Immortal Rider (Demonica series Book 7)

ByLarissa Ione

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Readers` Reviews

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
msarnold
~* 3.5 Stars *~
For five thousand years she's ridden. She is Famine, one of the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Raised in hell, betrothed to Satan, she is a warrior unparalleled, both feared and respected for her skill, revered for her beauty. Cloaked in shadows and mystery, she lives a life of responsibility and struggle...when she's not tripping off to her swank beach home for random and frequent parties and revelry.

And please, call her Limos, party girl extraordinaire. That whole Famine thing is such a downer. After all, who the hell wants to be shackled to the most heinous force of evil that exists? Or sit around waiting for her agimortus to break and turn her into a world-destroying psychopathic monster like her beloved brother Reseph, now known only as much-less-beloved Pestilence.

A party is just where Aegis warrior Arik Wagner is sitting, watching the delectable Limos as she and her brothers, as well as several other demonic and human factions, party down in celebration of both big brother bad-ass Ares' engagement and the latest triumph over Pestilence. Just watching Limos gets Arik's juices pumping and makes his body tight with need. That is one fine looking Horseman. A total HILF.

When he slips away from the crowd to get some much-needed space to regain his equilibrium, he isn't expecting her to follow and offer to spar with him to work off his tension. Given that the tension he's feeling is centered in his pants, he doesn't mind at all taking her up on it. The move he makes, locking lips with the beauty, turns out to be the single biggest mistake of his life. And as he's dragged down to hell to suffer unending torture for daring to kiss the fiancé of the world's most jealous überdemon, he realizes a brutal truth. That mistake may very well be his last.

~*~

The dark, violent, disturbing world that Ione has created for both this series and her earlier Demonica series is not for the faint of heart. Nor is Ione, for that matter. She is brutal on her characters and seems to relish making them earn their Happily Ever Afters through much blood, torment, and crippling injury. And she's damn good at it.

There's a lot of story in this book. The plot is complex and layered...and a little chaotic (in a good way)...with several secondary and ancillary plot threads woven together with the arc of the relationship between Arik and Limos. Sometimes, if I'm completely honest, I felt all that story overshadowed the main characters' relationship to varying degrees.

Pestilence, the Horseman I love to hate, has some awesome page time that I really enjoyed. From the early stages of the first book in the series, I've assumed we're eventually going to see him get some sort of redemption - though I can't currently imagine how that would happen given everything he's done. Still, the glimmers we see of Reseph through the unmitigated horror that is Pestilence is so damn powerful. It's heart-breaking and painful and absolutely perfect in a gut-clenching way.

This isn't a book I'd want to be my first experience with the series. It probably could be done, there's enough explanation and exposition provided to bring readers up to speed on the big points, but I think the book would have much less emotional impact and much of the nuance in the writing would be lost. I'm even glad I've read the Demonica series before this one, for that matter. Knowing the characters and experiences from that series provides a solid foundation in this one, especially when those characters cross over.

With all that, though, and as well written and imaginative the book and the series are, I ended up feeling very conflicted about the overall story here. It's such a maelstrom of agony, lies, and manipulations, including the relationship between Arik and Limos, that I can't actually say I enjoyed it. There was an awful lot of hopelessness and pain, and some of the story elements were more depressing than the HEA between Limos and Arik were able to balance.

Still good story, though. Intense. Powerful. Full of action, witty dialogue, and hot sex. And the story elements that serve as an introduction to Thanatos' upcoming book are far too compelling for me to even consider not continuing the series. I just hope that Ione will go slightly easier on the poor guy than she did on Arik. I don't expect her to, of course, but I can hope.

QUOTABLES:
"Helloooo. I'm a Horseman of the Apocalypse, and I'm betrothed to the most infamous, most powerful demon in existence. I couldn't draw more attention to myself if I wore Lady Gaga's meat dress to a PETA convention."

~*~
Disclosure: An ARC of this book was provided to me by Forever book publisher Grand Central Publishing via NetGalley. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.

~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
estelle
Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: A story of love between a warrior woman with a tendency to lie and an unforgiving soldier that can't stand untruths amidst fighting to prevent the coming Apocalypse.

Opening Sentence: Ark Wanger had to hand it to the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse; they threw one hell of a party.

The Review:

Immortal Rider, the second installment from the Lords of Deliverance series, centers on the individual story of the Third Horsewoman of the Apocalypse, Limos. She is the only one of the siblings to be raised in Sheoul, that's the Underworld or the demon realm, and is the fiancé of Satan himself. Initially, she is expected to maneuver her brothers, the other Horsemen, into starting the Apocalypse as a wedding present for her soon-to-be husband. An added bonus to her cooperation is that she gets a "high" from lying, and it is just as addictive as any drug. But after being accepted by her brothers, for herself and not just her position, and shown love, she has a change of heart. Now, she has tried to keep her past misdeeds from becoming known for fear of what her brothers will think of her. None of them have known she is the reason behind their mutual curses, until now. Her lies and her actions start a chain of events that may end up leading to the fall of mankind.

Limos has a problem; she is no longer the evil person her mother raised her to be and doesn't want to be part of the Underworld as its soon-to-be Queen. But she fears how her brothers will react when they learn about the things she did while under their mother's influence. So she conspires to keep the secrets of her past well hidden, until now. The fragile deck of cards made with the lies she has told over the centuries is about to topple over and she desperate to keep it standing. There is only one man that may give her the strength to tell the truth, and Arik has the most reason to hate her.

Arik Wagner is an honorable soldier in the RX-R that has been working, alongside the Aegis, to keep the demons at bay. But his involvement with the Horseman is not as altruistic as he wants to believe. He has had an infatuation with Limos since the first time he met her, and she broke his ribs. After finally giving into temptation and kissing Limos, he is dragged into Sheoul by Satan's minions. Even for demons, that seems like a harsh punishment for so simple an act. He had no idea that Limos was engaged to Satan; that she was forbidden to show any other male affection. Only when the male in question utters Limos' name while in misery, can she be summoned to Satan's side as his eternal bride. But even after a month of being tortured, Arik does not break. Arik is a badass soldier that fights against demons and has always been the strong dependable one, even in his own family. He soon realizes that the only person with the power to break him is the same person that can save him; Limos and her love.

Arik's childhood is riddled with abuse. Today, he cannot stand for people to lie to him, unless it is to himself. So when Limos tries to cover herself and her actions by telling lies, he can't cope. Can the two of them find it in their hearts to be open and honest with one another? Will the truth set them free or will it be their downfall? If they do find a way to be together, how will Satan react? This love story is full of supernatural people with very normal emotions. Every relationship hits snags; Limos and Arik's just have more epic consequences than the average couple.

Even if the two of them can work everything out, what will the other Horsemen have to say about a man going after their little sister? I love it when you have truly scary older brothers doing the intimidation routine to perspective suitors, and this story does deliver. Besides, the Horsemen are hot and have a sense of humor that helps lighten the mood of the book. Not to mention the sexy Sem brothers and all the employees at the UG, from the Demonica series, that keeps popping up. They are like old friends that you don't get to see all that often, but are welcome when they do come around.

The side story going on through all of this is about Thanatos, the Final Horseman. His seal is tied to his virginity so he keeps himself separated from temptation. Of course, the Aegis, or demon hunting society, find a scroll that suggests that Thanatos's seal is tied to his unborn child. So they send an Aegis warrior, Regan, to seduce him and get pregnant. No one realizes that Reseph is in the background, pulling all the strings. When Regan ends up having sex with Thanatos, she doesn't notice that it is not consensual. When she does notice, she runs away before Thanatos pops a gasket and kills her for the offense. The next book in the series, Lethal Rider, is about the two of them.

Overall, this book keeps up a fast pace of apocalyptic events while still taking the time for love to seed and bloom amidst the chaos.

The Lords of Deliverance Series:

1. Eternal Rider

2. Immortal Rider

3. Lethal Rider

FTC Advisory: Grand Central Publishing provided me with a copy of Immortal Rider. No goody bags, sponsorships, "material connections," or bribes were exchanged for my review. The only payment received came in the form of hugs and kisses from my little boys.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
jennifer scott
the store has made me edit this review over 3 times...

The book starts with Ares and Cara's wedding party (Immortal Rider), in which Arik Wagner is very happy to meet with the attractive Limos, Ares's sister and the third Horsewoman of the Apocalypse, again.

The thing is, Limos was promised by her succubus mother to the Devil. Yup, she is to become the Bride of Evil Incarnate. Needless to say, Limos is trying her best to avoid that outcome. She's been trying her best to not let her Seal break, she doesn't step on Sheoul, the demon realm, or gives her affection to any male...

That is, until Arik goes and kiss her. Demons then surge from underneath and drag him down to hell, and the last thing he hears is Limos screaming: "Don't say my name!", because if the male who incites jealousy (in this case: kiss) utters her name while in agony, then The Dark Lord can have her.

Limos was one of the strongest heroines I ever read about. I loved reading about her kick-assing and her relationship with her brothers. The author really makes us feel what she feels, how she fights her emotions (especially guilt), and I thought that the scales in her back that can pend to 'bad' or 'good' were a very nice touch to the story. Very creative. Her chastity belt was a huge LOL, too. ;) Innocent-looking pearls that can chop fingers off. Priceless

Arik was such a cutie! He was so sweet with Limos. In the book we see a bit about his horrible father and difficult past, not to mention how much he suffered in the hands of demons. The guy was very brave to stand up to the other Horsemen to protect his wife when things started to get real bad.

I loved the story, how things started to fall into place so perfectly just as I was starting to pull my hair out with worry. LOL. Larissa Ione really knows how to get us excited, nervous, sad and mad in just a handful of pages. The action scenes are so good! Man, she's brilliant.

I can't wait to read the next book, Lethal Rider!!! Thanatos is SO hoooot! *-* We see a lot more about him in this book, and, oh, boy. Just... oh, boy. I didn't care much for Regan, but the fourth Horseman of the Apocalypse already has my heart.

Oh, I can't believe I'm writing this, but Lucifer should have made an appearance. I would like to actually have seen him in the book, not just mentions of him. LOL. Things would have been a LOT more interesting. Just saying. ;P

*I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Bound by Night (The Moonbound Clan Vampires Book 1) :: Eternity Embraced (Demonica series) :: Blade of Darkness (Immortal Guardians Book 7) :: A Demonica Novel (Demonica series Book 2) - Desire Unchained :: The Devil In Disguise (Bad Things Book 1)
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
karen mae
Second in the Lords of Deliverance paranormal-romance series. The couple focus is on Limos, a.k.a., Famine, and Arik Wagner, human soldier.

My Take
It's the explosion of the true meaning of love for Limos while Arik comes to understand there are many forms of lying.

For all Limos' experience, she certainly is sexually immature. How can she not understand that she is engaging in schoolgirlish flirting with a sexually mature adult male? What an idiot! Actually the three remaining Horsemen are idiots. They should have told the Aegis what the weaknesses were of their Seals; it could have averted quite a bit of trouble. Although, I suppose that would have screwed these particular storylines. I did find it interesting that while Limos and Arik are the primary couple focus, Ione went rather deep in setting Thanatos up for his romantic downfall. Well, perhaps, romantic is all wrong since it was actually a rape of Death. Bit of a twist on the usual paranormal-romance. A rare occasion when the rapist gets hoist with her petard. She certainly kept information close forcing me to read ever onward to learn the bits and pieces she allowed to fall.

It's rather sweet how the remaining Three reminisce about Reseph's enjoyment of Christmas and New Year's. I'm also curious as to where Ione is going as she teases us with hints of regret from Harvester and Pestilence.

Interesting bits of info on meditation caves; it does make sense that such places would have had an external influence on the ancient prophets.

The Story
It's an unexpected engagement party what with the guest list comprising demons, angels, humans, and the three Horsemen of the Apocalypse. It's also the party that sparks Satan's jealousy when that 5,000-year-old innocent entices Arik into kissing her. With terrifying results as tentacles drag Arik into Hell and torture. For if the demon torturers can force Arik to say Limos' name, Limos' Seal will break turning Limos to Famine and starting a chain reaction on Ares and Thanatos' Seals.

It's been weeks and Limos, Ares, Thanatos, and Arik's friends have been hunting down clues as to where Arik is being held. Unfortunately, Limos has left herself open to blackmail from Pestilence and she continues to play both sides of the fence setting up Thanatos' doom and her downfall. The news about Deliverance, the blade created to destroy Pestilence, is even more depressing.

Only, everyone only thought they knew the true meaning of the prophecy surrounding Thanatos; they also reckon without the effect of the mergence of Reaver, Limos, and Arik.

The Characters
Arik Wagner is with R-XR, a paranormal military unit of Rangers; his sister Runa is married to Shade (see Desire Unchained (Demonica, 2). Kynan Morgan is an new Immortal (see Passion Unleashed (Demonica, 3)) and one of the Elders of the Aegis. Decker is a new Elder for the Aegis.

Limos is also Famine with an addiction to lying; she's also betrothed to Satan. It's a thousands-of-years-old engagement and the pearl chastity belt fastened around her loins is ensuring her virginity. Bones is her horse. Ares is War and he's engaged to Cara, the newly-crowned Hellhound Queen (see Eternal Rider (Lords of Deliverance, 1). Thanatos is Death; his horse, Styx. Lilith is the mother of the Four Horsemen. Regan is a human Aegis with a particular soul power whom the Aegis believes is their best chance at preventing Death's Seal from breaking. Too bad, the Aegis is so gung-ho to dive in!

Reaver is a formerly Unfallen Angel restored to pure Angel status and is now one of the Watchers over the Horsemen. Gethel used to be the good Watcher; the current evil Watcher is Harvester with Whine as her werewolf slave helping her to break the rules. Gormesh is the Orphmage, a Neethul, who aids Harvester with a spell to entrap the angel whom Harvester addicts to the marrow wine.

Reseph has turned evil and is now Pestilence, growing more evil and stronger every day. His intention is to find the Seal for each of his brothers and his sister, break them, and turn the three as evil as he. Rhys is Arik's chief torturer. Tavin is a Seminus demon under contract in Hell as an assassin; he's also the Healer they use to bring Arik back to life long enough so they can torture him to death again. And again. Lucifer is Satan's second-in-command.

The Cover
The cover is of Limos and Arik, the focus of the story. Limos with her scale tattoo on her right shoulder and a surprisingly [I thought he'd be bigger] trim-looking Arik with some amazing pecs wearing his dog tags all in shades of a brownish grey to black.

The title is a bit generic in that all four Horsemen are Immortal Riders.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
jill cecil
**Warning: As this is the second book in the series this review may contain spoilers for those who have not read the first one, Eternal Rider.**

Before I'd finished the first twenty pages of Immortal Rider I was already completely hooked on Larissa Ione's world of Horsemen, angels, demons, shape-shifters and gifted humans. This may be the first of her books I have read, but it definitely won't be the last.

Immortal Rider's cover is attractive and eye-catching. The black and white image is an effective counterpoint to the violets and oranges used for the title and author's name. The writing lures the eye in and the figures of Limos and Arik keeps it there. Two details stood out for me - Arik's dogtags and the tattoo of a set of scales on Limos' shoulder. Both of these details are important to the characters and tie in nicely with their story.

While Immortal Rider is the second book in the series, I didn't have any trouble following the story and I am definitely planning on going back to read the first book, Eternal Rider. This series is set in the same world as Ione's hugely successful Demonica series and I have to compliment her on the detail and texture she brings to her books. She manages to pull elements from paranormal romance and urban fantasy and weave them together into something new and worth exploring.

Larissa Ione writes with confidence and I was impressed with her ability to handle multiple characters and storylines without the reader feeling confused. It is a real talent and allows her to create plots that impact the world as a whole and not only one or two characters. It also means that characters from previous books in the series are not dismissed from the overall story once they have had their book. And considering the characters that Ione has created that is most definitely a good thing.

The two central characters in Immortal Rider are Limos, the Horseman who will become Famine in the Apocalypse, and Arik, a human soldier who belongs to a unit in the military specialising in the paranormal. I wasn't overly fond of Limos, but that was more of a personality "clash" than anything else. I could understand her motivations and actions, but I just didn't really like her much. But it is a mark of Ione's skill as a storyteller that that didn't stop me from enjoying the book. I liked Arik from the first page - he's loyal, protective and caring. In many ways he is a balance to Limos. The relationship between Limos and Arik was layered and I always appreciate that - while physical attraction is important it can't be the whole basis for a relationship and Ione's shows us that there is more.

Immortal Rider is a sexy paranormal romance set in a rich urban fantasy setting and will leave fans and new readers alike smiling.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
denise ajiri
The signs are everywhere...disastrous world events. Evil rising up, unleashed upon the innocent. The prophecies were there...but no one listened. Until now. The time has come for those who can either usher in Doomsday...or prevent it. They are here. They ride. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

Arik Wagner, a soldier with the U.S. Army's paranormal unit, the R-XR, kissed a girl and liked it. And then he went to hell as punishment. Where he's spent weeks being tortured...and plotting revenge.

Limos, Horsewoman of the Apocalypse, isn't your average girl. She's immortal, dangerous, and her fiancé is Satan himself. In a moment of weakness, she gave in to her desire and kissed Arik, triggering her fiancé's wrath - and his claim on her. In order to save Arik, and theworld, Limos must make a dangerous pact with her recently turned evil brother, Pestilence. A deal that might just cost her her soul...and her heart.

What Worked For Me:

* I really liked that there was an explanation for why Erik didn't lose his ever-lovin' mind after the horrors, both physical and emotional, inflicted on him. One thing that has always annoyed me with characters who have supposedly endured unspeakable horrors is that so many authors give them a nightmare here or there and that's it. It's not realistic. So when Ms. Ione gave a very plausible (in the Demonica universe at least) explanation for why Erik was not crazier than a soup sandwich after his torture, I was thrilled.

* On a similar note, I also liked that while he wasn't as damaged as any normal person would've been after his captivity, he was quite damaged, and it took quite a bit of work to return to some semblance of normal.

* I also enjoyed Limos' addiction to lying, and how the scaled tattooed on her back would tip in either direction depending on her behavior at the time.

* As a fan of the series, I of course loved all of the other characters who made cameos or even played a large part in the story.

* Reaver. I want to marry (or at least do very naughty things to) him. Guh.

What Didn't Work For Me:

* I know I'm going to get flack for this but I was horrified by the rape of a secondary character in this book. Yes. In my mind, it was rape. The character in question was drugged, said stop several times, and the other person had intercourse with them against their wishes. YES, there were extenuating circumstances. However, the entire setup of that particular plot line is the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back in this situation for me. I can't go into details without giving spoilers, but while I will definitely be reading to discover the outcome of the encounter in a future book, this particular action made it hard for me to love this book as much as I wanted to.

* I was a little disappointed that most of the hot sexual tension that I've come to love from Ms. Ione came not from Limos and Erik but from the side story of two other characters.

* I also felt like this book almost jumped the shark when it came to the violence. There is a very fine line between torturing a character for plot purposes or having gory battles to emphasize certain things in the story, and having so very much blood, gore, and horrors that the reader and even the characters begin to get so desensitized to it that it's almost boring to read about.

Neither a pro or a con for this story, I admit that I was a little confused as to the behavior of the Seminus brothers. For one thing, they treated the horsemen if they needed to be taken to Underworld General for treatment. On the other, Shade assisted in a subplot that was, in my opinion, very underhanded and flat out wrong. Granted, he didn't know the full circumstances when he acted, but even so, it stuck out to me as surprising when I first read that he was helping the Guardians with this particular action.

I was so incredibly torn with this book when trying to come up with a final rating. On one hand, it's a favorite series of mine, so of course the underlying plot grabbed my by the privates and wouldn't let me go. I also enjoyed Limos with all of her different faces -- innocent, loving and loyal sister, warrior, liar, manipulator, and woman. Erik was wonderful as well, with not only his strength in refusing to break under torture but also his desire for revenge, and how he came to care for Limos despite his disappointment and anger with her. Then of course, there's the byplay with Reaver and Harvester (and c'mon, I can't be the only sick puppy who sincerely hopes they end up together in the end, can I?), and Reseph/Pestilence and the possibly futile hope that there may be a way to bring him back. The delicious sexual tension between two other characters was deliciously hot, and there was plenty of angst to be had.

On the other hand, there was the rape of a major character (though to be fair some readers may feel it was more of a case of "dubious consent") -- something that I truly want to rant about for several paragraphs but cannot without giving away spoilers. There was very little chemistry and sexual tension between Limos and Erik until the very end of the story. There was so much gore and horror and action and torture that I found myself becoming bored with major injuries instead of sympathetic or concerned for the characters in question.

So in the end, this was not a 5-star book for me, no matter how much I adore the series as a whole and am in love with Ms. Ione's writing style and world-building. However, so much of the book's positive points are a large collection of small things that I cannot mention them all without actually retelling the story or giving major spoilers. While it may, at first glance, appear that there are more negative points in my review than positive, that's certainly not the case. The book absolutely sucked me in, chewed me up, and spit me out, leaving me begging for more. Despite any misgivings I may have had about a few points in this story, I am already anxiously awaiting the sequel, Lethal Rider, due out in late spring of 2012.

A solid 4/5 Stars

{I received this book at no cost to me as the prize in an online giveaway. Review originally appeared on The Romanceaholic}
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
aneta bak
Everyone was warned that this day was coming. The world as everyone knows it is coming to an end. The Horsemen of the Apocalypse are getting ready to ride. Whether it be on the side of good or evil is yet to be determined, but with one seal already broken to the side of evil, it feels like it will only be a matter of time until the remaining three follow suit. Limos, the only female rider has been betrothed to Satan himself. Armed with a killer chastity belt, she cannot allow any male to touch her, for Satan can claim her if she gives him any reason to be jealous. Well that is if the man who incited the jealousy utters her name in agony. Arik, a hardened soldier finds out the meaning of agony after he kisses Limos and is swept away to hell. As Limos scrambles to rescue him, she will have to agree to assist her brother Pestilence (the rider whose seal was broken), even if it means losing everything she has ever wanted.

After seeing Limos being a Horseman (or horsewoman that is) of the Apocalypse being all kick butt and take names, but also so very girly in the first book of the series, I knew I couldn't wait to see more of her. She is so strong, yet incredibly fragile as she carries around a TON of guilt and wishes for a somewhat normal life. I mean who would have expected one of these mythical creatures that are biblical horror stories to be well, almost human in her emotions. It is kind of funny that the object of her affections would come in the form of a man who is so closed off in his emotions, he almost doesn't seem human. In the Demonica series, we didn't get to see a lot of Arik, but it was blatantly obvious the only person he showed any kind of affection to was his sister Runa. Of course that all changed as things brewed with Limos, and I really enjoyed seeing them come together, even if it was an incredibly rough road along the way.

In a paranormal romance series I typically enjoy each book more than the last. I just love seeing the new characters form connections to the characters I've already come to love. It also is so satisfying to see the side characters become the "stars" and get their own happy ever after (or at least their own version of it). In the Lords of Deliverance series we get all those on going connections double fold, as it not only includes the characters from the Demonica series, but also a new group of siblings from the same world that are all intertwined. To be honest I think this, as well as some other factors make the Lords of Deliverance series even better than the Demonica one, and trust me that is saying something. Perhaps it has something to do with so much more being at stake rather than the couple's direct surroundings now that the main characters' actions directly affect the fate of the world. It just makes the emotions all the more meaningful as the are coming together despite all the insane odds against them. The world may crumble, but at least they found each other first.

I actually found Larissa Ione's books when I was searching for a paranormal romance series to tide me over after finishing the latest book in Gena Showalter's Lords of the Underworld series. After devouring those books in a very short time I was worried I wouldn't find anything that would come close to comparing, but I can honestly say that Larissa's books are every bit as good. Immortal Rider was no exception, and it firmly cemented Larissa Ione into my top list of paranormal romance authors. I'd suggest setting aside a large block of time to read Immortal Rider because once you pick it up, you won't want to put it down. If you haven't read the previous books in either series, well then you just don't know what you are missing, as I cannot recommend them any higher!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
tonya cherry
Immortal Rider is the second book in the Lords of Deliverance series. If you're not familiar with this series, the LoD is Set in the Demonica world and it's about The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Although, you don't have to read the Demonica books first to fully understand this series, I highly recommend to start with them, before you pick up Eternal Rider, the first book in the LoD series. Also, DO NOT read these books out of order! There are series that the books in them are related to each other but you can read them out of order (like I do with the Dark-Hunter series), but the Demonica and the Lords of Deliverance are not like that.

Sooooo...
I purchased the book before Christmas in 2011 and just finished this morning. Before you could get a heart attack or think "Geez!! That could be a really boring book..." I have to tell you, that no it wasn't, but i have times when I'm in a reader's crisis. Not often, but once in a while, especially when I read so many books within only a few days. Even the craziest reader needs a break, right?

Most of the author's and the series' fan say that the Immortal Rider is better than Eternal Rider, even though Eternal Rider was a bomb, a strong start for the new series. I don't know what to say about this, because Boy, I have a special place for Ares (Eternal Rider) in my heart, that no one can replace. However, IR contains more intrique, action and funny moments, than ER. So yeah... I'm stuck between these two, but Hey, this was only the second book, and Thanatos and Reseph gets his own book soon... but not soon enough!! But I will talk about that later.

Immortal Rider is Limos's book. She's the third Horseman, Famine. Her mother is Lilith, she was raised in Sheoul - also called Hell - and her fiancé is Satan. Nope. That's not a metaphor. Her beloved brother Reseph, whose seal has broken in the last Demonica book (Sin Undone) and turned evil and now called Pestilence is about to make sure Limos's seal breaks too and with that, the other two Horsemen's seal breaks and then comes the Apocalypse.

Every Horseman has an Agimortus (trigger for breaking their Seal). Her seal will be broken when a certain cup or bowl is drank from. But no one knows where the hell that cup is, and they have to find it before Pestilence does. But that's just the cherry on the Sundae.

In Eternal Rider, a human named Arik kissed Limos. She kissed a sexy man. Why is that a problem? You could ask... Well, it's easy peasy. Her fiancé is a bit of jealous type. Oookay, kidnapping the man, who kissed your bride and torturing him in Hell to make him say Her Name while in misery, is not a bit jealousy. Because that happens with Arik.

At the beginning of the book the rest of the crew - The Horsemen, The Aegis (Society of human warriors dedicated to protecting the world from evil.) and the R-XR (the Army`s supersecret paranormal defense division) - are working on to find Arik and free him. And thanks for Pestilence, he gets out. But nothing comes without a price. Especially when your fairy godmother" is an evil Horsemen. Actually, the first 50 pages seemed a little slow and boring to me, because it explained everything about the situation. Which is not a bad thing if you're a newbie or read the first book long ago.

There's one thing I loved in this book above everything else. The story lines. Yes lines, because while the Good guys trying to find Limos's agimortus, in the meantime, Pestilence always do something to keep them busy, creates new problems. Like revealing Limos's biggest secret. A secret, that she kept from her brothers for five thousand years and could end their lovely relationship in a heartbeat. But Pestilence is not the only one. While The Aegis and the Horsemen working together, they're keeping secrets from each other, and have their own plans, creating new problems in their own side. That's fascinating, 'cuz there's always something I can speculate about, if I've already found out one of them. Who says it's not a page-turner? I'm certainly not.

And then there is the romance thing between Limos and Arik. This book is a way less sultry than Eternal Rider was and certainly not as HOT as any of the Demonica books. Oh yes, both Limos and Arik have the desire fo the other, that is what gotten Arik in Sheoul in the first place, but when you have a tiny problem like there's a chastity belt on you, that can rip off your lover's hands, toung and... ok you get the picture... and only her husband can remove it, it's not so easy to go to room. But naughty, wicked readers, like me, don't be afraid! You'll get a few hot scenes anyway. So this romance isn't built upon a physical attraction - ok, maybe it is at the beginning - but more on a strong emotional connection between the main characters.

At the end of the book, The Aegis jeopardizes Thanatos (Death) the fourth Horseman's seal by sending a female Guardian to seduce him in order to save the World. All of the Horsemen think that his Seal will be broken if Thanatos loses his virginity. And when the Guardian successfully completed her task, only then The Aegis figure out that maybe they doomed the world instead of saving it...

The characters don't have excessive her complex. Thank God! They're likeable and relatable. They made mistakes. The two main characters are Limos and Arik, but some of the side character have major role in the story, that we could easily call them main characters as well. There are POV changes for my entertainment. I loved being Pestilence's head once in a while and see his reactions for the events. Be we see with Thanatos' -which is awesome, since the next book will be His -, the Aegis guardian's, and sometimes even the two watcher's (Individuals assigned to keep an eye on the Four Horsemen); Reaver's and Harvester's eyes. They all have something in them that makes the reader to remember them. But if you're a fan of Larissa's book, you should know that in her books the side characters are just as important as the main ones.

Favorite qoutes:

"You had sex with a beautiful woman. Why is that a problem? Are you a penis guy?" - Arik

"So, Tav, whatcha got planned for later?"
Tavin peeled off his surgical gloves. "Sex"
Right. Seminus demon. Needed to have sex or die.
"Groovy."
"And you?"
Escape. Arik shrugged. "I'll probably eat the bucket of
fish skin and guts your friends bring me. After that, I'm pretty
sure I have an appointment with the executioner. Why? You
want to make a date?"
Tav shoved the gloves inside his medic duffel."You're not my type. Sems can only come with a female."
"Huh. I'm not a Seminus demon, but I can only come
with a female too."
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
bumkhuu
Limos is the only female (sister) of the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse. She is engaged to none other than Satan himself, so for Arik a human G.I. Joe sort of guy who happens to be interested in her this proves to be a problem. First he kisses her which gives him a one way ticket straight to hell where he is tortured for making Satan jealous. Then when he escapes he not only has PSD, but he has hells furry unleashed on him because Limos is in love (with Arik). So the rest of the book you follow Arik and Limos thru the ups and downs of trying to love, bed, and marry a immortal Demon/Angel. I thought Limos was a fun chick to read about, although her constant lying was a bit annoying, the girl had to have some flaws. Arik was highly likable, hot, strong, and very capable for a human.

But, the best part of this book for me was not Arik and Limos - it was instead Than (the horseman of Death) and a human/demon women who is part of a underground demon hunting ring. That was hot, hot, hot stuff. Death, has a lot of skeletons in his closet and I totally look forward to his book next time around. Ione set the stage for their romance in this installment, so it's a must read for the next. I actually thought that Arik and Limos didn't stand a chance next to these love birds. Then you add in the horseman of Pestilence, Harvester (a Fallen Angel), and a Watcher and you got a huge goody bag. The secondary stories were tons of fun, which is unsual, most of the time I get annoyed with secondary characters - but these were more interesting then the main characters. Seeing how Arik and Limos where enjoyable, I think it proves just how grrrreat the side stories are.

When you have such a detailed world which is effortlessly depicted by the author I say "hats off", cuz its hard to come by in this Genre. You got 4 Horseman, Hell in all its sick glory, Fallen Angels, Watchers, and demons of the like in the mix riding a wave of action and lust as the Apocalypse rears its ugly head - fun stuff and original.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
liz m
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse have the powers to either save the world or let it rot in hell. This is Limos's story.

Limos is a female horseman. She and her brothers are trying to stop their rogue brother, Pestilence and Limos's fiancé Satan. Yes, Limos is betrothed to the man himself. Limos may not be a married woman yet but that does not mean that she is free to be with anyone.

Arik wants Limos. So when he gets her alone, he can not help himself. He steals a kiss from her. The next thing Arik knows, he is being dragged into the depths of hell. As punishment for kissing Limos, Arik is tortured over and over again. Can Limos save Arik before Satan claims Arik's soul?

Immortal Rider is book two in the Lords of Deliverance series. Eternal Rider is book one. You don't have to read these books in chronological order. This is a good thing as I have not read book one yet. I have read some of this author's other books in her Demonica series. I found Mrs. Ione's new series to be darker and edgier. Though, I would classify this book as more urban fantasy than paranormal. When I think of paranormal, I think of a jalapeño pepper with a little kick but when I think of urban fantasy, I think of ghost peppers, they are ten times hotter and will scorch you!

Arik and Limos were sizzling together. For being a human, Arik was just as evenly matched as Limos. What I liked most about this book was that the story line was just as strong as the characters. After getting to know some about Limos and her brothers, I plan to go back and read Eternal Rider, so that I can be ready for when book three comes out in June 2012!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
elyse sussman
Food for all of my senses.... Larissa Ione always delivers the most scrumptious reads.

My most favorite element of any of Larissa's books, Immortal Rider included, is the sub-plots within the entire novel. Limos and Arik are the main characters but at the same time Larissa's writing always includes side stories, plus, back history so readers are refreshed. Honestly, I do not know how she does it without over-killing the main focus but she never ever fails.

Arik has been around for a while now, like an old friend. From the Demonica series to the Lords of Deliverance, Arik's story is definitely due. Limos, the only 'pretty' one of the four horsemen, well, the other three I'm sure are quite the lookers but I don't think 'pretty' is a good adjective to describe, That aside, Arik really goes through hell and back for Limos. =) LOL! Literally, he goes to Hell for her, no joke. Poor guy, from the book's get go he's already beaten to an inch of his life, multiple times. But does that deter Arik from lusting after Limos? Hahaha, you'll just have to read it!

Honestly, I don't have much else to say accept to READ IT! Read Larissa books. If you have not started any of her series than you are lucky to read her books back to back without having to wait for the next release date. I will be anxiously waiting for Lethal Rider. For some reason in this book I looked forward to the pieces with Thanatos and Regan more than I did Limos's. Well, I know why. It has something to do with Regan's mission to seduce Than and walk away with his baby! Yay! I am so excited. lol!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
lachlan cooper
This book was a roller coaster ride. There were a lot of ups and downs. I loved every second of it. When I read the first book Eternal Rider I loved the idea of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse especially tangled in with the characters of The Demonica Series. Larissa Ione makes you fall in love with each character individually and does it perfectly. She shows you each individual person's backstory and personality. I felt like I knew the characters and I couldn't stop thinking about them after the book was over.

Immortal Rider focuses on Arik and Limos. They have so much chemistry and so much in common yet they don't know it to begin with. Throughout the story their backstories are uncovered, I loved that each character is connected to someone somehow. Limos has held in a lot of secrets over the course of thousands of years, and she feels guilt about keeping them to herself and not telling her brothers. She doesn't want her brothers to find out because she doesn't want to hurt them or for them to hate her and Pestilence uses this against her because he knows her secrets. Arik says he doesn't like liers, but he has been keeping things from Runa his whole life because he didn't want to hurt her. Arik and Limos both have held in secrets and realise that they are very similar because they both kept their secrets because they didn't want to hurt the people they love. They both have to face their fears and reveil their all of their secrets to everyone they love. Even though this story was focused on Arik and Limos, a lot went on between Regan and Thantos! I can't wait to see what happens next. This book kept me on my toes. If I see Larissa Ione's name on a book I know it will be spectacular! I can't wait until Thantos' story. This story was magnificent. I reccommend this to anyone who loves paranormal romance!
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
laureen
*****May spoil parts for some******I thought Arik and Limos were great together. Some reviewers did not understand why they fell in love but I think sometimes it happens fast. Maybe she was impressed by him when he did not back down even after she broke his ribs.The story went fast with a lot of action but in this case it worked for these two. I loved Arik. I loved his dry, dark, sarcastic sense of humor and even when he was being tortured he kept his sense of humor. I felt terrible laughing at times :) I loved this story. I also loved the story between Ares and Cara :) I loved seeing old characters make appearances in the story and can not wait to continue the story.

One thing I had a problem with was I don't think I can ever relate to Regan or want her to succeed. I want Than to get better than her. I also want him to get released and beat the **** out of her ;) She is a coward and a jerk. I don't care how lost in passion you are No means NO. If the roles were reversed and it was the male who lost control people would throw a fit and he would not be redeemable. I want her gone and him to find someone worthy of him. Also I hope Reaver does not end up with that horrible fallen angel. She is not redeemable at all. She is horrible, abusive, and just plain mean.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
relena reads
I have finally finished all the Horseman books and totally out of order but hey I did it! They were "Oh" so good.

Limos' and Arik's story was beyond phenomenal! The torture and anguish they each experience made the book hard to put down, good thing I burned the midnight oil to plow through! This series is a must read! If you consider yourself a paranormal book lover you should really add this to your to do list! What stoked my reading frenzy this past couple of weeks with all things Larissa Ione was reading Bound by Night! I loved it so much I hit the library and cleared out all there Larissa Ione Books and so it began.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
kenrick
Immortal Rider, Book #2 of the Lords of Deliverance series
Author: Larissa Ione
Synopsis: Sexy, powerful, and immortal, Limos is on a crash course with destiny. She's been marked as Satan's bride and her jealous fiancé wants her all to himself. The only way this Horseman can keep herself--and everyone else--safe is to keep her distance. But not even Limos can save herself from the secrets she's kept . . . or resist the seductive allure of one very brave human.

Arik Wagner knows the saying "love hurts" better than most, yet he never thought stealing a kiss from Limos would land him in Hell. Literally. It takes all his military training to survive the demon torture, but once he's topside, Arik realizes that the agony has just begun. With the Apocalypse looming and Satan demanding his bride, will Arik and Limos surrender to the desire smoldering between them? Or will giving in to their passion unleash hell on earth?
Our Review [by Michelle L. Olson - LITERAL ADDICTION's Pack Alpha]:
I love Larissa's books, was fully hooked with the 1st installment of the Lords of Deliverance series, and couldn't wait to see what she had in store for Limos in book #2.

Immortal Rider was, in a word, fantastic!

Immortal Rider is about Limos, the only female horseman of the Apocalypse who would become Famine should her seal break. She's a wonderful conundrum... a legend, old as time, tough as nails immortal who is also one of the most feminine characters I have encountered with her penchant for flirty beachwear and nail polish. In her book, we get to investigate a whole other side to Limos that I really never saw coming in Eternal Rider. She's vulnerable, and she has the weight of the world on her shoulders over things that have happened in her past.

Our hero, Arik, is a soldier in the RX-R, who also has his share of past secrets and complex layers.

As a couple, they are fabulous. They have numerous obstacles to overcome not only separately but also together, and it's not a foregone conclusion that they will have a happy ending, which makes what they go through together all the more powerful.

The story-line of Immortal Rider is fascinating, and leads the reader through a treasure trove of characters, beautifully constructed world building and action-packed fast paced plot.

While Limos and Arik were the focal characters of the book, Immortal Rider was comprised of incredibly compelling secondary stories, as well as beautifully crafted loops back to book #1, Eternal Rider, and Larissa's other series, Demonica.

LITERAL ADDICTION gives Immortal Rider 5 Skulls, and would recommend it to all Dark Urban Fantasy, Urban Fantasy & Paranormal Romance readers.
While Immortal Rider can be read as a stand-alone, I highly suggest at least reading the 1st book, Eternal Rider before settling in with Immortal Rider. If you're not in a hurry to get to Immortal Rider and haven't read Larissa's Demonica series yet, I would actually suggest reading that first - only because it's absolutely fabulous and you'll get more joy out of `ah ha' moments when characters from the Demonica series are looped into the Lords of the Deliverance.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
madi williams
Limos, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, is looking at a future of being married to Satan, literally. She wears a chastity belt, and if any guy attempts to get around it, they get very important...bits chopped off and Limos endures the pain of the belt herself, so she's lived a life of being alone and has never been able to be intimate with another man. Another precaution put into the marriage contract with Satan, she can't kiss anyone, but Arik gets by all her defenses and they kiss. He's immediately ripped away to Hell, and suffers horrible torture of everything one can imagine (and probably can't imagine) for one long month; if he so much as whispers Limos' name, Satan will enforce his claim on her and life as she knows it will be changed forever.

Arik runs through every emotion towards Limos when he's being tortured, hatred, need for revenge, but ultimately the things he feels for her run too deep and he holds strong, not saying her name and finds a way to escape. His escape is stopped by Pestilence, who forces a blood exchange on a weakened Arik. He binds his soul to him so that when Arik dies, his soul belongs to Pestilence.

There are so many ongoing story lines in this book that it would be hard to hit on everything. The main romance between Arik and Limos dominates much of the page time, and for the first time in her long life, Limos feels like a woman being with Arik. He knows that she's strong and capable of kicking his ass if she wanted to, but his first instinct is to always protect her. It melts her heart to see him put himself in harms way to help her and their relationship grows stronger the more they're together.

**********
...The fighting was bloody, dirty, and Arik, in his black BDUs, was death on legs. His movements were purposeful, economical, and with a few spins, slashes, and kicks, he'd laid out six huge demons like they were scarecrows. The boy could fight.

So. Hot.
**********

But the lies...ack! Both Arik and Limos keep things from each other. Limos, who gets a high from lying, has been keeping things from not only Arik, but big lies from her brothers. Some of the lies she's forced into are because of her horrible brother, Pestilence, others are from her past and things that she agreed to when she didn't know any better. Everything that she's kept to herself eventually comes out to her family and to Arik, and through all the fighting and the feelings of betrayal, Limos understands what it means and feels like to be loved, completely. It's a long time coming for her, but after years of being alone, she's let her brothers get close and now Arik, and finally being able to get everything out in the open is like starting a new life for herself.

Arik is such an alpha. He's strong, however compared to Limos and her brothers that's not saying much, but he has a few special talents and few other side effects that come to him throughout the book that make him much more than human and a very big asset in this huge fight that's coming to a head. He loves Limos, and he wants to help her get out from under Satan's thumb and they find a few loop holes to try and make that happen. They have some really sweet scenes, but the first time they're together was a bit of a letdown. They're dealing with madness all around them, and the only way to stop it is to have sex. I wanted Limos to have so much more for her first time; I just ended up feeling bad for her. They make up for it later on in the story, but I wish the action would have slowed down just for a little bit so they could have had their moment together for her first time.

Overall, this book advances all the ongoing story lines, has a lot of action and violence, and we get a nice romance between Arik and Limos. I'm giving this book 4 stars because the storytelling is so well done, I was engaged throughout the entire book and for its place in the series, it is a must read for all the details we get. That said, Than's side story overshadows the book's HEA ending and leaves me feeling a bit...ugh, rather than finishing the book with a happy sigh. I trust Larissa to give Than the happiness he needs and deserves in his book, but I'm not sure how I'm going to be able to like his heroine after what she does in this book. Also, I'm 100% invested in seeing Reseph come back. From hearing stories about him from his siblings, I want to see this character redeemed so badly, and I hope Than and his siblings figure out a way to make it happen.

Blog rating: 4/5
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
danisha
Hopefully, you read Book 1, Eternal Rider (Lords of Deliverance, Book 1), and thus know that Limos (aka Faminie, if/when her seal is broken) is one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

In the second installation of the Lord of Deliverance saga, we are following the 3rd Horseman Limos, as she enjoys the wedding festivities of her brother Ares, as well recovering following their victory against Pestilence. She comes upon Arik Wagner, a solider from R-XR unit, and begins to banter with him. Arik decides to act on his attraction to Limos, kisses her and is immediately transported to Sheoul, the Demon Realm/Hell. In Sheoul, Arik pays a heavy price for taking liberties with Satan's betrothed, Limos, because he is tortured within an inch of his life everyday.

Meanwhile his reckless act, yet brave action spurs Limos to try to rescue him from Sheoul. The connection they seem to have made leaves Limos baffled as to her own desires for the future. She had sort of accepted that she will eventually marry the dark lord, but now Arik inspired new feelings in her. These two learn that in order to have a future together, they have to confront their past and the lies they have told both to themselves and to their loved ones. Their love offers a chance for redemption as well as a passionate love that they both had given up on ever finding.

Larissa Ione is one of my favorite writers. Her storytelling is quite gripping and action packed. It was exciting and I couldn't put this book down. I really appreciate how she keeps prior characters involved in the new stories. I was pulling for this couple all the way.

I will caution the reader that the scene between Thanatos and Regan was a little disturbing, but take it in the context of the book. I mean, beings are trying to bring about an apocalypse while others are trying to prevent it. I strongly suggest reading the Demonica Series in Order, then Eternal Rider before reading this book. Things will make more sense and you will recognize how the characters fit together.
For Example: Pestilence is a horseman and Limos' brother Resepeh (his name before his seal was broken). Runa is the Heroine and mate of Shade on the the Sem Brothers from Desire Unchained (Demonica, Book 2), Demonica Series). Wraith and Kynan Morgan is in all the Demonica Series Books.

***Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for the complimentary copy of this book.****
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
joe midgley
I enjoyed the progression of the Apocalypse story line. And I got the lust between Lemos and Arik, but didn't get falling in love. They were in lust, then they were in love. That transition is one Larissa excels at normally but it got lost in all the action and in the interactions of the other characters. I KNOW she can write even a tangled storyline well, so I am disappointed that she didn't succeed in this instance.

I was much more interested in Reaver and Than's storyline's than that of Lemos: whose thousands of years weren't redeemed in my eyes in this book. She was covering up, doing bad things, getting a rush from doing them and BOOM loving Arik fixes her. Completely unbelievable and in no way satisfying or sympathetic. And Arik's character 'progress' was mostly lip service-- he was willing to understand Lemos's lies at the end whereas before he had a hard stance against lying. Okay. I get that... but it's not really ENOUGH character development to carry a main hero in a book.

This book ONLY gets three stars because of everything EXCEPT the main storyline-- that pretty much gets NO stars. Hopefully her next one will rebound and be at the usual level we are used to.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
huong do
Immortal Rider is the second book in the Lords of Deliverance series by Larissa Ione.

Limos also knows as Famine is the third horseman of the Apocalypse. As contrary to her brothers she was raised as a princess in Hell and at a young age she was betrothed to Satan. After meeting her brothers and expending sometime out of Hell with them she realized she didn't liked the person she was and the things she did. For her, lying and betraying was a sport and as entertaining as any hobby could be. Now a changed woman her past is coming to haunt her. Not only Satan is putting pressure to claim her as his bride, the lies she told are affecting everybody around her.
Arik Wagner has been involve with the supernatural world for more than half his life. He has worked with them for years always keeping his distance, until the day he mets Limos. There is something in her that attracts him deeply, so much he can't resist kissing her... big mistake! In Limos betrothal contract there is clause that stipulates if Limos show any affection to any man this man will be brought to hell and he will be torture until he calls Limos name, the moment this man calls her name Limos will be magically taken back to Hell where she will marry her fiancé. Soon after Arik kisses Limos he is taken by some creatures to Hell, where he suffers for weeks all kind of torments, he never breaks, he is too afraid of what could happened if he says Limos name.
After some planing he is able to escape but his nightmare doesn't end there, some other complications happen and now he needs to be closer to Limos than ever. Ok, not too close because Limos wears a chastity belt that will chop to bit and pieces anything that comes too close to her.

This is the first time I have a love/hate relationship with a character. I liked Limos humor, her capacity to kick some ass and her love and devotion for her brothers, but I hated her compulsive lying. She is a strong woman in a sense and a very weak in other aspects. I couldn't understand her behavior and how seeing the damage she was doing with her lies she didn't do anything to stop it. Also how she let Pestilence blackmailed her in doing something very foolish without thinking about the consequences of her actions.

I liked Arik since Demonica series and loved him in this book. We learned a lot more about him and his past. He grew up in an abusive household. Since he has a young child he tried to protect his mom as sister as much as he could but sometimes it was too much for him to handle. His circumstances forced him to make stupid decisions, decisions for which years later he is still paying. I loved how despite Limos lies and deceptions he sticked by her and protected her even from herself.

The sexual tension between this two is off the chart, don't expect pages of down and dirty action because you won't find them (remember chastity belt), but to be honest I didn't miss them. Mrs. Ione does a wonderful job in heating the engines and leaving them idle until the great take off at the end of the book. I loved how descriptive Arik was while talking of what he wanted to do to Limos... *fans herself*

The secondary characters played a big role, specially Thanatos, his story was a hard one and very difficult to digest but so well portrayed that I suffered with him. I won't give too much away about this but let me tell you it will play an important part in books to come.
Ares is also present with Cara. We see more of the guys from Underground General and Demonica series in general. Some have bigger roles than others and some will have more important parts in the future. One character I really like is Reaver, I also suffered with him throughout the pages, Mrs. Iona gives us a bit more info about him and me and my overworking brain have a very BIG theory about him, I'll see in future books if I'm right... I can't share it with you because it'll be very spoilerish.

Immortal Rider is a book that will trap you in its creative world, with amazing characters that you would pay to meet and with non-stop action that would have you devouring its pages. Immortal Rider has a main plot and many subplots synchronized perfectly to make of the read a more entangling and enjoyable one.
I recommend Immortal Rider and this series in general to all the fans of the Demonica series and anyone who wants to read very sexy, dark, paranormal romance. I also recommend you to read these books in order.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
melissa robinson
Limos, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, is looking at a future of being married to Satan, literally. She wears a chastity belt, and if any guy attempts to get around it, they get very important...bits chopped off and Limos endures the pain of the belt herself, so she's lived a life of being alone and has never been able to be intimate with another man. Another precaution put into the marriage contract with Satan, she can't kiss anyone, but Arik gets by all her defenses and they kiss. He's immediately ripped away to Hell, and suffers horrible torture of everything one can imagine (and probably can't imagine) for one long month; if he so much as whispers Limos' name, Satan will enforce his claim on her and life as she knows it will be changed forever.

Arik runs through every emotion towards Limos when he's being tortured, hatred, need for revenge, but ultimately the things he feels for her run too deep and he holds strong, not saying her name and finds a way to escape. His escape is stopped by Pestilence, who forces a blood exchange on a weakened Arik. He binds his soul to him so that when Arik dies, his soul belongs to Pestilence.

There are so many ongoing story lines in this book that it would be hard to hit on everything. The main romance between Arik and Limos dominates much of the page time, and for the first time in her long life, Limos feels like a woman being with Arik. He knows that she's strong and capable of kicking his ass if she wanted to, but his first instinct is to always protect her. It melts her heart to see him put himself in harms way to help her and their relationship grows stronger the more they're together.

**********
...The fighting was bloody, dirty, and Arik, in his black BDUs, was death on legs. His movements were purposeful, economical, and with a few spins, slashes, and kicks, he'd laid out six huge demons like they were scarecrows. The boy could fight.

So. Hot.
**********

But the lies...ack! Both Arik and Limos keep things from each other. Limos, who gets a high from lying, has been keeping things from not only Arik, but big lies from her brothers. Some of the lies she's forced into are because of her horrible brother, Pestilence, others are from her past and things that she agreed to when she didn't know any better. Everything that she's kept to herself eventually comes out to her family and to Arik, and through all the fighting and the feelings of betrayal, Limos understands what it means and feels like to be loved, completely. It's a long time coming for her, but after years of being alone, she's let her brothers get close and now Arik, and finally being able to get everything out in the open is like starting a new life for herself.

Arik is such an alpha. He's strong, however compared to Limos and her brothers that's not saying much, but he has a few special talents and few other side effects that come to him throughout the book that make him much more than human and a very big asset in this huge fight that's coming to a head. He loves Limos, and he wants to help her get out from under Satan's thumb and they find a few loop holes to try and make that happen. They have some really sweet scenes, but the first time they're together was a bit of a letdown. They're dealing with madness all around them, and the only way to stop it is to have sex. I wanted Limos to have so much more for her first time; I just ended up feeling bad for her. They make up for it later on in the story, but I wish the action would have slowed down just for a little bit so they could have had their moment together for her first time.

Overall, this book advances all the ongoing story lines, has a lot of action and violence, and we get a nice romance between Arik and Limos. I'm giving this book 4 stars because the storytelling is so well done, I was engaged throughout the entire book and for its place in the series, it is a must read for all the details we get. That said, Than's side story overshadows the book's HEA ending and leaves me feeling a bit...ugh, rather than finishing the book with a happy sigh. I trust Larissa to give Than the happiness he needs and deserves in his book, but I'm not sure how I'm going to be able to like his heroine after what she does in this book. Also, I'm 100% invested in seeing Reseph come back. From hearing stories about him from his siblings, I want to see this character redeemed so badly, and I hope Than and his siblings figure out a way to make it happen.

Blog rating: 4/5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
ankita khataniar
Betrothed to Satan as an infant, Limos aka Famine was the only one of the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse to be raised in Sheoul and have the full understanding of their birthright. Thousands of years after leaving Sheoul, she is no longer the evil being that had intended to hand over her three brothers to the Dark Lord as her wedding gift. She has formed loving bonds with her brothers, but now that Resph/ Pestilence's seal has broken and he has been taken over by evil, he threatens to expose her for the liar and deceiver she once was.

Arik has spent his entire life as a member of the Army's elite and ulta-secret X-RX unit battling demons and unnatural creatures. Now he's surrounded by them, hell his sister is married to one. And now he's lusting after one of the kingpins. Deciding to steal a kiss from the sexy horseman, Limos, Arik had no idea of the events he was about to unleash. It seems she has a very jealous fiance of the supremely powerful kind.

Holy Snikes, Batman! This was my favorite from Larissa Ione to date and that is saying something because I loooooove me some U.G.H. demons. Oooooooo, there is so much stuff that changed from the first Horseman book....... and I can't tell you any of it. What I can tell you is what you thought you knew, you do not know. Limos..... big fat liar. Arik..... big fat liar. Still good people, though. Just tons and tons of hidden secrets and double crosses and that's not even going NEAR the big shocker. Prepare to lose your mind at some of the twists this story takes. And I will tell you straight up, you could probably read this as a stand alone.......but you would miss SOOOO many of the nuances and undertones, it would be a sacrilege. In order to get the full effect, you really, really need to start at the beginning of the Demonica series. It's not like that should be a hardship. It's only one of the hottest, funniest and best series, EVER.

So what can I tell you that won't giveaway the store. Hmmmm, Resph/ Pestilence is still wicked evil and doing some truly NASTY things. Limos is still engaged to Satan and has to remain a virgin. Satan can't get her on Earth unless someone she's messed around with says her name while in agony. ( small spoiler) Arik sneaks a kiss and gets dragged to Sheoul for mucho heinous torture. We get a better picture of Tavin, the assassin Seminous demon, who has been on my radar since Lore's book. Harvester, the evil Watcher, I was kind of on the fence about her at first, maybe she could be redeemed, but I have completely written her off. She is just too far gone, she's Paris Hilton evil. Reaver , the ex-fallen and newly appointed Watcher, plays a HUGE part in this story. Trying to figure out his story ARC may give me permanent brain cramp. All the lines are shifting and extremely maleable, but I will tell you one thing that hasn't changed. Larissa Ione's ability to set fire to a page. Hot, hot, hot! I thought I was in Sheoul for a couple of chapters there.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
renata mccain
Immortal Rider is another spectacular read by Larissa Ione. Larissa just has a way with creating a world that is so believable and realistic that you feel as if the characters are long lost friends that you are catching up with. I really enjoyed this book but I won't lie. I kind of wish there was a bit more romance between Arik and Limos. Don't get me wrong, I loved these two and they were definitely hot together, but I think with all of the action taking place in the book it became a bit overshadowed.

I won't try to summarize this book because honestly I'm not sure I can. There is just so much happening from the first page to the last, that I found myself continuously turning the page trying to take it all in. I really enjoyed Arik and Limos, and I love them as a couple. I love that even though Limos is the strongest of the two, that Arik is still so protective of her. He shields her as if she is his most valued treasure and I found that so endearing.

Arik was such a surprise to me. I won't lie, I wasn't that enthusiastic of him as a hero because I really didn't like him that much in previous books. He just came off as a controlling, hypocritical jerk that couldn't be bothered by demons and their suffering. I am so glad we got to know him better because I really grew to love him. He is so protective of the ones he loves and cares about, so much so, that he would sell his soul in order to save the ones he loves. I love that he was constantly putting Limos' well being before his own and he was just so protective of her. He was also so understanding and level headed. I'm so glad I got to know him better because he has quickly become one of my favorite heroes.

I found that I really liked Limos. She was just so much more than I was expecting. She has so many different layers that make her so unique. She came off as a hardass, warrior chick who didn't have a care in the world in Eternal Rider but that definitely is not the case with her at all. She may be strong physically but deep down she wants what every woman wants, to be loved, happy and to have a family. She's another one that will do anything to save the ones she loves. Also, she kicks ass! Larissa just has a way with creating such great heroines that are able to keep up with her sexy Alpha heroes.

I won't lie though. Once Regan came onto the scene, I found myself more interested in what was happening between her and Thanatos. Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed Arik and Limos' story and their relationship, but I just kept finding myself clamoring for more of Thanatos and Regan's story. I can't wait to see what happens with them in the next book. I swear Larissa Ione just has a way with ending a book that leaves the reader wanting more. You turn to the last page and realize that's it, and now you have to wait six months for the next one. It's brutal but I wouldn't have it any other way!
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
alice lowry
My Rating: 4.5 stars: Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)

Immortal Rider is the second book of Ms. Ione's Demonica Series spin-off series, Lords of Deliverance. This series tells of the pending apocalypse by following the Four Horsemen as they struggle to maintain a balance between good and evil. Each is cursed with carrying one of the four Seals of Armageddon (if all four break... hell on earth). Immortal Rider focuses on the only female rider, Limos, aka Famine. Limos is betrothed to the evil Lord Satan, who can claim her if she ever gives in to lust for another. In a moment of weakness she does just that - kissing Arik as she never has any other. This sends Arik to the demon realm to be tortured, and sets of a chain of events which ultimately could break Limos' seal, setting free Famine.

As events unfold and our hero and heroine are brought together, I am amazed at the intricacy of the storyline and richness of the characters. Ms. Ione has added a whole new level onto her already amazing Demonica world. And unlike the first book, Eternal Rider, there isn't a steep learning curve in Immortal Rider, so the book is less confusing and a smoother read.

One thing I love about this story is that the players are gritty and raw - even the heroes/heroines aren't always good. This gives the characters complexity and intensity. Limos is a prime example. As a horsewoman raised by demons in the underworld, she longed to marry Satan and bring about the apocalypse. Even after meeting her brothers, she continues to work to bring them down, but over time, she learns to love them and chooses not to marry Satan. Yet, even in the current day and age, when she is "good," she continues to lie and hurt those around her. She has to own up to her mistakes, which creates a more emotionally driven storyline.

Arik and Limos are HOT. If you haven't had the pleasure of reading any of Ms. Ione's work... Well, have a fan, ice water, cold shower, etc. near by. But it's not all about the hot smex (really, it's not!). The bonds created around these two characters heightens the emotional satisfaction and HEA conclusion. And let me tell you... it wasn't just them. I am already head-over-heels in love with Thanatos (aka Death) and Regan... what a cliff-hanger of sorts. Their story comes up next in Lethal Rider (June 2012).

There really wasn't much I didn't enjoy about this story. I did feel that there are a few too many "I'm not gay, not that there is anything wrong with that" references, but it didn't diminish the overall enjoyment of the book. There is some graphic violence, but once again, it's value-added for the story and not filler for added action. I highly recommend Immoral Rider to all paranormal fans... but I do suggest you start with Eternal Rider first.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
sage
After Ares found the love of his life and everything turned out a-okay, naturally I was curious to see how Limos was going to measure up. She was... interesting. I mean, talk about oodles of sexual frustration. And her chastity pearls were NOT fun for anyone who came in contact with them. Of course, when the alternative to the chastity pearls is Satan and being the bride of the underworld... well, I'd choose the chastity in that case.

Now, Arik... I like the guy. He withstood vile torture at the hands of some really nasty demons. He has a few issues, but he's loyal to his sister and he stands up for the things he believes in. And he's sporting some major wood for Limos despite the accident that landed him in Hell. His actions when he was freed killed me. Just killed me. With everything he'd been through I can understand why he acted the way he acted. It was totally weep-worthy and I adored how he ultimately bounced back from everything.

Meanwhile... THANATOS! Holy crud, the wheels that were put in motion for his story just... YIKES! I am SO excited to get to his book next. Also, the Aegis suck. I know they were misled but... *glares* And and and and... the Harvester/Reaper THING. I can't wait to see that come full circle and bite her in the ass. THINGS HAPPEN, PEOPLE. THINGS HAPPEN!

Two horsemen down, one to go. And one to bring back from the edge of nowhere. Let's do this!

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
ghada
I gave this one 3 and half stars, because although in my opinion, as far as action and the main couple are concerned, this book gripped me from the very beginning. But I was more invested in the two main characters, Arik & Limos, more as individuals than as a whole/couple. Especially by the time I got to the ending of the book.

This book was mainly a set up for the the next Horseman Thanatos. Who is the one I've been dying to read about since I started this series. He had major page time in this one. The book still felt balanced and fair as far as page time for the leads, but Thanatos definitely takes center stage. So yeah, I can't wait for June 2012.

Now this book had great action and suspense. And some pretty hot and sweet scenes among Arik and Limos. The potential war concerning these Horsemen and the world, sucks you in and threatens to keep you there. But it started to wane a bit towards the middle, and I really was not all that excited with how it ended.. The last 3 chapters felt like things were really rushed as far as Arik & Limos were concerned. So it started strong, put up a good fight in the middle & towards the end, but by the end things could have been better. Still I would recommend this read as well as the first book in this series.. It's a pretty good series. Your time will not be wasted.
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
shafina khabani
I really, really hate giving a somewhat negative review for one of my favorite authors, but....

First, I've read Ione's Demonica series which I highly recommend if you haven't as many of the minor characters make reappearances in her Rider Series. It helps to put some perspective on their talents (Shade, Wrath and Idess all make appearances in this story).

Second, I am starting to believe that Ione is not so good at female character building as the main story line (she excells at all the books where the male is the main character but falls flat when the female is the main character IMO). I had a similar issue w/Sin's story in the Demonica Series though not nearly as "messy" as this one. I was starting to get worried that Ione was losing some of her talent while reading Sin's story and just forcing books out asap for the editors though I'd give Sin's book 4 stars. I could just see things unraveling. So I was pleasantly, pleasantly surprised by Eternal Rider. I LOVED Ares story. I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book. ALL Ione's books I read within 2 days max bc they are just.that.good. Fantastic world building and character development. Then I read Limos. Sigh. Took me 4 days to read and I was really pushing myself through it.

Problem #1- I don't like Limos. She's a PITA, whiney and a lier. I can't identify with her and I certainly don't get the love story. She lies and her lies are a HUGE tie to the story. But that's overlooked a LOT. Which brings us to prob #2. Ione pushes the "protective" thing w/Arik when the REAL character issue and story line should be how Arik doesn't like lying and Limos's downfall is that she lies. I did not connect w/the protective issue. It was lame. The author was telling me how he's protective and not "showing" me w/the writing. That's the diff bw an ok and great writer IMO. #3. Arik decides he loves her even though he's completely against lying, complete moral, upstanding character. So basically, he just loves her for what? We don't know. Her looks was about all I got. Her somewhat good fighting skills? (not even touched in the book). #4.When they finally get down to it and do the deed, it's lame and gets even more lame as she takes off. Eye roll! I almost stopped there, but was super interested in Than and Rever so continued. #5. Are they really in love? Come on now! They start proclaiming their love quite shortly after the bomb is dropped how she's basically the cause of the biggest issue in the Rider series. REALLY? #6. The secondary characters make the story more than the main characters. If you read the other reviews, you'll see they say the same. I am FAR more interested in Than's romance and Reavers' story than Limos and Arik. Which is why I'm 99% sure Ione can't character build with a main female character. Like Sin's story, I was drawn to other issues in the story and character lines. I don't know what it is or why, but she's all over the map. Is Limos strong? Moral? Good? Sometimes yes and sometimes no. We don't know. She tells us that she wears flip flops, lives in Hawaii, and has parties. She SAYS she can fight but did she even really fight? Not so much. So no romance, minimal action and super whiney, annoying main character that "falls in love" *cough* with a great guy that I'm being told is great bc he protected his sister and mom when he was young.

My main feeling on this book is that Ione is being forced to produce faster than she can create. I still love her books though and I'm hopeful for Than's story. I will def buy it asap when it's released. This is the only book that's been a downer for me. I loved all her other ones, esp the first 3 Demonicas and Eternal Rider all being my favs. I'm a HUGE reader of paranormal romance and Ione is always one of my top recommendations. If you like Ione, I always recommend Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark series. They are very similar.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
shad
Having heard Larissa Ione's name bandied about by some of my favorite authors and bloggers (oh, Twitter. You're such a temptress, always talking me into Moar Books!), I jumped on this book when it appeared in NetGalley. And I'm glad I did.

Limos is one of the Horsemen (women?) of the Apocalypse but Arik just can't help himself when the opportunity to kiss this lusty woman presents itself. Too bad for him he's immediately snatched and taken down to Hell for a marathon torture session. When Limos finally gets him back, she has to use all her smarts and wiles to help him recover and return to the teasing, tempting man she fell for.

While at times, this story was a bit too busy character-wise (I prefer the focus to be on the main characters with secondary characters playing, well, a secondary role), IMMORTAL RIDER was a dark and sexy fantasy novel worth cuddling up with.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
billy alguire
This book is the perfect recipe for EVERYTHING I want in a book-sexual chemistry and tension, suspense and dark secrets, humorous dialogue, and twists that you don't see coming. I gasped out loud while reading several times. I also love it when I get to see the familiar secondary characters from her Demonica series--I feel like I am home again.
It also included orginal smexy scenes that had me swooning in lust for Arik and Than. I swear, I don't know who was more hotter. And, really--does it matter? With heros like the ones Larissa creates, you will not be disappointed.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
sara jones
This book is the perfect recipe for EVERYTHING I want in a book-sexual chemistry and tension, suspense and dark secrets, humorous dialogue, and twists that you don't see coming. I gasped out loud while reading several times. I also love it when I get to see the familiar secondary characters from her Demonica series--I feel like I am home again.
It also included orginal smexy scenes that had me swooning in lust for Arik and Than. I swear, I don't know who was more hotter. And, really--does it matter? With heros like the ones Larissa creates, you will not be disappointed.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
renee m
Another great book by one of my favorite authors. The only downside was I just didn't enjoy this one as much as the others. Limos isn't really my favorite character and neither is Arik. However, the excellent story went a long way.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
michelle lawrence
This book starts up right where the first one left off - the four Horsemen (or three Horsemen and Horsewoman) of the Apocalypse are fighting against a prophecy (and time) to prevent their seals from breaking. Really, I mean the Horsemen except for Reseph (aka Pestilence) whose seal has already been broken and is wreaking havoc on all of mankind (and maybe demonkind as well).
In this book, we watch Limos struggle to separate her past from her present and of course, it catches up with her. With Arik around, she is constantly reminded and tormented by her previous choices in life and how they will not just affect her, but those she has come to love as well... most presently, Arik and her brothers.
So basically, this book is full of non-stop drama and holy hell is this full of sexual tension! Like the back cover mentions, Limos is betrothed to Satan and you can only guess how ecstatic he is when Arik tries to lay his moves on Limos (yes I definitely said, "lay his moves" - insert hash-tag 90s kid here). Aside from the torture Arik is put through for simply "stealing a kiss", there is a bit more that prevents Arik and Limos from finishing where that kiss left off upon his arrival back from hell and guys, the wait is more than worth it.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, recommend it, and have just finished reading the third installment in this series, Lethal Rider, Thanatos' story... mostly.

If you like Paranormal Romance or simply hot demons with morals, definitely pick this book up because you will fall in love.

Basic info about this book:

Name: Immortal Rider (Lords of Deliverance #2; Demonica #7)
Author: Larissa Ione
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Rating (out of 5): 4.0
Sexual Content: Graphic Sex

Recommend? Yes! But at least start with Eternal Rider (Lords of Deliverance #1; Demonica #6) by Larissa Ione.

Full blog post over at [...]
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
yaelle glenn
As the world turns ugly, The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse ride once again. One brother Reseph has turned into Pestilence as his agimortus broke his seal, but another Ares was saved by his fiancée Cara Thornhart (see Eternal Rider). A third rider Limos, though she, Ares and Thanatos defeated Reseph-Pestilence for now, fears she will fall to the dark too as Satan demands she become his wife and her seal if broken frees Famine.

U.S. Army R-XR solder Arik Wagner attends the engagement party of Ares and Cara. He walks outside onto a beach to get away from super-powered a-holes, but the object of his penis follows him. Limos challenges him to fight, which leads to a kiss. His final thought was her shouting at him not to say her name. The other two horsemen explain to human Aegis leader Kynan Morgan that an angry jealous Satan has captured Arik for kissing his bride and will torture him in Hell until he says her name, which will make him one of the lost minions. Limos cuts a deal with Pestilence to save the world and Arik though her cost is her soul.

The second Lords of Deliverance romantic urban fantasy is a superb post apocalyptic thriller that grips the reader from the first apparently fatal kiss to the final confrontation. The story line is fast-paced and contains the twist of a Horsewoman as Famine. The cast is fully developed and the twisting story line is loaded with action at time fueled by betrayal. However, it is the dark world of Larissa Ione that readers will want to ride alongside of the Horsemen (and horsewoman) of the Apocalypse.

Harriet Klausner
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
kiran jonnalagadda
I really enjoyed this second book in the Lords of Deliverance Series. First let me say the powerful characters (both primary & secondary) come to life within the pages in an exciting plot with many twists and surprises. The story is a well written, NO FLUFF (what I consider unnecessary and boring text I sometimes find myself skipping through) page turner that I didn't want to put down. Exciting secondary plots have me anxiously awaiting book 3 in this series. My hat is off to Larissa Ione for her imagination and creativity. I found Immortal Rider to be a great read! If you enjoy paranormal romance and don't have a problem with demons, fallen angels and such, then you definitely want to read this series.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
shannon seehase
Born to a succubus mother and an angel father, Limos was raised among her mother's kind and trained to be the ultimate traitor. But after living in the human realm for thousands of years, Limos is a different kind of person than she was in the demon realm. Now, as the third Horseman of the Apocalypse - the one who will become Famine should her Seal break - Limos fights her destiny. Yet there's one thing Limos can't seem to outrun: her past. It's back to haunt her with a vengeance and it'll destroy anyone that will try to keep her from harm.

Human warrior Arik Wagner has had plenty of dealings with the paranormal. But nothing could prepare him for Limos. The beautiful immortal tempts Arik like no other woman has and at a party he gives into his desire for her and steals a kiss. Little does he know that Limos has a secret that will damn Arik to the tortures of Hell. It seems that Limos has a fiancé - Satan himself. And the devil doesn't like anyone touching his bride.

Limos will risk anything to rescue Arik, but with Satan's minions and her eldest brother working against her, the cost of saving Arik may be higher than she could ever pay. And once Arik finds his way back to the human realm, both he and Limos find that the hellish torture he went through was only the beginning of their problems. The Apocalypse is nigh and Arik's quest to free Limos of her hellish fiancé could be the very thing that tips the scales in favor of evil.

I didn't think I could love the Lords of Deliverance series more, but Larissa Ione has proved me wrong! Immortal Rider is even better than its stellar predecessor, Eternal Rider. Who can resist rip-roaring action, forbidden passion, and an imaginative storyline? Not me, that's for sure.

Arik is a human warrior working for the Aegis, an organization that protects the world from evil. One of Arik's most attractive qualities is his personal code of honor, which goes all the way down to his core. There is nothing he won't sacrifice to save others and Ms. Ione manages to make this compelling trait sing rather than be dragged down into the realm of martyrdom. As for Limos...man, do I have a new favorite heroine! I love, love, love the mix of strength and vulnerability in her; the natural blend of hardened, ruthless warrior and romantic girly girl. For all that she's attracted to lies and deception, Limos is one of the most refreshingly "real" heroines I've read in a long time. She's everything I love in a paranormal romance heroine and I applaud Ms. Ione for making the many different aspects of her character come together flawlessly.

As a couple, Arik and Limos work together. Really work. The sexual tension in Immortal Rider is insanely hot, but it's the emotional heart of this pair that resonates with me. I hated it every time I had to put Immortal Rider down because I wanted to see Limos and Arik get the happily ever after they so richly deserved.

Even if you took out the romance aspects of the story, Immortal Rider would shine. Ms. Ione has placed her characters in a no-holds-barred fight against evil. And evil isn't just some guy in a black hat. No, Ms. Ione is definitely not afraid to go dark and twisted and I absolutely love that. Ms. Ione gives the Lords of the Deliverance series such depth with the way she writes good, evil, and everything in between. I could wax poetic about the many shades of gray in her characters, but that would ruin the joy of discovery for readers.

Immortal Rider is the second book in the Lords of Deliverance series and though Ms. Ione provides enough information for readers new to the series to follow along, the book probably loses a touch of its impact if read as a standalone. Readers who have read Eternal Rider already will find their reading of Immortal Rider enriched, but be warned: once you finish Immortal Rider you will probably be dying to read book three, Lethal Rider. Indeed, the only bad part of my Immortal Rider reading experience was when I realized that I now have to wait for Thanatos's book to be released. Given what happens in Immortal Rider, the wait for Lethal Rider is going to be painfully long for this particular overeager reader.

Immortal Rider is an incredible, engaging book that takes readers on a journey like no other. Fans of paranormal romance should not miss out on reading the Lords of Deliverance series! With her gift for creating captivating characters, developing unique worlds, and bringing the nuances of good and evil to life, Larissa Ione is an author whose work I will be reading and re-reading for years to come.
★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
ferny
Though the first book in this series was just ok (thanks to the insufferable heroine), I was still a fan of this author right until the rape of a major character in this book. Not because of the rape plot line itself, but because I'm expected to condone it. And I just can't stand for that.

The fact that it was a man who was drugged, and who repeatedly asked to stop and said no, just to be ignored, doesn't make it ok. Doesn't matter if the person doing it had "good" intentions, misled as those might be, or didn't know exactly what they were doing, or the consequences weren't nefarious, or even if instead they, by some miracle, turned out to be for the greater good. None of that changes the facts, it was wrong.

But in the book it's made sound as though it shouldn't be that big a deal for the victim, there are even jokes about it. Jokes I'm expected to laugh at! Those who put it in motion by playing fools act as though they should be thanked and still believe were justified. And no harm done. Because they pulled a fluke. As though the betrayal and denial of someone's wishes over his own body meant nothing. As though it didn't matter that acting so rashly could have actually caused more damage than they're worth. And as though their goal -- what they wanted to acquire from him -- were the kind of thing that is a-ok to not ask consent for.

But ok, it happened, I can accept that as part of the story, but now I'm expected to root for them as a couple? You're kidding, right? Must be.

There are a lot of stories, or at least parts of them, I do not like. Happens all the time, but that's not the problem here. I tried refocusing on the rest of the story but simply couldn't. To read any more would equate standing for that atrocity, so I won't be touching this series again. And as much as I wish it wouldn't have to be so, that goes for any other books by this author, too.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
linara
Loved this series and loved this book. Larissa Ione has come up with some refreshing and original paranormal romance series and I have fallen in love with with all the books. I love how I will still see characters from the Deamonica Series, but you don't have to read both to get completely lost in one. However, I highly recommend it.
★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
brendan losch
If you can muscle your way through this cumbersome tome, my hat's off to you. I gave up on page 215. Too many poorly drawn characters and lots of useless detail. This book needs firm editing. Do not waste your time or money.
Please RateImmortal Rider (Demonica series Book 7)
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