Review: Sin & Surrender - K.F. Breene

The sixth and final book in the #1 internationally bestselling Demigods of San Francisco series!

It's the moment Kieran and Lexi have been preparing for. The Magical Summit.

Ready or not, they will take their assembled team into the belly of the beast. The stakes couldn't be higher. If the powers that be don't approve of Kieran, he will not earn the official title of the Demigod of San Francisco.

The real danger concerns Lexi, however. With Kieran away in meetings, she must brave the treacherous halls of the Summit with just her crew and her wards, fighting for social placement and status, open to attack from all angles.

She could've never expected what comes at her. No one could've.

Prepare yourself for this epic conclusion to the Demigods of San Francisco series!

Demigods of San Francisco Series:
Sin & Chocolate
Sin & Magic
Sin & Salvation
Sin & Spirit
Sin & Lightning
Sin & Surrender

Visit K.F. Breene's website for more information

Review:
The time has come for Alexis and Kieran to face off with the other Demigods at the Magical Summit. Kieran has to prove his worth if he wants to keep his position in San Francisco but with Lexi's magic in high demand the whole team have to prove themselves capable of defending themselves and if they can't they'll be picked off one by one as the other Demigods try to steal them for their own teams. The stakes have never been higher and they only have a limited time to show the world they're not to be messed with.

As sad as I am to reach the end of this series I'm very happy to say it ends on a high note (I still have hopes that we'll get more books in this world though, even if they're about the other members of the crew with Lexi and Kieran no longer the main characters!). It's hard to review a series finale because you want to encourage new readers to start their journey in this world without giving spoilers (don't do that here please, but I'd highly recommend checking out the first book, Sin and Chocolate) but you also want to let series fans know what to expect. To be fair anyone who has read the previous books already knows what they're going to get in this series though and Sin and Surrender won't disappoint. There is action and intrigue, witty banter between the main team, more romance between Leix and Kieran plus we get to see Daisy and Mordecai show the magical elite exactly what they're made of.

It would be too easy to spoil the final story if I go into much more detail than that but trust me, if you enjoyed the rest of the series you're going to love every minute of this book. Although this is a finale of sorts I'm convinced there is more to see in this world and I really, really hope that we're going to get books about the rest of the crew, there are just too many fantastic side characters to let them go to waste!

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Marek - Felicity Heaton

Prince of the Underworld and Lord of Earth, Marek was banished from his home by his father, Hades, two centuries ago and given a new duty and purpose—to keep our world and his from colliding in a calamity foreseen by the Moirai. Together with his six brothers, he fights to defend the gates to the Underworld from daemons bent on breaching them and gaining entrance to that forbidden land, striving to protect his home from their dark influence.

Haunted by a betrayal that shattered him and set him on a dark path of vengeance, Marek closely guards his heart, as determined to keep it safe as he is to wipe the scourge of vampires from the world.
Until a hunt lands him in the presence of a beautiful woman who threatens to steal that heart as she battles his sworn enemy, her graceful moves igniting a passion so fierce and hunger so deep it consumes him.

Caterina’s sole purpose for the last decade has been freeing her brother of the curse of being turned into a vampire. When an alluring dark warrior steps in to help her battle a nest of bloodsuckers, her entire life is tipped off balance. She knows deep in her heart the warrior can help her save her brother, but can she trust a man who is driven to slay every vampire he meets?

When Marek’s enemy emerges from the shadows, and Caterina is pulled down a dark rabbit hole into a dangerous world, will they be strong enough to overcome their pride and their prejudices or will a dark turn of events shatter both their hearts?

Guardians of Hades Series:
Ares
Valen
Esher
Marek

Visit Felicity Heaton's website for more information

Review:
It's been a couple of years since the last book in the Guardians of Hades series was released so while I was excited to dive back into this world I did worry that I might get confused and not remember enough about the previous stories. Luckily Felicity Heaton did a great job of bringing me back up to speed and within a few pages I was just happy to be back with these characters.

Marek is luckier than some of his brothers when it comes to his abilities and they cause less problems for him in the human realm but he has spent hundreds of years caught up on a previous betrayal and spends his time sneaking around hunting vampires when his brothers' backs are turned. It is during one of these attacks that he first meets Caterina who is also hunting vampires but for very different reasons to Marek. Caterina may be human but she's aware of the supernatural so although she doesn't immediately recognise Marek for what he is she does understand that he's not a normal human. The two bond pretty quickly over their mutual dislike of the vampires but Caterina's life takes a very difficult turn when she is targeted by Marek's enemies.

I don't want to say too much about what happens to Caterina but it was definitely shocking and there were some really interesting developments in the ongoing story arc throughout this instalment of the series. As much as I enjoyed the romance between Marek and Caterina I also loved getting to find out more about Calistos and about all of the brothers' backgrounds. Their enemies are building up to something big and I think the action is only going to get more intense in the next couple of books.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Sin & Lightning - K.F. Breene

One thing has become incredibly clear to Alexis and Kieran, if they hope to last in the arena of Demigods, they'll need a more robust defense team.

They must take two incredibly dangerous journeys, seeking the prized talents other Demigods would kill for. Except, there is a reason other Demigods don't have these magical workers--they are as ruthless as they are dangerous, and the last thing they want is to be on a Demigod's team.

If that isn't enough, Alexis has received an invitation from Demigod Lydia, the only Hades Demigod who hasn't openly declared war. She's talking like they could be allies, but those of Hades cannot be trusted. A trap is just as likely as a handshake. Still, it's a chance they must take.

Any one of these trips could be their last, but to back down would be the most dangerous of all.

Demigods of San Francisco Series:
Sin & Chocolate
Sin & Magic
Sin & Salvation
Sin & Spirit
Sin & Lightning
Sin & Surrender

Visit K.F. Breene's website for more information

Review:
This series is honestly just getting better and better with each instalment. With Kieran trying to cement his place as the demigod of San Fransisco he needs to prove that he's powerful enough to hold the territory. He already had a strong team with his six but he still needs other powerful allies and preferably to get at least one of the other demigods on his side if he wants to protect not just the territory but also Lexi and her wards. Lexi has unusual but powerful magic and if Kieran can't prove himself then the other demigods are going to start fighting to steal her from him.

Lexi knows that Kieran needs more powerful magic users on his team and with the help of Bria she is determined to help him recruit some. Of course this involves putting herself in danger but she has a unique way of looking at the magical world that could be key in convincing some people that Kieran is a demigod worth allying themselves with. I actually really enjoyed seeing Lexi tracking down potential team member, she's really good at connecting with people and she will fight to the death for anyone she considers a friend or family member. There are some fab new additions to their team that we get to meet here and I'm really looking forward to learning more about them as the series continues.

However it isn't all plain sailing, and some enemies are very good at hiding their evil intentions. The whole team faces a lot of danger in this instalment and there were some heart stopping moments when it all comes to a head towards the end of the book. Things are definitely ramping up and I think the action is only going to build up even more as the series continues. It's definitely going to be interesting when we get to meet the rest of the demigods and I can't wait to see how much chaos Lexi and Kieran cause at the upcoming meeting. This series has definitely become a favourite and I'm sure fans will love this latest instalment!

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Sin & Spirit - K.F. Breene

The fourth book in the Amazon Charts Bestselling series by Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author, K.F. Breene.

Kieran has stepped up to take his place as the ruler of magical San Francisco. As his girlfriend I'm in the spotlight, and the Hades Demigods have taken notice. They want me on their team, and they don’t plan on asking nicely.

Kieran and I are both under fire. They will kill him to get to me, and they'll take me by force if necessary. It is essential I learn more of my magic.

With no other options, I do what scares me the most - I summon the last Spirit Walker to help train me. Except, he's a loose cannon with looser morals, and learning spirit is treacherous. I might evade the Demigods only to be lost in spirit forever.

Demigods of San Francisco Series:
Sin & Chocolate
Sin & Magic
Sin & Salvation
Sin & Spirit
Sin & Lightning
Sin & Surrender

Visit K.F. Breene's website for more information

Review:
In the fourth book in K.F. Breene's Demigods of San Francisco series we see Lexi and Kieran facing their most dangerous enemies yet. Killing Valens was only the start of their problems and now that Kieran has taken his place as the ruler of San Francisco he's fully caught the attention of the other Demigods around the world. Not only are they watching to see what kind of ruler Kieran will be but they've also heard rumours about Lexi's Spirit Walker abilities. If any of them is able to capture Lexi and train her they'll have a formidable weapon in their hands, but Lexi and Kieran have other ideas and if she can find someone else to be her guide then they'll be a power couple the other Demigods will have to watch out for.

If you thought the battle in the previous book was intense you haven't seen anything yet. Before they were facing off against one Demigod and it nearly cost them everything, now they have multiple enemies who are all plotting against them and they have no idea where the next attack will come from or which of the other Demigods might be working together against them. This is only the start of their battle to prove themselves and it could all end in disaster at the first hurdle.

I've loved this series since the beginning but each book has only got better along the way. Lexi and Kieran make a great couple but I think one of the things I love the most is the family they've built together with Lexi's wards Daisy and Mordecai as well as the members of Kieran's Six, the men who have been at his side for years and who are more like brothers than bodyguards. Daisy is the only human in the bunch but she has been continuing her training and is able to hold her own against the others by using her brain as well as her physical strength and that is something she's going to need to hold on to more than ever in this book. The danger is off the charts and there were some heart stopping moments but we also get to see Lexi learn even more about her abilities and watch the group really come together to fight against their enemies. The battle is only just beginning and I can't wait to see where the series takes us next.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Sin & Salvation - K.F. Breene

Valens has noticed his two missing employees. It won't be long before he knows who is responsible.

It won't be long before he claims his vengeance.

The race is on. Kieran and Lexi must scrape together an army worthy of taking on the Demigod of San Francisco before he destroys them all.

But Valens isn't Lexi's only problem. Mordecai's rapid recovery has been noticed, and he has once again become a threat to his old pack.

Lexi's little family is in jeopardy of being torn apart, and to save them...she must finally embrace what she is.

Demigods of San Francisco Series:
Sin & Chocolate
Sin & Magic
Sin & Salvation
Sin & Spirit
Sin & Lightning
Sin & Surrender

Visit K.F. Breene's website for more information

Review:
Sin & Salvation is the third (& hopefully not the last!) book in K.F. Breene's Demigod of San Francisco series and it picks up Lexi's story not long after the end of the previous book. Lexi and her wards have been busy training with Kieran and his Six but no matter how much they learn they know they'll never be a match for Kieran's father Valens. They're running out of time though, Valens has noticed he is missing several employees and it won't be long before he realises that Kieran's mother has also been freed. The only question is whether Kieran can pull together enough allies to stand a chance at surviving the final confrontation with Valens.

Obviously this series has been building towards a major battle since the first book but it's a good job Lexi has been training hard because the wait is finally over. Lexi could choose to run but she would never leave Kieran to fight alone and her wards Mordecai and Daisy aren't willing to sit out the fight either. Lexi would prefer to keep her kids out of danger entirely but if Valens wins then nowhere will ever be safe for anyone so their best bet is to win the war.

This book had everything I was hoping for, more romance between Lexi and Kieran, more of the wonderful family dynamics between Lexi and the kids, more of Kieran's Six (including us FINALLY finding out what each of their powers are & boy are there some revelations there!) and even more of Lexi's new ally Bria who adds a lot of humour to the series. We get an epic battle that is going to have far reaching consequences for everyone involved and although this book doesn't end with a cliffhanger I feel like there is still plenty of scope for more stories involving these characters. I'd happily read more books about Lexi and Kieran but I can't help hoping that each of the Six might get a story or two too.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: No Mercy - Sherrilyn Kenyon

Shapeshifter Dev Peltier thought he knew it all. But one night when a Dark-Hunter, who is also an official member of the Dogs of War, sashays into his bar, he realises that he might have met his match.

Samia, aka Sam, was one of the fiercest Amazon warriors in her tribe. But an act of brutal betrayal made her a Dark-Hunter and she's been angry ever since. Live fast, fight hard and enjoy the night. That's her credo. But as old enemies and new move into New Orleans, she realises that Dev might just be the only hope she and mankind have to save the world.

The Dark-Hunters Series:
The Beginning (Short Story)
Fantasy Lover
Dragonswan (Novella) (Were-Hunter 0.5)
Night Pleasures
Night Embrace
Dance with the Devil
Kiss of the Night
Night Play (Were-Hunter 1)
Seize the Night
Sins of the Night
Unleash the Night (Were-Hunter 2)
Dark Side of the Moon (Were-Hunter 3)
The Dream-Hunter (Dream-Hunter 1)
Fear the Darkness (Short Story)
Devil May Cry
Upon the Midnight Clear (Dream-Hunter 2)
Dream Chaser (Dream-Hunter 3)
Acheron
One Silent Night
Dream Warrior (Dream-Hunter 4)
Bad Moon Rising (Hellchaser 1, Were-Hunter 4)
Dark-Hunter: An Insider's Guide (Hellchaser 2)
No Mercy (Were-Hunter 5)
Retribution
The Guardian (Dream-Hunter 5, Were-Hunter 6, Hellchaser 3)
Time Untime (Were-Hunter 7, Hellchaser 4)
Styxx
Dark Bites (Short Story Anthology)
Son of No One (Were-Hunter 8, Hellchaser 5)
Dragonbane (Were-Hunter 9, Hellchaser 6)
Dragonmark (2016)

Chronicles of Nick Series:
(This is a YA spin off from Sherrilyn Kenyon's adult Dark-Hunters series)
Infinity
Invincible
Infamous
Inferno
Illusion
Instinct
Invasion
Intensity

Visit Sherrilyn Kenyon's website for more information

Review:
Samia was an amazon warrior before she sold her soul to Artemis for an act of revenge and became a Dark-Hunter. Now she uses her fighting skills to protect humans from daimons and trying to keep the world in balance. She has been called to New Orleans by Acheron to help protect Nick and it's there that she meets shapeshifter Dev Peltier. Dev is the first person who is unaffected by Samia's magic which means he's the first person she's been able to touch without being inundated by his thoughts and feelings but the last thing she really needs in her life at the moment is romance, especially with a possessive bear who wants to claim her as his own.

My favourite Dark Hunter stories tend to be the ones set in New Orleans where we get to see all our favourite characters like Ash, Savitar and Nick so I had high hopes for No Mercy. I did really enjoy the romance between Sam and Dev and I live for the appearances from Ash but I'm starting to get really bored of the daimons and in my opinion this book spent far too much time with the likes of Stryker and Zephyra. Normally my hard and fast PNR rule is don't mess with the happily ever after of previous couples but I really can't stand those two and I hate having to spend time with them. They didn't manage to redeem themselves in their own book and to be honest their actions just get worse and worse every time we see them so I keep hoping that one of the Dark-Hunters is going to just put me out of my misery and kill them both. The daimons got a really hard deal thanks to Apollyon and I'd love to see them find a way to remove the curse BUT Stryker is so horrible that he's starting to make me lose any sympathy for the lot of them.

This book wasn't awful by any means but it definitely wasn't my favourite in the series. I'd have liked more focus on the main couple and less on the bad guys. I just hope that the Stryker storyline gets resolved soon because I don't want it to continue playing a part in every book in the series.

Source: Received from Piatkus in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Sin & Magic - K.F. Breene

I've agreed to work for a Demigod. My job? Find the spirit of his mother and release her before his vengeful father finds out and kills us all.

Have I lost my mind?

Thankfully, I don't have to do it alone. Kieran has brought in help: a Necromancer who loves to flirt with danger. Bria can help me find the clues to free Kieran's mom.

She can also help me learn my potent and extremely terrifying magic.

But as we work deeper into magical San Francisco, we uncover a minefield waiting to explode. I'm learning that there are far worse things than death.

Demigods of San Francisco Series:
Sin & Chocolate
Sin & Magic
Sin & Salvation
Sin & Spirit
Sin & Lightning
Sin & Surrender

Visit K.F. Breene's website for more information

Review:
Having agreed to work with demigod Kieran Alexis knows her life will never be the same. She can't turn her back on the ghosts that his father has trapped but she worries about putting her two adopted children at risk so her decision is weighing heavily on her. Kieran has vowed to keep her safe and he's followed through on his promises to help Alexis' family and to provide protection for them all but deep down he knows that if his father discovers what they're up to then Kieran might not be powerful enough to save them all.

After loving the first book in this series I was really excited to get my hands on a copy of Sin & Magic and I'm happy to say that the series is just getting better and better. Alexis has spent so much time hiding her magical abilities that she has never really bothered to test out her magic and has no idea what she's really capable of so it was really interesting to see her start to push her boundaries. She is obviously far more powerful than she ever realised but it's a fine line between learning to use her powers and using them so much that she draws unwanted attention to herself so she's got to be really careful testing the waters.

I think one of the things I love the most about these books is the bond between Alexis and the two teenagers she basically adopted. There is a lot of love between Alexis, Daisy and Mordecai so while they may rub each other up the wrong way occasionally they always 100% have each other's backs. It's interesting to see how Kieran's Six (the men he trusts the most and has a strong bond with) all interact with Alexis and the kids, they seem to really appreciate the little family and make excuses to spend time with them and I enjoyed the interaction between them all.

Of course I also love the developing romance between Alexis and Kieran too, there has been an intense attraction between them since they first met but Alexis is wary so this side of the story hasn't been rushed at all which I appreciate. Kieran is quite surprised by the way he reacts to Alexis and it scares him that he doesn't think he can keep her safe but he's slowly starting to realise that she is powerful in her own right and perhaps working together they could be unstoppable.

I'm already looking forward to the next book in the series, I can't wait to see how Kieran's father reacts when he finds out what they've been up to but I have a feeling they're going to be in a whole heap of trouble when he does!

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Sin & Chocolate - K.F. Breene

Some people are ordained for greatness…

Those people usually have a lot of drama in their life. Drama I happily do without. I live in a forgotten corner of nowhere for a reason: there is safety in anonymity. I have enough problems just trying to get by.

But when Kieran, a sinfully sexy demigod at the pinnacle of power, crashes into my life, suddenly my whole world is turned upside down.

He’s harboring a deadly secret, one that could destroy all he holds dear. He thinks I’m the key to his salvation, and he wants me to help him claim vengeance.

He also wants me with a passion that burns my body from the inside out.

To ignore him is impossible, but to give in to my desires, even for a night, would thrust me into danger I might not survive.

Can I resist the temptation?

Demigods of San Francisco Series:
Sin & Chocolate
Sin & Magic
Sin & Salvation
Sin & Spirit
Sin & Lightning
Sin & Surrender

Visit K.F. Breene's website for more information

Review:
In a world that's split between people who have magic and those that don't there is a lot of distrust between the two groups and those who fall between the cracks struggle to survive. Alexis has magic but her ability to see and talk to ghosts isn't really a money maker so she works whatever odd job she can find to make ends meet. It doesn't help that she has two teenage wards to take care of, Mordecai, who is a shapeshifter with a serious illness, and Daisy, a young non magical girl who ran away from an abusive foster home. Life is difficult for the three of them, they're constantly struggling to get enough money for food and Mordecai's medication but they have a strong bond with each other and all appreciate their little family.

Alexis is more than happy to live out of the spotlight and she does her best to avoid those with a lot of magic but her world is turned upside down when demigod Kieran crashes into it. Kieran needs Alexis' help to rescue his mother and he's not taking no for an answer, no matter how determined Alexis is to walk away from him.

Sin & Chocolate was a brilliant start to K.F. Breene's new paranormal romance series, I loved the introduction to this world and the different types of magical abilities people have. It's always interesting to see worlds where those with magic are out in the open and the way that affects their interactions with normal humans and this world felt very believable in the way the two different groups were often prejudiced against each other. There was a lot of humour in the story which made it a delight to read and I absolutely loved Alexis' little family group. Alexis, Mordecai and Daisy are all dysfunctional in their own different ways but they have chosen each other as family so no matter how much they bicker amongst themselves they will fight fiercely against the rest of the world.

Kieran was incredibly intriguing and I'm really looking forward to getting to know him and the six members of his guard better, we see some chapters from his point of view which was great to give us the chance to see what he's thinking and feeling but I was glad he's still quite mysterious so we have more secrets to discover as the series continues. Kieran was definitely an alpha male and his behaviour towards Alexis could be quite stalkerish at times but I liked the way she stood up to him and how she never let him take an inch. The banter between them was great and you can already see the chemistry there even though they haven't acted on it yet.

I'm really excited to see where this series goes next. It's going to be fun to see how Alexis copes with the changes in her life since she's started learning more about herself and her own background and I'm definitely looking forward to spending more time with her, Kieran and the others.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Esher - Felicity Heaton

Prince of the Underworld and Lord of Water, Esher was banished from his home by his father, Hades, two centuries ago and given a new duty and purpose-to keep our world and his from colliding in a calamity foreseen by the Moirai.

Together with his six brothers, he fights to defend the gates to the Underworld from daemons bent on breaching them and gaining entrance to that forbidden land, striving to protect his home from their dark influence. Tormented by his past, Esher burns with hatred towards mortals and bears a grudge against Hades for forcing him into their world, condemning him to a life of battling to keep a fragile hold on his darker side-a side that wants to kill every human in the name of revenge.

Until he finds himself stepping in to save a female-a beautiful mortal filled with light and laughter who draws him to her as fiercely as the pull of the moon, stirring conflict in his heart and rousing dangerous needs long forgotten.

Aiko knows from the moment she sets eyes on the black-haired warrior that he is no ordinary man, just as she's no ordinary woman. Blessed with a gift, she can see through his stormy façade to the powerful god beneath, and the pain and darkness that beats inside him-pain she grows determined to heal as she falls deeper under his spell and into his world.

When the daemon bent on turning Esher against his brothers makes her move, will Esher find the strength to overcome his past and fulfil his duty, or will the lure of revenge allow the darkness in his heart to seize control, transforming him into a god intent on destroying the world?

Guardians of Hades Series:
Ares
Valen
Esher
Marek

Visit Felicity Heaton's website for more information

Review:
I love a tortured hero so I've been looking forward to Esher's story ever since Felicity Heaton started the Guardians of Hades series. We never knew much about his background from previous books but we do know he has serious issues and has a bad history with humans in general. His brothers help him keep his powers under control but he definitely has a dark and dangerous side that they're all wary of. We find out a lot more about what actually happened to him in this book and its easy to understand why he's bitter about being given the task of protecting the human realm.

Aiko is probably the softest of the heroines we've met so far but she was just what Esher needed, she's not a warrior like Eva or a healer like Megan but she is aware of the supernatural because of her ability to see ghosts and spirits. She recognises immediately that Esher is a god and that fact never worries her, she just accepts him for who he is and gives him the care and love that he so badly needs. Esher has always kept his brothers at a distance but Aiko gets under his skin and breaks down his protective barriers in a way that nobody has ever managed before. I mentioned that Aiko is the softest of the heroines in this series but don't take that to mean that she's a doormat or incapable of fighting for what she wants. She may not be trained for battle but she has the strength she needs to stand at Esher's side as a partner.

The ongoing storyline with the daemons who have been plotting against the brothers is really hotting up here too so alongside the romance there is plenty of action and lots of new information to unravel. We also get to know each of the other brothers a bit better and I'm really curious to see whose story is up next, I'm actually getting excited about all of them now so I'm sure I'll be happy whoever takes the lead. This series is a lot of fun and I'm looking forward to seeing where it takes us next.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Bad Moon Rising - Sherrilyn Kenyon

Fang Kattalakis isn't just a wolf. He is the brother of two of the most powerful members of the Omegrion: the ruling council that enforces the laws of the Were-Hunters. And when war erupts among the the lycanthropes, sides must be chosen. Enemies are forced into shaky alliances.

When Aimee, the woman Fang loves, is accused of betraying her people, her only hope is that Fang believes in her. Yet in order to save her, Fang must break the law of his people and the faith of his brothers. That breach could very well spell the end of both their races and change their world forever.

The war is on and time is running out . . .

The Dark-Hunters Series:
The Beginning (Short Story)
Fantasy Lover
Dragonswan (Novella) (Were-Hunter 0.5)
Night Pleasures
Night Embrace
Dance with the Devil
Kiss of the Night
Night Play (Were-Hunter 1)
Seize the Night
Sins of the Night
Unleash the Night (Were-Hunter 2)
Dark Side of the Moon (Were-Hunter 3)
The Dream-Hunter (Dream-Hunter 1)
Fear the Darkness (Short Story)
Devil May Cry
Upon the Midnight Clear (Dream-Hunter 2)
Dream Chaser (Dream-Hunter 3)
Acheron
One Silent Night
Dream Warrior (Dream-Hunter 4)
Bad Moon Rising (Hellchaser 1, Were-Hunter 4)
Dark-Hunter: An Insider's Guide (Hellchaser 2)
No Mercy (Were-Hunter 5)
Retribution
The Guardian (Dream-Hunter 5, Were-Hunter 6, Hellchaser 3)
Time Untime (Were-Hunter 7, Hellchaser 4)
Styxx
Dark Bites (Short Story Anthology)
Son of No One (Were-Hunter 8, Hellchaser 5)
Dragonbane (Were-Hunter 9, Hellchaser 6)
Dragonmark (2016)

Chronicles of Nick Series:
(This is a YA spin off from Sherrilyn Kenyon's adult Dark-Hunters series)
Infinity
Invincible
Infamous
Inferno
Illusion
Instinct
Invasion
Intensity

Visit Sherrilyn Kenyon's website for more information

Review:
I really enjoyed getting back to the roots of the Dark Hunters series with Fang and Aimee's story. We've seen a lot of both of them in previous books, and in fact, their story shows us some past events from their perspectives, so it was fun to be reminded of how things began. These two have been pining for each other for a long time now but their romance is totally forbidden because she's a bear and he's a wolf. Aimee's family (her mother in particular) is all about protecting their bloodlines and she would never accept having a wolf for a son-in-law.

It was heartbreaking for poor Aimee to have to put her desires on hold because she knew she'd never get her mother's approval, she was torn between loyalty to her family and her love for Fang. I'd actually forgotten how dislikable her mother can be and I found myself really angry at her here but I did enjoy the love between Aimee and her brothers and how protective they all are of each other.

Fang has a very complicated relationship with his brothers Vane and Fury and we get to see that change throughout this story. He's had a pretty hard life so it was nice to see him finally gain acceptance and find his place in their family all while finding love with Aimee too. We also get to see a whole bunch of other familiar faces which is one of my favourite things about this series. The cast is so huge now that it can be hard to remember who everyone is but I think Sherrilyn Kenyon does a pretty good job of reminding us about important details without bogging down the story.

Fang and Aimee make a very sweet couple and I really enjoyed their romance. As always with this series there are plenty of other plots going on at the same time but their relationship never suffered and it was spread out over such a long period of time that it definitely wasn't rushed. It was fun to be reminded of events from some of the early books but it made me realise how much I've already forgotten so I guess a reread will be in order at some point. First I need to catch up with the new releases though and happily I've got a long way to go before that happens!

Source: Received from Piatkus in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Heart on Fire - Amanda Bouchet

US Cover

GODS. I’M AN IDIOT.
Without Griffin—and apparently a few meddling Gods—to push me along, I’d still be telling fortunes at the circus, lying about my past, ignoring my future, and living as far away from my tyrant mother as humanly possible.

True understanding thuds into place. Hope isn’t just an abstract concept; it’s me. Flesh and blood me. Griffin knew it all along. Probably everyone did. I’m an idea in human form.

I have the power of the Gods at my fingertips.
The only thing ever stopping me has been me.

The Kingmaker Chronicles:
A Promise of Fire
Breath of Fire
Heart on Fire

Visit Amanda Bouchet's website for more information

Review:
I've loved this series from the very beginning so I was pretty nervous about picking up the final book in the trilogy, I wanted it to end on a high note but at the same time I didn't really want it to end at all! I'm very glad that I can say my first wish came true but I still think there is plenty of scope for more stories set in this world so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I'll get my second wish too. I think Cat and Griffin's main story is done now but I wouldn't mind seeing them in the background while some of the other members of their group get a chance to shine - Carver, Flynn, Kato, Ianthe & Lycheron, a certain Titan we meet in this book, hell even Piers could have a story to tell! Anyway, enough of my hopes for the future, let's get back to discussing the book we've already been given shall we?

What can you expect from Heart on Fire? Cat has come a long way since the first book, she's started letting people into her heart and she's built a family around herself but she still doesn't quite trust herself or her powers. She's terrified of turning into her mother and that fear is stopping her from accessing her magic when she needs it the most. Everything Cat has already been through was nothing compared to what she must face here, now it's time to beat her inner demons and it's harder than she could have dreamed possible. I love how strong the relationship between Cat and Griffin is now and I love that they have such a strong support system around them with the Beta team, Griffin's family and even Cat's friends from her days in the circus. We've known all along that the Olympians have a vested interest in the couple's future but they've stayed pretty much in the background previously so it was nice to see a few familiar gods taking more major roles in this story.

I don't want to give anything away about the plot but you can expect shocking betrayals, surprise revelations, heart stopping action, plenty of heat between Cat and Griffin (although that was toned down slightly from the second book), strong bonds of friendship and the chance to catch up with all the characters we've fallen in love with throughout the series. This is one of the best fantasy romance series that I've come across in a long time and it's definitely one that has earned a spot on my favourites shelf. I can't wait to see what Amanda Bouchet comes up with next, whatever it is will definitely be an auto-buy but please, please, please at least give us some short stories or novellas in this world - I'm not ready to completely say goodbye to these characters yet!

Source: Received from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Valen - Felicity Heaton

Prince of the Underworld and Lord of Lightning, Valen was banished from his home by his father, Hades, two centuries ago and given a new duty and purpose—to keep our world and his from colliding in a calamity foreseen by the Moirai.

Together with his six brothers, he fights to defend the gates to the Underworld from daemons bent on breaching them and gaining entrance to that forbidden land, striving to protect his home from their dark influence. Cursed by Zeus to never know love again, Valen has brought up barriers around his heart to protect it, but with each new barrier he creates, the dark hold his power has over him grows, becoming all he needs.

Until the night he finally crosses paths with the assassin who has been watching him from the shadows, a bewitching mortal possessing the name of an angel and the skills of a devil—a woman who awakens his passionate heart and stirs dangerous desires.

Eva has built a fearsome reputation for herself in Italy’s underworld, but her latest job in her beloved city of Rome has left her feeling that she has stepped into a dangerous world and this mission might end in her death—either at the hands of her mysteriously seductive client or by the blade of the wickedly alluring warrior who is her target.

As the threat from the daemons escalates and more than just the Rome gate becomes their target, will Valen be strong enough to face the fears in his heart and the ghosts of his past to claim everything he desires or will they lure him deeper under their spell and into the darkness?

Guardians of Hades Series:
Ares
Valen
Esher
Marek

Visit Felicity Heaton's website for more information

Review:
Valen is the second book in Felicity Heaton's Guardians of Hades series and I have to admit I wasn't sure what I'd make of Valen because he wasn't exactly the nicest of the brothers in the previous book. I know Felicity is brilliant at changing my minds about her characters though and she proved that again here, I think I actually ended up loving Valen even more than Ares!

Valen's ability revolves around controlling lightening which makes him a powerful enemy to have and someone you definitely want at your back in a battle. He also has a curse that we weren't aware of before though, one laid on him by Zeus before the brothers were exiled to earth to protect the gates to the Underworld. I don't want to talk much about what he did to earn the curse or what the curse actually entails but once you know the details and start to see the way it effects him it makes it much easier to understand why he's so standoffish compared to the others. I didn't really notice in the first book that the brothers all treat him differently to the way they treat each other but it kind of broke my heart seeing how on the outside he always was around them.

Eva is an assassin who was initially hired to track Valen's movements and report back to her employer but the requests he makes of her have started to become more and more strange and she's now really worried for her own safety if she doesn't follow through on what she's promised. She had no clue about the supernatural creatures around her and now she's caught up in the middle of a battle that has been going on for centuries. As a normal human she doesn't stand a chance against gods and daemons but she has a few skills up her sleeve and most importantly she has the will to survive so she'll do whatever it takes to make sure she comes out on top, even if it means allying herself with the man she was initially sent to kill.

I thought Valen and Eva were great together and what I loved most was the way Eva was willing to stand up to Valen's brothers on his behalf. She saw things about Valen that none of the others have ever noticed and she really gave them a few much needed home truths about the way they treated him. They had brilliant chemistry but they also made great partners in battle and even though Eva isn't as physically powerful as Valen she fights by his side and always has his back. We get to see plenty of the other brothers too and as much as I loved Valen I'm practically dying of curiosity about Esher now. I'm so excited that his book is next and I can't wait to read it!

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Dream Warrior - Sherrilyn Kenyon

Cratus, the son of Warcraft and Hate, spent eternity battling for the ancient gods who birthed him. He was death to any who crossed him. Until the day he laid down his arms and walked into self-imposed exile. Now an ancient enemy has been unleashed and our dreams are his chosen battlefield. And the only hope we have is the one god who swears he will never fight again.

As a Dream-Hunter, Delphine has spent eternity protecting mankind from the predators who prey on our unconscious state. But now that her allies have been turned, she knows, in order to survive, the Dream-Hunters need another leader. Someone who can train them to fight their new enemies. Cratus is her only hope. But she is a bitter reminder of why he chose to lay down his arms. Time is running out and if she can't win him to her cause, mankind will be slaughtered and the world we know will soon cease to exist.

The Dark-Hunters Series:
The Beginning (Short Story)
Fantasy Lover
Dragonswan (Novella) (Were-Hunter 0.5)
Night Pleasures
Night Embrace
Dance with the Devil
Kiss of the Night
Night Play (Were-Hunter 1)
Seize the Night
Sins of the Night
Unleash the Night (Were-Hunter 2)
Dark Side of the Moon (Were-Hunter 3)
The Dream-Hunter (Dream-Hunter 1)
Fear the Darkness (Short Story)
Devil May Cry
Upon the Midnight Clear (Dream-Hunter 2)
Dream Chaser (Dream-Hunter 3)
Acheron
One Silent Night
Dream Warrior (Dream-Hunter 4)
Bad Moon Rising (Hellchaser 1, Were-Hunter 4)
Dark-Hunter: An Insider's Guide (Hellchaser 2)
No Mercy (Were-Hunter 5)
Retribution
The Guardian (Dream-Hunter 5, Were-Hunter 6, Hellchaser 3)
Time Untime (Were-Hunter 7, Hellchaser 4)
Styxx
Dark Bites (Short Story Anthology)
Son of No One (Were-Hunter 8, Hellchaser 5)
Dragonbane (Were-Hunter 9, Hellchaser 6)
Dragonmark (2016)

Chronicles of Nick Series:
(This is a YA spin off from Sherrilyn Kenyon's adult Dark-Hunters series)
Infinity
Invincible
Infamous
Inferno
Illusion
Instinct
Invasion
Intensity

Visit Sherrilyn Kenyon's website for more information

Review:
After being disappointed by One Silent Night it's taken a while before I felt the urge to pick up another book in the Dark-Hunters series and as much as I've loved some of the earlier books (and Acheron's story in particular!) I have to say I didn't have particularly high expectations for Dream Warrior since it's about characters I don't remember seeing before and therefore didn't feel invested in. I should have known better though because Sherrilyn Kenyon rarely steers me wrong and this book was everything I could have hoped for.

As the son of the gods of Warcraft and Hate Cratus never had an easy life. He spent centuries following Zeus's orders and carrying out punishments on his behalf but when he was asked to kill an innocent child he couldn't bring himself to go through with it. As punishment for refusing to commit murder Cratus was stripped of his godhood and sent into exile on the human realm. For hundreds of years Cratus has lived amongst the humans being tortured nightly by the Dolophoni, he has been kept in isolation and has spent all his time stewing in hatred and wishing for revenge. Now Zeus realises he needs Cratus's help against a mutual enemy who wishes to destroy the world so he sends Dream-Hunter Delphine to try and convince Cratus to put his hatred to one side and ally himself with the gods once more.

I don't want to talk more about the plot so I'll just say that Dream Warrior was a really fun and very easy read. I liked both of the main characters and although they fell in love quite quickly that didn't bother me in the slightest so I found it very easy to cheer them on towards their HEA. There was plenty of humour and action, we're introduced to some new evil characters who will potentially take the series in a new direction and we get cameo appearances from some of our favourite characters from previous books. This was a nice set up for a new story arc and I'm very interested to see where the series goes from here so it definitely won't take me as long to pick up the next book as it did to get to this one.

Source: Received from Piatkus in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Breath of Fire - Amanda Bouchet

US Cover

SHE'S DESTINED TO DESTROY THE WORLD...

"Cat" Catalia Fisa has been running from her destiny since she could crawl. But now, her newfound loved ones are caught between the shadow of Cat's tortured past and the threat of her world-shattering future. So what's a warrior queen to do when she knows it's her fate to be the harbinger of doom? Everything in her power.

BUT NOT IF SHE CAN HELP IT
Griffin knows Cat is destined to change the world—for the better. As the realms are descending into all-out war, Cat and Griffin risk sacrificing everything they’ve fought for. Gods willing, they will emerge side-by-side in the heart of their future kingdom...or die trying.

The Kingmaker Chronicles:
A Promise of Fire
Breath of Fire
Heart on Fire

Visit Amanda Bouchet's website for more information

Review:
Breath of Fire picks up immediately after A Promise of Fire ends and it really throws us in at the deep end when Griffin reacts rather badly to finding out one of Cat's biggest secrets. I have to admit I was more than a little disappointed with the way he reacted mainly because he's known all along that she has some pretty big skeletons in her closet and she's never tried to hide that from him. There are some very emotional scenes between them and I was worried for a minute we were going to end up having a long and drawn out argument that continued for half the book but luckily that didn't happen and I loved that they were able to resolve things quite quickly.

I could understand why Griffin was upset because he felt she didn't trust him but at the same time it was easy to see why Cat found it difficult to be upfront with him, she was terrified of losing him because she didn't think he'd want her when he found out about her background. Anyway, they're both fighters who will do whatever it takes to get what they want and they have a very passionate and fiery relationship so it doesn't take long for them to work things through and be able to move forward.

There is a lot going on in this book, we get to spend time with not just Cat and Griffin but also Griffin's family and the rest of his band from the first book. I love that everyone has a role to play and that it isn't always Cat and Griffin working together, sometimes they have to go in different directions to achieve their goals but they trust each other enough to play their part and keep themselves alive until they can be reunited. Griffin probably struggles with that more than Cat does but he does have faith in her abilities even if he wants to be the one to protect her and have her back as much as possible. I just think it's great that they're learning together and they're all involved in the decision making.

Cat has a pivotal role in the series and it's a role she never really wanted and certainly didn't ask for. Griffin is initially the one who is pushing her in that direction but once she starts to think things through she realises how inevitable it is. There is plenty of action along the way and they have to watch out for meddling gods who are sometimes more of a hinderance than a help but it's definitely fun to see what they get up to. This series has definitely become a favourite and I absolutely can't wait to get my hands on the final book, Heart on Fire.

Source: Received from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

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Review: A Promise of Fire - Amanda Bouchet

US Cover

KINGDOMS WILL RISE AND FALL FOR HER...

“Cat” Catalia Fisa lives disguised as a soothsayer in a traveling circus. She is perfectly content avoiding the danger and destiny the Gods—and her homicidal mother—have saddled her with. That is, until Griffin, an ambitious warlord from the magic-deprived south, fixes her with his steely gaze and upsets her illusion of safety forever.

BUT NOT IF SHE CAN HELP IT

Griffin knows Cat is the Kingmaker, the woman who divines the truth through lies. He wants her as a powerful weapon for his newly conquered realm—until he realizes he wants her for much more than her magic. Cat fights him at every turn, but Griffin’s fairness, loyalty, and smoldering advances make him increasingly hard to resist and leave her wondering if life really does have to be short, and lived alone.

The Kingmaker Chronicles:
A Promise of Fire
Breath of Fire
Heart on Fire

Visit Amanda Bouchet's website for more information

Review:
Every so often a book comes along that surprises you and that's exactly what happened with A Promise of Fire. I saw it was getting some incredibly positive reviews but that just made me more nervous in case it had been over hyped, thankfully that wasn't the case though and this is an impressive debut from Amanda Bouchet that's left me with incredibly high hopes for the Kingmaker Chronicles. The author has created an interesting and well thought out world but where she really excels is with her characters and I totally fell in love with all of them here.

Cat has been hiding in plain sight since she escaped from her powerful and ruthless family several years ago, she works as a fortune teller in a travelling circus and has done her best to keep her true powers hidden from the people around her. She wants no part of the destiny that the gods saddled her with and just wants to be able to live her life in peace. Griffin is pretty sure that she's the Kingmaker, someone with the rare ability to tell when people around her are lying, and he desperately needs her help to ensure his non magical family are able to maintain their crown when they're up against enemies whose abilities are far greater. Cat has no intention of coming out of hiding to help him so he does the only thing he can think of and takes her captive.

I have to admit that I was nervous about that very early development in the story, I'm not a huge fan of heroes who kidnap their leading ladies and literally tie themselves to her for the first quarter of a book, especially when there is a romance involved. Let's face it, potential Stockholm Syndrome isn't very sexy is it? But Amanda Bouchet managed to not only make it work but to make me enjoy every minute of it. I liked that we got enough information about Griffin's motivations to understand why he did the things he did even if I didn't always agree with his choices but what I liked even more was that Cat wasn't a passive captive. She didn't just automatically follow his lead and she fought him every step of the way. She wasn't at all happy about the situation she found herself in and her reactions were completely believable.

Cat is a fabulous character, she's quite a tomboy and she's very open in her dislike of Griffin and his band of men. She pushes and pushes at them and even though there is some immediate chemistry between her and Griffin she absolutely refuses to act on it when he's holding her prisoner. I loved that the relationship between them develops slowly, Cat gradually comes to respect Griffin as she gets to know him and sees the way he treats the people around him. She's used to dealing with royalty that treat their subjects like dirt so she's shocked that he genuinely cares about his men and fights alongside them. Griffin isn't at all the man she first thought he was and it's only when she starts to see beyond the kidnapping that she starts to fall for him.

Griffin is one of those heroes that does things that you know logically should make you hate him but that you find yourself falling for anyway. To be fair, aside from the kidnapping he was a pretty great guy and when you find out why he did what he did it becomes much harder to vilify him for it. I'm not trying to justify his actions because he was totally in the wrong but he was trying to make the best of a bad situation and he was doing it to protect his family and the people he cares about so it's hard to hate him for it. It took time for him to trust that Cat would help his family and she's still keeping a pretty major secret from him but I enjoyed their relationship so much. I also really enjoyed seeing him with his men and I loved the banter between the whole group, especially when Cat had been added into the mix. She earned the respect of everyone around her and just fitted in with them like she was meant to be there.

A Promise of Fire was full of action, suspense and humour, the romance element was done perfectly and the world building was brilliant. It's a story that sucked me in on the first page and kept me completely hooked until the last, I was actually annoyed when real life got in the way and I had to put it down. I loved both the setting and the characters and I can't wait to see what happens next.

Source: Received from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

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