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Immortal Guardians #3.5
In Still Darkness
Originally published in Predatory.
In Dianne Duvall's world of Immortal Guardians, the stakes for mortals are high, but the cost—especially to the heart—might be higher. . .
It's not the first time Immortal Guardian Richart d'Alençon has saved a human life from eternal damnation. Usually, he moves on, a nameless savior like a ghost in the night. But this time he can't seem to forget the woman who rewarded him with a sensuous kiss after he rescued her from a trio of vampires. While Richart knows that loving a human can only bring trouble, the taste of forbidden lust is too great to resist. . .
Jenna never imagined she'd end up a single mom working overtime to put her son through school. But she might have daydreamed once that a devastatingly gorgeous Frenchman would sweep her off her feet. Now that a package of tall, dark, and handsome seems intent on doing just that, doctors are telling her she may not have long to live. But Richart is telling her just the opposite. All she has to do is abandon her humanity. . .
Includes a special sneak peek of Night Unbound.
In Dianne Duvall's world of Immortal Guardians, the stakes for mortals are high, but the cost—especially to the heart—might be higher. . .
It's not the first time Immortal Guardian Richart d'Alençon has saved a human life from eternal damnation. Usually, he moves on, a nameless savior like a ghost in the night. But this time he can't seem to forget the woman who rewarded him with a sensuous kiss after he rescued her from a trio of vampires. While Richart knows that loving a human can only bring trouble, the taste of forbidden lust is too great to resist. . .
Jenna never imagined she'd end up a single mom working overtime to put her son through school. But she might have daydreamed once that a devastatingly gorgeous Frenchman would sweep her off her feet. Now that a package of tall, dark, and handsome seems intent on doing just that, doctors are telling her she may not have long to live. But Richart is telling her just the opposite. All she has to do is abandon her humanity. . .
Includes a special sneak peek of Night Unbound.
118 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 29, 2014
286 people are currently reading
1080 people want to read
About the author
Dianne Duvall
34 books3,949 followersDianne Duvall is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of the acclaimed Immortal Guardians series, the exciting new Aldebarian Alliance series, and The Gifted Ones series. She is known for writing stories full of action that keeps readers flipping pages well past their bedtimes, strong heroes who adore strong heroines, lovable secondary characters, swoon-worthy romance, and humor that readers frequently complain makes them laugh out loud at inappropriate moments. AudioFile Magazine chose The Segonian (Aldebarian Alliance Book 2) as one of the Best Audiobooks of 2021 and awarded it the AudioFile Earphones Award for Exceptional Audio. It was also a Barnes and Noble Top 5 Indie Favorite Pick. Audible chose Awaken the Darkness as one of the Top 5 Best Paranormal Romances of 2018.
Reviewers have called Dianne's books "fast-paced and humorous" (Publishers Weekly), "utterly addictive" (RT Book Reviews), "extraordinary" (Long and Short Reviews), and "wonderfully imaginative" (The Romance Reviews). Her audiobooks have been awarded AudioFile Earphone Awards for Excellence. One was nominated for a prestigious Audie Award. And her books have twice been nominated for RT Reviewers' Choice Awards.
When she isn't writing, Dianne is active in the independent film industry and has even appeared on-screen, crawling out of a moonlit grave and wielding a machete like some of the psychotic vampires she creates in her books.
For the latest news on upcoming releases, contests, and more, please visit www.DianneDuvall.com, where you can also subscribe to her newsletter.
Be sure to follow Dianne on BookBub so you'll be among the first to know about sales, pre-orders, and new releases! https://www.bookbub.com/authors/diann....
Reviewers have called Dianne's books "fast-paced and humorous" (Publishers Weekly), "utterly addictive" (RT Book Reviews), "extraordinary" (Long and Short Reviews), and "wonderfully imaginative" (The Romance Reviews). Her audiobooks have been awarded AudioFile Earphone Awards for Excellence. One was nominated for a prestigious Audie Award. And her books have twice been nominated for RT Reviewers' Choice Awards.
When she isn't writing, Dianne is active in the independent film industry and has even appeared on-screen, crawling out of a moonlit grave and wielding a machete like some of the psychotic vampires she creates in her books.
For the latest news on upcoming releases, contests, and more, please visit www.DianneDuvall.com, where you can also subscribe to her newsletter.
Be sure to follow Dianne on BookBub so you'll be among the first to know about sales, pre-orders, and new releases! https://www.bookbub.com/authors/diann....
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 227 reviews
February 17, 2019
Okay let me keep this short and sweet. While I enjoyed In Still Darkness I was not pleased that it was a novella. I love Richart and felt like he got screwed getting a short story. The timeline jumps around a lot and made it feel choppy. I wanted more from Richart and Jenna's story. Still it was cute I just wanted it longer!
December 25, 2021
In Still Darkness is a novella in the Immortal Guardians Series. I have been a fan of Dianne Duvall and this series for quite a while, and I was thrilled to have my hands on Immortal Guardian Richart d Alencon finally! Richart has been a critical player in this ensemble of guardians, and he deserves his HEA. Jenna is a single mom who felt like her love life days were over, and yet, she meets the man of her dreams in Richart. A mortal and a vampire, what could go wrong? Of course, the two have so much to overcome to be together, and yet, somehow, the guardians always find their way!
Overall, In Still Darkness will thrill the Immortal Guardians Fans and although I thoroughly enjoyed every single second back with the Guardians to be honest, I would have loved for Richart and Jenna to have had a full-length novel. Still, the taste I got was truly worth the wait. With action, passion, suspense, and a powerhouse of characters, I look forward to more Immortal Guardians in the future. I listened to this on Audible, and it was another winning audio read! I highly recommend this paranormal romance series to fans looking for an ensemble of characters of vampires and their magical mates!
🎧This was an audible.com read 🎧
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
September 25, 2019
Richart d’Alencon intrigued me (I think it may have something to do with him being French 😉), and after reading Phantom Shadows I wanted to learn more about him. However, it disappointed me to learn that this would be a novella. On its own, In Still Darkness was a good read, but when compared to the previous books, it was mediocre.
This installment occurred around the same time as Night Reigns and Phantom Shadows, resulting in jumps in the sequence of events. Some of the information contained in this installment is basically a repeat of what happened in books 2 and 3. I felt cheated as a result and because the story lacked depth. The length is no excuse for there being no depth. In addition, I felt the author rushed the story. Just as things began to get interesting it was over. It did not pack the punch I expected.
I thought Jenna and Richart made a great couple and believed they were warranted a longer story. I loved how devoted they were to each other. Their romance was simple. No unnecessary drama or obstacles to cast any shade on their feelings for each other.
It would have been nice if there were more to Jenna’s back-story. The information provided regarding her past came unexpectedly at the point when the story almost ended.
It was refreshing to have 37-year-old hero who had a son in college. I hope he will be seeing him in the other books.
Conclusion / Recommendation
Overall, a sweet romance featuring likeable characters.
This installment occurred around the same time as Night Reigns and Phantom Shadows, resulting in jumps in the sequence of events. Some of the information contained in this installment is basically a repeat of what happened in books 2 and 3. I felt cheated as a result and because the story lacked depth. The length is no excuse for there being no depth. In addition, I felt the author rushed the story. Just as things began to get interesting it was over. It did not pack the punch I expected.
I thought Jenna and Richart made a great couple and believed they were warranted a longer story. I loved how devoted they were to each other. Their romance was simple. No unnecessary drama or obstacles to cast any shade on their feelings for each other.
It would have been nice if there were more to Jenna’s back-story. The information provided regarding her past came unexpectedly at the point when the story almost ended.
It was refreshing to have 37-year-old hero who had a son in college. I hope he will be seeing him in the other books.
Conclusion / Recommendation
Overall, a sweet romance featuring likeable characters.
May 26, 2020
4.5 stars ⭐️.
A cute novella with lovable characters from hero-heroine to heroine’s son.
Recommended.
A cute novella with lovable characters from hero-heroine to heroine’s son.
Recommended.
July 24, 2024
Dianne Duvall’s Immortal Guardians is one of my favorite vampire type series, and since I love vampires that’s saying a lot! The reason I call it vampire type, is because in these books, the vampires are infected with a virus and end up going mad, while the Immortal Guardians have the same virus, but are gifted ones with special abilities, and advanced DNA, that keeps them healthy,sane, and of course immortal.
This is Richart d’Alencon’s story and while I was wishing for a much longer story for him, I was glad we finally got his story, and by story I mean, his turn to fall in love. One night while out on patrol searching for vampires, he saves a woman from some vampires. Afterwards, he can’t seem to forget her, but since she was drugged from the vampire bite, she has no idea who he is, nor does she remember being attacked. So he has to find a way to meet her, and of course he does.
The story is also Jenna’s,and she’s a widow, with a son in medical school. She is older(very refreshing), and barely makes ends meet, but she’s a good person and an even better mother. Meeting Richard is the most exciting thing that has happened to her in years. She has no idea what he really is. I liked her character a lot. Her son, John, is a pretty great character as well, and I look forward to seeing him in future books-hopefully?
Since this is a novella, I am not going to tell more of the story, as I don’t want to ruin it for the reader. It was short, but even so, told a good story of Richart’s and Jenna’s romance. I enjoyed the read, but like I said before, I really wanted more. I guess I was wishing for a full size book,but since that isn’t happening, I will just have to be happy that the author has a new book coming out soon titled, Night Unbound, and I have already pre-ordered it!
I should be noted that it is an adult read, and I recommend it to all adult paranormal/urban fantasy fans.4.5 rounded up to 5 (PureTextuality.com)
*******This is re-read. Review was written many years back.
This is Richart d’Alencon’s story and while I was wishing for a much longer story for him, I was glad we finally got his story, and by story I mean, his turn to fall in love. One night while out on patrol searching for vampires, he saves a woman from some vampires. Afterwards, he can’t seem to forget her, but since she was drugged from the vampire bite, she has no idea who he is, nor does she remember being attacked. So he has to find a way to meet her, and of course he does.
The story is also Jenna’s,and she’s a widow, with a son in medical school. She is older(very refreshing), and barely makes ends meet, but she’s a good person and an even better mother. Meeting Richard is the most exciting thing that has happened to her in years. She has no idea what he really is. I liked her character a lot. Her son, John, is a pretty great character as well, and I look forward to seeing him in future books-hopefully?
Since this is a novella, I am not going to tell more of the story, as I don’t want to ruin it for the reader. It was short, but even so, told a good story of Richart’s and Jenna’s romance. I enjoyed the read, but like I said before, I really wanted more. I guess I was wishing for a full size book,but since that isn’t happening, I will just have to be happy that the author has a new book coming out soon titled, Night Unbound, and I have already pre-ordered it!
I should be noted that it is an adult read, and I recommend it to all adult paranormal/urban fantasy fans.4.5 rounded up to 5 (PureTextuality.com)
*******This is re-read. Review was written many years back.
August 31, 2015
In Still Darkness by Dianne Duvall
4.5-5 stars
This was a great story. I've read the rest of the Immortal Guardians series and loved it so I was really thrilled to see Richart get his story.
Jenna is 37 years old and has a son that just started college. She works as the night manager at a superstore. She hasn't had things easy but has made a good life for her and her son. One night at the end of work she is attacked by Vampires and is saved. In gratitude for saving her, she gives her savior a kiss that she doesn't remember later.
Richart is an Immortal Guardian (immortals that hunt Vampires and protect humans). He is hunting vampires one night when he hears a woman scream. He goes to her rescue and saves her, earning a kiss for his troubles. But afterwards, Richart can't forget her and finds himself visiting her, frequently.
Jenna and Richart start out with a light flirtation between them. Richart goes to her store often when she's working and they've chatted while sharing coffee on her breaks. After a bit he asks her out on a date and she's a bit unsure about their age differences, since she's sure she's older than him. He convinces her it doesn't matter to him and they start to date.
Things are going good between them, and Richart even meets her son and they get long well, when things heat up in the vamp world. During a fight with vampires, Richart gets drugged and as a result, ends up accidentally showing what he is to Jenna. He had intended to tell her anyways but it came out in a bad way. Fortunately, Jenna didn't freak and was willing to hear his explanations. Once she heard everything, she was willing to stay with him regardless of their differences. Things grow between Richart and Jenna but there is an issue that almost costs Jenna her life. Things turn out well though and Richart & Jenna get a very nice HEA.
I thought this story was great. I love the series and I'm glad Richart got his book and the girl. Jenna is cool and I look forward to seeing her character in the next book in the series.
* note - I listened to this as part of the Predatory story collection. The narrator did a very good job outside of mispronouncing Richart's name a couple of times.
8/25/15 - This is a read of the series before the release of #s 5.5 & 6 of the series. This was a great story and I was really happy to see Richart and Jenna find happiness together.
4.5-5 stars
This was a great story. I've read the rest of the Immortal Guardians series and loved it so I was really thrilled to see Richart get his story.
Jenna is 37 years old and has a son that just started college. She works as the night manager at a superstore. She hasn't had things easy but has made a good life for her and her son. One night at the end of work she is attacked by Vampires and is saved. In gratitude for saving her, she gives her savior a kiss that she doesn't remember later.
Richart is an Immortal Guardian (immortals that hunt Vampires and protect humans). He is hunting vampires one night when he hears a woman scream. He goes to her rescue and saves her, earning a kiss for his troubles. But afterwards, Richart can't forget her and finds himself visiting her, frequently.
Jenna and Richart start out with a light flirtation between them. Richart goes to her store often when she's working and they've chatted while sharing coffee on her breaks. After a bit he asks her out on a date and she's a bit unsure about their age differences, since she's sure she's older than him. He convinces her it doesn't matter to him and they start to date.
Things are going good between them, and Richart even meets her son and they get long well, when things heat up in the vamp world. During a fight with vampires, Richart gets drugged and as a result, ends up accidentally showing what he is to Jenna. He had intended to tell her anyways but it came out in a bad way. Fortunately, Jenna didn't freak and was willing to hear his explanations. Once she heard everything, she was willing to stay with him regardless of their differences. Things grow between Richart and Jenna but there is an issue that almost costs Jenna her life. Things turn out well though and Richart & Jenna get a very nice HEA.
I thought this story was great. I love the series and I'm glad Richart got his book and the girl. Jenna is cool and I look forward to seeing her character in the next book in the series.
* note - I listened to this as part of the Predatory story collection. The narrator did a very good job outside of mispronouncing Richart's name a couple of times.
8/25/15 - This is a read of the series before the release of #s 5.5 & 6 of the series. This was a great story and I was really happy to see Richart and Jenna find happiness together.
October 9, 2017
This was a sweet short story. I was happy Richart found his HEA. It is quite repetitive if you have read books 2 and 3 but I still wanted to read abut Richart and Jenna.
I think Chris should open up an Immortal Guardian dating service ;-)
I think Chris should open up an Immortal Guardian dating service ;-)
May 22, 2024
Enjoyable novella with a teleporting MMC
This novella is listed as Book 3.5 in this paranormal-romance series, but it really ought to be listed as 1.5. The Vampire King is the villain in Book 2, and he is still alive and causing mayhem during this story.
Richart, a teleporting Immortal Guardian, is over 200 years old but looks as if he's only 29. He is a significant subcharacter in the first three books of this series, and in each of them it is mentioned several times that he is in love with a human woman. She shows up onstage for the first time in this story.
Jenna is a 37-year-old single mother of a 20-year-old son, but she looks as if she's only about 29 years old. Given that this is an HEA, paranormal romance, there is only one possible outcome, magically speaking, for this couple, but the road to get there is slightly different than it is in the first three books. It is an interesting and entertaining twist.
I have liked Richart very much throughout this series, and I'm sure he will keep showing up in future books but, from now on, it will be with scrappy Jenna at his side. She is a dynamic FMC, who holds her own with adorable Richart.
In all of these books so far, it is the FMC who initiates the sexual relationship with the MMC, which is a romance dynamic that I personally enjoy. Also, similar to the previous three books, Richart is a strong warrior who is a sensitive, nurturing Cinnamon Roll in relation the FMC. That is also a trope that I appreciate very much.
I also really liked Jenna's son, who plays a major role in this story. I hope that he continues to show up in this series.
This novella is listed as Book 3.5 in this paranormal-romance series, but it really ought to be listed as 1.5. The Vampire King is the villain in Book 2, and he is still alive and causing mayhem during this story.
Richart, a teleporting Immortal Guardian, is over 200 years old but looks as if he's only 29. He is a significant subcharacter in the first three books of this series, and in each of them it is mentioned several times that he is in love with a human woman. She shows up onstage for the first time in this story.
Jenna is a 37-year-old single mother of a 20-year-old son, but she looks as if she's only about 29 years old. Given that this is an HEA, paranormal romance, there is only one possible outcome, magically speaking, for this couple, but the road to get there is slightly different than it is in the first three books. It is an interesting and entertaining twist.
I have liked Richart very much throughout this series, and I'm sure he will keep showing up in future books but, from now on, it will be with scrappy Jenna at his side. She is a dynamic FMC, who holds her own with adorable Richart.
In all of these books so far, it is the FMC who initiates the sexual relationship with the MMC, which is a romance dynamic that I personally enjoy. Also, similar to the previous three books, Richart is a strong warrior who is a sensitive, nurturing Cinnamon Roll in relation the FMC. That is also a trope that I appreciate very much.
I also really liked Jenna's son, who plays a major role in this story. I hope that he continues to show up in this series.
July 21, 2019
*I listened to Predatory an anthology containing this story.
Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤
Heat Rating: 🔥🔥🔥
Narrator Performance: 🎧🎧🎧
OMG what a fantastic read! I've seriously fallen for Richart! Maybe it's because he's a sweetheart. Or maybe it's that sexy accent!
I really enjoy Duvall's Immortal Guardians series and as expected Richart's story did not disappoint. Richart was sweet and sexy and Jenna was a very strong woman in her own way. A young widowed mom has to be in order to raise her child to be a well adjusted, responsible adult. They were wonderful together and the length of the story couldn't detract from that fact. If course I wanted more but that's just me being greedy.
Though In Still Darkness is #3.5 in the Immortal Guardians series it actually takes place during both books 2 and 3 and ends a bit after book 3 in the series timeline. Fans of the series will recognize key scenes from those books but via Richart's viewpoint. That was fun! I think I've only read like two other series where that has happened and I find it to be an awesome series plot device (not sure if I used the correct phrase there). Bravo to Duvall for pulling it off!
About the narrator... Arika Rapson
I enjoyed parts of the narrator's performance. Richart's accent was wonderful! She easily pulled me into the story and kept a steady pace with no annoying pauses in wrong places. Unfortunately she mispronounced "Richart" more than a few times. She also mispronounced Bastien's name. Another thing that surprised me was that she chose not to use a British accent for the few lines that Marcus spoke. It said he was British in the text and she was already pulling off a French accent. Considering all this I can only give her three out of five headphones. I hope to listen to another of performances though. It think I'd love her if I wasn't familiar with the series.
Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤
Heat Rating: 🔥🔥🔥
Narrator Performance: 🎧🎧🎧
OMG what a fantastic read! I've seriously fallen for Richart! Maybe it's because he's a sweetheart. Or maybe it's that sexy accent!
I really enjoy Duvall's Immortal Guardians series and as expected Richart's story did not disappoint. Richart was sweet and sexy and Jenna was a very strong woman in her own way. A young widowed mom has to be in order to raise her child to be a well adjusted, responsible adult. They were wonderful together and the length of the story couldn't detract from that fact. If course I wanted more but that's just me being greedy.
Though In Still Darkness is #3.5 in the Immortal Guardians series it actually takes place during both books 2 and 3 and ends a bit after book 3 in the series timeline. Fans of the series will recognize key scenes from those books but via Richart's viewpoint. That was fun! I think I've only read like two other series where that has happened and I find it to be an awesome series plot device (not sure if I used the correct phrase there). Bravo to Duvall for pulling it off!
About the narrator... Arika Rapson
I enjoyed parts of the narrator's performance. Richart's accent was wonderful! She easily pulled me into the story and kept a steady pace with no annoying pauses in wrong places. Unfortunately she mispronounced "Richart" more than a few times. She also mispronounced Bastien's name. Another thing that surprised me was that she chose not to use a British accent for the few lines that Marcus spoke. It said he was British in the text and she was already pulling off a French accent. Considering all this I can only give her three out of five headphones. I hope to listen to another of performances though. It think I'd love her if I wasn't familiar with the series.
October 24, 2024
**Read as part of Predatory **
This one is part of the Immortal Guardian #3.5 series. It features Richart a Guardian and Jenna a human. The characters and concept are interesting. I was a little confused at the beginning on what the differences where between a Guardian and a Vampire, but that was answered farther along in the novella.
I did have a little issue when Richart was ambushed and ends up in Jenna’s living room. Jenna and son should have looked for a wallet on him, a phone, or some way to get ahold of his people even though they aren’t sure what he is. Also his people should have found him sooner since they have the capability to track cell phones and he has one on him.
In Still Darkness gives you action, steamy romance, and camaraderie. I’ve not tired the series out yet, but I plan to give it a try at some point. This novella was enjoyable!
Rated: 3 Stars
This one is part of the Immortal Guardian #3.5 series. It features Richart a Guardian and Jenna a human. The characters and concept are interesting. I was a little confused at the beginning on what the differences where between a Guardian and a Vampire, but that was answered farther along in the novella.
I did have a little issue when Richart was ambushed and ends up in Jenna’s living room. Jenna and son should have looked for a wallet on him, a phone, or some way to get ahold of his people even though they aren’t sure what he is. Also his people should have found him sooner since they have the capability to track cell phones and he has one on him.
In Still Darkness gives you action, steamy romance, and camaraderie. I’ve not tired the series out yet, but I plan to give it a try at some point. This novella was enjoyable!
Rated: 3 Stars
September 1, 2017
Actual rating: 4.25⭐
I read Etienne's story before this and I realized that Richart already found his partner without my knowledge, lol.😁 It turns out that Richart have his own novella on how he met Jenna.
I don't usually have high expectations with novellas. They're too short and fast paced that some parts are sometimes hurried and compressed to shorten the story. But I badly want to know Richart's story.😆
There's a lot of time leaps here. There were parts from the second book too, the time when Ami was endangered. I really got teary eyed on the part where .😢
I love this.👍 And I totally love Sheldon!😍 I hope he's a gifted one and will be an Immortal Guardian someday. That will be hilarious.😂
I read Etienne's story before this and I realized that Richart already found his partner without my knowledge, lol.😁 It turns out that Richart have his own novella on how he met Jenna.
I don't usually have high expectations with novellas. They're too short and fast paced that some parts are sometimes hurried and compressed to shorten the story. But I badly want to know Richart's story.😆
There's a lot of time leaps here. There were parts from the second book too, the time when Ami was endangered. I really got teary eyed on the part where .😢
I love this.👍 And I totally love Sheldon!😍 I hope he's a gifted one and will be an Immortal Guardian someday. That will be hilarious.😂
August 15, 2017
Good short story!
August 1, 2014
You know....what amazes about this series is that even though it has relatable characters that are pretty well developed, a plot line that is interesting, nice world building the author continues to get in her own way. Her timing in scenes is cringe worthy. For instance, we are in the middle of a real good fight scene between the good guys and bad guys and she decides that the characters are suddenly horny about each other and the conversations that drop are so ridiculous that I'm left blinking. A mated couple fighting the bad guys and he tells her "You are so hot when you wield that sword, I just want to drop trou and f$#@!" Along those lines. ( This from a previous book).
I'm thinking "Really?!?!? WTH?!??!
It is like a really bad Harlequin romance book and not a PNR; which I have found to be slowly going down hill into the one dimensional, soft-porn category instead of excellent story telling with a bit of 'lemony goodness' thrown in.
Relationships move waaaaay to fast for my tastes and scenes don't make sense.
The Immortal Guardian series from which this novella comes from is actually good, if the author would just focus on the story line and stop thinking everything has to be about sex every other scene.
Last book was good and I actually look forward to the next book Night Unbound.
I'm thinking "Really?!?!? WTH?!??!
It is like a really bad Harlequin romance book and not a PNR; which I have found to be slowly going down hill into the one dimensional, soft-porn category instead of excellent story telling with a bit of 'lemony goodness' thrown in.
Relationships move waaaaay to fast for my tastes and scenes don't make sense.
The Immortal Guardian series from which this novella comes from is actually good, if the author would just focus on the story line and stop thinking everything has to be about sex every other scene.
Last book was good and I actually look forward to the next book Night Unbound.
November 11, 2015
Even novellas in this series manage to satisfy me. You don’t need to read this story to keep up with the series arc. In fact, some of the events take place at the same time as previous books. But fans of the Immortal Guardians wouldn’t want to miss the chance to meet Richart’s mysterious Jenna and watch them fall in love!
Richart first lays eyes on Jenna when he saves her from a vampire attack. In her bite-induced haze, she lays an unforgettable kiss on him and ever since, he has been looking for excuses to see her again. He poses as a shopper in the store where she works, until he works up the nerve to ask her out. From there, the attraction between them only grows.
I love the fact that Jenna is an older heroine. She is 37, with a son in college. She is a devoted single mom, but she is still sexy and a wonderful match for Richart. He is so solicitous with her, with such good manners and respect. It wasn’t super-fiery, but it was sweet and I enjoyed watching these two together.
Longtime readers will recognize a couple of scenes from previous books, as they get a repeat from Richart’s point of view. I think that could have gotten old, but the author didn’t overuse the device. The ending is kind of predictable, but hey, I wouldn’t have wanted any other outcome.
Worth reading.
Rating: B
Richart first lays eyes on Jenna when he saves her from a vampire attack. In her bite-induced haze, she lays an unforgettable kiss on him and ever since, he has been looking for excuses to see her again. He poses as a shopper in the store where she works, until he works up the nerve to ask her out. From there, the attraction between them only grows.
I love the fact that Jenna is an older heroine. She is 37, with a son in college. She is a devoted single mom, but she is still sexy and a wonderful match for Richart. He is so solicitous with her, with such good manners and respect. It wasn’t super-fiery, but it was sweet and I enjoyed watching these two together.
Longtime readers will recognize a couple of scenes from previous books, as they get a repeat from Richart’s point of view. I think that could have gotten old, but the author didn’t overuse the device. The ending is kind of predictable, but hey, I wouldn’t have wanted any other outcome.
Worth reading.
Rating: B
July 4, 2014
In Still Darkness originally appeared in the Predatory anthology. If you are like me and not too big on anthologies this is definitely the way to read Richart and Jenna's story.
First of all I am a HUGE Immortal Guardians fan. I liked how this story seems to run in the background of Night Reigns and Phantom Shadows. Readers have known that Richart has had a human girlfriend. He spent much time on the phone with her during the last book. That was all readers got though. Now Dianne lets her readers know exactly what Richart has been up to with those phone calls and his spare time.
I just loved this story! Richart saves a damsel in distress from the vampires attacking her. This is what he does. The new twist is that this damsel kisses him in gratitude and he can’t forget her. Jenna on the other hand has no problem forgetting her rescuer. Little does she know that the sexy Frenchman that keeps popping up at her work has already had a taste of her and now he wants more.
First of all I am a HUGE Immortal Guardians fan. I liked how this story seems to run in the background of Night Reigns and Phantom Shadows. Readers have known that Richart has had a human girlfriend. He spent much time on the phone with her during the last book. That was all readers got though. Now Dianne lets her readers know exactly what Richart has been up to with those phone calls and his spare time.
I just loved this story! Richart saves a damsel in distress from the vampires attacking her. This is what he does. The new twist is that this damsel kisses him in gratitude and he can’t forget her. Jenna on the other hand has no problem forgetting her rescuer. Little does she know that the sexy Frenchman that keeps popping up at her work has already had a taste of her and now he wants more.
June 17, 2021
For a novella, this book is EVERY bit as good as the full length novels in the series! It was originally part of the Predatory anthology, but was recently released on its own. I’m so glad it has, so it can get the attention it deserves.
Richart’s story takes place primarily between books 3 and 4, but contains glimpses of events from his point of view from book 2 as well. It’s sexy, riveting, and most of all it’s adorably sweet. While it’s overall an awesome novella, my favorite part actually involves Roland. Too freakin’ funny!
In Still Darkness is an exciting and just plain fun novella in Dianne Duvall’s Immortal Guardians world. Fans of the series would be remiss if they skipped it!
Richart’s story takes place primarily between books 3 and 4, but contains glimpses of events from his point of view from book 2 as well. It’s sexy, riveting, and most of all it’s adorably sweet. While it’s overall an awesome novella, my favorite part actually involves Roland. Too freakin’ funny!
In Still Darkness is an exciting and just plain fun novella in Dianne Duvall’s Immortal Guardians world. Fans of the series would be remiss if they skipped it!
July 6, 2021
4 Stars
Richart is a sweet immortal and I wanted to know him better. How could the author write him a novella instead of a full length book 😡
Richart is a sweet immortal and I wanted to know him better. How could the author write him a novella instead of a full length book 😡
March 8, 2021
Short stories are nice too. Sometimes you don't need to overcomplicate things, when part of the story already revealed in other books.
August 22, 2018
I remember in Night Reigns and Phantom Shadows Richart meeting someone and developing a relationship with them (all off the page). It was nice to read Jenna and Richart's story; seeing how they first met, dated. Even though this was short, I didn't feel like I was missing anything. It all worked!
July 9, 2021
was excited to listen to Richart’s story after the events of Phantom Shadow & Night Reigns. The Frenchman stole my heart, and I wanted him to find a mate. Our Immortal cannot stop thinking about Jenna, the human female he saved from vampires.
Their romance is sweet as he cannot forget her and seeks to protect her. I loved how protective she was of him.
Richart was delightful from his caring for Jenna to his treatment of her college-age son. Jenna is widowed and an older heroine but confident and trusts her instincts.
While the story was low on drama and the relationship between Richart and Jenna felt genuine, but I wanted more from awkward kisses with a buildup toward an HEA. A lot of the story felt like a recap of moments since it overlaps both Night Reigns and Phantom Shadow.
I think the audio enhanced my enjoyment as it allowed me to connect to each character. I ended up listening in two sessions as I rooted for their happily ever after. Arika Rapson did a splendid job giving voice to each character from accents to tone.
While I wanted more, I ended up smiling by the end. I love this series and the spin-off series. Duvall is a favorite. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
Their romance is sweet as he cannot forget her and seeks to protect her. I loved how protective she was of him.
Richart was delightful from his caring for Jenna to his treatment of her college-age son. Jenna is widowed and an older heroine but confident and trusts her instincts.
While the story was low on drama and the relationship between Richart and Jenna felt genuine, but I wanted more from awkward kisses with a buildup toward an HEA. A lot of the story felt like a recap of moments since it overlaps both Night Reigns and Phantom Shadow.
I think the audio enhanced my enjoyment as it allowed me to connect to each character. I ended up listening in two sessions as I rooted for their happily ever after. Arika Rapson did a splendid job giving voice to each character from accents to tone.
While I wanted more, I ended up smiling by the end. I love this series and the spin-off series. Duvall is a favorite. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
February 8, 2023
Excellent
I love how Ms Duvall weaves about of her characters together. An excellent and captivating story. I highly recommend this and all her books in this series and her other one, the Segornian.
I love how Ms Duvall weaves about of her characters together. An excellent and captivating story. I highly recommend this and all her books in this series and her other one, the Segornian.
April 1, 2022
Interesting little novella. Liked her being gifted the way she was.
June 22, 2016
I am fast becoming a mad fan of the Immortal Guardians series, and originally bought the full book Predatory, just so that I could read Richart's novella. But it's now been released all on its own, so Immortal Guardians fans - what are you waiting for???
I love Richart, and his secret romance has been hinted at during the last couple of books of the series, and while I was initially sad that he only gets a novella and not a full length book, I was happy to find that this novella is pure romance. Set against the happenings of books 2 and 3 of the series and a little bit beyond, we already know all of the big events that take place, so Duvall has given us all of the moments in between the action, concentrating on the gorgeous love story between Richart and Jenna.
Jenna is a single mother with a 20 year old son, John, and she works hard to provide for them while putting him through medical school. The two of them have a fabulous relationship, and I really enjoyed watching them together. When Richart saves Jenna from a vampire attack one night, he is immediately taken with her, and proceeds to watch over her (or stalk her, as Sheldon puts it), until he can resist no longer and makes contact.
Their romance develops beautifully as they fall and fall hard for each other. It’s easy, it’s honest, it's drama free, and it's hot. And when Jenna unexpectedly finds out Richart's big secret, she is (surprisingly) accepting of him and his world. But Richart is so sweet, respectful and open with his feelings about her, and oh-so-sexy, the woman had no chance to resist!
I really like John, and see that he could potentially fit into the Immortal Guardian world really well, so I hope we get to see more of him. We also get to see more of Sheldon, who is so funny in this book, and is quickly developing into one of my favourite characters.
I’m loving this series, and am excited for more hot French action with Richart’s brother, Etienne.
4 stars.
I love Richart, and his secret romance has been hinted at during the last couple of books of the series, and while I was initially sad that he only gets a novella and not a full length book, I was happy to find that this novella is pure romance. Set against the happenings of books 2 and 3 of the series and a little bit beyond, we already know all of the big events that take place, so Duvall has given us all of the moments in between the action, concentrating on the gorgeous love story between Richart and Jenna.
Jenna is a single mother with a 20 year old son, John, and she works hard to provide for them while putting him through medical school. The two of them have a fabulous relationship, and I really enjoyed watching them together. When Richart saves Jenna from a vampire attack one night, he is immediately taken with her, and proceeds to watch over her (or stalk her, as Sheldon puts it), until he can resist no longer and makes contact.
Their romance develops beautifully as they fall and fall hard for each other. It’s easy, it’s honest, it's drama free, and it's hot. And when Jenna unexpectedly finds out Richart's big secret, she is (surprisingly) accepting of him and his world. But Richart is so sweet, respectful and open with his feelings about her, and oh-so-sexy, the woman had no chance to resist!
“I am so smitten with you.”
I really like John, and see that he could potentially fit into the Immortal Guardian world really well, so I hope we get to see more of him. We also get to see more of Sheldon, who is so funny in this book, and is quickly developing into one of my favourite characters.
“Dude,” Sheldon responded, “vampires threaten to feed me my own entrails all the time. You’re going to have to come up with something better than that.”
“Fine. I’ll cut off your balls, shove them down your throat, and watch you choke on them.”
“That’ll do.” Sheldon shuddered. “Okay, I see we’re going to have to have a little talk, John. Here’s the thing. Since Richart is planning to explore the Kama Sutra with your mom…”
“Really?” John said. “You’re going to put that imagine my head?”
“…you and I are going to be running into each other a lot, so you need to understand something,” he said earnestly. “You can’t threaten a man’s balls, dude. A man’s balls are off limits. Even vampires don’t fuck with a man’s balls. That’s just…mean.”
I’m loving this series, and am excited for more hot French action with Richart’s brother, Etienne.
4 stars.
August 12, 2014
“I am so smitten with you.”
That’s basically what I feel towards Dianne Duvall’s Immortal Guardian series. Ever since I read the first book make a happy dance when a new book is announced and hug my eReader when it finally arrives there.
In this brief story we go back in time a bit to when handsome, compelling Richart d'Alençon meets and woos the very lovely and very human Jenna. Their romance was “sweet and erotic all at once and I was captivated.”
I truly am smitten with these Immortals and their entire posse. They’re just so tender but fierce and protective at the same time, but with an attitude of their own that makes each of them special. And Richart is no exception. I also like the overall arc of the story Dianne is building, it gets more exciting with each installment.
I really like Dianne’s writing style. Her books, short or full length, are well thought out, very well paced, with an excellent balance between action, romance, comedy and sexyness. And I really like the way those old Immortals talk.
“I love the way you phrase things. Like the heroes from the historical romance novels I read.”
* I was given an ARC of this book for an honest review from Netgalley. The excerpts are from that copy. *
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August 26, 2017
In Still Darkness is a short, originally part of the anthology Predatory, told mostly from Immortal Guardian Richart d Alencon's POV. His story takes place between Night Reigns (2), Phantom Shadows (3) and Darkness Rises (4).
Fans of the series will love this look at how Richart met Jenna, how he courts her and how she comes to learn his secret.
Fans of the series will love this look at how Richart met Jenna, how he courts her and how she comes to learn his secret.
"You ... teleported into the living room."Dianne Duvall is one of the best when it comes to writing shorts. She is always able to provide a well-rounded, engrossing story that feels much longer than its short novella length. Nevertheless, I'm impatiently waiting for Blade of Darkness (7) to come out this September.
Alarm surged through him.
"Sporting fangs."
He clamped his lips shut.
"Drenched in blood."
Holy hell.
"With glowing eyes."
October 13, 2025
I was not very impressed by the story. With Richard and his " gift " I hoped for a better story. Was rushed , not believable how she just accepted what he is ... nope this book could have been better. I mean the guy shows up out of thin air , stranger shows up.. gives him blood.. yea normal reaction to not flip out ? .. and her being infected and he did not smelled it.. the book was just to unreal for me.
you can find the paperback book Predatory, it has this story in it.
you can find the paperback book Predatory, it has this story in it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 1, 2014
I love a working class heroine with a real job and a real life she has to attend to and this story has that. This book is action packed but the main characters date. I love dating in a book. I am not sure the Richart here matches the Richart from the other books in the series but he was sweetheart and very sexy. Pick up this whole series if you have not yet.
July 24, 2022
Ah, so good. I loved Richart & Jenna in the other books & am so happy that I decided to jump back and read their little story.
Personally, I think it’s ridiculous that Jenna & Richart got a novella while Susan & Stanislav got an entire book (book 8, which is a complete waste of time), but I guess I’ll take what I can get. That being said, it was a great novella.
Personally, I think it’s ridiculous that Jenna & Richart got a novella while Susan & Stanislav got an entire book (book 8, which is a complete waste of time), but I guess I’ll take what I can get. That being said, it was a great novella.
July 17, 2017
Awesome add to the series. A shorter story but we have seen some in the other books for Richart and Jenna. Loved to get the extra information from her point of view while other battles where going on. Great ending leading into the other books. Can't wait for the next.
September 30, 2021
I wasn't super engaged by the first two books or the whole idea for the series, but this book was teased in an earlier book and it sounded interesting to me. It wasn't what I thought it was going to be and overall was pretty meh.
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