Heart Thief (Celta's HeartMates, Book 2)

Okay, I usually am not moved enough to ever even consider reveiwing anything, but this book was absolutely the best on that I've ever read. Anybody who loves romances will love this. Or even if you just love science fiction, you'll love it. It's truly an amazing work, and I would recomend it to anyone. I must say though, if you don't like graphic descriptions, you may not want to purchase this particular book.

I liked this book far better than the first one. While the characters in the first book seemed a bit awkward, the characters in this second book really worked for me. The hero was strong, tormented, alone, but kept his dignity. The heroine is of high rank, but not b/c she was born with a silver spoon, but because of her own merit (she's the Supreme Judge in their city), and she's also gracious and strong. Unlike the other review, I really liked the conversations with the Fams (telepathic pets) b/c it showed how the Hero had someone to care for him when he was exiled and condemned. Both main characters were admirable people and they acted like adults (no shallow, selfish stupidity or annoying misunderstandings with this author). Considering the story is set in an imaginary world where almost everyone has a mental/paranormal power, their story was well-fleshed out and believable. Their powers, while seemingly irreconcilable, meshed perfectly. This was an excellent book. I'm supposed to be studying for my law exams, but I stayed up until 4 am to finish this book.

I just finished HEART THIEF. What a great read. I loved the first book, HEART MATE, and it is still my favorite, but this one is oh so delicious. Ruis is a wonderful, wounded hero. He has so much anger and pain to over come and with Ailim's love and help he does but that is not the whole story. The story is of two people, outcasts in their society, one because of her great psi powers and one because of his lack of them, who come together and find joy, love and peace within themselves and each other.Samba, Ruis FAMcat, is a treat. She is just what you would think of if all cats could talk. She is prissy, has a superior attitude and yet is loving. When it suits her! We get to see many of the characters from HEART MATE and relive that book as well while enjoying the new ones we meet. There is great evil, adventure, passion, a Ship that is sentient and a great cast of good, bad and simply human characters.You won't be disappointed but simply delighted. Bravo Robin!! I can't wait for HEART DUEL, the next book about Celta, due out in May 2004. Robin even gives us a little taste of HEART DUEL by giving us the first chapter at the end of HEART THIEF. Did I love HEART THIEF? YES!!!! It's a definite keeper!

This is a keeper (one of those rare books that I keep forever instead of give away when I'm done). I don't have much space, so a book really has to be special to keep. This is a sequel to Heart Mate released last year. Ruis and Ailim live in a fictional world where almost every one has magical powers. They've lost the art of science (which is Ruis's specialty since he is one of those very rare people who has no powers. In fact, he is a Null meaning other magic can not work in his presence). Ailim can read emotions and gets great relief in Ruis's presence. I can't begin to describe all of the ways I love this book, but I especially enjoy the science fiction and magical aspect in the amazing world Robin creates.It was enjoyable to see again the characters from Heart Mate and see how they were doing as they blended into this story. Keep writing, Robin! You are one of the best and deserve the awards you've won.

Read `Heartmate' first, because it's such a good book and because both Rand and Danith also appear extensively in Heart Thief. The story here is strong enough to stand on its own, but why not deepen your enjoyment by reading the first book. I loved it in part because it stood up so well to it's predecessor. We're still on the world of Celta, where psychic talent is called Flair and is so common that everyone in the history of Celta has had some degree of it. Except for those like Ruis Elder, a Null, whose mere presence at best unravels and at worst destroys flair. Imagine living - or even just surviving - in a world where you can't even do the simple things that everyone else can do, because no spells will work for you. Everything becomes that much harder, that much more of a struggle.We first met the rage filled Null very briefly in Heartmate, as he stole T'Ash's HeartGift. Heart Thief is his story, as he is captured and brought to trial. The reader finds out some of his awful history of being abused and cast out by those who should have sheltered him - his Family. And now he is to be cast out Druida City, for sins that at least in part should not be attributed to him. Ailim D'Silverfir has recently become Head of her Family. She has great Flair in empathy, and is a Judge. She and Ruis meet and she finds incredible relief in his Nullness - at last she can relax her mental shields and just experience life with her other five senses - a luxury she cannot normally allow herself. But Ruis is supposed to be banished, and she is a Judge...Although a sequel and sharing many characteristics, the story of Ruis and Ailim is very different from the earlier book. Ruis is such a damaged, rage filled man, Ailim a woman who exudes calm. Both of noble stock, and both very aware of that and the duties of Family which that entails, even as both in one degree or another are betrayed by their Family (whereas Rand and Danith each had none and longed for Family). Ruis has an awful lot to work through as he finds his place in life, and in his world. This part of the story is easily as touching as the romance that he finds with Ailim, and unusually the story is told probably more from his perspective than hers. After all, he has the most to combat and to overcome: certainly his is the longest emotional journey. But Ailim has her own hurdles to overcome too. The Nullness is very different, and it is something I as a reader had to overcome - that there is no psychic bonding between the two central characters was a hurdle for me as a reader. But there is no denying the strength of the story. The Ship and the emergence of Ruis's technical talents, and the ultimate importance of his very Nullness to Celta was well done. And of course, the Fams... not to forget the Fams. Even if they would let us.Sometimes I found the pace a trifle slow, and wanted to urge Ruis and Ailim to get on with it as things got a very little bit repetitive. This might be a ni