Publisher: Forever
Publish Date: Out Now
How we got this book: NetGalley
Thanatos, the most deadly Horseman of the Apocalypse, has endured thousands of years of celibacy to prevent the end of days. But just one night with the wickedly sexy Aegis Guardian, Regan Cooper, shatters centuries of resolve. Yet their passion comes with a price. And Thanatos must face a truth more terrifying than an apocalypse-he’s about to become a father.
Demon-slayer Regan Cooper never imagined herself the maternal type, but with the fate of the world hanging in the balance she had no choice but to seduce Thanatos and bear his child. Now, as the final battle draws closer and his rage at being betrayed is overshadowed by an undeniable passion for the mother of his child, Thanatos has a life-shattering realization: To save the world, he must sacrifice the only thing he’s ever wanted-a family.
*Blurb from Goodreads*
MinnChica: I’ve long been a huge fan of Ione, and when the Horsemen of the Apocalypse series started, I couldn’t WAIT to get my hands on these books. While I adore them, the last book in the series didn’t work as well for as I had hoped. Let me just say that Ione redeems herself by knocking this one out of the park. I loved both Thantos and Regan! So many great things happened in this book!
Has: I so totally agree! The opening pages really started with a bang and I was interested in how things would be resolved from the last book and it definitely didn’t disappoint. I think this was my favourite book in the series to date and the fast pace and plot never let up and I loved how Thanatos and Regan’s romance progressed throughout the backdrop of the apocalypse as well as working their way through the fallout with the events in the last book.
MinnChica: I think this is my favorite of the series so far too. I was a little worried about how the baby situation would be handled, especially after Thanatos was released from his hellhound venom prison. But I loved the way he reacted to Regan, both good and bad. It felt real and angsty and wonderful. And the romance between these two bounced back and forth from loving to loathing, and it worked for me in ways I never thought possible. The tense emotions between those two sparked off the pages and made for a fantastic read. Add in the fast moving plot and the constant battles between good and evil… Awesome.
Has: Oh the romance was definitely a highlight and I loved how it didn’t detract or get overshadowed in the book. The tension between Regan and Thanatos was great and I love the buildup where they both realised they had strong feelings for each other especially with Thanatos. Because he was seriously pissed about what happened and it was hard to go from that to being totally in love. But I really enjoyed their characters, especially the backstory for Regan whose past was just as messed up as Thanatos and it really gave an insight to why she made her decisions in the past. I wasn’t a huge fan of her character in the previous book but I really warmed up to her in Lethal Rider.
MinnChica: I loved getting more of their backstories. I have to admit, as the information on Regan began coming out, I wanted to cry for her. She wasn’t the most likeable character in Immortal Rider, but the more we found out about her life the more I wanted to give her a hug and yell at Thanatos for being a dick. Ione did a wonderful job of making a character who wasn’t at the top of my “heroine” list, a likeable and wonderful woman to root for.
Has: I also felt the baby story-line which can be hit and miss for me in books meshed really well with the on-going plot. But I have to say the sub-plot with the Aegis and the apocalypse and the twists that come out with that really kicked up the tension with the ongoing mythology. I was left wanting when I came to the final pages. I also loved the supporting characters and I really hope we get to see more of them – I hope that Hades get his own story or that we see more of him, because he became one of my favourite characters in the series.
MinnChica: I personally LOVED the baby plot! (I’m a sucker for baby/pregnancy stories though…) I loved that Regan was preggers throughout the book, and that Ione made her a realistic pregnant woman. I remember a few weeks back, Mandi was tweeting about an 8 months pregnant heroine in an RS book who was running through the woods, evading men with guns and eating squirrels or something… I rolled my eyes at each new tweet. But with Regan, she was limited in her physical capabilities. She was unable to do things she had always been able to do, she was strong, but also handicapped by being pregnant. Those restrictions on Regan lent to the reality of the story.
Has: I think I read a similar book a few years back LOL but I agree about the realism about Regan and her feelings about the baby. I thought that was well done especially since she didn’t really want to be a mother in the first place but it was a duty she had to do to save the world. This is one of the best things I love about Larissa Ione and this series, she really inputs realism and grittiness into her story even if though it is about mythical or paranormal events happening.
Lethal Rider for me is the best instalment yet although I suspect the next one is going to top this because I feel things are going to head for a major show-down especially since so new factions were introduced to complicate things even further. I highly highly recommend this series because it never has failed to disappoint. Lethal Rider was a pacey, exciting book with a very satisfying and heartfelt romance. I HEART this series so much!
I give Lethal Rider a B+
MinnChica: All in all, I loved this book so hard. Ione answered so many questions I had about Regan and Thanatos, she gave us a realistic romance that started on very shaky ground and grew into something that was believable and honest. The plot in regards to Reseph/Pestilence was SO GOOD and resolved in a way that had my eyes popping out – in a good way! I can’t wait for the next book and the wrap-up of the series. Any paranormal romance fans out there who haven’t read Ione need to go to the store immediately and pick up all her books!
I give Lethal Rider a B+
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Not my fave of the series – was a little disjointed for me . . . the pace was 100mph right from the opening page and I got a little out of breath. For me, it tended to lurch from one crisis to the next . . the buildups were good but then the crisis would be resolved waaaay too easily before another one popped up straight after. ie When Regan got taken to the ship.
Am looking forward to the last one though.
@Willa: I’m sorry to hear that. 🙁 Just goes to show what works for one person, doesn’t for another. Hopefully the next one will work for you more!
Thanks for the wonderful review ladies. Still, not a series I am going to read (too hot for my tastes), even though I met Larissa and she is totally awesome, so kind and funny.
@aurian: How exciting that you got to meet Larissa!! Jealous!