Beautiful Death (Mythomorphoses book 1) by Joely Sue Burkhart
02/08/2008 . Source: Kelly Jensen 
pub: Drollerie Press. 281 page E-book. Price: $ 6.95 (US). ISBN: 978-0-9798081-9-7. Available through: Drollerie Press, All Romance E-Books, and BooksOnBoard . Buy Beautiful Death in the USA - or Buy Beautiful Death in the UK  check out websites: http://drolleriepress.com/, http://drolleriepress.com/Interact/?p=135and www.joelysueburkhart.com
The population of Earth has been devastated by an unknown virus. A vaccination was found, but not before millions died forever changing the world. New cities with names and leaders based in Greek mythology have risen from the ruins. These cities are domed and their citizens are regularly inoculated against the virus. Outside the cities, chaos reigns. Alien ambassadors, now exiled from their home planet because of a mutated version of the virus, and monsters - what has become of those who actually survive the virus - roam free.
Beautiful Death is the name given to Isabella Thanatos by the citizens of Athens. As First Marshall of New Olympus it is her duty to protect the citizens from monsters and contaminants. But paradise within New Olympus comes at a high price and when Isabella mysteriously falls ill with the virus, she becomes what she most fears, a monster.
She leaves the city to find the only person who can help her, the alien, Hades. Heresy and legend swirl about the powerful alien and Isabella finds herself at once attracted and repelled by everything he represents.
Set in a bleak 'near future', Joely Sue Burkhart manages to successfully combine Science Fiction and steamy romance into her fourth published novel, 'Beautiful Death'. I immediately warmed to the story as I recognised my favourite sub-genre, post-apocalyptic fiction. Set about a decade after the outbreak of the virus, society has somewhat recovered, allowing Ms. Burkhart to create a fully realised society, rather than focus on the aftermath or intervening years of death and chaos. The disaster is recent enough, however, to impact the characters psyche and create a plausible story line.
The characters, cast into fairly rigid roles by the Greek names they have adopted, are mutable and with the exception of Zeus (as to be expected!), mature with the plot. The story is fast paced and flows fairly effortlessly over all but a few trite phrases. While the middle of the book becomes sexually intense, it is competently bracketed by an exciting tale of intrigue and power. Altogether I found it a gripping novel! If more books are planned in the Mythomorphoses, I will look forward to the next chapter.
'Beautiful Death' is recommended for fans of paranormal romance and perhaps those of post-apocalyptic fiction and near future Science Fiction.
Kelly Jensen
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