Many years ago there was Imogene, a mage who cursed the
entire land. Half of its inhabitants live in sunlight; the
other half can't stand darkness. The Darkborn are born blind
but have a sonar sense called sonn, which is described as
unheard sound. The Lightborn and Darkborn live in the same
city and the same land but in different societies. While the
Lightborn accept magic, the Darkborn consider it a taboo and
embrace technology.
Balthasar Hearne is a man worth his weight in gold. He is a
doctor who helps the less fortune. He likes the simple
things in life and is happily married to his wife, Telmaine
and their two young daughters, six-year-old Florilinde and
five-year-old Amerdale. Balthasar is left alone at his home
in Minhorne while his wife and two daughters are away.
Telmaine comes from a family of prestige. Balthasar was only
a physician-in-training when he asked for Telmaine's hand.
But since Telmaine loved Balthasar and I would say she was a
bit spoiled and Daddy's little girl, she got what she
wanted. Now years later this couple has settled into a
comfortable life even though Telmaine carries a dark secret.
Telmaine is a mage who can heal through touch. She literally
has so much power at her fingertips but keeps it hidden. She
wears gloves because if she touches a person with her naked
hands, they may find out about her magic. Both Darkborn and
Lightborn people despise mages. Bigotry against the mages is
a strong thing and Telmaine has done everything she can to
hide her affliction.
But Telmaine won't be able to keep her abilities under wraps
for much longer. Because Balthasar has helped his brother's
ex-lover and has hidden her two new born children, he is
attacked and left for dead. When Telmaine arrives home,
Florilinde is kidnapped before her eyes. Her daughter will
be returned to her if she will give up the newborns. At the
time of the kidnapping Telmaine has no idea what is going on
until she finds Balthasar on the floor of their home dying.
She then must turn to another powerful mage who is both
scandalous as he is fascinating.
DARKBORN is an excellent book with great world building,
characters and most importantly magic. Allison is so very
creative to come up with two different sets of people, those
who can't live in the light and those who can't live in the
darkness. They live side by side but are not willing to work
with one another because of their own set of beliefs and
what they feel is right and wrong.
When we first meet Telmaine she is shown as a spoiled woman
of leisure. She talks about Balthasar with love, much like
someone would talk about a puppy. When she comes to the
realization that she may lose her husband and child, that is
when Telmaine grows up, takes responsibility and is on a
mission.
DARKBORN is a great fantasy mystery. Magic is considered an
abomination to some and I loved how Alison was able to show
this issue, mainly through Telmaine's eyes. Steampunk or
Fantasy, Mystery or Fiction, DARKBORN is a wonderfully
written book.
A dazzling urban fantasy romance from a fresh new voice
whose bestselling e-books have put readers “in a constant
state of arousal.”(Fallen Angel Reviews)
Welcome to a postapocalyptic world, where the afterlife
holds beings that only the bravest can summon—or dare to
desire.
Taken from her home and family,
shamaness Aisling McConaughey must enter the “ghostlands” to
save a wealthy man’s mistress. But there’s a price to pay
for her power: She must summon the Djinn prince Zurael en
Caym—and yield to his savage, sensual rage.
Zurael
intends to kill Aisling after she’s served as bait to find
an enemy in possession of an ancient tablet. But the more he
tastes her innocent spirit, the more he’ll use his fiery
touch to keep her hungry for his mercy—even as they weave an
erotic spell that he cannot escape…