I should probably have given up the book the moment I realized that the story wasn't working for me. But as this is a book I have received home I just kept going. There are probably people out there who will love this book, but I just couldn't enjoy it. The beginning was OK, but then the story just turned to a lust parade with the two main character lusting after each other like two dogs. In the end, I just wanted them to have sex so that this prolonged lusting could go away.



I freely admit that I skimmed the book at the end to finally finish it so that I could read something more suiting to me.


Thank you Piatkus for providing me with a free copy for an honest review! ( )

Young, arrogant and proud, the hero defies the Gods and he and his 3 brothers steal immortality. As punishment, the hero is tossed into a depths of hell, cursed to have his skin burnet off his body over and over again for 200 years. Until the goddess of Conflict frees him in a bid for him to earn her followers by conquering cities. But as a measure of control the goddess curses the hero to burn at dusk until midnight every night. His powers of immortality quickly him and he's more than pleased for the daytime reprise but he's forced to secured himself during that time. Finding himself in the cites, he champions a tournament and wins the favor of their princess. The heroine, left powerless by her totally clueless father and cruel fiancé, finds the hulking warrior extremely hansom and so invites him to diner at the castle. Their sexual attraction is instant and burning but he must complete his mission to the goddess and she must marry the toad who wants to be king. But the hero soon realizes that he can stay and war against the invaders to the kingdom as well as take the beautiful heroine to wife. The heroine instantly agrees to marry the hero but is reluctant and bashful about his demand that she share his bed nightly. Little does she know that she would only be sleeping beside him most nights and conversing with the others. He allows her ample time to become comfortable with him but their meetings must be kept secret. The hero is the most manly character I've read about. He's so utterly strong in the face of his curse, guilt over his brothers enslavement and mountain he must climb to shape up the cities less than stellar army. He's so confidant in everything he does, from his calm demanding voice, to his causal stating that the heroine is under his protection. The heroine, whose face is burnt, is treated with disgust and horror by those around her even though it's a very small scar. She's a very interesting mix of strength and vulnerabilities that actually, both she and hero possible in equal measure. The heroine is brave enough to change her fate and to bare the beating from her fiancé to save her brother and spare the hero his worries. I absolutely hated the father and was overjoyed when he died. He wasn't a bad guy per say but he was so weak willed and blind that he really didn't deserve to live. The fiancé was your typical run of the mill bad guy. I did love the plot as it's completely different from any other book this author has written. I loved that it's set is a mythic historical place sort of like ancient Greece. I loved the slow, aching build up between the characters. Starting as a glance, then a touch, then a full on seduction. I did feel like the 'romance' romance was a bit lacking as everything was mostly lust and physical attraction, at least on the man's side. But honestly I didn't mind. This book was hot. ( )

Dethan has been tortured for centuries for having dared to snatch the power of immortality with his brothers (hello sequel bait), his body is burnt and then he regenerates only to burn again. He is approached by the Goddess of Conflict who is losing power and is in a war with another faction of gods. She will release him if he will agree to be her champion and raise an army to build her power.

He meets Selinda and discovers that she is in need of saving, her city is under siege by a warring tribe and her family is under siege by a powermonger. The two of them are attracted and start to find comfort in each other.

Not bad but there were times when I could almost see the bad guy twirling his moustaches. It's set in an alternative world with a blue sun and it feels like quasi victorian mores. I was engaged while reading but when I stood back from it it didn't quite satisfy and the plot-holes were a bit unsubtle. ( )

I am in love with this couple. Dethan and Selinda make up one of the best pairings I've read in a while.

Scarred, yet beautiful and with a innate fierceness and love for her people made Selinda one of the most believable characters I've read about in a while. Dethan was no slouch either in that department.

Intelligence, flaws, redemption, treachery, I read this book in one day and can't wait to read the next one in the series.

Well done, Ms. Frank, well done.

Would I recommend this? That's a resounding YES! ( )

A supernatural romance with a historical fantasy feel to it. The plot is interesting, and all of the supporting characters are well-written, but it takes a few chapters for readers to warm up to both of the MCs. However, the pace and the appeal of the main couple speed up exponentially at the end of the novel (enough that I will definitely read the next book in this new series). Overall, a decent fantasy romance, with room to grow in the next installment.

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