Some grudges last for more than a lifetime and some events have major consequences far into the future. Such is the future for Ares and his three siblings. The three boys, Reseph, Thanatos and Ares were raised as humans in a pre- emptive tactic by their mother, Lilith, while she kept their sister, Limos, with her in Sheoul. Their angered response to demonic wars forced them and others to come to terms with who they really were -- the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse!

To contain the full force of the fury and evil that could be unleashed, four seals were made; and once broken, these seals would be stop from protecting good and become fully evil. Thence be known by the names of Pestilence, War, Famine, and Death. Woe to the world and to humans if that time should fully come into being!

With hellhounds unleashed into the earthly realm, an injured puppy gets dropped off at Cara Thornhart's place. Gifted with special skills for healing, Cara had stopped her practice of caring for animals when that gift turned deadly on her, but could she ignore the need of this injured, but strange pup? What would be the consequences from this act of kindness? As a seal gets broken and massive evil comes into the world, Cara and Ares get caught up in the swirling events and she becomes the key to safety or destruction. As evil forces work to diminish his power, can Ares still save Cara and the world from a fiery fate of hellish dimensions?

Leading off the Lords of Deliverance Series, Larissa Ione instantly pulls you into a demonic underworld with strong characters, hot, steaming sex, and fast-paced suspenseful action. Ione fans, already familiar with her powerful Demonica Series, will relish seeing some of those unusual characters in this new series; yet, it is a fully independent series so new readers will be fully entertained by this dark fantasy of the four siblings and their unique relationship to their horses. One of Ione's strengths is her skill in depicting realistic characters with both flaws and intriguing gifts. I particularly enjoyed seeing how Ares, a strong and arresting horseman, and Cara, a woman with a Mommy Bear spirit when those she cares about are threatened, affect each other as their relationship deepens. Totally captivating!

Book Summary

They are here. They ride. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

His name is Ares, and the fate of mankind rests on his powerful shoulders. If he falls to the forces of evil, the world falls too. As one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, he is far stronger than any mortal, but even he cannot fight his destiny forever. Not when his own brother plots against him.

Yet there is one last hope. Gifted in a way other humans can't-or won't-understand, Cara Thornhart is the key to both this Horseman's safety and his doom. But involving Cara will prove treacherous, even beyond the maddening, dangerous desire that seizes them the moment they meet. For staving off eternal darkness could have a staggering cost: Cara's life.