This is the third book in this series, and since each book is written by a different author, that adds another layer to this series that just works out great. I haven't read anything by Jessica Andersen before but I was impressed by her writing.

This book is a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, but definitely a grown up version. Reda's mother raised her on a special book, a one of a kind book, about Little Red Riding Hood, but she died while Reda was still young so she never had a chance to finish it. Reda is on leave from the police department for personal reasons when she finds that very same book in a book store. She takes it home and opens it and is transported to a magical realm, where she meets a man who is the spitting image of the sexy woodcutter from her book. She also lands square in the middle of a wolfyn village, which is the exact opposite of a safe place.

Dayn has his own problems. While he is away from the castle where he lives with his parents and his 3 siblings, an evil Blood Sorcerer attacks and casts a spell to vanquish the kingdom. The King and Queen are attacked and are dying, but they try to cast a spell of their own to protect their children before they succumb. Dayn's father sends him this message before he and his mother pass on to try to explain what's happening:

"Because of our wounds and the sorcerer's power, the spell turned warped as your mother and I cast it. The magic has sent you and your brothers and sister far away, as we intended, but it has also tied the four of you to the castle and begun a countdown. When this count enters its final four nights - and not before then - you must all return to the island, retake the castle and kill the Blood Sorcerer. If you do not, you will die and Elden will be lost. But you must wait until the time is right."

He tells Dayn that a woman will come to guide him home, and then he is flung to another realm. He makes a home there and waits for this guide to appear. Enter Reda. They will have to work together to save Dayn's kingdom, and each other, from unforeseen complications.

I enjoyed this installment of the series very much. Reda was a bit annoying in that she was constantly questioning herself and freezing when she and Dayn encountered any danger, but given her history and back story, it was pretty understandable and easy to get past. Dayn was just what you want in a hero - sexy and dangerous, but caring and tender as well, depending on what situation they found themselves in.

The world building was done very well, and given the different realms Reda finds herself in, this is saying something. The plot moved along at a good pace and it was easy to get invested in the characters and the story. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series to find out what happens with all of the siblings.

I can definitely recommend this book for fans of paranormal fairy tale retellings with a twist, and am giving it 4/5 stars.

I received a copy of this book freer of charge in exchange for my honest opinion. ( )

Lord of the Wolfyn
3.5 Stars

Synopsis
Sent into the Wolfyn Realm by his dying parents' spell, Dayn must wait for the woman who will guide him home to fight to free his people from the Blood Sorcerer. That woman is Reda Weston, a practical ex-cop transported into a strange realm by a magical book where she comes face to face with the hero of her dreams.

Review
Captivating romance but the plot is underdeveloped.

The Red Riding Hood references have potential, however, they are not effectively integrated into the story. Moreover, the character backgrounds also lack detail and there are more questions than answers: what is the connection between Reda's mother and the Kingdom Realm, who is Moragh and how is she related to the Blood Sorcerer, and how exactly did Dayn become a Wolfyn?

Reda and Dayn are an engaging couple. Their chemistry is intense and their relationship the most intimate and passionate in the series so far (their bonding scene is incredible).

Reda is an ambivalent heroine. While her suffering both past and present makes me sympathize, she has a tendency to over-dramatize things and constantly thinks the worst of Dayn, which is unwarranted. Nevertheless, she slowly comes into her own throughout the book and becomes a self-confident and worthy partner.

Dayn is a combination of valiant vampire and sexy shapeshifter (like Michael in the Underworld films). He is a compelling hero but his internal conflict with regard to reconciling his Wolfyn nature could have been better developed.

The pacing is good and the writing flows smoothly. The action scenes are excellent and the ending is satisfying. I am eager to read the final installment written by Nalini Singh to see how everything comes together. ( )

"3.5 out of 5 stars! This is an enjoyable sequel to "Lord of the Vampires" [Royal House of Shadows Series, Book 1]!! Also, I'm very happy with how things turned out in this book as I love werewolf/shape-shifter type of books.

Reda started out as..."

Read more of this review and TWO TEASERS here: http://frommetoyouvideophoto.blogspot.com/2011/09/made-grade-royal-house-of-shad... ( )

I really liked the characters in this book. Reda and Dyan must both come to terms with a lot outside of the fight for Elden. My only complaint is I want to know what happens to Elden. Guess I'll have to read book 4 to figure that out. ( )

3 ½ Stars

Lord of the Wolfyn is the third book in the Royal House of Shadows series. Jessica Andersen writes this installment.

Reda’s mother was a woman who believed in magic and magic creatures. She taught Reda as much as possible about her beliefs and gave Reda a very special book with a different version of the Red Riding Hood. When her mom passed away Reda fervently clung to the book and to her mother’s magic beliefs, but her father a military man couldn’t accept her behavior and took the book away from her and sent her to therapy. Many years have passed, Reda is a grown woman and a police officer now dealing with the death of her partner, a death she blames herself for freezing during an armed robbery.
Reda is on leave, going to therapy and trying to forgive herself for her actions or lack of them. One day, one of her walks takes her to an interesting bookstore where she finds the book her mother gave to her many years ago. Without a second thought Reda buys the book. She has always been curiously attracted to the woodsman in the story and at home remembering her mother’s teachings she also remembers some magic words her mother taught her. According to her mother one day she must need to use those words to fulfill her destiny. After so many years Reda doesn’t believe in magic anymore, but anyway while reading the book she repeats the magic words without any expectations, no having a clue what she was doing or what was going to happen.
Dayn is the second son of the King and Queen of Elden and a blood-drinker (something similar to a vampire). During the Elden’s castle attack by the Blood Sorcerer, the King and Queen, united, use their last strength before dying to protect their children, using their magic they sent them away from their lands and out of the reach of the Blood Sorcerer.
Dayn was sent to the Wolfyn Realm where he is supposed to wait for a guide, this guide will bring him back to the Elden Realm when the time is right for him and his brothers to battle the Blood Sorcerer and get back what was theirs. The only things he knows about this guide is that is a woman with red hair and after her arrival they will have four days to get back to Elden.
Dayn has been living for twenty years among the wolfyn hiding his true identity from them. Wolfyn are one of Elden’s biggest enemies.
One night a magical vortex open and in the middle of it a red headed woman is laying unconscious. Dayn immediately knows she is the woman he has been dreaming about and his guide. Finally the time has arrived for him to head back to Elden.
Reda awakes in a strange place but she thinks she is still sleeping and dreaming about her woodsman. Her rational mind cannot believe her mother was right and magic is real. And even more she cannot believe her woodsman is also real and wants her to guide him to another realm.
Dayn and Reda will have to work together to be able to achieve their goals, the question is would they be able to do it while being so different from each other?

I have some problems with Reda because it took a long time for her to believe what she was experiencing was real. Also her reactions about some truths about Dayn were a bit too much and sometimes she was more of a liability than an asset to Dayn. At the end she was a lot better but I wish she would have find her inner strength a bit sooner.

I liked Dayn a bit more. He is a patient man and he understands Reda. He is also dealing with his own issues and needs to learn to accept himself for what he truly is. At the same time he is helping Reda find herself.

Their relationship was one of immediate attraction but with some bumps on the road thanks to Reda. At the end they came together in a nice and believable way.

I had some issues with this book. One of those may sound silly for many of you, but for me it was almost a deal-breaker. Minutes before meeting Reda for the first time Dayn was with another woman. He’s just out of her bed and hasn’t showered or anything when he meets Reda. Dayn then spends hours with Reda and doesn’t shower, nothing, not even wet-wipes! (lol) They even kiss and touch and the only thing I could think was “please take a shower, please! Take the other’s woman sweat and smell from your body”. At the end the shower happens but for me was almost a bit too late.
Another problem or inconsistency I found with the story was the lack of mention of the timepiece, the one that the Queen gave to each of her kids and was supposed to have some importance in the story, at least that was said in previous two books.

Lord of the Wolfyn was my first book by Jessica Andersen and even though I found the dialogue a bit repetitive I can say I liked her style and I’m sure this one won’t be my last book by her.
I can’t wait to read the conclusion of this series in the next and last book, Lord of the Abyss, Nalini Singh writes this final installment. ( )