Kyros' Secret [Paperback]

Elizabeth Rose (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2000

A mythical tale of heroic courage and legendary love finds a fallen goddess and a cursed man brought together when her child becomes the pawn in a game of war.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"FOUR STARS!" - -- Romantic Times Magazine

"Fantasy lovers won't want to miss this one!" -- Scribes World Reviews

From the Publisher

Elizabeth Rose, author of Eden's Garden, now brings to life a mythical tale of heroic courage and legendary love.

Product Details

• Paperback: 212 pages
• Publisher: New Leaf Books (October 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1930076037
• ISBN-13: 978-1930076037
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,705,607 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Greek mythology makes a great backdrop for romance!, October 5, 2000

By 

Barbara Deane - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kyros' Secret (Paperback)

Kyros' Secret, by Elizabeth Rose Review by Barb Deane, Barb's All Romance Book Store

New author Elizabeth Rose's second book, Kyros' Secret, is being published by New Leaf Books in November. Unlike Elizabeth's first book, Eden's Garden, which was a contemporary set in the Chicago area, Kyros' Secret is more of a paranormal based in Greek mythology. In fact, the heroine is Thera, Goddess of Sensations, daughter of Ares, the God of War, and Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love. The hero, Kyros, has been cursed by Ares, doomed to spend days as a mortal man and nights as a Centaur (half man/half horse). Kyros' Secret is, obviously, not your average run-of-the-mill romance.

Thera is not happy on Mount Olympus. Her twin sister, Harmonia, is more the apple of mom's eye that Thera. However, Thera is not interested in becoming the Warrior that Ares envisions either. When her father takes her hunting and forces her to kill, she aims her arrow at Ares' prize raven. In anger over the death of his favorite pet, Ares plans to use Thera to force a war between humans and Centaurs, thereby giving Hades enough dead bodies to persuade him to release the raven back among the living.

The war is going to be started when Thera, whom Ares has promised as bride to the King of the Trozens, turns up pregnant and gives birth to a Centaur. However, when Ares sends a lightning bolt toward Rodas, the Centaur who conspired with Ares to bring about war, Kyros intervenes in an attempt to save Rodas. Instead, Thera becomes pregnant with Kyros's child. The problem is, Kyros doesn't know whether that child will be born human or Centaur. So, he decides to stay by Thera and protect her until she delivers the baby. In the process, he and Thera fall in love.

Of course, along the way, all manner of odd things happen and obstacles are thrown in the way of true love. Ares has convinced Thera she has been stripped of her godly powers....

This story is unlike any other romance I have ever read. I enjoyed it and was entertained by it - which is why I read romance, after all. I find myself at a loss to explain why this book appealed to me so much; I just accept that it did and that I definitely recommend it to romance readers looking for a different type of love story. Elizabeth Rose is a rising star among new romance authors and I look forward to her next book, whatever reality it occurs in. Read & enjoy!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Kyros Doesnt Have Much of a Secret, March 21, 2004

By 

Stephanie Martin (Oregon) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kyros' Secret (Paperback)

I originally purchased this book because the idea behind it intrigued me. I was crazy about Greek mythology as a child. I figured a romance involving greek gods, would be interesting. I was sorely disappointed. There were a number of issues with the book that bothered me.

From the start I had problems. In the first few chapters Ares sets up his petty revenge, Thera is impregnated, and Kyros' secret is revealed. The only thing remaining is getting Thera to figure out his secret, which she doesn't even try to do. She spends more time being upset he's gone.

One of my most serious problems is the whole one dimensional god idea. Ares is petty and vengeful, and the primary reason he sets up his little scheme is because he's angry Thera killed his raven and Hades wouldn't bring it back from the dead. He eventually says he needs war to keep him going, but for 80% of the book you're led to beleive his sole driving force is his raven's death at the hands of Thera. Sure, I'd be unhappy if my child killed a beloved pet, but this goes way beyond that.

The other gods and goddesses are petty as well. Aphrodite ignores Thera, who is the plainer daughter, and dotes on her sister Hermonia. Hades is grumpy and petty, and refuses a trade in the Underworld until Persephone steps in. Aside from Thera, she's the most interesting of the dieties.

The clichés also bothered me. Thera is a plain girl, her sister is gorgeous. Aphrodite is beautiful, as is Ares. Kyros is gorgeous, his centaur form is wild and mysterious to Thera. Kyros' brother is pure evil, and will stop at nothing to break his brother's spirit and end his life. Kyros and Thera must take a risk to be together, and that means the potential for the ultimate sacrifice. I know that writing relies on clichés to a point, but when they're used in excess it's hard to take the story seriously.

I tried to like this, I really did. But it was so far removed from what I enjoy that I found it very difficult. If you're reading just to read, and clichés and underdeveloped side characters don't bother you, then this isn't a bad read. But it's not for me.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Boring, March 21, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Kyros' Secret (Paperback)

This wasn't much of a book. It was short, the gods were poorly done, the plot twists predictable, the other characters are boring, kyros secret isn't very good, and there were plot holes. For the price I really expected more, and I hope her other books are better.