Blood of Zeus: Blood of Zeus: Book One

Meredith Wild · Angel Payne

Aug 2020 · Blood of Zeus Book 1 · Waterhouse Press

About this ebook

An 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 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.

Ratings and reviews

4.25 stars--BLOOD OF ZEUS is the first instalment in the contemporary, adult BLOOD OF ZEUS paranormal, mythological, romantic suspense series co-authored by Meredith Wild and Angel Payne focusing on university student Kara Valari and professor Maximus Kane. Told from dual first person perspectives (Kara and Maximus) BLOOD OF ZEUS follows the building but forbidden relationship between university student Kara Valari and professor Maximus Kane, a relationship forbidden by the university ethics, and the law of the gods. From the outset, the reader is aware there is more to our couple than meets the eye. As Kara and Maximus relationship builds, their attraction and time together creates a firestorm that summons the gods, forcing Kara to reveal the truth about what she is, and her connections to the world. While Maximus continues to be oblivious to his supernatural heritage, a visit from his father begins to breakdown the barriers between earth and h*ll, barriers that no longer protect our story line couple. What ensues is the building relationship between Kara and Maximus, and the potential fall-out as their union is forbidden because Kara is promised to someone else. Kara Valari has known about her heritage and the circumstance of her family and her birth all of her life but meeting Maximus Kane draws Kara like a moth to a flame, a flame that burns with the intensity of the sun. Unable to reveal the truth to Maximus, Kara finds herself bouncing between walking away or losing everything for love. Kara’s family is a member of the ultra-rich and famous, and in this, their every move is watched and painted for the world to see. Maximus Kane is unaware of his supernatural powers or his mythological heritage but knows he is not quite normal in the eyes of humanity. The more time he spends with our story line heroine, the more his abilities begins to manifest revealing his location, and his connections to the sky. The relationship between Kara and Maximus is one of immediate attraction that neither one is able to explain. Kara knows there is more to Maximus than a mortal human being but our hero continues to be oblivious to his heritage, and the powerful strength that comes with his DNA. Having to keep their relationship secret from the university and the paparazzi, Kara struggles knowing that if their secrets are revealed, the punishment will be swift and deadly. The $ex scenes are limited but passionate and intense. There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and energetic secondary and supporting characters. We are introduced to Maximus’ best friend and fellow professor Jesse NOrth; Kara’s sister Kell, their mother Veronica Valari, their grandfather Giovani Valari, art collector Arden, Maximus’ mother Nancy Kane, and a revelation as to the identity of our hero’s father. BLOOD OF ZEUS is a story of family, secrets, power and gods; of mythological demons, angels, contracts and legends; of promises and love. The premise is intriguing, entertaining and exciting; the romance is seductive and impassioned; the characters are desperate, dynamic and charismatic. BLOOD OF ZEUS ends on a cliff hanger-you have been warned.

***** AUDIOBOOK REVIEW ***** This storyline has an instantaneous magnetic feeling with heavy sexual desire added in. I'm not sure if it's because I listened to the audiobook or what but it was a story that pulsed with desire. I'm not a big paranormal romance reader/listener but this first book doesn't feel too heavy in the PNR either... it gets there and it's definitely implied but it doesn't start out heavy. I wonder if that's because it's the first book in the series. Blood of Zeus could have been setting up the story, setting the stage, if you will, and introducing all (most) the characters. I devoured it. I have an avid interest in mythology and am really excited to see where this story take us... I have the feeling that Maximus and Kara will have some hell to pay in the coming books! This was my first book by Meredith Wild and Angel Payne and I'm really excited about the two follow up books. I can't wait to learn more about the mythical world that they're combining with our world. I found the mix to be really sexy and forbidden... recklessness it's attractive when you have the Blood of Zeus!! Now the narration by Jennifer Mack and Jacob Morgan was sumptuous. They both brought the perfect amount of drama and just gave a pulse to the story. Mack was able to perfectly portray Kara. She really brought her personality to the forefront... I felt her worry and apprehension just like I felt her inability to fight it. Morgan had his work cut out for him Maximus was left in the dark for so much of the book that he had to convey that confusion while still coming off as strong and dominant. He portrayed that flawlessly. They definitely had me invested and excited for Heart of Fire! Thank you Brilliance Publishing for the complimentary copy of this audiobook with the hope that I would leave an Unbiased Opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that... my opinions.

⚡Electrifying ⚡ Turbulent ⚡ What an intoxicating start to a new series! This is a paranormal romance but the paranormal in this first episode runs more in the background than front and center. It is there and it makes itself known as the lies unravel and the truth breaks free. The stakes get higher and the players more deadly. 10 bolts of lightening to our fab authors for the universe they have created here. The colorful cast, supporting and main, are easy to connect with - I always enjoy it when a character can draw out the stronger emotions in me - that instant love or loathing - as if I can feel their aura radiating off the pages. I soooo don't want to spoil how this plays out or the storm that we as readers are left standing in (just wait for it). Maximus was one of those characters that for me is more than just words on a page for me. His character was so tangible. I could feel the constant turmoil he attempts to repress the need to contain his aggression. The want to know more. Kara is a ball of fiery rebellion! If anyone can understand how unfair the world is it is her. But she also recognizes that there is more to her hulking smexy professor and that more calls to her on a visceral level. The push and pull between these two is charged and despite the chaos surrounding them you can't help but hope they get their HEA But at what price?

About the author

Meredith Wild is a #1 New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author.  She lives on Florida’s Gulf Coast with her husband and three children. She refers to herself as a techie, whiskey appreciator, and sun worshipper. She has been featured on CBS This Morning and the Today Show, and in the New York Times, the Hollywood Reporter, Publishers Weekly, and the Examiner. Her foreign rights have been sold in twenty-three languages.

USA Today bestselling romance author Angel Payne loves to focus on high-heat romance starring memorable alpha men and the women who love them. She has numerous book series to her credit, including the popular Honor Bound series, the Secrets of Stone series (with Victoria Blue), the Cimarron series, the Temptation Court series, the Suited for Sin series, and the Lords of Sin historicals, as well as several standalone titles.

Angel is a native Southern Californian, leading to her love of being in the outdoors, where she often reads and writes. She still lives in Southern California with her soul-mate husband and beautiful daughter, to whom she is a proud cosplay/culture con mom. Her passions also include whisky tasting, shoe shopping, and travel.