Retribution by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Retribution

#20, Dark Hunter Series
Sherrilyn Kenyon
Paranormal Romance

Harm no human...

A hired gunslinger, William Jessup Brady lived his life with one foot in the grave. He believed that every life had a price. Until the day when he finally found a reason to live. In one single act of brutal betrayal, he lost everything, including his life. Brought back by a Greek goddess to be one of her Dark-Hunters, he gave his immortal soul for vengeance and swore he’d spend eternity protecting the humans he’d once considered prey.

Orphaned as a toddler, Abigail Yager was taken in by a family of vampires and raised on one belief- Dark-Hunters are the evil who prey on both their people and mankind, and they must all be destroyed. While protecting her adoptive race, she has spent her life eliminating the Dark-Hunters and training for the day when she meets the man who killed her family: Jess Brady.

A gun in the hand is worth two in the holster...

Jess has been charged with finding and terminating the creature who’s assassinating Dark-Hunters. The last thing he expects to find is a human face behind the killings, but when that face bears a striking resemblance to the one who murdered him centuries ago, he knows something evil is going on. He also knows he’s not the one who killed her parents. But Abigail refuses to believe the truth and is determined to see him dead once and for all.

Brought together by an angry god and chased by ancient enemies out to kill them both, they must find a way to overcome their mutual hatred or watch as one of the darkest of powers rises and kills both the races they’ve sworn to protect.


I've avoided writing this review for a fews days because I know as I write, it will include a word I NEVER thought I'd link with my beloved Dark Hunters ..... LACKING. Tears seriously fill my eyes just typing it but if I'm to be honest, as excited as I was by this release, I was left feeling like one of the fundamental things I adore most about this series was missing - passion.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVED the storyline for this book. I really enjoyed looking at the Native American aspect of it and thought it brought a very unique flavor to the series. I loved looking at a different pantheon and seeing how it affects the world. I loved how Jess and Abigail's life has been in constant contact through their different lives and how they're continually brought together. But when I think soul mates and destined partners, I expect passion and explosion. When I think Dark Hunter, I think a sexuality that oozes off the page and scenes that threaten to reduce my book and me, to ashes.

I remember when I first began reading the series feeling scandalized. There was so much heat and chemistry between the couples that I would devour the book, ALWAYS left craving more. It's what caused me to drive 2.5 hours one day to buy the ENTIRE series because I couldn't stand to wait. I didn't devour Retribution. Gosh I wanted to but there was a definite shift for me - from steamy paranormal romance to urban fantasy. That's what this book felt like... the story focused on the plot and very little on the romance. I love urban fantasy, don't get me wrong BUT it's not what I expect from my Dark Hunters. I'm not sure why there's a shift, maybe the author felt the storyline was so fantastic (it was) that she focused on that but it still could've provided the sizzle. It made me miss the old days, the earlier books and had me reaching for Acheron. Now there was a book I devoured and couldn't put down.

I really did enjoy the book but felt the characters didn't cement themselves in my heart and leave me connected. Oh gosh, you have no idea how much that pains me to write. I NEVER thought I'd write a review for the Dark Hunters where I didn't spend paragraph after paragraph gushing about the hero. I thought Jess was wonderful and he definitely had some appeal and I'm glad he got the girl. It's almost like I've finished the book and wanted to ask "Okay, this was a good appetizer, where's Jess's book?" There was no smolder and even though I liked the humor, I wanted smolder, swagger and that "OMGSH I don't know how the heroine can stand to be around him without ripping his clothes off." The earlier books have it, the "grab hold of your heart and keep it hostage" feeling. This one sadly didn't.

Okay, I think I'm going to end my review here because it hurts. I'm really hoping this was an off book and that the next release with knock my socks off. It happens, right? I'll stress one more time though... if you like urban fantasy... you will LOVE this book. I loved it but the romance junkie in me wants to weep. I'll still be giddy and bouncing around like a chihuahua on crack when the next book is released and eager to dive in. Until then, I'm off to reread the series! Happy reading!!

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