Saturday, January 29, 2011

Review: Lust (The Sins and Virtues #1) by Charlotte Featherstone

Book Description: 


Seven sins... Seven virtues... Untold desires
Of old, humans and Faeries have dwelt side by side in parallel realms. Only the canniest mortals recognize the alluring creatures that often walk—and lie—among them.

The righteous Fae of the Seelie Court cherish an ancient quarrel with their Dark counterparts: a curse born of anger and deceit. The Unseelie Court will perish unless one of its princes can win a woman’s love—honestly, without coercion...and love her wholly in return.
To halt the slow demise of his people, Prince Thane— the embodiment of Lust—infiltrates the Georgian court to seduce his mortal inverse. Noblewoman Chastity Lennox is purity incarnate—a sensual prize well worth winning. But Thane’s carnal quest proves more challenging than he ever dreamed.

No other has ever been able—or willing—to resist his erotic
charms. Chastity’s resolve is maddening...and intriguing. It makes him want her all the more. But how best to seduce one who truly seems above temptation? Discover her greatest weakness and become the intoxicating essence of her deepest, most forbidden desires....

Review:

This book opens with a brief history of the Seelie and Unseelie courts, which of course are ripe with intrigue, betrayal, and sexuality. The romantic element is woven into the story in such a way that I was reminded of a Grim fairy tale or Beauty and the Beast. Lust piques your interest right from the first lines because you know that curses are meant to be broken and that this erotic romance will make for great storytelling.

"Perhaps we may find our sins vanquished once we have the virtues," Niall suggested. "Mayhap what torments us now no longer will. Maybe all of us will be free."

That was the first glimpse of the men behind the sins. They are more than simply lust, gluttony or envy... so much more. They feel, and yearn, hoping for nothing more than to see the curse ended. The battle for control over each sin is a fierce one and involves having the virtues accept them without force or coercion, and without lies and deceit.

At times I thought Thane and Chastity went round and round without making any forward progress but I really wouldn't have the story told any other way. Chastity needed to learn that she was more than her virtue, that her desires and dreams were not wrong. And Thane needed to tame his sin, to think before speaking, and to not use words like defile or worse yet, quim. Nothing sexy about that and one would think that the embodiment of lust could be more creative in describing sex. Having Chastity fear him because of his harsh words would ruin everything. When Chastity finally gives in, and the fun begins in earnest,  I swear I must have looked like the Cheshire Cat with a huge sneaky grin on my face.

Here's my absolute favorite line (warning- explicit language):

"I want to take you, fuck you, have you writhing beneath me. Then I want to love you, to feel you clinging to me, begging me to give you release. And then I want to hold you. To kiss you in the dark and watch you fall asleep. And then I will wake you by sliding down your body and lapping at you, waking you with my mouth."- Thane

*sigh* I just love the brutal honesty of those lines. You'd have to be crazy to say no to that! The stark emotions of Thane, and all the Dark Fey, make you really cheer for them and I am anxiously awaiting my next foray into the sensuous, steamy world of Sins and Virtues. Everyone deserves a happy ending...even those that sin.

2 comments:

Michele Hauf said...

I love everything that Charlotte Featherstone writes! Addiction was an excellent read. Just ordered Lust from Amazon. Can't wait to read it!

Theresa said...

Absolutely agree! Loved this book and am impatiently awaiting the next! :)