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Business Stationary Mart - Acheron (Dark-Hunter, Book 12)
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List Price: $24.95
Our Price: $13.85
Your Save: $ 11.10 ( 44% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780312362157
ISBN: 0312362153
Label: St. Martin's Press
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 736
Publication Date: 2008-08-05
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Release Date: 2008-08-05
Studio: St. Martin's Press
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating: 
Summary: Finally Acheron's story
Comment: I'm a huge Dark-Hunter fan, and had been waiting for Ash's story for a while. The story was enjoyable, though there's the double edged sword of finally seeing Ash's side of things. Yes, it was great to tear into the book and finally read his side, but the air of mystery is gone now and Ash doesn't seem as Larger Than Life as he used to.
As far as the story goes, I thought it was good. Some things that could have made it better were to compress the first half, it was too long and drawn out. After a while the horror of what he was going through shrank away and I was just reading it for the sake of reading it. The book had many typos too.
Over all though, it was an enjoyable read. I felt I learned more about the DH world, got to see some old friends, which I loved. Especially the folks from the earlier books (I haven't read some of the more recent ones as the series seemed to get a bit repetitive.)
Customer Rating:
Summary: 728 more reasons to love Ash
Comment: I sat down to read this book with high expectations....and I wasn't disappointed. Acheron has always been my favorite DH character. It was a thrill to finally have answers to the questions that have been burning since the first time I met him in 'Unleash the Night' (yeah, I read them out of order the first time through). Now I know where he came by his wisdom, his compassion and his sincere devotion to those he leads and protects. I also finally get why he put up with Artemis for so long (there has been many a time when I have wanted someone to bitch slap her and put her out of everyones misery).
Yes, the first half of the book was difficult to read because of how horribly abused and degraded Ash was, but it helped to finally understand what made him the God that he is. Yes, there were a couple of times that I was suprised by his level of sappiness, but considering how sappy we ALL are when we fall in love, and considering how difficult it was for him to let himself fall because of his past, the way he acted seemed right to me. Had he been too cool, too nonchalant, it wouldn't have seemed right. Plus, the conversatons between Ash and Tory HAD to feel forced at times. Ash was contemplating giving his heart, his love, and most importantly his trust, to someone who had the means to destroy him if she chose to. Anyone who has ever been betrayed should understand how hard it is to trust again after. And how many of us have suffered on the level that Ash did?
Tory is the perfect mate for Ash. She loves him unconditionally, sees him as he is, and not as he was made to believe he is, and she is devoted to those she loves, and strong when needed. And the scene in Tabitha's sex shop that everyone was so offended by? I thought it was hysterical. It was fun to see Tory sharing that moment with her closest friends, and at the same time, meeting people who were Ash's friends. Haven't any of you ever giggled over sex toys or edible panties? Well, I hope I'm not the only one!! It was funny and even endearing to see Tory that way. I would have been pissed if she had just seen sleeping with Ash as her right or as being no big deal. That she was nervous and giddy was sweet. And that he was made him that much more lovable (as if we needed another reason to love Ash!)
Anyone who is disappointed by this book needs to try reading it again with different expectations, taking into consideration what you know about Ash and what you learn about him as you read. The AG is one of my favorite writers, but i admit that there have been times when I would start a book and question whether it was worth finishing (Dream Hunter comes to mind, although I did finish it and I was glad I did). I thoroughly enjoyed Acheron. This is going to be one of those books I read over and over, finding new little tidbits of information with each reading. Thank you, SK, for another fabulous read!
Customer Rating:
Summary: 4.5 stars - 723 pages connecting the dots to Ash's HEA
Comment: At long last the complete story of 'Ash' Acheron. At 723 pages this was three books in one.
Part 1 tells the story of Ash's early life from his sister's point of veiw as diary entries, as she struggles to try an help the poor cursed Ash as a young man. This is heart wrenching, and a bit frustrating as his sister's kindness only leads him to more pain. Part two switches to Ash's point of view and to more torment and his transition from man to God at his death, if you didn't hate Artemis before, be prepared to join the club. And finally in part three Ash gets his own romance in typical Dark-Hunter style (though missing the trial for possession of his soul that all other Dark-Hunter mates have endured.)
Parts of the early portions of the book were very hard to read, Ash goes through so much. And while I do agree, this part could have been condensed a bit, I still found this part of the book very worthwhile. I've been reading the Dark-Hunter series over the past 3 or 4 years and frankly I was having trouble putting together the Ash's story from the pieces scattered throughout the books. I know I probably should have bought the guide, but now I don't have to - Kenyon connected all the dots in Ash's backstory here. If you are an avid re-reader you probably won't appreciate this part nearly as I did much because much of the key incidents were at least hinted at in rest of the books. But if you are like me, you'll be happy to finally get the full picture. Now I understand the relationship with Ash's mother - quite frankly in her shoes I would be looking for some payback too. The only thing that was missing from Ash's story here was Ash's reconciliation with his brother Styx - this was up as a short story on her website in the past, if you are interested you might check to see if it's still there.
As far as the final part of the book, I am happy that Ash finally got his HEA, but I have to admit that I'm in the 'Tory was okay' camp. But then again I love Ash and I don't even know if it would be possible to write the perfect heroine for him. Still, I devoured this book and would recommend 'Acheron' to Dark-Hunter fans - especially now that you can get copies much more reasonably than the $30 cover price.
Customer Rating:
Summary: An amazing read.
Comment: I only recently stumbled across this series. I've read all of the novels and novellas in the last month, so I suppose one might assume that I didn't eagerly anticipate "Acheron." It was, after all, already out when I began reading "Fantasy Lover." However, from the first mention of Acheron, I had to force myself not to skip straight to the last book. I'm so glad I waited. While "Acheron" could be read as a stand-alone, the reader would miss out on so much, and the depth and richness of Ash's character would be lessened.
I read many of the less positive reviews of the book and can--to a small extent--see where those readers were coming from. Ash's story is very hard to read; the abuse and vile treatment he suffers is often enough to turn the reader's stomach. That said, I believe Kenyon did not belabor the harshness of Ash's early life. Rather, after more than 20 separate stories that hinted at the trauma of his human existence, it would have been ludicrous for anyone to expect an explanation of Ash's character to be crammed into a hundred pages. Further, the various passages of abuse were all related to the broader story and were not a sadistic tableau of beatings and violence. It was the abuse itself--those who dealt it to him and the reasons behind it--that truly gave us the early story of this dynamic character.
My only regret? I would love to have seen more of Tory and Ash's contemporary story. After learning so much about Ash, I would have expected a bit more of a struggle on his part to love and trust. Then again, the unexpected simplicity of their love story could well be an intentional decision on the author's part and a testament to the "rightness" of their bond.
All in all, a fantastic read that I could see myself reading over and over.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Years of anticipation....Sapped of life in one day
Comment: Acheron (Dark-Hunter, Book 12)
First, I would like to say that I am a Sherrilyn Kenyon/Dark Hunter RABID FAN. I buy all her books the day they hit the store, and even have my copy pre-paid and special ordered to ensure that I get a copy whenever possible.
I waited for Ash's story with the anticipation of a child for Christmas to hurry up and get here...only to find coal in my stocking.
This book ACHERON in one word: VAPID
Ash's story was to be the BE ALL of all the Dark Hunter books. He was the leader. He was ALL POWERFUL. He was a GOD....
He was a wimp in "Acheron" and his love interest Tory was weak. Ash's powers in previous DH books were more impressive than used in his own story. His battle was to be so much more intense and harder to overcome than those previous stories he participated in, only to be a big flop. The plot was thrown together. The story was more about his horrid and abusive past and what made him the Dark Hunter Leader. 400+ pages of anguish that could have been done in far less pages and then 400+ pages of sappy wounded animal and weak dim wittedness. It was like 2 stories in one. The first half/story was overkill. The second half/story felt like a "hurry up and get this over with" story. I can not express how sloppy and poorly written the story/plot and character development was for this book.
Recent books by Sherrilyn Kenyon have been rather weak in their story lines, as though they are hurried stories rather than well thought out characters and plots. ACHERON was the worst of them. To have grown to love the Dark Hunters, the characters webbed through the books, the intense stories... and to be rewarded with the most anticipated story of the series being a HUGE disappointment.
I can only hope that Miss Kenyon takes a moment to look back at her older DH books and then look at the vapidness of her most recent ones and does her fans a favor by adding more heart and thought to her stories, even if that means slowing down. I, for one, would rather wait longer for a better story than to pay $30 for a vapid disappointment.
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Editorial Reviews:
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The most anticipated story in the blockbuster Dark-Hunter series. The never-before-revealed story of the Dark-Hunter leader, Acheron. He was made human in order to escape death, but in death he was reborn a god. . .  Eleven thousand years ago a god was born. Cursed into the body of a human, Acheron spent a lifetime of shame. However, his human death unleashed an unspeakable horror that almost destroyed the earth. Then, brought back against his will, Acheron became the sole defender of mankind. Only it was never that simple. For centuries, he has fought for our survival and hidden a past he’ll do anything to keep concealed. Until a lone woman who refuses to be intimidated by him threatens his very existence. Now his survival, and ours, hinges on hers and old enemies reawaken and unite to kill them both. War has never been more deadly... or more fun.
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