23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Heart Duel maintains the high standard, April 20, 2004
HEART DUAL, the third book in Ms. Owens Heart series, is definite keeper, from the beginning I was entranced with this book. I'd been waiting for Holm's story and I wasn't disappointed. I truly enjoyed her kittenfams, who are portrayed so vividly I half expect my cats to start talking in my head. What I found most appealing about HEARTDUEL is the inclusion of human frailties and foibles that I personally related to. Holm's character, which was introduced in Heart Mate as the arrogant and confident heir to a Great House shows us a softer more vulnerable side that reminded me of the insecurities we all hide. Most 1st born children will relate to Holm's struggle with the "perfect child" syndrome, I know I certainly did. Lark's efforts to maintain a civil relationship with her father while keeping her independence brought back vivid memories of my struggles as a young woman to establish myself. The love that these two manage to find against the odds of their feuding family made me feel warm. The surprise twist toward the end had me in tears and then cheering Ms. Owens for her choice of resolving the Romeo and Juliet type story she had crafted. Obviously HEARTDUAL spoke to me on a very personal level as both Holm and Lark struggled with emotional difficulties I too have battled with. The book will always have a place in my heart.
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18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A fantastic book by a talented author, April 14, 2004
Wow! Robin Owens keeps getting better and better with each book. What's amazing and so welcome is that Heart Duel works equally well as science fiction/fantasy and also a romance. As an avid reader of both genres, I can say that few authors strike the right balance; and yet, Robin does so with an ease that makes her books effortlessly entertaining. *And* as an added bonus, the heat between Lark and Holm made the pages sizzle! A great fantasy, believable world-building, and a delicious love story. What more can a reader ask?
Heart Duel now joins the 2 previous Celta books on my keeper shelf. I can't wait for her Luna series to begin.
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21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The third is the best so far!, April 12, 2004
A mistake many writers in the fantasy/romance genre make is to spend so much time describing place and circumstance that they forget that it is best left to the characters to tell the story. Time after time I have been disappointed by stories with one-dimensional characters who seem overwhelmed by their gadgets or by the mysterious powers surrounding them.
Robin D. Owens knows this and has done just the opposite. Her characters tell the story through their thoughts and words. The world of Celta seems familiar and not at all contrived as the reader is drawn into the story by appealing and multi-faceted characters.
When books are written as a series, many writers seem to be compelled to reiterate everything that happened in previous books during the first several pages. As a method for setting the tone for the rest of the book, this leaves a lot to be desired. It certainly doesn't draw the reader into the story. More likely, it puts the reader off if they haven't read the previous entries, or it bores those who have. Ms. Owens reintroduces characters from her previous books, but does so gradually and naturally, never interrupting the flow of the story.
Heart Duel is a wonderful story which, I believe, surpasses both HeartMate and Heart Thief. Lark is a healer, strong yet caring and gentle. Holm is a warrior with vulnerabilities and hidden pain. Neither of them are weak and each makes the other stronger. The story was told through them, as any great story is character driven. In this book the reader is given insights into the structure of the Families - not only Families of power, but Families of love.
I truly enjoyed this book. My only disappointment is that we don't get a chance to see Lark and Holm triumph together in their new life. I hope more of their story is told in future installments. Such multi-dimensional, multi-faceted characters will surely not be forgotten.
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