White Heart of Justice

Noon Onyx, Book #3

By Jill Archer

ISBN# 9780425257173

Author’s Website:  http://www.jillarcher.com/

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Heidi

*Beware of possible spoilers*

Noon is still feeling the loss of Ari in her life.  She loves him, but can’t forgive his betrayal at not telling her what he is; a drakon (a demon born to a human mother).  She has taken this time away from him to learn to stand on her own two feet, and perfect her fighting and magic skills.  That dedication leads her to be the top in her class, allowing her to compete in the prestigious Laurel Crown Race.  The winner will have their pick of positions to take on next semester, which could turn into a permanent job.  Noon hates using her power to harm, so it’s important that she wins so she can get the position she wants; a sentry on her friend’s family’s riverboat.  Most think this is an odd choice and a wasteful use of her skills, including her father.  But if Noon can win the race, she’ll be able to do whatever she chooses, regardless what he thinks.

But of all objects to have to acquire during the Laurel Race, her item is a mythical sword, the White Heart of Justice, that most people don’t even believe is real!  But after finally being given the right to a guardian, Rafe is again by her side.  But they will have to travel into the bowels of Tartarus to get the sword!  And when Noon gets hurt, another team is given the same target to find.  It’s a race against the clock and the other team to find out who will come out ahead.  With obstacles at every turn Noon and Rafe will have to lean on each other to survive.

I really struggled with this book.  It took me an excruciatingly long time to really get into it.  All the buildup of what was going on with qualifying and then preparing for the race, was very dull to me.  Although Fitz as Lord Lawless was kind of fun, and so appropriate!

A lot of the actual happenings on the race for the sword was a bit predictable.  Like when Noon was being pulled out of the hole after looking for the White Heart of Justice, I knew that it wasn’t going to be Rafe, but Peter pulling her up.  She left him up there defenseless, not that she could help it, but it was pretty obvious something was going to happen.  And, I felt really bad at the loss of the barghests.  It was so cruel what was done to them.

One of things that I did enjoy was the budding relationship between Rafe and Noon.

“Noon, do you have any idea how madly”—he pressed his lips against the skin just behind my ear—“deeply”—I shivered as he moved his mouth slowly down my neck—“fiercely”—he kissed the spot on my throat where my pulse beat wildly—“ridiculously in love with you I am?”

I’ve always liked Rafe and his cool, playful, but still protective demeanor.  But it looks like his guilt is getting in the way of that even.