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lifeinthebooklane's review
5.0
This book has less 'adventure' than the first four, but I love how the relationship between the characters develop. This book also seems to be building new storylines to follow and also gets us more familiar with some of the other Argonauts.
After the horror's Gryphon went through in the last book, it is good to see him get his HEA in this. A good mix of love, sex, mystery and action.
After the horror's Gryphon went through in the last book, it is good to see him get his HEA in this. A good mix of love, sex, mystery and action.
mamabears_fabulous_book_finds's review
4.0
I just finished this, the fifth in the series. I will definitely be keeping up and waiting for the next one. Amazing book
charms1976's review
5.0
Can we just take a moment to drool over this amazing and sexy cover? I'll wait.
Did we get the drool wiped up? Okay, let us proceed.
I love, LOVE, love this author and her writing. There is just something about the way she can create a scene that captures me. One word can sum up this series for me: ADDICTIVE. Trust me when I say that when you start with the first book in this series, you will be snatching up the currently released books in this series just to keep getting your fix.
Gryphon, how I loved you in this book. Sexy, outcast, moody, and did I mention sexy? Yes I did because he is. Maelea was also a wonderful character who was perfectly fit to be with Gryphon. Suspense, drama, action and touching scenes will all be included in this package of a book. What are you waiting for? Start the series and let the reading begin!
Did we get the drool wiped up? Okay, let us proceed.
I love, LOVE, love this author and her writing. There is just something about the way she can create a scene that captures me. One word can sum up this series for me: ADDICTIVE. Trust me when I say that when you start with the first book in this series, you will be snatching up the currently released books in this series just to keep getting your fix.
Gryphon, how I loved you in this book. Sexy, outcast, moody, and did I mention sexy? Yes I did because he is. Maelea was also a wonderful character who was perfectly fit to be with Gryphon. Suspense, drama, action and touching scenes will all be included in this package of a book. What are you waiting for? Start the series and let the reading begin!
bookloverchelle's review
4.0
Even though I’ve enjoyed this series immensely so far, I’ve completely read it in an odd order so I fully recommend to any new readers to start at the beginning and read in order. I had read the first book in the series a few years ago so when I started going through my TBR pile to get caught up I was initially a little lost with characters because I needed a quick reminder who everyone was. It also probably didn’t help that I read this series in the following order: book 1, 3, 2, and 5. Even though I skipped over book 4 I had no problems diving right in to Gryphon’s story. Gryphon underwent untold horrors in the Underworld and even though he’s now reunited with his Argonaut brothers, he is being called back to Atalanta’s side and he cannot control himself. After a mistake in battle he’s no longer welcome at the half-breed colony and decides to set out on his own so that he hurts no one else. Maelea never wanted to be part of the half-breed colony but was brought there for her own protection. The night she chooses to finally make a break for it happens to be the same night that Gryphon runs for it and she becomes a prisoner in his escape plans. What starts as an unwanted partnership quickly turns when they each bring something to the partnership they didn’t realize they needed. With the Argonaut’s and the Underworld hot on their heels they have to learn to trust each other or be lost forever. Really enjoyable HEA and I liked the overall story arch continuation. I’m excited to get caught up with books 4 and 6!
jynx66's review
4.0
Posted at: Riverina Romantics
Rating: 4/5*
Romance Rating: 3.5/5 <3
*ARC Provided by NetGalley*
Can Gryphon be my doulas? Pretty please? –bats eyes and begs- I promise I’ll take good care of him.
Usually when you think of a tortured hero, they have emotional scars or physical scars tied with something in their past. Gryphon has decided to be different, and be currently tortured by an evil demi-god’s voice in his head who is making him slowly lose his mind and give in to the darkness. His fellow Argonauts are worried about him, and the females think he’s psychotic. Now, he is a very lonely and misunderstood hunk of man. What does he do? Try to escape!
Question: Who would like to step up and take him on?
Answer: Maelea!
Maelea is the daughter of Zeus and Persephone. If she ever sets foot in Hell, Persephone’s husband, Hades, will kill her. Too bad Hades doesn’t want to wait that long. So he’s decided to send his minions out to kill her. Maelea has spent all her life trying to stay ahead of him, until she meets the Argonauts. Now, she’s trapped in a colony that has been the closest thing to home for her, but she must leave because she doesn’t want Hades to destroy them.
What does she do? Try to escape!
Do you see a common theme emerging here? I do!
I absolutely adored Gryphon in this book. You could tell right off the bat that he had a good heart, but the darkness inside him was too much for him to control. He was always trying to do good, but the darkness would always find a way to twist it. He knew he was becoming a danger to those he cared about, and nobody seemed to be able to cure what happened to him, so he decided that going after the source was the only option left. He not only struggled with the darkness and voice inside him, but he also struggled with how it happened and how Maelea was affecting him. Despite the urge to hurt and take what he wanted, he fought it the entire way, swearing he’d never hurt Maelea like he had been. For a while, I was wondering what had happened to him to make him say that, and when I found out, my jaw dropped. My heart bled for him so much throughout this book that I wanted to maim the gods myself. He was a strong character, and his story was perfect.
I could not have asked for a better heroine for Gryphon than Maelea. At first, I was unsure how she would be a match for him. She seemed weak and appeared to be a coward, always running and never trying to fight back. She never let anything good really happen to her because of her fear of Hades and the destruction he could unleash. She didn’t seem to really like any of the others characters much either. Then she got caught up with Gryphon during their double escape attempt, and she really came out. Although she never liked killing any living thing, she did what she had to do to protect Gryphon and herself. She got the confidence she needed to come into her own and become a much better woman. She fought for Gryphon and loved him, despite the times he threw it in her face and ran away. She never gave up, and because a character that I felt was great for the despair and healing of Gryphon.
Gryphon and Maelea’s relationship was rocky, but sweet. In the beginning, Gryphon only kept her around because of how her presence helped control the voice inside his head. Over time, it grew into the love of soul mates and really made my heart sing. When they came together, it was beautiful and I enjoyed every moment. Although because of Maelea’s parentage, he had some major trust issues that he needed to work out. Instead of believing in his heart, he let his mind and betrayals and beliefs about her parents cloud his emotions. It caused them both pain, but Maelea was strong enough not to let that stop her. She fought for him and proved to him that she wasn’t anything like her parents. In the end, they were a perfect match in every way.
This was a fantastic book, and one that is definitely going on my keeper shelf. I look forward to the next installment, with visions of this kind of romance to keep me smiling.
Rating: 4/5*
Romance Rating: 3.5/5 <3
*ARC Provided by NetGalley*
Can Gryphon be my doulas? Pretty please? –bats eyes and begs- I promise I’ll take good care of him.
Usually when you think of a tortured hero, they have emotional scars or physical scars tied with something in their past. Gryphon has decided to be different, and be currently tortured by an evil demi-god’s voice in his head who is making him slowly lose his mind and give in to the darkness. His fellow Argonauts are worried about him, and the females think he’s psychotic. Now, he is a very lonely and misunderstood hunk of man. What does he do? Try to escape!
Question: Who would like to step up and take him on?
Answer: Maelea!
Maelea is the daughter of Zeus and Persephone. If she ever sets foot in Hell, Persephone’s husband, Hades, will kill her. Too bad Hades doesn’t want to wait that long. So he’s decided to send his minions out to kill her. Maelea has spent all her life trying to stay ahead of him, until she meets the Argonauts. Now, she’s trapped in a colony that has been the closest thing to home for her, but she must leave because she doesn’t want Hades to destroy them.
What does she do? Try to escape!
Do you see a common theme emerging here? I do!
I absolutely adored Gryphon in this book. You could tell right off the bat that he had a good heart, but the darkness inside him was too much for him to control. He was always trying to do good, but the darkness would always find a way to twist it. He knew he was becoming a danger to those he cared about, and nobody seemed to be able to cure what happened to him, so he decided that going after the source was the only option left. He not only struggled with the darkness and voice inside him, but he also struggled with how it happened and how Maelea was affecting him. Despite the urge to hurt and take what he wanted, he fought it the entire way, swearing he’d never hurt Maelea like he had been. For a while, I was wondering what had happened to him to make him say that, and when I found out, my jaw dropped. My heart bled for him so much throughout this book that I wanted to maim the gods myself. He was a strong character, and his story was perfect.
I could not have asked for a better heroine for Gryphon than Maelea. At first, I was unsure how she would be a match for him. She seemed weak and appeared to be a coward, always running and never trying to fight back. She never let anything good really happen to her because of her fear of Hades and the destruction he could unleash. She didn’t seem to really like any of the others characters much either. Then she got caught up with Gryphon during their double escape attempt, and she really came out. Although she never liked killing any living thing, she did what she had to do to protect Gryphon and herself. She got the confidence she needed to come into her own and become a much better woman. She fought for Gryphon and loved him, despite the times he threw it in her face and ran away. She never gave up, and because a character that I felt was great for the despair and healing of Gryphon.
Gryphon and Maelea’s relationship was rocky, but sweet. In the beginning, Gryphon only kept her around because of how her presence helped control the voice inside his head. Over time, it grew into the love of soul mates and really made my heart sing. When they came together, it was beautiful and I enjoyed every moment. Although because of Maelea’s parentage, he had some major trust issues that he needed to work out. Instead of believing in his heart, he let his mind and betrayals and beliefs about her parents cloud his emotions. It caused them both pain, but Maelea was strong enough not to let that stop her. She fought for him and proved to him that she wasn’t anything like her parents. In the end, they were a perfect match in every way.
This was a fantastic book, and one that is definitely going on my keeper shelf. I look forward to the next installment, with visions of this kind of romance to keep me smiling.
shannon_cocktailsandbooks's review
4.0
Grphyon had suffered such unspeakable tortures at the hands of Atalanta and Kronos, I had to wonder just how Elisabeth Naughton was going to bring this "broken" argonaut back into the land of the living. What she gave us was a man who was so very worthy of his argonaut markings, but also the daughter of the Gods.
Gryphon, in the other Guardian books, was also such an easy going character, so his transformation into this hardened, tortured soul is tough. He thinks he's losing his mind because he constantly hears Atalanta calling for him and he has this darkness that he can feel inside him. The darkness makes him lose control and that scares him just as much as reliving the things he was subjected to or done in the Underworld. His only solace coms when he's near Maelea. Something about her soothes his darkness and makes the voices go away. Gryphon thinks it's something about Maelea that takes away the voices and the darkness, especially after his discovers who her parents are, but the calming effect is more about his soul finding it's mate than who or what Maelea is. She brings out all the qualities Gryphon had before his time in the underworld and helps him shed the despair that has hung over him and be the man he was always meant to be.
Maelea was one of those characters that had this inner strength that was to be envied. For three thousand years she's lived in the human realm knowing she was wanted by either of her parents. Despite that, she was determined to make it to Olympus and would do whatever was necessary to get there. Gryphon wasn't part of her plans, but she soon saw the man he was beneath the tough exterior and knew she would do whatever she needed to do to make sure he was happy, even give up Olympus. She doesn't have it easy, especially when people saw her as a small, weak woman, but she had that inner strength that had her fighting for herself and Gryhon to make sure they both had what made them happy.
Given how Enslaved ends, you have to wonder just what the Argonauts are going to be up against, especially with Zeus now a player. It should be interesting and guaranteed to be a wild ride. Give us Titus....we're ready!
Gryphon, in the other Guardian books, was also such an easy going character, so his transformation into this hardened, tortured soul is tough. He thinks he's losing his mind because he constantly hears Atalanta calling for him and he has this darkness that he can feel inside him. The darkness makes him lose control and that scares him just as much as reliving the things he was subjected to or done in the Underworld. His only solace coms when he's near Maelea. Something about her soothes his darkness and makes the voices go away. Gryphon thinks it's something about Maelea that takes away the voices and the darkness, especially after his discovers who her parents are, but the calming effect is more about his soul finding it's mate than who or what Maelea is. She brings out all the qualities Gryphon had before his time in the underworld and helps him shed the despair that has hung over him and be the man he was always meant to be.
Maelea was one of those characters that had this inner strength that was to be envied. For three thousand years she's lived in the human realm knowing she was wanted by either of her parents. Despite that, she was determined to make it to Olympus and would do whatever was necessary to get there. Gryphon wasn't part of her plans, but she soon saw the man he was beneath the tough exterior and knew she would do whatever she needed to do to make sure he was happy, even give up Olympus. She doesn't have it easy, especially when people saw her as a small, weak woman, but she had that inner strength that had her fighting for herself and Gryhon to make sure they both had what made them happy.
Given how Enslaved ends, you have to wonder just what the Argonauts are going to be up against, especially with Zeus now a player. It should be interesting and guaranteed to be a wild ride. Give us Titus....we're ready!
laurenjodi's review
4.0
Enslaved
4 Stars
Struggling in the aftermath of his torturous ordeal in the Underworld, Gryphon is determined to get away from the pity and fear he sees in the eyes of those around him. Likewise, Maelea, the unwanted daughter of Persephone and Zeus, seeks only to escape the confines of the sanctuary concealing her from the vengeful wrath of her mother's husband, Hades. Encountering each other on their way out, this unlikely pair find themselves on the run from all factions: Argonauts, Misos, hellhounds and daemons. Their only chance of survival - each other.
Series note: This is book #5 in the series and as there is an ongoing story arc, it is recommended that the books be read in order.
Naughton's makes excellent use of elements from Greek Mythology in her world building by putting her own unique twists on the traditional themes and tropes. The rivalry between Atalanta and the Argonauts and the conflicts between the various gods are incorporated effectively into the storyline and add an extra layer of tension.
Gryphon and Maelea's romance is very entertaining. They have great chemistry to begin with, and this is only enhanced by the "on the run" trope as it highlights the development of their relationship from fear and mistrust to grudging respect and affection to love. This gradual progression makes their romance all the more believable.
Gryphon and Maelea are also dealing with deeper emotional scars arising from their individual traumas whether it is Gryphon's guilt at becoming Atalanta's pawn or Malea's brittle confidence stemming from the betrayals of her parents. These two lonely outcast are searching to belong and finally find love and acceptance with each other.
All in all, one of the sweeter romances in an enjoyable series. Looking forward to Titus's book next.
4 Stars
Struggling in the aftermath of his torturous ordeal in the Underworld, Gryphon is determined to get away from the pity and fear he sees in the eyes of those around him. Likewise, Maelea, the unwanted daughter of Persephone and Zeus, seeks only to escape the confines of the sanctuary concealing her from the vengeful wrath of her mother's husband, Hades. Encountering each other on their way out, this unlikely pair find themselves on the run from all factions: Argonauts, Misos, hellhounds and daemons. Their only chance of survival - each other.
Series note: This is book #5 in the series and as there is an ongoing story arc, it is recommended that the books be read in order.
Naughton's makes excellent use of elements from Greek Mythology in her world building by putting her own unique twists on the traditional themes and tropes. The rivalry between Atalanta and the Argonauts and the conflicts between the various gods are incorporated effectively into the storyline and add an extra layer of tension.
Gryphon and Maelea's romance is very entertaining. They have great chemistry to begin with, and this is only enhanced by the "on the run" trope as it highlights the development of their relationship from fear and mistrust to grudging respect and affection to love. This gradual progression makes their romance all the more believable.
Gryphon and Maelea are also dealing with deeper emotional scars arising from their individual traumas whether it is Gryphon's guilt at becoming Atalanta's pawn or Malea's brittle confidence stemming from the betrayals of her parents. These two lonely outcast are searching to belong and finally find love and acceptance with each other.
All in all, one of the sweeter romances in an enjoyable series. Looking forward to Titus's book next.
raven168's review
3.0
It's been two months since Gryphon's rescue from the Underworld. He's pretty much been a prisoner in his own room for that whole time because, while he has calmed down, he is still not quite right thanks to Atalanta's voice in his head. But Orpheus convinces the other Argonauts and Nick that the best thing for Gryphon would be to get him out and back into his normal role. That goes pretty much as wrong as possible and Nick is done. His people are already afraid of Gryphon and after what he just did, he's not keeping him at the colony. But before Nick can throw him out, Gryphon escapes. Taking Maelea along with him because she just had the bad luck of trying to escape at the same time. They manage to get away but not completely safely. And their flight is constantly interrupted by demons and hellhounds. The first few days Maelea is determined to get away because she fears and hates Gryphon. So I was very curious as to what would make her change her mind and fall in love with him. During one of the few breaks they catch over a fast food dinner, she realizes that maybe he's not so different than she is and she quickly finds herself falling for him. They eventually find some semblance of peace at one of Maelea's houses. Gryphon opens up to her and she accepts all of him and they profess their love and yadda yadda. And thanks to something they discovered when this whole mess began, are undetectable. For a while at least. When that fails another fight is upon them but they get help at the last minute. Both hurt, they are taken back to Argolea where the council freaks out not only because of Gryphon but because of who Maelea's parents are. So they flee...again. But when Persephone shows up, Gryphon's heart breaks and he abandons Maelea after what he is told. Going after Atalanta by himself he finds he's not by himself after all. The end was a little crazy, though honestly I wasn't too crazy about it. After all that, Zeus shows up and acts like a good guy until he doesn't get what he wants and turns into an angry dick. That is until Lachesis shows up to put him in his place and shoo him away. It was also an interesting addition that she decided to clear up why Orpheus's soul was given a second chance.
I'm glad that as soon as his head cleared, Gryphon realized that Maelea was his soul mate. One of the things that bugged me about Orpheus was how long it took him to figure it out about Skyla when we straight up told in the first book that the guardians would know just by sleeping with the girl. I'm not sure how keen I am on Gryphon and Maelea as a couple though. Personally, I don't think they mesh all that much even with the similar things they have gone thru.
For a while I was feeling kind of bad for Max. He wasn't getting the right kind of attention and wasn't being treated like he should be as a child Argonaut. But as he kept doing more and more stupid things, he just started to tick me off. Especially his huge mistake at the end. But hopefully going forward Zander will realize that things need to change in regard to Max now.
Spoiler
It was pretty cool that Maelea had that sort of power, her father is Zeus after all. But it just didn't seem totally right that she was the one to defeat Atalanta. I mean...it just seemed...too simple. And now that Lachesis has taken the dark and light from her, does Maelea still have that power?I'm glad that as soon as his head cleared, Gryphon realized that Maelea was his soul mate. One of the things that bugged me about Orpheus was how long it took him to figure it out about Skyla when we straight up told in the first book that the guardians would know just by sleeping with the girl. I'm not sure how keen I am on Gryphon and Maelea as a couple though. Personally, I don't think they mesh all that much even with the similar things they have gone thru.
For a while I was feeling kind of bad for Max. He wasn't getting the right kind of attention and wasn't being treated like he should be as a child Argonaut. But as he kept doing more and more stupid things, he just started to tick me off. Especially his huge mistake at the end. But hopefully going forward Zander will realize that things need to change in regard to Max now.
heyhaley17's review
2.0
The premise is great but the narrative is choppy at best and in need of more concentration on the main couple-- It gets two stars for the parts I did like and the extreme intrigue I got from the characters for the next book.
I get there are other characters but ther is so much cut away to what they are doing in trying to figure out where Gryph and Maelae went that there isn't enough time spent with the actual main couple, and as a result their romance is mediocre or just okay at best. And this is a shame as when we are with them I enjoyed their interactions, but it took well over half the book for more concentration to be put on developing their relationship. I just wasn't feeling either of them and didn't care enough by the time time was actually put into developing it. I could literally feel it putting me into a reading slump so I had to call it quits. On a better note, what I did like, I enjoyed, and there was a great interest developed for upcoming books with the characters.
I get there are other characters but ther is so much cut away to what they are doing in trying to figure out where Gryph and Maelae went that there isn't enough time spent with the actual main couple, and as a result their romance is mediocre or just okay at best. And this is a shame as when we are with them I enjoyed their interactions, but it took well over half the book for more concentration to be put on developing their relationship. I just wasn't feeling either of them and didn't care enough by the time time was actually put into developing it. I could literally feel it putting me into a reading slump so I had to call it quits. On a better note, what I did like, I enjoyed, and there was a great interest developed for upcoming books with the characters.