Archive for the ‘Sherrilyn Kenyon’ Category

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! 

My Sherrilyn Kenyon marathon continues! Thank goodness she has written so many exciting books, as I have been thoroughly captivated since late August with her work

The latest one (that I finished last night) is the second in her “League” series called Born of Fire (Syn’s book).

In book one, halfway through the story, Syn (Nykyrian’s best friend and associate) disappeared (his immaculate house left in shambles).

In book two, we see life through Syn’s eyes, including yet another tortured childhood (he was raised by an evil, notorious murderer), that cultivates a tough exterior and houses an insecure and saddened heart. Uninterested and disillusioned with love (especially Nykerian’s new love interest), he is determined to avoid any potential attachments.

All his life it hadn’t mattered to him that he was shit to the world. He was used to that. It was the day he’d become shit to his wife and son that had ruined him.

All he’d ever wanted was for one person to not blame him for his parentage. One woman who could look at him like he was a man and not a monster out to hurt her.

Having been abused and even abandoned by those closest to him, he was forced to live on the streets, stealing and fighting to survive (bringing about an innate sense of self-preservation).

Escaping ”Nykyrian’s drama” and the turmoil that has been building inside of him, he takes refuge in his home, and is visited by a “Seax” (I would liken them to a bounty hunter with an EXTREME sense of moral righteousness). The Seax, (Shahara Dagan) is the sister of another of Syn’s best friends (but she does not know him personally). While she doesn’t realize exactly who Syn is, and what he means to her family, she is determined to take him into custody for the “kidnapping, rape and potential murder” of Princess Kiara Zamir (Nykryian’s new girlfriend. If you’ll recall, Kiara’s father is slightly *overzealous* in his reactions to her staying with Nykyrian).

A struggle (some physical, some of wits) ensues, and they eventually part ways with an understanding. Unfortunately, Shahara’s need to “do what’s right” causes Syn much eventual trouble. While Syn’s belief is that every woman will eventually turn against him…

“You’re right. As a rule, I don’t let people get too close to me.”

“And why is that?”

“Because when they look at me, they don’t see me. They only see my father’s son.”

…Shahara’s actions (despite her true feelings) keep demonstrating that his jaded outlook on love might actually be accurate.

Shahara bit her lip as she processed that latest bit.

What had she done?

You arrested your brother’s best friend. Idiot!

She had the terrible feeling that she’d made a horrible mistake. One, by turning him in. Two, by signing a deal with the devil to help out her family.

If half of what Kasen said was true, Caillen would never forgive her for doing this to his friend. A friend who’d helped all of them over the years.

What was she going to do? She didn’t want Caillen to hate her. Or even Kasen for that matter.

They were her family.

The only family she’d ever have. She couldn’t hurt them, any more than a mother could hurt her own children.

What a way to pay a man back for helping you. Gah. I suck as a human being.

The two struggle (on their own, and together) with their past demons, their attraction to one another, and those out to kill Syn for matters far more intricate then what she was hired for (and might also be proving to be unwarranted). Unfortunately for both of them, Shahara realizes this fact too little, too late. Or is it?

I can’t believe how badly I’ve screwed all this up…Closing her eyes, she wished she could take away the pain she’d caused him. It was obvious he had enough to bear without the misery she added to his life.

She stretched to ease the aching muscles of her back. In the end, she’d done what she had to and there was no going back. All she could do now was see to it that he suffered no more than he had to.

As a seax, she owed him that much.

Loved it all! TONS of extremely touching moments (one of my favorites was when they hid together in the catacombs, holding each other in comfort while getting to know each other’s past). Tender moments detailed so beautifully, that every heartfelt moment felt genuine.

But Shahara had stared into the abyss of his soul and seen the monster that lurked there. And she hadn’t run.

Why?

What made her able to see the man when no one else had? In this one moment, he would give her anything.

Even his life.

I’m lost.

Lost in a way he’d never been before. Not even with Mara. Shahara made him want to be something more than a drunken thief and a paid killer.

She made him want to be a hero…

Pulling back, he stared at her dilated eyes and saw the ragged pleasure on her face. And as he gazed at her, he realized the truth.

I’m not lost. I’m found.

Oh WOW… I loved that part!!

Of course there were a few too many illogical moments of doubt (although those moments did help in extending the angst that made this story so delectable), but overall, this story was exciting, full of action and danger. I completely related to the heroine, and every feeling she displayed, whether it be her fear of heights (*cute*), to her fear of compromising her values, to the most important fear of all, telling a man, who is so deeply jaded against love, that she loves him. Of course, I fell completely in love with the hero (sweet, strong, street smart and distinguished all rolled into one hunky package)!

One *slight* complaint, was that a part of the ending, felt somewhat rushed (and I would have loved an extended, more drawn out version). But that’s it.

Come on! You know you want to read it!! And if you have read it, please tell me your favorite part

By the way, Sherrilyn Kenyon has a third that will be out on December 1st 2009 called Born of Ice, and I will be a happy camper when it is released. And best of all, there will be more books to come! YAY!

Happy Halloween folks!! Thought I’d take a quick time-out to review the next in my list of Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark-Hunter/Dream-Hunter series. This one was called “Upon a Midnight Clear” and involves a female Oneroi (Dream-Hunter), who is sent to earth to aid a human male. It read like a short story, and I have a feeling it was meant to be one. It was somewhat disappointing, as it had a very “cookie-cutter” feel to it, and I did not bond in the least with any of the characters. In fact, I was more then irritated by the rich and gorgeous, yet ”anguished” human superstar actor, Aidan O’Connor (who was in early retirement).

Due to his huge mistrust of anyone that had ever claimed to “love” him, he had resigned himself to absolute seclusion, refusing any further job offers that his agent sent his way.  Betrayed by all his loved ones (from his brother and immediate family) to the love of his life, he is determined never to love or trust again, so that he can never again feel such hurt. He lives his life in solitary confinement (albeit quite luxurious), and allows his bitterness to seep out of every pore to anyone who attempts to approach him.

His eyes scalded her with their intense heat. “Then do what I do. Turn your tears into rage. Crying will only make you sick. But anger…anger infuses you. It strengthens you. It crawls through your body until you’re forced to act. There’s no dwindling of strength, no mewling blurry vision. It clears your head and focuses your actions. Most of all, it empowers you.”

“Is that why you stay angry?”

“Absolutely.”

While it would make sense that someone who has been betrayed to such an extent would become embittered towards the world, what baffled me was how such a famous and beloved actor could be betrayed to such extents, by those closest to him. I mean, following the themes of this series, such betrayal would be expected by demons and even certain gods, but by every mere mortal in his close proximity? Come on!! And the backstabbers rationale that motivated them to conspire against him…simply eye-rolling. The extents that they went to, to defile his public image, and how easily they all seemed to coerce others in their plot, suggested such weak-mindedness, that I was simply unable to relate.

Well, anyway, his biggest enemy (his imprisoned brother), manages to summon the most powerful god of pain (Dolor) and demands that he annihilate his famous brother in ways most excruciating. That is when the dream god “Leta” (sister of M’Adoc) is sent to help him.

Of course, there is a touch of romance to melt our hearts…

“What are you thinking?”

He smiled at her very human question as he wound her head in his silken hair. “I’m thinking about how wonderful you feel in my arms.”

Her smile made his heart soar and his groin jerk. “I’ve only been with you and my husband. I’d forgotten how incredible this could be.” Her eyes turned stormy. “Unlike you, I don’t like being alone.”

His grief and pain gathered in his throat to choke him, and he confided in her something he hadn’t confided on anyone – not even himself. “Neither do I. Alone sucks.”

She closed her eyes before she covered his hand with hers and turned her face into his palm to kiss it.

That single act shattered him. “If you betray me, Leta…kill me. Be kind and don’t let me live in the shadow of your cruelty. I can’t take another blow like that. I’m not that strong.”

…and the usual battle, and perhaps even a sad (or good) ending – I won’t say either way

It’s kind of a cute story to read (just don’t expect the detail and intricate plot of past novels in the series). Since this is a Christmas story, it would probably be well suited during a much needed, quick time-out, during the Christmas season. With an obvious, but sweet message, it was pleasant enough, in a “Lifetime Movie” sort of way. My favorite part is actually the end, when we get a Christmas Day glimpse into the lives of all of our favorite Dark-Hunters, Were-Hunters, and even Acheron. That was nice!

Not to fear, the next book in the series (which I have also finished), “Dream Chaser” kicks us back into high gear! We get to experience the lives of new main characters, and also savor some screen time with Acheron, Julian, and some Weres, once again, in our cozy setting of New Orleans. For some reason, it felt like I was home again

How to review this book…how…how…? Revelation after revelation from the very start, and I have to do this without letting anything slip. Either I was a little dim during the entire series, or Sherrilyn Kenyon is very clever, because I did not see any of it coming!

This is basically “Kat’s” book, and there is much about Kat that we did not know. Her background is quite important in the grand scheme of things. I was taken by surprise when it all came together, and the series became even more complete, in regards to how the different pantheon’s intermixed. Along with Kat & Sin’s tale, we are given a more in depth look into the lives of Artemis, Acheron, and Appollymi (LOTS of good stuff here!!)

On the “earthly” aspect of the story, Kat is sent by Artemis to kill “Sin” (an ex-Sumerian god turned Dark-Hunter).

“I thought he was dead.”

“No, Acheron saved him before he could die and made him a Dark-Hunter. Sin thinks I’m the one who drained him of his powers and left him for dead.” The terror in Artemis’s eyes scorched her. “He’s going to kill me, Katera, I know it. The entire world is going to end. We are coming up on the Sumerian apokalypsi-”

Artemis, having stolen his godly powers in the past, suspects that he is on a revenge mission to destroy her (and come to find out, she’s right!)

Along with his agenda to kill Artemis, he also has a much bigger concern to contend with. While Sin might be a Dark-Hunter, he bypasses the Daimons, and the usual Dark-Hunter assignments to pursue something far more lethal. Being from a different pantheon, his people have created lethal demons (Gallu) that are also hunting humans, and an even more dangerous enemy (the seven Dimme demons) that  are at risk of being unleashed into the world, potentially bringing about it’s ultimate destruction. Only he has the ability to combat them, and without his godly powers, his efforts are waning.

At midnight on New Year’s Eve as people rushed to celebrate, the seven Dimme demons that Any had created to avenge their fallen pantheon would be freed. The only one who could fight them was Sin, and since he no longer possessed his god powers, he didn’t have a hope in hell of succeeding in beating the Dimme back.

May the gods, ancient and new, have mercy on them all.

“Damn you, Artemis,” he snarled.  The stupid bitch. By one act of selfishness, she condemned them all. And she didn’t even care. She thought her own godhood would protect her from the demons to come.

She was such a fool.

Why do you even bother? All fighting would do was prolong his own death. But it wasn’t in him to just stand aside and do nothing while innocent people were killed.  Do nothing while the earth was overrun and destroyed. No, he’d been fighting back the gallu demons for too many centuries to cede the earth to them without taking out as many as he could.

When confronted by Kat, he feels an immediate hatred towards her (let’s just say she reminds him of someone from his painful past). After getting past his original outrage at her presence, he begins to trust her. As Kat’s powers allow her to delve deep into his psyche, she realizes that he is not the evil man Artemis makes him out to be. Actually, he is suffering an overwhelming hurt. The compassion they share for each other takes form, and the reader is granted many touching moments as they bond, and she aids him on his quest.

What she saw there jolted her into releasing Sin’s arm. Kat gasped as she stepped back in shock.

She couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t see or hear anything other than the unbelievable agony inside her. It hurt…it hurt…Over and over images continued to flash in her mind. Sin’s memories. She saw his wife in the arms of another man. Saw his son, Uto, and his daughter, Ishtar, as they died fighting the demons Sin’s own father had created.

The agony was unbearable.

How could Sin stand all that had happened to him? How? They had laughed at him and they had shamed him.

Then they had died and left him completely alone…

Kat wanted peace, but there was no comfort to be found. All she could see was the bitter images that ate at her. bitter images of guilt and betrayal.

“Help me.” she whispered, her heart breaking.

Sin stood beside Kat, watching her shake. The sadistic part of him enjoyed the sight of her there like that. It was what she deserved for intruding on his emotions and memories.

But he wasn’t the bastard he wanted to be and the jou only lasted a millisecond of a heartbeat before he was gathering her into his arms. She was sobbing against him.

“Sh,” he whispered as he rocked her. “Let it go. It’s not yours to feel.” Closing his eyes, he cradled her against his chest and reached out with his powers to ease the pain she’d taken from him.

While the romance aspect of the story is between Kat and Sin, I found this moment between Artemis and Acheron tugging at my heartstrings somewhat. It exemplifies the complicated relationship and conflicting emotions they have for each other (I know, I know, things probably change DRASTICALLY in Acheron’s book as I am assuming he finds the love of his life, but I will admit I’ve had a twisted fascination in regards to Artemis and Acheron’s bond).

“You hate me, don’t you?”

Sometimes. No, most times. But he felt her current vulnerability and for some reason he could never fathom, he had a need to soothe her. Yeah, he was one sick sonofabitch. “No, Artie, I don’t.”

“You’re lying,” she accused. “Don’t you think I know the difference?” A single tear slid down her cheek as she stared at him. “You used to hold me like I mattered to you.”

She was right, and the sad thing was, back then she’d mattered to him more than his own life.

Plenty of angst in this novel! Constantly warring against their own emotions, we get to experience stuff like this (a trial break-up as per Sin’s demands, and he finds himself suffering without Kat…):

“Sin?”

He tensed at the sound of her voice saying his name. It sounded like she was right behind him. But he knew better.

Then he felt it. The soft whisper of a hand on his shoulder. Afraid it was nothing more than torture invented by his mind, he didn’t want to open his eyes.

“Are you all right?” she asked.

“That depends.”

“On what?”

“Whether or not you’re still there when I turn around.”

“Do you want me to leave then?”

The word “no” hung in his throat. Dammit, man, shake your head and tell her to leave. It’s for her own good. It’s for your own good.

Still her touch was on his skin.

Forcing himself to turn around, he opened his eyes and saw the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen in his life. Kat’s face. Unable to stand it, he pulled her to him and kissed her.

Awwww….I LOVE moments like that. Trust me, there is more to that scene, but I’ll let you enjoy it for yourselves

This is book one of a nice “spin-off” from the Dark-Hunters series. While we have been acquainted with Dream-Hunters in past novels, (and a sweet little short story called “Phantom Lover”), we get a deeper involvement into their realm, their rules, and their feelings (for an unemotional bunch, they sure do have lots of feelings). While we are introduced to many new characters, the reader is not completely disoriented, as we are indulged with cameos (specifically Katra, who is an important character here) that help the tale evolve. 

The majority of this story occurs in Greece, while Megeara Kafieri (Geary) takes her boat and crew on an expedition to find Atlantis. Being from a long line of archeologists, she is determined to help her deceased father regain his reputation (previously ruined by scholars who found his obsession with Atlantis to be ridiculous). While she too, once scoffed at his beliefs, a few ancient coins convince her to continue his crusade.

“If it takes me the rest of my life, I’m going to fulfill my word to you. We will find Atlantis. I swear it.”

But even as she spoke those words that were filled with her conviction, she couldn’t help wondering if she’d be able to withstand the ridicule her father had borne all of his professional life. Just six weeks ago she’d been granted her doctorate from Yale and she was supposed to be teaching in New York this fall. She was young to have attained so much, and great things were expected of her…by her and by the institutions and professors who’d bestowed that doctorate on her.

To walk this course would be nine kinds of stupid.

While she is usually serious and unemotional in public, she escapes when she sleeps and is frequently visited in her dreams by a gorgeous stranger named Arikos.

Arikos dipped his head down and captured her lips with his. Geary moaned at the sweet taste of him. There was no one on earth who tasted the way he did. No one who felt better in her arms, which was probably why he was relegated to her dreams.

But she was so glad to have him here.

She believes her subconscious has conjured him into her dreams. In reality, he is an ex-Oneroi (dream gods who “police” the Skoti), now turned Skotos (a god who can only feel emotions by feeding off of the dreams of humans), due to a malicious trick by his brother Solin. Geary’s vivid dreams attracted him to her, and they have developed an intense connection. 

“You’ve been spending too much time with the human. You need to move on to another.”

That was the way of it. A Skotos such as Arik was only tolerated to help drain humans of excess emotions. If Skoti spent too long with one person, they could, in theory, make the person go mad or even kill them.

The Skoti were normally given a single warning and if they failed to heed it, an Oneroi would be selected to either punish or eliminate them from existence. M’Ordant was one of many who monitored human sleep and who kept the Skoti in line.

“And if I don’t want to leave her?”

“Are you being argumentative?”

Arik gave him an arch stare. “How could I be?”

“Then you are done with her.” M’Ordant vanished.

The wisest course of action would be to heed his warning. But Arik was too drawn to his human to pay attention to M’Ordant’s words. After all, that would require fear…something Arik knew nothing about.

Closing his eyes, Arik could still smell the scent of Megeara’s flesh. Still taste the salty sweetness of her body on his hungry tongue. Feel her touch on his skin.

No, he wasn’t done with her. He was only beginning.

Weary of only seeing her in dreams, and knowing that their time together is coming to an end, he is determined to to seek her out for real.

Making a deal with the Greek god, Hades (god of the Underworld), he asks to become human for two weeks, so that they may connect. Hades accepts the offer in exchange for a human soul. As Arikos agrees to the deal, he realizes he has been tricked by Hades, when Hades demands the soul of the very woman Arik is going to see.

“Done.”

Hades clucked his tongue at Arik. “Child, how naive of you. You agreed too soon. It’s not just any soul I want.”

“Whose then?”

“I want the soul of the woman who compelled you to make a deal with the devil. Surely she must have a magnificent soul for you to come here and barter with me, the most despised of all gods.”

Arikos is suddenly thrown into the middle of the ocean in human form, and is left basically drowning. Geary and her crew notice the struggling man and rescue him. Recognizing him as the man of her dreams (literally), she is suspicious and keeps her distance. Having been refused permits yet again for her search of Atlantis, she is discouraged and about to lose her financial backing. Arikos overhears her rant, and seizes the opportunity to finally gain her trust by contacting his earth-bound wealthy half-god/half human brother and calling in a favor.

“I need permits for an American archaeologist to excavate Atlantis.”

Solin burst out laughing. “I know you’re insane now. Have they really found the site?”

“Does it matter?”

“On this plane of existence, yes. You start poking there and you’ll piss off people best left alone.”

“Since the human’s days are numbered, I don’t think that’s going to be a problem. Let her have a bit of a thrill before she dies. What’s the harm?”

Solin sucked his breath in sharply between his teeth. “No you didn’t.”

“Didn’t what?” Arik asked.

“Promise a soul exchange with Hades. You do have nerve, I’ll grant you that.”

While the brothers are not close, and in fact, somewhat enemies (this is the same brother who caused Arik to turn Skotos), Solin recognizes a selfish potential for helping Arik with his human, and seizes the opportunity.

Katera (yes that ”Kat” – assistant to both the gods Artemis and Appollymi) poses as Geary’s friend and “crew-mate”. Privately, she has her own agenda to keep Geary from ever discovering Atlantis, and warns Arikos of the imminent consequences of her journey.

It wouldn’t be long before he took Geary for the permits.

Kat stifled a shudder at that. “Just remember one thing, Dream-Hunter. You get in my way and I will sacrifice you for my mission.”

He laughed low in his throat. “And to that all I can say is a resounding ‘ditto’. I won’t let you interfere with why I came here.”

As the story advances, Arik, continues to struggle with his reconnection to Geary. While he is slowly inching his way into her heart, he is becoming frustrated at the painstakingly slow progress. Not knowing how to properly interact with human females on earth (realizing that what they do in a dream is FAR different from how they react in reality), he struggles with his approach and her resistance.

Solin froze in the doorway as he heard her words.

“What did I miss?”

She turned on him. “Your brother is an absolute jerk. He just lifted my dress up. Here. In public.” And still Arik looked confused by her anger.

Disgusted with them both, Geary turned and stalked back toward the car.

Solin gaped at Arik. “What did you do?”

Arik held up his hands in frustration. “She kissed me. It turned me on, so I – ”

“No, you didn’t,” Solin snapped, interrupting him. “Arik, are you an idiot? You could have exposed us all.”

Rage flamed inside him at the insult. “It’s what we’ve done before when she’s gotten the permits in her dreams. She likes the way I touch her.”

“Yes. In dreams. This isn’t a dream. You’re in the human world and people don’t behave like that here. Now, Brother, you understand why I venture into the dream realm. There are certain behaviors and rituals you have to practice in this world. You don’t just eye a woman here and then jump her. Damn. You’re lucky she didn’t slap you or have you arrested.”

All of that, and we’ve barely reached a quarter way through the book yet!

While Arik and Geary get to know each other, he is torn between helping her discover what her whole family has strived and suffered for, while keeping her safe from those who want to keep her from it. That, in conjunction with their limited time together, and the eventual outcome of their union, certify that their adventure will definitely keep you entertained, and your adrenaline racing like it did for me!

A little sidenote: I adored Arik, but was left (at least in the beginning) somewhat nonplussed by Geary (come on! The man of her dreams literally falls into her lap, and she resists him at every turn?) I don’t know if I should give her “props” for her careful assimilation of every situation, or feel sad for her. Whatever her reasoning, she has more willpower than I! Butttt on the other hand… considering the danger her expedition has exposed her too, perhaps her sense of self-preservation is *slightly* warranted…