ARC Review: Enslaved

Enslaved
Elisabeth Naughton
Paranormal Romance
Eternal Guardians/Book 5
Sourcebooks/November 6, 2012

*Possible Spoilers for Previous Books*

GRYPHON—Honorable, loyal, dependable…tainted. He was the ultimate warrior before imprisonment in the Underworld changed him in ways he can’t ignore.

She calls to him. Come to me. You can’t resist. But Gryphon will not allow himself to be ruled by the insidious whispers in his head. And there’s only one way to stop them: kill Atalanta, the goddess who enslaved him. But with so much darkness inside, he can’t be sure what’s real anymore. Even the Eternal Guardians, those who protect the human realm from threats of the Underworld, want to exile him. They’re not sure he can be trusted.

Finding Malea is like a miracle. Somehow he doesn’t feel the pull of the dark when she’s near. And he’s determined to keep her as near as possible, whether she wants him close or not. But proximity spurs temptation. A temptation that will test every last bit of control he has left. One that may ultimately have the power to send him back to the Underworld or free him from his chains for good.

If you like tortured heroes, Gryphon is the hero for you!  In Elisabeth Naughton's fifth book in her highly addictive Eternal Guardians series readers find out what has happened to Gryphon, the guardian who became a slave to Atalanta.  Gryphon was rescued but he's still suffering the effects of his enslavement and no one, least of all Gryphon, is sure if he will ever recover.

He escaped the hell he was living in but the torture continues, if only in his head.  It's the voice of Atalanta Gryphon can't get away from that may just drive him insane.  Gryphon is determined to kill Atalanta without putting the other Guardians at risk.  So he's going it alone or so he thought until Malea tags along.  I liked how dark Gryphon was.  He didn't just miraculously turn away from the darkside but kept some of that with him.  Malea brings light into Gryphon's life but he still must fight his way back from the hell that was Atalanta.

Malea is use to being alone and with Hades hunting her down, it's better for everyone if she doesn't get close to anyone.  Malea strikes out on her own but runs into Gryphon and they reluctantly team up together.  There is a definitely pull between them but Malea is afraid of what might happen if Hades' Hellhounds catch up to them.  Malea isn't a kickass heroine but she does try and I have to give her credit for effort.  I also respected her for trying to protect others while so desperately wanting to be part of the group instead of always alone.  She was a good match for Gryphon because she could understand his need to protect those he cared about by trying to keep his distance from them. 

The romance begins on the run with little in the way of actual romance.  Gryphon and Malea are not exactly enemies but they are far from friends.  That develops over their mad dash to freedom.  Even with the attraction they have for each other, it didn't always feel genuine but having more to do with Malea's affect on Gryphon's darkness.  Which made me wonder if their wasn't that connection of light/dark, would anything developed between them?  The romance does take off but from the physical attraction with the respect and friendship coming later.  I much prefer it the other way but this worked out okay in the end.  

The Guardians and their mates are involved in trying to help Gryphon but they also have their concerns as to his ties with Atalanta and how much control she may still have over him.  I really enjoy seeing this group of males and watching them interact.  They're not all close, best friends but they do respect each other and will fight for each other.  The women are not wallflowers who fade off into nothing but continue to make contributions to the fight against Atalanta and her evil horde of daemons.

This is a strong series that continues to deliver action, adventure, romance with kickass heroes and smart heroines. Definitely worth the read!

Rating: A-

Eternal Guardians Series ~

Marked
Entwined
Tempted
Enraptured
Enslaved

ARC Review: Enraptured

Enraptured
Elisabeth Naughton
Paranormal Romance
Eternal Guardians/Book 4
Sourcebooks/April 3, 2012

Spoilers for Previous Books

ORPHEUS—To most he’s an enigma, a devil-may-care rogue who does whatever he pleases whenever he wants. Now this loose cannon is part of the Eternal Guardians­—elite warriors assigned to protect the human realm—whether he likes it or not.

Orpheus has just one goal: to rescue his brother from the Underworld. He’s not expecting a woman to get in the way. Especially not a Siren as gorgeous as Skyla. He has no idea she’s an assassin sent by Zeus to seduce, entrap, then ultimately destroy him.

Yet Skyla herself might have the most to lose. There’s a reason Orpheus feels so familiar to her, a reason why her body seems to crave him. Perhaps he’s not the man everyone thinks… The truth could reveal a deadly secret as old as the Eternal Guardians themselves.

There she goes, sucking me right back into the world of the Argonauts. Elisabeth Naughton has once again written a fast paced, sexy, emotional romance set in the fascinating world of warriors and the woman who are their equals. The more I read of this series, the more I want. It's as simple as that.

Orpheus is a familiar character if you've read the previous books but we still don't know much about him. He bears the markings of the Argonauts but isn't truly one of them. No one trusts Orpheus, save perhaps the new Queen, Isadora. Orpheus has earned that distrust by doing pretty much as he pleases and only truly caring about his brother, Gryphon. Now we get to see another, more heroic side of Orpheus and I loved it! Naughton didn't suddenly turn him into a knight in shinning armor, his armor still had a few dents. But Orpheus does show a far greater affinity for becoming an Argonaut than anyone would have expected, especially Orpheus himself. It wasn't a sudden transformation so much as the situation bringing out his true self.

Skyla has been a siren for over 2000 years. She is loyal to Athena and Zeus but her current mission has her beginning to question that loyalty. Skyla is a total kick-ass heroine with the boots to go with the attitude. The thing about Skyla's loyalty is that she is not blinded by it. She can and does think for herself and when things don't add up, she questions why. Her feelings for Orpheus are conflicted when she realizes he's not what she expected. I liked seeing how she resolves this conflict. She not blinded by loyalty or by love, but uses what she knows as the truth to make her decisions.

The dynamic between Orpheus and Skyla is intriguing in that they don't trust each other but they are stuck working together towards similar goals. I liked how Orpheus and Skyla see past their preconceived ideas of who they thought the other was. As they work together, fight together and ultimate form a tentative trust, we see those preconceptions fall apart. Their relationship isn't what I would call romantic but given the situations they find themselves in, romance isn't a priority. Instead they have these sweet and tender moments of intimacy that I think surprises both of them. Oh, the hot sex didn't hurt either. ;)

The action is a very integral part of this series and that holds true again. It's not only the fight scenes but the before and after the fight scenes that can leave you out of breath and a little in awe of how these characters get themselves into these situations and then make it out alive. Naughton makes you believe in this brutal world of monsters and heroes.

One of the things about this series is everyone has a role to play. So once a hero and heroine find their Happy Ever After, they don't get to ride off into the sunset but continue to be integral parts of the fight against the Daemons. Which is a treat for readers since we get to catch up on previous heroes and heroines. This isn't exactly one big, happy family but a rather loving but dysfunctional extended family. Which makes it all the more interesting.

If you enjoy a fast paced, fascinating world where mythology blends with the human world and heroes and heroines fight evil while falling in love, Eternal Guardians is the series to read.

Rating: A

Eternal Guardians ~

Marked
Entwined
Tempted
Enraptured
Enslaved (November 1, 2012)

ARC Review: Tempted

Tempted
Elisabeth Naughton
Paranormal Romance
Eternal Guardians/Book 3
Sourcebooks/September 6, 2011

*Spoilers for Previous Books*

From Goodreads ~

DEMETRIUS — He’s the hulking, brooding warrior his fellow Guardians avoid. Too dark. Too damaged. And given his heritage, he knows it’s best to keep everyone at arm’s length.

Isadora is missing. The words pounded through his head like a frantic drumbeat. For her own protection, Demetrius had done all he could to avoid the fragile princess, his soul mate. And now she was gone—kidnapped. To get her back, he’ll have to go to the black place in his soul he’s always shunned.

As daemons ravage the human realm and his loyalty to the Guardians is put to the ultimate test, Demetrius realizes that Isadora is stronger than anyone thought. And finally letting her into his heart may be the only way to save them both.

I've been looking forward to Isadora and Demetrius' book ever since I finished Entwined (book 2). Isadora intrigued me with her quiet, almost childlike disposition she displays to her father and the public while in private she is a very strong, very determined woman. Demetrius made me sit up and take notice when he so adamantly refused to wed Isadora when the king proposed the match, in Entwined. The dude would rather kill himself than wed her. Jeez, sure know how to break a woman's heart! I knew there had to be a good reason because while he's rough and gruff, he's not really an ass. Turns out Demetrius had a very good reason.

Princess Isadora, the only legitimate heir to the monarchy of Argolea, is to marry the Argonaut Zander. But at the last minute the king allows Zander to be with his soul mate Isadora's half-sister Callia. Which is good except Isadora can't enjoy her reprieve because she's been kidnapped. If anyone can survive kidnapping by crazy witches, it's Isadora. She has a great inner strength and intelligence that Naughton showcases through Isadora's words and actions. I liked how she doesn't back down to Demetrius even though he has to physically save her a few times. Thankfully, she's stubborn and ends up saving him too even though he doesn't think he's worth saving.

Demetrius is the biggest baddest Argonaut around. He really is the biggest, at almost 6'8 but baddest... Well, Zander wasn't exactly Mr. Light and Love but he has mellowed a little so we'll give Demetrius the title. Even with all his gruffness, I couldn't help but like him. He's suspicious of nearly everyone, especially Isadora, but he still protects her and gets jealous when he thinks she's been doing more than studying with Orpheus. Loved that we got to see that vulnerable side of Demetrius. There is so much more to this man than the rough, scarey exterior and it came through here.

The romance is not a sweet, gentle romance but fierce in the emotions both Isadora and Demetrius have. Demetrius wants nothing to do with Isadora but they are forced by circumstances to stay close while fighting off the threats that continue to come their way. Even though they've known each other for ages, they really don't know anything about each other. That all changes as they begin to talk and each opens up, surprising themselves with what they share with the other. Loved these two together!

The series is continuing to grow along with the characters. I liked how Naughton gives the hero and heroine plenty of time to work out their problems instead of making the problems magically disappear. And Isadora and Demetrius have a lot of problems. We get to catch up with the previous heroes and heroines and learn more about the other guardians who have yet to get their stories told. I never felt there were there merely for sequel bait but played an intimate role in the ongoing story. The action is consuming, with the Argonauts battling enemies from without and within. I love the twists and surprises Naughton has woven into the story. Edge of your seat moments leaving the reader wanting to know more about these characters.

Naughton has created a fascinating world, blending myths and legends into a reality where humans, daemons and Argonauts wage fierce battles with metal and magic. Tempted was an exciting adventure with my favorite hero and heroine so far. This series has a lot going for it. Enraptured can't come soon enough!

Rating: A

Books in this series ~

Marked
Entwined
Tempted
Enraptured (April 2012)

Review: Entwined

Entwined
Elisabeth Naughton
Paranormal Romance
Eternal Guardians/Book 2
Love Spell/July 27, 2010

From the back cover ~

Zander - The most feared of all the Eternal Guardians. It's rumored he can't be killed, and he always fights like he has nothing to lose. But as a descendant of the famed hero Achilles, he's got to have a vulnerability...somewhere.

Forces of daemons are gathering and have broken through the barriers of the Underworld. Now more than ever the Eternal Guardians are needed to protect both their own realm and the human world. Zander can't afford to think about what might have been with the bewitching physician he once regarded as his soul mate. But with eternity stretching out before him, he also can't fathom spending his life without the one woman who makes him feel most alive. Perhaps he's found his weakness, after all...

After reading the first book in the series, Marked, I was curious about the world Naughton has created but I wasn't salivating to read the next book. I figured I'd get to it eventually. Well, almost a year after it's release and I finally did. And after reading Entwined, I can't wait for Tempted, book 3.

There's certainly a medieval feel to the world of the Guardians. The king rules the realm and has decided his daughter should wed one of the Argonauts. No one is happy with this news least of all the Argonauts. As the king's personal healer, Callia works in close proximity to the royal family, such as it is. She prefers to keep her distance from the Argonauts, specifically Zander, due to a painful past association. I liked Callia, she's an intelligent and independent woman in a very male dominant world. She suffered a terrible loss and has submersed herself in her work at the clinic, trying to forget everything she has lost. She had a very 21st century feel to her.

Zander thinks he is immortal and apparently being an ass comes with immortality. He's very alpha, of course, but he's got this attitude of how he was so wronged in the past by Callia that he doesn't even try to see her side. But... he's still got the hots for her. LOL And being a man, doesn't always think with his brain. His stubbornness in doing what he thinks is the right thing went too far. There were moments when I liked him, then he'd go back to being a stubborn asshat and I'd roll my eyes and think Callia could do better.

The secondary character of Isadora, the king's daughter, is turning into a favorite of mine. Her book is next so thankfully I won't have to wait long for it. She's a chameleon, playing at being the meek, shy princess while having a backbone of steel. She's already been through a horrible ordeal and will probably get into even more trouble in her book. Let's hope her hero has enough patience for her.

The plot is thick with tension, drama and action with Zander and Callia in the middle of it. The big bad is really bad and powerful. She's a sick bitch who enjoys torturing and killing and hates the Argonauts. Nothing like a power crazed whackjob and her daemon horde to spoil the mood. While I liked Callia far more than Zander, and the romance was interesting, I found myself wishing for more page time with Isadora rather than the hero and heroine.

Between the angst filled romance, the sub-plot with Isadora, courtly intrigue and the fight against evil, Entwined proved to be a solid addition to the series. And most importantly, it left me wanting more of the world of the Argonauts.

Rating: B

Books in this series ~

Marked
Entwined
Tempted (September 1, 2011)