Mist's Edge

Don’t like Shea in this. Feels like a persona much different than the one from the first book is being forced upon the reader. Shea doesn’t want to be in a position of leadership over this group and that’s understandable given her personality and her loner type lifestyle but when it was mentioned that she had never liked leading groups out into the wilderness it kind of pissed me off because it was such a contradiction to the first Shea that I read about who loved the thrill of the unknown and the adventure and who got pretty testy when her orders weren’t followed. Suddenly she just wants to catalogue knowledge for future generations and she’s become so dull. In the beginning of this book she’s still yearning for that thrill yet when she takes a moment to talk to a friend about it, it’s like she’s advised just to settle and let everyone else handle things because is being a pathfinder really what she sees herself doing for the rest of her life? And she kind of accepts and agrees. It just felt so stifling but rather than this feeling becoming an issue it’s like she’s just changing her desires, the result of which is a dull character whom I barely recognize and one who I’m bored reading about. She’s also portrayed as kind of silly and whiny, her actions are regarded as cute yet annoying antics and at one point Fallon actually says, “What are we going to do with you”? Gag. <br /><br />He’s still controlling in the sense that he knows what’s best for Shea and everyone else, but he’s also a coward who slinks away in the wee hours of the morning after an argument between himself and Shea regarding her role with these people. Not for a day or so but for six weeks while he’s off checking his outposts. Had Shea gone with him that might have been some interesting reading but no, instead we are treated with the oh so intriguing meeting regarding housing the new arrivals. Horse pastures or the dropping of human waste on their heads as they sleep? Riveting stuff. And he’s just so placating towards her now. I think I liked it better the way he was in the first book, at least things felt more real in that one. In this at least at the beginning, the problems don’t feel authentic and the times that Shea’s opinion is requested it doesn’t feel like they really need it or want it but more like they just want to make sure she feels included as a courtesy to her status as the ruler’s mate rather than actually needing her expertise. Like they’re just humoring her for maintenance purposes because a happy girlfriend makes for a happy warlord. I’m not sure it was meant to be this way but if her opinions were supposed to be important I just wasn’t sold.<br /><br />The mist finally shows up and describing it as simply underwhelming doesn’t even come close to conveying the disappointment I felt. Mostly what you have is a thick white fog which obscures sight and causes disorientation and a weird time displacement. Sometimes people disappear into it and there’s voices. I have no idea what they say but Fallon and his men were lost in it for three weeks and Shea for one week while rescuing them. Honestly, Shea’s breakfast got a more in depth description than the mist did. (I’m not kidding either - said breakfast description takes place the following morning.)<br /><br />When they all get back Fallon and his men are no worse for the wear but exhausted little Shea girl nods off at the table and has to be carried off to bed by big strong Fallon. But that’s ok because doesn’t it feel good to be cradled in those big arms and cherished like a fragile little dolly?<br /><br />Lots of time wasted with repetition too. For example the village of Airibel was described at the start of the book and then again in almost exactly the same words when Shea gets ready to take Fallon on a tour. But it’s not said to him, it’s just described unnecessarily again at the start of the chapter. I already know they live in the trees. I already know the trees are huge. I already know there’s a network of branches creating pathways. It’s not even done in such a way as what they are experiencing as they arrive, it’s just a repeated info dump. <br /><br />All of these complaints are trivial though when compared to what happens next. During a cheesy pool frolicking scene, Shea broaches the subject of her desires to continue to scout and use her pathfinder skills. Fallon shoots her down, convinces her that not only does she not truly enjoy it, but that she’s not good at it and that some of her reckless actions and insubordination would have gotten more important men whipped. But then later on in the book he and several of his men are laughing it up and telling fond stories of that same insubordination. And what about when she saved his sorry ass in the beginning of book one? It’s like everything I liked about Shea is being made light of. It feels like she’s being brainwashed into agreeing to fit into this little box he’s made for her, but without any real skill on his part. Like when an adult uses reverse psychology on a child. It was weirdly insulting in a way because those scouting missions and her escape artist ways are what enticed me to pick up book two. Shea asks him if being a scout or not being a scout should be her decision and not his. His reaction , “I’m the warlord and if I say you won’t be a scout, you won’t be a scout.” <br /><br />And what happened to all the women warriors? Shea isn’t a warrior, she’s not even a good scout, she’s a bed warmer whose wants and opinions can be silenced by a nipple tweak and a nip on the neck. I found this insulting to women. Even the scene with the tree top village story teller managed to be insulting because of the comments that Fallon had made and mostly the fact that it was meant to be cute. <br /><br />Here’s a dandy little bit. All those cheesy love scenes? Turns out every last one of them took place with her assigned guards in close enough proximity to hear everything. Oh man, Shea’s spitting fire at this one...yes! Leave him (please) leave him. And not only for the fact that they could hear them having sex, but also they got to hear him basically belittling her skills and crushing her scouting dreams. <br /><br />On the way out of the trees there’s this: ‘Fallon was respectful of the older man, but not so much that it wasn’t clear who was in charge’ - I really hate Fallon. During this same scene, it’s hinted that any children conceived in the waters of that pool would be favored by the gods or something along those lines. Fallon looks ready to do cartwheels, Shea looks like she might be ill. Thank goodness for the herbal supplement she takes to prevent a pregnancy, but I’m pretty sure a miracle baby will come out of that tryst, conceived in front of the guards on the night that she was made to believe that her wants, needs, and skills were nonexistent . This is quickly followed by a scene in which a bunch of idiotic and apparently sex starved women all converge on one of the guards and actually grope him, while the men all have themselves a good chuckle. Shea too finds this completely humorous and suddenly her anger seems to be gone and now I’m mad that she’s not still mad.<br /><br />After they get back to camp, after pissing her off about something new, there’s this: ‘Fallon’s lips only twitched, and he got a look on his face that said he thought her anger was adorable.’<br /><br />This literally almost makes me sick. Why isn’t Shea escaping? How could she possibly be happy with this life? <br /><br />At some point she finally gets her voice back and tells him she was this way when he met her, it’s who she is and she’s not going to change, etc.. I was briefly happy but overall it was too little too late.<br /><br />Shea does get to scout again but literally has to wait until Fallon gives his permission which in my opinion just made her look stupid in front of another pathfinder. It was a strangely embarrassing and uncomfortable scene to read.<br />There was finally something happening during those scouting scenes but still not enough to make up the dull yet infuriating first half of the book.<br /><br />I could go on and on but I guess I’ll just sum it up by saying that overall I pretty much hated this book.

This series keeps surprising me with how much I am drawn into this world. It's not a particularly fast paced story, or one with big plot twists, but it makes up for that with really well developed characters and world building. Shea feels like a real person trying to make her own way in a society that's not her own and in a romantic relationship that's definitely not easy. Fallon is a man who knows what he wants, and usually gets it, and is domineering in a way that makes you want to smack him upside the head. Their cultural differences also creates further complications. In the meantime, 'beasts' are attacking more and more, Fallon deals with rebellion in the clans, and Shea faces her new role and responsibilities. This sets up the next book in the series nicely, and I'm looking forward to it!

✅ World-building<br />✅ Action<br />✅? Romance<br />✅? Characters<br />✅? Interesting ending<br />? Repetitive plot<br /><br />I did enjoy this book, but not as much as the first one.<br /> <br />The mist is here, way more south than it should be. It is basically a thick white fog that creates a time disruption (days seems like hours, minutes seems like weeks) and if you are not linked to a Pathfinder or well-grounded to the Earth, you will vanish in the mist. Shea has the unique ability (even for a pathfinder) to be able to navigate in the mist, which allows her to rescue Fallon and his men when they get stuck in it, but even after that, people do not seem to take the mist seriously. <br />Other strange things are happening, creatures that should not venture south are attacking and we are led to believe that everything is linked to the trip Shea took into the badlands when she was fourteen years old. Somehow she did something that set things in motion, and now she has to go back before things get out of control (more than they are now). <br /><br />Shea's character in Mist's Edge was boring compared to her character in <a href="https://goodreads.com/book/show/29363942.Pathfinder_s_Way__The_Broken_Lands___1_" title="Pathfinder's Way (The Broken Lands, #1) by T.A. White" rel="noopener">Pathfinder's Way</a>. In the first book, she is strong, determined, and voices her opinions out loud. She leads people into the wilderness and is not afraid to stand up for herself, because she knows what she is doing. In this book, she is still the same, but tamer. She does not want to lead people (which is understandable since she is an introvert), but she also says that she just wants to collect data and explore the world. She hasn't changed that much, but she is missing a little something. Fallon is still a controlling alpha male who always knows what is best for Shea and dictates what she can and cannot do... and then leaves while she is sleeping so he won't have to face her reactions... <br /><br />There is also a lot of repetition, Shea has lots of inner monologues and she longs for freedom to explore without guards, but at times she just seems whiny. There are a lot of descriptions also, which is not bad, but I don't need to have so many details about Shea's breakfast. <br /><br />The last third of the book is better, it is more similar to the first book. There is more action, and more development and the ending sets the table for an interesting third book. I still don't know when I will read the third book, the storyline is not that bad, but the characters were annoying and I am afraid that it will only get worse as the story goes on...<br /><br /><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2826605888" rel="nofollow noopener">Pathfinder's Way</a> ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://www.instagram.com/lucie_v_booklover/" rel="nofollow noopener">Follow me on Instagram</a> ?

Mist's Edge is an epic fantasy about finding your way. Characters are called upon to find their way through the mist, through relationships, through leadership, and ultimately, through a harrowing and dangerous world. This epic journey is broken up by a steamy love story, full of the push and pull of a new relationship between two dominant characters, levity and humor, excellent secondary characters (and their interesting stories), and some of the most fantastical scene-setting I've read in a long, long while. <br /><br />I am going to start with the scene setting, because White clearly pinched ideas from <i>Avatar</i> and <i>The Lord of the Rings</i> trilogy. I was there, in those stories, in those fantastical movie settings, and then I was in MORE. The way in which White took the idea of Home Tree, and then turned it into this embellished setting in the treetops, complete with architectural purpose and grafted plant life to enhance the beauty of the setting, I was just...WOW. No words. I was buried in the majesty of the description and awed by the imagination that took me there. <br /><br />Mist's Edge moves this epic fantasy forward with both the adventure and the heart. It solidifies the physical relationship between Shea and Fallon, while simultaneously deepening the emotional output. <b>"Sometimes it scared him—the depth of feeling he had for this woman. He didn’t know what he would do if he ever lost her. If the world thought him a monster now, it had better pray that she outlived him."</b> What becomes clear is that Shea is Fallon's strength and his weakness. In a wonderfully unexpected way, these same surety of feelings are not exploding out of Shea. She is wrapped up in finding her place in this new world, trying to discover what she is beyond an isolated scout. Fallon is the ultimate leader of men, and he sees these qualities in Shea, and they are revealed in wonderful bits and bites. He wars with his confidence in her and his fear for her reckless behavior. He says loving her is like loving the wind. And much about Shea's behavior is like the wind. She is growing into herself. <br /><br />Wrapped around all of this epic self-discovery is a fantasy story and strong characters that had me rapidly turning the pages. I was never bored, always wondering what was coming next for a big cast that I've come to care about. White also manages to bury a mystery assassin within the story arc, and it makes everything that happens personal, poignant and powerful. Emotions are heightened when your loved ones are targets. Beyond that, more unfolds regarding the origins of the Pathfinders and Shea's background. There is a lot going on in this novel, so buckle yourself in for a fantastic ride.<br /><br /><i>Book source: Purchased</i>

After the disappointment of <a href="https://goodreads.com/book/show/50505419.Age_of_Deception__The_Firebird_Chronicles__2_" title="Age of Deception (The Firebird Chronicles #2) by T.A. White" rel="noopener">Age of Deception</a> I came back to Mist's Edge to see if there were parallels I had missed in AfD. <br /><br />But alas there is no comparison, yes Mist is the middle book in a trilogy, but it has a very solid plot both in itself and in the overall arch of the series. You see the strife in both the romance and the Trateri world. When there's a betrayal you feel the pain. Its like comparing the Marianne to a creek. Both totally unfair and just. <br />The more I read Mist's Edge the more I like it. <br /><br /><br /><br />Read a second time, I liked it even more :) <br /><br />As I said before, an author with lots of potential. I'm following two of her three series (and read the first book of her UF one), and I'm really enjoying them. But the pathfinder series (Broken Lands) is the one I like more, maybe for the strong romantic elements.

<b>4 stars</b><br><br>I read the first book sometime in 2019, so now I'm questioning whether I have a perpetually sour mood any time I get into this series, or if this series is the reason for my perpetually sour moods. Cause it took me a damn while to get into it. But yet again, once I did I had a grand time. <br><br>Mist's edge had pretty much everything the first book did:<br>Adventure, romance, mystery, a smart &amp; kickass heroine, a conquering warlord as the hero and stunning world building. The only thing not as great are the side characters, they all faded into the background and I could give less of a shit about anyone except Shea. I didn't even care about Fallon if we're being honest here. <input type="checkbox" class="spoiler__control" aria-label="The following text has been marked spoiler. Toggle checkbox to reveal or hide." onchange="this.labels[0].setAttribute('aria-hidden', !this.checked);" id="32c0ddcb-385a-4ece-aa33-ff3cb6a67165" /><label aria-hidden="true" class="spoiler" for="32c0ddcb-385a-4ece-aa33-ff3cb6a67165">When Shea thought he fell to his death, I sat there on my bed, blinking, with scalding tea in my hands and just sorta...<br><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1616668828ra/31069968.gif" width="220" height="197" alt="description" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br>But I guess I'll factor in the fact that we all knew damn well he ain't dead.</label><br><br>What I'm trying to say is....I wanted more. I've said it before and I'll say it again, when reading an action packed series I want the wow factor to be upped with each book, I need the stakes higher and the climaxes more thrilling. And in this case it was left on the same level, which felt tame and not fully satisfactory. <br><br>I did like the plot, true. The book started out with Shea trying to grow accustomed to her new roles as Fallon's Telroi (something between wife &amp; mistress the author said. Which is a shitty way of saying girlfriend) and failing. She misses the adventure of her former life and tries to avoid the play of politics at all costs. Then odd things start to happen that go against everything she knows. Things that might as well cause a second cataclysm, and so it begins...<br> Shea, Fallon and several other characters fight through obstacles of deadly mists and dangerous beasts, trying to uncover the mystery behind their sudden appearance. All the while having a threat of another close betrayal in their very camp, and Shea's past quickly catching up to her.<br><br>You can pretty much guess this book was full of thrilling scenes where Shea got to be the kickass queen she is. In my opinion, Mist's Edge is much more fast paced than the first book. <br>There is a lot more romance here and funnily enough, I CHOOSE NOW to not give a shit. They did have some cute ass moments here &amp; there, I won't deny.<br><br>With that being said I was debating the rating for a while, I was thinking a 3.5 even though objectively it probably deserves more, but I was just feeling very unattached. But then what does the author do hmm?? SHE ADDS A DAMN CHILD TO THE PLOT, who also happens to be abused AND orphaned???<br><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1616668828ra/31069969.gif" width="250" height="125" alt="description" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br>I swear to god, it's like Miss White knew that children are my weakness. If Shea &amp; Fallon don't adopt little Mist (yah, that's her name, a lil sus if you ask me) I will have a fucking fit, I don't care.<br><br>Okay fine, to be fair I would've upped my rating either way because the second half of the book was much better. <br><br>The first half had one thing that just irritated the living shit out of me, and you can bet your ass it is the exact same thing I loved in the first book; Shea never insulting back the men that insult her. In my first review I was all doe-eyed and noble saying shit like "aww Shea just never stoops so low as the men who insult her?"<br><br>Okay 2019 Anna, stfu for a sec and let the grown ups talk<br><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1616668828ra/31069970.gif" width="250" height="141" alt="description" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br>2 years have done me a solid and made me a vengeful bitch, who <s>wanted</s> no NEEDED Shea to beat the shit out of all of them. I needed her to shove their own words so far up their throats that they choke on them. <br>But did she do that? Barely. She just took it most of the time, not letting it get to her. There were occasions when she called them tf out but with not enough murderous intent as I would've liked?<br><br>Speaking of dumbass men...<br>Someone explain to me how in the hell did the Trateri conquer so much land when they're lowkey stupid? Like the only people who had a shred of common sense are Shea and Fallon, and SHEA ISN'T EVEN A TRATERI. I have no idea how these people survived before her. I mean all these "men in power" have the stupidest fucking tactics for battles &amp; conquering.<br>One of the clan leaders legit thinks that healers aren't as important in battle. Sir? How will you even win the next one if half your men are dying of wound infections? I'm really glad Shea (once again inwardly) pointed out that he is an idiot. <br>Who gave that man a promotion anyway? Ya'll need to be fired.<br><br>The rest of these very influential men always underestimated Shea, didn't listen to her until it was too late or just blatantly insulted her intelligence. Here's what their logic looked like:<br><i>"Ew everything you just said is superstitious bullshit, you stupid pathfinder who has infinitely more experience and knowledge than I do"</i><br><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1616668828ra/31069971.gif" width="245" height="281" alt="description" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br><br><br>Please god, I never ask anything of you but please let Shea embrace her petty side and destroy them all in the next book. 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Wow! We get so much more of Fallon in this one and I loved every moment of it!<br><br><br><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1561849828ra/27744460.gif" width="450" height="300" alt="description" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br><br><br>The relationship between Shea and Fallon is truly highlighted in this book. Even as they are struggling against unseen enemies that take the form or traitors or beast, we get to see how Fallon really feels about Shea. He’s such a perfect hero with all of his protective ways. The fact that she drives him absolutely crazy due to her own independence and ability to save herself makes me love him even more.<br><br>I loved watching this couple work through some of their issues. They may have been made for each other but things do not come easily for them. <br><br><b> <i>“She was his greatest challenge, a wild and untamed wind that defied every attempt to master it. He looked forward to the attempt despite the knowledge of his likely failure.”</i> </b><br><br>With both of them stubborn and reluctant to yield to the other, we see some real fireworks that don’t stem from the bedroom. Although, there is certainly no lack of sizzle from that department either. We actually have a lot more steam this time and the romance is so strong that I just wanted to crawl into the book and stay forever.<br><br><br><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1561849828i/27744461._SY540_.jpg" width="450" height="400" alt="description" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br><br><br>Fallon definitely stole this story for me as he is just absolutely perfect in every way. <br> <br><b> <i>“Sometime it scared him – the depth of feeling he had for this woman. He didn’t know what he would do if he ever lost her. If the world thought him a monster now, it had better pray that she outlived him.”</i> </b><br><br><br>And yet, Shea is that strong kick butt heroine that many readers love. Her lack of communication can sometimes be a problem, but that’s actually a part of the story as is her growth into learning how to do so with not just Fallon but those around her.<br><br>The world building here is amazing, especially with the trees that house a village and a city underground. I could easily picture these places in my mind. This is a longer read but really, there is no where you could skim even if you wanted to. <br><br><br><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1561849828i/27744462._SX540_.jpg" width="450" height="450" alt="description" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br><br><br>This is written in a way that you’re never really sure which characters you can trust and yet you love them all. I found this one to be filled with just as much action as the previous book but this time I had Fallon’s point of view to sweeten the angst and drama of it all. <br><br>Thank you again to my book buddy, Mindy, for this awesome recommendation. I’m passing it on to anyone else who loves romantic fantasy with a hard core alpha hero.<br><br>Dual POV<br>Safe <input type="checkbox" class="spoiler__control" aria-label="The following text has been marked spoiler. Toggle checkbox to reveal or hide." onchange="this.labels[0].setAttribute('aria-hidden', !this.checked);" id="6e43fe9f-78f5-44b2-b7ca-2a1babc79782" /><label aria-hidden="true" class="spoiler" for="6e43fe9f-78f5-44b2-b7ca-2a1babc79782">no ow/om drama</label><br>Triggers <input type="checkbox" class="spoiler__control" aria-label="The following text has been marked spoiler. Toggle checkbox to reveal or hide." onchange="this.labels[0].setAttribute('aria-hidden', !this.checked);" id="3b07ab0c-9033-47f6-977a-6ccc025439a8" /><label aria-hidden="true" class="spoiler" for="3b07ab0c-9033-47f6-977a-6ccc025439a8">no apparent triggers</label><br></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]>

This has everything I loved in the first book and more. Now we get to see Fallon and Shae dealing with everything together as a couple. I absolutely adore how protective and possessive Fallon is of Shae. You really see how much he feels about her and would rather die than lose her. <br /><br />I'm also loving how the some of the clans are realizing how special Shae is. Some are still stubborn, but the others are starting to realize how smart she is and have started to trust her. <br /><br />There is just so many fascinating things happening in this series. This one ended on more of a cliffhanger than the first and I will be starting book three immediately. I'm pretty angry at her father and I'm very curious if Shae's people really are as cutthroat as they are being portrayed.

The first book in a series was rather good, the second - a complete let down. The heroine is insufferable, her inner monologues repetitive, churlish and annoying. In my opinion, instead of wasting her time on facial descriptions, the author should have concentrated on developing a plot line. As it is, the book doesn't deserve even a two star rating.

4.5 stars.<br /><br />This is so good!<br /><br />Beside wanted to smack heroine’s head a few times for her stubbornness, I love this heroine.<br />She is the best for what she does and she knew it!<br />I love a confident woman, like Shea ?.<br /><br />Btw, she doesn’t have a magic, she is only a human.<br />❤️