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covall's review
5.0
I will admit that the premise of this book is a little odd, but the story worked. Ares, the second horseman of the apocolypse, who has lived for 5000 years is trying very hard not to start the apocolypse. He is forced to protect a woman that he originally thought of as weak. I loved this story and the characters. Although this is a spin-off of her Demonica series, which I will have to go back and read the remaining books from, I wasn't lost starting on this series. I cried throug the last 50 pages of the book not knowing how it was going to end and felt the emotions of the characters. I will definitely be reading the rest of the books in this series.
daphx00's review
4.0
If you’ve read my reviews on Larissa Ione’s Demonica series, you know that I love her exciting stories. With this first book in the Lords of Deliverance series, she continues the same addictive tales with characters who are just as alluring and intriguing as those in the first series. Because this is a sequel series, we get to see how everything is going with some of the characters from Demonica, which makes it even better. The best of both worlds!
With the Lords of Deliverance, we dive into the world of the Horsemen of the Apocalypse, who each have a trigger that will break their Seal. Once it does, that particular Horseman turns into his Apocalypse counterpart; War, Famine, Pestilence or Death. He will then try to make one of the other Seals break, which will cause the apocalypse. Which, of course, is undesirable.
In this first book we meet Ares, the Horseman who will be War if his Seal breaks. He is busy trying to find his trigger, and when he finds it, keeping it safe is not as easy as it may seem. Cara is a human with a gift of her own and becomes Ares’ trigger against her will. Together they make a dynamic duo with great chemistry and they set the bar for the rest of the series. It’ll be hard to top this one..
Cara may be a simple human, but that doesn’t make her weak. Even though she doesn’t have the same strength as Ares, she proves herself a feisty character, someone who isn’t willing to give up, not even when she is about to die. She embraces her destiny (though this isn’t the right word), but she refuses to go down without a fight. I loved her determination, her fierceness and most of all the snark she used against Ares. He really needed someone to cause some resistance, and he sure found it in Cara.
I loved the way the hellhounds were woven into this story and I really enjoyed reading about a different kind of demon in this one. I really do hope we get to see some more of the hellhounds, because I think they are fascinating creatures. But seeing where this story ended, I’m sure they’ll be incorporated somewhere in the next couple of books.
In other words, if you have not read Demonica – what are you waiting for?! It’s without a doubt one of my favourite adult paranormal series and Lords of Deliverance is just continuing that love. Larissa Ione is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors, having me beg for more when the book is over. Thankfully I still have two unread books on my shelf.. I’m okay, for a while, until I need my next shot.
Find this review and others on Loving Books.
With the Lords of Deliverance, we dive into the world of the Horsemen of the Apocalypse, who each have a trigger that will break their Seal. Once it does, that particular Horseman turns into his Apocalypse counterpart; War, Famine, Pestilence or Death. He will then try to make one of the other Seals break, which will cause the apocalypse. Which, of course, is undesirable.
In this first book we meet Ares, the Horseman who will be War if his Seal breaks. He is busy trying to find his trigger, and when he finds it, keeping it safe is not as easy as it may seem. Cara is a human with a gift of her own and becomes Ares’ trigger against her will. Together they make a dynamic duo with great chemistry and they set the bar for the rest of the series. It’ll be hard to top this one..
Cara may be a simple human, but that doesn’t make her weak. Even though she doesn’t have the same strength as Ares, she proves herself a feisty character, someone who isn’t willing to give up, not even when she is about to die. She embraces her destiny (though this isn’t the right word), but she refuses to go down without a fight. I loved her determination, her fierceness and most of all the snark she used against Ares. He really needed someone to cause some resistance, and he sure found it in Cara.
I loved the way the hellhounds were woven into this story and I really enjoyed reading about a different kind of demon in this one. I really do hope we get to see some more of the hellhounds, because I think they are fascinating creatures. But seeing where this story ended, I’m sure they’ll be incorporated somewhere in the next couple of books.
In other words, if you have not read Demonica – what are you waiting for?! It’s without a doubt one of my favourite adult paranormal series and Lords of Deliverance is just continuing that love. Larissa Ione is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors, having me beg for more when the book is over. Thankfully I still have two unread books on my shelf.. I’m okay, for a while, until I need my next shot.
Find this review and others on Loving Books.
vampirequeenejoey's review
1.0
Filled with rape fantasies, flat and annoying characters, and a world that'd be interesting if we actually got to see any of it, this book is possibly the worst one I've read this year.
The concept is so cool. It had so, so much potential. It would have benefited from being written by a different author and a change of genre. It feels like literally nothing happened in this book, and that's insane, because they're trying to prevent literal Armageddon?? lol. I was so interested in the idea, and if it had been executed well and not been just. erotica with the weakest most watered down characters in the literary world then it would've been rated probably five stars. I was so excited. This is absolute trash.
I mourn what could have been with this book. The writing is awful and terribly wordy, and leaves you exhausted even just within one chapter because it seems that for every thing that happens and every thought that occurs, there has to be a five-paragraph description of it and it's just sooo... Ugh. Also, the extreme use of the word "female" ?? omg?? just use the word woman?? And just all the guy characters getting super like "omg haha boobs lol" the entire time like... Man. Man this book could've been so good but. Alas. Also, there's a complete lack of stakes in this book, or I might just feel that way because I kind of wanted all of the characters to die. Would have been more interesting than what we got.
I regret buying this, even for 99c, as it was a massive waste of money and time. I wanted to put it down so bad, but wanted to be able to give it a fair review.
The concept is so cool. It had so, so much potential. It would have benefited from being written by a different author and a change of genre. It feels like literally nothing happened in this book, and that's insane, because they're trying to prevent literal Armageddon?? lol. I was so interested in the idea, and if it had been executed well and not been just. erotica with the weakest most watered down characters in the literary world then it would've been rated probably five stars. I was so excited. This is absolute trash.
I mourn what could have been with this book. The writing is awful and terribly wordy, and leaves you exhausted even just within one chapter because it seems that for every thing that happens and every thought that occurs, there has to be a five-paragraph description of it and it's just sooo... Ugh. Also, the extreme use of the word "female" ?? omg?? just use the word woman?? And just all the guy characters getting super like "omg haha boobs lol" the entire time like... Man. Man this book could've been so good but. Alas. Also, there's a complete lack of stakes in this book, or I might just feel that way because I kind of wanted all of the characters to die. Would have been more interesting than what we got.
I regret buying this, even for 99c, as it was a massive waste of money and time. I wanted to put it down so bad, but wanted to be able to give it a fair review.
kathydavie's review
4.0
First in the Lords of Deliverance paranormal-romance series about preventing the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse from turning evil and bringing about the end of the world. The couple focus in this story is on Ares, War, and Cara Thornhart, an animal psychic.
I recommend reading the Demonica before you start this series as its characters and history add a great deal of depth to this one.
My Take
I absolutely adored Ione's Demonica series and the Lords of Deliverance starts alongside Sin Undone, 5. I did have a more difficult time getting into this series. I suspect because I didn't achieve the same empathy with the main character, Ares, as I did with Eidolon and his brothers in the Demonica. Still, Ione has an interesting perspective on the origin of the Four Horsemen and an even more intriguing concept of their inherent good or evil. The Horsemen have always been the bogeyman, instead Ione teases with the possibility of either.
Clever adaptation of Revelations in cladding Ione's Horsemen in their armor—as well as incorporating new characters — just as Thanatos suddenly appears rearing up on his horse.
I did enjoy Ares' growth into understanding how Cara's nearness weakened him yet made him strong...very enlightened for a 5,000-plus-year-old!
Oh man, Ares does have a good point:
The Story
Sin (Ecstasy Unveiled, 4) unleashes a warg plague which breaks Reseph's Seal turning him into Pestilence. A danger to the world as it renders the Seals of the other three Horsemen vulnerable to breakage. A vulnerability that could end humanity.
An ending Pestilence looks forward to with glee as he spreads disease throughout the world, searching always for the agimorti of his siblings that he may turn them to evil as well. He has found Sestiel, the Fallen carrying Ares' agimortus. Killing him will break Ares' Seal, making it easier to turn the other two. But Pestilence doesn't realize that it's too late. For Sestiel has already passed the agimortus on. To a human. A human protected by the Hell's Kiss bestowed upon her when she saves what she believed was an injured pup. Helping this pup will change Cara's life forever.
The Characters
Gawd, who isn't a strong character in this series!
Ares/War (his horse is Battle) is one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse along with his sister, Limos/Famine with her horse, Bones, and his brothers Reseph/Pestilence with his stallion, Conquest, and Thanatos/Death with Styx. Born of a succubus mother, Lilith, and a good angel, Yenrieth. Zachariel is an angel of the Apocalypse.
Cara Thornhart is an animal psychic and, little does she know, a legend among Immortals.
Hal is the hellhound pup whom Cara saves and, in return, saves her right back. His recognition is what brings Cerberus on the scene with results no one could have foretold just as, earlier, it tames Eater of Chaos, Hal's father. Who knew a Horseman and a hellhound could ever relate?? Vulgerim and Torrent are demons who look after Ares.
Most of the characters from the Demonica are here: Kynan and Gem are here and she has her baby; Luc and Kar had their child last week; Arik Wagner is getting set up to be Limos' love interest; David is still running around loose; Shade and Runa; Eidolon and a very-pregnant Tayla; Sin and Conall; and, Wraith and Serena. Reaver has a new role as the good Watcher over the Horsemen while Harvester is the Watcher for the demons.
We learn more about the history of the Aegi.
The Cover and Title
It's certainly consistent with the covers from the Demonica with its gray metallic sheen over Ares' well-muscled torso backed by the Ionian Sea. The title seems appropriate as Ares certainly is destined to be an Eternal Rider.
I recommend reading the Demonica before you start this series as its characters and history add a great deal of depth to this one.
My Take
I absolutely adored Ione's Demonica series and the Lords of Deliverance starts alongside Sin Undone, 5. I did have a more difficult time getting into this series. I suspect because I didn't achieve the same empathy with the main character, Ares, as I did with Eidolon and his brothers in the Demonica. Still, Ione has an interesting perspective on the origin of the Four Horsemen and an even more intriguing concept of their inherent good or evil. The Horsemen have always been the bogeyman, instead Ione teases with the possibility of either.
Clever adaptation of Revelations in cladding Ione's Horsemen in their armor—as well as incorporating new characters — just as Thanatos suddenly appears rearing up on his horse.
"I looked and there before me was a pale horse. It's rider was named Death and Hades was following close behind him."The Seals laid on each of the Horsemen can be broken in a different manner and this fuels all sorts of possibilities in the series. Then there's the additional threat of being Satan's Bride...eek.
I did enjoy Ares' growth into understanding how Cara's nearness weakened him yet made him strong...very enlightened for a 5,000-plus-year-old!
Oh man, Ares does have a good point:
"...people spend more time researching a new vehicle than they do the religion they entrust their souls to. They should CARFAX their faiths. The history would shock the hell out of people."Then there's:
"Sex with you isn't charity work.Pestilence's fall has such depth to it and yet Ione continues to tease with Pest's unwanted dreams of how it was before so you know the series will end well. It's how we get there in the end and the adventures in between that will make this a fun ride!
The Story
Sin (Ecstasy Unveiled, 4) unleashes a warg plague which breaks Reseph's Seal turning him into Pestilence. A danger to the world as it renders the Seals of the other three Horsemen vulnerable to breakage. A vulnerability that could end humanity.
An ending Pestilence looks forward to with glee as he spreads disease throughout the world, searching always for the agimorti of his siblings that he may turn them to evil as well. He has found Sestiel, the Fallen carrying Ares' agimortus. Killing him will break Ares' Seal, making it easier to turn the other two. But Pestilence doesn't realize that it's too late. For Sestiel has already passed the agimortus on. To a human. A human protected by the Hell's Kiss bestowed upon her when she saves what she believed was an injured pup. Helping this pup will change Cara's life forever.
The Characters
Gawd, who isn't a strong character in this series!
Ares/War (his horse is Battle) is one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse along with his sister, Limos/Famine with her horse, Bones, and his brothers Reseph/Pestilence with his stallion, Conquest, and Thanatos/Death with Styx. Born of a succubus mother, Lilith, and a good angel, Yenrieth. Zachariel is an angel of the Apocalypse.
Cara Thornhart is an animal psychic and, little does she know, a legend among Immortals.
Hal is the hellhound pup whom Cara saves and, in return, saves her right back. His recognition is what brings Cerberus on the scene with results no one could have foretold just as, earlier, it tames Eater of Chaos, Hal's father. Who knew a Horseman and a hellhound could ever relate?? Vulgerim and Torrent are demons who look after Ares.
Most of the characters from the Demonica are here: Kynan and Gem are here and she has her baby; Luc and Kar had their child last week; Arik Wagner is getting set up to be Limos' love interest; David is still running around loose; Shade and Runa; Eidolon and a very-pregnant Tayla; Sin and Conall; and, Wraith and Serena. Reaver has a new role as the good Watcher over the Horsemen while Harvester is the Watcher for the demons.
We learn more about the history of the Aegi.
The Cover and Title
It's certainly consistent with the covers from the Demonica with its gray metallic sheen over Ares' well-muscled torso backed by the Ionian Sea. The title seems appropriate as Ares certainly is destined to be an Eternal Rider.
yodamom's review
4.0
4.5 The four horseman, what a interesting story line, new and detailed. The author did an excellent job of developing characters that are realistic and even funny. This story focus's on War's life and his struggles with the baggage from his past five thousand years. His brother has gone to the dark side, Pestilence, and is causing worldwide disease. His family life was tragic, his belief in love almost gone. Cara, a holistic vet is dragged into the mess when she saves a Hellhound.( Hal. cute little guy) She caries her own baggage over a power she does not understand. She is strong and does not lean on others to make her way. They both have to make difficult choices.
I really appreciated the fact that she was not and innocent untouched girl waiting for "mr. save me" to come along. There are many other characters all very intriguing.
This was a PNR but I did not find myself reading only to get to the point where they bond. I read the story for the story and really enjoyed the ride.
I really appreciated the fact that she was not and innocent untouched girl waiting for "mr. save me" to come along. There are many other characters all very intriguing.
This was a PNR but I did not find myself reading only to get to the point where they bond. I read the story for the story and really enjoyed the ride.
halynah's review
5.0
Fast-paced and exciting book with an interesting and unusual paranormal world, hot romance and absolutely adorable hellhound pup!
bhookjunkhie's review
5.0
Forgot how much I loved this world:)...once I started I couldnt stop..I need the next book..NOW!!
avid_reader_96's review
4.0
Wow. The chemistry between Cara and Ares was almost as amazing as the one between Sin and Con. I really don't think Pestilence can be redeemed and I can't wait to read Arik and Limos's HEA. I really enjoyed this book and intend to read everyone in this series.
keberwick's review
5.0
Oh my gosh this book was absolutely amazing. I loved it. It was so original and brilliantly written. I would recommend this to anyone who loves fantasy or romance. It was incredibly creative.