Heroes at Risk

This is the fourth volume in Moira J. Moore’s Lee and Taro series, which as a whole is awfully hard to classify. At first it rather reads like Fantasy, but then there is repeated mention that the people that populate the novels are descended from forefathers that arrived from the stars with a lot of big machinery that for some unknown reason stopped working, so from that perspective it looks like Science Fiction. Except that the central conflict of Heroes at Risk is mostly about magic, and at the novel’s end it appears highly likely that it actually does exist in this world, which would make the series Fantasy after all… The world the series is set in reminded me very strongly of early nineteenth century England, or more precisely show more the Regency period – and even though this is the by far most popular era for Historical Romances, and this series is about a couple it did seem at first like things were not going that way – until they took a sharp turn in the third volume most of which the protagonists spend abroad and where they finally discovered their love for each other; and continuing in that vein a substantial part of Heroes at Risk concerns itself with the relationship between Lee and Taro.

In fact, it would not be wrong to say that this relationship and the aftermath of what happened in the third volume is the main subject ofHeroes at Risk, and that it delegates the plot about magic, a strange plague, and an assassination attempt on Lee to the rank of a mere secondary plot. While this brings the Romance of the series solidly into the foreground for this installment, it does not do so in the way one would expect – instead of enjoying their happiness of having found each other, Lee and Taro’s love seems increasingly like something as exotic as the lands where it first blossomed, and like an exoctic flower transplanted into foreign soil it threatens to whither and die in the cold light of common day. While the “exterior” plot was rather more unexciting than we’re used to from previous volumes and I suspect serves mainly to set up things to come (the ending is almost a cliffhanger), I enjoyed the “interior” plot quite a bit – Lee has obviously been changed by her experiences in the South, and while everyone tells her so, she herself is trying her hardest to ignore and to fit her new, liberated self back into the old, familiar constraints. Obviously, this can’t work, and in consequence she is very grumpy throughout a lot of the novel and – sometimes quite hilariously – keeps complaining about how everyone and everything else is different from before her absence. I really liked this for its emotional honesty – Moira Moore is not going the easy way here but opts for a realistic depiction of someone who has become unsure of herself and her place in the society she grew up in. It is also very deftly handled, making good use of an unreliable narrator and shows how far the author has come since her occasionally awkward first volume in the series.

And as all novels in this series, Heroes at Risk has a ludicrously inappropriate cover that does not give even a faint hint of what is going on inside the book, neither in terms of plot nor of general atmosphere - likely as sign that her publisher did not quite know under what genre to file it either, and possibly one of the reasons why they dropped it after the sixth volume, thus cutting off yet another excellent series before it reached its conclusion. show less

Thanks to Angie, I've stumbled onto many, many new series that have totally sparked my interest and have left me clamoring for more. Out of all the authors she's recommended, Moira J. Moore's Heroes Series has to be one of my new favorites. Its got danger, bucket loads of humor, intricate world building, romance, and of course, characters that you can't help but adore. Not only that, but it's one of the most original story lines I've come across in quite a while. Heroes at Risk is the fourth novel in a progressively entertaining series about Source Taro and Shield Lee, a set of Pairs who through a unique bond are able to control natural disasters like earthquakes and hurricanes. Lee and Taro have been circling each other for quite some show more time and in the last book, things sort of came to a head between them and changed everything - in my opinion - for the best. But that could all change as they return to High Scrape to resume their normal duties as a Pair.Back in High Scrape at last, Lee is more than happy to be back to her normal life, ready to do some shielding, ready to avoid any kind of danger or intrigue. So of course, Taro finds his way into trouble while attempting to chase down grave robbers during their first week back. Naturally, Lee is less than pleased. But trouble seem to follow the Pair wherever they go, leading to the discovery that the citizens of High Scrape have turned to magic - namely casting spells using the ashes of people supposed to be lucky - in hopes of avoiding a repeat of the calamities (famine, extreme weather) High Scrape has recently been plagued with. The regulars aren't exactly pleased with how Triple S (basically the employers of Source and Shields) have been handling things and are looking for anything to fix it. Lee and Taro are more than disbelieving in the power of magic, not to mention the fact that it is highly illegal, but when people throughout the city begin to fall prey to a mysterious illness, the Pairs find themselves at risk and are more than determined to find out what is going on.I was so excited to get back to the sometimes exasperating, yet always entertaining, world of Lee and Taro. Taro has this whole devil-may-care-handsome-aristocrat thing going on, yet in this book he really shows how insecure he is at times, especially where Lee is concerned. Although sometimes I wanted to shake Lee for her obliviousness - making Taro spell out exactly what he means all the time - she is so dang lovable. Her inner dialogue is too funny, full of self-depreciating humor and little quips on the intelligence (or lack thereof) of the people around her. I love her thoughts, but I still think a book, or even a short story, from Taro's perspective (hint, hint!) would be seriously welcomed. Srsly. Through Lee's eyes, we get such a limited view of Taro's thoughts and it would be perfect to know what he's thinking much of the time - even if it is just that Lee is a complete idiot. Fantastic book Ms. Moore, please keep them coming.Oh, and as far as last lines go, this one is a killer. show less

This fourth entry in the Heroes series find Dunleavy and Taro unwittingly at the center of a conspiracy of involving the thefts of the ashes of the dead, but also an increasing use of witchcraft in their home city.

I'm still really enjoying this series. The books thus far have been well written, engrossing and exciting with an amusing narrator in Dunleavy. I would certainly recommend this fantasy series as a whole and am looking forward to the next couple books.

Is it a bad thing that by 30 pages in I wanted to grab the heroine and shake her?

Sheild Lee Mallorough and her partner Source Taro are home from their tropical island non-vacation. They can't tell anyone where they've been or what they've been up to. The queen's died and her heir is as obnoxious as feared. A mysterious plague has struck High Scape, and superstition is running rampant, along with grave-robbing, human ash selling, and all sorts of rumor. When Lee is struck by a mysterious illness that isn't the plague, only relying on superstition and spellcasting my save her. Of course, then she's indebted...

The series has always been narrated by Lee's inner self. And the first book in the series was a bit wooden, but things had show more improved. Unfortunately, this installment is a drastic turn for the worse. Oblivious and passive at once or by turns, Lee makes it through the book alive, but mainly does not much of anything while events happen around and to her. Very frustrating reading. show less

Heroes at Risk, the fourth in series, picks up right where Heroes Adrift left off. After completing the Empress's mission, Shield Lee Mallorough and Source Shintaro Karish return to High Scape only to learn that it is becoming a cold spot and the many of the pairs are being sent to other hot spots. Belief in magic has sprung up among the people, leading to illegal practice of spells. And to make everything worse, grave robbers are stealing ashes from cemetaries. Add to that a mysterious group who keeps inviting Lee and Taro to their meetings makes for an engaging adventure.

Taro dashes Lee's assumption that he would leave her once they were back in High Scape. But their relationship is threatened. Lord Doran, Lee's former suitor, seems show more determined to get Lee back. Some of the other pairs show contempt that Lee and Taro are together against custom do to the fact that it could destroy the working relationship of pairs if it ends badly, making them useless in diffusing natural disasters.

I am a fan of the series and love Lee and Taro, but sometimes Lee frustrates me. Her stubbornness causes most of the problems in her relationship with Taro. While Heroes at Risk is not my favorite of the series (that honor goes to Heroes Adrift), it is a solid addition to the series. I cannot wait til the next. All of Moira J. Moore's novels go on my must buy list. show less

Shield Lee and Source Karish have finished their undercover mission for the queen and have returned home to High Scape. Since they have been gone a new fad for casting spells has interested the populace. One of the key components in these spells is human ashes. Lee does not believe in the ability to cast spells and is both repulsed and fascinated by the whole thing. Matters become more deadly when people start turning up murdered for their lucky ashes. Now that they are settling back into "normal life" Lee is waiting for what she assumes is the inevitable end of her relationship with Karish, but then she becomes concerned that someone may consider Karish lucky enough to murder for his remains. After all they always seem to attract the show more attention of the crazy killers in the area.

I really struggled to finish this book. Too much of the story was Lee bracing for the end of a relationship and moaning about it. The identity of several of the bad guys was so obvious in my opinion, I had a hard time believing the characters could not see it. Then for the first time in this series the bad guy story line was not resolved and I'm still not sure where the whole spells thing is going. There was a major plot development to finish off the book and I do want to know where that is going to go, so I really hope the next one picks up. show less

A solid entry, leads into the next book nicely, but they don't seem to be active in their own lives. They need to ask the right questions, at least appear to have goals.....