This focus on the characters’ relationship is to be expected because it’s a romance. Unfortunately, the story mostly revolves around T’Ash’s torturous wooing of Danith. Meanwhile, there’s an interesting angle about the violent skirmishes among young nobles and Downwind scruffs. That scene is supposed to smolder because – just in case you haven’t been paying attention – these two are HeartMates. As a result, it’s difficult to believe their first kiss, which occurs when they’re finally in the same scene for longer than several pages.

But there’s actually no significant interaction between them until about 100 pages later (unless you count their brief meeting at T’Ash’s jewelry shop, which ends when Danith stalks off). The first third of the book tells you in a hundred different ways that the hero and heroine are meant to be together, that their destinies are intertwined, that the universe preordains their union, and all that. (Okay, so he later morphs into a slightly irritating Tortured Hero Who’s Convinced His Real Self Is Unlovable, but still.) And his pet, Zanth, is a scene stealer the big feline can be alternately funny, charming, or outright obnoxious, but it’s impossible to ignore him.

He eventually hunted down his enemies and rebuilt his GreatHouse. After his entire family was massacred, he spent his youth as a “scruff” in a slum area called Downwind. There are a number of interesting things about this book, not least of which is the innovative concept of telepathy in a romantic relationship. The reason? As a commoner, she’s uncertain and insecure about their wild difference in social status. But T’Ash has a problem: his inamorata, Danith Mallow, doesn’t want him. People don’t always find (or bother to find) their HeartMate, but those who do are rewarded with the most fulfilling marriage and a significantly enhanced Flair.

GreatLord Rand T’Ash has finally met his HeartMate, a soulmate of sorts. The book opens some 400 years after Celta was settled. Among the things that a powerful GreatLord can do: “teleport” himself or objects cast a spell over something, as a shield or a talisman and converse or even make love telepathically. Their direct descendants eventually formed the most Flaired, or noble, class in Celta. These people possessed Flair, or supernatural ability. The problem stems from the development of the hero and heroine’s relationship, and the type of characters they are.Ī certain group of humans were once driven out of Earth, forced to roam the universe in a futuristic Diaspora until their spaceships finally landed on the planet Celta. Owens in HeartMate doesn’t disappoint, the book itself is actually difficult to get into. Some romances entertain immensely when they present a different world, one that comes with its own creatures, social structures and norms, and characters who have paranormal powers.

Heartmate robin d owens