Unchained by a Forbidden Love

by Felicity Heaton

[Nadz@Totally Addicted to Reading]

Unchained by a Forbidden Love is book #15 in Felicity Heaton’s Eternal Mates series. This installment follows Feury and Shaia. When I met Feury in the previous installments, I found him intriguing and I could not wait to read his story. What were the events led to his current struggles with the darkness, which appeared to have immense power over him?

Feury is an elf with a tortured soul. Past events, which were not only vicious but also heart-rending drove him into the darkness and so for the past 4000 years he was a shadow of his former self. My heart ached for him as I watched him struggle to escape the darkness, which wanted to consume him. Being an assassin makes his struggle harder as blood spilt was a constant reminder he killed his fated mate, or so he thought.



Shaia is a 4500-year-old elf. She lives in a world where women are treated as chattels. She was on the verge of entering an arranged marriage. She had pretty much given upon living, but when she learnt her mate whom she had been for 4000 years was alive, her life took on new meaning. This discovery gave her the strength to break away from the chains that caged her body, mind and heart.



The story demonstrated how love has the power to breathe life into a broken and tortured soul. Shaia’s determination to escape from the shackles of tradition to pursue love was admirable. No obstacle was too big to overcome in the search for her fated mate. Her bravery was to be applauded as it could not be easy to break away from a life she lived for 4000 years to enter into the unknown.



This installment took me on an emotional journey. The pain, heartbreak, fears and struggles the couple faced on their journey towards each other leapt from the pages. I felt every hurt, disappointment and uncertainties they experienced. My heart hurt for them both, but it wept more for Fuery. Thankfully, he had his friend Hartt, who helped him in his struggles.



As usual I enjoyed the world Ms Heaton created although I did not like the treatment Shaia received while living with her parents. The fight scenes were intense, and I was on the edge of my seat through it all. If you are a reader who loves to have the intimate scenes early into the story, then you will be disappointed. It took place near to the end of the story which given the circumstances was appropriate. The story wrapped up nicely and I am eager to see whose story will be next.



Conclusion/Recommendation

Unchained by a Forbidden Love is an emotional gripping story, which depicts the strength of friendship and a love, which survived 40 centuries.