Kidnapped by a rival witch clan, Angela McAllister envisions a dark future for herself until she discovers her captor’s brother is the unknown man who has haunted her dreams since she was a child. Forced to re-evaluate everything she’s ever known about the Wilcox witches, Angela begins to explore the powerful connection that binds her to Connor Wilcox, despite the generations of hostility between their families and the disapproval of those closest to her. And when a dark, malignant force arises, Angela knows she must draw on her growing powers as prima to protect enemies and allies alike…even if her choice threatens to tear her new and fragile love apart.
Darknight is the second book in the Witches of Cleopatra Hill, a paranormal romance trilogy set in the haunted town of Jerome, Arizona.
A native of Southern California, Christine Pope has been writing stories ever since she commandeered her family’s Smith-Corona typewriter back in the sixth grade. Many reams of dead trees later, she’s happy to announce that her debut novel, Fringe Benefits,was published by Pink Petal Books on April 8, 2010. Her short fiction has appeared in Astonishing Adventures, Luna Station Quarterly, and the new journal of dark fiction, Dark Valentine. Her paranormal novella, Playing With Fire, was released on August 5, 2010.
While Fringe Benefits is a straight contemporary romance, she writes in a variety of genres, including paranormal romance, fantasy, horror, science fiction, and historical romance. She blames this on being easily distracted by bright, shiny objects, which could also account for the size of her shoe collection.
After spending many years in the magazine publishing industry, she now works as a freelance editor in addition to writing fiction. She lives with her husband and an explosively fluffy Pomeranian mix. Her house is pink, but don’t hold that against her.
This book actually bugged the crap out of me in a lot of ways. Which is disappointing, because I liked the first book a lot.
Firstly, aren't these people adults? They were in the first book. Angela was a sheltered adult, but she was still an adult. In this book she - and Connor - both had the emotional maturity of the cast of Twilight. There's a certain level of naivety that's okay in a romance, but they have to not feel like they have the emotional experience of a 15 year old. Angela was practically doodling their initials on her notebook with hearts around it. (No, she didn't really do that, but that was about the quality of her internal monologue.)
Hand in hand with point 1, I felt that reactions to situations were overblown and overly melodramatic, utterly not realistic. I felt this way about a lot of situations. Connor's behavior at the end was certainly one major place, but Angela behaved that way throughout. Let's break down the progression, shall we?
They assaulted her family, kidnapped her, and put her in a cage. Yes, it was a lovely apartment to be caged in, and they were nice to her in her cage (well, not Damon, but whatever), but it was still a cage. She couldn't leave.
Despite this, within 3 days she was sleeping with one of the kidnappers. Within 4 days she was nervously attending a potluck at the head asshole's house. Are you fucking kidding me? I can forgive part of this - the prima/consort bond has been presented to us as overpowering, and so maybe it was always going to be the case that after a couple days locked up with her consort, she'd sleep with him. But there was no reluctance, really. Token resistance on day 1, maybe. Then she chats with her gf, who gives her the sage advice of "jump his bones!" and she decides fuck it, I'm going to.
Now, I want to first make sure everyone understands that this is a huge betrayal of the family that loves her. Yeah, they sheltered her a bit, but she's been adored by them for always. And everyone's understanding is that a prima needs to bond with her consort on family land or the family's power is seriously damaged. So she giggles and goes for it - like a hormonal teenager - with no care about her responsibilities or the consequences. That seriously damaged Angela's character for me. However things do or don't work out, the fact is that she doesn't care. She's going to do what she feels like, when she feels like it, because you guys aren't the boss of me! It is childish, a betrayal, and not something I would have expected of her character in book 1. And as I said, I don't care if it turns out (that's not a spoiler btw, we don't know how it is going to turn out) to not really work that way. The fact is, she (and they all) thought it did, and she didn't care.
She decides her family must just accept her bonding with the rival clan member, whatever the history. And let's be clear, the rival clan (the Wilcox family) have a horrid history, and we've heard a lot about it. And also, you know, that's not just HISTORY. The leader of their clan - with a complicit group of witches from the clan - kidnapped her, with the intention of forcing her to bond (i.e., raping her - in this series, the bond is formed through sex) with their clan. So it isn't like, hey guys, they were bad, sure, but that was generations ago. They deserve a chance to prove that they've changed. Let's give over this old feud. Because clearly they haven't changed. They tried to kidnap other women in her family for this forced bonding, and they succeeded in kidnapping her. They are legitimately bad guys. Right now.
And maybe Connor isn't so bad (maybe... but she's known him for 4 days, so I wouldn't trust her judgement on it), but she doesn't give her family ANY time. Because they can't immediately deal with this changed situation - the head of their clan being bonded to the enemy clan (after being kidnapped - frankly, I'd wonder if she had her free will fucked with, given that she showed up less than a week after being kidnapped and was happily bonded to an enemy, and insisting everyone accept that their love is real, dammit!), she decides they are horrible and mean, and flees back to enemy territory.
Oooookaaaay...
And it honestly just goes downhill from there. Connor is, I think, a dick. I'm hoping that the last book will actually feature a new hero coming in out of left field, with Connor being the villain. Because I'm sorry, he treats Angela like a doormat. He has no respect for her powers or intuition (hello, prima??) and his reaction to the events at the end of the book are so ludicrous that I actually LAUGHED.
No joke, I laughed.
He's like the king of denial. He seems to be as awful as the more villainous people in his family, but without their brains.
Anyway. Really really disappointed. Disappointed that Angela turned into this nasty, irresponsible airhead, and Connor became a joke.
So Angela was kidnapped by the Wilcox clan originally to be bound to their jerk leader Damon but ends up bound to his brother Connor. Who just so happens to be the guy Chris that she met a few times and has a serious crush on, but turns out he was lying to and manipulating her that whole time....oh and he is her consort that she has been dreaming of and he didn't think any of the actions he took were really so bad. So Angela is being held prisoner in Connor's apartment and instead of doing everything she can to get out, she decides it better to play house with him....because....I don't know. I gave up on this book when Angela apologized to Connor for sending an email to let her family know where she was because it got him into trouble. I'm not sure what happened to the Angela from the first book but this version of her who is totally cool with being kidnapped, bound against her will and then literally held prisoner is not someone I can get behind as a heroine.
WOW!!! I didn't expect that ending. I won't ruin it for you with spoilers but I just finished the book and I, truly, didn't expect that to happen. As soon as I am done with this review, I will be reading the next book, Darkmoon.
The book, Darknight, starts straight from the previous book, Darkangel, left off. So, you need to read the first to know what is going on, there is no, long boring, rehash here. The main character, Angela, has grown into a beautifully shaped protagonist, in that you feel like you know her. Other characters, new and old, were built just as well. The storyline is a nice mix of suspense and building relationships. Towards the end, came a twist that made me think the story was going one way but I was wrong, that is just a sign of great writing, keep them guessing. As, this is the second of the trilogy, there was quite the cliffhanger. I'm almost done with this review, then I'm reading the next book, just released, Darkmoon.
I have to say, I was given this book free, for a review, by the author ( I would have brought it, based on the first book, Darkangel, and how much I enjoyed that.)
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys good read.
So, not a fan of all the details of the early sexual encounters, but that's just me. The story is really good and I was saddened by the ending. I could almost feel the pain. I know In the next book things have to turn around.
I couldn't do this. It reminded me too much of Twilight for some reason and it is not REALLY a series about magic?? and the first 25% of the book is eat, wait, eat, wait, eat, wait, drink, SEX, then eat, sex, drink, sex, eat, sleep, sex, sex, sex.....
EDIT 2019. I just got a like for my review. Re-reading it, I don’t remember this story. The *** below is referring to specific characters that I obviously forgot to go back and put their names in. Of course, I have no clue who said what.
I seriously tried to get through this story, I made it halfway and that was over a two-month timeframe because I kept putting it off. I honestly am not sure why I even bothered to BUY this story after reading the first boring one. They're magical people, yet have no real magic. Nothing was ever really going on and blah, blah, blah...
Questions/Comments:
Why did I actually buy the second book in this series? I mean I wasn't really a fan of the first one. Must have been having a major brain fart or something. I don't even know how long it took me to get through this book; I was putting it aside so I could work on my college work, watch tv, and play yahtzee. haha
Why did Connor have random sites like google.com bookmarked?
So she's going through the bag of stuff that *** had for her. Why in the world would they have gotten a leave-in spray for "beachy waves"?
*** is wondering why Damon hadn't tried something more forceful with her at the family gathering, "he wouldn't do something that might risk intervention by the 'civilian' authorities." Um... isn't this a Wilcox gathering?
The ghost tells **** that Connor was always having girls coming over, yet, when the ghost says it's been several months since the last girl, why does *** comment "maybe Connor wasn't a total man-whore"? What is a man-whore in her definition?
Connor asked *** if she talks to dead people? Her response? "I communicate with earthbound spirits, if that's what you mean by ghosts." Seriously?
I still can't figure out why Angela never bothered to send her aunt a real email, saying what all was going on, make it less of a shock when she went back home. And god forbid, her family and friends would be worrying about her. Very inconsiderate. Or her getting upset that her best friend has been trying to video chat her.. "You'd think she'd have the sense to wait until I got back to her". Yes, because she's been so forthcoming with everything going on.
"His clan and mine had been enemies for generations." Generations = hundreds of years. They'd only been enemies for what? Sixty to seventy years, maybe? Big difference there.
Connor said he didnt' want to kiss *** on her hand because he was scared that her elders would know he was there. So why didn't he do it when they were on land that belonged to neither of them?
Someone asks how warlocks know so much about x-mas. Connor's response was, they would know about it if they grew up with it. How did he grow up with it if they stopped celebrating when he was three?
I never understand why stories have to focus around the special girl having to remain a virgin, yet, the special guy can go out and f#ck as many females as he wants. It makes no sense.
How can a guy with short hair have "heavy locks?"
Why was losing the whole virginity thing not as big of a deal as what you'd (I) expect? I mean she's going on about being a virgin and whatnot and it's like they have sex and that's it.
So it made her skin crawl to know Damon had been thinking of her in that way when she was underage? Seriously? Pretty sure it was nothing really sexually related that he was thinking. I mean his family was all about stealing a Prima to gain more power, not to have a permanent f#ck buddy.
When Angela and Connor are talking about his family line and how he's a part of Jeremiah's line, he said something about "After Jeremiah - he did have family who came with him, three brothers and a sister, and their children - all of the Primuses were only children. Until now... until me." What the heck does that even mean? None of the male kids have ever grown up besides Connor? No, what about his cousins and Damon? It makes no sense. Then later Angela says, "Maybe the curse doesn't apply to you. After all, you're of Jeremiah's line." Again huh? If he's of the same line than more than likely the curse will affect him. Was the author suddenly taking something she shouldn't have been?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
AWFUL, AWFUL,AWFUL BOOK! The thought of young women reading this tripe leaves me in despair....but not as much as reading some reviews that LOVES it?!?! Really??? The heroine is kidnapped and threatened with rape, yet instead of fighting with everything she has to get away she shrugs and plays mummies and daddies with Brother Douche?! Get in touch with the police you pathetic excuse for a woman!!!!!!
It makes me weep that my fellow women swoon over crap like this still....haven't we got passed this yet?!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Seriously?!? Your heroine gets kidnapped, threatened with rape by the "hero's" brother, gets locked up in a cage ... and instead of contacting the police and calling them to your current location, which you can probably google map as you have access to a computer, you make the decision as an author to have the heroine be like"I know what I should do... bake my captors cookies, or better yet tamales to apllogies for any perceived slight my family has given the evil, attempted rapist of generations past"...... WOW.
It's been a while since a book has made me this angry.... my teeth do not thank you
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
The romance escalated WAY too fast... Whatever happened to whole thing about consummated the relationship in her territory?? She figuratively screwed her clan because she literally wanted to be screwed. Just not a fan of the MC or the love interest. Both are dull.
I was so happy to see a female character that didn't keep unnecessary secrets from her family, understood her powers and obligations, kept her rationality during emotional moments... and then Angela found her consort and all the maturity she had vanished.
It is somewhat understandable that she is not trying to escape but seriously, she had a laptop available at all times and she didn't want to "bother" her family with news that she was okay? The family that had her escorted at all times and she thought they would be too busy with the festivities? That makes no sense.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Starts off right where the first book ends and gets right in to the story. Kidnapped by the enemy clan, Angela, Prima of the McAllister clan, is going to be forced to bond with the their Primus. But that does not go as plan for them, Angela finds her consort in the primus ' brother. The man she has been dreaming about since she was sixteen.
Lots of relationship building and clan resistance and that Cliffhanger people!!!!!!!!! Uggghh!! Have me the feels.
Me demoré un poco más en terminar este libro, ya que en el medio también me puse a ver un par de animes, pelis y leer mangas.
Con el final del libro anterior, Angela queda a merced del clan Wilcox, en realidad de su recién descubierto consorte: Connor Wilcox. Ella queda en shock cuando se entera quién realmente es él. Connor la ha engañado con un simple hechizo para cambiar el color de sus ojos y así ella no pudiera reconocerlo.
Angela siente el vínculo con él, pero se resiste a caer en sus brazos después de haber sido raptada de su hogar. Lamentablemente, Connor no es como su hermano -el primus del clan-, él es atento y dulce y jodidamente caliente. Él intenta darle dentro de su encierro lo mejor para que se sienta en lo posible cómoda en su casa.
Cómo puede Angela mantener su resistencia ante semejante conducta de él???A eso hay que sumar la presión del vínculo entre ellos para que lo completen. Obviamente terminan enredados en la pasión. Conociéndose primero a nivel físico, luego más profundamente.
A su vez, ella sabe que su clan no va a estar feliz sabiendo sobre su unión con un Wilcox. Así que intenta evitarlos......por un tiempo. Cuando su familia se entera, prácticamente le da vuelta la cara. Convengamos que Angela se esperaba una reacción así, después de todo la enemistad entre los clanes por más de 150 años no puede ser eliminada de un día para otro.
Angela sabe que la paz dura muy poco. No le gusta para nada Damon Wilcox. A pesar de que él no ha podido salirse con la suya al tratar de vincularla a él, no quita que éste este haciendo planes malignos.
Damon es malo o se volvió así. Mucho no se sabe. Como primus busca una forma de romper la maldición que pesa sobre su clan y para ello ha estado recurriendo a la magia negra. Lo único que se sabe de él, es que ha tenido una esposa hace años y cuando ésta quedó embarazada la tragedia ocurrió dejándolo viudo. Desde ese entonces Damon está obsesionado con encontrar la forma de romper la maldición aunque todo termina mal para él. Por culpa de ello Connor tiene que asumir una nueva situación para la que no está preparado.
El final se esta segunda parte no me sorprendió. Estaba como esperando que pasara algo. La vida de Angela y Connor se complica aún más.
Me gustó ver que Angela por fin dejaba salir un poco de sus poderes, ya que hasta el momento prácticamente no hacía nada.
Por otro lado, quise estrangular a su tía por ser de mente tan cerrada. Pero creo que su actitud se basa en algo que aún no se ha dicho -o eso espero-.
Connor me gustó. La única crítica es que por momentos mostraba mucha debilidad, aunque sé que su actitud va a cambiar con su nueva responsabilidad.
"Darknight" is book two of "The Witches of Cleopatra Hill." If you want to read "Darknight," you will also need the other two books in the series, "Darkangel," (Book 1) and "Darkmoon," (Book 3), and you should read them all because together, they make one pretty darned good novel.
Right now, you can get them all in one Kindle bundle for free.
I read 3/4 of the first book, "Darkangel," without even putting it down. Then a few days later I did the same thing with this book, "Darknight." Getting sucked into a story is my criterion for a 5 star book, so this book wins.
The main character, Angela McCallister, is a young adult witch destined to head her witch family group of about 200 individuals. She has been protected for her whole life in the tiny, McAllister-contolled town of Jerome, Arizona (and its environs) because of a inchoate threat from another witch family. In this second book, we learn more about the other witch family. I will not say more for fear of spoilers.
As with "Darkangel," the world building is excellent and the main characters well-drawn. The bad guy is kind of a cardboard cutout in this book, but it does not detract too much.
My major problem with "Darknight" (and I know, I gave it 5 stars) is there's too much of Angela's internal dialogue. As I said in my review of "Darkangel," if some of the repetitive inner dialogue were removed and the books squished together, the three books would have been one of my favorite novels ever.
Just be aware that you will have to read all three in order to get the HEA.
Jaja if only the two plots of this didn't occur at the beginning and in the end. The "problem" of being kidnapped was nothing as the first 30% of the book was Angela cooking and talking with Connor, ALWAYS in the apartment until they finally have sex (there's many scenes like this is not really detailed, just felt like it was half builded).
And personally I don't buy a love story when they are sOuLmAtEs because it's an excuse for them to be in love without an effort to make them compatible.
Later I think I was reading a romantic history that I even forgot these are witches with powers (that they never use what a waste), the couple just have sex, go shopping, hang out with friends, family introductions, becoming even richer selling paintings the author was writing down her fantasies when she remembers that this is, actually, a magic story, so it drops a problem in the 80%, completely out of nowehere because otherwise there's no plot at all.
And this was so random, we didn't had any build up for this problem, it just happens that the bad guy did something and it's resolved in the last pages. So zero excitement for what was happening. Also, what's the big deal with the prima of a coven? Because this girl ran away with her bf because her family wasn't accepting him and she just abandoned her house and relatives for months, and nothing happened at all. At this point a prima seems useless if they can just leave every responsability if they want.
PD: The titles still don't make any sense. Why is a made up word instead of Dark Knight? Nonsense.
I’m ambivalent about this book. It’s sort of a retelling of Romeo and Juliette, which to say the least is not one of my favorite tales. It is portrayed as this epic romantic tragedy, but it never felt like love to me. More like obsession or maybe ... I’m not sure, lust? Anyway even in the first book the seeking of the perfect mate, who though a complete stranger would unlock a passion and deep power within seemed foreign and brushed against my modern feminist worldview. It’s not that I don’t believe in love or deep emotional connection, but needing someone else (this one perfect person) to complete you or to enable you to become yourself? I’m just not sure I buy it. Honestly Angela’s almost immediate dependence upon the man who was complicit in her kidnapping and more than complicit in ensuring she remain locked up seemed more than strange, it seemed wrong. The “wolf” attacks seemed not at all mysterious as it was immediately obvious who was behind them. The only part of this story that rung completely true to me was the anger and resentment Connor felt after the violent confrontation with Damon. His kicking Angela out felt like what a real person in this horrible situation might actually do. Now this is not to say that I didn’t find the book entertaining, because I did. And the fact that it ended on a sort of cliffhanger pretty much ensures that I will read at least one more book in this series.
This is the second in the series and although it does start off quite slow it is much better paced than the first book and much more happens. It does go into a lot of detail again about her drinking, what she is drinking etc. She drinks a lot. So I found myself skipping those parts.
I want to be annoyed at the ending and how Connor treats Angela. She completely understands how he feels at this time because, you know, she has been taken against her will from her family, and he should not blame her because he was the one that told her to do it when she panicked. But I do also understand he has lost his brother. He is not thinking clearly. I did get annoyed with Angela definitely. She is supposed to be a leader of a clan and has basically just abandoned them. Yes, they were upset about Connor. Understandable. She wants them to accept him. Understandable. But they can't do that if she runs off, completely forgets all about them and doesn't even go back for special events to lead them such as Yule. How are they supposed to respect her and Connor if they aren't there? Again, I do understand because she just wants to be accepted and feels betrayed. This book makes me feel conflicted by the characters actions and I think this is great writing. The story flowed well, I read it quite quickly. I really liked Connor and Angela's relationship. It was gradual, it was loving but not clingy. Overall its worth a read and I will definitely be finishing this trilogy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
For those with the pet peeve: This book ends on a huge cliff-hanger. Luckily, I'm reading the omnibus that has the first three books in the series, or this would have annoyed me. I like the consort better now (I was rather annoyed with him in the first book), mainly due to having a better understanding of his family dynamic. Eventually, the two are going to have to figure out mundane logistics, like where they're going to live. So of course they keep putting off the conversation, still walking on eggshells around each other (not exactly great for a healthy relationship). And her clan has been keeping just about everything from her (not exactly great for a successful prima). But the book is still entertaining, it has it's own mystery and moments of levity, though those are a bit rare - it's still a little heavy on the angst for me (or maybe I've gotten too used to the sarcastic wit of older heroines). Onto the third one!
This book was actually better for me than the first. I won't say much other than I like how Connor was portrayed in this book, not some evil warlock like his brother but just an innocent guy who was forced to take Angel in by his brother and forced to make her his. He didn't do that though, instead he simply allowed for time to pass between them and let fate take its course. Angela, I felt sad for her that her clan refused to see Connor as her consort, while Cornor's clan were more than happy and very friendly on having her on their side. Still thanks to Sydney and her boyfriend Anthony, Angela didn't feel totally down turned by her family and friends.
The ending was 🙁 but I love a book that keeps me curious😲 rather than the one that make me predict things on my own 😞.
For anyone who hasn't read it yet, I suggest you get your copy, read it then judge it for yourself.
Great job at writing the second book in this series. Once I started reading, it was difficult to put down. Christine Pope has a gift for creating cliff-hangers into her next book of the series.
I want to point out that the first book would have been interesting from the Young Adult and older, but in getting to the second, Darknight, it has hit an R rating with explicit sexual content. Although these parts are well written and not to the point of eroticism, readers should definitely be in the adult group.
I am looking forward to starting the next book, Darkmoon, which will be after writing this review.
If you enjoy light-hearted books about the supernatural, witches and warlocks - you will definitely enjoy these.
Dark night I’m 35% in and cannot understand why Angela felt that downloading an e-reader app felt too invasive. She has been kidnapped for F$$ks sake! Getting annoyed now and this series started off so well Then she offered to cook and felt sorry for him because he would have to shop, again I felt the need to remind her that he is holding her captive and his brother would have raped her if he thought it would benefit him. Am I wrong to want to knock some sense into the heroine. Although she is not feeling like much of a heroine at this point. I will press on, wish me luck.
Ok I persevered and came out the other end, still felt that Angela behaves like a teenager but ended up thinking Connor was even worse. Will read third book cos I really hope they redeem themselves.
I like Angela and felt that her introduction to her chosen one was poorly orchestrated. Spoiler. I felt there should have been a more believable way to pull this off. Then, it seems that Connor turns out to be nice but unable to hack it. I am interested but cautious with the next book. I like most characters and hope it turns out interesting enough to read on. Still interesting and worth the read...
Book two of a trilogy. Things started out dark, got better, then took a turn for the worse. That's the formula for a second book. I expect it will all work out and there will be a HEA in book three. I like that Angela is standing up for herself more, and helping Connor's confidence as well. I though it funny that TNG (The Next Generation) was called "that old Star Trek show." To me it will always be the new show.
I read Book 1 and curiosity got the best of me. Bought Book 2 and man was I disappointed! I was bored stiff by the 50% mark, but again curiosity got the best of me. The excerpt from Book 3 is good so I'll definitely be reading it. I Tip: If this series interests you, read it, but just know that Book 2 sucks. Wish me luck!!
A great story of modern day witches and warlocks, their clans and territories. A modern paranormal love story of a Angie McAllister and Conner Wilcox, a longstanding feud between their families and a curse that must be broken. But first of all, how do Angie and Conner get their families to accept one another.
She did it again to me. Nothing really happens until the end. And then it just... ends. I really didn’t feel the “love” between Conner and her. Even the sex seemed blasé. She has something in her writing that makes me interested in the nothing, but I just can’t see continuing with this series. I tried. I really wanted to like it. ☹️
Like the first book, this one is very low key. Not a lot of action or drama, really. And like book #1, most of the action is regulated to the last 1-2 chapters. I will be reading #3 so I can complete the story, but I'm not especially excited about it. I am hoping the other books of the series, which are standalone (not trilogies) will be better - more action, tighter plot, etc.
I wanted to enjoy this but Angela has some serious issues. She was kidnapped by one brother (Damon) and given to another (Connor)...who keeps her locked inside his apartment until they have sex. Yet she doesn't consider him to be holding her hostage, and its like, not his fault. What?! If you can overlook that nonsense, its an okay book.
I have mixed feelings about this book. The first half of the book felt like filler - like nothing was happening, and I'll be honest, it did get quite boring. But it picked up the pace near the ending, and I was really amazed at the last part. The book is well-written towards the ending, but the first half? Not so much.