Scan barcode
charms1976's review
4.0
For the Love of a Goblin Warrior is the third book in the Shadowlands series by author Shona Husk. If you haven't read the previous books in this series, it should still be no problem to follow along. While I recommend you read the previous books, it is not necessary to read them first. The main characters are Meryn and Nadine.
While this book was good and kept me reading straight through until the end, it wasn't a book that I would say I fell in love with. The story was a little choppy at times and it kind of threw me off while reading it. Once I recognized the pace of the book though, I started to enjoy the plot. This book had it all. It had loss, love, obstacles and redemption. I really enjoyed the characters and they actually felt right together. While this book fits into the paranormal romance genre, I loved how it incorporated the fantasy elements as well. I haven't read much about Goblin's, but I found it is a story line element that I could enjoy in future books - especially if written by this author.
Again, it can be read as a stand alone novel, but reading the previous books in the series will just make the world the author created richer and better detailed in your mind. I can't wait to see what the author will come up with next!
While this book was good and kept me reading straight through until the end, it wasn't a book that I would say I fell in love with. The story was a little choppy at times and it kind of threw me off while reading it. Once I recognized the pace of the book though, I started to enjoy the plot. This book had it all. It had loss, love, obstacles and redemption. I really enjoyed the characters and they actually felt right together. While this book fits into the paranormal romance genre, I loved how it incorporated the fantasy elements as well. I haven't read much about Goblin's, but I found it is a story line element that I could enjoy in future books - especially if written by this author.
Again, it can be read as a stand alone novel, but reading the previous books in the series will just make the world the author created richer and better detailed in your mind. I can't wait to see what the author will come up with next!
blodeuedd's review
3.0
This book felt light and easy, even with the darkness in it. It was a romance about two people being saved by each other.
Meryn used to be a Goblin who stole gold and killed. Now he is back int he real world, 2000 years later. He is lost, but he is smart. He mourns in family, and the darkness of the Goblin hangs over him. But he is a nice guy, a man who just want to live again..if there was something to live for.
Nadine is a nurse who have nightmares (yes goblins there too). He father is in jail for killing her mother and she has blocked that out. She may go on about her life, but there is something there. Something sad. Then Nadine and Meryn meet. Something pulls them together. They are meant to be. But first they have things to go through. He needs to let go of his past and she needs to deal with her past. Not to mention that you know the whole Goblin thing is gonna pop up and mess things up.
A good romance, 2 people just meant to be. Throw in a little paranormal and there you have it.
Meryn used to be a Goblin who stole gold and killed. Now he is back int he real world, 2000 years later. He is lost, but he is smart. He mourns in family, and the darkness of the Goblin hangs over him. But he is a nice guy, a man who just want to live again..if there was something to live for.
Nadine is a nurse who have nightmares (yes goblins there too). He father is in jail for killing her mother and she has blocked that out. She may go on about her life, but there is something there. Something sad. Then Nadine and Meryn meet. Something pulls them together. They are meant to be. But first they have things to go through. He needs to let go of his past and she needs to deal with her past. Not to mention that you know the whole Goblin thing is gonna pop up and mess things up.
A good romance, 2 people just meant to be. Throw in a little paranormal and there you have it.
helenkat's review
4.0
4.5 stars
Lovely conclusion to the series. Meryn’s story is tragic. Seeing his family killed while he could do nothing to stop it, cursed to be in the Shadowlands, he tries to forget the pain so for 2000 years became a goblin only consumed by gold.
When he’s finally free, he’s still more goblin than man but the nurse at the hospital gives him kindness. A tender relationship blossoms and both have a chance at a new life. There is a lot of emotion in this book and growing feelings and of course desire. There’s also fear to trust. Nadine because all her life she’s lived with the fallout of her father killing her mother; Meryn afraid to lose Nadine if he tells the truth.
The writing sweeps you away into this story.
Disclaimer: While I know the author personally, this doesn’t affect the star rating.
Lovely conclusion to the series. Meryn’s story is tragic. Seeing his family killed while he could do nothing to stop it, cursed to be in the Shadowlands, he tries to forget the pain so for 2000 years became a goblin only consumed by gold.
When he’s finally free, he’s still more goblin than man but the nurse at the hospital gives him kindness. A tender relationship blossoms and both have a chance at a new life. There is a lot of emotion in this book and growing feelings and of course desire. There’s also fear to trust. Nadine because all her life she’s lived with the fallout of her father killing her mother; Meryn afraid to lose Nadine if he tells the truth.
The writing sweeps you away into this story.
Disclaimer: While I know the author personally, this doesn’t affect the star rating.
shelleyrae's review
3.0
For the Love of a Goblin Warrior could be read as a stand alone as this installment mainly takes place in the modern world, with the Shadowlands only occasionally intruding, but I think the previous two novels, [b:The Goblin King|11293194|The Goblin King (Shadowlands, #1)|Shona Husk|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327877420s/11293194.jpg|16220657] and [b:Kiss of the Goblin Prince|12794018|Kiss of the Goblin Prince (Shadowlands, #2)|Shona Husk|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1321520384s/12794018.jpg|17942013] provide some contextual depth for the story.
Once a Celtic warrior, Meryn was banished to the Shadowlands for his loyalty to his King. After being forced to witness the murder of his wife and children by the Roman legion, Meryn was unable to find the strength to resist the 'fade' and lost his soul to the curse, joining the goblin horde. When the curse shatters, neither Roan nor Dai considered that Meryn's humanity would be restored until Dai hears his desperate cries and brings him back to the Fixed World. Adjusting to 21st Australia is a struggle for the warrior who is still more goblin than man, but with time and love he will rediscover his humanity, and happiness.
In For the Love of a Goblin Warrior, Husk focuses more on the individual characters of the romantic pairing, Meryn and Nadine, two damaged people who are drawn to each other. Meryn is dealing with feelings of guilt and misplaced shame while struggling to make sense of modern life. He doesn't believe he deserves a second chance at happiness, but is touched by Nadine's kindness and compassion.
Nadine is afraid to risk her heart, having effectively been orphaned at a young age when her father was found guilty of murdering her mother, a murder she was thought to have witnessed but repressed.
As they both begin to confront their pasts, they find they are on the same journey - they must both let go of the past in order to move forward and create a future together.
With such focus on introspective, emotional conflict there is very little action in the story, and though that is not exactly a bad thing, I did feel the lack. The pacing is a little awkward at times (for example Meryn is speaking almost perfect English within days) but I wasn't unduly bothered as the compressed time frame made it necessary.
Overall, I enjoyed being able to read straight through this trilogy, starting with Roan's story in [b:The Goblin King|11293194|The Goblin King (Shadowlands, #1)|Shona Husk|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327877420s/11293194.jpg|16220657], moving on to the [b:Kiss of the Goblin Prince|12794018|Kiss of the Goblin Prince (Shadowlands, #2)|Shona Husk|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1321520384s/12794018.jpg|17942013] featuring Dai and finishing by following Meryn's journey in For the Love of a Goblin Warrior, which provides closure for this appealing series. I think Husk has left herself the means to return to the series should she wish and I know I will happily return to the Shadowlands again.
lisajo85's review
3.0
FOR THE LOVE OF A GOBLIN WARRIOR is a novel with an interesting twist for the paranormal genre with great characters and plenty of drama. The third installment of the Shadowlands series is a great romance!
After breaking a horrible curse, Meryn is thrown from the Shadowlands into modern day Australia two thousand years later. Lost and confused, he fights to find his way in this world completely unknown to him. He convinces himself that all hope is gone and his soul is tarnished until he meets his beautiful nurse Nadia. They share dark, disturbing dreams, but also an attraction that neither can ignore. Yet once Nadine finds out the truth about Meryn's past, can she ever learn to love a goblin warrior?
Meryn was such a dark, lost soul and I have to say that made him a very attractive character. His tragic past made him all the more appealing because he was working so hard to move on and adapt to this strange new world. Nadine was your typical girl with a complicated family history and looking for a distraction in all the wrong places. These two share intriguing common bonds despite the fact that they lived in different time periods. Yet what makes their romance so interesting is the fact that they both want to help each other move forward past the pain. Their romance is pretty instantaneous as they realize what they have is more than just a shocking attraction. Overall though, the book moves quickly which means their romance does too. Nadine and Meryn share plenty of sweet moments and a few steamy moments as well.
Some small points though were hard to believe, even for a paranormal. Certain details about Meryn's adaptation to the new world were far-fetched and became somewhat distracting. Other than that, it is a very light read for a paranormal. There isn't really any conflict which allows the book to focus more on the romance than the drama. Some readers may love this fact while others looking for a true paranormal read may not be so thrilled. I was satisfied though. I would have appreciated more conflict, but it was still a great romance to read.
FOR THE LOVE OF A GOBLIN WARRIOR has no true villain in this installment so at its core you have two people haunted by their past working to find a future together. Nadine has a side story with her father that I enjoyed reading about. It added a lot more complexity to her character and certainly added another emotional layer to her drama.
FOR THE LOVE OF A GOBLIN WARRIOR was the first novel I have read from the Shadowlands series. I was led to believe this could be read as a stand alone, but I really wouldn't recommend it. There were plenty of details that left me confused and lost as to the background of this world Ms Husk has created. Of course, it's not impossible to read this novel as a stand alone, but I feel it would have been even more enjoyable had I read the first two. There are just plenty of things about the characters and the universe that you would benefit from knowing before reading this installment.
Still, FOR THE LOVE OF A GOBLIN WARRIOR was an entertaining and unique read. Shona Husk creates a dark yet delightful world where romance and fantasy combine. In this journey of the Shadowlands meeting the real world, Ms Husk bridges the gap with lively, vivid description. Also with flawed human characters, fighting for a second chance at happiness. It all makes for a dreamy romance and a spellbinding story. The only major disclaimer I can see is that fans of the series may enjoy this novel far more than readers fresh to this dangerous universe. If you are looking for a light romance with a paranormal twist, FOR THE LOVE OF A GOBLIN WARRIOR will be worth the price.
Lisa Jo @ The Romance Reviews
After breaking a horrible curse, Meryn is thrown from the Shadowlands into modern day Australia two thousand years later. Lost and confused, he fights to find his way in this world completely unknown to him. He convinces himself that all hope is gone and his soul is tarnished until he meets his beautiful nurse Nadia. They share dark, disturbing dreams, but also an attraction that neither can ignore. Yet once Nadine finds out the truth about Meryn's past, can she ever learn to love a goblin warrior?
Meryn was such a dark, lost soul and I have to say that made him a very attractive character. His tragic past made him all the more appealing because he was working so hard to move on and adapt to this strange new world. Nadine was your typical girl with a complicated family history and looking for a distraction in all the wrong places. These two share intriguing common bonds despite the fact that they lived in different time periods. Yet what makes their romance so interesting is the fact that they both want to help each other move forward past the pain. Their romance is pretty instantaneous as they realize what they have is more than just a shocking attraction. Overall though, the book moves quickly which means their romance does too. Nadine and Meryn share plenty of sweet moments and a few steamy moments as well.
Some small points though were hard to believe, even for a paranormal. Certain details about Meryn's adaptation to the new world were far-fetched and became somewhat distracting. Other than that, it is a very light read for a paranormal. There isn't really any conflict which allows the book to focus more on the romance than the drama. Some readers may love this fact while others looking for a true paranormal read may not be so thrilled. I was satisfied though. I would have appreciated more conflict, but it was still a great romance to read.
FOR THE LOVE OF A GOBLIN WARRIOR has no true villain in this installment so at its core you have two people haunted by their past working to find a future together. Nadine has a side story with her father that I enjoyed reading about. It added a lot more complexity to her character and certainly added another emotional layer to her drama.
FOR THE LOVE OF A GOBLIN WARRIOR was the first novel I have read from the Shadowlands series. I was led to believe this could be read as a stand alone, but I really wouldn't recommend it. There were plenty of details that left me confused and lost as to the background of this world Ms Husk has created. Of course, it's not impossible to read this novel as a stand alone, but I feel it would have been even more enjoyable had I read the first two. There are just plenty of things about the characters and the universe that you would benefit from knowing before reading this installment.
Still, FOR THE LOVE OF A GOBLIN WARRIOR was an entertaining and unique read. Shona Husk creates a dark yet delightful world where romance and fantasy combine. In this journey of the Shadowlands meeting the real world, Ms Husk bridges the gap with lively, vivid description. Also with flawed human characters, fighting for a second chance at happiness. It all makes for a dreamy romance and a spellbinding story. The only major disclaimer I can see is that fans of the series may enjoy this novel far more than readers fresh to this dangerous universe. If you are looking for a light romance with a paranormal twist, FOR THE LOVE OF A GOBLIN WARRIOR will be worth the price.
Lisa Jo @ The Romance Reviews
kathyrandallbryant's review
3.0
Tackles the history of someone who has been wounded, and how that changes the beginning of a relationship. With goblins.
lnzlou55's review
5.0
Who knew I would like goblins? So far I think Meryn might be my favorite of the three goblins. He had been through so much, yet still was trying to become an honorable man. It bothered me a little how smoothly everything came together, with Nadine being his nurse and both of them having that connection to the Shadowlands. If you overlook that it is a great story. I really liked seeing how Meryn adjusted to his new life in the new world.
elylibrarysec's review
4.0
My review will be posted at Urban Girl Reader, http://www.urbangirlreader.com/, on January 25.
larisa2021's review
4.0
Trilogy improved with each installment. the long term impacts of traumatic grief, the challenges of choice & change - looking forward, instead of always to the painful past, bring the story to a higher level. A realistic fairy tale.
eloiseinparis's review
3.0
The third and possible final installment of the Shadowlands series was good and bad. Meryn is a complicated figure, and I loved that the entire book dealt with him adjusting to the mortal realm after 2,000 years as a Goblin. I also loved that he dealt with the loss of his wife and children, and did just brush them to the side as soon as he met Nadine. So many series have the hero easily adjusting to a new world, and instantly getting over the loss of love as soon as they meet the heroine. I loved that these character’s are psychologically complex.
What was bad was that there barely any magic. This book only technically qualifies as Fantasy or Paranormal. It is really closer to chick lit. That was extremely disappointing, especially after Dai’s story and the whole world of magic that book introduced. I wish those elements had been used in this book. There was no epic battle, no fight against evil. The dreams were kind of a cop out to me. I would have rather they had been a reality for the couple.
This could be the last book seeing as the Roan’s warrior’s are dead or had fully become Goblin’s. However, at the end of the book there was a hint that there could be more. Hopefully she does continue with this series, I really want to know more about the mysterious Birch Bank. And since there are still Goblin’s in the Shadlowlands there are still more men to be free of the curse and more battle’s to be fought.
What was bad was that there barely any magic. This book only technically qualifies as Fantasy or Paranormal. It is really closer to chick lit. That was extremely disappointing, especially after Dai’s story and the whole world of magic that book introduced. I wish those elements had been used in this book. There was no epic battle, no fight against evil. The dreams were kind of a cop out to me. I would have rather they had been a reality for the couple.
This could be the last book seeing as the Roan’s warrior’s are dead or had fully become Goblin’s. However, at the end of the book there was a hint that there could be more. Hopefully she does continue with this series, I really want to know more about the mysterious Birch Bank. And since there are still Goblin’s in the Shadlowlands there are still more men to be free of the curse and more battle’s to be fought.