Shadow Mine

PARANORMAL ROMANCE

Title: Shadow Mine
Author: Jennifer Kohout
Publication date: 11/15/2016
Publisher: Sanguine Publishing
Kindle Unlimited: No
Cliffhanger: No
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Amazon blurb
Destroyer. Guardian. Hellhound. Soren is known by many different names, but they all mean the same thing. A hellhound created by Hades, Soren is a guardian of the Underworld, both champion of the innocents and executioner of the damned. He embodies justice and duty, breathes loyalty, and lives by an unbreakable code.

Also created by Hades, Ryot had a very different purpose. 

As Hades’s assassin, she served the Lord of the Underworld faithfully for centuries, eliminating political rivals and helping him amass power without question.

She knew where the bodies were buried, having dug the graves herself. It was only a matter of time before Hades saw her as a threat to be eliminated. Betrayed and exiled to Sheol, Ryot resigned herself to an eternity in hell. But when a chance encounter leads to her escape, Ryot vows revenge against Hades, and she’s the perfect assassin for the job.
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​When Soren learns of Ryot’s escape, he knows the bodies will soon pile up, with Hades like a cherry on top. Time is running out, but this isn’t the first time Soren has tracked Ryot. He knows her well, knows how she thinks, and he knows that she won’t stop until Hades is dead.

But Soren and Hades aren’t the only one interested in Ryot’s impossible escape from Sheol. Ryot has her plans for Hades, but others are also watching, waiting, and plotting. And when the Fates join the game, the outcome is anyone’s guess.

My Review
I was a little concerned when I started reading this book. I like simple, easy reads. This book, with its mythology and alternate dimensions, seemed overly complicated. But based on feedback from two of my favorite paranormal authors, LE Wilson and Isabel Jordan, (and based on it’s great blurb) I decided to give this one a read. And, man, am I ever glad I did!

First of all, I could read an entire book of nothing but Ryot as she navigates through the different areas of Sheol. While reading, I felt like I was right there in Sheol, fighting all the horrible, poisonous creatures right alongside Ryot. The descriptions were THAT amazing.

The world building in this story was as well-thought-out and complex as any urban fantasy I’ve ever read. Fans of the Kate Daniels novels would definitely appreciate the world this author has built.

And Ryot was AMAZING. Strong, capable, smart, driven and yet still feminine and (eventually) willing to accept help from others when necessary...she had it all.

Soren was a great match for Ryot. He was also strong, capable, smart and driven, and yet he felt no need to force his opinions on the heroine or lord his strength over her. He was happy to just let Ryot be Ryot, and appreciate all the awesomeness that went along with that.

The only slight blemish on an otherwise outstanding paranormal romance/urban fantasy read was a small incident with one of Hades’ guards and a servant named Abel. It was violent and kind of disturbing, and I didn’t see how that particular scene moved the story along at all. But, given that this was book 1 in a series, I have to think the author will tie up that loose end at a later date.

All in all, this is a fantastic “girl power” read. Highly recommend!     

Full disclosure: the author generously provided a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Does this book contribute to or help crush the romance stigma?
Crushes it! This one’s clean and sober, folks. No rehab needed!

Other reading suggestions
Try anything by LE Wilson (for a darker, more gothic read) and Isabel Jordan (for paranormal romance that’s slightly lighter and funnier). ​

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