Review: Alterant (Belador #2) by Sherrilyn Kenyon & Dianna Love

Title: Alterant
Series: Belador #2
Authors: Sherrilyn Kenyon | Website
& Dianna Love | Website
Available: Now
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Reading Level: Adult
Source: Publisher (Thanks!)


*Possible Series Spoilers Below*






Synopsis via Goodreads:


From #1 New York Times bestselling author Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love comes the second book in the Belador series—featuring a league of international warriors with extraordinary abilities who rise up to save mankind from supernatural terrorists.


On the heels of saving mankind from destruction at the hands of the Medb coven, Evalle attempts to convince the Tribunal that she is an Alterant who can be trusted around humans. But the gods and goddess ruling over this Tribunal twist words she’d uttered in the heat of combat and hold her responsible for three dangerous Alterants that escaped their prisons. She is given a choice to either recapture those three who will lose their freedom forever or face the same sentence. Unsure that she can condemn another Alterant to a life she’d die before accepting, Evalle takes on an impossible task only to learn that the entire future of the Beladors rides on her success—and the only person who can help her is the one who wants to gut her.

My thoughts:

Alterant takes us back to an Atlanta bursting with all kinds of preternatural characters. I really liked the first book in this series and was excited to see what adventures (maybe predicaments would be a better word) Evalle would take part in next. 

I'm not sure if it was because of the amount of time that had passed since I read book one, Blood Trinity, but I had difficulty getting invested in Alterant during the first 100 or so pages. The world Kenyon and Love created is unbelievably complex. I found this to be both an asset and a hindrance. There was so very much happening along with a massive cast of characters. I was left feeling a little overwhelmed. Thankfully, events from Blood Trinity eventually started to come back to me, and I was able to remember how everyone was connected. The large cast also possessed an array of unusual names that I found myself stumbling over quite a bit. The ARC copy did have a glossary in the back. I definitely recommend using it. If you visit Sherrilyn Kenyon’s website she has a super cool character section complete with pictures. I referred to it numerous times while reading. It can be found here. 

The Belador series doesn't contain the amount of romance you would typically expect from Kenyon. If you dig urban fantasy you'll eat this up. If you’re more of a paranormal romance fan you might be left underwhelmed. There is a little more smoochy time in Alterant than Blood Trinity.  Evalle's traumatizing past, and the resulting emotional scars, cause her not to be super comfortable with lots of mushy romance. I totally respect that and like her even more because of it. If she forgot all her troubles because a hot guy showed an interest I’d have a problem finding it believable. I love the way the authors have handled the traumas Evalle has suffered and the slow going process of healing . They could rush it and make Evalle fall victim to insta-love, but they chose a pacing that is perfect, consistent and believable. I can't wait to see how her character evolves as this series continues. I have to say I'm not feeling the chemistry with Storm though. A little more Black Ops Isak would make me a very happy girl :)  

While I had trouble initially, I did thoroughly enjoy the last 200 pages of Alterant, but still felt it didn’t live up to Blood Trinity. I will still continue the series because I really like Evalle and am patiently waiting for Isak’s reaction when he figures out she isn’t just a human girl who attracts paranormal trouble. 

My Rating:

Books in this series:

Review: No Mercy by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Title: No Mercy
Series: Dark-Hunter #19
Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon
Available: Now
Reading Level: Adult


4 out of 5 Stars








Description from Goodreads:


Live fast, fight hard and, if you have to die, then take as many of your enemies with you as you can. That is the Amazon credo and it was one Samia lived and died by. Now in contemporary New Orleans, the immortal Amazon warrior is about to learn that there’s a worse evil coming to slaughter mankind than she’s ever faced before. 

Shapeshifter Dev Peltier has stood guard at the front of Sanctuary for almost two hundred years and in that time, he’s seen it all. Or so he thought. Now their enemies have discovered a new source of power--one that makes a mockery of anything faced to date. 

The war is on and Dev and Sam are guarding ground zero. But in order to win, they will have to break the most cardinal of all rules and pray it doesn’t unravel the universe as we know it.

My thoughts:

The Dark-Hunters series is one that I’m always saying I’ll catch up on. I read the first, and fell in love with Sherrilyn Kenyon’s story telling. When the opportunity to review the newest addition to this much loved series arose, I said sure because according to most readers this is a series you don’t have to read in order. Thank goodness they were telling the truth. I had no problems figuring out the workings of the world in which the Dark-Hunters and Were-Hunters reside, and suffered only mild confusion when it came to boss guy Acheron and the peculiar Nick. I’m not sure if reading previous books would help clear that up or not because both guys seem to harbor many secrets along with a mutual dislike of each other.

I was immediately engrossed by the story of Dev and Sam. Dev is a shapeshifter who works at his family owned bar as a bouncer. He has experienced more than his fair share of grief during his longer than average life. Sam is a former Amazonian warrior (Very cool!) who made a deal that she’d get to take revenge on those that killed her family in exchange for becoming a Dark-Hunter. Living with the constant pain of the loss she felt so many years ago, she never expected to be happy again. Unable to even touch others because of her empath abilities coupled with her Dark-Hunter responsibilities, she has resigned to living the life of a loner. Then she meets Dev who is a closed book to her, and she can’t seem to fight the attraction. She is falling for him and he for her, but unfortunately this is against the rules. That isn’t enough to stop these two from a few forbidden kisses and more. Of course a paranormal romance isn’t complete without bad guys trying to stir up trouble. There is plenty of trouble making, along with a healthy dose of romance and sizzling chemistry between the two main characters.

After finishing No Mercy the first thought that occurred was why the heck haven’t I read books 2-18. Author, Sherrilyn Kenyon, has such an amazing ability to create fascinating plots weaved with greek mythology, and super hot couples. I’ve also found my newest book boyfriend, Ethon. I truly hope he is featured more prominently in future novels because I think I might be in love ♥

Dev is a super sweet and likable guy. He has lost so many people that are close to him, but isn’t nearly as jaded as one would expect. Sam comes off all kick your ass biker chick in leather, but has a kind heart under the tough exterior. They are a perfect match. Things progress quickly between the lovely couple this book focuses on, but this is something I’ve come to expect and accept in this genre. Only complaint was the ending seemed rush. We spent all this time building up to this super battle only to have it over before this reader was ready. No Mercy is still a fascinating and enjoyable read, but the execution of the ending could have been paced better. 

This is a series all paranormal romance fans need to check out. Of course I might just be the last PNR fan to experience the fabulousness that is Sherrilyn Kenyon.

Sherrilyn Kenyon on the web:

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Source: Publisher

Teaser Tuesday (18)

"Teaser Tuesday" is hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. 

Check out her blog for all the details.

My teaser this week comes from No Mercy (Dark-Hunter #19) by Sherrilyn Kenyon. 

“I am a seriously sick woman. Only the deranged could think a man covered in paranormal snot was hot.”

p. 46

Giveaway: Blood Trinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon & Dianna Love

Supernatural warriors bound by an extraordinary code of honor face an ultimate test of loyalty in the exciting new paranormal thriller from New York Times bestselling authors Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love.

Atlanta has become the battlefield between human and demon. All her life, Evalle Kincaid has walked the line between the two. Her origins unknown, she’s on a quest to learn more about her past . . . and her future.

When a demon claims a young woman in a terrifying attack and there’s no one else to blame, Evalle comes under suspicion. Now she’s on a deadly quest for her own survival. Through the sordid underground of an alternate Atlanta where nothing is as it seems to the front lines of the city, where her former allies have joined forces to hunt her, Evalle must prove her innocence or pay the ultimate price.

But saving herself is the least of her problems if she doesn’t stop the coming apocalypse. The clock is ticking and Atlanta is about to catch fire. . . .

Blood Trinity is the first in Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love’s Belador series.

Read my review here!

I have one copy up for grabs.

Rules:

Open to residents of the U.S & Canada

Please fill out this form to enter

Contest ends 12/31

Review: Blood Trinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon & Dianna Love (Blog Tour)

Title: Blood Trinity
Series: Belador #1
Authors: Sherrilyn Kenyon & Dianna Love
Available: Now
Reading Level: Adult


4 out of 5 Stars








Description from Goodreads:


Atlanta has become the battlefield between human and demon. All her life, Evalle has walked the line between the two. Her origins unknown, she’s on a quest to learn more about her past and her future. 

But when a demon claims a human and there’s no one else to blame, Evalle comes under fire. It’s no longer a question of learning about herself, it’s a question of survival. Through the underground of an alternate Atlanta where nothing is as it seems to the battleground of where her VIPER allies have become the force that is now hunting her, Evalle must prove her innocence or pay the ultimate price. 

But proving her innocence is the least of her problems if she doesn’t stop the coming apocalypse. The clock is ticking and it’s about to become a lot hotter in Atlanta


My thoughts:


Evalle is an anomaly among anomalies. She has a heritage that links her to the Belador tribe, but is treated like an outcast because of her lack of pure blood. To others she is known as an Alterant. This is the name given to half-breed Beladors who have the ability to shift into a beast and endanger society. Evalle has no idea what else her genetic makeup is composed of.  She was raised by an aunt who kept her locked in the basement, and her lips sealed shut when it came to questions about Evalle’s absent parents. Evalle now works for an organization that helps to keep the non-humans in Atlanta under control. She also continues to try to prove herself to her tribe. Evalle is constantly trying to show them she isn’t like the others that have been locked away, and that she has control over the beast inside her. Now a suspicious murder has taken place, and Evalle will have to prove yet again she wasn’t involved, while also preventing the foreseen destruction of the world as she knows it.


Main character Evalle is definitely a card carrying member of the Badass Chick Club. Not only does she ride a motorcycle and have a gargoyle for a pet, but she takes crap from no one. I loved her sassiness, and how she continually gave those that wanted to take her down the finger (figuratively speaking of course), all while showing little regard for the position of authority they held  My favorite part is that underneath the tough exterior she was a bit of a softie when it comes to those she holds dear. Always true to her word, and willing to do anything to save a friend or the tribe who merely tolerated her. 


This book had a lot of characters. Some may consider this a fault, but I felt the authors did what was needed to set us up for a very intricate world. With over 500 pages full of nonstop action, character backgrounds, and world building we get a very extensive look into the alternate Atlanta. Imagine my surprise when I reached the end as quickly as I did. I didn’t want to put this one down, and the 500+ pages flew by. 


My only complaint, and what held me back from giving it 5 stars is that at times I felt like I was missing “something”. When a few of the characters were introduced I felt like I should be aware of their past relationships with other characters. It had me wondering if this was a spinoff of another series. While browsing Ms. Love’s website, I discovered there is a short story featuring characters from Blood Trinity. I plan to track down a copy so I can get a little more background on the characters in this series.


In Blood Trinity, Dianna Love and Sherrilyn Kenyon have teamed up to bring us an exciting new Urban Fantasy series. They took the Urban Fantasy genre and made it their own with preternatural characters I haven’t seen in other UF novels. I loved the pet gargoyle, Feenix, even if he had a bit of a potty mouth ;) The world they all inhabit was brilliantly complex. Filled with fiction as well as references to the lore of many different cultures. Blood Trinity is s a fascinating read that kept me turning the pages wanting more. I’m eager to see where this series takes us next.

Source: Provided by the publisher in exchange for my participation in the Blood Trinity blog tour.