Release Day Review of Reaver (Lords of Deliverance, #5; Demonica, #10) by Larissa Ione

Title: Reaver
Series: Demonica Series
Classification: Adult Fiction
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format: Paperback; 416 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (December 17, 2013)
ISBN-10: 1455526975
ISBN-13: 978-1455526970
Author's website: http://larissaione.com/blog/
Notes: Received and eARC loan from the publisher via NetGalley

Five thousand human years ago, two angels were best friends. They pulled pranks on each other and other angels. They supported and confided in one another. Then one of the friends kissed the other and, frightened by the emotions that kiss evoked, she ran away not knowing how to deal with this new turn of events. When she returned, she found the other in the arms of another and kept silent. When she realized the union had produced offspring; she, for the sake of the other's own good, decided not to tell him. She did, however, vow to watch out for her friend's offspring and had planned to reveal all to him eventually. She, however, waited too long and he eventually found out, but not from her. Feeling angered and betrayed, he, in turn, betrayed her in a most despicable way and then disappeared. Despite the pain and hurt he'd caused, she went above and beyond to protect his children--the horsemen of the apocalypse--and made the ultimate sacrifice--she fell from grace to save them.

The angels were Yenrieth and Verrine, but known to all now as Reaver and Harvester. If you thought you knew all there was to know about these two, think again. This is their story.

Some say love and hate are two sides of the same coin, but when love is betrayed and lost, can it ever be regained?

This is truly a hard story to place. Larissa, I believe, is grouping this with her Demonica series, but it is also a continuation of her Lords of Deliverance series as well. While Reaver is not a horseman of the apocalypse, he is the horsemen's father and the horsemen are somewhat involved in what happens as well as characters from Underworld General which is part of the Demonica series. I would NOT recommend jumping into this book without having read at least one book from each of the two series. However, to truly savor this book, I really feel you need to completely read both of the series to get the true experience of it. I'd liken the reading of just one book this far into the series to watching a movie in black and white and the reading of the full series to watching a 3-D movie in technicolor with dolby surround sound in D-BOX seating. While the black and white (one book) version is perfectly acceptable, you get so much more out of the full deal experience.

So as I read this story I had to laugh at myself. I wondered how Larissa would conceptualize a Reaver/Harvester love story and keep me hooked. Reaver, while the sire of the horsemen, is no horseman. Plus Harvester is, well, Harvester. (For those of you who haven't read the series, Harvester is a fallen angel and the type of villain that you can't help but love to hate.)  I couldn't see how Larissa was going to pull this one off to my satisfaction. Granted, I took one look at the cover and thought, maybe. lol Seriously, though, I didn't really care all that much for Reaver or Harvester. Let me just say right off the bat, I was pleasantly surprised. If shock and awe were a book strategy, then this one definitely utilized it to perfection. Hence, I had to laugh at my original apprehension over the story line.

In 'Reaver', we see totally different sides to Reaver and Harvester. We get the back drop as to how everything went to hell in a relatively short period of time. We find out how Reaver and Lilith hooked up in the first place and what went down between Harvester and Reaver. There were a lot of twists, and I came away from this book with a new respect for Larissa Ione. If I had to sum up her imagination and story writing abilities in two words, I'd pick wickedly awesome. Still, Larissa held some things back as we are left with a rather large gap with no explanation of where or what Reaver was doing. Plus, a relatively new character, Revenant, the horseman's latest watcher and Harvester's replacement, dropped a bombshell that left me with my jaw dropped and mouth open. All I can say is that Larissa ought to be very suspicious of anyone trying to buddy up to her in the near future. They may just be wanting a peek at her next installment to this fabulous series. *grin* 

If you haven't already guessed by now, I'm giving this book a 5 out of 5 roses. I absolutely loved it and Larissa delivered a one-two punch combination of steamy romance and action packed, hold on to the edge of your seat, jaw dropping drama. *sigh* It's the way a books should be. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one earned a  SHOWER rating--a cold shower is necessary (need I say more?). Some books should come with a warning - make sure your significant other is handy or your shower is in working order. lol

Order of the Demonica Series:

Order of the Related Lords of Deliverance Series:
(should be read after Sin Undone, but before Reaver)

Guide to the world of the Lords of Deliverance Series:

Giveaway - The Entire Lords of Deliverance Series by Larissa Ione

I've got good and bad news. First, the bad news. The Lords of Deliverance series is coming to a close. *sniff*  Yes, the bad boys of the Apocalypse have the last book of their series making it's way to bookstores everywhere on November 20th. The good news is that on November 20th, the latest book in the series is coming out and knowing Larissa Ione we've probably not seen the last of them since they have a strong connection to her Demonica series. Plus, the last book is yet another great read by Ms. Ione so you are all in for a real treat.

So to celebrate the release of Rogue Rider, the publisher, Grand Central Publishing, is letting me offer one lucky winner all four books in the Lords Of Deliverance series.

Larissa is busy with her writing right now so I couldn't attain an interview with her, but I got word she'll be doing an "End of the Apocalypse" #LODapocalypse twitter party on November 19th- right before on-sale, from 1:00-3:00 PM EST. So don't miss it!

About the Author:

Larissa Ione

To check out her blog Click Here 

To follow her on Twitter Click Here

To follow her on Facebook Click Here

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Larissa Ione penned her first novel at the age of 13 and hasn't stopped writing since. She wrote 5 full-length novels before being published. She has been a U.S. Air Force meteorologist, an EMT, and a professional dog trainer, and you never know when one of those interests will pop into her novels.

She lives a nomadic existence with her U.S. Coast Guard husband and son, so her writing career has been a blessing -- a job that moves easily.

She writes dark paranormal romance for Grand Central Publishing (formerly Warner Books,) and contemporary romance for Red Sage and Samhain. Under the pen name Sydney Croft, she writes erotic action adventure romance with partner Stephanie Tyler.

The Lords of Deliverances Series:

Eternal Rider

They are here. They ride. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

His name is Ares, and the fate of mankind rests on his powerful shoulders. If he falls to the forces of evil, the world falls too. As one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, he is far stronger than any mortal, but even he cannot fight his destiny forever. Not when his own brother plots against him. 

Yet there is one last hope. Gifted in a way other humans can't-or won't-understand, Cara Thornhart is the key to both this Horseman's safety and his doom. But involving Cara will prove treacherous, even beyond the maddening, dangerous desire that seizes them the moment they meet. For staving off eternal darkness could have a staggering cost: Cara's life.

Immortal Rider

Sexy, powerful, and immortal, Limos is on a crash course with destiny. She’s been marked as Satan’s bride and her jealous fiancé wants her all to himself. The only way this Horseman can keep herself—and everyone else—safe is to keep her distance. But not even Limos can save herself from the secrets she’s kept . . . or resist the seductive allure of one very brave human.

Arik Wagner knows the saying “love hurts” better than most, yet he never thought stealing a kiss from Limos would land him in Hell. Literally. It takes all his military training to survive the demon torture, but once he’s topside, Arik realizes that the agony has just begun. With the Apocalypse looming and Satan demanding his bride, will Arik and Limos surrender to the desire smoldering between them? Or will giving in to their passion unleash hell on earth?

LETHAL RIDER

Thanatos, the most deadly Horseman of the Apocalypse, has endured thousands of years of celibacy to prevent the end of days. But just one night with the wickedly sexy Aegis Guardian, Regan Cooper, shatters centuries of resolve. Yet their passion comes with a price. And Thanatos must face a truth more terrifying than an apocalypse-he's about to become a father.

Demon-slayer Regan Cooper never imagined herself the maternal type, but with the fate of the world hanging in the balance she had no choice but to seduce Thanatos and bear his child. Now, as the final battle draws closer and his rage at being betrayed is overshadowed by an undeniable passion for the mother of his child, Thanatos has a life-shattering realization: To save the world, he must sacrifice the only thing he's ever wanted-a family.

Rogue Rider

Jillian Cardiff came to this remote mountain town to forget the demon attack that almost killed her. Instead, she rescues - and falls for - a gorgeous stranger who has no memory of anything other than his name. Handsome, charming and protective, Reseph seems like the kind of man that Jillian can trust. But with hints of a troubling history of his own, he's also the kind of man that can be very dangerous . . . 

Reseph may not know his background, or why he mysteriously appeared in Jillian's life, but he knows he wants to stay. Yet when Jillian's neighbors are killed and demon hunters arrive on the scene, Reseph fears that he's putting Jillian in danger. And once it's revealed that Reseph is also Pestilence, the Horseman responsible for ravaging the world with death and destruction, he and Jillian must face the greatest challenge of all: can they forget the horrors of a chilling past to save the future they both desire?

THE GIVEAWAY:

I'm giving away to one winner the 4 books in the Lords of Deliverance series:

Eternal Rider

Immortal Rider

Lethal Rider 

Rogue Rider

Rules of the Giveaway:

- Only residents of the US who are 18 or older are eligible.
- Please leave either your email address or a link to your Goodreads profile so I may get in contact with you to get your mailing address. **No P.O. Boxes, please**. Books will be sent directly from the publisher.
- Become a follower of my blog, if you aren't already. (Required)

Winner will be randomly chosen. Giveaway ends November 19th, midnight eastern time. Only one book per person and per address. Winners will be posted on my blog and notified by email or message posted to them via Goodreads. Winners will have 48 hours to respond before another winner will be selected. Good Luck!

Just for fun:
Forever Romance created a quiz for the Lords of Deliverance series entitled, 'Who's Your Perfect Mate (for the end of the world)?' Check it out and, for an extra change at winning, leave a comment about who your perfect mate for the Apocalypse is:
http://www.forever-romance.com/2012/05/18/who-should-you-spend-the-end-of-the-world-with-the-larissa-ione-lords-of-deliverance-quiz/

In case you're wondering mine is Ares. lol

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Early Review of Rogue Rider (Lords of Deliverance, #4) by Larissa Ione

Title: Rogue Rider (Lords of Deliverance)
Classification: Adult Fiction
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format: Paperback, 432 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (November 20, 2012)
ISBN-10: 0446574481
ISBN-13: 978-0446574488
Author's Website: http://larissaione.com/blog/
Notes: I read the eARC version of the book provided by the publisher via NetGalley. I will need to check quotes against the final copy. Assume any and all errors are my own because they probably are.

’There had always been two apocalyptic prophecies about the Four Horsemen, one catalogued by a demon holy book, the Daemonica, and one accounted for in the human bible. The differences lay in how their Seals would beak and what side the Horsemen would fight on…good or evil.‘

While the four Horsemen of the apocalypse—Ares (War), Limos (Famine), Thanatos (Death), and Reseph (Pestilence), are a cursed lot no more, Reseph has retained his curse for as Harvester states:
     “Fool. You know prophecies can change. Reseph’s Seal may not be able to break again until the Bible’s prophecy comes to pass, but the events of the last year have caused a disruption in what was originally foreseen. The Horsemen are still predicted to fight on the side of good in the Biblical Apocalypse. But…”
     Reaver ground his teeth. “But?” he prompted.
     “But Reseph’s evil side was awakened when he became Pestilence. His demon isn’t dead. It’s merely locked up.”
So while the Daemonica's Apocalypse prophecy may have been avoided, the Biblical one still has yet to come to pass and the big questions are can Pestilence be unleashed early and will Reseph be able to control Pestilence whenever he is unleashed because, if not, Reseph may end up fighting for the dark side and it won’t be God’s will that will be done.

___________________

Rogue Rider starts up a few months after Lethal Rider ends. At the end of Lethal Rider, Reseph had once again regained control over his person. While he retained all of his own memories, he also retained all of Pestilence’s, as well. As the horror of what his demon half had done began to sink in, Reseph lost his grip on his sanity and wanted nothing more than to die. He found he didn’t want to live with the guilt created by all the pain and suffering he couldn’t and hadn’t been able to prevent. When Reaver comes upon him in Sheoul-gra, the place where demon souls go until they can be reborn or kept in torturous limbo, it is not a pretty sight. But Reseph isn’t afforded the luxury of death. He is one of the four Horsemen and as such he has a purpose to fulfill. If he were to die, well, there is no telling what the consequences would be. So Reaver decided to do the only thing he could think of, he erased Reseph’s memory and transported him to a place he felt would give him the best chance to heal and regain his strength. Because when the biblical prophecy finally does comes to pass, Reseph will need all his strength to keep Pestilence in check.

Jillian Cardiff lives alone for a reason. In the past year, she was attacked by demons, betrayed by the man she loved, and lost her parents. Deciding she needed a change of venue she headed back home to get away from it all and to heal. When she comes across a man unconscious and naked in the middle of a snow storm, she thinks she really doesn't need the complication he'll bring, but knows if she leaves him he'll surely die. Hoping he's not a serial killer she brings him home and nurses him back to health.

When Reseph comes to, he's not sure who he is or where he's from. He has no idea how he got where he is or why he was naked. He thinks his name might be Reseph, but isn't a hundred percent sure. What he does know is that he likes sex and the woman who has been taking care of him and is not shy about letting her know it. He knows he's good looking, and he's a little cocky. In his former life he was the ultimate playboy and avoided relationships like the plague. While reading the book the song, "I'm sexy and and I know it" kept dancing through my head, and Reseph could probably pull off singing the song with no one laughing. Not having his memory makes him a little vulnerable, and for the first time in his life he allows himself to get close to another person who he isn't related to. 

Truth be told, I didn't particularly like Reseph at the beginning of the book. He was a little crass and unpolished. His first words after he established who Jillian was and where he was were "Did we f*ck?" followed by "Why not?" Slowly, however, as the book continues, we get to see a gentler side to Reseph and like he thawed out after being half frozen in the snow, my feelings toward Reseph began to thaw and I warmed up to him.

Unfortunately, Reaver isn't the only one who realized that Deliverance wouldn't kill Reseph, and his reprieve from reality is short lived. Demons are searching all over the world for him. They hope to find Reseph and coax Pestilence out by prematurely breaking Reseph's Seal. It's only a matter of time before his hiding place is found.

In Rogue Rider, Reseph has to regain the trust of his siblings, and we finally find out who the Four Horesemen's father is. Additionally, we find out more about Harvester and Reaver. Plus, Larissa Ione gives us a taste of what will be in her next book of the Demonica series which will be Reaver's book. Thank goodness she gave us something to look forward to.

Why is the book named Rogue Rider? Well, by definition a rogue is a dishonest and/or unprincipled man, and as Reseph was possessed by Pestilence, it seems a befitting name.

Some, but not all, of my favorite lines:
- "Look, maybe you should, ah, get off me and we'll discuss everything over dinner."
  "Dinner?" He grinned, and good Lord, he was stunning when he wasn't scaring her half to death.
  "Totally on board with that. I'm starving. Maybe we could f*ck first?"
  This time she did choke, "Sex is not on the table, but chili is."
  "You can have sex on tables," he said.
- "Have a seat, I won't bite." A cocky smile accompanied a waggle of his brows. "Unless you like that kind of thing."
-  "What's his name?
  "Doodle."
   "Doodle?" He winced. "No wonder he's so friendly. He's begging me to call him something like Fang or Chaos or Styx."

Overall, I gave Rogue Rider 4 1/2 out of 5 roses. Another great book by Ms. Ione with plenty of action, drama, and romance. It also includes some twists that surprised me although I did guess who their father was. If you haven’t noticed, the series has both the 'love conquers all' and 'good conquers evil' themes running throughout the series. What’s not to love about that? I think the most intriguing part of this book is the inner conflict Reseph suffers because of his loss of control when Pestilence possessed him. What Reseph has to realize is that things aren't as they were when Pestilence first possessed him. He needs to trust and believe in himself which isn't an easy thing when even his siblings, who could have suffered a similar fate, don't trust him and he knows what's at stake. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one scores a STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed. This was such a great series with a interesting ending. I am sad to say goodbye to these four Horsemen, but knowing Larissa Ione, we probably haven't seen the last of them. I HIGHLY recommend the series. If you haven't started it yet, you should really add it to your 'must read' pile. Yep, it's that good.

Order of Series:

Guide to the world of the Lords of Deliverance Series:

Order of Related Series - Demonica:

Early Review of Lethal Rider (Lords of Deliverance, #3) by Larissa Ione

• Title:  Lethal Rider (Lords of Deliverance)
• Classification: Adult Fiction
• Genre: Paranormal Romance
• Format: Paperback, 464 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (May 22, 2012)
• ISBN-10: 0446574503
• ISBN-13: 978-0446574501

Author's Website: http://larissaione.com/blog/
Please Note: I read the ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of this book, therefore, there may be some discrepancies between what I quote and the final version. Assume any and all errors are mine because they probably are.

The Prophecy: 
Behold! Innocence is Death's curse, his hunger his burden, a blade his Deliverance. The Doom Star cometh if the cry fails.

"We think that the baby may be the key to the end of the world...but he might also be the key to saving it, just like we were led to believe in the first place." There were some exchanged glances before Ky spoke, "We've put together everything we found regarding Thanatos and his role in ending the Apocalypse, including a mishmash of texts about a birth weakening Pestilence's heart." 

The four horseman of the apocalypse--Ares (War), Limos (Famine), Thanatos (Death), and Reseph (Pestilence), are a cursed lot. Born of a demon mother (succubus) and an angel father, they struggle with both halves of their nature. Each half struggling to take control, but once their four seals, which they wear around their necks, are broken their inner demons will be unleashed. Reseph is the only horseman to date whose seal has broken. Thantanos had hoped to find a way to restore his brother's seal, but now he may have to make the hardest decision of his life. For his soon to be born son is his agimortus--the trigger which can break his seal. If the prophecy holds true, then Thantos may have to choose between the life of his son or that of his brother's.

__________________

What a wonderful way to start off a book...."Regan Matthews was going to die. She knew it as sure as she knew the sky was blue. Knew it as sure as she knew the baby inside her was a boy. Knew it as sure as she knew the baby's father would be the one to end her life." Okay, that may not have come out quite right, what I mean to say is what a wonderful hook to start off the book with. Larissa immediately grabs our attention right from the first sentence and never lets go--we're hers, or rather, we're the horsemen's.;)

This was a full out action packed, rollercoaster of a ride type of a book that invokes plenty of questions and keeps you on your toes trying to figure out what happens next. I tried to see if I could predict where the story was going and what was coming, but failed miserably. *sigh* You gotta love it when that happens.

Lethal Rider starts up approximately 8 months from where Immortal Rider left off. Thanatos has been incapacitated since then by both the Aegis warriors and his siblings. When he awakes and escapes he has only one thing on his mind--reeking vengeance on Regan for what she did. When he finds out he's about to be a daddy and no one was going to tell him, well, let's just say Hell hath no fury like a Horseman whose been played.

Why do I love Thanatos? Well, I think its because he's such a conflict unto himself. One moment he's a fierce warrior and the next he can be so vulnerable. He can be full of rage when he battles and can be gentle as a kitten when he's with Regan. There are so many facets to him that it can make a girl dizzy. If you cut away the roughness, you see the beauty that he, the man, possesses. After all he's been through, after all his years of torment, deep down he's just a guy whose dream of settling down and having a family could never be realized because of the demon he knows lurks within and, of course, because it was thought his virginity was his agimortus.

Regan is an equally fun character. She's a no nonsense type of gal whose pregnancy is taking it's toll on her and, perhaps, making her a little more in touch with her emotions than normal. She's torn between wanting the baby and feeling she just doesn't have what it takes to protect or raise her child. She also has feelings of guilt for her role in the deceptions which resulted in her carrying Thanatos' child. While she and Thonotas were both drugged and manipulated, she knew what she was getting into. Additionally, Regan's pregnancy has made her more vulnerable because her soul manipulating abilities have been compromised.

Some (not all) of my favorite lines, scenes, quotes, etc:

- "Who's the father?"...
  "Listen to me--"
  "Who?"
  She inhaled a shaky breath. "I'd feel better if Kynan was here--"
  "Kynan?" Thanatos let out a godawful snarl, and she swore she saw the flash of fangs. "The Aegi is the father? He dared to touch you?"
  Dared? "No--" she blurted, but Than wasn't listening.
  "Kynan is a dead man." 

- The baby had clearly turned her brain to mush, and she'd become a classic horror movie dipsh*t who got killed in the first five minutes of the film. Awesome.

- "Are you okay? Is it the baby?"
  She blinked in surprise. "It was just a kick. Ponyboy boy is really active."
  "Ponyboy?"
  Again her cheeks colored, but this time with a soft feminine blush. "Well, you're a Horseman...the father...so...Ponyboy."

The relationship between Regan and Than was fun to watch. Than's possessiveness of her put a grin on my face, and the magnetism between the two was intense. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one scores a STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed.

The world Ms. Ione has created is extraordinary and brilliant. I love the concept of the Daemonica, a demon version of a bible and all that it entails. Overall this one gets 5 out of 5 roses. Just a wonderful story that knocked my socks off and left me wanting for more. Thank goodness this ISN'T the last book of the series or I'd be beside myself. If you've been on the fence about reading this series, get off and start reading! lol It's soooooo good! *sigh*

Just for fun:
Are you as big a fan as I am of the Lords of Deliverance series? Then check out this quiz over at Forever Romance entitled, 'Who's Your Perfect Mate (for the end of the world)?':
http://www.forever-romance.com/2012/05/18/who-should-you-spend-the-end-of-the-world-with-the-larissa-ione-lords-of-deliverance-quiz/

Silly Little Side Note/Review Revision:
I originally included the following in my review:
Why is this book called Lethal Rider? Well, Thanatos' armor is made up of, or haunted by, if you will, the souls of those he's killed. When released by Thantos, they become "deadly, horrific weapons." Each of those souls is known as a 'Lethal Rider' as can be seen when Thanatos refers to someone (and I won't mention who it is so as not to spoil it for you) becoming "Lethal Rider 397." 
Well, it turns out there was a teeny tiny error in the eBook ARC I read. A page header and page number, the only page number included upon reexamining, found its way into the middle of a sentence making it appear that someone was referred to as Lethal Rider 397. Upon finding the error, I quickly removed it from the main review portion, but it just goes to show you why you should always check your quotes against the final copy. This mishap had me one part horrified that I didn't somehow recognize the error and one part laughing myself silly because it actually sounded like it fit. So to clarify, the souls on Thanatos's armor are not called Lethal Riders. I believe that title goes to Thanatos and Thanatos alone. :)

Order of Series:

Guide to the world of the Lords of Deliverance Series:


Order of Related Series - Demonica:

Immortal Rider (Lords of Deliverance) by Larissa Ione

Title: Immortal Rider (Lords of Deliverance #2)

Classification:  Adult Fiction

Genre:  Paranormal Romance

Format: Paperback: 448 pages

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; Original edition (December 1, 2011)

ISBN-10: 0446574473

ISBN-13: 978-0446574471

Author's Website: http://larissaione.com/blog/

Notes: This one contains some colorful language.

War - Ares

Famine - Limos

Death - Thanatos

Pestilence - Reseph 

     So he kissed her. Didn't even realize he'd done it until his lips were on hers. He hadn't thought she could be any more shocked, but her eyebrows shot up so far it would have been comical if he hadn't been rocking his head up to put them into a more serious kiss. That was the thing about him--no half-measures. He might not have realized he was kissing her, but once he did? He was taking it as far as she'd let him go.

     Command and conquer.

     For a brief, sweet moment, she kissed him back. Her lips softened and her tongue met his, hesitantly, as though she wasn't sure what she was doing.

    And then his world turned upside down. 

<time lapse>

    "You kissed me!" Eyes wild, she backed away so fast she lost her flip-flops. "Do you know what you've done, you idiot? You're going to pay for kissing me."

The four horsemen of the apocalypse are a cursed lot. Born of a demon mother (succubus) and an angel father, they struggle with both halves of their nature. Each half struggling to take control, but once their four seals, which they wear around their necks, are broken their inner demons will be unleashed and then, God save us all...

In 'Immortal Rider', Limos, the only female horseman, is kissed by Arik, an Aegis warrior. In Arik's case what you don't know can definitely kill you, and what he didn't know was that Limos was engaged since birth to the most notorious demon of them all--Satan. Satan can't have her until one of three things happens--her Seal breaks, she's captured in Sheoul--the demon realm, or a male who incited Satan's jealousy for Limos says her name while in agony. Seconds after the kiss Arik is captured and taken to the demon realm. The race is on to save Arik from a fate worse than death, and prevent Limos from having to fulfill her marriage contract while attempting to find a way to stop the apocalypse from happening. No pressure. 

With all the rewrites of old legends, fairy tales, myths and supernatural beings I have to say sometimes they work and sometimes they don't. This one definitely works. The spin Larissa Ione puts on the four horseman of the apocalypse prophecy was enjoyable. Each of the characters are unique from the others and are enjoyable to watch, er, read about. Truth be told, when I read I usually picture everything in my head, sort of like my own personal movie version. With Larissa's book it's easier than some.

Larissa's world building skills are off the charts with this series. I love how she wove her Demonica series' world in with this one. The little touches she adds such as each horseman's horse residing on their body until needed, armor which appears upon touching a scar on their body, and three dimensional tattoos are fun. Plus, I always enjoy it when an author intertwines their stories with something well known, in this case a prophecy of the four horseman of the apocalypse, and make changes which makes it their own.

The sacrifices each horseman must make in order to prevent the apocalypse and their internal conflicts and fears of becoming evil makes the story more engaging. The way the personality change in Pestilence/ Reseph was portrayed in this book almost makes me wonder if perhaps there is more than one soul or being residing in his body. Could perhaps the broken seal actually break out a demon that takes possession of the individual it resides in? On the other hand, it does sound a little bit like the multipersonality disorder described in the famous book 'Sybil' by Flora Rheta Schreiber. I must admit it makes me wonder.

Arik's and Limo's story was thoroughly enjoyable. Imagine wanting a relationship with someone, but not being able to have one because of circumstances put in place when you were a baby and then reinforced by you in your misguided youth. The chemistry between the two was sizzling, and I love how they tried to work around the barriers Satan had put in place to ensure Limo would be his. I liked the 'where there's a will there's a way' attitude they took on when posed with a problem. Also, the banter between the two at the beginning had me chuckling. Here is a small example of one of my favorites. The verbal sparring match is actually longer, but I don't want to give it all away:

     "Wow," he rasped. "Do you emasculate all the men, or am I special?"

     Her sensual lips curved into an amused smile. "Oh, you're special, but I wouldn't take it as a compliment." 

The secrets Limos tried to sweep under the rug added additional drama to story and effected everyone. It was interesting how lying was something that was a weakness for her. Pestilence's growing power was alarming and intriguing. His devious plans for Thanatos and the way he got Limos to help him was highly entertaining. You always need a good villain in a book. I look forward to see what Larissa will do with this character.   

Songs/lyrics that this book inspired to dance through my head? The first is, 'Love Hurts' appropriately by Incubus:

Love hurts...

But sometimes it's a good hurt

And it feels like I'm alive.

Love sings,

When it transcends the bad things.

Have a heart and try me,

'cause without love I won't survive.

I'm fettered and abused,

I stand naked and accused

(Should I surface this one man submarine?)

I only want the truth...

The second is the chorus of Jim Croce's 'Don't Mess Around With Jim'. Oh, and I substituted Limos for Jim in the following lyrics. It kind of all goes together--Superman, Lone Ranger, Horseman of the Apocalypse. :)

And they say, "You don't tug on Superman's cape,
You don't spit into the wind
You don't pull the mask off that ol' Lone Ranger
And you don't mess around with Limos."

On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one gets a STEAM rating - too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you look flustered and flushed. Overall, I gave this one a 5 out of 5 roses. I felt it was a wonderfully blend of romance, action, and drama.

Notes to keep you in the know:

Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, an 1887 painting by Victor Vasnetsov

Photo gotten from wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Horsemen_of_the_Apocalypse

When many people think of the four horseman of the apocalypse they envision something like the above portrait. The horseman on the extreme left is death and he looks like a skeleton. I think that is what inspired Regan's following line about Thanatos: "Visions of a bony old dude who looked like the crypt keeper's twin brother popped into her head."

Erta Ale is a continuously active basaltic shield volcano in the Afar Region of northeastern Ethiopia, the most active volcano in Ethiopia. It is in the Afar Depression, a badlands desert area spanning the border with Eritrea, and the volcano itself is surrounded completely by an area below sea level, making it a relatively low-elevation volcano.  Erta Ale means "smoking mountain" in the local Afar language and its southernmost pit is known locally as "the gateway to hell". 

The above information and photo gotten off of wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erta_Ale

Order of the Series:

1) Eternal Rider
2) Immortal Rider
3) Lethal Rider - Thanatos' story coming June 2012