SOUTH OF SURRENDER is the third book in the Hearts of the Anemoi series, in which Chrysander Noto's story is told. It is summertime, and as the Supreme God of Summer and the South Wind, it is his turn to take up the battle with the evil god Eurus; who had tried to kill Ella, the wife of Zephyros (Supreme God of Spring and the West Wind) in the previous book of the series. The Olympian mythos is strong in this story, and much more convoluted and confusing than in any of the previous books.

In the beginning of the story, Chrys is involved in a horrific battle with his brother Eurus; who wishes to wrest control and gain power over all the Olympians. Chrys still believes that he can convince Eurus to atone for his evil acts and receive atonement from the Olympians. He soon realizes that this will not ever happen, especially not once he sees that Eurus has stolen a ring of great power from their father to aid him in his quest for domination over all the Olympians. In this battle, Chrys is badly injured and falls to earth; crashing through the roof of a stable during a great storm. Upon hearing the crash, Laney Summerlyn goes to the stable to check on her precious horses.

Laney is nearly blind, victim of a degenerative eye disease. She functions as best she can with her limited eyesight, and is fighting to hold on to her independence and her ranch. She tries to help Chrys, but winds up being hurt herself, and Chrys must tend to her injuries. He soon must go back to the realm of the gods, however; in order to heal his own injuries. When he checks on Laney a week later, he discovers that she has gained the attention of Eurus and him minions, and is now in grave danger. Chrys must not only battle Eurus, but also protect Laney from him.

There is a great deal of interaction in this story with the leads from the previous books; Zeph and Ella from the second book, and Owen and Megan from the first books. There are some great changes in the lives of Megan and Owen, and more changes in store for Owen. When Chrys takes Laney to Owen's home for protection, he finally tells his brothers about the great powers that Eurus has gained from their father's ring. Now the brothers, the cardinals of the four winds and seasons, must band together to try to defeat Eurus once and for all.

SOUTH OF SURRENDER is an interesting story, well written and fast-paced. The biggest drawback of the book is the often perplexing Olympian mythos; and the storyline that depends heavily on the first two books of the series. This is probably not a standalone read, as there is simply too much the reader needs to know from the previous books.

Book Summary

She's the only one who can see through his golden boy façade to the broken god within...

Chrysander Notos, Supreme God of the South Wind and Summer, is on a mission: save Eurus from his death sentence, and prove his troubled brother can be redeemed. But Eurus fights back, triggering vicious summer storms that threaten the mortal realm, dangerously drain Chrys, and earn the ire of the Olympic gods who ordered Eurus dead.

Laney Summerlyn refuses to give up her grandfather's horse farm, despite her deteriorating vision. More than ever, she needs the organized routine of her life at Summerlyn Stables, until a ferocious storm brings an impossible--and beautiful--creature crashing down from the heavens.

Injured while fighting Eurus, Chrys finds himself at the mercy of a mortal woman whose compassion and acceptance he can't resist. As they surrender to the passion flaring between them, immortal enemies close in, forcing Chrys to choose between his brother and the only woman who's ever loved the realhim.