Tuesday, November 15, 2011

The Guardian (Dark-Hunter #21, Dream-Hunter #5) by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Description:

Dream-Hunter Lydia has been charged with the most sacred and dangerous of missions: To descend into the Nether Realm and find the missing god of dreams before he betrays the secrets that could kill her and her kind. What she never expects is to be taken prisoner by the Realm’s most vicious guardian… 
Seth’s time is running out. If he can’t hand over the entrance to Olympus, his own life and those of his people will be forfeit. No matter the torture, Seth hasn’t been able to break the god in his custody. Then there’s the beautiful Dream-Hunter Lydia: She isn’t just guarding the gates of Olympus—she’s holding back one of the world’s darkest powers. If she fails, an ancient curse will haunt the earth once more and no one will be safe. But evil is always seductive...

Yes, yes... you may laugh now. I've done it again. I've read out of order. Okay, done laughing. Fine, we will wait a few minutes more to let you get it out of your system. *taps foot* Better now? *hands over a hankie* Okay, I'll get on the review now.

I have to say that I loved this book and devoured it quickly. Seth is one handsome demi-god that despite the fact he is evil's right hand man will break your heart. Seth is not in the underworld as a willing employee, but as a broken slave. In fact what breaks your heart is that Seth has never known love or kindness. Any he thought he was given was laced with betrayal. Not one person had ever shown him anything else. Even so, he develops a moral center and a strength of character that allows him to endure the pain and humiliation he is given daily.

We also have Lydia. Someone with a secret past and inner scars of her own. Both have a hard time trusting anyone but Lydia has known love of family. Both her parents cared for her deeply. But the amount of horror that engulfed her life at a young age allows her to empathize with Seth more than any other person could. She also understood how hard it is to open up herself to another and be vulnerable on purpose.

Ah so you now have the main players. You also have circumstances that seem impossible to draw these two together. And while the way things played out would not happen so quickly in real life (I mean the trust issues not being pursued by immortal beings.. lol) it doesn't matter. This is a fantasy romance after all, and getting lost in the world and the way they save each other is all that matters here.

I give this book 4 1/2 stars. I really enjoyed my time here. And even though I have not read all the books in order, I can tell you that it isn't needed. There might be a time or two when you are given names and would like to know who they are, but they are minor players here and it only happened to me twice. It did not take away from the enjoyment of this book and I'd say it is as close to a stand-alone as it could be. Don't don't fear... and pick up this book if you love fantasy romance!
I was given this book by the publisher and no compensation for my review was given.

15 comments:

  1. Taking into account your tags for this one (gods, romance, wereanimal) I am not sure it's something for me but, of course, I might be wrong. I am glad you liked it and really, I am not that surprised that you read a series out of order (BUT the intro was hilarious!).

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  2. MEL!!! You must read this entire series!!!! It is AMAZING!! I haven't read past Archeron... Book 15! I think I'll read one this weekend! I miss my Dark Hunters!

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  3. This book was sooo good. Have you seen the picture that's up under Seth's profile on the Sherrilyn Kenyon website? Really cute

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  4. Hey Melissa! I found your blog on Jenny's (Supernatural Snark) and now a new follower. I really like Kenyon's series and look forward to reading this one. I'd like to learn more about the Native American myths. The characters sound great. Looking forward to reading this one. Thanks for the review!

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  5. Are you ready for this Melissa? I completely read this series out of order too! *gasp* I started on Acheron, I felt like why not start with the leader right? And that book about killed me because I loved him so much and the things that happened to him... *shudders* I adore this series though, so maybe I'll continue skipping around and read this one before I've gotten caught up on some of the others!

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  6. No..wait...I'm still busting a gut over here. But then again, I really admire you for daring to read out of order! Thanks for the assurance that these are books you can enjoy out of order.

    Seth does sound like he'd break my heart. I just want to cuddle with him.

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  7. Well I seem to be the one who has read these in order LOL

    That's ok because the order overlaps and sometimes the timeline is a little skewed LOL

    That being said---this will be read next week.

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  8. That wasn’t enough time for me to overcome my disbelief.... I need a few more moments.

    Now then. Why is it that every handsome demi-god I meet nowadays is evil’s right hand man? And yet, we women seem to go out of our way to entangle ourselves with emotionally wounded, broken boys, don’t we???

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  9. Ok now you went way way WAY out of order. *shakes head* I think you need help, better fix you into the must read in order clinic ;)

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  10. Oh I'm so late for these books, I follow the french translations, and we're on book twelve I think. Now I'm curious to buy the others and read this one.

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  11. I've not really read any Sherrilyn Kenyon (in any order) but the idea that there is already 21 books in the series does scare me! I'm not I want to face that many books in one go! Still you have intrigued me as most of what you talk about are elements I usually love...

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  12. @Anachronist... Yes... romance. I don't think you'd like it. :)

    @...Petty... Rawr! It was! :)

    @Ashley... ASHLEY! I am working on it... one out of place book at a time. LOL

    @Paranormal Haven... Oh I'm so going to check that out!

    @Rummanah...Thanks for the follow!! This one didn't have the NA myths but it was still SO enjoyable!

    @Jenny...*jumps up and down* I KNEW it! I KNEW I wasn't the only one! *jumps* I now have to seek out Acheron. You will LOVE this one!!

    @Missie... *hands some oxygen* Bwa ha ha! You know you want to read it first... *evil laugh*

    @Felicia...Ah HAH! So, even if you read in order, they can still be out of order! See, I'm just being as twisty as the series! ;)

    @Stephanie... *waits*
    Okay, I want to come with you where you go. Where ARE you meeting these demi-gods??? I wanna come!

    @Blodeuedd... *giggles* I refuse to go! No, I like being contrary! :)

    @Melliane... Eh... skip to this one. You will love it!

    @Mel... READ EET! READ EET! You know you want to! It's a book you will love AND I happen to know for a fact that you have read out of order before (heh!). ;D

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  13. OK, really I am going to make a point to read this series. I love her other books and need to read them. I must make time!

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  14. I have never read one of Sherrilyn's books where the main character is female! I didn't know that she did that (then again, I have only read 5 or 6 books in this series). I wanna meet this kick-ass female!

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