castranosis's review against another edition
3.0
Went into this book fairly blind, outside of the synopsis on the back. It seemed interesting. Even though it mentioned a companion in the synopsis, I couldn't help but groan a little bit internally over the insta-love between Felicia and Talyn. And for him to have not one but TWO recessive genes that were rare? On top of having the record he did fighting. Almost came across as a little stereotypical. But for the most part it was a fairly good read. Fairly good amounts of action and fighting.
Also didn't know that it was far into the series as it is. Almost want to get the previous books that lead up to these events. However, it seemed to work pretty well as a stand alone book.
Also didn't know that it was far into the series as it is. Almost want to get the previous books that lead up to these events. However, it seemed to work pretty well as a stand alone book.
danni_faith's review against another edition
fast-paced
3.0
I don't hate this but I do hate Talyn. This is the last of the series that I read so I love Fain Hauk + WILL NOT TOLERATE SLANDER OF THIS MAN.
Weird that this novel takes place during the events of BORN OF NIGHT + BORN OF FIRE.
Weird that this novel takes place during the events of BORN OF NIGHT + BORN OF FIRE.
amyiw's review against another edition
4.0
Solid very good 4
I really liked this but also realize why I didn't come back to catch up again. Kenyon is very hard on her characters and the injustice is so blatant and out of control, it is hard to except. So when our protagonist overcome and then fight back and are again kicked into the dust, it is hard to take. It is not full of a lot of humor and right now I would go for a light, silly, humorous read easily. This is emotional, heavy, and harsh, yet it is very good, with characters that you feel you know and get to love and want to win. When they do win, it is a relief like a friend has overcome the injustices and final got what he/she deserved.
So here we have Talyn and Felicia, and it follows the pattern of most of these stories with slightly differing situations. Bad people and circumstances hold down our couple and keep them from being together. They usually are tortured in some way and then with stops and starts, overcome the circumstances and horrid people.
This is set in a timeline that book 1, [b:Born of Night|2992061|Born of Night (The League Nemesis Rising #1)|Sherrilyn Kenyon|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1549166388l/2992061._SY75_.jpg|1329454], Nykyrian's story is so we go back a step. Talyn is Fain Hawk's son but we aren't really sure, don't think that, Fain has any idea of Talyn.
So my main issues with the book is the same for most of these books, too many captures, tortures, healings, etc..., it starts to get to be "again?" in my mind or "not again, eye roll" as you see it coming. And the coming back from the brink of death? How many times in this one? Yep, it is going to happen just like in all the rest of the books. So going in we know these are very possible as they are go to plot points in this unfair universe. I still like the story and read them all the same.
This particular book has a HFN (happy for now) feel rather than a HEA due to the way it ends. I think I would find somewhere else to live because the Andarians suck. And hence my 4 stars. I'm not happy like I should be for them. This is a romance at the heart, yet it is an epic scifi too. Luckily no cliffhangers though we really want to know what happens to all the characters still.
I will definitely read on and catch up again in the series as I'm already putting the next to the top of my TBR.
I really liked this but also realize why I didn't come back to catch up again. Kenyon is very hard on her characters and the injustice is so blatant and out of control, it is hard to except. So when our protagonist overcome and then fight back and are again kicked into the dust, it is hard to take. It is not full of a lot of humor and right now I would go for a light, silly, humorous read easily. This is emotional, heavy, and harsh, yet it is very good, with characters that you feel you know and get to love and want to win. When they do win, it is a relief like a friend has overcome the injustices and final got what he/she deserved.
So here we have Talyn and Felicia, and it follows the pattern of most of these stories with slightly differing situations. Bad people and circumstances hold down our couple and keep them from being together. They usually are tortured in some way and then with stops and starts, overcome the circumstances and horrid people.
This is set in a timeline that book 1, [b:Born of Night|2992061|Born of Night (The League Nemesis Rising #1)|Sherrilyn Kenyon|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1549166388l/2992061._SY75_.jpg|1329454], Nykyrian's story is so we go back a step. Talyn is Fain Hawk's son but we aren't really sure, don't think that, Fain has any idea of Talyn.
So my main issues with the book is the same for most of these books, too many captures, tortures, healings, etc..., it starts to get to be "again?" in my mind or "not again, eye roll" as you see it coming. And the coming back from the brink of death? How many times in this one? Yep, it is going to happen just like in all the rest of the books. So going in we know these are very possible as they are go to plot points in this unfair universe. I still like the story and read them all the same.
This particular book has a HFN (happy for now) feel rather than a HEA due to the way it ends.
Spoiler
They are not even allowed to live together more or less marry. And to have children, is against the law and he would be thrown into prison.I will definitely read on and catch up again in the series as I'm already putting the next to the top of my TBR.
xakyr's review against another edition
4.0
I started this before bed, and I couldn't put it down for the rest of the next day! I thought that it's really good overall, but a bit confusing, as I couldn't figure out who Talyn was supposed to be in relation to the larger canvas of characters for this series. We're eventually told who he is, but it kept nagging at me that we'd never heard of this character in previous books, as we had with others in the series. It also does a little reset of the universe as it goes back in time to prior to the events of [b:Born of Night|2992061|Born of Night (The League, #1)|Sherrilyn Kenyon|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1440196941s/2992061.jpg|1329454]. Even then, those events are only mentioned in passing.
Talyn was a wonderful hero! Everyone expected him to be affected by the cruelties that had been heaped upon him, and were shocked when he was still a kind and decent being! I loved that side of him, and it really made him stand out among the heroes of this series.
We learn a lot about Andarion culture in this story, and not all of it good. It really hampered the relationship between Talyn and Felicia, and felt a bit like it was contrived conflict. I respected Felicia for wanting to stand with Talyn though, despite the laws against them!
This was a very interesting and engaging story to me! It really is not a stand alone story, so I definitely recommend reading the proceeding books. If it wasn't for all the confusion regarding Talyn himself, I'd give it 5 stars easily!
Talyn was a wonderful hero! Everyone expected him to be affected by the cruelties that had been heaped upon him, and were shocked when he was still a kind and decent being! I loved that side of him, and it really made him stand out among the heroes of this series.
We learn a lot about Andarion culture in this story, and not all of it good. It really hampered the relationship between Talyn and Felicia, and felt a bit like it was contrived conflict. I respected Felicia for wanting to stand with Talyn though, despite the laws against them!
This was a very interesting and engaging story to me! It really is not a stand alone story, so I definitely recommend reading the proceeding books. If it wasn't for all the confusion regarding Talyn himself, I'd give it 5 stars easily!
bananatricky's review against another edition
2.0
I was so disappointed with this book. Absolutely, categorically cannot be read without having read the others in the series AND having a total recall of events.
This book seemed to be in two distinct sections. The first, and longest, was very depressing. Talyn is a fantastic person, a great Andarion who epitomises everything the race holds dear. Yet because he is illegitimate and his father has been disowned he is the lowest of the low. The men of the ruling family also have it in for him so his life is one long punishment with petty annoyances and restrictions not faced by others. He is so low that he is willing to pay his entire salary for a companion, something that normally only old men pay for, to at least show him some compassion - even if it is fake and she hates him. Instead he gets Felicia. Herself illegitimate but acknowledged, she is impressed by his gentle nature and good manners. However, nothing ever goes smoothly and Talyn suffers one humiliation after another. Demoted, punished and much much more it just goes on and on and on. Honestly I felt there was no point in reading on because I couldn't believe Talyn could survive any more.
Then, the second part (probably the last 30% of the book) was like seeing the other side of a story you already know - the only problem is although I have read the previous seven books I don't have a total recall of events and I was totally at sea. So much happens off-stage it is totally confusing.
Overall, I felt that it was a chore to finish the book, most of the action took place elsewhere and Talyn arrived after the event. Also I couldn't reconcile the actions and attitudes of the Andarion soldiers. They despised Talyn and refused to allow him such simple amenities as using the communal bathrooms. Yet, towards the end
Anyway, I have loved the previous books but this one went too far. Each of the Sentella has had a story more dark and depressing than the last but this one went too far for me.
This book seemed to be in two distinct sections. The first, and longest, was very depressing. Talyn is a fantastic person, a great Andarion who epitomises everything the race holds dear. Yet because he is illegitimate and his father has been disowned he is the lowest of the low. The men of the ruling family also have it in for him so his life is one long punishment with petty annoyances and restrictions not faced by others. He is so low that he is willing to pay his entire salary for a companion, something that normally only old men pay for, to at least show him some compassion - even if it is fake and she hates him. Instead he gets Felicia. Herself illegitimate but acknowledged, she is impressed by his gentle nature and good manners. However, nothing ever goes smoothly and Talyn suffers one humiliation after another. Demoted, punished and much much more it just goes on and on and on. Honestly I felt there was no point in reading on because I couldn't believe Talyn could survive any more.
Then, the second part (probably the last 30% of the book) was like seeing the other side of a story you already know - the only problem is although I have read the previous seven books I don't have a total recall of events and I was totally at sea. So much happens off-stage it is totally confusing.
Spoiler
The coup against the Andarion royal family, the kidnapping of Felicia etc.Overall, I felt that it was a chore to finish the book, most of the action took place elsewhere and Talyn arrived after the event. Also I couldn't reconcile the actions and attitudes of the Andarion soldiers. They despised Talyn and refused to allow him such simple amenities as using the communal bathrooms. Yet, towards the end
Spoiler
when he saves the royal children before arresting their father the soldiers he leads suddenly will follow him anywhere. Either the soldiers should loath him always because of his birth or they should grudgingly learn to respect him for his behaviour but it seemed as though until the start of the book, none of the soldiers he worked with day-in and day-out had any respect for him at all.Anyway, I have loved the previous books but this one went too far. Each of the Sentella has had a story more dark and depressing than the last but this one went too far for me.
cindai23's review against another edition
4.0
Sherrilyn Kenyon has done it once more. Another great book in the League series with the promise of the flipside of it coming in a few months. I loved Talyn and Felicia, their story was sweet and wonderful. I especially liked finding out about Nero and Jayne's husband Hadarian. All very good stuff. I will, however, say that after the horrors inflicted on Darling Cruel, Styxx, and Acheron in their various books, I'm a little meh about the stories that have followed in both series. Don't get me wrong, I love the DH & League books to pieces! But, really, it's hard to look at the problems of all these other characters and not go, "yeah it's sad you're an outcast and you were treated shitty all your life, by the way, have you met Darling Cruel who underwent untold years of unbelievable torture as a child and later as an adult that ended with him going insane and strapping bombs to himself?" You see what I'm saying? I exempt CON from this criticism for the reason that Nick never seems to wallow longer than a minute in his shitty life. He usually meets it with sarcasm and fight. Not that these other characters aren't deserving of compassion, but after 200 and change pages of brutality heaped on Styxx, kind of hard to work up more than a there there your life is crappy for the rest. No, I don't want every character to suffer, especially like Darling, Ash, Styxx, or even Zarek, in fact, I don't think I could carry on reading either series if that were the case. But being an outcast, while shitty, is not the end of the world. Hell, she's made a living by giving us outcasts who form families of outcasts that are wonderful in their weirdness! I just think that lately, some of these characters are coming off as "poor me" I'm all alone, instead of "come and get some" and I hope she goes back to that type. I truly do.
jazzrizz's review against another edition
5.0
Talyn's history will break your heart. He has so much to deal with from the "sins" of his parents. What the eton Anatole cousins put him through because of their hatred for his parents is horrible.
Felicia has had her own issues with her parents, which puts her in Talyn's sights as a companion. The struggles and obstacles they have to go through is gut-wrenching. The amount of close calls Talyn has is nailbitting.
This was a wonderful book to set up for Fain's story.
Felicia has had her own issues with her parents, which puts her in Talyn's sights as a companion. The struggles and obstacles they have to go through is gut-wrenching. The amount of close calls Talyn has is nailbitting.
This was a wonderful book to set up for Fain's story.
jazzrizz's review against another edition
5.0
First off, it took me a bit to realize this was a first gen book. I totally get why SK took us back in time to set up [b: Born of Betrayal|23848002|Born of Betrayal (The League Nemesis Rising #8)|Sherrilyn Kenyon|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1426664309l/23848002._SX50_.jpg|41132851]. It was awesome to glimpse what was happening during Nyk's storyline play out during Talyn's story. We get much more of Jayne's background in this, along with appearances from Nero and Ryn.
Events from this book are going to be explosive in Fain's book ... and I can hardly wait to see it unfold.
While I wasn't sure I was going to like Felicia ... she definitely stepped up to become the female Tayln needed. I love the tiny, feisty heroines SK writes. They have to be pretty awesome to stand up to their very alpha males :)
Bring on Fain's book!!
Events from this book are going to be explosive in Fain's book ... and I can hardly wait to see it unfold.
While I wasn't sure I was going to like Felicia ... she definitely stepped up to become the female Tayln needed. I love the tiny, feisty heroines SK writes. They have to be pretty awesome to stand up to their very alpha males :)
Bring on Fain's book!!
sarakate0712's review against another edition
4.0
Love this series a lot. I like how this was set in the past a bit and we got to relive a little from the first book with Nykyrian and Kiara first met and the Andarians still thought he died as a young boy. Loved how Talyn was like a fierce huge teddy bear. Can't wait for the next one.