Ares (Guardians of Hades, #1)

Ares (Guardians of Hades, #1)

Felicity Heaton

Enjoyment: 2.0Quality: 1.0Characters: 1.0Plot: 3.0
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Prince of the Underworld and Lord of Fire, Ares was banished from his home by his father, Hades, two centuries ago and given a new duty and purpose—to keep our world and his from colliding in a calamity foreseen by the Moirai. Together with his six brothers, he fights to defend the gates to the Underworld from daemons bent on breaching them and gaining entrance to that forbidden land, striving to protect his home from their dark influence. Caged by the manifestation of his power, held apart from those he loves by his own fire and starved of physical contact, Ares lives a cold existence driven by duty and the desire to return to his world. Until his world collides with a daemon who steals his power and a mortal female who shatters the ice around his heart and awakens the true fire within him—a soul-stirring passion both dangerous and seductive. Megan has wandered far from her home, driven from everyone she loves by the devastating realisation that she is different to them all. Unsure who to trust in the world, she keeps to herself, until a fateful stormy night brings a temptingly handsome warrior crashing into her life and into her heart—a warrior who seems to hold powers more frightening and marvellous than her own. When the New York gate comes under threat, and Ares is put to the test, will he choose his duty and regain the power he needs in order to save his world or will he choose the desires of his heart and sacrifice his fire so he can be with the woman becoming his whole world?

Publication Year: 2016


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  • tiffanirose13
    Mar 11, 2025
    Enjoyment: Quality: Characters: Plot:

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  • Lilith_Bookshelf
    May 10, 2025
    Enjoyment: 2.0Quality: 1.0Characters: 1.0Plot: 3.0
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    Ares, son of Hades and Persephone, stands guard over the Gates of Hell, fighting daemons desperate to break through. After a brutal night of battle, a powerful enemy strips him of his fire magic—right as he steps in to save Megan, a mortal woman. Now, Ares must face a new kind of vulnerability... and a growing, unsettling obsession with the very human he rescued. If I enjoyed anyone, it was Marek. Unfortunately, the main characters fell flat. The relationship between Ares and Megan felt more toxic than romantic—intense, possessive, and rushed. There was no real development between them, just instant obsession on Ares’s part. He loses his powers, meets Megan, and suddenly decides she’s his—with no buildup, no connection, no justification. It’s not a fated mates trope, it’s just... abrupt. And uncomfortable. That said, the worldbuilding showed promise. The mythology around the Gates of Hell, the Keys of Hades, and the different powers granted to each son was creative and intriguing. I’d genuinely enjoy a book focused more on that lore than the romance. As for pacing: the first kiss doesn’t come until nearly 50% through, and yet their “love” is declared within four days, without meaningful connection. The emotional arc simply didn’t work for me. If you enjoy slow burns with minimal romantic development but heavy fantasy elements, this might be for you. Personally? It missed the mark. I won’t be continuing the series.

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