This has the usual wretched romance novel style with head hoping among other stylistic nits and the usual eye-rolling descriptions of great beauty and flowery euphemisms in the sex scenes--but no worse than most books on the romance aisle--I'd almost come to take that for granted. But gad. First words said to the hero after ogling him by Amanda, the heroine, who had been knocked unconscious and wakes up cuffed to him: "Wake up, yummy leather guy."
What really got on my one nerve more than anything else though was the mishmash of Greek and Roman Mythology, pseudo-history and pop references. (Particularly to Buffy--unfortunate because it kept reminding me how much better that show is compared to this crap.) The hero, Kyrian of Thrace, is an immortal "Dark Hunter" with vampiric traits who hunts vampires and demons. Vampires in this world are descendants of the Greek god Apollo. (Apollo???? Hades I'd understand but HUH???) Greek and Roman Gods and Goddesses pop in and out throughout the book. Supposedly, back when he was human, Kyrian almost conquered Rome during the "Fourth Macedonian War."
The historical aspects of the novel are ludicrous--most readers probably don't notice or care, but it was one aspect that made the world-building feel sloppy--good authors, like those sold in other parts of the store, do a lot better; this book just serves to underline to me that if you want great genre love stories, you stay out of the romance aisle. Great romantic urban fantasy? Head to the fantasy/science fiction section and get Dime Store Magic by Kelley Armstrong or go to the Young Adult section and pick up Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr. So, so many fantasies out there with romance that are great reads--knowing that I just couldn't push myself beyond page 100--and I think I was over-generous. Part of the very popular "Dark Hunter" series I won't be reading more of.
