Eve of Destruction (The League: Eve of Destruction #1)

"Since I have no friends... yeah."
"Because you killed them?"
"Really? You went there?"

Available at Amazon.com

Eve of Destruction
Sherrilyn Kenyon
The League: Eve of Destruction, book one
Kindle Edition, 90 pages
Published March 15, 2022
ASIN B09JZSFY8Q


Eve Erixour is a mercenary with a past no one would envy and more enemies than anyone should have. Death stalks her relentlessly. So when she gains the attention of a League assassin, she considers it par for the course.

But Jinx Shadowbourne isn't after Eve. Someone has it in for him and his brethren. High-ranking assassins are falling, and Jinx is convinced one of their own is selling them out. He's on the trail of his key suspect when fate throws him headfirst into Eve's life. Now the two of them have to find the League leak and plug it or neither one of them will live to face another enemy, and the ones they love, and the universe at large, will be left alone to face a power-crazed madman.

Contains mature themes.

Eve and Jinx's path cross briefly. He, a lethal, legendary League assassin, and she, a woman who's given into the temptation to call that walking death slinger "cutiepie".

When they meet again, Jinx is unconscious and nearly dead and Eve doesn't think twice about loading him up and taking him home. Even though it could bring the League right to her door.

Jinx doesn't easily comprehend why Eve would risk herself for him. As a member of the League, he knows he's a tool to everyone that comes into his life so suspicion is at the forefront of his triggered responses when he comes to. But Eve's sincerity gives him pause. And her kindness touches his long jaded heart.

They share one evening together. Neither expecting more.

Jinx needs to report in before his life becomes even more in jeopardy. And Eve has her own problems. Her sister, Jayne, is being held in a League prison.

But she isn't asking for his help.

Nor does she have to.

4 out of 5 stars. I do love how Syn keeps showing up in these installments.

Available in ebook | hardcover | paperback | audiobook

2025/16

Born of Night (The League #1)

"They'll come for you with everything they have."

"And I will fight them with everything they taught me to be."

Available at Amazon.com

Born of Night
Sherrilyn Kenyon
The League, book one
ebook, 560 pages
Published September 29th 2009 by St. Martin's Paperbacks
First published January 1996
ISBN 9781429959902

In the Ichidian Universe, The League and their ruthless assassins rule all. Expertly trained and highly valued, the League Assassins are the backbone of the government. But not even the League is immune to corruption...

Command Assassin Nykyrian Quikiades once turned his back on the League—and has been hunted by them ever since. Though many have tried, none can kill him or stop him from completing his current mission: to protect Kiara Zamir, a woman whose father’s political alliance has made her a target.

As her world becomes even deadlier, Kiara must entrust her life to the same kind of beast who once killed her mother and left her for dead. Old enemies and new threaten them both and the only way they can survive is to overcome their suspicions and learn to trust in the very ones who threaten them the most: each other.

It's been what feels like a lifetime since I've read Kenyon's work. Her book, Fantasy Lover, actually inspired the title of this blog.

Kenyon puts many a writer to shame with her unnatural degree of talent and beyond that, she's gone all out with her craft with her website. Not only does she have her books fully cast, but each has their own playlist as well. Check out her site here. It just might blow your mind.

Dancing Hauk. Darling Cruel. -- And no, those weren't adjectives. That's their actual names. -- Sheridan, AKA Syn. And a lady named Jayne. These are the most, and only, people trusted by Nykyrian, AKA Nemesis, the most notorious assassin that has ever been known throughout the galaxies. Nine years ago, he abandoned the League, an unheard of feat, after receiving a contract he refused to carryout. Since then, he and his colleagues have formed the Sentella, an organization whose sole purpose is to balance the extant of the League's power. Protect the innocent; kill the vermin.

Kiara Zamir, famous ballet dancer and daughter of their planet's president, is considered a princess among her people. Having survived more assassination attempts than she care to think about, Kiara is a young woman who has learned well the dangers of living and she'll make damn sure not to go down without a fight. Having been taken hostage, she puts up one hell of a struggle against her captivity and impending rape but in the end is forced to rely on a savior. That is, Syn. And with him, in all his lethal glory, is Nemesis.

Nykyrian recognizes Kiara instantly. He's seen her dance. Heard her voice. Still, he is ill prepared for the affect her beauty and presence have upon his person. Even more unprepared for the tenacious spirit inside her. A spirit that is reaching its breaking point. They manage to get her to safety, return her to her father, and say their farewells. Only to return for her once they realize what great a threat there is against her life.

Nykyrian has to be the most tortured, lonely character I've ever read. For the better part of the book, he simply longs for Kiara. Her softness. Her care. And if we weren't privy to his POV there's no way in hell you would ever think a romance was brewing. He is one seriously shut off individual. Kiara tries her best to befriend him. To know him. Yet, he adamantly pushes her away at every turn. When they finally do begin their relationship, it's altogether shocking at how well and easily Nykyrian's shields drop around her. The man likes to cuddle!

Syn. What can you not love about Syn? As Kiara comes to witness just how bloody Nykyrian can be, her words turn judgmental and Oh My Damn, I was so ready for Syn to beat the crap out of her. He certainly gave her an earful for many pages, expressed regret in saving her pitiful, over-protected life, and told her to stay the fuck away from him. Even Nykyrian ends up threatening her life. When she completely lost it, calling him a 'hybrid', I began rooting for someone, anyone, to go through with the threat. As much as I loved Kiara, that chick deserved some serious punishment.

This was an amazing read... right up until Nykyrian fakes his death. Then there's a time jump, Syn goes missing, and all kinds of people start coming out of the woodwork. A daughter. Mother. Father. Way too much way too fast and not all entirely necessary. Grr. Hate it when something so epic falls flat at the finale. That said, I'm completely sold on the series and as soon as I finish up a few other books on my schedule, I'm coming back to The League, making myself comfortable, and plan to stay awhile.

4 out of 5 stars.

Note To Self
Born of Fire, book two: Syn & Shahara
Born of Ice, book three: Devyn (Syn's son) & Alix
Fire & Ice, book three.five: Adron (Nykyrian's son) & Livia
Born of Shadows, book four: Caillan (brother of Shahara) & Desideria
Born of Silence, book five: Kere (AKA Darling Cruel) & Zarya
Cloak & Silence, book six: Maris (friend of Darling Cruel) & Ture (M/M)
Born of Fury, book seven: Hauk & Sumi
Born of Betrayal, book eight: Fain (Hauk's brother) & Galene (2/3/15)
Born of Defiance, book nine: Talyn (Galene's son) & Felicia (11/3/15)
Born of Vengeance, book ten: Bastien & ? (due 7/1/2016)

Born of Fury (The League #8)

Shh! I'm being stupid and I have to concentrate for it.

Available at Amazon.com

Born of Fury
Sherrilyn Kenyon
The League, book eight
ebook, 624 pages
Published July 1st 2014 by Piatkus
ISBN 9781250042965


Hauk, one of the fiercest Andarion warriors ever born, is also one of the founding members of Sentella, an organisation that has declared war on the terrifying League that rules the Ichidian universe.

Sumi Antaxasis is the best assassin the League has ever trained and failure is not an option. When she is assigned Hauk as her target, Sumi is sure of her quick and easy success.

However, things are never that easy and Hauk is far more skilled than the League thought. As Sumi hunts him down she discovers something that could not only destroy Hauk but all of Sentella.

But she has her own enemies hunting her down and suddenly Sumi's only chance for survival is to place her trust in the man she was sent to kill but is he just playing a game that could send Sumi to her grave?

Welcome back to the League! ...and to the beginning of the Reaver Era. I put this book on hold after finishing book six last month, wanting this to be the first book with my new e-reader, the Kindle Voyage, and also, because  it's the last of my League collection until May... freaking May!

It's been eight years since the first book told Nykyrian's story. He has six kids now. And he's raising them all so well. And let's not forget Syn and Shahara's son.

"I was playing with Devyn when he was a baby, and I pretended to drop him. His dad snatched him from me, and his mother shot me for it."

Yeah, you don't mess with the Sentella or their kids.

Fain Hauk, elder brother of Dancer Hauk, was disowned by his family and clan when, at the age of eighteen, he chose to marry a human. The marriage lasted two years before he discovered her infidelity and the union ended, leaving Fain disinherited and loathed by all but Dancer. Now... so many years later, it appears the woman's sister, Sumi, will be the one to bring Dancer to his knees. Oh, the familial irony.

And yet, due to Andarion custom, Dancer is sworn to wed the widow of his late brother, Keris, who fell to his death during Dancer's Endurance challenge. He's been betrothed to the bitch since he was fifteen. Has never been with a woman. Never even kissed one due to the strict code of his people concerning adultery.

After the last book's jaw dropping conclusion in which three of the Sentella members, Nykyrian, Darling, and Caillen, dropped their masks and revealed their tightly concealed identities to the League, Kyr is left with one hell of an axe to grind against them as war has been declared. He forces Sumi, through threat of her daughter's life (a daughter that was ripped from her at the moment of her birth) to gather to necessary information to seek Dancer's life. That is, info that would tie him to the Sentella.

A mere two days of being with Dancer, amidst the Endurance challenge where he alone is there to protect his nephew Darice and Nykyrian's daughter, Thia, and Sumi realizes she can't go through with it. By the middle of the book, she and Dancer have fallen in love and are doomed to death for it.

After their return to Dancer's home planet, being that Sumi put not only his life but that of Darice's in danger, it is law that Darice's mother/Keris's widow be able to claim Sumi's life in forfeit. Which she does to the royal family. That which being head by Nykyrian's mother. To save Sumi, and right the wrong done by Nykyrian's mother when she seduced his father while he was still pledged to Nyk's mother,  Nykyrian's mother adopts Sumi as her own daughter (and Fain as her own son) and the two are suddenly royalty. And no one can claim right to end the life of a royal member.

From beginning to end, this story has one hell of a transition. A serious one eighty if ever there was one. The Sentella bands together at every chance, leaving a crazy amount of characters in play. So. Many. Children. And when Sumi's daughter, Kalea, and Nykyrian's son, Jayce, come together for the first time.. pure childhood sweetness.

FYI, according to Kenyon's website via the family tree, Jayce and Kalea end up together as adults. So, too, does Nykyrian's youngest daughter, Zarina eventually marry Darling's son, Cezar. And *that* is a story I want to read!

4 out of 5 stars.


Previously in FIRST GENERATION of the series:

Fire and Ice (The League #4)

What the hell are you doing?

Available at Amazon.com

Fire & Ice
Sherrilyn Kenyon
The League, book four
ebook, 100 pages
Published 1998
ISBN 80759584419

FIRE & ICE - Originally published in a stand alone ebook in 1998. Currently available in the IN OTHER WORLDS anthology that features all the short stories Sherri wrote for Penguin.

Livia is a Vistan princess who is to be married to an ambassador from a neighboring galaxy--a brutal man, many years her senior. She knows that the one thing he values in her is her virginity, and in a last-ditch effort to escape the fate her father has decreed for her, she sets out to seduce the first man she can find.

Adron Quiakides was once a fierce League assassin. Now he lives in constant pain from wounds suffered years earlier at the hands of a madman. When Livia approaches him in a darkened bar, he willingly falls for her seduction. But when he feels the warmth of her healing touch he knows that he can't let her go. With her in his arms, he is free of pain, both body and soul.

With less than two weeks away from the release of book ten in the League series, Born of Betrayal, it was a fitting time to catch up on the only remaining installment to this series I had yet to read. Of course, although this has been titled book four, it is part of the second generation. It is Adron's story; Adron being the first born son of Nykyrian who was the protagonist of book one and leader of the Sentella.

Nykyrian has some truly amazing kids: Thia, Adron, Jayce, twin sons Tiernan and Taryn, and youngest daughter, Zarina. Very much unlike Syn's son, and lone child, Devyn, who managed to disappoint me on a level I don't even want to talk about. They were first introduced in book three, the only other sequel to feature the second generation of the Sentella, and I'm beyond anxious to get back there, mostly for the sake of Nyk's daughter, Zarina, who is the love interest for Darling's son, Cezar. Not to forget Dancer's daughter, Kalea, being paired with Nyk's son, Jayce. Unfortunately, my own three year old son may be a functioning adult by the time those books make it to publisher. Say it won't be so!

Adron, once  a League assassin and forever a serious badass, has suffered for eight long years with the consequences of a noble, selfless act that saved a woman and her unborn child. Now, forced to live in pain, dependent upon a cane and constant medical care to keep his organs functioning, he just wants one thing on the night of the anniversary that changed his world forever: to drink. To drown the memories.

Livia has one goal in mind when she enters the Golden Crona: to do away with the one thing that makes her valuable to the man her father is forcing her to marry- her virginity. Unfortunately, she barely manages to scan the surface of potential bedmates before her guards barge in behind her and she's forced to throw herself into the first acceptable booth to hide.

Adron is, at first, pissed at her sudden appearance at his table only to to follow it up with being pissed at the innocence she dares to have in this corrupted world. A number of women have attempted to court Adron to their bed, only to be quickly and rudely shunned. But when Livia, in a drastic move to escape discovery throws herself beside him with the most chaste kiss he could have ever imagined, well, he's got just enough Tondarian fire in him to finally allow himself the comfort of a woman's touch. After eight long celibate years.

And in that one moment of surrender, Adron finds that this misplaced innocent creature blocks out the agony of his existence. So he takes her home where the little miracle worker makes the huge blunder of telling Adron how wonderful he feels. And then he knows, because he's not that drunk, that she's a virgin. The realization stops him cold and Adron goes for a drink. Only to have her come at him with a hug.

I'm going to stop there before I recap the entire book because, yes, it's that damn good. And Adron is that damn awesome. Even when he's a whiny, self-loathing ass of a man. Meanwhile, Livia is a girl without flaws. She was absolutely perfect and embodied everything Adron needed to be reacquainted with the world, his family, and the man he used to be.

Also making an appearance are Nykyrian, Kiara, Zarina, Tiernan, Taryn, Jayce, and, in vids, Devyn himself.

5 out of 5 stars.

The League books, starting with book one and even more notable with book two, were the first books I'd ever read that actually changed my perspective of the world, people, and just life in general. I encourage any lover of Sci-Fi Romance to experience the unparalleled Sentella.

Previously in The League (2nd Generation): Nemesis Legacy


The League (1st Generation): Nemesis Rising

Born of Rage (The League #13)

"So long as you held that vow, I withheld my blade."

Available at Amazon

Born of Rage
Sherrilyn Kenyon | Author's Website
The League, book thirteen
Eve of Destruction, book two
ebook, 30ish pages
Published August 30th 2019 by Mighty Barnacle, LLC
Original Publication Date: September 01, 1983
ISBN 9781951111007


Every Life Has a Price


Dakari Tievel has been marked for death by the infamous League. Staying barely one step ahead of the assassins out to end her life, she must find the legendary Eve of Destruction. But Eve is a lot more than just a bounty hunter who calls the shadows home. She comes with an interesting crew of friends and family who have no problem defying the League that rules their worlds with an iron fist.

Now they must rely on the most unlikely of allies to keep Dakari safe, and themselves alive. Provided he doesn't betray them.

In a universe where the League is law, it's killed or be killed.

This ridiculously quick read opens up in the POV of Dakari who has just had a Thrill-Kill contract put on her life. On the run, she's given precious information that leads her to Eve and her lethal team. A team that includes Eve's sister, Jayne, whom we all know and possibly love, and also Jinx, Dakari's long lost (and believed to be dead) older brother.

From there, we take on the conclusion of the story through Jinx's POV. As a whole, this is more like a teaser chapter that just happens to be included with two other stories: "Neighbors" and "Fire and Ice." The latter of which is Adron's story which can also be found in the "In Other Worlds" anthology. Adron is the eldest son of Nykyrian and Kiara (Born of Night, League #1).

3 out of 5 stars.

Previously in The League:


Previously in Eve of Destruction:

Born of Legend (The League #11)

I have fondness for you.

Available at Amazon.com

Born of Legend

Sherrilyn Kenyon (Author's Website)

The League, book eleven

(Nemesis Rising, book nine)

ebook, 736 pages in print

Published June 21st 2016 by St. Martins Press

ISBN 9781250082749

It 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.

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. 

Available from Amazon.com  in ebook | hardcover | paperback | audiobook

Previously in The League (1st Generation): Nemesis Rising


Previously in The League (2nd Generation): Nemesis Legacy

Born of Vengeance (The League #12)

Florian?!

Available at Amazon

Born of Vengeance
Sherrilyn Kenyon
The League, book twelve
(Nemesis Rising, book ten)
ebook, 417 pages
Published February 7th 2017 by St. Martin's Press
ASIN B01J1EGWWK


A fate worse than death . . .

Bastien Cabarro survived the brutal slaughter of his entire family only to have his wife pin their murders on him. Made Ravin by The League, he is now a target for their assassins-in-training to hunt and kill. The average life expectancy for such beings is six weeks. But defying the odds is what this Gyron Force officer does best, and Bastien won’t rest until he lays his betrayers in their graves.

Ten years later, he has one chance to balance the scales of justice, provided he relies on his former wingman— the very sister of the woman who testified against him. Major Ember Wyldestarrin joined the outlaw Tavali the day Kirovar fell into the hands of a tyrant, and she and her team were left on an outpost to die under the barrage of enemy fire. The last thing she wants is to be involved in politics again. But if she doesn’t bring Bastien in, her sister will pay the ultimate price. Now she has to find some way to betray her former wingman before he catches on and kills her. Even so, treachery doesn’t come easy to a woman who took a loyalty oath to protect her homeworld and comrades-in-arms, especially when Bastien means more to her than just another partner.

Yet as she tries to do right for her family, she learns that Bastien doesn’t just hold the key to the fate of Kirovar, he is vital to The Sentella-League war, and to The Tavali. If she hands him over, three nations fall. If she doesn’t, her entire family dies. Their fates are all in her hands, and time for all of them is quickly running out.

I admit it. I was warned. But despite this installment being a copy/paste filler that feels like a half-ass slap in the face, none of that quite pissed me off as much as the leading male- Bastien.

The story begins in the prologue with a fast paced meeting of our two protagonists as Bastien shows up when Ember needs someone most and saves the life of her sister, Alura. (Saving that witch will prove to be his first of many mistakes.) And from that moment, and throughout the entire book, we're scene jumping.

First to where Bastien proposes marriage to Ember after a yearlong romance only to be turned down outright. And here he does the one thing that will f*ck his life over for years to come. Bastien retaliates.

Now you'll find out in good time why Ember refused his proposal but so many years will pass first. And Bastien will make one stupid decision after another in this time. He'll even marry her sister. Is this suppose to be some ridiculous nod to the Ross and Rachel fiasco. Where is your loyalty? Where is your honor?!

So many (hell, nearly ALL) of Kenyon's characters are tortured souls who are victims of things beyond their control whether it be their parentage, their race, being in the wrong place/wrong time in the heart of political chaos, but Bastien is simply a victim of himself. Ends up in a manipulated marriage, accused of murdering his entire family, stripped of his royal titles, outcast from his people, marked Ravin... And  he's eyeing Nykyrian's daughter, Thia. And Jayne. *facepalm*

No, Ember. No. I want better for you, girl. 

3 out of 5 stars.

Available in ebook | audiobook | hardcover | paperback | Or check your local library. 

Previously in the League: Nemesis Rising



Previously in The League (2nd Generation): Nemesis Legacy