Thank you Netgalley for the advance copy of this book. At the time I requested this book, I didn't know that this was part of a trilogy that is a spinoff of a bigger series. I enjoyed the little reading of this book that I did, but I quickly realized that I am missing a huge chunk of worldbuilding and I've decided to put the book on hold for now until I read the original series. I like the author's writing style and I realize that I would have a better reading experience if I read this knowing the rest of the stories that come behind.

This was a decent story and I somewhat enjoyed both the hero and the heroine, Sidonie and Morgan. It was a great combination of paranormal and fey. However, nothing really stood out making it a great book.

I recently bought a new kindle after my old one broke. For some reason I was unable to download this title from the cloud onto my kindle, therefore I will be unable to review this title. I am sorry for any inconvenience caused.

In many ways I liked this better than the first book in the series.

I LOVED Sid. Not a combatant, she got herself out of trouble using her wits and without bothering to discuss it with Morgan. Unlike Sophie, Sid didn't bother beating people with the knowledge she was an autonomous being, she simply went about being one.

Robin was, again, a complex and interesting character. Knowing his actions were inexcusable he did them anyway, because he had to prevent further evil anyway he could. And, when proven disastrously wrong, he didn't bother with excuses, he simply worked to correct things. Also, he didn't expect, or even hope for, forgiveness. But, when given it, he was immensely grateful.

Morgan was tragic ... and very, very hot. What a strong will he had, not breaking over all those years. I was incredibly satisfied that Thea allowed him to kill Modred ... some people need to be dead and heroes (despite Hollywood's insistence) are not lessened by killing those that truly deserve it. Modred had hundreds of years, and complete agency (unlike Morgan) to prove what he was.

If you like Ms. Harrison's other books, you should really love this series!

The second story in the Moonshadow series, a spin-off of the Elder Races series by Ms. Harrison, takes us to a dark world and into the dark nature of a character that we took to be a villain but is truly just a man trapped as much as the woman he hopes to free from a prison she does not belong in. Harrison has always had a truly deft hand at taking the traditional myths we all know and twisting them just enough to make them her own, and this story set in the Avalon of myth and touching the characters we all know and love from stories of Camelot, is no exception to her skill. When first we met this Morgan of the Fae, in the first story of this series, we see a villain out to destroy a race of fae that is opposing his mistress, Isabeau of the light fae, and there is no way we will ever come to see him as the hero. But as always Thea challenges us to look deeper and find the motivation and understanding of a character's actions. Morgan has found a way to escape Isabeau for a little while and he travels to the mortal realm, losing himself in the pleasures of our world which are more often than not denied him, and slowly we come to understand that he isn’t a villain so much as a weapon that has been forced into the service of a bigoted and sociopathic ruler. When Morgan comes across the beautiful musician Sidonie on his short release, he is instantly drawn not just to her music but also to the light that shines through her very skin and warms him. But as always the spies that surround him set out to destroy his chance at happiness and steal Sidonie from her world and attempt to smother that light for all time. Sidonie has no map to navigating this new and terrifying world of magic and sadistic rulers, but she is on the very brink of losing her soul when a voice whispers to her and brings her back. But can two prisoners find a way to escape a world full of political intrigue and sedition in order to be together? Morgan turns out to be one of my favorite characters in this series once he finally comes to understand his true worth and purpose in the world. The love he showers on Sidonie and the way he overcomes his own fears and trauma in order to keep her safe and sane shows him for the true hero that always was beneath the years of defeat and service to an evil and hateful bitch. Sidonie might not understand the world she finds herself in, but she understands the way her heart continuously reaches for that hand in the dark and the way her gut tells her that she can trust Morgan when she finally comes face to face with him. I LOVED this story and might just reread it now that I am reliving everything writing this review. Morgan and Sidonie were one of my favorite couples from Ms. Harrison’s stories, and I am looking forward to seeing more of them in the coming stories in this series. The passion and draw that these two share is one for the history books and perfect for the legendary magician of a world long lost to the mists of time. If you are looking for a light and fluffy love story, Spellbinder isn’t for you, but if you want a story about the true healing and freeing power of love between two individuals seemingly trapped forever in the dark and their emergence back into the light… you can’t go wrong with this book! Please hurry with the next story Thea!

I really enjoyed Spellbinder. It was great to see another side of the hero, Morgan. He was portrayed as a bad guy in the previous book. And in Spellbinder we find out the reason for the evils that Morgan has taken part in. It was literally was beyond his control, due magical chain bounds, and my heart hurt for him.

Sidonie was a lovely heroine and a great partner for Morgan. In Spellbinder, Sidonie is captured by the evil Queen of the Light Fae Court, Isabeau. Morgan does everything he can to help Sidonie, though he is severally restricted in what he can do, due to the magically binding orders of Isabeau.

It was wonderful seeing Morgan and Sidonie as they fell in love. Each working to help and heal the other in ways they desperately needed. Theirs was a great love story and I was rooting for their happily ever after.

*ARC (Advanced Review Copy) received from NetGalley.

Book two in the Moonshadow trilogy/series not sure which one yet though Goodreads implies it is a trilogy. I have to admit that while this book was really good it fell short of the excellence of the first book. For this installment we get to know Morgan a whole lot better which is nice since he had such a pivotal role in the first book as the bad guy. We find out that he only does what Isabeau tells him because he is forced to by magic. He fights it as much as he can, but has to cave eventually. When he is injured at the end of book one the Queen orders him to go away until he is healed so he disappears. Morgan uses the time as a chance for him to research how to get out from under her control. Things are going great until he goes to a music show to see Sidonie Martel perform and he becomes obsessed with her. Of course Robin (the puck) decides this makes her the perfect person to use to break Morgan and Isabeau apart (he is unaware of the magical control issue). Once Morgan finds out he is kidnapped the rest of the book is pent keeping them both safe and finding a way out of the horrible situation they are both in. The magical twists and turns are pretty awesome and I enjoyed the development of the arching story line though they constant woe is me was getting to me after awhile. There is a nice little twist at the end that I did not see coming. Overall this is a really good paranormal/fantasy romance novel. I give it 4/5 stars.

This is the first book I have read from Thea Harrison and I am amazed it took me this long. This is world of paranormal beings, werewolves, witches and dragons. Morgan is a werewolf with magical powers, the book hints that he may be this world's merlin. He was tricked and now serves the evil witch as a notorious and feared henchmen. Sidonie is an amazing musician who is kidnapped and brought into this world. Thankfully she is bright and carefully begins to plan her escape. Together they work against the evil queen and her court. The end was satisfying and made me want to find the previous books to read. I am now a Thea Harrison fan.

4.5 Spellbinding Stars!!!

I was completely spellbound by Morgan’s story! Although Morgan was a villain in previous books we soon learn appearances can be deceiving and all is not as it seems.

Morgan is bound by a spell linking him to the evil Light Fae Queen Isabeau, so that he must obey any and all direct orders she gives him. For hundreds of years he has lived without freedom. With only his hate and desire for revenge keeping him strong and sane. When we first see Morgan in this book he is a very stoic and no longer holds much hope and certainly no happiness, but when an opportunity for a small bit of freedom is mistakingly given him he is temporarily free for the first time in centuries.

“Your music hurts, the way sunshine hurts when you’ve existed for a long time in darkness.”

Sidonie (Sid) is a famous musician who seems to draw in the Elder Races as well as humans to her soul soothing music. Morgan is so moved by her music he begins to attend all her concerts. Unfortunately, someone else notices Morgan’s fascination with Sid. Soon Sid is kidnapped and given to Isabeau as a gift to distract her from a former enemy. Sid initially refuses to cooperate with the Queen and the consequences are horribly brutal and life changing for Sid. Now it’s up to Morgan to save Sid from an uncertain future.

“Her music ran through him with electric energy, more joyous than anything he could remember and more painful than silver.”

There is plenty of suspense, magic, amazing characters, some sexy times, and naturally a thrilling ending! I loved everything about this book, there was an appearance at the end from one of my all-time favorite Elder Races characters, and I’m sure it will make a lot of readers giddy when they get to see this small cameo. As I’ve said MANY times in the past, I love this world that Thea Harrison has created I can’t wait to see what she has in store for us next!!

The Moonshadow series is getting more and more intriguing with each couple that’s introduced. I loved the first book, Moonshadow, and readers met Morgan as he was doing his best to inflict pain on Nikolas, his brotherhood and Sophie. I was kind of surprised when Spellbinder was Morgan’s book, but I should have trusted Thea Harrison to prove that nothing is quite as it seems.

Unlike Sophie, Sidonie was totally human with no power whatsoever. What she did have was her music, an unwillingness to give up and a strategic mind that saved her more than once. Even with all of that, she never would have had a chance if it weren’t for Morgan.

After reading Moonshadow, I never expected to like Morgan, much less sympathize with him. He didn’t win me over immediately, but it didn’t take long. Because of Sidonie’s intuitiveness, he finally had a little bit of hope and an ally he never expected.

There were a few twists and turns and things didn’t turn out exactly like either Sidonie and Morgan planned, but the path to a HEA isn’t always easy.

A few characters from previous books made some unexpected appearances and at least one of them made me want to go back and re-read one book in the Elder Races series (if not more.) Those appearances also proved that things are bound to get even more interesting as the Moonshadow series progresses. I can’t wait 😉

SPELLBINDER is author Thea Harrison's second of her Moonshadow series. This is her Elder Races UK version and while I personally missed Dragos, Pia and their demesnes this trilogy still holds the same magical feel as the others. I found Sidonie to be strong, resourceful and determined to survive the magical frightening world she found herself in. I thought it rather intriguing that her music was so spellbinding that even some of the most powerful Djinn had bargained with her to get the best tickets to her concert. Guess that says just how special she is.

Morgan, I thought, after having been imprisoned by the queen for so long, that Sid might have been just what he needed to give him back his -- well, I guess you could call it -- his humanity. He had been a powerful sorcerer, a king maker but Queen Isabeau made him her slave. Sidonie gave him back his heart, then he goes and breaks hers -- but fear not, he has to learn what is important and he does just that. The mystical world that Ms. Harrison offers us is an amazing escape, with characters we might love or hate, but at least she makes us feel something which is an impressive talent.

If you are looking for an escape to a world with mystical beings, magic, evil overcome by good, love, steamy and sweet moments then I promise you SPELLBINDER will give you all that and more.

~ Annetta Sweetko, reviewer for Fresh Fiction

The complete review may be found at http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=63282

My second book 'of love' was Thea Harrison's Spellbinder which continues the Moonshadow series. This instalment tells the story of one of the baddies from book 1 - Morgan le Fae, the enforcer of Queen Isabeau's hounds. Le Fae has been enslaved by the Queen of the Light Fae for centuries and forced to do terrible things in her name. When the very human and very famous musician Sidonie Martel is kidnapped, tortured and left to rot in Isabeau's dungeon Morgan is drawn to saving the human from his cruel master. Can Morgan overcome Isabeau's spell to save Sidonie or will it be a human in a supernatural world who will be Morgan's saviour? I will leave it to you to find out.

I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this book. I thought Harrison was quite clever in her version of the Arthurian legend - Morgan le Fae. I did think that Sidonie had a little bit Stockholm syndrome by falling for Morgan despite the fact he was the reason for the trauma she endures. She was quite a strong female character and could stick up for herself which isn't always the case in this genre. It will be interesting to see if Morgan joins the fight against 'the light side' guys in future books or whether Harrison leaves him in peace. Rather looking forward to seeing what happens next.

Really enjoyable! Reminded me of Elder Races novels but with a twist. Refreshingly unique and I adored both hero and heroine. Clever, clever world building.

This book is part a series although it can be read alone it better to read in order. I loved how the hero went for being a bad man to a man who had made bad thing happen but was willing to repent.

Spellbinder is book 2 in the Moonshadow trilogy by Thea Harrison. I absolutely loved the Elder Races series and this is a spin off of that series. You can read these books as a stand alone without any confusion but it was enjoyable for me to have the world building already established for me. I also really liked seeing names and characters popping up here and there that I recognized from the Elder Races.

Spellbinder picks up pretty much where the last one left off – with the puck Robin wanting vengeance for everything that’s been done to him. Morgan le Fae is where he focuses that anger, since he is the one who carries out Isabeau, Queen of the Light’s, orders. This is a classic redemption story. Morgan is the character from fairy tales, and from the last book even, that we are naturally going to hate. I was fascinated to find out how Harrison was going to redeem him. The more that is revealed about him, the more I wanted to know which I think is hard to do with a character the audience already has negative feelings about. We discover that Morgan has been forced to be the head of Isabeau’s evil Hounds and has been stripped entirely of his free will.

At the beginning of Spellbinder Morgan is able to escape her orders for the first time, but only for a limited time. When he finds himself with time on his hands he re-discovers his love of music and finds a treasure – Sidonie Martel. She is able to capture everyone’s hearts and minds with her beautiful music.

Her music ran through him with electric energy, more joyous than anything he could remember and more painful than silver.
When Robin discovers how much Morgan enjoys Sidonie’s music he maneuvers to kidnap her and send her to the Light’s dimesne. From there the majority of the plot kicks in with Morgan trying to figure out how to rescue Sid. The author has a wonderful way of writing that is almost poetic in her dialogue. Morgan and Sid connect in such a way that seems to spark right off the page for me and I began to not only root for Sid but also for the two of them to fall in love very quickly.

Your music hurts, the way sunshine hurts when you’ve existed for a long time in darkness.
More aspects that I really loved about this book: that there were pieces of Arthurian legends woven throughout. When Morgan le Fae is your MC how can there not be pieces, right? I also loved seeing the puck again and hope he’s back in book 3. I *really* hope he’s the hero in that one…but only time will tell. The author’s amazing world-building that she set up so solidly with the Elder Races is continued here and even expanded upon. Reading paranormal books can be intimidating for that reason and if you don’t get that world-building right then the book is pretty much sunk because I get distracted with too many inconsistencies or issues within the story. Luckily, that’s not the case here!

He cupped her head with both hands. “You’re full of your own kind of magic, and it’s much more rare and beautiful than all the other spells around you. They are commonplace. You are unique.”
This book is so incredibly romantic which I really loved! That can sometimes be ignored in paranormal books but again, not the case here. The ending had me feeling a little swoony and the epilogue was perfection. I *highly* recommend both The Elder Race series and this spin-off trilogy.

ARC provided via Netgalley in return for a review.

Rating: 4 stars

Reviewer: Melinda

Title: Spellbinder

Author: Thea Harrison

Release Date: July 18, 2017

I think this series is magical (wink!). Unfortunately, I don't think fans of the series were quite ready for this heroes story - it seems fairly early in the series to feature him - and the premise is more compelling than the resolution. I like that the author is trying out some different types of heroines, with backgrounds so dissimilar to the men they fall in love with and it offers a refreshing twist on the norm. Good story but I like the first book better.

What happened to Merlin of the Arthurian legend is given it’s own Elder Race universe spin in Thea Harrison’s newest book Spellbinder (Moonshadow #2). The evil Morgan le Fae is the main character in this newest book in the Moonshadow paranormal romance series, which takes place in the same universe as Harrison’s Elder Race series. Harrison over several novellas and books has established Morgan as the deadly muscle of Queen Isabeau of The Light Fae. She will do anything and everything in her power to eliminate her perceived enemies, even trying to kill her twin sister. Isabeau has been portrayed as narcissistic, insane, and ruthless. To accomplish her goals she used Morgan le Fae the leader of her Hounds to make war on her enemies. Morgan even as a secondary character in the series has been penned as a complex character, and in this book his complexities and reasons are fleshed out when his life coincides with the non magical wholly human violinist Sidonie Martle. In Sidonie, Harrison writes a musically talented heroine that has more than normal human frailties, as she suffers from OCD. Morgan and Sidonie’s worlds crash into one another because of the sprite Robin, a character first introduced in Moonshadow. Robin as a character in Moonshadow brought me to tears, he was such a wounded and tortured character. The tears for Robin, in this book still fell, despite his using Sidonie horridly. He is a character that utterly breaks my heart, and I hope that someday he finds the peace he needs in the Moonshadow series.

In Spellbinder there are bad guys a plenty, as the entire court has been under Isabeau thumb, and they truly know no other way to live. The romance of Sidonie and Morgan isn’t thrust upon the readers and Harrison does a good job in letting it unfold naturally, which made the love story very believable. For longtime readers of the Elder Race series Dragos does make an appearance and a few series mysteries are still in play, as we all know Dragos lost some of his memories.

To be brutally honest, I thought after reading Moonshadow that Harrison was losing her mojo. Moonshadow wasn’t my favorite of her books. Even a not favorite book by Harrison is better than most other author’s books. As a reader I didn’t connect to the romance between Sophie and Nick. I was worried. I have seen other fabulous authors slide into mediocrity, as they try to hold onto a series after their expiration dates. Some series curdle like milk long after the sell by date while others sour slowly. Fortunately despite me not connecting with Sophie in Moonshadow Harrison’s MOJO is scintillatingly intact, praise the Elder Race gods. Infact this book is one of her best for the stunning romance; not since Pia and Dragos has a couple so ensorcelled me as a reader.

Spellbinder by Thea Harrison
Level of Romance: High

Another highly anticipated summer release is Thea Harrison’s Spellbinder. (Amazon | B&N | Kobo) Fans of her series will recognize villain turned hero Morgan le Fae, a powerful sorcerer bound by a geas to Isabeau of the Light Court. She’s made him do unspeakable things but the music of talented violinist, Sidonie Martel, helps him connect with his true self, a part of him he had long forgotten. When Sidonie is captured by Isabeau, Morgan becomes her secret protector, doing the best he can to work around the geas and help the beautiful musician. It is her music that first draws him to her...but soon he wants much more than just her talented tunes.

As his lips touched hers, he felt her quick intake of breath. Then he lost himself in the shock of rare pleasure as he kissed that full sensual mouth.

A moving story of the power of love, this book is sure to delight the author’s fans – and make her some new ones.

5 STARS


A generous interpretation of Isabeau's order and a good serving of luck leads Morgan from Avalon to the United Kingdom. The Queen of Light Fae usually has him on a tight leash - a dagger gives her power over him - he has to follow her every order, the geas in him overriding every wish, dream and desire he has for himself. But this time...this time she told him she didn't want to see him again before he has completely healed after the disastrous loss of the passageway to Lyonesse in the war against Oberon's Dark Court.
It's his chance to taste a bit freedom and he intends to make the most of it. While free, Morgan wants to use his time wisely and research how to shake off the yoke Isabeau has put him under. He has lost so much but one thing stayed - his love for music. A fascinating pamphlet of a beautiful violin player invites him to a concert. When Morgan hears Sidonie play for the first time he is entranced.

****He had no room for this music. No time for it. Yet he couldn’t shake the hold it had on him.****


Sidonie Martel can't shake the feeling of being watched. She might have picked up a new stalker on her concert tour. Her worries are confirmed when the car taking her to the airport is intercepted and crashes and Sid is being kidnapped. Her captor isn't after her though.
She is being handed over to the Queen of Light Fae, who throws her in a dungeon, with broken hands and a broken will - music is everything, how can she live when the only thing that gives her life has been taken from her? When a stranger sneaks into her cell she experiences kindness she didn't expect in a place like this.


“So, you like my music?”
“Like is not the right word for it.”
His words came slowly, his unwillingness to answer evident. “Your music hurts, the way sunshine hurts when you’ve existed for a long time in darkness.”


When Morgan realizes that Sid has been kidnapped he sneaks back to Avalon. It's because of him that she is trapped in Avalon, in the queen's dungeon. He can't free her but he intends to make sure she survives. She mustn't know who he is, however, because that would endanger her life. And his own.



We met Morgan in the first book of this series in which he was a villain. I know that Thea Harrison can redeem those, she has done it in her Elder Races series and she'd done it so well, I knew I'd love Morgan in the end. He was a revelation. I loved EVERYTHING about him. He is kind, patient and so incredibly gentle and sweet with Sid. There is a decency, goodness about Morgan, it radiates off the pages, he definitely lives by a code of honor. Morgan has become my favorite hero right after Dragos.

****She did know him. She didn’t know certain details, but she knew the ring of sincerity in his voice when he promised to support, respect, and defend her. She knew the private hell he was living. She knew he had an innate decency and sensitivity. He appreciated music, he mourned deeply for something in his past, and he was stronger than she could ever hope to be.****

Sid's growth from the beginning is awesome. She starts out as a reserved young artist who obsessively starts counting things when she's stressed out. It's ironic that her OCD is what keeps her halfway sane. Her captivity steels her will, Morgan gives her courage. Their growing feelings something to fight for. Her fierce will to survive is tremendous. Sid is tenacious, never backs down and faces everything she has to endure with so much dignity, her despair is heartbreaking. And then there is adorable innocence about her. She really is an endearing heroine.

Thea Harrison has a way of describing scenes that stay with you for a long time. In one scene Sidonie plays her heart out because so much depends on her music in that very moment. Ms. Harrison's words were stunning and when this scene was over I had tears in my eyes.

****She became the music. She was the story, the vibration. She became the story of love, the notes written in kisses and caresses on her skin. She felt the symphony, the swelling highs in the lifts, and the terrible lows in the falls, and hope was the cruelest note of all, the devastation that came afterward, utterly intolerable.****

I fell in love with Thea's Spellbinder characters. She made me care for them, root for them and cheering them on. Morgan had a short jerk moment, which was kinda understandable but then again, I was a bit mad at him for not seeing what had been offered to him. He groveled, explained, I got over it.

We get to see the puck from the first novel and towards the end Dragos has a cameo. I swear that guy is the epitome of badassery and the leader of the a-hole pack but man...I love him. LOVE. HIM. He is my spirit animal.

I have read almost all PNR written by Thea Harrison, she keeps impressing me with her incredibly detailed world building and her multi-dimensional characters. I have nothing but praise for her and if you haven't read her yet...what are you waiting for? Get on with it.

Morgan leFay was a villain in Moonshadow, the first book in this series, though there was a sense that he was a reluctant one. Spellbinder reveals the full extent of the geas that binds him to the will of Queen Isabeau of the Light Court. The geas also allows him to go on vacation in the human world when the Queen gives a careless command. That’s where he sees Sidonie Martell in concert and falls in love with her music.

In order to manipulate Morgan, the puck (yes, that puck) kidnaps Sidonie and delivers her the Queen. When Sid refuses to play, she’s thrown in prison to rot. Morgan does what he can to help her, but is forbidden from freeing prisoners. He can’t even tell her who he is for fear she’ll be questioned by the queen, but they form a connection nevertheless.

I thought Sid was an interesting heroine. She has OCD and is always counting things. She sits in a dungeon and ponders privilege. But despite being a magicless human surrounded by more powerful creatures, she basically saves herself. There are no TSTL damsels in distress in this series and I love that.

I didn’t like Spellbinder as much as Moonshadow though, in part because the world is so small. Sid and Morgan spend most of the story in isolation, either because she’s in prison or he’s in hiding. That makes for an intense romance, but I didn’t learn much new information about the Fae until the very end.

Though it’s not the main storyline, Spellbinder explains the fall of Camelot and what became of Merlin. I thought that story, the artifacts of the gods, and the connection to the Wild Hunt were more interesting than the romance. I also liked the tie in to Dragos and the main Elder Races series at the end. It reminded me that I need to go back and finish the Elder Races books. They’re really good!

When I reviewed Moonshadow last year I hadn’t read any of the original series but didn’t have any trouble picking up this one. Now I’ve still only gotten to the first two books so I don’t know if there might be more background on the Fae that I’m skipping, but I didn’t feel like I had missed anything. In fact, this story is only loosely tied to Moonshadow. The war between the Light and Dark Courts is mentioned, but the puck is the only character, other than Morgan, that really carries over. It’s his affection for the first book’s heroine that motivates his actions at the beginning of Spellbinder, but you could certainly read this book without knowing that.

And that bothers me a little bit. I was looking forward to spending more time with the Dark Fae knights and instead got moved to the Light Court. There are only three books planned in this series, but there are so many more stories to tell that I hope there will be more.