Ares by Felicity Heaton is the first book in the Guardian of Hades series. It centres on Ares, one of the seven sons of Hades. Hades banished each of his sons to the mortal world, giving them the responsibility of guarding the gates of the Underworld from the daemons determined to breach it. Ares was responsible for the New York gate. They also had a power unique to them, one that seemed like a curse. Ares wielded fire, which prevented him from having physical contact with those he loved. As a result, he lived a lonely life driven by duty to protect the underworld.

Megan, while on her way home from work, found herself caught in the middle of a fight between Ares and one of these daemons. From that moment her life would go through unexpected changes. I am still not sure if she is a mere mortal. The story portrayed her as such, but her ability to heal and withstand Ares’s fire revealed that there was more to her than it led the reader to believe.

I have been wanting to read this book since its release, but never had the chance to do so until now. I went into the story with high expectations, having been a fan of the author’s Eternal Mates series. Unfortunately, it did not deliver as I had expected. Not that it was a terrible story, but it fell far from what I have come to expect from the author.

What I Liked

World Building
I enjoyed my journey into the world the author created and I also loved her twist on Greek mythology. She created a world that was a mix of fantasy and reality. I found the fight scenes exciting and intense.

Main Characters
Heroine
Meagan’s selflessness and bravery shined throughout the story.
Hero
Ares, the son of Hades and nephew to the Greek god of war who never wavered in his dedication to his duty.

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Secondary Characters
The story provided snippets about the other brothers whetting the reader’s desire for their stories.

The Ending
There were no cliff-hangers, however the ending hinted at a war in the making.

What I didn’t Like
Megan’s immediate acceptance of Ares and everyone and everything associated with him seemed unrealistic. There were no signs of trepidation, which one would have expected in such a situation. It was also odd that she gave up the life and job she had prior to meeting Ares but no mention was made as relates to these areas for the remainder of the story.

Romance
The chemistry between the key characters was non-existent, which made their whole connection seem forced.

Narration
I listened to the audio version, which proved to be a terrible decision. The narrator’s voice was monotonous. It was as if he was reading an academic book and not a novel filled with intense action and romantic scenes.

Conclusion/Recommendation
Although this installment didn’t live up to my expectations I intend to continue the series.