Night Embrace by Sherrilyn Kenyon

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Dark-Hunter #3

          If you are looking for a steamy paranormal romance, this is the series for you. Lots of good looking and tough immortals, hot sex, and action galore. I enjoyed this book a little more than the first two. Perhaps, Kenyon was finding her literary stride (this was published in 2008), or perhaps I am more familiar with the characters and characteristics of this world and was more relaxed while listening to it.

          This is Talon's story. He is a 1500 year old Celt turned Dark-Hunter living in New Orleans. Mardi Gras is fast approaching and the evil Daemons are gathering in the city, preparing to feast on the revelers. After fighting a group of Daemons, Talon is run down in the street by a runaway Mardi Gras float right in front of Sunshine Runningwolf. He is coherent enough afterward to insist on no police or hospital, but is in bad shape for the moment. Sunshine takes him back to her loft to recover.

          Sunshine quickly realizes this is no ordinary guy. But he is so secretive about himself that she wants to keep her distance. Her heart has other plans though.

          Talon has not allowed himself to get close to any human since he became a Dark-Hunter. Not only has he taken their oath of silence, but before his death he angered a Celtic god and has been cursed to witness the death of any human he grows to care for. The deaths of his wife, son and sister at the end of his human existence were quite enough for him. He has no desire to witness any others. But Sunshine has gotten under his skin. He is unable to keep her at arm's length.

          In order to be together forever, both Talon and Sunshine must risk everything to retrieve Talon's soul from Artemis, who took it when she made him a Dark-Hunter, and get the Celtic god's curse lifted as well. With good luck, good timing and excellent connections in the supernatural realm, they accomplish both seemingly impossible tasks and prepare to live happily ever after

Also see my reviews of other Dark-Hunter books, Night Pleasures (Dark-Hunter #2), The Guardian (Dark-Hunter #21) and Retribution (Dark-Hunter #20).

 

 

 

Night Pleasures by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Dark-Hunter #2

            This is the second book in Kenyon's Dark-Hunter series. Dark hunters are rather like anti-vampires. They share the physical traits of vampires, but their role is to destroy them and keep mankind safe.

            Amanda has numerous sisters, all of whom have "special" abilities, including a vampire hunting twin. Amanda prefers to keep herself firmly grounded in reality, and avoids the supernatural like the plague. One evening Amanda's sister calls to ask if she'll go over to the house and let the dog out. Amanda grouses about it, but agrees. While there she is kidnapped by a vampire who seems to think Amanda is her twin sister. Amanda wakes later to find herself handcuffed to a very large, "yummy leather man". He turns out to be Kyrian of Thrace, a two thousand year old Greek Dark-Hunter.

            Amanda finds herself inexplicably drawn to Kyrian. His stunning good looks and intriguing accent may be partially to blame, but whatever it is, it is strong enough to get her past her avoidance of the supernatural. Kyrian also finds himself drawn to Amanda. He has not allowed a woman to get close to him since his Greek wife betrayed him, causing the loss of both his life and his soul.

            Kyrian gets himself and Amanda away from the vampire, Desiderius, who kidnapped them. He takes her to his home where he, and his squire Nick, can keep her safe. She must also walk a tight wire with her vampire slaying sister who does not differentiate between vampires and Dark-Hunters, keeping Tabitha away from Kyrian and out of the clutches of Desiderius as well.

            Desiderius is much more difficult to kill than most vampires and causes Kyrian no end of trouble. A prophecy indicates that only a Dark-Hunter with a soul can destroy him. But by definition, Dark-Hunters are soulless. Amanda does some checking around and discovers that if she is willing to sacrifice all, she can return Kyrian's soul allowing him to finish off Desiderius once and for all. She does what she has to do. Kyrian once again becomes mortal. He kills Desiderius, and Amanda and Kyrian are now free to live happily ever after.

            The love story between Amanda and Kyrian is sexy and fun. It’s very much an opposites-attract situation with a twenty something accountant unable to resist a two millennium old supernatural being. I also really enjoyed some of the other characters, including Nick, the squire. I'd love to see him get his own story.

            This was another fun read from Sherrilyn Kenyon. I look forward to reading the next installment in the Dark-Hunter series, Night Embrace.

 

            You can read my review of the first Dark-Hunter story I encountered, The Guardian, Dark-Hunter #21 here.

The Guardian by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Dark Hunter #21, Dream Hunter #5

               I’d give this 4-1/2 stars on Goodreads if fractions were allowed. I suspect the only reason I’m resisting 5 stars is that there were a few moments when if felt like I was missing something. But since this is book #21 in her Dark Hunter series and book #5 in her Dream Hunter series, that’s only to be expected. I haven’t read all the previous books yet, but I liked this one well enough that they are all now on my to-be-read list.

               I guess by now you realize I liked this one – a lot. It’s got your basic love-conquers-all theme set in a fantasy world inhabited by angels, demons and other immortal types.

               I think the part I got the biggest kick out of is these entities use of modern technology. They communicate via email (among other methods) and carry smart phones. I had to giggle over that. I also totally empathized with one demi-god’s struggles with a new laptop!

               If you do not have a well developed ability to suspend disbelief, this book is seriously not for you. But for those of us who enjoy visiting strange new worlds in our heads, this is a great one. I can’t wait to get to Night Pleasures, the first book in the series.