STYGIAN is the latest book in Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark-Hunter
series. I wouldn't recommend jumping into this lengthy tome
without at least reading a few books in this series in order
to be familiar with this world. It's good to have a copy of
KISS OF
THE NIGHT on hand -- whether as a re-read for fans, or
for new readers to check out in the middle of reading
STYGIAN. The events in KISS OF THE
NIGHT take place a little into the second half of
STYGIAN. STYGIAN is divided into two sections -- the ancient
past and the modern era. Urian is a being thousands of years
old, and the heroine of STYGIAN is a certain dragon he met
once upon a time. Some readers enjoy reading about events
set in ancient times more than other readers do but doing so
in this book will explain how Urian met Sarraxyn aka Xyn, as
well as give a better understanding of his friends and
family, and the complexities of Urian's relationships with
them.
Longtime fans who might have wondered how Urian and
Phoebe's doomed romance started have their curiosity
satisfied after reading STYGIAN. While on a mission to kill
Phoebe and her family, Phoebe initially sees Urian as a Bond
villain and then later as a Batman-like figure. Their early
relationship is very sweet and has an adolescent "young
love" charming quality to it. For fans of the Dark-Hunter
series, Sherrilyn Kenyon revisits stories told in past
books, through Urian's eyes. Over the thousands of years,
he's been alive, Urian has had two major loves and lost
both of them, experienced shifting and shocking alliances,
and lived through too many apocalyptic battles to count.
Through it all, Urian always lacked a sense of belonging and
his loneliness only increased over the years to an almost
unbearable degree. I love when the story picks up from the
events in DRAGONSWORN
with Urian, Medea, Falcyn, Blaise, Brogan, and the
longsuffering Shadow on what amounts to a suicide mission.
The chemistry between the characters is great and it takes
Urian on the path to his lost love.
STYGIAN is an epic tale of family drama, daring warriors,
monumental battles, and unwavering love. For someone who
once felt isolated and unloved, Urian has family, friends,
and former lovers coming out of the woodwork. Although
Urian's is the main perspective, it's great to read about
key battles or events that took place in the Dark-Hunter
world from various perspectives. Familiar characters take on
added dimensions. The one constant in this book, and this
series, is the vile behavior exhibited by longtime villain
Apollo. Mixing dragons into Sherrilyn Kenyon's world of
gods, demons, and hunters has added to the allure of this Dark-Hunter
series. I look forward to Sherrilyn Kenyon's next Dark-Hunter
book.
Born before man recorded time, I lived for thousands of
years believing myself to be something I’m not.
Someone I’m not.
Lied to and betrayed by gods, Daimons and Dark-Hunters,
I’ve struggled to find my way in a world where I’ve been
cursed since the moment I was prematurely ripped from my
mother and planted into the womb of an innocent woman who
thought me her son.
Trained as a slayer and predator, I learned to fit in and
stay low. To become a tool for evil. Until I was sent to
kill the one woman I couldn’t. My hesitation cost her her
life.
Or so I thought. In an act of betrayal that makes all the
others pale in comparison, I’ve learned that this world
is an illusion and that my Phoebe still lives.
Now I will have to travel into the very pits of Hades to
try and save her, even as everyone around me attempts to
steal what little soul I have left. There’s only one
person at my back and I’m not sure I can trust her
either, for she was born of an enemy race. Yet sometimes
the road to redemption is one that singes us to our very
core. And if I fail to find the answers I need to save
Phoebe, more than just my wife will die.
We will lose the world. Both human and Daimon.