Darkness Awakened by Katie Reus
Series: Darkness #1
Published by Indie
Published on: November 11, 2013
Genres: Paranormal Romance, Werewolves
Pages: 253
Format: eBook
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Years ago he ended things between them to protect her…
As leader of one of the fiercest werewolf packs in the south, Finn Stavros is in full battle mode 24/7. He has no choice—he’s one of the few beings strong enough to fight the Akkadian demons, whose mysterious escape from hell threatens the entire world. With the battle turning bloodier by the second, Finn is ready for anything…until his vampire long lost love shows up on his doorstep in desperate need of his help, sending his heart into a tailspin. He agrees to help her, unaware that she carries a shocking secret that will turn his life upside down.
This time, he’s not letting her go…
Vampire Lyra Marius curses the day she met Finn. The ruthless werewolf promised to love her forever, but he rejected her instead—before she could share her life altering news. Pregnant, kicked out of her coven, and cast aside by the love of her life, Lyra struggled to raise their rare shifter-vampire daughter Vega alone among humans. When the 16-year-old is kidnapped and used to fulfill a frightening prophecy, Lyra swallows her pride and turns to Finn for help. But how long can she fight her feelings for him and keep him from guessing the truth about who Vega really is? As they race against the clock to save their daughter, they must defeat the lethal threat imposed by demons infiltrating the human world and a hell gate that could not only reveal their existence to mankind, but destroy the world in the process.
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I pulled this one out of my to be read pile after the second went on sale and I bought it as well. I decided I should probably read the first one before I managed to buy the whole series before actually reading even one of them!
Werewolf pack leader Finn Stavros is in the middle of trying to figure out why there are so many Akkadian demons suddenly populating his part of Louisiana. Especially when there shouldn’t be any. He and his pack are trying to clean up the problem when after seventeen years, the vampire female that he had loved and lost, shows up at his home. Lyra Marius is Finn’s only vulnerability. He had to break it off with her due to his bully of an uncle and pack leader at that time-or risk his uncle killing her. Vampires and werewolves don’t mate, especially if they are both pretty much royalty to their people. Lyra’s sixteen year old daughter, Vega, has been kidnapped and there is a vampire prophesy about a born(not bitten)vampire hybrid of her age, who’s blood has to be used to open the door for the all the demons.It takes a solar eclipse to complete the prophesy and that is only five days away.What Lyra doesn’t know is that Finn has been actively searching for her since he challenged his uncle and killed him.
This second chance romance was a fairly good one. I would have liked to see a lot more about how they met and got together seventeen years before. That’s probably because my favorite part of a romance is when a couple meets. I wanted to see what they saw in each other back then, and see all the dynamics of their six month relationship when they were younger. Of course they aren’t young in human terms, as they both are immortal.
The premise of the demons escaping into the world was also a fairly good one, and although done so many times before by other authors, this author managed to bring in new descriptions of demons and their attributes-and how they are escaping. There actually is a good bit of world building beyond the demons. I didn’t feel like there was an info dump, it’s just told in bits and pieces to the reader here and there throughout the story. Always a good thing in a read for me.
Main characters of Finn and Lyra were fully realized by the author and we do get both points of view.They were both extremely strong willed and the chemistry between the two is pretty much off the charts. We also get to see a good bit of Vega, and I hope that we get a grown up story about her at some point. Of course there are other characters introduced that I hope will get their story told, as well.
To me, even though it started out with quite an exciting scene, I still thought it was a bit slow in the beginning. It took me awhile to really get into the story, though of course that might have been just me because I do read a lot of this type of book. I kept putting it down and reading other books, but in the end I did like it.
This is the first book by this author I have read and I am looking forward to reading book two titled, Taste of Darkness. And that one features a dragon and werewolf romance. This was a good werewolf shifter read, and I recommend it to adult paranormal romance readers.
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Darkness Series
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I’m Lorna and I live in Maryland. Since retiring, I spend my time mostly reading and reviewing books. My favorite reads are Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, and Young Adult. I read a lot of indie books in addition to traditionally published books. Favorite paranormal creature? Vampires, but I am really liking werewolves more everyday.
I’m glad you ended up liking this one overall, Lorna. It is interesting that the pacing(?) didn’t keep you as invested in the story – at least at first. And I get you wanting more backstory between Lyra and Finn. I’d want to know it as well…why did they fall for one another? Why should I be rooting for their second chance? I am happy that they, and the other cast members, were well fleshed out and that you’re looking forward to more. 🙂 Reus is on my must-read list. Hopefully I’ll get to her sooner than later. Nice review!
Yes, I have been wanting to read her too, but just hadn’t pulled the book out of my tbr pile until now. I think it just wasn’t as compelling of a read as others I have read lately. But I do intend to continue with the series 🙂
You’re making me want to pick this up! It’s been awhile since I have read a good vamp book.
You may really like this one Ali! At least I hope you do 🙂
Great review. I have thought off and on about adding this one to my TBR. I might eventually give it a try.
I can’t remember but I think it was reasonably priced so more easily added 🙂 At least that was my thought-well that and well.. Werewolves! And thanks!
Lorna recently posted…Review: Darkness Awakened by Katie Reus (@Mollykatie112, @katiereus)
Nice review! I am a fan of this series. Honestly, I feel like they get better after the first one. I’m looking forward to the 4th book, coming out soon!
I am glad to hear that because I am really looking forward to the next one-dragon? Yes! And thanks 🙂
I have never tried her
I hadn’t either until this one 🙂
At least you liked it in the end. I’m an ending girl so a slow beginning is okay by me (as long as it still moves forward, that is…). I’ve been curious about this author and I may have to put her on my wishlist.
Melissa (Books and Things) recently posted…The Impostor Queen by Sarah Fine
I am always up for trying new authors especially when they write about vampires or werewolves 🙂 I think the next one sounds even better than this one.
I thought this was a slow start, too, but I’ve enjoyed the series and always look forward to each new installments. The pairings are fun and I can never resist a dragon shifter story. 🙂
And good on you, Lorna, for digging into the pile and making some progress there. 🙂
I am glad it’s just not me about it being slow. I am looking forward to the next one-Dragon! I wish I could get more of my tbr pile worked on! Thanks!
Lorna recently posted…Review: Darkness Awakened by Katie Reus (@Mollykatie112, @katiereus)
This one sounds like a good read, even if you did set it aside a few times. And go on you for making a dent in your TBR.
It wasn’t a bad read at all. I am looking forward to reading the second one 🙂 I wish I had more time to work on my tbr!
Oh hello. I have a certain weakness for scruff. 😀 Love this cover, needless to say. As for the rest…oh well. We can’t have it all.
Very true, we can’t 🙂 I liked it well enough to want to read the second one-which I hear is better.
It’s good to see an author create some demon’s that are more unique, because you’re right, they’ve been done before! Great to see that you enjoyed it enough to continue the series!
Naomi recently posted…Waiting On Wednesday # 178 – Legend / Reign of Shadows
Well haven’t had a chance to continue on but hopefully soon:)