lilianap's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
laurenjodi's review against another edition
4.0
Acheron
4 Stars
Having lived a life of unbearable hardship and suffering, Acheron Parthenopaeus, the enigmatic leader of the Dark-Hunters, will do anything to keep the horror of his early life a secret from those who trust him with their lives. But Atlantologist, Dr. Tory Kafieri, is on the verge of revealing Acheron’s dark past and he will have to do something drastic to stop her …
This book languished on my unfinished shelf for a couple of years as I tried again and again to struggle through the first few sections. It isn’t that the story is slow paced or boring in any way. On the contrary, Kenyon’s writing is engrossing and the details of Acheron’s devastating childhood are heart-wrenching. Perhaps herein lies the problem as the first 50% of the book details the truly awful life that Acheron was forced to endure and the descriptions are so harsh, vicious and cruel that it is difficult to continue reading.
The second half of the story involves Acheron’s love/hate relationship with Tory, the one woman who couldn’t care less about his past and refuses to be intimidated by a man who could snuff out her life in a heartbeat. The romance is lovely and it is wonderful to see Acheron find the happiness that has been denied him for far too long. The love and loyalty of the Dark-Hunters for their leader is also something special to behold and it made me want to go back an re-read all of their stories.
Despite my initial struggles with the book, Acheron is well worth the read although I cannot say that it completely lives up to the hype as his heartbreaking past does detract somewhat from the aura of invincibility that had been established throughout the first 13 books of the series.
It will be interesting to see where Kenyon takes the series now that her most powerful character has his HEA.
4 Stars
Having lived a life of unbearable hardship and suffering, Acheron Parthenopaeus, the enigmatic leader of the Dark-Hunters, will do anything to keep the horror of his early life a secret from those who trust him with their lives. But Atlantologist, Dr. Tory Kafieri, is on the verge of revealing Acheron’s dark past and he will have to do something drastic to stop her …
This book languished on my unfinished shelf for a couple of years as I tried again and again to struggle through the first few sections. It isn’t that the story is slow paced or boring in any way. On the contrary, Kenyon’s writing is engrossing and the details of Acheron’s devastating childhood are heart-wrenching. Perhaps herein lies the problem as the first 50% of the book details the truly awful life that Acheron was forced to endure and the descriptions are so harsh, vicious and cruel that it is difficult to continue reading.
The second half of the story involves Acheron’s love/hate relationship with Tory, the one woman who couldn’t care less about his past and refuses to be intimidated by a man who could snuff out her life in a heartbeat. The romance is lovely and it is wonderful to see Acheron find the happiness that has been denied him for far too long. The love and loyalty of the Dark-Hunters for their leader is also something special to behold and it made me want to go back an re-read all of their stories.
Despite my initial struggles with the book, Acheron is well worth the read although I cannot say that it completely lives up to the hype as his heartbreaking past does detract somewhat from the aura of invincibility that had been established throughout the first 13 books of the series.
It will be interesting to see where Kenyon takes the series now that her most powerful character has his HEA.
angie_stl's review against another edition
5.0
I really liked Acheron, but who wouldn't, considering the main character? I was really excited when I realized who Ash's heroine was going to be, I liked her in her first appearance in the series, so I was very happy to see her return all grown up. I did feel that the book was bogged down by all the history, though I understand why it was important and why it was separated into two parts. I may not have felt so bogged down if I'd read the whole thing rather than trying to listen to it. I find my mind sometimes wanders when I listen, especially the first time, plus I didn't really care for the voice actor. And I really thought there would be more Simi in this book, but I still have hopes that she'll get her own book some day. I loved seeing a different side of Apollymi in this one, it shows that she's not just a crazed psychopath out to destroy everything, even if she is The Great Destroyer. Even she has her reasons.
I was afraid that I'd be tired of the series after reading this, because come on, 800+ pages for one story is a bit much, but I want to know what happens to all these other wonderful characters just as much as I wanted to know about Acheron, especially Nick!! I can't wait to jump into his story, though I find it hard to imagine as a YA series, considering he swears like a sailor and is as bitter as they come!! But I shall see!
I was afraid that I'd be tired of the series after reading this, because come on, 800+ pages for one story is a bit much, but I want to know what happens to all these other wonderful characters just as much as I wanted to know about Acheron, especially Nick!! I can't wait to jump into his story, though I find it hard to imagine as a YA series, considering he swears like a sailor and is as bitter as they come!! But I shall see!
violetamethyst's review against another edition
4.0
FINALLY!!!
Finally I've picked up Ms Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter series again and I've just finished Acheron!
I thought of reading this one as a biography instead of a romance because I was sure I wouldn't like Tory.
I was sort of right about that which is no surprise because I've got a perpetual case of Jealous Bitch Syndrome (You know, its that condition where you fall in love with a character and you really really want him to have his own HEA but there's just no one good enough for him... Except you, of course.)
But I liked Tory more than I thought I would. She was funny, quirky and an unexpected heroine. Even so her character was sketchy and underdeveloped which is fine though because WE CAME FOR ACHERON PARTHENOPAEUS!
Ash, oh my lord!
As tortured heroes go, its doesn't get more tortured than this! Ye gods, how much can one man take!?!! I have never been so heartbroken or wept so much for a single character before.
Part I was absolutely brilliant! The writing, the story telling, the character development, everything! Beware though, its quite graphic.
Part I gets an irrevocable 5/5 from me.
<
/b>
Part II was far less intense. It had a bit of action, a bit of comic relief and the requisite sex scenes. All the emotional juju was either a repeat of Ash's past (Part I) ot Tory's issues which seem so very pathetic and shallow compared to Ash's. (Or maybe that's my JBS, whatever.)
Part II gets a 3/5
Oh but there's still two ladies who stole the spotlight in Acheron: Apollymi and Ryssa
Apollymi (Ash's mother) was breathtaking! God I wish they'd let her out of prison more!
And Ryssa? Her relationship with Acheron truly moved me. Tory's got nothing on Ash's big sis.
5/5 for them both!
Unfortunately, the heifer bitch goddess doesn't die in this book. That's a spoiler right there.
Hence, I'm giving Acheron a final score of 4/5.
Finally I've picked up Ms Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter series again and I've just finished Acheron!
I thought of reading this one as a biography instead of a romance because I was sure I wouldn't like Tory.
I was sort of right about that which is no surprise because I've got a perpetual case of Jealous Bitch Syndrome (You know, its that condition where you fall in love with a character and you really really want him to have his own HEA but there's just no one good enough for him... Except you, of course.)
But I liked Tory more than I thought I would. She was funny, quirky and an unexpected heroine. Even so her character was sketchy and underdeveloped which is fine though because WE CAME FOR ACHERON PARTHENOPAEUS!
Ash, oh my lord!
As tortured heroes go, its doesn't get more tortured than this! Ye gods, how much can one man take!?!! I have never been so heartbroken or wept so much for a single character before.
Part I was absolutely brilliant! The writing, the story telling, the character development, everything! Beware though, its quite graphic.
Part I gets an irrevocable 5/5 from me.
<
/b>
Part II was far less intense. It had a bit of action, a bit of comic relief and the requisite sex scenes. All the emotional juju was either a repeat of Ash's past (Part I) ot Tory's issues which seem so very pathetic and shallow compared to Ash's. (Or maybe that's my JBS, whatever.)
Part II gets a 3/5
Oh but there's still two ladies who stole the spotlight in Acheron: Apollymi and Ryssa
Apollymi (Ash's mother) was breathtaking! God I wish they'd let her out of prison more!
And Ryssa? Her relationship with Acheron truly moved me. Tory's got nothing on Ash's big sis.
5/5 for them both!
Unfortunately, the heifer bitch goddess doesn't die in this book. That's a spoiler right there.
Hence, I'm giving Acheron a final score of 4/5.
frannieman's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Bullying, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, and War
This was very violent. It made it feel ill in places and I skipped large portions of torture, slavery and rape.jnlletrry's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book as much as I did the first time I read it, but after having read it a second time, I realize that there were somethings about this book that didn't make it as "perfect" as I initially thought.
It was a great read with a plot unlike anything I've ever read before. I really want to read more of this series and get to know the other characters, however I felt like the book stretched much longer than it should have and some of the language didn't fit will and was repetitive.
It was a great read with a plot unlike anything I've ever read before. I really want to read more of this series and get to know the other characters, however I felt like the book stretched much longer than it should have and some of the language didn't fit will and was repetitive.
casey_zi's review against another edition
2.0
*imported from amazon.ca* :D
1.5 stars
I feel like somewhat of an intruder, jumping to the fifteenth book of a series without having read any of the previous installments. I'm going to generously assume that that was the reason why this book didn't impress me. Perhaps you need to know Acheron beforehand for his origin story to have any impact on you.
And impact is obviously what this author was trying - rather overzealously, I might add - to create, because in this book you're treated to three hundred and fifty pages documenting Acheron's torture, abuse, rape, beatings, and endless emotional trauma of the likes you couldn't imagine. Really, I felt sorry for him at first, but as the horrors continued I grew tired and sickened of it instead. So would you, I hope, if you had to read 350 pages of this (in small print)! It didn't feel sad or horrifying after a while, just unreal. I don't believe that anyone could be so cruel to someone, escpecially not someone in their own family, beating them senseless in the same way over and over.
But it ended. Eventually. After his final betrayal by someone he thought loved him, Acheron dies and is reborn a god (As you know). The next chapter of his life, his new life, is titled "TORY."
Soteria is the woman who finally earns his complete trust and love, healing him of his past in the process. But this isn't a spoiler. Come on. You knew this was coming, didn't you? Every hero with a tortured past has to have someone who comes along to absolve of his pain and the scars on his heart, right?
Anyway, Soteria sticks with Acheron even after finding out who he really is. But it's dangerous. Acheron has enemies. They can and will use this weakness of his to their advantage. Tory's presence leads to the last battle, and the end.
See my book tags? In this book the pantheon of the so-called lost city of Atlantis, created by the author, exists alongside the actual gods and goddesses of Ancient Greece, which is what makes this book mythopoeic. I love myth and I appreciate what the author did with Atlantis, so I dropped an extra star in.
I borrowed this book from the library, along with two other doorstoppers of similiar subject and higher page number. After reading this, though, I'm not going to be reading them. Not if either of them are anything like this book. I would not recommend this to anyone other than serious fans of this series. It's long and tiring, full of horrible abuse, cussing, sex scenes and awkward holes where commas should be. It was disgusting.
1.5 stars
I feel like somewhat of an intruder, jumping to the fifteenth book of a series without having read any of the previous installments. I'm going to generously assume that that was the reason why this book didn't impress me. Perhaps you need to know Acheron beforehand for his origin story to have any impact on you.
And impact is obviously what this author was trying - rather overzealously, I might add - to create, because in this book you're treated to three hundred and fifty pages documenting Acheron's torture, abuse, rape, beatings, and endless emotional trauma of the likes you couldn't imagine. Really, I felt sorry for him at first, but as the horrors continued I grew tired and sickened of it instead. So would you, I hope, if you had to read 350 pages of this (in small print)! It didn't feel sad or horrifying after a while, just unreal. I don't believe that anyone could be so cruel to someone, escpecially not someone in their own family, beating them senseless in the same way over and over.
But it ended. Eventually. After his final betrayal by someone he thought loved him, Acheron dies and is reborn a god (As you know). The next chapter of his life, his new life, is titled "TORY."
Soteria is the woman who finally earns his complete trust and love, healing him of his past in the process. But this isn't a spoiler. Come on. You knew this was coming, didn't you? Every hero with a tortured past has to have someone who comes along to absolve of his pain and the scars on his heart, right?
Anyway, Soteria sticks with Acheron even after finding out who he really is. But it's dangerous. Acheron has enemies. They can and will use this weakness of his to their advantage. Tory's presence leads to the last battle, and the end.
See my book tags? In this book the pantheon of the so-called lost city of Atlantis, created by the author, exists alongside the actual gods and goddesses of Ancient Greece, which is what makes this book mythopoeic. I love myth and I appreciate what the author did with Atlantis, so I dropped an extra star in.
I borrowed this book from the library, along with two other doorstoppers of similiar subject and higher page number. After reading this, though, I'm not going to be reading them. Not if either of them are anything like this book. I would not recommend this to anyone other than serious fans of this series. It's long and tiring, full of horrible abuse, cussing, sex scenes and awkward holes where commas should be. It was disgusting.
abbytenge's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
thegeekyblogger's review against another edition
4.0
NOTE: I re-read this book and have a different opinion of everything than when I originally posted this review! This is one of those books that I think is better the 2nd time you read it!
(Original Read) OK I really wish that I could rate this book as two different books (especially since the author even chaptered them where the first part was one story and the second part was another).
(Second Read) I still wish I could divide this review up into two parts. The first part (which I think is most people's favorite) would get 3.5 from me and the second part would get a 4.5 from me. I just enjoyed his happy story much more than the suffering part.
(Original Read)The first part: I really didn't enjoy this part at all. I understand that we needed to know his back story but I think it was a bit much. I don't actually mean the abuse he suffered but the length of time she took to tell it. We actually got it half way through and the other half just was like wading through to see if it was going to say anything new. It didn't and in the end it was just a beat down. I was with Simi---just let me kill the goddess b*tch already!
(Second Read)The first part: I think more highly of the first part on the second read through than I did the first. Oh it is still wildly depressing how badly he was abused but there was tons of information that lends to the whole dark hunter world. So it is necessary to read this part so you understand just where Ash is coming from when he interacts with Nick later.
(Original Read) The second part: Was actually wildly entertaining. I enjoyed it completely even the part of him getting drunk off Sprite. It was great to see everyone in it and to tie up the story nicely while leaving it wide open to continue.
(Second Read) Is still probably one of my favorite love stories of this series. Tory was just perfect for Ash in so many ways: she loved him, stood up to him, stood beside him, and slapped Artemis for insulting him. She was brash, brazen, and just strong enough for a god like him!
Favorite Quotes:
"Life isn't finding shelter in the storm. It's about learning to dance in the rain.
-Zarek"
"It's easy to look at people and make quick judgments about them, their present and their past, but you'd be amazed at the pain and tears a single smile hides. What a person shows to the world is only one tiny facet of the iceberg hidden from sight. And more often then not, it's lined with cracks and scars that go all the way to the foundation of their soul."
"Sure. My ego's had enough time to recover a modicum of dignity. Let's make sure we crush it again before i mistake myself for a god. -Acheron"
All that matters to me is the man in front of me right now. (Tory)
I’m not a man, Soteria. (Acheron)
I know. But if you think your godhood excuses you from putting the toilet seat down, think again. (Tory)
I know you all have families who love you so if you want to leave–. (Acheron)
We wouldn’t be here if we didn’t want to. You and Val fought to save my sister when no one else would have bothered. I haven’t forgotten it. (Vane)
And I haven’t forgotten what the Dark-Hunters did for me and Maggie. (Wren)
Yeah, we’re family. Psychotic, bizarre and a hodgepodge of personalities that should probably never be blended, but here we are. Now let’s go kick some ass. (Fury)
No, Simi. No food. (Acheron)
No, Simi. No food. The Simi don’t like this, akri. Katoteros is boring. There’s nothing fun there. Only old dead people who want to come back here. Bleh! (Simi)
Simi...(Acheron)
I hear and obey, arki. The Simi just never said she would do so quietly. (Simi)
(Original Read) OK I really wish that I could rate this book as two different books (especially since the author even chaptered them where the first part was one story and the second part was another).
(Second Read) I still wish I could divide this review up into two parts. The first part (which I think is most people's favorite) would get 3.5 from me and the second part would get a 4.5 from me. I just enjoyed his happy story much more than the suffering part.
(Original Read)The first part: I really didn't enjoy this part at all. I understand that we needed to know his back story but I think it was a bit much. I don't actually mean the abuse he suffered but the length of time she took to tell it. We actually got it half way through and the other half just was like wading through to see if it was going to say anything new. It didn't and in the end it was just a beat down. I was with Simi---just let me kill the goddess b*tch already!
(Second Read)The first part: I think more highly of the first part on the second read through than I did the first. Oh it is still wildly depressing how badly he was abused but there was tons of information that lends to the whole dark hunter world. So it is necessary to read this part so you understand just where Ash is coming from when he interacts with Nick later.
(Original Read) The second part: Was actually wildly entertaining. I enjoyed it completely even the part of him getting drunk off Sprite. It was great to see everyone in it and to tie up the story nicely while leaving it wide open to continue.
(Second Read) Is still probably one of my favorite love stories of this series. Tory was just perfect for Ash in so many ways: she loved him, stood up to him, stood beside him, and slapped Artemis for insulting him. She was brash, brazen, and just strong enough for a god like him!
Favorite Quotes:
"Life isn't finding shelter in the storm. It's about learning to dance in the rain.
-Zarek"
"It's easy to look at people and make quick judgments about them, their present and their past, but you'd be amazed at the pain and tears a single smile hides. What a person shows to the world is only one tiny facet of the iceberg hidden from sight. And more often then not, it's lined with cracks and scars that go all the way to the foundation of their soul."
"Sure. My ego's had enough time to recover a modicum of dignity. Let's make sure we crush it again before i mistake myself for a god. -Acheron"
All that matters to me is the man in front of me right now. (Tory)
I’m not a man, Soteria. (Acheron)
I know. But if you think your godhood excuses you from putting the toilet seat down, think again. (Tory)
I know you all have families who love you so if you want to leave–. (Acheron)
We wouldn’t be here if we didn’t want to. You and Val fought to save my sister when no one else would have bothered. I haven’t forgotten it. (Vane)
And I haven’t forgotten what the Dark-Hunters did for me and Maggie. (Wren)
Yeah, we’re family. Psychotic, bizarre and a hodgepodge of personalities that should probably never be blended, but here we are. Now let’s go kick some ass. (Fury)
No, Simi. No food. (Acheron)
No, Simi. No food. The Simi don’t like this, akri. Katoteros is boring. There’s nothing fun there. Only old dead people who want to come back here. Bleh! (Simi)
Simi...(Acheron)
I hear and obey, arki. The Simi just never said she would do so quietly. (Simi)