Tuesday, November 5, 2024

#Review - The Salted Scepter by Helen Harper #Contemporary #Fantasy

Series:
 Thrill of the Hunt # 4
Format: Kindle, 293 pages
Release Date: September 30, 2024
Publisher: Helen Harper
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Contemporary Fantasy

All my dreams are coming true. But some nightmares continue to lurk in the shadows.

I should be celebrating. Hell, I should be the happiest elf in the world. Unfortunately, I can’t revel in my successes when there’s a foul fiend who is relentlessly trying to lure me to his side. He won’t leave me in peace and he seems determined to plunge the country into chaos to get what he wants, using bloodshed, fear and malevolent magic. Still, I’m no stranger to stubbornness. If I can turn the tables and become the hunter instead of the hunted, I might have a chance. The odds are stacked against me but I’m not alone in this fight - and I refuse to be anyone’s puppet. 


The Salted Scepter is the fourth and final installment in author Helen Harper's Thrill of the Hunt series. This series takes place entirely within Scotland. The series protagonist is Daisy Carter. Daisy, who recently learned that she comes from an interesting mix of Elf and Fiend and has learned how to actually control her magic without drugs, has gone from a spider silk addict to pushing the buttons of Hugh Pemberville to see who is the best treasure hunter in the country. Right out of the gate, there is trouble waiting for Daisy in the form of a powerful fiend named Athair. 

Athair, who writes her name in blood on the Royal Elvish Institute, only wants one thing from Daisy. To have her admit that she is his kin and that needs to join him or those she loves will die. So, when Athair gives her a demand, what does Daisy do? Joins with Hugo, brownies Hester, and Otis for an old-fashioned treasure hunt to see if they can find an artifact that is powerful enough to rid the world of Athair and any other fiends in existence. But they're not alone. The Primes (Becky, Slim, Rizwan, Miriam, and Mark) are eager to help any way they can.

Now this part is kind of interesting so I'll keep it short. By chance, Daisy and the group learn of a map that contains 32 treasure hunts. It appears that someone, Athair, is looking for something powerful enough to defeat him. Could it be from the 13th century when a certain obnoxious and hated King ordered the making of powerful artifacts containing magic that would give him unimaginable power. Unfortunately for this King, it got lost in a flood and hasn't been since in 800 years. *This is true by the way. Look up King John.* 

Daisy and friends encounter some new characters along the way including Amy Aurum who has some curious abilities that you will learn about later in the story. We also are introduced to brownies Eloise and Horace, brother and sister, who have been bound to a fiend, and the only hope for them is Daisy if she can find a way to defeat Athair. I have to praise the author for doing a summary of what happened in the previous three books. That way, you can remember what has happened, and why Daisy has become something of a superstar now that her identity has been revealed. 

One of the best parts of this book was the ending. No joke. Every character from Daisy's past exploits, including one to the past, makes an appearance in a desperate move to help Daisy save the day. The book wraps up things quite nicely so that there's no question as to what is going to happen next. 




No comments:

Post a Comment