My 16-year-old recently checked out “Unleash the Night” by Sherilyn Kenyon from the library. When I noticed it, my mind issued a red flag. Usually I let my kids chose their own reading material by the time they reach this age. I dialogue with them about what they are reading, remind them of important values and encourage them to choose well, but I don’t actively monitor their reading. This one jumped out at me, though. For some reason I couldn’t put my finger on, I was not sure my 16-year-old boy should be reading that author. (It is times like this that I know the Lord is answering my recurring prayer that we will catch the important things as we guide them to adulthood.)

         “Unleash the Night” by Sherrilyn Kenyon is a well-written book, but it is one most Christians would not enjoy. That’s too bad, because Sherrilyn is a gifted storyteller. Her characters come alive, the story world she creates is fascinating and many-layered and the events of the story keep the reader turning pages to the end. But the content of this story has little redeeming value.

         The world of “Unleash the Night” is built on the premise that the Greek gods are real and that their influence is active throughout an elaborate subculture of our modern world. Kenyon masterfully reveals much about this world in dialogue and action within the story. Even more can be learned from the glossary in the back of the book.

         Normally, I do not mind, and even enjoy, the supposition that there is an unknown, mysterious world running parallel and interconnected with this one. Julie Kenner, Shanna Swendson, J. K. Rowling and many others have created parallel subcultures that I enjoy reading. The world of “Unleash the Night,” though, is not one of those. The Greek gods were capricious and cruel, usually demonstrating the worst of humanity. Their selfish, impetuous, inconsiderate actions, combined with their seemingly unlimited power caused numerous tragedies within their ranks and that of humans, who were supposedly, at their mercy. Sherrilyn Kenyon has done a wonderful job recreating that, at best narcissistic at worst malicious, imaginary world. It is not one I enjoy visiting, even if it is only fiction.

         “Unleash the Night” is peopled with the descendents of a group of humans cursed by the Greek gods for an ancestor’s audacity to find a way out of another curse. (True to Greek god form, the recipients of both curses are innocents only tenuously connected to the original “sin” of their forefathers.) This curse created a race of shape shifters and a sub-culture more animalistic than human. Survival of the fittest, doing whatever it takes to get what you want and protecting yourself and yours no matter the cost to others are the mores most revered in this culture.

         There is small spot of light found in the romance that is the central story. The well-written characters of Wren and Maggie learn to love and trust and depend on each other in a way that enriches them both. They face and overcome seemingly insurmountable struggles to become one. They face and defeat inner and outer enemies, forging a lifetime bond quite appropriate between a man and woman.

         Unfortunately, they do so in an extremely promiscuous environment. Both the shape-shifter community and the humans in the story view sex as an animal appetite that should be fed often and with various partners. In fact, the shape-shifters know they found their “mate” when a tattoo appears on them after a sexual encounter. Only then is fidelity considered. At least in that respect Wren and Maggie are different. Even without the mark, they are soon committed to each other.

         It is troublesome, though, that their intimate encounters are so explicit, detailing every move and word. It is also troublesome that the desire they feel for each other seems to be the foundation of their love, not an outgrowth of it. That bothers me. This is the subtle message many romances convey. Sexual attraction equates love. I don’t like that. Romance and true love are hard to find. Sexual arousal, even satisfaction, is easy.

         Since this is essentially a romance between an animal shape-shifter and a human, that might cause a problem for some. After all, intimate relations with animals is abhorrent according to biblical practices. That does not concern me as much as the blatant promiscuity, but for some it might be more of an issue.

         The story of a woman and man who discover in each other a soulmate is wonderfully satisfying. It is why I love reading romances. That need to have someone who accepts you, believes in you and by their very presence encourages you to be more than you thought possible is universal. This book tells that story. I’m just not sure it is worth wading through the muck where resides.

         I certainly won’t be letting my teen read it.