A heartwarming paranormal romance novella by USA Today bestselling author, Elizabeth Hunter. Join your favorite Elemental World characters for a long-awaited holiday reunion.For eight years, Baojia and Natalie have pursued their goals: family, career, friendship and love–trying to carve out an ordinary life in an immortal world. And for eight years they’ve been mostly successful save for a … successful save for a world-bending adventure every now and then.
Except that their life was never ordinary. It was never going to be.
Natalie and Baojia might have made plans, but when ordinary life comes crashing down, they’ll have to turn to the family they have chosen–vampire and human–for help keeping their world together. Five couples, four kids, three weeks, two paths… and a partridge in a pear tree? Return to the Elemental World for a Christmas reunion of old friends and forever loves. For Natalie Ellis, it’s time to come home.
Valley of the Shadow is a novella in the Elemental World series by USA Today bestseller Elizabeth Hunter, author of the Elemental Mysteries, the Irin Chronicles, and Love Stories on 7th and Main.
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Valley of the Shadow is probably the most “human” vampire story I have ever read. This book is a sweet little family story that can be read in one sitting and leave you with lots of happy feelings. A continuation of Natalie and Baojia’s story from previous books that is both a beautiful ending and beginning. Definitely read this book with a cup of hot cocoa and a fuzzy blanket to maximize the feelings of happiness this book will bring you.
An exceptional addition to the Elemental World series. If you have read Blood and Sand, then this is a must read novella. As usual, we are given a well written story in this series, one in which you can jump right back in and feel like you never left. It’s as if you are part of the family, and have been invited to welcome a new memeber.
We are taken on a short, but an emotional ride as we join Natalie and Baojia on a predestined journey, which is taking place several years earlier than expected. Gio and B offer up their secluded home, and they trek down to Cochamo. They are also joined by Carwyn and Brigid, Lucien and Makeda, and Matt and Dez. It was awesome to catch up with everyone.
This takes place after Night’s Reckoning while Ben is in Mongolia. I loved every morsel of this short tale, and was left wanting way more in the vampire world and of Natalie’s journey.
Valley of the Shadow has us visiting many favorite friends from the series! This is a follow-up to Natalie & “George” story. A life changing event happens that pushes up planned events. Love this world!
I just finished re-reading Blood and Sand while waiting for this novella, so the wait doesn’t seem long as it might have. Kudos to Elizabeth Hunter for havingn two releases this month!
This novella is the conclusion to Natalie & Baojia’s story from Blood and Sand. While the couple has been together for several years, sudden health concerns require some difficult choices for them and their family. The decisions being made are not unexpected, they are just happening much, much sooner than expected or desired, and this story was incredibly moving for me.
Natalie & Baojia’s friends gather around to support them and their family in every way possible, so it’s a wonderful reunion with earlier characters providing some great light-hearted relief at times, as well.
I think this can possibly be read as a stand-alone, but readers familiar with Hunter’s Elemental World will have a much deeper appreciation of the interactions among all those present and the circumstances surrounding them. Rich with laughter and tears, this a superb addition to the Elemental World.
Difficult decisions and a Christmas with friends and family
The long-awaited conclusion to Baojia and Natalie’s story that merges into a Christmas get together of all our favorite vampires (and humans) from the Elemental World. Baojia and Natalie’s book Blood and Sand was the second in the spin-off series, and though it was a standalone, it always felt kind of unfinished. After a whirlwind courtship Natalie and Baojia are left in a good place and they decide to have children, but for that to be possible, Natalie has to stay human. After all, Natalie is still comparatively young, so they have time. But then circumstances change in unexpected ways and Natalie (and Baojia) have to make a decision.
I loved how we got to revisit all my favorite couples: Giovanni and Beatrice, Carwyn and Brigid, Lucien and Makeda, and of course the children and assorted humans. The story stressed the importance of friends and the family of your heart that help and support you thru challenging times and that the best Christmas gift is to get spending time with your loved ones.
I also think the stuffed “Giovanni” toy that is featured in this story needs to become part of Elizabeth Hunter’s shop!
I love the way all of my favorite Elemental Mystery characters came together to help Natalie and Baojia navigate life changes and family life. Valley of the Shadow is a perfect holiday treat.
Oh! I liked this book SO MUCH! This is a continuation of the human Natalie and the vampire Baojia from Blood and Sand. As weird as it sounds, this lovely little tale is so human. It is a story of dedication, the love of family and friends and the frailty of human life. It is full of the complexities and nuances that all life holds. So many of our favorites from prior books show up to wrap Natalie, Baojia and their children in love. This is a true love story and so sweetly dear.
This book is like the best family reunion/holiday get together ever. Natalie and Baojia are facing an incredibly tough and scary situation. They go through these trials and the stages of grief with the help and support of our favorite vampire and nonvampire families. This book is one of the many reasons I love reading. I love having the option of a great outcome from a very real and very scary thing, especially when it’s not always possible in real life. It was so great to see so many of my favorite characters again. They really are there for each other. Natalie and Baojia are as strong as ever and I will always look forward to seeing what’s up with them and their family. Their kids are a hoot too. I loved seeing strong, silent, and stoic Baojia interact with his kids. Oh and Gio with Sadia is so sweet! The perfect holiday or anytime read.
What I love about having such a stunning variety of characters in the Elemental World is that no matter whose story it is you know it will be outstanding. The adventure never stops when it is a world filled with vampires. This novella is a sweet treat for the readers righty after being giving such an emotional story in Night’s Reckoning. It is lovely to visit some of my favorite characters at Christmas time and catch up with what has been going on with some of them. The little moments between couples and families had me laughing and other times crying. After so many books, it is so comforting to “hang out” with some of my favorite people in the literary world.