Archive for the ‘Sherrilyn Kenyon’ Category

I’m so excited! I’ve been waiting anxiously for No Mercy (Dark-Hunter Novels). The time is drawing near, and we will once again be able to immerse ourselves in the Dark-Hunter/Were-Hunter world (Yay Dev!!)…

Available September 7th from St. Martin’s Press is #1 New York Times bestselling author, Sherrilyn Kenyon’s latest release in her widely loved Dark-Hunter series, ‘No Mercy’.

“Live fast, fight hard and if you have to die then take as many of your enemies with you as you can. That is the Amazon credo and it was one Samia lived and died by. Now in contemporary New Orleans, the immortal Amazon warrior is about to learn that there’s a worse evil coming to slaughter mankind than she’s ever faced before…..”

Let’s watch the trailer, shall we?

Link to trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=067W4Kvqa4g

Sherrilyn Kenyon website containing book synopsis and much more:
http://were-hunter.com/

Infinity: Chronicles of Nick
I’ll admit, the moment I started reading this and realized the main character “Nick Gautier” was only fourteen, I was apprehensive. We’ve come to know him as one of Kenyon’s crush-worthy adult characters from her ”Dark-Hunter” series, and while I knew this story was about Nick as a teen, coming into the Dark-Hunter world, I didn’t realize just how young he’d be. Don’t get me wrong, I love YA novels (young adult novels) and many have proven to be completely absorbing and powerfully addictive (Twilight, Vampire Academy, etc…). In past YA series that I have reviewed, we were essentially dealing with older teens on the cusp of adulthood and let’s be honest, there is a BIG difference between 14 year olds and 17 year olds.

That said, I want to make it clear that I really enjoyed this book. Yes, they were young, and yes, I had to essentially throw away any hope of a sweet romance story (although, there was a *touch* of something in this one too). However, the characters (old and new) were funny and/or charming and we get a few real moments with some of the characters we’ve grown to love.

Of course, many of my favorite parts in this book, directly involve Ash:

There was no logical way for Acheron to have gotten in front of him and just appeared like that. Just like the door slamming shut when he entered the kitchen, or the flash of light.

It was impossible.

Utterly impossible.

No longer sure what he could believe, Nick swallowed. “What are you?”

Acheron scowled. “Completely perplexed. You remember everything that happened.” It was a statement of fact and not a question…as if Acheron was inside his head.

“Yeah. Duh. Not like you’re going to forget the killer zombie stalkers and pysched-out kitchen staff. What kind of freak show is this?”

Acheron gave an evil laugh. “You have no idea Nick. But my question is: Why are the zombies after you?”

“Oh heck no, bud. The question is: Why you got horns on your head and black lips?”

Acheron’s smile faded. “What?”

“I saw you a minute ago when you freak-flashed in here. You had horns and blue skin. What are you?”

There are also many moments with Kyrian and Simi (who is equally as silly as in past books) that make it well worth the read. Even better, we get some time with Nick, the adult (and those are some really intense and eye-opening moments, but it’s hard to quote them without giving away, what I feel is the ”real” premise of the book, so I’m staying quiet about him).

Basically, we get to finally experience Nick & Kyrian meeting. In past novels, Nick’s “story” was revealed to us as Kyrian essentially saving him from a terrible beating…

Nick groaned and blinked open his…

Eye.

Uh, gah, what happened? His head was throbbing and one eye had something over it that prevented him from opening it. Please don’t tell me I’ve put out an eye. His mom would flip sideways. It was her biggest fear.

Don’t play with that fill-in-the-blank, Nick. You could lose an eye. It was her favorite rant no matter what object he touched, and she’d kill him if he was now a cyclops.

…and getting him started on a “better” path (in the Dark-Hunter world as Kyrian’s “Squire”).

If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. And although he was young, he hadn’t been born yesterday. “I don’t know about that. My mama says we don’t take charity from people. We pay our own way.”

“Nick…” Kyrian’s voice was strained. “Look around. I’m not going to miss it. You were headed the wrong way down the street, when, for whatever reason, you made a right turn. No one made you do it. You did it by yourself. My goal is to keep you on the right path. And I know that desperate people do desperate things, so this job will help eliminate some of that temptation. You’re a good kid and you deserve a break, which I’m sure life hasn’t given you much of.”

Although considering how his world fell apart in the last couple of books, if you were to ask Nick today if his future as a Squire proved to be a better choice, his answer would probably be a resounding NO.

Nick is a sullen teenager, bullied by jocks, and having somewhat of an antisocial attitude. He is extremely protective of his mom (a stripper on Bourbon street) and despite their poverty stricken life, he is determined to get them out of their current situation. Unfortunately, this often leads him into making bad “business” decisions, cavorting with some shady dudes. While in essence, he is not a “bad” kid (his mom is strict, and he is surrounded by loving and vigilant people), his anger towards his absent, evil father, and resentment toward their lifestyle often prompt him to react in ways that have a negative outcome.

While he struggles with daily issues, the high school (and eventually the city) is overrun with zombies (teenage zombies at first, and it seems to be spreading). Zombies? Really? But wait, it gets pretty good (I loved the “how” of it). It was actually pretty original and I’m not usually a zombie fan. The vigilantes of New Orleans (Tabitha included) come together to combat this seemingly uncontrollable situation, and even the Dark-Hunters get involved.

And all the while, Nick is confronted by a few paranormal issues of his own. Never having believed in zombies and vampires, he quickly realizes that there is MUCH more to the world (and to himself) than he was ever aware of. It is his own self-discovery (and Ash’s sudden awareness of Nick) that I loved most in this book.

Acheron paused as he considered his options. Nick Gautier was a lot more than he seemed. At fourteen, Nick’s mind should have been easily wiped by his powers, like Rosa’s had been. Not that Acheron liked to use those powers on anyone. As a rule, he seldom did, but there were times when circumstances demanded it.

Killer zombies exploding in a kitchen happened to be one of them.

And it wasn’t until someone was older that they developed the ability to block that particular talent of his. And even then only the stoutest of wills could stand against his powers.

Come to think of it, no mortal human being had ever stood against his powers. Only gods and a handful of demons could fight or circumvent him against his will.

More than that, somehow, some way, Nick had glimpsed his true god form.

How?

Nick’s enlightenment regarding the Dark-Hunters and realizing that he, too, is a part of something big (REALLY big!!) kept me enthralled.

Nick turned and blocked the punch she sent to his throat. Like something out of a movie, she punched him repeatedly and he countered every blow.

When did I learn kung fu?

And his mom said all those Jackie Chan movies were a waste. Apparently, he’d learned by osmosis – ’cause there was no way he knew this otherwise.

Personal sidenote:That “osmosis” line made me laugh, because that’s what I say all the time. I’m gonna learn to be immortal (or a vampire) through osmosis of all of these paranormal books! tee hee!!

Okay back to seriousness —> As ”things” happened (I won’t tell you what, but there are many monumental events that happen to Nick in this book) I kept wondering….with all of these things changing in Nick’s past, how will that affect his “future”? And, will this change the outcome of all of the books we’ve read in the Dark-Hunter series? How could it not, you know…with the “butterfly effect” and all.

As per Wikipedia:

The butterfly effect is a common trope in fiction when presenting scenarios involving time travel and with “what if” scenarios where one storyline diverges at the moment of a seemingly minor event resulting in two significantly different outcomes.

Hrmmmm?? Something to think about…? Where are you going with this Sherrilyn? I have no idea where you’re taking us, but I will certainly follow you there!

Bad Moon Rising: A Dark-Hunter Novel
Lily is dancing in her underwear and talking about Fang…

Oh hello, guys. I didn’t expect you back already. Ok. Let me turn off the music, put some pants on and put these jazz fingers away. Let’s try this again, and please don’t tell her about the stain on the center pillow on the sofa. I swear that bottle of blood was empty when I fell asleep.

So anyways, Hello Maryse’s followers. Since she’s out of the house, I am going to talk about books behind her back! Muhahaha . This is a warning of sorts; we don’t review books the same way. Her’s are always pretty and elegant and NEVER anything outrageous. Mine are more rambling and outlandish. You have been warned. Now *queue theatrical voice* PREPARE TO BE AMAZED!

If you have not read the Sherrilyn Kenyon Dark Hunter series you have been missing out. Bad Moon Rising is the 18th book in the long standing series and takes a spin on things. We were introduced to the Kattlatkis brothers back in Night Play, where we met Vane a wolf Were-Hunter that fell madly in love with a plus sized human named Bride. After a crushing betrayal that resulted in the death of their sister, Vane and his ever smart mouthed brother Fang are strung up and left for death. After an attack (which they barely survive) Fang falls into a coma and Vane is left with some serious problems to clean up. Including finding out Fury (a pack member that could not get along with Fang at all) is one of their brothers. In Night Play we get a glimpse of Fang in a coma and Vane’s attempts to bring him out of it. I thought Fang was being a ninny. Boy was I ever wrong.

Bad Moon Rising kicks off with the introduction of the pack to Sanctuary. Aimee Peltier (a bear Were-Hunter and the crown jewel of her family) gets attacked by some Jackal Were-Hunters. The wolf pack disregards the laws of Sanctuary (where everyone is welcome and safe, no fights ever – in front of the humans anyways. Come in Peace or leave in Pieces is the motto) and jumps to save her. Wolves are known for their protection of their females (and for having disgusting manners and being savages). To their surprise they are not thrown out but told they will always be welcome with the bears for their willingness to help save Amiee.

We also get to spend more time with Fang. He is a jerk. He is loud mouthed, quick to fight, impatient and rude. He is also tall, dark hair, beautiful eyes and a stomach you could do your wash on. The line I think of when I think of Fang is a line from Shrek 2. Donkey, Puss in Boots and Shrek have all been arrested. Donkey is screaming and carrying on and on and yelling no one told him he had the right to remain silent. Shrek replies “You have the right, what you lack is the capacity.” Fang just lacks the capacity to shut his mouth.

Aimee and Fang are finding themselves hopelessly attracted to one another and some really good scenes come of it. Tons of tension, and boy do I love tension. There are major problems with this match though. With the weres there is always a more dominant side – either human first animal second or vice versa. He is an animal first (Kattagari), which means he is more wild, more like a creature in the woods and is quick to act like an animal. She is a human first (Arcadian), which means she is more repulsed by the animal nature of him, and her human side is always running the show. Oh there is also the problem of them not even being the same species and her Kattagari family doesn’t know she’s now Arcadian.

Fangs mind:

Put her out of your thoughts. His father hated him enough. If he ever found out Fang was turned on by a bear… they’d call out a hunt and he’d be slaughtered.

Aimee’s thoughts:

Then what was Amiee? Katagari bear who became Arcadian at puberty. One with the tracking powers of a goddess who was currently attracted to only a wolf. You don’t get more unnatural than that.

We continue to travel with them on their journey to each other. Once Fang comes out of the coma (of which he only got out of by agreeing to a new job), him and Amiee are trying to ignore each other but still give us some panty melting moments with them (If this gets back to her – calm down Ma, just a hint).

Setting the beer aside, he pulled her to him until she was standing between his spread knees. Her scent wrapped around him like a warm cloak as he imagined her sliding her T-shirt over her head and freeing her breasts. “I’ve never wanted a woman as badly as I do you.”

Wow Fang, that’s hot. If the whole species thing wasn’t bad enough there is the small problem with his new boss:

I should probably warn you that I’m not real big on fairness and I have a below zero tolerance on most things. Do your job. Do it right and we won’t have any problems. F it up and I’ll most likely kill you. F up bad enough and I’ll torture you first.

Ok so I am going to take it this is not the kind of boss you can pour out your career plans too or offer a nice dental plan. This story progresses over 3 other plot lines from the series and maybe that’s what made it so special to me. We got to go back and see multiple plot lines evolving in time with each other, and some of the questions I had before suddenly were answered.

I loved Fang because of his never ending snark and mouth. He was a jerk that talked first and thought about his words second. I loved Amiee for trying to be the good daughter, without being a total martyr about it. Her choices in life were made for her at the end of the day. This book is pivotal to the plot line and if you liked the hints of Fang you got with Vane’s story please revisit him and get his side of the story with Bad Moon Rising.

Also you get a better look at the bears, with a shocker at the end that had me going “NO WAY”. This is going to change the course of the Were-Hunters in the next book, which will be the older brother and one of the quads Dev, in No Mercy.

Dev the bouncer brother is going to get a heroine, and I personally vote for myself. I mean a new vamp and a were, it’s not like it hasn’t been done people! 

That’s it get out, Maryse told me I wasn’t allowed to have guests. Best get on out of here. Maybe next time we can talk about the queen – you know Betsy!

My grand-maker is coming over soon, so I got to straighten up again. Whoever brought the shifter needs to make sure he is housebroken before he comes over again too! Bye!

Yay! I’ve been waiting and waiting, following Sherrilyn’s website, absorbing all the details I can on Nick’s upcoming book (and he is most certainly one of my FAVORITE characters), and future installments. I love how detailed Ms. Kenyon’s character pages are.

Written for the YA market (Nick in his teens!!), this book is sure to stir all of us devoted Dark-Hunter fans.

While we wait for tomorrow (just one more “sleep” until the book is in my hands! LOL!), here are some cool links to tide us over…

To celebrate tomorrow’s launch of ‘Infinity’, the first of Sherrilyn Kenyon’s vampirific young adult series ‘Chronicles of Nick’, St. Martin’s Press is offering the new book trailer (plus a link to download of the song from the trailer)

**Note to Dark-Hunter fans. The Chronicles of Nick *is* Nick’s real and true past.

“At fourteen, Nick Gautier thinks he knows everything about the world around him. Streetwise, tough and savvy, his quick sarcasm is the stuff of legends. . .until the night when his best friends try to kill him.”

The New York Times-bestselling with over 19 million books in print, Sherrilyn Kenyon is renowned the world over as “the reigning queen of the paranormal genre that she pioneered long before the world had heard of Twilight.”

Infinity Trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REzJ6LxFwcY

Download the song:
http://www.officialsanctuary.com/infinity-video-and-song/?utm_source=pointroll&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=infinity

READ CHAPTER EXCERPTS AND INTERVIEW:
http://www.officialsanctuary.com/chronicles-of-nick/infinity/

Hurray for us! Two weeks early!

The third book in the trilogy (that shall soon be expanded upon), was an easy read. While it didn’t have the same angst that book one and two did (the hero quickly figured out what his “heroine” was really up to), the book did have some action, romance, and acted as an intro to the new characters to come. While we do get a hint of Nykyrian and Syn, this book revolves around the adult lives of their children, who greatly take after their fathers.

Devyn (Syn & Shahara’s adult son), is a wealthy doctor/assassin/Ex-League Soldier/superduper-pilot, and all around amazing hunk, that is wanted by…everyone in one way shape or form (the two most prominent threats being “The League” who want him dead for taking down every soldier that attempted to arrest him, and Merjack because he hates Syn and everyone associated with him, for something or other – I think it was for taking down his entire family or something).

So, he meets “Alix” (a much needed aircraft engineer that bears an uncanny resemblance to his evil ex-fiance that was also once set on killing him). Alix joins the team, and they get all hot and bothered over each other, and the relationship quickly progresses. So much so that at one point Devyn tells Alix how amazing she is, and lists all of her wonderful characteristics…

“You’re smart. Funny. Fearless, and you come without all the shit and drama most women carry. You don’t play head games. You don’t tell me you’re all right when you’re not. You’re competent, not whiny…”

Huh? Now, either I was missing a few chapters, or these two got to know each other a whole lot better behind the scenes. Maybe he’s just such a good judge of character, that after a couple of days of ”doing it”, he can make an accurate assessment of a woman, but considering how his last relationship ended….hrmmm…

So the usual insecurities ensue (with good reason, as Alix is really only on his ship as a spy, gathering evidence against Devyn for his permanent incarceration). As her feelings develop deeper for Devyn, her guilt consumes her, but again, in keeping with the theme of the series, she has altruistic motives (she is trying to free her family from slavery which has been promised her, as long as she gives up Devyn and his crew).

As she discusses Devyn with his teenage son:

“He saw the life he wanted for himself, but she wasn’t the one.”

“And what life is that?”

“He wants what my grandparents have. A partner who will stand at his back while all hell rains down on him.”

“You know, Omari, the sad thing is I think that’s what we all want.”

Sweet and enlightening, but then internally, she thinks:

Too bad it was a myth made up by dreamers and idiots.

As my husband would say…”Oh blah! Quit whining!”

My favorite (most realistic, I can relate to) moment of the book (while she was cooking with Devyn’s son):

Alix lifted her chin in pride. “No idea. We just added spices until it didn’t suck anymore.”

Her laughter was infectious and before he realized what he was doing, he dipped his head down to capture her lips.

Alix’s head spun at the unexpected taste of Devyn as she brought her hand up to cup his face while his tongue danced with hers. Never in her life had she thought to feel like this. To feel safe on a ship with a crew who could make her laugh and have fun – even while her life was threatened…while everything fell apart…

This isn’t happening.

It’s a dream.

“Um, should I leave you two alone?”

Devyn pulled back as Omari’s voice broke through his lust. “Sorry, Slim.”

“Don’t apologize to me. So long as you don’t try to kiss me like that, we’re all good.”

Devyn pulled him into a headlock. “You’re such a smartass.”

Omari laughed as he spun out of the hold. “I learned it from the best.”

Alix stood back as Nero and Sway joined them and they all sat down to eat. While they chatted and joked, a strange feeling came over her. Like a dream fog. This peaceful moment was so surreal and hard to accept.

Her entire life had been a study in insults and degradation. Yet with Devyn and his “family”…she had found a place she wanted to belong to.

Funniest moment (Devyn’s mother calls him at an inopportune moment):

Firing another round, he answered it. “Hi, mom…Yes, I know my heart rate’s dangerously elevated.” He ducked a blast that almost pinned his head to the wall. “That sound? I’m being shot at, Ma. Gotta go now. Love you much. Hugs and kisses.”

Ha! That was a riot

And it’s moments like those, that make up for all the eye-rolling moments.

While it didn’t capture me as much as the first novel in the series, I enjoyed the cameos and camaraderie. Overall, though this book had a more clichéd, flat feel to it, and the depth, and emotional connection just wasn’t as prominent for me. My pulse barely fluctuated. Weak adrenaline spikes, no incredibly heart melting moments… Meh…

I still want her to continue the series though This story may not have done it for me, but I do still love the characters.

Careful if you haven’t read the series, as Ash’s love interest is revealed towards the end of my review. I will admit I was slightly disappointed that I knew who it was before I got to that part in the book (it was my bad though, I accidentally stumbled on it while searching the web for something else)…

Acheron. To me, he is the dreamiest of all the dreamy heroes (regardless of series). The slow tantalizing build up of his character, from each book in the Dark-Hunter series, comes to a head in a long and detailed narration. We are guided through each step of his existence, from Acheron’s heritage, doomed birth, horrific life as a human, and how he becomes who he is today.

Throughout the series, we were allotted tiny pieces into Acheron’s past, and what his existence might mean to the fate of the world. While in earlier installations, he was introduced as leader of the Dark-Hunters, and the most powerful of the group, we slowly begin to realize that his all-knowing and boundless power is tied to a more intricate and omnipotent destiny.

While I absolutely enjoyed this book and specifically adored the second half (so funny, and extremely romantic), the appalling scenes of his existence, in the first part of the book, unfold relentlessly, and at times, it can get to be too much for the reader. I had to take numerous breaks to get back to the reality of life. There is no way any human could survive this kind of abuse and emotional torture, and yet Acheron does (which, conveniently, can be explained by his godly derivation).

As my friend Toni accurately described the book to me:

…they took his dreams, smashed them, lit them on fire, ground them to dust, force fed the ashes to him and beat him for processing them.

Ohhhh she was so right!

Born of Atlantean gods (his mother, Apollymi, is the goddess of death, destruction and war) and his father Archon (the king of the Atlantean gods), it was prophesied by the three Fates that he would be the end of of the Atlantean gods. His father, determined to change the outcome of the future, demands that his unborn child be destroyed.

How could he do this? For centuries she’d been trying to conceive Archon’s son – it was all she ever wanted.

A babe of her own.

Now due to the prophecy of three small girls – Archon’s jealous bastards, her child was to be sacrificed and killed.

Apollymi, desperate to save her unborn child (whom she has named Apostolos), prematurely births him, binds his godly powers, and sends him to earth to be born as a human to a queen,  and raised as royalty (so that he may be treated as a prince).

“Take him. put him in the belly of a pregnant queen. Do you understand?”

She let go and righted herself. “Um, I can do that. What about the queen’s brat?”

“Merge Apostolos’s life force with that of the queen’s child. Let her know by oracle that if my child dies, so does hers.”  That would protect him more than anything else.

But there was one more thing to be done. Apollymi jerked the white sfora from her neck and held it to Apostolos’s chest. If anyone suspected her was her son or any god detected his presence in the human realm, they would kill him instantly.

His powers would have to be bound and locked away until he was old enough and strong enough to fight back. She placed the orb to his chest and watched as his godhood slid from him to the sfora. His tiny body turned from blue ot the pale skin of humanity.

Now he would be safe. Not even the gods would know what he’d done.

The first part of the book is narrated from Ash’s sister, Ryssa’s perspective. As the queen of Greece births her twin sons, (one of them being Apostolos), the royal family quickly disown him when they notice his strange swirling silver eyes. The King has determined that his Queen has been unfaithful to him by bedding a god resulting in his birth, and refuses to acknowledge the child. The Queen, upset that her fidelity has been questioned, refuses to love and nurse the baby.

“I will not raise a monster,” my father snarled.

“You have no choice.” The wisewoman took the baby from the midwife and offered it to my mother.

Frowning, I saw a note of satisfaction in the midwife’s eyes before the beautiful blond woman made her way through the crowd to vanish from the room.

“He was born of your body, Majesty,” the wisewoman said, drawing my attention back toward her and my mother. “He is your son.”

The baby squalled even louder, reaching again for my mother. His mother. She cringed away from him, clutching her second-born even tighter than before. “I will not suckle it. I will not touch it. get it away from my sight.”

The wisewoman took the child to my father. “And what of you, Majesty? Will you not acknowledge him?”

“Never. That child is no son of mine.”

The wisewoman took a deep breath and presented the infant to the room. Her grip was loose with no lober or compassion evident in her touch.

“Then he will be called Acheron for the River of Woe. Like the river of the Underworld, his journey shall be dark, long and enduring. he will be able to give life and take it. He will walk through his life alone and abandoned – ever seeking kindness and ever finding cruelty.”

The wisewoman looked down at the infant in her hands and uttered the simple truth that would haunt the boy for the rest of his existence. “May the gods have mercy on you, little one,. No one else ever will.”

And such sets the stage and tone of Ash’s life.

Apostolos (aka “Acheron”) is abused and horribly neglected throughout his childhood, while his human twin (Styxx) is treated as the prince he is. While shunned by all who should love him, his only solace is the hidden affection bestowed upon him by his older sister.

As a young boy, he is eventually torn from his sister’s arms, and sent to live in Atantis with his uncle. While his sister is told that her brother is happy and doing well in his new home, she receives an anonymous letter indicating that her brother is in dire need of help. Arriving at her uncle’s home, she realizes that her now teenage brother has been held captive, and is routinely used as a sex slave, and severely beaten regularly. Despondent with life, and unable to understand affection or love, the subservient and fearful Acheron resists her efforts to help him escape, but is eventually “kidnapped” by her and her guard, and secretly taken to a rarely used family summer home.

I clenched my hands into fists to keep from reaching out to touch him. I just wanted to gather him into my arms and hold him until the nightmare that had been his life was completely erased from his memory.

But how? How could I make him understand that he was safe now? That no one would ever touch him without his explicit invitation? That he was free to make his own decisions and that no one would beat him for voicing his opinion?

Helping her brother heal from his physical and even deeper emotional scars, she plots to re-integrate him into their family, theorizing that her father did not know how terribly Acheron was treated, and might accept him back.

sidenote: And over and over again, this pattern is repeated. It got to the point where every time she entered the scene I couldn’t help but cringe and wanted to cry “Run away Ash! You’re going to get in trouble again!”. I truly wanted to throttle her! Always well-intentioned, and looking for a way to make Acheron happy, she insistently revolted at the unfairness of his treatment. Unfortunately, it seemed that at every possible reprieve that Acheron was afforded, his sweet but incredibly naive sister managed to get him into trouble (causing him to be cruelly and abhorrently beaten). It got to the point where I almost couldn’t feel sympathy for Acheron anymore. Despite knowing the consequences of his actions (albeit HIGHLY unfair and ridiculous for him to be treated thusly), he still always managed to follow her into his own doom.

Now hold on!! I’m not saying that he deserved it. I’m not even saying that he brought it upon himself (well, maybe just a little bit – hee hee!). I’m merely affirming that, when you are surrounded by illogical and severely flawed people who hold power over you and others, going against their rules (and being caught), WILL result in punishment…I’m just sayin’…

Well anyway, here is a very sweet and insightful sister/brother bonding moment that touched me (it was moments like these that made it so that I couldn’t hate her):

I closed my hand around his. “I don’t know the will of the gods, Acheron, no one does. But I refuse to believe that it’s their will to hurt you so. You were a precious gift that was scorned by the very ones who should have cherished you. That is a human tragedy that shouldn’t be laid at the feet of divinity. The priests often say that the gifts of the gods are sometimes hard to accept or identify, but I know in my heart that you are special. That you are a gift to humanity. Never doubt that you were placed here with some higher purpose and that purpose was not with malice or to be abused.”

Eventually, Acheron meets the god Artemis, who brings him both a sense of emotional and romantic connection. Falling in love, they spend precious moments together, while she helps heal Acheron’s physical wounds and his scarred soul.

“Have you any friends?” she asked.

He shook his head.

“Why not?”

“I suppose I’m not worthy of any.”

Artemis frowned at his reasoning. “It can’t be that. I haven’t any either and I am more than worthy. Perhaps there is a flaw to us.” She paused as she thought about that. “No, that can’t be right either. I have no flaws and yet I’m as alone as you are.”

While she seems to be genuinely sweet (albeit severely self-centered), things with Artemis never run smoothly. Abusive much? Whoa! She goes from hot to cold within seconds, and can take a healing hand and rip Ash’s heart and body to shreds with a single angry thought.

Acheron staggered back in shock as his cheek burned. Before he could recover himself, Artemis attacked him, slapping and punching. When that didn’t seem to satisfy her, she flung him against the far wall and held him there with her god’s powers.

I will protect you…

Her words rang in his as he stared down at her, waiting for her to finally kill him. Truthfully he’d rather be dead then feel the splintering in his heart over what she was doing.

She’d lied.

Poor Ash, again, he suffers abuse because he is so in love with her and doesn’t know anything else. In fact, it is because he values her love so much, that her dark side manages to inflict even deeper scars onto his psyche then from anyone in his past (as a human, and even when he gets his powers back).

As we continue to get insight into the complicated and twisted and eventually forced bond between them (that whole elaborate part could have been it’s own book in itself, but it was wonderfully laid out here for us), Ash’s book leads us into the present day Dark-Hunters, and his obligation to keep yet another Atlantis seeker off course.

Tory, Geary’s cousin (remember her from “The Dream-Hunter” book?) is determined to continue Geary’s mission where she left off, and Acheron must discourage her so that Apollymi is not released from her imprisonment spell (which would then allow her to unleash her wrath onto the world).

As Ash publicly humiliates Tory during her lectures on her findings, he is eventually forced to protect her, when they realize her crew has stumbled upon something that could lead to her death. Remember how Ash has that certain “je ne sais quoi” that unwittingly incites all to desire him and want to touch him? Well, not only do we find out what that’s all about, but Tory doesn’t seem to react that way to him at all. While she secretly is attracted to him, she finds him more annoying then anything. The funny moments between the two, and within their circle of friends, abound.

Oh hey! Here is one that had me laughing out loud! While Ash is with Tory and her friends (under the guise of protecting her from potential burglars), he is trying to get answers from his mother via his mind. At one frustrating moment, he forgets himself and publically lets loose (in his Atlantean language)

“Dammit to hell, Matera, answer me!” Ash shot off the couch in anger only to realize all three women were staring at him curiously.

Pam cleared her throat. “Any idea what he just said?”

Tory frowned. “Um…not really.”

“Wow,” Kim said with a light laugh, “some Greek the Greek princess can’t understand. I’m impressed.”

Pam arched one brow. “Must be the voices in his head that he was responding to. I just hope they’re not telling him to kill us.”

tee hee! I chuckled out loud as I typed this (it’s still funny, even now).

As their close proximity permits them to get to know one another, Tory’s apparent disinterest to Ash allows him to let his guard down and truly befriend her.

Smiling, she reached up for his glasses. “Can I take these off?”

Ash swallowed as fear tore through him. “I wish you wouldn’t.”

“Why?”

“Because they’ll make you uncomfortable. No one likes to look at my eyes.”

She scowled at him. “What are you? Rosemary’s baby?”

“Kind of.”

Ha!! How clever and apropos was that line? LOVED it!

Oh! Ohhhhh!! Another one that just had me giggling while I was flipping through my earmarked pages. Tory, still unaware of Ash’s true self, listens as he and another “Other” discuss some new attackers, and Ash asks:

“These Atlantikoinonia. They’re human?”

Katherine nodded.

Tory was confused by his strange question. “What else would they be? Turnips?”

LOL!!! No but really, the whole second half of the book is equally amusing!

From their initial exchange of hurling insults at one another, to their working together and becoming friends, this book will answer all of your questions, and secure Ash’s place in your heart! There is a sweet spark of romance that let’s us (as well as Tory) into Ash’s heart, and how many of you have been waiting to experience that?!

Ok so one last quote to end off with (one of my favorite romantic parts, and this was hard to choose as there were many moments that had me swooning):

One small tear slid from the corner of his right eye. Slamming them shut, he surrendered himself to her. Right now, this moment, she owned him in a way no one ever had before.

No, she didn’t own him.

He gave himself to her and for the first time, he understood the difference. He understood what it meant to make love. To share his body with someone not out of obligation or fear, but because it made them closer.

In this one heartbeat, he was hers and she was his.

This very book will lead you through a smorgasbord of emotions. From the integral romantic plot, to the sagas of the other characters, you will bond to them all. I’ll even admit, I loved Hades and Apollymi (and since Ash is taken, I think I now have a crush on Urian)… It may begin by emotionally distressing you for hours, but I promise that it will have you laughing and your heart beaming to the very end.

Wow, just realized how long this review is. I guess I got carried away , but that’s easy to do with Acheron.

It is not a secret that I’m already addicted to the “League” series, and was THRILLED to find out that the author intended on continuing the series with future books. How lucky are we that these were re-released, as I probably would have not had the opportunity to engage myself in such an interesting futuristic world. I still love Nykyrian the most (one of my favorite heroes regardless of series).

Here is the exclusive book trailer for  ‘Born of Ice, the third book in Sherrilyn Kenyon’s latest series, ‘The League’.

Synopsis:

In the Ichidian Universe, the League and its ruthless assassins continue to keep rule. But at what cost? Welcome back to the future- and a whole new world.

He is an outlaw who offers no quarter…

Devyn Kell spent his life in service to the League until he learned of the double dealing and backstabbing that was costing innocent people their lives. Refusing to play those politics, he became a Runner- someone who makes sure planets get the weapons, medicine and supplies they need to survive. May the gods have mercy on any who get in his way, because he definitely won’t.

She is on the run from a past that could end her life…

Alix Garran is a woman on the run from a past she can’t escape. Signing on to work for Devyn as a System’s Engineer, she finds a cause she can fight for- and a man she can respect. But as Alix’s past catches up to her, and Devyn’s old enemies turn lethal, they have to fight together- or fall alone.

New from St. Martin’s Press is #1 New York Times bestselling author, Sherrilyn Kenyon’s 3-book series, ‘The League’!  With over 19 million books in print, Sherrilyn Kenyon is renowned the world over as “the reigning queen of the paranormal genre that she pioneered long before the world had heard of Twilight.”  The third book from ‘The League’ series, ‘Born of Ice’, will be available December 1st, 2009.

Don’t forget to check out the first two books in the series:

This one finally takes us back to New Orleans where it all started (and where I feel at home with this series). While it does focus on another “Dream-Hunter”, it has the feel of the Dark-Hunter books, and we see many of the Dark-Hunter characters (including Ash), in this one.

Simone Dubois is a medical examiner with an added advantage (or disadvantage, depending on who you ask). She can see and communicate with ghosts, giving her the ability to aid the police department on murder cases. While most on the department are unaware of her abilities, she has specifically befriended one agent, who is no stranger to paranormal activity (considering he is also a Squire to the Dark-Hunters). She was orphaned at a young age (her mother and siblings were murdered in front of her, and her father took his own life shortly thereafter). Lonely, and constantly burdened with the fear of abandonment, she does have one best friend that has been there since she was a little girl (a sweet and quirky male ghost – Jesse - in perpetual state of teenage-hood). While he was there to comfort her as a child, he too, has felt consoled, since she is the only human who can see him. Together, they “grew up”, and have never left each other’s side.

 Jesse rolled his eyes. “Their ogling you, dude. Talking about your assets and the fact that you’re nauseatingly ripped, which I would have been had I not bit the dust at seventeen.” He puffed out his chest, trying to make himself look more muscular. “I’m forever trapped in my tall, gangly phase.”

The notoriously dangerous but exquisite “Xypher” (a Skotos/Dream-Hunter), renowned for his dangerous ways, has been granted temporary reprieve from his incessant torture in Tartarus, by Hades, (to aid Sin and Kat in their hunt for the Gallu demons).

Having only a few weeks of freedom (on earth) left, he unintentionally runs into Simone during an attack on her life. During the struggle, a Daimon wraps bracelets around their wrists, and they quickly realize that they are bound to each other (thanks to a devious scheme by Stryker’s sister to kill Xypher).

You see, at one time, they (Xypher and Satara) were in love, (or so he thought), and their connection eventually landed him in Tartarus/hell (I’ll let you find out why). Now that he has been temporarily released, Satara is certain he is coming for her to take revenge, and her solution is to bind him to a weak human.

“Pass those along to one of my Spathi Daimons and have him secure one to Xypher and the other to a mortal and all your troubles are over.”

She smiled as she finally understood the significance of the bracelets. “They bind them…kill the mortal and Xypher dies.”

He inclined his head to her. “Even better than that, if the mortal gets more than twenty feet from him, the human dies…and so does he.”

If one dies, the other follows (and how easy is it for a human to die? VERY!). Along with that, they are bound physically, and must remain together at all times as physical distance will also kill them. All I can say is what an obviously convenient (but satisfyingly wonderful) setup for an unavoidable romantic connection!

Their personalities clash at first (Xypher is an angry god, no doubt due to his mistrust of women, and constant whippings and other tortures since being in hell). 

“What is wrong with you?”

His eyes flared in the darkness. “Be grateful, human, that you could never understand.”

Understand what? That he was an asshole? There was no excuse in that.

“You know, you’re not the only one with problems in this equation. I happen to have a life and a job. The last thing I need is to be pulling around a three-hundred-pound gorilla with a chip on his shoulder so big it’s a wonder he’s not hunch-backed from it.”

“I don’t weigh three hundred pounds.”

She arched a single brow at his retort. “No denying the gorilla part?”

“No.”

However they are forced to work together, and learn about life on a whole new level.

Xypher forced himself to look away from her and to squelch those thoughts. It wasn’t his fate to have a woman like her touch him in that way. He was an animal and he knew it. He’d been left alone too long, had been cast out to find his own way. Tenderness was for humans. It wasn’t for a renegade Skotos who was going to be taken back to hell in a few weeks.

Don’t go soft. Don’t let your guard down.

Sooner or later, he’d be taken back in Tartarus at the mercy of Hades. It’s taken centuries to harden himself so that he didn’t feel the steel-barbed lashes so deeply when they beat him. Centuries of learning how to not fall for the cruel mind games that Hades played.

Comfort on this plane would only weaken him when he returned.

It would make hell even more biting. That was something he couldn’t allow. It was bad enough. To soften his existence here…

No wonder Hades had agreed to let him loose for a month. The god of the Underworld had known exactly how much worse Xypher’s punishment would be after he’d tasted freedom.

Bastard.

Not only do they have to figure out how to release themselves from their forced mergence, but they have danger attacking from all angles. New and intriguing revelations from deep within this tale are slowly unveiling, and expanding this universe into infinite depths.

I bonded to them. I did! Their fights, their entanglements, and their eventual union…

“Push me away, Simone,” he said in her ear, his voice ragged.

“Is that what you want?”

“No,” he growled.

…was paced well enough that I followed them the whole way through. Who Xypher and Simone are differs greatly from who they can eventually be, proving to be a surprising and very rewarding twist.

I am even developing a certain fondness for a new character (Jaden), that I have seen in this book, and every book since (on first impression, he seems to be an evil and “unfeeling” go-between for the largest powers that be). However, similar to other characters in this series, the hardened exterior seems to be protecting a very tender heart.

Oh and, have I mentioned, in the past, just how much I love Hades? Weird…I know, but there it is! Tell me you don’t feel it too!