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Dark Realm #1
Into the Darkness
A woman's hunt for pleasure knows no rules . . . and no boundaries. Escaping from a tragic past, Natalie Lambert arrives in New Orleans and falls victim to a series of strange, unearthly attacks. Now, for the first time in her life, Natalie aches with sexual desire. Confused, frightened, out of control, she struggles desperately to understand a world that is transforming around her. But soon she will be powerful and magnificent in ways she could never have imagined . . . A ruggedly handsome Cajun policeman, Detective Rene Broussard has come to rescue Natalie in her time of greatest need. And when he inexplicably wakes in bed beside her—both burning with a lust impossible to deny—he doesn't care that a dark and vengeful enemy has brought them to this moment. All that matters is the irresistible curve of her body, the heat of her passion . . . and the forbidden pleasures the night promises. With one sharp, sensuous, biting kiss, he will be hers for life . . . and beyond.
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 27, 2007
About the author
Delilah Devlin
360 books1,207 followersDelilah Devlin is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author with a rapidly expanding reputation for writing deliciously edgy stories with complex characters. Whether creating dark, erotically-charged paranormal worlds or richly descriptive westerns that ring with authenticity, Delilah Devlin “pens in uncharted territory that will leave the readers breathless and hungering for more…” www.DelilahDevlin.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
April 18, 2010
I can't even express the words for this book. I just did not like it, I rolled my eyes, said a few"pffts'. It was sex wrapped in sex, smothered in sex and then the author decided to add a vampiric story line. Don't get me wrong the concept was good, but the execution sucked.
I hated Natalie and just wanted all the pigeons to pick at her face,then a solid thump to the concrete floor might have given her some sense. Gawd I hated her. Loved Rene he is Cajun whats not to love.
My likes- The fact thats its New Orleans, oh yeh and Nick, he wasn't a main character but his book is next in the series, disliked this one so much that I just skipped the whole series.
I hated Natalie and just wanted all the pigeons to pick at her face,then a solid thump to the concrete floor might have given her some sense. Gawd I hated her. Loved Rene he is Cajun whats not to love.
My likes- The fact thats its New Orleans, oh yeh and Nick, he wasn't a main character but his book is next in the series, disliked this one so much that I just skipped the whole series.
April 13, 2019
After my last comment and reading a couple pages further I just can't. "He was just there for her enjoyment, to feed her appetite, and completely under her control" This book started out interesting and then turned alarming when Natalie forced Rene to have sex with her, not 1ce but on 3 separate occasions. 1 of which he was unconcious from being drugged by their captors for most of the time she was having her way with him. This book just really didn't sit well with me and I couldn't finish.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 17, 2009
Can't say too much about this one - it just didn't do it for me. I read the first couple of chapters and then skipped around to the end. Lots of sex but I never connected with the characters. If I had to describe it in one word, it would be 'murky'. Not my cup of tea.
August 8, 2008
I was dissapointed in this book. I didn't think she developed the romance between Rene and Natalie at all. It was more a hit and miss. Then the vamp bloodlust and infidility -just sorta wasn't what I care for-I rather read - the mating book were they are over the top crazy for each other-not could just settle for any warm body.
February 3, 2008
This was not my favorite Delilah Devlin book. I just didn't connect with the characters. I really like her Ellora's Cave stories better.
December 15, 2023
2.5 stars. There’s a great story in there had the author spent the ENTIRE book on world and character building. The ENTIRE first book needed to be world building. Then onto the second book. It was decent but has so much potential to be genuinely good.
Other people are griping about the “infidelity” but the book clearly states no such thing exists in this world. I’m fine with it. It doesn’t exist, y’all.
Other people are griping about the “infidelity” but the book clearly states no such thing exists in this world. I’m fine with it. It doesn’t exist, y’all.
March 15, 2017
No... just no... I don't even know where to start or stop with this book. It was just terrible! I'm not usually harsh in my reviews but this was so bad!!!! the dialog was awful and nothing made sense.
If you're looking for a book that has no story line and is full of vampire sex this is the perfect book for you.
one good thing about this book is that it made me laugh.... a lot! I don't think it was intentional, the dialog is so bad! I just can't...
If you're looking for a book that has no story line and is full of vampire sex this is the perfect book for you.
one good thing about this book is that it made me laugh.... a lot! I don't think it was intentional, the dialog is so bad! I just can't...
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September 15, 2010Devlin doesn’t really delve into the mythology surrounding her series vampires. It’s unclear whether or not her story is set in an alternate real-world universe, or if vampires are considered science fiction. Rene is a human, but he knows that his police partner, Chessa, is a vampire – he says it very matter-of-factly, which lead me to think that vampires are just a given in the world Devlin has created.
This is the first book in Devlin’s ‘Dark Realm’ series (currently with six books). I don’t really know how she managed to make a series of this book – because there is so little explanation about the universe she’s writing. I’m not particularly interested in reading any more of Devlin’s books, because I was outraged by her writing…
I was honestly quite sickened by ‘Into the Darkness’. Natalie rapes Rene, and is utterly unremorseful, even unaware that what she’s done is wrong (or maybe it’s Devlin who is unaware?). Her vampire ‘pheromones’ act as a sort of date-rape drug, and a covenant of older vampires kidnap Rene and chain him to a bed for Natalie’s feeding/fucking pleasure. First, Natalie has sex with Rene while he’s still unconscious. Then when Rene does wake up he tells Natalie he doesn’t want to have sex with her – he points out that he is chained up and can’t fight her off, he also mentions that her pheromones act as a sort of ‘Viagra’ on him, so that while he appears willing, if he was able to resist he would not choose her. Natalie disregards his protests on several occasions. I was completely shocked and disgusted. Devlin writes these rape scenes with such disregard to the deeper implications – I think Devlin herself is of the same mind as Natalie, believing it’s not rape if the man’s body reacts willingly;
“Raped?” Soft laughter gusted against his lips. Her smile was easy, not the least ashamed. “Maybe at the start, but you wanted it. You came for me.” Her eyes narrowed, and she inserted a hand between their bodies, pushing it down between her legs. Moist, succulent sounds followed before she brought her fingers up to paint his lips. “Wanna taste how hard you came?”
If those sex scenes had been turned around, and it was a woman chained to the bed while a male vampire rutted away I don’t think this book could have, in good conscience, been published. I kept waiting for Devlin to write a moment of clarity for Natalie – a piece of inner monologue in which she is completely disgusted and ashamed of herself. That moment only comes (in a small dose) because Natalie’s vanity is wounded by Rene’s admission that he wouldn’t choose her.
I admit, the sex scenes are hot. There is a particular F/M/F ménage toward the end that is blush-worthy – but the fact that all the sex scenes in the first half of the book are essentially rape is utterly atrocious. Devlin needs to learn that ‘no means no’, regardless of gender.
0/5
This is the first book in Devlin’s ‘Dark Realm’ series (currently with six books). I don’t really know how she managed to make a series of this book – because there is so little explanation about the universe she’s writing. I’m not particularly interested in reading any more of Devlin’s books, because I was outraged by her writing…
I was honestly quite sickened by ‘Into the Darkness’. Natalie rapes Rene, and is utterly unremorseful, even unaware that what she’s done is wrong (or maybe it’s Devlin who is unaware?). Her vampire ‘pheromones’ act as a sort of date-rape drug, and a covenant of older vampires kidnap Rene and chain him to a bed for Natalie’s feeding/fucking pleasure. First, Natalie has sex with Rene while he’s still unconscious. Then when Rene does wake up he tells Natalie he doesn’t want to have sex with her – he points out that he is chained up and can’t fight her off, he also mentions that her pheromones act as a sort of ‘Viagra’ on him, so that while he appears willing, if he was able to resist he would not choose her. Natalie disregards his protests on several occasions. I was completely shocked and disgusted. Devlin writes these rape scenes with such disregard to the deeper implications – I think Devlin herself is of the same mind as Natalie, believing it’s not rape if the man’s body reacts willingly;
“Raped?” Soft laughter gusted against his lips. Her smile was easy, not the least ashamed. “Maybe at the start, but you wanted it. You came for me.” Her eyes narrowed, and she inserted a hand between their bodies, pushing it down between her legs. Moist, succulent sounds followed before she brought her fingers up to paint his lips. “Wanna taste how hard you came?”
If those sex scenes had been turned around, and it was a woman chained to the bed while a male vampire rutted away I don’t think this book could have, in good conscience, been published. I kept waiting for Devlin to write a moment of clarity for Natalie – a piece of inner monologue in which she is completely disgusted and ashamed of herself. That moment only comes (in a small dose) because Natalie’s vanity is wounded by Rene’s admission that he wouldn’t choose her.
I admit, the sex scenes are hot. There is a particular F/M/F ménage toward the end that is blush-worthy – but the fact that all the sex scenes in the first half of the book are essentially rape is utterly atrocious. Devlin needs to learn that ‘no means no’, regardless of gender.
0/5
February 1, 2013
I am actually quite shocked that I liked this. Don't get me wrong; I am by no means shy when it comes to adult content in my (adult) fiction. I already knew what I was in for when I picked up the book, or at least I THOUGHT I did. I just didn't expect to like the world building, the characters and the plot, SO darn much.
Normally, I would be a bit more annoyed with the oversexed interplay between characters, the partner swapping, and the soap opera-ish hidden motivations. But it WORKED for me in this novel! Let's be clear it's not a love story...more like a pheromone laden, Pon Farr meets the Ardeur story. Some of you will know what I mean.
This unapologetic romp between erotic fiction and paranormal fiction was really well written. It was not just a bunch of sex scenes glued together with a half-hearted attempt at a plot. There is actually a far reaching story arc, and likable characters. There was just such a rich feel to Ms. Devlin's work. It is a truly sensual novel. I could hear Rene's cajun patois murmuring in my ear the whole length of the novel.
This book is an obvious build up to what looks to be an interesting, mind and morality bending series. Absolutely NOT for the faint of heart, or for any paragons of virtue. If you can't handle it, just run the other way now!
Normally, I would be a bit more annoyed with the oversexed interplay between characters, the partner swapping, and the soap opera-ish hidden motivations. But it WORKED for me in this novel! Let's be clear it's not a love story...more like a pheromone laden, Pon Farr meets the Ardeur story. Some of you will know what I mean.
This unapologetic romp between erotic fiction and paranormal fiction was really well written. It was not just a bunch of sex scenes glued together with a half-hearted attempt at a plot. There is actually a far reaching story arc, and likable characters. There was just such a rich feel to Ms. Devlin's work. It is a truly sensual novel. I could hear Rene's cajun patois murmuring in my ear the whole length of the novel.
This book is an obvious build up to what looks to be an interesting, mind and morality bending series. Absolutely NOT for the faint of heart, or for any paragons of virtue. If you can't handle it, just run the other way now!
May 17, 2012
This book had the potential to become a great novel but we're left wondering "what's going on?". Devlin focused most of her writing ability toward writing sex scenes rather then uncovering her ability to tell a really great story. The sex scene were hot and plentiful (perhaps a bit to much). The going on in the Vampire world were never fully disclosed leaving readers confused, frustrated and wondering why and how to actions that occurred through out the novel. In the end I wanted/craved for the story behind all the sex scene.
February 16, 2012
Wow, this book was really terrible.
It reads like a bad vampire porno movie. Virgin girl suddenly goes into heat, becomes crazy nympho vampire! Wakes up naked with a chained cop and of course, has to take advantage of him.
When the cop tells her to stop, as he was raped, she actually replies to him that he got off so it may have STARTED out at rape, but he enjoyed it.
Really? REALLY?
No thanks.
It reads like a bad vampire porno movie. Virgin girl suddenly goes into heat, becomes crazy nympho vampire! Wakes up naked with a chained cop and of course, has to take advantage of him.
When the cop tells her to stop, as he was raped, she actually replies to him that he got off so it may have STARTED out at rape, but he enjoyed it.
Really? REALLY?
No thanks.
January 15, 2025
เล่มนี้เป็นหนังสือที่อ่านแล้วเวียนเฮดที่สุดเล่มหนึ่ง เพราะดูเหมือนคนแต่งตัดสินใจไม่ได้ว่าจะเขียนเรื่องไหน
เริ่มต้นดูเหมือนจะเป็นอีโรสืบสวน เพราะเริ่มด้วยเรื่องที่นางเอกหนีตายจากการโดนตามล่าจากกลุ่มคนที่เธอไม่ รู้จัก ซึ่งฆ่าคนที่ใกล้ชิดกับเธอทีละคน มาเป็นแนวเหนือจริงเมื่อนางเอกโดนลักพาตัวไปจากบ้านด้วยยายของเธอเอง
จากนั้นเรื่องก็หลุดโลก ไม่มีพล็อตบ้าอะไรเลย นอกจากเซ็กส์ เซ็กส์ แล้วก็เซ็กส์ ไม่มีการอธิบายสักนิดว่าคนร้ายที่ตามล่านางเอกเป็นใคร แล้วจะเป็นยังไง
ทำไมนางเอกถึงถูกส่งไปให้มนุษย์เลี้ยงทั้งที่เธอเป็นแวมไพร์โดยกำเนิด
ทำไมถึงต้องจับพระเอกไปมัดไว้บนเตียงให้นางเอกเคลมด้วย ทำไปทำไม ไม่เข้าใจ (นอกจากเพื่อให้คนอ่านได้อ่านฉากเซ็กส์นะ อันนั้นเข้าใจแล้ว)
แล้วตอนจบเรื่องอีก มั่ว มั่ว มั่ว
เป็นหนังสือที่มั่วที่สุดเล่มหนึ่งที่ได้อ่าน
คะแนนที่ 47
August 13, 2019
Not sure what I was expecting but I didn't care for the plot. Just wasn't for me.
January 2, 2012
Summary: Natalie has returned to New Orleans after her adoptive parents and best friend were all murdered. She knows that the killer is after her also, and she is getting tired of looking over her shoulder.
Suddenly, she becomes the target for strange phenomenon occurring within her body and around the city, and it is Detective Rene Broussard who comes to her rescue. Rene’s partner Chessa is a vampire, and Chessa recognizes signs of vampire transition in Natalie. In an effort to protect her during her transition, Chessa makes plans to transport Natalie to a vampire compound.
Rene’s uncontrollable attraction to Natalie leads him to her bed, and this one lapse in reason seals his fate. He later wakes up chained to a bed in the vampire compound, while locked in a room alone with Natalie and her raging hormones. As much as Rene wants Natalie, he doesn’t want to become a vampire. But when she is near, he simply cannot resist her.
Just when Rene and Natalie regain some control in their lives, the sinister threat who is after Natalie makes another appearance. Will Rene be able to save her this time?
Review: Calling this book an erotic novel is probably an understatement. Out of the 307 pages, I’d guess that 300 had sexual content. It’s just a guess, I didn’t actually count. Even with all of the sex, there was still a decent storyline, although I think it could have been balanced a bit better. There were times that the I got bored with the physical stuff and wanted to get back to the plot, and that is definitely not something you want to happen when you read a book like this.
The focus of this book was the transition between human and vampire. I thought the author did a nice job of building this into a momentous event. I liked how this part of the story was developed, but I didn’t care for the vampire world as a whole. It was actually rather depressing, and unlike other vampire worlds, this was not one that I’d have any interest in visiting.
For the most part, I enjoyed the primary relationship between Natalie and Rene. The parts of the book that were focused on them were my favorite parts. Unfortunately, there was a strong element of “acceptable” infidelity, and this didn’t work for me. But in the end, I liked how the love story concluded.
As you can probably tell, for every one thing I liked, I disliked something else. This makes for a very mixed review. It will be interesting to see the direction the next book in the series takes.
Suddenly, she becomes the target for strange phenomenon occurring within her body and around the city, and it is Detective Rene Broussard who comes to her rescue. Rene’s partner Chessa is a vampire, and Chessa recognizes signs of vampire transition in Natalie. In an effort to protect her during her transition, Chessa makes plans to transport Natalie to a vampire compound.
Rene’s uncontrollable attraction to Natalie leads him to her bed, and this one lapse in reason seals his fate. He later wakes up chained to a bed in the vampire compound, while locked in a room alone with Natalie and her raging hormones. As much as Rene wants Natalie, he doesn’t want to become a vampire. But when she is near, he simply cannot resist her.
Just when Rene and Natalie regain some control in their lives, the sinister threat who is after Natalie makes another appearance. Will Rene be able to save her this time?
Review: Calling this book an erotic novel is probably an understatement. Out of the 307 pages, I’d guess that 300 had sexual content. It’s just a guess, I didn’t actually count. Even with all of the sex, there was still a decent storyline, although I think it could have been balanced a bit better. There were times that the I got bored with the physical stuff and wanted to get back to the plot, and that is definitely not something you want to happen when you read a book like this.
The focus of this book was the transition between human and vampire. I thought the author did a nice job of building this into a momentous event. I liked how this part of the story was developed, but I didn’t care for the vampire world as a whole. It was actually rather depressing, and unlike other vampire worlds, this was not one that I’d have any interest in visiting.
For the most part, I enjoyed the primary relationship between Natalie and Rene. The parts of the book that were focused on them were my favorite parts. Unfortunately, there was a strong element of “acceptable” infidelity, and this didn’t work for me. But in the end, I liked how the love story concluded.
As you can probably tell, for every one thing I liked, I disliked something else. This makes for a very mixed review. It will be interesting to see the direction the next book in the series takes.
July 9, 2010
I'm halfway through the book and I can't say that I'm going to finish it (which is rare for me).
All of the sex is detailed BUT instead of being hot, it comes across as generic and boring because of its prevalence. It's the same thing over and over and over and over. I'm over it. The entire plot is sex for sex's sake. Seriously, they have sex - two pages worth of apologies, silent treatment, and angry stares - then they're doin' it again! While sex scenes are great and often show character relationship development, the sex scenes in this book do not allow character or plot development.
I don't know if I even like Natalie and I want to hate Chessa, but I'm not sure I should. She has taken FOUR YEARS to decide if she wants to take Rene as her lover and now that he's wrapped up in Natalie she decides she's totally into him? And whats with Grandma suggesting a three-way? And the video cameras? Malarkey. All of it.
I'm not going to give up on Devlin, but this book is getting moved to the back burner.
All of the sex is detailed BUT instead of being hot, it comes across as generic and boring because of its prevalence. It's the same thing over and over and over and over. I'm over it. The entire plot is sex for sex's sake. Seriously, they have sex - two pages worth of apologies, silent treatment, and angry stares - then they're doin' it again! While sex scenes are great and often show character relationship development, the sex scenes in this book do not allow character or plot development.
I don't know if I even like Natalie and I want to hate Chessa, but I'm not sure I should. She has taken FOUR YEARS to decide if she wants to take Rene as her lover and now that he's wrapped up in Natalie she decides she's totally into him? And whats with Grandma suggesting a three-way? And the video cameras? Malarkey. All of it.
I'm not going to give up on Devlin, but this book is getting moved to the back burner.
February 17, 2011
Where do I even start with this book? I can honestly say that I wanted to like it. The idea of natural "Born" vampires and made ones "Revenants" was intriguing but beyond that it seems like the author's main purpose was trying to figure out how many sex scenes could be woven throughout the book - multiple partners, F/F, M/F/F. There is a background mystery going on, brutal murders that happened over a space of 40 years, but not enough attention was paid to that in my opinion. Since this appears to be Ms. Devlin's first book, it is not a bad first effort - but not exactly a home run either. Hopefully, her next effort will grow in a more positive direction, because I really do want to know who is in the crypt!
December 21, 2009
Want something hot & steamy? Then this is it *lol* I've read like 4 chapters and already there have been 2 extremely hot matings (word used in the book, seriously!) whaha. It's more like a porn version of a vampire book than anything else.
Oh well, it was a bargain so... I might read a chapter now and then, but this is not really my thing, there is just a bit too much sex ^^
*edit*
So I finished this book a few days ago. I must say, besides all the sex there is an actual story to it. Of course it kind of explains all the sex, but still haha.
It's not my cup of tea, but I did enjoy reaing it hihi. It's a light & hot read, so for once in a while that's okay.
Oh well, it was a bargain so... I might read a chapter now and then, but this is not really my thing, there is just a bit too much sex ^^
*edit*
So I finished this book a few days ago. I must say, besides all the sex there is an actual story to it. Of course it kind of explains all the sex, but still haha.
It's not my cup of tea, but I did enjoy reaing it hihi. It's a light & hot read, so for once in a while that's okay.
June 3, 2011
This was a re-read for me and I liked it as much this time as I did the first time. The book is full of action, hot steamy sex and tells a great story. It is edgy and kept me turning the pages until I finished the book. The vampires in this book are open with having sex with others which is part of their nature and part of their feeding ritual. The same type of theme tends to run through several other vampire books. Ms Devlin handles this very well and provides good reasons for it. Now I am going to re-read the rest of the series!
December 9, 2007
This is the story of a man and a woman, a woman who happens to be a emerging vampire. They're very attracted and because he succumbs to his temptation he finds himself locked in with her, she could kill him if she succumbs to her instincts. What follows is sex, in a variety of combinations while she gets used to her new world.
It's basically smut with a loose plot. Fun but nothing exceptional.
It's basically smut with a loose plot. Fun but nothing exceptional.
January 15, 2009
Here I was expecting a light fluffy vamp romance novel! LOL!!
I must say I'm suprised that the storyline is good considering how much sex the character's seem to be having!! haha!
All in all I enjoyed it - a light, steamy read!
I must say I'm suprised that the storyline is good considering how much sex the character's seem to be having!! haha!
All in all I enjoyed it - a light, steamy read!
October 17, 2009
I guess it was good....there was so much sex it detracted from the story a bit, even though it was an integral part of the plot. No editorial errors. I liked Rene and his accent a lot. Interesting ending. I will be reading the next in this series.
May 2, 2011
The book is pretty much straight smut, not much happens and really without the sex the book would have been 50 pages tops.
If you want a smut book that is a bit silly then you may enjoy this. If you are looking for romance continue on.
If you want a smut book that is a bit silly then you may enjoy this. If you are looking for romance continue on.
June 28, 2013
I read this book a few years ago. I bought it when Borders was going out of business. The book is one giant sex scene. I actually THREW this book away when I finished it. I have never done that before.
April 3, 2008
Talk about hot, its so hot you'll be steaming. Erotica full of vampire vixens, suspense and some light bondage. I loved it and will definitely reread this book many times.
June 24, 2008
i love this book very much.
July 25, 2008
enjoyed this erotic paranormal
May 18, 2009
I actually loved this book. i had bought it not realizing what it was but when i started reading it i was hooked. I enjoyed the romance and the twist on Vampires.
June 7, 2009
Sex, Sex, Sex and rather silly dialog. Oh well, it was a quick read.
November 7, 2009
I love erotic romance, but I just wasn't feeling the characters.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews