Customer Reviews

Heroes at Risk

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is the fourth book in the series after Resenting the Hero, The Hero Strikes Back, and Heroes Adrift. This really isn't a stand-alone book, since the book references many things that happened in previous books. The entire series is written from Lee's POV (first person). Essentially, a new 'fad' has hit the city of High Scape; people have suddenly become interested in magic and casting spells. About that same time, people living near the riverfront begin suffering from a mysterious illness. And then people start getting murdered and their funeral ashes stolen. Since none of the local authorities seem too keen to investigate, it's up to Lee and Taro to figure out what's going on. But have they caught the attention of the wrong kind of people?

While there is action and mystery, this book really focuses on Lee and Taro's fragile relationship, in that Lee continues to constantly misunderstand Taro's motives and his real interest in her. There are some really great developments here, but I'll refrain from posting any spoilers. All I can say is there is a reason all of Moira's fans have a soft spot for Taro.

The book does leave off with a cliff-hanger, and according to Moira's blog ([...]), book five has been completed and is currently being editted. I love where book five is going to take us! I love Taro's cousin, and I suspect (and hope) that we will see much, much more of her in book five. I love how she tortures Taro's abusive mother.

And then the downside, which seems to be the downside with most of the books: the cover art. I'm pretty sure Moira doesn't have control over this, but I'm not sure what they are thinking, especially with books one and two. I almost missed this series because the cover art was so off-putting (I did like the cover art for book three). So, if you haven't read this series, ignore the cover art.

Heroes at Risk, the fourth book in Moira J. Moore's Source and Shield series, is a return to issues that were central to the first and second books. Lee and Taro are home in High Scape now, and as far as Lee is concerned, her life is back to normal. But almost immediately she and Taro discover that peculiar things are happening in High Scape. A mysterious illness is sweeping through the riverfront areas of town, people are showing a morbid interest in casting spells that require human ashes stolen from gravesites, and people who liked Lee before she left the town now disapprove of her relationship with Taro. And, of course, she and Taro are bickering.

I really liked Heroes Adrift, the third book in the series, so I was disappointed that this book barely gives a nod to those events. I had hoped that Lee's experiences would have changed her permanently, but she's back to being tight-lipped and doggedly logical. The contrast between her character and Taro's emotionality is fun, of course, but I always get frustrated with her.

The plot is solid. Moore's characterizations of bad guys and good guys aren't subtle enough to make me surprised at revelations near the end--it's always obvious who's doing what, even if the why isn't always clear. I do hope the next book focuses more on the channeling/shielding of natural disasters, which I find utterly fascinating. The ending sets things up for the next book, although I found it a fearsome cliffhanger in some ways. It's going to be hard to wait to find out what happens next.

I was positively quivering with excitement to get my hands on HEROES AT RISK, the fourth book in Moira J. Moore's excellent and incredibly fun heroes series. With each installment I've grown fonder of Taro and Lee. Bonded together as Source and Shield, respectively, they've been forced to deal with each other for awhile now and it's always a treat to watch them circle each other once more, to attempt to navigate the treacherous waters that lay between their opposing natures and meet somewhere in the middle. For the most part this has meant Taro putting up with Lee's obstinately pragmatic way of leading her life. For a brief period, in book three, things changed and a few important things came to the forefront in their relationship. I, for one, was very anxious to see what happened when they returned to their habitual home and roles.

Back from "that damned island," as Taro would say, our Pair barely have time to settle back into the Triple S Residence at High Scape before danger and intrigue come knocking on their door. The city seems to have changed in their absence. The inhabitants of High Scape are uneasy. After the events of the first two books, they have lost faith, so to speak, in the powers that be. Namely, the Triple S. There are rumors of magic, of people casting spells using the ashes of the dead. And not just any dead, but those considered most lucky in life. It is hoped that the luck of the dead will rub off on the living and change the course of their lives for the better. Never mind that no one really believes in magic and that such activities are highly illegal. Meanwhile a mysterious illness is cutting down scores of people in the city and no one seems to be able to put their finger on the source of the plague. Faced with these challenges, Lee has very little available energy left to address the state of her personal life, which has become a bit more complicated than she'd like.

Taro and Lee are their old selves (particularly Lee) and I had a smile on my face for the majority of this book because I know them. I know all about them. And here we are adventuring together once more. I had high expectations for developments in this fourth installment in the series. There were so many wonderful scenes and I delighted in the familiar tug and pull of their interactions. It did take me a minute to remember that Lee, as ever, has to move at her own pace. That back in her normal environment, she would revert to form to a certain degree. And I find myself, like Taro, stabbing my hands in my hair in frustration. At the same time, I love how fiercely loyal she is to Taro. When he is threatened she is there. She refuses to let anyone run over her volatile, at times vulnerable, partner and that made me smile. Several times. Because in other respects Lee struggles in this book. She's made decisions that make the running of her life, at least the way she'd like it to be run, difficult. She keeps running into walls trying to reconcile her choices with her expectations and it was hard to watch her sometimes as she takes two steps backward for every one step forward. Fortunately, she has Taro to remind her of what's important. Or at least he tries to. Lee's inability to see beyond her carefully constructed world view does not make things easy. And whenever he tries to get through to her, his emotions are so raw they lend an edge to every scene he's in, a couple of which are exquisitely sweet.

We do get to see Lee vulnerable a couple of times in this book and that stood out to me because Lee is never vulnerable. But even when she is unable to see herself or anything else for what it is, she sees Taro. She knows what he's worth. And that's why I love Lee. So even though I rolled my eyes at her a few times and wanted to shake her several more times than that, I enjoyed this story very much and am looking forward to the next. I have a hunch we're going to learn a lot more about how Sources and Shields came to be and how they're inherently different from the "regulars," as Lee calls them. Lastly, HEROES AT RISK has a killer last line. It's irreverent and funny and guaranteed to make you close the book with a smile on your face.

I have been waiting for this book since I put down the last Heroes book, Heroes Adrift, and I have to say that I was kind of disappointed. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed the continuation of romantic frustration between Lee and Taro, but Moore made many characters I had felt were decent characters all the sudden turn evil or cruel in this book, which just seemed so out of their character that she had established in the last few books. She also fails to mention some main characters from previous books, and almost seems to show Lee as this simpleton. However, overall the book was good, until the ending.
I have to say that I was simply outraged at the ending. I feel like Moore completely changed the whole idea of the separation of Triple S from the crown with her final few chapters, and I am so upset that I do not know if I will continue to read the series.
I am sorry, I am not good at these reviews but I just had to say something about the way she ended the book.

Heroes at Risk, the fourth in series, picks up right where Heroes Adrift left off. After completing the Empress's mission, Shield Lee Mallorough and Source Shintaro Karish return to High Scape only to learn that it is becoming a cold spot and the many of the pairs are being sent to other hot spots. Belief in magic has sprung up among the people, leading to illegal practice of spells. And to make everything worse, grave robbers are stealing ashes from cemetaries. Add to that a mysterious group who keeps inviting Lee and Taro to their meetings makes for an engaging adventure.

Taro dashes Lee's assumption that he would leave her once they were back in High Scape. But their relationship is threatened. Lord Doran, Lee's former suitor, seems determined to get Lee back. Some of the other pairs show contempt that Lee and Taro are together against custom do to the fact that it could destroy the working relationship of pairs if it ends badly, making them useless in diffusing natural disasters.

I am a fan of the series and love Lee and Taro, but sometimes Lee frustrates me. Her stubbornness causes most of the problems in her relationship with Taro. While Heroes at Risk is not my favorite of the series (that honor goes to Heroes Adrift), it is a solid addition to the series. I cannot wait til the next. All of Moira J. Moore's novels go on my must buy list.

This entire series is 5 star in my opinion. I love the character driven plot and the world building the author has done.

The "Hero's" books are on my must buy list. The 4th entry does not disappoint. As mentioned in other reviews they are back in their old stomping grounds. The interplay between Lee and Taro continues to enchant and entertain. To anyone who hasn't read these, best to start with the first book. Believe me, it's no hardship. The whole series is a treat!

Angie has already written a spot-on review of the book, but I wanted to add in a few more comments for those who've read Book 3 and are wondering about reading this one.

Some reviewers have complained of too much change, others that there's too much reversion to type now they're back in High Scape.

In fact what impressed me about this book was that thread from earlier books were picked up again - and idle comment from Ben in Book 3 makes sense as Book 4 goes on. Doran's still around and needs dealing with. Gifford and the Dowager continue to rumble on as potential problems, and the ideas about magic are developed and magnified.

And Lee has changed on Flatwell whether she likes it or not...!

I loved every page, and laughed and shrieked aloud, and yes, I came away from the final page in shock, but I have no doubt that Book 5 will be even more satisfying after that cliff-hanger!

Heroes at Risk is the third in the fantastic "Heroes" trilogy, featuring taciturn Shield Lee Mallorough and her Source, Shintaro Karish. For those who haven't read the previous few novels, I really recommend picking up the first few in the series, as it will explain the dynamics of Lee and Taro's relationship and the culture of their world.

What I like best about these books is the relationship between Lee and Shintaro. It's not perfect, (is any relationship), but it is marred by Lee's low expectations of Shintaro, and her prejudice about his `experience' which this novel fleshes out a bit more.

I felt the `mystery' in this novel was a bit un-mysterious, but the expansion of the relationship and the romantic ups and downs made up for things. The ending leaves you wanting to know more about what will happen next. If you like fantasy with romance intertwined, you'll enjoy this novel of mismatched love and misunderstanding. I also think the cover art was lovely this time round. Good work.

The fourth book in the Heroes series, Heroes at Risk, continues the story of Shield Lee Mallorough and Source Shintaro Karish. Long ago the Ancestors came to this planet with their machines. The machines did not work and most left. Among those who stayed a few developed the unique ability to stop natural disasters that made the planet hard to live on. Source Shintaro Karish has the ability to channel and stop natural disasters. Shield Lee Mallorough protects him while he works and keeps the natural forces from destroying him during the process. Both Source and Shield have extensive training before being bonded and then are paired for life. If one dies the other dies soon after.

Shintaro Karish (Called the Stallion of the Triple S) was the last person Lee Mallorough wanted to be bonded to. Heroes at Risk continues to develop the relationship/attraction between Taro and Lee while setting the stage for the next book. The Source and Shield relationship has never been called magic; in fact most do not believe magic exists. But when Lee and Taro return to their home base they find many delving into spells and magic. They are soon drawn into the trouble this is causing. Heroes at Risk is an entertaining extension of the Heroes saga. It can be read as a stand-alone but for maximum enjoyment read the first three books first.