The Last Slayer by Nadia Lee - 18 +

**1/2

From Carina Press:

Ashera del Cid is a talented demon hunter, but when she kills a demigod's pet dragon, the hunter becomes the hunted. Her only potential ally is Ramiel, a sexy-as-hell demon. Now the two must work together to battle dragons and demigods...and the chemistry crackling between them.

Ramiel has his own reasons for offering Ashera his protection. He knows her true identity and the real reason the demigods want her dead. What he can't predict is how she'll react when she discovers he knew who she was all along...

Ashera is shocked to discover that she is the only daughter of the last slayer. To claim her destiny, she and Ramiel must join forces to face down danger and outwit their enemies. Only then will she be able to truly accept her legacy...

The Bad:

I did not find Ashera to be a good heroine.  I did not really care about her or her situation until late in the book.  I thought the world of demi-gods and dragons could have been more fleshed out.  I also needed more of an explanation of how Ashera is who she is - or is destined to be. 

The Good:

Hot demi-gods and dragons?  Who doesn't enjoy a story like that.  The story was interesting and I wanted to understand more about the Ashera's world.  According to Nadia Lee's website, The Last Slayer is the first in a trilogy, so I am hopeful that the next book will give more answers. 

~Shel

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

I am reposting this review in a shameless attempt to win Josephine Angelini's Dreamless ARC contest.  Starcrossed is one of my favorites of 2011, so I am desperate to read Dreamless!  :-)

****1/2

Book description from HarperCollins Publishers:

How do you defy destiny?

Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is—no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it's getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheets damaged by dirt and dust. At school she's haunted by hallucinations of three women weeping tears of blood . . . and when Helen first crosses paths with Lucas Delos, she has no way of knowing they're destined to play the leading roles in a tragedy the Fates insist on repeating throughout history.

As Helen unlocks the secrets of her ancestry, she realizes that some myths are more than just legend. But even demigod powers might not be enough to defy the forces that are both drawing her and Lucas together—and trying to tear them apart.

Starcrossed introduces an entirely new spin on the Greek Gods, mythology and demigods.  There is a lot of information and action in this book. Not only does the book set up a new mythology, it also introduces you to Helen and the rather large Delos family. Eventually, Helen comes to be close with the family, as they teach her about demigods and controlling and using her gifts. Obviously, I enjoyed Helen's relationship with Lucas; however, I hope that Dreamless (Book 2 releasing May 2012) focuses more on Helen's relationship with the rest fo the Delos family.  I especially enjoyed Helen's friendship with Hector, which provided comic relief during Helen's combat training.  Josephine Angelini did a fabulous job of relaying this new mythology and weaving the story. 

This book could have easily felt as if you were getting a mythology lecture, but Ms. Angelini artfully sidestepped that pitfall.  I was oblivious to the world while reading this book and did not want it to end.  So much so that I could not really focus on reading anything else until I read Starcrossed a second time.   

All in all, I definitely recommend Starcrossed and give it 4.5 stars (I still cannot stop thinking about it)!

~Shel

Starcrossed Limericks

Josephine Angelini, the author of the fabulous debut Starcrossed is having a contest on her blog for UK residents.  You have to send her limericks that somehow tie to Starcrossed (a book about Greek mythology, demigods, etc) and you could win a copy of the UK version of Starcrossed.  Check out the contest on her blog here.  So, Nat asked her extremely creative husband (hereinafter referred to as "XO")  to come up with a Greek Mythology themed limerick.  Unfortunately, living in the greater Chicago area, we are not eligible for the contest, but these limericks must be shared.  If you enjoy them, please comment and let XO know (you know boys, they need constant praise!)  Also, if you have PG limericks you would like to share regarding your favorite books, please post them in the comments - this could be really fun!

Without further ado...

The party was just getting started
by Odysseus so big and brave hearted
twas Circe who came
said his libations were lame
and as a swine dear Odysseus departed

Pan played his lute oh so fine
Better for sleep than Cyclopean Wine
but a tune that he play
to keep the giants at bay
Failed but just the one time

Was Heracules night at the fights
such a show of good handsome might
The Minataur came in
with a cloth and a grin
and with a left hook ole Herc said goodnight

~Shel