“Blood is Zeus is a dynamic and uniquely alluring paranormal romance! This author duo knows how to scorch the pages and tug at our imaginations. I can’t wait for more!” – NYT Bestselling Author Carrie Ann RyanAn ancient grudge. A forbidden love.The only thing worse than being a demon is being a Valari. As an undergraduate at Los Angeles’s Alameda University, Kara Valari can sometimes succeed at … University, Kara Valari can sometimes succeed at forgetting she’s both. Lost between the pages of the classics and tucked into the shadows of lecture halls, she can dodge the paparazzi’s lenses as well as her family’s publicized dramas—not to mention their private expectations. She has one more year to feed her true passions. Then she’ll be expected to fulfill a much darker destiny.
Cursed with inexplicable strength and godlike stature, literature professor Maximus Kane knows all about darkness. Every day he’s reminded of the missteps of his childhood and the devastating consequences they’ve had on those dearest to him. To atone, Maximus spends his nights alone and his days submerged in the quiet life of academia. His existence has become a study in control, and he’s become a master at it—until Kara Valari walks into his toughest course.
Viscerally, Kara’s everything he craves. Logically, she’s everything he rejects. She’s a starlet of privilege. She’s also a student. And after one touch, he can’t deny that she’s awakened something in him that may never go dormant. Nothing about her makes sense, but everything about her feels right. Especially in the deepest strands of his DNA, which are still shadows of mystery to him—a mystery Kara seems determined to uncover.
She’s Hollywood royalty. She’s forbidden fruit. And he’s pretty sure she could be the answer to everything.
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Blood of Zeus by Meredith Wild
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Book: Blood of Zeus
Author: Meredith Wild & Angel Payne
Type: #1 in ‘Blood of Zeus’.
POV: First Person – Dual
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Rating: 4 Stars!
Age: Maximus – 28; Kara – 22/23?.
The enchantress with the firestorm gaze that I can’t banish from my mind. The searing touches that I can’t wash off my skin. The energy, connective and captivating, that I can’t erase from my senses.
This is one of the best student- teacher romance I’ve ever read but with a twist of paranormal to it. Being a fan of forbidden love stories, I found myself in the mood for the thrill, the pulse pounding, and the anxiety that a good forbidden romance induces. Blood of Zeus delivered exactly that. The sexual tension was amazing. That’s really the standout here: how it builds and builds and they haven’t even been together until well into the end of the book. I liked the fact that this book has interesting subplots (Jesse, the underworld although we don’t get to know much about it, Kara’s Gramps and, Kell and Jesse’s connection), not to mention the coming-of-age element to it. I love the slow building that completely sucks you in and connects you to the main characters and really invests you in the outcome of the story.
It felt a thousand kinds of wrong.
But a million kinds of right.
Meredith Wild & Angel Payne have an amazing ability to write in a way that it’s not just that you know what the characters are going through, you find yourself going through the journey with them. The writing was exceptional, it was poetic. They made every word jump out from the pages until you can’t help but be mesmerized by them.
It’s definitely not going to be the typical journey down the student/professor trope. It is so hot and so complex and so emotional and filled with so many ups and downs, twists and turns, some of them I did not see coming at all even though certain things gave them away. Maximus and Kara’s journey was hard-fought, angsty, and just beautiful. Every step of the way, I cheered these two on.
And that cover. It was LUST at first sight. I am a well known cover whore and let me tell you, when my eyes came upon this deliciousness, I. HAD. TO. HAVE. IT.
How can I explain that Maximus is everything I never knew I wanted? How he doesn’t look at me the way everyone else does? How I feel every time he does? How I might never, ever grow tired of it? Maybe I’m willing to sacrifice a life of lies to live a moment of truth.
Plot: Kara Valari belongs to Hollywood’s most notorious dynasty, and she’s promised to a full-blooded demon by an oath/punishment as a result of her grandfather’s sins. The Valari family is doomed to serve Hell for an eternity. Maximus Kane is a literature professor at Alameda University but he also harbors a dangerous secret. He heals abnormally fast and has superhuman strength. He crippled his best friend, Jesse, at the age of 8 and has been living a life of secrecy and self-control ever since. He’s been hiding the monster inside and the one person who could give him answers – his mother – has been vague about giving those up. Kara and Maximus form an instant connection from their very first interaction when they meet in Maximus’s class on Dante’s comedy (fitting, right?). They continue to meet each other but both are hiding secrets of their own. Will Kara doom her family for damnation by breaking her oath? And what exactly is Maximus? Will he find the answers he had been looking for?
Safety: Safe with exception. Kara is promised to Arden Prieto, a demon who actively pursues her. There is one scene where he comes onto her but there’s no kissing. Maximus has been celibate for a long time. Kara hasn’t been with anyone in her life.
This book was everything that I wanted, craved and needed. The writing was flawless. The execution of the story line was on point as it had me on the edge of my seat. So if you are looking for a story that will have you consumed and begging for more, trust me when I tell you that YOU NEED TO READ THIS BOOK.
She’s graceful curves and sensual shadows.
Sultry darkness and passionate light.
Blatant need and open desire.
But most of all, she’s mine.
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What an introduction to a interesting series about Greek Gods but in the 21st century. I was instantly drawn into the characters Maximus and Kara and what they are going through. Maximus has no idea why he is so strong (stronger than a normal human) but he keeps his strength hidden since he knows that would create issues. Kara, on the other hand knows she’s part of the “devil” world and is only living in the present until she has to fulfill her duties and be in an arranged marriage. She can do what she wants and have as much “fun” as she wants but she has to remain a virgin.
When Kara and Maximus meets, there is an instant spark between them. Kara is taking Maximus’ class as the college and seems to know a lot of the information about the topic. What Maximus doesn’t realize is that Kara has heard about her ancestors! The couple fights their attraction but it’s like that are constantly being pull towards each other that they finally give in to their attraction for each other. Obviously their actions have consequences (even Maximus is unaware) and it takes Maximus’ long lost father, who he has never met, showing up and telling him the situation. Kara hopes that Maximus’ father, after finding out who he really is, can intervene on their behalf so as not to start a war!
I can’t wait for Heart of Fire to find out what happens next! This story has sucked me in, which seems to happen a lot with Meredith Wild and Angel Payne’s books, and I am anxiously awaiting the next book to find out what’s going to happen next!
Once I found out that Meredith Wild and Angel Payne were teaming up to write a book together I could only imagine how epic of a story it would turn out to be! I was wrong! Blood of Zeus surpassed my wildest dreams of what an amazing book it would be! This book is off the scales when it comes to rating so I guess I will settle for a 5 star rating. I couldn’t put it down and have re read it multiple times hoping it would hold me over for book 2. The chemistry between Maximus and Kara is undeniably lava hot I am surprised the paperback didn’t Burt into flames!!! So amazingly good and the ending will blow your mind to pieces!!!!
Five lighting and mystical stars! This book deserves a constellation!
First of all ladies, could we take a minute to appreciate the cover of this book? If that’s not enough to tempt you, surely the blending of paranormal and mythology will do the job. I’m drunk, intoxicated and very stunned after reading Blood of Zeus. The forbidden romance conquer me and owned my soul right in the spot. It took me on a very exciting adventure! I do have a soft spot for romances that involve mythology and one of my favourite tropes, aka student/teacher forbidden love.
Angel Payne and Meredith Wild did an excellent job with this book. I have read Angel Payne’s books before and it was a pleasant surprise to read this one that was co-written with Meredith Wild. I’ve been dying to read Meredith’s books and this one was the perfect way to start. These ladies are dangerous and brilliant together. They make such a great team! They penned a seductive, mysterious and addicting story that will blow readers out around the world.
Blood of Zeus is a romance born in modern luxury, mysticism and fate. A forbidden love wrapped in tragedy, traditions and lust. So much intensity through all the entire book. Maximus and Kara connection is magnetic and dangerous since they met. Their story and what they feel when they are together can only be described as consuming and forbidden. Both have secrets. Both are unique.
Kara Valari has a secret that consumes her. Her life is mapped out and her future is already written and she doesn’t have control over it. She is a student at Alameda University trying to finish her final year at college and pursue her passion of classics because once she is done she is expected to fulfil her true destiny. Being a Valari is more than just luxury and power. Being a Valari is a curse. She is very interested in one class in particular, Advanced Studies in Medieval Literature. She did everything to be able to attend that class and make the most of it.
Professor Maximus Kane is so intense, so tortured by his past actions that he can’t let anyone get to close to him. But when he met Kara Valari, his control goes out of the window. She is dangerous but at the same time she is the woman for him, he feels it. The electricity and attraction can’t be denied. They are fire. They are lighting. They are fiery and passionate.
The more time they spend together, the more they want to fall into the temptation and passion that consume them. There are many things and people that don’t want them together but they won’t listen because what they feel they haven’t felt it before.
As the story goes on, I was more and more intrigued by it. There are unique abilities that they each possess that add more suspense to the story. Their sophisticated talks about Dante and Hell bring spicy to their dance of seduction. So poetic and so classic. Fighting their desires while trying to decipher their connection. The result is magnificent. Mysterious identities. Horrible and dark fates. A tempestuous bliss.
I loved this book form the start to the end. I devoured it voraciously. I can’t wait to read the next two book in the series. I need MORE. I must confess that I read it a second time and still found it as engrossing as the first time. This ladies is a MUST READ with capital letters!
Blood of Zeus (Blood of Zeus #1) was a great read by Meredith Wild and Angel Payne. Kara Valero is an undergraduate at Los Angeles’ Alameda University. Kara is both a demon and a Valari which are both bad things, and she sometimes forgets that. She is able to dodge the paparazzi’s lenses and her families drama. But she has a dark destiny to fulfill. Maximus Kane is a literature professor with incredible strength and the looks of a god. He has had many missteps in his childhood that had terrible consequences. Maximus now spends his nights alone and his days quiet at the school. He leads a quiet existence until Kara walks into his toughest class. He wants to stay away from her and can’t deny their attraction. He can’t stay away from her even though she’s Hollywood royalty. I loved reading Kara and Maximus’ story and can’t wait to read more by Meredith Wild.
From the first mention of this collaboration, I have had this on my most anticipated read for the year and these two authors did not disappoint. Mixing elements of Shakespeare, Dante’s Inferno, the paranormal, and mythology all into one has left readers with one powerful read. There is nothing one can do but fall for Maximus and Kara as they fight for what they feel for each other no matter what and to heck with promises made. Kara is a strong woman who has always towed the line when it came to her family, but at what cost? Maximus is a man without knowledge of his past but has attributes that cannot be ascribed to a human. This is one all-consuming read from start to finish. It is definitely one to put on any tbr list. I cannot wait to see where this epic journey takes Kara and Maximus in the next installment. I volunteered to read a copy of this book.
I couldn’t put this down. It’s paranormal mixed with the mythological, which I love. The story flowed so well that I was engrossed in it from the very beginning and was unable to set it down. It’s sexy, passionate, suspenseful at times. I was sucked into a whole new world and I love what the authors did with it.
** spoiler alert ** Blood of Zeus is insanely intense. It is Alluring, and will have you completely entranced as you read this mesmerizing paranormal romance that has me drawn to the supernatural. It is full with two characters one lost to finding himself or who he really is and one who is running from the life she is destined to. When Kara Valari, a demon and of the precious Hollywood Valari family, takes a Medieval Literature class she is completely captivated by the Professor Maximus Kane. An intensely strong gorgeous gentle giant who’s physical presence draws her to him. Spun up in the mystery of the man, she is unable to escape their physical attraction, there chemistry is combustible.
Kara is hellbent on keeping her demonic powers away from Maximus afraid she will loss him. All the while Maximus is trying to figure out why he is so drawn to her. It’s when he learns who his father is that his life starts to take a turn and he can begin to understand what it is that he has to go to have her.
“Give me more, little temptress. Something. Anything.”
This story will have you hypnotized and the suspense will have you hanging on the edge of your seats. The hurdles these two characters will walk through, is simply enchanting. The mystery behind their ancestry and their parents reasoning for not telling them of their past have them that much more determined to be one. Their love will have you so drawn to them watching them come together is so powerful and beautifully harmonious.
“All of me for all of you. That’s how this works. You don’t have to be gently with me.”
“My angel. My sweet heaven. “And you’ve stolen my soul.”
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It’s been a while since I’ve dipped my fingers into a mythological based romance and I had quite the experience with this book. This is the first installment of a trilogy and I am anxious to have the next one in my hands.
First and foremost, I am completely head over heels in love with this cover. This model fits Maximus’ character to a T! What a beautiful man! . Kudos for that cover.
This book treads the student/teacher trope. So, if you’re one for that type of romance, then you might want to take a gander at Blood of Zeus. This book slowly eases you into a paranormal setting. Most of the story focuses on the history of the heroine. She’s a demon who’s family is constantly in the public eye and because of that, has to watch every single step and think hard before making any future choices.
On the other hand, Maximus is blind to his past and finding answers is at the forefront of his mind. Along with one beautiful and tempting student he just can’t seem to resist. Their relationship is frustrating at times, but you will definitely feel the pull these two have for towards one another. I need these two to get in on way more than once. And that ending…can somebody please splash some water on my face?!
Mind. Blown. The concept behind this story is beyond brilliant. Wild and Payne gives us something so unique that you are dying for more. I devoured this book in one sitting and I need more. The story is unique and one of a kind between Maximus and Kara. Things are not all they seem to be for both of them. One one hand, we have Kara who knows who she is and what her lot in life is. On the other, we have Maximus who is trying to figure out why he is the way he is and his mother won’t give him the answers he is so desperate to know. But I have to say, the sizzle in this book is stunning. The connection between these two is beyond amazing as they try and figure out a lot of the how and whys. Their banter keeps you on your toes as they match each other in so many ways. But their physical connection is just sizzling. It is such a slow burn and the way these two spare verbally at times is such a passionate foreplay!
Overall, this book is everything and more for me. The storyline kept me on my toes as I have never read anything like this and I am just in awe of what these authors came up with! Then that ending! OH MY STARS! I am so counting down till the next book in this series!
Wow! I was blown away by Blood of Zeus!! When Meredith Wild and Angel Payne announced they were teaming up to bring us a new series, I could not contain my excitement. Two of my unicorn authors together? How could this be anything other than amazing? And I will tell you, it is even better than I could have imagined! I was 110% invested and engaged in this book right from the start. I read it voraciously in one sitting. And even though I am not normally a rereader, I am already excited to read this one again! Strong and sexy, Maximus is to die for! There is a mystery and an unknown element to him that I look forward to finding out more about. And Kara? She is a strong heroine with her own destiny. I am highly anticipating the next book. I know it is going to be epic!
Honestly, this book reads more like a contemporary, forbidden love romance than paranormal, but paranormal it is. Kara is a demon, well mostly, and her fate is tied to a generations old connection to hell. But as she’s in her final year at university, and she meets super hot lit profession Maximus Kane, her world is sent into a spiral she never though could happen. Not only is Maximus her professor, but he possesses seemingly inhuman strength, which apparently landed his best friend in a wheel chair when they were 8. Maximus has isolated himself, in an effort to protect anyone else from getting hurt – he doesn’t know why he has this strength, and his mom is less than forthcoming about his father. But Kara brings out feelings he’s unable to fight, that neither of them are unable to fight. As their attraction grows, and they spend more time together, they’re both caught up in circumstances that ultimately tear down the world as they know it. There’s a decent amount of symbolism and reference to Dante’s Inferno, the book that Maximus teaches in his advanced lit class, and Kara’s interest in it and her personal knowledge of hell. The book definitely ends on a pretty big cliffhanger, with Maximus learning a bombshell about not only himself but of Kara, and Kara putting herself in a situation with an unknown and possibly terrifying future. It’s a slow, steady burn to the end, and the explosion is worth it. Looking forward to seeing where the story will go from here.
Amazing!!
Blood of Zeus by Meridith Wild and Angel Payne, is a thrilling emotional, roller coaster ride through a world of God’s and demons in modern day L.A. If you are a fan of the T. V series Lucifer, or of novels filled with heroes and heroines who challenge Destiny at every turn, you will love this book.
Wild and Payne, are new authors for me. I picked this book up from synopsis read on a social media ad, and it was every bit as exciting and romantic as it promised. It also was chock full of unexpected twists that kept me wondering what could possibly happen next. Who is Maximus and Kara? Why the secrets? A million other questions popped up as I turned page after page. As the obstacles mount and disaster seems the only conclusion, I held my breath to see what could possibly happen to save our lovers? Well, you just have to read Blood of Zeus yourself, because I refuse to spoil the pleasure, I am sure you will experience!
I am especially delighted by the wonderful world that the authors crafted. Magically, Ms. Wild and Ms. Payne, transported me to Hollywood. Their vivid descriptions, showed me not just the glamour I have seen many times from afar, but the underbelly of secrets and lies covered by glitter and sequins. It was masterful demonstration of word craft.
I also was easily drawn to the main characters, Maximus and Kara. The character development both of the main characters and the wonderful support cast was astounding. It was like being front and center in an award winning stage play! Bravo! Encore please!
My only complaint is that of course, as a series of novels, Blood of Zeus ends in a cliffhanger. As I have a shelf of other to be read books, I reluctantly have to wait before I can dive into book 2. However, book 2, Heart of Fire, is available from Amazon, and could be purchased immediately if you wish to continue this exciting romance series! And I do plan to continue the series, soon!
Absolutely loved it!
I loved this book. It’s unique and compelling. I expected to dislike Kara because of what she is but I ended up feeling for her and the obstacles she faced. Max is of course a hottie with a brain which makes him high on the level of book boyfriends. However, there is so much more to him. You’ll be rooting for both of them by the time you reach the unexpected end.
This is definitely a reread series for me! Loved Maximus and Kara!
As a reader who doesn’t read book blurb, I must say that when I first saw this one, I thought I will find a completely different story, and I must say that the surprise was extremely pleasant, since I loved the story, especially because it’s the type of book that I enjoy; fantasy.
I also must say that it’s the first time that I read something from Meredith Wild, but I have read other books from Angel Payne and I couldn’t expect less from her, a story that has it ALL.
Obviously, the first thing that strikes you in these books are the covers (let’s be honest), but what you really stick with is the story that comes within. (Although of course, at all times Professor Maximus and Brock O’Hurn were the same person in my mind)
Anyway, let’s land into the story at once. As I said, usually when I know that not matter what, I’m going to read a book, I don’t read the blurb, so, I saw some teasers about Professor Maximus and I thought I would find a story similar to “Gabriel’s Inferno” which was fine. However, when I read the first lines of the first chapter I said to myself “OMG!! This is going to be soooo good” because you discover that Kara is a demon but her “curse” is to be a Valari and immediately you thinks about “what the hell does that mean?” I think that for a lover of paranormal romance books there is no better beginning than that, because you know that the whole story will be intense, full of interesting characters and situations that will take you to the edge.
The truth is that I really enjoyed this story, much more than I imagined at first, because there is a whole world perfectly created behind these characters.
It has everything, on the one hand we have that Teacher/student relationship that we love, but deeper down there is that connection that inexplicably attracts them, but that they cannot set free because there is something that stops them, “the Common World” And I love it, I love how the Daily World, the “normal” world, is giving sense to fantasy.
I really liked the way they handled the heroine’s personality, because although she is strong, confident, with her goal well laid out, she is not indifferent or a “man swallower”, but she has her vulnerable part that needs to be protected, on the other part Maximus is determined, strong, well, just perfect, but still with a lot of secrets (which is great since being a trilogy leaves a lot of doubts, I personally feel that there is still much to discover) And, of course I have to mention the secondary characters, they are great, you want know more about them, but in that good way that they doesn’t overshadowing the main characters.
I’ve had this book on my TBR for a while now, and figured I’d better get it done before book 2 comes out. From the minute I dove in, there was something captivating about the story. Forbidden on more than one level, honest and yet deceiving, definitely full of anticipation as we learn more about both Maximus and Kara and their secrets, some they know and some they don’t. I can’t wait to see where their story goes next!
Who knew Gods and Demons lived in LA? This story has so many features to make a story to be read over and over. Paranormals living everyday lives, a forbidden student – professor attraction and passion that affects the weather. Kara is living on a timeline of debt, Maximus is living with a lifetime of guilt and questions. Their attraction is off the charts. The angst left me clamoring for more. The family drama has me spinning with possibilities. Bravo for reeling me Meredith and Angel. I am excited to read more in this series.
“The intimate moment was a Richter-shaking blast, forever altering the landscape of my body, my mind, my senses.” ~ Kara