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raynebair's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this third book in the Triad series but I felt the romance between Cormac and Liam was second to the story of the evil triad. That was the one disappointment. There wasn't enough of Liam and Cormac to really see their relationship build. Even the epilogue focused on everyone else and they barely got a blip of mention.
leelee68's review against another edition
5.0
This was so good and I loved seeing what everyone was up to. If you haven't started this series I would start today. You're lucky because you can get all three books. I love when that happens. It tied up everything nicely. Excited for the new series ;-)
nasaje's review
4.0
This was going along the lines of the first two rating-wise - probably a 3.5 star rating.
Cormac and Liam's story was more in-depth than Rocky and Cade's - and overall I just liked them better as characters - and their pairing made sense to me. Although I appreciated the overall plot, the romantic aspects do take a bit of a backseat throughout this entire series.
But then Simon's anguish made me straight up sob, and a book that makes me cry for the characters is hard to rate lower than 4. So I haven't.
There are still some things I wish were more detailed - I'm especially biased towards Riley and Garon - and there were some parts of the triad magic that I'm still not sure I understand, but I was entertained.
Cormac and Liam's story was more in-depth than Rocky and Cade's - and overall I just liked them better as characters - and their pairing made sense to me. Although I appreciated the overall plot, the romantic aspects do take a bit of a backseat throughout this entire series.
But then Simon's anguish
Spoiler
with the Maggie-situationThere are still some things I wish were more detailed - I'm especially biased towards Riley and Garon - and there were some parts of the triad magic that I'm still not sure I understand, but I was entertained.
katereads2much's review
3.0
I have a lot of mixed feelings and I haven't decided how to rate it yet. I didn't like the way women were treated in this (stock, bland, unimportant).
see_sadie_read's review
3.0
OK, I know that m/m romance is often (maybe even more often than not) targeted toward women and the characters and their relationships mirror m/f relationships, using a man as an avatar of sorts. I get that. I don't read m/m romance expecting realistic gay relationships or characters. It's a plus when they show up, but I know not to expect it on the whole.
Having said all that I was disturbed by how strongly and recognisably Simon's character evolved into that of a mother in this book. Everything from the way he couldn't or wouldn't focus on anything before or beyond the safety of the children, to his propensity to cry, to his manner of overcoming the antagonist by sacrificing himself (a strong and often used trope for female characters) screamed mama and I found it an unfortunate simplification of his character. It was like all of his other character traits were washed out.
The writing here was fine. Even the tendency to overuse names/titles in dialogue, that I've complained of in both the previous books, only showed up in the children's dialogue. (Though, it showed up in almost every sentence out of Garon or Riley's mouth.) However, I have to say there was a whole lot more time dedicated to strategy planning and what-if discussions than actual action. Honestly, I was a bit bored by it all.
Further, Liam and Cormac's relationship was at most a minor side story. There was no buildup or development. It felt like all of that was supposed to have come previously, but just because the men knew each other doesn't mean the reader had seen a relationship develop. I'll admit that the scene when they went hunting together was probably the hottest of the series (and it almost wasn't even a sex scene, 'cause the following sex wasn't as hot as the hunt), but it wasn't enough to carry their story arc. It just felt like either a distraction from the main plot or a woefully underdeveloped story of its own. Too bad, I think they may have been my favorite pairing.
Having said all that I was disturbed by how strongly and recognisably Simon's character evolved into that of a mother in this book. Everything from the way he couldn't or wouldn't focus on anything before or beyond the safety of the children, to his propensity to cry, to his manner of overcoming the antagonist by sacrificing himself (a strong and often used trope for female characters) screamed mama and I found it an unfortunate simplification of his character. It was like all of his other character traits were washed out.
The writing here was fine. Even the tendency to overuse names/titles in dialogue, that I've complained of in both the previous books, only showed up in the children's dialogue. (Though, it showed up in almost every sentence out of Garon or Riley's mouth.) However, I have to say there was a whole lot more time dedicated to strategy planning and what-if discussions than actual action. Honestly, I was a bit bored by it all.
Further, Liam and Cormac's relationship was at most a minor side story. There was no buildup or development. It felt like all of that was supposed to have come previously, but just because the men knew each other doesn't mean the reader had seen a relationship develop. I'll admit that the scene when they went hunting together was probably the hottest of the series (and it almost wasn't even a sex scene, 'cause the following sex wasn't as hot as the hunt), but it wasn't enough to carry their story arc. It just felt like either a distraction from the main plot or a woefully underdeveloped story of its own. Too bad, I think they may have been my favorite pairing.
isalaur's review against another edition
fast-paced
4.0
This book serves as the third and final chapter in the triad series. I see from the notes at the end that there is a fourth book but it can’t relate to these first three as that storyline finished and the epilogue moved us twenty years or so down the road.
This book is Cormac and Liam’s love story in addition to being the story that resolves the threat to Gray’s pack. There is more of an emphasis on the threat storyline as we finally meet the villain. But the parts that relate to Liam and Cormac are sweet.
The threat storyline is interesting and as they all move towards deducing a potential understanding and resolution there are some subtle messages about harmony, greed, and karma. The big crisis/crisis resolution scene has you holding your breath with an ultimately satisfying conclusion. The epilogue is sweet and hopeful.
This book is Cormac and Liam’s love story in addition to being the story that resolves the threat to Gray’s pack. There is more of an emphasis on the threat storyline as we finally meet the villain. But the parts that relate to Liam and Cormac are sweet.
The threat storyline is interesting and as they all move towards deducing a potential understanding and resolution there are some subtle messages about harmony, greed, and karma. The big crisis/crisis resolution scene has you holding your breath with an ultimately satisfying conclusion. The epilogue is sweet and hopeful.
jessie_h's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Stalking, Injury/Injury detail, and Death of parent
jferrell526's review against another edition
5.0
The blending
Cormac gets in trouble with his magic. Liam goes to help. Together with the rest of the pack, they take on the triad. Another great read!
Cormac gets in trouble with his magic. Liam goes to help. Together with the rest of the pack, they take on the triad. Another great read!
reviewerlarissa's review against another edition
5.0
**Review for Rarely Dusty Books**
Warning: This review may contain spoilers for the previous books in the series!
Nothing made my day better than Janna informing me that she got the third and final book in the Triad series for me to review. At work no less. I can tell you that it was a long and torturous day before I raced home to read this book! Like the previous two books, it blew me away with its awesomeness!
Soul Magic continues where Body Magic left off: with Gray and Simon on lock down after the attack by the mysterious creature that seems to hold all three types of magic: mind, body and soul. Liam is still healing after the attack left him severely wounded. Cormac isn’t doing much better as he no longer trusts himself when his blood hunger returns and stirs old fears.
There is a lot happening in Soul Magic but there is also lot of theorizing and the council breathing down the High Moon Pack’s neck. There was a good balance between the romance, the action/adventure and the research. Story-wise there is a lot of development in the third book, it also brings everything to a head. It was well done and thought through. While I’m personally not a big fan of the deux ex-machina solution to a problem, this is Simon we’re talking about and it just fit.
This third part of the trilogy is nicely wrapped up. No open endings. No questions (well, a small one, but it leaves the possibility for a possibly spin-off in the series). No loose threads. While the ending may have been a little on the cheesy side, it was also a good closer and a breather from the heavy tension throughout the series. And I gotta say: Gray is waaaaaaay too cute with kids.
The main focus throughout the series has been Simon and Gray, with little side romances. It was good to see how they grew and how in Soul Magic, their bond is solidified. They are an addictive couple to read about. I also liked how they were well balanced, rounded and have their own voices in the story. Simon might be the brains of the duo, but there is nothing weak about him. Just like Gray might be the big bad alpha, but he’s no dumb jock.
The romance between Cormac and Liam is maybe not as extensive as I wanted it to be, but it’s also not a clear-cut, nicely presented romance complete with instant love. Soul Magic, much like with Rocky and Cade in their book and Simon and Gray in theirs, is where they come together and start. There were some very hot, screen melting scenes though. Wowie! Two hot, strong men coming together is sure to guarantee that!
Soul Magic is the wicked awesome conclusion of the Triad series and it was sure worth waiting for. I’m sorry to see the series come to end because it was a nice ride. This series is sure one that will end up on my ‘to be read again soon’ list!
Warning: This review may contain spoilers for the previous books in the series!
Nothing made my day better than Janna informing me that she got the third and final book in the Triad series for me to review. At work no less. I can tell you that it was a long and torturous day before I raced home to read this book! Like the previous two books, it blew me away with its awesomeness!
Soul Magic continues where Body Magic left off: with Gray and Simon on lock down after the attack by the mysterious creature that seems to hold all three types of magic: mind, body and soul. Liam is still healing after the attack left him severely wounded. Cormac isn’t doing much better as he no longer trusts himself when his blood hunger returns and stirs old fears.
There is a lot happening in Soul Magic but there is also lot of theorizing and the council breathing down the High Moon Pack’s neck. There was a good balance between the romance, the action/adventure and the research. Story-wise there is a lot of development in the third book, it also brings everything to a head. It was well done and thought through. While I’m personally not a big fan of the deux ex-machina solution to a problem, this is Simon we’re talking about and it just fit.
This third part of the trilogy is nicely wrapped up. No open endings. No questions (well, a small one, but it leaves the possibility for a possibly spin-off in the series). No loose threads. While the ending may have been a little on the cheesy side, it was also a good closer and a breather from the heavy tension throughout the series. And I gotta say: Gray is waaaaaaay too cute with kids.
The main focus throughout the series has been Simon and Gray, with little side romances. It was good to see how they grew and how in Soul Magic, their bond is solidified. They are an addictive couple to read about. I also liked how they were well balanced, rounded and have their own voices in the story. Simon might be the brains of the duo, but there is nothing weak about him. Just like Gray might be the big bad alpha, but he’s no dumb jock.
The romance between Cormac and Liam is maybe not as extensive as I wanted it to be, but it’s also not a clear-cut, nicely presented romance complete with instant love. Soul Magic, much like with Rocky and Cade in their book and Simon and Gray in theirs, is where they come together and start. There were some very hot, screen melting scenes though. Wowie! Two hot, strong men coming together is sure to guarantee that!
Soul Magic is the wicked awesome conclusion of the Triad series and it was sure worth waiting for. I’m sorry to see the series come to end because it was a nice ride. This series is sure one that will end up on my ‘to be read again soon’ list!