Review: Eternal Rider by Larissa Ione

Eternal Rider by Larissa Ione
Format: Paperback
Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (April 1, 2011)

They are here. They ride. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

His name is Ares, and the fate of mankind rests on his powerful shoulders. If he falls to the forces of evil, the world falls too. As one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, he is far stronger than any mortal, but even he cannot fight his destiny forever. Not when his own brother plots against him.

Yet there is one last hope. Gifted in a way other humans can't-or won't-understand, Cara Thornhart is the key to both this Horseman's safety and his doom. But involving Cara will prove treacherous, even beyond the maddening, dangerous desire that seizes them the moment they meet. For staving off eternal darkness could have a staggering cost: Cara's life.

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Book Trailer and Review(May contain spoilers and strong language. Continue at your own risk):

This is the first book of Larissa Ione's I've ever read and all I can say is: Unholy mother of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, this book was AMAZEBALLS! This is a spin off of her Demonica series, which I've never read. But I must say that this book is able to stand alone without you going WTF? Sure, there are quite a few minor characters that pop up from the Demonica series, but I was still able to understand what was going on. 

TOP 13 REASONS TO READ THIS BOOK:

1. It's the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse like you've never seen them before. As in, this is not your Bible's version of the events leading towards the beginning of the end of the world. Your minister WOULD NOT approve. 
2. Fuck. There's just so many ways to say this word. So many words to pair it with. And in this book, all variations are explored and shared. If you're squeamish about strong language, this book is not for you.
3. It is action packed! While reading the fight scenes, I kept seeing it a la 300. You know, all the blood slowly spilling and arcing all over the place. One problem, the Horsemen are not wearing skimpy pieces of cloth to cover their 'down there' parts. They're in full battle armor. Think of the fight scenes as 300 meets Troy. 
4. Ares. This is his book. He is a complete full on, in your face, I-will-fuck-you-up-if-you-so-much-as-breathe-the-wrong-way alpha. He had a human family who he saw killed and his wife tortured in front of him. This really messed him up. His agimortus is held by an Unfallen angel. If it breaks, all hell will break loose. Literally. If his seal breaks, he'll become War. 
5. Cara. She is the heroine. And she is one badass babe. One day she's living a normal life and the next, her house is invaded by military looking guys hellbent on finding out why she's harboring a hellhound. Ares' Seal is transferred to her, which in turn starts draining her life force. But with a little help from a hellhound's kiss, she is hanging on for dear life. 
6. The smexing. Hot, sexy, blush inducing, panty dropping, 'down there' parts tingling, all sorts of hotness. I may or may not have had to put the book down a few times to cool off. Oh, and word of caution, there's smexing while Aunt Flow is in town. Yeah, you heard me. If you don't know what that means, google it.
7. Thanatos. He needs to get laid. Like seriously. But then again, he'd better not since Armageddon would be upon the Earth before you could say "I'm coming!" Yeah, his Seal is his virginity. Kinda sucks right? If his Seal breaks, he'll become Death.
8. Limos. She's the Horsewoman of the Apocalypse. Also, she's Satan's bride. Yipes! She is your ultimate girlie girl: dresses, fruity drinks, flip flops and floral print. When you piss her off, she'll crush your ribs with her thighs. Her Seal is a small ivory bowl. If a Horseman drinks from it, it's the end of the world as we know it. She would become Famine.
9. The love story. Ares has not been with a human woman for centuries. Until Cara. She turns his life upside down and sideways when she becomes the unfortunate human to carry his Seal. He lets his guard and armor down, figuratively and literally, when he's near her. They talk. They laugh. They fight. They sex it up. They realize she doesn't have much time left since she's a human carrying the Seal. They distance themselves from each other. They can't stay away. They sex it up. They realize they're in love. Did I mention that they sex it up? 
10. Pestilence aka Reseph. He's the bad brother of the Horsemen. Yup. His Seal got broken and now he's ready to bring on the end of the world using any means. All he has to do is break one of his siblings' Seals and the others will turn. I am waiting for the day that he will get his comeuppance by a woman. Hopefully human. 
11. "Spelunking had to be the dumbest word in the English language." That is all. I just wanted to share this quote because I couldn't stop laughing for a good solid minute after reading it. 
12. Angels and Demons. Like you've never seen them before. And not Dan Brown's Angels and Demons.
13. "War is hell."-William Tecumseh Sherman. "Sherman was my bitch."- War And now the fight for the world begins. 

Favorite Quote: "Short version: Our mother was a succubus demon, our father was an angel. With the exception of Limos, we were raised on Earth as humans until we learned the truth. We didn't take it very well, and our actions led to mass human casualties. As punishment, we were cursed to be the keepers of the Seals of Armageddon. And with that honor came side-effects, hints of what we will be once our Seals break."

Overall: Oh.My.God. I must get myself to the nearest bookstore and buy Larissa Ione's backlist. Like now! From the first page until the last, I got sucked into this world full of battles, tons of testosterone, fiery and feisty females, Unfallen angels worshiping a succubus, super secret demon fight squads, and hot Horsemen trying to keep the world from the brink of Armageddon. Oh yeah, and the world will end if another Horseman's Seal breaks. If Revelations was this EPIC, I think I would have paid more attention in church.(Blasphemous, I know. But come on! You would've too.) Ms. Ione, you are my new favorite paranormal author. Where have you all my romance book reading life? I cannot wait for the next book in the series. Why must we wait until December? I know what I'm putting on my Christmas wishlist.

***This book was bought at Barnes and Noble.***