The Kai Gracen Series: Book ThreeStalker Kai Gracen knew his human upbringing would eventually clash with his elfin heritage, but not so soon. Between Ryder, a pain-in-his-neck sidhe lord coaxing him to join San Diego’s Southern Rise Court, and picking up bounties for SoCalGov, he has more than enough to deal with. With his loyalties divided between the humans who raised him and the sidhe lord … him and the sidhe lord he’s befriended and sworn to protect, Kai finds himself standing at a crossroads.
When a friend begs Kai to rescue a small group of elfin refugees fleeing the Dusk Court, he’s pulled into a dangerous mission with Ryder through San Diego’s understreets and the wilderness beyond. Things go from bad to downright treacherous when Kerrick, Ryder’s cousin, insists on joining them, staking a claim on Southern Rise and Kai.
Burdened by his painful past, Kai must stand with Ryder against Kerrick while facing down the very court he fears and loathes. Dying while on a run is expected for a Stalker, but Kai wonders if embracing his elfin blood also means losing his heart, soul, and humanity along the way.
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In general:
This is a strong entry into this series, spinning the focus of the story off of Kai and his background, and onto his friends, their lives, their relationships, and general politics of the elf court. Don’t worry, there still manages to be a lot of fighting with monsters and fast paced adventure. Excitement is high, but there’s much less backstory.
Some concerns…
There is quite a bit of explaining what occurred in the prior book (at the beginning of this one). If you are reading all three in a row, you might find this annoying. If you’re like me, and you jumped right into this one having mostly forgotten what happened in the prior ones, then it’s actually quite helpful.
However, there are a couple other points in the book where the author leans on telling rather than showing regarding Kai’s character and how others perceive him. I happen to not mind this but it might annoy some readers.
Things I wish I knew…
This is the third book in the series, but it is not the last.
As we get very little on Kai’s history, family, or backstory, it is a sharp break in content from the previous book in the series. If you wanted some resolution to his complicated and violent relationship with his “birth” family, you will NOT get it in this book.
If you’ve been waiting all this time for Kai and Ryder to finally get down, you’re going to be disappointed too. There is a kiss, and what an amazing kiss it is, but it comes right near the end is the catalyst for more excitement a a tiny cliff hanger for the next book. Romantically what you DO get is a softening of Kai’s perception of and feelings towards Ryder. For lack of a better term, he “warms” up to him, which might allow for greater emotional intimacy in future installments (OH PLEASE).
More please?
I am really looking forward to the next in the series, but I am also getting a little impatient with the drawn out love story. If they don’t get together soon, I may lose faith. As some of you may know, I’m not a huge fan of a long running series, and I hope this one isn’t intended to be much longer than four or five books.
Kai Gracen never seizes to amaze. No matter how dangerous the road is, he forges ahead full steam. And this time it takes him farther than ever before. When a friend comes to beg for help, Kai can’t say no. It should be a simple run if not for the constant danger of being stabbed in the back by ill wishing elfin relatives, inner turmoil and humans hell bent on keeping the war between elfin and human alive.
Kai and Ryder are getting closer to each other. Kai does not give his trust easily and only to a select few. And finally Ryder is included. They have each other’s backs and lean on each other for support when needed. Their bond grows stronger despite Kai still resisting it. I loved Ryder’s understanding and his unwavering faith in Kai. And Kai was his sarcastic, acerbic but always constant self.
This was a smorgasbord of grand adventure, relationship minefields, amazing unearthly creatures and unexpected allies and outcomes. I loved it! From page on I was hooked. I hope there will be more to come since Kai and Ryder are only just getting started!
This is definitely the first time I have ever felt compelled to give a series a five star rating on the first read. I am a bit amazed.
On the surface this is a book series about elves, dragons, and a major natural disaster that merges the elfin and human worlds. In reality, this is a story about family, survival, abuse, social injustice, racism, cultural clashes, political maneuvering, prejudice, and so much more.
The action sequences and the scenery are described so we’ll, I can see them in my head. The characters feel like friends I haven’t met yet, or enemies I need to watch.
Once again, the narrator has done justice to Ford’s poetry.
I adore Kai Gracen! The third book in the series brings him closer to Ryder while also revealing more about Kai’s background. This is a slow-burn m/m series with an action packed storyline that hits the page running and doesn’t stop until the end. So excited for book 4!
So much action and intrigue amidst wonderful world building. This volume of the Kai Gracen series got me where I live. It digs deep into Kai’s changing relationships and lays them bare. And wow. I still choke up when I think of what he said he would do if he lost Cari. “I grew up enough to understand that she could stand shoulder to shoulder with me. And if she did fall, I would go back to the Valley of Names to see if the rocks still spelled out our names.” And he he. I laughed my butt off at the ending. You can’t hide from love or fate.
What can you say about a Kai Gracen adventure. You get a multi layered plot, blood and guts, from both characters and attackers. You get words you need the glossary to say and understand, (see? Educational). You get fantastic descriptions of a completely changed and dangerous world. There is Kai’s idea of family and its heartbreak ( I teared up there) and tucked way up the back is a Relationship that given these two live for millennia is coming on in leaps and bounds.
This is an amazing series and so, so recommended.
I won this book in an ARC loterry and since I wasn’t familiar with this series I bought the first two Kai Gracen books. They took me on an amazing yourney. I love this crazy beautiful fantasy world where only limit is your own imagination. Rhys Ford has no limits in that account and if you’ll let her she’ll take you on a journey you’ll never forget. Urban fantasy at it’s finest.
To fully understand and embrace this unique world and its characters you should read the series in order. And for those who read first two books – there’s hope for Kai and Rayder…
Love how Rhys is developing more of this world and it’s characters, particularly Kai; and Dempsey-the Grinch-actually grows a heart, or more like gives us a glimpse to it. This one like the previous one gave my heart a beating and all the feels. It was wonderful-and eventhough it’s driving me crazy w/all the tension-the relationship between Kai and Ryder made such sweet progress. As always this was an action packed, snarky, dark, and engaging read from beginning to end. Thanks to Rhys for this giveaway.