Review: Kinked by Thea Harrison (Elder Races #6)

Kinked (Elder Races #6)
Thea Harrison
Published: November 5, 2013 (Berkley)
Purchase at: Book Depository or Amazon
Review Source: Purchased

Reviewed by: Mary

Rating (out of 5): 5 stars

Note: While this review is spoiler-free, it will reference events in earlier books. If you haven’t started the series yet, please check out our review of Dragon Bound.

At the end of Lord’s Fall, the elves were decimated but recovering and Dragos had two new sentinels. One of those sentinels, Quentin, managed to get under Aryal’s skin like no one else. She suspected him of illegal activity, he thought she was a bitch, and they both kept trying to kill each other. After starting a fight in the hallway at Cerebrul towers, Dragos sends them on a mission with a stern command: Work it out or you are out of a job. Dragos has a list of runners-up from the Sentinel Games and was serious enough with his threat to make the pair at least attempt to play nice.

The situation in Numenlaur was unknown after the battle in the previous book.  Aryal and Quentin are instructed to assess the situation and make sure the area is not being looted. At first, the temptation is there to help the other person have an ‘accident,’ but then other temptations start to be even more appealing.

I did not think that the author would be able to make the transition from sworn enemies, who were out to kill each other, to happily mated and working together, but she did it and then some. As Aryal and Quentin journeyed to Numenlaur, they really made an emotional journal as well. Seeing the devastation in the land and on the people softened the battle-hardened harpy and helped her warm up to and appreciate Quentin. As part elf, Quentin was particularly moved by the tragedy of so many lives lost. It was so sweet to see Aryal vulnerable and gratifying to watch Quentin rise to the role of protective mate. 

Aryal is that character that you want to like, but it’s really hard to get behind a character that bullies the pregnant girl. Finally, we get a glimpse into her thought process and can appreciate why she is the way she is. She really makes some personal growth and buries the hatchet with both Quentin and Pia by the end of the book.

Sexual content: It’s called Kinked so consider this your warning. Harrison really brings the heat and the spice in this one. Graphic sex and then some. I’m afraid my vocabulary is not sufficient to warn you properly.