Vampire in Atlantis

Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy

If there was ever a better titled book for me than VAMPIRE IN ATLANTIS, I haven’t heard it. I’m obsessed with Plato’s fabled island (I have an entire section of my bookshelf devoted to books about it) and I live and breath vampires. In Day’s Warriors of Poseidon series, Atlantis still exists safely under the sea, it’s warriors charged by Poseidon to protect humanity and recover the stones from his trident to raise Atlantis once again.

In VAMPIRE IN ATLANTIS, 90% of the story takes place in Arizona with vampire Daniel and mage Serai searching for a powerful Atlantean stone that Seria is bound to. I did wish that more of the story had taken place in Atlantis, although I’m sure that’s show more true of the previous books. The quest is as much about a second chance at love for Daniel and Seria after lies separated them for millennia, as it was about recovering the stone. They fell sweetly in love once and were torn away from each other. The romance that rekindles when they are reunited displays just how deep that initial love was. There are thankfully very little misunderstanding obstacles to overcome, just insecurity and feelings of unworthiness that I found endearing on both sides.

Yes, there are six previous books in this series that I haven’t read (yet), and yes, there are lots of characters who pop up from those books, but rather than feeling like I was missing crucial back story, I’m just motivated to go back and read them all (especially Justice’s story in ATLANTIS UNLEASHED). There are also two other new romances in the book that spark to life, possibly to be further explored in future books.

Overall, VAMPIRE IN ATLANTIS is full of strong, fierce warriors to whom honor is a part of their souls. The women they love are no less impressive adding their own strength and courage to the battles they face. Specifically, Daniel and Seria’s love story is as passionate and romantic as I could hope for. I’d still like to spend more time in Atlantis, and the story might have had a better pace with a few less side plots and POVs, but I’m looking forward to the next Warriors of Poseidon book, HEARTS OF ATLANTIS, which will be published on January 3, 2012, and to catching up on the previous books in the meantime.

Sexual Content:
Several graphic sex/sensuality scenes show less

Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: Strong characters and great world building draw you in and keep you strapped to your chair, turning pages. Fast paced with notable action and steamy love scenes.

Opening Sentence: Daniel looked out at the sea of red eyes glaring back at him in the vast oak-and-marble chamber of the Primus and wondered, not for the first time, why the hell he’d ever wanted to be the ruler of the North American Vampires.

Review:

I have been waiting on Daniel’s story since he was first introduced in Atlantis Rising. I knew that he would have an interesting story. I love Daniel and his struggle to do the right thing even though he is a vampire in a world where being a vampire means you are evil. Daniel show more has continually stepped up and helped the Warriors of Poseidon, Quinn and her rebels many times, even at the risk of outing himself. Vampire in Atlantis tells Daniel’s much-anticipated story. We learn how he became a vampire and the reasons behind why he fights so hard to retain his humanity.

Day’s world building continues in Vampire in Atlantis as she takes us back 11,000 years to Atlantis just before the events transpire to sink it beneath the sea. I was drawn into the story that Day tells of a young, hardworking blacksmith apprentice and the beautiful young maiden that he falls in love with, and the terrible events that pull them apart.

At the start of the book, Daniel has had enough with his loneliness and despair and decides that he wants to face his true death. As he watches the sun rise he is drawn to Atlantis just as Serai is trying to escape. Startled, the two realize that the other is still alive. They embark on a journey to save Serai and her sister maidens, whom remain in stasis. The relationship between the two grows and you can see how they fell in love all those years ago.

I love Alyssa Day and her world filled with strong alpha warriors and stronger female characters. Vampire in Atlantis is no different from the previous six books in that regard. Daniel protects Serai and helps her find the Emperor and regain herself after being locked in stasis for 11,000 years. Serai helps Daniel see his own self worth and to see the good in the things that he has accomplished when he only sees the horrors that he has committed. Serai was a little weak to me in the beginning. She whined and at times seemed a bit childish. I expected her to be stronger to match Daniel’s fierceness. After learning of her ordeal I am a bit more sympathetic to her and when the time came she took charge and became the strong female character that I have come to expect from Day. Both characters grow throughout the book and emerge on the other side stronger and better for it.

All the other Warriors of Poseidon make appearances in the story. I was disappointed with Conlan and the other warriors in their actions toward Serai and Daniel, even after all that they themselves had been through with their own mates. Day also hints at a possible relationship between Reisen and a gothic computer whiz named Melody. I look forward to seeing more of the two of them in future books as well as the most anticipated relationship between Quinn and Alaric.

Overall, I enjoyed Daniel and Serai’s story. Vampire in Atlantis is fast paced with lots of action as Daniel, the Atlantean warriors, and their allies fight to protect mankind. Once again, I was sucked into the world that Day created and lost track of time. If you want to escape reality for a while, Vampire in Atlantis is a must.

Notable Scene:

“Stand back, female, or face my wrath,’ Serai declared in English, holding her hands out to her side in the ready position.

Quinn’s mouth fell open, and the impudent woman began to laugh. At Serai. Anger heated up, became rage.

“Seriously? Face my Wrath?’ Quinn shook her head. “Daniel, where did you get her? Melodrama R Us?’

Serai’s face flushed. It had sounded a little over the top even as she said it, but she wasn’t exactly experienced at facing down humans in combat. The tiger paced forward, snarling at Daniel, until it stood next to Quinn.

“I’m out of practice at issuing warnings, human” Serai snapped. “But how is this for something you can understand? Keep your pet kitten away from Daniel, or I will be forced to harm it.”

The tiger paused, mid-snarl, tilted its head to the side, and stared at her, its tongue hanging out the side of its mouth. It almost looked like he, too was laughing at her.

Quinn laughed. “Right. Daniel, tell your girlfriend there that we don’t have time for all this posturing and to stay away from Jack or she’ll get hurt. Now we need o talk about what you’re doing here –“

The tiger’s snarl interrupted the human just before it signaled its intent to attack by bunching its powerful muscles and tensing for the leap. Daniel growled deep in his throat, almost as wild as the tiger, but Serai was suddenly fed up with all of them. She called to the pure magic of Atlantis, the magic she had once wielded with little skill but that now rushed to her call. Jack leapt into the air again, but this time Serai knocked Daniel out of the way, and she sprang up to meet the tiger.

On its own terms.

Daniel fell backward, knocked out of the way by more than a quarter ton of tiger. He landed on his ass, and bounced back up immediately, wincing as the tigers crashed into each other. Serai had transformed in an instant’s shimmer of magic into an enormous tiger – bigger than even Jack, nearly as big as a horse. She roared, and Daniel almost fell over.

She wasn’t just a tiger. She was a saber-toothed tiger.

Warriors of Poseidon Series:

1. Atlantis Rising

2. Atlantis Awakening

3. Atlantis Unleashed

4. Atlantis Unmasked

5. Atlantis Redeemed

6. Atlantis Betrayed

7. Vampire in Atlantis

FTC Advisory: Penguin Group provided me with a copy of Vampire in Atlantis. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. In addition, I don’t receive affiliate fees for anything purchased via links from my site. show less

I was actually really excited to find out that Daniel was going to have his own story. He's been a shady and interesting character from the beginning, not really knowing where his story would go. Surprisingly this was the first Warriors of Poseidon story that took me so long to finish. I don't know what it was about it, but I kept saying to myself is it over yet? The last 7 or so chapters are really short and that's about the time the book became more interesting. My it's me, I don't know, but I would say its about 3.5 stars.

OK back to what I expect from the Warriors of Poseidon books. Good not great. The two characters had chemistry, the plot was good. There was definite humor, perhaps the most humorous of the series for me. The problem, the wrap up was a little forced/contrived.


There were just parts I had issue with that made it just good, not great.

Spoilers ahead.
The Justice attack was a bit over the top since anyone following Daniel and Serai could have figured out he wasn't taking advantage of her- Even a crazed Justice; and where exactly is Keely? Then the portal seemed a bit too contrived to make sure the book proceeded either pulling Daniel where he needed to be, that's ok, but keeping help from them... why? To make everything weighted down at the show more end. The ending was too neat, all given by the powers that be, the portal, Poseidon. The reasoning for Serai to be hurt, not very good. Reason for Daniel not to escape sooner, oh wait, last minute freakout so that he could give up and life or death for Serai... again. The ending should have been 2 chapters longer and discovered in a different way, not life on the line but love on the line. It was too neatly accepted and wrapped up with. All the jealousies forgotten.

Still it was a good read. It'll be interesting how Daniel is portrayed in the next book. I don't hold much hope for Alaric's book since I am so looking forward to his story. I just know it cannot hold up to expectations. I want a great read for a great character. So far the books I've loved, Justice's and Christophe's, are of the characters I least wanted to read about. And one, Brennan's, who I really thought would be interesting, was a total flop for me. I actually recommend skipping it. show less

2.5 stars

I wasn't in the proper frame of mind to read this. I skimmed a lot :(. Still waiting for Quinn and Alaric's story.

Nice plot, strong characters, interesting twists, and an overall great read.

Review Coming Soon