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The Ares Trials #1
The Warrior God
Anger management isn’t so bad when your shrink is gorgeous. It’s less great when you turn up to find him dead on the floor, and an armored giant dressed like a freaking ancient warrior standing over his body though.
Ares, the God of War, has lost his power and the only way for him to get it back? Me. Apparently, I’m a goddess. One with the power of war. I mean, it does explain a lot.
To my relief, Joshua, my shrink and only friend, isn’t really dead. He’s been kidnapped and taken to Olympus—the world where I’m supposed to belong. I vow to do whatever it takes to find him. But Ares has other plans for me. He wants my power, and the easiest way for him to get it is to kill me.
When Hades suggests a compromise, I’m forced to work side-by-side with a giant, murderous warrior god. One with far too many secrets. Ares might be the brute everyone thinks he is, but I’m no angel. He awakens a power within me that I’ve failed to control my whole life.
And I soon discover that Joshua isn’t the only one that needs saving.
Ares, the God of War, has lost his power and the only way for him to get it back? Me. Apparently, I’m a goddess. One with the power of war. I mean, it does explain a lot.
To my relief, Joshua, my shrink and only friend, isn’t really dead. He’s been kidnapped and taken to Olympus—the world where I’m supposed to belong. I vow to do whatever it takes to find him. But Ares has other plans for me. He wants my power, and the easiest way for him to get it is to kill me.
When Hades suggests a compromise, I’m forced to work side-by-side with a giant, murderous warrior god. One with far too many secrets. Ares might be the brute everyone thinks he is, but I’m no angel. He awakens a power within me that I’ve failed to control my whole life.
And I soon discover that Joshua isn’t the only one that needs saving.
266 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 2, 2020
1154 people are currently reading
3428 people want to read
About the author
Eliza Raine
40 books2,653 followersEliza Raine writes Greek mythology inspired fantasy that is fast paced, full of new worlds and creatures and sprinkled with a healthy dose of romance. She lives near Reading in England with her husband, three cats and outrageously cute puppy. She has a BA Hons in History and has a deep-rooted passion for mythology and stories about women who don't need rescuing.
She can usually be found reading fairytale retellings, playing board games or binge-watching Netflix shows.
You can read some of Eliza's stories for free by visiting her website at www.elizaraine.com
She can usually be found reading fairytale retellings, playing board games or binge-watching Netflix shows.
You can read some of Eliza's stories for free by visiting her website at www.elizaraine.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 190 reviews
October 29, 2020
More of the same
I read this because I enjoyed ‘The Power of Hades’ even though my enjoyment drastically declined throughout the series. This book follows nearly exactly the same format and most of the complaints I had about the last series have been repeated here.
We have an apparently 29 year old main character who talks and acts like a teenager. Once again we have constant swearing that is meant to make the character seem more mature but actually makes her seem like a bratty teenager. The main character Bella is incredibly unlikable much like the main character of Lyssa in the Immortality Trials. Although her character mildly improves as the book progresses it’s not enough to actually like her.
For the first 40-50% of the book I was thinking that we might get something new; that Ares and Bella would go on an adventure through his land together, but sadly no. Our characters once again find themselves participating in ‘trials’. This time the imaginatively named ‘Ares Trials’. After 7 books already following the same thread, it’s now tired and it would have been nice to see something different. We have trials interspersed with a ball and an injury. Again!
Even the ending. I can predict exactly what will happen in the first 5% of the next book, because it was a plot device used in each book of ‘The Hades Trials’. At the end of each book our main characters are pulled apart only to reunite as if nothing happened at the start of the next book. Bella is given an out from the Ares trials and chooses to leave Ares on his own, but I would put money on something happening to pull her back, forcing her to continue the trials with Ares and we’ll pick up exactly where we left off, just like the previous books. The author doesn’t seem to trust that her readers will actually read the next book for sheer enjoyment alone and has to use an overly dramatic cliffhanger that serves no purpose to the overall story to try and get people hooked. It’s annoying and it’s predictable and it’s been overused.
It’s also incredibly short and I read it in about 2 hours. I only read it because it’s free on kindle unlimited and I wouldn’t pay for it. I would avoid if you are a true lover of Greek mythology as I think you will be cringing throughout. The Greek mythology is purely surface knowledge and as if the author has done the bare minimum of research, as apart from the god names, there isn’t really much to do with the original mythology. Even this magical new world we are in is described so poorly, as we are basically just told to imagine Agrabah from Disney’s Aladdin. It’s such lazy writing and doesn’t immerse me into this world. I would give it a generous 2.5 stars because it offers nothing new at all.
I read this because I enjoyed ‘The Power of Hades’ even though my enjoyment drastically declined throughout the series. This book follows nearly exactly the same format and most of the complaints I had about the last series have been repeated here.
We have an apparently 29 year old main character who talks and acts like a teenager. Once again we have constant swearing that is meant to make the character seem more mature but actually makes her seem like a bratty teenager. The main character Bella is incredibly unlikable much like the main character of Lyssa in the Immortality Trials. Although her character mildly improves as the book progresses it’s not enough to actually like her.
For the first 40-50% of the book I was thinking that we might get something new; that Ares and Bella would go on an adventure through his land together, but sadly no. Our characters once again find themselves participating in ‘trials’. This time the imaginatively named ‘Ares Trials’. After 7 books already following the same thread, it’s now tired and it would have been nice to see something different. We have trials interspersed with a ball and an injury. Again!
Even the ending. I can predict exactly what will happen in the first 5% of the next book, because it was a plot device used in each book of ‘The Hades Trials’. At the end of each book our main characters are pulled apart only to reunite as if nothing happened at the start of the next book. Bella is given an out from the Ares trials and chooses to leave Ares on his own, but I would put money on something happening to pull her back, forcing her to continue the trials with Ares and we’ll pick up exactly where we left off, just like the previous books. The author doesn’t seem to trust that her readers will actually read the next book for sheer enjoyment alone and has to use an overly dramatic cliffhanger that serves no purpose to the overall story to try and get people hooked. It’s annoying and it’s predictable and it’s been overused.
It’s also incredibly short and I read it in about 2 hours. I only read it because it’s free on kindle unlimited and I wouldn’t pay for it. I would avoid if you are a true lover of Greek mythology as I think you will be cringing throughout. The Greek mythology is purely surface knowledge and as if the author has done the bare minimum of research, as apart from the god names, there isn’t really much to do with the original mythology. Even this magical new world we are in is described so poorly, as we are basically just told to imagine Agrabah from Disney’s Aladdin. It’s such lazy writing and doesn’t immerse me into this world. I would give it a generous 2.5 stars because it offers nothing new at all.
November 16, 2020
I was so looking forward to this book. Ares is my favorite god and I could not wait for his story. I absolutely love the world-building and was pretty excited to find out more and see what happened between this book and the last one.
With that being said...
Bella/ Enyo annoyed me. Like I understand that she is supposed to love fighting/ be tough but she was kind of awful. No impulse control, always throwing herself into situations that had nothing to do with her, and constantly combative. It was just frustrating. SO much trouble could have been avoided if she would have listened to literally anyone. I started to like her around 80% of the way in but the last bit pretty much ruined it for me and I dislike her again.
Ares was also a bit awful. He didn't care about anyone (other than Aphrodite and himself) and he was greedy and rude. But... for whatever reason, I kind of expected that from someone who had been the God of War for thousands and thousands and years.
The side characters are great, again. Zeeva is so fun and I love her. She is so sassy. And Eris is a good side character, like Hecate was in The Hades Trials . I liked getting to see Persephone again and seeing how she's doing with Hades and in Olympus in general.
I plan on continuing this series because I have questions. Will Bella actually abandon Ares? Why did she become human? Will Ares move past Aphrodite?
READING OCTOBER NEW RELEASES
With that being said...
Bella/ Enyo annoyed me. Like I understand that she is supposed to love fighting/ be tough but she was kind of awful. No impulse control, always throwing herself into situations that had nothing to do with her, and constantly combative. It was just frustrating. SO much trouble could have been avoided if she would have listened to literally anyone. I started to like her around 80% of the way in but the last bit pretty much ruined it for me and I dislike her again.
Ares was also a bit awful. He didn't care about anyone (other than Aphrodite and himself) and he was greedy and rude. But... for whatever reason, I kind of expected that from someone who had been the God of War for thousands and thousands and years.
The side characters are great, again. Zeeva is so fun and I love her. She is so sassy. And Eris is a good side character, like Hecate was in The Hades Trials . I liked getting to see Persephone again and seeing how she's doing with Hades and in Olympus in general.
I plan on continuing this series because I have questions. Will Bella actually abandon Ares? Why did she become human? Will Ares move past Aphrodite?
READING OCTOBER NEW RELEASES
February 24, 2021
This was good- for what it was :-) I like how ANGRY Bella is all the time. You can really feel her anger between the pages. She has absofuckinglutely no patience for the BS (or just breathing) of other people and I could relate to that. She is constantly fighting back impatient comments (not always successfully, thank the Gods), but people (and non-people) are morons and it's hard to muster the patience to tolerate them. I get it. Totally.
All of these books by Raine are fast paced (and short; this one has got a little over 200 pages) and don't serve you with the greatest world or story building, but it's nice and for a quick fix (fellow book junkies will understand) I find I like her books a lot. There is sass, there is sex (at least a tiny little bit of it), sword fights and swearing- I like it. And I especially like Bella. There is nothing soft about her and the fire she brings is refreshing.
A huge plus because Hades and Persephone are active characters in this as well and I just loooove to see characters that you know well be first encountered by other/new characters. YES!
And Zeeva was a bonus! Could all cats talk I am pretty sure they would sound exactly like her! Spot on! Can't help but think a dog would have been more cooperative ;)
2.5 stars (because there are better books, obviously- but this is lovely)
All of these books by Raine are fast paced (and short; this one has got a little over 200 pages) and don't serve you with the greatest world or story building, but it's nice and for a quick fix (fellow book junkies will understand) I find I like her books a lot. There is sass, there is sex (at least a tiny little bit of it), sword fights and swearing- I like it. And I especially like Bella. There is nothing soft about her and the fire she brings is refreshing.
A huge plus because Hades and Persephone are active characters in this as well and I just loooove to see characters that you know well be first encountered by other/new characters. YES!
And Zeeva was a bonus! Could all cats talk I am pretty sure they would sound exactly like her! Spot on! Can't help but think a dog would have been more cooperative ;)
2.5 stars (because there are better books, obviously- but this is lovely)
January 12, 2023
Malefica81 - per RFS
.
Bentornate, Fenici!
Dopo le avventure di Persy e Ade, Eliza Raine ci delizia con un altro dio: Ares, il dio della guerra violenta.
La nuova protagonista di questa trilogia è Bella, una ragazza che vive a Londra e che ha problemi nel gestire la rabbia. Per questo motivo è in terapia e il suo miglior amico, nonché cotta, Joshua è il suo terapista; ma, quando questi viene ucciso, le cose precipitano.
Ares si presenta a lei, vuole il suo potere così da poter sconfiggere suo padre Zeus. Infatti, la storia riprende da dove l’avevamo lasciata, ovvero dalla scoperta dei piani di Zeus di sovvertire l’ordine dell’Olimpo e regnare incontrastato.
Da subito tra Ares e Bella, che in realtà è la dea della guerra Enio, volano subito scintille: la ragazza non si fa mettere i piedi in testa, figuriamoci dal grosso tizio in armatura che crede di essere chissà chi, lei vuole solo ritrovare l’anima di Joshua che si rivela un Guardiano e vegliava su di lei.
Un plauso alla gatta Zeeva, una Sfinge mascherata da siamese che veglia su Bella da sempre, ed è stata inviata da Era. Gatta che le ricorda che Bella è il diminutivo di Bellona, dal latino “Bellum”, cioè guerra.
Le prove vengono stabilite dai Signori della Guerra, entità create da Ares stesso nel suo regno dell’Ariete. Dolore, Terrore e Panico. Prove che dovranno sostenere assieme dato che il potere è condiviso e Ares non vuole collaborare. Fino a quando…
Anche questo libro ci porta nuovamente nell’Olimpo e nei suoi mondi governati da uno degli olimpici; questa volta è Ares il protagonista, a cui hanno dato come compagna un bel peperino. Bella non sente ragione, desidera salvare il suo amico e andarsene da lì anche se, con l’assaggio del “potere” di cui è munita, vuole fare di più.
Ares mi sembra insicuro, uno che vuole nascondersi dietro la sua armatura e, quando non ce l’ha indosso, cambia completamente e non ammette di sentirsi attratto da Bella; ha una relazione complicata con Afrodite, proprio come nella mitologia, la quale è parecchio meschina e non le interessa nulla di lui.
La storia non è malvagia, nonostante abbia trovato parecchi errori di ortografia e di battitura che mi hanno fatto storcere il naso parecchie volte. Mi chiedo: quando un testo va agli editor e ai correttori di bozze, viene letto? Perché se questo è il risultato mandato in stampa, non fa una bella figura…
Se volete passare il tempo in modo un po’ diverso, questo è il libro giusto.
Alla prossima!
Un saluto della vostra Mal
.
Bentornate, Fenici!
Dopo le avventure di Persy e Ade, Eliza Raine ci delizia con un altro dio: Ares, il dio della guerra violenta.
La nuova protagonista di questa trilogia è Bella, una ragazza che vive a Londra e che ha problemi nel gestire la rabbia. Per questo motivo è in terapia e il suo miglior amico, nonché cotta, Joshua è il suo terapista; ma, quando questi viene ucciso, le cose precipitano.
Ares si presenta a lei, vuole il suo potere così da poter sconfiggere suo padre Zeus. Infatti, la storia riprende da dove l’avevamo lasciata, ovvero dalla scoperta dei piani di Zeus di sovvertire l’ordine dell’Olimpo e regnare incontrastato.
Da subito tra Ares e Bella, che in realtà è la dea della guerra Enio, volano subito scintille: la ragazza non si fa mettere i piedi in testa, figuriamoci dal grosso tizio in armatura che crede di essere chissà chi, lei vuole solo ritrovare l’anima di Joshua che si rivela un Guardiano e vegliava su di lei.
Un plauso alla gatta Zeeva, una Sfinge mascherata da siamese che veglia su Bella da sempre, ed è stata inviata da Era. Gatta che le ricorda che Bella è il diminutivo di Bellona, dal latino “Bellum”, cioè guerra.
Le prove vengono stabilite dai Signori della Guerra, entità create da Ares stesso nel suo regno dell’Ariete. Dolore, Terrore e Panico. Prove che dovranno sostenere assieme dato che il potere è condiviso e Ares non vuole collaborare. Fino a quando…
Anche questo libro ci porta nuovamente nell’Olimpo e nei suoi mondi governati da uno degli olimpici; questa volta è Ares il protagonista, a cui hanno dato come compagna un bel peperino. Bella non sente ragione, desidera salvare il suo amico e andarsene da lì anche se, con l’assaggio del “potere” di cui è munita, vuole fare di più.
Ares mi sembra insicuro, uno che vuole nascondersi dietro la sua armatura e, quando non ce l’ha indosso, cambia completamente e non ammette di sentirsi attratto da Bella; ha una relazione complicata con Afrodite, proprio come nella mitologia, la quale è parecchio meschina e non le interessa nulla di lui.
La storia non è malvagia, nonostante abbia trovato parecchi errori di ortografia e di battitura che mi hanno fatto storcere il naso parecchie volte. Mi chiedo: quando un testo va agli editor e ai correttori di bozze, viene letto? Perché se questo è il risultato mandato in stampa, non fa una bella figura…
Se volete passare il tempo in modo un po’ diverso, questo è il libro giusto.
Alla prossima!
Un saluto della vostra Mal
January 25, 2021
I found this book to be a replica of the Hades trilogy, I don`t think it had any identity whatsoever and the story line was very similar, even the characters didn`t have clear identities and traits of their own.
Also, the author relied on the reader`s knowledge of Olympus from the first books and did not feel the need to do any world building whatsoever. The main character is simply introduced into this world and a simple chat with Persephone is all she needs to behave like she`s been part of them since her birth.
Also, the author relied on the reader`s knowledge of Olympus from the first books and did not feel the need to do any world building whatsoever. The main character is simply introduced into this world and a simple chat with Persephone is all she needs to behave like she`s been part of them since her birth.
March 13, 2021
Just finished actually...
Ain't bad, although not as mouthwatering as the first series.
it was missing some spice for sure and that is why it is gonna take 3 stars.
it is important to underline that it kept me going until the end.
the format is the same as the last one but it is a good story overall.
Disclaimer! this was originally sent to me as an ARC but I did not for my own reasons get to read it when it was given to me. So I bought it myself. It is an honest review and my own thoughts
Ain't bad, although not as mouthwatering as the first series.
it was missing some spice for sure and that is why it is gonna take 3 stars.
it is important to underline that it kept me going until the end.
the format is the same as the last one but it is a good story overall.
Disclaimer! this was originally sent to me as an ARC but I did not for my own reasons get to read it when it was given to me. So I bought it myself. It is an honest review and my own thoughts
April 4, 2021
‘The Warrior God’ is book one in Eliza Raine’s The Ares Trials series. If you haven’t read The Hades Trials yet this book will contain spoilers, don’t worry you do not need to have read Hades and Persephone’s books to be able to enjoy this. However I do recommend reading them as you be able to experience another Olympian God’s world.
Bella has always had a short temper and prone to violence, which is why she has been seeing Joshua her only friend and Anger Management councillor. When she sees his dead body on the ground the last thing she would have expected was to be kidnapped by the God of War and taken to Olympus. Now she must work alongside Ares to help find Joshua who isn’t dead and as well as help the God of War get his powers back.
What was that ending, how, why, ummmm. Both of these two have major issues... But there is a lot of manipulation and mistrust going on being the scenes. Hopefully book two where clear up a few things. I have a funny suspicion that a lot of what is going on has to do with Aphrodite, I do not trust or like her...
I fell in love with these characters and world in The Hades Trials and I couldn’t wait to stick around in Olympus and read Ares tale. All I can say is WOW what an exhilarating start this book was to the series, if this book is any indication as to how this series is going to go I can’t wait to read it.
The constant pull and push between Bella and Ares is so freaking awesome. I love the constant banter between them. They both push each other’s buttons to get reactions and it is so freaking hilarious. Bella’s no filter attitude is magnificent to read, she really doesn’t care what anyone thinks of her, especially Ares. I can not wait to see how things pan out between these two cause I believe they will end up being my favourite characters. If things work out well for them. *fingers crossed*
Bella has always had a short temper and prone to violence, which is why she has been seeing Joshua her only friend and Anger Management councillor. When she sees his dead body on the ground the last thing she would have expected was to be kidnapped by the God of War and taken to Olympus. Now she must work alongside Ares to help find Joshua who isn’t dead and as well as help the God of War get his powers back.
What was that ending, how, why, ummmm. Both of these two have major issues... But there is a lot of manipulation and mistrust going on being the scenes. Hopefully book two where clear up a few things. I have a funny suspicion that a lot of what is going on has to do with Aphrodite, I do not trust or like her...
I fell in love with these characters and world in The Hades Trials and I couldn’t wait to stick around in Olympus and read Ares tale. All I can say is WOW what an exhilarating start this book was to the series, if this book is any indication as to how this series is going to go I can’t wait to read it.
The constant pull and push between Bella and Ares is so freaking awesome. I love the constant banter between them. They both push each other’s buttons to get reactions and it is so freaking hilarious. Bella’s no filter attitude is magnificent to read, she really doesn’t care what anyone thinks of her, especially Ares. I can not wait to see how things pan out between these two cause I believe they will end up being my favourite characters. If things work out well for them. *fingers crossed*
July 5, 2021
My ratings: 3/5⭐
I enjoyed reading this! It was fast-paced and short. It's not the best world building but it's really nice for a quick read to get over a slump. Got to know so much more about the God of War, Ares, which I rarely read about, so this was a nice experience. Lot's of anger in this book with action-packed scenes! Enjoyed seeing Bella and Ares together, such a dynamic duo.
Love Bella in this one, she has that spunk in her which I absolutely enjoyed reading! She is sassy, sarcastic, witty and honestly no tolerance for any BS of the people around her. She is my alter ego in this story, the anger she feels and the lack of impatience she has for others, I resonate with her on that one.
Her character is a breath of fresh air in my reading journey so far. Her character was not the best in the beginning ngl, but throughout the story, I see her maturing and looking forward to the rest of the trilogy to find out more secrets which surrounds her life!
I enjoyed reading this! It was fast-paced and short. It's not the best world building but it's really nice for a quick read to get over a slump. Got to know so much more about the God of War, Ares, which I rarely read about, so this was a nice experience. Lot's of anger in this book with action-packed scenes! Enjoyed seeing Bella and Ares together, such a dynamic duo.
Love Bella in this one, she has that spunk in her which I absolutely enjoyed reading! She is sassy, sarcastic, witty and honestly no tolerance for any BS of the people around her. She is my alter ego in this story, the anger she feels and the lack of impatience she has for others, I resonate with her on that one.
Her character is a breath of fresh air in my reading journey so far. Her character was not the best in the beginning ngl, but throughout the story, I see her maturing and looking forward to the rest of the trilogy to find out more secrets which surrounds her life!
August 23, 2022
À lire après la série sur Hadès pour la chronologie mais chaque saga peut se lire indépendamment.
Pour le moment j’aime bof, l’univers est cool, on découvre le contexte mais c’est un peu chiant pendant la moitié du livre. Après les épreuves arrivent et ça devient plus rythmé et plus intéressant.
Et au niveau des personnages Arès est un connard qui se fait manipuler par une femme comme un gosse mais on sent qu’il commence à être perturbé par Bella.
Bella au début je l’a trouvait relou mais elle commence à s’affirmer et elle hésite pas à dire ce qu’elle pense et comme Arès se comporte comme un con, elle pense à elle et le laisse se demerder donc j’aime plutôt bien.
Je suis quand même intriguée par le suspense autour des personnages, il y a pas mal de secret que j’ai hâte de découvrir.
Pour le moment j’aime bof, l’univers est cool, on découvre le contexte mais c’est un peu chiant pendant la moitié du livre. Après les épreuves arrivent et ça devient plus rythmé et plus intéressant.
Et au niveau des personnages Arès est un connard qui se fait manipuler par une femme comme un gosse mais on sent qu’il commence à être perturbé par Bella.
Bella au début je l’a trouvait relou mais elle commence à s’affirmer et elle hésite pas à dire ce qu’elle pense et comme Arès se comporte comme un con, elle pense à elle et le laisse se demerder donc j’aime plutôt bien.
Je suis quand même intriguée par le suspense autour des personnages, il y a pas mal de secret que j’ai hâte de découvrir.
October 13, 2020
Very generously rounding this up from 2 & 1/2 stars.
I erroneously picked this book up not knowing it was a spin off of from "The Hades Trials" series. This book was so confusing, I'm not even sure it deserves to be rounded up. The flow was slow. There is NO world building (in this book or in "The Hades Trials book 1), and the FMC does not really learn much as she goes, being dumped into this Gods & Olympus environment. The mysteries that are brought into this are not answered and too much is left in limbo, maybe to be solved in the next book, but not enough to give a reader a break with book 1. It was like one step forward with 3 steps back with progress on this book. I felt a lot of stuff that went down was just ridiculous and not productive for the story to advance or keep this reader's interest. Everyone (except Bella) in the story is self serving a$$holes that I can't stand. I liked Bella enough to keep reading, but at the end, when she walks away from Ares, it was like "About dam time!" & a perfect way to not continue with the series. This almost felt like a bully to love type of story. I really just couldn't get behind anything to do with Ares in this story. I did not read the any books in "The Hades Trials", before this (not realizing it was a spin off from that 3 book series), so kept thinking I missed something, & thought that was why when I realized about the other series. But after reading book 1 from that series, it wasn't anymore helpful for this book. Definitely won't be continuing with this series with the next book. Not sure I will read more from this author either.
I erroneously picked this book up not knowing it was a spin off of from "The Hades Trials" series. This book was so confusing, I'm not even sure it deserves to be rounded up. The flow was slow. There is NO world building (in this book or in "The Hades Trials book 1), and the FMC does not really learn much as she goes, being dumped into this Gods & Olympus environment. The mysteries that are brought into this are not answered and too much is left in limbo, maybe to be solved in the next book, but not enough to give a reader a break with book 1. It was like one step forward with 3 steps back with progress on this book. I felt a lot of stuff that went down was just ridiculous and not productive for the story to advance or keep this reader's interest. Everyone (except Bella) in the story is self serving a$$holes that I can't stand. I liked Bella enough to keep reading, but at the end, when she walks away from Ares, it was like "About dam time!" & a perfect way to not continue with the series. This almost felt like a bully to love type of story. I really just couldn't get behind anything to do with Ares in this story. I did not read the any books in "The Hades Trials", before this (not realizing it was a spin off from that 3 book series), so kept thinking I missed something, & thought that was why when I realized about the other series. But after reading book 1 from that series, it wasn't anymore helpful for this book. Definitely won't be continuing with this series with the next book. Not sure I will read more from this author either.
February 20, 2021
This is my first read by this author and I liked it.
Although Bella's character is quite juvenile during this journey she grows and matures. That has been interesting.
Ares is too Olympian but Bella's closeness has made him somewhat human, he still has a lot to learn, however his ego and arrogance don't let him see how much he needs her.
I don't like that you have to read the trilogy to discover the secrets that surround Bella's life but I'm giving it a chance to see if I'm convinced and read something else by this author.
Although Bella's character is quite juvenile during this journey she grows and matures. That has been interesting.
Ares is too Olympian but Bella's closeness has made him somewhat human, he still has a lot to learn, however his ego and arrogance don't let him see how much he needs her.
I don't like that you have to read the trilogy to discover the secrets that surround Bella's life but I'm giving it a chance to see if I'm convinced and read something else by this author.
December 2, 2021
3,5 stars - I don't know how I feel about this book. I did not dislike it but did I really like it? I think it was not as interesting as I would have liked it to be. There were no steamy scenes at all and I did not really feel the chemistry between Ares and Bella. It got a little more interesting towards the last third of the book but than the end? That was annoying, I hate it when people explain their mean decisions with the mean decision of others. I will still read the second book because the story did not annoy me and I still hope that the second could be better than this one.
July 18, 2025
a fun read
Bella is strong, smart, a bit violent and impulsive. Ares comes across like a spoiled child being manipulated by Aphrodite. And this is just the beginning. Bella has to determine her origin story. Ares needs her for power. Somehow they are connected but we don’t know how. Time for book 2.
Bella is strong, smart, a bit violent and impulsive. Ares comes across like a spoiled child being manipulated by Aphrodite. And this is just the beginning. Bella has to determine her origin story. Ares needs her for power. Somehow they are connected but we don’t know how. Time for book 2.
August 20, 2024
I'm addicted to these books. You shouldn't read them because you'll just end up like me. You don't want to be like me
March 5, 2023
La verdad 2.5 estrellas.
Historia súper rápida de leer, con bastante acción y a momentos entretenida.
Tenía bastante curiosidad por esta serie pero resultó muy promedio, los personajes principales no tienen química y aunque vemos dos puntos de vista, el protagonista masculino tiene cero personalidad. Por otra parte lo del gato me parece ridículo lo siento.
Y respecto a lo mitológico pues es inspiración tomando personajes de mitos en un escenario contemporáneo y en otro fantasioso.
No es malo y pues de una me aclaró que no me interesa el resto de la serie.
Historia súper rápida de leer, con bastante acción y a momentos entretenida.
Tenía bastante curiosidad por esta serie pero resultó muy promedio, los personajes principales no tienen química y aunque vemos dos puntos de vista, el protagonista masculino tiene cero personalidad. Por otra parte lo del gato me parece ridículo lo siento.
Y respecto a lo mitológico pues es inspiración tomando personajes de mitos en un escenario contemporáneo y en otro fantasioso.
No es malo y pues de una me aclaró que no me interesa el resto de la serie.
January 23, 2025
In love with Bella!! She is badass and I’m so intrigued about her past, I must know more!!
Couldn’t put this one down - also f**k Aphrodite if you’ve read this and the immortality trials you’ll understand🖕🏼
Couldn’t put this one down - also f**k Aphrodite if you’ve read this and the immortality trials you’ll understand🖕🏼
March 18, 2021
Los protagonistas de este libro son Ares dios griego de la guerra y Velona (Enyo/Bella) la diosa de la guerra, pero oh... sorpresa en la mitología griega no hay una diosa de la guerra que comparta el poder con el mismo dios de la guerra.
Bella, siempre ah tenido problemas para controlar la ira que vive dentro de ella, por eso al ver a su mentor en el manejo de la ira en un charco de sangre y a un hombre de mas de 2metros de altura con una imponente espada y armadura no puede evitar querer vengan la muerte de la una persona que no se espanta por el monstro que es.
Ares esta decidido a llevarse a la diosa de la guerra para quitarle su poder matándola, es la única manera para que su amante Afrodita le permita estar con ella. Aun no entiende porque su padre Zeus le quito su poder y tiene la eternidad para descubrirlo, ahora que Poseidón y Hades controlan en olimpo, lo que no esperaba es que le ofrecen su poder de vuelta pero no puede matar a Bella, solo si descubre y atrapa que demonio del inframundo se llevo al amigo de Bella y a los demás guardianes le darán un tridente de poder.
Bella se ve obligada ha asimilar mucha información, su gata habla, su mentor sabia que ella no era humana y no se lo dijo, tiene que permitir que el idiota dios de la guerra utilice su poder y se niega a enseñarle usarlo por si misma.
Tienen que pasar las pruebas de los señores de la guerra: Dolor, Terror y Pánico.
Ares tiene que pasar esas pruebas con una humana incompetente, debe resistir el sonido de los tambores de guerra que escucha en sus oídos cada vez que esta con ella y lo mas importante Bella no debe descubrir con llego a hacer humana porque si no tendrá que matarla antes de que lo mate a el.
El libro es muy fácil de leer y entretenido aunque mezcla la mitología griega y la romana no esta muy cargado de información. 10/10
Bella, siempre ah tenido problemas para controlar la ira que vive dentro de ella, por eso al ver a su mentor en el manejo de la ira en un charco de sangre y a un hombre de mas de 2metros de altura con una imponente espada y armadura no puede evitar querer vengan la muerte de la una persona que no se espanta por el monstro que es.
Ares esta decidido a llevarse a la diosa de la guerra para quitarle su poder matándola, es la única manera para que su amante Afrodita le permita estar con ella. Aun no entiende porque su padre Zeus le quito su poder y tiene la eternidad para descubrirlo, ahora que Poseidón y Hades controlan en olimpo, lo que no esperaba es que le ofrecen su poder de vuelta pero no puede matar a Bella, solo si descubre y atrapa que demonio del inframundo se llevo al amigo de Bella y a los demás guardianes le darán un tridente de poder.
Bella se ve obligada ha asimilar mucha información, su gata habla, su mentor sabia que ella no era humana y no se lo dijo, tiene que permitir que el idiota dios de la guerra utilice su poder y se niega a enseñarle usarlo por si misma.
Tienen que pasar las pruebas de los señores de la guerra: Dolor, Terror y Pánico.
Ares tiene que pasar esas pruebas con una humana incompetente, debe resistir el sonido de los tambores de guerra que escucha en sus oídos cada vez que esta con ella y lo mas importante Bella no debe descubrir con llego a hacer humana porque si no tendrá que matarla antes de que lo mate a el.
El libro es muy fácil de leer y entretenido aunque mezcla la mitología griega y la romana no esta muy cargado de información. 10/10
August 31, 2021
Von der Autorin hatte ich bereits die Hades Tribunale gelesen, da mir die Reihe sehr gut gefallen hat, musste diese natürlich auch gelesen werden.
Diesmal dreht sich alles um den Kriegsgott Ares, und ich hatte doch die Hoffnung das mich diese Reihe ebenso fesseln konnte. Was soll ich sagen, sie konnte es. Der Auftakt zur der dreibändigen Reihe konnte mich fesseln und das Ende war ja mal wieder sehr gemein. Ich bin also sehr gespannt wie es weitergeht.
Das Buch hat einen Kapitelaufbau und diese lassen sich sehr angenehm lesen. Außerdem bekommen wir dieses Buch aus der Sicht der Protagonisten erzählt, so konnte man die Gefühle noch besser nachvollziehen.
Zusammenfassend ein klasse Auftakt zu einer sehr vielversprechenden Reihe aus der Feder von Eliza Raine.
Das Buch bekommt 5 von 5 Sterne und eine Leseempfehlung.
Diesmal dreht sich alles um den Kriegsgott Ares, und ich hatte doch die Hoffnung das mich diese Reihe ebenso fesseln konnte. Was soll ich sagen, sie konnte es. Der Auftakt zur der dreibändigen Reihe konnte mich fesseln und das Ende war ja mal wieder sehr gemein. Ich bin also sehr gespannt wie es weitergeht.
Das Buch hat einen Kapitelaufbau und diese lassen sich sehr angenehm lesen. Außerdem bekommen wir dieses Buch aus der Sicht der Protagonisten erzählt, so konnte man die Gefühle noch besser nachvollziehen.
Zusammenfassend ein klasse Auftakt zu einer sehr vielversprechenden Reihe aus der Feder von Eliza Raine.
Das Buch bekommt 5 von 5 Sterne und eine Leseempfehlung.
October 16, 2020
Loved the story! Loved Ares! Ares is intense and yet vulnerable. I cannot wait to see what happens between Ares and Bella. There are definite fireworks when these two get together! Lots of action and battles in the trials. Eris is a good supporting character like Hecate was in the Hades Trials. It was nice to see Hades and Persephone again. Will Bella really desert Ares? How did Bella become human and loose all memory of being the Goddess of War? There are many questions that must be answered that I cannot wait for book two in the series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 22, 2023
One of my favourite greek mythology re-tellings!
August 13, 2022
Il semble que la mythologie grecque et son majestueux panthéon aient le vent en poupe depuis quelques temps, tant de nombreuses réécritures voient le jour actuellement. Après mes découverte des mythes dédiés à Hades et Perséphone ainsi qu’à d’autres, j’étais plus qu’impatient et ravi de faire la rencontre du dieu de la guerre que je ne connaissais nullement. Bien que celle-ci m’a totalement diverti, je n’ai pas été autant comblé sur le plan légendaire tant la plume d’Eliza Raine se veut bien peu ambitieuse et appétissante.
En effet et bien que d’une extrême simplicité, j’ai trouvé son style parfois assez maladroit et quelque peu brouillon. Cette dernière ne cherche pas à travailler son style et celui-ci ne parvient pas à se démarquer de ce que j’ai déjà pu découvrir dans le genre. Certes, la mythologie est bien présenté et respectée mais manque parfois cruellement d’investissement et de développement. L’auteure ne pénètre que très rarement en profondeur et seuls les derniers chapitres sauvent la donne. Néanmoins et n’ayant aucune notion de ce mythe et ce pan de cette épopée, j’ai été ravi de faire la rencontre de la divinité Arès ainsi que de bien d’autres figures mystiques comme son amante Aphrodite, de quelques titans et tant d’autres créatures légendaires. J’ai aussi eu l’occasion de recroiser Hadès et sa dulcinée Perséphone dont le rôle semble important malgré leur courte apparition. Pour autant et malgré cet alléchant et délicieux casting, je suis parvenu à être pleinement happé par ma lecture que sur le tard et le final, que j’attendais renversant, s’est révélé bien trop abrupte et assez rapide. Finalement, je ne suis pas certain que de diviser son récit en une trilogie soit particulièrement judicieux tant la courte durée des tomes parasitent le rythme saccadé et accéléré de cette dernière. Ainsi et pour le moment, les événements sont dépeints avec rythme, certes, mais sans offrir quelques enjeux par la suite excepté découvrir qui se cache derrière Bella, cette intrépide et exaspérante héroïne.
Qu’il m’a été difficile d’apprécier cette fougueuse et grossière demoiselle. Bien qu’il s’agisse d’un trait de son caractère semble-t-il divin mais pour le moment encore méconnu, je n’ai pas compris l’intérêt de lui faire cracher autant de grossièretés et de telles crudités à chacune de ses prises de parole. Une fois ou deux cela aurait pu être saisissant mais le choix opéré par Eliza Raine m’a paru des plus cliché et stéréotypé et dessert totalement son héroïne. La violence qui anime cette dernière et qui est sensée se rapprocher de la divinité Enyo et la rattacher à son art de la guerre aurait pu être utilisé d’une manière et bien plus avantageuse et moins douteuse que celle opérée par l’auteure, faisant de Bella un personnage souvent puéril et irréfléchi. En revanche et bien qu’assez sombre et immoral, je dois bien admettre avoir apprécié le caractère d’Arès, le guerrier dont les pouvoirs ont été volé par Zeus, son père. S’il veut parvenir à renverser cette situation et retrouver les bras de son amante Aphrodite qui le rejette depuis sa transformation, ce dernier devra faire équipe et collaborer avec notre jeune mortelle afin de retrouver la trace d’un démon qui sévit actuellement. Sans pour autant parler d’alchimie tant ce duo s’exècre, j’ai fortement apprécié le lien qui les unit et avec lequel ils devront composé s’ils veulent tous deux réussir et parvenir à leurs différentes fins. Ainsi, c’est dans les dons de Bella que ce dernier devra puiser ses pouvoirs afin de retrouver sa force et, à l’inverse, celle-ci devra triompher des épreuves afin de sauver son seul ami et dont l’attirance envers son équiper semble s’épanouir au fil des chapitres et ce, malgré les apparences. Ensemble et à l’aide de Zeeva, le chat et espèce de familier de cette dernière, nos deux amis/ennemis devront surmonter bien des épreuves dont la violence et les dangers m’ont totalement séduit.
C’est pourquoi et malgré un style parfois quelque peu maladroit et souffrant d’un manque de profondeur, je reste curieux quant à la suite de cette réécriture mythologique qui m’a fortement diverti. Cette dernière se veut rythmée et parfois précipitée mais se déguste avec légèreté et efficacité. Néanmoins, j’espère une quelconque maturation quant à Bella qui s’est dévoilée bien plus exaspérante que séduisante dans ce premier volet à l’ambiance éloquente lors des passages dédiées à la violence et aux combats.
En effet et bien que d’une extrême simplicité, j’ai trouvé son style parfois assez maladroit et quelque peu brouillon. Cette dernière ne cherche pas à travailler son style et celui-ci ne parvient pas à se démarquer de ce que j’ai déjà pu découvrir dans le genre. Certes, la mythologie est bien présenté et respectée mais manque parfois cruellement d’investissement et de développement. L’auteure ne pénètre que très rarement en profondeur et seuls les derniers chapitres sauvent la donne. Néanmoins et n’ayant aucune notion de ce mythe et ce pan de cette épopée, j’ai été ravi de faire la rencontre de la divinité Arès ainsi que de bien d’autres figures mystiques comme son amante Aphrodite, de quelques titans et tant d’autres créatures légendaires. J’ai aussi eu l’occasion de recroiser Hadès et sa dulcinée Perséphone dont le rôle semble important malgré leur courte apparition. Pour autant et malgré cet alléchant et délicieux casting, je suis parvenu à être pleinement happé par ma lecture que sur le tard et le final, que j’attendais renversant, s’est révélé bien trop abrupte et assez rapide. Finalement, je ne suis pas certain que de diviser son récit en une trilogie soit particulièrement judicieux tant la courte durée des tomes parasitent le rythme saccadé et accéléré de cette dernière. Ainsi et pour le moment, les événements sont dépeints avec rythme, certes, mais sans offrir quelques enjeux par la suite excepté découvrir qui se cache derrière Bella, cette intrépide et exaspérante héroïne.
Qu’il m’a été difficile d’apprécier cette fougueuse et grossière demoiselle. Bien qu’il s’agisse d’un trait de son caractère semble-t-il divin mais pour le moment encore méconnu, je n’ai pas compris l’intérêt de lui faire cracher autant de grossièretés et de telles crudités à chacune de ses prises de parole. Une fois ou deux cela aurait pu être saisissant mais le choix opéré par Eliza Raine m’a paru des plus cliché et stéréotypé et dessert totalement son héroïne. La violence qui anime cette dernière et qui est sensée se rapprocher de la divinité Enyo et la rattacher à son art de la guerre aurait pu être utilisé d’une manière et bien plus avantageuse et moins douteuse que celle opérée par l’auteure, faisant de Bella un personnage souvent puéril et irréfléchi. En revanche et bien qu’assez sombre et immoral, je dois bien admettre avoir apprécié le caractère d’Arès, le guerrier dont les pouvoirs ont été volé par Zeus, son père. S’il veut parvenir à renverser cette situation et retrouver les bras de son amante Aphrodite qui le rejette depuis sa transformation, ce dernier devra faire équipe et collaborer avec notre jeune mortelle afin de retrouver la trace d’un démon qui sévit actuellement. Sans pour autant parler d’alchimie tant ce duo s’exècre, j’ai fortement apprécié le lien qui les unit et avec lequel ils devront composé s’ils veulent tous deux réussir et parvenir à leurs différentes fins. Ainsi, c’est dans les dons de Bella que ce dernier devra puiser ses pouvoirs afin de retrouver sa force et, à l’inverse, celle-ci devra triompher des épreuves afin de sauver son seul ami et dont l’attirance envers son équiper semble s’épanouir au fil des chapitres et ce, malgré les apparences. Ensemble et à l’aide de Zeeva, le chat et espèce de familier de cette dernière, nos deux amis/ennemis devront surmonter bien des épreuves dont la violence et les dangers m’ont totalement séduit.
C’est pourquoi et malgré un style parfois quelque peu maladroit et souffrant d’un manque de profondeur, je reste curieux quant à la suite de cette réécriture mythologique qui m’a fortement diverti. Cette dernière se veut rythmée et parfois précipitée mais se déguste avec légèreté et efficacité. Néanmoins, j’espère une quelconque maturation quant à Bella qui s’est dévoilée bien plus exaspérante que séduisante dans ce premier volet à l’ambiance éloquente lors des passages dédiées à la violence et aux combats.
October 22, 2023
After reading the Hades Trials and frigging loving the hell out of the way Persephone had been written, I dove into this series.
I needed to know what was happening next. I wanted bloody resolution (nah, didn’t get the Zeus is a prick resolution because that’s ongoing; didn’t see more
Of Hades and Persephone either).
But I’ll be real on two points, first up, I read this fully expecting very little because I didn’t think I’d care for Ares much or anyone who’d match up with him. I only read it because I wanted a conclusion to the prior story. Secondly, I read all three packages as one unit, so I really can’t differentiate between book one, two or three so this is the same review over each book and viewing them as a whole.
So, expecting to hate it, or at least to just be need to get through it in order to get the overall story and move on to the next trilogy (Poseidon) where I was going to be back in the presence of stories I know I like already, I was shook.
I didn’t think I’d like this couple, but I did. I didn’t think I’d feel for their “war sense” but I was won over. I was surprised by my fondness by the end, I’ll give a nod to the writing there.
I feel like if the embodiment of Pain, Panic, and Terror were designing trials they would have been worse, more intense, more psychologically devastating and constant. But I’ve lived with Panic Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Depression for 20 years — so maybe I’m just coming in too hard to be moved by the norm?
I don’t know. I did like this, didn’t love it wildly, but I did immediately download the Poseidon series that’s up next because I wanted to know what was up next.
I feel like the hole that Zeus and now Hera and Aphrodite are being written into is going to be difficult to write our way out of, so I’m nervous moving forward but still eating up the content and not turned off the connected stories.
If you want mythological content and creative spins, this is good. You want spice… slower burn, the realization of “love” was sudden and a little clunky for me. Clearly, we have a Disney Princess thing where we need a little animal Buddy, this one was harder to like than the one that came before or after, but still served her thematic purpose.
I needed to know what was happening next. I wanted bloody resolution (nah, didn’t get the Zeus is a prick resolution because that’s ongoing; didn’t see more
Of Hades and Persephone either).
But I’ll be real on two points, first up, I read this fully expecting very little because I didn’t think I’d care for Ares much or anyone who’d match up with him. I only read it because I wanted a conclusion to the prior story. Secondly, I read all three packages as one unit, so I really can’t differentiate between book one, two or three so this is the same review over each book and viewing them as a whole.
So, expecting to hate it, or at least to just be need to get through it in order to get the overall story and move on to the next trilogy (Poseidon) where I was going to be back in the presence of stories I know I like already, I was shook.
I didn’t think I’d like this couple, but I did. I didn’t think I’d feel for their “war sense” but I was won over. I was surprised by my fondness by the end, I’ll give a nod to the writing there.
I feel like if the embodiment of Pain, Panic, and Terror were designing trials they would have been worse, more intense, more psychologically devastating and constant. But I’ve lived with Panic Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Depression for 20 years — so maybe I’m just coming in too hard to be moved by the norm?
I don’t know. I did like this, didn’t love it wildly, but I did immediately download the Poseidon series that’s up next because I wanted to know what was up next.
I feel like the hole that Zeus and now Hera and Aphrodite are being written into is going to be difficult to write our way out of, so I’m nervous moving forward but still eating up the content and not turned off the connected stories.
If you want mythological content and creative spins, this is good. You want spice… slower burn, the realization of “love” was sudden and a little clunky for me. Clearly, we have a Disney Princess thing where we need a little animal Buddy, this one was harder to like than the one that came before or after, but still served her thematic purpose.
October 25, 2020
With scheming gods, demons on the loose, evil lords, and a heroine with more than a little attitude, this is a read that does hold the reader in the pages until the end.
Bella has huge anger management issues and tends toward more than a little violence. To stay away from prison again, she sees a shrink...the only person who seems to, at least, partially like her. When he's murdered, the giant she finds bending over his body kidnaps her and takes her to Olympus. Here, she's told she's actually the Goddess of War and is harboring half of Ares' powers, ones he wants back at any price. But before he kills her for them, a Titan intervenes and offers Ares a deal he can't refuse. Soon, Bella is forced to accompany Ares on a dangerous adventure, where each and every one of her opponents tower over her in every way.
This book took me a bit to sink into, and I only didn't give up because the reviews were good enough to insure that things would get better (and I tend to like this author's works, anyway.) We meet Bella on Earth as she sees her shrink. I think these scenes were hard for me to connect with because Bella is hard to connect with. She has more sharp corners than a cube, cusses profusely, is always angry, and simply not the kind of person you want to be around. And that was exactly the problem.
When she gets to Olympus, it's easier to warm up to her as she's forced to take a step back thanks to everyone else around hers complete dominance. Her human and softer side start to shine through, and she definitely has a lot to go up against. So, rooting for her comes naturally. Still, there are more than a few times, she's hard to swallow. And this kept me from liking her completely...because I simply wanted to slap her.
So, why 4-stars? Because after this gets going, it really is a well woven tale with tons of action, lots of intrigue, oodles of surprises and characters with tons and tons of personality. They might not have far reaching depth, but their quirks keep them entertaining. And I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to see what happens in book two.
I received an ARC and enjoyed it.
Bella has huge anger management issues and tends toward more than a little violence. To stay away from prison again, she sees a shrink...the only person who seems to, at least, partially like her. When he's murdered, the giant she finds bending over his body kidnaps her and takes her to Olympus. Here, she's told she's actually the Goddess of War and is harboring half of Ares' powers, ones he wants back at any price. But before he kills her for them, a Titan intervenes and offers Ares a deal he can't refuse. Soon, Bella is forced to accompany Ares on a dangerous adventure, where each and every one of her opponents tower over her in every way.
This book took me a bit to sink into, and I only didn't give up because the reviews were good enough to insure that things would get better (and I tend to like this author's works, anyway.) We meet Bella on Earth as she sees her shrink. I think these scenes were hard for me to connect with because Bella is hard to connect with. She has more sharp corners than a cube, cusses profusely, is always angry, and simply not the kind of person you want to be around. And that was exactly the problem.
When she gets to Olympus, it's easier to warm up to her as she's forced to take a step back thanks to everyone else around hers complete dominance. Her human and softer side start to shine through, and she definitely has a lot to go up against. So, rooting for her comes naturally. Still, there are more than a few times, she's hard to swallow. And this kept me from liking her completely...because I simply wanted to slap her.
So, why 4-stars? Because after this gets going, it really is a well woven tale with tons of action, lots of intrigue, oodles of surprises and characters with tons and tons of personality. They might not have far reaching depth, but their quirks keep them entertaining. And I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to see what happens in book two.
I received an ARC and enjoyed it.
November 12, 2022
I liked this book a lot, and I look forward to reading the other books in this series.
If you are unsure if you should pick this book up, do it.
Now to the contents of the book.
Negative
- The protagonist said the word fuck 114 times.
- OK is used in dialogue and inner monologue.
Positive
- Their dynamic
- Eris (I love her)
- slow burn
- denial about the crush
- forced proximity
- enemies to lovers (what I could tell from the first book)
- Aphrodite changing her looks
- faced-paced
- many more things
Now one thing that irritated me. The finger wave made me think of the vintage hairstyle, and I had to search the internet for clarity until I found a forum where I saw someone call a flirty wave a finger wave. I don't like when authors use "insiders" in their books so only they can know what they mean. It only bothered me because it was used A LOT. I am sorry if this is common knowledge I got confused with.
A few people say it is a lot like the Hades books. I didn't read them, so I can't tell, but I will put a little sloppy summary here for the people that want to check. I wouldn't count that as something negative, though. I would gladly read something like this again, just with another god.
The story is pretty much:
If you are unsure if you should pick this book up, do it.
Now to the contents of the book.
Negative
- The protagonist said the word fuck 114 times.
- OK is used in dialogue and inner monologue.
Positive
- Their dynamic
- Eris (I love her)
- slow burn
- denial about the crush
- forced proximity
- enemies to lovers (what I could tell from the first book)
- Aphrodite changing her looks
- faced-paced
- many more things
Now one thing that irritated me. The finger wave made me think of the vintage hairstyle, and I had to search the internet for clarity until I found a forum where I saw someone call a flirty wave a finger wave. I don't like when authors use "insiders" in their books so only they can know what they mean. It only bothered me because it was used A LOT. I am sorry if this is common knowledge I got confused with.
A few people say it is a lot like the Hades books. I didn't read them, so I can't tell, but I will put a little sloppy summary here for the people that want to check. I wouldn't count that as something negative, though. I would gladly read something like this again, just with another god.
The story is pretty much:
May 14, 2022
https://www.instagram.com/p/CdaJnKjIWZn/
🍓Tout droit sorti de ma Book Jar, Les épreuves d’Arès font suite à la trilogie Les épreuves d’Hadès écrites par Eliza Raine. Mythologie, romance, action, tous les ingrédients sont présents afin de nous faire passer un bon moment.
🍓Toutefois, j’avais un peu peur que l’autrice ne se contente de reprendre la trame de sa première série et ne l’applique au Dieu de la Guerre. Doutes très rapidement envolés puisque Bella n’a rien d’une Perséphone et qu’elle renferme quelque chose d’absolument extraordinaire. De ce fait, j’ai beaucoup aimé l’observer s’acclimater à l’Olympe tout en se rendant compte de qui elle était vraiment.
🍓De par sa nature, la voilà indispensable à Arès qui ne le prend pas bien du tout. Ce type est absolument détestable par son comportement et par l’obsession qu’il développe, bien qu’elle soit compréhensible. Néanmoins, il semble s’améliorer au fil des pages et j’ose espérer qu’il continuera dans le prochain opus.
🍓Entre eux c’est sans aucun doute un rapport de puissance, une colère sourde qui gronde, des tambours de guerre qui leur explosent les tympans. Il y a cependant, les prémices de quelque chose de plus profond, plus passionné, plus sensuel. Une certaine attirance se développe de combat en combat qui n’est pas désagréable loin de là. On dit que l’union fait la force, mais lorsque celle-ci est imposée, difficile de l’oublier.
🍓Après des débuts bien compliqués pour nos héros, j’ai apprécié qu’un certain équilibre se trouve. Il reste bon nombre de questions en suspend, une relation particulière qui me semble très prometteuse pour la suite et de quoi titiller ma curiosité . Je vais donc de ce pas ajouter le second tome dans ma book jar et faire confiance au destin pour piocher prochainement le tome 2.
🍓Tout droit sorti de ma Book Jar, Les épreuves d’Arès font suite à la trilogie Les épreuves d’Hadès écrites par Eliza Raine. Mythologie, romance, action, tous les ingrédients sont présents afin de nous faire passer un bon moment.
🍓Toutefois, j’avais un peu peur que l’autrice ne se contente de reprendre la trame de sa première série et ne l’applique au Dieu de la Guerre. Doutes très rapidement envolés puisque Bella n’a rien d’une Perséphone et qu’elle renferme quelque chose d’absolument extraordinaire. De ce fait, j’ai beaucoup aimé l’observer s’acclimater à l’Olympe tout en se rendant compte de qui elle était vraiment.
🍓De par sa nature, la voilà indispensable à Arès qui ne le prend pas bien du tout. Ce type est absolument détestable par son comportement et par l’obsession qu’il développe, bien qu’elle soit compréhensible. Néanmoins, il semble s’améliorer au fil des pages et j’ose espérer qu’il continuera dans le prochain opus.
🍓Entre eux c’est sans aucun doute un rapport de puissance, une colère sourde qui gronde, des tambours de guerre qui leur explosent les tympans. Il y a cependant, les prémices de quelque chose de plus profond, plus passionné, plus sensuel. Une certaine attirance se développe de combat en combat qui n’est pas désagréable loin de là. On dit que l’union fait la force, mais lorsque celle-ci est imposée, difficile de l’oublier.
🍓Après des débuts bien compliqués pour nos héros, j’ai apprécié qu’un certain équilibre se trouve. Il reste bon nombre de questions en suspend, une relation particulière qui me semble très prometteuse pour la suite et de quoi titiller ma curiosité . Je vais donc de ce pas ajouter le second tome dans ma book jar et faire confiance au destin pour piocher prochainement le tome 2.
October 5, 2020
Fun and entertaining; love all the action and the characters are interesting! Great world building; super cool imagery! Love getting more of Hades and Persephone too! Loved their books!! This story deals with Bella and Ares.
Jerk Zeus took god of war Ares’ powers, so now Ares wants to kill Enyo to steal her powers for his own. Luckily, something gets in his way. Bella is told by Ares that she is Enyo goddess of war, but she remembers none of that; she just thinks she has some major anger management issues. Bella and Ares find themselves working with each other to hunt down a demon that has one of Bella’s friends; plus, it’s a chance for Ares to get his powers back.
Bella is super sassy, has a bit of a foul mouth, and loves to fight. She may have anger issues, but she has a good heart and she uses her intelligence well. As for Ares, oh Ares, Ares, Ares! For being so old, he still has a lot to learn. He’s a bit lean in the brains department; he is too pathetic when it comes to Aphrodite. She treats him horrible, but he continues to be a fool for her. Aphrodite sucks! Most of these gods need to lose their powers so they can be humbled some or rather a whole lot; losing his powers will probably end up improving Ares, hopefully he ends up appreciating that. Ares has low self-esteem, but acts like he doesn’t by being a butthead tough guy. Bella and Ares have quite the combative relationship; both are a pinch prickly. There’s an enemies to potential lovers scenario going on, but Ares’ lack of thinking of others gets in the way.
Cliffhanger going on! Super excited to see where this story is going to go!! Loving these books!!
Jerk Zeus took god of war Ares’ powers, so now Ares wants to kill Enyo to steal her powers for his own. Luckily, something gets in his way. Bella is told by Ares that she is Enyo goddess of war, but she remembers none of that; she just thinks she has some major anger management issues. Bella and Ares find themselves working with each other to hunt down a demon that has one of Bella’s friends; plus, it’s a chance for Ares to get his powers back.
Bella is super sassy, has a bit of a foul mouth, and loves to fight. She may have anger issues, but she has a good heart and she uses her intelligence well. As for Ares, oh Ares, Ares, Ares! For being so old, he still has a lot to learn. He’s a bit lean in the brains department; he is too pathetic when it comes to Aphrodite. She treats him horrible, but he continues to be a fool for her. Aphrodite sucks! Most of these gods need to lose their powers so they can be humbled some or rather a whole lot; losing his powers will probably end up improving Ares, hopefully he ends up appreciating that. Ares has low self-esteem, but acts like he doesn’t by being a butthead tough guy. Bella and Ares have quite the combative relationship; both are a pinch prickly. There’s an enemies to potential lovers scenario going on, but Ares’ lack of thinking of others gets in the way.
Cliffhanger going on! Super excited to see where this story is going to go!! Loving these books!!
October 5, 2020
Giant, great big thank you to the authors for allowing me to read another ARC and giving me the chance to fall into Olympus again and again!
The Area trials is the second set of books written in the same world of the Gods of Olympus as The Hades Trials (and if you haven't read those yet, DO IT!)
This time, we find out how the Gods of Olympus are dealing with an absent Zeus, who decided to leave Ares, the God of War, without his powers.
Ares stumbles across Bella, a human with a fierce attitude and a fighters aim to match, and brings her to Olympus so he can use her for her powers, which compliment his missing power and which he's able to syphon off.
Bella, who's hard life on earth as a human, takes to Olympus with open arms and a tight grip on her switch blade. She cusses like a sailor and let's Ares know his place when his arrogance threatens to kill them both.
Ares, who is without power except what he can take from Bella, finds himself looked down upon by the other Gods and is challenged by his own Lord's of War, Pain, Terror and Panic.
I LOVE this series. Ares is a bit of a bastard with some arrogance issues Bella is a hard knock, gritty woman who's had a tough life and sees a chance at being happy living in Olympus. And of course, they start to fall for eachother. *Swoon*
I'm so excited for the next book in this series. Ares is just beginning to see the merit of thinking of others and Bella is going to put him in his place.
The Area trials is the second set of books written in the same world of the Gods of Olympus as The Hades Trials (and if you haven't read those yet, DO IT!)
This time, we find out how the Gods of Olympus are dealing with an absent Zeus, who decided to leave Ares, the God of War, without his powers.
Ares stumbles across Bella, a human with a fierce attitude and a fighters aim to match, and brings her to Olympus so he can use her for her powers, which compliment his missing power and which he's able to syphon off.
Bella, who's hard life on earth as a human, takes to Olympus with open arms and a tight grip on her switch blade. She cusses like a sailor and let's Ares know his place when his arrogance threatens to kill them both.
Ares, who is without power except what he can take from Bella, finds himself looked down upon by the other Gods and is challenged by his own Lord's of War, Pain, Terror and Panic.
I LOVE this series. Ares is a bit of a bastard with some arrogance issues Bella is a hard knock, gritty woman who's had a tough life and sees a chance at being happy living in Olympus. And of course, they start to fall for eachother. *Swoon*
I'm so excited for the next book in this series. Ares is just beginning to see the merit of thinking of others and Bella is going to put him in his place.
December 16, 2020
>Book Review – The Warrior God
>I am an independent reviewer. This book is the 1st in the Ares Trials series and ends with a cliffhanger. Hades and Persephone are in this series and it is cute to see them all married and ruling together. The story begins with an introduction to a young human woman, Bella, with a severe anger management problem. Her therapist is either missing or dead and a huge golden man appears before her. Ares is the god of war and is currently without powers. Zeus took Ares’ powers as a punishment. For a hidden reason, Ares knew there was another with his same powers, but hidden in a human.
>Bella is forced to travel with Ares to rescue her kidnapped therapist. Ares is very arrogant and selfish at first. He has no empathy. Bella has a unique personality. She will not walk away from any fight and she can back up her actions. A lot of lesser gods are around to tease Ares and help Bella, but they are all two-faced. There is a huge plot point regarding Ares and his decades long affair with Aphrodite. Bella finds out that Aphrodite treats Ares like a slave and he is unaware. This fact begins the transformation of Ares from a jerk in to a possible love interest for Bella. Ares begins to learn empathy as he realizes his feelings for Bella are true.
>This book is appropriate for an adult audience. I am giving this book 4 stars. The creatures are unique and the back-stabbing Olympians are back in full force.
>I am an independent reviewer. This book is the 1st in the Ares Trials series and ends with a cliffhanger. Hades and Persephone are in this series and it is cute to see them all married and ruling together. The story begins with an introduction to a young human woman, Bella, with a severe anger management problem. Her therapist is either missing or dead and a huge golden man appears before her. Ares is the god of war and is currently without powers. Zeus took Ares’ powers as a punishment. For a hidden reason, Ares knew there was another with his same powers, but hidden in a human.
>Bella is forced to travel with Ares to rescue her kidnapped therapist. Ares is very arrogant and selfish at first. He has no empathy. Bella has a unique personality. She will not walk away from any fight and she can back up her actions. A lot of lesser gods are around to tease Ares and help Bella, but they are all two-faced. There is a huge plot point regarding Ares and his decades long affair with Aphrodite. Bella finds out that Aphrodite treats Ares like a slave and he is unaware. This fact begins the transformation of Ares from a jerk in to a possible love interest for Bella. Ares begins to learn empathy as he realizes his feelings for Bella are true.
>This book is appropriate for an adult audience. I am giving this book 4 stars. The creatures are unique and the back-stabbing Olympians are back in full force.
October 3, 2020
Ares is here!!!
I’ve been waiting for this book since I read the first teaser and it didn’t disappoint
As a lover of Greek Mythology and romance this book was amazing 😍 😍
This is the first installment in The Ares Trials, Ares lost is power to his asshole father so he goes on Heart to find Bella, The Goddess of War, or so Ares said....
Bella swar a lot, very unladylike for Ares 🤣 she is also loyal, strong, and a badass with an anger problems and for this she is a bit lonely.
For all her life she felt like she didn’t belong and now she found out that really she didn’t belong in the mortal realm.
She take all this so surprisingly well
Ares is The god of War a warrior without his power, an asshole to Bella and i don't really know why but i kind of like him....
He isn't bad, he is just a jerk to everyone
Nobody never really understood what means be the god of war, all the anger and the instinct to fight, and now there is Bella that feel exactly the same and I think he really don't know what to do with her.
He has an unhealthy relationship with Aphrodite, she is a bitch but e doesn't see that 🤦
The story is so well written and I loved the characters development. Of course there was a MAJOR cliffhanger and I can't wait for book 2!
I’ve been waiting for this book since I read the first teaser and it didn’t disappoint
As a lover of Greek Mythology and romance this book was amazing 😍 😍
This is the first installment in The Ares Trials, Ares lost is power to his asshole father so he goes on Heart to find Bella, The Goddess of War, or so Ares said....
Bella swar a lot, very unladylike for Ares 🤣 she is also loyal, strong, and a badass with an anger problems and for this she is a bit lonely.
For all her life she felt like she didn’t belong and now she found out that really she didn’t belong in the mortal realm.
She take all this so surprisingly well
Ares is The god of War a warrior without his power, an asshole to Bella and i don't really know why but i kind of like him....
He isn't bad, he is just a jerk to everyone
Nobody never really understood what means be the god of war, all the anger and the instinct to fight, and now there is Bella that feel exactly the same and I think he really don't know what to do with her.
He has an unhealthy relationship with Aphrodite, she is a bitch but e doesn't see that 🤦
The story is so well written and I loved the characters development. Of course there was a MAJOR cliffhanger and I can't wait for book 2!
October 2, 2020
I enjoyed this imaginative and entertaining fantasy romance featuring Ares, the God of War and Bella, a young woman with uncommon strength and anger management issues who had no knowledge of her goddess-ness – until now. I loved Bella! She was a pint-sized firecracker with a take-no-crap-from-anyone attitude, a fondness for f-bombs and a sarcastic sense of humour. She was quick to anger, keen to fight and clever in her ability to figure out her opponents’ weaknesses and act on them. I enjoyed the snarky banter and the push and pull between Bella and Ares as they set out on Hades’ quest. I found this first set of trials to be quite inventive and uniquely challenging – a good test for their combined skills. I also liked the addition of the many Greek gods, goddesses and mythological creatures that were featured in this installment. The story is well written, full of action, adventure, betrayals, and humour along with a slow burning attraction. I look forward to The Savage God for the continuation of this fantasy adventure and the next set of trials.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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