Eclipsing Apollo
(Loves of Olympus Series, Bk #3)
by Sasha Summers
Apollo is fond of many things. Music, poetry, physical prowess, truth, and love. The Pythian Games are in his honor and he attends, as a mere mortal, to enjoy the competition… and the women. Meeting the fair Coronis offers him his greatest delight. Her strength, her fearlessness, and her beauty clasp his heart with an irrevocable hold. But she wants none of him.
Coronis’ duty is to marry, but she yearns for so much more. She is a fierce competitor, a hunter, skilled in strategy and reason. Those that would court her lack both the mind and the body to rival hers - she will settle for no less. As a mortal, Apollo was both infuriating and tempting. But Apollo the Olympian is terrifying. She fears giving him her heart might destroy her soul.
Demeter’s need for revenge pits Olympian against Olympian, forcing Apollo into a darkness the God of Light must fight if he ever hopes to see his Coronis again.
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Excerpt
He turned, readying his bow as he’d done a thousand times
before. It was all too easy to miscalculate, to skew his arrow a hairsbreadth
from the mark. He released the arrow, stunned when it hit the target.
before. It was all too easy to miscalculate, to skew his arrow a hairsbreadth
from the mark. He released the arrow, stunned when it hit the target.
The crowd reacted instantly, applause and cheers breaking
the silence.
the silence.
He looked at Coronis, stunned by the slight smile on her
face. “Why do you smile?”
face. “Why do you smile?”
“Father says there’s never been more than four rounds.”
Her smile grew. “We shall make history.”
Her smile grew. “We shall make history.”
He smiled in response. “Winning is no longer important?”
“Winning is everything,” she argued, incredulous. “Surely
you see that?”
you see that?”
In that moment she was not just a woman. No, she was a
competitor. An adversary to respect. He nodded, puzzling over the affect this
woman had upon him.
competitor. An adversary to respect. He nodded, puzzling over the affect this
woman had upon him.
Once the field was cleared and the targets were place, a
silence fell upon the spectators. He would lead this time. The target was
miniscule, an easy miss…
silence fell upon the spectators. He would lead this time. The target was
miniscule, an easy miss…
Coronis scarce waited for his arrow to fly before
releasing hers.
releasing hers.
The crowd waited as the judges ran the length of the
field to the targets.
field to the targets.
From the corner of his eye he watched her. She stared at
the ground, her hands clasping her bow as she shifted from foot to foot.
the ground, her hands clasping her bow as she shifted from foot to foot.
When the judges pulled her arrow from the target and held
it high, the crowd erupted with cheers and applause—to be drowned out by
rolling thunder. Rain fell down in torrents, lightning split the sky in quick
succession, sending all in the stands in search of shelter. He would have
followed the others, but she stood, staring up at the sky, smiling. So he
remained at her side.
it high, the crowd erupted with cheers and applause—to be drowned out by
rolling thunder. Rain fell down in torrents, lightning split the sky in quick
succession, sending all in the stands in search of shelter. He would have
followed the others, but she stood, staring up at the sky, smiling. So he
remained at her side.
He would touch her, pull her against him, and hold her.
Instead, he stepped closer and took her hand in his. Only then did she look at
him.
Instead, he stepped closer and took her hand in his. Only then did she look at
him.
Lightning pierced the sky, striking a great tree at the
edge of the field. He’d scarce heard the crackle and snap of its mighty trunk
before the air around them whistled and the tree began to fall. He did not
think, but pulled her tightly against him, sheltering her with his body. When
the ground shook with the force of the fall, he held her still. Her back was
pressed against his chest, her scent tickling his nose, while his arm cradled
her waist. His hold eased once he knew she was safe, but the feel of her curves
against him was a heady thing. If not for the chill of her wet tunic on his
skin, he would have held her until she forced him to release her.
edge of the field. He’d scarce heard the crackle and snap of its mighty trunk
before the air around them whistled and the tree began to fall. He did not
think, but pulled her tightly against him, sheltering her with his body. When
the ground shook with the force of the fall, he held her still. Her back was
pressed against his chest, her scent tickling his nose, while his arm cradled
her waist. His hold eased once he knew she was safe, but the feel of her curves
against him was a heady thing. If not for the chill of her wet tunic on his
skin, he would have held her until she forced him to release her.
He swallowed, taking in the tree. If he’d not pulled her
aside, Coronis would be dead—pinned beneath the tree. His chest felt heavy,
weighted by a most crushing pressure. The feel of her, trembling against him,
was the greatest comfort. He drew in a deep breath, running his hands along her
arms. “You are cold,” he murmured, his nose brushing her ear.
aside, Coronis would be dead—pinned beneath the tree. His chest felt heavy,
weighted by a most crushing pressure. The feel of her, trembling against him,
was the greatest comfort. He drew in a deep breath, running his hands along her
arms. “You are cold,” he murmured, his nose brushing her ear.
She shivered, pulling from his embrace. She glanced at
the tree, the realization of what might have happened clear upon her pale
features. She stared up at him with a face so conflicted he would draw her
close once more. Instead she ran from him, toward the safety of her father’s
house.
I loved Greek and Roman mythology when I was a kid. All of the tragic events that occurred in one's life could be explained by pissing off the wrong God. I have read the previous books in this series and what I liked most was the retelling of famous tragedies and the trials that lead to their legend. This book was no different. The God in question is Apollo and mortal lady love Coronis. This is the third book in the series, which I highly recommend that you read in order; it just flows better that way. While on his way to participate in the Pythian Games (as one does when a tournament is held in your honor), he comes across Coronis, a huntress of the first water and he's capitivated by her beauty and skill and taken aback by her sharp wit and tongue. As you would guess, Greek gods have nothing better to do than to pit one God against the others and to constantly undermine one another. The ending was somewhat what I expected and it left a bad taste in my mouth.
features. She stared up at him with a face so conflicted he would draw her
close once more. Instead she ran from him, toward the safety of her father’s
house.
4 stars!!!!
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About the Author
Sasha is part gypsy. Her passions have always been storytelling, Hollywood, history, and travel. It’s no surprise that her books include a little of each. Her first play, ‘Greek Gods and Goddesses’ was written for her Girl Scout troupe. She’s been writing ever since. She loves getting lost in the worlds and characters she creates; even if she frequently forgets to run the dishwasher or wash socks when she’s doing so. Luckily, her four brilliant children and hero-inspiring hubby are super understanding and supportive.
You can stalk, I mean find Sasha here
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