This is one review that I find myself excited about writing.
Duncan is the fifth in the stunning Vampires in America
series by author D.B. Reynolds. I have been with the series
from the start and have waited long and in anticipation for
this book. D.B. Reynolds is one author who has never let me
down. Duncan was a whirlwind of emotion, romance, intrigue,
and mystery from the first page all the way to the ending! I
devoured this book, just as I have the others in the series.
If this is the first book you have come across in the
series, start from the beginning. While Duncan can be read
as a standalone book, I believe that to truly appreciate
Duncan you need to understand the major role he has played
in the lives of Raphael and Cyn.
Throughout this series we have watched as Duncan stood
beside, in front of, and behind Raphael and Cyn, but now for
the first time Duncan is on his own and making his own place
in the world. The first few pages set the scene for just how
much of an emotional roller coaster I was in for, reach for
the tissues ladies as good-byes between Cyn, Raph, and
Duncan are very heartfelt. Of course a vampire takeover is
nothing if not hostile and Duncan's arrival in DC stirs up a
ruckus with the locals. I really appreciated how Reynolds
captured the essence of DC in this book. We get a real feel
for the corruption on Capitol Hill and a very real sense for
how the women behind the big shots struggle to find their
place in the chaos.
Watching Duncan fall in love was a true pleasure, and with a
heroine like Emma it was as funny as it was romantic. Duncan
really had to struggle with this one; Emma didn't just fall
into his hands and lay down at his feet in love. Oh no. Emma
had a mind of her own, much like Cyn, and she was not afraid
to use it or anything else she managed to get her hands on.
As a secretary for a Senator, Emma has been in the inner
circles of Washington and knows that the world is not
perfect. She has seen firsthand the letters of need and the
lack of support from the Senator who was elected. Emma knows
that DC is all about who you know and what they can do for
you. When her best friend does not return home from a
weekend party, Emma turns to the only person who might be
able to help her. Luckily for Emma that person is already
dead. What she finds is a new vampire ambassador who is
every bit as challenging to her mind as he is to her body.
With or without his help Emma is determined to find her
friend, dead or alive, and make the
people responsible pay for their crimes. She is willing to
do whatever it takes to find the truth in a world full of
lies.
Duncan's struggle for Emma's acceptance and his ultimate
downfall from bachelorhood gives him a sense of reality that
he has not had in the past. I watch the man who was always
in the shadows emerge from the pages and leap right off the
pages. What I really love is that Duncan does not get lost
in the pages of his own book. His somewhat sarcastic and not
so amused personality is still there, if anything he has
grown closer to my heart and I look forward to reading more
about him in future books. I absolutely love the tidbits of
background information about Duncan and Raphael that appear
throughout the book. Reynolds gave me a true understanding
of Duncan, who he was and how he came to be the man he is
today and for that I thank you. I do not think that the book
would have been as meaningful without these little snippets
as they really brought Duncan to life. While I did miss not
having as much of Raphael and Cyn, I feel that Duncan did
not need them with him. In order for Duncan to be his own
vampire lord he needed to show the world that he could stand
on his own two feet and stay standing. However, I am
anticipating the next release in this stunning series and
simply cannot wait for Lucas to come to life. Keep writing
Ms. Reynolds, keep writing.
Washington, D.C. … capital of an empire. Powerful.
Exhilarating. Corrupt. And in the shadows … vampires far
older than the nation itself.
A power unto himself, Duncan has served at Raphael’s side
for a hundred and fifty years. But long laid plans have
finally borne fruit, and the time has come for Duncan to
leave Raphael and tackle the greatest challenge of his life.
He will face treacherous vampires and murderous humans. He
will rock the halls of human power if necessary. But
Washington, D.C. will be his.
Emma Duquet cares nothing for vampire politics. She just
wants to find her missing roommate and best friend, Lacey.
But Lacey’s been playing with vampires of a particularly
dangerous kind, and Emma will have to deal with the new
vampire in town if she’s going to find her friend.
Battling powerful enemies who will stop at nothing to keep
their secrets, Duncan and Emma will dig beneath the
corruption and depravity that is Washington, D.C. and
uncover the most heinous conspiracy of all…