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Hearts of the Anemoi #2
West of Want
Betrayal is all he’s ever known, but in her, he’ll find a love strong enough to be trusted…
When Marcella Raines’ twin brother dies, she honors his request to be buried at sea, never expecting the violent storm that swamps her boat. Though she’s gravely injured—and still emotionally damaged from her recent divorce—Ella fights to survive.
Zephyros Martius is the Supreme God of the West Wind and Spring, but being the strongest Anemoi hasn’t protected him from betrayal and loss. Worse, he’s sure his brother Eurus is behind it. When Zeph’s heartbreak whips up a storm that shipwrecks a human, his guilt forces him to save her.
Ella is drawn to the vulnerability Zeph hides beneath his otherworldly masculinity and ancient blue eyes. And her honesty, empathy, and unique, calming influence leave Zeph wanting…everything. When Eurus threatens Ella, she and Zeph struggle to let go of the past, defend their future, and embrace what they most want—a love that can be trusted.
When Marcella Raines’ twin brother dies, she honors his request to be buried at sea, never expecting the violent storm that swamps her boat. Though she’s gravely injured—and still emotionally damaged from her recent divorce—Ella fights to survive.
Zephyros Martius is the Supreme God of the West Wind and Spring, but being the strongest Anemoi hasn’t protected him from betrayal and loss. Worse, he’s sure his brother Eurus is behind it. When Zeph’s heartbreak whips up a storm that shipwrecks a human, his guilt forces him to save her.
Ella is drawn to the vulnerability Zeph hides beneath his otherworldly masculinity and ancient blue eyes. And her honesty, empathy, and unique, calming influence leave Zeph wanting…everything. When Eurus threatens Ella, she and Zeph struggle to let go of the past, defend their future, and embrace what they most want—a love that can be trusted.
400 pages, Paperback
First published July 10, 2012
44 people are currently reading
1544 people want to read
About the author
Laura Kaye
80 books7,511 followersLaura Kaye is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary and erotic romance and romantic suspense, including the Hard Ink, Raven Riders, Blasphemy, Heroes, and Hearts of the Anemoi series. Laura's hot, heartfelt stories are all about the universal desire for a place to belong. Laura grew up amidst family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses, cementing her life-long fascination with storytelling and the supernatural. Laura also writes historical fiction as Laura Kamoie, and lives in Maryland with her husband and two daughters, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews
April 12, 2014
4 - Poofing and M & M Stars.
No review as such, just a few pics and quotes to highlight some of my favourite parts of the book.
Laura Kaye is one of my "go-to" authors, when I am looking for a well written, sexy, entertaining read and she never lets me down.
Zeph - "There's just you and me."...
"In this moment."...
"There's just this lost soul."...
"Who wants the most beautiful woman he's ever seen."...
Zeph - "You don't understand how much you intrigue me."...
"You don't understand how much you attract me. You're in my head. All the time. You make my heart beast faster, my body ache with want."
Another winner for me, straight onto South of Surrender.
No review as such, just a few pics and quotes to highlight some of my favourite parts of the book.
Laura Kaye is one of my "go-to" authors, when I am looking for a well written, sexy, entertaining read and she never lets me down.
Zeph - "There's just you and me."...
"In this moment."...
"There's just this lost soul."...
"Who wants the most beautiful woman he's ever seen."...
Zeph - "You don't understand how much you intrigue me."...
"You don't understand how much you attract me. You're in my head. All the time. You make my heart beast faster, my body ache with want."
Another winner for me, straight onto South of Surrender.
August 18, 2021
It was a re-read and I mostly skimmed it because I knew what was happening, but I still like it very much.
May 17, 2024
WEST OF WANT was very different from the first in the series because it goes a lot deeper into the mythology of the Anemoi and the Gods of weather but I liked that we took a deeper dive in the paranormal aspects. I really liked Ella as our heroine, she's strong, sweet, and thoroughly embraces the things she loves. She also has an endless amount of compassion which is exactly what Zephyros Martius, the Supreme God of the West Wind and Spring, needs.
Zeph has spent his entire life looking for love and being betrayed or heartbroken at every turn. I felt so much for Zeph's pain and his backstory was really heart wrenching. When Zeph first rescues Ella it's pretty much love at first sight but trust doesn't come as easily especially with Zeph's evil brother, the East Winds Eurus, lurking around trying to cause pain. Because trust is so hard for Zeph he makes some major mistakes and the last 30% of the book are pretty rough emotionally as Ella and Zeph work through their trust issues.
Content Warning: Ella’s twin brother has recently died and she is still grieving; forced kiss and assault against Ella by the villain; Ella is infertile and this is frequently brought up as an issue with her past marriage and her desire to have kids. BIG NOTE for magical healing of her infertility.
Zeph has spent his entire life looking for love and being betrayed or heartbroken at every turn. I felt so much for Zeph's pain and his backstory was really heart wrenching. When Zeph first rescues Ella it's pretty much love at first sight but trust doesn't come as easily especially with Zeph's evil brother, the East Winds Eurus, lurking around trying to cause pain. Because trust is so hard for Zeph he makes some major mistakes and the last 30% of the book are pretty rough emotionally as Ella and Zeph work through their trust issues.
Content Warning: Ella’s twin brother has recently died and she is still grieving; forced kiss and assault against Ella by the villain; Ella is infertile and this is frequently brought up as an issue with her past marriage and her desire to have kids. BIG NOTE for magical healing of her infertility.
March 9, 2021
There's nothing really objectively wrong with West of Want; it just wasn't for me. The best word I can use to describe my opinions on this book is bland. The characters were bland, the world was bland, and the romance was bland. On a more positive note, I did like the depiction of grief and recovery, but I didn't like how .
February 10, 2018
"Zephyros Martius is the Supreme God of the West Wind and Spring..."
That shit made me snort out loud. I'm sorry, but it's just so pretentious sounding. I'll still read it, though.
And now that I've read it... I liked it, but I'm kind of embarrassed that I liked it. You know what I mean?
That shit made me snort out loud. I'm sorry, but it's just so pretentious sounding. I'll still read it, though.
And now that I've read it... I liked it, but I'm kind of embarrassed that I liked it. You know what I mean?
September 5, 2012
I would like to suggest that "Women's Fantasy" become a new genre, because that's exactly what you get with Kaye's second book, West of Want in her Hearts of the Anemoi series. The hero, Zephyros, god of the West Wind and Spring, and his human heroine, Ella steamed up the atmosphere even more than he himself could; boat accident and all! Which is why Zeph ultimately sticks around once he regretfully figures out that Ella's sailboat fell victim to his wind storm tantrum at sea. Yep, he can heal her and that's exactly what he intends to do, once he properly introduces his gorgeous human form to her. (Not a bad way to wake up, finding a seriously hot guy waiting for you). Okay, so it's a little far fetched and after only a short time, their "insta-love" was pretty convenient, but since this IS a fantasy, and let's face it, all paranormal is, just go with it because it's oh, so HOT!
Right off the bat however, our happy couple discover they have another problem and he is, Eurus, Zeph's estranged brother and god of the East Wind. He is seriously dead set on breaking any happiness Zeph has found and Zeph realizes quickly, Ella isn't safe. (Not good news for the newly infatuated love birds). Fortunately, he can protect her against his brother's maliciousness but his own fears of betrayal that have been branded on his soul is an entirely different obstacle he must overcome.
This is well written story about two vulnerable, heart-broken characters and although it's somewhat predictable, Kaye's male protagonist is a sensitive hero who has been abandoned and deceived by everyone he has ever loved. Admittedly, I typically prefer alpha males but Zeph's vulerability and brokenness made me want to root for him. His gentle, sensitive side, made me swoon even more once he proved he wasn't afraid to kick a little tail when needed. Ella is a multifaceted character with a heartbreaking past of her own as her parents died when she was relatively young, her ex-husband betrayed her, and her twin brother, who was also her best friend, is recently deceased. Because of her tragic life and finding herself alone with no one, you just couldn't help but want things to work out for her, too. Both characters were full of depth, personality, and passion. They have been wronged in the past and trust isn't easy for either of them and they must overcome their fears yet learn to trust each other in order to find love.
As this story comes to an end there is an array of twists and turns and even a few surprises along with an epilogue that is wonderfully fulfilling. So, bottom line, if you love a good paranormal/fantasy filled with tons of steamy scenes AND a self depricating, yet charming and even chivalrous beta-hero, you will be extremely happy you picked up this book! Kaye has produced another winner in her Hearts of the Anemoi series, (which are also stand alones), and I for one am glad she's not quite finished.
Right off the bat however, our happy couple discover they have another problem and he is, Eurus, Zeph's estranged brother and god of the East Wind. He is seriously dead set on breaking any happiness Zeph has found and Zeph realizes quickly, Ella isn't safe. (Not good news for the newly infatuated love birds). Fortunately, he can protect her against his brother's maliciousness but his own fears of betrayal that have been branded on his soul is an entirely different obstacle he must overcome.
This is well written story about two vulnerable, heart-broken characters and although it's somewhat predictable, Kaye's male protagonist is a sensitive hero who has been abandoned and deceived by everyone he has ever loved. Admittedly, I typically prefer alpha males but Zeph's vulerability and brokenness made me want to root for him. His gentle, sensitive side, made me swoon even more once he proved he wasn't afraid to kick a little tail when needed. Ella is a multifaceted character with a heartbreaking past of her own as her parents died when she was relatively young, her ex-husband betrayed her, and her twin brother, who was also her best friend, is recently deceased. Because of her tragic life and finding herself alone with no one, you just couldn't help but want things to work out for her, too. Both characters were full of depth, personality, and passion. They have been wronged in the past and trust isn't easy for either of them and they must overcome their fears yet learn to trust each other in order to find love.
As this story comes to an end there is an array of twists and turns and even a few surprises along with an epilogue that is wonderfully fulfilling. So, bottom line, if you love a good paranormal/fantasy filled with tons of steamy scenes AND a self depricating, yet charming and even chivalrous beta-hero, you will be extremely happy you picked up this book! Kaye has produced another winner in her Hearts of the Anemoi series, (which are also stand alones), and I for one am glad she's not quite finished.
September 16, 2019
Life is too short to keep reading books that don’t hold your interest. I got to 65% before I DNFd and I can’t really say what was actually wrong with it other than I was bored. Cool concept around gods and mythology but that was the only interesting thing about it.
Our hero is the god of the West winds and in a fit of anger/despair creates a storm so bad that our heroine (who was out sailing) almost dies for which he feels he owes her a debt. When she recovers he is drawn to her and ends up revealing his godhood to her when he heals her. Then there is attraction and a series of unfortunate events that follow.
This was just a bit meh and boring for me. The heroine totally accepted his godhood with minimal freaking out which yet again added to the meh-ness of it all. If by half way I don’t care how it’s going to end then I know it’s definitely time to move onto the next book.
Our hero is the god of the West winds and in a fit of anger/despair creates a storm so bad that our heroine (who was out sailing) almost dies for which he feels he owes her a debt. When she recovers he is drawn to her and ends up revealing his godhood to her when he heals her. Then there is attraction and a series of unfortunate events that follow.
This was just a bit meh and boring for me. The heroine totally accepted his godhood with minimal freaking out which yet again added to the meh-ness of it all. If by half way I don’t care how it’s going to end then I know it’s definitely time to move onto the next book.
December 13, 2011
Guys, you're not going to believe how awesome this book turned out. Zeph is hotness personified and I love that Laura takes readers deeper into the world of the Anemoi. My favorite read of the year so far!
July 18, 2012
I loved the first book in this series, North of Need (review here) and was so incredibly excited to get my hands on West of Want. When we enter the world of West of Want we are following Zephyros and Ella. Zephyros is the Supreme God of the West Wind and Spring and has never been lucky when it comes to love. He has been burned numerous times and when we meet him in this book he is in the middle of creating a storm fueled by his grief. His story was heartbreaking and my heart went out to him because of his painful past. Ella was not much better off than him though. Her twin brother just died and she has no real family to speak of. The two of them are so lost and they recognize that in one another. Especially Ella when she says to Zeph:
“Ella twisted her lips and studied him. “I just…when I look into your eyes, I see something there that reminds me of myself.”
While Ella tries to work through her pain, Zeph likes to wallow in his and does not always make it easy for Ella to get through to him. He is talking to Boreas at one point when Boreas says:
“I have never known someone who tormented himself as much as you. Everyone makes mistakes, but not everyone shoulders them like Atlas carrying around the weight of the world. Not everyone bleeds for them.”
That pretty much sums up how Zeph is acting for quite a bit of this book. He does not give himself credit for anything and does not feel like he deserves to be happy again. He has been broken by his past loves and his brother. Watching him go through the journey of trying to find happiness in this book was very sweet. While trying to decide what she wants Ella slowly brings Zeph back to life and strives to prove to him that not every road leads to betrayal.
Laura excels at writing tender moments. This book is filled with so many of them, but my favorite was this one coming from Zeph:
“There’s just me.” He kissed her ear. “And you.” Her eyelid. “In this moment.” Her nose. “There’s just this lost soul.” His lips lingered over the corner of her mouth. “Who wants the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen.”
The romance in this book is intense and it is almost an insta-love, but I thought it worked. These two have such big holes in their hearts and are searching for something to fill that void. They found what they were looking for in one another. There are definitely obstacles in their way and things they have to overcome, but the romance really is the main focus. There was one point towards the end that I thought everything was leading towards a resolution, but Laura did save one final twist and I loved that.
West of Want is a wonderful escape into a enchanted world that I loved being a part of. Laura delivers a heartfelt romance with a touch of magic that had me captivated from beginning to end. I cannot wait for the next book, South of Surrender, because it centers around Chrysander. He is funny, sarcastic and has great banter with the guys. While he is known as the carefree one of the group I am sure he is hiding something and I am eager to get to know him better. I highly recommend checking out this series if you have not already!
“Ella twisted her lips and studied him. “I just…when I look into your eyes, I see something there that reminds me of myself.”
While Ella tries to work through her pain, Zeph likes to wallow in his and does not always make it easy for Ella to get through to him. He is talking to Boreas at one point when Boreas says:
“I have never known someone who tormented himself as much as you. Everyone makes mistakes, but not everyone shoulders them like Atlas carrying around the weight of the world. Not everyone bleeds for them.”
That pretty much sums up how Zeph is acting for quite a bit of this book. He does not give himself credit for anything and does not feel like he deserves to be happy again. He has been broken by his past loves and his brother. Watching him go through the journey of trying to find happiness in this book was very sweet. While trying to decide what she wants Ella slowly brings Zeph back to life and strives to prove to him that not every road leads to betrayal.
Laura excels at writing tender moments. This book is filled with so many of them, but my favorite was this one coming from Zeph:
“There’s just me.” He kissed her ear. “And you.” Her eyelid. “In this moment.” Her nose. “There’s just this lost soul.” His lips lingered over the corner of her mouth. “Who wants the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen.”
The romance in this book is intense and it is almost an insta-love, but I thought it worked. These two have such big holes in their hearts and are searching for something to fill that void. They found what they were looking for in one another. There are definitely obstacles in their way and things they have to overcome, but the romance really is the main focus. There was one point towards the end that I thought everything was leading towards a resolution, but Laura did save one final twist and I loved that.
West of Want is a wonderful escape into a enchanted world that I loved being a part of. Laura delivers a heartfelt romance with a touch of magic that had me captivated from beginning to end. I cannot wait for the next book, South of Surrender, because it centers around Chrysander. He is funny, sarcastic and has great banter with the guys. While he is known as the carefree one of the group I am sure he is hiding something and I am eager to get to know him better. I highly recommend checking out this series if you have not already!
July 26, 2012
With her believable characters, touching romances, and sizzling heat, Laura Kaye continues be a favorite author of mine. I can always count on Ms Kaye’s books for a touching romance story that I fully enjoy. West of Want is the second book in The Hearts of Anemoi series, and I am an official fan of this paranormal/mythological romance series.
The setting and background of this series is intriguing. The Anemoi are based in mythology and bring the paranormal/fantasy element into the series. The Anemoi are part of Greek mythology, but they are not part of the main pantheon (Zeus, Hera, etc). With being lesser-known myths (at least to me), the anemoi are refreshingly different for a paranormal series, and well-written, unique characters are not always easy to find.
The male protagonist in West of Want is Zephyros, the God of the West Wind and of Spring. Zephyros has been betrayed throughout his whole life and he struggles with the burdens of his emotional scars and hurts. His brother, Eurus, the God of the West Wind, adds to Zeph’s misery by blaming Zephyros for his own hurts. When the story begins, Zephyros is at an all time low, he can’t take much more hurt, and unwittingly places Ella in danger with his emotional outburst that results in a heavy storm. Feeling guilty that he caused a human harm, Zephyros determines to help and heal Ella, but he is drawn to this woman and the thought of leaving her is unsettling.
Ella is a woman who has her own hurts. She was betrayed herself and she is grieving the loss of her brother. When Zephyros comes into her life, Ella is also at a low point in her life. Even though the pair have completely different lives and upbringings, they understand each other’s hurts. When Ella learns who Zephyros truly is, she is surprised, but she handles the situation well. This couples biggest challenge is trust, both are hesitant to open up. They go through some difficult back and forth feelings and when Zeph’s brother decides to make trouble, their relationship may be decidedly over before it even really begins.
Zephyros and Ella’s relationship has plenty of obstacles, but they are a couple that belong together. I enjoyed their story and was happily surprised by the ending. West of Want reinforced for me why I love Laura Kaye’s writing so much, her romances are believable. Even with mythology and paranormal beings, the characters have realistic flaws and idiosyncrasies that are easy to identify with and understand.
In West of Want, readers learn more about the Anemoi and their role in mythology. A few other Anemoi make appearances, and I really enjoyed getting to know more of these characters. I am already a big fan of Chrysander and am looking forward to his book (hint hint Ms Kaye!)
The setting and background of this series is intriguing. The Anemoi are based in mythology and bring the paranormal/fantasy element into the series. The Anemoi are part of Greek mythology, but they are not part of the main pantheon (Zeus, Hera, etc). With being lesser-known myths (at least to me), the anemoi are refreshingly different for a paranormal series, and well-written, unique characters are not always easy to find.
The male protagonist in West of Want is Zephyros, the God of the West Wind and of Spring. Zephyros has been betrayed throughout his whole life and he struggles with the burdens of his emotional scars and hurts. His brother, Eurus, the God of the West Wind, adds to Zeph’s misery by blaming Zephyros for his own hurts. When the story begins, Zephyros is at an all time low, he can’t take much more hurt, and unwittingly places Ella in danger with his emotional outburst that results in a heavy storm. Feeling guilty that he caused a human harm, Zephyros determines to help and heal Ella, but he is drawn to this woman and the thought of leaving her is unsettling.
Ella is a woman who has her own hurts. She was betrayed herself and she is grieving the loss of her brother. When Zephyros comes into her life, Ella is also at a low point in her life. Even though the pair have completely different lives and upbringings, they understand each other’s hurts. When Ella learns who Zephyros truly is, she is surprised, but she handles the situation well. This couples biggest challenge is trust, both are hesitant to open up. They go through some difficult back and forth feelings and when Zeph’s brother decides to make trouble, their relationship may be decidedly over before it even really begins.
Zephyros and Ella’s relationship has plenty of obstacles, but they are a couple that belong together. I enjoyed their story and was happily surprised by the ending. West of Want reinforced for me why I love Laura Kaye’s writing so much, her romances are believable. Even with mythology and paranormal beings, the characters have realistic flaws and idiosyncrasies that are easy to identify with and understand.
In West of Want, readers learn more about the Anemoi and their role in mythology. A few other Anemoi make appearances, and I really enjoyed getting to know more of these characters. I am already a big fan of Chrysander and am looking forward to his book (hint hint Ms Kaye!)
July 7, 2012
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy
Hearts of the Anemoi is a new paranormal romance series built around seasonal mythology (gods of winter, spring etc). It’s a great springboard for a series, sadly, WEST OF WANT was a really sub par paranormal romance that included just about everything that I dislike about the genre.
The two lead characters are completely flat and two dimensional. They don’t have personalities or even really distinguishing characteristics. They were each burned by love in the past, but apart from some weepy moments where they unload their woe-is-me histories, it didn’t really matter. As a reader, I had to sit through this twice, once in internal thoughts and then again when spoke up. Very tedious.
The worst thing though was the insta-love. This may be the most glaring example I’ve read in years. He almost drowns her with his I-can’t-control-my-emotions storm, then out of guilt, secretly stalks her in the hospital and follows her home. She wakes and finds him sleeping in her room. That same day, his brother curses her with clumsiness and the only way to remove the curse is with sexy shower time. They are pretty much in love at this point, and start declaring it a few pages later. I have no idea why. They barely spoke about anything significant, and even the attraction came out of nowhere.
WEST OF WANT left me wanting big time. Flat characters, cliched plot, and a DOA romance. Stick with Kenyon, Showalter, and Ione for good paranormal romance. The third book in the Hearts of the Anemoi series, SOUTH OF SURRENDER, will be out on December 11, 2012 from Entangled and features Chrysander Notos, Supreme God of the South Wind and Summer.
Sexual Content:
A few graphic sex scenes
Hearts of the Anemoi is a new paranormal romance series built around seasonal mythology (gods of winter, spring etc). It’s a great springboard for a series, sadly, WEST OF WANT was a really sub par paranormal romance that included just about everything that I dislike about the genre.
The two lead characters are completely flat and two dimensional. They don’t have personalities or even really distinguishing characteristics. They were each burned by love in the past, but apart from some weepy moments where they unload their woe-is-me histories, it didn’t really matter. As a reader, I had to sit through this twice, once in internal thoughts and then again when spoke up. Very tedious.
The worst thing though was the insta-love. This may be the most glaring example I’ve read in years. He almost drowns her with his I-can’t-control-my-emotions storm, then out of guilt, secretly stalks her in the hospital and follows her home. She wakes and finds him sleeping in her room. That same day, his brother curses her with clumsiness and the only way to remove the curse is with sexy shower time. They are pretty much in love at this point, and start declaring it a few pages later. I have no idea why. They barely spoke about anything significant, and even the attraction came out of nowhere.
WEST OF WANT left me wanting big time. Flat characters, cliched plot, and a DOA romance. Stick with Kenyon, Showalter, and Ione for good paranormal romance. The third book in the Hearts of the Anemoi series, SOUTH OF SURRENDER, will be out on December 11, 2012 from Entangled and features Chrysander Notos, Supreme God of the South Wind and Summer.
Sexual Content:
A few graphic sex scenes
October 14, 2012
I loved the mythological corollaries. Ella and Zeph were interesting and the story was paced well. Although I enjoyed North of Need more, this was a good story.
The only point of the story that I didn't care was the excessive use of 'Jesus' as an expletive replacement. 19 in all throughout the story. It was off-putting because of repetitive use.
Overall, a quick and easy read.
The only point of the story that I didn't care was the excessive use of 'Jesus' as an expletive replacement. 19 in all throughout the story. It was off-putting because of repetitive use.
Overall, a quick and easy read.
May 12, 2017
Love, love, love this series. Cannot wait for the next book.
January 3, 2020
**My thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC, for providing me with a free copy for an honest review**
This is a fairly quick read once you get into it, however life got in my way so i had to put in down for a while which vexed me greatly.
Zeph is a character who shoulders his burdens and does not trust as easily as he once did, not has been burned a few too many times and had his heart broken. His brother Eurus is also a nasty character for sure.
Marcella (Ella) is the last of her family and is coping after the death of her twin brother. Meeting Zeph after he has a fit of temper creating a storm changes both of their lives. Both feel attracted to each other, but as both have been burned before, they are struggling with their trust issues and honesty is very important.
We get to see a little of Owen Winters in this book and we get to see a few more of Zephs brothers and their father.
I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading book three.
This is a fairly quick read once you get into it, however life got in my way so i had to put in down for a while which vexed me greatly.
Zeph is a character who shoulders his burdens and does not trust as easily as he once did, not has been burned a few too many times and had his heart broken. His brother Eurus is also a nasty character for sure.
Marcella (Ella) is the last of her family and is coping after the death of her twin brother. Meeting Zeph after he has a fit of temper creating a storm changes both of their lives. Both feel attracted to each other, but as both have been burned before, they are struggling with their trust issues and honesty is very important.
We get to see a little of Owen Winters in this book and we get to see a few more of Zephs brothers and their father.
I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading book three.
March 21, 2020
The saga of the Anemoi continues in West of Want, and things take a decidedly more serious turn than in North of Need. First, western wind god Zephyros lets his emotions get the better of him, creating the storm that nearly kills sailor Ella Raines. Was she the only person caught out in the storm? Wasn't there anyone else Zephyros should have saved too, if he was doing it because the storm was his fault?
Zephyros has been rejected so many times he's become paranoid to the extreme, and this leads him to reject Ella, thinking she's working with his evil brother. Instead, his brother nearly kills Ella, and it's only the intervention of Owen (from North of Need) that keeps Ella alive.
The mythology is clever, and I like the idea of the gods of the winds battling each other, but ultimately this book falls flat.
Zephyros has been rejected so many times he's become paranoid to the extreme, and this leads him to reject Ella, thinking she's working with his evil brother. Instead, his brother nearly kills Ella, and it's only the intervention of Owen (from North of Need) that keeps Ella alive.
The mythology is clever, and I like the idea of the gods of the winds battling each other, but ultimately this book falls flat.
July 7, 2012
ORIGINAL POST: WEST OF WANT, Mars Comes in Like a Lion
West of Want
Hearts of the Anemoi, Book Two
Laura Kaye
Paperback 400 pages, e-book
7/10/12 Entangled Publishing
Received via publisher with no expectation other than a fair review. No remuneration exchanged and, except as noted all opinions are my own.
Laura always finds a way to reach into the heart of a story and bring it to life. She gives her characters a full range of emotions and personalities and here puts in just the right amount of plot complexities.
While fairly vanilla, the sex is passionate with respect being a very important feature. It's very realistic and exciting, even without handcuffs. Vanilla is a great flavor when made with good ingredients.
I liked that the magic used has a cost although the Seasonal Gods' father is an example of very poor parenting skills. I wanted to flog dear old dad.
The male love interest in this story is Zephyros Mauritius, and as it says above he is the high god of the westerlies and spring. But, he is, like Spring very sensitive. He's emotional and caring. When he's ticked off though he can swamp your sailboat but he has a tendency to feel guilty about things.
Ella is a little less developed although we see she is thoughtful and intelligent. Her passion is sailing and she is a bit lost due to her brother's death. But, after the freaking out period of learning about the Anemoi she shows some decent resilience.
Laura introduces a hot, new character in here, Chrysander. You are going to really enjoy meeting this compassionate male. And, Laura informs us a bit more about the hierarchy of these elemental gods and their powers.
I can highly recommend WEST OF WANT to lovers of Steamy Romance. There are some supernatural elements but it's the tory that's important. Gods are people too.
JULY 11 we'll be kicking off the WEST OF WANT blog tour with a giveaway at ,a href="http://fangswandsandfairydust.com&quo..., Wands and Fairy Dust. You'll definitely want to stop by for that AND the Hot Jocks Giveaway Hop!
West of Want
Hearts of the Anemoi, Book Two
Laura Kaye
Paperback 400 pages, e-book
7/10/12 Entangled Publishing
Received via publisher with no expectation other than a fair review. No remuneration exchanged and, except as noted all opinions are my own.
Betrayal is all he's ever known, but in her, he'll find a love strong enough to be trusted...
When Marcella Raines' twin brother dies, she honors his request to be buried at sea, never expecting the violent storm that swamps her boat. Though she's gravely injured--and still emotionally damaged from her recent divorce--Ella fights to survive.
Zephyros Martius is the Supreme God of the West Wind and Spring, but being the strongest Anemoi hasn't protected him from betrayal and loss. Worse, he's sure his brother Eurus is behind it. When Zeph's heartbreak whips up a storm that shipwrecks a human, his guilt forces him to save her.
Ella is drawn to the vulnerability Zeph hides beneath his otherworldly masculinity and ancient blue eyes. And her honesty, empathy, and unique, calming influence leave Zeph wanting...everything. When Eurus threatens Ella, she and Zeph struggle to let go of the past, defend their future, and embrace what they most want--a love that can be trusted.
http://laurakayeauthor.com
Laura always finds a way to reach into the heart of a story and bring it to life. She gives her characters a full range of emotions and personalities and here puts in just the right amount of plot complexities.
While fairly vanilla, the sex is passionate with respect being a very important feature. It's very realistic and exciting, even without handcuffs. Vanilla is a great flavor when made with good ingredients.
I liked that the magic used has a cost although the Seasonal Gods' father is an example of very poor parenting skills. I wanted to flog dear old dad.
The male love interest in this story is Zephyros Mauritius, and as it says above he is the high god of the westerlies and spring. But, he is, like Spring very sensitive. He's emotional and caring. When he's ticked off though he can swamp your sailboat but he has a tendency to feel guilty about things.
Ella is a little less developed although we see she is thoughtful and intelligent. Her passion is sailing and she is a bit lost due to her brother's death. But, after the freaking out period of learning about the Anemoi she shows some decent resilience.
Laura introduces a hot, new character in here, Chrysander. You are going to really enjoy meeting this compassionate male. And, Laura informs us a bit more about the hierarchy of these elemental gods and their powers.
I can highly recommend WEST OF WANT to lovers of Steamy Romance. There are some supernatural elements but it's the tory that's important. Gods are people too.
JULY 11 we'll be kicking off the WEST OF WANT blog tour with a giveaway at ,a href="http://fangswandsandfairydust.com&quo..., Wands and Fairy Dust. You'll definitely want to stop by for that AND the Hot Jocks Giveaway Hop!
July 16, 2012
See the full review, with Memorable Quotes and Recommended Reads on GraveTells: http://gravetells.com/2012/07/16/arc-...
(live July 16th)
Zephyros is the Supreme God of the West Wind, Guardian of Spring, and one of the four Cardinal Anemoi. If you read North of Need and remember Father-of-Time-resembling Boreas, Zeph is his brother. No minor deity here, and his power alone is something to admire. Kind and passionate, Zeph is the kind of man who loves with all his soul, even when he thinks it might end in heartache. He is both gentle and fierce, and so accustomed to hurt and betrayal that he lives a stark, solitary existence... until he meets Ella, that is.
Ella is a sweetheart who has lost everyone she ever cared about and just wants to make a positive difference where ever she can. She doesn't have any delusions of grandeur. Wholesome and reserved, determined and enthusiastic, Ella is the perfect match for Zeph. And boy do they have chemistry!
There are more private moments between Ella and Zeph than we got to see between Owen and Megan, so all you PNR fans will be happy to know that, and the scenes never get boring or repetitive. Laura Kaye writes extremely strong character relationships, makes you really feel their passion and experience their energy, and the first time Ella and Zeph get together? Gold. Pure hot, steamy, sweaty gold!
I practically bawled my way through North of Need, so the bar was set pretty high for this one. While i wasn't as blown away emotionally as i was with Owen's book, West of Want had some serious heart and just when I thought things were starting to get formulaic, the plot sprinted off in a different direction. I don't think we've seen the end of the non-romance portion of this story arc just yet.
Laura Kaye either has a giant stash of super secret sauce or is simply a master at her craft, because just about every book I've read from her to-date has been a homerun, the Hearts of the Anemoi stories especially so. The characters have depth, the plots are compelling, and the sexual tension is nearly unmatched. Not many authors can take a couple who has never met before and have them itching to jump each others bones within a few days so effectively that you feel more eager than they do.
This second installment in the Hearts of the Anemoi brings back some old friends, and gives us glimpse into the drama and family ties between the other gods. In true Laura Kaye fashion, all the characters are unique and entertaining. If i wasn't already hooked on this series, meeting Chrysander would definitely prime my interest in the sunny, aggressive Supreme God of the South Winds. West of Want is a GraveTells must read!
@~~~ Did you enjoy this review? Rate it up on Amazon! ~~~@
*Review copy provided by author. No compensation was received for this review.
(live July 16th)
Zephyros is the Supreme God of the West Wind, Guardian of Spring, and one of the four Cardinal Anemoi. If you read North of Need and remember Father-of-Time-resembling Boreas, Zeph is his brother. No minor deity here, and his power alone is something to admire. Kind and passionate, Zeph is the kind of man who loves with all his soul, even when he thinks it might end in heartache. He is both gentle and fierce, and so accustomed to hurt and betrayal that he lives a stark, solitary existence... until he meets Ella, that is.
Ella is a sweetheart who has lost everyone she ever cared about and just wants to make a positive difference where ever she can. She doesn't have any delusions of grandeur. Wholesome and reserved, determined and enthusiastic, Ella is the perfect match for Zeph. And boy do they have chemistry!
There are more private moments between Ella and Zeph than we got to see between Owen and Megan, so all you PNR fans will be happy to know that, and the scenes never get boring or repetitive. Laura Kaye writes extremely strong character relationships, makes you really feel their passion and experience their energy, and the first time Ella and Zeph get together? Gold. Pure hot, steamy, sweaty gold!
I practically bawled my way through North of Need, so the bar was set pretty high for this one. While i wasn't as blown away emotionally as i was with Owen's book, West of Want had some serious heart and just when I thought things were starting to get formulaic, the plot sprinted off in a different direction. I don't think we've seen the end of the non-romance portion of this story arc just yet.
Laura Kaye either has a giant stash of super secret sauce or is simply a master at her craft, because just about every book I've read from her to-date has been a homerun, the Hearts of the Anemoi stories especially so. The characters have depth, the plots are compelling, and the sexual tension is nearly unmatched. Not many authors can take a couple who has never met before and have them itching to jump each others bones within a few days so effectively that you feel more eager than they do.
This second installment in the Hearts of the Anemoi brings back some old friends, and gives us glimpse into the drama and family ties between the other gods. In true Laura Kaye fashion, all the characters are unique and entertaining. If i wasn't already hooked on this series, meeting Chrysander would definitely prime my interest in the sunny, aggressive Supreme God of the South Winds. West of Want is a GraveTells must read!
@~~~ Did you enjoy this review? Rate it up on Amazon! ~~~@
*Review copy provided by author. No compensation was received for this review.
August 14, 2012
Review also posted at Under The Covers Book Blog
Ms. Kaye surprised me with this brilliant love story. Though I missed North of Need, I feel like I did not miss a thing. This book is well written with full background details and well developed characters. I actually was doubtful at first but as circumstances as they are, I took a chance. I’m glad I did as now I have another series and author to follow.
Ms. Kaye starts out the book with a bit of suspense that kept me turning the pages nonstop. And the ongoing story of love, betrayal, family drama with the background of Greek mythology kept me interested throughout the book.
Zephyros Martius, Supreme God of the West Wind Guardian of Spring and one if the four Cardinal Anemoi had nothing but heart ache in the past but not without doubt that a few were brought on by his jealous brother Eurus, Supreme God of the East Wind and Harbinger of Misfortune. And yes, he can bring misfortune among other things. After another heart ache, Zeph took his frustrations out by storming through the seas. Unfortunately, he was not by himself and unintentionally bumps into a 32 feet True Blue. An encounter that will change him forever.
Marcella Raines is not without a painful past. She had recently lost her twin brother and a failed marriage before that. But hands down to this heroine, she’s not one to fold over to hardship. In the midst of chaos, her response was "Is that all you got? Well, fuck you. Fuck you and the cloud you blew in on!..." and after all that chaos she still got up for more.
Zeph was a very emotional hero, though he’s a powerful God, he’s not one to maintain his emotions and this just got him in all kinds of trouble. He's not my favorite hero but he is perfect for Ella. Because of their similar past, they complimented and understood each other. And Zeph's instant attraction and obsession with Ella was definitely romantic. But what I love most was the interaction of all the Gods in this book. Their interactions were full of drama as expected from the Greek Gods. Overall, the romance was great, H/h were great, sub-characters were great and story was great. Another great read.
*Review copy provided by publisher
January 22, 2015
If I ignored the plotholes, West of Want is pretty good. But I can't, so it's just okay. This time we're following Zephyros, the god of Spring, as he finds his one true love in Ella. Ella has taken her sailboat out to spread her twin's ashes when a storm hits. It's no ordinary storm. It's actually Zeph is his elemental form, and he's quite upset. The storm is raging and Ella is tossed from her boat. Of course, Zeph is drawn to her and rescues her. After getting her to the hospital, he sticks around to make sure she's okay, but there's something else keeping him in the human realm with this woman.
In addition to the romance, West of Want also has more plot than the first book. Zeph and his brother Eurus do not get along at all, and it's causing some major upheaving. Eurus stole Zeph's wife and had a child with her, whom he wants to get placed as heir of the west in place of Zeph. That is, unless Zeph can get an heir within the next week or so. Well, Ella is infertile, but Zeph wants her anyway! But then things happen and he believes she's in cahoots with his brother, and blah blah blah.
West of Want had a few moments that made me go huh? First of all, in the beginning Zeph feels really responsible for Ella getting hurt on her boat. But being a wind god, hasn't he caused many storms before? And don't people die in storms all the time? So why all of a sudden does he feel someone dying during one of his storms and has to rescue them? I highly doubt he attempts to save everyone who gets caught in his storms, or else, just don't cause huge storms! Then there's a scene of Elle and Zeph out for dinner, he eats something that's SOOO hot that he has to turn into his elemental form to heal. Seriously? That sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen, if crab dip is served so hot it nearly burns a god to death. This wouldn't be such a big deal, except it's the catalyst to the inevitable temporary break up.
So, West of Want was okay. The plot-holes were really distracting, and I don't feel like the romance was all that well developed. All in all, they probably spend like one day together total, mostly just having sex or apologizing to each other. Not really the kind of romance I want to read about.
Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.
In addition to the romance, West of Want also has more plot than the first book. Zeph and his brother Eurus do not get along at all, and it's causing some major upheaving. Eurus stole Zeph's wife and had a child with her, whom he wants to get placed as heir of the west in place of Zeph. That is, unless Zeph can get an heir within the next week or so. Well, Ella is infertile, but Zeph wants her anyway! But then things happen and he believes she's in cahoots with his brother, and blah blah blah.
West of Want had a few moments that made me go huh? First of all, in the beginning Zeph feels really responsible for Ella getting hurt on her boat. But being a wind god, hasn't he caused many storms before? And don't people die in storms all the time? So why all of a sudden does he feel someone dying during one of his storms and has to rescue them? I highly doubt he attempts to save everyone who gets caught in his storms, or else, just don't cause huge storms! Then there's a scene of Elle and Zeph out for dinner, he eats something that's SOOO hot that he has to turn into his elemental form to heal. Seriously? That sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen, if crab dip is served so hot it nearly burns a god to death. This wouldn't be such a big deal, except it's the catalyst to the inevitable temporary break up.
So, West of Want was okay. The plot-holes were really distracting, and I don't feel like the romance was all that well developed. All in all, they probably spend like one day together total, mostly just having sex or apologizing to each other. Not really the kind of romance I want to read about.
Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.
July 14, 2012
Delve into the Realm of Gods!
North of Need is one of my favorites! I adored Megan and Owen's story! So it was natural that I highly anticipated its sequel.
“Undeniably, there was some connection between them, and he found himself flirting with the most dangerous emotion there was—hope.” --West of Want, Laura Kaye
Zephyros Martius is a sensitive Supreme God of the West Wind and Spring. As his story unfolds you'll find out why. When he's upset, he can stir up a strong storm like no other. So, he was just blowing off steam over the water when he accidentally injures Ella Raines, who was out on her boat spreading the ashes of her twin brother.
Ella and Zeph each have endured great loss and betrayal that trust is a major issue to both of them. As their instant chemistry blossoms into something more, they must work through a mountain of obstacles...one of them being Zeph's brother, Eurus. Oh boy, does he create havoc for them! Now this is where the story really delves into the Realm of Gods. We get a more detailed view of this world than we did in North of Need. When Zeph finally tells his story to Ella, it is like he is describing a soap opera! So much drama happens in the Anemoi world! We get introduced to a few more gods, among them being Chrysander, whose story will be next in South of Surrender. He seems very interesting!
What I enjoy about this series is the subtle way it pays homage to the environment and nature, and how it is woven into the story lines. The setting of Annapolis, Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay is both perfect and beautiful for Ella and Zeph's story. Emotional, sensual, heartbreaking, and magical, West of Want proves to be a worthy addition to the Hearts of the Anemoi series.
North of Need is one of my favorites! I adored Megan and Owen's story! So it was natural that I highly anticipated its sequel.
“Undeniably, there was some connection between them, and he found himself flirting with the most dangerous emotion there was—hope.” --West of Want, Laura Kaye
Zephyros Martius is a sensitive Supreme God of the West Wind and Spring. As his story unfolds you'll find out why. When he's upset, he can stir up a strong storm like no other. So, he was just blowing off steam over the water when he accidentally injures Ella Raines, who was out on her boat spreading the ashes of her twin brother.
Ella and Zeph each have endured great loss and betrayal that trust is a major issue to both of them. As their instant chemistry blossoms into something more, they must work through a mountain of obstacles...one of them being Zeph's brother, Eurus. Oh boy, does he create havoc for them! Now this is where the story really delves into the Realm of Gods. We get a more detailed view of this world than we did in North of Need. When Zeph finally tells his story to Ella, it is like he is describing a soap opera! So much drama happens in the Anemoi world! We get introduced to a few more gods, among them being Chrysander, whose story will be next in South of Surrender. He seems very interesting!
What I enjoy about this series is the subtle way it pays homage to the environment and nature, and how it is woven into the story lines. The setting of Annapolis, Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay is both perfect and beautiful for Ella and Zeph's story. Emotional, sensual, heartbreaking, and magical, West of Want proves to be a worthy addition to the Hearts of the Anemoi series.
August 6, 2016
If you loved North of Need wait until you read West of Want. This truly introduces to the Gods of Godliness and builds on what I can forsee as being an epic clash of the titans.
As for Zephyros; well Spring has always been my favourite season, and he is the finest reason why.
Sexy, sweet and heart-wrenching, the second book in the series is filled with action, passion, pain and discoveries. Owen and Zeph have wooed me and wowed me and I’m off to see what treats Chrysander brings; judging by his input into Zeph and Ella’s story, I feel his story will be filled with heat.
As for Zephyros; well Spring has always been my favourite season, and he is the finest reason why.
Sexy, sweet and heart-wrenching, the second book in the series is filled with action, passion, pain and discoveries. Owen and Zeph have wooed me and wowed me and I’m off to see what treats Chrysander brings; judging by his input into Zeph and Ella’s story, I feel his story will be filled with heat.
June 20, 2012
Okay, okay, I'm kind of a Kenyon minion when it comes to this type of book. Was it good? Of course. As far as I've read, entangled can't publish a bad book. But I guess the adventure didn't quite catch me as much. I did love the ending, though--happy, but with sacrifice to keep it from being too Deus ex Machina.
February 25, 2012
This book is fantastic. Sexy and steamy, with absolutely life-like characters that just capture you. Zephyros is officially my favorite god!
October 11, 2020
Betrayal is all Zephyros Martius has known. When his anger puts Marcellea Raines’ life in danger he does everything he can to save her. But the more time he spends with her the more he wants to stay.
Zephyros, the Supreme God of the West Wind and Spring, has had a very rough life. Almost every person he has loved has left him for another. His story was an emotional one full of heartbreak and hope. Ella is a strong, sweet, and compassionate woman. She has lost everyone in her family and can see the loneliness eating away at Zeph just like it is her too.
While working through their relationship they are also dealing with Zeph’s brother, the East Wind Eurus, who is continuously trying to hurt Zeph. With truss being an issue for Zeph, he ends up making some major mistakes that almost costs him Ella. The ending of this book was extremely emotional as they worked through their trust issues.
This book also goes a lot deeper into the mythology of the Anemoi and how their power structure works. We see more of the main gods and some of the rules they have to abide by. I found the expansion of this world fascinating and can’t wait to learn more about it
Trigger warning:
- Infertility
- Heroines twin brother has recently died.
- Forced kiss and assault of heroine by villain (on page).
This review was originally posted at Red-Haired Ash Reads.
Zephyros, the Supreme God of the West Wind and Spring, has had a very rough life. Almost every person he has loved has left him for another. His story was an emotional one full of heartbreak and hope. Ella is a strong, sweet, and compassionate woman. She has lost everyone in her family and can see the loneliness eating away at Zeph just like it is her too.
While working through their relationship they are also dealing with Zeph’s brother, the East Wind Eurus, who is continuously trying to hurt Zeph. With truss being an issue for Zeph, he ends up making some major mistakes that almost costs him Ella. The ending of this book was extremely emotional as they worked through their trust issues.
This book also goes a lot deeper into the mythology of the Anemoi and how their power structure works. We see more of the main gods and some of the rules they have to abide by. I found the expansion of this world fascinating and can’t wait to learn more about it
Trigger warning:
- Infertility
- Heroines twin brother has recently died.
- Forced kiss and assault of heroine by villain (on page).
This review was originally posted at Red-Haired Ash Reads.
September 28, 2012
This Dual Review was originally posted on Book Lovers Inc
Marlene: North of Need was one of those utterly marvelous stories that comes along once in a “blue moon”, a story that was absolutely magical. When West of Want came out, I was hoping for another fantastic experience, but unfortunately the lightning wasn’t captured in the bottle the second time around. West of Want is pretty good, but it just isn’t up to the high bar set by North of Need.
Stella: *sighs* Yes, I pretty much agree Marlene. For the past couple of years I haven’t been a big PNR fan as I find it way too clichéd nowadays, but North of Need was such a breath of fresh air, I loved how unique Owen was, his innocent discovery of the world (and ice creams!), I just loved their story! So naturally I started West of Want with high expectations: I wanted the same original and entertaining story with memorable and unique characters I got used to in North of Need, but West of Want fell short on both accounts.
Marlene: One of the issues that I had with the story from the very beginning was “what the hell was wrong with Zeph?” We never do get complete clarity on why he caused the storm that starts off the story. I often found myself floundering in the backstory of this book. All of Zeph’s and Ella’s problems with trusting each other have to do with their past bad relationships, but we don’t get a whole lot of info on what happened. Ella’s backstory is fairly clear, but Zeph, not so much. And his family feud with Eurus, OMG. There’s a whole other novel’s worth of stuff in what’s wrong with Eurus.
Stella: Yes, sadly I felt that the plot of West of Want was all over the place. While I enjoy mythological references (hello, history/mythology junkie here!), I felt that there was too much crammed into West of Want. We got the whole run down on Zeph’s every paramour, family dysfunctions among many other things, one of them namely the main storyline...
While I was fairly engrossed in Zeph and Ella’s story they weren’t the memorable and unique characters that made me wonder and ponder things long after I have turned the page. I had problems understanding (and accepting) their insta-love connection (especially on Zeph’s side, he is a god after all, has been around for millenia and I didn’t get a clear answer to why this woman, what does he see in her?).
Marlene: The ending of the story, and the convenient explanation for Zeph’s and Ella’s insta-love at the beginning, smacked way too much of deus ex machina. Although Stella, my Latin scholar friend will probably correct that to dei, since there are multiple gods involved in cleaning up the mess that Eurus causes, and more gods than just the Anemoi. Was it truly necessary to bring both the Greek and Roman pantheons in on this? Really? Either/or would have been reasonable, since the Anemoi are the Greek wind gods after all. But both? Mars and Ares?
Stella: Lol Marlene, thanks first for including a bit of Latin, it’s really a pity we don’t use this language more ;-) And second of all thanks for mentioning the combination of BOTH mythological worlds. Ares is the Greek counterpart of Mars, they are one and the same god just either perceived by the Greeks (Ares) or the Romans (Mars), so I was stumped why a Roman god (Mars) was introduced in a story which featured Greek gods (the Anemoi). I thought it was a shallow, typo-kind of mistake that an editor should have corrected. I get that they needed the names to rhyme (Mars - Marcella - March), but it still screwed with the rules of the world-building.
Marlene: That was an “off the rails” moment for me. Zeph actually refers to “Mars and his brother Ares” late in the story as sharing a “legendary masculine aggression”, but while Ares directs his towards literal war-making, Mars focuses on peace-making. However you slice and dice this, both pantheons seem to co-exist simultanously. That’s just too many gods at one time. The only author who can successfully put this many gods in one story is Neil Gaiman, and that’s not the kind of story we’re talking about here.
Stella: I’m all for re-interpreting legends and stuff, but messing with the main characteristics of gods this way is just not something I can take in stride. Mars as the peacemaker, oh yeah... *snorts*
Marlene: I’ll see your snort and raise you an eyebrow.
Stella: You’re on ;-) So anyway I found the ending, the resolution of everything way too easy and convenient, too neatly tied off.
Marlene: Exactly! Deus (or dei) ex machina. Except in this case there’s no machina, just lots and lots of dei.
Stella: Lol, perfectly said! :-D
Verdict:
Marlene: The insta-connection and insta-love was highly improbable, but I really liked Ella as a character. She may have accepted Zeph a bit (a lot) too easily, but who wouldn’t accept someone that gorgeous who could heal that much damage?
Eurus came across as much too “Bwahaha” evil, and there wasn’t enough backstory to explain why Zeph was so incredibly down on himself. He was, after all, a god. Even though the author’s writing made the story entertaining enough to carry me along, it was still a disappointment after the astonishment and wonder of North of Need.
I give West of Want 3.5 stars.
Stella: After having North of Need give back my love and hope for PNR I was very excited and looking forward to West of Want, which sadly didn't live up to the first story :-( I found it too clichéd, too generic, the typical paranormal romance. Don’t misunderstand me, West of Want wasn’t bad, but it was just ‘nice’, which after the wonder and great surprise that North of Need was, felt like a let down. Laura Kaye’s writing is still amazingly captivating, but the characters felt flat and cardboard-like. If you are a fan of paranormal romances and/or Laura Kaye you’ll enjoy West of Want, but if you are looking for something a bit different and more original (and fun) than the “six of one, half a dozen of the other” PNR stories, try North of Need instead.
I give West of Want 3.5 stars.
Marlene: North of Need was one of those utterly marvelous stories that comes along once in a “blue moon”, a story that was absolutely magical. When West of Want came out, I was hoping for another fantastic experience, but unfortunately the lightning wasn’t captured in the bottle the second time around. West of Want is pretty good, but it just isn’t up to the high bar set by North of Need.
Stella: *sighs* Yes, I pretty much agree Marlene. For the past couple of years I haven’t been a big PNR fan as I find it way too clichéd nowadays, but North of Need was such a breath of fresh air, I loved how unique Owen was, his innocent discovery of the world (and ice creams!), I just loved their story! So naturally I started West of Want with high expectations: I wanted the same original and entertaining story with memorable and unique characters I got used to in North of Need, but West of Want fell short on both accounts.
Marlene: One of the issues that I had with the story from the very beginning was “what the hell was wrong with Zeph?” We never do get complete clarity on why he caused the storm that starts off the story. I often found myself floundering in the backstory of this book. All of Zeph’s and Ella’s problems with trusting each other have to do with their past bad relationships, but we don’t get a whole lot of info on what happened. Ella’s backstory is fairly clear, but Zeph, not so much. And his family feud with Eurus, OMG. There’s a whole other novel’s worth of stuff in what’s wrong with Eurus.
Stella: Yes, sadly I felt that the plot of West of Want was all over the place. While I enjoy mythological references (hello, history/mythology junkie here!), I felt that there was too much crammed into West of Want. We got the whole run down on Zeph’s every paramour, family dysfunctions among many other things, one of them namely the main storyline...
While I was fairly engrossed in Zeph and Ella’s story they weren’t the memorable and unique characters that made me wonder and ponder things long after I have turned the page. I had problems understanding (and accepting) their insta-love connection (especially on Zeph’s side, he is a god after all, has been around for millenia and I didn’t get a clear answer to why this woman, what does he see in her?).
Marlene: The ending of the story, and the convenient explanation for Zeph’s and Ella’s insta-love at the beginning, smacked way too much of deus ex machina. Although Stella, my Latin scholar friend will probably correct that to dei, since there are multiple gods involved in cleaning up the mess that Eurus causes, and more gods than just the Anemoi. Was it truly necessary to bring both the Greek and Roman pantheons in on this? Really? Either/or would have been reasonable, since the Anemoi are the Greek wind gods after all. But both? Mars and Ares?
Stella: Lol Marlene, thanks first for including a bit of Latin, it’s really a pity we don’t use this language more ;-) And second of all thanks for mentioning the combination of BOTH mythological worlds. Ares is the Greek counterpart of Mars, they are one and the same god just either perceived by the Greeks (Ares) or the Romans (Mars), so I was stumped why a Roman god (Mars) was introduced in a story which featured Greek gods (the Anemoi). I thought it was a shallow, typo-kind of mistake that an editor should have corrected. I get that they needed the names to rhyme (Mars - Marcella - March), but it still screwed with the rules of the world-building.
Marlene: That was an “off the rails” moment for me. Zeph actually refers to “Mars and his brother Ares” late in the story as sharing a “legendary masculine aggression”, but while Ares directs his towards literal war-making, Mars focuses on peace-making. However you slice and dice this, both pantheons seem to co-exist simultanously. That’s just too many gods at one time. The only author who can successfully put this many gods in one story is Neil Gaiman, and that’s not the kind of story we’re talking about here.
Stella: I’m all for re-interpreting legends and stuff, but messing with the main characteristics of gods this way is just not something I can take in stride. Mars as the peacemaker, oh yeah... *snorts*
Marlene: I’ll see your snort and raise you an eyebrow.
Stella: You’re on ;-) So anyway I found the ending, the resolution of everything way too easy and convenient, too neatly tied off.
Marlene: Exactly! Deus (or dei) ex machina. Except in this case there’s no machina, just lots and lots of dei.
Stella: Lol, perfectly said! :-D
Verdict:
Marlene: The insta-connection and insta-love was highly improbable, but I really liked Ella as a character. She may have accepted Zeph a bit (a lot) too easily, but who wouldn’t accept someone that gorgeous who could heal that much damage?
Eurus came across as much too “Bwahaha” evil, and there wasn’t enough backstory to explain why Zeph was so incredibly down on himself. He was, after all, a god. Even though the author’s writing made the story entertaining enough to carry me along, it was still a disappointment after the astonishment and wonder of North of Need.
I give West of Want 3.5 stars.
Stella: After having North of Need give back my love and hope for PNR I was very excited and looking forward to West of Want, which sadly didn't live up to the first story :-( I found it too clichéd, too generic, the typical paranormal romance. Don’t misunderstand me, West of Want wasn’t bad, but it was just ‘nice’, which after the wonder and great surprise that North of Need was, felt like a let down. Laura Kaye’s writing is still amazingly captivating, but the characters felt flat and cardboard-like. If you are a fan of paranormal romances and/or Laura Kaye you’ll enjoy West of Want, but if you are looking for something a bit different and more original (and fun) than the “six of one, half a dozen of the other” PNR stories, try North of Need instead.
I give West of Want 3.5 stars.
November 8, 2019
West of Want is the second book in the Hearts of the Anemoi romantic fantasy series. I can’t pronounce half of these names, but that hasn’t stopped me from trying.
Zeph is the god of the West Wind and Spring. He’s a super nice guy who wears his heart on his sleeve. Throughout his life, Zeph has been betrayed and hurt repeatedly. Which is why he’s vulnerable and has such a hard time trusting. Although Zeph desperately wants to have faith and believe in Ella, he has difficulty which allows the perfect opportunity for his brother to cause problems.
Ella is a strong character and a very lovely woman. She was also betrayed by those she loved, her exhusband and ex best friend. Losing her twin brother multiplied Ella’s heartache and left her extremely lonely. She has a goodness to her that Zeph can’t resist.
Although each book centers around a specific couple, the series needs to be read in order because there is a situation regarding a bad character that is escalating and will be concluded in the fourth and final book.
In this book, we are introduced to more new characters, some I liked and others I didn’t. Zeph’s brother Eurus is an ass! I loved seeing Owen and Boreas again. We get to know Chrysander a little better, and I’m looking forward to reading his book next.
Zeph is the god of the West Wind and Spring. He’s a super nice guy who wears his heart on his sleeve. Throughout his life, Zeph has been betrayed and hurt repeatedly. Which is why he’s vulnerable and has such a hard time trusting. Although Zeph desperately wants to have faith and believe in Ella, he has difficulty which allows the perfect opportunity for his brother to cause problems.
Ella is a strong character and a very lovely woman. She was also betrayed by those she loved, her exhusband and ex best friend. Losing her twin brother multiplied Ella’s heartache and left her extremely lonely. She has a goodness to her that Zeph can’t resist.
Although each book centers around a specific couple, the series needs to be read in order because there is a situation regarding a bad character that is escalating and will be concluded in the fourth and final book.
In this book, we are introduced to more new characters, some I liked and others I didn’t. Zeph’s brother Eurus is an ass! I loved seeing Owen and Boreas again. We get to know Chrysander a little better, and I’m looking forward to reading his book next.
April 13, 2018
I enjoyed this one much more than the first one. I love the concept of these stories following the gods of the cardinal directions. In this one we meet Zephyros who has had a rough go of it. For eons. One betrayal after another has left him bitter but he still can't help but want to have a relationship. He is not meant to go it alone but he can't seem to find that one who wants to go it with him. That is until a human comes into his life because he almost kills her. Due to his good heart he has to make sure that she is going to be alright. Though, Ella feels all alone in her life she cannot help but be attracted to Zephyros. It's like his soul calls out to her to make him feel better. Through the typical getting to know yous Zephs evil younger brother is trying to ruin his life. Again.
For a book that you will have a hard time putting down you definitely need to check this one out. It has all the feels in it and that HEA we all want.
For a book that you will have a hard time putting down you definitely need to check this one out. It has all the feels in it and that HEA we all want.
July 20, 2020
Absolutely captivating
Plot spoilers alert.
I will try not to give out any plot spoilers, but the odd one may escape.
This is the continuation of the storyline the author envisioned concerning the Gods of the compass. The Anemoi deliver the seasons and have existed for millennia, their lives interwoven with the other Gods of lore.
This particular book deals with the God of the West, who's trust issues have been hard earned, and his human love who has her own issues to contend with.
The storyline is straightforward, the execution immaculate and the character development excellent.
The story will make you smile and cry. You will be angry at the unfairness and you will rejoice at the plot twist in the last couple of chapters, I know I did!
The backstory continues to build interest, Euros slowly becoming even more evil and unpredictable.
There are some sex scenes each of them appropriate and loving.
There are no potential triggers.
Plot spoilers alert.
I will try not to give out any plot spoilers, but the odd one may escape.
This is the continuation of the storyline the author envisioned concerning the Gods of the compass. The Anemoi deliver the seasons and have existed for millennia, their lives interwoven with the other Gods of lore.
This particular book deals with the God of the West, who's trust issues have been hard earned, and his human love who has her own issues to contend with.
The storyline is straightforward, the execution immaculate and the character development excellent.
The story will make you smile and cry. You will be angry at the unfairness and you will rejoice at the plot twist in the last couple of chapters, I know I did!
The backstory continues to build interest, Euros slowly becoming even more evil and unpredictable.
There are some sex scenes each of them appropriate and loving.
There are no potential triggers.
February 29, 2024
I liked this book, but I think I liked the first one more.
Ella is at sea with her brother’s ashes, when suddenly there’s a storm. She falls off her boat, and Zephyros realises that his careless behave might result in a death, so he saves Ella. He’s drawn to her, so he follows her home and plans to heal her completely. They start to get to know each other, then there are complications with Eurus.
Ella and Zephyros were fine, but there wasn’t anything that really stood out about them. I didn’t like how Eurus could do whatever he wanted and yet Zephyros had to pay for tiny mistakes in comparison.
Zephyros can control the wind, but there wasn’t really much magic in this book. When he got angry or upset, there would be a storm and that’s it.
There were some side characters mentioned, who I might have liked if they were shown more.
This book was fine, but I’m hoping the next books will be better.
Ella is at sea with her brother’s ashes, when suddenly there’s a storm. She falls off her boat, and Zephyros realises that his careless behave might result in a death, so he saves Ella. He’s drawn to her, so he follows her home and plans to heal her completely. They start to get to know each other, then there are complications with Eurus.
Ella and Zephyros were fine, but there wasn’t anything that really stood out about them. I didn’t like how Eurus could do whatever he wanted and yet Zephyros had to pay for tiny mistakes in comparison.
Zephyros can control the wind, but there wasn’t really much magic in this book. When he got angry or upset, there would be a storm and that’s it.
There were some side characters mentioned, who I might have liked if they were shown more.
This book was fine, but I’m hoping the next books will be better.
December 13, 2017
After loving the sweet holiday story that started this series, I was eager to continue with this one. While the first story concentrated on the romance with a backset of paranormal, this story went on and on about how the brothers of the Anemoi hated each other and acted very violently.
Ella and Zeph's story started out very well, but in the second half of the book the two weren't together enough to satisfy me. A cute but too short cameo with Owen (from book one) and his ice cream obsession was a welcome bit of lightness, but this book felt heavy, and I'm not rushing to book 3.
Ella and Zeph's story started out very well, but in the second half of the book the two weren't together enough to satisfy me. A cute but too short cameo with Owen (from book one) and his ice cream obsession was a welcome bit of lightness, but this book felt heavy, and I'm not rushing to book 3.
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