Whitney C. (CollegeKid0010) - reviewed on 5/29/2011 + 19 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 3

I have to say that for the book I anticipated most in this series, I am really disappointed. I feel the boy-meets-girl part of the plot is reused from previous LOTU novels; the characters are developed funny, if at all; I still have questions pertaining to Haidee; and I dont get to see any of my other favorite peeps.

I thought the beginning was interesting. You learn a decent amount about Amun and Haidee because theyre confined to a single room with only themselves and a lot of random, seemingly conflicting information. I feel that part was probably difficult to write, but it was nicely done. However, I dont like that the first ¼ of the book is limited solely to that room. Part of the beauty of the series is that you can watch the other characters develop and interact. Keeping Amun and Haidee in that room really got to me after fifty pages and I nearly put the book down. When it does cut to another Lord, its Strider. Dont get me wrong, I love Defeat as much as the next, but I wanted to see the others too. Them being scattered all over creation with different excuses wasnt something I liked either.

There are three scenes I want to comment on. The first is when Amun and Haidee mentally relive her wedding night (while in Hell) using Amuns ability to read minds. Thats cool because it does show some of how Haidee got to be where she is, but it also shows that the Lords were indeed once savage murderers and that now, in comparison, theyre quiet tame.

The second is actually two separate but connected scenes that also took place in Hell. I understand wanting to make Hell a real world instead of just this bottomless, fiery pit, but give me a break. They are safe enough to have sex (and for her to be screaming) and later to alter the physical stone to take a bath? It made me laugh because it took so much away from the reputation of the place and what it could have been in terms of terror and danger. Also the multiple little lady comments didnt do it for me.

The last scene is the one with the Horseman and it is. Just. Strange. After the two suddenly decide to completely abandon the warning not to trust anyone without much ado, theyre brought right to the Horsemen by a little demon who thinks their encounter will be fun. I know you have to up the ante when youre dealing with bad-ass demons but who agrees to have their hands and feet chopped off in a card game, while in Hell? Amun does!

I really wanted to like this book. Amuns story was the one I was looking forward to the most, but I had a hard time enjoying it. I read it mostly because its LOTU. Amun was supposed to be the dark, broody one, but lacked anything romantic or broody. And Haidee was all right, but she didnt have that sizzle, that punch, that other LOTU heroines have had before her.

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