I'm desperate to wipe his family from the earth. He's desperate to put a baby in my womb.
He is the king of the heathens. A king that wants my womb. But it's forbidden, our species breeding.
Yet, a deal has been hatched for that very thing. One year—I’m to give Damen one year in his castle to impregnate me. I'm not exactly sure why a deal has been struck, but I do know that Damen is desperate to create half-breeds.
Desperation I'll use to my advantage, for he's also the key to the vengeance that will set me free. His family destroyed everything I held dear a century ago, shattering me. Turning me into a shell. Now it’s time I rid the earth of their presence, but the only way to find them is through Damen.
When I enter his lair, Damen believes I'm there to have his next child. He couldn’t be more wrong. I won't let him touch me. And I know I won't break, even if he is a master of seduction.
But in the games between good and evil, uncrossable lines aren't always where they should be. Sometimes the lines scatter, disappearing to dust. Sometimes, even, the lines are crossed over with full intention.
Empire of Dark is a dark fantasy romance with forbidden love, steam to make your toes curl, multiple POV, mythological tales and legends, fated mates, amazing powers, morally-grey choices, twists, cliffhangers, a kick-butt heroine, and an I-will-burn-the-earth-to-ash-for-her hero.
It contains mature language, graphic violence, and explicit content. This is the first book in the Creatures of Sin and Seduction duet. Please read at your own discretion.
Yes. This is exactly what I want again! I've hit the jackpot baby!
First of all. This is sets in a contemporary setting. Alternate universe where two races of mythical creatures (the panthenites and the malefics) rule the earth amongst us lowly humans.
It follows Ada, a panthenite, in a breeding contract with Damen, a malefic. Damen, you can say, the leader of his people. Meanwhile, Ada, followed through the contract to exact her revenge. What revenge? Yeesh, it would turn out your stomach once you understand what happened to her. That's where the dark in the dark fantasy comes in.
The world building? Just enough to keep you interested, though I would appreciate to have more. The character development? Yes. It's there and prevalent enough, despite that ending kinda spoiled it a little bit. Sexual chemistry? Fuck yes. Plenty of them and *cough cough* high quality.
All in all, recommend it to those who want a smutty dark fantasy with characters that have special powers and lot of sexual tension. No pussyfooting here guys.
Really, really bad. 😑 I really like the idea behind this book but wow, was it repetitive, and the characters were super annoying. I’m just so frustrated because this book could’ve been awesome. This is my first book by this author, and I think it might be my last.
REVIEW Score: 5/5 POV: Dual Heat Level: 3/5 but super 🥵🥵 Tropes: Enemies to Lovers; powers; “gods”; opposites attract; a little “found family”
Holy shit. Has this book finally broken my months long slump?? I seriously think it has. Wow. This book was soo good. The relationship building between the MCs was so good and felt so natural. The way the FMC basically was a friend or “mother” to Venny 🥹. Even though it wasn’t like coming out the seems with 🌶️ every scene was extremely 🥵. Like very. It does of course end on a cliffhanger but not one that would send you into some spiral of anger (I’ve read those types of cliffhangers and honestly they put me off of continuing the story). One thing that really bothers me about advertising for books is when they are bit falsely advertised. I did feel that way about this book. It’s advertised as a “dark” romance. Idk it just didn’t feel very dark to me and I think that’s because in my mind for a romance to be “dark” it needs to having some “taboo” about it and this didn’t have that. However if you’re still reading this far it does have a good bit of some descriptive gore. So if you don’t like descriptive gore then I wouldn’t recommend this, cuz there is a good bit of it spread throughout the book. Will definitely reread this and am immediately picking up the next book! 5/5
This is definitely a dramatic start to the series with compelling characters and an intriguing plot. There is some violence that may be off-putting for certain readers but still recommended for fans of the genre.
There is absolutely zero world building. There is no political structure that is adequately explained. There wasn't even a plot to follow.
I'm not entirely sure what the characters were outside of not being human. They're loosely tied to demons; that was about all I understood.
Ada's mission makes no sense. She's going to live with an enemy in the guise of being a breeder. There's supposedly a plan that you're not really privy to, just the gist of it that Ada promptly drops. Her history also doesn't make sense or add up to her behavior now. For whatever reason, she didn't even know who Damen was. But given her past, you'd think she should've been able to pick him out of a crowd. But speaking of her past, it wasn't handled right with the delivery of facts, and they changed as she needed them to fit excuses that held no water. She's supposedly born a breeder and then is hidden away in the academy from the breeder program? I mean, what? Why? Because she was loosely involved in a war you learn nothing about that resulted in her being experimented on, that you're not given more details about, and her lover was killed by Damens family? I mean, none of this is addressed properly.
Damen is supposed to be some kind of grey area character. But he has no redeeming qualities. I wasn't convinced that Ada was even attracted to him, let alone that she grew to love him. I saw no evidence that he cared about her at all. He's an awful father. He's an awful lover. He's awful to her and she just spreads her legs. This was gross. I thought Ada was supposed to be a badass, but she isn't. She's concerned one moment that Damen will drug her, they're even discussing rape, and in that same paragraph, she's trying to stem her overwhelming attraction to someone she thinks would drug and rape her? I'm supposed to like this Damen character? He has how many children that are where? He's supposed to be the leader of his family? But he has no control of them or his children? Yet he is plotting to change the future with hybrid children he won't even raise? I mean, none of this makes sense.
I lost interest when Ada lost her self-respect, which admittedly happened pretty early on. I kept waiting for some form of redemption, but it never came.
Over all, this book is lacking everything to be a story. It's just ideas thrown about with no direction. I wouldn't recommend it.
A SOLID 3.5 STARS! THIS REVIEW IS BASED ON THE ENTIRE DUOLOGY.
This lacked a proper world building and character introduction, especially for first time readers who never read the previous books. The author never elaborated on WHAT the characters were for example, if he or she was a vampire/werewolf, we get it, cause that has been explained to us way before time. So I couldn't understand the difference between the Pans and Malefics (sorry if I butchered the name, I'm bad at remembering long names)....as in WHAT KIND OF RACE WERE THEY? WHY DID THEY HAVE BAD BLOOD BETWEEN THE TWO? AND WAS THIS A MODERN DAY SETTING?
The plot had CHEESEHOLES and the chemistry between the MCs wasn't done the way I prefer...it wasn't believable if you get what I mean. Enemies to lovers (this was VERY MILD) should have a good amount of angst, push and pull, attraction and hate....but we don't see its full potential here.
I'M KINDA ICK-ED OUT BY HOW DAMEN just procreated for the sake of saving his race...well, it's martyr to be sure but he wasn't a good parent - at all. Obviously the characters could live out to more than 150 years, and imagine the amount of children he might have sired - LOL! And the whole purpose of this story was so that he could impregnate our heroine.
UMM..not really sure what the plot's trying to tell us. ADA, the heroine was a victim of torture because of her impenetrable skin. Oookkay...so what's the reason for her power? I truly wished the author had better introduced her characters instead of letting us pick up clues and information along the way, it would have made a pleasant read. ADA's background is a minefield of question marks; some we don't get answers to.
OVERALL it was O-kayyyy but apart from the bedroom scenes, I wasn't impressed. The sex came too early without Damen and Ada knowing each other given they were "enemies" and this wasn't a forced breeding kind of situation. DAMEN couldn't touch ADA without her consent, but how easily she fell....I'm like WHY GIRL? WHY? Apart from his good looks, and maybe a peek into his somewhat existent morals, WHAT DID HE HAVE TO OFFER YOU?
Also, a huge peeve of mine...NOT KNOWING THE CHARACTERS even when the story's over. That's how you know, you didn't bond or relate with any of them at all.
THAT ASIDE, it wasn't a bad story. I enjoyed the duology, even if it could use better editing and a smoother flow.
K. J. Jackson brings us the first in a two part series about Damen who we first meet in the Creatures of Sin and Savagery series. You do not need to read it in order to enjoy his story. Because his story is told in two books, there is a cliffhanger at the end of this one.
The author brings us the story of Damen and Ada. We are once again in a world where panthenites and malefics roam the Earth among the humans. This is a world where they are fighting against each other and sometimes they even work together when their goals align. Her cousin Triaten brings her to Damen at Netherstone Castle to repay a debt. She must stay for one year and in that year, Damen has the opportunity to impregnate her thus mixing their two breeds for a new generation. And in that same year, Ada plans to gather information for retribution. But nothing goes to plan. When these two strong-willed personalities collide, will it spell disaster for them? Will they each be able to get past their hurts and prejudice to discover something that is beautiful and worthy? When their pasts show up, is their bond strong enough or is it still too fragile to withstand what's coming for them?
The author brings us a story of two souls determined to get their way. She draws you into their world and you keep reading to see what they do next. You are right there with them as you follow their story. At the same time, you do not want to reach the end of the story when you realize that there is more to their story but you have to wait for the next book. The author makes you feel what they are feeling whether it is laughing with Ada as she appreciates the irony of a situation or that feeling you get in your heart when you see a kindness done. I highly recommend this book and others in her various series. I am impatiently awaiting the conclusion of their story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I would like to thank K. J. Jackson for this privilege.
This book is terrible. Poorly developed characters, bad world building, confusing “plot.”
Ada (whose name is also randomly Maude) is a supernatural being of some sort. She’s sent to be a breeder for Damen, an enemy supernatural being of a different sort, as part of a debt owed by Triaten who is Ada’s uncle? Leader? Who knows.
Damen has a teenaged daughter who might destroy the world, so he won’t teach her to read. Because he’s too busy controlling her, even though there’s no evidence he even talks to her. Plus she has a phone mysteriously, which she uses to shop, despite being illiterate.
Someone botched a lobotomy on Ava, so it causes her constant pain when she gets upset (which is all the time), but Damen can cure the pain with magic, and then also sex is necessary for some reason.
Ada also hates Damien’s family for reasons that might become clear later, but I stopped reading because I hate this book.
I’m not really sure what to think of this book. It’s a bit jumbled/unclear at times, like the deal that is made that has Ada going to the castle, why her uncle made a deal with people they are supposed to not like. The significant ages of the main characters are a little off putting especially when they talk of the MMC’s grown children almost being offed by his teenage, half-breed daughter. It’s the “breeder” terminology that I don’t like either, and there’s a lot of knee jerk reactions that could have been avoided. BUT, if I push past all of that the story line is actually pretty good,
This was AMAZING! The world of the panthenites and malefics is truly unique and captivating. I honestly could not put it down. The three main characters grab me upon their introductions. So many mysteries surrounded each of them. Layers to be peeled away to reveal what was in the heart of each of them. There was not a dull moment throughout. My heart broke for Ada and Venetia, but at the same time it broke for Damen. Their pasts have all led them to each other. That cliffhanger though, it crushed me. The next book cannot come soon enough. This is my voluntary opinion of an early copy I received.
This was a quick enemies to lovers fantasy romance. The tension and banter between the protagonists was great, and I loved the relationship between the FMC and the MMC's daughter. I wish there was more of an introduction to the circumstances of the world and world building- why do the two superhuman races hate each other so much?- but it was still an enjoyable read. The FMC was strong and witty and actually had depth which I enjoyed.
It ended really abruptly and on a cliffhanger, fyi!
I always love your books so much. Would be unhappy if I missed one. Now pleased that you are also doing paranormal, I will be reading them too as I have added them to my reading as well. Not because of the sex, I can pass past that but because of the strong story lines. So enjoyable. Who ever thought one could get so involved with wolves, bears vampires, etc . I'm caught up on your other books that i love. Congratulations on your change and book store.
An incredible story filled with feels. Light and dark. Good, bad, and just plain evil. Well rounded storyline and characters. No cheating and plenty of passion. Only to end with a cliffhanger. I'm one that normally never gets the next in the story, but I have to find out what happens next. Enjoy 🤓
First time reading a fantasy romance but I enjoy K J Jackson historical romances, so I gave it a shot. 5 star good characters, great plot a bit violent at times (is that a spoiler) .Ending was get me to her next book which I have . Will be reading today. Thanks Ms Jackson.
But once I started it I could not stop. Lots I didn’t understand. Interesting. Different. Couldn’t figure out time. Amazon delivery and sword fighting. Part 2
This was absolutely amazing. I loved the storyline. The world building was superb. Venetia and Ada were perfect. Damen has issues, but overall I kinda like him. Let's see what happens in the next book though.
Loved the storyline and the main characters. Very Dark but I enjoyed this fast paced read that kept me on the edge of my seat. Hated that it was a cliffhanger
This is my first book by K. J. Jackson and won’t be my last. Looking forward to the next one
I wasn't sure if I would ever finish this book until about 60% of the way through. It started off very slowly and I had no emotional attachment to any of the characters. However, that slowly started to change and with the cliff hanger ending I will immediately be reading the next in the series.
The book starts with a lit if mystery but by the end not only.do you have those answers, you also have more questions and an ending leaving you needing more.
Wow! Completely different from my usual type of book. This pulled me in and held me captive until the very last page! Cliffhanger ending that I can’t wait to start!