Pearl's World of Romance - Reviews with a Passion: Lords of Satyr Trilogy

Showing posts with label Lords of Satyr Trilogy. Show all posts

August 15, 2008

Lyon - Elizabeth Amber

10:54 PM |

Back Cover:
HE IS ON THE PROWL . . .
The youngest of the Satyr brothers, Lyon enjoys working in the family's Tuscan vineyards, caring for his menagerie of animals and bedding beautiful women. But he knows he must fulfill his destiny of taking the last daughter of King Feydon as his bride. And so he travels to Paris to wed the infamous Juliette Rabelais . . .

FOR HIS MOST LUSCIOUS PRIZE . . .
A celebrated courtesan noted for both her culinary--and carnal talents, Juliette is a voluptuous beauty with a body meant to tease. And with a full moon only days away, Lyon is quickly aroused. But after a night of intimacy, Lyon wonders if Juliette is truly a mistress of sensual pleasure or whether his sexual mastery will be her undoing . . .

Lyon is the last of the Lords of Satyr to find and marry the Fey daughter destined to be his bride.
Lyon has never envisioned his future with one woman only, he craves change and variety and the idea of tying himself with just one woman doesn't sit well with him. Still he travels to Paris to do his duty, like his brothers before him did theirs.
Juliette is a woman with a complicated history and convincing her to go with him to Tuscany and be his wife almost costs Lyon his life.
To summarize the story would spoil too much of it so I can only tell other readers to read it for themselves but despite family intrigue, a protector with plans for revenge, murders and a Nereid with her own agenda Juliette and Lyon find that true love is stronger than any past or the craving for variety.

I must be honest and admit that it took me a while to get in this third installment of the Lords of Satyr.
It was luscious and beautiful in writing weaving magic, emotions, historical scenery and plot together in a paranormal tale of love.
But where in the previous books the erotic scenes had me captivated, in this book they didn't until the second part.
I missed the emotional click I did have with the previous books and I think that was because of two things.

First my expectations of how the character Lyon would be were not met in the first part of the book. After reading about him in NICHOLAS and RAINE I had this playful, roguish image of him and I didn't find this in his story at all.
The whole setting of his book was a dark one where I had expected it to be playful. And for me, certainly the first half was less sensual and more carnal with even a violent vibe to it that I just didn't expect.
I had the feeling Juliette's character and story were dominant throughout the book. Which was understandable plot wise, but where I did find the balance between hero and heroine in RAINE, for me it lacked this in LYON. I just had expected to see more of Lyon. But once I resigned myself to the fact that Lyon was different than I expected, I really enjoyed his story and his journey to love and happiness.

Secondly, and this really has to do with personal preferences and taste, Elizabeth Amber managed to broaden my horizon in the previous books but with this one I couldn't be open-minded enough to accepts some of the characters' actions. There were some actions (both sexually and emotionally) I really was not comfortable with, for example Valmont, Sibela and the two male Shimmerskins. There were things, especially concerning Valmont that almost literally turned my stomach.

But despite the discomfort Elizabeth Amber still managed to fascinate me with an incomparable storyline and love story with mysteries that only fell into place at the very end. What I missed in Lyon's personality in the beginning was made up for in a satisfying way at the end of the book.

When I leave out my own expectations I can only say that she has provided each of the Satyr brothers with a satisfactory and fitting heroine and story. She combines the carnal and lascivious erotic scenes with enthralling and captivating dialogues and emotions. She sets up an intricate and well-written plot and rounds it off beautifully.

For me RAINE was the best book of the three and even if this installment didn't quite meet my expectations it is still a unique and original series that stands out in the genre, entwining history, eroticism and magical legends with ease and fluency.
It's a series I will treasure because it was one of my first encounters with exquisite erotic romance and they are all books that are more than just a sequence of erotic scenes. Everything between the erotic scenes is rich in plot, history, magical beings and emotions.

Quote:
"Don't," he said, correctly reading her expression. "There's no room for shame between us. We have no one else to please in carnal matters. They are private. For us. For pleasure. We hurt no one if we follow our desires. We hurt only ourselves if we refrain."

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Labels: Elizabeth Amber, Erotic Romance, good reads, Kensington Publishing, Lords of Satyr Trilogy, reviews | 0 comments |

March 13, 2008

Raine - Elizabeth Amber

12:08 PM |

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The last in a fabled line of otherworldly aristocracy, the Lords of Satyr are born to wealth, power, and a talent for sensual delight that mere mortals only dream of. Commanded to marry, these passionate men will travel to Rome, Venice, and Paris—and along the way will explore desires both shamelessly wicked and blissfully divine…

AS A LOVER, HIS SKILLS ARE LEGENDARY . . .
Middle brother Raine is both sensual and stoic. Scarred by a former wife who could not accept his carnal needs, he wants no part in another marriage. But duty commands that he fulfill his promise to wed King Feydon's second daughter, Jordan...

IN MATTERS OF THE HEART, HE HAS MUCH TO LEARN . . .
This loyal satyr begins a search that leads him from Tuscany to romantic Venice, where his beautiful bride awaits, unaware of what passionate delights fate has planned for her. Raine is careful not to reveal his powerful satyr sexuality, for fear of driving yet another woman away. But unbeknownst to him, Jordan is no ordinary woman and was born with an insatiable appetite for love. And as Raine's heart begins to melt for her, how long will he be able to hide his true nature when Jordan seems to want him so fiercely?

Giving heed to the wish of the Faerie King Feydon Raine goes in search of his destined bride after Nicholas has found and married the first half Human/half Faerie daughter, Jane. He finds her in Venice and is immediately attracted to her. Although he has vowed not to give in to his needs and keep his distance from Jordan, he finds out that he can't stay away from the brave and enticing Jordan.
Jordan has vowed never let any man rule or own her and she also tries, unsuccessfully though, to keep her heart save from the storm Raine ignites. Together they embark on a journey of love, trust and acceptance, fighting the obstacles that stand in the way of their happiness together.

Jordan is a character who is unusual but very likeable at the same time. I admired her strength. She is quick-minded, practical and brave. She accepts who she is and doesn’t let shame or propriety rule her feelings. It is Raine and her feelings for him that help her discover and accept who and what she is.

Raine surpasses the image I had of him in the first book and he does this beyond my expectations. I thought him remote and cold but he is anything but that. He cloaks himself in remoteness and has perfected keeping his distance from everyone in an almost obsessive way being the brooding, silent brother. He is afraid of getting hurt but his fascination for Jordan and his attraction to her overrides his fear and he learns that passion and happiness is within his reach.

The secondary characters both enemy and friendly are intriguing to say the least.
I loved reading about Nicholas and Jane again. The glimpse of Lyon certainly wasn't enough to satisfy me. I wanted more of him, but luckily in October we'll have all of him.

The book again was very sensual but the emphasis is more on the emotions. The situation with Jordan was a little awkward for me at first, I felt it was a little out of my comfort zone. But reading along I grew more comfortable with it, accepted it and was fascinated. This was mainly due to the skills of Elizabeth Amber. She was able to write a story around it that supported the unfamiliar concept, making it acceptable.
It fitted the whole picture and feel of the book, fitted the story as it was told.

This second installment of The Lords of Satyr trilogy is not for readers who are not open-minded or who are faint of heart. Elizabeth Amber takes some sexual concepts even further than in the first book and she treads upon the boundaries of what is known and familiar or comfortable. But she does this in such a believable and magnificent way that if you are open-minded, you will embrace the story in all its aspects.

In this book I learned a bit more about the ways of the Satyr. More background information was subtly mixed into the story in a way that you could take it in with ease. There was a plot but it was underlying the emotional story. That being said it was a good plot with a revelation at the end I didn't see coming.
I learned more about winemaking along the way but also new things in regards to the history of the Satyr, the Faerie and other mythical beings. And last but not least my sexual horizon has been broadened a bit more and I am surprised as to how open-minded I can be when the concept is being delivered in a masterful and functional way.

Elizabeth Amber enticed me with Nicholas and now she has surprised and captivated me with Raine. I wait in eager anticipation to see what she has in store for us with Lyon!

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Labels: Elizabeth Amber, Erotic Romance, great reads, Kensington Publishing, Lords of Satyr Trilogy, reviews | 0 comments |

August 29, 2007

Nicholas - Elizabeth Amber

6:04 PM |

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The last in a fabled line of otherworldly aristocracy, the Lords of Satyr are born to wealth, power, and a talent for sensual delight that mere mortals only dream of. Commanded to marry, these passionate men will travel to Rome, Venice, and Paris—and along the way will explore desires both shamelessly wicked and blissfully divine…

HE HAD SWORN TO TAKE A PROPER WIFE. HE HADN’T BARGAINED FOR MEETING HIS MATCH…

Nicholas looks very much like what he is—a handsome, successful heir to a vineyard in Tuscany. But Nicholas is much more for he is one of the last in an ancient line of Satyr men. And the dying king of ElseWorld wants him not only to marry, but to wed one of the king’s own daughters—a half-human, half-faerie woman unaware of her heritage. Nicholas won’t shirk his duty to produce heirs to guard his race’s legacies, but he never planned to make his bride his only lover. A Satyr’s sexual hunger and sexual skills are legendary. One woman will never satisfy him.

Or so Nick believes until he meets Jane. As spirited as she is fey, as beautiful as she is innocent, she is nevertheless determined to make her new husband hers alone—and she’s eager for him to teach her every deliciously carnal secret he knows.

This new voice in the erotic romance genre has certainly found an admirer in this reader. I'm hearing it loud and clear. Not to mention feeling it! There just aren't enough words for me to describe this book: mindblowing, enthralling, raw, pure, bold, moving, fascinating and many more!

This is one of the best erotic novels I've read sofar. Not only enticing me with hot, sensual and carnal erotic scenes but also with a plot that's utterly intrigueing. Amber's writing style is vivid, colourful and sensual. Pulling you into a story that's so much more than just a few erotic scenes held together by a love story! This book satisfies the reader in me that longs for more than sex in an erotic romance.

An amazing tale of love wrapped in a magical and sensual world. Both story and characters are enticing and heartthrobbing. It sizzled and sparkled in the erotic department and at the same time it was endearing and touching to see Nick and Jane come to accept and grow to love each other. The balance between Nick and Jane is perfect. Nick is a strong and dominant alpha male but Jane really stands her ground and doesn't let Nick become to overbearing. In her own manner she is his perfect match both in intelligence and wit as in the sensual aspect of their relationship.
Nick is just what Jane needs to feel wanted and loved again, despite of who and what she is. Jane is just what Nick needs to have the joy, pleasure and support of a soulmate.

Not only Jane and Nick are wonderful characters, the secondary characters are extremely well written and crucial to the story. Nick's brothers, Jane's sister and Jane's aunt are as intrigueing characters as Nick and Jane are.

When you read this book, you're swept away in a world of magical creatures the likes of satyrs, faeries and maenads. This world Elizabeth Amber creates is an intrigueing one, leaves the reader wanting to know more about the ways and rules of it and let me tell you: after reading this book the male body, child-conception and pregnancy take a whole other meaning!
Although there were some uncomfortable scenes (multiple partners/female only) for the faint-hearted among us as a reader you accept and appreciate them because they are a natural part of the story and essential for the excellent worldbuilding Elizabeth Amber does.
All the -for me- new terms and concepts (the Satyr World, The Calling, the Sisters of Bacchant) would have been overwhelming but Elizabeth Amber's writing style and worldbuilding-skills will pull you in with hardly any effort.

Even though the story concentrates on Nick and Jane you catch a good glimpse the brothers Raine en Lyon. Raine is the serious somewhat withdrawn brother. Lyon is the bold, brawny, playful brother. And at the end of the book these brothers have taken their rightful place among the alpha-males but it's Lyon who has captured my interest the most. I think he's going to be my favourite Lord of Satyr.

Quote:
Jane to her sister Emma:
We are half sisters by blood and full sisters by love

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Labels: Elizabeth Amber, Erotic Romance, great reads, Kensington Publishing, Lords of Satyr Trilogy, requested review, reviews | 0 comments |