I have fondness for you.
Sherrilyn Kenyon (Author's Website)The League, book eleven(Nemesis Rising, book nine)ebook, 736 pages in printPublished June 21st 2016 by St. Martins PressISBN 9781250082749It is in the darkest hours of a universe’s past that their legends are born and their heroes rise…No one knows exactly how much heart they have until their mettle is put to the hazard and they reach the lowest point of hell. There, they have only two choices. Lie down and die. Or find the strength to push themselves to their feet and fight back with everything they have.Dagger is the alias that is used by Ushara’s husband, and the father of the twins, who is on the run for his life. This is his story and shows how he became a member of the Tavali and what happens to them after Born of Betrayal ends.
“It’s official Take a Psycho to Work Day. Why else would I be here?”
Hunted. Hated. Betrayed. Dagger Ixur is on the run for his life. As one of the most recognizable members of his royal house, he has a bounty on his head that guarantees him no quarter from any friend or even family. But surrender isn’t in him. He will fight to the bitter end. A resolve that is sorely tested when he narrowly escapes a trap that leaves him severely wounded. With what he believes is his dying breath, he saves a boy born to an extinct race from a group out to enslave the kid for his legendary abilities.
Ushara Altaan has spent her entire life hating those born to nobility. After all, it was a royal house that drove her entire species into virtual extinction. As a rare Andarion Fyreblood, she is sworn to end the existence of any royal she finds. But when Dagger saves her son’s life, she is torn between her people and a debt that can never be repaid.
Yet worse than Dagger’s family that’s still out to end hers, are the League assassins after him who will stop at nothing to claim the lives of her Tavali family. The only hope she has to save them all is to put their future and her faith into the hands of the very enemy whose grandmother personally extinguished Ushara’s legendary lineage. But how can she ever trust Dagger when he is a disinherited outlaw whose very name is synonymous with betrayal?
It was in November of 2015 when I last read a League book, and the time lapse only aided in this venture because Jullien was *not* a beloved character of mine. How could he be when the man had served as an antagonist for any and all since the very beginning? But in true Kenyon fashion, nothing is ever what it seems and each and every soul needs only one book to redeem them of all sins, thrusting them into the holy spotlight and into the softest places of the readers' hearts.
Damn. It *almost* happened again. Almost.
In all honesty, it was Ushara's respectable presence and perception that endears you to the guy who's now a rugged, refined intelligent male that she can't help but fall hard and fast for.
Rugged + Refined + Intelligent? This combo does not exist in our reality.
It certainly wasn't Jullien’s longwinded tangent on how and why he betrayed his brother Nykyrian (for the six hundred forty-eighth time) that made anyone want to cheer him on. And the name change, from Jullien to Dagger, didn't help either. Actually, the entire book refers to him as Jullien. Can't fathom why the blurb insists on 'Dagger'. Maybe because the author knows all too well how successful she was in making us loathe the guy before now known as Jullien.
It certainly wasn't Jullien’s longwinded tangent on how and why he betrayed his brother Nykyrian (for the six hundred forty-eighth time) that made anyone want to cheer him on. And the name change, from Jullien to Dagger, didn't help either. Actually, the entire book refers to him as Jullien. Can't fathom why the blurb insists on 'Dagger'. Maybe because the author knows all too well how successful she was in making us loathe the guy before now known as Jullien.
This book, like most of this series, circles back to tell the background story of Jullien that unfolds somewhat concurrently as the rest of the installments. We get reacquainted with many of the leading characters, such as Darling Cruel (whose story was told in book six, Born of Silence), Jullien's twin brother, Nykyrian (book one, Born of Night) and my personal favorite, Syn Wade (book two, Born of Fire). Trajen is here. Shay. Bastien. Nero. Psycho Bunny. The list goes on and on.
This book spans years.
The last memory I had of Jullien was when Nykyrian and Syn were informed that their families, and many others, had been slain in a large scale attack. Book ten, was it? Born of Betrayal, I believe. It wasn't that long ago book-wise. So while I am truly thankful to now know the steps that led to this vile man saving the day way back when, and having everyone turn around and save him, Jullien remains a least liked character and his book is, sadly, my lowest ranked of the League series. It's a definite read if you are a fan of any of the other books but I cannot recommend it as a standalone experience.
3 out of 5 stars.
No comments:
Post a Comment