🍷🍷🍷🍷 #Review of The Adversary by Thea Harrison

Title: The Adversary
Series: Chronicles of Rhyacia #2; Elder Races #9.95
Author: Thea Harrison
Format: Kindle Edition, 176 pages
Published: July 26th 2021 by Teddy Harrison LLC
ISBN:  ASIN: ‎ B095JSH51Q
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N
Reviewer: Linda
Source: Author
Rating: 4 out of 5 Wine Glasses

🍷🍷🍷🍷

From NYT bestselling author Thea Harrison comes the explosive conclusion to The Unseen!

When Dragos and Pia move to the Other land of Rhyacia, they hope starting a new life will bring safety and freedom to their family, especially their young baby, Niall. And at first their new home seems perfect… but looks are deceiving.

Beneath Rhyacia’s idyllic façade an ancient, malevolent force lurks, waiting for the right opportunity to break free of its cage. When that opportunity comes, it strikes with devastating accuracy.

While Dragos has never backed down from a fight, he’s also never encountered an enemy like this one before. How can he fight a foe who doesn’t have a body? A foe who can invade and turn his own mind against him?

How can Dragos protect his family, when at any moment one of them may become the enemy?
As Dragos and Pia race against time to fight this unseen menace, they must also acknowledge a terrifying truth—when anyone can become the enemy, no one can be trusted.

An adversary who can trap the dragon poses a threat to everyone in Rhyacia, and that means no one is safe…

Linda's Thoughts

The Adversary marks the brilliant completion of Thea Harrison’s Chronicles of Rhyacia duology within her fabulous Elder Races series featuring Dragos’ and Pia’s huge transition to forge a new life in the magical Other dimension of Rhyacia. Originally, Thea projected that the Chronicles of Rhyacia would consist of four novellas. While I’m sad because I could literally read about Dragos, Pia and their brood all day and feel that I was in heaven, I have to say that I can’t imagine a better, more satisfying, wrap-up to the duology.

IF you are a newbie, please do yourself a favor and, at a minimum, read the first book in this duology, The Unseen, before diving into The Adversary. The awesome thing about reading The Unseen now is that you can read both books back-to-back.  My only complaint about The Unseen was that it ended with a cliffhanger. The Adversary takes up where The Unseen left off and… well, you need to read it to find out exactly what happens, but, I will happily relate that The Adversary ends well with no cliffhanger. 

This tale made me reflect on how much has evolved since we met this power couple with Dragos’ chasing down Pia who had deftly relieved Dragos of some of his treasure in Dragon Bound, the very first Elder series book seemingly eons ago. Dragos has certainly mellowed. His family has become his greatest treasure. Pia has grown and developed exponentially to where she is also a confident and capable leader. The respect and love that they have for each other deepens each book and it gladdens my heart. This story is told from both Pia’s and Dragos’ POVs.

It was a tremendous shock to the whole magical community that a malevolent usurper would be able to quickly force the “Great Beast” Dragos, the ultimate predator, into being an unwilling host in the previous book. In The Adversary, as Dragos battles and problem-solves to regain control of his body from the malevolent usurper who has possessed him, Pia takes the limelight, clearly showing her muster with her clear and calm thinking as an integral part of her has been suddenly torn asunder - though she does understandably lose it a few times. Showing full faith and trust in Dragos and their relationship, she never once doubts in Dragos’ ability to prevail. 

Following please find a few of my favorite lines from this tale: 

“A werewolf, a Vampyre, and a gryphon walk into a bar, and what do they get? They get anything they want.” 
--- 
“I'm going to have to find a way to kill them. All of them. I just have to figure out how to see them first.” 
--- 

“None of us could have predicted this," Death said. "That the dragon, who was terminally possessive and loved the material treasures of the world beyond all else, would come to yearn eternally for what he could never truly hold onto: the soul of another. All things die, brother. Sooner or later, they all die.” 
--- 

“I will always want to touch you," he told her. "No matter how stinky or cranky you get. If you want, I'll roll in the mud with you."

"Now, there's true love." She snuggled against his chest.” 

I am a huge fan of Thea’s Elder series. I thoroughly enjoyed this exciting duology in the series and seeing previous familiar characters was a huge plus. As in Thea’s other books featuring the Cuelebre family, readers can expect plenty of love and warm family fuzzies along with thrilling action and surprising twists and turns. This is a page turner, for sure. Now, I can’t wait to see where Thea takes the Elder Races as a powerplay involving Liam appears to be forthcoming.

Suggested Reading Order: 

THE UNSEEN (Elder Races Book #9.9 and the Chronicles of Rhyacia #1)
THE ADVERSARY  (Elder Races Book #9.95 and the Chronicles of Rhyacia #2)