{Review} Old Dog, New Tricks (Black Dog #4) by Hailey Edwards

Posted by Melanie
Release Date: July 30th, 2015

Finished Date: August 31st, 2015

Publishers: Self Published
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Source: For Review
Format: eBook

Pages: 250
Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US

While Thierry is away, the Morrigan will play. Snatching the crown from her daughter-in-law’s head wasn’t the motherly thing to do, but Thierry doesn’t mind trading the throne in Faerie for the ratty couch in her Texas apartment. The old crow is welcome to it. But ruling one world is not enough. The Morrigan wants an all-access pass to the mortal realm too.

An attack on the marshal’s office leaves Thierry shaken…and Shaw missing. Now the fight brewing since Thierry took up the Black Dog’s mantle has landed on her doorstep, and the only way to save the man she loves is to defend the title she never wanted.

 

The Review: Old Dog, New Tricks is the awesome conclusion to the Black Dog series and a series I will remember it for some time.

It has all been leading to this point, Thierry has done everything she can to train for the final showdown with the Morrigan in her year long hiatus as fairie princess but now she must stop the divide from being breached and Morrigan using humans as the ultimate play things. Thierry wants no part of living in Faerie or ruling it, but she will do what she must. Whilst waiting for a decision on when she should go back and what should happen to her, she and her friends are attacked, her soulmate is taken and Thierry begins the race against time to save him and humanity.

I loved this book, it was a very fitting end to the series and I’m quite sad that it ends here. Thierry is a great character, she has always been a bit of a rebel with an attitude and a great sense of humour to match – I think that’s why it was so easy to connect with her. We see her go through many things throughout the series and have watched her grow and mature into the woman she was meant to be, filled with an amazing power. I shipped her and Shaws’ relationship from the beginning, even when he was an ass so it felt natural for him to be the one she would risk it all for because let’s face it – they can’t live without each other….literally. I found it funny that their sexytime was being blocked by the reappearance of Thierry’s father who had serious thoughts on how his daughter should be behaving and how men should act around her, it made for some comic relief. Of course there is the problem that Thierry is married to Rook but you get to see that play out too.

So, there is always a feeling that there is a clock counting down to something throughout the book. Earth bound Fae are taking precautions, preparing for what they see as inevitable. Thierry and her gang are preparing for the final showdown and trying to come up with a plan whilst also seeing to matters of the heart. I enjoyed the preparation they undertook, Macsen (Thierrys father) really put her through her paces and it was tough, but necessary. When they re-enter Faerie, they face more danger than ever, there are a lot of Fae willing to do the Morrigans bidding so expect lots of action. Rook pops into the drama and I have always been left wondering whether to trust him, I was the same through this story but you do get to understand him on some level – even pity him in the end. Of course things will never run smoothly for Thierry and it stands to reason that she is in for the battle of her life…. But don’t forget one thing…. Whilst Theirry has been plotting & planning strategy…. So have her enemies and they have a surprise or two up their sleeves also.

As I said, this was a great conclusion; the series has been exciting, unique and a series that straddled the line between Urban Fantasy and straight out fantasy. I loved both of the worlds Thierry found herself in, the characters and species that filled it, the storyline, drama, action and the romance- I have thoroughly enjoyed this series  and couldn’t recommend it enough.