Fantasy Lover
by Sherrilyn Kenyon
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Book Reviews of Fantasy Lover
Book Review: 4 Pink Hearts from Kooritsuki's Romance Novels Reviews
Summary: 4 Stars
Fantasy Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon is an imaginative and original paranormal romance novel that is bound to make you want more. Listed as the first installment of the popular Dark Hunters series, it is more like a prequel as the elements of the Dark Hunters world was not mentioned in the book at all, it is definitely a fascinating read.
Julian of Macedon was a ancient Spartan general cursed into the pages of a book, only to be released for a month at a time when summoned - as a sex slave. During his time, he was a demi-god, powerful in the human world, and which such good looks that almost any women will fall at his feet. Summoned by Grace Alexander, he arrived naked in her living room ready to pleasure her, but was soon surprised by both her refusal and her caring for him that he never had by any other women from before.
Grace Alexander was a sex therapist living in modern day New Orleans, who has been celibate for the past four years... until her eccentric best friend, Selena, brought a mysterious book to her, and she was drunk enough to go through with a spell per Selena's, persistent, request. When Julian actually appeared in her living room, she was beyond shocked. Although he was what every women dreams for, she wasn't about to use him as a sex slave, partly due to her previous experience with her self-centered jerk ex-lover. Suggesting that he should find a way to break the curse, they quickly found out, from Julian's half brother, Eros, the Greek god, that Grace was the key. But helping Julian would mean that she, herself, would have to overcome one of her own demons.
Fantasy Lover is a great read with a lot of sexy materials in it. Sherrilyn Kenyon did a great job of creating a whole new world with funny Greek gods and ancient characters. Although the whole concept was a little far fetched, the author made it believable and it was easy to be absorbed in her world. Julian was sexy and lovable throughout the novel, but what made me really fall in love with his character was the sacrifice he was willing to make, and have made, for Grace in order to spare her from facing her biggest fear. Grace's character was a little more average, down to earth, but her gentle and caring personality had made it very believable when Julian fell in love with her.
Two of the reasons why I've rated Fantasy Lover as a 4 Pink Hearts instead of 5 was the delivery of Julian's history and the time allocation of the story. There are many ways that Sherrilyn Kenyon could have talked about Julian's past, but she chose to have a dialog between the two protagonists. In some cases, this choice could have not been a problem at all. However, in this case, it didn't work well at all. Julian had a very tormenting past, and it ran right from his birth all the way to the point when he was cursed to being a sex slave, and from then to his multiple summons from the past. And to deliver all that in dialog format, it was just a little too much. Half way through, it just became him ranting on and on. Should his past be "shown" to readers by flashbacks or other methods, the quality of this book will definitely increase dramatically.
The time allocation of the story was also a little out of proportion. The time frame of the whole story was about 30 days, yet from the time Julian was summoned until the end of the day after, when they found out the way to break his curse, Sherrilyn Kenyon had written so much that it lasted for half of the book. Therefore, we ended up with half a book talking about the first 1.5 days, and then the other half covering the rest of the 28.5 days. Although this allowed the thorough development of the Sherrilyn Kenyon's world, it limited the interaction and the action of "falling in love." If she had spent a little more time to describe how the two fell so deeply in love with each other, it would definitely earned a better rating too.
Fantasy Lover is a great read that I would definitely recommend. Just be aware that this is one of Sherrilyn Kenyon's earlier books, so her writing was not as fluid as her newer novels. But if you are interested for a imaginative paranormal romance novel that is a little different from the others, this story of Julian of Macedon and Grace Alexander is definitely worth a try.
This review was from my blog.
Book Review: "Sexy Contemporary Mythology, Over-the-Top HEA"
Summary: 2 Stars
The Plot:
Fantasy Lover, the first book in the Dark-Hunters series (almost a prequel, really, since it does not actually feature any of the Dark-Hunters), is the story of Grace Alexander, a psychiatrist who just can't seem to find a boyfriend. When her best friend, the unflappable psychic Selena, sets out to try to change that, Grace finds herself chanting incantations into an ancient book in hopes that her "fantasy lover" will come to life and fulfill her desires. Lo and behold, Grace soon finds herself with an ancient Macedonian houseguest!
Julian of Macedon is the son of Aphrodite and a heartless and unforgiving warrior who is imprisoned inside a book after having put a spell on a woman to make her fall in love with and marry him instead of her lover. Julian's only temporary escape from his prison is when lustful females magically call him forth for single months at a time to grant them their every sexual pleasure. He is used and abused, and then cast back into his abhorred blind and motionless existence inside the book.
Even in the 21st century, Julian finds himself at the mercy of the immortal gods and goddesses that are his family as he tries to bargain and fight his way to his freedom and a return to his previous life. But, despite the call of the old world, the siren call of the gentle and caring Grace may just be enough to keep him in modern times.
Zelda's Take:
Well, I must say that I picked up this book with high hopes of vampire romance, given all the Dark-Hunters chatter that I'd been hearing. I am a sucker for hot vampires. Period.
But I was SOOOOOO disappointed with this one! There were NO vampires. Not one! And, to boot, there were a bunch of mythological characters that I just couldn't get into. It's funny, I've never been a huge fan of mythological gods and goddesses, but I love supernatural creatures -- go figure. Anyways.
So Fantasy Lover, unfortunately, never got off the ground for me. In addition to the vampire withdrawal I was experiencing, I felt that the relationships and backstory were a bit weak throughout -- the plot contrived. I personally had a hard time relating to Grace and Selena; their lives seem a bit too "exotic suburbia" for my tastes. Not to mention the random, crazy-stalker subplot that is thrown in to create a sense of danger and need for Julian's protectiveness. Of all things, I think what irritated me the most was the ridiculous HEA ending -- they're free and together... ooh, now they're rich, too! Gag me.
At this point in the review I'm supposed to turn to what I did like about the book. Well, I can say that I finished it. It was captivating enough that continued reading it to the end. Despite the fact that I'm so not interested in mythological characters, tired quickly of the sexual tease, got irritated by the fact that Julian felt sorry for himself too often (not that I wouldn't if I'd been stuck in a book for centruries!), and hated the HEA, mommy-comes-to-the-rescue ending, I did make it to the end. Phew.
I'm told that the second book in the series is the true introduction of the Dark-Hunters, and that I will fall in love with them at that point. But, my dislike of this first book may have been enough to turn me off the entire series. I mean, my TBR pile is loaded as it is with books that I'm stoked to read -- why bother torturing myself? Only time will tell whether I pick up the second. In the meantime, I think I'll find my own fantasy lover, thank you very much.
Book Review: Couldn't put this story down!
Summary: 4 Stars
Oh. My. Goddess! Sherrilyn Kenyon is a master of the written word! This author has an amazing talent for drawing the reader into a story so thoroughly that you can actually "feel" the emotions with such intensity! Burning anger, passionate desire, tragic sadness, Ms. Kenyon's words made this reader feel every moment!
Her touch was his salvation; her kiss had the power to drive him over the edge into uncontrollable madness....
Grace Alexander: A 29 yr old sex therapist without an romance to call her own, doesn't have much of a social life. Hurt beyond measure by the loss of her parents and the brutal treatment at the hands of a man she thought she loved, Grace has no desire to trust her heart to anyone. She just can't face the thought of have it ripped out of her chest and stomped on again.
Julian of Macedon: Son of Aphrodite; renowned Spartan General; and, because of a viciously jealous brother, cursed to be nothing but a love slave for 2000 years, sentenced to always be sued to pleasure but those who summon him, but to never find a release of his own. Full of desperation, intense hunger and thirst, Julian never wanted anything but someone to love and who would truly love him, not his body, in return.
For her birthday, Grace, is duped into an "itty bitty" chant by her best friend, Selena. Did I mention that this itty bitty chant was supposed to bring Grace her very own God-Like Love Slave that she could have for a whole month?! Woot woot! Hot tamales it worked! Julian of Macedon, cursed to serve those who summoned him for the past 2000 years, popped into Grace's living room and turned her world upside down! So beautifully masculine, Julian is the epitome of every woman's sexual desire and it takes every ounce of Grace's control to NOT make love to him. You see, Grace was brutally used the night she lost her virginity and she just couldn't bring herself to treat another that way, no matter how hot he was or how much she wanted too! For Julian, not being able to pleasure a woman as his curse demanded, was a very dangerous thing, indeed. The intense physical and emotional pain of this rejection has the power drive him beyond madness into an eternity of lunacy in darkness, never to emerge again. But, no matter the cost, Grace and Julian decide together to fight the curse. With help from Julian's brother "Eros" aka Cupid, they find the way. It's a long and sexually torturous way, but they have got to try!
With Greek Gods and Goddesses, Gypsies, and everyday "Joes", this story has many twists and turns that promises to keep the reader turning page after page, well into the wee hours of the night!
Fav Comical Quote, Page 46:
"Because I'm not some alley cat with her tail up in the air waiting for the nearest Tom to come over, stick it in, and leave!"
Fav Emotion Filled Passage, Page 306:
Julian: Closing his eyes, he remembered the night Grace had summoned him. He remembered what it felt like to have no real identity. To just be the anonymous Greek love-slave.
Long ago, he had lost himself in a painful place of dark obscurity, and yet Grace has found him.
Through her strength and kindness, she had braved the worst of him and brought him back to humanity. She, alone, had seen into his heart and found him worthy.
Couldn't put this story down! 5 Gold Stars to Ms. Kenyon!
Book Review: Thank the gods for Sherrilyn Kenyon! =D
Summary: 5 Stars
This book haunted me even when I wasn't reading it. I would get glimpses out of nowhere of Julian's dimpled smile, Grace reading "Peter Pan" to Julian on the floor in front of the couch, her holding him when he was his most vulnerable and so on. SUCH an enthralling tale of two people who keep being haunted by their pasts, yet ultimately they want the same thing!!
I mean, just imagine it. You being in Julian's place. TWO THOUSAND years in complete darkness, with hunger and thirst ravaging your body, yet you can't move. You are in explicit pain, yet you can hear as the world outside the book you're in, changes and you can't take part. Only you can have 30 days of being out of that obscurity and even then you're trapped. Being a sex slave, seeing only bedrooms and hidden, not being treated as a human but a mere pet. I have never read of a more tortured past. It's ridiculous. Two thousand years. Christ. And even before that; life was never enjoyable. Never had he felt love.
Then you've got Grace Alexander. Intelligent, loyal, kind, brave Grace. Who even though was basically raped by a guy of her past and tragically lost her parents who showed her that love never fades with time; she has yet to give up on love. She is the first person ever to attempt to set Julian free from his curse; the first person to make him feel like a man again in EVERY sense of the word :)
These two people come from such different pasts, but both know what it feels like to be used, hurt, alone. Both know what is unjust. Yet inside, they both yearn for a home, a love. The sexual encounters build and get stronger from the first encounter; gathering budding emotions as it goes on until you finally get the THE scene and bam! Kenyon beats it over your head constantly and it's so darn nice to have an author be so persistent and never let up on the pressure. You're CONSTANTLY reminded of where they come from, what they've been through, the thoughts that pass through their heads at any given moment; You never forget how badly they want the other, how badly they wished things were different.
Such a compelling tale, completely overwhelmed me with its intensity and passionate moments. I have read a lot of romance novels so I have become immune to love scenes and such, and have lost that feeling of my muscles clenching wonderfully while reading a love scene. But my goodness, I got the feeling back!! You put these two intense people together and you get PASSION. And then there are the light-hearted stuff; Julian learning to drive while he would have rather played with Grace's pedals, humorous one-liners ("gluteus rumpus"), this red negligee, steamy shower scenes with such detailing...
This story made me laugh out loud, blush like mad, tear up and cry. It's just so easy to lose yourself in such a world. There is wonderful Greek mythology, betrayal, strong emotions both repressed and glorified in, and such beautiful, tender exchanges between Julian of Macedon and his precious, saving Grace Alexander.
Happy Reading :)
Book Review: Go and grab yourself a copy!
Summary: 5 Stars
Once upon a time, there lived a mighty Macedonian commander who led his army into victory over the Romans. He was revered by the goddess Athena and feared by his enemies. Some even said he was to be the next Alexander the Great. But power attracts jealousy. And nobody was more eager to destroy him than his own brother. Jealous of Julian's popularity and great looks, Priapus, a lesser-known god hands him the ultimate punishment - that of a man trapped in a book with no company but darkness and solitude. The mighty commander was reduced to nothing more than a sex slave cursed into an eternity of loneliness. For two thousand years, Julian of Macedon would be under the mercy of women until one fateful night in New Orleans.
Four years ago, Grace Alexander lost two of the people she loved the most. To add to her devastation, the first man to show any interest in her took advantage of her grief over her parents' death and has since shattered her trust in men. Then her psychic friend Selena stumbles upon Julian's book and convinces her to conjure him up on the night of her birthday. So several glasses of wine later, Grace decides to indulge Selena and as the clock strikes midnight with the full moon shining on her, she calls out to Julian of Macedon three times not expecting that it will work. But before she knew what was going on, she finds him naked in her living room offering his service to her. And from that moment on, her life would never be the same.
FANTASY LOVER is a fun and original story that had me enthralled from the very first page. I absolutely loved Julian and had this mental picture of a perfect Greek god oozing with immense power and sexuality. And I was glad that Grace wasn't made out to be the beautiful damsel in distress, which we see a lot of in romance novels. In fact, she is smart and independent yet average looking. What really immersed me into the story is the humor and passion between them. From the outside, we have two people who are as different as night and day, yet deep down, they have so much in common that forms a bond between them. Both have suffered the humiliation and pain of rejection and both have lived the life of outsiders. Julian is the first man who didn't find her lacking and made her feel desirable and protected. In return, Grace is the first person to see beyond his face and body, and the only one who actually gave a damn about him when everyone else has treated him like an object to be used. And this is what drew them together and what creates an absorbing story that will have you glued from the very start.
A fantastic, exciting and extremely hot novel, I guarantee that you wouldn't be able to put this down. Believe me, learning to drive a stick has never sounded so hot! And who would have thought that those gods and goddesses in Mt Olympus could be so funny? This book was an absolute joy! I laughed, cried a little and cheered for both of them.