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Wednesday, September 08, 2010:
Kiss of the Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon (2004) - quickie review
 Dear Reader,
What do you get when you take one immortal Viking warrior no one can remember five minutes after he leaves their presence, an Apollite heiress on the run for her life, and one seriously pissed off demigod? Basically, you get my life.
It started out simple enough. I went to save a woman one night in a club. The next thing I knew, the doorway to hell had opened and out stepped Daimons the likes of which I'd never seen before. Led by the son of Apollo, they are out to end the curse that has banished them all to darkness. The only problem with that is they have to kill Cassandra Peters to do it and if she dies, so dies the sun, the earth and all who dwell here. Life's just a bowl full of cherries, ain't it?
Brought together by fate, it's now my job to protect a daughter of the very race I have been hunting for centuries. Neither of us dares to trust the other. But she is the only one who remembers me...
Wulf Tryggvasen
This is book #4 or 5, depending on how you look at it, and once again I felt pleasantly surprised at being back in the Dark Hunter world and the endearingly messed up mythology of it all.
Though this is not one of my favorite stories - I feel there's so much going on that we don't get to see as much of Wulf and Cassandra together, just them that I couldn't connect fully with either of them - but I still enjoy it. It's heart-breaking because people die, whether by choice or whether as innocent bystanders. Wulf and Cassandra have been given a pretty hefty destiny, and yet side by side, the two fall in love under the most dire of circumstances - knowing that Cassandra will die in a few short months on her 27th birthday. Yet she's brave, and fights for her life at every turn. Wulf begins to care very deeply for this courageous woman who has lost so much already. And he begins to realize the prejudices he's carried with him for so very long. Loving Cassandra opens his eyes to those he believes are the evil enemy, and to see the torment they suffer at knowing their lives all have an expiration date much sooner than most humans, and certainly that of an immortal.
Cassandra herself learns much the same thing about Dark Hunters - those who vow to kill her race. Witnessing Wulf's protectiveness towards his only friend and squire Chris, as well as the way he takes care of her proves to Cassandra that Wulf is indeed a good man, and not a brutal killer. She falls for the stoic Hunter who expresses such tenderness towards her. How can she not when she sees his loving, gentle fierceness in every action towards her?
What I liked about this one is that we get to learn more of the Apollite history, how they came to be, and why Apollo has cursed them. We see their desperation at not wanting to die at such an early age (27), yet given the alternative, many will die. It's hard to hate a race that's been cursed by a god and only wishes to survive and carry on like any other. But the solution is to become a Daemon and steal human souls. Not an easy alternative.
Not having read all the books ( think I made it up to #8), there's a lot I still don't know. Some of my questions have been answered, but tend to lead to many more. I can't wait to read more. Just need to find some time....
Rating: **** out of ***** Labels: quickie reviews, Sherrilyn Kenyon
posted by Stacy~ at 9/08/2010 07:42:00 AM
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Tuesday, March 23, 2010:
Dance With the Devil by Sherrilyn Kenyon ( ) - quickie review
 Zarek's Point of View:
Dark-Hunter: A soulless guardian who stands between mankind and those who would see mankind destroyed. Yeah, right. The only part of that Code of Honor I got was eternity and solitude.
Insanity: A condition many say I suffer from after being alone for so long. But I don't suffer from my insanity-I enjoy every minute of it.
Trust: I can't trust anyone...not even myself. The only thing I trust in is my ability to do the wrong thing in any situation and to hurt anyone who gets in my way.
Truth: I endured a lifetime as a Roman slave, and 900 years as an exiled Dark-Hunter. Now I'm tired of enduring. I want the truth about what happened the night I was exiled-I have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Astrid (Greek, meaning star): An exceptional woman who can see straight to the truth. Brave and strong, she is a point of light in the darkness. She touches me and I tremble. She smiles and my cold heart shatters.
Zarek: They say even the most damned man can be forgiven. I never believed that until the night Astrid opened her door to me and made this feral beast want to be human again. Made me want to love and be loved. But how can an ex-slave whose soul is owned by a Greek goddess ever dream of touching, let alone holding, a fiery star?
Okay, I don't care what anyone (Holly) says, this is a wonderful story, and most likely my favorite Dark Hunter book (I've only read about 6 of them). I stand by my original feelings for this story and as I read it, I was not disappointed. Some of the Dark Hunter books may be cheesy and dated, but this one stands the test of time...except perhaps those annoying references to Nazareth's Hair of the Dog...but I digress.
Zarek has once again been banished to Alaska, only now Artemis has called for his execution. However Acheron has managed to convince Artie to let Zarek be judged before automatically condemning and subjecting him to Shadedom. The judge chosen is Astrid, immortal sister of the Three Fates, and she's never once found anyone innocent. Artemis is satisfied in the eventual outcome. However despite her word, Zarek is still being hunted...
Zarek has never needed anyone and he won't start now. Born illegitimate after his cruel father impregnated a slave, he was literally a whipping boy for his own family. The other slaves hated him because of who is father is and hated by his family for being a bastard, Zarek has no one. He's subjected to constant beatings and has no friends, no allies. The transgressions of his brothers are often the cause for his beatings, though trying to defend others has often lead to being whipped. In fact, as a human, Zarek is killed due to the lies and machinations of a selfish, conniving woman who became his owner after his own father sold him. He has never known kindness, or goodness, and certainly never expects to find anyone willing to stick up for him. He thinks Acheron is a fool for wanting to prolong his agony.
Astrid is known to be a fair judge, though none of the Dark Hunters she's judged has ever survived. But encountering Zarek and taking him into her home changes things. Despite his rudeness and harsh personality, she begins to notice discrepancies in his behavior. If he's such a cold-blooded killer, how can he be so careful with her? Everytime she turns around she begins to discover truths about Zarek that don't add up. It isn't until she invades his dreams and sees what he's endured over the many centuries he's been a Dark Hunter that she begins to understand why he is like he is. In truth, Zarek can be quite the jackass. But is that reason enough to sentence him to the torment of eternal Shadedom? Astrid is not so sure...
My thoughts:
This must have been the 3rd or 4th time I've re-read Zarek's story, and each time it's made me cry. Even knowing what to expect, I still can't help myself. It truly breaks my heart at the cruelty he's had to put up with for over 900 years. (Note: this story beats Zsadist's story, hands down. Don't get me wrong, I love Zsadist, but Zarek is the original tortured hero here).
Even as a Dark Hunter, Zarek is forced to live in a harsh place where it's beyond freezing in winter, and has up to 22 hours of sunlight in summer. He has no friends, and even Acheron rarely visits. But Zarek is a stubborn oaf, and lives to piss people off. Can't say as I blame him. I don't see him as someone who mopes around feeling sorry for himself - he's managed to create some type of a life for himself, despite the greed and suspicion of the humans who live nearby. Zarek has never taken credit for any of the few good things he's done, and doesn't expect to be thanked for them. He's little more than an animal, yet deep inside there is a spark of humanity in him, and Astrid is determined to nurture it and help it thrive before ever judging him guilty. She alone wants to give him a fighting chance.
Astrid is frustrated by Zarek, and by his refusal to let her see what lies beneath his arrogant, ballsy persona. She finds a way to invade his dreams - more like his nightmares - and discover what has lead to Zarek being the way he is, and why he could possibly be guilty for the charges against him. What she finds is a scared little boy, an extremely lonely man,someone who refuses to ask for help because for one thing, he doesn't know how. She also discovers that he can be so gentle and tender, and that he cannot fathom how someone as precious and beautiful as Astrid could want to come anywhere near him. It just has to be one of life's cruel little jokes...
Truth be told, I could talk about Zarek for hours. This is not really a review, but I could talk about so many things, when all it comes down to is that this is a story that will break your heart, yet also make you smile when Zarek finally, FINALLY!, gets a break. I laugh at his ability to piss people off, and am amazed at how he just won't quit, no matter how much agony he suffers. Maybe he really is crazy, but damn, can you blame him? I was so glad that Astrid saw past all that and recognized his true worth, that she was able to fall in love with him and offer him a chance at eternal happiness. That she didn't try to change him but loved him because of all his facets. Their's is a remarkable love story, and ranks up there as one of my favorite stories. Any book that can still make me cry after so many years of reading has just got to be special.
Rating: ***** out of *****
Labels: quickie reviews, Sherrilyn Kenyon
posted by Stacy~ at 3/23/2010 06:58:00 AM
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Friday, March 12, 2010:
Night Embrace by Sherrilyn Kenyon (2003) - quickie review
 Dear Reader,
Life is great for me. I have my chicory coffee, my warm beignets, and my best friend on the cell phone. Once the sun goes down, I am the baddest thing prowling the night: I command the elements, and I know no fear. For centuries, I've protected the innocent and watched over the mankind, making sure they are safe in a world where nothing is ever certain. All I want in return is a hot babe in a red dress, who wants nothing more from me then one night.
Instead, I get a runaway Mardi Gras float that tries to turn me into roadkill and a beautiful woman who saves my life but can't remember where she put my pants. Flamboyant and extravagant, Sunshine Runningwolf should be the perfect woman for me. She wants nothing past tonight, no ties, no long-term commitments.
But every time I look at her, I start yearning for dreams that I buried centuries ago. With her unconventional ways and ability to baffle me, Sunshine is the one person I find myself needing. But for me to love her would mean her death. I am cursed never to know peace or happiness-not so long as my enemy waits in the night to destroy us both.
--Talon of the Morrigantes
As part of my (very slow) plan to re-read the Dark Hunter books, I'm up to this one, which some consider book #2, others book #3. I think of it as the 3rd one because Fantasy Lover, though not technically about the Dark Hunters, is like a prequel, so I am okay thinking of it as part of the series.
These books are like...generic?...crack to me. Before I even realized such a thing existed in book form. As I've mentioned, they will always have a special place in my heart because it was the first time I saw vamps as something more than cold, icky undead creatures.
So this is Talon's story. He's a swamp-loving DH with a serious sugar and caffeine addiction and a preference for one night stands. Then one night as he's off killing Daimons, he's knocked unconscious by a Mardi Gras float and rescued by local artist Sunshine Runningwolf, who brings him home, where he's essentially trapped with no wheels and no protection from the sun. He's instantly attracted to the lovely, absent-minded Sunshine, but despite how much he likes her, he knows it will never be anything more than a casual fling. Dark Hunters don't roll that way. Talon especially, as he's been cursed to to lose everyone he loves, and he doesn't wish to put anyone else in jeopardy.
Of course the Big Bad have other ideas, and make it so Talon and Sunshine are stuck together as much as possible. They got major plans, including freeing the Destroyer and killing Acheron in the process, which would allow them to retain godhood. But they need to create a diversion, and distracting all the Dark Hunters in town seems like the way to go. Their aim is to divide and conquer.
So during all the goings-on, we meet some additional Dark Hunters: Valerius, the grandson of the monster responsible for what happened to Kyrian; and Zarek, a real ornery son of a bitch with a serious disregard for authority. Right from the start he pisses people off, and alienates himself to the point where he just might end up a shade if he doesn't calm his ass down. It does make you wonder what he's been through to make him so hostile. (I know, I know!)
My thoughts:
Good, cheesy fun. Reminds me of a time when reading was uncomplicated and my tbr pile held maybe 10 books. Night Embrace isn't quite up to par with today's paranormal romance, however it is rather emotional and gut-wrenching to read sometimes, and I am a sucker for those kinds of stories. These DH's suffered greatly as humans, often resulting in being brutally murdered. Talon's story is no different, having lost his parents, his wife & child, and his beloved sister before dying himself all because of the greed and power-hungry ambitions of others.
Going in, I did not have high expectations. I knew these weren't going to have the same effect on me as they did when I first read them. However I do quite like Talon, though he is not my favorite Dark Hunter, and he still has this tiresome obsession for his wife, which is rather weird after so many centuries since her death. Yet I really do like him and Sushine together, despite how he keeps trying to keep distance between them. She may seem absent-minded and carefree, but she's also smart and giving and capable of standing up to Talon. She could be stubborn and fierce, a worthy partner to the lonely Dark Hunter.
And speaking of lonely, we get more and more glimpses of Ash's past, and my heart just aches for him. I think I've only read 6 or 7 of the DH books, so I have quite a bit of catching up to do, and I know my heart is just gonna break. Will it hurt worse than Zarek's story? That one ripped me to shreds (and reminded me so much of Zsadist's story).
So yeah, all kinds of stuff goes down in this story as we delve deeper and deeper into the history of the Dark Hunters, and get a front row seat into Ash's complex relationship with Artemis. We see that there are more otherworldly creatures than just the Dark Hunters and the gods. This book also has a bit of a bang at the end which kicks off Zarek's story. I won't ruin it for the few people who haven't read the series, but it's a doozy.
These books aren't perfect; a lot of times they're clunky and cheesy and campy, but that's okay by me. I unashamedly enjoy them. The stories draw me in and keep me interested. I like the Greek mythology, even if many liberties are taken for the sake of the story. I like the setting in New Orleans. I like that the dangers are great and not always easily overcome. The Dark Hunter books is one of the first long-running series I've gotten hooked on, so it has a special place in my heart for that as well.
Note: Book Binge (Holly) mentioned on Twitter just yesterday that there's a scene where Talon and Sunshine spend the night having unprotected sex and Sunshine gets dressed the next morning without showering. Usually, that's a huge ick factor for me. However, that being said, I can overlook A LOT of things in a paranormal story, so details such as this don't register with me because I think differently when I'm reading this type of book and can get past things more easily. It's like the ick factor miraculously disappears for me because of the Dark Hunter superpowers LOL. Besides, Holly doesn't care for most (any?) of the Dark Hunters so I will just ignore what she has to say *g*
Rating: **** out of *****
Labels: quickie reviews, Sherrilyn Kenyon
posted by Stacy~ at 3/12/2010 06:52:00 AM
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Thursday, December 03, 2009:
Night Pleasures by Sherrilyn Kenyon (2002) - quickie review
 Dear Reader,
Have you ever wanted to know what it's like to be immortal? To journey through the night stalking the evil that preys on humans? To have unlimited wealth, unlimited power? That is my existence, and it is dark and dangerous. I play hero to thousands, but am known to none. And I love every minutes of it. Or so I thought until one night when I woke up handcuffed to my worst nightmare: a conservative woman in a button-down shirt. Or in Amanda's case, one buttoned all the way up to her chin. She's smart, sexy, witty, and wants nothing to do with the paranormal--in other words, me. My attraction to Amanda Devereaux goes against everything I stand for. Not to mention the last time I fell in love it cost me not only my human life, but also my very soul. Yet every time I look at her, I find myself wanting to try again. Wanting to believe that love and loyalty do exist. Even more disturbing, I find myself wondering if there's any way a woman like Amanda can love a man whose battle scars run deep, and whose heart was damaged by a betrayal so savage that he's not sure it will ever beat again.
"Kyrian of Thrace"
This is the first "official" Dark Hunters story, and where I first discovered that vampires could avoid sunlight and have fangs, but not look like an emaciated Pillsbury Doughboy. Oh no, that was not the case with these bad boys. (They ARE mad, bad, and immortal, after all).
While reading this book, I had to smile because while there are memories of great violence and death, there are also many light-hearted and cheesy moments as well. We see more earthly involvement with the Greek gods and goddesses here, and this is the book where we first meet Acheron, or aka Ash. The gist of the story is that Kyrian was betrayed thousands of years ago by someone he loved, and his cry of anguish was heard by the goddess Artemis, who had created this band of hunters - led by Acheron - to battle the Apollites who turned daimon. A Dark Hunter relinquishes his soul to Artemis, and they are fated to walk the world alone. Apollites, also known as the descendants of the god Apollo, were cursed to live no more than 27 years before they crumbled to dust and died. Those desperate enough not to die become daimons, blood suckers, and require the souls of humans to sustain their existence. Dark Hunters do not require blood to survive, nor do they kill humans for their souls. However they cannot be out in sunlight, unlike daimons, and while immortal, they can die. A Dark Hunter who dies becomes a Shade, doomed to walk the earth always hungering, longing, but never being satisified. It is an existence beyond cruelty. So Kyrian is hunting daimons, most especially Desiderius, who seems to have powers unlike any daimon he's known. Desiderius handcuffs Kyrian to Amanda Deveraux, a human with extraordinary powers of her own, coming from a magical family. But while Amanda loves her family, she denies her roots, preferring to live in the "normal" world. She doesn't know it, but has incredible power, and Desiderius is fully aware of this. He uses his human minions to carefully nurture Amanda's gifts without her knowing. While together, Amanda and Kyrian begin to fall in love, although because of his tortured past and the incredible betrayal he suffered, Kyrian is convinced no woman can ever love him. He continues to push her away. But it's no use. He finds her extraordinary, and is constantly surprised at her bravery and fearlessness. So while he finds himself wishing for a life other than that of a Dark Hunter, a life filled with love and family, he knows the chances of that are near impossible of surviving. Only a handful of Dark Hunters have ever successfully gotten their souls back, and the price is one that may just be too steep to pay.... My thoughts: Yeah the book is a little cheesy it some ways, but in others quite enjoyable. As I mentioned, I have a special fondness for the Dark Hunters series because I never knew vampires could be so delicious until I read "Night Pleasures". I continue to like the Greek mythology references, although we're all over the map here with them, but that's okay. It's all part of the fun. I don't recall ever reading anything where Ms. Kenyon goes out of her way to apologize for creating such a lovable mess, and I can appreciate that. It is what it is. Some things you just enjoy, even if they're not the greatest. And tastes change over time, so a book you once loved 5 years ago may not be the same book you love today. I was aware of all of this when I started to re-read NP, and so I let go of any expectations and just enjoyed the ride. Of course I have to mention, again, this is when we first meet Acheron, leader of the Dark Hunters and a being who's walked the earth for over 11,000 years. He's got a "partnership" with Artemis since he's in charge of the group but Artemis still owns their souls. What do we know about him? He's very tall, been around almost forever, looks young, has long hair that he changes the color with his moods (it's green when he first comes on the scene). And the dude's got powers. Amazing powers. And then there's that whole deal with Artie.... But moving on. I liked that while Kyrian is a dangerous hunter, he also retains some of his humanity. He can be quite funny and blase' about what he does. After all, he's been alive a looong time (though not even close to as how long Acheron's been walking the earth) so there's not much he hasn't seen or done. He now has a purpose - to kill daimons - and he does it very well. Amanda has him thinking of things he hasn't thought of since he was human - a home, family - and part of him longs for it, while another part believes deep down it can never be. All he can do is keep her safe. I liked Amanda right from the start. Even though she's conservative and resistant to her true nature, she's not going around with a stick up her ass. She's a very warm, caring person, and while initially she is distrustful of Kyrian, she soon is fighting there right alongside him. And once Amanda commits to something, she's in it with her whole heart. At one point, the climax of the story, she has to be braver than she's ever been, and despite her incredible fear, she pulls it off. It's a crucial moment and she doesn't even waver. I remember the first time I read that scene, and I was on pins and needles. It wasn't quite as gripping this time around, but I was still drawn into it. So yeah, this series isn't perfect by any means, but it's like a comfortable old chair you just can't get rid of. I decided not to read all the books right in a row, so it may be a little bit before I go onto the next one, but I'll get there. Eventually. Rating: **** out of ***** Labels: quickie reviews, Sherrilyn Kenyon
posted by Stacy~ at 12/03/2009 07:02:00 AM
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Sunday, November 29, 2009:
Fantasy Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon (2002) - quickie review
 For 2,000 years, Julian of Macedon has lived a curse of being a love-slave. When he is summoned to fulfill Grace Alexander's sexual fantasies, Grace is the first woman to see him as a man with a tormented past. Taking him out into the world, instead of keeping him in the bedroom, Grace teaches Julian to love again. But can that alone break the 2,000-year-old curse he is under?I read this book years ago, and I don't remember why I picked it up since vampires creeped me out (though this story isn't about vampires). But I was curious about this writer who told stories about vamps mixed t up with some sexy guys and proceeded with a huge helping of Greek mythology. Sherrilyn Kenyon does not list it as a Dark Hunter book on her website though I see it listed that way at many online bookstore sites. I guess it's the prequel to the series, because it has some overlapping characters but there's really nothing about the Dark Hunter history. Still, I'm glad I read it, even though it's a bit on the fluffy side.Grace's friend Selena thinks Grace needs a hot guy to show her a rockin' time in bed, so she brings Grace a special book, where inside the covers is a hot sex slave from thousands of years ago. Once he is summoned, he will give the summoner untold pleasure from full moon to full moon; an entire month. Grace doesn't believe in all Selena's mumbo-jumbo, even though Selena is her best friend. But it's her birthday, and she's had a little too much wine, so she humors Selena by chanting the words necessary to bring Julian forth. When nothing happens, she's not surprised and Selena is majorly disappointed and goes home. But of course Julian does show up, and he's very, very naked. Grace is immediately drawn to Julian, as any healthy, red-blooded woman would be, but she's not the sort of woman to just jump into bed with a guy, no matter how much he flips her switch. Julian doesn't understand Grace's reluctance as every other time he's been summoned, women have fallen upon him like ravening wolves. But right from the start, she's different, and hell, he's got nothing better to do, so why not let her show her around the 21st century? As time passes, Grace discovers the torment of Julian's past, and how he came to be cursed. It turns out that there may be a way to break the curse, but it's dangerous and very iffy. However Grace has come to care deeply for Julian and even if he decides to move on, she'd rather have him free than trapped inside the dark pages of that book for who knows how long. Eventually Julian begins to wish for it too, and together they fight to break a curse that is nearly impossible to break...
My thoughts: Wouldn't that be just about every woman's fantasy, right there with a hot guy to cook and clean? Yeah, I thought so too, but Grace doesn't. I liked that she's not willing to just let this gorgeous, sexy man lure into his arms quite that easily. But she wants to help him, which is more than what anyone else has ever tried to do for him before. So he lets her, even though deep down he believes she's wasting her time. But no one's ever looked beyond his appearance and his talents in the bedroom, and it feels good to be valued for something other than his body. He's not fooled, he knows Grace wants him, but she's not easily seduced.
Having already read several books in this series, I've already noticed that Sherrilyn Kenyon tends to make her heroes really suffer. I mean REALLY. Just wait til Zarek, if you haven't read the books. Most heart-breaking story ever. But this is Julian's story, and he suffers plenty enough. Betrayal, torture, horrendous grief. The things that are done to him are incomprehensible, yet they happen, and he's lived over 2000 years having to remember each gruesome, excruciating detail. I'm amazed that Julian hadn't been driven insane by all what he witnessed and experienced. But then this is a book about a fantasy lover, so insanity wouldn't really suit the purpose, now would it?
I enjoyed going back and revisiting where it all began. It's not the best of the series, but I'm glad I read it and got to know Julian and Grace, who will make future appearances in the series. I thought the book was sexy and interesting enough to keep me turning the pages. Part of it is my fascination with Greek mythology, though Ms. Kenyon does take huge liberties with it, but so what? It's mythology for God's sake. And the book is fiction, and it's fun to step outside the box from time to time and watch Aphrodite be a mom to Julian. I didn't start the series looking for intellectual stimulation, but to be entertained, and so far, that's exactly what I've experienced.
And Ms. Kenyon does tug on your emotions a bit, which is one of my weaknesses. I've already started reading Night Pleasures and there's a bit more of that going on in that book too. What can I say, the Dark Hunters are my bag of potato chips.
Rating: **** out of ***** Labels: quickie reviews, Sherrilyn Kenyon
posted by Stacy~ at 11/29/2009 08:14:00 AM
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