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The Nymph King
by Gena Showalter

Shaye Holling is a cynical and jaded young woman. She makes Anti-Cards, cards that are the exact opposite of what you would normally send to a person, which are a big hit. She’s seen her mother go through far too many marriages and men who are “the one” to believe in the crock of marriage and true love. Then during her mother’s wedding to her latest hubby Shaye and a few other women are kidnapped off the beach by Valerian, the Nymph King, and whisked away to Atlantis. Valerian believes she’s his mate, his one and only, and Shaye wants none of that baloney.

Well, the cover art is very nice and enticing and just goes to prove that you cannot judge a book by its cover. Yes ladies and gentlemen, despite the fact that Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com keep offering up Showalter’s works to me on their top recommendations (based on previous purchases) I’m not finding myself very pleased with the results. And I have to say right here and now that I have a hard time sticking this in the fantasy section since it’s far too easy to forget that this is supposed to be a fantasy piece. Yup, it’s a good thing Showalter takes pains to remind her readers that the women are being held hostage by Nymphs because otherwise you would think these were regular horny chauvinistic men. No joke.

In the description and the initial first chapters Shaye Holling seems like a strong female character but as the story progresses you can’t help but to throw that thought out the window. What’s so strong about a woman who falls madly in love for a man who kidnaps her off a beach and carries her off caveman style while proclaiming that she is his sexual toy and will remain so for all eternity?

And therein lies my biggest complaint with this book. Do women really want to be carted off and around caveman style by big lugs who are good looking granted but for the most part appear to be dumber than rocks? Give me someone with brains and a personality please! Valerian looks likes a Chippendale’s stripper, has the manners of an ox and the mindset of a caveman. It seems to me that this author likes her men good looking and lacking in brain power. Not to mention she apparently likes the thought of being treated like chattel as well. I’m sorry Gena Showalter but you’re living in the wrong century here.

Shaye Holling has the potential to become a riveting and captivating strong female lead in this novel, but that potential is squandered. Valerian, well he fits the stereotype of the dumb good looking jock so well that my mind hurts trying to picture him as a good and worthy King of his people, which he’s supposed to be. His actions don’t speak well for his supposed position and and his character just lacks substance.

I truly regret picking this book up. The story itself turned out to be a dime store romance novel’s trite attempt at fantasy romance, and failed miserably at that. The characters lacked substance and believability not to mention insulted the intelligence of the reader to boot. About the only good thing I could say about this book is that the sex was hot and steamy but I can point you to a host of other authors that can offer up that same accomplishment and provide you with a gripping storyline and lovable characters.

Joana’s rating: