Kinked by Thea Harrison

Kinked Series: Elder Races #6
Published by berkley on Noember 5, 2013
Genres: PNR, Romance
Format: eBook
Source: Advance Reader Copy
Goodreads

Two opponents must confront the cause of their obsessive fury in the latest Novel of the Elder Races…

As a harpy, Sentinel Aryal is accustomed to dealing with hate, but Sentinel Quentin Caeravorn manages to inspire in her a burning ire unlike anything she’s ever known. Aryal believes the new Sentinel to be a criminal, and vows to take him out as soon as the opportunity arises. But the harpy’s incessant wrath has pushed Quentin to the limit, and forces him to make a deadly vow of his own.

To put an end to the conflict, Dragos, Lord of the Wyr, sends them on a reconnaissance mission to the Elven land of Numenlaur. Forced to work together, Aryal and Quentin’s mutual antagonism escalates. Each fight draws forth more passion—culminating in an explosively sexual confrontation. But when their quest reveals real danger, Aryal and Quentin must resolve their differences in ways beyond the physical, before the entire Wyr is threatened

Quentin has won a position as a Sentinel for Dracos fair and square, but Aryal knows he’s a criminal and he’s been doing bad things for a long time. Aryal never stops to think that she might be wrong. Unfortunately her vendetta against him has gotten to the point where she’s driving herself mad trying to figure out what he’s done. This leads her to peek in on him at home one night, and he isn’t alone.

Quentin can scent that Aryal was at his place. And he can tell it was while he was with the woman who just left his apartment. This has become too much. Between the restlessness that’s been dogging him and Aryal’s unrelenting investigation, it’s the last straw. He hauls to the Tower and finds Aryal. When he sees her, he attacks.

The two are brawling when Dragos separates them, and if you know Dragos, you know it’s not in a nice way. His solution to their mutual hatred for each other is to banish them from New York for 2 weeks. He gives them an assignment and tells them not to come back until they’ve worked out their issues. Their assignment is to check in on the Elven land of Numenlaur to make sure no one is looting or taking advantage of the decimated town. What they find when they arrive is so much more than they bargained for.

I haven’t really liked Aryal before this book, and I wasn’t too sure I’d like her as the heroine. But Ms. Harrison brought me around. I will say that I love how true to themselves the characters were. Quentin and Aryal never deviate from who they are. In fact that’s why they’re so perfect for each other. When Quentin starts understanding who Aryal is, he begins to see more of why she is how she is. While Aryal embraces her darkness, Quentin keeps his on a short leash so no one will get hurt. Their differences actually show them how similar they are to one another.

Aryal came into being with the universe. She’s ancient. She has seen it and done it all. Literally. So why is it that this criminal is never out of her mind?  Aryal can’t get Quentin out of her mind, in fact at one point she suggest hate sex. And once she says it, Quentin can’t stop thinking about it.

But that will have to wait since the empty land isn’t so empty. What happened to the guards posted at the entrance of Numenlaur? Why is there no sign of danger, but each Sentinel can’t kick the feeling that danger is all around?

 I love how Aryal and Quentin grow together, and I love how they are together. As Quentin put it, they’re kinked, and that’s perfect for them. Another more unusual trait of this story is that Aryal and Quentin are the only characters for the majority of the book. There are a few later on, but the two of them carry the whole book, and I find that is a difficult feat to pull off. It never felt monotonous and I never wanted a break from them. This book is expertly crafted and satisfying in delivery. Ms. Harrison takes the reader on a ride with this book and you don’t get a gentle let-down, you get slammed around and full-stop. The ride is intense, and sort of dark, but worth the read. 

***ARC provided by