VALEN (Guardians of Hades #2) by Felicity Heaton-a review

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About the book: RELEASE DATE February 25, 2017

Prince of the Underworld and Lord of Lightning, Valen was banished from his home by his father, Hades, two centuries ago and given a new duty and purpose—to keep our world and his from colliding in a calamity foreseen by the Moirai.

Together with his six brothers, he fights to defend the gates to the Underworld from daemons bent on breaching them and gaining entrance to that forbidden land, striving to protect his home from their dark influence. Cursed by Zeus to never know love again, Valen has brought up barriers around his heart to protect it, but with each new barrier he creates, the dark hold his power has over him grows, becoming all he needs.

Until the night he finally crosses paths with the assassin who has been watching him from the shadows, a bewitching mortal possessing the name of an angel and the skills of a devil—a woman who awakens his passionate heart and stirs dangerous desires.

Eva has built a fearsome reputation for herself in Italy’s underworld, but her latest job in her beloved city of Rome has left her feeling that she has stepped into a dangerous world and this mission might end in her death—either at the hands of her mysteriously seductive client or by the blade of the wickedly alluring warrior who is her target.

As the threat from the daemons escalates and more than just the Rome gate becomes their target, will Valen be strong enough to face the fears in his heart and the ghosts of his past to claim everything he desires or will they lure him deeper under their spell and into the darkness?

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REVIEW: VALEN is the second installment in Felicity Heaton’s contemporary, adult GUARDIANS OF HADES paranormal / fantasy romance series very loosely based in Greek mythology, focusing on six brothers- the sons of Hades and Persephone -sent to Earth to guard the gates to the Underworld. This is Prince of the Underworld and Lord of Lightning Valen, and assassin for hire Eva’s story line. VALEN can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty but I recommend reading the series in order as the brothers struggle against an unknown enemy to keep the human world and the Underworld from colliding.

NOTE: The Guardians of Hades series is Felicity Heaton’s interpretation of, and does not follow, the actual Greek mythological family tree or events.

Told from several third person perspectives including Valen and Eva VALEN follows assassin for hire Eva as she is tasked with taking down a man she knows nothing about. For months our heroine has tracked Valen without success until a run in with her target, and a broken vial of what she believes is poison, finds our heroine in bed with the man who will change her life. Enter Valen, the Lord of Lightning, and a man who believes he is incapable of love. What ensues is the search for the truth, and the building relationship between a mortal and a god.

The relationship between Valen and Eva is one of forbidden love. Eva was hired by a powerful man to bring Valen to his knees; Eva is a woman who for most of her life has remained hidden in the shadows, trained to kill but a woman who will fall in love with a man not of this world. The $ex scenes are intimate and intense without the use of over the top sexually graphic language and text.

All of Valen’s brothers including Ares and his mate Megan (ARES #1), Daimon eldest brother Keras, Marek, Clalistos, Esher, their mother Persephone, and uncle Zeus play secondary and supporting roles. The requisite evil comes with many faces including Benares and his sister Jin-the pair who hired Eva.

Like many of Felicity Heaton’s story lines the tale is told through written narrative, introspection, reflection and internal dialogue but it is the narration that carries most of the story. The premise is entertaining; the characters are broken, colorful and energetic; the romance is passionate and breathtaking. VALEN is an imaginative take on Greek mythology; a spirited look at forbidden love.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of ARES (book 1)

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy