Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsAwesome book
Reviewed in the United States ๐บ๐ธ on February 4, 2010
I loved this book.
Lucien, one of the Lords of the Underworld, Keeper of Death and the leader of this band of Lords is an awesome character. I liked him from the beginning and never stopped. I love that we get a taste for his abilities, but he's so controlled we never fully realize his power, the author managed to surprise me in his **SPOILER ALERT**defeating of the Hydra**END SPOILER (had to see that one coming, just not how!)**.
Anya is the "minor" Goddess of Anarchy and when we're first introduced to her, I really did not like her and had no idea how this could possibly be the heroine of the book. The seductive "sultress" (yes I believe I'm making up words..) we're first introduced to luckily gives way to the Anya after page 10ish (on a Kindle, no sense of pages). It starts to become clear that as her name dictates, she's not a by-the-rules type woman. She's a complete klepto and that is her way of satisfying her baser "anarchy" needs. Her name calling was a little odd, like she referred to Lucien as flowers...? I thought maybe the author was about to unveil Lucien loved roses or something and thats why he smelled like flowers? But no, nothing ever came of it. It was just a nickname she had...that was odd. Lucien just rationalized it by thinking she makes up quirky names for those she wants to keep at a distance, I can accept that.
All the while the story between Lucien and Anya is happening, in quick summary****ANOTHER SPOILER FOLKS****, Lucien collects souls and often has to drop what he's doing to see to the task (this isn't an annoying story delay, actually I loved that we saw this side of Lucien's life). Anya was gifted, by her Father, who was the keeper of the prison, the "All-Key" which means she can never be locked up/confined by giving her the power to "flash" wherever she wants. Anya also has a curse that could forever and ever bind her to one man. Cronus has just (just being a relative term) defeated Zeus and escaped prison and wants the All-Key to avoid future entrapment. Anya needs to give it willingly or if dead to someone other then her killer can claim it. Giving of the all-key weakens the giver, loses their memory to boot. Cronus, the new King, demands Lucien kill Anya.****SPOILER OVER**** This makes for some pretty fun scenes between Lucien and Anya; as the tension between them builds, so does the romance. And all the little rules of character roles/nuances played out very well and in the end since I'm a sucker for (and expect) a happy ending I was able to assume what would happen. Giving up all for love 'n all that, but I still enjoyed reading it play out.
Can't wait to pick up the next by this author!
Wow... too early for me. Started the above without finishing the thought! So editing the review... Anyways all the while the story between Lucien and Anya is happening, we get a taste into the lives of the other Lords of the Underworlds. Lucien is threatened by Cronus and the only thing he initially can be threatened with is the destruction of his friends. So throughout the book, we learn more of his friends and are of course tempted to pick up their stories. Please read and enjoy!