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Demonborn #1
Deseo sombrío
Entre imágenes fugaces y gritos desesperados de víctimas de asesinato, la vidente Clarissa King hará lo que sea por detener al despiadado psicópata que acecha su ciudad, incluso colaborar con un peligroso y atractivo agente del FBI que considera que ella no es más que una farsante. Él es el único capaz de despertar en ella una atracción que jamás imaginó, de hacerla temblar de miedo y deseo…
Vincent Valtrez sabe cómo entrar en la mente de un asesino en serie. Pero tiene un pasado peligroso y guarda un secreto. No quiere tener ni el más mínimo contacto con la seductora vidente, especialmente desde que el mero pensamiento acerca de su apetitoso cuerpo ha empezado a encender un deseo oscuro e irreprimible que está decidido a mantener a raya.
Vincent Valtrez sabe cómo entrar en la mente de un asesino en serie. Pero tiene un pasado peligroso y guarda un secreto. No quiere tener ni el más mínimo contacto con la seductora vidente, especialmente desde que el mero pensamiento acerca de su apetitoso cuerpo ha empezado a encender un deseo oscuro e irreprimible que está decidido a mantener a raya.
256 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2008
58 people are currently reading
516 people want to read
About the author
Rita Herron
321 books938 followersUSA Today Bestselling and award-winning author Rita Herron fell in love with books at the ripe age of eight when she read her first Trixie Belden mystery. But she didn’t think real people grew up to be writers, so she became a teacher instead. Now she writes so she doesn’t have to get a real job.
With over ninety books to her credit, she’s penned romantic suspense, romantic comedy and YA novels, but she especially likes writing dark romantic suspense and crime fiction set in small southern towns.
For more on. Rita and her titles, visit her at www.ritaherron.com. You can also find her on www.Facebook/ritaherron.com and Twitter.com/ritaherron.
With over ninety books to her credit, she’s penned romantic suspense, romantic comedy and YA novels, but she especially likes writing dark romantic suspense and crime fiction set in small southern towns.
For more on. Rita and her titles, visit her at www.ritaherron.com. You can also find her on www.Facebook/ritaherron.com and Twitter.com/ritaherron.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
August 19, 2008
Reviewed for www.queuemyreview.com- book release September '08
This is the first book in what I believe is to be a new series by Rita Herron. This is my first book by Herron and its classified as a paranormal romance, which is one of my favorite genres. I wouldn’t put this into the paranormal romance category however, I would classify it as a paranormal / horror with some romance thrown in.
Clarissa King is a psychic. She can commune with the deceased and has been able to do so since she was a child. Her mother, and her Grandmother before her all had this “gift”. Clarissa never thought of it as a gift however, it was always more like a curse. One of her only friends was a boy named Vincent, who struggled with his own inner demons. Literally. Vincent’s father was a demon, and his mother an Angel of Light. When he was a child, his father kills his mother and in her defense, Vincent retaliates by killing his father. Little does he know that his fathers’ death will haunt him for years to come.
Fast forward 20 years, and Vincent is an FBI agent called into assist on a possible serial killer case in his old hometown of Eerie. When he gets there he expects Clarissa to be the same childlike waif that he left years ago, so imagine his surprise to see a beautiful, sexy woman waiting for him. Clarissa convinces him that the spirits of the girls that were killed are telling her that something supernaturally evil is going on. At first Vincent doesn’t believe her, but as events develop, he starts to change his mind. Will they be able to work together to get to the bottom of these murders, or will their attraction for one another get in the way of solving this case?
The romance in this book is abrupt and harsh, not a slow build that gets stronger as the book goes on. It was hard for me to believe that Clarissa cared for Vincent with the cruel way he treated her throughout most of the book. The book also contains a lot of graphic violence towards people and animals, and it goes into just a little bit too much detail for my taste. However, if you like a good dose of horror and suspense mixed in with your paranormal romance, this book is definitely for you. Overall, this book was interesting, but I don’t think I would pick up the next book in this series.
This is the first book in what I believe is to be a new series by Rita Herron. This is my first book by Herron and its classified as a paranormal romance, which is one of my favorite genres. I wouldn’t put this into the paranormal romance category however, I would classify it as a paranormal / horror with some romance thrown in.
Clarissa King is a psychic. She can commune with the deceased and has been able to do so since she was a child. Her mother, and her Grandmother before her all had this “gift”. Clarissa never thought of it as a gift however, it was always more like a curse. One of her only friends was a boy named Vincent, who struggled with his own inner demons. Literally. Vincent’s father was a demon, and his mother an Angel of Light. When he was a child, his father kills his mother and in her defense, Vincent retaliates by killing his father. Little does he know that his fathers’ death will haunt him for years to come.
Fast forward 20 years, and Vincent is an FBI agent called into assist on a possible serial killer case in his old hometown of Eerie. When he gets there he expects Clarissa to be the same childlike waif that he left years ago, so imagine his surprise to see a beautiful, sexy woman waiting for him. Clarissa convinces him that the spirits of the girls that were killed are telling her that something supernaturally evil is going on. At first Vincent doesn’t believe her, but as events develop, he starts to change his mind. Will they be able to work together to get to the bottom of these murders, or will their attraction for one another get in the way of solving this case?
The romance in this book is abrupt and harsh, not a slow build that gets stronger as the book goes on. It was hard for me to believe that Clarissa cared for Vincent with the cruel way he treated her throughout most of the book. The book also contains a lot of graphic violence towards people and animals, and it goes into just a little bit too much detail for my taste. However, if you like a good dose of horror and suspense mixed in with your paranormal romance, this book is definitely for you. Overall, this book was interesting, but I don’t think I would pick up the next book in this series.
October 2, 2008
This book definitely doesn't rank the best among paranormal reads. Herron has some work ahead of her to improve her writing, but she does have potential.
She has a unique plot, where devious, full-blooded demons working for Satan try to sway the troubled, powerful half-demons to their cause. The Eerie police don't realize the reason behind the sudden rash of deaths in their small town, and neither does FBI agent Vincent Valtrez, though he will be the most important piece of the puzzle. Since we discover the demons as Vincent does -he's just as unknowing about this paranormal business as we- the book reads as more of a grisly murder mystery starring a psychic medium, a cop and some elements of the paranormal.
Vincent makes an interesting main character, as angst-ridden (see Black Dagger Brotherhood), tough and brooding an alpha as any romance fan could demand, but Herron does not quite achieve the effect that she wants when Valtrez tries to push love interest Clarissa away. We're sympathetic to him and forgiving of his rude behavior because we know of the history that shaped him and read of his anguished internal struggle, but because the heroine fails to make any kind of a defense he only comes off as a heartless bully kicking around a hapless puppy. To be fair, Clarissa is determined and persistent, but her reactions to some of his cruder setbacks are literally almost nonexistent, which is very unbelieveable. Tears, shock, outrage-- anything at all would do.
As others have mentioned, the violence is a problem, not the presence of- but the fact that it's not conveyed with any finesse. Every gory detail is listed point-blank without any care taken to establish a chilling or this-is-disturbing mood. So the reader gets the impression that the violence is written mostly for shock value. Herron would be much better served in learning to convey horror with more subtlety. The few details an author chooses to bring to our attention -or omit- in a horror scene can be as powerful as listing outright all the blood and gore.
That is a recurring problem with this book. There seems to be only one method to establish a mood: overblown simile. Every other line was, "The clouds were as thin as spiderweb and the trees shook as if in the grip of clawed hands and the ground shuddered like..." and so on and so forth. Similes should be used sparingly, certainly not in consecutive blocks of text and through bland imagery (e.g. spiderwebs aren't much more memorable than clouds, so why bother with the comparison at all?)
Similarly, we often read internal dialogue from the villains devising their plans in precise, logical flows, from beginning until predictable, concluding end ("Yes, I will do that..."), which is a little too neat and entirely too simple a device for adult readers. We want some challenge, and anyone who knows the mind knows that our thoughts are generally not so carefully ordered or rational. The book also abounds with clichés. The "Come into the Light" theme seems to be a favorite and smacks of made-for-TV. Any book addressing the afterlife should try to approach it with some kind of gravity, if not creativity. There's a good deal of repetition too that could have been trimmed.
If Herron worked on these problems, she could probably have a very sound book, one that is dark and edgy and a perfect candidate for the paranormal suspense or horror genre. Here's hoping her writing grows. I would love to read that. All in all, if the writing style doesn't bother you, then the gore might.
She has a unique plot, where devious, full-blooded demons working for Satan try to sway the troubled, powerful half-demons to their cause. The Eerie police don't realize the reason behind the sudden rash of deaths in their small town, and neither does FBI agent Vincent Valtrez, though he will be the most important piece of the puzzle. Since we discover the demons as Vincent does -he's just as unknowing about this paranormal business as we- the book reads as more of a grisly murder mystery starring a psychic medium, a cop and some elements of the paranormal.
Vincent makes an interesting main character, as angst-ridden (see Black Dagger Brotherhood), tough and brooding an alpha as any romance fan could demand, but Herron does not quite achieve the effect that she wants when Valtrez tries to push love interest Clarissa away. We're sympathetic to him and forgiving of his rude behavior because we know of the history that shaped him and read of his anguished internal struggle, but because the heroine fails to make any kind of a defense he only comes off as a heartless bully kicking around a hapless puppy. To be fair, Clarissa is determined and persistent, but her reactions to some of his cruder setbacks are literally almost nonexistent, which is very unbelieveable. Tears, shock, outrage-- anything at all would do.
As others have mentioned, the violence is a problem, not the presence of- but the fact that it's not conveyed with any finesse. Every gory detail is listed point-blank without any care taken to establish a chilling or this-is-disturbing mood. So the reader gets the impression that the violence is written mostly for shock value. Herron would be much better served in learning to convey horror with more subtlety. The few details an author chooses to bring to our attention -or omit- in a horror scene can be as powerful as listing outright all the blood and gore.
That is a recurring problem with this book. There seems to be only one method to establish a mood: overblown simile. Every other line was, "The clouds were as thin as spiderweb and the trees shook as if in the grip of clawed hands and the ground shuddered like..." and so on and so forth. Similes should be used sparingly, certainly not in consecutive blocks of text and through bland imagery (e.g. spiderwebs aren't much more memorable than clouds, so why bother with the comparison at all?)
Similarly, we often read internal dialogue from the villains devising their plans in precise, logical flows, from beginning until predictable, concluding end ("Yes, I will do that..."), which is a little too neat and entirely too simple a device for adult readers. We want some challenge, and anyone who knows the mind knows that our thoughts are generally not so carefully ordered or rational. The book also abounds with clichés. The "Come into the Light" theme seems to be a favorite and smacks of made-for-TV. Any book addressing the afterlife should try to approach it with some kind of gravity, if not creativity. There's a good deal of repetition too that could have been trimmed.
If Herron worked on these problems, she could probably have a very sound book, one that is dark and edgy and a perfect candidate for the paranormal suspense or horror genre. Here's hoping her writing grows. I would love to read that. All in all, if the writing style doesn't bother you, then the gore might.
February 27, 2014
Desde que leí la sinopsis sentí una especie de atracción hacia el libro, me llamó bastante la atención por su temática e historia.
Trata sobre un asesino en serie que está atormentando un pueblo llamado Quebranto, asesinando sin piedad a varias jóvenes, nadie sabe porqué lo hace y muchos piensan que son meros accidentes. Pero Clarissa, la vidente del pueblo, no lo cree así, así que el Jefe de Policías recurre a Vincent, un agente del FBI que vivió en ese lugar, para resolver el misterio de los asesinatos.
La atracción de ambos fue casi inmediata (aunque quisieran negarlo). Vincent solo piensa en acostarse con la vidente (de hecho solo piensa en tener sexo con cualquier mujer que se le cruce enfrente), y Clarissa… también lo desea. Juntos empiezan a investigar quién es el asesino, y mientras más chicas mueren, empiezan a entender que no es un humano quien hace eso.
Es un libro lleno de misterio, y mucho, mucho deseo, una combinación perfecta. Y a pesar de que es erótico, son pocas las escenas de sexo (no cómo otros libros que tienen sexo cada 5 páginas), y las escenas eróticas no son tal vulgares. Eso sí, se repite mucho las incesantes ganas de sexo que tiene Vincent.
Y el misterio… Aunque sepamos quien controla las muertes, no sabemos quién las realiza. Nosotros podemos sacar conclusiones, y cuando pensamos que lo hemos descubierto, resulta ser la persona que menos esperábamos.
Me agrada que este libro trate solo de demonios y fantasmas, y no que esté mezclado con otros tipos de seres. También me agradó la táctica que tiene Pan para asesinas a sus víctimas, muy tenebroso para ellas.
Y lo que no me gustó… El libro, de principio a fin, fluye bien, va a un buen ritmo, pero el final fue demasiado apresurado, y algunas partes también fueron un poco apresuradas (por ejemplo, cuando Vincent descubre que Clarissa no mentía). Y la actitud de los personajes llegaron a un punto de ser desesperantes; comprendo que a Clarissa la atormentaban los espíritus y que a Vincent su pasado, pero hay un punto y ellos lo sobrepasaron.
A pesar de sus contras, este libro me dejó un buen sabor de boca, con ansías de saber que sucederá con los protagonistas, y sobre todo con Zion.
Trata sobre un asesino en serie que está atormentando un pueblo llamado Quebranto, asesinando sin piedad a varias jóvenes, nadie sabe porqué lo hace y muchos piensan que son meros accidentes. Pero Clarissa, la vidente del pueblo, no lo cree así, así que el Jefe de Policías recurre a Vincent, un agente del FBI que vivió en ese lugar, para resolver el misterio de los asesinatos.
La atracción de ambos fue casi inmediata (aunque quisieran negarlo). Vincent solo piensa en acostarse con la vidente (de hecho solo piensa en tener sexo con cualquier mujer que se le cruce enfrente), y Clarissa… también lo desea. Juntos empiezan a investigar quién es el asesino, y mientras más chicas mueren, empiezan a entender que no es un humano quien hace eso.
Es un libro lleno de misterio, y mucho, mucho deseo, una combinación perfecta. Y a pesar de que es erótico, son pocas las escenas de sexo (no cómo otros libros que tienen sexo cada 5 páginas), y las escenas eróticas no son tal vulgares. Eso sí, se repite mucho las incesantes ganas de sexo que tiene Vincent.
Y el misterio… Aunque sepamos quien controla las muertes, no sabemos quién las realiza. Nosotros podemos sacar conclusiones, y cuando pensamos que lo hemos descubierto, resulta ser la persona que menos esperábamos.
Me agrada que este libro trate solo de demonios y fantasmas, y no que esté mezclado con otros tipos de seres. También me agradó la táctica que tiene Pan para asesinas a sus víctimas, muy tenebroso para ellas.
Y lo que no me gustó… El libro, de principio a fin, fluye bien, va a un buen ritmo, pero el final fue demasiado apresurado, y algunas partes también fueron un poco apresuradas (por ejemplo, cuando Vincent descubre que Clarissa no mentía). Y la actitud de los personajes llegaron a un punto de ser desesperantes; comprendo que a Clarissa la atormentaban los espíritus y que a Vincent su pasado, pero hay un punto y ellos lo sobrepasaron.
A pesar de sus contras, este libro me dejó un buen sabor de boca, con ansías de saber que sucederá con los protagonistas, y sobre todo con Zion.
November 13, 2008
i loved this book i really cant wait to read the next on in 09".
February 17, 2019
Tenía este libro en mi biblioteca desde hace un par de años pero como tengo taaantos libros por leer, quedó ahí hasta ahora.
La mezcla de misterio, asesinatos, paranormal y romance me atrajo de una.
Vincent Valtrez es un agente del FBI, quien tiene un pasado trágico: su padre lo castigaba constantemente y un día mató a su madre prendiéndola fuego; ante eso Vincent termina matándolo también, siendo sólo un niño.
Pero la realidad es que el bien y el mal existen. Los ángeles y demonios existen. Y él es el hijo de ambos. Por su sangre hay tanta bondad como mal, aunque el mal siempre trata de consumirlo, él lucha constantemente. Sumado a eso, su deseo sexual es terrible. A tal punto que no le importa con qué mujer saldrá, sino que solamente sale con ellas una vez, se saca las ganas y listo.
Su pasado lo persigue y cuando es llamado para volver a Quebracho debido a que hay un asesino suelto, al principio no quiere, pero su necesidad de hacer algo bueno lo supera y va. Allí se encuentra nuevamente con su amiga de la infancia: Clarissa King.
Clarissa no es una mujer normal, ella es una psíquica. Puede ver y hablar con los fantasmas, ayudarlos a que encuentren su camino a la luz. Pero a veces cuando estos no encuentran la solución para irse, la atormentan al punto de la locura. Así es que su madre no pudo soportarlo y se suicidó. Clarissa tiene miedo de terminar de la misma manera, pero también desea poder ayudar a las almas en pena a que crucen al otro lado.
Cuando empiezan a encontrarse mujeres jóvenes muertas, ella es la primera en presentarse para ayudar. Al enterarse de que Vincent vuelve al pueblo para encontrar al asesino, se siente contenta de poder verlo nuevamente.
Clarissa cae por él desde el primer momento. Sin embargo, Vincent se niega a que pase algo más con ella porque sabe que no es como las demás mujeres. Sabe que ella busca amor y eso es algo que él no puede permitirse -no cuando puede terminar cediendo a sus deseos malignos y asesinarla-. Por lo que constantemente la aleja. Tengo que decir que Clarissa es persistente jajajajaj pero con fundamentos, ella sabe que hay más en Vincent de lo que él ve y está decidida a romper su coraza.
Quebranto es un pueblo maldito. Desde siempre ha sido el campo de batalla entre el bien y el mal. De hecho, el "bosque de las tinieblas" es/era el hogar del diablo y de un montón de criaturas malignas. Siempre han ocurrido cosas inexplicables, muchas muertes. Y el asesino actual no es ni mas ni menos que un demonio (su nombre es Pan), que ha poseído el cuerpo de un humano y va matando a mujeres con la particularidad de que lo hace con el miedo de cada una.
Pan busca recoger almas para escalar de nivel en el mundo demoníaco y así tener una mejor posición y relación con Zion, el nuevo rey demonio, quién está por alzarse en el trono en poco tiempo.
Oh casualidad que Zion es el padre de Vincent. Ay que problema ajjajaj.
Así que Pan intentará destruir a Clarissa y volver a Vincent en un guerrero del mal. Al mismo tiempo estos buscarán desesperadamente quién es el humano poseído y lucharan por hacer frente a su atracción.
Me gustó peeeeerooo....... ese final fue muy precipitado! Mucho misterio, tanta expectativa por la batalla contra el mal para que en un plaff se terminara. Las escenas románticas están bien hechas pero yo no sentí tanta química entre los personajes y los idas y vueltas no me dejaron apreciar esos momentos.
De todas formas he comprado el segundo libro y voy a leerlo.
La mezcla de misterio, asesinatos, paranormal y romance me atrajo de una.
Vincent Valtrez es un agente del FBI, quien tiene un pasado trágico: su padre lo castigaba constantemente y un día mató a su madre prendiéndola fuego; ante eso Vincent termina matándolo también, siendo sólo un niño.
Pero la realidad es que el bien y el mal existen. Los ángeles y demonios existen. Y él es el hijo de ambos. Por su sangre hay tanta bondad como mal, aunque el mal siempre trata de consumirlo, él lucha constantemente. Sumado a eso, su deseo sexual es terrible. A tal punto que no le importa con qué mujer saldrá, sino que solamente sale con ellas una vez, se saca las ganas y listo.
Su pasado lo persigue y cuando es llamado para volver a Quebracho debido a que hay un asesino suelto, al principio no quiere, pero su necesidad de hacer algo bueno lo supera y va. Allí se encuentra nuevamente con su amiga de la infancia: Clarissa King.
Clarissa no es una mujer normal, ella es una psíquica. Puede ver y hablar con los fantasmas, ayudarlos a que encuentren su camino a la luz. Pero a veces cuando estos no encuentran la solución para irse, la atormentan al punto de la locura. Así es que su madre no pudo soportarlo y se suicidó. Clarissa tiene miedo de terminar de la misma manera, pero también desea poder ayudar a las almas en pena a que crucen al otro lado.
Cuando empiezan a encontrarse mujeres jóvenes muertas, ella es la primera en presentarse para ayudar. Al enterarse de que Vincent vuelve al pueblo para encontrar al asesino, se siente contenta de poder verlo nuevamente.
Clarissa cae por él desde el primer momento. Sin embargo, Vincent se niega a que pase algo más con ella porque sabe que no es como las demás mujeres. Sabe que ella busca amor y eso es algo que él no puede permitirse -no cuando puede terminar cediendo a sus deseos malignos y asesinarla-. Por lo que constantemente la aleja. Tengo que decir que Clarissa es persistente jajajajaj pero con fundamentos, ella sabe que hay más en Vincent de lo que él ve y está decidida a romper su coraza.
Quebranto es un pueblo maldito. Desde siempre ha sido el campo de batalla entre el bien y el mal. De hecho, el "bosque de las tinieblas" es/era el hogar del diablo y de un montón de criaturas malignas. Siempre han ocurrido cosas inexplicables, muchas muertes. Y el asesino actual no es ni mas ni menos que un demonio (su nombre es Pan), que ha poseído el cuerpo de un humano y va matando a mujeres con la particularidad de que lo hace con el miedo de cada una.
Pan busca recoger almas para escalar de nivel en el mundo demoníaco y así tener una mejor posición y relación con Zion, el nuevo rey demonio, quién está por alzarse en el trono en poco tiempo.
Oh casualidad que Zion es el padre de Vincent. Ay que problema ajjajaj.
Así que Pan intentará destruir a Clarissa y volver a Vincent en un guerrero del mal. Al mismo tiempo estos buscarán desesperadamente quién es el humano poseído y lucharan por hacer frente a su atracción.
Me gustó peeeeerooo....... ese final fue muy precipitado! Mucho misterio, tanta expectativa por la batalla contra el mal para que en un plaff se terminara. Las escenas románticas están bien hechas pero yo no sentí tanta química entre los personajes y los idas y vueltas no me dejaron apreciar esos momentos.
De todas formas he comprado el segundo libro y voy a leerlo.
August 26, 2008
FBI agent, Vincent Valtrez has been called back home to Tennessee. There has been what the local psychic believes to be a string of murders. Vincent has strived to make sure he never had to set foot in Black Forest. Legend has it that evil lives in Black Forest and everyone who has ever went into the forest was never seen or heard from again, that is except for Vincent.
Many years ago something happened to Vincent in the forest and her survived barely. Now not only does he have to deal with going back home but he also has to work side by side with the one woman who makes his heart race as well as makes Vincent want to act like a bad, bad boy. So just who is this woman that has Vincent all twisted up in knots? Her name is Clarissa King. She claims that she can communicate with the dead. Clarissa and Vincent team up to bring down the killer. Unfortunately they will have their hands full as this killer really is evil.
Vincent and Clarissa were great characters. They had good depth as well as personality to them. Plus it didn’t hurt any the hot steamy chemistry they shared together. Once I started reading Insatiable Desire, I found I couldn’t put it down. I was sad when it ended. I have to say that I have read a few of Rita Herron’s book and enjoyed them a lot but Insatiable Desire is my first paranormal romance novel I have read by her. After reading this book I have to say I like this new, darker, and edgier side of Ms. Herron. Insatiable Desire is a wonderful kickoff to what I know will be a successful new series; The Demonborn by Ms. Herron.
Many years ago something happened to Vincent in the forest and her survived barely. Now not only does he have to deal with going back home but he also has to work side by side with the one woman who makes his heart race as well as makes Vincent want to act like a bad, bad boy. So just who is this woman that has Vincent all twisted up in knots? Her name is Clarissa King. She claims that she can communicate with the dead. Clarissa and Vincent team up to bring down the killer. Unfortunately they will have their hands full as this killer really is evil.
Vincent and Clarissa were great characters. They had good depth as well as personality to them. Plus it didn’t hurt any the hot steamy chemistry they shared together. Once I started reading Insatiable Desire, I found I couldn’t put it down. I was sad when it ended. I have to say that I have read a few of Rita Herron’s book and enjoyed them a lot but Insatiable Desire is my first paranormal romance novel I have read by her. After reading this book I have to say I like this new, darker, and edgier side of Ms. Herron. Insatiable Desire is a wonderful kickoff to what I know will be a successful new series; The Demonborn by Ms. Herron.
May 14, 2012
Vividly-Dark, Horrific and Simply Splendid!,
Evil has been stalking FBI Agent, Vincent Valtrez for most of his life. His mother, an Angel of Light and his father, a Dark Lord of the Underworld; darkness calls to him and he has no idea why. Vincent has been running from his childhood home in Eerie, Tennessee, ever since a traumatic event ripped his family apart. Unfortunately for all the running he's done, he's assigned to assist in the capture of a serial killer, who has gone on a killing spree in Eerie. Clarissa King, his childhood friend he left behind, has the ability to commune with the dead. Sadly this gift turns into a living nightmare when a serial killer viciously murders several girls in town, leaving their spirits in the state of torment and unrest. Together Vincent and Clarissa reluctantly combined their strengths to stop a demonic soul collector from filling his quota and initiating the apocalypse. This dark paranormal romance w/ a twist of horror thrown in, was twisted and darkly-graphic. I really enjoyed it and only recommend it to those dark urban fantasy readers who have the patience to sift through the vast emotional sections to pluck-out the storyline. I also look forward to the next book in this trilogy Dark Hunger.
I also recommend:
Servant: The Acceptance
Pleasure Unbound (Demonica, Book 1)
Personal Demons
Hell's Belles
Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 1)
Evil has been stalking FBI Agent, Vincent Valtrez for most of his life. His mother, an Angel of Light and his father, a Dark Lord of the Underworld; darkness calls to him and he has no idea why. Vincent has been running from his childhood home in Eerie, Tennessee, ever since a traumatic event ripped his family apart. Unfortunately for all the running he's done, he's assigned to assist in the capture of a serial killer, who has gone on a killing spree in Eerie. Clarissa King, his childhood friend he left behind, has the ability to commune with the dead. Sadly this gift turns into a living nightmare when a serial killer viciously murders several girls in town, leaving their spirits in the state of torment and unrest. Together Vincent and Clarissa reluctantly combined their strengths to stop a demonic soul collector from filling his quota and initiating the apocalypse. This dark paranormal romance w/ a twist of horror thrown in, was twisted and darkly-graphic. I really enjoyed it and only recommend it to those dark urban fantasy readers who have the patience to sift through the vast emotional sections to pluck-out the storyline. I also look forward to the next book in this trilogy Dark Hunger.
I also recommend:
Servant: The Acceptance
Pleasure Unbound (Demonica, Book 1)
Personal Demons
Hell's Belles
Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 1)
April 30, 2018
Oh, this was so bad. There were quite a few continuity errors and times where the author seemed to have forgotten which character she was talking about and what abilities they had. The storyline and mechanics of this "Demonborn" world were stretched and lame. I forced myself to finish this book, but won't read the rest of them.
February 18, 2013
This was Ok at best.
January 23, 2021
I gave 5 stars because the book was so good. It was like reading Stephen King books mix with romantic suspense, erotic and happy ending. i love both the main characters. the hero was an asshole but i understand his behaviour because his past was so disturbing and dangerous for heroine. luckily the woman was strong but sweet, kind and always believe in Vincent. Only i have one complain. Vincent rejected her so many times almost until the end of the chapters.
July 20, 2023
Started off not bad but the writing progressively got worse. Admittedly I sped read through the last bit as it just kept repeating itself. Just happened to be the reading material I had on hand. Not recommended
April 29, 2019
Ok not that grand
December 23, 2021
I didn't like it. It was a little predictable, not very well written. It wasn't what I was expecting. The chracters are a little flat.
July 26, 2023
I kept reading to find out what happened, but you don't. This must be a series book...
August 21, 2025
The heroine never asked to be able to see or hear ghosts and honestly the 'gift' has caused her nothing but heartache. Her grandmother was a medium as well as her mother and both are dead now, her mother having committed suicide to stop the voices. Growing up, the heroine was always bullied and openly scorned by the townsfolk who with didn't believe in her gift or cursed for being evil. The only person whom she could relate to was the hero. He's childhood was horrendous and painful. His father was horribly abusive and just evil and the hero grew up thinking very little of himself. When his mother died, it torn him apart. When the heroine offered to let him speak to his deceased mother, he flipped out and demanded she never speak with him again.... And she didn't. Until now.
The small little town where they grew up is home to a terrible evil. Always the black forest was a source of darkness and people who live on its borders and over the years too many disasters and tragedies have plagued the townsfolk but never to this degree. The year of the ellipse is upon them and with it comes a series of gruesome murders. The heroine can see the ghosts of the dead girls, she knows they were murdered. Now she has to convince the law that what she sees is real. The hero lives his life with only one goal in mind.... fuck the pain away. Traumatized by the childhood he experienced and plagued by frequent blackouts and even more frequent dark and sinister thoughts and urges, he has developed into a tortured man. He loses himself in the woman he finds in bars, never allowing them anywhere close to his blackened heart. He never imagined he would find himself back in the place of so much pain but when he's brought in by local law enforcement to investigate the recent deaths, he discovers his chance to truly find out what happened to his mother. Did his father murder her as expected? Only the dark forest can tell. He doesn't want to be anywhere near this place.... especially because it's home to perhaps the only woman to ever disturb him enough to matter. He hates how he feels towards her and how she makes him desire things he has no busy desiring. He can't fuck her.... he can't shun her.... what the hell is he going to do with her? She inspires in him protectiveness. He wants to offer comfort when she's pained by the voices. What the hell is he thinking wanting to offer comfort? Still, he must remain strong and cold towards her. He can't risk her slipping past his defenses else it ends in tragedy. The heroine always believed that with enough love she could save him. Save him from his darkness. She can see the beacon in his soul that shows potential for good if only he would see it in himself. Their investigation is dark and extremely dangerous. Dealing with the supernatural and evil forces that want nothing more that suffering and agony to everyone involved, the characters struggle to come to terms with the connection between them. The heroine can't save him if he doesn't want to save himself and when given the chance, will he be the man she knows he can be or will he surrender to darkness.
What a dark and rather twisted book. I loved it. We'll start with the heroine who was defiantly the good and the lightness to this book though she herself was horribly tormented as a character. She too grew up as an outcast, always feeling like she didn't belong and had no one to talk to but ghosts who screamed and begged for help. She, however, grew up to accept her gift and decided to use it for good. She councils grieving families and offers comfort to those in need. She always in tenacious when it comes to telling people about what ghosts have said. She forces herself into the investigation and more times than naught it's her communication with the dead that offers valuable clues. She was kind and hopeful. The complete opposite of the hero. While she grew up at peace with her lot in life, he chose to scorn it. His childhood molded him into a bitter and not nice man. He was rather ruthless and unmerciful towards others. He used sex as nothing but a tool to hurt himself and he pushed everyone away before they could even dream of getting close. The only person in the whole world who A. knew him and B. affected him was the heroine. She's always meant a great deal to him, more so than he would have liked if he's honest. He was very as cruel to her but there were times when he could be a real prick. Though he defiantly seemed to treat her with more respect than anyone else. They had a rough time of it during this book, both coming face to face with the worst possible troubles anyone should have the face and it seemed that no matter their problems, they were connected. They were so much alike in a lot of ways but so different its others. They made a good pairing because of this. I liked the very dark and sinister tone of this book and there were really disturbing parts and situations. Creepy trees and evil forces, ghosts who screamed and demons who stalked the weak and vulnerable. Good book and defiantly not your typical PNR.
The small little town where they grew up is home to a terrible evil. Always the black forest was a source of darkness and people who live on its borders and over the years too many disasters and tragedies have plagued the townsfolk but never to this degree. The year of the ellipse is upon them and with it comes a series of gruesome murders. The heroine can see the ghosts of the dead girls, she knows they were murdered. Now she has to convince the law that what she sees is real. The hero lives his life with only one goal in mind.... fuck the pain away. Traumatized by the childhood he experienced and plagued by frequent blackouts and even more frequent dark and sinister thoughts and urges, he has developed into a tortured man. He loses himself in the woman he finds in bars, never allowing them anywhere close to his blackened heart. He never imagined he would find himself back in the place of so much pain but when he's brought in by local law enforcement to investigate the recent deaths, he discovers his chance to truly find out what happened to his mother. Did his father murder her as expected? Only the dark forest can tell. He doesn't want to be anywhere near this place.... especially because it's home to perhaps the only woman to ever disturb him enough to matter. He hates how he feels towards her and how she makes him desire things he has no busy desiring. He can't fuck her.... he can't shun her.... what the hell is he going to do with her? She inspires in him protectiveness. He wants to offer comfort when she's pained by the voices. What the hell is he thinking wanting to offer comfort? Still, he must remain strong and cold towards her. He can't risk her slipping past his defenses else it ends in tragedy. The heroine always believed that with enough love she could save him. Save him from his darkness. She can see the beacon in his soul that shows potential for good if only he would see it in himself. Their investigation is dark and extremely dangerous. Dealing with the supernatural and evil forces that want nothing more that suffering and agony to everyone involved, the characters struggle to come to terms with the connection between them. The heroine can't save him if he doesn't want to save himself and when given the chance, will he be the man she knows he can be or will he surrender to darkness.
What a dark and rather twisted book. I loved it. We'll start with the heroine who was defiantly the good and the lightness to this book though she herself was horribly tormented as a character. She too grew up as an outcast, always feeling like she didn't belong and had no one to talk to but ghosts who screamed and begged for help. She, however, grew up to accept her gift and decided to use it for good. She councils grieving families and offers comfort to those in need. She always in tenacious when it comes to telling people about what ghosts have said. She forces herself into the investigation and more times than naught it's her communication with the dead that offers valuable clues. She was kind and hopeful. The complete opposite of the hero. While she grew up at peace with her lot in life, he chose to scorn it. His childhood molded him into a bitter and not nice man. He was rather ruthless and unmerciful towards others. He used sex as nothing but a tool to hurt himself and he pushed everyone away before they could even dream of getting close. The only person in the whole world who A. knew him and B. affected him was the heroine. She's always meant a great deal to him, more so than he would have liked if he's honest. He was very as cruel to her but there were times when he could be a real prick. Though he defiantly seemed to treat her with more respect than anyone else. They had a rough time of it during this book, both coming face to face with the worst possible troubles anyone should have the face and it seemed that no matter their problems, they were connected. They were so much alike in a lot of ways but so different its others. They made a good pairing because of this. I liked the very dark and sinister tone of this book and there were really disturbing parts and situations. Creepy trees and evil forces, ghosts who screamed and demons who stalked the weak and vulnerable. Good book and defiantly not your typical PNR.
October 16, 2013
Como ya les había comentado, comencé a leer este libro por dos razones, me encantan las historias de detectives y por qué en la solapa del libro dice algo como “para las incondicionales de Sherrilyn Kenyon” y ya saben que Kenyon es mi autora favorita, así que tenía que leerme este libro sí o sí.
Y la realidad es que resultó ser un libro entretenido pero tampoco para que lo comparen con los libros de la diosa autora.
Lo que puedo destacar del libro, es el cambio de la temática sobrenatural, pues gracias a Yisus no nos topamos con vampiros ni hombres lobo en este libro, si no que nuestros villanos son nada más y nada menos que demonios sirvientes de Satán (de verdad que agradezco que dejen descansar a los chupa sangre), los cuales están decididos a cumplir una profecía para que el mal gobierne al mundo (ñaca, ñaca)
Otra cosa que me gusto, fue el pueblo donde se desarrolla la historia, pues Quebranto resulto ser un lugar donde las leyendas están a cada vuelta de esquina. Y obvio, con un demonio matando chicas, el lugar se vuelve aún más tenebroso.
Sobre los personajes, solo puedo decir que en ocasiones eran entretenidos pero otras veces hacían cosas tan absurdas que me daban ganas de abandonar el libro.
Solamente seguí leyendo porque quería saber quién era el culpable de todas las muertes y por más que trataba de averiguar quién era, nunca supe su identidad hasta en el penúltimo capítulo.
Tampoco hay mucho romance en este libro, pues los protagonistas se conocen desde niños y a penas se vuelven a ver y ya sueñan con verse desnudos. Aja, desnudos pues la autora le da más importancia al sexo (algo crudo) que al amor.
Pero bueno, a pesar de todo, el misterio y las leyendas oscuras me han atrapado y si soy sincera, quiero saber cómo termina la historia del demonio Zion ¿Lograra regresar para gobernar al mundo? Sinceramente quiero saberlo.
Y la realidad es que resultó ser un libro entretenido pero tampoco para que lo comparen con los libros de la diosa autora.
Lo que puedo destacar del libro, es el cambio de la temática sobrenatural, pues gracias a Yisus no nos topamos con vampiros ni hombres lobo en este libro, si no que nuestros villanos son nada más y nada menos que demonios sirvientes de Satán (de verdad que agradezco que dejen descansar a los chupa sangre), los cuales están decididos a cumplir una profecía para que el mal gobierne al mundo (ñaca, ñaca)
Otra cosa que me gusto, fue el pueblo donde se desarrolla la historia, pues Quebranto resulto ser un lugar donde las leyendas están a cada vuelta de esquina. Y obvio, con un demonio matando chicas, el lugar se vuelve aún más tenebroso.
Sobre los personajes, solo puedo decir que en ocasiones eran entretenidos pero otras veces hacían cosas tan absurdas que me daban ganas de abandonar el libro.
Solamente seguí leyendo porque quería saber quién era el culpable de todas las muertes y por más que trataba de averiguar quién era, nunca supe su identidad hasta en el penúltimo capítulo.
Tampoco hay mucho romance en este libro, pues los protagonistas se conocen desde niños y a penas se vuelven a ver y ya sueñan con verse desnudos. Aja, desnudos pues la autora le da más importancia al sexo (algo crudo) que al amor.
Pero bueno, a pesar de todo, el misterio y las leyendas oscuras me han atrapado y si soy sincera, quiero saber cómo termina la historia del demonio Zion ¿Lograra regresar para gobernar al mundo? Sinceramente quiero saberlo.
September 7, 2008
First the characters - Vincent was really a big jerk, I mean huge, to Clarissa for about most of the book. Even after they have sex, he pushes her away again and again, but Clarissa actually keeps trying, and says that she knows he's like this because he was abused by his father as a kid. I had a hard time really agreeing with that, so I found Clarissa too forgiving. Every time it's Clarissa who reaches out and is the vunerable one first: saying she wants him, saying she loves him, and every time, he turns her down in a not nice way. Yet she tries again. Vincent also had a rule to only have sex with a woman once, and they had to face away from him. This wasn't really knight in shining armor material there. I think a lot of this is explained away by the face that Vincent is "demonborn" - half demon, which means he has tendencies towards evil as well as towards good, but it made me not like him much. It's hard to like someone who has fantasies of strangling women to death, and has blackouts where he wakes up with blood on his hands. Disturbing. Then the violence and the evil in the Black Forest - I just am not that into horror, and after a while it was too much. Not that I was seriously creeped out - more like it's just a lot. And it started to make me wonder - why is it that people called Clarissa "Crazy Clarissa" when they lived right next to the Forest where all this bad stuff often happened? Why didn't people believe in the supernatural there, but believed the Forest was full of evil? It was confusing.
The premise is interesting - half demon, half angel men who are really seriously fighting for their souls. I think there are people who will like this series, but I'm not quite the target audience for it.
More of my review here - http://janicu.livejournal.com/41595.html
The premise is interesting - half demon, half angel men who are really seriously fighting for their souls. I think there are people who will like this series, but I'm not quite the target audience for it.
More of my review here - http://janicu.livejournal.com/41595.html
June 20, 2013
FBI agent Vincent Valtrez is the son of an angel and a demon lord. His father tried to brutalize the good out of Vincent when he was a young child. Vincent was told to kill small animals among other undesirable things. When Vincent's dad killed his mother by burning her at the stake, Vincent was overcome with rage and killed his father. He became a ward of the system, and bounced around in foster homes for many years. Eventually, he became an agent, trying to take out the bad guys.
His dead father, Zion, is about to be named the new leader of Hell's legions, and Pan, god of fear, wants to harvest Vincent's soul and win Zion's approval. He lures Vincent back to his home town by targeting psychic Clarissa King. Girls are turning up murdered and Clarissa has been communicating with their spirits. She is absolute that something evil is afoot. Even though Vincent tries to keep space between himself and Clarissa, they can't deny the attraction between them. Vincent is sure he is turning into a Demon himself, and Clarissa is determined to show him that he is a good man. A man she loves.
As the first in a new series, it definitely has potential. The premise is fantastic and the plot did have me turning the pages to see what would happen next, but I found the characters to be a bit boring. Too much time spent on what baggage they each carried instead of what they now were capable of would have given me a tad more interest. And the ending was tidied up a little too nicely to delve right into the next book. It could have used a bit more fleshing to the story in my opinion. However, I was lightly entertained. I would read the next in the series, but I won't go out of my way to acquire it.
His dead father, Zion, is about to be named the new leader of Hell's legions, and Pan, god of fear, wants to harvest Vincent's soul and win Zion's approval. He lures Vincent back to his home town by targeting psychic Clarissa King. Girls are turning up murdered and Clarissa has been communicating with their spirits. She is absolute that something evil is afoot. Even though Vincent tries to keep space between himself and Clarissa, they can't deny the attraction between them. Vincent is sure he is turning into a Demon himself, and Clarissa is determined to show him that he is a good man. A man she loves.
As the first in a new series, it definitely has potential. The premise is fantastic and the plot did have me turning the pages to see what would happen next, but I found the characters to be a bit boring. Too much time spent on what baggage they each carried instead of what they now were capable of would have given me a tad more interest. And the ending was tidied up a little too nicely to delve right into the next book. It could have used a bit more fleshing to the story in my opinion. However, I was lightly entertained. I would read the next in the series, but I won't go out of my way to acquire it.
September 13, 2008
Twenty years ago Vincent Valtrez left his home after surviving a night in the Black Forest where he witnessed his father murder his mother and learned that he was Demonborn. Now an FBI Special Agent, Vincent has suppressed the evil pulling at him and instead has sworn to save lives, not take them. When his next case sends him home to Erie, Tennessee to help the sheriff track down a serial killer he reunites with Clarissa King, a psychic who can communicate with the victims.
Together Vincent and Clarissa work side-by-side to stop the killer but they slowly learn the truth. They killer they are battling is no ordinary murderer. He’s a demon who will stop at nothing to see that Clarissa is out of the way and convince Vincent to let his “bad blood” take over. Will the darkness inside Vincent claim him… or will he save Clarissa – and himself – from the evil that threatens them both?
Insatiable Desire is a great book. The paranormal aspects aren’t too heavy as it can be in some of the darker paranormals I’ve read. There is just enough darkness to make it a page turner with a believable storyline. The characters are well developed and convincing so that I kept reading well past my bedtime. Then I was kept awake with the hot and heavy sex scenes! This is a must read for all paranormal romance lovers.
Together Vincent and Clarissa work side-by-side to stop the killer but they slowly learn the truth. They killer they are battling is no ordinary murderer. He’s a demon who will stop at nothing to see that Clarissa is out of the way and convince Vincent to let his “bad blood” take over. Will the darkness inside Vincent claim him… or will he save Clarissa – and himself – from the evil that threatens them both?
Insatiable Desire is a great book. The paranormal aspects aren’t too heavy as it can be in some of the darker paranormals I’ve read. There is just enough darkness to make it a page turner with a believable storyline. The characters are well developed and convincing so that I kept reading well past my bedtime. Then I was kept awake with the hot and heavy sex scenes! This is a must read for all paranormal romance lovers.
May 24, 2013
La portada con el tipo con los super abdominales y el título tenían que haber sido suficiente advertencia, pero estaba anoche con gripe en casa y tenía ganas de consumir chuchería literaria, así que elegí uno que parecía entretenido, así como cuando a uno le provoca ver una peli mala. Y por qué no lo pude terminar? No fue por los diálogos y las situaciones absurdas, ni por la completa obsesión del protagonista con su pene, sino porque un agente del FBI se la pasa pidiendo tragos en bares mientras trabaja. Vaya forma de romper la suspensión de la incredulidad :P
October 11, 2013
debo decir que fue directo con las escenas de sexo, salia mucho la palabra polla pero no fue nada del otro mundo es una mezcla de varios libros a la vez y no tiene comparación con los señores del inframundo ni con los cazadores oscuros no se porque colocar esas opiniones en la portada y las solapas.
siento que el final fue muy rápido para ser el primer libro de la trilogía no me explico nada del mundo en que se encontraban y sobre todo que es eso de la ciudad y sus nombres en los negocios si existiera yo no viviría en un lugar así
siento que el final fue muy rápido para ser el primer libro de la trilogía no me explico nada del mundo en que se encontraban y sobre todo que es eso de la ciudad y sus nombres en los negocios si existiera yo no viviría en un lugar así
June 8, 2016
A good beginning to a three book series!
I really liked this story and the second one as well. I am looking forward to its conclusion in the third Demonborn book. Good character development. I really thought the first book was a bit redundant with the dead spirits plaguing the lead female....a bit overdone. And a few of the stories characters got left out to dry in a very rushed ending. Second book gets stronger. Herron is a very busy author it will be interesting to see how her writing has evolved. I recommend the books!
I really liked this story and the second one as well. I am looking forward to its conclusion in the third Demonborn book. Good character development. I really thought the first book was a bit redundant with the dead spirits plaguing the lead female....a bit overdone. And a few of the stories characters got left out to dry in a very rushed ending. Second book gets stronger. Herron is a very busy author it will be interesting to see how her writing has evolved. I recommend the books!
October 26, 2009
I loved this book it somewhat dark and mysterious with an investigation evil sides and more. I also love this book because it's romantic, sexy, and sexual in a teasing kind of way. After reading this book I was left the desire of wanting more so I am determied to read the next book in the series which is: Dark Hunger
June 13, 2014
A Great read, couldn't put it down
Great story, full of evil demons and one Demonborn, Vincent goes back to his hometown to investigate a series of murders. He finds Clarrisa, a girl he once knew when was a child, she talks to the dead to help them move on. Together they fight the demons. Great characters, chilling story. a must read for all of you supernatural readers like myself
Great story, full of evil demons and one Demonborn, Vincent goes back to his hometown to investigate a series of murders. He finds Clarrisa, a girl he once knew when was a child, she talks to the dead to help them move on. Together they fight the demons. Great characters, chilling story. a must read for all of you supernatural readers like myself
July 28, 2013
DNF. Well written just not in the mood for this kind of book. Murders are occurring because a new evil regime from the underworld is about to begin. The FBI agent called in to investigate may be able to help but can't remember his own dark past and refuses to believe Clarisa the resident psychic when she tells him what is going on.
April 24, 2020
Es la segunda vez que lo leo, y honestamente volvió a sorprenderme aunque algunas cosas me parecieron muy bobas y un poco obvias. La verdad lo disfruté mucho porque no recordaba la mayoría del libro y terminé con ganas de seguir leyendo.
September 11, 2009
One of three.
May 11, 2010
Actually gave up about page 50. Just couldn't get into the book at all. I think a lot of it had to do with the voice of the story teller. Even from the prologue I wasn't clicking.
November 16, 2012
Though overall it was a pretty good book, I have to say the ending could use A LOT of work. Crappiest ending I've ever read, it needed to be more "epic moment" type of thing.
December 18, 2015
It wasn't the best paranormal romance I have ever read but entertaining nonetheless.
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