Born of Shadows

The latest installment in Sherrilyn Kenyon's The League series is definitely a mixed bag. Let me start with what I liked about it. Caillen's story takes us back to the original cast of characters featured in <i> <a href="https://goodreads.com/book/show/476692.Born_of_Night__The_League___1_" title="Born of Night (The League, #1) by Sherrilyn Kenyon" rel="noopener">Born of Night</a> </i> and <i> <a href="https://goodreads.com/book/show/3246224.Born_of_Fire__The_League___2_" title="Born of Fire (The League, #2) by Sherrilyn Kenyon" rel="noopener">Born of Fire</a> </i>. We had jumped ahead in time for a while to focus on the next generation of the core families for <i> <a href="https://goodreads.com/book/show/6434232.Born_of_Ice__The_League___3_" title="Born of Ice (The League, #3) by Sherrilyn Kenyon" rel="noopener">Born of Ice</a> </i>. But this story is set 2-3 years after the events in <i>Born of Fire</i>. I'm happy about this. I thought there were plenty of great characters in the original group still waiting to be explored, and now Kenyon is giving me just what I was hoping for.<br /><br />Caillen is a rouge smuggler who is also a charming rake. He bears no loyalty to any woman but his sisters. And he lives life by the seat of his pants. As our story begins, he is arrested and sentenced to death while taking the blame for something his sister did. Just before he is executed, it's revealed he is actually the long lost son of a foreign king. Caillen isn't really cut out for life as a prince, but he is giving it his best shot, in honor of his new father. It's during a sort-of international summit that he meets Desideria, a princess from a race of warrior women. When the two of them get framed for the murders of their own parents, they go on the run, while trying to solve the mystery of who set the terrible plan in motion.<br /><br />It's hard not to like Caillen, though he didn't inspire terribly deep feelings. Obviously, he and Desideria fall for each other as they are drawn together by circumstance. But this book is seriously missing the dark and sexy vibe of my favorite Kenyon books. In fact, if memory serves, I think there is only one love scene in the entire book. (Come on! Play to your strengths, Ms Kenyon!) But honestly, this isn't even my biggest complaint. My biggest issue with the book is the plot surrounding the assassinations. The closer we got to the end of the book, the more convoluted it became. Every time I thought we finally understood what was going on, a different twist was revealed. Now, I love a good twist as much as the next person, but I think I've got whiplash. It got confusing. <br /><br />It was great to see Syn, Sharhara, Nykyrian, Hauk and Darling again. But this brings me to another point.... The epilogue is set up to clearly pave the way for Darling's book, when Desideria asks Caillen, "Are you sure Darling is gay?... Because I caught him ogling a female secretary." Um. No. Way. I am highly disappointed by the idea of revisionist history for Darling, who has always been as gay as the day is long. So gay that he was beaten to a pulp over it, time and time again by his uncle in previous books. And now we're supposed to believe, what? He was faking it? He is bi? But he never told the friends he has trusted with life and death secrets? Again I say: No Way. <br /><br />So when all was said and done, this book was ok. I would have liked a bit more sex and a less complicated resolution, but I'm glad we've returned to this time period. Now if only I could get that Nero book I've been wishing for. 3 1/2 stars.<br /><br /><i>*ARC Provided by NetGalley </i>

I loved this book. I know that many people have been a bit disappointed by it, but I definitely was not. I know one of the biggest problems was The Darling Thing and I will touch on that later, but other than that, I personally don't see why it was so disappointing. Sure, there was less sex in this book and it was a little different from the others in the series, but I didn't feel like those were any reasons to be dissatisfied with it.<br /><br /><br />I really loved Caillen and Desideria. Up until this book, I was still harboring a few negative feelings towards Caillen for certain things he said to my Syn in <i>Born of Fire</i>, but after starting this book, it was so hard to continue feeling anything malicious towards him. He was adorable. I thought he was funny and cute, a risk-taker yet reserved, intelligent yet dumb, and I found the fact that he was not quick to love or trust saddeningly endearing. Desideria starts out as pretty much the complete opposite of Caillen; she's unworldly and not very outgoing, but they are also very similar: they love deeply, do everything they can to take care of those they love, and I found them both to be amusing. Desideria is my second favorite heroine of this series (after Alix of <i>Born of Ice</i>) and I thought she was perfect for Caillen. Together, the two of them were utterly dynamic. They could always put a smile on my face and kept me enthralled in the story.<br /><br /><br />Along with the main characters, there were the amazing supporting characters. I really loved the new characters that were introduced into the series with this book. Fain always kept me amused. Maris was so adorable in his unabashed flaunting of his homosexuality. And I loved the sudden appearance of Chayden, long-lost brother and old friend. He was a cutie and I kind of hope that he will get a book sometime in the near future. Along with the new characters, I loved the return of older characters. Nykyrian made only a small appearance but I adore that man. I have a mini-orgasm every time I simply read Syn's name, let alone imagine his deep voice. I enjoyed seeing more of Hauk in this book, too, because he is only in <i>Born of Night</i> previously and has only a very small part in there. Shahara was less annoying than usual, but Kasen was more so and she made me want to bitch-slap her. Repeatedly. And of course there was Darling, the wonderful man.<br /><br /><br />Now I want to talk about The Darling Thing. I'm probably one of the very few people who isn't upset by the fact that Darling was apparently checking out a female at the end of the book. The Darling Thing doesn't bother me because I never interpreted him as being completely and utterly gay. I always felt that he was bisexual and that he only sought out men to be with because he had a painful relationship with a woman in the past. I also read something, though, where Sherrilyn Kenyon said something of that sort when I was first starting the series, so I went in with that mentality. However, I am pretty confident that, even if I hadn't read that somewhere, I still would not have believed that Darling is gay. To me, he just doesn't seem that way. I can totally buy the fact that he is bisexual, but I would never totally buy that he is gay. So, like I said, I know I'm one of the very few people who is actually okay with this and really can't wait for Darling's book to come out next year, but I'm okay with that. I love Darling; he's one of my favorite characters of the series. So I just want him to be happy no matter who he is with, whether that person is a man or a woman.<br /><br /><br />Overall, this book was fantastic in my opinion. I loved the characters, the story, the witticisms, and everything else about <i>Born of Shadows</i>. Sherrilyn Kenyon never fails me.<br /><br /><br /><br /><u>Favorite Quotes:</u><br /><i>"You can't look at someone and tell what they've been through. The scars that hurt the most are never visible on the surface."</i><br />(Caillen, page 243)<br /><br /><br /><i>"Subtlety is for those who lack the skills and the balls to be bold."</i><br />(Caillen, page 281)<br /><br /><br /><i>"Nothing moves faster than the media." Fain changed the screen over to another report on a different frequency. "I swear, they hired a publicist to convict you both. I couldn't get this much coverage if I painted myself pink and ran naked through the League's main hall with a bomb strapped on my back, screaming 'death to sycophantic pawns.'"</i><br />(Fain, page 345)<br /><br /><br /><i>"Give me one reason why I shouldn't."<br /><br />"Because when I look at you, I can see into infinity."</i><br />(Desideria &amp; Caillen, page 388)<br /><br /><br /><i>Laugh as much as you breathe and love as long as you live.</i><br />(Desideria, page 418)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><i>(I got this as an ARC from Netgalley.)</i>

I read this for the Pirates square (space pirates!) and my Series read selection.<br /><br />I felt the couple went back and forth snarking at each other for too long and not sure I bought into their romance. The futuristic space jargon was a bit goofy to follow sometimes but it also adds to this world. <br />The betrayal, villain storyline was so rushed and a bit convoluted at the end and I found myself not really caring. <br />This is at times a lighthearted, goofy, dark, emotional, simple, and complex book series. I can't pinpoint why I keep going back to it but I will. <br />I find myself really wanting to read the heroine's brother's, Chayden, story.

<a href="http://www.demonloversbooksandmore.com/2011/05/born-of-shadows-by-sherrilyn-kenyon.html" rel="nofollow noopener">Read my review at Demon Lover's Books and More</a><br><br>I had the amazing experience of going to Sherrilyn Kenyon's book signing and she is just a lovely, <i>lovely woman</i>! And so easy to talk to!<br><br>So in this review, I thought a little photo of the two of us might be fun :) Also, Dianna Love was there, and that woman is hysterical! She had us all cracking up.<br><br><br><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xeE5pwwChU8/TcqolLMhyWI/AAAAAAAAAp4/mjRkR4Ib4vo/s1600/img_0655.jpg" rel="nofollow noopener"> <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1380338547i/695583.jpg" alt="" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> </a><br>So, moving on to the [Spoiler Free] review.<br><br>Born of Shadows picks up in the same time as the first two books took place- <a href="https://goodreads.com/book/show/476692.Born_of_Night__The_League___1_" title="Born of Night (The League, #1) by Sherrilyn Kenyon" rel="noopener">Born of Night</a> and <a href="https://goodreads.com/book/show/3246224.Born_of_Fire__The_League___2_" title="Born of Fire (The League, #2) by Sherrilyn Kenyon" rel="noopener">Born of Fire</a> which I felt was refreshing since I liked the next generation of the League, but there was so much to work with in the first cast of characters. <br><br>When Born of Shadows opens, it is right into an action scene. There's like 60 pages of intense action and an almost execution before the storyline picks up with Caillen meeting Desideria. <br><br>We know a lot about Cai from the previous books, but it was cool being able to see his backstory. And to see why he was the way he was.<br><br>Desi is a princess from a planet of warrior women-and I thought the concept of how they became warriors was so cool. Basically a few hundred years ago, they got their butts kicked in battle. Seriously kicked. Since most of their men had been killed, they had women...so the women focused on becoming better warriors. I would compare them to the Amazon race, but the real Amazons, the ones who cut off their right breast to become better with a bow. These women were hard. Compassion got you killed, therefore compassion was a pointless emotion. Desi's mother the queen was no different. She was not soft, she didn't hug Desi, there was no preferential treatment, so when Desi earned her way to the elite guard, she really earned it. <br><br>Now the only thing that bothered me is how naive the young women were kept. Isn't the number one rule in warfare "know thine enemy?" They weren't allowed off-world unless they were elevated to adult status, so we have a twenty-something year old Desi who is completely ignorant of all cultures outside of her own.<br><br>This is important because when she and Cai end up stranded together, she won't believe him about anything. Her first time watching Hauk brothers fight was fantastic! She had to learn her people weren't the badasses they thought they were.<br><br>Watching Desi and Cai fall in love was the best part of the book. That and the ending. <br><br>The rest of the book picks up from there and it is such a great ride. The ending was great...all except for The Darling Thing, as my friend has dubbed it. It will bother some readers a lot, and some not at all. I'm in the meh category. I'd like to read his book, and hear how Sherrilyn will change us around, so I'm all for it....Trust in Sherrilyn, readers, she won't let us down.<br><br><br><br>

<b>4.5 stars</b><br><br>Born of Shadows is (IMO) a sci-fi fairytale. A <i>really</i> good sci-fi fairytale!<br><br><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1380349038ra/703139.gif" alt="description" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br><br>It's got a long-lost prince with the charm and morals of Flynn Rider...<br><br><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1380349038ra/703140.gif" alt="description" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> <br><br>A kick-ass warrior princess...<br><br><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1380349038i/703141.jpg" alt="description" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br><br>Not too mention political intrigue, conspiracy, plenty of action and adventure... and cannibalistic aliens!<br><br><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1380349038ra/703142.gif" alt="description" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br><br><br>Sherrilyn Kenyon is in top-form in this highly entertaining League adventure... and, IMO, this is one of her best, and definitely the best of 'The League' books I've read so far. All I have to say now is: 'Born of Silence' - here I come! <br><br>Thanks so much to Aimee for putting this book back on my radar... <br><br> <br><br>

3.75<br /> <br /><br />Born of Shadows had action, suspense, mystery and romance. Liked the hero and heroine. Plot was good as well as pacing. Well written and nice secondary characters.<br /><br />Good read. <br /><br />

<a href="http://www.underthecoversbookblog.com/2011/05/review-born-of-shadows-by-sherrilyn-kenyon.html" rel="nofollow noopener"> <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1380333934i/693541.jpg" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> </a><br><br><b>3.5 Stars</b><br><br>The League is by far my favourite series by Sherrilyn Kenyon, her blend of sci-fi, adventure and romance makes my jelly quiver! <br><br>This is the fourth book in the League series and it follows Caillen Dagan, the brother of Shahara the heroine of <a href="https://goodreads.com/book/show/3246224.Born_of_Fire__The_League___2_" title="Born of Fire (The League, #2) by Sherrilyn Kenyon" rel="noopener">Born of Fire</a>. Caillen is a third generation smuggler who would do anything for his sisters, no matter how crazy they drive him, including die for them which is what he almost does until he is saved in the nick of time by an unlikely source and is thrown in to a brand new world; the world of the aristocrats. Soon he is on the run with the beautiful and vivacious Desideria when they are framed for an assassination they didn't commit, as part of a plot that has been brewing for a lifetime. <br><br>I really wanted to like this book a lot more then I actually did, I think the main problem I had with this book was that for some reason Caillen really annoyed me. I don't know why but his constant "witty" comments really bugged me. I know he was supposed to be charming but slightly egotistical but I just found him irritating and yearned for him to be the strong silent type like my beloved Nykyrian (from <a href="https://goodreads.com/book/show/476692.Born_of_the_Night__The_League___1_" title="Born of the Night (The League, #1) by Sherrilyn Kenyon" rel="noopener">Born of Night</a>)! Desideria; however, I quite liked and I liked seeing her character develop and grow in confidence as she escaped from beneath her mother's tyrannical thumb.<br><br>Well so far I sound quite negative about this book, which isn't the case! What I really liked was the amount of action and adventure in it, I have found that normally SK is inside her characters heads a lot which is good, but can get repetitive. With this book there was a lot going on around them so it focused on the plot as well as the romance making it fast paced and exciting. I also liked that it showed you more of the other characters that although are mentioned in the books you don't really get to see them, like Darling Cruel and Dancer Hauk. <br><br>Now for the <b>BEST</b> this about the book...Fain Haunk, Dancer's big brother, now I know he was only a secondary character in this book but I instantly loved him! I have a thing for massive guys with long black hair and fangs (Wrath anyone?!) and he fits that image PERFECTLY! Along with a dry and sarcastic sense of humour, I am his for the taking and I really hope he gets a book (and his heroine is named Suzanne LOL!) <br><br>So although this wasn't my favourite in the series, I did enjoy this book and am definitely going to pick up the next one. <br>

<b>2.5 Stars</b><br /> <br /><b>This is one of my least favorite Kenyon stories I've ever read and I should probably round it down to 2 stars...but I didn't stop and put it to the side like I really wanted to, therefore I'm generously rounding up to 3 stars</b><br /> <br /><b> <u>What I did not like:</u> </b><br />♦ The beginning was very slow.  I don't think the MC's even laid eyes on each other until nearly 20% into the book.<br />♦ The heroine...Desideria...was TSTL.  I wanted to throw her out an air lock myself.  She basically ruined the book for me. <br />♦ There was hardly any romance and absolutely no sexual tension or chemistry between Caillen and Desideria.<br />♦ There were a lot of inconsistencies in the plot<br />♦ The whole conspiracy was too obvious and predictable<br /> <br /><b> <u>What I did like:</u> </b><br />♦ The hero...Caillen...although I have a little less respect for him because he's with Desideria<br />♦ Darling and Maris.  I wish they would have played a bigger role here; maybe I would have enjoyed it more.<br />♦ Reading this book gets me closer to reading Darling's book next.

2.5 stars<br /><br />I read the first book in this series years ago. When I read it, I thought it was okay but not good enough to continue with the series. Since that time, my thoughts kept going back to the story. I decided if it was that memorable I would pick up where I left off and resumed reading books 2 and 3. They were a little slow but okay. I decided this might be a good series to listen to.<br /><br />Well, I listened to the CDs for this book. The story has a despicable hero who I already did not like. In this book, Caillen is even worse than I previously realized. I also am tired of the characters in this series saying that self sacrifice for others is stupidity. It is not stupidity. It is love. Also, listening brings out just how cheesy many of the sayings and descriptions in this story are. Even though the narrator is fine, I definitely do not recommend listening.<br /><br />After reading and listening thus far, I am going to take a break again. We will see if I decide to pick up again in another few years. It can truly be difficult to find a great sci-fi romance series.

Wow, so where do I start?<br /><br />OK, let me start with...<br /><br />1. Sarcasm. I have friends who're sarcastic, so I get it when sarcasm is used. Kenyon, I know when your childish characters are being sarcastic. You don't have to tell us every second of it. In addition, the sarcasm SUCKED. It seemed to me as if they were 10 year-olds arguing &amp; cursing at one another instead of mature "deadly" assassins who got tortured for every little thing. So the sarcasm in this book was just BAD. Epic Fail.<br /><br />2. The hero. I have never in my life read about a hero so annoying like Caillen. I wanted to (somehow) get in the book &amp; tell him to shut the hell up! <br /><br />3. The heroine. Desidera or whatever her name is..... OK, seriously, why does every heroine have to end up pregnant? I'm sick of it! Just because we're women and can get pregnant doesn't mean that we're all the octo-mom. I don't have problems with children, but it's always the same. Every heroine gets pregnant! Although technology is used a lot in this series, I guess Caillen the manwhore &amp; the other heroes out there don't know what a freaking condom is.<br /><br />4. Fain. He's the main reason why I wanted to read his book. I checked his profile out on dark-hunter.com, his picture looks amazing and sexy and he looks like a real badass. But once I read this book, his childish sarcastic speeches were just a no no! He may be 7 feet tall &amp; all powerful, but he acted like a brat! Disappointed.<br /><br />5. The sex scene. I understand why Kenyon didn't fit a second sex scene in this book. I'm not mad about that. What surprised me was one part of the sex scene. OK, the part where Desidera cups him too hard &amp; he says "Careful, love..." is just like the scene in Dream Warrior (Dream-Hunter series) when Delphine cups Jericho too hard &amp; he says "Gentle, love..."........I have both books in my hands and when I read the Born of Shadows sex scene, I immediately thought of Dream Warrior. But of course Dream Warrior was a much better book.<br /><br />6. Darling Cruel. Is he gay? Bisexual? Straight? When I first read about him, I was glad that Kenyon was adding a gay character since every other romance author (except for Lora Leigh &amp; a few other) are too homophobic to add homosexual characters in their work. But all of the sudden he's not gay, has a daughter, blah blah blah. Kenyon, don't play this stupid joke on me. I'm part of the gay community &amp; if you decided to make Darling straight just so the homophobic or "no offense, but I'm uncomfortable reading about gay characters" side of your fans continued reading your series &amp; you continue making more money, then you're one ignorant author. Please don't let me down. And next time you decide to add a gay character &amp; make him straight the next instant, think 'bout your fans &amp; gay people out there &amp; how that hurts them.<br /><br />7. This book was so pointless and boring that I didn't understand (and still don't) what the hell the happened.