The origins of an ancient quarrel between Fae of the Seelie Court and the Unseelie Court began when the Unseelie King fell in love with the Seelie Queen. He kidnapped her, holding her against her will before she gave birth to twin boys (Crom and Niall). The Seelie Queen manages to escape, taking the twin that most looks like her. Her hate for the Unseelie King causes her to curse the princes of the Unseelie Court with the 7 Deady Sins. The only way they can break the curse is to have one of the 7 Virtues fall in love with them and willingly come to the Unseelie Court. These women are only born every one hundred years, each the embodiment of one of the seven blessed virtues; chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, patience, kindness and humility.

This is the story of Prince Thane - the embodiment of Lust - and noblewoman Chastity Lennox, one of the 7 virtues who is pure incarnate. An okay read - but not as good as it could have been. ( )

I love Charlotte Featherstone's erotic, historical romances. Sinful was one of my favorite reads in 2010. When I saw that she was starting a new series that's a mixture of historical and erotic romance mixed in with the paranormal, I was so excited!

Lust starts off with the history of the Fae. The Unseelie King falls in love with the Seelie Queen and kidnaps her and holds her against her will. She becomes pregnant with twin boys (Crom and Niall). The Unseelie King is obsessed with his sons. The Seelie Queen uses his newfound distraction as a means of escaping. She takes one of the twins (the one that looks most like her) with her as she returns home. She hates the Unseelie King so much for what he has done to her that she issues a curse on the Unseelie Court. The princes of the Unseelie Court are cursed with the 7 Deady Sins. The only way to break the curse is to have one of the 7 Virtues fall in love with them and come to the Unseelie Court - willingly.

I enjoyed the premise of this book. A lot of background information was provided to set up the plot. The story gets off to a good start. We are introduced to Chastity, one of the virtues and the counterpart to Thane's sin. Thane's sin is Lust and he needs Chastity to break the curse so begins his quest to seduce her. The seduction of Chastity is long and drawn out. His element is fog and mist and uses it to surround her and bring out her darkest desire. Chastity resists at first but slowly gives in. In the process of trying to seduce Chastity, Thane also must worry about Crom, the Unseelie Prince and Niall's twin brother. Crom wants Chastity for himself. Both Thane and Crom are racing to see who can seduce Chastity first.

I found the seduction of Chastity to be long and arduous at times. There were some parts that I skimmed because I felt that it slowed down the pace of the story. Charlotte Featherstone knows how to write some hot and steamy sex scenes. And they were plentiful in Lust, maybe too much. So much so that I started skimming the sexual parts (gasp!). Even though this is an erotic story, I was hoping that there would be some semblance of a romance between Thane and Chastity. I didn't feel any romance or connection between them at all. Maybe their story is not about romance but basic lust between two people. I know that Thane's sin is Lust but I wanted more of an emotional bond between the two and I didn't feel it.

Although I didn't thoroughly enjoy Lust, I plan on reading the next book of the series. I think the series has potential to be great and look forward to reading more. ( )

Started off a bit slow and repetitive but picked up. ( )

I didn't care for this, but I can think of people I know who might like it.

Niall and his Dark Fae brothers are cursed at birth, that they shall watch the Unseelie Court crumble around then until and unless they can find women who choose to be with them -- as opposed to ones who are kidnapped, glamoured(?) and raped... um, yeah, this already makes me dislike half the cast.

The combination of Fae characters with medieval European ideas about virtue and vice seemed weird to me, but I'm not generally a fan of mythological mash-ups.

I have to admit, I didn't make it all the way to the end -- maybe I would feel differently if I had, but I never felt that the characters were... alive, I guess. They felt like puzzle pieces moved across a board based on some RPG rules about how virtues/vices should act. Basically, I spent more energy rolling my eyes than investing in the story.

However, much as I didn't enjoy it, the author does have her own voice... it seems like this might be one of those things, like liking coffee but not tea, that comes down to individual preference.

The review for this is based on a digital ARC received through NetGalley. ( )

Review provided by Black Lagoon Reviews:

Lust is the debut novel in Charlotte Featherstone's new series The Sins and Virtues, a wonderful historical romance that proves that the Fae are not simply for children any more. Extremely sensual and alluring these Fae Princes will have you wanting more!

The premise of the Dark Fae Princes being afflicted by the Sins with human counterparts housing their apposing Virtues was unique and refreshing. The concept raising some great themes that not everything is as it appears throughout the story.

The characters were interesting and well written, the development and inner workings of the characters nicely explored and really serving to flesh them out. Chastity is the embodiment of, well, chastity. She's sheltered and pure, and very much an island unto herself with only her sisters for comfort. While I did like her and found her to be a very relatable character there were definitely some elements that had me straining not to throw my Nook across the room. I loved the fact that we come to see her shedding her pious mane and exploring her sexuality throughout the story. The sexual awakening in actuality leading her to several self discoveries, but after a few encounters with Thane, she is convinced that he is Dark Fae. In and of itself this not a bad thing, it creates some inner conflict between the woman within her and the virtue which she uses to define herself. While in 'dreams' and minor encounters with Thane she is accepting of the fact, enthralled even by the possibility of it but, when he openly admits his status in the Dark Court without any subterfuge she freaks out. It was ludicrous, making her seem like a simpering indecisive moron when we know for certain she's actually quite intelligent. 'I love him, I love him not. I accept my Dark Prince, I do not. I'm a virtue, I am not.' It's just too repetitive and ridiculous as she constantly contradicts herself. Thane, however, is likewise maddening at times though I adored his character very much. In fact of the two, he seems the more human. He accepts the darkness within himself and even comes to find himself at odd with it. He comes to embrace the small pieces of good in him as well, learning that he is capable of kindness and love both things he never considered possible. He is the true embodiment of Lust, a perfect contrast to Chasity's chaste nature. He is sensual, decisive and utterly seductive with pinch of dominance to boot. I also loved being able to see glimpses of the other characters, both the Unseelie, the Seelie and the virtues. It made me want to know more about their budding ties making this a wonderful hook as it gives you a small taste of the things to come.

Truly the relationship between Chastity and Thane needs to be recognized. Steamy, erotic, thrilling...really the adjectives could keep coming. This story was breathtaking when it came to the development of their relationship, despite the aggravating mental back and forth. In truth, the conflict was wonderfully suited, but there was just an over abundance that pushed it over the edge making it frivolous. The crumbling ideals that Chastity clung to were extremely well written, the thoughts and feelings so relatable. It perfectly captured the guilt that nags at the back of pleasure when we are young, the thought that sin is so black and white. Her development into a woman and Thane's similar growth into a protective and loving man was wonderful to watch. It kept the story ever evolving driving it to it's fairty tale-eque conclussion.

The atmosphere and settings were wonderfully chosen. In fact, the historical era matched the theme of Sin and Virtue wonderfully. It was one of formal rigidity with an underlying sensual under belly, concealed just beneath the surface. It was a perfect juxtaposition to Chastity, and the other Virtues as well. All the lustful desires concealed under a guise of propriety. It also helped to reveal the idea that nothing is as it appears as well, bringing to mind the Seelie and Unseelie Courts, not to mention the very Sins and Virtues themselves. This novel perfectly reflects that Saints are not always Virtuous, Sinners not always Evil, and that the supposed good guys are not always so good, nor the bad so vile.

Really, this novel has so much potential to become an amazing series and I look forward to seeing the world and characters further evolve. While there are still a few things that nag at me there is so much that I wish to see Featherstone explore, especially the Courts of the Fae and answer some of the intriguing questions that arose within the first novel. The issues touched upon definitely peaked my interest and desire for more! Plus, I can't wait to see the other characters and relationships be development, especially on the side of the Unseelie. Their history and customs aren't really touched upon at all, the Court present in name only. I want to know more about the Princes and their sins, about the state of the Courts.

Overall, this is definitely one to keep your eyes on. Lust will entrance you and having you falling into the thrall of the Dark Fae just as surely as the heroine of the story. The hardest part about having read this as a pre-release? Waiting for the release of Vanity, book 2 in The Sins and the Virtues. ( )