Styxx (Dark-Hunter Novels, 17) Mass Market Paperback – March 25, 2014

After reading many of the reviews for Styxx, I find I must have been in a camp alone. I never really hated Styxx. I didn't like him much when he was on scene but I always thought there must be something major in his past for him to carry that much hate around for so many centuries. I also believed there was no way Acheron could have remembered their boyhood motto "Brothers-always and forever" if there wasn't a very strong bond formed between the two before it was broken. The only characters I can honestly say I hated and still do were Xerxes, Estes, the human mother and Ryssa from Acheron's book. (Sorry Ryssa fans but I always thought she was a spoiled b*tch and jealous of both her brothers. I also thought her affection for Acheron had more to do with his curse from being touched by Epithymia and the fact he was so hated by her father and mother than from any real emotion from her. Almost everything she did (even in Ash's book) was to the glory of her and the detriment of Acheron and now I see Styxx, too. And I hope Ms. Kenyon writes Ryssa's book and then strips the blinders off so she knows who she was and what really happened to both her brothers. Now that, I'd pay double list price for. LOL)I spent 3 days reading Styxx almost non-stop, it is very long, and I am still affected by it days later and know it will continue to affect me for a long time to come. I cried through at least 95% of this book, so bring a huge box of tissue along with a strong stomach when you read it. That is a testament to the author and her talent to make you cry and cringe that much and you still can't put it down without finishing it. Styxx will make you cringe, gag, cuss, scream, want to hit something or someone or take up a sword and kill almost everyone in this book. It will knock your heroes off their pedestals, raise someone you thought you hated to the realm of hero, and give you greater insight into a lot of the characters you love. And poor Acheron isn't quite as lovable, champion worthy, or even likable in this book and doesn't have much of any way to redeem himself. As fans we can never truly hate Acheron, but Styxx's story made me come within a heartbeat of doing so and if I hadn't read Ash's book first it would have succeeded completely. I'm still disappointed in Ash, not that he could have ever done anything to make up for his part of Styxx's abuse and pain. That forgiveness was entirely up to Styxx, which gives you a glimpse of the type of person Styxx is. On the other hand, I like Ash more now than before because he isn't quite so perfect now. Before, it was pity for what Ash had been through, understanding his desire to make amends for the pain he caused, and cheering him on to fight. Now, it's understanding him completely and still being able to like him warts and all. I can't wait to see more of Styxx and Bethany and Ash and Tory in future books, to see the growth of brotherhood between Ash and Styxx as it should have been when they were boys but never given the chance. I'm also looking forward to seeing the end product of those punished in this book. (I have to say I could have stood more people being punished in this book) I can't say more or I will completely give away the story. But if you can stomach the graphic abuse and want to see a real hero shine, Styxx is the book for you. Grab a copy and tell your friends.Having said that and not wanting to give anything away, because this is THE read of the series so far, I do want to say Styxx's story is hard to stomach most of the time and warn Acheron fans you are about to get an eyeful of just how imperfect people can be, even beloved characters in a book. This story is Graphic, troubling, disturbing, and I had to put it down more than a few times to get my mind to understand this is just a character in a book. It is written so honestly and beautifully you will forget you are reading fiction. The things that happen to Styxx are indescribably heinous, but so were the times and so happens to most of Ms. Kenyon's characters. If her heroes and heroines did not go through such horrific pain they could never rise to be the characters we love. And don't worry Styxx has the most twisted, wittiest sense of humor of all of her characters. However, it is the graphic, heinous abuse that makes the scenes between Bethany and Styxx so endearing, so sweet and God, so needed. Every woman that has ever drawn breath wants a man as loyal and steadfast as Styxx. True we could do without him being quite so damaged but still, the man never touched another woman willingly in his entire, very long life except for a simple kiss that left him cold. I can't mention any more characters or it will spoil the story in some ways but do know the kindness you give to someone today can literally mean the difference between their life and death for some people.Don't let preconceived notions of Styxx taint your view to the point you don't read this book. It was a story that needed to be told, it sets up the next installment in the series, it also makes me want to see Urain's book even more, it makes me want some other people to be reborn and live through the pain and suffering they put Ash and Styxx through, and I am so glad Ms. Kenyon finally wrote it. As the saying goes (And SK has quoted it a thousand times) there are always three sides to a story, the individuals' involved and the unemotional truth which lies somewhere in the middle. That is something we should all carry with us. We don't know what drove a person to become what they are until we can live their life. Here is a rare opportunity to do just that. You have Ash's story, now you have Syxx's and can find the truth.On a personal note. I have been a huge fan of Sherrilyn Kenyon's for years and have thoroughly loved and enjoyed everything she's written, some more than others, but I have loved them all. I have even had the opportunity to meet her and spent time talking to her about my own writing. You will never meet a more likable, gifted, open, helpful person, ever than this wonderful, talented lady. She is the first successful author I ever spoke to that was willing to help an unknown writer. She gave me great tips for finding my writer's voice and for breaking into the business. And even as busy as she is with her many projects she still takes time to mentor and help others break into the business. Here's to many more years of sharing in her uniquely dark, humorous worlds. Thank you again for another great read and I'm waiting as patiently as I can for the next installment. Kudos to SK.

In a word, brutal.Sherrilyn Kenyon re-takes her crown as the ultimate mistress of the Tortured Hero.To think, I had assumed Acheron was difficult to read. This time, I held out longer before the tears began to flow, but eventually I succumbed to periodic bouts of weeping. Because of the late hour I started, I ended up pulling an all nighter and now I have a throbbing headache. But I'd do it all again.This was a hard read for various reasons. The underlying and unpalatable issues of child molestation and rape, of course, being the main ones. Kenyon somehow managed to outdo herself with the gruesome abuse. At points, I was almost ill. I don't know what it says about me as a reader, but I must have been numbed from Acheron's book because I held it together until Styxx met Bethany. It was their issues that really brought on the waterworks.Sherrilyn Kenyon has always had a special place for me as an author. Hers was the first PNR I ever read and she was the one who whet my appetite for the genre. Without the author goddess I would never have picked up the IAD or BDB books.Truthfully, this book was the final straw for me. I have been quite vocal with my friends that with the exception of The Guardian, the quality of the DH series has been on a decline since Bad Moon Rising in my opinion. No Mercy was a huge disappointment to me and the arc with Retribution and Time Untime was confusing. My decision to hold on or give up entirely on this series hinged on this book. And Kenyon made me a believer again. She delivered big time and I'm back for the long haul.I don't know where this SK has been recently, but I'm thrilled she's back.I have tremendous respect for this woman as a writer and a person. From what she's revealed about her personal struggles and her posts on facebook, Miss Kenyon sets herself apart as a truly caring person. Her stance against abuse and bullying which are constantly subjects of her books are commendable. She's one of the reasons it was hard to put this series to bed. (Savitar comes a close second)I wanted this book to be a hit. Badly. I got my wish.This progress of this series is completely organic and I can see the Dark-Hunter books continuing for years to come. The flow isn't forced. Unlike some other authors, SK set it up from the first book that this was a series that could go on for a really long time with the premise of numerous Dark-Hunters, Were-Hunters and other assorted supernatural beings. It's obvious to me, that the author isn't interested in just fleecing her pockets, but is devoted to producing a quality product. Along that same vein, I have to mention the amazing kindle price for this book. I got the UK kindle version for 12 dollars which I thought was quite a bargain considering the size of the book and I was told that the US version was an incredible 8 dollars. I could easily see myself paying 16 dollars plus for this one. That you get so much bang for your buck is a testament to her and her publishers dedication to her fans.About the book now... I have always liked Styxx. I'm sure that at some point during and after Acheron I must have disliked him intensely, but for the life of me I can't remember. Styxx's actions in the retrieval of Tory from Kalosis changed my mind about him. SK doesn't do one dimensional characters. Even the most hateful Artemis is shown in an almost human and likable light in this one.Like Acheron, quite a bit of this book occurs in the past. It was very illuminating watching the events in Acheron unfold from a different perspective. Young Styxx grabbed onto my heart from the first page and he never let go. Arguably, this guy had it worse than Acheron, condemned to feel Ash's pain as well as his own. We are swiftly disabused of the misconception that Styxx was the spoiled, favored and pampered prince who scorned his twin. Instead we are introduced to an emotionally and physically abused young child, despised by everyone, but his twin. The abuse escalates to sickening levels as time goes by. Parts of this book were so horrific to me, it was difficult to continue. Styxx suffered... Ash suffered... So much pain. Kenyon pulls no punches when it comes to the unpleasant stuff. Instead of being told of what shaped him into the bumbling potential brother killer we met in Night Embrace we are shown in graphic detail the trials and tribulations he lived through that led him there.Without being spoilerific, there were parts of this book where I disliked everyone in it except Styxx (and Savitar lol). Kenyon walked a very fine line when it came to Acheron's actions, that could have resulted in the reader hating the leader of the Dark-Hunters. Styxx went above and beyond for people who couldn't care less about him. His self sacrifice was what brought on the tears for me. Here was a silently suffering victim, misunderstood and treated atrociously by the very people who should have protected him.Be warned that right up until the very end, this is a very sad story. Styxx had every right and opportunity to become a monster, but he managed to hold on to his humanity despite the depravity he is subjected to. His stoicism hid a vulnerable heart. Yet his eventual rejected attempts to forge a relationship with his estranged twin demonstrated that he was willing to risk it all to have a crumb of acceptance. Savitar's revelation at the end about Styxx's true calling left me reeling. Styxx is a better human being than I could ever hope to be.Bethany had a lot less page time than I expected. The heart of this book is Styxx and his relationships with the people in his life. The most important of these being that with the only person to love him unconditionally. The goddess of wrath and misery belongs to two pantheons which means that she was pretty powerful. Tasked by Archon to locate and destroy Apostolos, she sympathized with the imprisoned Apollymi, but dutifully carried out her duties.Whenever she took human form, she lost her sight and a teenaged Styxx happened upon her in such a state after an unsuccessful suicide attempt. Aware that his title as prince of Didymos was mostly reviled he pretended to be a commoner and gave a false name. I will admit here, that even though I know at that time, kids his age were already married and after all he went through he was a mature guy, it kinda bothered me that he began a sexual relationship at sixteen with a goddess presumably centuries older than him. I got over it. Eventually. I liked her for the most part even though her actions unintentionally left Styxx as a target. For a goddess, I felt she was a bit slow putting it all together. Still, she was a lot less offensive as a heroine than previous ones like Abby from Retribution. She could kick butt, but I felt she didn't do nearly enough of it.Acheron... Poor, abused Ash. I honestly don't know how it was possible for Styxx to forgive Acheron after that failed rescue attempt in Atlantis. I know he was drugged and brainwashed, but the things he did to Styxx... The twins were born to suffer. Kenyon did a wonderful job showing how we as humans don't know what inner battles others are fighting, that someone's actions are not always indicative of the person they are underneath. Acheron allowed other people to influence his opinion of a brother who loved him. It goes to show that none of us are infallible and we all can make swift and erroneous judgments about people we don't know.Ryssa always disturbed me. I'm going to go ahead and say it. I knew something was off with her since Acheron's book. Her actions here are left to the reader to interpret. Why so much hate for one brother and so much love for the other? My guess is that Acheron had never been a threat to her parents' love. From the time of his birth Ash had been rejected, but as the male heir, Styxx supposedly usurped her place and importance as beloved and only child. Even after her death she is an unyielding and unforgiving shrew to Styxx and for the life of me I can't understand why Styxx continually tried to win her affections.I never realized before this book just how truly awful Apollo was. It's hard to imagine a more selfish, cruel and downright nasty god than Archon and Artemis, but Apollo takes the prize. With the morals of an alley cat and no compassion, this guy... I wanted to kill him.In the interests of keeping things spoiler free I won't go into any more character analysis, but I will say I love Savitar more than ever now. I am convinced that there's a deeper connection with Acheron than mere friendship/mentoring, but I'm not willing to speculate since Kenyon is very vague and I freely admit to lacking her imagination.I did feel however, this book could have been shorter; some events could have been 'told' rather than shown. The continual rape was jarring and I know that the repetition was to really hit it home that Styxx had it bad, but really, after that ill fated hunting trip with uncle Estes I was very clear on the horror and was Team Styxx. The end is typical Kenyon with the smart alec commentary and clichéd sayings from the various characters.It's very obvious that Kenyon knows her stuff and while a lot of writers may try to imitate, her success is partly due to her extensive knowledge and study of ancient civilizations. Chick does her research. Before the book begins, she has a disclaimer about taking liberties with some historical aspects, but as someone with limited enlightenment in that sphere I appreciate her efforts to create such a vivid and thoroughly believable backdrop.I took away a half star because of a minor issue. In a previous book (or 2?) it was mentioned that the sun never sets on Sav's island, but in this book there was a sunset and a dawn if I'm not mistaken. It's not that big a deal in the long run, but as a Savitar fan, I couldn't help but notice.In the end it didn't matter; I rounded it up to 5 stars, but I hope for my mental state, SK never writes a book like this again. Right now, I am emotionally drained and running on very little sleep. Here's hoping Savitar's book is just as good and the wait is littered with quality stories like this one.