Customer Reviews

Fantasy Lover

5 star:		(177)
4 star:		(63)
3 star:		(39)
2 star:		(20)
1 star:		(31)

 

 

Twenty-nine year-old sex therapist Grace Alexander has been celibate for four years after experiencing a horrendous relationship with a self-centered, cruel former lover. Grace's flamboyant, exotic friend Selena decides it's time to get Grace back in the swing of things and she has just the solution -- an ancient tome holding a magnificent male specimen cursed to live between the pages of the book for eternity -- until he's called forth with a magic spell to serve as a love slave to his summoner for a period of one month. Having experienced Selena's so-called magic spells before, Grace isn't worried that the gorgeous guy in the picture is going to magically appear. Surprise, surprise, and happy birthday to Grace!

Julian of Macedon, half God, half mortal, is so exceptionally good looking that he made women fall at his feet and men green with envy and jealousy, in his time -- 149 BC. Jealousy and atonement for his sins, is what finds Julian cursed and trapped between the pages of a book only free for one month at a time, if he's lucky. Sometimes that freedom only comes once every one hundred years. When Grace summons him from the book, Julian is resigned and ready to fulfill her every sexual dream and fantasy. Grace, however, has other ideas for Julian. When she discovers just what a heartbreaking, loveless and dark life he's lived, Grace decides to show Julian just what friendship and love mean.

Ms. Kenyon creates an absorbing tale filled with larger than life characters from the lowly mortals on up to Greek gods, goddesses and mythological beings. Grace is one of the strongest, most compassionate heroines and Julian one of the most sympathetic, confused and tortured heroes to ever grace the pages of a romance novel. Julian's family runs the gamut of evil to misunderstood, with his mother, Aphrodite, the goddess of love, taking center stage toward the climactic and poignant ending. Readers get a glimpse of things to come and an introduction to the character in the beginning series of Dark Hunters, which I can't wait to read!

FANTASY LOVER is an exceptional, fresh and original story from the compelling first page to the exciting, explosive end. I was enthralled throughout, barely able to put it down when real life intruded. Ms. Kenyon is a true word wizard with incredible writing talent. I highly recommend Julian and Grace's story as one that will stay in your heart long after you reach the last page.

I devoured this book in record time and can't rave enough about it. It was often amusing, at times poignant, sometimes intense, and always sensual. I'm surprised my hands weren't singed with the extraordinarily steamy scenes! Grace Alexander and Julian of Macedon were incredibly likeable characters and both had past hurts that needed to be overcome. She is a sex therapist who doesn't much care for the sexual act (after a bad first experience) but has a desperate desire to find love. Julian is a legendary warrior born of Aphrodite who has been cursed to be a love-slave for all eternity. After being cursed since 149 B.C., he finally finds out that there is a way to break the curse but there is a catch. Although there is a sizzling mutual attraction that is hard to deny, Grace refuses to treat Julian as a possession to be used physically, instead treating him with kindness and humanity. Julian having numbed his emotions to avoid further pain finds it hard to resist Grace. Physically she attracts him as no woman ever has, emotionally she lures him with a sensitivity he has never been shown throughout his painful life. Ms. Kenyon has an enviable imagination and does a wonderful job bringing to life Greek mythology with well-known gods and goddesses and interesting tales of harsh Spartan life. These are two characters that have you rooting throughout for them - from their first meeting to the very climactic conclusion. This book is a must read and has earned a spot in my keeper shelf.

Fantasy Lover is a definite addition to my keeper shelf. I was completely captivated from the first page to the last. Sherrilyn Kenyon has penned one of the best romance novels I have read in many a year. You will laugh, you will cry and you will never want the story to end.

Julian of Macedon has existed for millenia within the pages of a mysterious book. He is summoned from the book to serve as the ultimate sex slave. Countless women have called him forth, but only for his physical prowess, never caring who Julian really is.

Grace Alexander is a modern day woman who is in the proverbial dating drought. Her eccentric best friend Selena decides that Grace needs a man, and not just any man, she needs Julian of Macedon. Selena presents Grace with the book on her birthday and convinces her to call forth Julian. Of course Grace grudgingly goes along with Selena's plan to humor her friend. Who ever heard of summoning a sex slave from a book, it's crazy.
Much to Graces stunned surprise, it works.

Julian appears, ready to "perform" as all the other summoners have requested. After thousands of years and women, he has come to expect nothing more. But this time it's completely different. Grace actually wants to talk to him, imagine that!

In addition to Grace and Julian, Fantasy Lover is filled with an outstanding array of secondary characters. Ranging from Greek gods and goddesses to street artists of the French quarter.

This is a wonderful story and should not be missed!!!

Being a huge fan of Greek mythology and of dark fantasy, I was hoping for so much more. I was under the impression from the stellar reviews that I had finally found an original series weaving together both ancient and more recently created mythological beings (ie., vampires) that would be punctuated with a couple of pulse-quickening romance scenes to spice it all up. Instead, I found corny sex scene after corny sex scene weakly strung together by an even weaker plot.

I wasn't expecting it to be realistic. I mean, seriously- it's a book about Greek deities thrown into the modern world. Sorta. I was, however, hoping for some realism in the "modern" day human characters. I didn't buy the whole "if you can't play, coach" thing going on with Grace as a sexually traumatized sex therapist. Not did I buy her tarot-reading PhD pal, Selena, who rattles off ancient Greek at the drop of a hat. Julian is a sex-slave half-deity whom women can't resist but, gosh darn-it, can't someone just love him for HIM? Poor abused Spartan General. If Momma Aphrodite had only hugged him once in a while...

The sex scenes, which unfortunately dominated the book, were down right silly. I found myself gritting my teeth in annoyance everytime Grace "hissed in pleasure". Cats hiss and I don't find the sound to be at all erotic, nor have I ever been tempted to imitate the sound in the throes of passion. Julian's groin was constantly on fire (put a bag of ice on it already), nubs and peaks are referred to over and over again, and there are lots of tongues leaving trails of fire. Yawn.

The idea of the book was creative and imaginative but the execution did a giant belly flop. I was wishing for a riveting new series. Instead, I find myself wishing I could get the money and time back that I wasted on this novel.

Few paranormal romances can surpass the exuberance and vivid imagination conjured up by Sherrilyn Kenyon in her irreverent and zany take on a Greek general Julian of Macedon in 149 B.C cursed by his own mother Aphrodite to languish as a love-slave and one bound to be envious of by man with his stamina and passion. Grace Alexander on her twenty-ninth birthday receives a present from her Gypsy sorceress of a friend, Selena. It's a book that locks Julian up and her pleas and chants for him roused him from his imprisonment to set him alive. Never in her years as a sex-therapist has prepared her for such a heavenly temptation - Julian is a woman's dream come true with the brawns, brains and the look factor.

A hilarious adventure begins when Julian tries to seduce her into bed while Grace is determined to fight off the attraction and treat him with humanity. Julian is unprepared for the emotions this woman has roused in his abused frame and poisoned soul - and soon learns that love is just a heartbeat away. His bleak and nightmarish past stems from a doomed love that killed his children. His honor and dignity is plundered away by the evil scheme of a jealous brother and misunderstandings towards his hurt mother. Grace's compassion transforms into a healing power that magnifies into love, and when the god of lust Eros informs her that the way to dispel the curse is to resist temptation and come together as one in the next-full moon, she is tenacious to save him but could he be willing to salvage himself?

FANTASY LOVER is a buoyant read fuelled by a relentless imagination that captures beautifully the fascinating myths and legends of Greek warriors and gods like the mighty Zeus, love-god Aphrodite, cupid and Psyche. The dramatic revenge, human foibles of envy and pride spun in Julian's tale gives the story substance. It gentles into a romance that brings hope and redemption with Grace as the healer who is intelligent and dignified enough to resist lust and teaches love. Sherrilyn Kenyon is definitely a stellar talent with her celestial tale and sensual powers to mesmerize and provoke imagination. No doubt it is a fantasy that serves as aphrodisiac and candy to the brain, but this sweet charming read is a riot enough to send romance fanatics into a delirious frenzy with their prayers answered.

Thank god for a talent like Sherrilyn Kenyon.

All I can say is...WOW! Definitely worth the wait, Fantasy Lover features a tortured and sexy hero, an independant heroine, greek gods, life threatening danger, and voodoo magic thrown in for good measure. If only all greek myths were this sexy.

Julian of Macedon is a cursed half mortal half god who is imprisoned by his evil brother in a book. Whenever a woman invokes the spell within the books pages Julian must appear and be her love slave for one month. For two thousand years this is the norm for Julian, until 2002 when Grace Alexander in a drunken joke releases Julian from his imprisonment. Thinking this incarnation will be no different from his previous ones Julian jumps right in ready for some bedroom action. Only Grace has different plans. As Grace denies Julian her bed the two get to know each other and become friends. Then the two are given a surprise as Eros (cupid)comes to tell them how they can break the curse from which Julian suffers. It's impossible...or is it?

This book was original from beginning to end. The love scenes were imaginative and HOT, the character motivation was believable, and the plot was full of twists and surpirses. You wont want to loan this copy out to anyone. It's definitely a keeper.

Julian of Macedon had been trapped in a book as a love-slave to be used over and over again as a form of punishment from the Gods since one forty-nine BC. Grace, a sex therapist, was nothing short of celibate. Sure, she had sexual fantasies just like any other living and breathing woman, but she had no desire to act on them.

On her twenty-ninth birthday, Grace's friend, Selena gives her the book. After doing a chant using the book, Julian with his God-like body appeared for her pleasure, except Grace didn't want to use him. This absolutely astounded him. Through love, caring, kindness, and every other good human emotion, Grace opened the world back up for Julian while he pulled Grace back to from reality and into her precious dreams. Together they fought scheming Gods and Goddesses, along with lunatic stalkers to be together.

I waited a very long time for this book, and when I got it, I read it with great anticipation. I wasn't disappointed in the least. FANTASY LOVER was spectacular in all its glory and definitely made my small, picky "keeper" shelf. Sherrilyn Kenyon has really done it this time. She made magic, love and hot sex with this one! Way to go Sherrilyn - keep it up! I anticipate more of the books from this great author.

FANTASY LOVER is a time-travel romance that combines Greek history, Greek mythology, with the angst of a couple who seem fated to be parted as soon as they appreciate each other.

At the outset, 29-year-old sex therapist Grace Alexander is offered a gorgeous naked man Julian of Macedon, a former Spartan general. Julian has been trapped in a book via a spell by a jealous minor god. The spell requires him to appear to any woman who calls him out, and he is at her bidding and control until the next full moon. Julian lived over 2000 years ago, but he has managed to keep abreast of current events since he can hear conversations that take place near the book. His past "owners" have been interested only in his body, and have treated him worse than a slave (very little food, and no clothing).

His new owner Grace does the unexpected. Firstly, she is not too thrilled to have Julian appear. Secondly, she refuses to make use of him - unlike all his previous "owners." Thirdly, she treats him as a human being, feeding him, clothing him, and talking to him.

The book works mostly because of Julian. He is gorgeous and an alpha-male, but a sensitive alpha. He adapts reasonably well to modern life (despite a hilarious but disastrous driving lesson). He is also trying to break free of the spell, to return to his own time period. This is one TT hero who is not interested in modern miracles; his greatest desire is firstly to be free of the spell, and then to return to his own time.

Grace is a complicated and not entirely satisfactory heroine. She is a genuinely nice person obviously. But as a romantic heroine, she is a bit of a dud. She has let one bad experience color all her feelings about men and sex. She is also not particularly suited for her job as a sex therapist (or she seems to attract all the wackoes as clients).

The joy of the book is in the details of their evolving relationship. The book is not so much about sex, as about what happens between a couple where their relationship is doomed to be short-lived from the outset. If the spell cannot be broken, then will Grace risk emotional commitment for a stirring affair that lasts only until Julian disappears back into the book? If the spell can be broken, will Julian return to his time or will he stay in Grace's time? And can Grace herself commit to this gorgeous man who is the epitome of every woman's fancy, not just in his looks but in his character. [Well, he has some baggage from his actions before the spell was cast...]

The one problem with this book was a minor sub-plot which did not quite ring true. It did allow Julian to show how deeply he cares for Grace. I would wish though that this sub-plot had been dropped or changed. I would also have liked to have heard a bit more about Julian's experiences through time.

Finally, a couple of warnings. If you are not familiar with either Greek mythology or ancient classical history, you might find this book rather confusing. A little afterword or an introductory note would have helped.

This book is also not quite what I expected, in the sense that the actual consummation of the relationship came pretty late, and it was not what was expected either. If you are looking for something burning in the style of Schone, Small etc, this is not it. Nor is it filled with the requisite three or four long-drawn out love scenes in most books labelled as "hot". The heat, such as it is, comes more from the anticipation - from Julian's thoughts as he interacts with Grace, and Grace's own thoughts about Julian.

The book works mostly because of Julian, who is a tragic and tormented hero. Through the book, you learn more and more about his past and his character, until you begin to wonder to what extent his own character flaws played a part in his being trapped, and to what extent the jealousies of other people played a part.

My major problem with the book (the sub-plot aside) is that I never felt very involved with the characters, even with Julian.
I don't know why this was so, perhaps because I did not get a full understanding of Julian's history and background until nearly the end, and perhaps because I failed to relate to Grace (even though she was nice). This may not be your problem.

I was also disappointed not to hear more about Julian's experiences in different time periods. On the other hand, I loved the use of books and reading aloud in this story. This was a very good smooth read, which just falls a step short of being a keeper.

Recommendation = Recommended highly to lovers of Greek history and myth, and less highly to lovers of time-travel romance.

Grade = 4.2 (B+)
Breakdown = romance element 4.1 (B+); characterization 3.8 (B-); plot development 4.2 (B+); writing 4.3 (B+).

Julian of Macedon had been trapped in a book since one forty-nine BC. as a love-slave to be used over and over again as a form of punishment from the Gods. Grace, a sex therapist, was nothing short of celibate. Sure, she had sexual fantasies just like any other living and breathing woman but she had no desire to act on them. After doing a chant with the book that her best friend, Selena, had given her for her twenty-ninth birthday, Julian appeared to her for her pleasure except that Grace didn't want to use him. This astounded him. Through love, caring, kindness, and every other good human emotion, Grace opened the world back up for Julian. Julian, with his God-like body, his soul, and his strength, pulled Grace back to reality and out of her precious dreams. Together, they fought Gods, Goddesses, and lunatic stalkers to be together.

***** I had waited a very long time for this book and the day I got it, I read it with great anticipation and I wasn't disappointed in the least bit. FANTASY LOVER was spectacular in all its glory. I anticipate more of the books. FANTASY LOVER definitely made my small, picky "keeper" shelf. Sherrilyn Kenyon has really done it this time. She made magic, love and hot sex with this one! Way to go Sherrilyn - keep it up! *****

Reviewed by Jessica Holmes

Sherrilyn Kenyon has rekindled my interest in romance. Fantasy Lover is a well-written tale with humour and scorching sensuality. It brought a smile to my face, and set my writer's wheels a-turnin.

Julian of Macedon seemed like a typical alpha-male character, and frankly, with a title like this, I didn't expect him to be too deep. I was very wrong. True, he's great in bed, but the author did a wonderful job in allowing the reader to see him for a wounded soul, that his prowess in bed left him nearly devoid of the ability to feel true love.

Grace Alexander was a truly spunky heroine...and she wasn't skinny! Thank you, Ms. Kenyon for that! The chemistry between Grace and Julian made sense, and it was nice to read about a woman who didn't mind getting all hot and bothered over a sexy man. I loved the scenes where Grace ogles some part of Julian's anatomy. Let's face it ladies, we all do it.

Greek mythology was NEVER this much fun! I look forwward to more divine hijinx from Aphrodite and the Olympians.