I received this book for free from the library in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: the library
Atlantis Rising
by
Alyssa Day
mythic fantasy, romance in a paperback edition that was published by Berkley on March 6, 2007 and has 280 pages.
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Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Wild Thing, Atlantis Unleashed, Atlantis Awakening, Atlantis Unmasked, Atlantis Redeemed, Atlantis Betrayed, Vampire in Atlantis, Heart of Atlantis, Dead Eye, "Travelling Eye", Private Eye, Evil Eye, Eye of Danger, Eye of the Storm, Eye on the Ball, Apple of My Eye, A Dead End Thanksgiving Disaster
First in the Warriors of Poseidon paranormal-romance series revolving around the Seven, an elite guard for the High Prince of Atlantis. The couple focus here is on Prince Conlan and Riley Dawson, a social worker.
My Take
This start to the series introduces us to the series’ characters along with their primary mission and the dangers that accompany that mission. And if I hadn’t read a couple of short stories in this series, this is probably the last installment I would have read. Day is such a drama queen with the clichés running fast and furious. However, I did enjoy the shorties so I’ll give it another couple of tries…fingers crossed.
I wish that Day would take a leaf out of J. R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series on language and male interrelationships; I have no objection to her warriors of Poseidon interspersing slang and formal language but if she’s going to use slang, then use it. Not these half-hearted bits and pieces. Although, I did enjoy the fishy swearing and the movie references! Then there’s the snarking the warriors do off each other. It’s not enough. It feels so touchy-feely as opposed to male.
Day leads us to believe that Anubisa has some secret purpose in releasing Conlan and then…nothing. Did she forget she’d left that loose thread dangling?
The Story
Anubisa is certainly cocky. Letting Prince Conlan go so close to the time for his investiture as King of Atlantis after torturing him for the past seven years. Unless she foresaw that the High Prince of Atlantis would fall in love with a human and violate the rules. A violation that would result in total annihilation of the world.
Riley has had a miserable day. Shot by the boyfriend of one of her clients, almost raped on the beach by three muggers, and someone is talking inside her head. A someone who turns out to be 6-foot-6 of heavily muscled gorgeousness who just saved her ass. Conlan is shocked to find her, an aknasha, an empath who pulls at his heart.
Conlan is torn between the need to protect and study this empath and the greater need to retrieve the Trident of Poseidon from that traitor, Reisin. A difficult decision made worse when vampires continually attack Riley and the worry that Riley’s empathic abilities can be used against the warriors.
The Characters
Riley Elisabeth Dawson is an empathic social worker concerned about righting the wrongs in the world. Her sister Quinn has taken a more aggressive approach to do the same with the shapeshifters. Interesting romantic tension Day is setting up between Quinn, Alaric, and Jack.
High Prince Conlan has been imprisoned by an evil goddess, Anubisa, for the past seven years. Heartsick because he could not free himself and worried that his mind may have been corrupted by the bitch. The Seven are an elite guard protecting each Court of Atlantis. Conlan’s Seven include the King’s Vengeance “Ven”, Conlan’s younger brother; Alexios had been a prisoner of Anubisa’s; Denal is the youngest; Brennan was cursed with no emotions after doing the naughty with a Roman senator’s daughter; Lord Justice; Bastien; and, Christophe. Alaric is the high priest of Poseidon and cousin to Conlan; they had been fast friends raising hell around the kingdom before duty called them. He remains in power as long as he is celibate.
Reisen is of another House of Atlantis and believes that it is time for Atlantis to take its rightful place as the ruler of all mankind.
Jack Shepherd is a weretiger and very interested in Quinn. He’s part of the attacking group on Barrabas’ stronghold when Quinn and her shapeshifters team up with the warriors. Daniel is a vampire informant providing Quinn with inside details.
Anubisa is the goddess of death and the mother of all vampires — emphasis on mother! And not in a good way. Lord High Vampire Barrabas, a.k.a., Senator Barnes, and leader of the Primus is killing off the opposition in Congress and the Senate in order to push through a new bill that will enhance vampire rights and reduce those of humans. For he intends to rule the world. Drakos is Barrabas’ second-in-command but not one of his siring.
The Cover and Title
One of the rare covers that actually reflects the story! Who knew!? A very nice…hmmm…shirt-clad torso emerging from the blue-green waters with Hellenic ruins below in the deeper green waters. I like the pearl buttons…nice touch.
The title is certainly accurate, for with the vampires and shapeshifters announcing their existence to the human world and the covenant breaking, it is Atlantis Rising.
