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Her Lord of Death
An ancient Greek world both harsh and beautiful, a place of gods and magic—and love worth every sacrifice.
With her uncle’s kingdom terrorized by a murderous creature, Kora reluctantly agrees to marry the one warrior capable of defeating it. Acheron is the champion of a neighboring king, one whose reputation precedes him—brutal, deadly, barely human.
But Kora soon discovers that Acheron is a more complicated man than his reputation suggests—and he just might be everything she’s been seeking all her life. Yet more is at play than the simple marriage alliance that Kora thought she was getting into. Behind this alliance lie the machinations of a sorcerous queen—one with her eyes on Kora’s unusual ability to see and speak with the dead.
Acheron, however, is not about to let anything happen to Kora, a woman of quiet beauty and hard truth, one who slips past his barriers and into parts of his heart that he’d thought long dead. He will face anything, even his worst nightmares, to protect her.
With her uncle’s kingdom terrorized by a murderous creature, Kora reluctantly agrees to marry the one warrior capable of defeating it. Acheron is the champion of a neighboring king, one whose reputation precedes him—brutal, deadly, barely human.
But Kora soon discovers that Acheron is a more complicated man than his reputation suggests—and he just might be everything she’s been seeking all her life. Yet more is at play than the simple marriage alliance that Kora thought she was getting into. Behind this alliance lie the machinations of a sorcerous queen—one with her eyes on Kora’s unusual ability to see and speak with the dead.
Acheron, however, is not about to let anything happen to Kora, a woman of quiet beauty and hard truth, one who slips past his barriers and into parts of his heart that he’d thought long dead. He will face anything, even his worst nightmares, to protect her.
399 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 12, 2019
44 people are currently reading
181 people want to read
About the author
Katherine Diane
9 books168 followersKatherine Diane loves intense, complex heroes and fascinating worlds. She likes her romances a little dark, a little raw, and suffused with erotic realism.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
November 4, 2020
Trigger warning: violence, abuse, rape.
This is one of those times when the idea caught my attention, the characters are interesting but the execution is what makes the rating go low.
Kora and Acheron is what I like to call the sunshine with the grumpy one (one of my favorite relationship tropes ever). Kora is a young, witty woman who comes from a wealthy family and that has the ability to see ghosts; Acheron is basically a warrior, someone who was made slave at a young age and then fought all the way to earn his freedom.
And, this being a Greek mythology re-telling? I was sure I’d love this. Unfortunately, it had everything to become a new favorite but it was kind of a flop for me.
I’ll try to enlist a few reasons why I didn’t particularly liked it:
-First of all I didn’t like that for the most part of the book it relied on the miscommunication trope. Seriously, I couldn’t get why they loved each other when all they did was fight and misunderstand each other –aside from the fact that they had sex, I didn’t get their connection at all.
-The ending seemed a bit rushed compared to the other 90% of the book and instead of feeling accomplished I finished a book, I felt relief because then I could move on to better stories. That’s never a good sign.
-The writing style wasn’t my favorite either but that’s entirely on my taste.
-This should come with a trigger warning since not everybody wants to read about rape, abuse and violence. I don’t really mind reading dark romances, but I know some people do, so there’s that.
This was the first time I read something from the author but I’m not sure I’ll be reading more of her works. I know some people might be interested in reading a historical romance, and I’m sure a lot more would enjoy it but it just didn’t work for me.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley.
This is one of those times when the idea caught my attention, the characters are interesting but the execution is what makes the rating go low.
Kora and Acheron is what I like to call the sunshine with the grumpy one (one of my favorite relationship tropes ever). Kora is a young, witty woman who comes from a wealthy family and that has the ability to see ghosts; Acheron is basically a warrior, someone who was made slave at a young age and then fought all the way to earn his freedom.
And, this being a Greek mythology re-telling? I was sure I’d love this. Unfortunately, it had everything to become a new favorite but it was kind of a flop for me.
I’ll try to enlist a few reasons why I didn’t particularly liked it:
-First of all I didn’t like that for the most part of the book it relied on the miscommunication trope. Seriously, I couldn’t get why they loved each other when all they did was fight and misunderstand each other –aside from the fact that they had sex, I didn’t get their connection at all.
-The ending seemed a bit rushed compared to the other 90% of the book and instead of feeling accomplished I finished a book, I felt relief because then I could move on to better stories. That’s never a good sign.
-The writing style wasn’t my favorite either but that’s entirely on my taste.
-This should come with a trigger warning since not everybody wants to read about rape, abuse and violence. I don’t really mind reading dark romances, but I know some people do, so there’s that.
This was the first time I read something from the author but I’m not sure I’ll be reading more of her works. I know some people might be interested in reading a historical romance, and I’m sure a lot more would enjoy it but it just didn’t work for me.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley.
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January 11, 2021This was disappointing. What initially drew me to this book (and another one of hers) was the cover. I think she has stunning covers and her book plots always intrigue me. The first book of hers I absolutely hated and I did not realize Her Lord of Death was written by the same author, so I jumped into this with excitement. I had such high hopes for this! I will say that the plot is good, but what spoiled it was her use of modern language in what was supposed to be an ancient Greek retelling. Overall it played too much on the misunderstandings and not enough connection between the characters. I ended up skimming and then gave up after the 60% mark because it was too frustrating to read these characters dance around each other.
October 24, 2020
im excited this book is being rereleased, because i dont think i would have come across it otherwise.
i really have no complaints about this. i love stories that intertwine ancient greek life and myths, i love a good slow burn romance, and i love complex characters and plot. this has all of the above.
its such a gripping story that i hope KD chooses to write more books set within this world.
thanks to victory editing netgalley for the ARC!
↠ 3.5 stars
i really have no complaints about this. i love stories that intertwine ancient greek life and myths, i love a good slow burn romance, and i love complex characters and plot. this has all of the above.
its such a gripping story that i hope KD chooses to write more books set within this world.
thanks to victory editing netgalley for the ARC!
↠ 3.5 stars
September 1, 2020
Her Lord of Death by Katherine Diane is quite possibly one of the best books I have had the pleasure of reading for 2020. I was captivated from the first page with its dark undertones of sexual abuse, rape, and violence while still paying homage to classic Greek/Roman mythology. The blend of these themes while unexpected for this genre was superbly written and I particularly enjoyed the unconventional approach to Hades and the underworld.
I was impressed by the layers of intricacy developed by Katherine and her ability to present a cadre of uniquely brilliant and highly entertaining characters without overwhelming the reader. Her characters were larger than life and lept off the pages straight into my heart.
The love story of Kora and Acheron is one for the ages. It was abundantly clear to me that time, love, dedication, and attention went into penning this emotionally gripping relationship that started off very casually and slowly morphed into an epic love saga. I appreciated the progression of the relationship from strangers to lovers as it added more realism and depth instead of the typical "hop into bed and magically fall in love." Their relationship was fraught with trials and tribulations from the beginning and it was quite intriguing to see how they navigated this new relationship together, especially as it relates to the darker themes.
The emotional scarring from sexual abuse was evident in Acheron from the earlies and I respect how Katherine was able to allow him to fully express his disgust, sadness, anger, hurt, rejection while still maintaining an aura of strength and resilience.
Katherine has woven such an enigmatic host of characters that I easily found myself emotionally investing in all the secondary characters which, in my humble opinion, is integral to character and plot development. Each character is powerful enough to stand on their own, from the sultry and commanding presence of Madea, to the loyal and carefree Oz.
I highly recommend Her Lord of Death for anyone who enjoys Greek/Roman-inspired novels with a healthy balance of romance and darker genres.
Immense appreciation to Katherine Diane and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op for providing me with a digital arc. All views and opinions expressed above are my own.
I was impressed by the layers of intricacy developed by Katherine and her ability to present a cadre of uniquely brilliant and highly entertaining characters without overwhelming the reader. Her characters were larger than life and lept off the pages straight into my heart.
The love story of Kora and Acheron is one for the ages. It was abundantly clear to me that time, love, dedication, and attention went into penning this emotionally gripping relationship that started off very casually and slowly morphed into an epic love saga. I appreciated the progression of the relationship from strangers to lovers as it added more realism and depth instead of the typical "hop into bed and magically fall in love." Their relationship was fraught with trials and tribulations from the beginning and it was quite intriguing to see how they navigated this new relationship together, especially as it relates to the darker themes.
The emotional scarring from sexual abuse was evident in Acheron from the earlies and I respect how Katherine was able to allow him to fully express his disgust, sadness, anger, hurt, rejection while still maintaining an aura of strength and resilience.
Katherine has woven such an enigmatic host of characters that I easily found myself emotionally investing in all the secondary characters which, in my humble opinion, is integral to character and plot development. Each character is powerful enough to stand on their own, from the sultry and commanding presence of Madea, to the loyal and carefree Oz.
I highly recommend Her Lord of Death for anyone who enjoys Greek/Roman-inspired novels with a healthy balance of romance and darker genres.
Immense appreciation to Katherine Diane and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op for providing me with a digital arc. All views and opinions expressed above are my own.
September 21, 2020
ARC recieved via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Reseña en español: https://unalectorasalvaje.blogspot.co...
4/5
I am a huge fan of everything related to Ancient Greece. The clothes they wore, the gods they worshiped, the gladiator fights and the art they created and we can still admire nowadays. When I came across this book and read the synopsis, I knew that I was going to adore it and I was right.
Before starting the actual review, I wanted to mention that Her Lord of Death contains some adult content and dark themes such as sexual abuse, rape, torture etc. so take that into account before getting into this book. It is not explicit but it is mentioned and the effects on the characters are obvious.
Kora and Acheron are forced into an arranged marriage, none of them happy about it. After Acheron is wounded by the creature that he has commanded to kill, Kora takes care of him and feelings start to appear between them, something that they didn’t expect and that complicates Acheron’s nightmares and internal debates. This whole situation follows Queen Medea’s plan to get something that was stolen from her back. Kora and Acheron are not safe and they will give everything to protect each other.
One of the things that fascinated me the most was the complexity of the two main characters, each one for different reasons. On the one hand, Kora is a woman with the ability to see the dead and that takes advantage of it to do good and help them get into the Underworld. She has such a beautiful heart, compassion and inner strength that allowed me to empathize with her right away. Perhaps her evolution is not as huge as Acheron’s but she changes a lot and I think that the author managed to build a very complete character within her.
On the other hand, Acheron blew out my mind with his development. He has a very dark and difficult past because of the people that surrounded him throughout the years. He starts off as a someone really complicated to understand and to like but the author gives him such depth that it is impossible to not connect with him and his problems. Acheron has a spectacular evolution, facing the demons that torment him and overcoming the traumas of his past. Just because of him, I would recommend you to read this book.
Apart from them, I wanted to give some credit to Oz, a secondary character that has quite the importance in the plot and that tells some chapters from his point of view. I think he is an incredible friend and I also really liked him as an individual. I would have loved to know more about him.
Her Lord of Death combines a dark romance with action and adventures, magic and the presence of greek gods in a way that, whatever your favorite element is, you are going to enjoy the rest of them anyway. I usually prefer the later but, in this case, what kept me reading was the relationship between the two protagonists. It is not an easy relationship because of their personal circumstances but I think that is what makes it different. The scenes in which the feelings are developing are so worth it when you get into the more intense ones.
The only problem that I had with this book was the pacing. It took me a while to get into the story but then I just couldn’t stop reading. From my point of view, it is a very entertaining book with funny dialogues and beautiful descriptions.
Reseña en español: https://unalectorasalvaje.blogspot.co...
4/5
I am a huge fan of everything related to Ancient Greece. The clothes they wore, the gods they worshiped, the gladiator fights and the art they created and we can still admire nowadays. When I came across this book and read the synopsis, I knew that I was going to adore it and I was right.
Before starting the actual review, I wanted to mention that Her Lord of Death contains some adult content and dark themes such as sexual abuse, rape, torture etc. so take that into account before getting into this book. It is not explicit but it is mentioned and the effects on the characters are obvious.
Kora and Acheron are forced into an arranged marriage, none of them happy about it. After Acheron is wounded by the creature that he has commanded to kill, Kora takes care of him and feelings start to appear between them, something that they didn’t expect and that complicates Acheron’s nightmares and internal debates. This whole situation follows Queen Medea’s plan to get something that was stolen from her back. Kora and Acheron are not safe and they will give everything to protect each other.
One of the things that fascinated me the most was the complexity of the two main characters, each one for different reasons. On the one hand, Kora is a woman with the ability to see the dead and that takes advantage of it to do good and help them get into the Underworld. She has such a beautiful heart, compassion and inner strength that allowed me to empathize with her right away. Perhaps her evolution is not as huge as Acheron’s but she changes a lot and I think that the author managed to build a very complete character within her.
On the other hand, Acheron blew out my mind with his development. He has a very dark and difficult past because of the people that surrounded him throughout the years. He starts off as a someone really complicated to understand and to like but the author gives him such depth that it is impossible to not connect with him and his problems. Acheron has a spectacular evolution, facing the demons that torment him and overcoming the traumas of his past. Just because of him, I would recommend you to read this book.
Apart from them, I wanted to give some credit to Oz, a secondary character that has quite the importance in the plot and that tells some chapters from his point of view. I think he is an incredible friend and I also really liked him as an individual. I would have loved to know more about him.
Her Lord of Death combines a dark romance with action and adventures, magic and the presence of greek gods in a way that, whatever your favorite element is, you are going to enjoy the rest of them anyway. I usually prefer the later but, in this case, what kept me reading was the relationship between the two protagonists. It is not an easy relationship because of their personal circumstances but I think that is what makes it different. The scenes in which the feelings are developing are so worth it when you get into the more intense ones.
The only problem that I had with this book was the pacing. It took me a while to get into the story but then I just couldn’t stop reading. From my point of view, it is a very entertaining book with funny dialogues and beautiful descriptions.
October 15, 2020
First, I love Katherine Diane. Her writing is always a treat and this book is no exception. Her Lord of Death takes place in a time when Gods and Monsters ruled the world. And, boy oh boy do I love ancient Greek mythologies come to life!
Kora is the niece of a king whose kingdom is being terrorized by a murderous creature. A neighboring kingdom offers to kill said monster for an alliance. To seal the alliance Kora must marry the champion. Acheron, the neighboring king's champion, has a reputation for being the most brutal, deadly, and primitive fighter around. But Kora agrees to the bargain for the good of her people. She soon discovers that Acheron is more than his reputation and more is at play than just a simple marriage. Behind the scenes lie the machinations of a powerful queen that wants Kora’s unusual ability to see and speak with the dead and Acheron's past as a slave comes back to haunt him.
As I said, I love, love, love Katherine Diane's writing. I love her characters, her depth of story, and her 'verses. But, damn do I hate a tortured hero. But then, redemption is found, and we're all better for the journey but... Ugh, the getting there! But it's All So Good! Love to hate to love.
Her Lord of Death is built on a world of dark themes. So, if this isn't your bag... just beware. Our hero, Acheron has been through the wringer, and I just hate themes on drugging, incapacity, rape, and abuse. Especially sadistic characters that, ugh. It's just, not my thing. I had to stop reading Sherrilyn Kenyon because it was like every one of her heroes just went through so much torture and it was so much page time bringing you down into the pits of despair, I was contemplating smashing my Kindle, downing a bottle of wine and calling a 1-800-help hotline of some sort. So, that being said, I was already on the verge of being triggered by Kenyon flashbacks, but again, damn Diane's writing kept sucking me back in. Acheron goes through quite a mental journey and while Kora does push, and sometimes unknowingly too hard, he does make a breakthrough. I do wish we had more on page discovery and healing. I felt that by the time the mystery was resolved we were still at the beginning of Acheron's recovery. Kora was a high-quality strong female who knew her mind and strove to continue to have it and be heard. She was not some wilting flower that folded in the face of adversity. Kora was almost vehement in her ability to help, in her pursuit to be educated and contribute, and to be a partner strong enough to match Acheron. I love strong characters and Kora was definitely a winner here.
The world of monsters and Gods is so much fun. I am, as always, in awe of how authors can pull this out of their brains and come up with such unique stories. I love Acheron's sidekick and his fearless canine companion. The evil machinations of the queen were devious and brought a big layer of mystery and intrigue. The multiple POV from the character's added a layer of suspense that sometimes made me hesitant to turn the page because you KNEW something was coming and you weren't sure you wanted to find out.
Overall, Her Lord of Death was some seriously good reads and I recommend this for those who love Ancient Greece, gladiators, monsters, tortured heroes, and ladies with a whole lot of moxie.
*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Kora is the niece of a king whose kingdom is being terrorized by a murderous creature. A neighboring kingdom offers to kill said monster for an alliance. To seal the alliance Kora must marry the champion. Acheron, the neighboring king's champion, has a reputation for being the most brutal, deadly, and primitive fighter around. But Kora agrees to the bargain for the good of her people. She soon discovers that Acheron is more than his reputation and more is at play than just a simple marriage. Behind the scenes lie the machinations of a powerful queen that wants Kora’s unusual ability to see and speak with the dead and Acheron's past as a slave comes back to haunt him.
As I said, I love, love, love Katherine Diane's writing. I love her characters, her depth of story, and her 'verses. But, damn do I hate a tortured hero. But then, redemption is found, and we're all better for the journey but... Ugh, the getting there! But it's All So Good! Love to hate to love.
Her Lord of Death is built on a world of dark themes. So, if this isn't your bag... just beware. Our hero, Acheron has been through the wringer, and I just hate themes on drugging, incapacity, rape, and abuse. Especially sadistic characters that, ugh. It's just, not my thing. I had to stop reading Sherrilyn Kenyon because it was like every one of her heroes just went through so much torture and it was so much page time bringing you down into the pits of despair, I was contemplating smashing my Kindle, downing a bottle of wine and calling a 1-800-help hotline of some sort. So, that being said, I was already on the verge of being triggered by Kenyon flashbacks, but again, damn Diane's writing kept sucking me back in. Acheron goes through quite a mental journey and while Kora does push, and sometimes unknowingly too hard, he does make a breakthrough. I do wish we had more on page discovery and healing. I felt that by the time the mystery was resolved we were still at the beginning of Acheron's recovery. Kora was a high-quality strong female who knew her mind and strove to continue to have it and be heard. She was not some wilting flower that folded in the face of adversity. Kora was almost vehement in her ability to help, in her pursuit to be educated and contribute, and to be a partner strong enough to match Acheron. I love strong characters and Kora was definitely a winner here.
The world of monsters and Gods is so much fun. I am, as always, in awe of how authors can pull this out of their brains and come up with such unique stories. I love Acheron's sidekick and his fearless canine companion. The evil machinations of the queen were devious and brought a big layer of mystery and intrigue. The multiple POV from the character's added a layer of suspense that sometimes made me hesitant to turn the page because you KNEW something was coming and you weren't sure you wanted to find out.
Overall, Her Lord of Death was some seriously good reads and I recommend this for those who love Ancient Greece, gladiators, monsters, tortured heroes, and ladies with a whole lot of moxie.
*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
March 19, 2021
Her Lord of Death by Katherine Diane
The most feared man in all of Megara, Acheron; need only to slay a beast haunting a neighboring kingdom to gain his reward. What he wasn't told was it was it is also a political move by the king he serves, for an alliance. Will his new reward, will he learn to cope with his past. Will he risk everything for his new reward and can he maybe have the life he wanted?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*WARNING* Yes; there are extreme adult context themes in this book. It’s dark, I was warned about it by a friend because I saw it on her Instagram profile. She warned me, I still dove in. Ya’ll I am a sucker for anything Greek mythology or Ancient Rome, etc. So when fantasy or adult fantasy do that theme; gimme.
I feel like I say this a lot in my reviews; but the fact that I am always able to feel the pain of the characters or how they possibly feel in certain situations. It’s honestly so heartbreaking sometimes; if I read at work, I do sometimes cry. So that’s what I did; I also screamed at the book. So if you looked at the security cameras of me at work; you’d think I was on drugs.
Her Lord of Death was something else though, I thought the characters balanced each other at the end. And for even how dark the themes got in the book; the plot was still really good. Detailed settings, political conversations were easy to understand, and the complex backstories were easy to follow as well; sometimes. I had to find out what happened, with each page. I had to know what would become of the characters. I had to know if the one bastard was killed or not; so many questions and yes they were all answered… even after me screaming at the book thinking I wouldn’t get the answer.
So yes I truly believe this is a great book; BUT ONLY IF YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WITH EXTREMELY DARK ADULT THEME/CONTEXT AND CAN HANDLE THEM!
The most feared man in all of Megara, Acheron; need only to slay a beast haunting a neighboring kingdom to gain his reward. What he wasn't told was it was it is also a political move by the king he serves, for an alliance. Will his new reward, will he learn to cope with his past. Will he risk everything for his new reward and can he maybe have the life he wanted?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*WARNING* Yes; there are extreme adult context themes in this book. It’s dark, I was warned about it by a friend because I saw it on her Instagram profile. She warned me, I still dove in. Ya’ll I am a sucker for anything Greek mythology or Ancient Rome, etc. So when fantasy or adult fantasy do that theme; gimme.
I feel like I say this a lot in my reviews; but the fact that I am always able to feel the pain of the characters or how they possibly feel in certain situations. It’s honestly so heartbreaking sometimes; if I read at work, I do sometimes cry. So that’s what I did; I also screamed at the book. So if you looked at the security cameras of me at work; you’d think I was on drugs.
Her Lord of Death was something else though, I thought the characters balanced each other at the end. And for even how dark the themes got in the book; the plot was still really good. Detailed settings, political conversations were easy to understand, and the complex backstories were easy to follow as well; sometimes. I had to find out what happened, with each page. I had to know what would become of the characters. I had to know if the one bastard was killed or not; so many questions and yes they were all answered… even after me screaming at the book thinking I wouldn’t get the answer.
So yes I truly believe this is a great book; BUT ONLY IF YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WITH EXTREMELY DARK ADULT THEME/CONTEXT AND CAN HANDLE THEM!
August 27, 2020
Content Warning. This book contains:
Rape and torture (done by villains not by main characters), slavery, mention of child death, battle violence, PTSD, and questionable consent situations.
Her Lord of Death by Katherine Diane is the most tantalizing and engrossing book I've read in 2020! Its wonderful and I cannot wait to share it with all my friends who like steamy romance that involves tragic back stories, alpha male love interests who strive to protect the heroine, and supernatural historical romance!
I didn't expect to love this book as much as I do. Admittedly, I'm a picky bitch when it comes to historical fiction that features ancient cultures especially ones involving mythology. I'm a Polytheist and a former Classical student so I am so often let down by stories that don't do the research or discuss honoring the Gods in a demeaning way. This book was AMAZING!
It hit all my hot spots for a sexy, romantic read.
Witty dialogue that actually did make me laugh out loud (my partner gave me a few confused looks while I was giggling over conversations between Kore and Acheron). YUP!
Dominant alpha male type who isn't a total asshole? Check!
Strong willed but soft heroine who isn't too stupid to live? Check!
Paranormal, supernatural, witchy shit? YES!
Historical and mythological references that aren't totally inaccurate? WOOHOO!
SO many goodies AND well written!
Plus there was the addition of side characters that were fully developed, a villain I could sympathize with and another I LOVED to HATE. There's also the hurt/comfort scenes with loads of tragic back story that I'm sorry to say I enjoy so much in romance.
If you enjoy dark fantasy romances like Black Jewels Trilogy, wanted more from ancient greco-roman mythology classics, and need a steaming hot read that you won't want to put down - grab Her Lord of Death!
Rape and torture (done by villains not by main characters), slavery, mention of child death, battle violence, PTSD, and questionable consent situations.
Her Lord of Death by Katherine Diane is the most tantalizing and engrossing book I've read in 2020! Its wonderful and I cannot wait to share it with all my friends who like steamy romance that involves tragic back stories, alpha male love interests who strive to protect the heroine, and supernatural historical romance!
I didn't expect to love this book as much as I do. Admittedly, I'm a picky bitch when it comes to historical fiction that features ancient cultures especially ones involving mythology. I'm a Polytheist and a former Classical student so I am so often let down by stories that don't do the research or discuss honoring the Gods in a demeaning way. This book was AMAZING!
It hit all my hot spots for a sexy, romantic read.
Witty dialogue that actually did make me laugh out loud (my partner gave me a few confused looks while I was giggling over conversations between Kore and Acheron). YUP!
Dominant alpha male type who isn't a total asshole? Check!
Strong willed but soft heroine who isn't too stupid to live? Check!
Paranormal, supernatural, witchy shit? YES!
Historical and mythological references that aren't totally inaccurate? WOOHOO!
SO many goodies AND well written!
Plus there was the addition of side characters that were fully developed, a villain I could sympathize with and another I LOVED to HATE. There's also the hurt/comfort scenes with loads of tragic back story that I'm sorry to say I enjoy so much in romance.
If you enjoy dark fantasy romances like Black Jewels Trilogy, wanted more from ancient greco-roman mythology classics, and need a steaming hot read that you won't want to put down - grab Her Lord of Death!
August 28, 2020
This was brutal and absolutely heartbreaking in the best way. I have to start off by saying this book was HEAVY. The cruelties and trauma that the characters endured was heartbreaking and honestly disgusting. WARNING: there is rape, sexual assault, and other dark themes. I felt so bad for them and I just wanted them to get the happiness they deserved. The storytelling was interesting and told from both Kora and Acheron’s POVs. Acheron was a slave who earned his freedom but is forced to marry Kora, and Kora is a girl who watched her family die and is haunted by the ghosts of the undead everywhere she looks. Both are being manipulated by kings, queens, and past tormentors while facing the looming danger of the Minotaur. Acheron is an extremely traumatized character struggling to just get by day by day while Kora is a very compassionate yet brave character. The romance that slowly buds between them is quite sweet and caring, Kora is a nurse who continues to tend to Acheron despite his adamant refusal to accept any of her care. They both care for each other but are struggling with either their past demons or the present danger at play. The story was definitely unique and I liked the added magical element of the gods and monsters mythology into it. Both Kora and Acheron must rely on each other to survive and make it out of the looming dangers while also facing the dangers of the romance budding between them. I liked how the story wrapped up and I am so pleased that these characters got the happy ending they deserved and are slowly healing.
*Thank you Netgalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*
*Thank you Netgalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*
October 5, 2020
I love Greek mythology and was pleasantly surprised by how good this book is. I think I was expecting it to be a steamy romance with a nod to the mythology but this blew me away!
Archeron is a prized fighter who is sent by king Aegis to help a neighbouring kingdom fight a strange monster in exchange for marriage to that king’s niece Kora. Archeron was a former slave and is seen as very brutish. Kora is a strange woman who can communicate with the dead. Throw in Medea, King Aegis’ wife who is manipulating all this for her own strange ends and some other characters and we have a very interesting plot. I don’t want to say much more for spoilers.
I thought the story would be man meets woman, fights monster, they hate each other, have lots of steamy sex and fall in love. This is something quite different and so much more than just a cliched trope. For one, Archeron has a very troubled history of abuse from his slave days and sometimes violent issues with intimacy. Kora has her own demons and doesn’t fully understand her powers. Their relationship is fraught with tension and navigating the issues around his abuse. I found it fascinating how the author dealt with physical and sexual abuse from a male point of view and the long term ramifications on normal life when it isn't addressed or dealt with.
The bad guys are also not always what they seem, the monsters are not always monsters, and the humans are not always humane. Some of the action and mythological scenes had some holes and I have lots of spoilerery questions that I will save for other discussions. All in, I really enjoyed this book. I don’t know if this will be a series as there are some unfinished issues at the end, but it is still a great stand alone. As I mentioned, there are some issues with the mythological aspects/world building but this is still a very strong 4 stars for me. It is quite dark and twisty and I’m putting a trigger warning as it deals with some graphic physical and sexual abuse, but it is still a very beautiful story.
Archeron is a prized fighter who is sent by king Aegis to help a neighbouring kingdom fight a strange monster in exchange for marriage to that king’s niece Kora. Archeron was a former slave and is seen as very brutish. Kora is a strange woman who can communicate with the dead. Throw in Medea, King Aegis’ wife who is manipulating all this for her own strange ends and some other characters and we have a very interesting plot. I don’t want to say much more for spoilers.
I thought the story would be man meets woman, fights monster, they hate each other, have lots of steamy sex and fall in love. This is something quite different and so much more than just a cliched trope. For one, Archeron has a very troubled history of abuse from his slave days and sometimes violent issues with intimacy. Kora has her own demons and doesn’t fully understand her powers. Their relationship is fraught with tension and navigating the issues around his abuse. I found it fascinating how the author dealt with physical and sexual abuse from a male point of view and the long term ramifications on normal life when it isn't addressed or dealt with.
The bad guys are also not always what they seem, the monsters are not always monsters, and the humans are not always humane. Some of the action and mythological scenes had some holes and I have lots of spoilerery questions that I will save for other discussions. All in, I really enjoyed this book. I don’t know if this will be a series as there are some unfinished issues at the end, but it is still a great stand alone. As I mentioned, there are some issues with the mythological aspects/world building but this is still a very strong 4 stars for me. It is quite dark and twisty and I’m putting a trigger warning as it deals with some graphic physical and sexual abuse, but it is still a very beautiful story.
June 24, 2025
I picked this up because I just finished two Rina Saint books that were very entertaining and found out another pseudonym of hers is Katherine Diane. The girl can write a good story and has a way with writing characters that draw me in. I enjoyed this. The writing is very modern for the time period it's set in, so that may bother some sticklers. I'm not a big fantasy reader, so for me, I can honestly say I've never read anything with a plot similar to this so it was fresh---for those that read fantasy all the time, they may disagree. The story was engrossing, especially the first 70% or so. I liked that there were different POVs from different characters in the book. Towards the end, I do think it got a little chaotic, and I barely understood what was going on.
I do wish there was a lot more romance, though, because I really wanted Kora and Acheron to have this epically grand love story, but it never got to epic proportions. It's funny because I complained that Rina Saint books are about 25% story and 75% sex. With Katherine Diane, it was about 95% story, 5% sex. The ending could have used an epilogue to tie things up because the last chapter felt rushed and unfinished.
I do wish there was a lot more romance, though, because I really wanted Kora and Acheron to have this epically grand love story, but it never got to epic proportions. It's funny because I complained that Rina Saint books are about 25% story and 75% sex. With Katherine Diane, it was about 95% story, 5% sex. The ending could have used an epilogue to tie things up because the last chapter felt rushed and unfinished.
August 31, 2020
I have never read a book by Katherine Diane and I do not usually gravitate towards romance novels that take place during ancient times. I think I was immediately drawn to the cover which made me think of the movie 300. When I read the description I like premise of Kora marrying Acheron, the champion of a neighboring king. I am drawn to stories where the hero has a reputation for being brutal and deadly, but there is something more complicated about him.
I found that there were a variety of extra characters that kept the story interesting. Poor Kora and Acheron were always having new obstacles put forth by the different people in their life. I liked the paranormal aspect of the story and the fact that Kora assists spirits to cross over. I felt that the story had a sound plot, good characters and flowed very well.
I would recommend this book to people who enjoy Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark-Hunter series, J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood or Christine Feehan’s Dark series. While this book is set in the past I had the same feeling that I usually have when reading these series. I would highly recommend this book.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest opinion.
I found that there were a variety of extra characters that kept the story interesting. Poor Kora and Acheron were always having new obstacles put forth by the different people in their life. I liked the paranormal aspect of the story and the fact that Kora assists spirits to cross over. I felt that the story had a sound plot, good characters and flowed very well.
I would recommend this book to people who enjoy Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark-Hunter series, J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood or Christine Feehan’s Dark series. While this book is set in the past I had the same feeling that I usually have when reading these series. I would highly recommend this book.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest opinion.
September 24, 2020
I really enjoyed "Her Lord of Death". This is my first book to read by Katherine Diane and I can honestly say I will be looking into her other works and crossing my fingers that we might see another book in this world that follows Oz.
I am a fan of ancient worlds and gods/goddesses having a role in the story. The fact that the characters had to fight and endure so much, especially Acheron, just makes you want to cheer for them that much more. There are some dark topics in this book such as rape, torture, and PTSD. To be able to survive such horrific instances and for so long shows what a strong person Acheron is.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I am a fan of ancient worlds and gods/goddesses having a role in the story. The fact that the characters had to fight and endure so much, especially Acheron, just makes you want to cheer for them that much more. There are some dark topics in this book such as rape, torture, and PTSD. To be able to survive such horrific instances and for so long shows what a strong person Acheron is.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 16, 2019
This is the second book by this author and I have loved both of them. I'm looking forward to future books by her.
Triggers: Rape (off page), abuse and slavery. You see a little of his abuse first hand at the end and there are some flashbacks of it but it's just glimpses.
Triggers: Rape (off page), abuse and slavery. You see a little of his abuse first hand at the end and there are some flashbacks of it but it's just glimpses.
August 31, 2020
Arranged marriage, damaged hero and sunshine heroine. It was the recipe for a good book. It flopped.
See, I get where the author is coming from and how she tries to convey the horrible things the hero went through but... at almost 70% I realized it was just too much. For me, at least. The only feels it gave me was sadness and annoyance at Kora, the heroine. I failed to see and feel the healing process of the hero. Plus, I didn't really get what the book should have been about because the synopsis kind of alludes to one thing - which, did happen - but it takes a few turns and I'm left wondering, then I'm skipping pages, reading a dialogue here and there and that's the only way I made it to the end. Which was... unsatisfying, for the lack of a better word.
Anyway, to each their own. I voluntarily offered to read a copy of this book via Netgalley. My rating is 2.5 - 3 stars.
See, I get where the author is coming from and how she tries to convey the horrible things the hero went through but... at almost 70% I realized it was just too much. For me, at least. The only feels it gave me was sadness and annoyance at Kora, the heroine. I failed to see and feel the healing process of the hero. Plus, I didn't really get what the book should have been about because the synopsis kind of alludes to one thing - which, did happen - but it takes a few turns and I'm left wondering, then I'm skipping pages, reading a dialogue here and there and that's the only way I made it to the end. Which was... unsatisfying, for the lack of a better word.
Anyway, to each their own. I voluntarily offered to read a copy of this book via Netgalley. My rating is 2.5 - 3 stars.
August 22, 2023
The male mc (who is a rape survivor from events previous to the book) gets put into horrific situations where he’s raped and abused. He has super severe trauma he’s working through as the book progresses. And all this to explain how you can imagine my surprise when, after he’s put through actually horrific torture, the main girl slaps him so hard she leaves a mark. And it’s just cause he had reservations about being with her after everything he has been through, which I think is reasonable.
Also she sexualises him and makes comments about his genitals while he is unconscious and she is giving him medical services, being in a super extreme position of power. Anyways actually horrible I have no words.
Also she sexualises him and makes comments about his genitals while he is unconscious and she is giving him medical services, being in a super extreme position of power. Anyways actually horrible I have no words.
September 21, 2020
Her Lord of Death is an action filled romance set in the vibrant world of ancient mythological Greece. It introduces us to a well rounded main couple to root for, as well as a cast of memorable, fleshed out side characters. The setting is well researched and both the action and romance scenes played out really well.
Before continuing the review I would like to point out that this book contains some very dark/heavy/adult themes including references to rape, abuse, slavery, sexual abuse, violence, death of a child, post traumatic stress., and issues around consent. A lot of this is referenced off page and through flashbacks, but it is important to be aware before reading or recommending.
Kora is the niece of a king, who's land is plagued by a terrible beast. She is a kind, intelligent woman who, after the death of her family, moved to live with her uncle and learns healing to help those she cares for and feel a purpose in the world. Acheron is a champion among men. An ex arena fighter, he now works in the employ a neighboring king. Rumors paint him as a monster, strong and ruthless enough to kill other monsters. Violence is in his very nature.
For the mutual benefit of the two kings, the pair's marriage is arranged. Will Kora be trading one murdering, heartless creature for another? Will Acheron's past finally catch up to him? Or will the political and mythological forces that thrust them together in the first place, tear them apart again?
Firstly I had no idea what to expect when I first got my review copy of Her Lord of Death approved. I had never read a romance novel for review before, but I was on a bit of an ancient Greek kick and thought what the hell!
Let's talk characters first of all, as they are the driving force, the center piece, of any romance novel. Both Kora and Acheron are engaging, intelligent, yet flawed, characters who have elements of their past to intrigue readers and enough development to make you care about their fates, They have believable motives, they make mistakes, and there is a building chemistry between them that is very well written. Each scene between the two of them is a build upon the last, a nice slow burn. Don't expect full primal love making straight away, and I mean that in the best way. The pay off after the lead up is worth it. I liked that each love scene built upon the last as the characters knew each other more, and both fought against other feelings stopping them from intimacy. At the end of each scene we are left wanting more, unsatisfied, eager for more. Very well written. The novel explores the world from both Kora and Acheron's POV and I found this was a great way to open up the world and the relationship dynamic. It also allowed a good exploration into the trauma the characters faced and contrasted their internal reaction to how that manifested on the surface to an observer.
A romance book with just steaminess is bland in my opinion. What really kept me reading Her Lord of Death (and I finished it in two sittings) were all the exquisite trappings around the romance.
I loved the cast of other characters, from loyal friends, a villain I could totally sympathies with, another I could love to despise, and various kings and wives trying to keep control of their kingdoms. Each was fleshed out, given believable motives and distinct personalities. Add to that a good slosh of the mythological elements that make ancient Greece such a fun setting, and you have a marvelous medley of heros, monsters, ghosts and gods.
With monsters come monster fights, and these were as well written as the love scenes. Fast paced, bloody, with impossibly stacked odds and clever tricks that are a staple of mythology, the fights sweep you along in a brutal torrent of action. The inclusion of elements from the classical legends and monsters are exciting for those new to the time period but nice references for those who perhaps know the tales a little better. The time period itself seems very well researched, from the clothes to food to the rituals of hospitality, and it was nice to read historical fiction without being jolted out of the immersion by a modern reference or phrase.
A fair review is fair, and so in fairness some criticism. I found a small amount of repetitiveness in the love scenes. Not in the scenes themselves, but in Acheron's reaction or narration to them. Not enough to ruin the scenes for me though. I also felt there were a few flashbacks or allusions to scenes that contained torture and abuse that I struggled to read. Again, not enough to put the book down, but enough to notice and warn about when recommending.
After the sweet slow build of most of the book, I found the ending wrapped up a little two quickly and neatly for me. Yes it is a romance and so I can forgive a rosy ending, but it has to be believable. I am not sure if I truly believed the motivation of the villain towards the end, who themselves were introduced and fare-welled a little too quickly for my taste, It felt a little hurried, like there were only so many words left to wrap everything up in.
BUT, overall I loved reading Her Lord of Death. It was a good romance wrapped up a neat bow of violence, monster and demons both mythological and human. Would recommend to fans of ancient legends, romances with flawed, traumatised, but lovable characters, and fast paced, brutal fights. I will definitely be looking out for other books by Katherine Diane.
4/5 stars!
Thank you to Katherine Diane and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op for providing me with a digital arc of Her Lord of Death. All views and opinions expressed above are my own.
Before continuing the review I would like to point out that this book contains some very dark/heavy/adult themes including references to rape, abuse, slavery, sexual abuse, violence, death of a child, post traumatic stress., and issues around consent. A lot of this is referenced off page and through flashbacks, but it is important to be aware before reading or recommending.
Kora is the niece of a king, who's land is plagued by a terrible beast. She is a kind, intelligent woman who, after the death of her family, moved to live with her uncle and learns healing to help those she cares for and feel a purpose in the world. Acheron is a champion among men. An ex arena fighter, he now works in the employ a neighboring king. Rumors paint him as a monster, strong and ruthless enough to kill other monsters. Violence is in his very nature.
For the mutual benefit of the two kings, the pair's marriage is arranged. Will Kora be trading one murdering, heartless creature for another? Will Acheron's past finally catch up to him? Or will the political and mythological forces that thrust them together in the first place, tear them apart again?
Firstly I had no idea what to expect when I first got my review copy of Her Lord of Death approved. I had never read a romance novel for review before, but I was on a bit of an ancient Greek kick and thought what the hell!
Let's talk characters first of all, as they are the driving force, the center piece, of any romance novel. Both Kora and Acheron are engaging, intelligent, yet flawed, characters who have elements of their past to intrigue readers and enough development to make you care about their fates, They have believable motives, they make mistakes, and there is a building chemistry between them that is very well written. Each scene between the two of them is a build upon the last, a nice slow burn. Don't expect full primal love making straight away, and I mean that in the best way. The pay off after the lead up is worth it. I liked that each love scene built upon the last as the characters knew each other more, and both fought against other feelings stopping them from intimacy. At the end of each scene we are left wanting more, unsatisfied, eager for more. Very well written. The novel explores the world from both Kora and Acheron's POV and I found this was a great way to open up the world and the relationship dynamic. It also allowed a good exploration into the trauma the characters faced and contrasted their internal reaction to how that manifested on the surface to an observer.
A romance book with just steaminess is bland in my opinion. What really kept me reading Her Lord of Death (and I finished it in two sittings) were all the exquisite trappings around the romance.
I loved the cast of other characters, from loyal friends, a villain I could totally sympathies with, another I could love to despise, and various kings and wives trying to keep control of their kingdoms. Each was fleshed out, given believable motives and distinct personalities. Add to that a good slosh of the mythological elements that make ancient Greece such a fun setting, and you have a marvelous medley of heros, monsters, ghosts and gods.
With monsters come monster fights, and these were as well written as the love scenes. Fast paced, bloody, with impossibly stacked odds and clever tricks that are a staple of mythology, the fights sweep you along in a brutal torrent of action. The inclusion of elements from the classical legends and monsters are exciting for those new to the time period but nice references for those who perhaps know the tales a little better. The time period itself seems very well researched, from the clothes to food to the rituals of hospitality, and it was nice to read historical fiction without being jolted out of the immersion by a modern reference or phrase.
A fair review is fair, and so in fairness some criticism. I found a small amount of repetitiveness in the love scenes. Not in the scenes themselves, but in Acheron's reaction or narration to them. Not enough to ruin the scenes for me though. I also felt there were a few flashbacks or allusions to scenes that contained torture and abuse that I struggled to read. Again, not enough to put the book down, but enough to notice and warn about when recommending.
After the sweet slow build of most of the book, I found the ending wrapped up a little two quickly and neatly for me. Yes it is a romance and so I can forgive a rosy ending, but it has to be believable. I am not sure if I truly believed the motivation of the villain towards the end, who themselves were introduced and fare-welled a little too quickly for my taste, It felt a little hurried, like there were only so many words left to wrap everything up in.
BUT, overall I loved reading Her Lord of Death. It was a good romance wrapped up a neat bow of violence, monster and demons both mythological and human. Would recommend to fans of ancient legends, romances with flawed, traumatised, but lovable characters, and fast paced, brutal fights. I will definitely be looking out for other books by Katherine Diane.
4/5 stars!
Thank you to Katherine Diane and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op for providing me with a digital arc of Her Lord of Death. All views and opinions expressed above are my own.
February 20, 2021
Show of hands, who's read Lover Awakened by JR Ward?
Those of you that have, you know all about Zsadist. Well, Acheron is pretty much Zsadist circa Ancient Greece...minus the whole vampire thing. And that means you know to expect a lot of fresh hell bubbling up from his tormented soul. I mean some truly hellacious stuff. But Zsadist has nothing on Acheron, guys! That's saying a lot.
I'm all for a tortured hero, but the level of heinousness Acheron has endured was at times REALLY uncomfortable. Others might not be so disturbed by it (reader preference). I'm not going to lie, I'm a wuss, so I skimmed some of it. If you've got a gut of steel and you're prepared for some rape, gore, graphic details, veiny cocks, twisted villains, and some awkward, frustrating sex scenes (duh, the guy hates himself and his well-endowed male plumbing, so it makes for some cringey, tragic moments), then this gem is for you. If not, reader beware. Not trying to scare you off because, for the most part, it is an elegant romance with enough tender moments to counterbalance the grit and gut punches. The mythology and the well-researched detail of the ancient world really brought the tableau to life. Also Kora is pretty fantastic, the slash of sunlight in his gloomy, brooding shadow. She and Oz keep the story from being too dark. "Zeus's Cock!" Oz is definitely a favorite. The Robin to Acheron's Batman, sprinkling lighthearted Oz-isms in our hero's dark wake.
The beginning was a bit of a ramble, though, and I'm not sure Medea should've been the character to start with (Kora and Acheron being the main characters), so I did skim read a little. But about 20% into the book, I began to sink into the story and rub my hands together. The forced marriage trope is after all one of my favorite tropes!
Anyway, it's mostly a somber romance with a lot of modern F-bombs thrown about, but that's to be expected because I'm sure even the ancients used the type of words to make your mother twitch. So that didn't bother me. There's also a subtle Hades and Persephone analogy going on between Acheron and Kora which I appreciated.
Solid 3 stars because the writing was on par with some of the traditionally published books out there. But I'm just not into the repetitive failed sex scenes. I will say there was a lot of attention to detail; maybe a little too much since I did find myself glancing at the percentage marker at times to track my progress. Still, KA is an author to watch. And this was a tricky book to write considering the dark matter. Overall, a good read and an intriguing cover. I might try some of her other books just to get a taste of what else she can do. I'm just not that comfortable with the type of tortured hero that Acheron is. Otherwise it would have been a 4 star read. I probably will give it 4 stars since my discomfort isn't the fault of the story or the author's clever writing.
Those of you that have, you know all about Zsadist. Well, Acheron is pretty much Zsadist circa Ancient Greece...minus the whole vampire thing. And that means you know to expect a lot of fresh hell bubbling up from his tormented soul. I mean some truly hellacious stuff. But Zsadist has nothing on Acheron, guys! That's saying a lot.
I'm all for a tortured hero, but the level of heinousness Acheron has endured was at times REALLY uncomfortable. Others might not be so disturbed by it (reader preference). I'm not going to lie, I'm a wuss, so I skimmed some of it. If you've got a gut of steel and you're prepared for some rape, gore, graphic details, veiny cocks, twisted villains, and some awkward, frustrating sex scenes (duh, the guy hates himself and his well-endowed male plumbing, so it makes for some cringey, tragic moments), then this gem is for you. If not, reader beware. Not trying to scare you off because, for the most part, it is an elegant romance with enough tender moments to counterbalance the grit and gut punches. The mythology and the well-researched detail of the ancient world really brought the tableau to life. Also Kora is pretty fantastic, the slash of sunlight in his gloomy, brooding shadow. She and Oz keep the story from being too dark. "Zeus's Cock!" Oz is definitely a favorite. The Robin to Acheron's Batman, sprinkling lighthearted Oz-isms in our hero's dark wake.
The beginning was a bit of a ramble, though, and I'm not sure Medea should've been the character to start with (Kora and Acheron being the main characters), so I did skim read a little. But about 20% into the book, I began to sink into the story and rub my hands together. The forced marriage trope is after all one of my favorite tropes!
Anyway, it's mostly a somber romance with a lot of modern F-bombs thrown about, but that's to be expected because I'm sure even the ancients used the type of words to make your mother twitch. So that didn't bother me. There's also a subtle Hades and Persephone analogy going on between Acheron and Kora which I appreciated.
Solid 3 stars because the writing was on par with some of the traditionally published books out there. But I'm just not into the repetitive failed sex scenes. I will say there was a lot of attention to detail; maybe a little too much since I did find myself glancing at the percentage marker at times to track my progress. Still, KA is an author to watch. And this was a tricky book to write considering the dark matter. Overall, a good read and an intriguing cover. I might try some of her other books just to get a taste of what else she can do. I'm just not that comfortable with the type of tortured hero that Acheron is. Otherwise it would have been a 4 star read. I probably will give it 4 stars since my discomfort isn't the fault of the story or the author's clever writing.
September 30, 2020
Her Lord of Death, A Mythic World Romance, Katherine Diane
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance, Sci-fi and Fantasy
I love quirky, unusual reads and this book promised that. A bit of ancient mythology, romance and a touch of the supernatural – I had such hopes for this. Sadly it wasn't a great read for me. The writing is very good, but for me the story fell short.
I expected more of the supernatural, given we know Medea is a witch/sorcerer and Kora can see the dead. And of course its ancient Greece, with all the Gods that encompasses. Somehow though apart from the very end, the supernatural parts are very minor.
I felt for a long while I was reading the story but nothing was actually happening - apart from Acheron's cock constantly twitching...the guy had a real problem, as that seemed to happen every few pages.
I know there are warnings about the sexual side of this novel, and given the time and subject matter the abuse was very well written, very believable but – I didn't need to know every little detail of the sex scenes repeated and repeated. It just got boring, once or twice would have been enough, I found myself skipping those pages. It didn't add anything to the story, we know what happened, reading it a couple of times is fine. Reading it for the Nth time gets old.
I wanted more of Queen Medea's nasty side, I wanted to know how the King excused letting her do things, what he told himself to make it OK.
I liked the progression of respect to love that formed between Kora and Acheron.
I loved OZ, certainly one of the best characters and for a side one, he's the one I felt I knew best by the end.
I felt so much of the story was bogged down, day to day stuff, conversations that led nowhere, another journey, Kora's pregnant cousin – BTW what happened to her? One moment she's there, playing a fairly major part of the tale, and Kora is worried for her, and then she's dropped from the story.
While the first half dragged, at the end I felt things became rushed. I had so many questions. I wanted to know how the Minotaur got there, I loved the Hades connection but that was soon done with, I was confused at how Drogas could be himself when....well, I can't say because that would spoil it, but I didn't really feel that part fully worked. Of course I was also puzzled at what would happen next for Kora and Acheron, where would they go, how they could be beyond the reach of Medea given her talents? Would Acheron would feel bound to return, putting them both in danger. Too many lose ends for me there. I like things tucked away neatly.
Stars: Three. It had lots of promise, it was well written, the romance was well done, the abuse scenes realistic, but there were parts I wanted more and parts I could have been happy with a lot less. The lose ends too, I don't like that in a book. But that's me, not everyone is concerned with these things.
Arc via Netgalley and publishers
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance, Sci-fi and Fantasy
I love quirky, unusual reads and this book promised that. A bit of ancient mythology, romance and a touch of the supernatural – I had such hopes for this. Sadly it wasn't a great read for me. The writing is very good, but for me the story fell short.
I expected more of the supernatural, given we know Medea is a witch/sorcerer and Kora can see the dead. And of course its ancient Greece, with all the Gods that encompasses. Somehow though apart from the very end, the supernatural parts are very minor.
I felt for a long while I was reading the story but nothing was actually happening - apart from Acheron's cock constantly twitching...the guy had a real problem, as that seemed to happen every few pages.
I know there are warnings about the sexual side of this novel, and given the time and subject matter the abuse was very well written, very believable but – I didn't need to know every little detail of the sex scenes repeated and repeated. It just got boring, once or twice would have been enough, I found myself skipping those pages. It didn't add anything to the story, we know what happened, reading it a couple of times is fine. Reading it for the Nth time gets old.
I wanted more of Queen Medea's nasty side, I wanted to know how the King excused letting her do things, what he told himself to make it OK.
I liked the progression of respect to love that formed between Kora and Acheron.
I loved OZ, certainly one of the best characters and for a side one, he's the one I felt I knew best by the end.
I felt so much of the story was bogged down, day to day stuff, conversations that led nowhere, another journey, Kora's pregnant cousin – BTW what happened to her? One moment she's there, playing a fairly major part of the tale, and Kora is worried for her, and then she's dropped from the story.
While the first half dragged, at the end I felt things became rushed. I had so many questions. I wanted to know how the Minotaur got there, I loved the Hades connection but that was soon done with, I was confused at how Drogas could be himself when....well, I can't say because that would spoil it, but I didn't really feel that part fully worked. Of course I was also puzzled at what would happen next for Kora and Acheron, where would they go, how they could be beyond the reach of Medea given her talents? Would Acheron would feel bound to return, putting them both in danger. Too many lose ends for me there. I like things tucked away neatly.
Stars: Three. It had lots of promise, it was well written, the romance was well done, the abuse scenes realistic, but there were parts I wanted more and parts I could have been happy with a lot less. The lose ends too, I don't like that in a book. But that's me, not everyone is concerned with these things.
Arc via Netgalley and publishers
September 21, 2020
First of all, thank you to the author, to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.
I would like to preface this review by saying that there are some really serious trigger warnings for this book. The ARC was accompanied by a statement saying that there are dark themes that may distress some readers. This is absolutely true but in the interests of full disclosure, and in case this is relevant to you, please be aware that this book includes the following: rape, physical abuse, emotional abuse, mental abuse, lack of consent, questionable consent, murder, witnessing death of family members, and probably more things that I'm forgetting to list. Some of these things are in flashbacks, some of them happen on page, some of them are alluded or mentioned.
Nonetheless this was such a good book. I was really, really, really surprised by this; it wasn't what I expected. I thought it was going to be some sort of variation on the myth of Hades and Persephone reimagined. To an extent, it was, but that was really maybe 5% of what was going on.
The heart of the story is an incredibly damaged man, Acheron, who overcomes incredible amounts of past trauma and tragedy to find love with Kora. He is hampered by massive amounts of lingering PTSD (or so we would call it today) and, to a certain extent, the common historical male attitude towards keeping a woman safe at home. All Acheron believes he is good for is fighting and killing and he has so much trouble allowing himself to be vulnerable enough to open himself to Kora.
Meanwhile, Kora has her own past trauma due to a near drowning as a child which gave her resultant paranormal abilities (she can speak to ghosts). She tries her hardest to break through to Acheron with very incremental success. At times it might seem that Kora's progress is so slow, but when you consider what Acheron went through it's really a miracle he can make any progress at all.
There are also certain mythological elements from Greek history the reader might recognize, as well as some much needed humor and levity in the form of Oz, Acheron's sole friend and fellow former polem (like a Greek gladiator).
Yes, the book is dark. Yes, it is violent. Yes, it is definitely, DEFINITELY, adult. And somehow I gobbled it up like a bag of Cheetos in mere hours. Ms. Diane's writing was smooth and evocative, and POVs and characterization well done. Most of the characters have grey areas, which is both enjoyable and realistic. The fighting scenes were convincing; the historical period seemed very accurate. All in all I really enjoyed this, dark themes notwithstanding, and would be very interested in reading more from the author.
4.5 stars happily rounded up to 5 for Goodreads.
I would like to preface this review by saying that there are some really serious trigger warnings for this book. The ARC was accompanied by a statement saying that there are dark themes that may distress some readers. This is absolutely true but in the interests of full disclosure, and in case this is relevant to you, please be aware that this book includes the following: rape, physical abuse, emotional abuse, mental abuse, lack of consent, questionable consent, murder, witnessing death of family members, and probably more things that I'm forgetting to list. Some of these things are in flashbacks, some of them happen on page, some of them are alluded or mentioned.
Nonetheless this was such a good book. I was really, really, really surprised by this; it wasn't what I expected. I thought it was going to be some sort of variation on the myth of Hades and Persephone reimagined. To an extent, it was, but that was really maybe 5% of what was going on.
The heart of the story is an incredibly damaged man, Acheron, who overcomes incredible amounts of past trauma and tragedy to find love with Kora. He is hampered by massive amounts of lingering PTSD (or so we would call it today) and, to a certain extent, the common historical male attitude towards keeping a woman safe at home. All Acheron believes he is good for is fighting and killing and he has so much trouble allowing himself to be vulnerable enough to open himself to Kora.
Meanwhile, Kora has her own past trauma due to a near drowning as a child which gave her resultant paranormal abilities (she can speak to ghosts). She tries her hardest to break through to Acheron with very incremental success. At times it might seem that Kora's progress is so slow, but when you consider what Acheron went through it's really a miracle he can make any progress at all.
There are also certain mythological elements from Greek history the reader might recognize, as well as some much needed humor and levity in the form of Oz, Acheron's sole friend and fellow former polem (like a Greek gladiator).
Yes, the book is dark. Yes, it is violent. Yes, it is definitely, DEFINITELY, adult. And somehow I gobbled it up like a bag of Cheetos in mere hours. Ms. Diane's writing was smooth and evocative, and POVs and characterization well done. Most of the characters have grey areas, which is both enjoyable and realistic. The fighting scenes were convincing; the historical period seemed very accurate. All in all I really enjoyed this, dark themes notwithstanding, and would be very interested in reading more from the author.
4.5 stars happily rounded up to 5 for Goodreads.
September 14, 2020
Her Lord of Death is a dark fantasy romance with elements of Greek mythology. It's the story of the arranged marriage between Acheron, rumored to be a savage killer, and Kora, a healer with the ability to speak to the dead,
Acheron has been a slave since the age of 14 when a ship he was traveling on was captured by slavers. He was sold into service to a household where the queen took a fancy to him and used him as her personal sex slave for a couple of years before the husband decided to take his jealousy and vengeance out on Acheron and use him as a polemos, or gladiator. Acheron survives 9 years of forced fighting and sexual abuse at the hands of the prince until another King purchases him and sets him free.
Acheron stays in the new kingdom in service to the King. The Queen of this kingdom, who practices witchcraft, convinces the King to arrange a marriage between Acheron and Kora, a woman from a neighboring kingdom, to help her satisfy her own agenda.
Kora is the niece of a neighboring King who is heading toward spinsterhood. She agrees to marry Acheron after he rids the kingdom she resides in of a monster that had been terrorizing the trade roads leading to and from the town she lives in.
This is basically a story of Acheron learning to deal with the results of the trauma he has suffered over the years. He did not have a happy life, even before he became a slave. He is drawn to Kora because she is patient and understanding. Kora has her own personal trauma which also left her with the ability to help the dead cross over the river into Hades. This is something she keeps to herself since people don't understand her abilities, but it also makes her a desirous tool of the sorceress Queen.
Greek myth is woven through the storyline, which I really enjoyed, but also had some problems with. I felt like some of the myths were underexplained and if you didn't know the original myth you were left lacking context. I reached a couple of points with the story, especially with the minotaur, where I wondered if I'd accidentally missed a page or two.
Overall, I enjoyed the story. It was a dark fantasy, not for everyone because of the sexual content and abuse. The world is fascinating with its politics, fantastical elements, and use of ancient myth. I would definitely read more from this world.
Thank you to Victory Editing Netgalley Co-Op for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Acheron has been a slave since the age of 14 when a ship he was traveling on was captured by slavers. He was sold into service to a household where the queen took a fancy to him and used him as her personal sex slave for a couple of years before the husband decided to take his jealousy and vengeance out on Acheron and use him as a polemos, or gladiator. Acheron survives 9 years of forced fighting and sexual abuse at the hands of the prince until another King purchases him and sets him free.
Acheron stays in the new kingdom in service to the King. The Queen of this kingdom, who practices witchcraft, convinces the King to arrange a marriage between Acheron and Kora, a woman from a neighboring kingdom, to help her satisfy her own agenda.
Kora is the niece of a neighboring King who is heading toward spinsterhood. She agrees to marry Acheron after he rids the kingdom she resides in of a monster that had been terrorizing the trade roads leading to and from the town she lives in.
This is basically a story of Acheron learning to deal with the results of the trauma he has suffered over the years. He did not have a happy life, even before he became a slave. He is drawn to Kora because she is patient and understanding. Kora has her own personal trauma which also left her with the ability to help the dead cross over the river into Hades. This is something she keeps to herself since people don't understand her abilities, but it also makes her a desirous tool of the sorceress Queen.
Greek myth is woven through the storyline, which I really enjoyed, but also had some problems with. I felt like some of the myths were underexplained and if you didn't know the original myth you were left lacking context. I reached a couple of points with the story, especially with the minotaur, where I wondered if I'd accidentally missed a page or two.
Overall, I enjoyed the story. It was a dark fantasy, not for everyone because of the sexual content and abuse. The world is fascinating with its politics, fantastical elements, and use of ancient myth. I would definitely read more from this world.
Thank you to Victory Editing Netgalley Co-Op for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 10, 2020
This copy was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and the publisher for review: all opinions are my own.
Enter into an ancient Greek world both harsh and beautiful, a place of gods and magic—and love worth every sacrifice. A solid 4.75. this book was great and I could hardly put it down. I loved the characters, the action, the Greek mythology interwoven throughout. The steamy romance and suppressed angst-y feelings. Ugh, I need so much more. I honestly can not wait to read more by Katherine Diane.
Kora has a secret. Ever since her family's death and nearly her own, she has been able to communicate with the souls who are unable to cross into the land of the dead. Part of her feels that she never fully returned to the land of the living herself. Acheron is a rival country's champion, once a slave bought from Crete who fought for his freedom. He does not fear death, only the parts of himself he thought dead and buried. Forced together in a marriage of convenience, they will battle not only monsters and a sorcerer queen's dangerous magic, but their feelings for each other and parts of their pasts that aren't quite ready to let them go.
I LOVED THEM SO MUCH, I can't even put into words. I loved the dichotomy of Kora who just wants to talk things out and Acheron who would rather run than talk about feelings. Sometimes this can be annoying trope for me as a reader but it was done so well in this book that I never got frustrated. Coming to understand Acheron's emotional and physical trauma was painful to read but let us learn so much about him as a character and why he avoids it; he so wants to connect with Kora, but feels he is undeserving of her. That his past has made him less than and dirty.
I will give a trigger warning for sexual abuse and rape . Its not a trigger for me, but definitely could for someone who has experienced it. I think that the author handled it really well ; it wasn't just swept under the rug by characters. It was confronted by them, and the stemming body issues Acheron suffered were not magically gone by the end. And body issues around sex does he suffer. It was NOT abuse between the two main protagonists (that's a no no for me) but between Acheron and his past. It handles the topic of sexual slavery which is not often covered in history lessons..
My only qualm with this would be part of the main plot is kinda lost at the climax, like we get there, we know what happens, but then that leading conflict is brushed to the side for a different direction and is then only mentioned at the very end. Maybe its leading into anther book (i really hope so), but that part felt unresolved for me.
Enter into an ancient Greek world both harsh and beautiful, a place of gods and magic—and love worth every sacrifice. A solid 4.75. this book was great and I could hardly put it down. I loved the characters, the action, the Greek mythology interwoven throughout. The steamy romance and suppressed angst-y feelings. Ugh, I need so much more. I honestly can not wait to read more by Katherine Diane.
Kora has a secret. Ever since her family's death and nearly her own, she has been able to communicate with the souls who are unable to cross into the land of the dead. Part of her feels that she never fully returned to the land of the living herself. Acheron is a rival country's champion, once a slave bought from Crete who fought for his freedom. He does not fear death, only the parts of himself he thought dead and buried. Forced together in a marriage of convenience, they will battle not only monsters and a sorcerer queen's dangerous magic, but their feelings for each other and parts of their pasts that aren't quite ready to let them go.
I LOVED THEM SO MUCH, I can't even put into words. I loved the dichotomy of Kora who just wants to talk things out and Acheron who would rather run than talk about feelings. Sometimes this can be annoying trope for me as a reader but it was done so well in this book that I never got frustrated. Coming to understand Acheron's emotional and physical trauma was painful to read but let us learn so much about him as a character and why he avoids it; he so wants to connect with Kora, but feels he is undeserving of her. That his past has made him less than and dirty.
I will give a trigger warning for sexual abuse and rape . Its not a trigger for me, but definitely could for someone who has experienced it. I think that the author handled it really well ; it wasn't just swept under the rug by characters. It was confronted by them, and the stemming body issues Acheron suffered were not magically gone by the end. And body issues around sex does he suffer. It was NOT abuse between the two main protagonists (that's a no no for me) but between Acheron and his past. It handles the topic of sexual slavery which is not often covered in history lessons..
My only qualm with this would be part of the main plot is kinda lost at the climax, like we get there, we know what happens, but then that leading conflict is brushed to the side for a different direction and is then only mentioned at the very end. Maybe its leading into anther book (i really hope so), but that part felt unresolved for me.
August 31, 2020
"Her Lord of Death" was not what I was expecting. I don't mean that in a bad way. To sum in short, Acheron was a polemos (aka gladiator) who was imprisoned for nine years where he did whatever he had to survive. And he was abused. Often. He was eventually released and became a hero. A conniving queen convinces the king to marry Acheron off to a noblewoman named Kora from other city-state. She is kind and the complete opposite of Acheron. The story tells of their struggle to come to terms with their feelings for each other, Acheron's dark past, and their current monsters and rivals.
WARNING - Spoilers.
To begin, I truly enjoyed the ancient Greek aspect of this, The mythology included was wonderful and a refreshing change from the normal novels I read. It was a well-thought out book and the writing was enticing and kept me wanting to turn the page.
My biggest issue with this book, however was the overly sexual theme. Trigger warning - rape is included in a decent amount of detail (not by main characters), and it is difficult to read. Also, I honestly didn't need to know every single time Acheron's "c*ck twitched" when thinking about certain things. It was just too much. I'm all about adding in a bit of the adult aspect, but a bit more subtlety can go a long way.
Another issue I had was the storyline with Hades. I wanted more with this. It seemed to completely come out of nowhere, though. Why the obsession with Kora? Why did he let her go? Why did Poseidon force an earthquake to destroy Crete? I want more details. That storyline is incredible and should definitely be explored.
I need more about the Minotaur, as well. Where did that come from? I know the story, but I'm not sure how that got looped into this.
Also, what happened with Medea? I'm assuming her child did not come back, but we never really got resolution on that other than knowing she'd been in bed for weeks at the end. And what about Kora's cousin back in her home city-state? The pregnant one. Give me more about her, what happened to her and her family.
Finally, I need an Oz spinoff now. By far my favorite character. I need his background and what he does on his ship currently.
Overall, a good, fast read. Wonderful writing. Could use a bit more fleshing out, but I enjoyed it.
WARNING - Spoilers.
To begin, I truly enjoyed the ancient Greek aspect of this, The mythology included was wonderful and a refreshing change from the normal novels I read. It was a well-thought out book and the writing was enticing and kept me wanting to turn the page.
My biggest issue with this book, however was the overly sexual theme. Trigger warning - rape is included in a decent amount of detail (not by main characters), and it is difficult to read. Also, I honestly didn't need to know every single time Acheron's "c*ck twitched" when thinking about certain things. It was just too much. I'm all about adding in a bit of the adult aspect, but a bit more subtlety can go a long way.
Another issue I had was the storyline with Hades. I wanted more with this. It seemed to completely come out of nowhere, though. Why the obsession with Kora? Why did he let her go? Why did Poseidon force an earthquake to destroy Crete? I want more details. That storyline is incredible and should definitely be explored.
I need more about the Minotaur, as well. Where did that come from? I know the story, but I'm not sure how that got looped into this.
Also, what happened with Medea? I'm assuming her child did not come back, but we never really got resolution on that other than knowing she'd been in bed for weeks at the end. And what about Kora's cousin back in her home city-state? The pregnant one. Give me more about her, what happened to her and her family.
Finally, I need an Oz spinoff now. By far my favorite character. I need his background and what he does on his ship currently.
Overall, a good, fast read. Wonderful writing. Could use a bit more fleshing out, but I enjoyed it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 29, 2020
Myths, magic, love and a lot of drama! If you are ready for a bumpy ride and you think you can handle Acheron and Kora - here you go! But be warned: the author's note is important on this one!
***
In the beginning it was hard for me to really get into the story, but as page after page went by, I was fully into the new world of Acheron and Kora. And oh my, this is quite the story! Yes, do expect a lot of adventure, drama and romance, but also be ready for some heavy stuff (trigger warning: sexual abuse) as well as "the Greek brutality" what you might know from other gods, demi-gods etc. stories.
The relationship between Acheron and Kora is not an easy one - both need time to trust, to rely on each other, to fight. And this is especially hard for Acheron, but Kora was amazing: she's clever, she fought so hard and she never gave up. It was just amazing to read how their relationship developed.
In the end, I was again a bit struggeling with the author's writing style as for me personally it was a bit too descriptive and too much detail so I skipped some pages but I definitely needed to know how it ended and I must say that I was happy with it.
*****
Anfangs war es schwer für mich, wirklich in die Geschichte zu finden, aber je weiter ich las umso mehr war ich in der Welt von Acheron und Kora gefangen. Ja, in der Geschichte erwartet euch viel Abenteuer, Drama und Romantik, aber seid gewarnt, es gibt auch schwerere Kost noch zu lesen (Triggerwarnung: sexueller Missbrauch) sowie auch einiges an Gewalt, aber das kennt man ja schon von den Göttern etc.
Die Beziehung zwischen Acheron und Kora ist sicherlich nicht leicht. Beide benötigen Zeit, einander zu vertrauen, sich zu verlieben und sich auf den anderen verlassen zu können. Besonders Acheron hat hier einiges abzuarbeiten und trägt ein schweres Päckchen mit sich rum. Aber Kora wäre nicht Kora, wäre sie nicht stark, loyal und kämpft für ihre Liebe.
Das Ende war wieder etwas anstrengend für mich, da mir der Stil nicht so zugesagt hat bzw. ich dann doch einige Seiten übersprungen habe, da es mir einfach zu detailreich war. Aber ich musste unbedingt wissen, wie es mit Acheron und Kora zu Ende geht und ich wurde nicht enttäuscht!
***
In the beginning it was hard for me to really get into the story, but as page after page went by, I was fully into the new world of Acheron and Kora. And oh my, this is quite the story! Yes, do expect a lot of adventure, drama and romance, but also be ready for some heavy stuff (trigger warning: sexual abuse) as well as "the Greek brutality" what you might know from other gods, demi-gods etc. stories.
The relationship between Acheron and Kora is not an easy one - both need time to trust, to rely on each other, to fight. And this is especially hard for Acheron, but Kora was amazing: she's clever, she fought so hard and she never gave up. It was just amazing to read how their relationship developed.
In the end, I was again a bit struggeling with the author's writing style as for me personally it was a bit too descriptive and too much detail so I skipped some pages but I definitely needed to know how it ended and I must say that I was happy with it.
*****
Anfangs war es schwer für mich, wirklich in die Geschichte zu finden, aber je weiter ich las umso mehr war ich in der Welt von Acheron und Kora gefangen. Ja, in der Geschichte erwartet euch viel Abenteuer, Drama und Romantik, aber seid gewarnt, es gibt auch schwerere Kost noch zu lesen (Triggerwarnung: sexueller Missbrauch) sowie auch einiges an Gewalt, aber das kennt man ja schon von den Göttern etc.
Die Beziehung zwischen Acheron und Kora ist sicherlich nicht leicht. Beide benötigen Zeit, einander zu vertrauen, sich zu verlieben und sich auf den anderen verlassen zu können. Besonders Acheron hat hier einiges abzuarbeiten und trägt ein schweres Päckchen mit sich rum. Aber Kora wäre nicht Kora, wäre sie nicht stark, loyal und kämpft für ihre Liebe.
Das Ende war wieder etwas anstrengend für mich, da mir der Stil nicht so zugesagt hat bzw. ich dann doch einige Seiten übersprungen habe, da es mir einfach zu detailreich war. Aber ich musste unbedingt wissen, wie es mit Acheron und Kora zu Ende geht und ich wurde nicht enttäuscht!
March 21, 2019
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
I'm not writing a blurby bit here, gonna jump straight in!
I bloody loved this!
So many layers, so much betrayal and back stabbing. Such pain for Acheron in his past, his present, and as he sees, his future. Kora is a woman he can never have, then he does, but still he can't. Cryptic, I know but I ain't doing spoilers!
And so, so many plot twists, I did not see any of them coming at me!
I loved that Acheron knew he was damaged, possibly beyond repair, but still he tries to make Kora see, to SEE that damage, in the only way he knows how: with violence. But KORA?? Kora SEES Acheron. She sees the man behind the rumours and whispers. She sees the man behind the scars, and finally, she SEES why Acheron does what he does to push her away and it makes her love him even more. She makes Acheron SEE, that there is more to life than pain.
And when WE find out why? Well, lets just say I bawled my eyes out. You get hints and snippets as to why Acheron reacts the way he does, but you don't get the full picture. Oh you put the clues together well enough, but really? Not enough. Nowhere NEAR enough.
After we get the full picture of what Acheron endured while in in Crete at the hands of Minos, it's a wonder the man is even sane! As Oz, Acheron's approximation of a best friend pointed out, he only had two years there, and Acheron had TEN years fighting for his life almost every day.
Suffices to say, this carries some dark story lines, but to say what they are would be spoilers. If you want to know, please message me, I'll tell you. Some readers may have triggers.
There is a little bit at the back of this, about how THIS book was Knight's first book, not Beautiful Beast. About how much of a battle Knight had with it. I'm so bloody glad she won that battle!
It's also billed as A Mythic World Romance. No idea what comes next, but I really wanna read it!
5 stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
I'm not writing a blurby bit here, gonna jump straight in!
I bloody loved this!
So many layers, so much betrayal and back stabbing. Such pain for Acheron in his past, his present, and as he sees, his future. Kora is a woman he can never have, then he does, but still he can't. Cryptic, I know but I ain't doing spoilers!
And so, so many plot twists, I did not see any of them coming at me!
I loved that Acheron knew he was damaged, possibly beyond repair, but still he tries to make Kora see, to SEE that damage, in the only way he knows how: with violence. But KORA?? Kora SEES Acheron. She sees the man behind the rumours and whispers. She sees the man behind the scars, and finally, she SEES why Acheron does what he does to push her away and it makes her love him even more. She makes Acheron SEE, that there is more to life than pain.
And when WE find out why? Well, lets just say I bawled my eyes out. You get hints and snippets as to why Acheron reacts the way he does, but you don't get the full picture. Oh you put the clues together well enough, but really? Not enough. Nowhere NEAR enough.
After we get the full picture of what Acheron endured while in in Crete at the hands of Minos, it's a wonder the man is even sane! As Oz, Acheron's approximation of a best friend pointed out, he only had two years there, and Acheron had TEN years fighting for his life almost every day.
Suffices to say, this carries some dark story lines, but to say what they are would be spoilers. If you want to know, please message me, I'll tell you. Some readers may have triggers.
There is a little bit at the back of this, about how THIS book was Knight's first book, not Beautiful Beast. About how much of a battle Knight had with it. I'm so bloody glad she won that battle!
It's also billed as A Mythic World Romance. No idea what comes next, but I really wanna read it!
5 stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
September 16, 2020
“What? Some has to burn your worthless carcuss, or whatever the monsters leaves of it.”
-Katherine Diane Her Lord of Death
In this world of Ancient Greece, the Gods walk the Earth as does the monsters. In this mythical world is the infamous warrior and former slave Acheron. Even though he had won his freedom, Acheron becomes an unknowing pawn in Queen Medea's plan. The Queen Medea's plan being Acheron killing a beast and marrying the niece of a nobleman as a reward for his heroic efforts.
A lover of Ancient Greek history and mythology, this book was quite entertaining. Of course, the one complaint is that the story was confusing, for example, the subplot with Hades the Minotaur. There are so many unanswered questions regarding the subplots. A lingering question, will Oz get his book? Oz, by far, is the undeniable favorite in this story. From his over-drinking to his overbearingness towards Acheron's health.
The dislike of Acheron by King Minos is most baffling. King Minos knowing about the torture that Acheron was dealt, did nothing knowing Acheron's true heritage. Instead, Acheron is forced to deal with horrific acts of brutalism because of an oracle's prophecy. These acts that "turned" Acheron into a skilled warrior.
However, the story does have moments of distraction. In the beginning, Acheron kills the monster plaguing Kora's city. After, the marriage between Kora and Acheron has Medea entering their life to exploit Kora's ability. Then the story shifts to Medea selling out Acheron to force Kora's help. With shifts to Drogus entering the picture, which adds a whole new element of horror. What was a simple ploy to force Kora's hand at an impossible task led to her capturing Hades' attention.
Regardless of the distracting subplots in the story, the love story of Acheron and Kora was an interesting one. Witnessing as Kora's disdain for Acheron shifted to love.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for allowing me to read this e-book in exchange for an honest review.
-Katherine Diane Her Lord of Death
In this world of Ancient Greece, the Gods walk the Earth as does the monsters. In this mythical world is the infamous warrior and former slave Acheron. Even though he had won his freedom, Acheron becomes an unknowing pawn in Queen Medea's plan. The Queen Medea's plan being Acheron killing a beast and marrying the niece of a nobleman as a reward for his heroic efforts.
A lover of Ancient Greek history and mythology, this book was quite entertaining. Of course, the one complaint is that the story was confusing, for example, the subplot with Hades the Minotaur. There are so many unanswered questions regarding the subplots. A lingering question, will Oz get his book? Oz, by far, is the undeniable favorite in this story. From his over-drinking to his overbearingness towards Acheron's health.
The dislike of Acheron by King Minos is most baffling. King Minos knowing about the torture that Acheron was dealt, did nothing knowing Acheron's true heritage. Instead, Acheron is forced to deal with horrific acts of brutalism because of an oracle's prophecy. These acts that "turned" Acheron into a skilled warrior.
However, the story does have moments of distraction. In the beginning, Acheron kills the monster plaguing Kora's city. After, the marriage between Kora and Acheron has Medea entering their life to exploit Kora's ability. Then the story shifts to Medea selling out Acheron to force Kora's help. With shifts to Drogus entering the picture, which adds a whole new element of horror. What was a simple ploy to force Kora's hand at an impossible task led to her capturing Hades' attention.
Regardless of the distracting subplots in the story, the love story of Acheron and Kora was an interesting one. Witnessing as Kora's disdain for Acheron shifted to love.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for allowing me to read this e-book in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 29, 2020
I have had the pleasure of reading this book before publication in exchange for an honest review. I am not a professional reviewer and do not get paid. This review is completley honest and I would not hold back if I didn't like the title.
When I applied to read this book I must admit I skim read the description where 'Historical Fiction' jumped out at me (my go to genre).
As I skim read the description I was shocked to read some of the language used then after reading the description properly I saw the book as also tagged 'Erotic Novel'. Then the language became more expected.
Now knowing it was an erotic novel I kept an open mind, never reading this kind of book before, and I was pleasantly surprised.
I do not want to give the story away but the book is centred around two main characters, Acheron, a former slave and Kora, a noble woman, who reluctantly fall in love after an arranged marriage.
I have to say after reading the first couple of chapters I was hooked and it only took me a couple of days to come to the end, which is good for me.
I am not a romance reader but I liked the story between the two characters, their personal struggles and their opposite backgrounds.
The book is set in Ancient Greece where mythical beasts run rampant, the gods and witchcraft are a part of daily life, oh any ghosts. What more could you want?
I have already suggested this book to my friends and have now started another title by the same author, Katherine Diane.
All in all, I really enjoyed Her Lord of Death and have been very pleasantly surprised.
I was left wanting another book and would love to read how the characters were getting on a few years later and Acheron's reaction to having a family.
Anyway if you like romance, historical fiction, a bit of eroticism and the mythical genre I fully recommend you read this book!!!
When I applied to read this book I must admit I skim read the description where 'Historical Fiction' jumped out at me (my go to genre).
As I skim read the description I was shocked to read some of the language used then after reading the description properly I saw the book as also tagged 'Erotic Novel'. Then the language became more expected.
Now knowing it was an erotic novel I kept an open mind, never reading this kind of book before, and I was pleasantly surprised.
I do not want to give the story away but the book is centred around two main characters, Acheron, a former slave and Kora, a noble woman, who reluctantly fall in love after an arranged marriage.
I have to say after reading the first couple of chapters I was hooked and it only took me a couple of days to come to the end, which is good for me.
I am not a romance reader but I liked the story between the two characters, their personal struggles and their opposite backgrounds.
The book is set in Ancient Greece where mythical beasts run rampant, the gods and witchcraft are a part of daily life, oh any ghosts. What more could you want?
I have already suggested this book to my friends and have now started another title by the same author, Katherine Diane.
All in all, I really enjoyed Her Lord of Death and have been very pleasantly surprised.
I was left wanting another book and would love to read how the characters were getting on a few years later and Acheron's reaction to having a family.
Anyway if you like romance, historical fiction, a bit of eroticism and the mythical genre I fully recommend you read this book!!!
October 1, 2020
Roman myths are delightfully reimagined in Katherine Diane's Her Lord of Death.
At the heart of this tale is a broken and abused man. Acheron is a warrior, once a slave, a fighter in Mino's colosseum, a survivor of torture and rape. Katherine Diane makes it clear ahead of time that there are delicate subjects in Her Lord of Death, and it is a rare talent who handles such subjects with the care and empathy that she does.
Roman mythology's tangled web mixes expertly with the romantic elements between Acheron and Kora, the patient, intelligent heroine of the story. There is a well thought out plot that dominates this novel over the steamier elements. Katherine has found an expert balance between story and romance, creating a realistic tone both emotionally and historically.
All the characters are intricate, from the villains to the secondary characters. Medea is a queen suffering the grief of losing a child, and her actions, though wrong, are understandable. Oz, a sailor merchant who once battled with Acheron in the pits, is a lovable beast of a man with his own flaws. But it is perhaps the depth of Acheron's battle as a strong, resilient male who suffers agonies and anxieties from the emotional scarring of sexual abuse that sets this novel above others.
Many a woman has been the subject of this brutality, or placed as the "heroine" in erotic romance novels, subjugated to dominant male presences. Such is not the case in Her Lord of Death. Poignant and delicate in handling the topic of sexual abuse committed on males, Her Lord of Death is intimate rather than crude, succeeding in many ways erotic romance so often misuses or refuses to tread.
Through the trauma of abuse, death, grief, and violence that dances over the pages, Her Lord of Death is more about heart, love, and dedication.
At the heart of this tale is a broken and abused man. Acheron is a warrior, once a slave, a fighter in Mino's colosseum, a survivor of torture and rape. Katherine Diane makes it clear ahead of time that there are delicate subjects in Her Lord of Death, and it is a rare talent who handles such subjects with the care and empathy that she does.
Roman mythology's tangled web mixes expertly with the romantic elements between Acheron and Kora, the patient, intelligent heroine of the story. There is a well thought out plot that dominates this novel over the steamier elements. Katherine has found an expert balance between story and romance, creating a realistic tone both emotionally and historically.
All the characters are intricate, from the villains to the secondary characters. Medea is a queen suffering the grief of losing a child, and her actions, though wrong, are understandable. Oz, a sailor merchant who once battled with Acheron in the pits, is a lovable beast of a man with his own flaws. But it is perhaps the depth of Acheron's battle as a strong, resilient male who suffers agonies and anxieties from the emotional scarring of sexual abuse that sets this novel above others.
Many a woman has been the subject of this brutality, or placed as the "heroine" in erotic romance novels, subjugated to dominant male presences. Such is not the case in Her Lord of Death. Poignant and delicate in handling the topic of sexual abuse committed on males, Her Lord of Death is intimate rather than crude, succeeding in many ways erotic romance so often misuses or refuses to tread.
Through the trauma of abuse, death, grief, and violence that dances over the pages, Her Lord of Death is more about heart, love, and dedication.
November 2, 2019
I wasn’t sure what I was in for considering this book had a warning about sexually explicit content. Usually that can fall anywhere on a scale of “all right” to “get it away from me”. This book deals heavily with sexual abuse and sexual slavery, so it’s not for the faint of heart. I did appreciate that we were able to see a man in a very Roman Empire inspired world have to deal with sexual abuse and the guilt and negative emotions that come with it. It’s an interesting take on such a heavy topic. We got to spend a lot of time in Acheron’s head and the author did an excellent job of capturing his guilt revolving around sex because of what he’s experienced. Kora also had reasonably believable reactions to Acheron’s strange behavior. Most people don’t guess that the reason their partner runs away any time they’re doing something sexual is because they were a victim of sex slavery. Acheron reflects the pain many victims go through feeling like he is the one that is disgusting rather than the perpetrators of the abuse. It takes a long while in the book for him to establish a more open and stable romantic relationship with Kora because of it Thankfully, she is wonderfully understanding and patient with him when she finds out about his past. They had a rocky start, but they end up establishing a very strong relationship in the end. They had to work hard for it and I really like that, because you don’t see a lot of romances where couples don’t get off to a great start but work on their relationship so that it improves. A very dark romance, so don’t come into this one expecting a light read, but if you want a well fleshed out romantic relationship, you’ll definitely get it here.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 16, 2021
Good but lacking some
I’m not really into these types of romances I guess, but it was well written and different. There was of course a plot and some scenes of spice but it on the level I prefer. Understandably the hero has had a terrible life up to this point and it certainly effects his interaction with our heroine. I wish their relationship was a little more cohesive and fluidly moved to a better place…where instead it kind of stayed indifferent until the end. I know this would be a way more realistic approach to how someone would react after having gone through such a terrible ordeal, however being a fantasy romance book, I think most of us come to expect a level of HEA that isn’t still hedging.
The plot next, was good, we had a few villains and some interesting scenes of fighting. I just felt it kind of lacking a bit as fast as the telling. We had to wait a little over halfway for any one thing to finally happen and then a third of the way done for the rest. While I had hoped that left the last half for our hero to overcome his past and move forward without hesitation with our heroine, that wasn’t really the case. Less of his ptsd and more working through it and actual time with our villainous scenes to really bring it together would have made this five stars for me. I just felt like 80% of the book was our H and h fighting each other over his issues.
Overall? 3
Spice? 3
Plot? 3
Triggers? Yes
I’m not really into these types of romances I guess, but it was well written and different. There was of course a plot and some scenes of spice but it on the level I prefer. Understandably the hero has had a terrible life up to this point and it certainly effects his interaction with our heroine. I wish their relationship was a little more cohesive and fluidly moved to a better place…where instead it kind of stayed indifferent until the end. I know this would be a way more realistic approach to how someone would react after having gone through such a terrible ordeal, however being a fantasy romance book, I think most of us come to expect a level of HEA that isn’t still hedging.
The plot next, was good, we had a few villains and some interesting scenes of fighting. I just felt it kind of lacking a bit as fast as the telling. We had to wait a little over halfway for any one thing to finally happen and then a third of the way done for the rest. While I had hoped that left the last half for our hero to overcome his past and move forward without hesitation with our heroine, that wasn’t really the case. Less of his ptsd and more working through it and actual time with our villainous scenes to really bring it together would have made this five stars for me. I just felt like 80% of the book was our H and h fighting each other over his issues.
Overall? 3
Spice? 3
Plot? 3
Triggers? Yes
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