Devoured By Darkness

Guardians of Eternity #7

by Alexandra Ivy, Arika Rapson (Narrator)

Tane is a Charon, sworn to hunt and kill rogue vampires. His new assignment seems like a waste of his talents—until he catches up with the jinn he's been sent to capture. Half human, half demon, Laylah has a vulnerable streak that strikes right through to Tane's cold heart. He should be furious when she uses her powers to bind them together, preventing him from dragging her before the Commission. Instead he welcomes any reason to stay close enough to touch, to taste, to seduce . . .

Laylah doesn't know why she was chosen to protect a child who may be the catalyst in a war between good and evil. But the mysteries of her past pale compared to the dangers approaching. Tane is devastatingly strong, breathtakingly sensual. And Laylah will have to trust in every ounce of that strength, because her enemies are drawing near, eager to destroy them both . . .

Genres: Paranormal Romance, Paranormal, Vampires, Romance, Fantasy, Demons, Urban Fantasy

Audio CD

First published December 1, 2010

About the author

I'm not exactly sure when I fell in love with books. Probably on my mother's knee listening to her read Dr. Seuss to me. I do remember that I was barely old enough to cross the street by myself when I discovered the delights of the local library. Could anything be more wonderful than spending summer days surrounded by stacks of Nancy Drew mysteries? Over the years I fell in love with Victoria Holt, Jane Austen, Agatha Christie, and J.R.R. Tolkien just to name a few. I read poetry, essays, biographies, and plays. In fact, I read anything I could get my hands on.

Years later (no, I'm not admitting how many) I'm still an avid reader, and my tastes are still as varied as they were in my youth, which I suppose helps to explain why I enjoy writing regency historicals under the name of Deborah Raleigh, as well as my contemporary paranormals as Alexandra Ivy. For now that is enough to keep me busy, but who knows what the future might hold!

I do have a few other loves in my life besides reading and writing, the most important being my unbelievably patient husband, David, and my two sons, Chance and Alexander. Without their constant support and belief in me, I never could have been able to follow my dreams. They are truly my heroes.

--From authors website--

Reviews

[Somia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 STARS

Laylah is despised and hunted for no other reason than the fact that she is a half-breed Jinn, a so called ‘abomination’ and ‘mongrel’ – ugh any one hate those labels?!

Tane is a Charon, a vampire charged with killing vampires who have gone rogue as well as hunting so called half-breeds. He annoyed me at the start, as a vampire who has lived for a fair bit of time, he should have known better than to view a person as something less simply because they are a ‘half-breed’, so annoying. That being said once the book progresses, I couldn’t help but enjoy the banter between Tane and Laylah.

Levet remains a fun addition to each book/scene, it’s funny how each leading man wishes to ring his neck but each heroine loves/cares for him.

The physical connection between Tane and Laylah was clear, I just wish the author worked on developing their emotional one a bit more, the latter wasn’t as strong as it was with some of the main characters in the other books, but still a very enjoyable re-read.

94p on Amazon 10th July 2019

[Luana ☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

So much happened in his book that it was a bit of a mumble jumbo. Not my favorite characters and I am not sure I liked the new ones. Now the story starts to involve everybody in danger and them uniting to fight the evil.

[Amyiw · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2
This was good too but still the romance is too quick without emotional pull again. This one wasn't as bad as Salvatore's book but it seemed like the I love you came without really connection except for the sexual bond. The over all plot though was really good and the over arc of other characters kept my interest too, so I really enjoyed it.

[Angela (Angel's Book Nook) · Rating 3 out of 5]

~ 3.5 Devoured Stars ~  

Devoured by Darkness starts where Beyond the Darkness ends in that Tane is chasing a half breed Jinn mongrel. This one was not as engaging as others in the series. I started off being pulled in, but then it turned into a book I needed to finish to move on to the next in the series. 

Tane is a Charon, a vampire charged with killing vampires who have gone rogue. Dame he is one sexy vampire; wearing khaki shorts, a massive sword and nothing else. 

Layla is a half breed mongrel Jinn, who has been chased her entire life and all she wants is to live a life that is her own. 

Ms. Ivy does a great job with references to modern things and witty comments. Levet always brings a certain entertaining factor to the books with his character in that every women loves him, but every man just wants to kill him. The main story arc in the series is that something bad is coming. No one is quite sure what, but it’s going to be deadly and soon. Not much is revealed in the area of the big bad, because most of the book is spent on Tane and Laylah. We also get a little information on what became of Cassandra and Caine. Cassandra is turning out to be an interesting character and I hope she gets a book. As for the relationship between Laylah and Tane they even each other out. She brings a softness to Tane and in turn he gives her someone she can actually trust for the first time. A lot of the book ends up being a cat and mouse between the two, which was entreating at the begin, but got old. Something else that got to me was Laylah wants to get away from Tane, but then she is falling into bed a little to fast for my liking with him. There relationship wasn’t as strong as some of the others in the series, because it was more physical then an emotional connection. 

Devoured by Darkness was an ok read in the series. We get appearances from characters from past books and a big bad that is coming. I’m curious to find out what happens next. 

[Donna (BLHmistress) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review:
Devoured of Darkness picks up where we left of Tane- a vampire assassin chasing Laylah, a jinn mongrel wanted by the Commission.

Little did Tane realize just what he is in for when he does catch up with Laylah. For as long as he could remember his job was to hunt down vampires-his brothers and take them out when they became addicted and fall into bloodlust.

Laylah spent most of her life in hiding from all sorts of demons threatening to turn her into the Commission plus she was hiding a secret- a baby who she didn't know why for the first she felt connected to someone until Tane entered her life.

After waiting anxiously for this book, I finally got my hands on it and though it set on my shelf for a few days when I finally dove into it and read it pretty quickly the last couple days. One thing I love about series books is that I feel like I am visiting family in each book. That being said I was so happy to see some of the other characters in it not many but my faves- I won't name them(don't want to give a spoiler) other than Levet. How could you not love Levet. No wonder the guardians all find him a pain in the behind - I think its jealousy because all the mates absolutely love this gargoyle.

While I did like Tane and Laylah's story as I suspected I would, there was just something missing. I can't put my finger on it. Maybe at the end was a bit confusing trying to introduce the new characters for the subsequent book.

Would I recommend this book? Yes because overall I love the series and I believe just because this one didn't grab me like the others. The Guardians of Eternity remains at one of the top favorite series for me and they are must buys for me.

I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.

[Book Gremlin Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

"They are the Guardians of Eternity, strong, skilled, seductive vampires chosen to protect—and to destroy. And they will risk anything to fulfill their duty, and satisfy their desires..."

This book was an excellent addition to the Guardians of Eternity series!

Tane the oh so sexy and dangerous Charon, hunter and killer of rouge vampires, who we last saw in Beyond the Darkness taking the opposite tunnel to chase down a jinn. Now we see him as he has caught up with the beautiful and elusive Laylah, curious as to why she is leading him away he hangs back instead of closing the distance. This is the start for our wonderful seventh installment, we see him catching up with Laylah, half demon half human, and immediately the sparks fly.

This one to me seemed more normal, well I guess to say it had less action would be more adequate. Maybe set at a slower pace, though not to say it wasn't a great book, it was. Just that it didn't seem to be quite as....out there as the others.

We also see some more of Cassie and Caine in this one, which was nice after the short bit we learned in the last book. I am curious though, I mean I know Caine isn't really a "bad guy" he had the interest of the other Curs at heart, but does this mean he wont have his own book? Will we just see his and Cassie's relationship play out in other people's books?

The author has also given us a great foundation for the next book, Jealyn & Ariyal's, which I cant wait to read! I would recommend that all Alexandra Ivy/Guardians of Eternity fans read this book, also I would encourage other paranormal lovers to pick up the series if you haven't already!!

[Funzee Shu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, since I read the translated version, I'll write my review in Indonesian.

Ini kisah tentang Tane ~ seorang Charon yg tugasnya memburu para vampire yg melanggar hukum dan membantainya dg tanpa ampun.

Berperasaan bukanlah pembawaan Tane dlm melakukan tugasnya sebagai Charon. Hukum berada di atas segalanya, melanggar berarti siap2 di buru dan di binasakan olehnya.

Kejam dan di takuti bahkan oleh kaumnya sendiri, terasing, terkucilkan krn tugas yg di embannya, Tane menutup diri dari segala bentuk perasaan yg dpt mengganggu tugasnya, hingga ia secara tak sengaja bertemu dg Laylah - makhluk stgh Jinn yg mengusik rasa ingin tahunya...

Seperti yg bisa di tebak, cerita Jeng Ivy ini memiliki "formula" yg sama, seorang vampir yg di gambarkan arogan, gahar, sangar, sadis, tak berperasaan dg masa lalu sekelam malam....tiba2 jatuh termehek-mehek di kaki wanita yg di takdirkan mjd "pasangannya".

Ceritanya seru sih....
Awalnya benar2 "menjanjikan", seru lah....
Tp mendekati akhir2 kok kesannya jd kek "kedodoran" aja ceritanya...
Entah mood gw yg lg ga pas ato emang ni buku "just-so-so" aja ?
Dunno lah...
Yg jelas, gada bumbu baru ato ramuan baru, ceritanya ya begitu2 aja....cuma kali ini di tambah "variasi" dikit dg kemunculan Caine dan Cassie serta Aryal dan Jaelyn yg sudah dpt di pastikan bakal mengisi seri2 berikutnya.

Benernya males mau baca buku Ariyal-Jaelyn....
Maunya sih lsg lompat ke kisah Caine-Cassie aja, tp ga fair kan jadinya ?
Masa udh beli paperbacknya di anggurin gitu aja ?
Itung2 buat bacaan "ganjel2-lah".....
Drpd gada toh ??

So ?
Lanjutan ????

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

~* 3.5 Stars *~
He's been trailing her, stalking her for days. He's a Charon, a rogue vampire hunter, and he's been tasked with finding the jinn halfbreed and bringing her before the Commission for elimination. Her kind is considered an abomination and against demon law. Somewhere in the middle of the hunt, however, her seductive scent has driven Tane to rethink a speedy capture and quick end to his duties. And when he runs her to ground and she whirls on him, he is both seductively attracted and infinitely intrigued by the spitting, feisty female. She's hiding something, is desperate to protect something, and Tane has every intention of satisfying both his hunger and his curiosity before he takes the gorgeous jinn anywhere.

Cornered and exhausted, Laylah comes out swinging against the delicious-looking vampire Tane. An outcast all her life and aware of the penalty of just existing, she's got nothing to lose and everything in the world to protect. With uncertain and volatile powers, she struggles to keep Tane at arms length and out of the hands of the Commission and she's willing to do anything, even bind Tane to her, to prevent him from sending her to her death. Keeping Tane from turning her over slowly starts to feel more like wanting to keep Tane with her as the truth behind her secrets uncover a plot to bring the Dark Lord back to earth...and release his untold evil on demon kind.

The seventh book of the Guardians of Eternity starts to point the series in a new direction and introduces intriguing new characters even as it picks up and resumes plot threads introduced in the previous two books. Ivy is doing a strong job of widening the scope and mythos of the series even as she maintains the well established strong points, and Devoured by Darkness continues the trend of adding depth to this quick-moving, fast-talking, and so sizzling paranormal romance series.

I've always felt the strength of this series lies with the incendiary chemistry between the male and female leads in each book, as well as the snappy, snarky dialogue and fast action, and I have a soft spot for stubborn, set-in-their-ways males meeting their mates in even more stubborn, fiercely independent, smart, and tough females. In that respect, Ivy hits all my happy spots. Toss in the diminutive gargoyle Levet, a force unto himself, and I enjoy the heck out of this series.

That being said, I had some problems with Devoured by Darkness. The story picks up right where the ancillary plot thread of Tane's hunt for the jinn left off in Beyond The Darkness, but instead of immersing me right back into the action, I had a hard time getting into sync with the characters and felt a step behind for the first few chapters. I would have preferred a bit more exposition and a different introduction to Laylah in particular. I had enjoyed Tane's intensity and power when we met him briefly in Darkness Unleashed (Guardians of Eternity, Book 5) so I was prepared to enjoy his character - and I did - but I wish his introduction to Laylah had started out a little differently.

I also liked the plot of the book, but thought the pacing dragged a bit through the middle - a first for me in this series. Laylah and Tane bounced around a lot as they raced for answers and tried to stay alive, but instead of instilling me with a sense of urgency about the building danger, it almost felt more like a distraction to the primary conflict than a part of the journey to it. The scenes with the villainous vamp and her maniacal mage were creepy, but lacked definition and development. Transitions from scenes between Tane and Laylah and the evil duo were abrupt and seemed random and occasionally disjointed instead of flowing together into a cohesive, steadily building crisis point. The brief scenes with Caleb and Cassandra were also sparsely developed with a dearth of exposition and seemed to drop down into the story at odd intervals. There were also a couple of plot threads that weren't resolved by the end of the book, like the issue with Laylah's mother, but I'm holding out hope that that particular issue will be addressed in a subsequent novel.

On the positive side, Tane and Laylah were a good couple with strong chemistry. I wasn't sure of Laylah at first, but by the end, I was fond of her. Tane, on the other hand, I liked from the beginning (there may have been drool). Some of the brightest spots for me featured the hunter Jaelyn and the Sylvermist Ariyal and the subtle but intriguing teasers for their story in the next book. I always love Levet, and anytime I get to see the Anasso Styx I'm a happy reader. In fact, Ivy's habit of renewing our acquaintances with past lead characters has always been a point of pleasure for me. I really enjoy seeing glimpses of the continued lives of the previous HEA couples. I have to say, though, after just a few scenes with Jaelyn and Ariyal, I'm most looking forward to Bound by Darkness , the next installment in the Guardians of Eternity series.

Devoured by Darkness wasn't my favorite book in the series, and it had a few flaws that some of the other books didn't have, but it's a transitional book that introduces the series to a new arc with a lot of potential and new characters that have a lot of promise...and already have a heck of a lot of heat. It's exceptionally nice to read a series that still has a sense of freshness and a firm direction seven books in. It bodes well for the series as a whole.

~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.

[Ashley (Red-Haired Ash Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another amazing book by Ivy. I love her writing. She writes amazing worlds with amazing characters. Layla is a sassy and brave half-jinn, who won't let anything stop her. I loved how she refused to give up or let Tane protect her. Tane is a arrogant vampire who you just can't help but liking.

I liked the new characters introduced in this book, especially the Silvermist (I don't think I spelled that right). There was a lot that happened in this book and I can't wait to see what will happen next.

[Ally · Rating 4 out of 5]

They are the Guardians of Eternity, strong, skilled, seductive vampires chosen to protect and to destroy. And they will risk anything to fulfill their duty, and satisfy their desires.
Tane is a Charon, sworn to hunt and kill rogue vampires. His new assignment seems like a waste of his talents until he catches up with the jinn he's been sent to capture. Half human, half demon, Laylah has a vulnerable streak that strikes right through to Tane's cold heart. He should be furious when she uses her powers to bind them together, preventing him from dragging her before the Commission. Instead he welcomes any reason to stay close enough to touch, to taste, to seduce. Laylah doesn't know why she was chosen to protect a child who may be the catalyst in a war between good and evil. But the mysteries of her past pale compared to the dangers approaching. Tane is devastatingly strong, breathtakingly sensual. And Laylah will have to trust in every ounce of that strength, because her enemies are drawing near, eager to destroy them both.

Devoured by Darkness wasn't as straight forward as I was expecting and I really liked that. The characters and plot really kept me gripped in the story and I really didn't want to put it down.

Previously in the Guardians of Eternity we've had Vampires, a Goddess, Witches, Demons, Oracles, a Gargole, Werewolves, a Dark Lord and one or two other things I've forgotten. In Devoured by Darkness we now have the Fae and a Jinn (whose a half-breed), my hopes weren't high because really I'm not sure Ms Ivy could compete on the Fae element like other authors have (i.e Karen Marie Moning) but clearly I should have kept my trap shut because Ms Ivy does not let you down. She produced something new and original with an added twist that I just couldn't get enough of!

Happily for a change the Dark Lord is not actually a viable being right now and isn't really involved in Devoured by Darkess. Which I'm glad about because after 6 books I was kind of getting sick of this non-entity being who had all this power but wasn't really around and had to do his dark work through others.

Tane (oh he's so dreamy! and I never say things like that!!) was great but I knew from a couple of previous books I was going to like Tane getting his own story. One of the reasons I like Ms Ivy's hero's in her Guardian of Eternity series is they are quite dark and grrr (yes it's a word!) but when they find their mate they don't get soft and annoying they still stay dark and grrr even, at times with their mate. Which makes it more enjoyable to read!
But I didn't really know if I was going to like Laylah, she didn't have a very large part in the previous book so I was quite undecided but wow! Even on her own I liked Laylah, girl had some spunk, which I really enjoyed. She was a great tough cookie and could kick some butt on her own. Yet when paired with Tane, she's even more fabulous. Tane was totally hooked with Laylah as soon as he say her and he just sunk even more as the book went on which was great to read.

I really enjoyed following Laylah on her journey with Tane, walking in the mists, going to London and finding out about her family that she never knew existed.

The main secondary characters, Jaelyn (Hunter) and Ariyal (Fae) didn't really pull at me but they may in their own book which is the next book out in 2011, Bound by Darkness.
The other secondary chracters Caine and Cassandra, just bring lots of questions for me. Are they going to get their own book? Will Caine use Cassandra for evil? Or will Cassandra finally kick Caine's butt and convert him to the good side? Because now Caine doesn't really have a reason to be bad guy, other than he's on the run from Salvatore and Styx. Other characters showed up of course and it was great to see Styx and Darcy, and Styx still being the kick ass Anasso.

Overall, it was a brilliant book that had fabulous characters and great plot that really added to the overall storyline. If you're interested in reading this book read the rest of the series first otherwise you'll miss lots of information and some really great characters!

[Stephine · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars


Laylah is half jinn and the law says that she should be executed for existing. Tane is a Charon, a vampire charged with killing other vampires who have gone rogue. He is sent after Laylah to bring her to the Commission but first he wants just a taste of the little half human, half demon who's scent stirs heated fantasies. But once Tane gets his hands on Laylah he just might not want to let her go. Laylah has been protecting a mysterious child for years and just now learns that there are those who seek to use it as a means to bring an unimaginable evil back to this realm. She will need the help of the strong, powerful, arrogant yet oh so handsome vampire to help keep the child safe and to stop her powerful enemies that seek to kill them both.

Tane is very powerful and is exceptional at hunting. Not the most original type of vampire but there is a rough edge to Tane that makes him stand out among his vampire counterparts. Laylah was raised by a foster mother and has kept a low profile because she is part jinn and the law says she should be killed. Jinn are known for being ruthless and have black hearts so of course it's assumed Laylah is just the same. Instead she is a smart survivor with unstable powers who will give her life to protect a child that's not even hers. She adds a softness (only for her that is) to Tane that makes him less vicious than he normally is. Tane in turn gives Laylah someone she can actually trust in for the first time. For a good part of the book it is a game of cat and mouse between them. I thought Laylah gave in a bit too easily. She was dead set on not trusting him but then fell in to bed with him quickly for someone who couldn't wait to get away from him just a couple pages ago. While I liked Tane and Laylah, I thought there relationship wasn't as strong as some of the others in this series because theirs was more of a physical connection that an emotional one.

The baby Laylah is protecting is more than what it seems. Marika, a sadistic vampiress, has been searching for both of them for years. She wants to get her hands on the baby so she can bring the Dark Lord over into this world and rule by his side. Marika will use the power of a mage and assistance from Sylvermyst, related to the fey and are very cruel, to get what she wants. Marika is evil to the core. Her very touch will cause terrible pain and not even her own family is spared her wrath. I liked Marika because she was true to what she was throughout the book. No soft touchy redeeming moment at the end for her. The main story arc in this series is that something bad is coming. No one is quite sure what or when but it's going to be deadly and it's going to be soon. We learn that the baby does play a role but not much else. A lot of the book was spent on Tane and Laylah so I wished more would have been revealed.

Devoured By Darkness has the same feel as the other books in the series with appearances from characters fans love and I think those who are already invested in the series will enjoy this one. Though Laylah and Tane's relationship felt more physical than anything else, it worked for them. My favorite and the bane of all male vampires, Levet, is back and is as charming as ever. The small gargoyle steals every scene. New characters are introduced and the way this book ends has you wanting to know what happens next.

Stephanie

[Melindeeloo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trying to lead a pursuer away from her precious secret, Layla finally turns to face the 'leech' who has been on her tail for days. Tasked with capturing the woman who is an abomination due to her forbidden half-jinn heritage, vampire enforcer Tane inexplicably finds himself unable to carry out his duty to turn Layla over for execution. Instead Tane will 'make a wish' and place himself in Layla's power in order to protect her while she fulfills a destiny which affects the fate of the entire world.

I am quite hero-centric and I really like Ivy's heroes. Tane is dark, solitary, and deadly, and has 'something' in his past but, like Ivy's other heroes, he isn't handicapped by it -I figure immortals should be able to get over it or get therapy. I also liked how Tane spends a fair amount of time in denial about how important Layla truly is to him, even though he never denies his physical attraction to her. The only thing about Tane that worked less well for me was Ivy's physical description of Tane, the shoulder length Mohawk just didn't do it for me and what self-respecting vampire – and one who is a feared hunter of his own kind at that – has a wardrobe that consists solely of khaki shorts. I also liked Layla too, she has the prerequisite stubbornness necessary to hold her own against an immortal alpha male, and yet is still vulnerable due to the funkiness of her powers and the isolation that her djinn blood has forced on her.

In addition to the Tane and Layla's story, Devoured by Darkness offers a few little peeks at Caine and Cassandra who met at the end of the last book. I wonder if they will eventually get their own story or if they will continue as just a side thread in coming books, either way I hope to see more of them and it is clear that Cassandra is going to make Caine earn his redemption. Also fun, the pair from Ivy's short Yours for Eternity get a small cameo here and their story turn out to be relevant to Layla's. But the best of all, Ivy give an intriguing intro to the next starring pair – who will put another twist in her formula – and that pair has me eagerly anticipating the next book, Bound by Darkness.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this series by Alexandra Ivy and although she does a great job in maintaining the magic created from the first book this one is not my favorite.
This is the story of Tane (the Charon) and Laylah (a Jinn Mongrel). The story picks up right from where the last one left off. This was a little difficult for me because much time has passed since I read the last book. I had to refer to the previous book to remind myself about a previous character-Caine. What happened to him in the previous book plays somewhat a role in this book.
The hero Tane did not like the heroine Laylah because of her heritage. I like how the author developed this part of the relationship. She did not rush it by having the h/h not like it other on page one but by page 10 they were in love. Tane is not a well-liked character because of his positon-being the Charon is equal to being a cop/assassinator. He is also unique in that his Polynesian heritage has him sporting a shaved head with a Mohawk and comfortable with not wearing shoes (umm yeah-that lost him some hottie points).
Laylah is a unique character in that she is part Jinn. She is considered to be a mongrel because she is half Jinn and half human. This causes her to have no control over her powers. By law she should be executed therefore she has been in hiding. She is unwittingly tasked with hiding an important secret. The story is about the journey Laylah and Tane takes to keep this secret.
There is a side story about Caine (who was a Cur-low on the were scale and now a pure blooded Cur) and Cassie (who is a prophet) which personally I could have done without. It seems as this part was just thrown into the story. It really served no purpose and frankly I really hope the author does not make a book for Caine and Cassie. They were BORING and I don’t care for Caine’s character.
Of course the all loving mini gargoyle Levet shows up in this story. How can he not? It would be “Scarebleu”.
I give this one a rating of 3.5.

[Rae · Rating 3 out of 5]

As I've commented before, it's always refreshing when authors write stories that have main characters who are "other than white". Tane was awesome.

Thanks for representing the Polynesian People!

Tane and Laylah's story was nice. It would have been nice if Laylah got the chance to meet her father (I read Uriel and Kata's story immediately after this one and thought that he seemed honorable enough).

I thought the reaction to having twins was a little wierd.

I associated that surprise to a senario where a pregnant woman doesn't know she's carried twins because one fetus was behind the other during the check-ups with her doctor then, BAM, when she gives birth and she thinks she's done pushing as the doctors and nurses thinks it's time to start to clean up; just to find out that there's a stow-away that's ready to make his or her debut.

Most mothers instantly love both children, however, Laylah seemed to react like a really nice person trying to break up with someone without hurting their feelings-->"well umm, (insert name here), I bonded with Maluhia, and you're really nice and all but I just didn't feel any chemistry between us...it really sucks that you were kidnapped by those bad guys. I'll do my best to help you out, so, umm--ah..., let's be friends?."... While Tane's reaction was like..."Ummm, yeah, what she says".

REALLY, in the epilog, two weeks later Laylah and Tane didn't even have a name for the stow-away baby girl!...I mean, Laylah DID carry both of them around for 50 years! (refer back to the stow-away pregnancy above, if you're confused)...and she named MALUHIA (Hawaiian for "having peace")...the girl could have been named "LAKOPA" (Hawaiian for "holding the heel of") or "KAHUNA" (Hawaiian for "a secret") or "KALUA" (Hawaiian for "the second child").

I'm off my soapbox...

[Alexandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lalyah dan Tane adalah 2 karakter yang loveable dan bikin kepo dari awal. Mereka sudah dipertemukan di awal buku dan sudah dipenuhi dengan instalust. Untungnya merwka maai sempat membangun Chemistry. Ikatan antar mereka berdua agak sulit dipercaya dan aku kesulitan untuk bonding dengan mereka berdua walau Tane digambarkan super hot dan suka dandan minimalis (minimalis pake baju dan nyisir wkwkwkwk).

Konflik buku ini seputar Lalyah yang sedang mencari bayi yang dilindungi dan Tane yang berusaha jadi bodyguardnya. Kenapa bayi ini begitu berharga? Kubiarkan kau membacanya sendiri. Twist kisah ini lumayan seru dan beberapa karakter dari buku sebelumnya akan membuatmu bernostalgia. Dan ada muncul peri ganteng mantan seks slave yang super bikin penasaran.

Kisah ini sebenernya tidak terlalu wow, tapi tetap bisa bikin ketagihan dan pantang dilewatkan.

My Rating :
Star : 3.5/5
Bikini : 2/5

[iamGamz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tane is back and he has the task of protecting Laylah, a half Jinn, half human mongrel that everyone is looking for.

Laylah had been kept captive for years by a mage who needed her to enter the veil and retrieve the vessel that is supposed to help the Dark Lord return to earth. While on the run from the mage, she runs into Tane in a underground tunnel. When he finally catches her he realizes that she is hiding something that she will do anything to protect.

Together they fight off mages, sylvermyst, a demented vampire and face challenges that keep them in constant danger to protect Laylah's secret.

Another fab read, even though the characters are a bit cookie cutterish, the books are still engaging. The storyline is also getting better and better with each book. Can't wait to see how this all ends. Hoping for a bang-up finale!

[Cindyg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Tane and Laylah's story...I loved Tane period. This is a fast pace, intense and moving read, with loads of sexual tension and loving. I love Levet and of course he saves the day more than once...goooo Levet.
I am so happy that I found this series, Alexandra has created a world that pulled me in right from the very first book.
I did miss characters from the other books, as Tane and Laylah were on the move for much of the story but they did visit the Annasso and his group a couple of times and we were introduced to some new characters; I'm pretty sure they'll be having their own stories.
If you don't have this book yet get out there and get it now...I guarantee you'll love it!!!

[Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great addition to the series. Not only did we get an amazing story with Tane and Laylah, but it set us up wonderfully for the next book and I think another future book with Caine and Cassandra???? Hope so! Anyway, I loved Tane's cockiness and how Laylah just melted away his heart without him even realizing it! The sexual energy between these two started from the fist moment they spoke to each other and you just knew that it would be "electric" when they finally consumated their attraction...and it was!

[The Book Junkie Reads . . . · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tane was a Charon, sworn to hunt and kill rogue vampires. Now he had been charged with hunting down a half-breed. Laylah binds this vampire to her but has not idea how she did it. She was considered an anomaly. She was to be killed but has lived scrapping by here and there. Until her run in with Tane. Their connection was more than just the mishap of her powers. No matter the ins and outs Tane wants very much to be close to Laylah. There was more to her than he could have dreamed.

I enjoyed the new characters, new breeds, new paranormal. It was rich and fun and action filled in place.

[Evalyne]

Loved it..........

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tane, the lead Charon vampire has been chasing Caine’s half Jinn: Layla for days. When he finally catches her he has an odd desire to help her rather than turn her in to the Commission.

Layla just wants to get herself and her precious child to anyplace where they can live safely. But then she’s distracted by both Tane and a rumor in London of another Jinn.

Footnote: 1) I don’t completely understand how granting someone 3 wishes could put them in your power. You’d think it’d be the other way around.

2) I love it when the bad guy accuses and looks down on their opponent (usually the good guy) of doing exactly what they are doing themselves. Ex.: ‘refusing to yield gracefully to her inevitable fate’. That’s’ pure arrogance. They’d be stupid just to let you kill them. Why don’t you yield to your fate of prison, etc? A smart person (good or bad) would reverse things and try to figure out their opponents motives and use that against them.

Fave scenes: Layla’s hidden room at Caine’s, Levet departing from Victor’s plane, Cassie’s portal interruption and the power of the love of a mother.

[McKayla Jade Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

The cover is hot and the blurb is fire. So yeah, you could say that drew me in, which is why I picked this book from the shelves. So now on to the rest of the story. This is book #7 in a series, which is stated nowhere other than her website. I find that odd. Why wouldn’t you let readers know there are more? That’s the publisher's fault though and not the authors. There is only so much an author can protest or change when published by another.
I could easily set this book aside, which isn’t what I expected from the cover or the blurb. That’s not to say it wasn’t good. It was. The story was good. Solid story, but the emotions or the heart pounding excitement you expect from a paranormal romance just wasn’t there. The two main characters were well thought out and well rounded and grew as the book progressed. All good marks. However, the sizzle just wasn’t there. I wanted to feel it and other than the not so great sex scenes, it just wasn’t there. It was more of a fast paced drama of good versus evil. I enjoyed the story but probably wouldn’t suggest it to a friend or read it again.
Therefore MJBooks gives this one 3 stars. Good but not great.

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars

This one was so-so for me. Plot wise, like most of Alexandra's books thus far the plot was strong and equally fascinating. Many points connecting from the previous books in the series. It's all interesting and truthfully has been the biggest draw for me to continue with the series. Alexandra's writing is solid, well written and entertaining. My problem has been the absurd quickness her hero/heroine fall in love, the lack of true depth to the MC's relationships and their individual characters. And worst of all has been the cookie cutter style heroine that appears in each book regardless of different name/appearance/past they are genuinely all the same. My biggest disappointment has been the romance aspect in all her books. So as a serial reader and lover of paranormal romance this series has certainly had its frustrations for me that perhaps a casual reader wouldn't be bothered by.

With that said, I did enjoy this one. Tane was an interesting guy but although we got more about his past than other hero's it still felt like a lot was left unsaid. The heroine Laylah was likeable enough, I'll admit. Was she stupidly stubborn like previous heroines? Yes, sadly. But thankfully she was smart enough not to be so stupid much of the book. Her dumbest moment came when she shadow walked to London literally the second she heard about a run-in the gargoyle Levet had with a Jinn over a hundred years ago. To me, that was the epitome of dumb and it turned out to be just that when she put her very life in danger because of her impulsive choice. So she wasn't my favorite but she was okay.

I'm now looking forward to Jaelyn and Ariyal and FINALLY Caine and Cassie's book.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Guardians of Eternity #7
Devoured by Darkness by Alexandra Ivy is the seventh book in her Guardians of Eternity series. The past couple of books have overlapped significantly, but they do so in such a way that there are no spoilers for the books that come after. Enjoy!

Read:
August 3-5, 2015 – Kindle Edition
February 11-12, 2021 – Audible Audiobook

[Thomas Tymstone · Rating 1 out of 5]

☆☆ SPOILER ALERT ☆☆

The spoiler is that this book is stupid.
I grant you that it has all the right markings;
1)a dashing overbearing hero (testosterone)
2) a creative, well meaning beautiful and determined heroin
3)a helpless person in need (baby in a coma inducing stasis field
4)a prophecy
5) witches, vampires, werewolves and elves, oh my!
Magic, and the known and unknown.

>>>> This should be a great book or at least a good book.
But no the action is predictable, the dialogue is repetitive and sad and constant inappropriate sexy time is just ridiculous.
What ev' I'm sure this book strikes a chord with someone. Good for them I hope they never see this review. ✌🏾🤢

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I meant to read the first one in this series and somehow picked up this one instead… I was able to follow the plot with no issues. Very interesting plot, lots of action, I liked the characters, more action and fantasy than romance. There were steamy scenes but they were not spicy at all. I think I’ll go back and read at least some of the earlier books.

If you’re looking for action, fantasy, fated prophecies, interesting world building, vampires and other fae creatures, it’s a great read. If you are mainly here for the romance it might be a little disappointing. Maybe I’ve just been reading too many heavy romances lately.

[Alyson | Books.plants.and.tea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one's a 3.5 star rating for me.

I found the book to be entertaining enough: I liked the world, the characters (Levet is a personal favorite), the plot... However, in a PNR, I'm looking for some great romance, and for me it just didn't click. Also, the middle part was sometimes confusing to me as it seemed that some characters already had a certain piece of information but then in a next scene acted like it was new to them.

Also, I loved the reference to Underworld! I loved those movies as a teen, so it was nice to see it referenced.

Even though the R part of the PNR didn't click for me, I'm looking forward to reading other books in this series.

[greeneyes9999 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each book keeps getting better?

I never realized how hooked I was on this series of books until I found myself pouting that the next omnibus isn’t out till next month! I love all the old characters mixing in with all the characters and not only Levet but now a baby!! You will be very entertained from cover to cover. Best suggestion, buy the omnibus books when you can reading a 5 for 1 option versus multiple books. You’ll appreciate the continues reading without having to mess with other books. Enjoy!

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

After the disappointment of the last couple of books, I was hoping she would redeem herself with this book. I want my heroes to actually BE hero material. A man willing to capture someone with the full knowledge that they will be killed simply for existing, and not only ok at with it but a willing participant? Nope. That's a hard line right there. And half the characters are at best self-absorbed jerks who don't give a rip about anyone else. Lever has more honor than the rest combined.

[Tara Dorough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tane and Laylah Are Wonderful

Devoured BY Darkness, book 7 of Alexandra Ivy's Guardians of Eternity series is Tane and Laylah's book. Tane is a strong alpha male vampire. He could be a clan chief if he wanted to be. His past mistakes stop him from believing he deserves more in life. Laylah is a Jinn halfbreed. She's not supposed to exist. She's endured a life of suffering. Their journey will have you on edge, laughing, holding your breath and keep you guessing.