Helpful Score: 7
Finally a mythology-centric, paranormal romance novel that delivers an intelligent story! It is *exceedingly* difficult to find a romance novel that creates a mythological world that doesn't include campy, cardboard villains that could have been taken directly out of such tv disasters as Hercules or Xena. It is even more hard to find intelligent stories that incorporate ancient Egyptian or Greek mythology without falling into the obvious blunders that scream out the author's reliance more on layman stereotypes than good research. Yes this is a pet peeve of mine. If you're going to have Greek mythology as crucial to your story then know that it's Heracles NOT Hercules (Hercules is Roman!!!!) or please stop treating Hades like he's interchangeable with Satan. And just because something has an ancient Egyptian theme doesn't mean your plot doesn't have to make sense simply because you've made up your own pseudo-Egyptian magic. These are just some of the really common, irritating problems I keep running into everytime I pick up a paranormal romance novel that involves Greek or Egyptian mythology in the plot line. I've gotten to the point where I don't even give these stories a chance anymore.
But something about this novel made me take a chance. I think it was that the author didn't try and make a story about something common and overdone--like the pharaohs Tutankhamun or Ramses; the Egyptian gods Ra, Horus, or Osiris; nor is Zeus, a demigod, a war god or warrior brotherhood paramount to this story. The author shows an intelligent grasp of ancient world mythology and plays with it in a way that is subtle, diverse, educated, and most importantly new. Each chapter begins with a verse from the Book of the Dead, the underworld gods of all religions are treated (so far) with respect, and there are new elements that make this story the author's own without stepping haphazardly all over the mythology from which it descends. I like that the hero is the son of the unpopular god Set and there is a sense of subtle humor in the description of Set's millennia long feud with Osiris and Aset (Isis). I like that Isis is the true power behind the Osiris/Isis relationship. I like that other, usually forgotten, Egyptian gods make fun cameos.
I realize that for most people this review will have no bearing on whether they choose to read the novel or not. But for those few people who, like me, are frustrated with poor research and cardboard characters in mythology or ancient history-centric romance novels, then I hope this will assuage their fears about picking up this particular novel. I very much enjoyed the world it creates from a writer's and a classicist's point of view.
I also liked the romance which was very combustive. Normally I don't like romances that seem more erotically charged than based on true love if that makes sense. But something indefinable (for me) made me truly believe in the love between the characters despite their short time together on the pages--much of which was through steamy dreams. The world is gritty and brings to mind Larissa Ione's style in her Demonica series. It brings to mind Larissa Ione but it very much stands on its own as unique and exciting.
But something about this novel made me take a chance. I think it was that the author didn't try and make a story about something common and overdone--like the pharaohs Tutankhamun or Ramses; the Egyptian gods Ra, Horus, or Osiris; nor is Zeus, a demigod, a war god or warrior brotherhood paramount to this story. The author shows an intelligent grasp of ancient world mythology and plays with it in a way that is subtle, diverse, educated, and most importantly new. Each chapter begins with a verse from the Book of the Dead, the underworld gods of all religions are treated (so far) with respect, and there are new elements that make this story the author's own without stepping haphazardly all over the mythology from which it descends. I like that the hero is the son of the unpopular god Set and there is a sense of subtle humor in the description of Set's millennia long feud with Osiris and Aset (Isis). I like that Isis is the true power behind the Osiris/Isis relationship. I like that other, usually forgotten, Egyptian gods make fun cameos.
I realize that for most people this review will have no bearing on whether they choose to read the novel or not. But for those few people who, like me, are frustrated with poor research and cardboard characters in mythology or ancient history-centric romance novels, then I hope this will assuage their fears about picking up this particular novel. I very much enjoyed the world it creates from a writer's and a classicist's point of view.
I also liked the romance which was very combustive. Normally I don't like romances that seem more erotically charged than based on true love if that makes sense. But something indefinable (for me) made me truly believe in the love between the characters despite their short time together on the pages--much of which was through steamy dreams. The world is gritty and brings to mind Larissa Ione's style in her Demonica series. It brings to mind Larissa Ione but it very much stands on its own as unique and exciting.
Helpful Score: 2
It was really refreshing to read a great adult paranormal book after such a long streak of YA. Don't get me wrong, I love YA, but every now and then I just have to get away from the teen angst and read about mature adults! This book definitely hit the spot. It was action-packed from the first page to the last. I loved the world that was built here. Dagan being a "soul-reaper" was a new concept for me and a great new paranormal type for me to love, and he was just uber-sexy. A compelling storyline that made me keep turning the pages late until the night. The mystery that unfolded throughout had me on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what has happened and what might happen next.
The characters were great. Dagan was a strong, passionate male lead. He knew who he was and what he wanted and did whatever was necessary to make that happen. Roxy was my absolute favorite, she's smart--mouthed and edgy. A strong woman that is a rival for the most bulled-headed male, which I absolutely love. She's confused about what she is, but instead of sitting around whining about the cards that was dealt to her, she takes it all in stride and fights for the answers she wants.
This was a great start to the series, great world-building that was revealed along with the action so that you weren't reading page upon page of it and getting bored. We're left with a cliff-hanger, but not one that's so bad it makes you want to smack the author, but definitely has you jonesing to pick up the next in the series. I recommend this one to any paranormal/urban fantasy fan! I can't wait to pick up the next Underkin novel and dive in!
The characters were great. Dagan was a strong, passionate male lead. He knew who he was and what he wanted and did whatever was necessary to make that happen. Roxy was my absolute favorite, she's smart--mouthed and edgy. A strong woman that is a rival for the most bulled-headed male, which I absolutely love. She's confused about what she is, but instead of sitting around whining about the cards that was dealt to her, she takes it all in stride and fights for the answers she wants.
This was a great start to the series, great world-building that was revealed along with the action so that you weren't reading page upon page of it and getting bored. We're left with a cliff-hanger, but not one that's so bad it makes you want to smack the author, but definitely has you jonesing to pick up the next in the series. I recommend this one to any paranormal/urban fantasy fan! I can't wait to pick up the next Underkin novel and dive in!
Helpful Score: 1
It's a great read with creative use of the underworld and lots of different gods an goddesses. Dagan and Roxy are actually very sweet. I also love that Roxy knows her limitations and runs away to fight another day.
I recommend reading this series in order. If you don't, you won't exactly be lost but information would be redundant.
I recommend reading this series in order. If you don't, you won't exactly be lost but information would be redundant.
This was pretty good. I really liked both Dagan and Roxy. I really liked the (very different) take on mythology. I felt the ending was a bit abrupt/rushed. Also not found out- what exactly happened with Lokan, but several pieces are put in place. This is a 4 book series, so I bet everything doesn't fit until book 4 (I looked and this is Lokan's story).
This book has been in my review pile for a while, the cover and title are tempting enough but the back blurb however always drew me back away from it. It sounded interesting but not interesting enough. And that's how the story was, it was interesting enough to make me curious as to how it would all go but it wasn't interesting enough to make me want to stick it out to the end. I found the hero and the story idea fascinating but the heroine and the plot less than spectacular. The heroine was a bit two faced in the sense that she gets all worked up if someone uses words that could be "offensive" yet doesn't mind tossing out a few racial slurs or using words that could be used as an insult herself. Of course this is all because she had a crappy life so she puts up this I'm big, bad, and tough and don't need anyone's help front to insure no one screws with her. But there was just something that doesn't spark my interest in her enough to want to know more about her or to find out what makes her tick.
The killer of Dagen's youngest brother was obvious I knew right away from the second I found out he had been killed who it had been. Yes, I like guessing who the bad guys are in stories but come on give me some sort of wild goose chase before I nail the bastard.
Anyways, I managed to get to the halfway point of this book before I realized I was no longer reading it rather than mostly skimming it. I won't be continuing on with this series.
The killer of Dagen's youngest brother was obvious I knew right away from the second I found out he had been killed who it had been. Yes, I like guessing who the bad guys are in stories but come on give me some sort of wild goose chase before I nail the bastard.
Anyways, I managed to get to the halfway point of this book before I realized I was no longer reading it rather than mostly skimming it. I won't be continuing on with this series.
Sins of the Heart, not sinful enough. The characters were deep enough to force me through this to the end. However, for a demonic driven story plot there was not enough blood shed, malicious deceit, revenge, or sex for me to say this was worth my valuable time. I got sick of repeated phrases, and way too many loose ends. Occasionally an optimistic gem would surface (Dagan offering his heart on a platter to be judged while in the kingdom of Osirus was fantastic. This included with a reference back to how he found Roxy was great). However, I could easily put this one down and walk away. I will not be reading the next, despite the cliffhamburger.
I was given this book four years ago in a swag bag. It took four years to finish the series but not because it was bad, on the contrary, it was worth waiting to obtain copies of the remaining series!
