2009 TBR Challenge: Fantasy Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon
January 21, 2009 at 7:00 am 25 comments
This is my January 2009 TBR Challenge book review. January’s theme is category romance, but since the only categories I have are 2 Christmas themed ones (from the eHarlequin giveaway that took place over the holidays) I’ll save one of those for December’s holiday theme. Instead, I chose . . .
Fantasy Lover (Dark Hunter series, book 1) by Sherrilyn Kenyon
This book has been on my TBR pile for a while (though not with the nicer, newer cover on the right.) I read Seize the Night, book 8 in the series when publisher, St Martins Press was giving away the ebook. I also won One Silent Night, book 18 from KristieJ and KatieBabs at Ramblings on Romance, etc. (also on my TBR shelf.)
Being the OCD person that I am about reading series in order (I’m not like this about much of anything else in life), it’s been really bugging me that I hadn’t at least read the first few books of the series. However, even though I enjoyed Seize the Night, the premise of Fantasy Lover seemed a little over-the-top cheesy for my taste.
Here’s the book description from the back cover:
Dear Reader,
Being trapped in a bedroom with a woman is a grand thing. Being trapped in hundreds of bedrooms over two thousand years isn’t. And being cursed into a book as a love-slave for eternity can ruin even a Spartan warrior’s day.
As a love-slave, I know everything about women. How to touch them, how to savor them, and most of all, how to pleasure them. But when I was summoned to fulfill Grace Alexander’s sexual fantasies, I found the first woman in history who saw me as a man with a tormented past. She alone bothered to take me out of the bedroom and into the world. She taught me to love again.
But I was not born to know love. I was cursed to walk eternity alone. As a general, I had long ago accepted my sentence. Yet now I have found Grace — the one thing my wounded heart cannot survive without. Sure, love can heal all wounds, but can it break a two-thousand-year-old curse?
—Julian of Macedon
This was a hard one for me. I’m OK with a light, funny paranormals. I love Katie MacAlister’s Aisling Gray series, and, as I said Seize the Night was a fun read. I liked the group of Dark Hunters, and found some of the couples who were obviously featured in books 1-7 to be intriguing enough to want to read their stories.
Fantasy Lover, however, takes place before the introduction of the Dark Hunters to the series, so the focus is more squarely on Grace and Julian. In the first 75 pages, I put the book down, ready to admit defeat, DNF it, and choose another book for the challenge 3 separate times.
Part of it was the over-use! of exclamation! points! and rhetorical questions? in the narrative? (OK, sorry, couldn’t help the snarky from slipping out.) It really seemed like the author was trying way too hard to convince the reader of things that should just unfold naturally in the narrative: she’s an average woman, he’s a super-hot love slave, she’s got her feet firmly planted on the ground, he’s been living in a book for the last 2000 years.
Here are excerpts from a single page (p. 30), early in the book, when Julian first appears:
Suddenly the full impact of his presence slammed into her.
He was real!
Dear heaven, she and Selena had actually conjured him to life!
. . .
What would it feel like to have a man so incredibly scrumptious make love to her all night?
. . .
Grace tensed at the though. What was it about this man?
Never in her life had she felt sexual hunger like this. Never! She could literally lay him down on the floor and devour him.
. . .
Grace opened her mouth to respond to his question, then stopped. What was she going to do with this guy?
Needless to say, this was one of the points where I put the book down. Just the idea of having to start another book at the last minute for the challenge kept me at it. And, surprisingly, I’m glad I did. For one, the tone of the narrative seemed to stop trying so hard, and settle down after about the first third of the book.
Also, I really enjoyed reading about the developing relationship between Grace and Julian. There were lots of little details that made their time together feel genuine. I loved how she read to him in the evenings, and that it seemed to soothe him. And, how over their month together he slowly opened up about his past, despite his efforts to remain aloof. This is where the book redeemed itself for me.
Something that surprised me was that there aren’t any “Dark Hunters” in this book. I kept waiting for them to show up of the group to be formed, but no sign of them yet.
The only thing that continued to bug me was the constant reminder of how irresistible to women Julian is. After the first 4 or 5 times he’s mobbed by women at the mall or a bar, I felt like it was covering ground I’d already visited, and I’d received the message loud and clear. I just wanted him to stay home.
All things considered, however, I’ll continue to read other books in the series. I like where the series winds up by Seize the Night, and I’d like to see how the Dark Hunters are formed or introduced. Fantasy Lover was a bumpy start to the Dark Hunter series, but I’m glad I stuck with it, thanks to the TBR Challenge.
Many people are participating in the TBR Challenge, hosted by Keishon at Avid Book Reader. To read other participant reviews, go here for a list of links.
Entry filed under: 2009 Book Challenges, 2009 TBR Challenge. Tags: 2009 TBR Challenge, Dark Hunter series, Fantasy Lover, Sherrilyn Kenyon.
1.
Lea | January 21, 2009 at 8:58 am
Hey Renee:
I haven’t read “Fantasy Lover”, I started with the second one in the Dark Hunter series and got to about #7 and needed a break.
I have them all in my TBR including “Acheron”, and plan to finish my SLK binge in the spring. lol
Thank you so much for your comments with respect to Fantasy Lover, once I got into the series, I didn’t feel the need to go back and read it as well. Now I feel more secure in that decision.
Very Best Regards
L
2.
JenB | January 21, 2009 at 10:13 am
I read Fantasy Lover before any of the other DH books and while I didn’t really care for it (SUPER cheesy), I did find the information in it helpful as I read the later books.
I think most DH fans consider Fantasy Lover a “necessary evil”. LOL My favorites in the series are Dance with the Devil, Night Play, and Seize the Night. The novella Dragonswan is excellent as well.
3.
AmyC | January 21, 2009 at 10:16 am
Well, I’ve read all the Dark Hunters and I wouldn’t say that this one is part of the series… yet. Grace and Julian do have parts in several of the other books. But later the focus changes from the Dark hunters to the gods. I have really enjoyed most all the books. However I am partial to the first seven books, before SK started to switch directions. I loved the characters. She’s one of those authors I can’t help but buy the next book, no matter if I was disappointed with the last. I think alot of it has to do with her personality. She’s just a great lady with a great personality! Night Pleasures is my favorite in the series.
4.
Renee | January 21, 2009 at 11:00 am
Lea: I have to say, she writes well enough that when I read Seize the Night, I could tell I had missed lots of important stuff in the proceeding books, but I never felt lost or confused.
Hmm… sounds like TBR challenge material!
JenB: That’s interesting about what you say about Dragonsawan. I was at SK’s site last night, and saw that that was the next book in the series, yet again (from what I could get in the description) it didn’t look like it had much of a DH connection. ::whispering::I was actually thinking I’d jump over to Night Pleasures. What do you think?
AmyC: see what I said to Jen. lol What do you think?
I’ve got authors like that (Laurell K Hamilton). For me, too, it’s the emotional investment I’ve made to the characters in the series. I really care about them and want to find out what happens next for them.
5.
AmyC | January 21, 2009 at 11:18 am
Don’t skip Night Pleasures!! NOOOO!!! LOL The first 7 books are, IMO, the best books in the series. You see there is a little trilogy within the first 7 books. Kyrian from Night Pleasures, Zareck from Dance with the Devil and Valerius from Seize the Night are all linked together with their past. I loved those books and how the characters are all linked together. It made for a very nice sub-plot.
6.
Renee | January 21, 2009 at 11:24 am
AmyC: lol. I was actually thinking of skipping TO Night Pleasures, since Kyrian is mentioned in FL, and he was pretty prominent in Seize the Night (and of course, Tabitha’s sis is in NP).
7.
AmyC | January 21, 2009 at 12:02 pm
Night Pleasures is the next book after Fantasy Lover. I misunderstood and thought you meant skip Night Pleasures!
8.
Renee | January 21, 2009 at 12:10 pm
AmyC: You know, its strange, on SK’s site, NP is the 3rd in the series. It’s listed as:
Fantasy Lover
Dragonswan (which doesn’t mention the DHs in the excerpt or description)
Night Pleasures
Have you read Dragonswan?
9.
AmyC | January 21, 2009 at 12:47 pm
Huh…DragonSwan was in an antholgy that was later released as one of those small books for 2.99. You definitely don’t have to read that one first. I didn’t read that one in order, because I didn’t even know it was part of the series until I happened across it in the Tapestry anthology.
DragonSwan is based around the dragon were-hunters. It gives you insight about the weres. But she does a great job refeshing your your memory as to how and why they were created that it isn’t necessary to read it first.
10.
Renee | January 21, 2009 at 1:04 pm
AmyC: OK, that helps clarify things. I think I’ll probably just move on the NP, then, tho’ it might be awhile. As much as I want to hit my TBR pile and get new books, I’ve got some library books I keep renewing that I’ve got to finish!
11.
Lea | January 21, 2009 at 1:11 pm
My favorite is “Night Play”, Book 6, with Vane Kattalakis and Bride McTierney. Great story, not one to be missed in the series IMHO. lol
Regards
L
12.
Jenn | January 21, 2009 at 3:34 pm
I have to say that Seize the NIght is my favorite book from her series. And while Fantasy Lover is not the best SK has every written I did enjoy it and I agree that it is necessary to the DH plot line.
I think as you read more of this series it will grow on you.
13.
Renee | January 21, 2009 at 6:19 pm
Lea: Oh! I remember them from Seize the Night. I was intrigued by the weres.
Jenn: In all, I’m glad I read it. It grew on me as I got more into the book, and I will continue with the series. I’m sure, too, that it suffered by comparison to Moon Called, which I had just re-read (one of my all-time fave UFs.)
14.
sula | January 21, 2009 at 7:11 pm
lol. I read this one. And it was pretty awful, no offense. Honestly, I’ve been pretty blase about picking up more SK because of my initial bad experience with Fantasy Lover. It’s ok tho because the last thing I need is another series to shell out $$ for.
15.
Renee | January 21, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Sula: I think I would feel more like you if I hadn’t read Seize the Night first, which was OK. I think that’s what was part of the frustration for me: I could see where SK has wound up, I just think it wasn’t a strong start. But hey, I guess it’s better an author improve the series at it progresses, rather than have it go downhill.
16.
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[...] Comments Renee on 2009 TBR Challenge: Fantasy Lo…sula on 2009 TBR Challenge: Fantasy Lo…Renee on 2009 TBR Challenge: Fantasy Lo…Jenn on [...]
17.
JenB | January 22, 2009 at 7:48 am
You can totally skip Dragonswan and go straight to Night Pleasures. Dragonswan is just an offshoot. It’s a very good story though, so it’s worth reading if you happen to see it in a used book shop.
18.
Christine | January 22, 2009 at 1:14 pm
Didn’t I tell you this one was uber cheesie, Renee? LOL! But do continue on… there are many really fun books ahead of you, and the mythology is cool. Plus… you gotta read them all to get to Acheron!!!! Dance With the Devil is one of my most favorites. Also loved Valerius’ book… was that Seize the Night? I forget. Anyway… read them in order for the best experience, but it’s okay to skip the anthologies without missing too much from those.
Have fun!
19.
Renee | January 22, 2009 at 1:29 pm
JenB: I love dragons, but I think Dragonswan will probably be a lower priority than book 3 for now, however, I’m a total ubs junkie, so I’ll be keeping my eye out!
Christine: You did! And you were so right. lol
Yes, Valerius’ book was Seize the Night, which is the only other one I’ve read so far. Yeah, I love me a good tortured hero.
I’m actually tempted to try the next one in audiobook, and see how that goes. I’ve seen it available at Audible.
20.
DichotomousNature | January 22, 2009 at 4:56 pm
I am also OCD about reading books in order, so I was ticked when I got The Dream Hunter and found out that it wasn’t the first of a new series, it was actually part of this Dark Hunter series. Urgh. Fantasy Lover is on my bookshelf and if I ever stop going to the library to get new books, I might actually get around to reading Fantasy Lover.
21.
Renee | January 22, 2009 at 5:45 pm
Barbara: Yeah, the new ones shine more than the ones sitting on the TBR shelf, don’t they? I am glad I read it, but at least at this point I’m not sure how the Dark Hunters are introduced. Hopefully, Night Pleasures will solve the mystery.
22.
Bridget Locke | January 22, 2009 at 11:27 pm
Most of them are a complete and total “ugh” esp. the Dream-Hunter books, however, I suffer thru them b/c there are some super excellent books thrown in there just to surprise us all. Vane Kattalakis & Bride being one of them. The scenes between them are just…*sigh*
And Acheron. If you are not crying within the first 100 pages of that book….
I’m an ambivalent SK fan. How’s that?
23.
Renee | January 23, 2009 at 9:16 am
Bridget: lol. Yeah, I have a couple of authors I’m like that with.
From what I’m hearing, Vane’s and Brides story is a must-read. I’ll be picking and choosing which from the series I’ll actually read, but that one is definitely on my list.
24.
Roselyn | July 9, 2009 at 3:41 am
I loved Fantasy Lover. I’ve read all the Twilight series, JR Wards Big Dagger Brother Hood and the Midnight Breed series. JR Wards books are the best but Fantasy Lover was different and a really enjoyable read. I think the quirky sexual inuindoes (wrong spelling) are funny and sexy. I highly recommend this book to anyone. I’ve read Dragonswan and thought it was good too, 2nd to Fantasy Lover. I’ve just finished Night Pleasures and thought it draged on too long. It sort of has put me off the other books. I just can imagine the other books having the same story line. Fantasy Lover made me sweat (in a good way
).
25.
February 2010 Read Books « Renee's Book Addiction | March 6, 2010 at 4:04 am
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