Eleven thousand years ago, before the seas swallowed the Atlanteans, Poseidon assigned a few chosen warriors to act as sentinels for humans in the new world. There was only one rule-desiring them was forbidden. But rules were made to be broken...
When she calls... Riley Dawson is more than a dedicated Virginia Beach social worker. She's blessed with a mind link that only Atlanteans have been able to access for thousands of years. Being an "empath" may explain her wistful connection to the roiling waves of the ocean, the sanctuary it provides, and the sexual urges that seem to emanate from fathoms below...
He will come. Conlan, the High Prince of Atlantis, has surfaced on a mission to retrieve Poseidon's stolen trident. Yet something else has possessed Conlan: the intimate emotions-and desires-of a human. Irresistibly drawn to the uncanny beauty, Conlan soon shares more than his mind. But in the midst of a battle to reclaim Poseidon's power, how long can a forbidden love last between two different souls from two different worlds?
I’ve wanted to catch up with reading this series, with the sixth full length novel, but ended up re-reading them all. And I am not sorry I did that, as I enjoyed this story again.
For seven years Conlan, the High Prince of Atlantis, has been tortured by Anubisa, the vampire Queen/Goddess. But she could not break him. When she senses something important has happened, something bad for Poseidon, she sets him free, to enjoy his further torment.
One of his nobleman did not believe in his return anymore, or the rule of the Council, always cautioning. He believes it is time to take action! They are to defend mankind, are they not? And is not now the time? Ten years ago, the vampires and shapeshifters have come out of the closet. Vampires have infiltrated the government, even having their own House in the Senate. And the new laws are not kind for normal humans anymore, favouring vampires. Humans have a curfew, they have to be of the streets by dusk, or they are willing food for both species. The shapeshifters have taken over the media, so none of the horrors they provoke are common knowledge anymore.
Reisen has stolen the Poseidon’s Trident out of the Temple, under the nose of Alaric, the High Priest, and taken it to land. His quest is to find the seven jewels that fit in the Trident, and where given into safe keeping eleven thousand years ago, so he can restore the ancient power to Atlantis, and make it rise again.
Just when Alaric and the Seven, Conlan’s bodyguard and the best seven warriors of Poseidon there are, are getting ready to follow Reisen and his warriors, and take the Trident back, Conlan arrives home. Barely alive. Alaric heals him with the power he gets through Poseidon, and senses he is still whole, unbroken, and stronger than ever. Their High Prince is back, just in time to claim his thrown, if only they have the Trident back.
Anxious to start the search for the Trident, Conlan doesn’t want to wait for all his warriors to arrive at the Gate, and heads topside alone. Reaching the surface of the ocean, he is assaulted by emotions. The emotions of Riley, who had a really bad day at work. She is a social worker, and since the vampires make the laws, they suck for humans in need. She almost got killed today, and her client may still lose her baby. So as usual, Riley comes to the beach to get some quiet and peace. But this time, trouble finds her as well. Three human tugs want to rape her. And then she feels another presence nearing, something much more fearful than the three men chasing her. Should she run or fight? Luckily, Conlan takes care of her problem for her, although she has already defeated on of them on her own. She cannot believe her eyes, Conlan is gorgeous! And they can hear each others thoughts and emotions, like she can only do with her sister. She sees into his very soul, as he sees into hers. Conlan doesn’t know what to think, never has he reacted to a woman like this. He wants her, no, he needs her. He needs to touch her, make sure she is safe and unharmed. He wants to make love to her. Has he really found an empath, a trait not found for thousands of years?
His search for Reisen and the Trident are forgotten, all he can think of is Riley. And while she is driving home, in his head he follows her. When his warriors and Alaric finally arrive, he tells them what happened, and they are afraid for him. Could she be used as a weapon against their Prince? Alaric can not sense the Trident, nor Reisen, so they have no clue where to search for him. They set out for Riley, Alaric wants to inspect her and her empathic powers. But just when they get there, and Conlan calls Riley to him, a bunch of vampires attack. Are they after Riley, or after the Atlanteans? When Conlan is skewered by a vampire, Riley doesn’t hesitate, she throws herself on the vampire to defend Conlan, even though she is not a fighter and horrified by the violence she is witnessing. She tries to save him, even at her own peril, and that earns her the respect of Conlan’s warriors. Especially that of the youngest one, Denal, who swears himself to her protection.
After the battle, Alaric heals everybody, and they set out for one of Ven’s safehouses. They have to make a battle plan. Alaric is weak and needs to rest before he can scry again. But Riley, who was at first overwhelmed with the emotion overload she received from all the Atlantean warriors, can sense Reisen and his bunch. It took her a while to filter it all out, but now she knows where they are, and what they are up to: attacking a bunch of shifters at the park. So the warriors gear up, and drive to the park, taking Riley with them to guide them. But once at the scene of the slaughter, because that is what they find, they also find Riley’s sister, Quinn! And she is dying from a gunshot wound to her shoulder. Riley pleads with Alaric to heal her, but somehow he cannot touch her. Riley forces the matter and together they heal Quinn. But something happens, a connection between Quinn and Alaric, just like what happened with Conlan and Riley. But when Alaric became a priest, he also swore an oath of celibacy. To break that oath, is to lose his powers. And Atlantis needs him, he is the strongest priest in thousands of years. To give in to his feelings for Quinn is impossible.
After Quinn finds out about Conlan and the Atlanteans, she reveals her own secrets: she was working with the shapeshifters as a leader of the Rebellion, trying to overthrow the vampire government. And with the help of the Warriors of Poseidon, they might have a chance to do just that. But first, they have to get the Trident back.
It is extremely hard to write a review about a book where so many things happen. To give enough back ground, and not spoil to much. I do ramble a bit, I am sorry. The connection between Riley and Conlan is instant, from soul to soul. And that happens even before their first kiss. After all those years of torture, Conlan doubts his own sanity, is he damaged goods? But Alaric, through his healing, has no doubts at all. He doesn’t heal from the outside, his powers come from within, and he can see all of his prince’s soul, all what he had to suffer at Anubisa’s hands.
But Alaric is also mad at himself, he could not find his prince, though he tried every day of those seven years. Anubisa somehow could hide him from his power and from his God.
Riley doesn’t trust easy, she sees to much horrors in her life as a social worker. Too many children she cannot safe, to much damage done by men. But when she meets Conlan, and can see his soul, feel the truth of his words in his emotions, she trusts him instantly. He loves her, and he needs her. So in her turn, she opens up to him, and when he doubts her, even for one moment, she is heartbroken. But still, she cannot give him up, and neither can he. He even defies Poseidon for her, willing to give up his thrown and Atlantis to be with her.
But Poseidon is pleased with her, even grants her his powers when needed.
There is not much background on Riley and Conlan, but still I really liked them. Riley is not a though, kick ass chick. But she deals with what is happening around her, and when someone else is threatened, she throws herself in the fight. She defies Poseidon, and fights Anubisa, and she is a worthy Queen for Conlan.
Alyssa Day has written a great first novel in a great series. If you like gorgeous warriors, with lots of action, fighting evil with swords and daggers, but also with magic and the elements, this series is for you. Ofcourse, they can also drive a car, and use modern guns, but technology and the elements don’t mix too well.
Alyssa Day has a fluent writing style, which I like. There is also humor and some very hot love scenes, and intense emotions. You just have to like those warriors. And each book centers around one of them and his woman. So, on with the next novella in this series.
7,5 stars.
Sounds ok, I do have a book further into the series so even if that is not nr 1 I would have a look at that one to see if I like it
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