East of Ecstasy

Hearts of the Anemoi #4

by Laura Kaye

Alternate cover edition - ISBN 13: 9781622661282

Annalise Fallston made peace with postponing her big-city dreams to care for her ill father, but lately she’s been filled with a restlessness not even her beloved painting dispels. Worse, the colors don’t speak to her as they always have, and all her efforts produce dark, foreboding images of a dangerous man and a terrifying future.

Devlin Eston, black-souled son of the evil Anemoi Eurus, is the only one who can thwart his father’s plan to overthrow the Supreme God of Wind and Storms. But first, Dev must master the unstable powers he’s been given. Distrusted and shunned by his own divine family, he never expected to find kindness and passion in the arms of a mortal.

But Devlin’s love puts Annalise in the path of a catastrophic storm, and in the final Armageddon showdown between the Anemoi and Eurus, sacrifices will be made, hearts broken, and lives changed forever…or lost.

Genres: Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Fantasy, Mythology, Adult, Ebooks

368 pages, ebook

First published April 22, 2014

About the author

Laura 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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Reviews

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 - "With all the love in my heart, I give you the last of me" Stars...

It is with more than a little sadness that I am writing this review, not because I didn't enjoy the book, but wholly because we have reached the end of the Hearts Of The Anemoi series. Over the past couple of weeks since I started this series Laura Kaye has pulled me in, and made me fall in love with Owen, Zeph, Chris and now Devlin.....

Rough. Dangerous. Deprived.



Devlin was rage. Devlin embraced the hate. Devlin danced in the destruction of chaos.



I loved North, West and South equally but with Devlin Eston - God of the Autumn Rain aka Mr Tall, Dark and Bad News, I went to a whole other level. His story sucked me in pulled me apart, and turned me into an emotional wreck. I went through copius amounts of Tissues when reading East of Ecstasy, not just for Devlin, but for the whole group, this book is the culmination of everything that has happened in the previous 3 books, with the Gods finally coming together to try and overthrow Eurus once and for all. Devlin is one of Eurus' sons, and has suffered greatly at his hands over the years, and although on the side of the Gods in the fight against his father, has to go the extra mile to prove that he isn't in fact working for Eurus, to ultimately betray the Anemoi...

From his mired skin to his battered psyche, he felt dirty down to his very soul.

And oh my, how he has suffered, Laura had me in tears with every thought and revelation from him as the book progressed.

After a lifetime of abuse his body was primed to expect more of the same.



Anna Fallston has a big effect on Devlin and how he ultimately see's himself, she challenges him, pushes him and stands up to him, in response to his initial disdain and low opinion of her as just a 'Human', she's worthless right?....

Angelic in the purity of her colouring. Devilish in the magnetism of her feminine curves. And fierce, too.

But her belief in him, her willingness to fight beside him, and her openess about her feelings for him, give him the strength to control his powers, and the courage to fight for freedom and a life that he can be proud of.

Anna needed Devlins strength to hold her weakness, his heat to ease the chill her bones seemed to absorb...His magic and power to help her believe in and come to terms with her own.

He was her sole connection to something so magical, so special, and so much bigger than herself.



You see Anna, isn't just a mere 'Human', and like Megan, Ella and Laney, she possesses a little something Otherworldly herself.



There are so many unexpected twists and turns in East of Ecstasy, Laura manages to keep the reader on their toes throughout the whole book, but I have to say the last 20%, had me on the edge of the sofa, mopping at my eyes repeatedly, chewing my lip, demolishing my nails, and in general, an absolute freaking mess. I have read most of Ms. Kaye's work, and I can wholeheartedly say that this is the best book she has ever written. You need to read the whole series to understand why I make this claim fully. What starts off as a gentle romance with a little fantasy thrown in, gradually moves into a whole different realm (literally at points!).

Kindness is never nothing...

This series is emotional, visual, you invest yourself in the characters, the storyline, you feel their pain, their happiness and at the end you feel grief for those that were lost, the peace in the aftermath of a great battle, and the hope of new beginnings.



So Anna and Devlin, do they make it...Do Owen & Megan, Zeph & Ella and Chrys & Laney get to live happily ever after? Well that I will leave for you to find out yourselves...

Her heat settled into the crook of his neck and her arm crossed his chest. And despite the major emotional and physical ass-kicking he'd just undergone, it was the closest to heaven that he'd ever been.



Let yourself be loved. Let me love you.

ARC generously provided by Entangled in exchange for the above honest review.

**I also want to thank the wonderful Nicola Armstrong, for her help in getting my Devlin 'just right'!

[Alex (HEABookNerd) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, EAST OF ECSTASY was such an emotional conclusion to this series so have the tissues ready because Laura Kaye doesn't pull any punches and it was heartbreaking. We've had a few references to Devlin throughout the series but the rest of the Anemoi believed that Devlin was as evil and blackhearted as his father. In reality, Devlin had been trying to stop his father and protect his brothers anyway he could and he's suffered greatly for it. My heart broke for Devlin as each new part of his past was revealed and we realized how badly his self-worth had become. Devlin was such a sweetheart hiding under all his walls and I loved the way Annalise fought to protect that heart and show Devlin that he was worthy of love. This was probably the most angsty relationship of the series but so satisfying when everything works out.

The romance was absolutely beautiful but also splits a lot of time with the rest of the Anemoi's story and there's a lot of appearances by the prior couples in EAST OF ECSTASY, especially Owen and Megan from book one. Various Gods and Goddesses make frequent drop-ins and of course the epic battle between Eurus and the other Anemoi did not disappoint. I could read a ton more books in this world but Kaye gave us a very satisfying and emotional ending.

Content Warning: Devlin was severely abused by his father; parent with Alzheimer; graphic at risk pregnancy of a side character Megan, Owen's wife, goes into labor early due to stress and the baby is turned and can't come out. They're forced to perform an emergency c-section (not in a hospital) and both mother and child die. They are brought back to life by one of the Gods

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the son of the rogue god Eurus Devlin hasn't had much love from the rest of his family. All he really wants is to be able to fit in, he has worked hard to put a stop to his father's actions but Eurus has a way of controlling him and making it look like they're working together even though it is completely against Devlin's will. Devlin knows that time is running out though and it's clear that the rest of the Anemoi will need his help if they're going to have any chance of stopping Eurus's destructive plans. When he meets artist Anna Devlin finds himself immediately drawn to the beautiful human but it's when he sees her paintings that he realises she may hold the key to stopping Eurus once and for all. Can Devlin keep Anna safe and work alongside his uncles and cousin to stop his father or will they be too late?

I've been a fan of this series ever since I picked up North of Need over two years ago and I really have enjoyed each new instalment, I put off starting East of Ecstasy for ages though because I didn't want the journey to come to an end. This was a bitter sweet story for me, I loved the romance between Devlin and Anna and I loved the chance to catch up with the previous couples but there were some absolutely heartbreaking moments that I really wasn't expecting and I was moved to tears more than once. Laura Kaye did manage to end the series on a high note though and I'm so happy with the way things turned out.

I don't want to say too much about what everyone is getting up to now but I will say that if you've read the previous books you're going to love seeing everyone working together to stop Eurus. I felt so badly for Devlin seeing how little everyone trusted him, I could understand why they were wary of him because he'd pretty much been set up by Eurus for a long time now but knowing everything he had suffered trying to help the others was heartbreaking. I loved seeing Anna stand up for her man though, she isn't afraid to face off against the other gods and put them straight about things and I was cheering her along from the sidelines. Like most of the heroines in this series there is a lot more to Anna than there first appears and she has a few interesting abilities of her own that turn out to be vital in the battle they are about to fight. As much as I loved Anna it was Devlin who completely stole my heart though, he is such a sweet guy but he never sees the good in himself. It takes Anna to show him that he's worthy of affection and she really helps him come out of his shell around his family, watching them finally start to trust him and show him affection was beautiful.

East of Ecstasy is full of intense action and heart stopping scenes. It had me on the edge of my seat one moment, smiling or laughing the next and then back to stunned silence within a few more pages. I went through so many different emotions and never knew quite what Laura Kaye would throw at me next but I loved every minute of it. This was a fabulous end to the series and although I'm sad that the journey is over I'm glad I didn't miss it. If you haven't started this series yet then I'd definitely recommend checking out North of Need, it's a brilliant story and perfect for these cold winter nights.

[Ellen Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

These books tend to be a little more saccharine than I’d prefer, but overall they’re nice easy reads. A well written break from the heavier stuff.

[Angela Carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy hell, Laura Kaye, ended Hearts of the Anemoi series with a bang of emotions. The writing was stellar and the storyline was superb. I swear, this author’s writing just keeps getting better and better.

Devlin did not have a good reputation with his brothers. Associated with his father who has caused much chaos to this world, no one really trusted him. In fact, I really wasn’t sure how Ms. Kaye could turn things around for him to be likable. If you read the last installment, South of Surrender, Ms. Kaye revealed some good in Devlin. In this book, East of Ecstasy, she shows us a lot more of that good including his screwed up relationship with his father. With the help of a good heroine, Anna, gave him an unbiased trust without expectations. Fitting for a damaged hero, Anna is kind and easy to love. But wait until you find out what makes her even more worthy of our hero.

I love Devlin. Everything about him and his survival from his fathers crap kept me drawn to him. His dream of acceptance from his family and not knowing what he deserved broke my heart. He was dying to prove himself worthy to his brothers and the fact that he kept on going despite the prejudice, earned him my respects. Anna got my respects, as well. I love how kind she is and her “ability” took me by surprise. I didn’t expect her family background either, but then again, with her heritage… everything about her is all very fitting.

The brothers really come together in this novel but what amazed me is how Ms. Kaye had linked this last installment to where it had all began…North of Need. Devlin and Annalise is the main couple in this book, but Owen and Megan was also showcased in a very big way. I have no words to describe what this couple had to endure but let me just say that it was beautiful as it was heart breaking. Their story brought me to tears.

EAST OF ECSTASY was an AWESOME read!!! Ms. Kaye did an excellent job writing this book especially at the end where my heart raced, broke and then mended with a happy-ever-ending. Amazing job, Laura Kaye!

Review copy provided by publisher

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is something about a broken man that I just love- lol. Devlin is certainly broken, in more ways than one. His only family that believed in him has died, and now he feels like he must not only fight his evil father but now his uncles as well. Eurus, Devlin's father is pure evil, going so far as trying to kill one son and imprisoning the other. Hiding out in what he thinks is an old abandoned warehouse he finds Annalise, a human who has a gift of painting horrific scenes she sees while in a trance. Annalise thinks she is going insane when the man from her paintings just appears out of thin air in front of her. Devlin knows the moment he sees Anna that he wants her but knows being around her only puts her in danger from his father. When good and evil collide not everyone comes out alive.
I really hated seeing this series come to an end, to me there is one more character in this last book that could definitely have his own story. Fingers crossed that happens!!
And I loved that Devlin was not so broken at the end of the book!

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

And it all comes down to this. I have followed this series from the beginning with Owen and Megan's story that introduced the Anemoi- Greek gods who control the winds and the seasons. Each succeeding story has built on the last offering another romance and leading up to the show down with the bitter and angry Anemoi, Eurus of the East. I closed the last book with tears still streaming down my face for what the war has cost the family, but I was eager to press on for the exciting conclusion that I just knew would top everything. And let me tell you people, It. Did.

The Anemoi gods and minor gods were hit hard by the evil betrayal of one of their own and are on the ropes. They not only have to fight for their own lives and those they love, but the fate of all humanity. Eurus, God of the East Wind and Caretaker of Autumn, has grown in his evil crazed state willing to wipe out anyone and everyone in his path. No longer content to continue his tyrannous rule in his own territory, he will make a power grab for them all now that he has stolen the powerful ring of the Supreme god of Winds and Storms that controls all the winds.

There is still hope that he will fail. Eurus' son, Devlin, has taken into himself a form of powerful and unstable magic that he works to harness so he can match his sadistic father's added power and take him down before he can do more harm. Unfortunately, Devlin has to work alone because he is tainted by association with Eurus and the rest of his Anemoi family treats him with strong suspicion that he was part of the plot that got Boreas, the previous god of the North wind, killed and the others injured. Being alone and unwanted is the story of Devlin's life. The others withdrew from Eurus and leave him to his own devices. Devlin is resentful of this withdrawal that left him and his brother's unprotected from a cruel parent who treats them like possessions to be used for his own purposes instead of children. Devlin's one bid for freedom got one brother killed by their father's hand and the other imprisoned and tortured. Devlin wants revenge for all this, freedom for his brother and a small part of him wants to earn acceptance from the other Anemoi if he succeeds.

Devlin finds an empty warehouse to practice, but soon learns that it isn't an empty warehouse, but a human woman's artist studio. He doesn't have much use for humans, but this human has a gift that shows she has the blood of a god running through her veins. She is able to paint scenes of the future. Not just any scenes, but scenes involving Eurus and Devlin. He wants answers and he wants them now.

Anna Fallston is terrified when the dark man of her paintings shows up real and in the flesh as a god. He is brooding and prickly. She can sense his pain. He doesn't know how to treat people or interact. He tends to slap her away with his words and stiff body if she gets close to him or forces him to feel new and uncomfortable emotions and thoughts.

A bad incident near Anna's home leaves Devlin depleted of power and injured so he finally breaks his silence at his last point of consciousness and calls out to the other Anemoi to help even as Anna works to get him human medical attention. Devlin is back in the midst of his suspicious and slightly hostile family finding that he must prove himself, but this time he has Anna at his side. It is confusing, but she is a balm to him and settles him. He doesn't known what to do with this overload of sensations and pushes her away several times, but she welcomes him back each time.

Anna is hurt by Devlin's actions, but is determined to make him see himself clearly. He doesn't withdraw entirely though. Anna slowly and carefully makes an impression on Devlin. She sees under all the darkness that there is a desire to be a good person and a gentle guy who just needs a chance. Anna's influence helps him harness his gift and allows him to accept her touch. He hesitantly reaches out to her like he doesn't think he's good enough. Anna wants this scarred and dark man and tells him so before its too late because she can see that he'll be going into danger and he may not come back.

"I want this and I want you. Let yourself be loved. Let me love you."
Devlin wasn't deluded enough to think she was saying she loved him, but it was still the first time he could remember someone offering him love in any form so freely and without demands for anything in return. Loc 1948 Devlin and Anna from East of Ecstasy

I'm going to stop there with the summary because there are some exciting and startling scenes beginning around the halfway point both in the action plot and the romance that I don't want to spoil for others.

As I read this, I was struck by how much I enjoyed the way the author tackled the writing of a series finale. She didn't start the 'wrap-up' too soon. She let the story work through its powerful points climbing higher and higher with the tense climax peaks before the nostalgia set in for the denouement and the epilogue. There was an intro of a new couple and their story and even a few other new characters at various twists in the story. Devlin and Anna's story is not buried under all the other things that are going on and I was so glad that it got to develop and play out. All the former characters from the other books are very much in this one. All my emotions were engaged and again the cost of battle for these people is steep. I cried yet again and felt so badly for several of the characters who sustained losses. Not that there was a slaughter or that the romance of the story and series is destroyed, but the reader is very much brought low before being allowed to climb up to the light again.

Devlin is the perfect final hero. He embodies many things that I love in my heroes. He's the underdog for certain. He's the tortured, lonely, misunderstood, angry, bitter and yet loving, fiercely protective, gentle male who finally gets his chance. He is terrified when Anna accepts him as is, wants to be with him and even loves him. It's okay for him to dream of wanting her, but in his mind, he can't possibly see what she would want with him.

I love how gentle and good Anna is the perfect heroine for Devlin. She is kind and seemingly frail compared to him, but she has a backbone of steel. She gets up in his grill when she figures out that his snarling words and actions are defense mechanisms. She calls BS and shocks him out of his fears and moods. He puts himself down and won't accept that he has worth. She fought for him when he wouldn't fight for himself.

I hate saying good-bye to this series, but I love where it left things with all the Anemoi. It wrapped up nicely. I would definitely recommend this series to those who enjoy a strong blend of Greek mythology to their paranormal romance.

My thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity to read the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Shelby · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

[The BookChick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Mai Gawd!!! *Deep breath* This book took me from 0 to 180 and bounced me back again. I don't ever think I've been on such an intense roller coaster ride. Frankly, I loved every minute of it. Well...minus the tears. And gawd, were there tears. Kaye ups the ante with each successive book in the Anemoi series and boy she NOT DISAPPOINT with East of Ecstasy. The characters were real and the emotions were raw and palatable. The battle of good vs. evil rages on and we actually discuss the truth behind Devlin Eston. After reading South of Surrender I was really prone to hate Devlin's book. I was really thinking to myself, "Kaye made a mistake writing a book about him because everyone will hate him." *Bows head contritely*...I have to offer my sincerest apology because this is really and truly The. Best. Book. in the series...at least for me. Devlin's story is told in a way that it feels like unfolding petals of a flower. Each petal reveals a new dimensionality to Devlin and you love him a bit more by each revelation. Add Anna into the mix along with her unique background and how she interacts with Devlin and you have story gold. I have to warn my fellow readers that there are extremes in this book -- highs and lows. At one point I was sobbing big sloppy tears (true story) and the next I was screaming, "Ohmygawdohmygawdohmygawd" because something wonderfully breathtaking overshadowed the sadness. Serious gold!

I wholeheartedly give this book 5 Bookalicious Stars!

[Nicola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Just....wow. East of Ecstasy is an epic finale to the Hearts of the Anemoi series. EPIC. These books, particularly are those that should grace the big screen; the titanic battle between these Gods is exactly the type of film that I would adore. I visualised and felt every single emotion and I'm not just talking about the romantic aspect, which in fairness, to me, was a bi-product of the real deeper action and family dynamic filled storyline. I was put through the ringer in the best possible way. I sobbed my heart out, smiled, sighed, yelled and felt every ounce of each characters' joy and pain.



I adored Devlin and Anna; their journey is so different to Owen & Megan's, Zeph & Ella's and Chrys & Laney's. It's filled with angst, realisation and surprises and being a lover of a dark tormented hero and a strong fearless lady, they were perfection.



When a friend recommended this series, I had no idea that it was based around one of my favourite subjects; Greek mythology absolutely fascinates me. Laura Kaye brought these characters, their love stories and fight for survival to life, the fact that I read them back to back over 5 days made them feel like family. It is a series I highly recommend and with all the love in my heart, I give 5 glorious windswept stars. This series blew me away.

[Scooby2 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Out of this series, this one was my favorite. I love a damaged hero and Devlin was definitely that. I loved Anna and him together, they were perfect for one another, she showed him he deserved love and he was good. What I didn't like about the book was how they didn't get a lot of time together, I understand it's the last book in the series and Ms Kaye is wrapping up the series but it could have been handled differently. I felt that Devlin and Anna deserved more time together, and I would have loved to learn more about Anna's family and her "powers" but we are given the quick version, as well as, learn more about Devlin's brothers, especially Alastor. I felt this book had to much of the other gods from the prior books in it, it was too much, I understand why they were in it but they didn't have to be in it every other chapter. Overall it was a good book and a good conclusion to the series but I wish it had been more of Devlin and Anna and not the others as much.

[Deannie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is soooo good. Sexy, great story line and takes you away completely! Can't wait for the next installment!

[Ashley (Red-Haired Ash Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annalise Fallston spends her time painting and taking care of her ailing father. Lately she has been gripped by the urge to paint terrifying scenes and she doesn’t understand why, until Devlin steps into her life. Devlin Eston is the son of the evil Anemoi Eurus which makes him an outcast. He is determined to stop his father at any cost but he first must master his abilities, and Annalise seems to help with that.

This was an emotional ending for the Hearts of Anemoi series. I came so close to crying with this one. So be prepared with tissues. Also please refer to the trigger warnings.

Devlin has been mentioned in this series but we finally get his side of the story with this book. While the other Anemoi mistrust him, he is still determined to help them defeat his father. Devlin has had a terrible upbring and is scarred and traumatized from it. His past was truly heartbreaking. Annalise was perfect for him because she loved him for who he was and didn’t push when his PTSD would get in the way. She just worked with him and accepted him, which is just what he needed to heal.

Annalise was a great heroine. She was so compassionate and kind. She is taking care of her aligning father who has Alzheimer's and iss dealing with her own disability of chronic fatigue. I found her monochromacy, a color blindness that makes everything black, white and grey, to be very interesting, especially since she is a painter.

Overall, this was an amazing ending with a perfect romance. I also really enjoyed seeing all the Anemoi working together for a change. It made the battle even more suspenseful and epic. The new Gods and Goddesses featured in this book were also a nice addition. I kinda want more books just with them now.

Trigger Warning:
- Hero was abused by his father (frequently referenced)
- Parent with Alzheimer (on page)
- Graphic at risk pregnancy of a side character Megan, Owen’s wife, goes into early labor and they perform an emergency c-section. Both mother and child die but are later brought back by one of the Gods.

This review was originally posted at Red-Haired Ash Reads.

[Emily (Mrs B's Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

**My thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC, for providing me with a free copy for an honest review**

Boy am i sad that this is the very last book in the series. This series has been epic and we have had some tortured souls with these wind Gods.

Devlin is one of the remaining sons of Eurus and the other wind gods do not trust him, but Aeolus believes in him and is training him. Devlin believes that he must atone for is sins, such as his brothers death, however when he finds Annalise, she turns his whole world upside down and gives him love and understanding and a tenderness that he has never experienced before.

Annalise is suffering from a chronic tiredness illness and suddenly has a compulsion to paint scenes that pop into her head. She is also the main carer for her father who suffers from dementia.

It is Devlin who finds out that she is not exactly human and he eventually takes her to the Realm of the Gods where her true past comes to light.

We also get to the crux of the story as the four winds with helpers finally manage to confront Eurus and come the victors, however there are some sad parts that had me with tears.

I really enjoyed this series and am just sorry that this has been waiting for so long to be read on my kindle.

[Deanie Nelder · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Anemoi saga ends as wind god Devlin joins his family to stop his father, Eurus, from unleashing a catastrophic storm that could destroy the world. He meets Anna, an artist compelled to paint mysterious visions of the Anemoi's future. Can Devlin overcome the years of abuse and torture a the hands of his father? How can Anna paint the future? And after the death of North wind god Boreas in the previous book, what kind of sacrifices will the other Anemoi and their families have to make to finally stop Eurus once and for all?

There are some truly suspenseful, scary moments in this book, as characters we've grown to know and love face mortal danger. The author does a very good job of integrating the romance and action, mixing the ongoing plot and the love story of Devlin and Anna nearly seamlessly. Trying to tie up all the plotlines makes the book a bit jumpy in places but all in all it's a wonderful ending to a great series.

[Michel Reinhard (Saucy Southern Readers) · Rating 5 out of 5]

2014 Favorite Read!

ARC provided by the Publisher, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

East of Ecstasy by Laura Kaye is the fourth and final book in the Hearts of the Anemoi series. I have been invested in this series since 2011 and have anxiously awaited for the next book to release. East of Ecstasy was by far the most anticipated book because of the ongoing plot throughout this series. The ongoing tension has escalated to the point of no return. The world of the Anemoi is on the path of catastrophic destruction that not only will change their world, but destroy the human race. At the center of this impending destruction is Eurus, the God of the East Wind. His need for power, his hate for his brethren, his obsession for revenge, his abhorrence for the human race and his evil heart have sent him on a path that even the most powerful of the Anemoi cannot defeat.

With the knowledge of East of Ecstasy being the final book in this series, I was very leery to start this book. I loved all the characters in this series and did not want to say farewell to them. I did not want to let go of the mythical world that united with our contemporary world. Their lives, their journey in finding true love in stormy circumstances, and the strengthening of their family had me hooked. Also, from the overall general experience, I have found that the final book in a series can be a disappointment. The characters and ongoing plot builds an expectation of grandeur for the readers. Most authors wrap up their series quickly, give all the happily ever after ending, and leave the readers feeling let down because they didn’t experience all the emotional highs and lows of the previous books. Well this was not the case with East of Ecstasy. East of Ecstasy is by far Laura Kaye’s BEST BOOK to date. East of Ecstasy went beyond the high expectations and took the reader on an adventurous and highly emotional journey. As I finished this book, I was an emotional noodle. I was happy, astounded by the emotional humility, deliriously in love, devastated from the losses, caught up mourning the losses and exhilarated with the triumphant defeat of pure evil. I felt validated for the years I had invested in this series. East of Ecstasy is beyond superb!

East of Ecstasy is Devlin Eston’s, son of Eurus, story. He has suffered a life time of abuse at the hands of his father. He has been forced to participate in his father’s quest for revenge. He has suffered extreme consequences every time he has tried to rebel. He has finally reached the point where he knows that he has to make a stand against the pure evil of his father. Too many lives are at stake, too much destruction has been rendered, and it is the only of hope of survival for his last living brother, as well as the world of humanity. He has been completely brow beaten and broken. He has nothing to lose.

With the help of his grandfather he has gained some underworld powers that may help the Anemoi defeat Euros. He is their only hope. The Anemoi have very little faith in Devlin. They do not trust him because of his previous actions with his father and the fact that he is the son of Eurus. Not only will he have to face off against his father, he will have to live with the contempt and hatred of the other Anemoi. It is a lethal situation to be in. Not only will he have to earn their trust, he will have to learn to trust himself, he will have to realize that his life is of value.

He accidentally stumbles upon Anna Fallston while hiding out in her art studio. He witnesses her doing a frenzied painting and comes to the realization that she is painting the future. In each and every painting, he is the subject. Determined to find out more about these artistic visions, he confronts Anna. During this confrontation he senses something otherworldly about her. Not only is she beautiful, her aura is beyond that beauty.

As these two come together to figure out the mysterious visions, they find their attraction is more powerful than their connections in the visions. After a lifetime of abuse, Devlin has no self worth and does not feel like he deserves Anna’s love. But Anna sees so much more than than a broken man & god. She sees a beautiful aura that proves his soul is pure. Now she will have to convince this wounded man that he is worth all the love she has to give.

With the impending war of the winds, the ultimate showdown, and the fate of their worlds; their love may not have the forever they so desperately want. Together, and with the other Anemoi, they will have to fight with every part of their being. The stakes are high and their love is the ultimate reward.

East of Ecstasy is more than a compelling love story in a horrific situation. East of Ecstasy showcases the characters from the previous books. All of these characters have grown into their full potential and are just as charismatic as the main characters. The reader will experience an exciting adventure and feel they are on an emotional roller coaster. There are many surprises throughout the book that readers did not see coming. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat. This is Laura Kaye’s best writing to date. She has given the readers a story that is fresh, original and magical.

I highly recommend The Hearts of Anemoi series. East of Ecstasy is a book that every reader must experience.

***NOTE*** I do not recommend reading East of Ecstasy as a stand alone book. The Hearts of Anemoi should be read in order.
Hearts of Anemoi Series Reading Order

North of Need
West of Want
South of Surrender – Our Review
East of Ecstasy

[Lovingbooks1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nail biting ending

The end of this series was good and filled with intense love, action and a happy ending.
No unnecessary descriptions of surroundings
Good dialogues
The storyline progresses perfectly and I’m enjoying it all.

4 stars for a good story

[Tee Loves Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m going to admit right off the bat that I have had this series on my to-read list for awhile now. When I was given the opportunity to read this fourth installment, I was excited to finally dive into another of Laura Kaye’s captivating stories, and wow, she did not disappoint! Even knowing how it all turned out, I’m itching to go back and read each of the other books now just so I can get more of these characters and Kaye’s gripping world she’s created for them!

Devlin had me for a fan from the very first pages. He’s the misunderstood bad boy with an attitude that no one wants to have around, and ugh how it tore me up seeing his life from his point of view. I hated that no one trusted him or believed him, but he was a product of his father. Fans of the series who are caught up before they begin this installment (which I recommend, despite my backwards way of going at it) will know just what a piece of sh*t Devlin’s father is. For me, I was being introduced to Eurus for the first time and already had all kinds of bitter hatred to send his way. He made Devlin’s existence a living hell through his ways of torture and murderous rage, so I was cheering on Devlin’s sheer determination to defeat him every step of the way. Of course, his success was made all the more both difficult and easy when he ran into a future-painting beautiful woman named Anna, the only one who seemed able to accept him for exactly what he was.

The chemistry between Anna and Devlin was perfect, all the great steamy tension I expect from a Laura Kaye story but with personalities that click just right. She understood him and was drawn to him when the other gods questioned every move he made, and she really became his solid ground when everything else was crumbling. Her gift of painting the future, and what we learn about her as the story progresses, made her an awesome heroine for the series. She’s strong, devoted to the man she wants, and grows into her unique powers with the grace of a goddess.

There was a very dark undertone to this tale, as the rest of the series has been leading up to this terrible showdown with Eurus that would determine the fate of the world. He has incredible power and Devlin is the only hope when it comes to bringing his hatred to an end. The way that Kaye paints this evil that is unleashed through the destruction and terrifying power of the winds was so completely captivating, I just couldn’t get enough of this creepy world.

I have to say, having never met any of these characters before this book, the way they all interacted and their interwoven stories was very cool. Even through the most trying times, there was an underlying camaraderie between these Anemoi that I absolutely loved. It’s a rare occasion for me to be in tears over a paranormal romance read, so I was shocked to find myself so engrossed in this story that I was crying ugly tears as I witnessed the losses these characters had to endure. Seriously, it will rip your heart out, but Kaye doesn’t leave her fans pining for what could have been because that would just be cruel! It was a beautiful, oh-so-sweet ending to this series and I think it was done perfectly. If you haven’t started this series yet, don’t be like me and put it off, because you’re missing out!


Quotes:

But imbibing the hatred of the Styx and the fire of the Phlegethon had made him volatile. Unstable. Dangerous.
Even more than a lifetime of paternal abuse had already made him. ~p. 2

Impatience flowed through Devlin, spurred in part at the regret slithering through is gut. Watching her right now was like seeing a fully blossomed flower close up and fold in on itself—an apt analogy given that he was a god of the East, responsible for the decay and death of the autumn season. ~p. 58

And where was his constant companion, loneliness? Sitting here in the mid-night quiet of Anna’s space, her scent and energy all around him, Devlin couldn’t find that particular emotion anywhere. ~p. 153

A chuckle. Louder. She tilted her head back and let out a full-on laugh. A laugh that Devlin had caused. It was the most beautiful sound he’d ever heard in his life. And Anna…she was the most beautiful sight. ~p. 200


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[Crystal _ Reading Between the Wines Book Club · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Hearts of the Anemoi has to be one of my all-time favorite fantasy romance series out there. There hasn't been a book in it that I haven't loved. A character that hasn't impacted my heart. A story that I haven't gotten lost in. I didn't think that it could get any better then it was. I was wrong... East of Ecstasy exceeded all of my expectations and then some for the final story in the series. By the end I was silently crying in my bed, the hubs blissfully snoring away without a clue, because I knew that I had to close my kindle and say goodbye to these amazing characters. Who am I kidding? I'm tearing up now just writing this!

There was not a page, a sentence, a word, that I did not love in this book! The emotions in East of Ecstasy were so raw and intense, imagine them as a physical entity riding a roller-coaster through a sand-storm.

After reading South of Surrender, I had my doubts about Devlin, just like the rest of the Anemoi did. Whose side was he really on? Could he be trusted? How could I possibly know the unimaginable layers that made up Devlin Eston... And I couldn't help but to love him more and more as each one was peeled away. He's a broken, complex character that has suffered horrible atrocities at the hands of his own father. But despite that, and the contempt that the other Anemoi show him for the sins of his father, Devlin is determined to do right by them, by Anna, and by the world that has shunned him. His characters dimension expands as the story progresses. He is not always nice, especially when he first meets Anna. He doesn't always chose the right path. But he tries. And he doesn't give up. Despite the guilt, the demons, and the disparity of his self-worth that plagues him. And Annalise Fallston see's something in Devlin worth fighting for. An artist with a rare form of colorblindness, where she can only see in shades of grey and black. The only time Anna see's color is when she paints. But lately her paintings have been dark and ominous. When she firsts sees Devlin she thinks he is part of those visions from her paintings, but it turns out that he is in fact, very real. There is a spark from the start between these two. The Anemoi have the answers to her rare abilities and Anna has the strength in both her feelings and belief in Devlin to help him through this journey. Devlin's lack of control and self-worth is a constant struggle between him and Anna though. I love how Anna was so honest with her feelings for Devlin that it boosted him up, despite it sometimes costing her.

East of Ecstasy is the apex of the series, where everything from the previous three books that has been straddling the edge finally topples over and then is built back up stronger then ever. Each past character plays an integral part in this story and I couldn't be happier that they were all included, though at times (say...when I was bawling like a baby) my feelings on this were all over the place. And I loved that just because some characters might have found their HEA already, didn't mean that they stopped growing. As a reader of the series I felt like I was brought back to the beginning, a circle completed. From the heaven-touching highs, the tension-relieving humor in the median, to the heart-shredding lows, this story will literally turn your world upside down.

I hate to say goodbye to this series but I don't think that it could have been wrapped up any more perfectly. Though I would love to see a story for Seth and Alastor in the future, and I'll keep my fingers crossed for those. Despite my love for Owen, East of Ecstasy is hands down, Laura Kaye's best work yet and one of my favorite reads of the year! If you love heart-pounding romance and the fascinating world of mythology I recommend that you pick up this series today!

*Side-note: I received an ARC of this book, so the final copy may vary. But there were some minor inconsistencies at the beginning of the story that popped out at me. However, they were so minuscular compared to the over-all story, I was able to easily overlook them.

[GraceMyBookSnack · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sequel that ends the Hearts of the Anemoi series in spectacular fashion!

In Greek mythology, the Anemoi were wind gods who were each attributed to a cardinal direction. Each book in the Hearts of the Anemoi series focuses on the life and journey of a Greek god as he battled some sort of loss or pain, discovered everlasting love, and rose to power within the Realm of Gods. East of Ecstasy is Greek god Devlin Eston's story. Devlin's father, Eurus, is the current Cardinal Anemoi of the East Wind, and he's one giant, mean bully creating a whole lot of havoc and imbalance in more than one world. The books have been gradually building up to one helluva furious confrontation. What a spectacular way to finish this series!

If you like your heroes battered, broken and scarred inside and out, then Devlin will easily breeze into your heart with his absolutely heartbreaking backstory. Having gone through a lifetime of parental abuse, Devlin shoulders tremendous guilt with what happened to his brothers, and he literally tortures himself everyday. On top of that, he must prove his trustworthiness to the other gods, who thinks he's just like his father. Plus, time is of the essence, since Devlin needs to sort all that out before Eurus comes into full power. Yeah, he pretty much got his work cut out for him.

“He leaned down, planted his hands in her silky hair, and kissed Anna like she was the air he needed to breathe.”

When he meets Anna, she is the light to his dark, but he does not feel worthy enough for her.

“And I want you, Anna. Gods, I want your heat and your touch and your body surrounding mine. But I don't deserve you. And I'm no good for you.”

Anna is my favorite kind of heroine. She's fearless, has a strong mind, and can stand on her own. Anna provides Devlin everything he never knew he could have...someone who cares for his well being, someone who believes in him and connects with him in the soul-deep level. She is the soothing balm to his pain. East of Ecstasy is also very much Anna's journey as well. I loved how everything comes about with her story.

Having been a huge fan of this series from the beginning, I craved and indulged every single book like they were decadent pieces chocolates! Ms. Kaye creates some of the most vivid, heart-twisting and sincere scenes I've ever read in all her writing to date! I recommend reading this series in order for the gradual and incredible world-building alone, which gave me the feeling of being swept away to a far off place in each and every book. Don't you love that feeling?

As the seasons change, I know I'll be thinking of Owen, Zeph, Chrys, and Devlin. These characters will stay with me always. I have a huge soft spot for Owen (his story begins in North of Need), so I just about died with what he goes through in this book! Pretty much all of the previous main couples are back in this book and contribute to the plot in huge ways. Full of suspenseful moments, loss, hope, and LOVE, East of Ecstasy and the Hearts of the Anemoi series has it all! I'm so sad that this series has come to an end that I'm actually a blubbering mess!

Sending huge THANKS to Laura Kaye for writing such an amazing, otherworldly, and breathtaking series! Everything she writes continue to touch my heart. I know that I will read the Hearts of the Anemoi books over and over again. She sure knows how to make Greek gods super, swoon-worthy sexy!

Review copy provided by publisher for an honest review.

[Cherise · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book I've been waiting for ages. I just know I'm going to love the H and as this is the final book in the series, we'll get a great happy together ending. I think I'm in a funk as it's quite a few books now that I know I should love the book but am feeling somehow off, so maybe when I reread this I'll be over this barrier and love this more.

I didn't know how bad things were with the H before and boy am I shocked to see how horrible it's been for him. Our H is really so vulnerable and desperately alone you can't help but want to hug him better and let him know things will only get better from here on out. Though he seems to be real fragile on the personal front, he is a really selfless man with a heart of gold, ready to take out the worst person in the world even at his own expense, without asking for anything in return. His uncertainty yet yearning for the h is endearing and heartwarming, and it's heartbreaking when he kept taken aback by simple kindness or nice gestures we all don't think twice handling to strangers. I so want him to get the hea that he deserves. I am a sucker for a H that is emotionally damaged and willing to expose all this vulnerability in front of his h.

I'm so grateful for the h here. She is the one person that can and tries time and again to draw our hesitant H out of his shell and believe that he is a good person and absolutely deserving of love. Though our h is assertive in pushing herself to our H, as their relationship is stressed more of an emotional nature than a sexual one, unlike a lot of other assertive h that usually just likes to throw themselves at H's, and with her ultimate aim being to help H and love him, I like her a lot. she is at the same time sweet, loving and giving, yet at the same time is strong when he needs her to be so.

Though the beginning seems a bit slow to me, once the protagonists got together, it's really nice seeing how they slower learn to trust, grow close to and eventually fall in love with each other. Even though as par for this series, it's only days, the relationship is still believable given how much they went through together.

As this is the end of the series, of course we'll get to see all our previous protagonists. A lot of focus is actually on another pair here, which makes me slightly grumpy as I want my hea to be hea, though I see why Kaye needs to do this to tie everything in nicely, though I am slightly disappointed at the same formula she uses here. The final third of the book, however, is super exciting to read, as we get to see a lot of actions, a lot of twists and of courses, teeth grinding moments for us as we worry sick for all of our favourite protagonists of this series. The pace here is a lot better than the beginning and I'm real hooked.

All in all, a very satisfactory read once I got over the first 10-20%, with an amazing h and an adorably vulnerable H that works super well together.

[*P · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Ecstatic Stars

I need to start by saying that I normally do not read paranormal stories. But not too long ago I ordered a book North of Need because it sounded like a cute love story and it was inexpensive. What unfolded was something amazing. Now likely since I normally do not read this genre I for some reason did not read the West and South books and yes I do believe that you should read them first. However, I did not and still I found myself really enjoying this book. Unfortunately for me, this book picks up right away with the story of the gods and the evil that is coming and it initially was a little hard for me to get in to what was going on. The good thing though, was I did not have any real negative feelings towards the hero in this story, Devlin.

Anna was not your typical heroine by any means. She has an unusual condition that winds up being explained later in the book. How Devlin stumbled upon her little artist sanctuary is beyond me but he does. Initially Devlin is really a jerk to Anna, yet she sees something in him that she is drawn to. Likely it is simply because he seems to understand her even though many others have never seemed to believe her. Along the way the two help each other uncover shall we see their "inner selves" and they fall for each other hard.

The crazy thing is their love story takes place during what could possibly be the ultimate war among the winds which could have serious repercussions along the way. I loved that Owen was back and had an important part in the story since I really loved him in the first book. All the other characters from the West and South books are also there too. While this war was a very important part of the book and the dynamics relating to the controlling winds, it is this part that I was less in to. I love the chemistry and the loving interactions among the couples.

I do love the way Kaye writes the males' responses both from a verbal and physical standpoint. She did an amazing job creating a world that I could have ever wrapped my mind around without her beautiful imagery. She is just as wonderful at getting you to that point where your heart is literally breaking for the characters and you can't help but cry. Truly amazing writing and a really great ending to this series.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guys, THINGS HAPPEN in this book. Lots of things. Things that bring the battle between the good guys and the bad guys to a close.

At the heart of all the things is Devlin. The guy has NOT had it easy. His father's quest for power has put Devlin in a terrible position--both mentally and physically. The other Anemoi don't trust him. Devlin's brother is out of reach. Eurus's systematic mental abuse has made Devlin doubt there's any good in him. Yeah, bad place.

Crossing Anna's path is both wonderful and painful for Devlin. (No worries, y'all. this being a romance, they get their happiness. It just takes time and a lot of elbow grease to find it.) Anna's dealing with her own issues, btw. Some of them gifted by the divine and some very mundane.

An extremely satisfying ending to the Anemoi saga. We got to revisit old faces and see how they're holding up. Devlin had the serious tortured hero thing going on and that's like catnip for me. In short, *slow thumbs up*

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal

[Zoe Dewing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favourite book of 2014 (So Far) HELL YEAH!!!

Once again Laura delivers on impeccable story telling with excellent, well thought out characters with great depth and great action to romance ratio.

At one point I’m thinking ‘I can’t go on reading this, what’s going to happen? I hope it doesn’t end in disaster’ to a chapter later ‘I cannot put this down until I’m finished’

East of Ecstasy was the perfect ending to a brilliant series, I’m a little sad to say goodbye to these characters but I recommend them to anyone who listens.

[amanda s. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved it!

What an epic battle, epic love story with Boreas, epic father-daughter reunion, EPIC EVERYTHING!

So this means it's the end of the journey, right? Oh my god, I'm lucky to stumbled on this series. I loved Owen, Chrys, Zeph and eventually, Devlin. I loved everyone. My heart almost broke for Megan, but thank you, Boreas!

Laura Kaye's style of writing is perfection. English's not my first language and sure there are some words that I don't really understand, but overall I enjoyed this book.

Definitely my favorite!

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great conclusion to the Hearts of the Anemoi series. Laura Kaye saved the best Anemoi, Devlin, for last. I absolutely loved him. If you have read the others in the series, don't miss this one. If you haven't, I highly recommend you read them. Start with North of Need. Happy reading!!

[annette colon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Best Story By Far

I've read all four books and this one by far is the best. The only problem I had with this book was Devlins' brother Alastor. He was imprisoned by his father for years and deserves his own happy ending. Other than that it was an excellent story.

[Rachel]

January 2013? I guess I can wait that long . . . =)

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had it all. Loved Devine and Anna. Loved all the moments between the gods. Perfect conclusion as well m

[Abi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great finale to this fantasy romance series.