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The 12 Olympians #1
Justice For Skylar
Skylar Foxx has been on his own for years, ever since he had been kicked out of his home just shy of turning sixteen. He worked the streets for food and warmth, certain that one day his life would take a better path. That day arrived in the form of a flyer smacking him in the face after enduring a particularly rough trick. Walking through the front door of the Pride safe house became the best decision Skylar ever made. He began a new life with help from billionaire businessman Caden Fournier, his husband, Kellan, and their outreach center associates. That life also included a handsome, six-foot-two Italian who looked mighty fine astride a Harley. After a tense introduction, Skylar discovered Justice Salvatore was unlike any man he'd ever met. He’s about to find out just how different Justice is. The two grow closer as Skylar struggles with his own weird… ability. Just when he dares to dream of a happy ending, his past explodes into his present and threatens to destroy everything.
Justice Salvatore has only been in love once, with the beautiful daughter of his werewolf pack’s beta. She was human, however, and Justice stayed away to protect her — only to mourn her death from a rogue attack. Skylar Foxx is stunning, but Justice is swept away by his incredible voice. Smitten on the spot, he sets his sights on getting to know the skittish young man. Bad things are happening to Skylar as they grow close, and Justice will do everything in his power to protect him. A terrifying secret shakes Justice to his core, and he is forced to decide whether someone close to him will live or die. After the hell Skylar has been through, Justice makes the only choice.
There will be justice for Skylar.
Justice Salvatore has only been in love once, with the beautiful daughter of his werewolf pack’s beta. She was human, however, and Justice stayed away to protect her — only to mourn her death from a rogue attack. Skylar Foxx is stunning, but Justice is swept away by his incredible voice. Smitten on the spot, he sets his sights on getting to know the skittish young man. Bad things are happening to Skylar as they grow close, and Justice will do everything in his power to protect him. A terrifying secret shakes Justice to his core, and he is forced to decide whether someone close to him will live or die. After the hell Skylar has been through, Justice makes the only choice.
There will be justice for Skylar.
251 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 16, 2013
35 people are currently reading
713 people want to read
About the author
Sandrine Gasq-Dion
79 books1,346 followersI have been blessed in this life to not only have parents that support me, but kids that do as well. I grew up in a loving but "Old School" French household. My parents worked for the airlines (TWA) so I was able to see a lot of Europe as a kid. I moved to Seattle Washington at the age of 22 and stayed there for twelve years before moving to Alaska for a little over two. Fairbanks, AK was one hell of an experience and I wouldn't hesitate to go back! I spent a little over a year in South Carolina before moving back to Arizona. I then left for Kansas for five years and now reside in Arizona. I've been connected to the military in one way or another for over half my life and wouldn't change a thing about it. Writing has become my full time job and I've never been so happy doing a job I love and being able to do it in my jammies. I plan on writing until I dry up and die. Hopefully, that won't happen soon!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
January 8, 2014
OK, let me start by saying...
SQUEEEEEEE!!!!!
Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way I can tell you about this book. This is book 1 in The 12 Olympians series, a spinoff (spinoff, people!) of my beloved Assassin/Shifter series. In this book we finally get to see Justice Salvatore and Skylar Foxx come together. Now, if you have been following the A/S series (like you should be!) you will know who I’m talking about and you will say along with me, “Yes! Finally!”. If you haven’t read the Assassin/Shifter series, whoo boy, are you missing out!
When we first met Skylar way back when (I can’t remember which book) he was a snarky, angry little shit who needed a mother’s love. Or a spanking; take your pick. Over the course of the series we got glimpses of him as he matured into a responsible young man. He is still wary but no longer the little brat we were introduced to. As for Justice, I never really warmed up to him in past books. I always thought he was being unreasonable and just plain old mean by keeping Jesse and Noah apart. And I felt he had a big stick up his ass for some reason.
All right, let me be frank here for a minute. This author is my crack. Every time I see a new book is coming out I squee and do a little happy dance. On release day I do a constant refresh of Amazon until it appears. I. Love. These. Books. So the fact that these two characters weren’t particularly my favorites did not deter me one single bit from snatching this book up the moment I could. And I am so glad I did!
Justice and Skylar were perfect together. I got to see a softer side of Justice and learn the reasons behind his stoicism. I also got to see a side of Skylar that hasn’t really been shown in previous books. Skylar is… well, Skylar is special. Skylar has a secret buried so deep that even he has not been aware of it for the most part. And Justice has a secret of his own that made me squeal in delight when it was revealed.
What I love the most about this and the Assassin/Shifter series is that these are all men. There are no “chicks with dicks” here. Even the smaller, more effeminate men are strong and resilient when need be. They all essentially “kick motherfuckin’ ass” when the shit hits the fan. They may not all do it physically but sometimes words can cut far deeper than a knife.
I love where the author is taking this new story arc. I haven’t read much about Greek mythology so I’m learning as I go. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series. Bring on book two!
I received a copy of this book for free (yay me!) from the author in exchange for an honest review through the "Don't Buy My Love" event hosted by the M/M Romance Group on Goodreads.
February 13, 2020
I am really disappointed. I didn't know it was a spin-off series I didn't read. And in this case it could have mattered.
First, I'm not delighted with the writing style. And that was what disturbed me the most at first. There are too many truisms and strangely awkward dialogues. Showing, not telling, for God's sake! For example, Skylar at some point tells Justice "I'm not worthy of love." It's really a weird thing to say aloud to your lover. You can think that but just say it? It's unnatural. And here we’ve got a few other things of this type. But somewhere around half the book, poor writing has ceased to be the biggest problem.
Because the characters became at some point even a bigger problem. At first, I really liked Skylark. He seemed such an interesting hero. And then, suddenly, he starts doing all those totally stupid things we know well from bad teen horror movies. The motives that guide him are really silly and do not match the image of a boy who survived a few years on the streets. Skylark lacks well-developed survival instincts. And if we are talking about truisms, we also have a lot of things that are not discussed by the characters, which leads to dangerous situations. Classic. Unfortunately, not in the good sense of the word.
Finally, this book could do with some more plot. There is some action here, but nothing is happening between these few more interesting scenes. That's why it took me three days to read this rather short book. And to the end it is really painful. This book could easily end 40 pages earlier. Total boredom until the end.
The other boys in this book are nice, but I don't know if I'll read other books in this series. Maybe once I forget how boring and annoying this one was.
First, I'm not delighted with the writing style. And that was what disturbed me the most at first. There are too many truisms and strangely awkward dialogues. Showing, not telling, for God's sake! For example, Skylar at some point tells Justice "I'm not worthy of love." It's really a weird thing to say aloud to your lover. You can think that but just say it? It's unnatural. And here we’ve got a few other things of this type. But somewhere around half the book, poor writing has ceased to be the biggest problem.
Because the characters became at some point even a bigger problem. At first, I really liked Skylark. He seemed such an interesting hero. And then, suddenly, he starts doing all those totally stupid things we know well from bad teen horror movies. The motives that guide him are really silly and do not match the image of a boy who survived a few years on the streets. Skylark lacks well-developed survival instincts. And if we are talking about truisms, we also have a lot of things that are not discussed by the characters, which leads to dangerous situations. Classic. Unfortunately, not in the good sense of the word.
Finally, this book could do with some more plot. There is some action here, but nothing is happening between these few more interesting scenes. That's why it took me three days to read this rather short book. And to the end it is really painful. This book could easily end 40 pages earlier. Total boredom until the end.
The other boys in this book are nice, but I don't know if I'll read other books in this series. Maybe once I forget how boring and annoying this one was.
February 14, 2014
This is NOT a stand alone series and it probably should be mentioned somewhere in the summary. I wasn't interested in the other series from this author but this one looked interesting and it had high rating so I thought I would give it a try. I was inundated with characters with a brief sentence or two description then off the book went, and I had no clue where they fit. Unfortunately it wasn't just a couple of characters there are more than a dozen popping up and I had a hard time keeping track of them all. I'm assuming the world building was done in the previous series so I was race to catch up and figure out how everything worked. I'm still lost on several aspects. This is probably a great book for people that have read the other series by this author but it is not a good book for someone new. It is confusing with way to many secondary characters.
January 1, 2014
I received my copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review through the "Don't Buy My Love" event on the Goodreads M/M Romance Group.
That being said, I would happily read this book again even if paid for. I've read every book in the Assassin/Shifter series and I've been looking forward to Justice and Skyler's story for a while. I must caution you, if you haven't read the other stories in the series, do NOT try to start with this book. It is not a stand-alone story, and if you don't know the back story, it makes it very hard to enjoy the events. This book sets up the next series The 12 Olympians, but really it's a continuation of the Assassin/Shift and introduces new elements like The Children of the Gods and new characters.
Skyler was a young boy kicked out of his home by his parents for being gay and forced to become a rent boy to survive. Despite his time on the streets he manages to stay away from the dangers that come with living as he does and keep his heart and loving spirit intact.
Justice has loved Skyler ever since they met at a Youth Group function, but because of the difference in their ages he could't act on his feelings and he definitely couldn't tell him that he was a werewolf!
The story takes turns that I definitely didn't expect like Justice's old girlfriend coming back from the dead and Skyler's new found abilities. Along with Skyler's past, there are things that threaten both Justice and Skyler and their happiness, but through it all their love stays the course. And who can forget the fundraiser! Just wish I was there!!!
The one thing I appreciated about this story is that it kept down on the number of characters from the previous stories. There are A LOT of characters and relationships and sometimes trying to keep them all in order takes away from the book. That's not the case with this book. There were just the right amount of characters to keep the story moving but not too many to make it confusing.
It takes a lot to keep my interest after 20+ books in a series, but Sandra Gasq-Dion makes it easy and I look forward to the next story!
That being said, I would happily read this book again even if paid for. I've read every book in the Assassin/Shifter series and I've been looking forward to Justice and Skyler's story for a while. I must caution you, if you haven't read the other stories in the series, do NOT try to start with this book. It is not a stand-alone story, and if you don't know the back story, it makes it very hard to enjoy the events. This book sets up the next series The 12 Olympians, but really it's a continuation of the Assassin/Shift and introduces new elements like The Children of the Gods and new characters.
Skyler was a young boy kicked out of his home by his parents for being gay and forced to become a rent boy to survive. Despite his time on the streets he manages to stay away from the dangers that come with living as he does and keep his heart and loving spirit intact.
Justice has loved Skyler ever since they met at a Youth Group function, but because of the difference in their ages he could't act on his feelings and he definitely couldn't tell him that he was a werewolf!
The story takes turns that I definitely didn't expect like Justice's old girlfriend coming back from the dead and Skyler's new found abilities. Along with Skyler's past, there are things that threaten both Justice and Skyler and their happiness, but through it all their love stays the course. And who can forget the fundraiser! Just wish I was there!!!
The one thing I appreciated about this story is that it kept down on the number of characters from the previous stories. There are A LOT of characters and relationships and sometimes trying to keep them all in order takes away from the book. That's not the case with this book. There were just the right amount of characters to keep the story moving but not too many to make it confusing.
It takes a lot to keep my interest after 20+ books in a series, but Sandra Gasq-Dion makes it easy and I look forward to the next story!
August 13, 2016
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. However, I would gladly pay for this book. I am a huge fan of Sandrine Gasq-Dion and, so far, her series are my only auto buy.
First, this is NOT a stand-alone book, despite it being Book One of “The 12 Olympians” series. Since this is really a continuation of the Assassin/Shifters series, if you have not read that series (all 21 books, in order, starting with "A Marked Man") you won’t understand who all the many characters are. I have to thank Sandy for providing a brief synopsis for each of her characters as they are re-introduced in each new book. Even so, if your memory is like mine, it is very helpful in keeping all the characters straight (ha) to take advantage of the “Family Tree” set up by Jenn Watts (https://sites.google.com/site/assassi...). It is no hardship to read all the previous books, not only because they are very good, but also because they are a good value for the price. This will also help you to understand and really appreciate the numerous references to events which have occurred earlier in the series. In fact, after I read “Justice For Skylar” the first time, I went back and re-read the entire A/S series and then read JFS again (this wasn’t necessary for understanding, just my enjoyment).
I won’t go into too much detail regarding the plot points, as I do not appreciate spoilers in my reviews. In this new series the author will be telling the stories of the members of the “special army” (including children of the Gods – the 12 Olympians – among others) that was promised in “Broken Bonds” to fight the rogues. We have actually already been introduced to at least eight of the twelve “Olympians” in her previous A/S books and we meet a ninth in this book. As with all the couples in this series, we have been introduced to Justice and Skylar slowly over the past several books, getting small peeks, whetting our appetite for their relationship. I haven’t always loved Justice (especially when he was keeping Jesse away from Noah) but I did love the way he was with Skylar. The suffering that Skylar went through was horrible, but all Justice saw was Skylar’s strength and inner beauty (ok, exterior beauty too) and continually showed him that he was worthy of love. I do have to say, however, that one of the scenes that Skylar had to endure was almost too much for me.
As always the sex scenes are well written and very hot without going overboard (there’s a LOT of story along with the sex), however, I didn’t enjoy their first time together as much as I did all their subsequent interactions. Regardless, Justice and Skylar have nothing to worry about between the sheets.
These next comments apply to all three series: the Assassin/Shifters, the 12 Olympians, and the Santorno Stories (“The Medicine and The Mob”, due out late January 2014, is book one in this prequel series to the Assassin/Shifters series).
The world that Sandy has created throughout these series pushes the limits simply because she has packed so much into these stories (assassins, werewolves, other shifters, rogues, warlocks/witches, after-life visits, children of the Greek Gods, etc.), but what a world it is. I love all of these characters, they actually feel real (even with all the supernatural elements). One of the reasons that we have to deal with such an insane number of characters is that they keep re-appearing in book after book, and I really appreciate that. We don’t just get tiny glimpses of our favorite people, they continue to be an integral part in the ongoing overall story. What a treat!
According to Sandy’s Facebook pages all three series will be continuing. The next up for the 12 Olympians (”At Year’s End”, Jaxon and Elijah) is due out February 14, 2014. I need to brush up on my Greek Mythology quick. The release date for the next Assassin/Shifter book (“Dirty Ross”, Ross and Cole) hasn’t been set yet. I don’t know how she manages to keep me riveted after so many books, but I can’t wait to continue on this journey.
I highly recommend “Justice For Skylar”, as well as all the previous (and subsequent) books in any of these series (or for that matter anything written by Sandrine Gasq-Dion).
First, this is NOT a stand-alone book, despite it being Book One of “The 12 Olympians” series. Since this is really a continuation of the Assassin/Shifters series, if you have not read that series (all 21 books, in order, starting with "A Marked Man") you won’t understand who all the many characters are. I have to thank Sandy for providing a brief synopsis for each of her characters as they are re-introduced in each new book. Even so, if your memory is like mine, it is very helpful in keeping all the characters straight (ha) to take advantage of the “Family Tree” set up by Jenn Watts (https://sites.google.com/site/assassi...). It is no hardship to read all the previous books, not only because they are very good, but also because they are a good value for the price. This will also help you to understand and really appreciate the numerous references to events which have occurred earlier in the series. In fact, after I read “Justice For Skylar” the first time, I went back and re-read the entire A/S series and then read JFS again (this wasn’t necessary for understanding, just my enjoyment).
I won’t go into too much detail regarding the plot points, as I do not appreciate spoilers in my reviews. In this new series the author will be telling the stories of the members of the “special army” (including children of the Gods – the 12 Olympians – among others) that was promised in “Broken Bonds” to fight the rogues. We have actually already been introduced to at least eight of the twelve “Olympians” in her previous A/S books and we meet a ninth in this book. As with all the couples in this series, we have been introduced to Justice and Skylar slowly over the past several books, getting small peeks, whetting our appetite for their relationship. I haven’t always loved Justice (especially when he was keeping Jesse away from Noah) but I did love the way he was with Skylar. The suffering that Skylar went through was horrible, but all Justice saw was Skylar’s strength and inner beauty (ok, exterior beauty too) and continually showed him that he was worthy of love. I do have to say, however, that one of the scenes that Skylar had to endure was almost too much for me.
As always the sex scenes are well written and very hot without going overboard (there’s a LOT of story along with the sex), however, I didn’t enjoy their first time together as much as I did all their subsequent interactions. Regardless, Justice and Skylar have nothing to worry about between the sheets.
These next comments apply to all three series: the Assassin/Shifters, the 12 Olympians, and the Santorno Stories (“The Medicine and The Mob”, due out late January 2014, is book one in this prequel series to the Assassin/Shifters series).
The world that Sandy has created throughout these series pushes the limits simply because she has packed so much into these stories (assassins, werewolves, other shifters, rogues, warlocks/witches, after-life visits, children of the Greek Gods, etc.), but what a world it is. I love all of these characters, they actually feel real (even with all the supernatural elements). One of the reasons that we have to deal with such an insane number of characters is that they keep re-appearing in book after book, and I really appreciate that. We don’t just get tiny glimpses of our favorite people, they continue to be an integral part in the ongoing overall story. What a treat!
According to Sandy’s Facebook pages all three series will be continuing. The next up for the 12 Olympians (”At Year’s End”, Jaxon and Elijah) is due out February 14, 2014. I need to brush up on my Greek Mythology quick. The release date for the next Assassin/Shifter book (“Dirty Ross”, Ross and Cole) hasn’t been set yet. I don’t know how she manages to keep me riveted after so many books, but I can’t wait to continue on this journey.
I highly recommend “Justice For Skylar”, as well as all the previous (and subsequent) books in any of these series (or for that matter anything written by Sandrine Gasq-Dion).
January 3, 2014
I received my copy of this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review through the "Don't Buy My Love" event hosted by the M/M Romance Group on Goodreads.
Disclaimer: I have not read the Assassin/Shifter series that this series is a spin-off from.
Theme: This is a paranormal book, but the romance with the characters definitely took the fore-front.
World building: This book builds heavily on the previous Assassin/Shifter series books. While not everything is spelled out in this book, I didn't feel like I was missing anything major. Several of the explanations came later in the book, but were natural conversations between characters. There is obviously still things that will be revealed in later books dealing with the Olympians, it will be interesting to see how that gets handled.
Main Characters: Skylar has overcome so many difficulties in his past. He was kicked out when he was a teenager and sold his body to get by on the streets. Although for the most part he seems to be well adjusted, there are times when he struggles to come to terms with his past. His insecurities made him more real. I adore Justice. He obviously cares for his younger brothers. He's very loving and understanding with Skylar. He's also a werewolf (which is instant bonus points for me).
Side/Secondary Characters: There are a lot of characters in this book. Really it felt like there were too many characters, it was a little tricky to keep everybody straight. https://sites.google.com/site/assassinshiftertree/ is a wonderful resource, for helping figure out who is who, put together by Jenn Watts.
Even without having read the Assassin/Shifter books, this was an amazing book. I loved the shifters and the magic, but it was really the developing relationship between Skylar and Justice that made this hard to set down. The ending did seem long to me, every time I came to the end of a chapter I was expecting it to be over and then there was more. I can't really complain because I'm usually asking for more, but it did make the last 5 - 10 % seem to take longer.
Now I'm off to read the first of the Assassin/Shifter series to keep me occupied until the next book comes out.
Disclaimer: I have not read the Assassin/Shifter series that this series is a spin-off from.
Theme: This is a paranormal book, but the romance with the characters definitely took the fore-front.
World building: This book builds heavily on the previous Assassin/Shifter series books. While not everything is spelled out in this book, I didn't feel like I was missing anything major. Several of the explanations came later in the book, but were natural conversations between characters. There is obviously still things that will be revealed in later books dealing with the Olympians, it will be interesting to see how that gets handled.
Main Characters: Skylar has overcome so many difficulties in his past. He was kicked out when he was a teenager and sold his body to get by on the streets. Although for the most part he seems to be well adjusted, there are times when he struggles to come to terms with his past. His insecurities made him more real. I adore Justice. He obviously cares for his younger brothers. He's very loving and understanding with Skylar. He's also a werewolf (which is instant bonus points for me).
Side/Secondary Characters: There are a lot of characters in this book. Really it felt like there were too many characters, it was a little tricky to keep everybody straight. https://sites.google.com/site/assassinshiftertree/ is a wonderful resource, for helping figure out who is who, put together by Jenn Watts.
Even without having read the Assassin/Shifter books, this was an amazing book. I loved the shifters and the magic, but it was really the developing relationship between Skylar and Justice that made this hard to set down. The ending did seem long to me, every time I came to the end of a chapter I was expecting it to be over and then there was more. I can't really complain because I'm usually asking for more, but it did make the last 5 - 10 % seem to take longer.
Now I'm off to read the first of the Assassin/Shifter series to keep me occupied until the next book comes out.
January 10, 2014
(Free copy supplied by the author in exchange for an honest review.) I have not read this author before. I have not read any of the books in the series that this book is connected to. This one seems to take place in a world where there are werewolves, shape-shifters (who can change to any form), and half-humans who are descended from the Greek gods. But nobody in mainstream society knows about all this so the supernatural people are hiding in plain sight and going about their lives like regular humans.
Skylar is a young man who was once a homeless kid working as a prostitute to survive. Now, he works as one of many assistants to a philanthropist gay billionaire. The billionaire has many projects to protect and shelter gay teenagers at risk. Skylar and three of his young buddies live in a nice house together provided by the billionaire. However, there are evil supernatural people secretly stalking him. This is because he is unknowingly coming into his powers as the child of Poseidon. His best buds are children of the gods, too. When Skylar and his buds are not attending college or working for the billionaire, they are singing in their rock band at a trendy club.
Justice is a big hunky Italian werewolf who is crushing on Skylar. He and his brothers are good werewolves. They work part time as firefighters. Aside from that, they act as guardians to protect the good supernaturals against the rogue werewolves. The rest of the book is Skylar and Justice getting together. Also the rogues stalk and threaten Skylar.
I haven’t read any other books in the series. It looks like a huge series. Because of this, the characters in this book seemed too numerous and too interchangeable to me. But a fan of the series probably wouldn’t have this problem. Be aware that this book is not a stand-alone nor is it a good starting place if you are new to the series. So I couldn’t get into the book as fully as someone who knows the series. I also disliked the ongoing head-hopping. (That is, switching third-person viewpoints between Skylar and Justice every other paragraph.) But otherwise, the writing is smooth, the adventure is exciting, and the romance is sweet.
Skylar is a young man who was once a homeless kid working as a prostitute to survive. Now, he works as one of many assistants to a philanthropist gay billionaire. The billionaire has many projects to protect and shelter gay teenagers at risk. Skylar and three of his young buddies live in a nice house together provided by the billionaire. However, there are evil supernatural people secretly stalking him. This is because he is unknowingly coming into his powers as the child of Poseidon. His best buds are children of the gods, too. When Skylar and his buds are not attending college or working for the billionaire, they are singing in their rock band at a trendy club.
Justice is a big hunky Italian werewolf who is crushing on Skylar. He and his brothers are good werewolves. They work part time as firefighters. Aside from that, they act as guardians to protect the good supernaturals against the rogue werewolves. The rest of the book is Skylar and Justice getting together. Also the rogues stalk and threaten Skylar.
I haven’t read any other books in the series. It looks like a huge series. Because of this, the characters in this book seemed too numerous and too interchangeable to me. But a fan of the series probably wouldn’t have this problem. Be aware that this book is not a stand-alone nor is it a good starting place if you are new to the series. So I couldn’t get into the book as fully as someone who knows the series. I also disliked the ongoing head-hopping. (That is, switching third-person viewpoints between Skylar and Justice every other paragraph.) But otherwise, the writing is smooth, the adventure is exciting, and the romance is sweet.
January 21, 2018
I still find the author's writing 'choppy' but these stories are like wine for me - a little sip and I relax :) So I don't look for complex plots or great literary work - I look for downtime.
Warning: Whilst this is the first book in a spin off series (from the Assassin/Shifter books), I think these books should be read in order of publication (or if the author has a prescribed order). I read this when I was only up to book 7 of the A/S series and I was pretty lost on all the secondary characters, recognising only some of the older characters. And even with the MCs - their back-story/meeting is clearly in an earlier book.
Reading order of the AS/Olym series: https://sites.google.com/site/assassi...
Reread 17-21 January 2018: 3 stars
Still an enjoyable yarn. I'm up to date now and some stuff is much easier to follow than when I read this the first time. Having said that, I also take aaaages between books so it is all still a bit fuzzy.
Warning: Whilst this is the first book in a spin off series (from the Assassin/Shifter books), I think these books should be read in order of publication (or if the author has a prescribed order). I read this when I was only up to book 7 of the A/S series and I was pretty lost on all the secondary characters, recognising only some of the older characters. And even with the MCs - their back-story/meeting is clearly in an earlier book.
Reading order of the AS/Olym series: https://sites.google.com/site/assassi...
Reread 17-21 January 2018: 3 stars
Still an enjoyable yarn. I'm up to date now and some stuff is much easier to follow than when I read this the first time. Having said that, I also take aaaages between books so it is all still a bit fuzzy.
August 8, 2015
I never guessed that Justice is damn virgin. That alone has got me squeal like a fangirl.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
April 25, 2017DNF at 38% ... I'm utterly confused after so many names thrown at me without any indication who's important and who's not. I don't understand the story; I don't understand the motivation or the behaviour of the characters. Seemed like a translated draft version where the translator had no clue about the intention of the author ... I'm aware that I'm far from being nice but I'm so disappointed.
December 29, 2013
First off, I received my copy of this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review via the "Don't Buy My Love" event hosted by the M/M Romance Group on Goodreads.
A young man has gone from rags to riches but still struggles with the scars of his past. He deals with his attraction to a man he thinks he can't have, the development of an ability to manipulate water, and a group of power hungry people who want him in their possession.
Skylar Foxx and Justice Salvatore dance around their mutual attraction while trying to figure out who is after Skylar and why.
At first, I thought Skylar's character was a little flat; but I attributed this to my not having read the Assassin/Shifter series that precedes this one.
Various problems crop up throughout the storyline, providing a consistent level of tension that keeps the reader engaged. I enjoy that some loose ends are left to be continued in the books that will follow.
I'm beginning to notice a pattern in my taste for favorite characters. They are rarely one of the main characters. More often than not, I end up favoring one or two of the supporting characters. In this book, my favorite characters are Killian and Stone (I'm sooooooo looking forward to THAT story!).
I was able to relate to a part here or there, but I've never experienced first-hand anything that Skylar has dealt with. Still, it was very real. The mental/emotional scars and his reasoning for his actions make perfect sense.
At first I had a bit of a hard time getting into this work, but about a third of the way in I started to grasp everything a little better and was drawn in. I think it would have been easier if I had read the series (Assassin/Shifter) that precedes this one first.
My favorite part of this work is the interactions between ALL of the characters. Normally, I dislike works in which the majority of the characters are gay/lesbian. It's unrealistic. In this however, it works very well. I find it rather believable, and it does not come across as overdone.
If I had to choose a least favorite part, it would be the beginning. To me, it was very abrupt. It's like jumping into water that you thought was only a few feet deep only to find that it's more like twenty. Again, I think the remedy to this would be reading the Assassin/Shifter series BEFORE reading this book.
I really enjoyed this book and I think I'm going to have to read the Assassin/Shifter series before I read any of the books that come after Justice for Skylar.
This will definitely be one I'll read again in the future.
A young man has gone from rags to riches but still struggles with the scars of his past. He deals with his attraction to a man he thinks he can't have, the development of an ability to manipulate water, and a group of power hungry people who want him in their possession.
Skylar Foxx and Justice Salvatore dance around their mutual attraction while trying to figure out who is after Skylar and why.
At first, I thought Skylar's character was a little flat; but I attributed this to my not having read the Assassin/Shifter series that precedes this one.
Various problems crop up throughout the storyline, providing a consistent level of tension that keeps the reader engaged. I enjoy that some loose ends are left to be continued in the books that will follow.
I'm beginning to notice a pattern in my taste for favorite characters. They are rarely one of the main characters. More often than not, I end up favoring one or two of the supporting characters. In this book, my favorite characters are Killian and Stone (I'm sooooooo looking forward to THAT story!).
I was able to relate to a part here or there, but I've never experienced first-hand anything that Skylar has dealt with. Still, it was very real. The mental/emotional scars and his reasoning for his actions make perfect sense.
At first I had a bit of a hard time getting into this work, but about a third of the way in I started to grasp everything a little better and was drawn in. I think it would have been easier if I had read the series (Assassin/Shifter) that precedes this one first.
My favorite part of this work is the interactions between ALL of the characters. Normally, I dislike works in which the majority of the characters are gay/lesbian. It's unrealistic. In this however, it works very well. I find it rather believable, and it does not come across as overdone.
If I had to choose a least favorite part, it would be the beginning. To me, it was very abrupt. It's like jumping into water that you thought was only a few feet deep only to find that it's more like twenty. Again, I think the remedy to this would be reading the Assassin/Shifter series BEFORE reading this book.
I really enjoyed this book and I think I'm going to have to read the Assassin/Shifter series before I read any of the books that come after Justice for Skylar.
This will definitely be one I'll read again in the future.
August 3, 2016
I received my copy of this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review through the "Don't Buy My Love" event hosted by the M/M Romance Group on Goodreads.
However, I’ve read every book in the Assassin/Shifter series and would have bought this book even if I hadn’t received a free copy. I'm totally hooked on this series. All the future books in the series are also going to find a way onto my kindle.
Skyler and Justice finally get their story. Both have been introduced in the past series, but the time wasn't right for a full reveal of their love.
Skyler has a sketchy past when he lived on the streets. He doesn’t think he’s good enough for Justice. He's also just learned that he has powers that he's hiding because he's afraid of what the others will think of him.
Justice lost his first love (a girl) in a rogue attack and fire. He's been falling in love with Skyler for a while, but since Skyler was underage at the time they first met (in some past Assassin/Shifter story), Justice didn't act on his feelings. Now it's time for him to show his love to Skyler.
Finally, just when Skyler is accepting the love Justice is offering, a ghost from Justice’s past arrives to try and tear them apart.
I really like this one as it cuts down on the total number of characters. If you read some of the Assassin/Shifter books, you know there are sometimes a huge number of characters mentioned in the book. The extra characters in this book are pared down to the start of the core group of the 12 Olympians, their potential mates and just minor mentions of the remaining teams and families of the original series.
The story also sets up some of the other characters for their own part in the series. I’m eagerly waiting the next book in the series.
However, I’ve read every book in the Assassin/Shifter series and would have bought this book even if I hadn’t received a free copy. I'm totally hooked on this series. All the future books in the series are also going to find a way onto my kindle.
Skyler and Justice finally get their story. Both have been introduced in the past series, but the time wasn't right for a full reveal of their love.
Skyler has a sketchy past when he lived on the streets. He doesn’t think he’s good enough for Justice. He's also just learned that he has powers that he's hiding because he's afraid of what the others will think of him.
Justice lost his first love (a girl) in a rogue attack and fire. He's been falling in love with Skyler for a while, but since Skyler was underage at the time they first met (in some past Assassin/Shifter story), Justice didn't act on his feelings. Now it's time for him to show his love to Skyler.
Finally, just when Skyler is accepting the love Justice is offering, a ghost from Justice’s past arrives to try and tear them apart.
I really like this one as it cuts down on the total number of characters. If you read some of the Assassin/Shifter books, you know there are sometimes a huge number of characters mentioned in the book. The extra characters in this book are pared down to the start of the core group of the 12 Olympians, their potential mates and just minor mentions of the remaining teams and families of the original series.
The story also sets up some of the other characters for their own part in the series. I’m eagerly waiting the next book in the series.
October 15, 2014
So I’ve been invested in this world for quite awhile now. I’ve enjoyed every book Sandrine’s put out there, but the last couple of Assassin/Shifter books had me feeling like I needed a map to keep every character straight. I still loved them very much, but things were getting a little chaotic. I wondered how this spinoff would affect things. I am so happy to say it could be the best decision for the series ever! Things were so much clearer and streamlined and I enjoyed this book more than even I expected to (and that’s HUGE since I knew I’d love it no matter what :D). I’ve been waiting for Skylar’s story for so long now, and this did not disappoint at all!
Skylar Foxx was thrown out by his foster parents years before. After spending a couple of years working the streets to survive, Skylar found hope and a life again through the doors of the Pride safe house. Taken in by Caden Fournier and given a job and something to work for Skylar has turned his life around. He’s enrolled in college, has formed strong bonds of friendships with other refugees of the Pride safe house, and he knows there is hope for his future. The one dark spot on his horizon is his fear that no man will ever be able to accept him as a partner with his past. Yet somehow Justice Salvatore makes him want to try. The man is just so different, both in his words and his actions with respect to Skylar.
Justice has been the head of his family since his parents were killed in a rogue attack. He knows what it is to love and to lose. His first love, the daughter of family friends, was killed in the same attack he lost his parents to. Justice wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to give his heart the same way again. He was content with his family and the life he’d chosen battling rogues. Being accepted into the Macon line and the greater pack has given him and his brothers a safer place and more direction and purpose to their work. From the minute he spotted Skylar though he’s been smitten with the cautious younger man. It’s a draw he doesn’t even begin to want to find. With the younger men being targeted by Petey for some unknown nefarious reason Justice is committed to being Skylar’s protection no matter what.
Ok so I’ve always liked Skylar since he was first introduced ages ago. The skittish qualities to his personality were always balanced well with his well-earned snarky edge. Justice and his reactions to him intrigue him, but Skylar’s never been one to trust easy. Especially as Skylar’s abilities become more apparent and he truly begins to notice what’s going on. He’s already enough of a freak in his own mind. This only makes him more so. I loved how cautiously he began to open up to Justice.
For Justice’s part…man, did you have to wait this long to go for it? Ok, yeah, I know you did. He was just a kid, but still, claim your man! Justice was head over heels from the beginning and I loved how protective he was of Skylar without trying to tell Skylar what to do. He knows how much Skylar values his independence and he never tried to take that away from him.
I really appreciated the way Sandrine worked in her explanations of who everyone is in this book. Where as before I was getting buried under a pile of names, each new questionable character here was introduced with a quick description. A few short lines that were enough to refresh your memory without getting bogged down. There were less of the usual 1500 people too. In fact I felt like I got more immersed in exactly what’s going on up in Seattle than usual because the group felt tighter. I still felt the presence of the greater world and that the others were still around, but when each character appeared I knew exactly why there were there. Of course the other young Olympians were there and a few more introduced besides. I can’t wait to see what all of this is developing towards. Burning necklaces certainly have me intrigued!
There were so many cute, funny, adorable moments in this story for me. Though I particularly enjoyed the mini golf (apparently clowns really are evil), and of course the fact that my beloved Seahawks were finally given their due! Seattle domination baby! It has been immortalized for all time, the one year where the Seahawks have the potential of a Super Bowl run and as it has been stated so (hopefully) it shall be. :D The ending to this one was absolutely perfect as well. Well done Justice, that note was beautiful.
All in all, my favorite book set within this world in awhile. I felt like all the aspects were here to make this one superb: action, bombs, plots, romance, mystic abilities, humor, and just enough sexy time to keep things interesting. This was the perfect setup to launch these characters down a slightly veered path. I loved being wrapped up in my old favorites while seeing loads of bright new shiny things. I can’t wait for more! Thankfully Elijah’s up next so I can stop worrying about the poor boy and before Jaxon’s head explodes. Keep ‘em coming Sandy! This was fabulous!
Skylar Foxx was thrown out by his foster parents years before. After spending a couple of years working the streets to survive, Skylar found hope and a life again through the doors of the Pride safe house. Taken in by Caden Fournier and given a job and something to work for Skylar has turned his life around. He’s enrolled in college, has formed strong bonds of friendships with other refugees of the Pride safe house, and he knows there is hope for his future. The one dark spot on his horizon is his fear that no man will ever be able to accept him as a partner with his past. Yet somehow Justice Salvatore makes him want to try. The man is just so different, both in his words and his actions with respect to Skylar.
Justice has been the head of his family since his parents were killed in a rogue attack. He knows what it is to love and to lose. His first love, the daughter of family friends, was killed in the same attack he lost his parents to. Justice wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to give his heart the same way again. He was content with his family and the life he’d chosen battling rogues. Being accepted into the Macon line and the greater pack has given him and his brothers a safer place and more direction and purpose to their work. From the minute he spotted Skylar though he’s been smitten with the cautious younger man. It’s a draw he doesn’t even begin to want to find. With the younger men being targeted by Petey for some unknown nefarious reason Justice is committed to being Skylar’s protection no matter what.
Ok so I’ve always liked Skylar since he was first introduced ages ago. The skittish qualities to his personality were always balanced well with his well-earned snarky edge. Justice and his reactions to him intrigue him, but Skylar’s never been one to trust easy. Especially as Skylar’s abilities become more apparent and he truly begins to notice what’s going on. He’s already enough of a freak in his own mind. This only makes him more so. I loved how cautiously he began to open up to Justice.
For Justice’s part…man, did you have to wait this long to go for it? Ok, yeah, I know you did. He was just a kid, but still, claim your man! Justice was head over heels from the beginning and I loved how protective he was of Skylar without trying to tell Skylar what to do. He knows how much Skylar values his independence and he never tried to take that away from him.
I really appreciated the way Sandrine worked in her explanations of who everyone is in this book. Where as before I was getting buried under a pile of names, each new questionable character here was introduced with a quick description. A few short lines that were enough to refresh your memory without getting bogged down. There were less of the usual 1500 people too. In fact I felt like I got more immersed in exactly what’s going on up in Seattle than usual because the group felt tighter. I still felt the presence of the greater world and that the others were still around, but when each character appeared I knew exactly why there were there. Of course the other young Olympians were there and a few more introduced besides. I can’t wait to see what all of this is developing towards. Burning necklaces certainly have me intrigued!
There were so many cute, funny, adorable moments in this story for me. Though I particularly enjoyed the mini golf (apparently clowns really are evil), and of course the fact that my beloved Seahawks were finally given their due! Seattle domination baby! It has been immortalized for all time, the one year where the Seahawks have the potential of a Super Bowl run and as it has been stated so (hopefully) it shall be. :D The ending to this one was absolutely perfect as well. Well done Justice, that note was beautiful.
All in all, my favorite book set within this world in awhile. I felt like all the aspects were here to make this one superb: action, bombs, plots, romance, mystic abilities, humor, and just enough sexy time to keep things interesting. This was the perfect setup to launch these characters down a slightly veered path. I loved being wrapped up in my old favorites while seeing loads of bright new shiny things. I can’t wait for more! Thankfully Elijah’s up next so I can stop worrying about the poor boy and before Jaxon’s head explodes. Keep ‘em coming Sandy! This was fabulous!
January 4, 2014
See review at: http://thebloggergirls.wordpress.com/
Disclaimer: This is my own personal copy, and I was not asked to review this book by the author nor any publisher. The review is mine alone.
An excellent start to the new series featuring the “children of the gods” who were introduced in the last few books of the Assassin/Shifter series. It is highly recommended that you read that series first as the sheer number of characters mentioned in this first book will make your head spin if you don’t have the advantage of knowing them in advance.
In this first installment, Justice and Skylar finally act on their mutual attraction. In the previous books it was cute, but a little sad, watching them keep their distance. Skylar, because he believed that Justice looked down on him for being a rent boy, though it was only to survive on the streets; and Justice because he would not act on his feelings or attraction until Skylar turned 18. But through it all, Justice was watching over Skylar and protecting him from the rogues who are dead-set on getting their paws on the children of the gods.
It doesn't take long for the boys to act on their attraction and soon they are attempting to nurture their new relationship once they realize that they both have the same feelings. Skylar is still feeling the shame of his past and at times allows his dark thoughts to push himself away from Justice. Justice, however, will not have that at all. He is very intent on showing Skylar exactly how special he is.
During this delicate phase of their new relationship, we meet a few rogues and one in particular will cause Justice unbelievable pain. He was at one time in love with a woman, one he believed died in a rogue attack many years ago. When it turns out that she wasn’t actually killed and is instead out for revenge, the story takes a deadly turn. A woman scorned, and all that.
This story also gives more insight into the other “kids” and their parentage. As we find out that Skylar is the son of Poseidon, we also learn a bit about the others…and a lot more known characters are involved than originally thought. I can see this getting really interesting and I can’t wait to see where she is going with the storyline.
In the end, as much as Justice was a big pain in the butt while interfering in his brother, Jesse’s, love life, he does a complete 180 and shows the man he really is and has always been. That man is a loving, caring, understanding and adoring mate in his actions and words with Skylar. But, he is also a brutal killer willing to destroy anyone or anything that crosses him or threatens those he loves. Justice is the rock that Skylar needs to finally understand that he is no longer the sad and lost kid that was tossed out by his parents, but a man of value and worth. And a man whose new “skill” set will play a huge role in the battle of the rogues.
Yes, there is a lot going on, and yes, there are a lot of characters to remember, but the storyline is unique and grabs your attention until the end. The details given are just enough without giving too much away, but still keep your interest.
If paranormal is your thing, and if you like a happy ending at the end of each book, and just enough detail for the next book to keep you coming back, then read the Assassins/Shifter series and then continue on with The 12 Olympians. You won’t be disappointed.
Disclaimer: This is my own personal copy, and I was not asked to review this book by the author nor any publisher. The review is mine alone.
An excellent start to the new series featuring the “children of the gods” who were introduced in the last few books of the Assassin/Shifter series. It is highly recommended that you read that series first as the sheer number of characters mentioned in this first book will make your head spin if you don’t have the advantage of knowing them in advance.
In this first installment, Justice and Skylar finally act on their mutual attraction. In the previous books it was cute, but a little sad, watching them keep their distance. Skylar, because he believed that Justice looked down on him for being a rent boy, though it was only to survive on the streets; and Justice because he would not act on his feelings or attraction until Skylar turned 18. But through it all, Justice was watching over Skylar and protecting him from the rogues who are dead-set on getting their paws on the children of the gods.
It doesn't take long for the boys to act on their attraction and soon they are attempting to nurture their new relationship once they realize that they both have the same feelings. Skylar is still feeling the shame of his past and at times allows his dark thoughts to push himself away from Justice. Justice, however, will not have that at all. He is very intent on showing Skylar exactly how special he is.
During this delicate phase of their new relationship, we meet a few rogues and one in particular will cause Justice unbelievable pain. He was at one time in love with a woman, one he believed died in a rogue attack many years ago. When it turns out that she wasn’t actually killed and is instead out for revenge, the story takes a deadly turn. A woman scorned, and all that.
This story also gives more insight into the other “kids” and their parentage. As we find out that Skylar is the son of Poseidon, we also learn a bit about the others…and a lot more known characters are involved than originally thought. I can see this getting really interesting and I can’t wait to see where she is going with the storyline.
In the end, as much as Justice was a big pain in the butt while interfering in his brother, Jesse’s, love life, he does a complete 180 and shows the man he really is and has always been. That man is a loving, caring, understanding and adoring mate in his actions and words with Skylar. But, he is also a brutal killer willing to destroy anyone or anything that crosses him or threatens those he loves. Justice is the rock that Skylar needs to finally understand that he is no longer the sad and lost kid that was tossed out by his parents, but a man of value and worth. And a man whose new “skill” set will play a huge role in the battle of the rogues.
Yes, there is a lot going on, and yes, there are a lot of characters to remember, but the storyline is unique and grabs your attention until the end. The details given are just enough without giving too much away, but still keep your interest.
If paranormal is your thing, and if you like a happy ending at the end of each book, and just enough detail for the next book to keep you coming back, then read the Assassins/Shifter series and then continue on with The 12 Olympians. You won’t be disappointed.
March 10, 2022
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I honestly was not excited about reading this book, and I was never really sold on the attraction between Skylar and Justice. I mainly give this book a chance because it was written by one of my favorite authors. I already read practically everything else she published. Regardless of what I felt about the characters, I would read it. This may be the beginning of the series. Still, their story began in a minor scene in The Nik of Time where Skylar overheard something Justice said about Skylar's past as a rent boy and misunderstood and proceeded to ignore Justice instead of facing up to Justice and dealing with the situation. I have always felt Skylar was a boy, never a man, and it didn't help that Justice, who I thought was older than 25, especially in how he interacted with his brother Jesse kept referring to Skylar as "Kid" did not help the situation.
I liked this book when Skylar doubted himself, which frequently happened in this book. Justice let him know that Skylar's past didn't define him. I like how Justice protected and supported Skylar. On the other hand, Justice's lack of experience and skill in the bedroom had me struggling to keep on my suspension of disbelief hat on. Skylar ran away after almost every conflict got on my nerves. The need to be self-sacrificing and not understand or question why all this stuff was happening to him but feeling the need to run away from the people protecting him did not make him an attractive character to me.
After reading this book, I felt more interested in the secondary characters. They made it better than the average book. The award for best secondary character goes to Zach, and his whole comment to Brock about how he smelled like you rolled in a puddle of jizz, and I'm still laughing about nearly a week later after reading this book. I would trade 20% of Skylar and Justice's story for another little scene between them. Caden was out of character in my book, or maybe I need to reread his story to remind myself. I felt like I was waiting for him to scream "MY BABIES!!" after each incident with the boys. I was never really that interested in Skylar in the first place, and I honestly believe Justice could have a better story.
I'm very interested in Greek mythology, and I can't wait on how the author will incorporate it into the series. So I will continue with this series. But one question I hope is answered in the next book is how Jaxon, who is Elijah's protector, didn't know Elijah had a boyfriend in the world.
I honestly was not excited about reading this book, and I was never really sold on the attraction between Skylar and Justice. I mainly give this book a chance because it was written by one of my favorite authors. I already read practically everything else she published. Regardless of what I felt about the characters, I would read it. This may be the beginning of the series. Still, their story began in a minor scene in The Nik of Time where Skylar overheard something Justice said about Skylar's past as a rent boy and misunderstood and proceeded to ignore Justice instead of facing up to Justice and dealing with the situation. I have always felt Skylar was a boy, never a man, and it didn't help that Justice, who I thought was older than 25, especially in how he interacted with his brother Jesse kept referring to Skylar as "Kid" did not help the situation.
I liked this book when Skylar doubted himself, which frequently happened in this book. Justice let him know that Skylar's past didn't define him. I like how Justice protected and supported Skylar. On the other hand, Justice's lack of experience and skill in the bedroom had me struggling to keep on my suspension of disbelief hat on. Skylar ran away after almost every conflict got on my nerves. The need to be self-sacrificing and not understand or question why all this stuff was happening to him but feeling the need to run away from the people protecting him did not make him an attractive character to me.
After reading this book, I felt more interested in the secondary characters. They made it better than the average book. The award for best secondary character goes to Zach, and his whole comment to Brock about how he smelled like you rolled in a puddle of jizz, and I'm still laughing about nearly a week later after reading this book. I would trade 20% of Skylar and Justice's story for another little scene between them. Caden was out of character in my book, or maybe I need to reread his story to remind myself. I felt like I was waiting for him to scream "MY BABIES!!" after each incident with the boys. I was never really that interested in Skylar in the first place, and I honestly believe Justice could have a better story.
I'm very interested in Greek mythology, and I can't wait on how the author will incorporate it into the series. So I will continue with this series. But one question I hope is answered in the next book is how Jaxon, who is Elijah's protector, didn't know Elijah had a boyfriend in the world.
January 3, 2014
In the eight years that I've been reading M/M, I've always considered Sandrine to be one of the absolute best authors to write gay shifters. Mixing werewolves with sexy alpha assassins...simply brilliant!! And of course she's done a wonderful job with the introduction of this new series about the children of the gods. Which I can't be more excited for the continuing development of these characters! Skyler the son of Poseidon and his werewolf mate Justice are the main characters in this first installment and they are both absolutely delicious. Their story is sweet but not overly mushy with some past complexes that both men need to get past in order to find their HEA. Sandrine had me riveted from the very first pages, with interesting characters, strong plot, suspense and of course my favorite...hot man on man sex! I'm so excited on what's to come of the Twelve Olympians, positive it will be just as entertaining and intriguing as her Assassin/Shifter series. I will admit that if you've read her Shifter series it would definitely help with going into this spinoff since there's a lot of references to previous relationships and who is mated to who. I found those parts during the reading to be fun rather than confusing, remembering the previous characters stories and brushing up on my mythology. So to sum up. Justice for Skylar is a definite must read for M/M fans and put the rest of the installments on auto buy. Great job Sandrine. Brava!!
Author A.E. Via
Author A.E. Via
December 22, 2013
*review based on ARC copy of Justice for Skylar*
Justice for Skylar is the first book in a new companion series to the Assassin/Shifter series we have come to know and love by this best selling author. Over the last several books in the A/S series, we've gotten to know the young group of misfits that have taken solace within the Pride safe house that is ran by several of our shifters and humans, particularly Caden and Kellan. Caden considers all of them to be like his children, he dotes on them and protects them. So when Petey and the rogues come after his boys, it gets real ugly real quick!
Skylar Fox had been on his own since he was 16. Working tricks on the streets just to put food in his mouth. All of that changed the day he walked into the Pride safe house. Now he's finishing school, living in a house with his friends under the protection of Caden and the rest of the guys, and being courted by the sexiest Italian shifter on the planet. At first Skylar cannot believe that Justice Salvatore would want him, truly want to be with him and love him. He has come to think of himself as worthless and unlovable because of the bad things he had to do to survive when he lived on the streets. But Justice is bound and determined to prove to Skylar that he can and does love him, unconditionally.
Justice only ever loved one other person, a human girl, the daughter of his father's beta. A rogue attack left her dead and Justice broken, he hadn't been able to protect her. He will be damned if he won't protect Skylar! As the story unfolds we learn even more about Skylar and his friends like Elijah and Stone. But we also learn more about the shifters, especially the Salvatore's and why the rogues want them all so badly. Skylar and his friends all have certain abilities that Justice and the other's have begun noticing as of late. And as Justice and Skylar are learning about each other, building a strong foundation for a lasting relationship, they are also learning more about Skylar's ability. Everything comes to a heated conclusion when someone from Justice's past threatens not only his future with Skylar, but Skylar's life. Someone is going to die, the question is who?
At 22 books into the Assassin/Shifter series, Gasq-Dion has come up with a nice twist to breathe new life into these stories. Over the years we've fallen in love with all of these characters, families, shifters and assassins. We've had mates that had to grow up to be together, psychotic FBI agents falling in love with the head of the Russian Mob, adorable wolves that were born mated and so many more plot lines it would take me all day to write about them. Now we have the introduction of 'The 12 Olympians' starting with Skylar. The gods have sent these young adults to assist James and Wayne and their groups in the battle that is to come. Even the powers of the shifters as well as their animals have evolved as of late. I love that the author is constantly evolving as well with new stories, couples and struggles throughout this series.
The A/S series is my favorite M/M series. The writing is always detailed, complex and intriguing; as well as the stories and the characters. There is a lot going on within the series as a whole and then within each book as well. If you're a fan of action, suspense, drama, shifters, hot sweaty sexy naked men whose mission in life is to love their partner completely (and don't mind displaying said love for us to enjoy and usually on the X rated level!) then this is a must read series for you!
Up next is 'At Years End' I believe, and it cannot release soon enough.
Justice for Skylar is the first book in a new companion series to the Assassin/Shifter series we have come to know and love by this best selling author. Over the last several books in the A/S series, we've gotten to know the young group of misfits that have taken solace within the Pride safe house that is ran by several of our shifters and humans, particularly Caden and Kellan. Caden considers all of them to be like his children, he dotes on them and protects them. So when Petey and the rogues come after his boys, it gets real ugly real quick!
Skylar Fox had been on his own since he was 16. Working tricks on the streets just to put food in his mouth. All of that changed the day he walked into the Pride safe house. Now he's finishing school, living in a house with his friends under the protection of Caden and the rest of the guys, and being courted by the sexiest Italian shifter on the planet. At first Skylar cannot believe that Justice Salvatore would want him, truly want to be with him and love him. He has come to think of himself as worthless and unlovable because of the bad things he had to do to survive when he lived on the streets. But Justice is bound and determined to prove to Skylar that he can and does love him, unconditionally.
Justice only ever loved one other person, a human girl, the daughter of his father's beta. A rogue attack left her dead and Justice broken, he hadn't been able to protect her. He will be damned if he won't protect Skylar! As the story unfolds we learn even more about Skylar and his friends like Elijah and Stone. But we also learn more about the shifters, especially the Salvatore's and why the rogues want them all so badly. Skylar and his friends all have certain abilities that Justice and the other's have begun noticing as of late. And as Justice and Skylar are learning about each other, building a strong foundation for a lasting relationship, they are also learning more about Skylar's ability. Everything comes to a heated conclusion when someone from Justice's past threatens not only his future with Skylar, but Skylar's life. Someone is going to die, the question is who?
At 22 books into the Assassin/Shifter series, Gasq-Dion has come up with a nice twist to breathe new life into these stories. Over the years we've fallen in love with all of these characters, families, shifters and assassins. We've had mates that had to grow up to be together, psychotic FBI agents falling in love with the head of the Russian Mob, adorable wolves that were born mated and so many more plot lines it would take me all day to write about them. Now we have the introduction of 'The 12 Olympians' starting with Skylar. The gods have sent these young adults to assist James and Wayne and their groups in the battle that is to come. Even the powers of the shifters as well as their animals have evolved as of late. I love that the author is constantly evolving as well with new stories, couples and struggles throughout this series.
The A/S series is my favorite M/M series. The writing is always detailed, complex and intriguing; as well as the stories and the characters. There is a lot going on within the series as a whole and then within each book as well. If you're a fan of action, suspense, drama, shifters, hot sweaty sexy naked men whose mission in life is to love their partner completely (and don't mind displaying said love for us to enjoy and usually on the X rated level!) then this is a must read series for you!
Up next is 'At Years End' I believe, and it cannot release soon enough.
February 14, 2014
I liked a number of things about this one. At the same time, there was some major facepalming as well. Even so, I think the good won out for me this time. (Mainly because the romance aspect worked for me.)
However, I have no idea why this had to be split off into a second series, seeing how it is in no way standalone and offers vital development for the original series. All the separation does is make it harder to remember the reading order.
As usual I am appalled by the lack of usage the mind-link receives. It’s the little things, like Caden saying that Kellan could not inform him of Skylar’s condition for six freaking hours since Kellan only now got off shift. FYI, these two are mated wolves. They sure as fuck have that telepathic link.
It’s also funny how these days the wolves never seem to have trouble anymore keeping the eyes and teeth human around their intended. Well, maybe in part that’s because most of them no longer get the mate bond first. And yet they still give up their improbable and treasured virginity to these non-apparent mates. Hm.
As much as I enjoy this type of story, I’d have liked it more if Justice hadn’t
However, I do appreciate that they don’t just dive into an oversexed relationship with this event.
Okay. Safety measures!
a) You could make them immortal without their knowledge.
b) You could assign someone to watch over them who can’t make them immortal.
c) You could talk to them, inform them of what is inevitably going to come out anyway and allow them to decide whether they want to be made immortal.
Guess which the people in charge choose.
I so hate it when a plot hinges on people not properly communicating despite excellent reasons to do just that.
Yeah, I really wasn’t happy with Skylar’s intelligence level as things progressed.
Well, on the whole this was one of the nicer books. I think. Perhaps I am predisposed towards liking the younger generation.
I mean, Stone especially is adorable. I’ve liked him from his first appearance and if he holds true to what I have seen so far (not to mention if Killian continues as he has begun), his book might be really cool. <3
It’s a shame about , though. In his brief appearance he’d already been more interesting (because less perfect) than most of the actual protagonists (other than the kids).
However, I have no idea why this had to be split off into a second series, seeing how it is in no way standalone and offers vital development for the original series. All the separation does is make it harder to remember the reading order.
As usual I am appalled by the lack of usage the mind-link receives. It’s the little things, like Caden saying that Kellan could not inform him of Skylar’s condition for six freaking hours since Kellan only now got off shift. FYI, these two are mated wolves. They sure as fuck have that telepathic link.
It’s also funny how these days the wolves never seem to have trouble anymore keeping the eyes and teeth human around their intended. Well, maybe in part that’s because most of them no longer get the mate bond first. And yet they still give up their improbable and treasured virginity to these non-apparent mates. Hm.
As much as I enjoy this type of story, I’d have liked it more if Justice hadn’t
However, I do appreciate that they don’t just dive into an oversexed relationship with this event.
Okay. Safety measures!
a) You could make them immortal without their knowledge.
b) You could assign someone to watch over them who can’t make them immortal.
c) You could talk to them, inform them of what is inevitably going to come out anyway and allow them to decide whether they want to be made immortal.
Guess which the people in charge choose.
I so hate it when a plot hinges on people not properly communicating despite excellent reasons to do just that.
Yeah, I really wasn’t happy with Skylar’s intelligence level as things progressed.
Well, on the whole this was one of the nicer books. I think. Perhaps I am predisposed towards liking the younger generation.
I mean, Stone especially is adorable. I’ve liked him from his first appearance and if he holds true to what I have seen so far (not to mention if Killian continues as he has begun), his book might be really cool. <3
It’s a shame about , though. In his brief appearance he’d already been more interesting (because less perfect) than most of the actual protagonists (other than the kids).
January 24, 2014
Let me start out by saying I AM LOVING THE 12 OLYMPIANS THEME!!!!!! I am so excited. I love Greek Mythology, so I am stoked to see what's in store for us.
Oh my. Skylar and Justice. I was waiting for their story. We first met Skylar at Camp Pride in book 15 of the Assassin/Shifter series. To me, I think you would get the most out of this book if you start with that series, since characters are intertwined.
Skylar broke my heart though. Being pushed out on the streets at an early age, but then he met Caden/Riley/and Wayne and his life forever changed.
Justice couldn't take his eyes off of Skylar when he saw him at Camp Pride, but Skylar didn't want to have anything to do with him because of a misunderstanding (this is why you don't eavesdrop and if you do STAY FOR THE ENTIRE CONVERSATION!). I liked how Justice went after him though. Skylar wasn't childish and didn't walk away he just laid it out there for him.
I would have liked him to tell Justice about
Have I mentioned that I like Killian? What about Stone? I am digging me some Stone. As far as Elijah, we need to see him get his HEA. That poor boy is so confused and being kept isolated. I want his 18th birthday to come and Jaxon to whisk him away from his guardians.
I did love me some Skylar on the island though. EEK! How fun would that be?
The 2nd book doesn't come out until V-Day, so I will wait...but impatiently.
Oh my. Skylar and Justice. I was waiting for their story. We first met Skylar at Camp Pride in book 15 of the Assassin/Shifter series. To me, I think you would get the most out of this book if you start with that series, since characters are intertwined.
Skylar broke my heart though. Being pushed out on the streets at an early age, but then he met Caden/Riley/and Wayne and his life forever changed.
Justice couldn't take his eyes off of Skylar when he saw him at Camp Pride, but Skylar didn't want to have anything to do with him because of a misunderstanding (this is why you don't eavesdrop and if you do STAY FOR THE ENTIRE CONVERSATION!). I liked how Justice went after him though. Skylar wasn't childish and didn't walk away he just laid it out there for him.
I would have liked him to tell Justice about
Have I mentioned that I like Killian? What about Stone? I am digging me some Stone. As far as Elijah, we need to see him get his HEA. That poor boy is so confused and being kept isolated. I want his 18th birthday to come and Jaxon to whisk him away from his guardians.
I did love me some Skylar on the island though. EEK! How fun would that be?
The 2nd book doesn't come out until V-Day, so I will wait...but impatiently.
November 19, 2014
"I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads."
It is probably true that to get a full understanding of this new series, it would be wise to have read Ms Gasq-Dion's Shifter/Assassin series - however enough detail is provided to make the book thoroughly enjoyable as the first of a new series too.
Skylar is acclimatising to his new life, after being rescued from a life on the streets. He looks after his friends, also now rehoused and restarting school, thanks to the generosity of their benefactor, Caden. However he struggles to believe he is worth it, given his past, and most especially worthy of romantic attention. So Justice Salvatore has to work hard to prove it. With an intriguing plot, shifters, children of gods and their nascent superpowers, some off the charts hotness, and a great series is born.
Straight off to read the second in the series....
It is probably true that to get a full understanding of this new series, it would be wise to have read Ms Gasq-Dion's Shifter/Assassin series - however enough detail is provided to make the book thoroughly enjoyable as the first of a new series too.
Skylar is acclimatising to his new life, after being rescued from a life on the streets. He looks after his friends, also now rehoused and restarting school, thanks to the generosity of their benefactor, Caden. However he struggles to believe he is worth it, given his past, and most especially worthy of romantic attention. So Justice Salvatore has to work hard to prove it. With an intriguing plot, shifters, children of gods and their nascent superpowers, some off the charts hotness, and a great series is born.
Straight off to read the second in the series....
April 21, 2014
I LOVE Greek mythology and was super excited to read this. However I'm left wanting because all the characters come from a different series and nowhere does it say that this is spinoff or the Assassin/Shifter series should be read first...that I can find. With so little background in all involved in the book I was mostly confused and frustrated so I'm not rating it. On its own it's a 2-3 star book.
**Reread 4/18/14. Now that I've read Assassin/Shifter series this book makes more sense. I'm still giving it 2-3 stars because as much as I'm happy Skylar got his HEA the conflict fell flat for me.
**Reread 4/18/14. Now that I've read Assassin/Shifter series this book makes more sense. I'm still giving it 2-3 stars because as much as I'm happy Skylar got his HEA the conflict fell flat for me.
February 1, 2015
Boy do I feel like a moron! I was thinking this series was about Olympic athletes and it's about the children of Greek Gods. Like Mount Olympus NOT the Olympics. lmao. Whoops! It's helpful if you read the Assassin/Shifter series first because the same people are in this series. I haven't read them all but enough of them to recognize who was who. I loved this story about Skylar, an ex-rentboy and Justice, his mate and a shifter. This was the first in this series so I'm hoping everything will be more fleshed out as we go along. I was a tad confused in some parts.
June 22, 2015
» 2 stars! «
Information overload
This book really confused the hell out of me. I skimmed when I was almost the end because I know I won't be reading the next book anyway. There was too much stuffs happening in this book! Too many characters coming out of nowhere. Too many loose starts and ends. I figured this must be part of another series and I couldn't be arsed to validate it.
And the two main characters didn't do it for me. :/
Information overload
This book really confused the hell out of me. I skimmed when I was almost the end because I know I won't be reading the next book anyway. There was too much stuffs happening in this book! Too many characters coming out of nowhere. Too many loose starts and ends. I figured this must be part of another series and I couldn't be arsed to validate it.
And the two main characters didn't do it for me. :/
September 22, 2014
This is a spin-off/continuation of the Shifter/Assasin series.
So in all this my shifter books turned into magic users turned into ghosts... So why not toss in a little Percy Jackson spin. At this point we're just missing zombies, demons and vampires. But with 9+ more books between the two series to go... It could happen!
So in all this my shifter books turned into magic users turned into ghosts... So why not toss in a little Percy Jackson spin. At this point we're just missing zombies, demons and vampires. But with 9+ more books between the two series to go... It could happen!
June 23, 2016
When you spin off into a new series you have to assume that not every reader will have read the previous/connected series, and spend some time on the set up and who is who, and who they all are to each other. Don't just drop your readers in the deep end and expect them to know what's going on.
November 2, 2014
I enjoyed reading this book .. quite a nice step back from what I have been reading. It is a short story but you get to know the characters really well.
December 29, 2013
Can't wait for the next book in the series.
April 12, 2015
2.75.. Way too many characters.
December 13, 2020
✮4 Stars✮
November 1, 2022
Wow, someone got deeep into the cliché box. And that wasn't even the worst of it. The writing is infantile and awkward. The dialogues do nothing for the plot or character development. No world building. Yes, I am aware there is a 25 book series before this one and you need to read it to understand anything at all because the author just throws all 50 couple names from these books at you and expects you to understand who they are, what role they play and in what kind of a relationship they are with the protagonists. First I was confused, then I just didn't care anymore.
Skylar and Justice have no personality of their own, just roles to play. There is no real depth to any of the characters. No personality.
And some things just don't make sense. yspoiler>One moment Skylar is fine doing his work for the outreach programm and suddenly he changes his whole behaviour because a strange woman said a few things and he feels dirty and worthless and doesn't believe he deserves love because he was a whore. But hey, Justice is there with his "magic wand" to show him that he is loved and BAM...conflict resolved.
The only good thing about this book is that I don't have to read the sequels or the original series.
Skylar and Justice have no personality of their own, just roles to play. There is no real depth to any of the characters. No personality.
And some things just don't make sense. yspoiler>One moment Skylar is fine doing his work for the outreach programm and suddenly he changes his whole behaviour because a strange woman said a few things and he feels dirty and worthless and doesn't believe he deserves love because he was a whore. But hey, Justice is there with his "magic wand" to show him that he is loved and BAM...conflict resolved.
The only good thing about this book is that I don't have to read the sequels or the original series.
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