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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great teases for future books as we get to know the Spartans, allies and foes better, June 28, 2009
This review is from: Red Kiss: A Gods of Midnight Novel (Mass Market Paperback)
Trapped in dagger form, and swept out to sea after being cast into the water by an enemy during battle, weapons-shifter River Kassandros' life force is fading away. River has lost all hope of being found by his Spartan brothers, soon all that will be left of him will be an inanimate dagger. Praying for deliverance from a different kind of trap, Emma opens up to her psychic hearing ability to the higher power and instead of hearing a promise of aid, Emma hears a desperate voice needing her help to save him. Screwing up her courage, Emma faces her fear of drowning determined not to damn the owner of the mysterious voice to that dreaded fate. Emma is shocked to find that she is savior to a dagger and Emma even more surprised when her blood transforms the beautiful weapon into a gorgeous dangerous nearly naked man.
River, who started life as a slave, has great potential as a tragic leading man. But in focusing on River's struggle with his inner berserker instead of River's pain and feelings of unworthiness from being a lesser brethren - he's been cemented into the servant roll for eternity shifting in battle to a sword or dagger to be wielded by his 'master' the Spartan cadre's captain Ajax - Knight doesn't wring out all the poignant potential from River's story. The beserker thing does add to River's troubles - on returning to human form River is in thrall of emotions of violence or lust - but the isolation and feelings of unworthiness of eternal servanthood had a stronger sympathy factor. Knight does use River's berserker issues to stave off the consummation for River and Emma but doesn't really build the relationship between the pair. River falls immediately for Emma - which makes it feel like any woman would have done - Emma decides she's in love with River almost as quickly.
Red Kiss, book 2 in Diedre Knight's Gods of Midnight series, is stronger as an ensemble piece than it is as a paranormal romance. Knight's delving into more of the large cast was satisfying enough to make up for the simplisity of the romance between Emman and River. I enjoyed getting to see more of the star-crossed pairing of the scarred King Leo and the blue-haired nymph like oracle, and a bit of back-story and character development of several more of the Spartans was quite interesting: teases of Aristos' history with his lost love and Niko with his own secrets, one that sets him apart from the other brothers and one that hints at a secret shame that explains his past animosity toward River. Also, Knight throws some potential redemption in for one of the bad guys.
While I did like Red Kiss a bit more than Red Fire: A Gods of Midnight Novel, on the whole I still prefer Knight's Parallel series but still I found myself more intrigued enough by the setup for future romances that I will be keeping an eye out for the next book.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fissures Threaten Passion and Immortality!, July 18, 2009
This review is from: Red Kiss: A Gods of Midnight Novel (Mass Market Paperback)
River Kassandros, a slave in Spartan times, serves his masters out of love and integrity. Because he does so with a noble attitude, he is considered to be one of the seven bravest warriors who will sadly lose the famous Battle of Thermopylae against the infamously powerful Persians. Approaching the River Styx, the seven warriors are offered an opportunity for immortality, but there are consequences whose terror and power is unforeseen by all who unwittingly take the vow to serve Ares, the God of War.
Unknown by the one who grants this immortality and unknown by the Djinn who seek to destroy the warriors, and indeed all who possess similar personalities, these Greek bonded brothers possess magical powers that are enhanced when the long-lost Oracle makes them aware of their "real" power. But before any of this can happen, many internal and external battles must be fought, i.e. water demons, silver shadows, and so much more.
River Kassandros first meets Emily, a woman who has magical powers to hear nearby spirits. She is able to free River from his "blade" appearance but must find a way to deal with his super-energetic bouts that erupt as either severe violence or ravaging lust beyond what any human being can endure.
The other warriors meet with humans and spirit-like forms and each has his or her immortal foibles to conquer before they are finally reunited and able to complete their real mission, to destroy the one to whom they have promised servitude in order to keep their immortal status.
Red Kiss is a lusty, adventurous, frightening but exciting story that will thrill every reader fascinated by Greek mythology, the paranormal and contemporary, romping and riveting stories about robust sex.
Interesting contemporary treatment of classic Greek mythology!
Reviewed by Viviane Crystal on July 18, 2009
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Just When You Think There is Nothing New Under The Sun..., July 15, 2009
This review is from: Red Kiss: A Gods of Midnight Novel (Mass Market Paperback)
....out pops this lovely gem of a story. Created in a richly textured world--both with real and super-real people and creatures. This story takes us down new roads. The Olympic Gods are around and a pretty delectible version of Ares is created. The use of a dagger, causing a bloody prick that leads to essential telepahty is fresh and not at all in the vampire style. Especially I enjoyed how the couples were balanced more like a team without one beng so much stronger--metaphysically or physically--than the other. Great new series and this author as always a dependable auto-buy.
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