Gryphon's Quest by Candace Sams is a Tale of The Order book and the first I have read. 

Gryphon O'Connor is a Druid Warrior and a shapeshifter.  As his name suggests when he transforms it is into the form of the powerful and mythical gryphon.

Bitter and lonely Gryphon tries not to blame his parents for what he is but their tampering in magic before he was born have made him the only one of his kind.  Unable to fit into the mortal world Gryphon is also shunned by The Order who he is sworn to protect.  At the beck and call of the Sorceress of the Ancients Gryphon must obey her orders or he will be unable to control the change.

Gryphon's latest mission for the Sorceress takes him away from his lonely retreat and to Manhattan in search of three stolen ancient Rune stones which contain powers that can be used for good or evil.  Gryphon must find then before they are used for evil and the mortal world finds out about the mystical creatures of the Order.

Heather Green is an Acquisitions Assistant at the Manhattan Museum of Antiquities.  Bullied by her boyfriend who does not take her work seriously she is dedicated to her job intrigued by the latest shipment of artefacts.  She refuses to believe that her boss and mentor has stolen them from sacred burial grounds.  But the mysterious man who has appeared in her apartment is determined to prove that that is just what has happened.

Gryphon knows that he should not involve any mortal in his search for the stones but he cannot help but approach Heather for her assistance in his quest, even though he knows that it can put her in grave danger. 

Gryphon and Heather are united in their search for the stones but it is clear that someone has then already and has already killed using their power.  They must find where they are hidden before the killer strikes again.

Thrown together Gryphon and Heather are immediately attracted to each other but Gryphon cannot tell Heather his secret and knows that even if she did understand the Sorceress who controls his life would never allow them to be together and would kill both of them before allowing the risk of exposure to tear their hidden world apart.

A clear plot although a little predictable in respect of who had got the Rune stones.  A pleasant hero and heroine who you really do root for right until the end.  There could have been more said about the secondary characters who were introduced, Lore, the Fairy Leader for example, I felt could have been utilised more.  Likewise Gryphon's parents.

However Gryphon's Quest is one of the few books to bring me close to tears when towards the end members of the Order were asked if anyone would speak on his behalf.  In a particularly moving scene Gryphon's lonely existence between the two worlds was starkly clear.

Gryphon's Quest is the start of what looks to be a promising series of otherworldly romances.  I hope to see more of the world Ms Sams has created.
 

RATING : 
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Also by Candace Sams: The Gazing Globe, Stone Heart and Goblin Moon