Acheron...an agonizing seach for love

 
 Acheron
(Dark Hunter #14)
by Sherrilyn Kenyon


 Finally, Acheron! I kept my promise to follow the reading order, not to skip, although at times, it was killing me. Finally, answers to many questions. Acheron became more than a character to me...well, he is larger than life!  The enigmatic, mysterious, powerful alpha male; but I just knew there was much more to him. I felt an excitement, an increasing anticipation to learn more…

 Acheron answers my questions. Who is he? More importantly, what is he?  Why is he so elusive? Why does he refuse to discuss his past or his personal life? Why does he allow Artemis to mistreat him? What is his relationship with Apollymi? Is she friend or foe? 
I’ve reached the ending of the 1st story arc, *sigh* and I’ve grown extremely fond of these irresistible and captivating Dark-Hunters and Weres…they’ve become an integral part of my fictional family. Will I run across them again? If so, would it be different.  Will I be as excited and committed to the next story arc? Will the new characters be as compelling? Will I “meet up” with Acheron again?

With all of this in mind, I began Acheron’s story…

 I've never cried over a book before… a movie or TV show, but not a book. Acheron’s story moved me to tears. It is such a painful read!

His tortuous tormented life begins with a prophecy! Apostolos, the unborn son of the Goddess Apollymi, the Great Destroyer, will eradicate the Atlantean pantheon. He is a god killer! To protect her son from imminent death, Apollymi strips Apostolos of his god powers and hides him in the mortal realm. He will be born as the elder twin son to the Greek King Xerxes and Queen Aara; live a noble and princely life, one full of honor and respect. However, even with “the best laid plans…” the exact opposite occurs. The royal family reviles this deformed baby with the swirling silver eyes (a symbol of his godhood). Without his god powers or Apollymi’s protection, Apostolos suffers unimaginable savagery.  He is alone, vulnerable, rejected, and exposed to the brutalities of humans. “And they named him Acheron, after the River of Woe. He will walk through his life alone and abandoned—ever seeking kindness and ever finding cruelty”.

Spurned by his family, his Uncle Estes makes Acheron a tsoulus, a sex slave, a whore. Acheron possesses the Curse of Desire, an insatiable sexual attraction and magnetism that no human can control. “Everyone who saw him wanted to touch him”.  Years later, his sister, Ryssa, rescues him, returns him to the royal palace only to be imprisoned by his father. Despised and degraded for being a whore, he suffers numerous savage beatings and tortures; in addition, everyone stalks and desires him. Acheron, desperate, willingly invites death to escape his inexorable suffering. Unexpectedly, he meets the goddess, Artemis who falls victim to his sexual magnetism. He will be hers! Poor Acheron! He doesn’t know that his life just went from horrible to atrocious to godawful!
Acheron enters this “friendship” with high expectations. Perhaps… Artemis, the goddess, will accept him…show him kindness… even love him. Unfortunately, the relationship deteriorates… into something so very… destructive, masochistic, pernicious, and… permanent! 

Remarkably, Acheron survives, and enters manhood on his 21st birthday. Apollymi sends her personal demon, Xiamara to unlock his god powers, thus elevating him to godhood status. As Apostolos, he trains under Savitar, nurtures his personal demon, Simi, and reluctantly becomes the leader of the infamous Dark-Hunters. Sadly, he continues his love/hate/love/loathe/love… connection with Artemis (Wicked crazy)!

“Nothing fixes a thing so intensely in the memory as the wish to forget it.”(Michel de Montaigne)


Part II of Acheron teleports us to the present day crisis, the imminent discovery of Atlantis. Acheron’s formidable task is to ensure that his past and his secrets remain hidden. No one must discover who he was… a whore. He will kill to keep his secret! If only he can forget his past, to quiet the recurring voices of self-disdain.

Then he meets Tory…perceptive, accepting, comforting, modest, kind, sarcastic, firm, protective, and fearless…his gentle caress…his oasis.

Acheron is a compelling, unforgettable read. Essential for Dark-Hunter fans!

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