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The League: Nemesis Rising #10
Born of Vengence
Book 12 in the League Series by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Original Publication Date: February 07, 2017
A fate worse than death . . .
Bastien Cabarro survived the brutal slaughter of his entire family only to have his wife pin their murders on him. Made Ravin by The League, he is now a target for their assassins-in-training to hunt and kill. The average life expectancy for such beings is six weeks. But defying the odds is what this Gyron Force officer does best, and Bastien won’t rest until he lays his betrayers in their graves.
Ten years later, he has one chance to balance the scales of justice, provided he relies on his former wingman— the very sister of the woman who testified against him.
Major Ember Wyldestarrin joined the outlaw Tavali the day Kirovar fell into the hands of a tyrant, and she and her sister-team were left on an outpost to die under the barrage of...
Original Publication Date: February 07, 2017
A fate worse than death . . .
Bastien Cabarro survived the brutal slaughter of his entire family only to have his wife pin their murders on him. Made Ravin by The League, he is now a target for their assassins-in-training to hunt and kill. The average life expectancy for such beings is six weeks. But defying the odds is what this Gyron Force officer does best, and Bastien won’t rest until he lays his betrayers in their graves.
Ten years later, he has one chance to balance the scales of justice, provided he relies on his former wingman— the very sister of the woman who testified against him.
Major Ember Wyldestarrin joined the outlaw Tavali the day Kirovar fell into the hands of a tyrant, and she and her sister-team were left on an outpost to die under the barrage of...
406 pages, Hardcover
First published February 7, 2017
369 people are currently reading
5712 people want to read
About the author
Sherrilyn Kenyon
241 books30.3k followersOfficial Author site
Official Nevermore site
Official Deadman's Cross site
Official Chronicles of Nick site
Official Silent Swans site
Official Hunter Legends site
Official Witch of Endor site
Official Lords of Avalon site
Official Facebook site
New York Times and international bestselling author Sherrilyn Kenyon is a regular at the #1 spot. With legions of fans known as Paladins (thousands of whom proudly sport tattoos from her series and who travel from all over the world to attend her appearances), her books are always snatched up as soon as they appear on store shelves. Since 2004, she had placed more than 80 novels on the New York Times list in all formats including manga and graphic novels. Her current series are: Dark-Hunters, Chronicles of Nick and The League, and her books are available in over 100 countries where eager fans impatiently wait for the next release. Her Chronicles of Nick and Dark-Hunter series are soon to be major motion pictures while Dark-Hunter is also being developed as a television series. Join her and her Paladins online at MySherrilyn.com and www.facebook.com/mysherrilyn
Official Nevermore site
Official Deadman's Cross site
Official Chronicles of Nick site
Official Silent Swans site
Official Hunter Legends site
Official Witch of Endor site
Official Lords of Avalon site
Official Facebook site
New York Times and international bestselling author Sherrilyn Kenyon is a regular at the #1 spot. With legions of fans known as Paladins (thousands of whom proudly sport tattoos from her series and who travel from all over the world to attend her appearances), her books are always snatched up as soon as they appear on store shelves. Since 2004, she had placed more than 80 novels on the New York Times list in all formats including manga and graphic novels. Her current series are: Dark-Hunters, Chronicles of Nick and The League, and her books are available in over 100 countries where eager fans impatiently wait for the next release. Her Chronicles of Nick and Dark-Hunter series are soon to be major motion pictures while Dark-Hunter is also being developed as a television series. Join her and her Paladins online at MySherrilyn.com and www.facebook.com/mysherrilyn
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 463 reviews
February 10, 2017
SPOILERS AHEAD
I've been a fan of Sherrilyn's for YEARS! I've bought everything this women has ever released, I've been to KCON, and I have a tattoo based off her DH series. I'm a stan for anything this woman puts out, but I am seriously disappointed in her for this absolute waste of a book.
1/3 of the book was original content. I'm not even joking. 2/3's of it was previous scenes from other books told from the POV of Bastien, but even then he barely added anything original to the scenes. Sure, we got him feeling guilty and sad, but other than that he barely added anything to the scenes. Most of the time it was word for word from the other books. It was like Sherrilyn C&P'ed and totally forgot that Bastien was even there.
The original 1/3 of the book was rushed, lazy, and just a huge disappointment. We got to see how Bastien and Ember met and that was about it. We didn't see how their relationship developed, nothing. Normally, we get to see how a relationship flourishes but nothing this time. I was so horribly disappointed because that's usually the meat of Sherrilyn's stories. I live for the banter, the onset of new love, the passion. NOTHING! We see how they met, fast forward to her refusing his proposal, and then BAM! Bastient's family is horribly murdered, he's banished, and it's on to stuff we've already read before.
Also, I really hated how they did Alura. We got ONE scene at the beginning where she was in cohoots with Barnabas (Bastient's uncle) about the whole coup. Skip to the end where Sherrilyn either completely forgot she put this scene in or she ignores it and makes Alura's whole reason for fucking Bastien over simply because he chose Ember and not her. I'm sorry, what? Did you forget the scene where Barnabas caught Alura out on the balcony on her wedding night and make vague remarks about his whole 'plan' and Alura's part of it?
Not to mention the fact that I'm so sick and tired of Sherrilyn playing the whole 'THEY'RE DEAD! NO WAIT, THEY'RE NOT!' trope. Seriously, every single time someone dies in one of her stories I just roll my eyes and secretly think, 'Naw, they're not. It's just a ploy.' Every time there's a big reveal that so-and-so isn't dead, I just roll my eyes, sigh, and continue to read. It's overrated, old, and honestly, so incredibly insulting. It's a waste of time, lazy as all get out, and honestly, the fact that Sherrilyn keeps using the same trope over and over, it's annoying.
And let's not forget the fact that everyone is related to everyone in one way or another. It's like the family tree of The League is one giant circle. I get that there's this whole brotherhood thing going on wherein you're family even if you're not related BUT THAT'S NOT EVEN WHAT'S GOING ON HERE! EVERYONE IS RELATED! So-and-so is the half brother of so-and-so and also the 2nd cousin of so-and-so and the in-law of so-and-so. It's confusing and sooooooooo annoying. Half the damn book was Sherrilyn mansplaining who's related, how they're related, AND OH WAIT, THERE'S A NEW RELATION THAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT! SURPRISE!
No, Sherrilyn, the surprise is that you have become a lazy, predictable writer. And it's shameful. It's shameful, disappointing, and downright insulting to your fans.
I've been a fan of Sherrilyn's for YEARS! I've bought everything this women has ever released, I've been to KCON, and I have a tattoo based off her DH series. I'm a stan for anything this woman puts out, but I am seriously disappointed in her for this absolute waste of a book.
1/3 of the book was original content. I'm not even joking. 2/3's of it was previous scenes from other books told from the POV of Bastien, but even then he barely added anything original to the scenes. Sure, we got him feeling guilty and sad, but other than that he barely added anything to the scenes. Most of the time it was word for word from the other books. It was like Sherrilyn C&P'ed and totally forgot that Bastien was even there.
The original 1/3 of the book was rushed, lazy, and just a huge disappointment. We got to see how Bastien and Ember met and that was about it. We didn't see how their relationship developed, nothing. Normally, we get to see how a relationship flourishes but nothing this time. I was so horribly disappointed because that's usually the meat of Sherrilyn's stories. I live for the banter, the onset of new love, the passion. NOTHING! We see how they met, fast forward to her refusing his proposal, and then BAM! Bastient's family is horribly murdered, he's banished, and it's on to stuff we've already read before.
Also, I really hated how they did Alura. We got ONE scene at the beginning where she was in cohoots with Barnabas (Bastient's uncle) about the whole coup. Skip to the end where Sherrilyn either completely forgot she put this scene in or she ignores it and makes Alura's whole reason for fucking Bastien over simply because he chose Ember and not her. I'm sorry, what? Did you forget the scene where Barnabas caught Alura out on the balcony on her wedding night and make vague remarks about his whole 'plan' and Alura's part of it?
Not to mention the fact that I'm so sick and tired of Sherrilyn playing the whole 'THEY'RE DEAD! NO WAIT, THEY'RE NOT!' trope. Seriously, every single time someone dies in one of her stories I just roll my eyes and secretly think, 'Naw, they're not. It's just a ploy.' Every time there's a big reveal that so-and-so isn't dead, I just roll my eyes, sigh, and continue to read. It's overrated, old, and honestly, so incredibly insulting. It's a waste of time, lazy as all get out, and honestly, the fact that Sherrilyn keeps using the same trope over and over, it's annoying.
And let's not forget the fact that everyone is related to everyone in one way or another. It's like the family tree of The League is one giant circle. I get that there's this whole brotherhood thing going on wherein you're family even if you're not related BUT THAT'S NOT EVEN WHAT'S GOING ON HERE! EVERYONE IS RELATED! So-and-so is the half brother of so-and-so and also the 2nd cousin of so-and-so and the in-law of so-and-so. It's confusing and sooooooooo annoying. Half the damn book was Sherrilyn mansplaining who's related, how they're related, AND OH WAIT, THERE'S A NEW RELATION THAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT! SURPRISE!
No, Sherrilyn, the surprise is that you have become a lazy, predictable writer. And it's shameful. It's shameful, disappointing, and downright insulting to your fans.
June 1, 2017
I'm not quite sure what book most of the people on this site read, but it wasn't Born of Vengeance. I am truly upset and feel a bit betrayed by this book. I have been waiting for a whole year since BOL, which I absolutely loved, for Born of Vengeance to come out. This book was set up to be a great book with the way Bastien and Ember were introduced. It's really not. This book is mostly scenes from past books, written from the POV of the main character, Bastien. Any original content is choppy and skips around. I guess I am used to this author writing long, descriptive, imaginative stories, and this one just felt like she was rushed to make her deadline. As opposed to the past books that have anywhere from 20-40 chapters, this one had 16, and most of them were from other books. **Spoiler to follow** The book starts out well, with Bastien and Ember meeting and him asking her out. If you are a member of any of Kenyon's social media sites, you've read this chapter. The story skips to Ember talking to her sister about possibly breaking up with Bastien, a year later. We see Bastien going to their shared apartment and finding out that Ember has broken up with him and had him reassigned. All of their romance was completely cut. We didn’t get to see them falling in love, being wing men, or interacting at all. Later in the book, both characters tell us of instances of when they were dating, i.e. when Bastien climbed up a high story building to rescue Ember, only to realize that she wasn’t in the building. Why didn’t we get to see that? Ember states that Bastien’s family hates her and was mean to her at the parties that she attended at the palace. What parties? We didn’t get to see that either. Later in the book, Ember reflects on how her family didn’t like Bastien at first, but then he was so charming that he won them over. It would have been great to see this. We don’t get to see a lot, if any, of Ember’s life while in hiding from Barnabas. How did she become part of the Tavali? How did she meet Zander? How did the relationship form there? So many missed opportunities. **Spoilers ended** I paid $14.99 for the e-book, and used one of my valuable audible credits for this book and it just wasn't worth it. I think if Ms. Kenyon wanted to write a short story, she should have written a short story. She could have written something like Dark Bites and included Born of Vengeance and Dragonmark as short stories and not included so many filler scenes. I understand that she may want someone who hasn't read the rest of the series to be at speed with those of us who have, but it feels like a rip-off. I would hate, hate, hate, to stop reading this series, as it is my favorite, but if the next book is written like this one, I will have to say goodbye.
March 1, 2017
Bastien Cabarro is a prince. When he is accused of murdering his entire family by his Uncle and ex-wife, Bastien is sentenced to live the rest of his life as a Ravin who are people who are killed by the League. Can Bastien ever get his revenge on his Uncle for what he did and stay alive long enough to do so or is he meant to do something much greater? Read on and find out for yourself.
This was a great installment of the League series by Sherrilyn Kenyon. If you enjoy space pirate science fiction romance adventure stories, be sure to check this book and the rest of the series out at your local library and wherever books are sold.
This was a great installment of the League series by Sherrilyn Kenyon. If you enjoy space pirate science fiction romance adventure stories, be sure to check this book and the rest of the series out at your local library and wherever books are sold.
May 7, 2017
The only reason I didn't dnf this one is because I love the narrator. I'm done with this series. It's such a shame because when it first started it was a huge favorite of mine.
This book was downright awful. One star awful. Even though I had to add a star for the narrator.
The story jumped bits and pieces of time with no notice or introduction. It was the most annoying thing I've ever read. I was constantly trying to figure out "when" in time we were.
The MC relationship made little to no sense. I didn't feel a drop of it. I was confused with forecasting tidbits that never materialised into the storyline. They were simply forgotten. Never even addressed.
My overriding emotion while reading this book was annoyance.
There's a nice little short at the end of the book that focuses on Nik and Julian and their families. I loved that sneak peek into their lives. I still maintain that the first few books in this series are 5+ star stories. I may even re-read them every so often. But by book #10, this series is over for me.
This book was downright awful. One star awful. Even though I had to add a star for the narrator.
The story jumped bits and pieces of time with no notice or introduction. It was the most annoying thing I've ever read. I was constantly trying to figure out "when" in time we were.
The MC relationship made little to no sense. I didn't feel a drop of it. I was confused with forecasting tidbits that never materialised into the storyline. They were simply forgotten. Never even addressed.
My overriding emotion while reading this book was annoyance.
There's a nice little short at the end of the book that focuses on Nik and Julian and their families. I loved that sneak peek into their lives. I still maintain that the first few books in this series are 5+ star stories. I may even re-read them every so often. But by book #10, this series is over for me.
February 7, 2017
another fantastic story 5 stars all the way the short story at the end was perfect
April 13, 2019
AFTER READING:
SPOILERS AHEAD, BE WARNED!
Sherrilyn Kenyon is a master of writing emotions, friendships and family dynamics.
I liked Bastien's scenes with his son Florian. I liked Thia's bonus chapter in the end.
On the other hand...
She pulled "Dragonmark" all over again. There was copied material from previous books which I didn't like.
She also decided to kill Bastien's siblings: Quin and Lillian in the beginning. Then she introduces his half-brother Iskander and then she does: "Oh, his brother Quin is not really dead, it was just a ploy!".
What about his sister?
If you decide to deus ex machina one sibling why can't you do that for his sister? This shit is "Daryna's death in Born of Legend & Ryssa's death in Dark-Hunter series" all over again.
Killing characters off to create drama and angst is understandable and I respect that. When you start to kill characters and then revive only male ones I am fucking out. Especially if the said character is a sibling to the main character and they have good relations.
If you want to kill off a female (-.-) sibling of the main character then you make her a lunatic bitch and threw her from the balcony. *khm* Alura *khm*
BEFORE READING:
Bastien Cabarro & Ember Wyldestarrin. Bring it.
The League series reading order:
- novella
Born of Night (The League #1) [The League: Nemesis Rising #1]
Born of Fire (The League #2) [The League: Nemesis Rising #2]
Born of Ice (The League #3) [The League: Nemesis Legacy #1]
- Fire and Ice (The League #3.5) [The League: Nemesis Legacy #1.5]
Born of Shadows (The League #4) [The League: Nemesis Rising #3]
Born of Silence (The League #5) [The League: Nemesis Rising #4]
Cloak and Silence (The League #6) [The League: Nemesis Rising #5]
Born of Fury (The League [The League: Nemesis Rising #6]
Born of Defiance (The League #8) [The League: Nemesis Rising #7]
Born of Betrayal (The League #9) [The League: Nemesis Rising #8]
Born of Legend (The League #10) [The League: Nemesis Rising #9]
Born of Vengeance (The League #11) [The League: Nemesis Rising #10]
SPOILERS AHEAD, BE WARNED!
Sherrilyn Kenyon is a master of writing emotions, friendships and family dynamics.
I liked Bastien's scenes with his son Florian. I liked Thia's bonus chapter in the end.
On the other hand...
She pulled "Dragonmark" all over again. There was copied material from previous books which I didn't like.
She also decided to kill Bastien's siblings: Quin and Lillian in the beginning. Then she introduces his half-brother Iskander and then she does: "Oh, his brother Quin is not really dead, it was just a ploy!".
What about his sister?
If you decide to deus ex machina one sibling why can't you do that for his sister? This shit is "Daryna's death in Born of Legend & Ryssa's death in Dark-Hunter series" all over again.
Killing characters off to create drama and angst is understandable and I respect that. When you start to kill characters and then revive only male ones I am fucking out. Especially if the said character is a sibling to the main character and they have good relations.
If you want to kill off a female (-.-) sibling of the main character then you make her a lunatic bitch and threw her from the balcony. *khm* Alura *khm*
BEFORE READING:
Bastien Cabarro & Ember Wyldestarrin. Bring it.
The League series reading order:
- novella
Born of Night (The League #1) [The League: Nemesis Rising #1]
Born of Fire (The League #2) [The League: Nemesis Rising #2]
Born of Ice (The League #3) [The League: Nemesis Legacy #1]
- Fire and Ice (The League #3.5) [The League: Nemesis Legacy #1.5]
Born of Shadows (The League #4) [The League: Nemesis Rising #3]
Born of Silence (The League #5) [The League: Nemesis Rising #4]
Cloak and Silence (The League #6) [The League: Nemesis Rising #5]
Born of Fury (The League [The League: Nemesis Rising #6]
Born of Defiance (The League #8) [The League: Nemesis Rising #7]
Born of Betrayal (The League #9) [The League: Nemesis Rising #8]
Born of Legend (The League #10) [The League: Nemesis Rising #9]
Born of Vengeance (The League #11) [The League: Nemesis Rising #10]
February 10, 2017
I’m having a hard time rating this book. I love The League books and Sherrilyn’s story telling. However, this book was very different from the others in this series. It reads more like a bunch of short stories connected by the very short story of Bastien and Ember. None of them is great.
The book blurb is definitely misleading and I didn’t get the book I was expecting. The book starts with Bastien and Ember but jumps forward months and years leaving out large parts of their relationship and their lives. Then the story separates them and the ‘short stories’ start. The intent of these stories seems to be to bring the stories of all the League main characters up to the same point in time and to clarify the relationships between all the main characters. However, they have little to do with Bastien or Ember and add nothing to their story.
In between the ‘short stories’ Bastien and Ember feel sad and guilty about the mistakes they made in the past and that is all that happens in their story. Then, in the last couple of chapters, all of Bastien and Ember’s secrets are revealed, the climax is written and the story ends. No, character growth, no relationship development, no challenges and nothing intriguing. Their story reads as if someone other than Sherilynn wrote it.
If this book had been described as a set of The League short stories, I would have still purchased it but I may have waited until it dropped in price.
This book is not essential for you to read to stay up-to-date in this series. You could skip this book without missing anything.
The book blurb is definitely misleading and I didn’t get the book I was expecting. The book starts with Bastien and Ember but jumps forward months and years leaving out large parts of their relationship and their lives. Then the story separates them and the ‘short stories’ start. The intent of these stories seems to be to bring the stories of all the League main characters up to the same point in time and to clarify the relationships between all the main characters. However, they have little to do with Bastien or Ember and add nothing to their story.
In between the ‘short stories’ Bastien and Ember feel sad and guilty about the mistakes they made in the past and that is all that happens in their story. Then, in the last couple of chapters, all of Bastien and Ember’s secrets are revealed, the climax is written and the story ends. No, character growth, no relationship development, no challenges and nothing intriguing. Their story reads as if someone other than Sherilynn wrote it.
If this book had been described as a set of The League short stories, I would have still purchased it but I may have waited until it dropped in price.
This book is not essential for you to read to stay up-to-date in this series. You could skip this book without missing anything.
February 14, 2017
2/3 of the book is regurgitating events and scenes that took place in previous books word by words.
The 1/3 that is new material is divided into two parts. The first part is how Bastien and Ember met and their history before they ended up on the run. That part was perfect. The pace was good. I was fully engaged with the characters. The second half of the new material is what took place after Born of Legend (The League, #9) ended. The action part was a disaster in my opinion. There wasn't enough details or pages on what was the most crucial part of the story. As a long time readers of the series, I felt I was let down.
The 1/3 that is new material is divided into two parts. The first part is how Bastien and Ember met and their history before they ended up on the run. That part was perfect. The pace was good. I was fully engaged with the characters. The second half of the new material is what took place after Born of Legend (The League, #9) ended. The action part was a disaster in my opinion. There wasn't enough details or pages on what was the most crucial part of the story. As a long time readers of the series, I felt I was let down.
March 20, 2017
After the last League book by Kenyon, I was really disappointed by this read. For about 70% it was a rehash of the other League books, with each MC from those books who interacted with Bastien in their books, telling Bastien's side of the story. The other 30% was the H and h together for a little bit at the beginning of the book setting up their story and at the end when they reunite. I just found myself reading through the book to finally get to the ending.
The heroine's reasons for refusing to marry Bastien were stupid. It wasn't anything like some of the other books with them getting torn away from each other by deceit. Well, there was deceit but that door was opened with the stupidity and cowardliness of the heroine. What she did opened the door to all that happened. She was afraid to be with him because his family didn't like her. It was a very poor reason to keep them apart. However, the one redeeming quality is that she knows she was an idiot. In fact, she even calls herself an idiot in the book. However, I don't feel that she had the right to be upset with Bas for anything he did. She brought it all on herself and I didn't feel a tiny bit sorry for her.
When they do finally reunite at almost 75% I didn't feel any connection between them, maybe because they hardly spent anytime together. I mean, at the beginning, it starts with him asking her out and she agrees and immediately it is the next chapter, a year later where she is leaving him, afterhe proposes marriage publicly to her. We didn't really get any of their time together to really see their affection and love for one another grow.
At the end when they reunite there is so much other stuff happening that you don't really care about the two of them all that much. Even when Bas meets his son for the first time, I hardly felt anything. It was kept secret even from the reader for most of the book.
This book had the potential to be so much better than it was. Jullien and Ushara's book was super long but it worked for me because we got to see them interact with each, love each other, spend time with one another and their kids, all while going over Jullien's back story and the ongoing stories of all the other characters she brings into the books. It's like she just wanted to get Bastien and Ember's story written and move on to something else. I don't feel like much time was spent on this story, especially since most of it, as I said earlier, was a rehash of the other League series books.
In regards to her evil sister, her death was too easy, but then again, this whole book was just like that. This book felt like a filler book and left me disappointed.
ETA: Quotes to show that the heroine at least realizes she was an idiot. Oh and that Bas was totally romantic!
Quotes:
♥ “Keep this snuggled between your breasts, Ember. And whenever I’m not with you, remember that you have a piece of me here. More than that, you carry my heart wherever you go. The universe can take any and everything from you, but no one will ever take my love away. It’s yours alone to have and to hold. Forever.”
♦ She’d allowed her own fears to override her joy, and her ability to see how much she relied on him. Cut his heart out when he offered it to her, and she knew it.
♦ Because she was an idiot.
The heroine's reasons for refusing to marry Bastien were stupid. It wasn't anything like some of the other books with them getting torn away from each other by deceit. Well, there was deceit but that door was opened with the stupidity and cowardliness of the heroine. What she did opened the door to all that happened. She was afraid to be with him because his family didn't like her. It was a very poor reason to keep them apart. However, the one redeeming quality is that she knows she was an idiot. In fact, she even calls herself an idiot in the book. However, I don't feel that she had the right to be upset with Bas for anything he did. She brought it all on herself and I didn't feel a tiny bit sorry for her.
When they do finally reunite at almost 75% I didn't feel any connection between them, maybe because they hardly spent anytime together. I mean, at the beginning, it starts with him asking her out and she agrees and immediately it is the next chapter, a year later where she is leaving him, afterhe proposes marriage publicly to her. We didn't really get any of their time together to really see their affection and love for one another grow.
At the end when they reunite there is so much other stuff happening that you don't really care about the two of them all that much. Even when Bas meets his son for the first time, I hardly felt anything. It was kept secret even from the reader for most of the book.
This book had the potential to be so much better than it was. Jullien and Ushara's book was super long but it worked for me because we got to see them interact with each, love each other, spend time with one another and their kids, all while going over Jullien's back story and the ongoing stories of all the other characters she brings into the books. It's like she just wanted to get Bastien and Ember's story written and move on to something else. I don't feel like much time was spent on this story, especially since most of it, as I said earlier, was a rehash of the other League series books.
In regards to her evil sister, her death was too easy, but then again, this whole book was just like that. This book felt like a filler book and left me disappointed.
ETA: Quotes to show that the heroine at least realizes she was an idiot. Oh and that Bas was totally romantic!
Quotes:
♥ “Keep this snuggled between your breasts, Ember. And whenever I’m not with you, remember that you have a piece of me here. More than that, you carry my heart wherever you go. The universe can take any and everything from you, but no one will ever take my love away. It’s yours alone to have and to hold. Forever.”
♦ She’d allowed her own fears to override her joy, and her ability to see how much she relied on him. Cut his heart out when he offered it to her, and she knew it.
♦ Because she was an idiot.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 30, 2017
This book gets released on my birthday. :-).
5 stars
Nice to see that Bastien got his own story. Glad he will be able to be happy with Ember. Happy they were able to stop Barnabas. Hope that Bastien will do well as emperor. Also hope to see more of the Sentella-League war. Also nice to see the bonus story at the end with Nyk and Jullien. Hope they will become brothers soon.
Can't wait to read Born of Trouble!!!!
5 stars
Nice to see that Bastien got his own story. Glad he will be able to be happy with Ember. Happy they were able to stop Barnabas. Hope that Bastien will do well as emperor. Also hope to see more of the Sentella-League war. Also nice to see the bonus story at the end with Nyk and Jullien. Hope they will become brothers soon.
Can't wait to read Born of Trouble!!!!
February 12, 2017
Although I absolutely LOVED parts of this story (the new material), the majority was just a re-telling of the same scenes from previous books. Really, about 75% of this story is composed of parts from previous books.
The author set up the premise of the story quite well; however, it was sadly predictable from the beginning and failed to give credence to the actions and reactions of the H and h throughout the story. The H and h were rarely together (about 25% total in the entire book) and when they were, I did not feel the emotions the author was trying to convey between them. There was so much going on with the story between the H and h and their families that the minuscule amount of page space given did not do the H and h's story justice. Instead we were forced to read what I consider a slightly elaborated and roughly edited outline of this story with 75% of recycled "fluff" added in. Harsh...yes, but when the "new" parts of the story that are about the relationship between the H and h start out with "3 months later, or "he remembered when," are combined with VERY LITTLE supporting information, it stands out like a sore thumb. Combine this with the amount of recycled content from previous stories, it just makes the author appear lazy.
I was sorely underwhelmed with this story and would definitely recommend waiting until the price drops to purchase.
The author set up the premise of the story quite well; however, it was sadly predictable from the beginning and failed to give credence to the actions and reactions of the H and h throughout the story. The H and h were rarely together (about 25% total in the entire book) and when they were, I did not feel the emotions the author was trying to convey between them. There was so much going on with the story between the H and h and their families that the minuscule amount of page space given did not do the H and h's story justice. Instead we were forced to read what I consider a slightly elaborated and roughly edited outline of this story with 75% of recycled "fluff" added in. Harsh...yes, but when the "new" parts of the story that are about the relationship between the H and h start out with "3 months later, or "he remembered when," are combined with VERY LITTLE supporting information, it stands out like a sore thumb. Combine this with the amount of recycled content from previous stories, it just makes the author appear lazy.
I was sorely underwhelmed with this story and would definitely recommend waiting until the price drops to purchase.
March 24, 2017
Belongs to the following series: The League: Nemesis Rising #10, The League #12. Bastien Caberro is the third born of the Kirovarian emperor. When his family is slaughtered, he is accused of their deaths and instead of being executed, he is declared Ravin by The League. Which means he is tagged for the assassins. It is Bastien's goal to survive long enough to get his revenge on the true murderer.
This takes place at the same time as other books in the series so there is a lot of scenes that are very familiar but told from a different view. I felt the romance portion suffered but it was still a satisfying read for me. If you read it for the whole package and not just the romance then I think most readers will be okay with it.
This takes place at the same time as other books in the series so there is a lot of scenes that are very familiar but told from a different view. I felt the romance portion suffered but it was still a satisfying read for me. If you read it for the whole package and not just the romance then I think most readers will be okay with it.
February 10, 2017
This author has become lazy. Same story over and over. For the price it costs now I don't think SK is worth the money anymore.
Always main characters betrayed by family members or girl friend. Same story's just different names.
Always main characters betrayed by family members or girl friend. Same story's just different names.
February 23, 2017
DNF... got no words for this crap
September 17, 2022
Major Ember Wyldestarrin was almost over her sister, Alura sleeping with her last boyfriend when she’s told her new partner is recently demoted celebrity playboy prince Captain Bastien Cabarro when a bomb hits critical areas in and near their base Rushing to clear the rubble, Em finds Alura being rescued by Bas and hours later has a message from Bas asking her out.
Bas and Em’s romance progresses to a proposal much to Bas’ family’s chagrin due to their stations. Em sees a promise of a bleak future for her and Bas if she accepts. Em harshly breaks both their hearts, ending their personal and professional relationships. Alura makes herself more than available with a fresh bag of trickery determined to tie herself tightly to Bas.
Needing to clear his mind, Bas overhears part of a transmission about military details and his family’s schedule. When he reports it, Bas is told he was under too much stress. When his family is slaughtered and Bas is arrested at the scene, Alura’s testimony is she overheard Bas plot his family's deaths and relating military secrets, ensuring Bas’ conviction.
A disgraced Bas is sentenced to 15 years as a Ravin, a live target for League training, with a tracking device embedded in his body and a life expectancy of eight weeks. Em fought tears at Bas' sentencing and knew Bas was innocent just as she knew Alura lied and was involved in whatever the conspiracy was that saw Bas' uncle ascend to the throne.
,
Alura’s soon on the witness stand again testifying their family were traitors to the throne. Hunted, Em becomes Tavali to survive. After nearly a decade, Bas has beat the odds, living mostly solitary on a sparse planet, visits from random bounty hunters, the Tavali and Sentella keep Bas skills sharp despite his tracker, until a face-off makes the isolated bunker unsafe.
Rating: 4.25stars
Bas and Em’s romance progresses to a proposal much to Bas’ family’s chagrin due to their stations. Em sees a promise of a bleak future for her and Bas if she accepts. Em harshly breaks both their hearts, ending their personal and professional relationships. Alura makes herself more than available with a fresh bag of trickery determined to tie herself tightly to Bas.
Needing to clear his mind, Bas overhears part of a transmission about military details and his family’s schedule. When he reports it, Bas is told he was under too much stress. When his family is slaughtered and Bas is arrested at the scene, Alura’s testimony is she overheard Bas plot his family's deaths and relating military secrets, ensuring Bas’ conviction.
A disgraced Bas is sentenced to 15 years as a Ravin, a live target for League training, with a tracking device embedded in his body and a life expectancy of eight weeks. Em fought tears at Bas' sentencing and knew Bas was innocent just as she knew Alura lied and was involved in whatever the conspiracy was that saw Bas' uncle ascend to the throne.
,
Alura’s soon on the witness stand again testifying their family were traitors to the throne. Hunted, Em becomes Tavali to survive. After nearly a decade, Bas has beat the odds, living mostly solitary on a sparse planet, visits from random bounty hunters, the Tavali and Sentella keep Bas skills sharp despite his tracker, until a face-off makes the isolated bunker unsafe.
Rating: 4.25stars
February 9, 2017
Sooooo, I pre-ordered this book because SK is one of my favorite authors and in my eyes, she can do no wrong. Especially in this particular series. BUT, I was sorely disappointed with this book. It was boring, the two main characters went basically the entire middle 3/5 book without any interaction, and the whole thing seemed to be in fast forward making the timeline foggy and hard to keep up with. Some chapters and passages were labeled ___ years later, or ____ weeks later, and then some weren't labeled at all, leaving you to figure out the weird time jumps on your own.
Plus, the main issue that initially broke up Bas and Ember? The big reveal? NEVER HAPPENED. What the hell?! Ember just totally ignored the fact that Bas's father threatened them if they got married and never told Bastien what happened after I spent the whole book waiting for it. And then that same father never seemed to protest the fact that he married the sister instead.
The characters were really just kind of weird and inconsistent and unbelievable to me, especially Bastien and the sister (you know which one) and there was no real reasoning or explanation behind her douchbaggery. Overall, I think the 3 star rating was kind of generous, and I'm even more disappointed because I waited with bated breath for this book to come out and I love SK so much. Sad face! I'll definitely do an in depth book talk on my channel soon
Plus, the main issue that initially broke up Bas and Ember? The big reveal? NEVER HAPPENED. What the hell?! Ember just totally ignored the fact that Bas's father threatened them if they got married and never told Bastien what happened after I spent the whole book waiting for it. And then that same father never seemed to protest the fact that he married the sister instead.
The characters were really just kind of weird and inconsistent and unbelievable to me, especially Bastien and the sister (you know which one) and there was no real reasoning or explanation behind her douchbaggery. Overall, I think the 3 star rating was kind of generous, and I'm even more disappointed because I waited with bated breath for this book to come out and I love SK so much. Sad face! I'll definitely do an in depth book talk on my channel soon
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2018
I read this book but apparently forgot to log it in nor include a review, but dah, Sherrilyn Kenyon is my crack. Only reason is I went for four star rating is I can't remember specifics about book so therefore I hesitate to give full on supported five star.
April 26, 2017
Romance readers will dislike that the first half of this book (which is relatively short considering its predecessor was 800+ pages of pissing and moaning) is a glorified prologue. They'll also dislike that there's a secret baby, that within a few hours of being reunited (after *8* years apart), the H/h are getting it on in an x-wing (or whatever the fighter du jour is in this particular universe.
I wanted to like this book. Really, I did, because it was refreshing to be inside the heads of people who weren't constantly thinking of how rotten their pasts were, etc. But...it was very choppy, iike without all the navel gazing, she couldn't come up with anything to write. Or she didn't consider things important enough to actually finish the scene. Really, how else do you explain why our H/h and friends are shot down in enemy territory, and the next paragraph, they're storming the castle? No idea where the couple they'd rescued before being shot down were, no idea how they got out of that predicament. Apparently it was unimportant. I don't know about the rest of the readership, but I'd like to know. Really, if you have the balls to write an 800 page book of navel-gazing punctuated with the occasional sex or fight scene, why would you worry about making a 400ish page book too long by actually finishing a scene?
And there were other scenes where I reread them to see if I missed something because some important exchange had apparently occurred off-page, but we were only informed of it offhand.
The characters...well, they were fine, though I did question his intelligence at going out with her sister seeing as how he knew what she was like. And I questioned the h's intelligence at not talking to him. Beyond that, eh.
I wanted to like this book. Really, I did, because it was refreshing to be inside the heads of people who weren't constantly thinking of how rotten their pasts were, etc. But...it was very choppy, iike without all the navel gazing, she couldn't come up with anything to write. Or she didn't consider things important enough to actually finish the scene. Really, how else do you explain why our H/h and friends are shot down in enemy territory, and the next paragraph, they're storming the castle? No idea where the couple they'd rescued before being shot down were, no idea how they got out of that predicament. Apparently it was unimportant. I don't know about the rest of the readership, but I'd like to know. Really, if you have the balls to write an 800 page book of navel-gazing punctuated with the occasional sex or fight scene, why would you worry about making a 400ish page book too long by actually finishing a scene?
And there were other scenes where I reread them to see if I missed something because some important exchange had apparently occurred off-page, but we were only informed of it offhand.
The characters...well, they were fine, though I did question his intelligence at going out with her sister seeing as how he knew what she was like. And I questioned the h's intelligence at not talking to him. Beyond that, eh.
February 10, 2017
As always with any book written by Kenyon, this book was practically impossible to put down and I finished in a day! However, I do not think this was her strongest book in this series. This is for a couple reasons but mainly because her different narration choices in this book took away from her signature style.
1) The prologue and first chapter were incredibly confusing because she kept jumping ahead, sometimes skipping months or a year at a time. The reader never got to witness Bastien's and Ember's year of dating, the months leading up to Bastien's marriage to Alura and months of marriage. The eventual murdering of his family was pretty much skipped over. This made Alura a pretty hollow villain and took away many chances for Kenyon to elaborate on this love story and destroy the reader's heart like she usually does. In Darling's story she never let a day go by without explaining the horror and the mix-up that lead to that love story, but here it almost seemed like this book had to be shorter for some reason so she just cut stuff out. New readers might like this, but fans of her work will not.
2) There was maybe one or two sex scenes in the entire book and both happened in the last parts of the book. This was mostly just surprising because usually Kenyon adds a lot more sexual tension, maybe she got tired of it?
Overall she does a great job of bringing different character stories together and this was a great addition to the series, just not the best. It had a lot more plot and seemed to suffer the second-book-in-a-trilogy-syndrome where plot advancement is made a priority and can leave the story feeling dull.
1) The prologue and first chapter were incredibly confusing because she kept jumping ahead, sometimes skipping months or a year at a time. The reader never got to witness Bastien's and Ember's year of dating, the months leading up to Bastien's marriage to Alura and months of marriage. The eventual murdering of his family was pretty much skipped over. This made Alura a pretty hollow villain and took away many chances for Kenyon to elaborate on this love story and destroy the reader's heart like she usually does. In Darling's story she never let a day go by without explaining the horror and the mix-up that lead to that love story, but here it almost seemed like this book had to be shorter for some reason so she just cut stuff out. New readers might like this, but fans of her work will not.
2) There was maybe one or two sex scenes in the entire book and both happened in the last parts of the book. This was mostly just surprising because usually Kenyon adds a lot more sexual tension, maybe she got tired of it?
Overall she does a great job of bringing different character stories together and this was a great addition to the series, just not the best. It had a lot more plot and seemed to suffer the second-book-in-a-trilogy-syndrome where plot advancement is made a priority and can leave the story feeling dull.
February 27, 2017
Tenth in The League: Nemesis Rising science fiction romance soap opera series and revolving around warrior outcasts, royal and otherwise, in the Ichidian Universe. The focus is on Bastien Cabarro, branded murderer and former prince of Kirovar.
My Take
Using third-person point-of-view, Born of Vengeance is a soap opera of warring, betraying characters. I wish Kenyon had included a family tree to show how everyone is related, egods. I'm not even sure this one would make sense (relationship-wise) if I'd read every story one after the other. Mmm, just figured out that the last The League story I read was back in 2012.
I do like Kenyon's The League series, in general, because the good guys win and woman are equal. But part of my problem here was Kenyon's leaping about in the story and amongst the characters. Too many pronouns that I couldn't attribute to a name(s). Of course, part of my problem could be that I've missed the last four stories in the series. Where does the time go?? And Kenyon does not do well with explaining these organizations, countries, families, what have you…
As for Born of Vengeance, this is one where I didn't like the primary female protagonist. What an idiot. As for her family…oh, lord. Another bunch of idiots. Sure, they're good at what they do, but they're still stupider than turkeys, and Alura was a weak excuse to set up this soap opera.
I really, really don't understand why the sisters haven't cut Alura off. If I had a sister who was this bad, she'd be dismissed from my orbit so fast. As for Bastien's siblings (and his father), I'm sorry, but Kenyon did not endear them to me; all they do is shriek at him, denigrate him, and abuse him, which seems to be a family failing on both the paternal and maternal sides. In the "second" half of the book, she's trying to make them, seem all endearing, but it ain't working. Not after the way she depicted them at the start.
Bastien is a great guy, even if he does make a few bad choices — why wouldn't he insist on a DNA test before marrying the bitch?
Events in Born of Vengeance do demonstrate why you can't accept any kind of celebrity news as gospel truth. Poor guy. Especially when Ember has her sacrificial moment. Oh. Brother. One of those tropes I really hate: the I'll-sacrifice-my-love-for-love-of-my-man. She's been with the guy for a year and doesn't get it?
The series description claims you can read each story without having read the others, and I'd have to agree with that…f you're the type who isn't that interested in other characters' stories. And Born of Vengeance is interesting (if incredibly confusing) to read, if only to find out how it all works out. And that "interesting" is why I bumped it up to a "3".
The Story
A cataclysmic betrayal finds Bastien on the run from all he held dear, all that's left of what he loved, anyway. Branded, declared a murderer, he's been sentenced to running from his executioners in a situation where the average life span is six weeks.
It's pure and absolute luck that Bastien finds allies, friends, who understand.
The Characters
Captain (and visir) Bastien "Badger" Cabarro. His mother, Øda / Ødara, Lia Triosan ydayra Cabarro (Triosan is her maiden name), is empress. His father, Sa / Saðir, is the emperor of Kirovar, Newell Cabarro. Quin is Bastien's oldest brother and heir to the throne; Myrna is a political activist whose tongue was cut out. Lilian is their older sister. Commander General Barnabas Cabarro is in command of both the Gyron Force, prime commander of the the Kirovarian armed forces, and Bastien's uncle. Cala is one of Barnabas' granddaughters and Neville's daughter. Jackson is another uncle. Iskander Zeki is Bastien's illegitimate half-brother with his father's mistress, Odile.
The Sentella is…
…a rival organization to the League. Prince Nykyrian "Nyk", a.k.a., Nemesis, is Jullien's twin brother and head of the Sentella. Thia Quiakides is Nyk's daughter. Kiara is Nyk's second wife ( Born of Night , 1). Terry, Tier, Adron, Jayce, and Zarina are the rest of their children.
Prince Jullien eton Anatole is Bastien's favorite cousin, even if he is half Andarion and half human, and the child his family despises. He becomes a Tavali officer. Ushara is Jullien's wife with Vasili, her son and Jullien's adopted son. Viv and Mira are their twin daughters. Vidar is born during this story.
Aros eton Anatole is Jullien's hateful father (his paka), Bastien's maternal uncle, and emperor of his own lands. Cairistiona is the woman Aros wanted to marry; I think she's Jullien and Nyk's mother. Jullien's maternal Andarion grandmother, Eriadne, is nuts and has had most of her family assassinated.
Fain Hauk is an Andarion and had been a friend of Bastien's; Omira Antaxes is his ex-wife. Galene Batur is the woman who has always had Fain's heart. Talyn "Iron Hammer" is an Andarion Ring fighter and Fain's son. Dancer "Akuma" Hauk is Jullien's best friend, Fain's younger brother, and former League, now a Sentella. Darice is Dancer's nephew. Sumi, Omira's sister, is a trained League assassin and with Dancer. Kalea Hauk.
Prince Darling "Kere" Cruel is an old Caronese schoolmate of Bastien's and a Sentella. He's married to Zarya ( Born of Silence , 5); they've just had a baby son, Cezar. Prince Drake Cruel is Darling's brother; his ship is Saker Mara.
Ryn "Precious Cargo" Dane is an older half-brother and ambassador of the Tavali joint Nations and the Wasturnum VA. Ryn's wife is the pregnant Mack. Hermione "Kirren" is Ryn's mother. Yra is first officer on Ryn's ship.
Gorturnum Tavali
I think they're an organization like the League and Sentella. Ember hooks up with the Tavalis. Florian "Rian" is her son. Jalyna "Jay" Xever, a Fyreblood Andarion and captain of their ship. Ushara is also the Tavali's vice admiral and Jay's sister. Trajen is their high admiral.
Prince Chayden Aniwaya of the Qill empire. Caillen Dagan is his nephew and Princess Desideria's husband ( Born of Shadows , 4).
Syn Wade is Ritadarion ( Born of Fire , 2). Xander. They're with Dancer: Jupiter "Jup" Hinto. I'm not sure, but it's possible that Jory Woods Hinto, son of Gadgehe Hinto (the HAP of the Septurnum Nation) is also Jupiter. Unira Samari is a high priestess and Jullien's adoptive mother, Thrāix is a Trisani. I think he's had a son with his wife, Mary: Admon Simon Eteocles Sparda, a.k.a., Sphinx. Ushara is Mary's sister. Driana was someone's daughter.
Major Ember "Wildstar" Wyldestarrin was Gyron Force and in love with Bastien. Lieutenant Aurora "Alura" Wyldestarrin is Ember's baby sister, a nasty bitch whom I don't understand why her sisters haven't killed her yet. Kindel, Cinder (she's married to Tasi), Brandy, and Ashley. Brandon is their deluded father; Colonel Charlotte Wyldestarrin is their equally deluded mother. Aunt Tish.
Gyron Force is…
…an elite military unit in Kinrovia. Colonel Werrin is Ember's superior officer assigning her an unwanted subject. Colonel Syrin Dayan is Ember's ex. General Dayan is Syrin's father.
The League was…
…an alliance originally formed (under the leadership of the Quorum) to battle a ruthless tyrant and evolved into a universal police organization. The League Assassins is a subgroup of soldiers. Unfortunately, the League itself has become corrupt. It's currently led by Kyr Zemin. A Ravin has a target painted on them, used for practice by League assassins-to-be.
Safir Jari was a League assassin and Zemin's younger brother until Kyr declared him a traitor.
The Trigon Court is headed up by Alia, the Overseer. Justiss had been Kindel's angry husband, who provides the reasoning behind Ember's stupid decision. Zusa means sister. I think a theren is a brother. A monidar is the ruler. Aksel Bredeh is a now-dead scumbag whose house is located on the Oksanan desert planet. Hiller is one of the Bolodorians, freelance assassins. The Dread Reckoning are lawless renegades and miscreants. Pheara and Telise are part of a group of female bounty hunters. Dancer keeps calling them haritas.
Andarions have fangs. Trisani have psionic powers and are a virtually extinct race. Other planets/races include the Caronese, Garvons, Gourish, and Exeterians.
The Cover and Title
The cover is DARK with Bastien's face emerging from a deep brown background. In front of him is an elaborate sword hilt. The author's name and title are in an embossed gold…a lousy choice as neither stands out. The tiny series information is in white at the bottom.
The title is Born of Vengeance and could be the new Bastien who comes through.
My Take
Using third-person point-of-view, Born of Vengeance is a soap opera of warring, betraying characters. I wish Kenyon had included a family tree to show how everyone is related, egods. I'm not even sure this one would make sense (relationship-wise) if I'd read every story one after the other. Mmm, just figured out that the last The League story I read was back in 2012.
I do like Kenyon's The League series, in general, because the good guys win and woman are equal. But part of my problem here was Kenyon's leaping about in the story and amongst the characters. Too many pronouns that I couldn't attribute to a name(s). Of course, part of my problem could be that I've missed the last four stories in the series. Where does the time go?? And Kenyon does not do well with explaining these organizations, countries, families, what have you…
As for Born of Vengeance, this is one where I didn't like the primary female protagonist. What an idiot. As for her family…oh, lord. Another bunch of idiots. Sure, they're good at what they do, but they're still stupider than turkeys, and Alura was a weak excuse to set up this soap opera.
I really, really don't understand why the sisters haven't cut Alura off. If I had a sister who was this bad, she'd be dismissed from my orbit so fast. As for Bastien's siblings (and his father), I'm sorry, but Kenyon did not endear them to me; all they do is shriek at him, denigrate him, and abuse him, which seems to be a family failing on both the paternal and maternal sides. In the "second" half of the book, she's trying to make them, seem all endearing, but it ain't working. Not after the way she depicted them at the start.
Bastien is a great guy, even if he does make a few bad choices — why wouldn't he insist on a DNA test before marrying the bitch?
Events in Born of Vengeance do demonstrate why you can't accept any kind of celebrity news as gospel truth. Poor guy. Especially when Ember has her sacrificial moment. Oh. Brother. One of those tropes I really hate: the I'll-sacrifice-my-love-for-love-of-my-man. She's been with the guy for a year and doesn't get it?
The series description claims you can read each story without having read the others, and I'd have to agree with that…f you're the type who isn't that interested in other characters' stories. And Born of Vengeance is interesting (if incredibly confusing) to read, if only to find out how it all works out. And that "interesting" is why I bumped it up to a "3".
The Story
A cataclysmic betrayal finds Bastien on the run from all he held dear, all that's left of what he loved, anyway. Branded, declared a murderer, he's been sentenced to running from his executioners in a situation where the average life span is six weeks.
It's pure and absolute luck that Bastien finds allies, friends, who understand.
The Characters
Captain (and visir) Bastien "Badger" Cabarro. His mother, Øda / Ødara, Lia Triosan ydayra Cabarro (Triosan is her maiden name), is empress. His father, Sa / Saðir, is the emperor of Kirovar, Newell Cabarro. Quin is Bastien's oldest brother and heir to the throne; Myrna is a political activist whose tongue was cut out. Lilian is their older sister. Commander General Barnabas Cabarro is in command of both the Gyron Force, prime commander of the the Kirovarian armed forces, and Bastien's uncle. Cala is one of Barnabas' granddaughters and Neville's daughter. Jackson is another uncle. Iskander Zeki is Bastien's illegitimate half-brother with his father's mistress, Odile.
The Sentella is…
…a rival organization to the League. Prince Nykyrian "Nyk", a.k.a., Nemesis, is Jullien's twin brother and head of the Sentella. Thia Quiakides is Nyk's daughter. Kiara is Nyk's second wife ( Born of Night , 1). Terry, Tier, Adron, Jayce, and Zarina are the rest of their children.
Prince Jullien eton Anatole is Bastien's favorite cousin, even if he is half Andarion and half human, and the child his family despises. He becomes a Tavali officer. Ushara is Jullien's wife with Vasili, her son and Jullien's adopted son. Viv and Mira are their twin daughters. Vidar is born during this story.
Aros eton Anatole is Jullien's hateful father (his paka), Bastien's maternal uncle, and emperor of his own lands. Cairistiona is the woman Aros wanted to marry; I think she's Jullien and Nyk's mother. Jullien's maternal Andarion grandmother, Eriadne, is nuts and has had most of her family assassinated.
Fain Hauk is an Andarion and had been a friend of Bastien's; Omira Antaxes is his ex-wife. Galene Batur is the woman who has always had Fain's heart. Talyn "Iron Hammer" is an Andarion Ring fighter and Fain's son. Dancer "Akuma" Hauk is Jullien's best friend, Fain's younger brother, and former League, now a Sentella. Darice is Dancer's nephew. Sumi, Omira's sister, is a trained League assassin and with Dancer. Kalea Hauk.
Prince Darling "Kere" Cruel is an old Caronese schoolmate of Bastien's and a Sentella. He's married to Zarya ( Born of Silence , 5); they've just had a baby son, Cezar. Prince Drake Cruel is Darling's brother; his ship is Saker Mara.
Ryn "Precious Cargo" Dane is an older half-brother and ambassador of the Tavali joint Nations and the Wasturnum VA. Ryn's wife is the pregnant Mack. Hermione "Kirren" is Ryn's mother. Yra is first officer on Ryn's ship.
Gorturnum Tavali
I think they're an organization like the League and Sentella. Ember hooks up with the Tavalis. Florian "Rian" is her son. Jalyna "Jay" Xever, a Fyreblood Andarion and captain of their ship. Ushara is also the Tavali's vice admiral and Jay's sister. Trajen is their high admiral.
Prince Chayden Aniwaya of the Qill empire. Caillen Dagan is his nephew and Princess Desideria's husband ( Born of Shadows , 4).
Syn Wade is Ritadarion ( Born of Fire , 2). Xander. They're with Dancer: Jupiter "Jup" Hinto. I'm not sure, but it's possible that Jory Woods Hinto, son of Gadgehe Hinto (the HAP of the Septurnum Nation) is also Jupiter. Unira Samari is a high priestess and Jullien's adoptive mother, Thrāix is a Trisani. I think he's had a son with his wife, Mary: Admon Simon Eteocles Sparda, a.k.a., Sphinx. Ushara is Mary's sister. Driana was someone's daughter.
Major Ember "Wildstar" Wyldestarrin was Gyron Force and in love with Bastien. Lieutenant Aurora "Alura" Wyldestarrin is Ember's baby sister, a nasty bitch whom I don't understand why her sisters haven't killed her yet. Kindel, Cinder (she's married to Tasi), Brandy, and Ashley. Brandon is their deluded father; Colonel Charlotte Wyldestarrin is their equally deluded mother. Aunt Tish.
Gyron Force is…
…an elite military unit in Kinrovia. Colonel Werrin is Ember's superior officer assigning her an unwanted subject. Colonel Syrin Dayan is Ember's ex. General Dayan is Syrin's father.
The League was…
…an alliance originally formed (under the leadership of the Quorum) to battle a ruthless tyrant and evolved into a universal police organization. The League Assassins is a subgroup of soldiers. Unfortunately, the League itself has become corrupt. It's currently led by Kyr Zemin. A Ravin has a target painted on them, used for practice by League assassins-to-be.
Safir Jari was a League assassin and Zemin's younger brother until Kyr declared him a traitor.
The Trigon Court is headed up by Alia, the Overseer. Justiss had been Kindel's angry husband, who provides the reasoning behind Ember's stupid decision. Zusa means sister. I think a theren is a brother. A monidar is the ruler. Aksel Bredeh is a now-dead scumbag whose house is located on the Oksanan desert planet. Hiller is one of the Bolodorians, freelance assassins. The Dread Reckoning are lawless renegades and miscreants. Pheara and Telise are part of a group of female bounty hunters. Dancer keeps calling them haritas.
Andarions have fangs. Trisani have psionic powers and are a virtually extinct race. Other planets/races include the Caronese, Garvons, Gourish, and Exeterians.
The Cover and Title
The cover is DARK with Bastien's face emerging from a deep brown background. In front of him is an elaborate sword hilt. The author's name and title are in an embossed gold…a lousy choice as neither stands out. The tiny series information is in white at the bottom.
The title is Born of Vengeance and could be the new Bastien who comes through.
February 16, 2017
It pains me to give this review after having loved the last book. 2.5 stars, only because I'm feeling generous after listening to the short at the end. Retelling the series from the beginning, with a different point of view, worked for Born of Legend, and in some ways it was even necessary for readers to understand Julien/Dagger. Rehashing old books in such detail, especially after the last book, didn't feel necessary here, and for me it didn't work. The new material was rushed, and I was left disappointed. ETA 2/15/17: I changed my mind and updated my stars.
I do continue to love the narrator. Fred Berman does a great job.
I do continue to love the narrator. Fred Berman does a great job.
March 21, 2017
I really want to know how she does this, ok, not so much with the last one legend?
but the few before it, in the league series and there was a couple with the dark hunter series too, with the two were brothers,
when all these books were happening during the same time period. League books,
it's like she wrote them all at the same time,
this is bastien's story............
but at the same time you re-live previous events or things that happened in previous books, but this time through bastien's eyes,
as one time it was through nyk, eyes then one time through julien's eyes, cyn's eyes,
maris's eyes,
it's absolutely amazing,
you need to read this series in order to be able to follow the events,
but the few before it, in the league series and there was a couple with the dark hunter series too, with the two were brothers,
when all these books were happening during the same time period. League books,
it's like she wrote them all at the same time,
this is bastien's story............
but at the same time you re-live previous events or things that happened in previous books, but this time through bastien's eyes,
as one time it was through nyk, eyes then one time through julien's eyes, cyn's eyes,
maris's eyes,
it's absolutely amazing,
you need to read this series in order to be able to follow the events,
April 27, 2017
Very disappointed. Basically the entire book was a recap of the other books in this series with just a twist here and there of something new. This really makes me sad as this was one of my favorite series.
August 27, 2020
This could have been so much more
I borrowed this book from the local library. Maybe that is why I am not as much disappointed as if I actually had paid my hard earned cash for it.
Nevertheless the writing was not what I am used to from a Sherrilyn Kenyon book. Maybe it was in the crux of the characters that it didn't work out well.
A lot of the chapters are chopped off, leaving a lot to the reader's imagination. Stuff is mentioned but not really elaborated. There are a few loose ends, that do not get any explanation.
The two main characters meet in the beginning of the book and find each other again at the end. In between it rehashes scenes from previous books. While I am all for it to see my friends from the series again, showing the same incidents through Bastien's POV makes the book not an iota better.
The book throws up more questions than it answers.
Do not read on if you haven't read the book yet as my review is riddled with spoilers!!!
It begins with Ember and Bastien meeting for the first time. She is prejudiced but gets to know a different side of Bastien . They seem to be attracted to each other but get together only for the wrong reasons.
Ember comes from a military family where all members apart from the youngest daughter are one way or another serving in the Kirovarian military.
Bastien is the youngest prince of the Kirovarian Royal Family. He is trained by the military but has a daring attitude and believes himself to be cocky and spoiled. Yet his family life isn't much better than that of some of his friends. His siblings are constantly raving at him, his father either ignores him or shows open disgust, only his mother is protecting him against anyone who tries to touch him.
Jump a year ahead and we missed the development of a young love, a relationship that should have been firm and strong, but is nothing alike. There is no back ground info what has happened in the last twelve months, no emotional connection between the main characters and the readers.
Separation of the happy couple and arriving on stage is the ruthless sister, picking up the pieces of a heart broken Bastien and blackmails him into a loveless marriage. Sounds like something you have read before? Yeah, not really unique and seems to be quite common when everything goes arse up between star crossed lovers. NOT. - Then all hell breaks loose!!! A coup brings down the Kirovarian empire and Bastien finds himself being accused of murdering his family.
By that stage we follow Bastien who is tortured [I do miss the detailed description that SK used in Nykerian's or Darling's book, even the pain the Hauk brothers went through is more detailed than that little titbit], tried and sentenced to death for a crime (we as readers know) he did not commit. Yes, I know, this is nothing new either. Happened pretty much to most of the League series characters. He is made Ravin (a target for assassins for training and improvement) and let go, as the life expectancy of a Ravin is about six weeks.
The next years are quick stops in events that fans know from previous books. We hardly see or hear anything from Ember. [Did I mention that I told my cat while I was reading that I was more than half way through the book and the hero and heroine had still not been reunited.] As if SK realised she had neglected her heroine for the last 100 pages or so, we get a quick stop of what happened to Ember and her family after the coup. Back to Bastien and another POV .
Have I mentioned the sex yet? I think this are the most boring sex scenes I have read in all SK's books that I have read, lol. Over 400 pages and they do it twice (as I said previously, a lot of skipping) only?! And then in the same position as they have nowhere else to go and do it than in a small space fighter? One bed scene, at the end or even in the beginning with a different position than her on top would have been awesome.
While skimping through the book to make sure I don't get anything wrong I have a few questions jumping up in my brain.
Will the next book answer some of my questions???
My rating: 1 star because I like Bastien, he likes Jullien and gets along with every one.
1 star for seeing Darling Cruel again, even if it is in a scene from a previous book and for Badger and Psycho Bunny, Thraix, the Hauk Brothers, Syn & Nyk.
1 star for the bonus story that has Jullien and Nykerian slowly but surely settling in as brothers and uncles to their children. Awesome. And I am so looking forward to Thia's book. She's gonna kick ass!!!
I borrowed this book from the local library. Maybe that is why I am not as much disappointed as if I actually had paid my hard earned cash for it.
Nevertheless the writing was not what I am used to from a Sherrilyn Kenyon book. Maybe it was in the crux of the characters that it didn't work out well.
A lot of the chapters are chopped off, leaving a lot to the reader's imagination. Stuff is mentioned but not really elaborated. There are a few loose ends, that do not get any explanation.
The two main characters meet in the beginning of the book and find each other again at the end. In between it rehashes scenes from previous books. While I am all for it to see my friends from the series again, showing the same incidents through Bastien's POV makes the book not an iota better.
The book throws up more questions than it answers.
Do not read on if you haven't read the book yet as my review is riddled with spoilers!!!
It begins with Ember and Bastien meeting for the first time. She is prejudiced but gets to know a different side of Bastien . They seem to be attracted to each other but get together only for the wrong reasons.
Ember comes from a military family where all members apart from the youngest daughter are one way or another serving in the Kirovarian military.
Bastien is the youngest prince of the Kirovarian Royal Family. He is trained by the military but has a daring attitude and believes himself to be cocky and spoiled. Yet his family life isn't much better than that of some of his friends. His siblings are constantly raving at him, his father either ignores him or shows open disgust, only his mother is protecting him against anyone who tries to touch him.
Jump a year ahead and we missed the development of a young love, a relationship that should have been firm and strong, but is nothing alike. There is no back ground info what has happened in the last twelve months, no emotional connection between the main characters and the readers.
Separation of the happy couple and arriving on stage is the ruthless sister, picking up the pieces of a heart broken Bastien and blackmails him into a loveless marriage. Sounds like something you have read before? Yeah, not really unique and seems to be quite common when everything goes arse up between star crossed lovers. NOT. - Then all hell breaks loose!!! A coup brings down the Kirovarian empire and Bastien finds himself being accused of murdering his family.
By that stage we follow Bastien who is tortured [I do miss the detailed description that SK used in Nykerian's or Darling's book, even the pain the Hauk brothers went through is more detailed than that little titbit], tried and sentenced to death for a crime (we as readers know) he did not commit. Yes, I know, this is nothing new either. Happened pretty much to most of the League series characters. He is made Ravin (a target for assassins for training and improvement) and let go, as the life expectancy of a Ravin is about six weeks.
The next years are quick stops in events that fans know from previous books. We hardly see or hear anything from Ember. [Did I mention that I told my cat while I was reading that I was more than half way through the book and the hero and heroine had still not been reunited.] As if SK realised she had neglected her heroine for the last 100 pages or so, we get a quick stop of what happened to Ember and her family after the coup. Back to Bastien and another POV .
Have I mentioned the sex yet? I think this are the most boring sex scenes I have read in all SK's books that I have read, lol. Over 400 pages and they do it twice (as I said previously, a lot of skipping) only?! And then in the same position as they have nowhere else to go and do it than in a small space fighter? One bed scene, at the end or even in the beginning with a different position than her on top would have been awesome.
While skimping through the book to make sure I don't get anything wrong I have a few questions jumping up in my brain.
Will the next book answer some of my questions???
My rating: 1 star because I like Bastien, he likes Jullien and gets along with every one.
1 star for seeing Darling Cruel again, even if it is in a scene from a previous book and for Badger and Psycho Bunny, Thraix, the Hauk Brothers, Syn & Nyk.
1 star for the bonus story that has Jullien and Nykerian slowly but surely settling in as brothers and uncles to their children. Awesome. And I am so looking forward to Thia's book. She's gonna kick ass!!!
Read
June 17, 2018This book was a let-down for me. Nothing near as unputdownable or brilliant as the previous book.
We get a lot of back story, which would have been nice if the main part of Bastian's & Ember's story (in the present) would have been more fleshed out and longer. Also, Ember isn't my favorite...stupid girl runs away when it gets tough and never really talked things through. And puts all the blame on Bastian...I don't know what he sees in her...I'm also quite fed up with all the jumping around in the history and reliving long parts of it (and recycling scenes from previous books - there's the editor?!)...meh. I hope for the next book...
We get a lot of back story, which would have been nice if the main part of Bastian's & Ember's story (in the present) would have been more fleshed out and longer. Also, Ember isn't my favorite...stupid girl runs away when it gets tough and never really talked things through. And puts all the blame on Bastian...I don't know what he sees in her...I'm also quite fed up with all the jumping around in the history and reliving long parts of it (and recycling scenes from previous books - there's the editor?!)...meh. I hope for the next book...
March 31, 2017
I love this series......What an amazing addition to the series.
February 11, 2017
I have loved loved loved Sherrilyn Kenyon's work forever. I think I've read everything. And this was my fave series of hers and in this genre.
But this? Good god it was dire. Has she lost her editor? There were typos in it. Actual typos in a Sherrilyn Kenyon book?! And it wasn't a story but a meander with no story.
First off Bastien was great and I liked Ember a lot and that's the only reason I won't ask for my money back! Which I've never before even contemplated.
This was pure lazy. About a third is just cut and paste from the other books which I wouldn't have minded if she'd then added story around it. But nope. There wasn't even a relationship between Ember and Bastien we were just told that they had one.
And unless you've just done an immediate reread of all the League books you'll be lost 70% of the time. You get stuff like 'after the explosion, she... ' . Umm what explosion? Why? Who?
And then it ended. Yep, she did at least finish the sentence but that's it. No idea what happened or why.
For all these years of being a fan I now know she couldn't care less. Her fans are just $$$ to her. Greedy lazy woman
But this? Good god it was dire. Has she lost her editor? There were typos in it. Actual typos in a Sherrilyn Kenyon book?! And it wasn't a story but a meander with no story.
First off Bastien was great and I liked Ember a lot and that's the only reason I won't ask for my money back! Which I've never before even contemplated.
This was pure lazy. About a third is just cut and paste from the other books which I wouldn't have minded if she'd then added story around it. But nope. There wasn't even a relationship between Ember and Bastien we were just told that they had one.
And unless you've just done an immediate reread of all the League books you'll be lost 70% of the time. You get stuff like 'after the explosion, she... ' . Umm what explosion? Why? Who?
And then it ended. Yep, she did at least finish the sentence but that's it. No idea what happened or why.
For all these years of being a fan I now know she couldn't care less. Her fans are just $$$ to her. Greedy lazy woman
October 5, 2017
Gah, this was such a let down and really more of a 2.5 star read than a 3! On one hand, I found it very hard to put down, but at the same time, I felt it wasn’t worth reading!
Most of the plot of this book was rehashings of the previous three novels in the series. We’re told much of the Sentella-League War battles, not actually shown anything, which I was really hoping to see. Ember and Bastien’s romance is told in flashback snippets and we don’t get a real clear picture of them falling for each other, even after a reunion. That is explained away in the “I never fell out of love with you” trope. The retribution that Bastien promised felt rushed, as if it was tacked into the plot. What should have ended the war, just made it extend further, and felt unnecessary.
To me, this felt like the author was forced into writing this novel, and she didn’t really want to do so. Glad I got this one from the library, but I’m hard pressed to say that I’d buy it, even if it was price reduced.
Most of the plot of this book was rehashings of the previous three novels in the series. We’re told much of the Sentella-League War battles, not actually shown anything, which I was really hoping to see. Ember and Bastien’s romance is told in flashback snippets and we don’t get a real clear picture of them falling for each other, even after a reunion. That is explained away in the “I never fell out of love with you” trope. The retribution that Bastien promised felt rushed, as if it was tacked into the plot. What should have ended the war, just made it extend further, and felt unnecessary.
To me, this felt like the author was forced into writing this novel, and she didn’t really want to do so. Glad I got this one from the library, but I’m hard pressed to say that I’d buy it, even if it was price reduced.
February 22, 2017
Bastien Cabarro is prince that no one in his family thinks very much of or considers worthy of notice. Bastien loves Major Ember Wyldestarrin wants a family and future with her but it's not meant to be. Ember is threatened by Bastien's father that he'll never accept Ember as Bastien's mate. Then the unthinkable happens Bastien's family is murdered and Bastien is blamed for it. Bastien vows his innocence and vengeance to anyone who will listen. Can Bastien make good on his vows? Will Bastien be proved innocent? Where is Ember in all of this? Does Ember still love Bastien? Your answers await you in Born of Vengeance.
This is probably one of my favorite books of the series. Two star-crossed lovers reunite through blood and pain to realize several truths about one another. I love stories like this one! Kenyon's writing is crisp and haunting through out the book. It sucks I've got to wait another year before the next book comes out though. Until then Happy Reading!
This is probably one of my favorite books of the series. Two star-crossed lovers reunite through blood and pain to realize several truths about one another. I love stories like this one! Kenyon's writing is crisp and haunting through out the book. It sucks I've got to wait another year before the next book comes out though. Until then Happy Reading!
February 10, 2017
First 2/3 of book was 3 stars
Last 1/3 was 1 star
There are way too many characters for me to remember, and it's confusing to have so many names slung around willy nilly of who is allied and who is fighting, blah, blah, blah.
Kenyon does the usual over-the-top torture of of characters, but it's not so much of a downer as many previous books have been.
Last 1/3 was 1 star
There are way too many characters for me to remember, and it's confusing to have so many names slung around willy nilly of who is allied and who is fighting, blah, blah, blah.
Kenyon does the usual over-the-top torture of of characters, but it's not so much of a downer as many previous books have been.
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