Review: Thanos by Ella Frank (Masters Among Monsters #3)

Note: This ARC was provided by the author via Social Butterfly PR in exchange for an honest review.

Thanos lowered his head to rest his forehead against Paris's and whispered, "I fear there is no other way out now. You and your friends...you are the fire. The flood. The plague. You are the end of all ends that were helpless to resist or fight. And it has already started. Don't you see? You are our destruction--but for me, you will also be my salvation."

After a year-long wait, fans and readers get the finale to Ella Frank's paranormal romance trilogy, Masters Among Monsters, with the release of Thanos! Not only do we get Thanos Agapiou's story--one that he shares with his Ancient Eton and the not-all-that-human Paris Antoniou--but we get the much-awaited resolution to very complex relationship between the vampires--both the Ancients and their first-sireds--and the demigods destined to rid the world of them. This third and final novel had more than one surprising twist lying in wait, and if I thought I had seen it all in the first two books, suffice it to say that the author was saving the very best for last. Everything came together as expected, but getting two epilogues plus one shocking ending? All those seriously took me by surprise.

Thanos Agapiou has kept himself locked away after the events that led to his disfigurement. He not only refuses to see or be seen by the Ancients, his cousins, or other vampires in general, but he's pushed away his own Ancient, accusing Eton for not keeping his vow. The guilt weighing upon Eton's shoulders has led him to do the unthinkable, setting into motion something that he may never come back from. With betrayal and doubt swirling around him, Thanos finds solace in the very individual who could end him--Paris Antoniou. But it isn't just Thanos being forced to deal with deceit and manipulation. Paris and his friends are finally getting answers, but those answers were not quite what they expected. But two questions remain: Who are the true masters, and who are the true monsters?

My emotions were all over the place with this series finale. Thanos's connection with Eton was very different from those of Alasdair Kyriakoús with Vasilios and Isadora Nikitas with Diomêdês. I won't go into detail how so, but suffice it to say, that it was even far more complicated compared to the two other Ancient-first-sired relationships. Speaking of comparisons, I couldn't help but compare Paris with his two fellow demigods, Leonidas Chapel and Elias Fontana. I've liked Leo from the beginning; Elias...not so much, and not only because of what he did to Thanos. Paris, though, I was left feeling a bit torn. He seemed like a lost puppy for most of the story, but I did like how he was with Thanos and his complete and utter acceptance of the Thanos he did meet, i.e. post-Elias incident.

This series had this intoxicating mix of Greek mythology and paranormal creatures and it was all set in the present with flashbacks to the past used to better explain how everything came about. When everything about the demigods and the vampires came to light, I wasn't too surprised about what was revealed. At least, I now feel justified in my not liking the two gods and one goddess involved in the whole scenario. I mentioned the two epilogues and the ultimate ending, and it was certainly the latter that had my eyebrows raising in surprise, but in the absolute best way possible. I'm going to highly recommend that you read the books in order so that you get the full Masters Among Monsters experience, and what a great experience it was! I'm giving Thanos five-plus stars. ♥

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Read my reviews for the Masters Among Monsters series:

Alasdair (book one) - five-plus stars - My Review

Isadora (book two) - five-plus stars - My Review

Thanos (book three) - five-plus stars - My Review (posted above)

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Release Date: 26 January 2017

Date Read: 25 January 2017

Learn more about Ella Frank.

Purchase Thanos on Amazon.