Kinked

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

Introduction
Kinked is the sixth installment in the "Elder Races" series and I was able to listen to this one. I do recommend if you can, reading these books through audiobook. Sophie Eastlake does a superb job with the narration on these books and especially brings the humor out so well. I was pretty apprehensive about this installment because I knew how angst filled this story would be because these two despise each other and I was wondering how that would be manifested throughout the story. But I should have had more faith in this author in doing well on this story because this turned out to be so well done and actually worked so well for me. If you are a fan show more of the series in general, I highly recommend "Kinked"

The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Quentin
Quentin is a newer Sentinel and working on establishing himself among the other sentinels. He is a bit of a playboy, restless, always on the look for something more in his life but is a badass warrior.

The Heroine: Aryal
Aryal is a bit of a prickly sentinel, she has a chip on her shoulder but is completely dedicated to Dragos and Pia. She knows how to be a badass warrior, but hides her more softer parts under a thick violent exterior and always has a drive to prove herself.

Summary
When harpy, Aryal, lets her hate consume her surrounding Quentin and they end up brawling and putting Drago's infant son at risk, Dragos is forced to take drastic measure to resolve the tension that has risen among his sentinels. So he forces them to go on a mission together and banishes them where they are forces to confront their conflicts and differences and find some common ground. At first Aryal and Quentin battle each other, but with each step forward on their mission, they find commonality where they least expect it and find a deeper connection that neither of them expects.

My Outlook
I really had a blast with "Kinked" I always get apprehensive with enemies to lovers, but Thea Harrison really handled the tension here so so well. And honestly these two are so hilariously addictive together. This author knows exactly how to place in humor so well and it was delectable seeing it all come together. The sexual tension that is built between Aryal and Quentin was so tasty and there was some light BDSM. Mostly domination type of things between both of them so that was quite interesting seeing how that developed in this one. It really fascinated me though seeing how they slowly changed from hating each other to being willing to die for each other. I adored how it was implemented throughout. And we do get some moments with Dragos and Pia that were just perfection. And the way that we see their vulnerabilities in the quiet moments is what really did it for me here.

Overall View
Kinked is a action packed angsty filled romance that will keep you on edge, curl your toes with some dominant sensual vibes, and delivers on soft feels in the least expected moments....a true winnter!

Rating Evaluation:
Plot: 5
World Building: 4
Cover:4
Hero: 4
Heroine: 4
Steam: 4
Heart & Feels:4
Ending:4
Overall View: 4 show less

Quentin Caeravorn is the newest Sentinel, a career criminal, and Pia's friend. He's considered a triple threat because he's part Wyr, Elven and Dark Fae, but Aryal doesn't trust him and is determined to find his secrets to destroy him.

Aryal is a harpy, brought into existence at the beginning of the World, she's tenacious, fierce, loyal, wild and unpredictable and will attack you just as soon as look at you. She will bring Quentin down no matter what it takes, even if that means she has to kill him.

From the beginning the animosity between these two is palpable and when their fight turns into a battle royale in the Tower, Dragos banishes them to sort their shit or don't come back.
Once I fell into the Wyr world and let go of my 'human' show more sensibilities I was able to really appreciate and enjoy their kinky dance from hate sex, to their kinky games and their brand of emotional expression. Wyrs and harpies are not human and the author made that a reality as she pulled me into their world and helped me see the many layers of these two characters.

There are uncomfortable and cringe worthy moments but they fit for this couple and made the evolution of their relationship blaze that much brighter for me. I felt their passion as well as their sorrows, They were perfect for each other. I loved it, but it may be difficult for sensitive readers.

They are violent with each other and their brand of sex may be difficult for sensitive readers.

Favorite quote:

'Can you control her?'
'Of course I can control her,' said Quentin nastily, 'Every time she lets me.'"

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Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: Aryal hates Quentin, and the feeling is mutual. Fed up with the both of them, Dragos sends them on a mission together, telling them to figure out how to work together, or they’ll be out as sentinels. So, naturally, they each decide to find a way to “accidentally” kill the other. Obviously, they’re made for each other…

Opening Sentence: Aryal floated and spun in the wild dark night.

The Review:

This series has been wildly up and down for me, with books that I adore, and then some books that are a struggle to get through. Thankfully, Aryal and Quentin’s story is one of the former. This book was so much fun, and it has me eagerly looking forward to the next.

Aryal has never liked show more Quentin. She is convinced he’s hiding something, and as Dragos’ best investigator, has made it her mission to figure out what Quentin has done. Unfortunately for her, Quentin is now a sentinel, meaning she has to see him every day and work with him. This is not going well, as almost every time they see each other, a fight ensues. We’re not talking about a verbal fight; we’re talking a no holds barred, knockdown, drag out fight, with each person intent on maiming the other. After one such fight, Dragos finally loses his temper. Calling Aryal and Quentin into his office, he tells them they are to travel to Numenlaur on a reconnaissance mission. They must spend at least two weeks on the mission, no more than one month. Both Quentin and Aryal see this as an excellent opportunity to rid themselves of the other person. All they have to do is make the other’s death look like an accident. Not long into their trip, they realize all is not well in Numenlaur and have to band together in order to solve the problem. Will they ever admit to the rising attraction between them? More importantly, will they both make it out alive?

I think I’m one of the few people who actually liked Aryal in previous books. Sure, she’s moody and aggressive, but I always found her a refreshing change of pace from other side characters. I really enjoyed having her as the heroine. She’s surprisingly funny, and there’s a soft side to her that other people don’t get to see. I definitely wouldn’t mind seeing more of her in future Elder Races books.

I’d never really formed much of an opinion on Quentin in previous books, other than to think that if Pia liked him, he couldn’t be all bad. While definitely an alpha male, he’s not your typical alpha hero, which is nice and makes him a very good fit for Aryal. As with Aryal, he can be very harsh at first, but there are more layers to him. He cares deeply about his elven heritage, as evidenced by his reaction to seeing Numenlaur. There’s definitely more to him than meets the eye.

What I really liked about the romance here is that Aryal and Quentin’s personalities did not change as the romance progressed. They remain the same harsh people they were at the beginning of the book, but that ends up being what makes them perfect for each other. I wouldn’t have been happy with a suddenly nice and cheery Aryal, and I’m so glad that this did not happen.

As with all Elder Race novels, there is action among the romance, and that action is definitely intense here. From the moment Aryal and Quentin enter Numenlaur, you know something is wrong, and that tension just keeps building. I never wanted to put the book down, and that is always such a great feeling. Fans of the Elder Races novels will definitely not be disappointed with this one!

Notable Scene:

As Quentin watched, her gaze slid sideways toward him. The narrow-eyed glance she gave him was filled with pure evil. Then she down at Grym’s Glock, and her expression turned unhappy.

“You’re doing a really good job,” Grym told her, his voice mild and encouraging. “I know what you want to ask, so I’ll answer right now and save you the temptation. Dragos told me to shoot you if you said a word, so yes, I would do as he ordered. He didn’t say where to shoot you though.”

Aryal threw up her hands in a silent question.

Grym told her, “I’d probably tag you on your foot.”

Her mouth turned down at the corners. She shook her head and pointed to her forearm, while Quentin scratched the back of his head and stared at them. They were discussing in all seriousness which body part Grym was going to shoot?

“Okay, not your foot,” Grym amended. “I’d tag your arm. Satisfied?”

FTC Advisory: Berkley/Penguin provided me with a copy of Kinked. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. show less

I fell off the Thea Harrison bandwagon several books ago - haven't really liked any of the Elder Races books since the first one - but Kinked brought me completely back into the fold. Loved the rare combination of snark and genuine emotion between hero and heroine.

Kinked
4 Stars

To say that Aryal, the Harpy Sentinel, and Quentin, the new panther Sentinel, despise one another is an understatement. These to adversaries are hell bent on murder and mayhem until they go too far and Dragos decides to banish them from the Wyr demesne. Forced to work together in the post-apocalyptic Elven land, will Quentin and Aryal overcome their history or die in the attempt?

Love/Hate relationships are one of my absolute favorite tropes and this one is fantastic. Aryal and Quentin have been minor characters in the series thus far but their fierce animosity and intense chemistry makes them both engaging characters.

The journey through the dying Elven land has its heart-wrenching and exciting moments, but it is Quentin show more and Aryal's romance that takes center stage. It is fun watching them work through their hostilities and misconceptions to become true partners and lovers.

There are several weak points in book such as the BDSM element, which is both underdeveloped and unnecessary both to the characterization and the plot line, and the fact that Quentin and Aryal are too accepting of their mating, especially considering their past enmity. Moreover, Quentin’s big secret is glossed over too easily and the villain’s history and motivation feel somewhat tacked on.

Nevertheless, Kinked is a fast paced, action packed and steamy read and it is obvious that Harrison has more up her sleeve for the future of the Elder Races. show less

The heroine has always said that she hated 2 things above all else. First off was the human who stole from her leader and wormed her way into the lives of the Wyr. But unfortunately, that hate has dulled a bit now that the human has mated to the leader and produced the cutest damn baby ever born. The heroine is pissed to realize that she can no longer hold her grudge for that one. But she can damn sure hold her passionate hatred for the other one on her list. The hero can sense, smell and taste lies on the hero's lips and knows for sure with everything inside her that he's hiding something. She's made it her mission in life to expose that secret and prove to her fellows that he's not to be trusted. Plus, everything he says or does show more manages to seriously piss her off. The hero feels just as disgusted by the harpy of a female who grates on him like nails on a chalkboard. So, together, fueled by there hatred for one another, they've caused serious tension in the ranks. Arguing constantly and sometimes even coming to blows in the hallways, the leader has finally had enough. As punishment, they are banished for 1 month. If they do not settle their feud by then then they will no longer b welcomed in the Wyr. So, much to their irritation, the hero and heroine are put on a plain and sent to the world of the Elves. But on the way as tensions run high, their relationship dynamic begins to change. It's a very easy step when one feels passionately in one way or another for a member of the opposite sex, to go from hatred to sexual attraction. The hero and heroine are both open with the idea that hate sex between them will be hot and rough. Still strongly disliking the other, they do begin to barter for sexual control and begin to become more and more involved with each other. But it's only when they enter the world of the elves that that sexual passion begins to develop into something deeper. The heroine comforts the hero over the grief he experiences with the state of his people's land and the mutual grief over discovering the dead enfant. The hero comforts the heroine when she's attacked and her wings are torn and it becomes a very real possibly she'll never fly again. But one thing I loved about both these character was the fact that they never became lovey dovey. The were constantly harping at each other or tossing out snarky commits but towards the end it was clear that the words weren't harsh but rather from a place of love and understanding. And they did understand each other, more so than anyone else. It made them so alive in personality that it's no surprise they came together. I loved the heroine because she was goddamn annoying and relentless in her desire to hate the hero and expose him yet when confesses to his secret, she's actually pissed she spent so much on him for such a peddy crime. They were both so brutally honest and both possessed that whole ' get your head out of your ass and get on with life' attitude. But even though I adored the characters, I felt the story was lackluster and I felt no emotional pull towards the storyline or the conflict (other than the dead baby cause that was super emotional). I kept waiting for something grand to happen but the plot was a steady flat line for me unfortunately. show less

Finally, I have a really good strong female character to make example of, ladies and gentleman, meet Aryal the Harpy because she rock my definition of proper raw and strong female character. I guess, I went backward with the series since I've read "Dragos Takes a Holiday" first before I read this book but it was all worth it. The book follow up directly from Lord's Fall and its subsequent storyline which take up the considerable size of the book's plot.

Aryal and Quentin were possibly the most non-vanilla characters in the entire series. Of course, all of the characters in the Elder's Races series were intense, defiant and sometimes lovable but these two's dynamic were catastrophically explosive. Since Aryal couldn't pinpoint anything show more against Quentin, she couldn't boot Quentin off from the Sentinels. Even after she had terrorize Quentin's personal and professional life for two years and by the time around this book, both of them reach to the point where every single time they met, both of them always end up with in a murderous rampage. When their fight went out of control, Dragos sent them to Prague on a two weeks mission to a lost elven realm Numenlaur.

For most part of the book, Kinked was fast paced and enjoyable but it was always interesting to see two physically equal and dominant characters clash and their verbal war was entertaining to the end. Of course, it is still partly a paranormal romance but for 80 percent of the story, it run on heavy action, character developments, sexual tension and also the ugly things waiting for them in Numenlaur. I wish I hadn't devour the book too fast because I can't wait for the next novel length book in the series. show less