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Friday 18 November 2011

The Heart of War ( Book 1 & 2 ) - Lisa Beth Darling



Inside the heart of every warrior breathes the soul of a hero--even within The Heart of War.

Meet Ares God of War is the greatest Warrior the world has ever known, he's also moody, grumpy, dominant, ravenously sexual,and above all, built like a Greek God.

Suspected of killing his Daughter in-Law, Psyche, and long in exile from Olympus, the solitude of Ares' island is interrupted when Magdalena MacLeod a brash and sometimes manipulative Fey washes up on Ares' island after believing she's been shipwrecked. There is no wreck and her memory of events is sketchy at best. Branded with a golden chastity belt bearing the mark of Cernunnos, Celtic God of the Forest and Death, Alena has been on the run from the Great Horned God for 200 years. As Ares and Alena grow closer discord erupts on the island as his head woman, Kat, plots to get rid of Alena and the Olympians plot to use her in their endeavor to discover who killed Artemis. Ares will have to choose between his Divinely Dysfunctional Family, his pride, and Alena before dueling to the death with the God of the Forest.
Come along for an epic adventure of erotica, steamy romance, and drama in this Modern Day Greek Tragedy. Battle Ancient Gods and Fall in Love along side Ares God of War and Alena MacLeod. Theirs is a love that will rock the world from the heights of Olympus to the Celtic moors.




The Heart of War 

The God of War, Ares, has been living in exile on his private island for over 200 years for crimes he was falsely accused of.  Ares seems to be a bit bored with life even though he has his harem to occupy him, but never being fully satisfied, and incapable of love.  That is until a mysterious fey woman washes up on the shores of his island. 

Magdalena, or as Ares ends up calling her, Alena has been running from her past and her betrothed, Cernunnos for the past 200 years or so, and with good reason…*shivers*.  She has been through so much in her time, but the most horrible of events started about 7 years ago.  After washing up on Ares’s island,  it seems she has lost the memory of the events that happened that led up to her arrival on the island.

Ares is determined to find out more about Alena, and in doing so he takes a trip to the refugee camp in Africa where she’s been for the past 7 years, in effort to fill in the gaps of her memory. What he didn’t expect to find out were the horrible details of what had been her life in Africa, and all the wonderful things she did to help the people there, and just how courageous the little Celt really is.  It seemed that with every detail he uncovered Ares lost a piece of his heart to Alena. 

I really enjoyed watching these two fall in love.  And after Alena finds her slice of happiness in the hell that her life has been,  life or should I say, the Olympians throw her a curve ball and hell is once again beating down her door.  I don’t think I have ever read a heroine more tortured than Alena.  She has been through some horrible, horrible events and yet remains so strong, courageous, and protective of those that are weaker, and those she loves.  (whether they deserve it or not).

There are so many things that happen in this book, I could spoil something at every turn.  I will say that this book is different than anything I’ve read, and it is not for the faint at heart.  It is violent, bloody, and full of betrayal.

3.5 Stars




Do you know 'Damien'? Raven makes that kid look like an angel.

The "Of War"-series picks up in part I of this II-part sequel when Ares and Alena try to settle down on Olympus and await the birth of their son, Raven.

Haunted by prophetic visions along with a body and mind that are starting to betray her, Alena struggles to enjoy what should be a happy and blessed occasion. The relentless hostility from the other Olympians make her yearn to be back on their cozy island home, far away from all the bickering and backstabbing that makes up Life on mighty Mount Olympus.

Knowing of Zeus' unabashed hatred for Alena and the Celts, Ares becomes convinced Zeus is causing these visions and the breakdown of Alena's mind. To appease his Father, the God of Gods, Ares enters into a wicked blood pact ensuring the safety of his wife and unborn son. A pact that could cost the God of War everything he holds dear. 




Child of War-A God is Born

As life on Olympus gets more and more complicated, both Alena and Ares make the best of the situation. Until....Their is son is born. It seems everything and everyone up on Olympus is E.V.I.L. (then again,if u read the first book, you already know that) Nothing is made easy for this couple. In the previous book, Alena is thriving for her life almost near death. Ares' mother now realizes her son has finally found love. She's willing to help Alena and heal her, only on one condition.If  she saves Alena,Ares would move himself, his wife and his unborn son to live on Olympus. What seemed fair and doable, turns out for the worst with twists and many heartaches  while the story unfolds.


Zeus father of Ares, still doesn't like the fare existence of Ares ever being born, yet alone accepting  Alena,it's like accepting the devil to his table. Zeus has it made up in his mind that Alena is a Fae from the Dark Kingdom,whom has put a spell on his son, to make Ares fall in love with her. My question is, "Is she a Dark Fae,or isn't she?" How Alena deals with Ares' family,is beyond words. Ares' and Alena's child is not much welcomed on Olympus either, Zeus and Apollo (Ares' uncle) both think the baby is nothing but a Mud-Blood, they make it known  he's an outcast just like his mother, and both  men have a devious plan on making Ares' and Alena's son an Olympian, but one made with hatred, not to grow and be King.That is why when Ares' and Alena's son is born, Zeus wants to gift their son as "God of the Damned" Which Alena puts the stop to it when presenting they're son a few days after he's born. What Alena doesn't know, if her son was to be God of the Damned, he would be able to bring his father to his knees and into death.


Zeus has no heart (IMO) he's out to do things for his own personnel gain, he's known for screwing with his children's lives and has no bounds, including the happiness he takes in by being so cruel.


Blood Vows, Treachery, Adultery, Murder,Secrets,Lies, Treason, Sorrow and Hatred. This about sums up what you'll read in this novel, there's enough to keep you on your toes and make you wanna continue reading and not put the book down. Most of all, there's love between Ares,Alena and their Son Raven, but to a certain extent.Ares and Alena's love for one another weakens as the story continues, I'm not sure it's enough to hold them together. Their situation alone tore my heart to shreds, neither one deserves all this heartache. There's only so much Ares and Alena can deal with. Everything in their lives starts to tumble and fall around them more so when their son  Raven is born. He's powerful,strong,and out of control. Raven being, half Olympian,one-quarter Human,and one-quarter Fey,makes him a walking disaster waiting to happen.


Can the lives of the Olympians truly either come to an end, or will there be a Happily Ever After? I do hope for an  HEA. The ending to this novel ended with heartache and I expect more to follow. I'm now prepared for what's to happen next. I'm just crossing my fingers, Ares,Alena and Raven can put the pieces together and stay strong.




1 comment:

Sebella Blue said...

I was dying to see what you thought of this series. I almost lost it on Ares near the end of Child of War. It was definitely a love/hate relationship on my part, but I couldn't put it down. Now I'm hooked.
Great review, Chickie.

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