Re-Read Challenge Review: Unleash the Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Posted May 30, 2009 by Tracy in Reviews | 15 Comments

It’s a predator-eat-predator world for the Were-Hunters. Danger haunts any given day. There is no one to trust. No one to love. Not if they want to live…

An orphan with no clan that will claim him, Wren Tigarian grew to adulthood under the close scrutiny and mistrust of those around him. A forbidden blend of two animals–snow leopard and white tiger–Wren has never listened to anyone when there was something he wanted. Now he wants Marguerite.

Marguerite D’Aubert Goudeau is the daughter of a prominent U.S. Senator who hates the socialite life she’s forced to live. Like her mother before her, she has strong Cajun roots that her father doesn’t understand. Still, she has no choice but to try and conform to a world where she feels like an outsider. But the world of rich and powerful humans is never to meet the world of the Were-Hunters who exist side by side with them, unseen, unknown, undetected. To break this law is to call down a wrath of the highest order.

In order to have Marguerite, Wren must fight not just the humans who will never accept his animal nature, but the Were-Hunters who want him dead for endangering their world. It’s a race against time and magic without boundary that could cost Marguerite and Wren not just their lives, but their very souls…

Marguerite and some others from a study group decide to got to Sanctuary in New Orleans and drink to their friend and fellow study-er Nick Gautier who is presumed dead. When Marguerite gets there she feels eyes on her and when looking around is drawn to the busboy who is hiding behind the dreadlocks he’s sporting. When her “friends” decide to get rough with the busboy – our hero Wren – chaos ensues. So goes the first meeting of Maggie and Wren. They are inexplicably drawn to each other but can’t seem to stay away.

When the Omegrion, the ruling council for the were-hunters, votes to take Wren down for killing his parents 25 years ago, and his supposed madness, Wren goes on the run. He runs to Maggie but she can’t help him the way he needs help. Luckily he has some other were-hunters on his side. Wren and Maggie need to get proof of his innocence before anyone will believe he’s not the madman they think him.

So I read this book a couple of years ago when I was blazing through the Dark-Hunter series and I absolutely loved it then. Anyone who reads this blog knows what a sucker I am for shape-shifters and this book was no different. So…has my opinion changed in the past couple of years since I read it last? It has, but only minimally.

I still really liked the book. I very much love a shy hero. While Wren wasn’t exactly shy, he did keep people away from him with his surliness and his dreads. But Wren was the strong but silent type and when he found the woman that he wanted he went for it. He did try to stay away because normally Katagaria weres aren’t attracted to humans except maybe for a quite sexual romp, but he just couldn’t keep himself from seeking Maggie out. He was kind and gentle with her even though he could be violent with others – he would never hurt her. And the sex? Holy Mac baby – that man’s got it goin’ on! Grab the fire extinguisher! lol

I think for me the parts that changed from my first reading were Maggie’s parts. Even though she was portrayed as hating the life she led – she still did it and didn’t make a peep. Then when faced with losing Wren she got tough and it just seemed completely out of character. I still liked her, but not nearly as much as I did during the first reading.

Original rating: 5 out of 5

Current rating: 4.25 out of 5


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15 responses to “Re-Read Challenge Review: Unleash the Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon

  1. Wren is one of my fav from this series (Valerius being my absolute favorite:)

    I really need a reread of this series before Bad Moon Rising comes out!

  2. Funny, I have the first 9 books in the series sitting right next to my laptop – I’m planning on a re-read and getting the other books at some point. I already have Acheron. This one I didn’t read, however. Though I have it, the last one I read was Sins of the Night.

  3. Mandi – oh me too. Love that strong silent type. Although once Wren got going he talked just as much as everyone else! 🙂

    Stacy – I think UtN is the next book after Sins of the Night if I’m not mistaken.

  4. Lea

    Thanks for the review Tracy;

    I’ve read 9 off the Dark Hunter novels and took a break but have enjoyed them all.

    I’ve got the rest in my TBR here to read at some point.

    Acheron is my favorite character of the series, and I want to have time to savor his story. 🙂

    I hope you are enjoying a wonderful weekend.

    Warm Regards
    L

  5. Isn’t it funny how our expectations change and evolve as we continue reading. I’ve re-read books that years ago I found phenominal and now–although I still enjoy them–I don’t find myself in such awe.

  6. Lea – I enjoyed them all up until Dark Side of the Moon. That book did nothing for me. Although I did like Devil May Cry. And of course Acheron! Love him.

    Shannon – I’m right there with ya. Who are your other favs?

    Barbara – it’s so true. Our tastes in books as well as the style of writing we enjoy is a constantly changing thing. I do still enjoy these books but I find that there are things in there that bug me now that didn’t then! LOL

  7. Great choice for the re-read challenge Tracy 🙂 I think the Were books are the ones that are consistently good in this series 🙂

    I remember really looking forward to Wren’s story when it came out and I enjoyed it 🙂 Hmmm, it’d be fun to know what they are up to 🙂

  8. Anna – it was a great choice for a re-read. The reason I picked it was funny. I was at Holly’s and she said she didn’t like the book because the heroine was allergic to the hero. I of course argued and said I’ll read it for my challenge just to check but you’re wrong. She still wouldn’t believe me! lol Of course I was right! 🙂

    BL – thanks – I saw that!

    Nath – it would be great to see what they were up to, wouldn’t it. So many characters are never heard from again in her series while others pop up randomly.
    I love weres in general so yeah…they were great for me! 🙂

  9. I haven’t read one SK book. I might be the only romance reader on earth who can say that!

    I’m surprised your grade on the book went down. But time does change our opinions on many things including books. Still, a 4.25 isn’t too shabby of a grade.

  10. I don’t think it’s all that unusual. She just doesn’t appeal to some people I think.

    My thoughts: When I first read this series I was relatively new to paranormal romance and I think it was more the fact that I was blown away by the situations, etc. While I still love the books I think that I’m looking at them slightly differently as I’ve read more paranormal romance novels now and they appeal in different ways to me as I read more. I still thought it was Very Good.

    Shannon – Oh yes, I LOVED Vane and Bride…maybe I should re-read that one too. lol And Zarek – poor tortured Zarek. Love him too!

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