Shadow Heir (Dark Swan #4) by Richelle Mead

Goodreads Summary:
#1 New York Times bestselling author Richelle Mead returns to the Otherworld, a mystic land inextricably linked to our own--and balanced precariously on one woman's desperate courage... 

Shaman-for-hire Eugenie Markham strives to keep the mortal realm safe from trespassing entities. But as the Thorn Land's prophecy-haunted queen, there's no refuge for her and her soon-to-be-born-children when a mysterious blight begins to devastate the Otherworld... 

The spell-driven source of the blight isn't the only challenge to Eugenie's instincts. Fairy king Dorian is sacrificing everything to help, but Eugenie can't trust the synergy drawing them back together. The uneasy truce between her and her shape shifter ex-lover Kiyo is endangered by secrets he can't--or won't--reveal. And as a formidable force rises to also threaten the human world, Eugenie must use her own cursed fate as a weapon--and risk the ultimate sacrifice..


My Review:

Shadow Heir is the 4th and final book in the Dark Swan series. At the end of Iron Crowned Eugenie discovered she was pregnant with twins, a boy and a girl. Kiyo tried to kill her and Dorian gave her protection.

I was really excited to read this book. Unfortunately I read a couple of reviews that talked about an out of character decision Eugenie made at the end. I read the book in total fear that she was going to get back with Kiyo at the end. Fortunately this was not the case.

In this book Eugenie had to make a lot of tough decisions. I'm not sure that I could've made some of those decisions.

Dorian made some real changes in this book. He worked so hard to earn Eugenie’s trust back.

Roland had his worldview rocked. He learned that not all gentry are evil and that they are people too.

I really enjoyed reading Volusian's back story. It was interesting and gave us some insight into him.

I was disappointed that Kiyo didn't die during this book. I really think that he and the Willow Queen are out of control. I really wish that we could have learned more about their back story. I did find a continuity error: Kiyo's daughter Luisa suddenly became Marta.

I wasn't happy with the decision that Eugenie made at the end but I understand why she did it. I do think it could bite her eventually.

I really enjoyed reading this book and I am sad to see the series end. I am a big fan of Richelle Mead and will continue to eagerly read her books.