Seize the Night (Dark-Hunter Series, Book Twelve): Sherrilyn Kenyon UPDATED

Back to Sherrilyn Kenyon!  I forgot how much I loved Valerius (you can see the similarities between this review and my original one HERE).  We get a small taste of him in Talon and Sunshine's story, a (rather biased) glimpse of him in Zarek and Astrid's story, and a very good view into his character as he makes a supporting appearance in Vane and Bride's story.  He was haughty and obnoxious in the first two, but Bride's perceptiveness opens up a whole new side of him to the readers.  One which is beautifully developed in this book.  Kenyon (as I've stated on numerous occasions) has the most wonderful talent for writing dark, twisty, tormented, complex characters.  Valerius, while seemingly shallow at first glance, is exactly this.  We, like the characters in the books, meet him with an engrained prejudice.  We already have loyalty to Kyrian and our hearts have bled for Zarek.  It is amazing how quickly and deeply we fall for Val (because I can say with some certainty that I am not the only one who has felt this way).

I did go into this reading concerned about how I would like Tabitha.  She (as she professes to be) is a lot to handle.  I was a touch concerned that she would be too over-the-top for my tastes, but (as Ash knew she would be) is the perfect foil for Val.  She brings out the best in him, she knows how to help him heal.  He, on the other hand, is what she needs.  He allows her to be herself, but she (somewhat) mellows her outing keeps her safe.  I really enjoyed their story, overall.

Additionally, it was nice to see SO many familiar faces:  Kyrian, Julian, Talon, Nick, Vane, Otto, Zarek, even some familiar villains.  This was a very busy, action-packed book, which made for some volatile, cringe-worthy, heart-breaking moments.  I cannot believe how much Kenyon crammed into this one book!  Having read this one before, I knew what was coming and I still got choked up.  I won't give anything away (because that would be a real crime against this story), but be prepared for irreparable changes to take place!  Some of your favorite characters will never be the same...  You also clues to some of the secrets other characters have been carefully concealing.

This was a complex, exciting, excellent read.  Kenyon has worked her magic again and really brought her Dark-Hunter New Orleans to life.

Night Play (Dark-Hunter Series, Book Ten): Sherrilyn Kenyon UPDATED

Here we go with the first Were-Hunter installment!  (My brief, original review of this book can be found HERE.)  We are introduced to Vane and his brother, Fang, in Talon and Sunshine's book, Night Embrace.  My original reading order of the series is a bit different from the one I'm following now.  I didn't originally read this book until later on, but I think reading it after Kiss of the Night, Dance with the Devil, and Night Embrace because the flow is much better.  We are introduced to Bride (very briefly) and Vane while Sunshine is under Vane's watchful eye in Jackson Square.  I immediately liked Vane, even then.  He's rough and vulgar, volatile and fierce.  He's fantastic.  His loyalty to his siblings is intense and he is harboring a deep secret which could put him and his loved ones in even more danger than they already are.  His backstory is well-formed and terribly (wonderfully) tragic.  His desire to do the right thing and treat Bride the way in which she deserves are extremely touching and really endeared him to me.  Bride was a good female lead  She is strong and intelligent, but not without her own faults.  I was occasionally slightly annoyed by her self-deprecating tendencies...then, I realized why I felt this way...I recall thinking and feeling the same things more often than I would like to admit.  Kenyon managed to tap into some very raw, poignant, uncomfortable feelings in a very unexpected way.  In a romance novel.  Bride was a very real character with realistic problems and insecurities.  I think Kenyon handled her well, as well as Bride's disbelief that someone who looked like Vane could want her and never want to change anything about her.  (At the risk of turning this into self reflection, I feel a bit of a personal connection with Bride, having dealt with similar body image issues my entire life...and I somehow found my own (yummy) Vane who loves and adores me just the way I am, and would never ask me to change -- something I still sometimes struggle to believe, even six years later.)  I am very impressed with how Kenyon managed this delicate dance without going over the top.

The complexities of the Arcarian/Katagarian worlds are really fascinating.  I'm always impressed with the amount of thought Kenyon puts into her fantastic worlds.  This is the mark of her brilliance.

As far as criticism goes, I found a couple of grammatical typos in my version of the book.  Much like my comment on Kiss of the Night, there were instances where words were repetitive in some sentences.  I loved the nuances of the characters and details of the were-hunter world.  The end at Sanctuary was very slightly cheesy, but I'm willing to let it slide.  I definitely enjoyed this installment.

Kiss of the Night (Dark-Hunter Series, Book Seven): Sherrilyn Kenyon UPDATED

I seem to be on a bit of a Sherrilyn Kenyon reading kick as of late.  It's been fun going back through these stories and immersing myself in the rich world Kenyon has created.  There's been a long enough gap in between my first reading (HERE) and this go, so enough of the plot was "new-ish" and made it fun and exciting.

As with my first reading, I really appreciated how much this story added to the overall backstory and plot for this extensive series.  The nuances in the Appellate and Daimon worlds were so complex and served to prove how the world -- even this fictional one -- is never quite as black-and-white as it seems.  I will admit that I may even have to go back and read the very beginning of this book again to make sure I really understand all of the twisty turns of the mythology Kenyon has created.

As for the characters, themselves, I liked Wulf and Cassandra.  Wulf's backstory was well-written and  his curse was truly heart-breaking (and creative).  I appreciated how Kenyon handled it and used it to add depth to the plot.  While I understand Wulf's obsession (and even that feels as if I am putting it lightly) with keeping Chris safe, it sometimes felt a bit too over the top (bordering on silly).  I liked Cassandra as a female lead.  She felt strong and determined, with a well-crafted backstory.  Moments of the story felt a little bit cheesy (cue sex scene involving a red rose), but that may just be my own personal taste.

Some of the writing was slightly awkward at times.  I found my English-centered brain attempting to edit these sentences as I would when reading my own world or a student's.  The biggest instance of this is the way in which some words were repeated in sentences when other words would have sufficed.  This didn't dampen my enjoyment, but I did notice it enough to feel the need to mention it in this review.

I definitely enjoyed the supporting characters; they really seemed to make this book into something very fun and interesting to read.  I think, while Cassandra and Wulf had a great story, they service as a vehicle to set up a number of other threads for the rest of the overarching series.  Ash makes an important appearance (as did Simi...and we know how I feel about her obsessive rants about barbecuing everything...) and we learn more about Atlantean mythology and get some hints about Ash's hidden past.

One more comment I will make is that we get very little about Wulf's physical appearance to go off of.  There's a good bit right at the start, but not a heck of a lot after.  In a genre where readers should "fall for" the male leads, this fell slightly short.  (When I say "physical" description, I mean facial features.  We certainly get good physical descriptions, but not much else.  I feel like we got a better sense of Cassandra from Wulf's point of view.)

I did enjoy the story.  Parts of it were very touching and I can tell a tremendous amount of work went into this book.  I had a little bit of constructive criticism to offer, but I don't think it's something to deter you from reading this installment.

Dance with the Devil (Dark-Hunter Series, Book Seven): Sherrilyn Kenyon UPDATED

Here's another updated review!  You can find my original review from 2008 HERE.  My feelings about this book seem to have stayed the same.  I still find Zarek to be one of the most psychologically and emotionally complex characters of Kenyon's.  He truly does evolve on so many levels.  He starts off so animalistic and then you realize there's SO much you don't know about him.  At all.  You have NO idea what he has been through, what he has endured, and the demons that still haunt him even many centuries later.  There are so many nuances to his character that I don't feel as if I caught them all or even appreciated them to the degree I do now -- either this book is worth reading more than once, or I'm just a lot more mature in the last 10 years...could be both.

Astrid is a great counterpart to Zarek.  I will, however, say that I don't see much point to her blindness if she's just able to use Sasha to see.  For example, she held off looking at Zarek until he was conscious, but wouldn't it have been a hell of a lot easier to tend his wounds if she could see his back?  No one said she had to look at his face.  Then, when he was awake, that was the first thing she looked at...  Seems a bit pointless.  Unless the reason is so she can seem helpless to those she is judging and, in turn, see how those men treat someone they view as helpless.  This is something in which I can see some merit, but, if it is the real reason, it isn't explained well.

Thanatos is a good bad guy with nothing to lose, and this makes him all the more dangerous.  I was more than a little frustrated by Acheron's inability to help or keep an eye on his Dark-Hunters, the way in which Artemis is so flippant (though I suppose that's in character for her), and the degree to which Acheron went to hide things from Zarek.  Simi is also a point of contention for me.  I found her more annoying than funny -- like she's a parody or an inside joke with Kenyon and her friends and I just don't get it.  I love the idea of Acheron having a "daughter," just not her.  Her speech and obsession with barbecuing (and barbecue sauce) all really rub me the wrong way...  Maybe it's just me, though.  There were times when I felt something similar for Sasha.  While I loved the fact that his crabby butt was a part of this story, he sometimes went a little bit overboard.  Once again, it could just be me.

Overall, I do think Zarek is still one of my favorite, most tragic Dark-Hunters.  I didn't cry this time around, but I did get slightly choked up.  I recommend this book, but be prepared to have your heart beaten to a pulp by Zarek's backstory.

Night Embrace (Dark-Hunter Series, Book Five): Sherrilyn Kenyon UPDATED

I actually finished reading this book about a week or so ago, but I've been hemming and hawing over how to handle these updated reviews (especially since I've been reading so many of them lately).  It's not a "problem" I have had to address before.  On one hand, I like adding my updated information to the original reviews themselves so the information is all in one place and it's easy to see how my writing/reviewing style has changed over the years.  On the other, I don't get "credit" for reading the book in this year's "book tally" on the right side of this blog.  I ended up going with creating a new review, marking it "UPDATED" and I plan on including a hyperlink to the original review for those of you who want to see what I thought of the book the first time around.  Now, I have to figure out a way to go back and update those reviews I previously just tacked onto the original reviews.  Some of those happened in 2017, so I'm trying to see if there's a way to post-date reviews...  I'm sure I'll figure something out!

Moving on to this review!  I seem to have been on a Sherrilyn Kenyon kick as of late.  I made my husband dig out my enormous box of books from under the stairs (where they're stored only because we haven't put of a bunch of shelves for them yet) and it was like a treasure chest.  I ended up having to read the UK version of this book and the English nerd in me was interested by the fact that it used apostrophes as quotation marks.  It drove me crazy at first, but I got over it (after regaining my husband about the oddity and having him roll his eyes at me, of course).

I originally read this book in 2008 and you can find the review here (along with the official text from the back of the book - it seemed silly to include it on this review too).  Clearly, I felt as if it was one of the most amazing things I'd read and I fell in love with Talon.  While I still enjoyed it (especially the lively sense of humor Kenyon manages to weave throughout), I didn't cry this time.  I think it's because my reading material has been inundated with heartbreaking, gut-wrenching backstories lately, and I'm slightly desensitized.  Don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed it.  I found Sunshine charming, but I got a very different visual image of her this time around -- not sure why.  I love seeing recurring characters and I appreciate when an author is able to incorporate them into another character's book.  Seeing Julian and Kyrian again was a treat (especially when they had to come rescue him from Sunshine's apartment).  I loved Acheron in this book.  While we see him in Kyrian's book, I don't think he played as big a role and we certainly don't get to see as much of him or learn as much about him as we do in this book.  His relationship with Artemis is insanely complex and twisted (and I will now say that House of the Rising Son makes a little bit more sense to me...if only a little...).  The biggest comment I will make is that some of the dialogue was jarringly awkward.  One perfect example is when Nick and Acheron are drinking and Nick is grabbing a bite to eat.  Nick's mother orders food for Acheron (being the loving, concerned mother she is).  When Acheron gives the food to Nick, Nick realizes he's never seen Acheron eat (which is an odd time for the realization after his years of working with Acheron), and then he flat out mentions it to Acheron.  It's just awkwardly formulated and I think Kenyon is a much better author than that.  In addition to this, the use of "baby" endearments was a bit off-putting.  I'm not saying it can't be used, it just didn't feel like it fit the characters well, and it felt overused at times.

Overall, I think Kenyon has a knack for creating characters with brilliant gravitational pulls.  We feel drawn to them and are instantly empathetic.  Talon's backstory was rich and his tragic history coupled with his unique abilities and life as a Dark-Hunter made for an interesting story.  I liked Sunshine, but I found myself a little bit annoyed by her - I can't quite put my finger on why.  There were great plot twists in the story that kept it fun and exciting, so much so that I finished it in just a couple of days.  While I can appreciate that Kenyon was setting up a few other books with her inclusion of Vane, Valerius, and Zarek, I think she spent quite a bit of time on them - more so than I'm used to with her other books.  She usually introduces them, but doesn't really spend entire chapters in their point of view.  Part of me wonders if this was due, at least a little bit, to a need to fill in more information when Talon and Sunshine's story was a bit shorter than she wanted.  I certainly don't feel like the book suffered for this, but a noticeable amount of this book was dedicated to other characters.

This was a dark, yet oddly light-hearted read (oxymoron much?).  We're introduced to complex subplots and other rich personalities and characters.  I definitely recommend this installment in this complex, creative Dark-Hunter series.

House of the Rising Son (Dark-Hunter Series: Prequel): Sherrilyn Kenyon

"The eldest son in a family of three boys, Aricles had no desire to be soldier, even though his fighting skills were among the best in the world.  He was more content on his small Atlantean farm, living a quiet, uneventful life.  But when his brother is determined to don a soldier's uniform, Aricles joins him with a promise to their father to bring his brother home in one piece.  What he never counts on is how much their new lives will forever change them or what the risk of a forbidden love will ultimately cost him."

This was a recent addition to the Dark-Hunter Series and it appears to be intended as a sort of prequel, much like Fantasy Lover.  I was very happy to locate it in a Kindle collection of Kenyon's short stories; it made for a quick purchase while I was on vacation and had just finished re-reading Fantasy Lover.  One of my greatest complaints back when I first began reading Kenyon's works was how difficult it was to track down a lot of the short stories.  Not only did I have to find the anthology, but it was really annoying for a poor student like myself to have to purchase all of these books when, chances are, I would have little to no interest in the other short stories contained in the anthology.  The Dark Bites collection is brilliant!  I can't believe it took until somewhat recently for this to come out!  There was some wonkiness in FantasticFiction.com and where this particular short story fits in, but, like I mentioned, it seems to be a prequel.  Having read it, I am not entirely certain where it stands and how it meshes with the rest of the series.  Chronologically, it is clearly the earliest of the books; other than that, I'm not so sure.  The story started out interesting (even if I am a bit confused about the whole premise behind the necessity of the special task force of warriors from different nations)  I initially liked Bathymaas and her stoic nature.  As I read on, however, I lost a little bit of respect (I don't think this is the right word, but I am going for it) for Ari.  He was too childlike.  I get that he's young and inexperienced on so many levels, but I don't think that's a good enough excuse.  Whereas I liked this childlike naiveté in the early Bathymaas, it was a touch to overdone in Ari.  I just didn't find him up to the same quality of Kenyon's other male leads.  I think my biggest issue with the story was the dialogue; it felt a bit too awkward.  It was formal, but in a stilted way rather than elegant.  It was mixed in with some word choices that were far too modern (i.e. "Sweetie").  I love books that transport me to another world, but the dialogue in this particular story took me out of that escape.  This was probably my least favorite of Kenyon's books.  I'm waiting to see where it fits into the grand scheme...maybe I'll like it more if I can understand/appreciate her character choices.

The Dark-Hunters, Volume 2: Sherrilyn Kenyon, Claudia Campos

"IN THE WAR AGAINST VAMPIRES, MANKIND HAS ONLY ONE HOPE: THE DARK-HUNTERS. Ancient warriors who died of brutal betrayal, the Dark-Hunters have sworn themselves into the service of the goddess Artemis to protect us.

"It's a pact with pretty good perks--immortality, power, psychic abilities, wealth, and a cool wardrobe. But it comes with a dew drawbacks: fatal sun poisoning and a new, irreparable dental problem. But aside from the fangs and nocturnal lifestyle, it's not so bad.

"Kyrian is an immortal Dark-Hunter who just lost his Dark-Hunter powers and along with it, his immortality. Now, he is faced with the chance to regain not only his humanity, but his very soul. The problem is that it couldn't have happened at a worse time. Desiderius is closing in, and if Kyrian and Amanda are going to save humanity, Kyrian must take the war to his enemy--or it may be too late."

I've had this book for nearly a year and can't believe I never opened it!!! To be honest, what prompted my reading of this book in an hour was my latest Barnes & Noble shopping spree (thank you coupons!). I bought the third one and thought, "Wow...I don't think I've read the second one yet!"

I have to say that I liked this volume in the manga series a lot. Initially, I was upset that each of the novels was going to be cut in half to accommodate things like fitting the typical length of manga, but now I'm happy. The cut-off point was a cliff-hanger between volumes 1 and 2...which made me frustrated and excited at the same time because I desperately wanted to read more--and I've READ the actual novel! That's fairly impressive. It also did a really good job of splitting up the plot, with the character development in the first half and a lot of the action in the second.

Another thing I noticed was a definite change in the artwork. This may have been due to the slightly more serious nature of the second volume, but there were a lot less of the manga-ish faces in this one, which I, personally found pleasing. (Don't get me wrong, I enjoy some manga, but not if it's too goofy... I think because I've read these novels and picture the Dark-Hunter characters certain ways, having them melt into cartoony expressions doesn't do it for me.) However, there seemed to be a little loss of detail in some sections. It could just be me, but there looks (as I go back and double-check) to be fewer lines and anatomical details (which sounds like a pervy comment, but isn't). This didn't detract from my enjoyment, but I almost hope the artist melds the styles in these two books a little bit more in the third volume (which I've obviously just purchased, but may have to pace myself and read at a later date...).

Overall, I enjoyed this manga installment and recommend it to anyone willing to get a different take on the Dark-Hunter series. It might be a little difficult to stomach if you're in love with your own mental versions of the characters, but at lest give it a try. The writing is all edited by Kenyon, so some of the best lines have made it in!

Dream Chaser (Dark-Hunter Series, Book Twenty-four): Sherrilyn Kenyon

“HADES DOESN’T OFTEN GIVE SECOND CHANCES…

“Xypher has one month on Earth to redeem himself through one good deed, or be condemned to eternal torture in Tartarus. But redemption means little to a demigod who only wants vengeance on the one who caused his downfall.

“UNTIL ONE DAY IN A CEMETERY…

“Simone Dubois is a medical examiner with a real knack for the job. Those who are wrongfully killed appear to her and help her find the evidence the police need to convict their killers. But when a man appears and tells her that she;d more than just a psychic, she’d convinced he’s insane.

“NOW THE FATE OF THE WORLD HANDS IN HER HANDS…

“It was bad enough when just the dead relied on her. Now there’s the seductive Dream-Hunter Xypher who needs Simone’s help in opening a portal to the Atlantean hell realm to fight insatiable demons. The future of mankind is at stake—and so is her life. The only question now is: Who is the bigger threat? The demons out to kill her? Or the man who had left her forever changed?”

***Technically, you’re supposed to read the Dark-Hunter Companion before you read this book, but I’m about half-way through the Companion and picked this up and just COULD NOT put it down long enough to go back to the other book. Sorry for my weakness!***

Readers are initially introduced to Xypher in an earlier book with Katra and Sin titled Devil May Cry. It’s difficult to care for a man (or should I say, god?) with such an acerbic personality and grim outlook, but even then I was able to tell that there really was more to Xypher than Sherrilyn Kenyon was letting on. Obviously, I couldn’t wait to read more. When I got this book and saw that its hero was in fact Xypher, I was so excited! The more I read, the more I fell for the battered man. It was really difficult not to, seeing as how he’d been so wrongfully tortured.

Xypher is truly the epitome of a beaten being—as are most of Kenyon’s characters—but Xypher was made even more interesting by the fact that he is a Dream-Hunter. It was nice to see the world from the eyes of a Dream-Hunter once more. I’ve only read another book and a short-story by Kenyon that were from this p.o.v. and it was really great to see again. However, I will say that I miss the Dark-Hunters a little…

Anyway, this story was full of really GREAT twists and turns and I look forward to reading more, as always!!!

The Dark-Hunters, Volume 1: Sherrilyn Kenyon, Claudia Campos

"Vampires getting you down?

"Call the baddest warriors in town: the Dark0Hunters. What are the Dark-Hunters? Man, have you been living under a rock not to know this one....

"They're mad, bad, and immortal. Ancient warriors with attitudes who fight rough, and play hard. They are the scary things that go bump in the night. And they love every minute of it.

"It's just another night on the prowl for vampires for Kyrian Thrace when he meets the most frightening thing imaginable. An accountant. But Amanda Devereaux is much more than she seems. Hunted by one of the deadliest of vampires, Amanda is the key to our survival. If she goes down, so does he, and--no offense--he doesn't want to die (hence the whole immortality thing0. And he doesn't want humanity dead either, which is a good thing for us since he and Amanda are all that stands between us and oblivion.

"Let's hope they win."

YES! I've been waiting for months for this book to come out and it finally showed up on my doorstep this morning! I would really love to know what kept getting the release date pushed back so many times. However, reading it, I think I might just know what took so long: This volume only has HALF of Kyrian's story! It literally cuts off half way through the first Dark-Hunter book! I couldn't believe it! Now it was more than likely intentional, but the only real reason I can come up with for there being so many delays in this book's publishing (and for the fact that there is only really half a story...) is that there was something wrong with the art. It's a pretty integral part of a manga after all..... I don't know if it is true, but it's a possibility.

Anyhow, I must give out some serious props because this manga was awesome. The art--for the most part--was impressive. As a car buff, I liked the look of Kyrian's Lambo (yeah...I know I'm a dork) and as someone who's not an expert on the art of manga, I will say that I was happy with it. A bit of the art looked awkard, but I LOVED being able to put "faces" to the characters. I thought that was really awesome.

Not to mention that I could totally tell that Sherrilyn Kenyon worked on the writing. There were some of the best lines from the book in there and that made it seem so much more like an actual Dark-Hunter novel than just a spoof (though I really would have liked to have seen the "I see Dead People" shirt comment with Talon...I just about wet my pants laughing at that one when I read it in Night Pleasures).

*Heaves a deep sigh* Now, I must wait for the next installment...who REALLY knows when that will be.....

Upon the Midnight Clear (Dark-Hunter Series, Book Twenty-two): Sherrilyn Kenyon

“EVER THINK SCROOGE HAD IT RIGHT BEFORE THE GHOSTS RUINED HIS LIFE? MEET AIDAN O’CONNER.

“At one time he was a world-renowned celebrity who gave freely of himself and his money without wanting anything in return…until those around him took without asking. Now Aidan wants nothing to do with the world—or anyone who’s part of it.

“WHEN A STRANGER APPEARS ON HIS DOORSTEP, AIDAN KNOWS HE’S SEEN HER BEFORE…IN HIS DREAMS.

“Born on Olympus as a goddess, Leta knows nothing of the human world. But a ruthless enemy has driven her from the world of dreams and into the home of the only man who can help her: Aidan. Her immortal powers are derived from human emotions—and his anger is just the fuel she needs to defend herself…

“ONE COLD WINTER’S NIGHT WILL CHANGE THEIR LIVES FOREVER…

“Trapped together in a brutal winter storm, Aidan and Leta must turn to the only power capable of saving them—or destroying them both: trust.”

Yay! I finally got to read another Sherrilyn Kenyon book! This one was short and sweet with fantastic characters and an interesting—yet simple—plot. It was one of the easier books of Kenyon’s to follow and it was nice (not that I don’t enjoy her more complicated books!).

Aidan was entertaining. His angst made for a captivating plot and back-story and Leta was the perfect counterpart for him. Overall, it was well-written and a fun read—not to mention that I REALLY enjoyed the little short story at the end of the book. It was cool to see so many different views.

Devil May Cry (Dark-Hunter Series, Book Twenty-one): Sherrilyn Kenyon

“Sin, an ancient Sumerian god, was one of the most powerful among his pantheon—until the night Artemis robbed him of his godhood and left him one step from death….

“For millennia, the ex-god turned Dark-Hunter Sin has sought to regain his powers and take revenge on Artemis. But now he has bigger fish—or in this case, demons—to fry. The lethal gallu that were buried by his pantheon are stirring, and they are hungry for human flesh. Their goal: to destroy mankind. Sin is the only one who can stop them…if a certain woman doesn’t kill him first.

“Enemies have always made strange bedfellows, but never more so than when the fate of the world hangs in the balance. Now a man who only knows betrayal must trust the one person most likely to hand him to the demons. Artemis may have stolen his godhood, but this one has stolen his heart. The only question is: Will she keep it…or feed it to those who want him dead?”

Yay! I was SO beyond excited to pick up a Sherrilyn Kenyon book once more after all of this time. (I’ve been spacing out my reading so I won’t finish everything she has written in a week…) I looked forward to reading this book and it most certainly didn’t disappoint!

Sin was a fantastic hero! I loved his story (though the angsty stuff might not be for everybody) and it was fascinating given the fact that I just learned all about the Sumerians and their gods in college. Ah, the irony. Anyhow, Acheron played a rather big role in this book and it was wonderful to see him again. I really don’t want to give anything away, but there was an awesome plot twist that really brought everything together and new evil is afoot…and I don’t mean Stryker has a new plan… (You’ll have to read it to find out!)

I loved this book and devoured it. If you read it, drop by and let me know what you thought!

The Dream-Hunter (Dark-Hunter Series, Book Twenty): Sherrilyn Kenyon

“IN THE ETHERIAL WORLD OF THE DREAM-HUNTERS

“Condemned by the gods to live eternity without emotions, Arikos can only feel when he’s in the dreams of others. For thousands of years, he’s drifted through the human unconscious, searching for sensation. Now he’s finally found a dreamer whose vivid mind can fill his emptiness.

“THERE ARE CHAMPIONS WHO FIGHT TO PROTECT THE DREAMER….

“Dr. Megeara Kafieri watched her father ruin himself and his reputation as he searched to prove Atlantis was real. Her deathbed promise to him to salvage his reputation has now brought her to Greece where she intends to prove once and for all that the fabled island is right where her father said it was. Instead, she finds a stranger floating in the sea—one whose face she’d seen many times…in her dreams.

“AND THERE ARE DEMONS WHO PREY ON THEM.

“What she doesn’t know is that Arik holds more than the ancient secrets that can help her find the mythical isle of Atlantis. He has made a pact with the god Hades: In exchange for two weeks as a mortal man, he must return to Olympus with a human soul—Megeara’s.”

I was really excited about reading this book! This was a book all about the Dream-Hunters and it was a very interesting change-up. Sherrilyn Kenyon has done it again! She’s managed to suck her readers in with her fantastic plots and captivating characters. However, I have to admit that there were a lot of characters (the other Dream-Hunters) that were a bit difficult to keep straight, but I managed with a little effort. I liked how Kenyon explained more about the world of the Dream-Hunters because it made the entire story easier to follow. It was really neat to see more of Olympus and the other gods as well. I think I would have liked to have learned more about the background of certain characters, but it was still a good book nonetheless.

***SPOILER***

I didn’t know until the very end, but this book took place even before Kyrian’s story! It was cool to see a bit more of some “behind the scenes” type things, though it did make me a little choked up when I got to the part about Nick and his mother…

Fear the Darkness (Dark-Hunter Series, Book Nineteen): Sherrilyn Kenyon

***This is Nick’s short story! As it is an exclusive e-book, there isn’t really a synopsis, sorry! It is available on Sherrilyn Kenoyn’s website at www.sherrilynkenyon.com.***

Short, but tantalizing as well as informative, this short story was a VERY quick read and interesting. It made me really want more. I fell for Nick (as did many other readers) back in Kyrian’s book and I’ve been having a really hard time handling what this guy has been going through and the choices he has made. Like many others, I kind of understood why Nick acted the way he did, but it was still difficult to swallow. This short story, however, gave me the insight I needed to better understand his decisions and motivations. Overall, it was a good short story—shorter than I’m used to—but it was classic Sherrilyn Kenyon. All great.

Love at First Bite (Contains Dark-Hunter Series, Book Eighteen): Sherrilyn Kenyon, L.A. Banks, Susan Squires, Ronda Thompson

“PRIMAL KISSES. EROTIC SECRETS. ETERNAL PASSION.

“Sink your teeth into these sexy supernatural stories from some of today’s hottest authors.

““Until Death Do Us Part” by Sherrilyn Kenyon

“Over five hundred years ago, Esperetta’s soul was bound to her husband’s by dark magic, and when Velkan became a Dark-Hunter, to her horror, she became immortal as well. Now, they must come together to fight an old enemy…and the passion that threatens to consume them once more.”

Need I say how much I love Kenyon’s works? She’s the reason I bought this book!!! Anyhow, this was a fantastic short story! I loved the characters and the plot was unique—even for her Dark-Hunter Series. I was very impressed! I thought the story behind this tale was brilliant and so well-thought-out. Her characters were very likable (as always) and they easily become very dear to the readers. So far, this is one of my absolute favorite short stories by Sherrilyn Kenyon!

““Ride the Night Wind” by L.A. Banks

“Dark dreams haunt Jose Ciponte, dreams of a woman so beautiful he aches for her—and a deadly enemy who stalks them in the night. And now those dreams have become a reality…”

Well…another work by L.A. Banks…I still feel bad about reviewing her works whenever I read them… I don’t think it’s very fair because—as I have stated before—the writing is just not for me… I will admit that this is the best work that I’ve read by this author, but that’s where I will stop.

““The Gift” by Susan Squires

“All major Davis Ware wants to do is propose to the beautiful Emma Fairchild. Instead, he is called back into battle, and a desperate fate. And Emma will venture into hell itself to save him.”

This story was a bit hard to follow at first, but it quickly got me caught up in the fast-moving plot. I liked the characters and the story a good deal. The plot, itself, was unique and fun (Well…as fun as a vampire war can be!) It had new twists and I really liked that a lot. Overall, it was a sweet, fun, and interesting short story.

““The Forgotten One” by Ronda Thompson

“Lady Anne Baldwin longs to break free from her proper bonds. When she meets the mysterious Merrick, whose eyes glow like a wolf’s, she may have found more than she bargained for.”

I’ve read Ronda Thompson before and this short story definitely lived up to my expectations. I really enjoyed her writing the other time I read it and this was just as good. I like her style and her characters are very, very likable. Her plotlines are captivating and (though there was a little bit at the end that I wish she’d explained a little better). I very much look forward to reading more of Thompson in the future.

My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding (Contains Dark-Hunter Series, Book Seventeen): Sherrilyn Kenyon, Charlaine Harris, Jim Butcher, Lori Handeland & more

“WEREWOLVES, VAMPIRES, WITCHES, VOODOO, ELVIS—AND WEDDINGS

“An “ordinary” wedding can get crazy enough, so can you imagine what happens when otherworldly creatures are involved? Nine of the hottest authors of paranormal fiction answer that question in this delightful collection of supernatural wedding stories. What’s the seating plan when rival clans of werewolves and vampires meet under the same roof? How can a couple in the throes of love overcome traps set by feuding relatives…who are experts at voodoo? Will you have a good marriage if your high-seas wedding is held on a cursed ship? How do you deal with a wedding singer who’s just a little too good at impersonating Elvis?

“SHAPE-SHIFTERS, WIZARDS, AND MAGIC, OH MY!

“Spellbound: L.A. Banks”

Well, this was not the first time that I read L.A. Banks, but I didn’t enjoy it as much as the first—and, for those of you who didn’t read my other review of Banks, I didn’t really like the writing to begin with. I REALLY don’t want to be completely down on Banks because it does take a lot of work to write, but there was just something lacking in both stories I have read by her. Plain and simple, her writing just isn’t for me. The plot was not fun to follow and there were just so many names and hardly any background at all (which was similar to the other short story of hers that I read). The overall idea of this story was cute and interesting, but things could definitely have been explained better, and I had a hard time feeling for the main characters at all. I was a little disappointed with this story and—in all honesty—really hoped that the book got better as I read.

“Something Borrowed: Jim Butcher”

I have never read Jim Butcher before, so this short story was a first. I liked the characters and the story was unique because it was written in the first-person. This isn’t easy to do and not many authors are able to pull it off, but I must say that Butcher did a very good job. His story was interesting and gave me good background and defined terms so I wouldn’t struggle through the story.

Now, this isn’t really my normal type of reading, but it was fairly compelling and a good, short read. Who knows? I might even read more of Butcher’s works in the future—even though he isn’t entirely my style.

“Dead Man’s Chest: Rachel Cane”

I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this story!!! It has to be my favorite one in this book thus far. The characters were fun and realistic and the plot had captivating twists that kept me reading. ****This next part is a bit of a spoiler*** As soon as I read the description of Captain Lockhart, I instantly thought “oh boy…here’s a blatant copycat of Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean…” and that Rachel Cane was just a Pirates fanatic… But I was REALLY happy that Cane’s character realized how similar the situation was to Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl. She even went so far as to practically quote certain scenes that corresponded to the film. I laughed several times and found myself charmed by her characters.

Overall, the plot was unique and VERY interesting and would actually LOVE to read more of Rachel Cane in the future!

“ “All Shook Up”: P.N. Elrod”

This is the first writing by P.N. Elrod that I have gotten a chance to read and I really enjoyed it. Her characters were sweet and endearing and the plot was fun. I found myself guessing what was going to happen next and could not figure it out. (That’s pretty hard for an author to do that to me. Though, I will be honest, I think if I had read Elrod before, then I would have been able to figure it out.)

Anyhow, this was a very cute short story and found myself really liking the characters. I will probably read more of Elrod in the future.

“The Wedding of Wylda Serene: Esther M. Friesner”

Esther M. Friesner was another new author to me in this anthology. This was an interesting short story as a first reading from this author.

As I first started reading, I had no idea what to expect from this story. The language used—including the dialogue—was a bit wordy for my tastes. The story was written in the first-person (which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing), but the vocabulary was unnecessarily elaborate. I liked the plot twists and it was a cute story, but I may or may not read more of Friesner in the future.

“Charmed by the Moon: Lori Handeland”

I’ve read Lori Handeland before, in another anthology, and it was good to read her again. Her writing is fun; her characters are interesting; and her plots move very well. I don’t have much more to say about this short story because it’s all pretty straightforward and to-the-point, but it was all good nonetheless.

“Tacky: Charlaine Harris”

I don’t believe that I’ve read Charlaine Harris before, but this was a cute story. The plot was refreshing and interesting. There were refreshing bits to it that made the story unique and cute. The characters were fun and made me want to read more.

Overall, it was a nice short story and I may even read more works by Harris in the future.

“A Hard Day’s Night-Searcher: Sherrilyn Kenyon”

And here we are with Sherrilyn Kenyon again. Need I say how much I love her writing?

Anyway, once more, Kenyon has that unique ability to make her readers care about her characters in the span of only a few pages. It’s amazing! However, this was not one of my favorite works of hers, but it was still very cute and a fun read. The characters were interesting and it was cool to read more about a Dark-Hunter that I’d only barely seen before. Plus, I LOVED the fact that Rafael’s Squire, Jeff, wrote about the world of the Dark-Hunters and made it his own. It was hilarious and really dragged me into the story. Can’t wait to read more of Kenyon’s work!!!

“ “…Or Forever Hold Your Peace”: Susan Krinard”

This is the first work by Susan Krinard that I’ve read and I liked it more than I expected to. It was very unique and I instantly liked the characters. I know for certain that I wouldn’t have been able to understand what the heck was going on if Krinard hadn’t supplied background information, so I REALLY appreciate that. I actually really liked this short story and—though it isn’t my usual taste in reading materials—I think I may seek out other books by Krinard that are like this one.

***YAY!!! So, this is my 100th post for my book-review blog! I’m actually really excited about it! I wish I’d posted the books that I’d read in that gap between my first and second posts, but oh well…I will just end up making them my next few blog postings :) Anyhow, I LOVE doing this blog and would really appreciate some feedback. Just a “hey, what’s up”, let me know what you think of the books I review—whether you loved them or hated them, or even tell me that you think what I’m doing is stupid. I can take it! I know people read this and I would LOVE to hear from them! Peace out!***

*Just a note, my label for this post does not contain all of the authors of this anthology because I can only have 200 characters...sorry!*

Dark Side of the Moon (Dark-Hunter Series, Book Sixteen): Sherrilyn Kenyon

***Okay, so I have two different synopsies of this book: one from the hardcover and one from the paperback. The first will be from the hardcover and the second from the paperback. Just thought I would let you all know***

“Susan Michaels was once the hottest reporter on the Beltway Beat until a major scandal ruined her life and left her writing stories about alien babies and Elvis sightings. Life as she once knew it is over, or so she thinks, but then she gets a lead on a story that could salvage her extinct career. She heads to the local animal shelter, expecting a hot news tip, which she gets in the form of a major police cover-up...for a ring of soul-sucking vampires out to take over Seattle. So much for her credibility.

"And if that isn't bad enough, she gets talked into adopting a cat and finds she's allergic to it. A cat that turns out to be a shapeshifter who claims to be an immortal vampire slayer on the prowl for the same corrupt cops. Her first thought: seek professional help.

"But as Susan's drawn into Ravyn's dark and dangerous world, she comes to realize that there's a lot more at stake than just her defunct career. Now it's no longer a question of bringing the truth to her readers; it's a matter of saving their very lives and souls.

"Ravyn's life was shattered over four hundred years ago, when he mistakenly trusted the wrong human with the truth of his existence. He lost his family, his honor, and his life. Now, in order to save the people of Seattle, he's forced to confront that nightmare all over again, and to trust another woman with the secret that could destroy him.

"In the world of the Dark-Hunters, life is always dangerous. But never more so than now, when a very human woman can shatter their entire world with just one story. The only question is...will she?"

*PAPERBACK*

"Half animal, half man, wholly dangerous. Locked in eternal battle, a Were-Hunter knows everything about peril and pain. But the greatest threat is yet to come...

"Susan Michaels was the hottest reporter on the Beltway Beat until she walked into a setup that ruined her reputation. Now she's working for a small Seattle paper, penning stories about killer moths and alien babies, convinced that her life couldn't get any worse...

"That was before an idea for a breaking news piece brings her to a local animal shelter where she ends up listening to her source rant about vampires and gets coerced into adopting a cat despite her allergies. But when her new pet suddenly reveals himself to be a gorgeous--and lethal--shapeshifter, Susan realizes that there's far more at stake than a career-saving by-line.

"Born into a world of predatios, Were-Hunter Ravyn Kontis was betrayed by those he loved best. Soulless, pitiless, he has spent three hundred years battling the Daimons who seek to subjugate humankind. Against all odds, Susan evokes in Ravyn feelings of tenderness. Desire. Love. And with the ultimate battle about to begin, this one very human woman holds the power to shatter both their worlds..."

Now, this was the next in Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark-Hunter Series and I very much enjoyed it. There were quirks to it that made it its own special story and it kept me interesting. (I particularly loved the fact that Susan was allergic to Ravyn!) The story was different from the other books in the series, completely combining the worlds of the Were-Hunters and the Dark-Hunters. It was new and something that I was definitely not expecting.

However, I would have liked to see more of Acheron in this book. I understand how he doesn’t really show up much in the Were-Hunter books, but since Ravyn was a Dark-Hunter, I would have thought that I would have seen more of Acheron. It was a little sad, but I guess it’s all for a good reason. I’m sure Kenyon has a master plan for it all.

Also—I don’t want to give too much away—but this books marks the return to the real world of a DEARLY beloved character of mine! I was so excited, but it was a bittersweet return that brought tears to my eyes; especially at the end of the book…

Overall, it was a very good book and I liked it a lot. Can’t wait to read more!

Unleash the Night (Dark-Hunter Series, Book Fifteen): Sherrilyn Kenyon

“It’s a predator-eat-predator world for the Were-Hunters. Danger haunts any given day. There is no one to trust. No one to love. Not if they want to live…

“An orphan with no clan that will claim him, Wren Tigarian grew to adulthood under the close scrutiny and mistrust of those around him. A forbidden blend of two animals—snow leopard and white tiger—Wren has never listened to anyone when there was something he wanted. Now he wants Marguerite.

“Marguerite D’Aubert Goudeau is the daughter of a prominent U.S. senator who hates the socialite life she’d forced to live. Like her mother before her, she has strong Cajun roots that her father doesn’t understand. Still, she has no choice but to try and conform to a world where she feels like an outsider. But the world of rich and powerful humans is never to meet the world of the Were-Hunters who exist side by side with them, unseen, unknown, undetected. To break this law is to call down a wrath of the highest order.

“In order to have Marguerite, Wren must fight not just the humans who will never accept his animal nature, but the Were-Hunters who want him dead for endangering their world. It’s a race against time and magic without boundary that could cost Marguerite and Wren not just their lives, but their very souls…”

Yet another of Sherrilyn Kenyon’s brilliant works! Once again, I love her style and her characters. Wren was wonderfully written and he rivals even Zarek in my book (and those of you who read my review of Dance With the Devil know what a huge honor that is!). The more I read, the more I enjoyed the characters and their stories.

Overall, the book was fast-paced and I read it in one day! It was wonderful! Though, I must admit, it was rather busy and a bit harder to follow than Kenyon’s other works that I have had the pleasure to enjoy. There were just SO many characters (including Dante from an earlier short story, Vane, Julian, Fury, Fang, and several more). It was difficult to follow at first, but I gradually caught on. I had to remember who each character was and what each of his stories was, but—once I did—I realized it was a VERY well-planned plot with a lot of different facets to it.

I VERY much enjoyed this book and I can’t wait to read more!

Second Chances (Dark-Hunter Series, Book Fourteen): Sherrilyn Kenyon

***Can be found in Exclusive Dark-Hunter Collectible booklet or in the upcoming Dark-Hunter Companion.***

*Since this is not an actual book, I don’t have a synopsis, but I can try my best to give one.*

Styxx has been trapped for three years, enduring a fate worse than death—reliving Acheron’s memories from his mortal life as if they were his own. Shut away in a constant state of nightmares, he lies in a hell until one day, his brother comes for a visit…

There you go! :) My own little interpretation of this short story. Hope you liked it!

Anyway, this was a very good short story. Though it was an extremely quick read, it was very insightful. The readers get an interesting look into Acheron’s past and the interaction between him and Styxx. Though it was simple, it was a good read.

Sins of the Night (Dark-Hunter Series, Book Thirteen): Sherrilyn Kenyon

“In the realm of the Dark-Hunters, there is a code of honor that even immortal bad boys must follow: Harm no human. Drink no blood. Never fall in love.

“But every now and again, a Dark-Hunter thinks himself above the Code. That’s when I’m summoned. Who am I? I’m the one thing the fearless fear. Step over the line and it’s my wrath you will face. Nothing can touch me. Nothing can sway me. I am relentless and unfeeling.

“Or so I though until I met a female Dark-Hunter who goes by the name of Danger—it’s not her name, it’s how she lives her life. She doesn’t trust me at all. And who could blame her? She alone knows that I’m here to be judge, jury, and, most likely, executioner of her friends. Yet she is my key to saving some of them. Without her, they will all die.

“Dangereuse St. Richard is a deadly distraction. Something about her is reawakening a heart I thought was long dead. But in a race against evil, the only hope mankind has is that I do my duty when it means that I will have to sacrifice the only woman I’ve ever loved?”

I haven’t read a Sherrilyn Kenyon book in a while and I will admit that it was really nice to get back to her style of writing. This book contained the first female Dark-Hunter in the series and I have to say that it was good, but it wasn’t amazing. I pictured the female Dark-Hunter to be more like the character Tabitha from the previous books, but she was much more subdued—though she had her own edge. The book actually seemed really short and I breezed through it.

The Alexion was an amazing character! He was wonderfully fascinating to read about and it was great to learn more about Acheron and the history behind the Dark-Hunters. Overall, the plot was interesting and moved very well. The ending was ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC! The writing was beautiful—as always—and the characters were very well-written and easy to fall for. It wasn’t my favorite, but it will not deter me from reading more of Kenyon’s works. I am TOTALLY addicted to her works!

Seize the Night (Dark-Hunter Series, Book Twelve): Sherrilyn Kenyon

“Hail, Glorious Reader:

“I was born the noble son of a legendary Roman senator. I walked through the ancient world as a general, admired and supreme until a brutal betrayal caused me to bargain my soul. Now I’m an immortal Dark-Hunter, bound to protect mankind from the evil scourge that haunts it. Over the centuries, I’ve seen many frightening things: plagues, pestilence, disco music…

“And now Tabitha Devereaux. A human, she has trained herself to fight vampires every bit as capably as any Dark-Hunter. Idiosyncratic and off-beat, she is my personal bane—and yet she beguiles me. There are only two small problems. She happens to be the twin of my mortal enemy’s wife. More than that, Tabitha and her sister are being stalked by a power that will not rest until everyone she holds dear is dead.

“Unlike my Dark-Hunter brethren, I rely on no one but myself. They spurned me and I turned my back on them. But the only way to save Tabitha and her family is to find some way to bridge a two-thousand-year-old feud.

“They say opposites attract, but can they stay together when even the Fates conspire to keep them apart? Then again, the Fates have never dealt with the likes of Tabitha Devereaux before. They’re going to be in for quite a fight…

“—Valerius Magnus”

Having read previous books with Valerius in them—and I will grudgingly admit that—I wasn’t entirely certain just how much I would like Valerius as a main character. Sure, he seemed strong and infallible, but there was just something about him that rubbed me the wrong way…even more than Zarek! Now, however, the only Dark-Hunter book that made me cry more than this one was Zarek’s story: Dance With the Devil. This book was touching and it grabbed me in a certain, painful place in my chest and just wouldn’t let go.

I was fascinated at how Sherrilyn Kenyon made the readers care about Valerius. It was a huge feat and she accomplished it with her usual finesse. Tabitha was another character that I wasn’t too sure about. In previous books, she was so pushy and never seemed to think things through and—to be perfectly honest—she was actually almost annoying. It was good to see a whole other side to both of these character and I really don’t want to give anything away, but it was SO cool to learn more about Ash—though it was a bit on the confusing side and I’ll probably have to read it again to fully comprehend it. Happy reading!