Sunday, April 5, 2009

Review: Dream Warrior by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Title: Dream Warrior
Series: Dream-Hunters, Dark-Hunters
Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon
Read copy: Mass Market Paperback
Published: February 3, 2009
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks
ISBN: 0312938837
ISBN-13: 9780312938833

We are the Dolophoni. Diligent. Vigilan. Fierce and inescapable. Servants of the Furies, we are the right hand of justice and no one stands before us...

The son of Warcraft and Hate, Cratus spent eternity battling for the ancient gods who birthed him. He was death to any who crossed him. Until the day he laid down his arms and walked into self-imposed exile. Now an ancient enemy has been unleashed and our dreams are his chosen battlefield. The only hope we have is the one god who swears he will never fight again.

As a Dream-Hunter, Delphine has spent eternity protecting mankind from the predators who prey on our unconscious state. But now that her allies have been turned, she knows in order to survive, the Dream-Hunters need a new leader. Someone who can train them to fight their new enemies. Cratus is her only hope. But she is a bitter reminder of why he chose to lay down his arms.

Time is running out and if she can't win him to her cause, mankind will be slaughtered and the world we know will soon cease to exist.


My rating:

Unfortunately I'm quite disappointed by this book. Judging by all the hype, I expected something more, and the initial few chapters promised quite a gripping read, yet in the end the book seemed almost anti-climatic.

Despite more than 300 pages, I felt it was too short. With so many parallel storylines and interesting characters, I got the feeling the author kind of failed to develop the leading two characters to their full potential. I was far from convinced.

From all the reviews and recommendations from my GR friends I got the impression Jericho was similar to Zarek and Xypher, but where those two were quite psychotic in a stimulating (and hot) sort of way, Jericho came thought more on the softer side. With the first few chapters building on his merciless history and even more merciless 6000+ years of torture, the end result was too mellow to be believable, and only enforced the idea the author or didn't have time to fully develop him or couldn't be bothered with delivering more than another six foot plus, muscular, blue-eyed, ex-god for the heroine to salivate after.
Delphine was also on the weaker side. She didn't appear to have a personality at all. And while Jericho's side of the romance could be explained (their history and his knowledge of it), her falling for him seemed too rushed and more of a high-school-type crush than a deeper emotion.

The saving grace of this book was the plethora of secondary characters. Even the main villain, though he had quite a limited scene time, appeared more interesting than the two leads.
The glimpsed of old, and much loved characters gave this book the much-lacked depth and character. Zarek (as crazy as ever, gods bless his soul) and Astrid made their appearance with little Bob in tow. Tory and Ash were featured in all their domestic (and twinge-inducing sappy - is that the same guy that made my stomach quiver when he first appeared on scene?) glory. Nick was a little less of a prick and I can't wait for him to get his punk-ass kicked...

And the cherry on the cake...More insight into the complex characters (and their still mysterious relationship) of Jaden and Jared. I couldn't shake the feeling Sherrilyn Kenyon used this book for the introduction of their arc and the others just happen to get sucked into it. Her usual humor was sadly lacking, the sporadic sarcastic remarks fell flat, and even the action scenes seemed forced.

Definitely not a keeper but a good jumping board into the next books (and story arc).



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