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Acheron: A Dark-Hunter Novel
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Acheron: A Dark-Hunter Novel
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Acheron: A Dark-Hunter Novel
Audiobook23 hours

Acheron: A Dark-Hunter Novel

Written by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Narrated by Holter Graham

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

4.5/5

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Currently unavailable

Currently unavailable

About this audiobook

A Dark-Hunter series audiobook from #1 New York Times bestselling author Sherrilyn Kenyon

Eleven thousand years ago a god was born. Cursed into the body of a human, Acheron spent a lifetime of shame. His human death unleashed an unspeakable horror that almost destroyed the earth. Brought back against his will, he became the sole defender of mankind.

Only it was never that simple. For centuries, he has fought for our survival and hidden a past he never wants revealed. Until a lone woman who refuses to be intimidated by him threatens his very existence.

Now his survival, and ours, hinges on hers and old enemies reawaken and unite to kill them both.
War has never been more deadly... or more fun.

LanguageEnglish
Release dateAug 5, 2008
ISBN9781427204738
Unavailable
Acheron: A Dark-Hunter Novel
Author

Sherrilyn Kenyon

Defying all odds is what #1 New York Times and international bestselling author Sherrilyn McQueen writing as Sherrilyn Kenyon does best. Rising from extreme poverty as a child that culminated in being a homeless mother with an infant, she has become one of the most popular and influential authors in the world (in both adult and YA fiction), with dedicated legions of fans known as Paladins--thousands of whom proudly sport tattoos from her numerous genre-defying series. Since her first book debuted while she was still in college, she has placed more than 80 novels on the New York Times list in all formats and genres, including manga and graphic novels, and has more than 70 million books in print worldwide. Her series include: Dark-Hunters®, Chronicles of Nick®, Deadman’s Cross™, Eve of Destruction™, Nevermore™, Lords of Avalon® and The League®. Over the years, her Lords of Avalon® novels have been adapted by Marvel, and her Dark-Hunters® and Chronicles of Nick® are New York Times bestselling manga and comics and are #1 bestselling adult coloring books.

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Reviews for Acheron

Rating: 4.391332526520052 out of 5 stars
4.5/5

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  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I have recently come to adore this series, and I started at some of the earlier books...where you start to really love Acheron, and the moment this book became available to me through a free online audio library that is available through my local library....I just had to pick this one up. It is a long one, and since it is a audio book it took me some time to get through it. To be honest, the first half of the book...is really difficult to get through. It starts at the beginning of seeing his mother who was forced to give him up so he could survive not knowing what he would go through. When he is born a twin to a mortal queen, he should have been adored and treated like a prince right?? Wrong!! The only difference in looks between himself and his twin..his swirling silver eyes. Those eyes made him be rejected by his family except for one person...his older sister Rissa.We see Acheron as a little boy being abused and beaten by his father, then skip years later to when he was a teenager...and oh the things we see I just wanted to cry for him. Rissa loves her brother, even though she is naive to the ways of her family and the ways of the world....she adores her brother. The rest of his mortal life is heartbreaking, and I will warn you, you need a box of tissues. Then Artemis steps in and I the more you see the way she uses him ....I wanted to strangle that "Heffer goddess" (according to Simi). Then we see him find out his true parentage, and events turn pretty crazy and we the man he becomes as he is in the present. There is so much depth and character to Acheron....he blew me away!! What a man and a god....amazing!! LOVE him so much!! But does it end there?? no he needs to have his happy ending right? An the woman for him is NOT artemis...thank goodness!!We see a young woman enter into the story...a woman that is the perfect mate for Acheron in every way. She is everything he needs to heal from the past. Everyday he is reminded of his past and it haunts him. Tory is a historian and archaeologist. She is passionate about her work. Her family has been mocked and ridiculed...and is determined to make sure her parent's deaths are redeemed, by bringing honor and dignity and respect to their life's work...the find of Atlantis. She knows it exists. But at a presentation, of the most renown scientists and historian's she is mocked by Acheron. Acheron is shocked to see that this small woman may be the means to destroying him. No one must know the truth of his past or his connection to Atlantis. It could destroy the world. At first Tory only sees a man that dresses in black, handsome, but a scoundrel, wears piercings and is dangerous. She thinks him a college frat boy who doesn't know anything....little does she know that he is older than she could imagine. The romance is a bit rocky at first, but when Tory is in danger from enemies unknown to even Acheron...he knows he must protect her at all costs. Acheron and Tory form a strong link to each other...a bond that begins with friendship and then to a burning passion. Acheron knows he can't have this woman, who is beautiful and spirited and passionate...a woman too good for the likes of him. But Tory....she fights and protects those she calls loved ones...and when she starts falling in love with him. She realizes she would do anything for this man....no one would keep her from him even Acheron himself. Then Simi steps in and well we all love Simi, and I wondered how she would be with Tory....and have no fear I can just see them shopping together. Simi is charming, with a love of BBQ sauce, protector of Acheron and bitter enemy of Artemis ( who wouldn't love this demon who worms her way into your heart)The romance between Acheron and Tory is passionate, vibrant and riveting in the emotional sense. When Acheron learns to trust the one woman he has loved more than any other....he believes she will reject him but I love a strong heroine, and Tory is a favorite of mine. She has such strength, and is willing to stand up for Acheron in such a way that breaks your heart!! After reading the first half and really seeing the kind of man Acheron is....and then to see Tory and the way she is with him and the manner in which she fights for the man she adores...it is truly breathtaking. The love between them is so tender yet wildly passionate. It tugs at your heart strings, and sings a tune of deep love and devotion, fighting for your mate, and a tale to bring tears to your eyes yet a smile on your face.An epic romance story guaranteed to enthrall you!!!

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    At last! I was so giddy when I could finally start with Acheron's story. Finally one of my most beloved characters will find some peace and hopefully be free of the "heifer-goddess." (Simi's words not mine ;) ) I was even more thrilled to find that this book would be the longest yet, more then 700 pages, bring it on!

    The first part was wonderful and heartbreaking. Acheron's past was even darker and crueler than I imagined, so I was glad when we returned to our time. Now it was finally his turn :). However I felt something missing in the second part...

    Don't get me wrong, I like Tory a lot, she's very funny and quite witty, but I don't get why it's she who breaks the walls around his heart. She's not that special and I know for sure she's not the only woman out there who would place Acheron before her and only give and not take. I mean Acheron has wandered around this earth for thousands of years so why didn't he meet someone like that sooner? I know I'm nitpicking a bit at the moment, but I expected that there would be at least some kind of prophecy or something like that for the one who would manage to break the walls and steel Acheron's heart... It felt a bit too random...

    There is also the time period in which Tory manages to get past his defenses. A man who has been betrayed in the worst ways time and time again. Who has been abused for thousands of years has a lot of issues to say the least. It took Ryssa months to get Ash to trust her, and this was before he was utterly betrayed, so how is it possible that Tory could manage this in a couple of weeks?? Sorry but that is just not plausible...

    Therefore I can't give this book more than 3 stars. Even though the first part was sublime, it was the second part that I could not find myself to like that much, even though I'm thrilled to now that Acheron finally found his haven :) Now if only his mom could be free too without ending the world and Nick would be able to reconcile with Acheron and everyone would be happy :)

  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I have mixed feelings over this book. I can't give more than 4 stars because Acheron is degraded from an awsome character to an ordinary hero and it is not because of his past. I simply think that that character deserved more.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    i will tell you in ten words ! funny, sexy,and great story! I would listen to twice!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    At first I was totaly disapointed. 430 pages of how Ash's life sucked, It was really depresing. If people have folowed the series and the promo clips they know all the first part. The only new stuff comes after pg. 329. Wow was the first two parts were brutal if I was not such a fan I would not have read it at all. I know everyone was beging to know Ash's past but that was bordering on the explicit. The romance starts on the modernday part, And I loved it! I couldn't stop smiling, Kenyon's hummor is amazing! I'm so happy that Ash finaly has some one who takes care of him, and tought Artemis a lesson! I so look forwerd to her next book!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Probably one of the most anticipated romance genre books of the year, Acheron starts off with a punch … and ended on a "awwww isn’t that sweet", for me. (Not necessarily a bad thing, but not a great thing considering the character.)Clocking in at over 700 pages, I’m so glad Kenyon didn’t skimp on his story like I hear she did with some of her latest books. (I for one have no problem with large books- it satisfies my soul.)The first part of the book is Ash’s backstory. From before he was born, Acheron was a pariah. And the pain he endured because of what he would one day be, is beyond horrific. God, I wanted to rescue him in so many ways. And that is exactly why all of us gals are so gaga over him. It feeds the deepest part of who we are as women. To create, nurture and heal. (Well, who we are as HEALTHY women!) Kenyon did an excellent job of filling in the details of Acheron's pre-Dark Hunter days.The second part of the book brings him to present day and gives him his HEA. This part I had the most issues with which I will get to later.While pregnant with Acheron, his mother Appolymi- the Atlantean Goddess of destruction- sets about to hide him from his father Archon, the God of Creation. A prophecy has come forth from the fates, Ash’s half sisters, that his son would destroy the Atlantean pantheon. Archon has degreed the unborn’s death and so Appolymi comes up with a scheme to have the baby taken from her womb and implanted into the womb of a human. Appolymi is promptly locked away and has no idea what her son’s life is like while living with the human’s. (The very life she sacrificed much to save!)When Acheron’s human mother gives birth to twins, at first they are overjoyed. But then someone notices the eldest twins swirling silver eyes and the husband knows this baby is cursed and no son of his. But the father cannot kill Acheron because his life is tied to his real son, Acheron's twin, Styxx. From that day forward he unleashes such rage and hatred on Ash, it’s sickening.The only person to offer Acheron comfort is his sister Ryssa, who’s journal we get much of this part of the story from. (The journal also becomes key to the second part of the novel as well.) But she is unable to protect Acheron from her family's brutal hatred and he is sent to live with an Uncle before she can say a word otherwise.It’s here that the worst of the abuse comes to light. And the betrayal upon betrayal made me want to groan. Not because I don’t know that people actually suffer like that, even though it was almost too over the top ala the accusations leveled at Gibson for the movie The Passion of the Christ, but because I so wanted someone to RESCUE HIM! Or for him to finally rise up and say, “ENOUGH!” (Seriously, there was an edge of victimism about him that really did not work for me in this part.)When Artemis gets her hands on him you think he's gonna find some relief- she IS a Goddess after all- but, WRONG. More betrayal. More beatings. (The part of the book that detailed some of their time together didn’t really interest me much either. We’ve seen it all in the previous novels, so I skimmed through some of it.)By the time we got up to present day I was ready to see him find a measure of peace. And the woman who shall not be named so as not to spoil it for those who have to read it yet is the one to bring it to him.The thing is she didn’t fit.Oh, I liked her. She is intelligent, strong, kind and knows how to stand up to him. (Loved how she hammers him, literally, for how he destroyed her reputation as a Atlantean authority in their first encounter.)But she needed to be more. Perhaps she needed to have suffered as he had? Or maybe she needed a special power to link her too him? I don’t know, but something more had to come from her to make me feel this union. After all, he waited over 11,000 years to settle on HER! Yes he needed her kindness but an intensity I’ve come to expect from him was, well, missing. Because of this, Ash and his love story just felt tepid to me.After a battle over Ryssa’s recently discovered journals, (they key to discovering Atlantis- something that must never be done, according to Kenyon, because it would unleash Ash's mother and destroy the world), that involves all the characters we’ve seen up til now-including the Dark Hunters who are his REAL family- and the dreaded Daimons and demons led by Stykker are pushed back and Ash’s love is given god-like powers that severs his need for Artemis in a big way. Yes, in the end, Acheron’s arch is tied up neatly with a bow but it still left a dissatisfied taste in my mouth.One other thing, I have some serious issues with Ash’s “Goth” look. In the beginning of the series, I was buying it. I liked the edge it gave him. But in this book, he came off as a tall, lanky, sulky kid rather than the man of power we’ve seen previously. I wish Kenyon would have eased up on that image. Just sayin.I’m not sure where this series is headed next, although we are left with some ideas, and I’m not sure about how I feel in continuing it. I suppose that has yet to be seen, but given all that, I feel Acheron’s novel is worth the time and money spent on it.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I'll start off right away by saying that I'm not a huge fan of Kenyon's writing style. She obviously has an amazing imagination and clearly knows her mythology and history, yet she persists in creating cookie cutter characters and situations designed only to bring two characters together. This is me maybe expecting a little too much out of a paranormal romance (heavy emphasis on the romance) series, but I'm disappointed all the same. Kenyon taps into this rich vein of mythological knowledge and still creates lackluster characters that are hard to differentiate between, with a few notable exceptions. This is not the only book of hers that I've read either, so I'm not just commenting on Acheron alone. That being said, it took me about two weeks to slog through Acheron. The first part of the book, Acheron's past, was downright depressing. I enjoy depressing books, but this was just heaping painful experience on top of painful experience. I wanted to shout at Kenyon, "Alright! We get it! He's been abused! He's had a terrible past! We get it! Move on, please." And finally, after about four hundred pages of agony (for the reader as much as the main character) she does.The second part was a little more compelling, bringing in Tory, who was semi-interesting. The most memorable character out of the whole book, however- I kid you not- was Simi. Her take on everything was just immensely amusing. Artemis was a boring bitch, Acheron's friends were one buff, dangerous-but-in-touch-with-his-feminine-side dude after another. The daimons felt recycled off of the CW network. Even with all this negative stuff though, I will say that Kenyon writes a decent manga and has a few characters worth remembering (ie: Jaden, Asmodeus, Simi). It will be interesting to see how Acheron turns out in manga form.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    On reading this Dark Hunter novel, it instantly became my favorite of the series. Reading the other books in the series, I had always loved when Acheron showed up. His character was so mysterious and the way that Sherrilyn Kenyon writes him just makes me as a reader want to know more. Reading through this series, you get small intriguing tid bits about Acheron and the role he plays in everything. It is the style or writing that allows the reader to continually keep reading in hopes of finding out more. When Acheron finally was published, this reader was so happy and excited to finally learn about Acheron's history and how he became who he is. With her masterful story telling that always leaves me smiling, Sherrilyn Kenyon has produced yet another amazing, romantic, novel that I can't wait to reread.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This is a big book. I'm not even really sure why I read it since I thought I'd given up on the series with Wren's book. But I read this one and actually kinda liked it. Yes, it's got a lot of filler and I didn't actually think there was a lot of new information that hadn't already been really hinted at in previous books, but it was interesting to see what Kenyon made of Acheron's past. Although one would think after 11k years, one would have gotten over a few decades or so of abuse. Anyways, I was really disappointed in the romance. She's nothing special and her sole appeal seems to be that she doesn't care what happened umpteen years ago. So what?
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    My favourite one so far. Soteria is a beautiful name too.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    3.5 stars

    Sigh. I would never had imagined his horrific beginnings and it's amazing that he is such a good person. I do have to say that I preferred the first half of the story over the second. Kenyon, IMO, hasn't written a great romance in a while. I don't feel the connection or chemistry between the main characters and, sadly, Acheron was no exception. I also felt that he wasn't the same person I've come to love over the course of the series. Even though I now know why, he came off as whiny and needy and I'm used to seeing the strong Ash. I haven't decided yet if I am done with the Dark Hunters for good.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Acheron
    4 Stars

    Having lived a life of unbearable hardship and suffering, Acheron Parthenopaeus, the enigmatic leader of the Dark-Hunters, will do anything to keep the horror of his early life a secret from those who trust him with their lives. But Atlantologist, Dr. Tory Kafieri, is on the verge of revealing Acheron’s dark past and he will have to do something drastic to stop her …

    This book languished on my unfinished shelf for a couple of years as I tried again and again to struggle through the first few sections. It isn’t that the story is slow paced or boring in any way. On the contrary, Kenyon’s writing is engrossing and the details of Acheron’s devastating childhood are heart-wrenching. Perhaps herein lies the problem as the first 50% of the book details the truly awful life that Acheron was forced to endure and the descriptions are so harsh, vicious and cruel that it is difficult to continue reading.

    The second half of the story involves Acheron’s love/hate relationship with Tory, the one woman who couldn’t care less about his past and refuses to be intimidated by a man who could snuff out her life in a heartbeat. The romance is lovely and it is wonderful to see Acheron find the happiness that has been denied him for far too long. The love and loyalty of the Dark-Hunters for their leader is also something special to behold and it made me want to go back an re-read all of their stories.

    Despite my initial struggles with the book, Acheron is well worth the read although I cannot say that it completely lives up to the hype as his heartbreaking past does detract somewhat from the aura of invincibility that had been established throughout the first 13 books of the series.

    It will be interesting to see where Kenyon takes the series now that her most powerful character has his HEA.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I'll try to keep this review short because there are no words to adequately describe this audiobook ,"Acheron" that I just completed. It's was my first Dark Hunter book that I'd have to say was one of the darkest,most emotionally gut wrenching, and heartbreaking books I've ever read (or listened to). However, at the same time Acheron was inspiring, uplifting and a completely amazing story. I'm just afraid my review won't do this book justice.Acheron is both tragic and gruesome like many Greek tragedies, but at least our hero of heroes gets his happily ever after as well when he meets Tory, a Greek professor who he impresses so much that she threw a hammer at him. Since this was my first book in the Hunter series, if this book is any indication,this series has fairly intense, explicit sexual scenes. I'd have to say this because in varying degrees, sex plays a big part in Acheron's story and some of it is emotionally very dark and disturbing, but I'd have to say that I came away loving Ash, the Wrangler and Atlantean God, who overcomes his past with soul healing love from Tory and the characters he comes to realize are his real friends. jack Murphy
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Hands down my favorite Dark-Hunter book! The first part was so heart breaking and sad, that there was a moment there that I thought things just couldn't get much worse than they already were and when they did it all went to hell. Literally. The second part was even better, and not just for the fact that the events were superbly better for Ash, but also for the fact that Tory made her appearance and she became one of my favorite characters. She stood up for Ash, didn't take any bull from him and grew into somebody even more amazing until the very last page. Sure am excited to see how Artemis' last twist is going to go for the other Dark-Hunters.
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    I've read a few of this series but just could not get into this one. I got though maybe one third of the book and gave up.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Audio- It was a roller-coaster ride through hell and back much of it on the shoulders of a little boy. There were just too many details of torture for me to have enjoyed this book. I think part 2 was a decent attempt to bring some 'life' to this poor character, but I just couldn't stop "seeing' what was done before.
    I may be done with the series. I am taking a break from it.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    With a lot of action and character development, this is by far the best book in the Dark Hunter series.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is my favorite book in the entire series. After sooo long waiting we finally get Ash and I adore him even more for enduring what he had for soo long.

    I love him and this book dearly.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    IMHO Acheron is the BEST book in Ms. Kenyon's Dark-Hunter Series! I'd heard this book was good but I thought most of the reviews were a bit too enthusiastic - turns out they were right.

    The first half of the book was very hard to get through even knowing the major high (more like low) points ahead of time but getting the background, the who, what, when and where, was worth the reading. You knew ahead of time if Acheron got his own story he would end up with his HEA but it was wonderful to see such a torchered soul find love and peace with his early life.

    More than most of the other Dark-Hunter Books I think Archeron could be read as a stand alone book without having read all the previous stories.

    I loved it!!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The story of Acheron, why he is who he is and how he got to be that way. I found it an interesting story.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I think this is the best Sherrilyn Kenyon has done. It ranks right next to Anne Rice's writing.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Acheron is my favorite character of this series and I long awaited this book. Quite frankly, after I read this book I lost interest in the series.

    The first portion of this is Ash's backstory and it is harsh, violent, and depressing. I spent many times crying the only time I read that part. I will be honest, but on re-reads I always start in part two.


    I think that Acheron is one of the most interesting male alpha characters in the paranormal romance world. But in this book I can not help but be disappointed in how this story is told. I suppose that because we spent so much time getting to know him, that I would be disappointed no matter what in how his romance evolves.

    This series is always a study on how one can think you have power, but there is always someone else out there who has more. I certainly hate Artemis. And Nick is a whining bitch.

    Worth the read though.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    NOTE: I re-read this book and have a different opinion of everything than when I originally posted this review! This is one of those books that I think is better the 2nd time you read it!

    (Original Read) OK I really wish that I could rate this book as two different books (especially since the author even chaptered them where the first part was one story and the second part was another).

    (Second Read) I still wish I could divide this review up into two parts. The first part (which I think is most people's favorite) would get 3.5 from me and the second part would get a 4.5 from me. I just enjoyed his happy story much more than the suffering part.

    (Original Read)The first part: I really didn't enjoy this part at all. I understand that we needed to know his back story but I think it was a bit much. I don't actually mean the abuse he suffered but the length of time she took to tell it. We actually got it half way through and the other half just was like wading through to see if it was going to say anything new. It didn't and in the end it was just a beat down. I was with Simi---just let me kill the goddess b*tch already!

    (Second Read)The first part: I think more highly of the first part on the second read through than I did the first. Oh it is still wildly depressing how badly he was abused but there was tons of information that lends to the whole dark hunter world. So it is necessary to read this part so you understand just where Ash is coming from when he interacts with Nick later.

    (Original Read) The second part: Was actually wildly entertaining. I enjoyed it completely even the part of him getting drunk off Sprite. It was great to see everyone in it and to tie up the story nicely while leaving it wide open to continue.

    (Second Read) Is still probably one of my favorite love stories of this series. Tory was just perfect for Ash in so many ways: she loved him, stood up to him, stood beside him, and slapped Artemis for insulting him. She was brash, brazen, and just strong enough for a god like him!


    Favorite Quotes:

    "Life isn't finding shelter in the storm. It's about learning to dance in the rain.
    -Zarek"

    "It's easy to look at people and make quick judgments about them, their present and their past, but you'd be amazed at the pain and tears a single smile hides. What a person shows to the world is only one tiny facet of the iceberg hidden from sight. And more often then not, it's lined with cracks and scars that go all the way to the foundation of their soul."

    "Sure. My ego's had enough time to recover a modicum of dignity. Let's make sure we crush it again before i mistake myself for a god. -Acheron"

    All that matters to me is the man in front of me right now. (Tory)
    I’m not a man, Soteria. (Acheron)
    I know. But if you think your godhood excuses you from putting the toilet seat down, think again. (Tory)

    I know you all have families who love you so if you want to leave–. (Acheron)
    We wouldn’t be here if we didn’t want to. You and Val fought to save my sister when no one else would have bothered. I haven’t forgotten it. (Vane)
    And I haven’t forgotten what the Dark-Hunters did for me and Maggie. (Wren)
    Yeah, we’re family. Psychotic, bizarre and a hodgepodge of personalities that should probably never be blended, but here we are. Now let’s go kick some ass. (Fury)

    No, Simi. No food. (Acheron)
    No, Simi. No food. The Simi don’t like this, akri. Katoteros is boring. There’s nothing fun there. Only old dead people who want to come back here. Bleh! (Simi)
    Simi...(Acheron)
    I hear and obey, arki. The Simi just never said she would do so quietly. (Simi)
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I think this is the best book in the series! I love that I finally get to hear Ash's story. This one is my favorite!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is the book that I was most looking forward to and I was NOT disappointed. This is my absolute FAVORITE book of the series and I don't see how any other book in the topic could top it. I loved learning about Ash's past. I loved the story of his sister. I wasn't sure what to expect when it went to the modern times, but I absolutely loved his relationship with Tory. I never saw it coming, at all.I'm ecstatic that Ash is free of Artemis and that he has found a true love, but I fear for the rest of the Dark Hunters. There is an open endedness to the book that makes me excited to read the next one to see if any more of the Dark Hunters go free. I want to know how it will happen, now that Ash won't be bartering with Artemis.I think this was a well written and long overdue story. I thought Ash wouldn't find his one true love until the final book, though, so I can't wait to see what's next.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Whilst I enjoyed this book, I got lost a couple of times with the character's names; the various alliances and the warring factions. It's possibly due to the fact that I read this out of sequence, but I wanted to read this one after I read Zarek's story. I've not reached the Nick story yet either, so that didn't help. 3 stars is a bit mean, but The "never-ending" torture in book 1 was truly overdone and prevents a 4 star rating. Looking forward to reading more of the series
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I got into Greek mythology, when I was about 12 (ages ago), and other pantheons as time went on. I read Devil May Cry a couple months ago, and got really interested in Ms. Kenyons writing, so I did some digging to see what else I had of hers, and found this in my collection of boxes of books.One word here - Excellent. From settings and backgrounds, to turmoil, conflicts, and desire, she turns up the heat with each page, drawing the reader into Acheron's world, one of misery, deceit and abuse, but at the same time, a sense of redemption. The Atlanteon Destroyer god is much much more than he seems, and given his history, it is truly remarkable he has any sanity, or sense of kindness in him, yet it is there, supported in part by all he has suffered and endured.A remarkable tale crafted from mythology, legend, and some very fine creativity, it serves as good cuase to hunt down more of Ms. Kenyon's works and devour them.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is the EPIC tale of Acheron. I have never been made so emotional by a book... ever. By the time you get to Acheron's long-awaited story, you are already 15 books in to the Dark-Hunter series and Ash has been a huge part of each story in some way.His story is NOT easy to read, in a word this entire book is heart-wrenching. With that being said, I think it is hands down one of my most favorite books in this entire world. The catch is that in oder to appreciate it, YOU HAVE TO READ THE FIRST FIFTEEN books or you will not get the full experience of what tragedy befalls this character.And, no matter how many times tears may well up, you always know that as with all Dark-Hunter stories, Acheron will and finally does find his HEA (Happily Ever After).
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    read full review on talksupe.blogspot.comAcheron's personal history is the best balance of tragedy and triumph I've ever read amongst all the books in this genre
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Sometimes beloved characters become more than just actors in a story; they become friends readers spend time with. I had this book on release day and eagerly started it. And then promptly put it down again until now. I have a real aversion to major character abuse, even when it is not gratuitous. Honestly, I just did not want to see Ash suffer, which made the first half of this book utterly heart-breaking. And it's not like the author doesn't warn you right in the introduction. Ash's human life was one of agony, endless (and quite literal) torture, humiliation and betrayal. And sadly, it continued that way long after he became a god thanks to Artemis. I felt emotionally drained by the time I reached part 2, wherein his redemption story begins. But, knowing part 1 is essential to knowing Ash. It goes a lot toward his motivations such as why he reacted so violently and irrationally to Nick sleeping with Simi, his love/hate relationship with Artemis and, most importantly, his extreme insecurities. Yep, the Harbinger of Destruction has very low self-esteem barely balanced by monumental compassion.Part 2 read more like a traditional Dark-Hunter romance. Tory has been searching for Atlantis and has finally found it. Ash cannot let her reveal it to the world as it would reveal his painful past and destroy what little dignity he has left. What makes her special is that she is immune to his god-made desirability (e.g. she finds him sexy, but doesn't fall over him as all other human are driven to) and hates him at first for sabotaging an academic lecture. Though it wasn't the most exciting D-H romance Kenyon has written, it was believable and very tender. Like so many readers, I just wanted Ash to be happy and it was almost a catharsis when he finally was. When I finished, I felt much as I did after the last Harry Potter book. It wasn't perfect by any means, and probably only deserved 3 or 4 stars, but I was so satisfied that it stayed with me long after I put the book down. The HEA was perfect simply because Ash deserved it.