Book Review: Darkness Rises by Dianne Duvall

Title: Darkness Rises
Series: Immortal Guardians, Book 4
Author: Dianne Duvall
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Sensuality Rating: Steamy
Source: review copy provided by author
Published: October 1, 2013 by Zebra

Krysta is used to getting the drop on vampires. Her "special abilities" aren't much, but the plan is simple -- she plays helpless pretty young thing to lure them in. Then her shoto swords come out and it's bye-bye, bloodsucker. Until one night she finds herself with an unexpected ally. He's a vampire, all right, but different. Mysterious. Handsome. And more interested in saving her skin than draining it.

Étienne has been an Immortal Guardian for two hundred years -- long enough to know that Krysta is special. He can't stop thinking about her long legs, even more than her short swords. Then he discovers the vamps she's exterminating have friends in high places, and the Guardians are in danger, too. He'll have to accept Krysta's help to save them. The stakes for a mortal are high. But the cost to his heart might be higher .

Reviewed By: J9

In a Nutshell: Excellent paranormal romance with stellar action and continued series world building I adored.

The Set Up: Krysta is one of the gifted humans with special powers which she uses to fight vampires. But one night Krysta meets a man who seems like a vampire but saves her instead of killing her. He is Etienne, an Immortal Guardian and protector of humans. He recognizes Krysta as special but she’s still mortal and not part of his world.

Why I Read this Book: I adore this series and eagerly await each release.

What I Liked: I’ve loved Etienne since he was first introduced along with his siblings. He’s a two hundred year old Frenchman with old world manners but he loves strong, independent women, which is perfect since that’s who Krysta is. Krysta is a great match for Etienne as she holds her own in vampire fights but still is soft enough to open up to Etienne when they’re not fighting. I like how the two begin wary of each other but soon grow to trust one another, as shown when Etienne works with Krysta to fight vampires instead of simply forbidding her to fight. I love in this series that sex isn’t the point of leads’ relationship but is just a part of it. Etienne and Krysta have a few intense sex scenes (love the shower one!) but they also have time to discuss their future and even introduce Etienne to Krysta’s parents.

What I Also Liked: I absolutely adore the world building of series and it just gets better and better with every book. The mythos is a little different than other series in that vampirism is caused by a virus that affects gifted humans with advanced DNA differently than normal humans. Layered upon this is the Immortal Guardians who battle the vampires to keep oblivious humans safe, which Etienne and his siblings are a part of. I adore the family of Immortal Guardians, led by the uber mysterious Seth and his powerful second in command, David. The other couples from the previous books have big roles in this and I love that. Even Sheldon, the sassy mouth “second” (human helper) of Etienne’s brother, Richart, is wonderful with his indelicate jokes and constant light-hearted stupidity.

The plot of the mysterious human military force trying to take out the vampires and the Immortal Guardians is action packed and kept me flying through this book. I love the ending as it provides a twist in the world building that I didn’t see coming but I know is going to be heartbreaking when it unfolds, especially for Seth.

I also have to mention how much I love the newly introduced character of Zach. We know he and Seth, the powerful leader of the Immortal Guardians, have history and I can’t wait to learn more about Zach and what role he’ll play in the Guardians’ world. Oh, and Zach’s curious interest in Lisette, Etienne’s sister, is de-lic-ious! Tell me more, NOW!

What I Didn’t Like: That I have to wait an entire year for the next book in the series!

IMO: It’s rare in my opinion for a series to just get better but that’s what’s happened here for me. I love this book, book four, just as much as I loved book one. The romances are super good and the world building stellar. Read this book but do it in order for maximum enjoyment.

J9’s Rating:

 

Buy on Amazon | Add to Goodreads

J9’s reviews for other books in this series:
Phantom Shadows, Book 3
In Still Darkness (Anthology), Book 3.5