Time Untime by Sherrilyn Kenyon – a Review
As I sit here attempting to write my review on Sherrilyn Kenyon‘s Time Untime, sorting through my thoughts and feelings for this book, many words are running through my mind. Words like, wow, amazing, shocking, action filled, emotional, touching,….yeah okay I think you get the picture, I loved it. This book is a must read for any Kenyon fan and even if you aren’t a Kenyon fan you’d enjoy this book. However, if you haven’t read Retribution, do so before reading Time Untime. To me this is like the sequel as Kenyon laid the groundwork in Retribution, finishing it off with this story. Ren, who we met in Retribution continues on his journey now and his story pics up where Retribution left off.
There was so much that happens in this book, but if anyone who is a mythology junkie like me, then this book won’t disappoint you. Kenyon brought in the Cherokee and Mayan myths that also happened to tie into the whole end of the world Mayan prophecy come December 2012 this year, but she also tied them up nicely with the Greek and Atlantean mythologies. If Ren and Katari can’t defeat their enemies to reset the calendar then the seven gates open and all kinds of nasty comes gunning for humanity and the world. These stories that are told throughout the entire book are very interesting and flow nicely with Ren and Kateri’s journey to not only finding each other, but working together to save the world.
Just when you think Kenyon can’t create another tortured hero without it becoming redundant, she goes and proves us wrong. Ren Waya (short for Renegade, the name he choose when he was reborn a DH) is the son of a Greek goddess and Mayan Chieftan. With this heritage one would think he’d be held in high esteem, but it doesn’t. His mother’s pantheon exiles her (Zeus once again proves he’s a major horses behind) and Ren’s father disowns him leaving him for dead, not once but twice. Thanks to Artemis (it pains me to type her name) she assigns a Demon to nurse Ren till he is returned to his father, to which is father is not happy about. From this point on his life doesn’t improve. He’s ridiculed, made fun of, mocked, beaten, all because his father doesn’t want him and he stutters, as a result of being nursed by a Demon and only known that language at first. As a result of his hellish life Ren is duped into walking down the darkened path, then finding redemption, only to be betrayed by his own brother Coyote, which causes him to become a Dark Hunter.
Kateri Avani is a scientist/geologist but also a descendant of the First Guardian and last of her bloodline, which is responsible for protecting the stone needed to reset the calendar. She is also the cousin of Sunshine Runningwolf and sister-in-law to Talon, but is completely oblivious to who and what her relatives really are. It isn’t until she’s attacked in her lab for her stone that her world is turned upside down. Kateri is quickly introduced to the world of preternatural beings and what her role in all of it is. Seeing as she had no clue about any of this she takes it all rather well, and handles what’s thrown at her time and again as they rush to the Valley of Fire to reset the Calendar. Along the way however, she finds she’s falling for her DH/Mayan Warrior not sure what to make of all the visions regarding him she’s had in her life.
As I said much happened in this book and would take me forever to go through it all. It was well written and kept you on the edge of your seat, not wanting to put the book down. It had you laughing at the camaraderie between Ren and the gang (Sundown, Cabezel, Sasha, Ash, Nick, Talon, Rain Runningwolf, and Urian). Then in the next breath it had you aching for the pain and hardship that Ren went through in his long existence. We get to watch a warrior who is stripped down to his lowest point only to build himself back up again and learn to trust, believe and even love again. His journey throughout this story is beautifully written. One of my favorite scenes and best written scenes in my opinion is Ren’s rebirth to a human. The way Kenyon wrote that scene, and having Nick a part of it to help Kateri through it brought tears to my eyes and proves that there is hope for Nick yet.
Another favorite part of the story for me was the many appearances of Ash. He’s been in the background far too long lately and it was nice to see him return to action and help his friends out. I had to laugh every time someone saw Ash and his new hair. Those scenes were classic Kenyon humor, which she uses perfectly to balance out her story alongside the whole end of the world scenario with Ren and Kateri battling to save the world and each other. As well, there is a scene between Ash and Nick that will have you shedding a few tears at what has become of Nick so far and what will become of Nick if he can’t control the darkness inside him. We get to see the two of them really open up about everything and finally make some headway towards maybe helping each other, instead of being at odds. It’s a very touching scene, one that answers some questions, but also leaves you with questions for the future. For anyone who has been upset at Nick lately, your outlook on him will be very different and have you doing a complete 180 turn around where he is concerned. This is Kenyon at her best.
As I said in the beginning of the review, this story is amazing and another hit for Kenyon and her Dark Hunter series. A must read and I have no problem recommending it to everyone. If I may, I’d like to leave you with a few treats this time. When I was reading this book a new song by Alanis Morissette came on the radio one day and it instantly made me think of Ren and Kateri. To hear the song and watch the music video, you can go to his link; http://www.alanis.com/
As well, to get you all ready for the next Dark Hunter book Styxx, yes that’s right, Ash’s brother is getting his story told next. Here’s a link to a snippet from his story that Kenyon posted the other day to her FB page.
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150970261575810
Enjoy,
Reviewed By Marcie
