"Revenge is sweet but second to love!"
Reviewed by Annetta Sweetko
Posted August 20, 2019
Romance Paranormal
Tarak had been betrayed by his Anasso, King of the Vampires, who wanted to keep him quiet about a secret that the king enjoyed, and sold into prison more than 500 years ago. When he is released, he immediately went after the Mer-man, Riven, who had been the one to imprison him. He had used Tarak, draining him of his essence to build up the magical powers he needed to fool his people and continue as their king. There should have been a very big sign above Tarak's head that said, BEWARE THE DARKNESS because that is all he felt as he searched the swamps to find his enemy.
Waverly, one of the true princesses of the Mer-folk, had tried to ease Tarak's troubles as much as she could during his years of imprisonment, but her life and the life of her sister as well as all of her people were in jeopardy. How could she have imagined that the prisoner would soon hold her heart imprisoned in his very hands? She couldn't possibly abandon her people and only sister to be with the bent on revenge vampire ... could she?
BEWARE THE DARKNESS is one of those books that is an "up all night" read. Tarak and Waverly are amazingly well-written characters. Both have their own agenda, but both want to find the truth and end the reign of terror, and that means eliminating the false ruler.
Readers who read DARKNESS RETURNS will find themselves right where that one ended, but it can be a read-alone book. Styxx, the Anasso (not the one who betrayed Tarak, he took care of him); Inga, the half Ogress half Mermaid who had been tricked into helping Riven and fan favorite (if least favorite of all the vampires) miniature gargoyle Levet play parts in this exciting read. The romantic side of this book is as always excellent, but it was the return of Tarak to his people, whom he felt had sold him out and abandoned him, that is really touching. I was actually teary-eyed as he and Styxx work together to bring him his revenge.
BEWARE THE DARKNESS is a really great read with a surprise and fantastic ending with the Mer-Folk getting a surprise new leader.
SUMMARY
The enemy may have changed, but the battle between good and evil burns hotter than ever in this scintillating new installment in Alexandra Ivy's Guardians of Eternity series.
There is only one thing more precious to vampire Tarak than his newfound freedom after five centuries of captivity, and that's the promise of revenge. At last, he can destroy Riven, the merman who has drained his power in order to make himself king. But at the very moment when justice is a fang's breadth away, Tarak's quest is complicated by the beautiful mermaid princess who kept him sane and fed during his ordeal.
Waverly hoped that once Tarak escaped, he'd return to his own kind and enjoy the rest of his immortal life. She also hoped she might one day stop dreaming about the darkly handsome vampire. Instead, Tarak's return draws Waverly into an unlikely alliance—and a passion that eclipses all her fantasies.
Hatred for Riven has sustained Tarak this long. But only Waverly's love can give him the strength to claim eternity with her . . .
ExcerptChapter 1
The demon hotel in the depths of the Florida Everglades was a sprawling structure with two long wings surrounded by lush gardens. A week ago, it’d been hidden behind a thick layer of magic, but the spell had been broken, and the demon guests had been encouraged to leave the premises.
At the time, Chiron’s only thought had been to have some time alone with Lilah. After all, when a vampire finally located his true mate, it was a time of celebration. And since Chiron was quite convinced that his beautiful witch, Lilah, was the most special mate since the beginning of mates, the celebration had to be something special.
Unfortunately, the best-laid plans of mice and vampires tended to go to hell. And even as Chiron had shooed away the guests and sent Ulric—his faithful Were guard—to track down his master who’d just escaped his prison, he’d realized that any hope of a private oasis was a fantasy.
And, as if to emphasize the fact that the honeymoon was on hold, the King of the Vampires had arrived a half hour ago, demanding a full account of the unfolding disaster.
Now they stood in the middle of the vast lobby of the hotel. Styx, the current Anasso, the formal title for king, stood well over six foot, with stark Aztec features. His hair was long and as dark as midnight. Currently he had it pulled into a braid that was threaded with turquois medallions. And as usual, his massive frame was covered from head to toe in leather. Oh, and he had a sword the size of a shovel strapped across his back.
Chiron had dark hair as well, but he kept his neatly trimmed. He also preferred to wear designer suits that were tailored to fit his slender frame. He was a wealthy owner of a chain of hotels, spas, and casinos called Dreamscape Resorts, and that catered to humans. He sold sophistication and luxury, so that was the façade he’d adopted over the years.
Beside him was Lilah, his new mate. She was a foot shorter than Chiron with a lush figure and glorious, untamed curls that fell past her shoulders. She had honey-gold skin and her eyes were a swirl of gold and green. Unlike the two male vampires, she was a human witch who stayed young by bathing in the Fountain of Youth that was conveniently located in the back of the garden in a hidden grotto.
Styx folded his arms over his chest, his expression grim. “Explain to me again what happened.”
Chiron swallowed his impatience. He was a Rebel, which meant he didn’t consider Styx his king, but the ancient male had the sort of power that could flatten the hotel and potentially destroy the fountain that kept Lilah alive. Chiron couldn’t risk that.
“I discovered that the former Anasso captured Tarak and handed him over to the King of the Mer-folk,” Chiron said in clipped tones.
Styx already knew that his predecessor had locked away Chiron’s master, Tarak. That was why he’d given Chiron the scroll that had led to this hotel, and eventually to the key that’d released Tarak from his prison.
What none of them had known was that Tarak had been betrayed by the previous Anasso and given to Riven, the leader of the mer-folk, for some nefarious purpose.
Styx scowled. Had the ancient vampire hoped that Chiron’s story would have changed? Probably.
“You’re sure?”
Chiron nodded. “Positive.”
“Why would a merman imprison a vampire?” he snapped.
It was a question that had plagued Chiron since he’d realized who was holding Tarak captive. As far as he knew, the mer-folk had disappeared from the world centuries ago.
“I have no idea,” he admitted. “You’ll have to ask Riven.”
“Oh, I intend to.” The ground shook and the lights flickered as Styx’s power thundered through the lobby. “First I have to deal with a crazed vampire who you released to rampage across Florida.”
A burst of anger stiffened Chiron’s spine. This male had refused to heed his warnings that the previous Anasso was bat-shit crazy. And that he was using intoxicated humans to fuel his addiction. Then he’d accused Chiron of lying when he said he was convinced that his master, Tarak, had been taken prisoner, and had done nothing when Chiron was banished.
“I suppose you would have preferred that I leave Tarak in his prison,” he accused the older vampire.
Styx narrowed his gaze. “I wouldn’t have brought you the key if that’s what I wanted. But I’d hoped you would keep him contained until we could determine if he was a danger to the world.”
Chiron bared his fully extended fangs. “He wouldn’t have been a danger to the world if you would have listened to my warnings about your predecessor.”
Styx stepped forward, the marble floor cracking beneath his heavy boots. Suddenly, Lilah was grasping Chiron’s arm, giving it a warning squeeze.
“Maybe we should concentrate on what we’re going to do now instead of squabbling over the past,” she suggested in low tones.
The lights flickered before Styx was visibly loosening his tense muscles.
“A wise mate,” he told Chiron.
What do you think about this review?
Comments
No comments posted.
Registered users may leave comments.
Log in or register now!
|
© 2003-2024 off-the-edge.net
all rights reserved Privacy Policy