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Darkness #2
Taste of Darkness
He spent more than a thousand years imprisoned in hell…
Drake is an ancient dragon shifter, one of the most powerful beings in existence, but a millennium trapped in utter darkness has left him ill-equipped for modern society. If it wasn’t for Victoria, the sweet female brave enough to befriend him, he’d be lost. She’s smart and gorgeous and everything he never dared dream of during his years of agonizing loneliness. He may not have anything to offer her, but one thing he knows for sure: he’d die to keep her safe.
Only to fall into the heaven of her touch.
Victoria is a wolf shifter, healer of the Stavros pack. She’s seen a lot, but she’s never met anybody quite like Drake, the fiery, fascinating shifter who can blaze through the skies unseen by mere mortals. He’s lost, dangerous, and the last male she should fall in love with, but the more time she spends helping him navigate modern life, the deeper—and hotter—their connection becomes. She’s thrilled when they finally locate his family, but reuniting with his people plunges them both into unimaginable danger. It’s a race against the clock trying to figure out who wants them dead and who they can trust, especially when the threat is closer than they ever imagined.
Drake is an ancient dragon shifter, one of the most powerful beings in existence, but a millennium trapped in utter darkness has left him ill-equipped for modern society. If it wasn’t for Victoria, the sweet female brave enough to befriend him, he’d be lost. She’s smart and gorgeous and everything he never dared dream of during his years of agonizing loneliness. He may not have anything to offer her, but one thing he knows for sure: he’d die to keep her safe.
Only to fall into the heaven of her touch.
Victoria is a wolf shifter, healer of the Stavros pack. She’s seen a lot, but she’s never met anybody quite like Drake, the fiery, fascinating shifter who can blaze through the skies unseen by mere mortals. He’s lost, dangerous, and the last male she should fall in love with, but the more time she spends helping him navigate modern life, the deeper—and hotter—their connection becomes. She’s thrilled when they finally locate his family, but reuniting with his people plunges them both into unimaginable danger. It’s a race against the clock trying to figure out who wants them dead and who they can trust, especially when the threat is closer than they ever imagined.
265 pages, ebook
First published July 24, 2014
158 people are currently reading
2003 people want to read
About the author
Katie Reus
164 books3,243 followersKatie Reus® is the USA Today bestselling author of the Endgame trilogy, the MacArthur Family series and the Deadly Ops series. She fell in love with romance at a young age thanks to books she pilfered from her mom's stash. Years later she loves reading romance almost as much as she loves writing it. However, she didn't always know she wanted to be a writer. After changing majors many times, she finally graduated with a degree in psychology. Not long after that she discovered a new love. Writing. She now spends her days writing paranormal romance and sexy romantic suspense.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 341 reviews
October 25, 2016
Oh Le Sigh. This was PNR/UF perfection for me. Perfection I tell you.
Because anything paranormal?
Mixed with some Urban Fantasy?
With a huge side of "we are mates, dammit" romance?
Oh, and one more thing...
And being that this book (book two of my my newly found, "how the hell did I not know about this series," series) is about DRAGONS?
Seriously though.
I enjoyed the shit out of this thing.
Because Drake.
I loves him so much that, well...
With a Dragon baby.
Okay, so not so much.
There, there, crazy imaginary baby. There, there...
But I digress.
This installment follows the story line laid out by book one - which I didn't review because... READING THIS ONE.
I would go into the dynamics here, but those who've already read it don't need a recap, and those who aren't going to read it don't fucking care.
Needless to say, Drake was stuck in hell for 1500-something years or so and was able to get back to Earth via the Hell Gate opened in the last book.
LOL Can you imagine THAT convo with the husband?
Him: "What are you reading, babe?"
Me: "Oh, nothing, just a book about a dragon shifter who came through the hell gate and his healer/werewolf shifter mate."
Him: "Oh, of course. Well...carry on."
Anyawesomehubs, like I was saying, Drake came through in the last book and is verra attached to Victoria. Together they find out about the rest of his Dragon family and, of course, try to solve the mystery of who sacrificed Drake to hell.
Because, you know, you can't open a Hell Gate without some sacrificial Dragon blood.
Now, that said. I really enjoyed the world building here. Katie Reus is a very talented lady author and, quite frankly, after reading a lot of ARCs and indies lately - which, don't get me wrong, I LOVE to read - it IS nice to read something...EDITED.
I also really like her female characters, *gasp.*
I liked Lyra from the first book, liked Victoria from this one, and am liking Keelin from the third book.
Because, am I already knee deep in book three without reviewing/rating book two?
Find me at:
Because anything paranormal?
Mixed with some Urban Fantasy?
With a huge side of "we are mates, dammit" romance?
Oh, and one more thing...
And being that this book (book two of my my newly found, "how the hell did I not know about this series," series) is about DRAGONS?
Seriously though.
I enjoyed the shit out of this thing.
Because Drake.
I loves him so much that, well...
With a Dragon baby.
Okay, so not so much.
There, there, crazy imaginary baby. There, there...
But I digress.
This installment follows the story line laid out by book one - which I didn't review because... READING THIS ONE.
I would go into the dynamics here, but those who've already read it don't need a recap, and those who aren't going to read it don't fucking care.
Needless to say, Drake was stuck in hell for 1500-something years or so and was able to get back to Earth via the Hell Gate opened in the last book.
LOL Can you imagine THAT convo with the husband?
Him: "What are you reading, babe?"
Me: "Oh, nothing, just a book about a dragon shifter who came through the hell gate and his healer/werewolf shifter mate."
Him: "Oh, of course. Well...carry on."
Anyawesomehubs, like I was saying, Drake came through in the last book and is verra attached to Victoria. Together they find out about the rest of his Dragon family and, of course, try to solve the mystery of who sacrificed Drake to hell.
Because, you know, you can't open a Hell Gate without some sacrificial Dragon blood.
Now, that said. I really enjoyed the world building here. Katie Reus is a very talented lady author and, quite frankly, after reading a lot of ARCs and indies lately - which, don't get me wrong, I LOVE to read - it IS nice to read something...EDITED.
I also really like her female characters, *gasp.*
I liked Lyra from the first book, liked Victoria from this one, and am liking Keelin from the third book.
Because, am I already knee deep in book three without reviewing/rating book two?
Find me at:
March 24, 2017
A love story between a wolf and she dragon. And they are virgins, too!
Ok, I'm game…
Drake is the loneliest dragon on Earth. After being locked in Hell for fifteen hundred years, he managed to escape a few months ago. Now, he is a member of Stavros’ pack.
A lonesome dragon among many many wolves.
Victoria is a healer and one of the most non-aggressive supernatural beings. She is one of Stavros’ wolves and she is very much sheltered since she was found by Stavros many years ago. The pack has been looking after her and now they watch with suspicion this weird dragon who tries to steal her away.
While Drake and Victoria are falling in love, two are the main mysteries:
-Does Drake have a real family with real dragons?
-Who had thrown Drake in Hell when he was a kid and left him there?
If you would like a book full of shifters' passion and amazing dragon air fights, this book is for you.
Ok, I'm game…
Drake is the loneliest dragon on Earth. After being locked in Hell for fifteen hundred years, he managed to escape a few months ago. Now, he is a member of Stavros’ pack.
A lonesome dragon among many many wolves.
Victoria is a healer and one of the most non-aggressive supernatural beings. She is one of Stavros’ wolves and she is very much sheltered since she was found by Stavros many years ago. The pack has been looking after her and now they watch with suspicion this weird dragon who tries to steal her away.
While Drake and Victoria are falling in love, two are the main mysteries:
-Does Drake have a real family with real dragons?
-Who had thrown Drake in Hell when he was a kid and left him there?
If you would like a book full of shifters' passion and amazing dragon air fights, this book is for you.
March 20, 2016
4.5 stars.
I really enjoyed this audiobook. I let it languish on my TBR because book 1 was just okay. I knew it had potential and in this sequel, the author brought it.
Drake was the dragon shifter who escaped from hell with no memory of who he is and whom he belongs to. He was adopted by the Stavros wolf pack and his connection with shifter Victoria was instantaneous. Victoria was a guide in this world as 1500 years in hell left Drake overwhelmed in current day Earth. They both felt orphaned due to circumstances that left them alone so Victoria and Drake found companionship. They were fiercely loyal and they both worked hard not to their attraction overwhelm their friendship.
The story of finding out about Drake was well developed, interesting and full of passion. Drake knew he had been betrayed and probably forgotten so trust was fragile. He was also very proud so he wanted to work and earn his keep. I loved that he wanted to be a man worthy of Victoria. I enjoyed the chemistry between Drake and Victoria. They were clear in communication and action. None of that contrived drama that I despise. Drake and Victoria were drawn to each other and they went with it and fought for it. They were equally protective of the other and that partnership gave them strength. Victoria and Drake's love felt like a natural progression and I have to admit the set up from book 1 was a perfect lead in.
I am currently reading Katie Reus' Deadly Op series and I can't tell which one I like more. The writing consistently gets better which each installment in both series. One thing I know is that Katie Reus is becoming one of my favorite authors. I look forward to audiobook 3.
I really enjoyed this audiobook. I let it languish on my TBR because book 1 was just okay. I knew it had potential and in this sequel, the author brought it.
Drake was the dragon shifter who escaped from hell with no memory of who he is and whom he belongs to. He was adopted by the Stavros wolf pack and his connection with shifter Victoria was instantaneous. Victoria was a guide in this world as 1500 years in hell left Drake overwhelmed in current day Earth. They both felt orphaned due to circumstances that left them alone so Victoria and Drake found companionship. They were fiercely loyal and they both worked hard not to their attraction overwhelm their friendship.
The story of finding out about Drake was well developed, interesting and full of passion. Drake knew he had been betrayed and probably forgotten so trust was fragile. He was also very proud so he wanted to work and earn his keep. I loved that he wanted to be a man worthy of Victoria. I enjoyed the chemistry between Drake and Victoria. They were clear in communication and action. None of that contrived drama that I despise. Drake and Victoria were drawn to each other and they went with it and fought for it. They were equally protective of the other and that partnership gave them strength. Victoria and Drake's love felt like a natural progression and I have to admit the set up from book 1 was a perfect lead in.
I am currently reading Katie Reus' Deadly Op series and I can't tell which one I like more. The writing consistently gets better which each installment in both series. One thing I know is that Katie Reus is becoming one of my favorite authors. I look forward to audiobook 3.
September 3, 2017
5 Drake stars!!!
Thank you to my friend Cyndi for lending this book to me... YOU'RE AWESOME!!! 😘
I loved Drake.
I loved Drake.
I absolutely loved Drake.
He was an AMAZING hero, I loved how he loved Victoria, how he protect her, how he wanted to be a better man for her even though he was the better man for her. Omg my heart is full because of him. I absolutely loved him. 😍😍
Victoria was also an amazing heroine, she was also protective of him.. I loved her too.
Dual virgins can't get better than that!!
Thank you to my friend Cyndi for lending this book to me... YOU'RE AWESOME!!! 😘
I loved Drake.
I loved Drake.
I absolutely loved Drake.
He was an AMAZING hero, I loved how he loved Victoria, how he protect her, how he wanted to be a better man for her even though he was the better man for her. Omg my heart is full because of him. I absolutely loved him. 😍😍
Victoria was also an amazing heroine, she was also protective of him.. I loved her too.
Dual virgins can't get better than that!!
February 28, 2015
4.5 - "I will always find you." Stars!
Where book one in Katie Reus's Darkness Series set the scene perfectly, book two definitely gives you the characters in all their paranormal glory. I have to say when I finished Darkness Awakened there was a definite 'semi' in the Lady-Boner department, after finishing this installment I am now at full mast.
"I like your scent on me."
Drake and Victoria's story started at the end of Darkness Awakened and as a reader I was eager too see how Katie would bring this couple together in Taste of Darkness, one has spent hundreds of years in hell, one has been protected by their pack, due to being female and their healer. Both innocent, both deadly, both in the way of unknown enemies plans.
She was glad he had no problem leaning on her. Because she would never let him down.
This book is sexy, there is a lot of growling going on, I like growling, it's a personal thing, I refer you back to paragraph one in relation to the effect growling has on me. But more than that, it is about the building of a couple. Drake is old school, he doesn't want to take anything from Victoria until he can provide for her in every other way. Victoria gets it, and although frustrated lets him take the lead.
There is also a lot going on in this book in relation to the progression of the story as a whole. You have the introduction of Drakes family, and other Dragon clans. There is chemistry popping up all over the place between shifters and dragons as well which keeps you guessing, and hopeful for future books.
"There will never be anyone else."
Keelin and Bran in particular gave me tummy tingles, and thankfully their book Beyond the Darkness is up next. I don't think a little blue pill is going to be required in keeping things 'up' in this ladies nethers!
Where book one in Katie Reus's Darkness Series set the scene perfectly, book two definitely gives you the characters in all their paranormal glory. I have to say when I finished Darkness Awakened there was a definite 'semi' in the Lady-Boner department, after finishing this installment I am now at full mast.
"I like your scent on me."
Drake and Victoria's story started at the end of Darkness Awakened and as a reader I was eager too see how Katie would bring this couple together in Taste of Darkness, one has spent hundreds of years in hell, one has been protected by their pack, due to being female and their healer. Both innocent, both deadly, both in the way of unknown enemies plans.
She was glad he had no problem leaning on her. Because she would never let him down.
This book is sexy, there is a lot of growling going on, I like growling, it's a personal thing, I refer you back to paragraph one in relation to the effect growling has on me. But more than that, it is about the building of a couple. Drake is old school, he doesn't want to take anything from Victoria until he can provide for her in every other way. Victoria gets it, and although frustrated lets him take the lead.
There is also a lot going on in this book in relation to the progression of the story as a whole. You have the introduction of Drakes family, and other Dragon clans. There is chemistry popping up all over the place between shifters and dragons as well which keeps you guessing, and hopeful for future books.
"There will never be anyone else."
Keelin and Bran in particular gave me tummy tingles, and thankfully their book Beyond the Darkness is up next. I don't think a little blue pill is going to be required in keeping things 'up' in this ladies nethers!
September 4, 2019
Drake was everything I was hoping for. I was so excited about his character when we got that little bit of him in book one. He made such an impact that I jumped right into book two to get his story.
Drake had all the characteristic that I like in a hero. He was intense, broody, and dominant without being overbearing. I actually really like how he pursued Victoria. He was so patient to get what he wanted. He was focused on her and only her. He proved over and over that he put Victoria above all others. I just love that!
Victoria was just as good. She was levelheaded and likable. Her pack was overprotective and she handled it very well. There were no fits from this girl. I also liked how focused she was on Drake, as well. She wanted to be there for him just as much as he wanted to be there for her.
On top of great main characters, the plot was pretty exciting. I actually wasn't sure who the evil foe was on this and was surprised who it ended up being. Another bonus, we got introduced to so many side characters. You can see which future couples are going to get their own book and I can't wait to read them.
Drake had all the characteristic that I like in a hero. He was intense, broody, and dominant without being overbearing. I actually really like how he pursued Victoria. He was so patient to get what he wanted. He was focused on her and only her. He proved over and over that he put Victoria above all others. I just love that!
Victoria was just as good. She was levelheaded and likable. Her pack was overprotective and she handled it very well. There were no fits from this girl. I also liked how focused she was on Drake, as well. She wanted to be there for him just as much as he wanted to be there for her.
On top of great main characters, the plot was pretty exciting. I actually wasn't sure who the evil foe was on this and was surprised who it ended up being. Another bonus, we got introduced to so many side characters. You can see which future couples are going to get their own book and I can't wait to read them.
May 24, 2019
Re-read 22nd - 24th May 2019
4.5*
I’m loving this series and for me dragons are just the icing on the cake.
Yet again there’s loads of reviews so I’ll keep mine brief.
All the characters are fabulous. I particularly loved Drake but there isn’t a bad or weak character to be found here.
So we have strong characters, a great story and dragons. If you like paranormal romances look no further.
I’m moving straight onto the next book Beyond the Darkness. This looks like it’s going to be slightly different since Bran appears to be a hit it and quit it type of manwhore.
4.5*
I’m loving this series and for me dragons are just the icing on the cake.
Yet again there’s loads of reviews so I’ll keep mine brief.
All the characters are fabulous. I particularly loved Drake but there isn’t a bad or weak character to be found here.
So we have strong characters, a great story and dragons. If you like paranormal romances look no further.
I’m moving straight onto the next book Beyond the Darkness. This looks like it’s going to be slightly different since Bran appears to be a hit it and quit it type of manwhore.
October 11, 2022
Reread Review- August 3, 2022
I still feel very much the same. I think I liked it even more the second time around though. So I may bump it up to 4 stars. Maybe. Happy reading!
Original Review- April 2015
3 1/2 Stars!!
I really liked it! Both main characters are great. I really love dragons anyway and Drake was a super sweetheart with some very nice BA alpha qualities. Victoria was a great female lead. She was sweet, caring and playful. She was also fierce and didn't put up with Drake's alpha male BS. She didn't do anything stupid or put herself in unnecessary danger. In fact she was often quite helpful. Love them together- so sweet.
I wish Ms. Reus had gone into more detail about Drake's abilities and Dragon abilities overall. She would mention something, but then just leave it vague. No details. Also everyone spoke very modern English even though quite a few characters were over 1500- Yes fifteen hundred years old! Even during flashbacks in time. The clan was supposed to be Celtic and originally from Scotland or Ireland and at no point in the story did any characters seem to be from anywhere other than modern day United States. I just think those little details pulled me out of the story at times. Or should I say adding those details would have had me more fully immersed in the story.
With all that being said, overall I enjoyed this book very much. It's a very good story with a sweet romance, mystery, and very good side characters. I'll be reading the next book in the series very soon! Happy reading!
I still feel very much the same. I think I liked it even more the second time around though. So I may bump it up to 4 stars. Maybe. Happy reading!
Original Review- April 2015
3 1/2 Stars!!
I really liked it! Both main characters are great. I really love dragons anyway and Drake was a super sweetheart with some very nice BA alpha qualities. Victoria was a great female lead. She was sweet, caring and playful. She was also fierce and didn't put up with Drake's alpha male BS. She didn't do anything stupid or put herself in unnecessary danger. In fact she was often quite helpful. Love them together- so sweet.
I wish Ms. Reus had gone into more detail about Drake's abilities and Dragon abilities overall. She would mention something, but then just leave it vague. No details. Also everyone spoke very modern English even though quite a few characters were over 1500- Yes fifteen hundred years old! Even during flashbacks in time. The clan was supposed to be Celtic and originally from Scotland or Ireland and at no point in the story did any characters seem to be from anywhere other than modern day United States. I just think those little details pulled me out of the story at times. Or should I say adding those details would have had me more fully immersed in the story.
With all that being said, overall I enjoyed this book very much. It's a very good story with a sweet romance, mystery, and very good side characters. I'll be reading the next book in the series very soon! Happy reading!
February 2, 2016
4.5 Stars
Review to come...
Review to come...
March 11, 2017
4 "DRAKE" stars
This book saved me from boredom. I tried reading other books for the last two days but nothing was holding my interest. But saw this in my kindle and viola! Nothing could go wrong with dragons.
Drake totally made this book for me. He was sacrificed as a child and spent 1500 years in Hell. He spent most of his time in his dragon form to protect himself. He is sweet and protective.
Victoria is a wolf shifter and a healer of the Stavros pack. She was abandoned by her family as a child and was adopted by the Stavros pack.
I wonder what their children would be like. Wolf shifter-dragon hybrid? Hmmm... something to think about.
Anyhoooo, I really enjoyed this and reading the other characters got me curious as well. Will definitely read their stories too. So, if you love to read about wolf shifters and dragons, better to give this one a go.
This book saved me from boredom. I tried reading other books for the last two days but nothing was holding my interest. But saw this in my kindle and viola! Nothing could go wrong with dragons.
Drake totally made this book for me. He was sacrificed as a child and spent 1500 years in Hell. He spent most of his time in his dragon form to protect himself. He is sweet and protective.
Victoria is a wolf shifter and a healer of the Stavros pack. She was abandoned by her family as a child and was adopted by the Stavros pack.
I wonder what their children would be like. Wolf shifter-dragon hybrid? Hmmm... something to think about.
Anyhoooo, I really enjoyed this and reading the other characters got me curious as well. Will definitely read their stories too. So, if you love to read about wolf shifters and dragons, better to give this one a go.
June 18, 2020
Oh Drake, how I love thee! Let me count the ways.
Drake definitely had a Taste of Darkness to him. His story is brutal and it’s a testament to the strength of his character that he didn’t turn feral and evil after all those years in hell. I found him resilient, loyal, and worthy. I can’t say he had an alpha personality but there was no doubt he could take care of business when needed so this did not bother me one little bit.
With no memory of his former self before he was sent to hell as a child, he is lost. Now that he’s escaped he’s part of the Stavropol wolf pack, but he doesn’t feel like he belongs. In hell for hundreds of years, it’s a whole new world for him and he has no idea what his part in it is. All he knows for sure is that Victoria is his mate but until he can offer her something and be able to take care of her he’s not claiming her.
Victoria is the completely sheltered but extremely powerful healer of the pack. Taken in after being abandoned as a child, she feels like the pack is still treating her like a little lost kid. They are suffocating her in their need to protect her. She knows Drake is her mate but wonders if he’ll ever claim her.
The relationship between Drake and Victoria isn’t very fast moving and let me go ahead and give you a virgin alert for both of them. Still, when all those ill-timed interruptions and all that heavy petting finally comes to fruition, they figure things out pretty fast and it’s HOT.
Neither of them realizes that Drake’s past is fixing to come knocking on their door. As his missing history unfolds, it becomes apparent he was betrayed by one of his own and they are now bound and determined to take Drake out before he remembers anything. During all this, we not only get to meet Drake’s family but other dragons too. This is freaking awesome because dragons just do it for me!
This was an emotional read with just the right amount of action and intrigue. I’m still in my paranormal happy place can’t wait to see what’s coming next.
Rating: 4.5 I Big Sexy Dragons Stars
This review first appeared on
Drake definitely had a Taste of Darkness to him. His story is brutal and it’s a testament to the strength of his character that he didn’t turn feral and evil after all those years in hell. I found him resilient, loyal, and worthy. I can’t say he had an alpha personality but there was no doubt he could take care of business when needed so this did not bother me one little bit.
With no memory of his former self before he was sent to hell as a child, he is lost. Now that he’s escaped he’s part of the Stavropol wolf pack, but he doesn’t feel like he belongs. In hell for hundreds of years, it’s a whole new world for him and he has no idea what his part in it is. All he knows for sure is that Victoria is his mate but until he can offer her something and be able to take care of her he’s not claiming her.
Victoria is the completely sheltered but extremely powerful healer of the pack. Taken in after being abandoned as a child, she feels like the pack is still treating her like a little lost kid. They are suffocating her in their need to protect her. She knows Drake is her mate but wonders if he’ll ever claim her.
The relationship between Drake and Victoria isn’t very fast moving and let me go ahead and give you a virgin alert for both of them. Still, when all those ill-timed interruptions and all that heavy petting finally comes to fruition, they figure things out pretty fast and it’s HOT.
Neither of them realizes that Drake’s past is fixing to come knocking on their door. As his missing history unfolds, it becomes apparent he was betrayed by one of his own and they are now bound and determined to take Drake out before he remembers anything. During all this, we not only get to meet Drake’s family but other dragons too. This is freaking awesome because dragons just do it for me!
This was an emotional read with just the right amount of action and intrigue. I’m still in my paranormal happy place can’t wait to see what’s coming next.
Rating: 4.5 I Big Sexy Dragons Stars
This review first appeared on
July 25, 2019
Its no secret I ❤️ Dragons and Drake was amazing! Victoria was perfect for him. Another 100% safe PNR read.
If you like the opposites attract trope this book is a must read. This author always delivers super sexy, sweet and dynamic stories that pull you in and make you fall in love.
Drake and Victoria have been dancing around each for months but I loved the reason behind Drake taking his time in claiming Victoria (he is still adjusting to the modern times he's suddenly been thrown into and he wants to be able to provide for Victoria. I personally loved his need to protect and provide for his mate. It was old fashioned but Drake was just so sweet about it all!) I also loved that Victoria, a modern girl accepted Drake just as he was. These two really were the ying and the yang that were perfect together.
This can be read as a stand alone but I'd recommend reading it in order since there is a lot of side characters (both old and new) that move the main ongoing plot along to the next book in the series.
SAFETY INFO:
If you like the opposites attract trope this book is a must read. This author always delivers super sexy, sweet and dynamic stories that pull you in and make you fall in love.
Drake and Victoria have been dancing around each for months but I loved the reason behind Drake taking his time in claiming Victoria (he is still adjusting to the modern times he's suddenly been thrown into and he wants to be able to provide for Victoria. I personally loved his need to protect and provide for his mate. It was old fashioned but Drake was just so sweet about it all!) I also loved that Victoria, a modern girl accepted Drake just as he was. These two really were the ying and the yang that were perfect together.
This can be read as a stand alone but I'd recommend reading it in order since there is a lot of side characters (both old and new) that move the main ongoing plot along to the next book in the series.
SAFETY INFO:
November 9, 2015
BASICS
Love triangle?
Cheating?
HEA?
Any Descriptive Sex w/OW/OM/Ex?
Would I read more by this author/or in this series? YES.
Rating: 5 stars
Review
Loveeed it! Finally a new story to add to my favourite shelf (who was kinda getting lonely). H and h fit perfectly together and there is also mystery, action and beautiful romance (totally swooning).
Taste of Darkness is a must read!
Love triangle?
Cheating?
HEA?
Any Descriptive Sex w/OW/OM/Ex?
Would I read more by this author/or in this series? YES.
Rating: 5 stars
Review
Loveeed it! Finally a new story to add to my favourite shelf (who was kinda getting lonely). H and h fit perfectly together and there is also mystery, action and beautiful romance (totally swooning).
Taste of Darkness is a must read!
March 29, 2016
Why have I waited all this time to read this series, I don't know!!!
It's great and I'm enjoying it very, very much!
How could I not with all these deliciously caveman shifters! LOL
It's great and I'm enjoying it very, very much!
How could I not with all these deliciously caveman shifters! LOL
October 12, 2019
ARC received for review
Drake is a dragon and has spent 1500 years in hell since he was 10 years old. When he escapes, one of the first things he finds is his mate. Drake is reunited with his family, and finds out who sacrificed him to hell. Plus he falls in love with Veronica, an abandoned werewolf, who has made her home with the Stavros pack. The feeling is mutual, and together they fight the bad guy.
Lots more yummy dragons from other clans to find out more about, and hopefully, a few HEAs along the way.
Drake is a dragon and has spent 1500 years in hell since he was 10 years old. When he escapes, one of the first things he finds is his mate. Drake is reunited with his family, and finds out who sacrificed him to hell. Plus he falls in love with Veronica, an abandoned werewolf, who has made her home with the Stavros pack. The feeling is mutual, and together they fight the bad guy.
Lots more yummy dragons from other clans to find out more about, and hopefully, a few HEAs along the way.
August 1, 2017
If there is one thing I love more than wolf shifters then it are dragon shifters. I loved this book and count it as one of my favourites of this year.
January 20, 2023
Update
I have moved the whole series to the Limbo shelf and Avoid it like is poison Ivy. Book 3 made me realize these stories are not for me after all.
————————————————————————————
Preface
More fun than the relationship between Victoria and Drake was seeing the other relationships develop. It may be a bit novelettish of my part, I don’t care, I do like when there is a set group of characters and they begin to pair off. Princess of one clan with the King of another, guy who is closed off with the girl of the other clan who is even more closed off. All very convenient.
I have to say, I wasn’t dying of curiosity towards who resulted in Drake’s entrapment in hell. It did, however, come back to be at times in little hunger pains. Especially when new players kept coming into the game. Drake as a hero was awesome. Victoria was alright, she had a bit of a damsel in distress thing going on. It made sense, because trying to pit a wolf against a dragon is laughable (I wish the GOT writers had gotten that message in the last season 😔). I just wanted more of a reaction from almost dying every .5 seconds.
————————————————————————————
RATINGS:
Plot : 2 📚📚 Some.
World Building(Immersion): 1.5 🌎💫 Submerged my feet. There is a club. A ski resort. All very blank in my mind.
Angst : ❎ No angst.
Funniness: 1.5 🌝💫 Amused.
Scariness: ❎ Not scary.
Romance: 3 💖💖💖 Aw, it was cute.
Spice: 3 🌶🌶🌶 Explicit, but not a big part of the story.
Goriness: 3 🫀🫀🫀 Someone died and I got to see what happened.
Sadness: ❎ No sadness. Everything was fine in the end.
Overall star rating : 2 ⭐️⭐️
————————————————————————————
🚨🚨🚨MILD SPOILERS 🚨🚨🚨
Romance Safety:
Safe. Both virgins, guy was locked in hell for a looooong time. She fooled around but never all the way. Not cheating. Heart eyes only for each other.
————————————————————————————
🚨🚨🚨🚨 SPOILERS 🚨🚨🚨🚨
Some ( Very Random) Moments of Notice Along With (Sometimes) My Very Live Reactions Straight From My Notes App to You:
📌Before she could respond, he leaned down and ran his nose against her jaw, down her neck and back up to her ear where he gently nuzzled her.
Public displays of affection are the death of me I can’t read them without suffering lol
📌Sighing, she dropped his hands. “Are you sure that’s the only reason you don’t want to kiss? Is there…someone or something else?” She really doubted it considering the gift he’d just given her but she needed to know.
“There will never be anyone else.” Again with the finality in his deep voice.
Dang 🤌🏻
I have moved the whole series to the Limbo shelf and Avoid it like is poison Ivy. Book 3 made me realize these stories are not for me after all.
————————————————————————————
Preface
More fun than the relationship between Victoria and Drake was seeing the other relationships develop. It may be a bit novelettish of my part, I don’t care, I do like when there is a set group of characters and they begin to pair off. Princess of one clan with the King of another, guy who is closed off with the girl of the other clan who is even more closed off. All very convenient.
I have to say, I wasn’t dying of curiosity towards who resulted in Drake’s entrapment in hell. It did, however, come back to be at times in little hunger pains. Especially when new players kept coming into the game. Drake as a hero was awesome. Victoria was alright, she had a bit of a damsel in distress thing going on. It made sense, because trying to pit a wolf against a dragon is laughable (I wish the GOT writers had gotten that message in the last season 😔). I just wanted more of a reaction from almost dying every .5 seconds.
————————————————————————————
RATINGS:
Plot : 2 📚📚 Some.
World Building(Immersion): 1.5 🌎💫 Submerged my feet. There is a club. A ski resort. All very blank in my mind.
Angst : ❎ No angst.
Funniness: 1.5 🌝💫 Amused.
Scariness: ❎ Not scary.
Romance: 3 💖💖💖 Aw, it was cute.
Spice: 3 🌶🌶🌶 Explicit, but not a big part of the story.
Goriness: 3 🫀🫀🫀 Someone died and I got to see what happened.
Sadness: ❎ No sadness. Everything was fine in the end.
Overall star rating : 2 ⭐️⭐️
————————————————————————————
🚨🚨🚨MILD SPOILERS 🚨🚨🚨
Romance Safety:
Safe. Both virgins, guy was locked in hell for a looooong time. She fooled around but never all the way. Not cheating. Heart eyes only for each other.
————————————————————————————
🚨🚨🚨🚨 SPOILERS 🚨🚨🚨🚨
Some ( Very Random) Moments of Notice Along With (Sometimes) My Very Live Reactions Straight From My Notes App to You:
📌Before she could respond, he leaned down and ran his nose against her jaw, down her neck and back up to her ear where he gently nuzzled her.
Public displays of affection are the death of me I can’t read them without suffering lol
📌Sighing, she dropped his hands. “Are you sure that’s the only reason you don’t want to kiss? Is there…someone or something else?” She really doubted it considering the gift he’d just given her but she needed to know.
“There will never be anyone else.” Again with the finality in his deep voice.
Dang 🤌🏻
October 4, 2016
Drake and Victoria. Loved both MCs, but I just wish there had been less mediocre action with bad-guys and more interaction with each other.
In the previous book, Drake escapes his prison in Hell and becomes a part of the Stavros Wolf pack even though he is a dragon shifter. He has known since he first scented her, that Victoria (the Pack healer) is his mate. Yet he hesitates to claim her while he is new to the modern world. He has no income, and no means to support her. He is over a 1000 years out of date. (The author makes token efforts to reinforce this, but he still in no way comes across as a man from over 1000 years ago). Then dragons come to visit! Some good, some bad, some insincere. If only he remembered how he ended up in Hell at the age of 12, but he suffers amnesia of his entire childhood.
Now it isn't so much that he feels unready to mate her, as he can't seem to get her alone without sh*t happening!
I liked the story, but somehow wanted more. Maybe more humour? Like I mention above, less near death experiences... I never find that stuff entertaining, but that's just me I guess.
The mystery was pretty easy to guess, and not very clever. So... yeah, hence the 3 stars.
I did really like both MCs! But WAAAYYYY too much page time given to setting up future books. A pet peeve of mine, when the author goes into heavy foreshadowing of future love matches. It's almost incestuous how everyone out of a fairly small caste of characters will likely be paired up.
Not going to continue the series because of this. It just spoils it for me.
In the previous book, Drake escapes his prison in Hell and becomes a part of the Stavros Wolf pack even though he is a dragon shifter. He has known since he first scented her, that Victoria (the Pack healer) is his mate. Yet he hesitates to claim her while he is new to the modern world. He has no income, and no means to support her. He is over a 1000 years out of date. (The author makes token efforts to reinforce this, but he still in no way comes across as a man from over 1000 years ago). Then dragons come to visit! Some good, some bad, some insincere. If only he remembered how he ended up in Hell at the age of 12, but he suffers amnesia of his entire childhood.
Now it isn't so much that he feels unready to mate her, as he can't seem to get her alone without sh*t happening!
I liked the story, but somehow wanted more. Maybe more humour? Like I mention above, less near death experiences... I never find that stuff entertaining, but that's just me I guess.
The mystery was pretty easy to guess, and not very clever. So... yeah, hence the 3 stars.
I did really like both MCs! But WAAAYYYY too much page time given to setting up future books. A pet peeve of mine, when the author goes into heavy foreshadowing of future love matches. It's almost incestuous how everyone out of a fairly small caste of characters will likely be paired up.
Not going to continue the series because of this. It just spoils it for me.
May 6, 2016
Taste of Darkness is book 2 in the Darkness series and is the story of Drake and Victoria. I really enjoyed this book, Drake was sexy and savage but at the same times had such an innocence about him that was really sweet. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series.
November 10, 2024
Kept me on my toes the whole time! I am seriously loving this series so far.
March 10, 2018
I loved Drake. He captured this innocent sexiness as a hero. Pure, transparent, protective and a little lost. I liked Victoria and the way they initially had this friendship even though it was obvious they liked one another. The fact that they were both virgins raised it another level, imo of course. It was a good story, nice plot. The "forever mating" that dragons hold and knowing that should one die, the other would too was perfect for a story about supernaturals. I'm also enjoying the whole interbreeding of vampires/werewolves/dragons who all hold human forms.
There were a lot of new characters, especially with the complicated storyline of an entirely new species/clan so maybe it should have been eased into a little better. At times it felt a little long reading it, and the sex scene takes place at like 90%.
Gabriel and Vega - wary of their story. Caught me by surprise when I read the synopsis of their book to find out that they are going to be a couple in a few books time when she's a bit older.
Bo - the half demon - and his mate (some virginal girl), yep not touching that one on his bdsm life.
Conall and Rhea - I'm liking it, but at the same time I'm unsure. At least they've both been betrothed in the past.
Bran and Keelin- hmm. I'm not convinced. Especially his "I love women in all forms" bs and she's been in hibernation until the last year.
There were a lot of new characters, especially with the complicated storyline of an entirely new species/clan so maybe it should have been eased into a little better. At times it felt a little long reading it, and the sex scene takes place at like 90%.
Gabriel and Vega - wary of their story. Caught me by surprise when I read the synopsis of their book to find out that they are going to be a couple in a few books time when she's a bit older.
Bo - the half demon - and his mate (some virginal girl), yep not touching that one on his bdsm life.
Conall and Rhea - I'm liking it, but at the same time I'm unsure. At least they've both been betrothed in the past.
Bran and Keelin- hmm. I'm not convinced. Especially his "I love women in all forms" bs and she's been in hibernation until the last year.
December 30, 2014
Overview:
Taste of Darkness is the second novel in Katie Reus' Darkness series, which is a paranormal romance series about sexy shifters. This book can totally be read as a stand-alone as well!
What's it about?
Drake is a dragon shifter that escaped Hell in the first book and now is living with the Stavros pack. He has also lost his memory and can't seem to remember his past before Hell or where his family is. He is also adorably clueless about modern technology such as driving.
Victoria is the Stavros pack's healer. Her nature is to heal wounds and not inflict them, which is the total opposite of Drake's past of having to fight to survive. She has befriended Drake and is attracted to him but doesn't want to take advantage of him because he has yet to see the world. She has also taken it upon herself to help him find out about his past and when his past finally catches up with them, they are in a world of danger.
Drake will do anything, and I mean anything, for his female. But will Victoria take what is right in front of her or will she push Drake away in the process of protecting him?
My Thoughts:
Ever since I read the first book--Darkness Awakened-- and Drake was introduced in the end I was stoked to read his book! I mean, werewolves are great and all, but come on! A dragon shifter! That's a whole new ball park and I could just imagine the epic-ness that could come with it.
And his growly possessiveness towards Victoria in that book had me rubbing my hands together in excitement. And while I did get that alpha-ness from Drake in this book that I was expecting, it was just missing a little something to make me fall head over heels in love with this story. Which sucks because Drake was exactly the kind of hero I love! The super badass ones that are also innocent in a way.
What I Liked:
☸ Drake's protectiveness/possessiveness towards Victoria. Victoria was it for him and he didn't even bother denying it.
☸ I also loved that both Drake and Victoria were virgins! So that means they were each others firsts and lasts. ♥
What I Didn't Like:
☸ Why so many POVs? From Katie Reus I'm used to having the H/h's POV along with the occasional villain, but here we had extra POV's from other future heros that mostly felt like fillers to make the novel longer. The thing that made me super excited for Drake's novel was that in the last book we had just a glimpse of him, which had me dying for more. But here we already know half of the plot of these future couples and it did not make me excited at all.
☸ The whole "I'm not worthy of you" thing annoyed me. Especially when it was coming from both Drake and Victoria! And don't even get me started on Victoria actually suggesting Drake that he should meet other women! Thank fuck he ignored that.
☸ I think the main reason I didn't fall head over heels for Drake is because I was expecting something else from him. I mean he was stuck in hell for a millennium and besides not knowing how to drive, he was just like any other hero. Even his vernacular was modern. I would have liked to see him adjusting a little more to modern society.
Overall, I did like this book, I just didn't fall in love with it as I expected to. That's okay. I will still be continuing this series and will forever stalk Katie Reus and her books. ☺
January 16, 2023
4.5/5.0
To really understand this rating, one must first understand, this isn’t rocket science. It isn’t deep literary prose or even thought-provoking ideas. The book is just plain story-telling fun! It’s shifters and dragons and vampires with lots of action and angst all wrapped up in a hard to put down story.
The romance is fabulous - especially Drake. He probably wins my all-time favorite dragon-shifter award because he’s such a strong, powerful alpha male but holds such a vulnerability that just can’t be resisted. I also love that the author allowed the relationship between he and Victoria to grow organically, giving the couple time get to know and learn to really love each other on more than just a “mating” level.
It’s semi-light but suspenful paranormal in just the right package for my particular mood!
To really understand this rating, one must first understand, this isn’t rocket science. It isn’t deep literary prose or even thought-provoking ideas. The book is just plain story-telling fun! It’s shifters and dragons and vampires with lots of action and angst all wrapped up in a hard to put down story.
The romance is fabulous - especially Drake. He probably wins my all-time favorite dragon-shifter award because he’s such a strong, powerful alpha male but holds such a vulnerability that just can’t be resisted. I also love that the author allowed the relationship between he and Victoria to grow organically, giving the couple time get to know and learn to really love each other on more than just a “mating” level.
It’s semi-light but suspenful paranormal in just the right package for my particular mood!
July 27, 2014
This book captured and held my attention. It was packed with action, mystery, and hot scenes. Drake's personality matched his circumstance perfectly and Victoria was such a great match for him! I loved the writing. It was flowing and tied everything together very well. My favorite thing about this book was the development of the main characters and even more, the set up for future stories. It left me wanting more and made me a huge fan! I cannot wait : )
June 1, 2015
Love these heroes. Can't go wrong with Katie Reus.
July 26, 2014
This is the second book in this new paranormal series by Ms Reus and follows on from Darkness Awakened . As Darkness Awakened finished we met Drake a dragon shifter who had been trapped in hell for more than a thousand years. He has no memory of how or indeed why he was sacrificed and sent there but of one thing he's certain the beautiful wolf shifter Victoria smells like home ! Her scent leaves him in no doubt that she is meant to be his mate and luckily her pack have offered him a home but not everyone trusts him. Drake will do anything to win the heart of Victoria but feels he is unworthy as he has nothing of his own to offer her. Each day Drake watches the lovely healer Victoria and bides his time but woe betide anyone who comes between them. Drake is determined to prove he is able to both protect and provide for the woman that will complete him but as the only dragon how can he ?
Dragons have not been seen for centuries and had been believed to be extinct by many . So it's a huge surprise to all when another dragon is spotted over the compound where the wolves and Drake live. Then two more reveal themselves claiming that Drake is part of their Clan but Drakes memories are hazy at best and he has no true recollection of these two newcomers. Determined to get to the bottom of what's really happening Drake and Victoria go searching for answers but as their connection and relationship deepens Drakes past is stalking him. He may have escaped hell once but if danger takes Victoria away from him then hell is right here on earth!
This is just such an amazing new series that the author has written. There are so many diverse characters to interest the reader and you can easily see that there are a lot of romantic possibilities for Ms Reus to further explore. This book may feature the sweet Drake and stubborn Victoria but the supporting characters are not just thrown in no they each have a story to tell and it's a tantalising read.
Drake is not the typical alpha male dragon that so many authors give us . He is not arrogant and full of bluster , no he is caring, a little naive and very innocent but he really wants to give Victoria everything that he feels she needs. Victoria on the other hand is a loyal young woman who allows her pack to protect her as she understands the wolves mentality but she is constantly left feeling stifled and wishes for more freedom. Two truly likeable characters that deserve a happy ending but it's a hard journey for them both with steep learning curves especially for Drake. He is in a vulnerable position but as the story progresses his character grows and it's wonderful to see him able to rise above his past and find his place. I particularly liked the way he hesitantly expresses himself but as he has been in hell since he was twelve years old it's not surprising and as his confidence grows so to does the romance. It's no instant lust but when the couple finally do mate it feels right.
So there's lots going on and I'm sure much more to come. Dragons are back in the world but demons are still trying to escape hell. This book only touched briefly on the vampires that exist in this world the author has created but I'm sure much more will be revealed in subsequent books. It's well worth reading the previous book if you have missed it and a great read for fans if paranormal romance .
Four and a half from me
Dragons have not been seen for centuries and had been believed to be extinct by many . So it's a huge surprise to all when another dragon is spotted over the compound where the wolves and Drake live. Then two more reveal themselves claiming that Drake is part of their Clan but Drakes memories are hazy at best and he has no true recollection of these two newcomers. Determined to get to the bottom of what's really happening Drake and Victoria go searching for answers but as their connection and relationship deepens Drakes past is stalking him. He may have escaped hell once but if danger takes Victoria away from him then hell is right here on earth!
This is just such an amazing new series that the author has written. There are so many diverse characters to interest the reader and you can easily see that there are a lot of romantic possibilities for Ms Reus to further explore. This book may feature the sweet Drake and stubborn Victoria but the supporting characters are not just thrown in no they each have a story to tell and it's a tantalising read.
Drake is not the typical alpha male dragon that so many authors give us . He is not arrogant and full of bluster , no he is caring, a little naive and very innocent but he really wants to give Victoria everything that he feels she needs. Victoria on the other hand is a loyal young woman who allows her pack to protect her as she understands the wolves mentality but she is constantly left feeling stifled and wishes for more freedom. Two truly likeable characters that deserve a happy ending but it's a hard journey for them both with steep learning curves especially for Drake. He is in a vulnerable position but as the story progresses his character grows and it's wonderful to see him able to rise above his past and find his place. I particularly liked the way he hesitantly expresses himself but as he has been in hell since he was twelve years old it's not surprising and as his confidence grows so to does the romance. It's no instant lust but when the couple finally do mate it feels right.
So there's lots going on and I'm sure much more to come. Dragons are back in the world but demons are still trying to escape hell. This book only touched briefly on the vampires that exist in this world the author has created but I'm sure much more will be revealed in subsequent books. It's well worth reading the previous book if you have missed it and a great read for fans if paranormal romance .
Four and a half from me
August 11, 2016
4 stars
This was a very good story and addition to the series. I really liked both Victoria and Drake and enjoyed their story very much.
Victoria is a wolf shifter and a healer for her pack. She was abandoned by her family when she was young and now the pack is all she has. Sometimes the people in the pack are a bit too protective and Victoria usually doesn't mind...at least until she meets Drake and wants people to stop interfering.
Drake is a dragon shifter who was trapped in hell at the age of 12 and was stuck there for 1500 years. He was able to escape when someone opened a hellgate (in book #1) but he had no memories of his past and nowhere to go. Drake saved the daughter of the local wolf alpha when he's trying to gain his freedom and ends up working with the pack to close the gate. He stays with them afterwards, mostly because Victoria is part of the pack.
When the story begins, Drake has been out of hell for 4 months and Victoria and the pack have been helping him get integrated to what basically amounts to a whole new time period (since Drake hasn't been on Earth for 1500 years). Drake knew that Victoria was his the moment he smelled her. The only reason he's held off in showing his interest in romantic relationship with her is because he wants to be able to provide for her if she's going to be his mate. Regardless of Drake's decision, it's hard for both of them to just be friends and ignore their attraction to each other and Victoria isn't even sure why Drake is reluctant because he doesn't tell her at first. There's also an issue with Gabriel acting too much like a big brother and causing hassle for Victoria and Drake whenever they try to spend time together.
Despite the issues, Drake ends up making a claiming gesture towards Victoria that proves to her that the attraction is mutual. Once she knows this, Victoria is unwilling to wait for whatever is holding Drake back and takes actions to move things along. Of course just about this time, other dragons start showing up after hearing about a new dragon shifter that's hanging out with a wolf pack in their area. Two of the new dragons end up being Drake's brother and sister but after what Drake went through, their reunion is bumpy at best. As Drake is trying to secure his mating with Victoria as well as get to know his family, trouble stalks them when an old enemy decides that Drake being back is too dangerous. Thankfully, the trouble is handled and the story ends with Drake and Victoria starting their well deserved HEA together.
This was a very enjoyable story. I liked Victoria very much. She was nice and smart while being sensible and even ruthless when needed. While the first two attributes aren't hard to find in heroines nowadays, the last two are a lot harder to find in the right way. Drake was a good hero. He was protective...maybe a bit too much but he doesn't get overly pushy about it. Overall, the story was very good and engaging. I'd recommend it. :)
* note - I listened to the audio version of this book and the narrator did a very good job.
This was a very good story and addition to the series. I really liked both Victoria and Drake and enjoyed their story very much.
Victoria is a wolf shifter and a healer for her pack. She was abandoned by her family when she was young and now the pack is all she has. Sometimes the people in the pack are a bit too protective and Victoria usually doesn't mind...at least until she meets Drake and wants people to stop interfering.
Drake is a dragon shifter who was trapped in hell at the age of 12 and was stuck there for 1500 years. He was able to escape when someone opened a hellgate (in book #1) but he had no memories of his past and nowhere to go. Drake saved the daughter of the local wolf alpha when he's trying to gain his freedom and ends up working with the pack to close the gate. He stays with them afterwards, mostly because Victoria is part of the pack.
When the story begins, Drake has been out of hell for 4 months and Victoria and the pack have been helping him get integrated to what basically amounts to a whole new time period (since Drake hasn't been on Earth for 1500 years). Drake knew that Victoria was his the moment he smelled her. The only reason he's held off in showing his interest in romantic relationship with her is because he wants to be able to provide for her if she's going to be his mate. Regardless of Drake's decision, it's hard for both of them to just be friends and ignore their attraction to each other and Victoria isn't even sure why Drake is reluctant because he doesn't tell her at first. There's also an issue with Gabriel acting too much like a big brother and causing hassle for Victoria and Drake whenever they try to spend time together.
Despite the issues, Drake ends up making a claiming gesture towards Victoria that proves to her that the attraction is mutual. Once she knows this, Victoria is unwilling to wait for whatever is holding Drake back and takes actions to move things along. Of course just about this time, other dragons start showing up after hearing about a new dragon shifter that's hanging out with a wolf pack in their area. Two of the new dragons end up being Drake's brother and sister but after what Drake went through, their reunion is bumpy at best. As Drake is trying to secure his mating with Victoria as well as get to know his family, trouble stalks them when an old enemy decides that Drake being back is too dangerous. Thankfully, the trouble is handled and the story ends with Drake and Victoria starting their well deserved HEA together.
This was a very enjoyable story. I liked Victoria very much. She was nice and smart while being sensible and even ruthless when needed. While the first two attributes aren't hard to find in heroines nowadays, the last two are a lot harder to find in the right way. Drake was a good hero. He was protective...maybe a bit too much but he doesn't get overly pushy about it. Overall, the story was very good and engaging. I'd recommend it. :)
* note - I listened to the audio version of this book and the narrator did a very good job.
March 8, 2016
Having loved the first book in this series, Darkness Awakened, I couldn’t wait to read Drake and Victoria’s story. Having been forced into hell for a thousand years, Drake has no memory of his past as a boy, his family or who put him in hell in the first place. All he knows is that when he is finally freed, Victoria is a bright light in a dark life. They form a connection immediately and regardless that she is a werewolf and he is a dragon, they know they are mates. However when long lost family appear and foes begin to attack, Drake has a hard time knowing who to trust and how to live up to expectations he just doesn’t understand.
This was so heart wrenching. I loved Drake and felt for him and what he had been through. Meeting his family was so much fun and emotion was drilled into every single word when he was with his brother and sister. I loved seeing this new world and it was so refreshing to have Drake and Victoria together right from the start. There were no silly arguments, no resisting their feelings and no misunderstandings. They loved each other and all they had to worry about was making sure they had a future together. This one had it all; action, romance, mystery, suspense and enough emotion to make your heart catch many times. A must read for paranormal romance fans!
This was so heart wrenching. I loved Drake and felt for him and what he had been through. Meeting his family was so much fun and emotion was drilled into every single word when he was with his brother and sister. I loved seeing this new world and it was so refreshing to have Drake and Victoria together right from the start. There were no silly arguments, no resisting their feelings and no misunderstandings. They loved each other and all they had to worry about was making sure they had a future together. This one had it all; action, romance, mystery, suspense and enough emotion to make your heart catch many times. A must read for paranormal romance fans!
December 19, 2019
Re-read because dragons! and I love the way this author writes.
I really enjoyed this book. Drake was just a very sexy, dominant hero, and Victoria was perfect for him. The romance and sexual tension was wonderfully built on, the storyline was very interesting, and I can't wait to read the books of the other characters introduced in this book.
A must-read for all PNR lovers!
December 22, 2020
The H was released from hell in previous book, and connected to the h immediately. He knows she's his mate but feels unworthy, wants to achieve milestones before he claims her. Then evil guys attack her and members of his family. He rescues the h, solves the mystery of kidnapping and his family. It's a good story, great characters and I didn't guess the bad guy.
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