Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Review: Rogue Rider

Reviewed by Jen
 
Before I started this book, I had some serious concerns about how I was ever going to be able to get behind Reseph as a hero.  After all, we just spent the last three books with him as a really, really evil villain.  He raped. He killed. He tortured. He has questionable interactions with his mother.  This guy was as horrible as they come. Granted, he wasn't really himself. He was taken over by the evil Pestilence. But frankly, he wasn't great hero material before he turned evil. He was a flighty man-whore.  Somehow, though, Larissa Ione managed to do something incredible with this character. After everything, she has made him likable.

As the book begins, Reseph has been cast back into the human world with no memory of who he is.  Reaver has bottled up Pestilence deep inside him and freed him from hell.  He lands, naked, in a snowy Colorado town, where Jillian finds him unconscious.  Fearing for his life, she gets him back to her cabin and nurses him back to health.

From the moment he regains consciousness, Reseph starts flirting.  As sexy and gorgeous as he is, though, part of what really gets to her is the vulnerability underneath.  Jillian knows better than anyone what it means to be vulnerable. She is still getting over a terrible attack from a demon that nearly killed her and she has plenty of fear inside of her.  Of course, she has no reason to believe Reseph is anything other than human, but she is just as worried about the pain that a regular man could inflict on her battered heart.  So as much as she grows to want him --and as much as he wants her-- both are afraid to let real feelings begin to grow.  Jillian, because she is afraid of abandonment and heartbreak; Reseph, because he fears what he'll uncover about himself if he ever gets his memory back.

Most of the first half of the book sets the foundation for the romance, but in the second half, the pace picks up in a big way.  There is a lot Reseph must face from his actions as Pestilence. The other Horsemen feature prominently, as do Reaver and Harvester.  And lest you think there is no danger, the demons of Sheol are after Reseph --as are the Aegis.  There's action. There's bloodshed. There is sex.  --Goodness-- I haven't talked about the sex!!  It is so, so hot. Ione is incredibly creative with her love scenes.  You could practically feel the heat in the air.

As always with these books, the world-building is fantastic. The continuity is outstanding. And the b-plot is strong. I am positively counting the minutes until I can get my hands on Reaver's book.  The mystery of his past is already starting to unfold!!!

Rating: B+

*ARC Provided by Grand Central Publishing via NetGalley


Click to purchase: Amazon
Rogue Rider
by Larissa Ione
Release Date: November 20, 2012
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

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7 Comments:

At Tuesday, November 20, 2012 at 10:45:00 AM CST , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I was surprised at how quickly Ione was able to get me to like Reseph after everything Pestilence did. But I guess that's part of what makes her such an awesome writer :-)


Paranormal Haven

 
At Tuesday, November 20, 2012 at 1:33:00 PM CST , Blogger Jennifer @ The Book Nympho said...

Now that all the books are out I need to get books 3 & 4 then I'll read them all back to back.

 
At Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at 4:13:00 AM CST , Blogger Jen at Red Hot Books said...

ITA! I am DYING for that Reaver book now.

 
At Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at 4:14:00 AM CST , Blogger Jen at Red Hot Books said...

There's still another one coming. But you should definitely read them. Start with the Demonica books if you haven't already read them.

 
At Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at 6:16:00 AM CST , Blogger Sophia Rose said...

I'm always impressed when an author successfully converts a villain to a hero in a story.

Enjoyed your review!

 
At Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at 8:12:00 AM CST , Blogger Jennifer @ The Book Nympho said...

I've read the Demonica and loved them. I thought there was only going to be 4, one for each horsemen. (looks up at above comment) Oh shit, Reaver is getting his own book. YAY!!!

 
At Monday, November 26, 2012 at 12:06:00 PM CST , Blogger Lesley said...

Great review Jen, I was equally as intrigued as to how Larissa Ione was going to make head bad guy Pestilence/Reseph into a likeable romantic hero, but she so did it! I've really enjoyed this series and like you I'll be counting down to Reaver's book.

 

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