What do you think?
Rate this book
The Slayer's Apprentice
When Senior Constable Daniel Hart stops bartender Phoenix Love from picking his pocket one evening, it’s an inauspicious beginning, but Daniel falls for the beautiful Phoenix anyway. Things become complicated when Detective Paul Somerset, who’s been on the trail of Australia’s notorious serial killer “The Crucifix Slayer,” sets his sights on Phoenix.
Convinced that Phoenix Love is the killer, Detective Somerset pursues him single-mindedly. As evidence, and Phoenix’s behavior, point toward Somerset being right, Daniel must protect their fledgling love affair, his own heart and his lover while deciphering whether or not Phoenix actually is the killer.
Is Phoenix Love a victim or is his love affair with Daniel doomed to fall at the whims of a monster?
Convinced that Phoenix Love is the killer, Detective Somerset pursues him single-mindedly. As evidence, and Phoenix’s behavior, point toward Somerset being right, Daniel must protect their fledgling love affair, his own heart and his lover while deciphering whether or not Phoenix actually is the killer.
Is Phoenix Love a victim or is his love affair with Daniel doomed to fall at the whims of a monster?
258 pages, ebook
First published January 14, 2009
19 people are currently reading
1428 people want to read
About the author
Zathyn Priest
11 books376 followersZathyn Priest is an Australian writer with severe vampiric tendencies. Absolutely convinced the sun could turn him to a pile of ash, Zathyn prefers to write under the cover of darkness. This serves two purposes, with the first being the afore mentioned sunlight danger, and the second being the fact that nighttime means no annoying phones ringing or people knocking at the door.
Zathyn has written three published novels using this strange moonlight technique. The Curtis Reincarnation, which is now available in paperback. The Slayer’s Apprentice, soon to be available in paperback. And, Liquid Glass, soon to be available from Torquere Press. He has also written two short fiction works. Left of Center, available from Torquere Press, and One of Those Days, an eBook downloadable from www.zathynpriest.com - because even though Zathyn has vampiric traits, he’s actually quite a nice guy and wrote One of Those Days as a freebie.
When Zathyn isn’t writing, or running for cover before sunlight turns him to cinders, he likes to pretend he’s really good at playing his MIDI keyboard. Thankfully, Zathyn is a conscientious neighbour. Rather than drive the street insane with repeated renditions of Greensleeves, he uses headphones because, let’s face it, no matter how beautiful Greensleeves is, most people don’t want to hear it one hundred times a night.
Zathyn lives with a retired greyhound called Chrissy, who lives the life of luxury sleeping away most of her days on the sofa and generally only waking up when there’s food around or if it’s time for a walk. There’s also a cat called Fran, who doesn’t like Chrissy very much and feels she should reiterate this fact by occasionally smacking her in the face. Just when you thought the household couldn’t get any stranger, there’s a duck - or drake, he’d probably rather be called - named Charlie who originally lived on a farm, but moved in with Zathyn after a fox ate all his girlfriends and was eying Charlie for dessert.
Zathyn has written three published novels using this strange moonlight technique. The Curtis Reincarnation, which is now available in paperback. The Slayer’s Apprentice, soon to be available in paperback. And, Liquid Glass, soon to be available from Torquere Press. He has also written two short fiction works. Left of Center, available from Torquere Press, and One of Those Days, an eBook downloadable from www.zathynpriest.com - because even though Zathyn has vampiric traits, he’s actually quite a nice guy and wrote One of Those Days as a freebie.
When Zathyn isn’t writing, or running for cover before sunlight turns him to cinders, he likes to pretend he’s really good at playing his MIDI keyboard. Thankfully, Zathyn is a conscientious neighbour. Rather than drive the street insane with repeated renditions of Greensleeves, he uses headphones because, let’s face it, no matter how beautiful Greensleeves is, most people don’t want to hear it one hundred times a night.
Zathyn lives with a retired greyhound called Chrissy, who lives the life of luxury sleeping away most of her days on the sofa and generally only waking up when there’s food around or if it’s time for a walk. There’s also a cat called Fran, who doesn’t like Chrissy very much and feels she should reiterate this fact by occasionally smacking her in the face. Just when you thought the household couldn’t get any stranger, there’s a duck - or drake, he’d probably rather be called - named Charlie who originally lived on a farm, but moved in with Zathyn after a fox ate all his girlfriends and was eying Charlie for dessert.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
April 19, 2022
✦ this was quite the mind fucker of a book. i really enjoyed it. 🔪
✦ the actual story, serial killer murder mystery part of this was pretty amazing. keeps you guessing as a reader. it kept me interested throughout the whole book.
✦ sadly, i did guess the plot twist, and the way the plot line got tied up wasn't really satisfying for me tbh, which is a shame.
✦ some things that happened were very unrealistic at times, but idk, for some reason they didn't hinder my enjoyment overall.
✦ i hesitate to classify this book as a romance too tbh. sure, there was some focus on the romance, but not enough. the focus was always more on the murder mystery aspect (which i didn't mind in this case), but if you're looking for a mystery/thriller AND good romance, this book might not work out for you.
✦ i didn't particularly feel any real connection between the mcs overall. Daniel was basically Phoenix's bitch the whole time lmao.
"you’re weird.'
"i'm weird? you’re a little on the eccentric side yourself!"
"i’m not eccentric, Daniel, i'm fucked up."
that you are babe...
✦ Phoenix was a fascinating character. the author definitely keeps you guessing about what's true and what's not when it comes to him. he is a severely messed up with individual, and those types of characters are always my favourite.
"when she’d walked in, her immediate thoughts had revolved around his beatific appearance and small stature. certainly, Phoenix didn’t appear in any way dangerous. yet when his demeanor changed, so too did his angelic façade. the beauty in his face remained, but it altered noticeably into menacing. a dark quality mixed with the mysterious unknown and it gave off a strong sensation that he could be capable of anything. Phoenix had a way of dipping his chin and peering upward through his eyelashes that unnerved Mary at once. suddenly, he no longer came across as a choir boy, but instead as someone likely to pull a knife on you in a dark alley."
✦ i gotta say that Phoenix reminded me of Sila from the Criminal Intentions series by Cole McCade (The Cardigans). if you've read that series, you know that's not necessarily a nice comparison lmao.
✦ i desperately wish we got more at the end. everything got tied up very quickly. i just needed more exploration of the whole aftermath, more time with the mcs, more closure.
✦ despite having some niggles about this book, i'm giving it 3.5 stars, rounded up.
✦ the actual story, serial killer murder mystery part of this was pretty amazing. keeps you guessing as a reader. it kept me interested throughout the whole book.
✦ sadly, i did guess the plot twist, and the way the plot line got tied up wasn't really satisfying for me tbh, which is a shame.
✦ some things that happened were very unrealistic at times, but idk, for some reason they didn't hinder my enjoyment overall.
✦ i hesitate to classify this book as a romance too tbh. sure, there was some focus on the romance, but not enough. the focus was always more on the murder mystery aspect (which i didn't mind in this case), but if you're looking for a mystery/thriller AND good romance, this book might not work out for you.
✦ i didn't particularly feel any real connection between the mcs overall. Daniel was basically Phoenix's bitch the whole time lmao.
"you’re weird.'
"i'm weird? you’re a little on the eccentric side yourself!"
"i’m not eccentric, Daniel, i'm fucked up."
that you are babe...
✦ Phoenix was a fascinating character. the author definitely keeps you guessing about what's true and what's not when it comes to him. he is a severely messed up with individual, and those types of characters are always my favourite.
"when she’d walked in, her immediate thoughts had revolved around his beatific appearance and small stature. certainly, Phoenix didn’t appear in any way dangerous. yet when his demeanor changed, so too did his angelic façade. the beauty in his face remained, but it altered noticeably into menacing. a dark quality mixed with the mysterious unknown and it gave off a strong sensation that he could be capable of anything. Phoenix had a way of dipping his chin and peering upward through his eyelashes that unnerved Mary at once. suddenly, he no longer came across as a choir boy, but instead as someone likely to pull a knife on you in a dark alley."
✦ i gotta say that Phoenix reminded me of Sila from the Criminal Intentions series by Cole McCade (The Cardigans). if you've read that series, you know that's not necessarily a nice comparison lmao.
✦ i desperately wish we got more at the end. everything got tied up very quickly. i just needed more exploration of the whole aftermath, more time with the mcs, more closure.
✦ despite having some niggles about this book, i'm giving it 3.5 stars, rounded up.
November 9, 2014
Once upon a time, I dated a boy who persistently called me schatje, which is baby in Dutch, but somehow has a worse connotation. I was young and superficial and he was the stud of the class, so I let it slip for a while. What can I say? Madison Avenue had not yet scored its educational monster hit.
Until this day however, I think there is a time and a place for endearments. They should not systematically replace someone’s name, nor should they be used loudly in public and above all; my m/m books should not be littered with them!
When one tough bloke calls the other tough bloke honey, I feel my toes curl up a little. So far, there’s only been one man who dared to say baby more than once and pulled it off too: Jake from the Adrien English mysteries. And only because he dosed those baby’s pretty damn well and let's face it; Adrien fits the baby bill.
The Slayer's Apprentice almost breaks 3 of my ground rules. Police officer Daniel Hart meets a slender, black-haired teenager, who works in a bar and has the habit of spitting into the drinks of his customers and stealing their wallets. Daniel knows this, yet asks the boy out anyway. On their first date, he immediately throws in a honey and 2 whopping darlin's.
And there’s no excuse really to be so slimy so soon... The guy’s name is Phoenix. That’s a pretty cool name!
It’s not Elmo he has to work around!
I read a few excellent reviews for this book. And I wish those reviewers had written the actual book. Because I’m afraid I was a little less impressed with The Slayer's Apprentice. The plot revolves around said cop falling for Phoenix, who lives with his little brother. He obsessively cleans when feeling stressed, until the bleach bites into his skin. He doesn’t trust anyone, has 5 deadlocks on his front door alone and is a compulsive liar. In a nutshell: he is a little Insane in the Membrane. At the same time, a notorious serial killer intensifies his little game of Cat and Mouse with the police. Lead Detective Somerset is desperate for clues. And Phoenix may or may not be able to lead him to this killer...
Who isn’t intrigued by psychological disorders? I wondered about Phoenix’ issues and those of the serial killer. However, the author simply offered textbook examples of sociopaths and did so in a "tell, not show" manner. The writing was clinical and choppy at best. The story didn’t flow as much as I would’ve liked and seemed to be offered in chunks, with POV switches between paragraphs (social workers, psychologists, Detectives, Phoenix' parents: they all got an OVERLY explanatory POV of their own) The main characters were one dimensional and only Phoenix was mildly interesting because of his obvious "defects".
Although I never actively hunt for inconsistencies in books, I found certain aspects of the plot extremely implausible:
1) I’m not buying the fact that an almost 30 year old cop would put his entire career at stake for a good-looking, but cunning, spitting and defensive 18 year old he just met in a bar.
2) There's no way the authorities would approve of the decision to leave a kid brother to a serial killer on the loose.
3) I find it highly implausible for the police to approve of a cop still seeing Phoenix after the boy has accused .
4) If Phoenix truly is such a
5) I cannot believe how Daniel, who has only seen Phoenix a few times, obstructs the investigation in order to keep everyone off the boys’ back, and whines that he . What a fucking moron.
Will the real psycho please stand up?
Until this day however, I think there is a time and a place for endearments. They should not systematically replace someone’s name, nor should they be used loudly in public and above all; my m/m books should not be littered with them!
When one tough bloke calls the other tough bloke honey, I feel my toes curl up a little. So far, there’s only been one man who dared to say baby more than once and pulled it off too: Jake from the Adrien English mysteries. And only because he dosed those baby’s pretty damn well and let's face it; Adrien fits the baby bill.
The Slayer's Apprentice almost breaks 3 of my ground rules. Police officer Daniel Hart meets a slender, black-haired teenager, who works in a bar and has the habit of spitting into the drinks of his customers and stealing their wallets. Daniel knows this, yet asks the boy out anyway. On their first date, he immediately throws in a honey and 2 whopping darlin's.
And there’s no excuse really to be so slimy so soon... The guy’s name is Phoenix. That’s a pretty cool name!
It’s not Elmo he has to work around!
I read a few excellent reviews for this book. And I wish those reviewers had written the actual book. Because I’m afraid I was a little less impressed with The Slayer's Apprentice. The plot revolves around said cop falling for Phoenix, who lives with his little brother. He obsessively cleans when feeling stressed, until the bleach bites into his skin. He doesn’t trust anyone, has 5 deadlocks on his front door alone and is a compulsive liar. In a nutshell: he is a little Insane in the Membrane. At the same time, a notorious serial killer intensifies his little game of Cat and Mouse with the police. Lead Detective Somerset is desperate for clues. And Phoenix may or may not be able to lead him to this killer...
Who isn’t intrigued by psychological disorders? I wondered about Phoenix’ issues and those of the serial killer. However, the author simply offered textbook examples of sociopaths and did so in a "tell, not show" manner. The writing was clinical and choppy at best. The story didn’t flow as much as I would’ve liked and seemed to be offered in chunks, with POV switches between paragraphs (social workers, psychologists, Detectives, Phoenix' parents: they all got an OVERLY explanatory POV of their own) The main characters were one dimensional and only Phoenix was mildly interesting because of his obvious "defects".
Although I never actively hunt for inconsistencies in books, I found certain aspects of the plot extremely implausible:
1) I’m not buying the fact that an almost 30 year old cop would put his entire career at stake for a good-looking, but cunning, spitting and defensive 18 year old he just met in a bar.
2) There's no way the authorities would approve of the decision to leave a kid brother to a serial killer on the loose.
3) I find it highly implausible for the police to approve of a cop still seeing Phoenix after the boy has accused .
4) If Phoenix truly is such a
5) I cannot believe how Daniel, who has only seen Phoenix a few times, obstructs the investigation in order to keep everyone off the boys’ back, and whines that he . What a fucking moron.
Will the real psycho please stand up?
August 26, 2016
Wow, The Slayer's Apprentice blew me away! It was very dark, twisty, and suspenseful. It frustrated me, made me sad, got me mad, and greatly disturbed me. Since I was busy with school assignments, I only had time to read small chunks at a time. Then I finished the remaining 2/3 in one sitting. I love psychology and found the details and insights into personality disorders and psychopathic behavior fascinating, but felt the information could have been presented differently, like maybe as the voice of the psychiatrist?
Phoenix was very well drawn, fascinating, and very complex, as were all the other characters. Was he a murderer or a victim? I had mixed feelings about him throughout the story, most of the time disliking his selfish, deceitful, and manipulative personality, then growing to like him as I started to realize there was much more going on that caused him to behave the way he did. His devotion to Echo, the child in his care, was in constant conflict with how he behaved towards others. In spite of his behavior, I never wanted to see Phoenix and Echo separated.
Senior Constable Daniel Hart first sets eyes on Phoenix while he's tending bar, spitting in customers' drinks, and picking pockets. These two men are like night and day, and while I didn't understand the attraction at first, their growing feelings for each other in spite of Phoenix' mental instability became much more convincing.
As others have mentioned, this is a terrific story that was marred by poor editing.
Phoenix was very well drawn, fascinating, and very complex, as were all the other characters. Was he a murderer or a victim? I had mixed feelings about him throughout the story, most of the time disliking his selfish, deceitful, and manipulative personality, then growing to like him as I started to realize there was much more going on that caused him to behave the way he did. His devotion to Echo, the child in his care, was in constant conflict with how he behaved towards others. In spite of his behavior, I never wanted to see Phoenix and Echo separated.
Senior Constable Daniel Hart first sets eyes on Phoenix while he's tending bar, spitting in customers' drinks, and picking pockets. These two men are like night and day, and while I didn't understand the attraction at first, their growing feelings for each other in spite of Phoenix' mental instability became much more convincing.
As others have mentioned, this is a terrific story that was marred by poor editing.
December 13, 2009
The only thing that could be improved with this book is for Zathyn to find a better editor. Otherwise, this book is a best-seller quality psychological thriller which takes the reader on a roller coaster of action and emotion. Investment in the characters comes early but this is not an author who has problems with how to tie up and end a book. It was like a fireworks finale reminiscent of a Christopher Rice book.
Zathyn Priest has impressed me as a master story-teller and I will definitely be reading more of his writing. I encourage others to follow my example. You will be pleased that you did.
Zathyn Priest has impressed me as a master story-teller and I will definitely be reading more of his writing. I encourage others to follow my example. You will be pleased that you did.
April 26, 2013
Another wonderful read from Zathyn Priest
This is a very complicated story, with lots of twists and turns as do all the best murder mysteries. Phoenix is an eighteen year old boy with an abusive past. From the outset, the reader knows that Phoenix's real name is Dylan Frith, and that he was kidnapped when he was 13 years old, probably abused and held in captivity by a serial killer named The Crucifix Slayer (TCS). The Police Department didn't pay much attention to Dylan's case as he was a kid with attitude problems, and when he disappeared, they just thought he was a runaway kid. When he suddenly re-appears, they don't know how to treat him: Phoenix certainly has plenty of problems, he is a liar, a thief and a manipulative SOB, and I have to say I really didn't like him very much at all, but patience dear reader.....
Phoenix is taking care of Echo, a 5 year old boy who was also kidnapped by 'TCS' at around the same time that Phoenix was taken. When Phoenix finally manages to escape, he takes Echo with him, and looks after him as if he were his own flesh and blood, Echo is completely crazy about his 'big brother'. While Phoenix is a nasty piece of work to all and sundry, he can't do anything wrong as far as Echo is concerned.
Phoenix is working in a seedy bar for a pittance when he meets Daniel Hart, a cop, and things do not get off to a good start - Daniel gets his pocket picked by Phoenix, and even though Daniel knows this, he doesn't make a complaint. In the meantime, Detectives Somerset and O'Grady are trying to find the Crucifix Slayer before he kills anyone else. They know that the case revolves around Phoenix, and at this juncture, several red herrings are thrown into the mix to confuse everyone. The question then is 'Is Phoenix helping the Slayer, or is he the actual Slayer?'. There is definite evidence that Phoenix has at some stage in his life been tortured, his many mood swings and violent outbursts, and the seeming disinterest of the two detectives, means that Daniel is more or less in full protection mode. Daniel and Phoenix's 'relationship' always seems to go one step forward and five steps back, Daniel is addicted to Phoenix, but Phoenix, well, he treats Daniel like dirt sometimes.
We move forward again, and the police feel that they are getting closer to the killer, they stage an elaborate farce whereby they tell their suspects that a person is in custody, and wait to see what will happen. What does happen dear reader, and who the Slayer is, you will have to find out for yourself by reading the book. I can't recommend it highly enough.
This is a very complicated story, with lots of twists and turns as do all the best murder mysteries. Phoenix is an eighteen year old boy with an abusive past. From the outset, the reader knows that Phoenix's real name is Dylan Frith, and that he was kidnapped when he was 13 years old, probably abused and held in captivity by a serial killer named The Crucifix Slayer (TCS). The Police Department didn't pay much attention to Dylan's case as he was a kid with attitude problems, and when he disappeared, they just thought he was a runaway kid. When he suddenly re-appears, they don't know how to treat him: Phoenix certainly has plenty of problems, he is a liar, a thief and a manipulative SOB, and I have to say I really didn't like him very much at all, but patience dear reader.....
Phoenix is taking care of Echo, a 5 year old boy who was also kidnapped by 'TCS' at around the same time that Phoenix was taken. When Phoenix finally manages to escape, he takes Echo with him, and looks after him as if he were his own flesh and blood, Echo is completely crazy about his 'big brother'. While Phoenix is a nasty piece of work to all and sundry, he can't do anything wrong as far as Echo is concerned.
Phoenix is working in a seedy bar for a pittance when he meets Daniel Hart, a cop, and things do not get off to a good start - Daniel gets his pocket picked by Phoenix, and even though Daniel knows this, he doesn't make a complaint. In the meantime, Detectives Somerset and O'Grady are trying to find the Crucifix Slayer before he kills anyone else. They know that the case revolves around Phoenix, and at this juncture, several red herrings are thrown into the mix to confuse everyone. The question then is 'Is Phoenix helping the Slayer, or is he the actual Slayer?'. There is definite evidence that Phoenix has at some stage in his life been tortured, his many mood swings and violent outbursts, and the seeming disinterest of the two detectives, means that Daniel is more or less in full protection mode. Daniel and Phoenix's 'relationship' always seems to go one step forward and five steps back, Daniel is addicted to Phoenix, but Phoenix, well, he treats Daniel like dirt sometimes.
We move forward again, and the police feel that they are getting closer to the killer, they stage an elaborate farce whereby they tell their suspects that a person is in custody, and wait to see what will happen. What does happen dear reader, and who the Slayer is, you will have to find out for yourself by reading the book. I can't recommend it highly enough.
December 28, 2011
I feel like I say “Wow” at the end of every Zathyn Priest story. But really, how else can you describe the creative brilliance of such a superior story teller? The Slayer’s Apprentice was amazing and so yeah, “Wow” is how I would describe it in one word.
Phoenix was such an enigmatic character. You didn’t know what to think or believe from one minute to the next, but you wanted him to be good, you wanted him to be safe, and you wanted him to stop messing with your frickin’ head so that you knew if he really was a good guy and not the wacko he sometimes portrayed.
Daniel, what can you say about Daniel besides how perfect he was for Phoenix? He was understanding, loving, trustworthy and exactly what Phoenix needed at a time when he needed it most. I was seriously crossing all my fingers and toes for these two. Never has a couple needed a HEA more than these two. Or maybe I should say these three and include Echo into the mix.
This is a very dark and macabre story told in such a way that you just don’t know who’s who until nearly 80% into the story and then, when you finally find out you say “OMG” over and over again…you just can’t believe it. I couldn’t believe it…the bastard!
So yes, this is a 5 star read. Any story that causes me to go through a multitude of emotions is instantly a 5 star. Any story that keeps me up way past when I should be asleep is a 5 star. Any story that keeps me on the edge of my seat and doesn’t give up anything until the author is ready for you to receive it is a 5 star. This story was all that and more. Wow!
Phoenix was such an enigmatic character. You didn’t know what to think or believe from one minute to the next, but you wanted him to be good, you wanted him to be safe, and you wanted him to stop messing with your frickin’ head so that you knew if he really was a good guy and not the wacko he sometimes portrayed.
Daniel, what can you say about Daniel besides how perfect he was for Phoenix? He was understanding, loving, trustworthy and exactly what Phoenix needed at a time when he needed it most. I was seriously crossing all my fingers and toes for these two. Never has a couple needed a HEA more than these two. Or maybe I should say these three and include Echo into the mix.
This is a very dark and macabre story told in such a way that you just don’t know who’s who until nearly 80% into the story and then, when you finally find out you say “OMG” over and over again…you just can’t believe it. I couldn’t believe it…the bastard!
So yes, this is a 5 star read. Any story that causes me to go through a multitude of emotions is instantly a 5 star. Any story that keeps me up way past when I should be asleep is a 5 star. Any story that keeps me on the edge of my seat and doesn’t give up anything until the author is ready for you to receive it is a 5 star. This story was all that and more. Wow!
March 7, 2013
Wow! Another absolutely fabulous book from Zathyn Priest that has left me in awe and amazement as to how good a writer this guy is! Not your typical m/m murder/ thriller at all but that's what makes this such a deliciously dark twisted read.
In making the lead character ( Phoenix) so damaged, your feelings are as up and down as his mood changes so it becomes all the more difficult to make decisions about who you think the real perpetrator is. There are red herrings thrown at you left, right and centre and enough edge of the seat moments to have you grabbing for the Valium so don't expect this to be an easy read or easily worked out and certainly don't expect lots of sex and kissy kissy romance because this is essentially a psychological thriller, complete with obsessive characters, psychotic serial killers, grizzly murders and cops on a mission with a vengeance! The relationship between Phoenix, Echo his ' little brother' and Daniel the cop, is complex and multi layered - there is an underlying romance but its far more complicated because of Phoenix's manipulative nature!
I have to be honest after many many years of being hooked on crime and murder books in the past, I guessed the ending but before it was confirmed I spent a lot of time second guessing myself because something would crop up to make me rethink it ( very clever plotting) but when it all came to a head in the shock horror reveal, even though my suspicions were right, I was still gut punched and left reeling!! Still am as im writing this. What a roller coaster ride...
Phew! I think the next few books are going to have to be about fluffy puppies and kittens or something on those lines, because I definitely need some down time after that amazing, heart stopping story. Brilliant. Mr Priest could write the phone book and he'd get 5 stars from me!
In making the lead character ( Phoenix) so damaged, your feelings are as up and down as his mood changes so it becomes all the more difficult to make decisions about who you think the real perpetrator is. There are red herrings thrown at you left, right and centre and enough edge of the seat moments to have you grabbing for the Valium so don't expect this to be an easy read or easily worked out and certainly don't expect lots of sex and kissy kissy romance because this is essentially a psychological thriller, complete with obsessive characters, psychotic serial killers, grizzly murders and cops on a mission with a vengeance! The relationship between Phoenix, Echo his ' little brother' and Daniel the cop, is complex and multi layered - there is an underlying romance but its far more complicated because of Phoenix's manipulative nature!
I have to be honest after many many years of being hooked on crime and murder books in the past, I guessed the ending but before it was confirmed I spent a lot of time second guessing myself because something would crop up to make me rethink it ( very clever plotting) but when it all came to a head in the shock horror reveal, even though my suspicions were right, I was still gut punched and left reeling!! Still am as im writing this. What a roller coaster ride...
Phew! I think the next few books are going to have to be about fluffy puppies and kittens or something on those lines, because I definitely need some down time after that amazing, heart stopping story. Brilliant. Mr Priest could write the phone book and he'd get 5 stars from me!
June 8, 2012
Its official, Zathyn Priest is my favourite author, second only to Steve Kluger. Both these authors keep me glued to the pages till I’m done. Any moments of maybe starting to doubt certain situations were soon forgotten as I was pulled back into this story, and for me that is what a good writer can do. He can make you suspend your beliefs in order to enjoy the story.
I don’t read many murder mysteries, but this had everything I could imagine wanting in one. The suspense, the red herrings, the big OMG Reveal. This had me gasping out loud and eager to read on. Zathyn Priest managed to not only keep the suspense and mystery going until the final pages., but as always had me laughing out loud one minute and needing to mop up a few tears the next, and sometimes both at once. He really does deliver it all in this book.
Phoenix is a character so complex At times I wanted to hug him, others I wanted to slap him, and quite often I wanted to run away scared to death of him.
Daniel I loved to pieces. I hated watching him being manipulated and my heart broke for him a few times. While at others I wanted to shake him to snap him out of his almost puppy like devotion.
Paul was such a strong character and for me totally believable. While I disliked him at times and wanted to punch him, I also found myself sympathizing with him too.
The love affair between Daniel and Phoenix does seem a bit one sided, but how could it not after everything Phoenix has been through. I think that’s part of why I loved this book so much. There was no quick fix for Phoenix. He was lost and damaged and even by the end in many ways he is still lost and certainly damaged, but there is hope and belief he will mend with Daniels love.
I’m so scared I’m going to give something away if I keep going, so I’m going to say one last thing. READ THIS BOOK., just don’t start it until you have time to finish it lol.
I don’t read many murder mysteries, but this had everything I could imagine wanting in one. The suspense, the red herrings, the big OMG Reveal. This had me gasping out loud and eager to read on. Zathyn Priest managed to not only keep the suspense and mystery going until the final pages., but as always had me laughing out loud one minute and needing to mop up a few tears the next, and sometimes both at once. He really does deliver it all in this book.
Phoenix is a character so complex At times I wanted to hug him, others I wanted to slap him, and quite often I wanted to run away scared to death of him.
Daniel I loved to pieces. I hated watching him being manipulated and my heart broke for him a few times. While at others I wanted to shake him to snap him out of his almost puppy like devotion.
Paul was such a strong character and for me totally believable. While I disliked him at times and wanted to punch him, I also found myself sympathizing with him too.
The love affair between Daniel and Phoenix does seem a bit one sided, but how could it not after everything Phoenix has been through. I think that’s part of why I loved this book so much. There was no quick fix for Phoenix. He was lost and damaged and even by the end in many ways he is still lost and certainly damaged, but there is hope and belief he will mend with Daniels love.
I’m so scared I’m going to give something away if I keep going, so I’m going to say one last thing. READ THIS BOOK., just don’t start it until you have time to finish it lol.
February 3, 2011
Words fail me.
While reading this book I hoped like crazy that the investment in the story would pay off in the end. And it did. It was difficult for me to read it because I felt like the author was playing the game of the three cards and I could never point to the right one.
Was Daniel so blindly addicted to Phoenix that he couldn't realise how he was played by the young man? I loved his dedication and his purity, but for the longest time I thought he was a fool that believed in the most threatening idea of romantic love.
Was Phoenix a tortured victim or a manipulative teenager? The tender care with which he raised Echo clashed with a behavior which bordered on sociopathy, but as a reader I didn't want him to be bad and every proof of the contrary was like a stab to my stomach.
The investigator of the Slayer's case appeared to us as an obsessed and cold-hearted man, but his concerns were real and his believes were tinged with good faith.
Phoenix is at the center of the ordeal and I think the author did an awesome job at portraying him with objectivity, as if he was looking at him from the outside, even when the narration was closer to Phoenix's point of view. This feeling of detachment made perfect sense when we consider how disconnected Phoenix is from an ordinary life, because probably Phoenix didn't have a grasp on HIS self.
The book could have been edited better and there are a few pages that read more like a psychological essay than a novel. I like my stories to feel a little warmer, and this one sometimes seemed clinical. I don't like bad guys too bad. This book is not perfect by a long stretch, but it kept me glued to my reader like little else and I can't bring myself to take down the half-star, because it's the kind of thriller I love, I've always loved and I'll love forever.
While reading this book I hoped like crazy that the investment in the story would pay off in the end. And it did. It was difficult for me to read it because I felt like the author was playing the game of the three cards and I could never point to the right one.
Was Daniel so blindly addicted to Phoenix that he couldn't realise how he was played by the young man? I loved his dedication and his purity, but for the longest time I thought he was a fool that believed in the most threatening idea of romantic love.
Was Phoenix a tortured victim or a manipulative teenager? The tender care with which he raised Echo clashed with a behavior which bordered on sociopathy, but as a reader I didn't want him to be bad and every proof of the contrary was like a stab to my stomach.
The investigator of the Slayer's case appeared to us as an obsessed and cold-hearted man, but his concerns were real and his believes were tinged with good faith.
Phoenix is at the center of the ordeal and I think the author did an awesome job at portraying him with objectivity, as if he was looking at him from the outside, even when the narration was closer to Phoenix's point of view. This feeling of detachment made perfect sense when we consider how disconnected Phoenix is from an ordinary life, because probably Phoenix didn't have a grasp on HIS self.
The book could have been edited better and there are a few pages that read more like a psychological essay than a novel. I like my stories to feel a little warmer, and this one sometimes seemed clinical. I don't like bad guys too bad. This book is not perfect by a long stretch, but it kept me glued to my reader like little else and I can't bring myself to take down the half-star, because it's the kind of thriller I love, I've always loved and I'll love forever.
April 8, 2009
Can be found here.
Slayer’s Apprentice took me by surprise, locked me up in my own mind, and freaked me the hell out. What an awesome read!
With most mysteries in this genre, I usually get a good bead on the villain pretty quickly. The resolution is comfortable and brings a nice ending to the story, tying up all loose ends. In Slayer’s Apprentice, the reveal had me saying, “It was XX! Holy cow!” in shaky relief. Each clue, each small piece to a puzzle I had no picture of, was delivered at the precise moment it was required and left me suspecting everybody! I mean it. I was certain the killer was at least a half-dozen people. Priest had me on the edge of my seat the entire time.
The opening of the story sets it up nicely. I had gorged myself on serial killer documentaries in the weeks before my friend pointed me toward this book. The similarity between TCS and B.T.K were alarming. And the descriptions of the crime scenes were frightening. And real. Being an armchair profiler for a month prior, I can tell you this book brought this killer out beautifully. Creepily. Scarily. If you are a thriller buff, you will not go wrong with this book.
And that is how I would classify this book: thriller. There is a relationship between two men, but that’s not the focus of the book. It’s a part of it. A very important part, but if you are looking for a romance or erotica, move on. This isn’t the book for you. There is romance, but it’s intense, real, and heartbreaking in many places. The love between Daniel and Phoenix is twisted, unsteady, and intense. Daniel is the patient and gentle strength throughout the book. His reactions were true and honest even while dealing with the constant lies of Phoenix. But his loyalty stayed strong, bolstered by his care and love for Phoenix.
Speaking of Phoenix. No cookie-cutter character, him. He is 100% real, complex, and most of the time, hard to handle. And I’m not talking from Daniel’s point of view. I wanted to hug Phoenix, run away from him, smack him, imprison him, and hug him some more, all throughout the book. The fact that Daniel feels the same way most of the time just made him more real to me. As much as Phoenix was fascinating and scary, the world needs more Daniels in it.
There are some major psychological elements to this story. I needed to dig deep beneath the surface of the actions and words of a lot of characters to start to get a clear picture. There is abuse in this book: psychological and physical, and not all of it in the past. Phoenix is not a well person. Is he a killer? Did he help kill people? Is he using Daniel? Is he angry or scared? Is he lying to protect or deceive? It was really hard to figure it out with him.
There were only, only, two issues I had with this book. One, the editing. Whoever was in charge of that should be beaten for leaving blemishes on this fine product. Second, the last chapter. It gave resolution, but in a sort of clumsy way. I almost think that the publisher/editor (probably the person who should have been watching the typos and failed) didn’t get it and Priest had to throw in a large chunk of explanations at the end.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys thrillers, psychological thrillers, and/or intense relationships. If you are highly squeamish, I would perhaps pass this one up. It isn’t gory, but there are descriptions of murder scenes. This is an intense thriller that’ll have you scrambling to figure out who has the knife, who is going to use it, and who is going to survive.
Slayer’s Apprentice took me by surprise, locked me up in my own mind, and freaked me the hell out. What an awesome read!
With most mysteries in this genre, I usually get a good bead on the villain pretty quickly. The resolution is comfortable and brings a nice ending to the story, tying up all loose ends. In Slayer’s Apprentice, the reveal had me saying, “It was XX! Holy cow!” in shaky relief. Each clue, each small piece to a puzzle I had no picture of, was delivered at the precise moment it was required and left me suspecting everybody! I mean it. I was certain the killer was at least a half-dozen people. Priest had me on the edge of my seat the entire time.
The opening of the story sets it up nicely. I had gorged myself on serial killer documentaries in the weeks before my friend pointed me toward this book. The similarity between TCS and B.T.K were alarming. And the descriptions of the crime scenes were frightening. And real. Being an armchair profiler for a month prior, I can tell you this book brought this killer out beautifully. Creepily. Scarily. If you are a thriller buff, you will not go wrong with this book.
And that is how I would classify this book: thriller. There is a relationship between two men, but that’s not the focus of the book. It’s a part of it. A very important part, but if you are looking for a romance or erotica, move on. This isn’t the book for you. There is romance, but it’s intense, real, and heartbreaking in many places. The love between Daniel and Phoenix is twisted, unsteady, and intense. Daniel is the patient and gentle strength throughout the book. His reactions were true and honest even while dealing with the constant lies of Phoenix. But his loyalty stayed strong, bolstered by his care and love for Phoenix.
Speaking of Phoenix. No cookie-cutter character, him. He is 100% real, complex, and most of the time, hard to handle. And I’m not talking from Daniel’s point of view. I wanted to hug Phoenix, run away from him, smack him, imprison him, and hug him some more, all throughout the book. The fact that Daniel feels the same way most of the time just made him more real to me. As much as Phoenix was fascinating and scary, the world needs more Daniels in it.
There are some major psychological elements to this story. I needed to dig deep beneath the surface of the actions and words of a lot of characters to start to get a clear picture. There is abuse in this book: psychological and physical, and not all of it in the past. Phoenix is not a well person. Is he a killer? Did he help kill people? Is he using Daniel? Is he angry or scared? Is he lying to protect or deceive? It was really hard to figure it out with him.
There were only, only, two issues I had with this book. One, the editing. Whoever was in charge of that should be beaten for leaving blemishes on this fine product. Second, the last chapter. It gave resolution, but in a sort of clumsy way. I almost think that the publisher/editor (probably the person who should have been watching the typos and failed) didn’t get it and Priest had to throw in a large chunk of explanations at the end.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys thrillers, psychological thrillers, and/or intense relationships. If you are highly squeamish, I would perhaps pass this one up. It isn’t gory, but there are descriptions of murder scenes. This is an intense thriller that’ll have you scrambling to figure out who has the knife, who is going to use it, and who is going to survive.
September 27, 2022
My Review: I hardly ever read suspense. Throw in a serial killer and the dark, dangerous recesses of a broken mind, and it is totally not my bag of goodies. So why I bought this book, I will never know. But I did, and since I shelled out good money for it, I figured I'd better read it.
Everything about this book got under my skin. It dragged me into the mind of a young man shattered by the horrible things he'd seen and done, and twisted the idea of love into obsession and manipulation. It showed the very darkest side of human nature, and the worse places a man, even a good man, will go to prove he's right.
Every character in this book lies, most especially to themselves. So how can it be a good book? How can you possibly like these people, weak, fragile, self-deceiving, manipulative creatures that they are?
Well, that's the amazing thing. You do fall in love with them. Somehow, the author draws you in and makes you care, and want them to overcome and survive. You want to bad guy to get his, and you yearn for the HEA, as unlikely as it is that such an ending could possibly happen under the circumstances. And I'm not going to go into that here, because even if you think you won't like this kind of a dark, gritty tale, you have to read this. I guaranteed you won't regret it. I didn't.
As dark as it gets, there is an equal amount of selflessness and honesty, even if it's hard to recognize and harder to hold onto. We've all heard the saying, nothing worthwhile in life is easy, and this book shows just how hard it can be to rise above the very human desire to look out for number one. What makes it work is a healthy dose of uncertainty that anyone is going to come out the end of the ordeal, and the honest reality that nothing is ever guaranteed.
Zaythan Priest knows his shit, folks. You want to know how to write a compelling, satisfying, completely worth-every-penny-and-more story, you want to know how to grip your audience by the balls and keep them frantically reading till way into the night? This, my friends, is how it's done. Read. Study. Learn. Some day, I want this kind of writing chops.
My Recommendation: Read it. Just. Read. It.
Everything about this book got under my skin. It dragged me into the mind of a young man shattered by the horrible things he'd seen and done, and twisted the idea of love into obsession and manipulation. It showed the very darkest side of human nature, and the worse places a man, even a good man, will go to prove he's right.
Every character in this book lies, most especially to themselves. So how can it be a good book? How can you possibly like these people, weak, fragile, self-deceiving, manipulative creatures that they are?
Well, that's the amazing thing. You do fall in love with them. Somehow, the author draws you in and makes you care, and want them to overcome and survive. You want to bad guy to get his, and you yearn for the HEA, as unlikely as it is that such an ending could possibly happen under the circumstances. And I'm not going to go into that here, because even if you think you won't like this kind of a dark, gritty tale, you have to read this. I guaranteed you won't regret it. I didn't.
As dark as it gets, there is an equal amount of selflessness and honesty, even if it's hard to recognize and harder to hold onto. We've all heard the saying, nothing worthwhile in life is easy, and this book shows just how hard it can be to rise above the very human desire to look out for number one. What makes it work is a healthy dose of uncertainty that anyone is going to come out the end of the ordeal, and the honest reality that nothing is ever guaranteed.
Zaythan Priest knows his shit, folks. You want to know how to write a compelling, satisfying, completely worth-every-penny-and-more story, you want to know how to grip your audience by the balls and keep them frantically reading till way into the night? This, my friends, is how it's done. Read. Study. Learn. Some day, I want this kind of writing chops.
My Recommendation: Read it. Just. Read. It.
May 26, 2011
I really loved this one. I was on the edge of my seat reading it trying to figure out who was the Slayer and who wasn't.
I was like 'Oh! It's this guy! No wait! It's this guy!!! OMG, I can't believe it was that guy!!!!' ROFL
The only thing that would have made this book better was if the romance side was more elaborated on. The story mostly revolves around finding out who the serial killer is and how Phoenix fits into that while experiencing how messed up he is. The romance is more like a background crutch which I wanted more of because it was just a little hard to believe Phoenix's emotions about Dan when what was shown, even while in his POV, didn't really hint at what he confesses to later. Of course, Phoenix was so messed up that he probably didn't even know his own feelings about Dan until he was put in a situation that made him actually think about it...
Either way, I absolutely loved it. I definitely recommend it and I'm hoping one day there will be a sequel about these two and how they are coping with everything and what their new life is like.
I was like 'Oh! It's this guy! No wait! It's this guy!!! OMG, I can't believe it was that guy!!!!' ROFL
The only thing that would have made this book better was if the romance side was more elaborated on. The story mostly revolves around finding out who the serial killer is and how Phoenix fits into that while experiencing how messed up he is. The romance is more like a background crutch which I wanted more of because it was just a little hard to believe Phoenix's emotions about Dan when what was shown, even while in his POV, didn't really hint at what he confesses to later. Of course, Phoenix was so messed up that he probably didn't even know his own feelings about Dan until he was put in a situation that made him actually think about it...
Either way, I absolutely loved it. I definitely recommend it and I'm hoping one day there will be a sequel about these two and how they are coping with everything and what their new life is like.
April 26, 2014
I can't really review this book without giving away major spoilers, so I'll probably keep this as short as I can. But I swear to God, this book was simply amazing and I don't even think that's a strong enough word to describe how great this book is. Now, I know this book won't be for everyone and it is quite a dark book, so people should probably be warned. But I think most people will probably get engrossed in this book like I did.
I loved the writing. Zathyn Priest is really talented and I always enjoy reading one of his books. And it was even better here because he did make a very hard to like character lovable, at least for me. I kept telling myself Phoenix wasn't a bad guy and that he was just fucked up because of his past, but things kept popping up and they did make me question him. And then there was Daniel. I loved how he didn't give up on Phoenix, even when people wanted him to. Their love story was just amazingly woven into this very creepy, quite often disturbing story.
As for the serial killer and Phoenix's abuse, it was very easy to get wrapped up in that. I was always wondering who The Crucifix Slayer was and hoping it wouldn't turn out to be Phoenix. But I wasn't able to figure it out, no matter how hard I tried. Then when I found out, I was more relieved than anything else. It reminded me of what I'm like when watching a show like Criminal Minds. Always second guessing myself and sometimes I can guess early on, but there are other times, like with this book, I didn't figure it out at all.
Some books are amazing and I always need a HEA. But Phoenix and Daniel (and Echo too) deserved a HEA. I seriously could not fully relax until they got one. I cannot express my love for this story enough and I seriously think people should give this one a try.
I loved the writing. Zathyn Priest is really talented and I always enjoy reading one of his books. And it was even better here because he did make a very hard to like character lovable, at least for me. I kept telling myself Phoenix wasn't a bad guy and that he was just fucked up because of his past, but things kept popping up and they did make me question him. And then there was Daniel. I loved how he didn't give up on Phoenix, even when people wanted him to. Their love story was just amazingly woven into this very creepy, quite often disturbing story.
As for the serial killer and Phoenix's abuse, it was very easy to get wrapped up in that. I was always wondering who The Crucifix Slayer was and hoping it wouldn't turn out to be Phoenix. But I wasn't able to figure it out, no matter how hard I tried. Then when I found out, I was more relieved than anything else. It reminded me of what I'm like when watching a show like Criminal Minds. Always second guessing myself and sometimes I can guess early on, but there are other times, like with this book, I didn't figure it out at all.
Some books are amazing and I always need a HEA. But Phoenix and Daniel (and Echo too) deserved a HEA. I seriously could not fully relax until they got one. I cannot express my love for this story enough and I seriously think people should give this one a try.
October 23, 2009
Not sure what I thought of this. Mostly, I really liked it. Zathyn kept me guessing to the very end and it was obviously well researched and well thought out. It will inevitably be lumped into the m/m romance genre based purely on the fact that it has gay characters and was published by Torquere, but it really stands out because of both the type of story and the quality of the writing. With a little bit of length, editing and fleshing out this could easily be a mainstream suspense thriller. (And I mean that in a good way.)
But for some reason it left me feeling just a touch unsatisfied. I don't know why really. The only real problem I had with it was that while it's obvious that Zathyn did his research and really knew his stuff, he tended to overexplain it and beat it a little too hard. There were places where the narrative got a little lost in his explanations of the psychological reasons behind a given character's behavior. The flow tended to be a little choppy because of this.
But overall this was a very entertaining, suspenseful murder mystery. One of those books that transcends its genre and really should garner the author far more attention and praise than he will receive.
But for some reason it left me feeling just a touch unsatisfied. I don't know why really. The only real problem I had with it was that while it's obvious that Zathyn did his research and really knew his stuff, he tended to overexplain it and beat it a little too hard. There were places where the narrative got a little lost in his explanations of the psychological reasons behind a given character's behavior. The flow tended to be a little choppy because of this.
But overall this was a very entertaining, suspenseful murder mystery. One of those books that transcends its genre and really should garner the author far more attention and praise than he will receive.
February 7, 2012
Amazing. This psychological suspense thriller with a side of love story had me on the edge from beginning to end. Phoenix is such a complex character who, single handedly, brought me through the gamut of emotions. I felt so bad for him, even when I wasn't sure if he was good or evil. I just knew that, either way, I could only touch upon what it took to cause Phoenix to be the person he is when Daniel meets him. Daniel sees through the facade Phoenix has created just enough to question the behavior and want to understand the reasoning for it. The more he sees and learns, the more he falls for him.
You are kept in suspense for most of this story. The characters are all interesting on one level or another, the details paint vivid pictures, and the end leaves you wanting to run back to see if you missed any clues.
Zathyn consistently produces well written, engaging, books that leave me wanting more.
You are kept in suspense for most of this story. The characters are all interesting on one level or another, the details paint vivid pictures, and the end leaves you wanting to run back to see if you missed any clues.
Zathyn consistently produces well written, engaging, books that leave me wanting more.
June 16, 2018
Oh. wow. I dedicate my one night's sleep to this book. Well done Zathyn Priest. This was nothing like the m/m novels I read before, I mean there were only few kiss scenes and I wasn't even interested in them! Every page kept me on edge, and one page I was trying to believe in something and the next I was suspicious of everyone all over again.
My minus star comes from two things combined:
1. POV changes. I think the book would be much much better if there were only two POVs, Daniel's and Phoenix's. We could be in dark with other characters, but there could be much more details about the turmoil's of these men's minds.
2. The ending. I wish the author gave us more to believe there will be hope for a stable and healthy relationship between the MCs. It felt too rush and promise ring did not satisfy me at all.
Nevertheless this was a one damn good book.
My minus star comes from two things combined:
1. POV changes. I think the book would be much much better if there were only two POVs, Daniel's and Phoenix's. We could be in dark with other characters, but there could be much more details about the turmoil's of these men's minds.
2. The ending. I wish the author gave us more to believe there will be hope for a stable and healthy relationship between the MCs. It felt too rush and promise ring did not satisfy me at all.
Nevertheless this was a one damn good book.
June 28, 2012
I was quite happily reading this book thinking it was going to be a 4 star read for me. It was well-written, the plot was engaging and the characters were fascinating and unique. I think that most people who have already read this book could make a pretty good guess at which point in the story this shot up to a 5 star read for me! Sheer brilliance.
June 26, 2011
I found this to be a very gripping read. There were a few things that were off or maybe didn't sit right but I lost track of how many times I was thrown for a loop or gasped "OH, SH*T!!!" For that reason alone it deserved my 5 stars, kept me guessing (wrong) until the very end.
October 25, 2015
2009 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention (5* from at least 1 judge)
August 23, 2013
So, this book is a little wacko. Actually, scratch that.. a lot wacko. Wacko is in best way possible (you know how I lost my crazy characters!).
This book was so interesting and fun to read about and I have a serious lady-boner for Phoenix BECAUSE he's batshit crazy, and for some reason, that's just irresistible to me.
I'm getting ahead of myself... let's rewind...
This book is fantastic. It makes you think, it makes you wonder, and I started to literally suspect everyone. Did I suspect the person I thought the slayer was? Nooooooppeeee! I thought the slayer was definitely but boy was I wrong. I even thought that the person I thought the slayer was had the perfect setup! Half way through and I was like "OH MAN IT'S TOTALLY _________ BECAUSE _________ IS ALSO OBVIOUSLY FUCKERED UP IN THE HEAD" but nope. I was wrong.
This book was so interesting to read, that I actually wouldn't have cared if there was no romance at all. I really really love psychological thrillers in general, so I thought this book would be perfect for me.. and it was, but I feel like the story took over the romance (in a good way).
I had a problem with Hart.. it just seemed so... desperate. So sad and pathetic. I know it's because Phoenix Love, my precious crazy darling, was extremely manipulative, but I totally didn't see/feel a romance between the two characters.. it seemed like an obsession. It felt like Hart was obsessed with Love, and Love was kind of using Hart.. which I actually LIKED because it felt so manipulative. I didn't really need the whole "I love you" thing... personally.
How did I miss who the slayer was? I think I might re-read this book and see if there are more clues pointing to who it actually is, because I didn't really see any clues and maybe I wanted one or two.. even minor ones? Just so I have that "Ah-HA!" moment instead of that "Huh?!" moment when I find out who the killer is.
I actually thought Somerset was awesome. I really liked him.. not as much as Phoenix, but I still thought he was a great character and I felt his anger. Echo too. What a sweetie.
Overall, fantastic book. Crazy shit goes down.
June 8, 2012
Review to follow!
So here it is! I always have a really hard time writing reviews but this one was exceptionally hard, trying not to give anything away but explaining how I felt about it was challenging. I honestly don't think I did the book justice but I tried!
Holy Cow! That was dark and scary and suspenseful and it made me dizzy trying to figure out “who done it” but at the same time it had loving and sweet and even a few awwww moments and the most adorable kid who had me laughing so many times. I guess you could say it had it all!
This was so different from the other books I’ve read by Z.P. he amazes me, he really knows how to tell a story. I’m usually pretty good at figuring out the mystery pretty early on in most books, but not in this one, and it’s not like “the who did it” hadn’t ever crossed my mind, but every time I thought I had it he took it in a whole other direction until.....*zips lips*.
Sorry to repeat myself but I can’t really think how to review this. So much happens and I don’t want to accidentally give anything away it is a story you need to read without really knowing anything about it or the suspense part of the story will be lost and that is a huge chunk of this book.
I think I’m going to just give my thoughts on the characters and leave it at that!
First Echo...OMG!!! he is the most adorable kid ever! The things he would say cracked me up!
Phoenix...he’s a tricky one, I’m still not exactly sure what to make of him, such a complex character.
Daniel...everyone needs a Daniel in their life! *sigh* Someone who is willing to stand behind you no matter what he hears!
Rachel...GRRRRR!!!!! That pretty much sums it up!
And the two police detectives, well, I just have to shake my head!
So I hope I haven’t given anything away, I loved this book and highly recommend it with a warning it’s disturbing to read at times but worth it in the end.
You’ve done it again Zathyn! I can’t wait for what else you have in store for me!
So here it is! I always have a really hard time writing reviews but this one was exceptionally hard, trying not to give anything away but explaining how I felt about it was challenging. I honestly don't think I did the book justice but I tried!
Holy Cow! That was dark and scary and suspenseful and it made me dizzy trying to figure out “who done it” but at the same time it had loving and sweet and even a few awwww moments and the most adorable kid who had me laughing so many times. I guess you could say it had it all!
This was so different from the other books I’ve read by Z.P. he amazes me, he really knows how to tell a story. I’m usually pretty good at figuring out the mystery pretty early on in most books, but not in this one, and it’s not like “the who did it” hadn’t ever crossed my mind, but every time I thought I had it he took it in a whole other direction until.....*zips lips*.
Sorry to repeat myself but I can’t really think how to review this. So much happens and I don’t want to accidentally give anything away it is a story you need to read without really knowing anything about it or the suspense part of the story will be lost and that is a huge chunk of this book.
I think I’m going to just give my thoughts on the characters and leave it at that!
First Echo...OMG!!! he is the most adorable kid ever! The things he would say cracked me up!
Phoenix...he’s a tricky one, I’m still not exactly sure what to make of him, such a complex character.
Daniel...everyone needs a Daniel in their life! *sigh* Someone who is willing to stand behind you no matter what he hears!
Rachel...GRRRRR!!!!! That pretty much sums it up!
And the two police detectives, well, I just have to shake my head!
So I hope I haven’t given anything away, I loved this book and highly recommend it with a warning it’s disturbing to read at times but worth it in the end.
You’ve done it again Zathyn! I can’t wait for what else you have in store for me!
December 30, 2011
I'm Damn Near Speechless
The best thriller/mystery/horror novel that I have ever read. Ever. Ever, ever, ever!
This book kept me guessing, made me cringe, made my skin crawl, made me look over my shoulder while walking to my car, and made me check the locks on my doors and windows about a million times.
Phoenix Love is one of the most complex characters that I have read about in a long time. My heart broke for him even as I questioned his motives, his sanity and his innocence.
Here's the thing; Phoenix Love is thoroughly and completely fucked up. He knows it. He knows that he's manipulative and deceitful. I can't count the number of times I questioned whether or not what he was saying was a lie. Somehow, though, I kept rooting for Phoenix no matter what he did.
Daniel Hart, while not as complex of a character, was a character that I understood. Why? Because I could see why he wouldn't give up on Phoenix and I respected the way Daniel was honest with himself about how he was obsessed with Phoenix.
Phoenix and Daniel were very flawed characters but I never felt as if they were hopeless. I don't think I've ever rooted for two characters to get their happy ending as hard as I rooted for Daniel and Phoenix.
The psychological aspects of this book were astounding. There were so many twists and turns that at one point I was wondering if a five year old was in on the murders. I'm not even kidding. When everything is revealed I sat there shocked and questioning how much you can ever really know about a person.
This book? It entertained me, made me think and scared the ever-lovin' crap out of me!
Hot damn! This book is A-fucking-MAZING!!!
The best thriller/mystery/horror novel that I have ever read. Ever. Ever, ever, ever!
This book kept me guessing, made me cringe, made my skin crawl, made me look over my shoulder while walking to my car, and made me check the locks on my doors and windows about a million times.
Phoenix Love is one of the most complex characters that I have read about in a long time. My heart broke for him even as I questioned his motives, his sanity and his innocence.
Here's the thing; Phoenix Love is thoroughly and completely fucked up. He knows it. He knows that he's manipulative and deceitful. I can't count the number of times I questioned whether or not what he was saying was a lie. Somehow, though, I kept rooting for Phoenix no matter what he did.
Daniel Hart, while not as complex of a character, was a character that I understood. Why? Because I could see why he wouldn't give up on Phoenix and I respected the way Daniel was honest with himself about how he was obsessed with Phoenix.
Phoenix and Daniel were very flawed characters but I never felt as if they were hopeless. I don't think I've ever rooted for two characters to get their happy ending as hard as I rooted for Daniel and Phoenix.
The psychological aspects of this book were astounding. There were so many twists and turns that at one point I was wondering if a five year old was in on the murders. I'm not even kidding. When everything is revealed I sat there shocked and questioning how much you can ever really know about a person.
This book? It entertained me, made me think and scared the ever-lovin' crap out of me!
Hot damn! This book is A-fucking-MAZING!!!
January 3, 2017
Soo.. Here’s the thing.
This book was extremely entertaining. I couldn't stop reading once I got sucked into the story. Phoenix was fascinating, his relationship with Daniel was like a train-wreck that I couldn't get my eyes off, the mystery was really well executed.
There are kidnapping, murder, abuse, and a teenager who borders into sociopath tendencies, and it had me staying all night just to finish it.
However, I did have a couple of issues with it.
The ending was a bit disappointing. I figured out who the Slayer was 50 pages or so before the ending, and as much as I was like whispering “I knew it!” at 3 am that night, I really hoped I would be wrong. I hoped for a finally plot twist that would throw me off completely.
Also, I really didn't like the sudden love Daniel felt for Phoenix. There is a character who called Daniel’s love for Phoenix an “obsession” and I agree. It is an unhealthy obsession. I didn't really mind that, it was part of why I liked their interactions and their dynamic so much, but I really hoped it wouldn't happen so fast.
And it’s not just that. I also just didn't get how any police officer could possibly make the decision to leave Echo, a five-year-old in the care of a Phoenix who is too young and his mind is obviously not stable. I wouldn't put it past Daniel, but the police?
So, all in all, I did enjoy this book, despite having some issues with it, and I’m interested in reading more books by this author.
3.5 Stars
This book was extremely entertaining. I couldn't stop reading once I got sucked into the story. Phoenix was fascinating, his relationship with Daniel was like a train-wreck that I couldn't get my eyes off, the mystery was really well executed.
There are kidnapping, murder, abuse, and a teenager who borders into sociopath tendencies, and it had me staying all night just to finish it.
However, I did have a couple of issues with it.
The ending was a bit disappointing. I figured out who the Slayer was 50 pages or so before the ending, and as much as I was like whispering “I knew it!” at 3 am that night, I really hoped I would be wrong. I hoped for a finally plot twist that would throw me off completely.
Also, I really didn't like the sudden love Daniel felt for Phoenix. There is a character who called Daniel’s love for Phoenix an “obsession” and I agree. It is an unhealthy obsession. I didn't really mind that, it was part of why I liked their interactions and their dynamic so much, but I really hoped it wouldn't happen so fast.
And it’s not just that. I also just didn't get how any police officer could possibly make the decision to leave Echo, a five-year-old in the care of a Phoenix who is too young and his mind is obviously not stable. I wouldn't put it past Daniel, but the police?
So, all in all, I did enjoy this book, despite having some issues with it, and I’m interested in reading more books by this author.
3.5 Stars
January 22, 2015
OMG! WOW!! I didn't expect this story to be THIS GOOD when I started. I thought it would be M/M murder mystery (you know with a touch of romance). But what I got is a complex and dark psychological thriller (with characters that happen to be gay), which can be listed on mainstream novels, for the likes of stories by Dean Koontz or Jeffery Deaver. This is suspense novel at its best. I couldn't stop reading once I got sucked into the vortex of the story. There are kidnapping, murder, abuse, and well a complicated teenager who borders into sociopath tendency due to his past. But there are also hope and love in the center of it all. One of most satisfying thriller novels I read at the start of 2010, most definitely.
July 17, 2009
This book was awesome! It had everything from mystery, suspense, horror, romance and a nail biting storyline that kept me on the edge throughout the book.
I loved it. The bad guy, shocked the hell out of me. I never thought it was who it was.
Can't say anymore or I'll spoil it!
Deserves more than 5 stars!
I loved it. The bad guy, shocked the hell out of me. I never thought it was who it was.
Can't say anymore or I'll spoil it!
Deserves more than 5 stars!
October 6, 2010
I loved this book. It was a great story and really drew me in. I couldn't stop reading it until i finished
July 1, 2012
3.5 stars. This book has a wonderfully twisty plot written in a very cool, almost police-report style. There are moments when the characters interact in intense and interesting ways, but the focus of the book seems to be more about the two-fold mystery: who is the killer, and what is behind Phoenix's abnormal and conflicting behavior?
For the most part, I thought the plot worked and held interest. I definitely didn't see that last twist coming. The varied suspects were all plausible, and the investigation moved well.
Phoenix's psychosis and instability were well portrayed, as were his moments of vulnerability. Daniel's obsession was hard to understand, but once established it motivated his behavior well. The frustration of the detectives was plausible and almost palpable. An interesting mystery and psychological study written in a descriptive style that appealed to me much more as a procedural mystery than as a romance.
For the most part, I thought the plot worked and held interest. I definitely didn't see that last twist coming. The varied suspects were all plausible, and the investigation moved well.
Phoenix's psychosis and instability were well portrayed, as were his moments of vulnerability. Daniel's obsession was hard to understand, but once established it motivated his behavior well. The frustration of the detectives was plausible and almost palpable. An interesting mystery and psychological study written in a descriptive style that appealed to me much more as a procedural mystery than as a romance.
August 25, 2016
First read on March 27, 2014.
Re-read on August 24, 2016.
4.5 - 5 stars.
I ABSOLUTELY loved 90% of this book.. Five in the morning - and I just couldn't put the book down, heart beating in the throat, desperate for the solution to the mystery... Phoenix's manipulations, lies, cunning, coldness - and under it the vulnerability, the anguish..and you just can't figure out when he lies and when he tells the truth..Is he a sociopath or not? Is he truly the Slayer's apprentice or not? Is he brainwashed? Is he innocent? I loved the suspense!
The ending didn't live up to the rest of the book.. The slayer's identity came as a surprise, but after that I lost most of the connection with the story.. The author just sped up through the ending, telling rather than showing all the details.. I missed Phoenix's POV in the end, I wanted a major scene with him and Daniel getting closer and talking about the traumatic experience they went through. I wanted to believe those two are right for each other and will be truly happy...
Still, it was such an enjoyable read! I love Zathyn Priest's writing and his unique heroes!
Re-read on August 24, 2016.
4.5 - 5 stars.
I ABSOLUTELY loved 90% of this book.. Five in the morning - and I just couldn't put the book down, heart beating in the throat, desperate for the solution to the mystery... Phoenix's manipulations, lies, cunning, coldness - and under it the vulnerability, the anguish..and you just can't figure out when he lies and when he tells the truth..Is he a sociopath or not? Is he truly the Slayer's apprentice or not? Is he brainwashed? Is he innocent? I loved the suspense!
The ending didn't live up to the rest of the book.. The slayer's identity came as a surprise, but after that I lost most of the connection with the story.. The author just sped up through the ending, telling rather than showing all the details.. I missed Phoenix's POV in the end, I wanted a major scene with him and Daniel getting closer and talking about the traumatic experience they went through. I wanted to believe those two are right for each other and will be truly happy...
Still, it was such an enjoyable read! I love Zathyn Priest's writing and his unique heroes!
February 10, 2011
This was so hard to put down! Zathyn Priest is a master at getting emotions spot on. His characters always have some type of emotional issue to work through and he gets it perfect every time. This was a great suspense and mystery. I was totally blown away when the Slayer was revealed. There were no holes in the story and it flowed well. The characters were very endearing and it was hard to see Phoenix go through all that he did but Daniel was the perfect partner for him. There is no sex at all in this story, which for me is usually a downer cause I like my books to be smokin' ;o) but this story was so well written and the story line so excellent that there was no need for it (there's a reason for it being missing too). Zathyn Priest is an auto-buy author for me. Go read this book, you'll thank me when you're done.
January 8, 2012
I kinda feel like this book is a amateurish novelized version of the Psychopathy chapter in every undergrad psychology text book ever. It started out being compelling but as it progressed it degenerated into an exposition on serial killers, abuse and personality disorders that was very clumsily done. The writing itself is actually pretty good, but the author's insistence on explaining everything in minute detail made me feel patronized. As if we, the readers, would have trouble deciphering it all without guidance. And plus, I really, really hate Phoenix. Okay, I know there are reasons that he is the way he is, but good grief, was he unlikable. And it's for that reason that I could never get behind his relationship with Daniel; what on earth did he see in Phoenix? I mean, the boy didn't even put out.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews