Alterant by Sherrilyn Kenyon & Dianna Love – a Review

 “Alterant” is the second book in the Belador series by the duo of Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love. This series is of the Urban Fantasy genre. Blood Trinity was the first book in this series, and it was a great start.  If you want to read this series, please start with Blood Trinity, so you get to know the heroine of Belador.

Evalle Kincaid, the heroine in this series, continues to find herself in more trouble, as she faces the gods and goddesses of the Tribunal, once again for her freedom.  The Tribunal want to lock up all Alterants, as they feel they are a dangerous and unknown species.  Evalle, is a member of VIPER, who fight and use their supernatural skills to stop evil forces against humans.  Evalle, continually hopes to prove that not all Alterants are dangerous, and they will not shift to their beast form to harm others.  Though she has put her life on the line numerous times, she is still distrusted by the gods and goddesses of the Tribunal. Evalle has two Belador warrior friends she totally trusts, and they (Quinn & Tzader) have always been able to help her remain free.

During the Tribunal, she is blamed for the escape of three Alterants. But with the help of Brina, the Belador leader, she is given limited time to bring them back into custody.  The gods and goddesses allow her to use three magical gifts to help her in this task.  However, in the last book, she had helped put Tristan, another Alterant, to a caged imprisonment. Now she needs his help to find the 3 escaped Alterants.

The Belador series is focused on Evalle, as the main character, but there are other important characters with their own stories intertwined throughout the book. Storm, a skinwalker, who wants to protect Evalle, and finds himself falling for her.   Of course, Tristan also has an interest, but is mostly looking for his own freedom.  Then there is the relationship between Brina and Tzader, who are very much in love, but are being manipulated to remain apart by the Belador Queen, Macha. Kizira, the Medb priestess, who loves Quinn, is plotting to overthrow the Beladors and kill Brina, using the Alterants to do it. The Medb know the truth about what the Alterants really are, which could free them.

The most adorable character in this series is a pet gargoyle named Feenix, who snacks on lug nuts and talks with a lisp. He is Evalle’s much loved pet, and you totally fall in love with him.  You will forever be saying   “Yeth…Dammit”.

Kenyon & Love have done an excellent job in this world building, and creating such wonderful characters. There are so many fascinating characters….Gods, Goddesses, Witches, Priestess, Queens, and Warriors, not to mention the supernatural.  This was a enjoyable and fun book to read, with a lot of action, not to mention a terrific heroine.  I look forward to the next book in this series….The Curse

Reviewed by Barb