for [b:Mindline|19493243|Mindline (The Dreamhealers)|M.C.A. Hogarth|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1387171990s/19493243.jpg|27585306] to come out, and thus bought everything [a:M.C.A. show more Hogarth|65211|M.C.A. Hogarth|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1294085991p2/65211.jpg] had written with an Eldritch in it. Family both had an Eldritch—and not just any Eldritch, Jahir—and so I was already ramped up for something lovely.

What I got was so much more.

It's a very short story, at right around 70 pages, but it manages to run the reader right through the wood chipper of emotions and make us want more. Especially for two people such as them—Jahir with as isolated and reserved as he and his people are, and Vasiht'h, as bound and close to his family as he is—to see the two mesh in a way as this is warming beyond compare. Toss in a lovely twist of suspense that had me clutching my Nook in fear, and there's nothing about this that isn't brilliant. I consistently compliment Hogarth's ability with character, but in this story particularly we see a deft hand with the Eldritch that can be very difficult to walk. They are an immensely complex race – and one that would be very easy to write as one-sided and shallow. None of them are, however, and through the Veil we see just enough to keep us piqued without ever giving away all that they are.

All in all, definitely something for any Pelted fan to pick up, but an absolute must for the fans of Jahir and Vasiht'h. show less

Oh, _wow_. I loved Haley, but this is even better. A slightly different angle on LitRPG - the characters are playing an immersive online fantasy game, which has just gone (beta) from graphics on a screen to a VR, all-senses game. And the protagonists are a teenager and his mom. The game, and the story in/of the game, are fantastic; the way the real world connects, alters, and is altered by the game and the connections made there is amazing. The game AI (which is clearly awakening) is the show more final fillip that makes it perfect. Everything from battle to building to deep philosophical questions, all fitting perfectly within the story - nothing is a digression or a distraction from the story arc. The way the _characters_ are altered by their interactions in/because of the game is perfect. I was strongly reminded of Diane Duane's Omnitopia - not at all the same story, but a lot of the same flavor. I loved that this story was able to integrate building and breaking and make them work together. I could babble on for ages (though if I say much more it'll be spoilers) - I'll stop here. show less