Sandy M’s review of Warrior Ascended (Sons of the Zodiac, Book 1) by Addison Fox
Paranormal Romance published by Signet 2 Mar 10
Wow, Greek gods, the balance between good and evil, betrayal, sexy warriors of the Zodiac who embody their personal constellation, and, of course, the women who trap their hearts, bodies, and souls – you can’t ask for anything more in a debut book by a debut author. Addison Fox has it cram packed in this book, which is the lead-off of her new series that I know is only going to get better and better as it goes along.
Themis, the Goddess of Justice, is agonizing over the fact that her beloved humans are killing themselves without conscience, so she throws out a bargain to ex-husband Zeus, who can deny her nothing still, to allow her to create immortal warriors representing the signs of the Zodiac who will fight for justice, protect humanity from within and without. But though Zeus agrees, he demands balance be part of the bargain, giving that injustice side to his daughter Enya, the Goddess of War. The particulars are hammered out and Themis and her Warriors begin their crusade.
Brody Talbot, the embodiment of Leo, is an expert archeologist and is currently on a dig in Egypt to further the work of Dr. Harrison, who found the legendary Summoning Stones years before and subsequently died. What Brody and his team find this time is the Prophecy that tells of the power of the Summoning Stones, and that leads him to Ava Harrison, daughter of the famed doctor.
Ava is in the midst of the project of a lifetime, bringing all five Summoning Stones from different countries together for the first time since her father uncovered them. Her life changes in unbelievable ways when she’s attacked one night. Unbeknownst to her, it’s Enya’s Destroyers who are after her, but Brody steps in as protector, and his life is also changed now that he’s face to face with Ava.
Having had his share of women over the centuries, none of those ever affected Brody as Ava does. Ava has spent her life encapsulated in her own little world since her father’s death, not really living at all. When these two come together, life for both of them truly begins, even with all the danger and love making and teleporting and goddesses and other equally fantastic things being thrown at them left and right and every which way.
Brody and his brothers are all alpha men and for a reader like me, they’re perfect. That’s what makes Ava’s re-emergence into life so wonderful, she finally lets the real woman out, becomes the strong woman everyone knows she’s always been. These men need special heroines and Ms. Fox has started it all off exactly right.
Kane, the Scorpion, is up next and I’m already dying to get my hands on that one.
Grade: A+
Summary:
An act of desperation…
Themis, Goddess of Justice and former wife of Zeus, weeps for the annihilation of her adored humans. As the Iron Age – the Fifth Age of Man – progresses, her beloved human children are wrapped in a chaotic spiral of death and destruction. Frustrated and angered by her inability to change their lives, she pleads with Zeus. Allow her to end the destruction of the Iron Age by creating a race of warriors to calm the chaos.
a bargain struck…
Zeus recognizes this strange love Themis has for humans and still guilty over his betrayal of her with his new wife, Hera he agrees to the request. With one condition. In order to maintain the balance Themis is so known for, she must agree to an opposing force a catalyst for chaos – for her Warriors. His daughter with Hera, Enyo, Goddess of War, will be equally empowered to maintain the anarchy for which she is known.
The Modern Age of Man begins…
So armed, Themis sets out to create a race of warriors, innately balanced with each other and carrying all the traits so necessary for understanding humans. Kindness, compassion, vanity, arrogance, courage, passion, anger, ego the full spectrum of human emotions wrapped in an immortal package of physical strength and mental agility. Using the 12 signs of the Zodiac as a model for balance, the Warriors are as varied in personality as the traits Themis bestows upon them. And all will protect and serve their goddess throughout the ages.
No excerpt available.
