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Darkness Chosen #3
Into the Shadow
In return for the ability to transform into a heartless predator, a brutal warrior promised his soul and the souls of his descendants to the devil. Now, one thousand years later, the Wilder brothers battle the darkness inside themselves.
DARKNESS CHOSEN
Blessed with the ability to change into a sleek, cruel panther, and driven by a dark soul he's accepted as his fate, powerful Adrik Wilder abandons his family and his honor to pursue a life of wickedness. He excels at every vice, so he doesn't think twice about kidnapping strong-willed Karen Sonnet to use for his selfish purposes.
But Karen's spirit and passion make him question the force of his family's curse, for she could be the key to their survival. And when a new evil emerges, Adrik must choose whether to enact revenge on his enemies and redeem his soul, or save Karen from a fate worse than death...
DARKNESS CHOSEN
Blessed with the ability to change into a sleek, cruel panther, and driven by a dark soul he's accepted as his fate, powerful Adrik Wilder abandons his family and his honor to pursue a life of wickedness. He excels at every vice, so he doesn't think twice about kidnapping strong-willed Karen Sonnet to use for his selfish purposes.
But Karen's spirit and passion make him question the force of his family's curse, for she could be the key to their survival. And when a new evil emerges, Adrik must choose whether to enact revenge on his enemies and redeem his soul, or save Karen from a fate worse than death...
390 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 1, 2008
90 people are currently reading
2752 people want to read
About the author
Christina Dodd
141 books5,902 followersUpcoming:
— 6/30/26 TEACH THE TORCHES TO BURN: Daughter of Montague Historical Fiction #3 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
New and Now!
—MUCH ADO ABOUT MISTLETOE: Daughter of Montague Christmas novella https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
— THUS WITH A KISS I DIE Daughter of Montague Historical Fiction #2
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
— A DAUGHTER OF FAIR VERONA Historical Fiction Trade Paperback Once upon a time a young couple met and fell in love. You probably know that story, and how it ended (hint: badly). Only here’s the thing: That’s not how it ended at all…
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
— WELCOME TO GOTHIC: A Gothic novella in ebook (at last!) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
— WHAT DREAMS MAY COME Daughter of Montague novella 1.5 "I’m the daughter of Romeo and Juliet. Yes, that Romeo and Juliet. No, they didn’t die in the tomb…" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
— GIRL ANONYMOUS “Crackling sexual chemistry and a few love scenes guaranteed to scorch readers’ fingers as they turn the pages." — ⭐️ Booklist
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Readers become writers, and Christina has always been a reader. Ultimately she discovered she liked to read romance best because the relationship between a man and a woman is always humorous. A woman wants world peace, a clean house, and a deep and meaningful relationship based on mutual understanding and love. A man wants a Craftsman router, undisputed control of the TV remote, and a red Corvette which will make his bald spot disappear.
When Christina’s first daughter was born, she told her husband she was going to write a book. It was a good time to start a new career, because how much trouble could one little infant be?
Ha! It took ten years, two children and three completed manuscripts before she was published. Now her suspense, paranormal, historical, and mystery novels have been translated into 30 languages and sold more than 15 million copies in print. Praised for her “brilliantly etched characters, polished writing, and unexpected flashes of sharp humor that are pure Dodd” (Booklist), her award-winning books have landed on numerous Best of the Year lists and, much to her mother's delight, Dodd was once a clue in the Los Angeles Times crossword puzzle. She lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest, where her 700 lavender plants share the yard with her husband’s various “Big Projects,” including a treehouse, zipline, and their very own Stonehenge.
Enter Christina’s worlds and join her mailing list for humor, book news and entertainment (yes, she’s the proud author with the infamous three-armed cover) at christinadodd.com. For more information on A DAUGHTER OF FAIR VERONA, visit daughterofmontague.com. Her legions of fans know that when they pick up a Christina Dodd book, they'll find the story, "Wildly entertaining, wickedly witty!"
Christina is married to a man with all his hair and no Corvette, but many Craftsman tools.
(Source: http://www.christinadodd.com )
— 6/30/26 TEACH THE TORCHES TO BURN: Daughter of Montague Historical Fiction #3 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
New and Now!
—MUCH ADO ABOUT MISTLETOE: Daughter of Montague Christmas novella https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
— THUS WITH A KISS I DIE Daughter of Montague Historical Fiction #2
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
— A DAUGHTER OF FAIR VERONA Historical Fiction Trade Paperback Once upon a time a young couple met and fell in love. You probably know that story, and how it ended (hint: badly). Only here’s the thing: That’s not how it ended at all…
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
— WELCOME TO GOTHIC: A Gothic novella in ebook (at last!) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
— WHAT DREAMS MAY COME Daughter of Montague novella 1.5 "I’m the daughter of Romeo and Juliet. Yes, that Romeo and Juliet. No, they didn’t die in the tomb…" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
— GIRL ANONYMOUS “Crackling sexual chemistry and a few love scenes guaranteed to scorch readers’ fingers as they turn the pages." — ⭐️ Booklist
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Readers become writers, and Christina has always been a reader. Ultimately she discovered she liked to read romance best because the relationship between a man and a woman is always humorous. A woman wants world peace, a clean house, and a deep and meaningful relationship based on mutual understanding and love. A man wants a Craftsman router, undisputed control of the TV remote, and a red Corvette which will make his bald spot disappear.
When Christina’s first daughter was born, she told her husband she was going to write a book. It was a good time to start a new career, because how much trouble could one little infant be?
Ha! It took ten years, two children and three completed manuscripts before she was published. Now her suspense, paranormal, historical, and mystery novels have been translated into 30 languages and sold more than 15 million copies in print. Praised for her “brilliantly etched characters, polished writing, and unexpected flashes of sharp humor that are pure Dodd” (Booklist), her award-winning books have landed on numerous Best of the Year lists and, much to her mother's delight, Dodd was once a clue in the Los Angeles Times crossword puzzle. She lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest, where her 700 lavender plants share the yard with her husband’s various “Big Projects,” including a treehouse, zipline, and their very own Stonehenge.
Enter Christina’s worlds and join her mailing list for humor, book news and entertainment (yes, she’s the proud author with the infamous three-armed cover) at christinadodd.com. For more information on A DAUGHTER OF FAIR VERONA, visit daughterofmontague.com. Her legions of fans know that when they pick up a Christina Dodd book, they'll find the story, "Wildly entertaining, wickedly witty!"
Christina is married to a man with all his hair and no Corvette, but many Craftsman tools.
(Source: http://www.christinadodd.com )
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 224 reviews
April 15, 2024
Jackson Sonnet was a genius at knowing what the armchair adventurer craved, for he prided himself on being a man who could do it all, and he had made damned good and sure his daughter, Karen, had learned everything, regardless of her fears- Karen’s father owned Jackson Sonnet Hotels, a chain that specialized in adventure vacations……….
At twenty-eight, she had already supervised the building of hotels in the outback of Australia, on the African veldt, and in Patagonia in Argentina. Each one had offered its own challenges. None had been like this.
In the daylight she is the project manager for her father’s new conquest for his next build in the hotel chain ……. So now she finds herself in the Himalayas at the foot of Mt Anaya between Nepal and Tibet……. At night in the darkness of her tent, she is visited by her SEXY mysterious lover
Throughout the area there, the natives believed the mountain was cursed.
He is Warlord, leader of a band of mercenaries, but he is also Adrik Wilder… Who left home at age 17 due to the fact that he believed his soul was damaged…… He is also a spectacular Panther who every time he changes from human to Panther will pull himself Further and further away from the light and at the end of the day, The question will be, will the evil take over him completely? Can she save him from his own self? only time will tell
Adrik doesn’t know anything about Zorana’s visions or warnings of their family troubles or her instructions about how to break the pack with the devil ……..he had no clue all these year that his family was being hunted by the Varinski’s
So, what I’ve learned about this author so far due to the fact this is my 3rd book and this series is that she has a tendency of making you feel like you’re in Indiana Jones movie
I found this to be a fast-paced story with a rather good unique twist on paranormal romance…………. I would most definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Lil ancient, Lil dark evil twist to their paranormal reads……… Happy Reading, and I’ll see you on the other side ……. And thank you very much my dear friend for lending me your books
June 5, 2009
If you like romance novel heroes that are...well...evil, you'll love Adrik aka Warlord Varinski. He is Karen's demon lover who comes into her tent in the in the middle of the night and makes passionate love to her. She doesn't see his face during the day until all hades breaks loose. At this point, he's decided that kidnapping her fits into his very flawed moral compass.
Okay, it sounds really wicked and depraved to like Warlord. But I did. That was the interesting thing about this story. You have to go back and read the first book in the Darkness Chosen series to understand what makes Warlord tick. He is being true to his heritage. In his family, it is normal for a man to be evil. His father is actually a Black Sheep because he decided to stop being evil when he fell in love with a gypsy girl who was gifted with the sight.
Sick of the rigid rules that he and his brothers constantly live under and for reasons he didn't really understand, Adrik ran away from home. He has committed an act that he believes dooms him to Hell, so he figures he might as well be free to do whatever he wants, including shapeshifting. In his family, it is a no-no to use this gift. Adrik was gifted with the ability to change into the panther form. However that gift comes with a price. It was part of a deal his ancestor made with that very famous being who shall not be named, and each time the descendants shift, they lose a part of their soul and get closer to Hell. Knowing he is damned regardless, Adrik lives as a mercenary, fighting wars for a price, killing men who don't deserve to live, seducing women as he pleases, and sometimes accidentally doing the right thing, pretty much breaking rules as he encounters them.
When he sees strong, capable Karen, something clicks. He's got to have her. Right or wrong.
Karen has no idea who or what Warlord is. Part of her thinks it's just a dream when he comes to her at night. One day, Warlord saves her life during a natural disaster. And Karen sees that something is not quite right with him, trying to break it off. No problem. Warlord decides to just keep her as his captive. This is where some readers were pretty offended. Okay, not very pc. But in this book it worked. Those scenes were pretty hot (I should be ashamed of myself). One reason this works for this book is because Karen is a very strong, capable woman. She's not an annoying uber-alpha woman who thinks she needs no one and is better than everyone. In contrast, Karen is the real deal. She has been raised to do most things a man can do and then some. Her father sent her on building projects that most people wouldn't send their worst enemies, and she has the reputation for getting it done. In my mind, she was a perfect match for Warlord, and probably the only woman who could save his soul. Warlord is forced to let Karen go when his camp comes under attack, although he's not particularly happy about it.
The story takes a 180 turn and we see these lovers meet again under totally different circumstances. Adrik gets another chance at love and to save his soul.
This was a great book. Full of action, steamy, interesting plot, and some underlying themes that give you something to think about. Dodd is one of my favorites, but if this was the first book I read by her, I would have fallen in love with her writing just for this book alone. She took a chance with Adrik aka Warlord, and with this storyline and this series. But in my opinion it pays off.
This was a great addition to the Darkness Chosen quarter, and definitely my favorite.
Okay, it sounds really wicked and depraved to like Warlord. But I did. That was the interesting thing about this story. You have to go back and read the first book in the Darkness Chosen series to understand what makes Warlord tick. He is being true to his heritage. In his family, it is normal for a man to be evil. His father is actually a Black Sheep because he decided to stop being evil when he fell in love with a gypsy girl who was gifted with the sight.
Sick of the rigid rules that he and his brothers constantly live under and for reasons he didn't really understand, Adrik ran away from home. He has committed an act that he believes dooms him to Hell, so he figures he might as well be free to do whatever he wants, including shapeshifting. In his family, it is a no-no to use this gift. Adrik was gifted with the ability to change into the panther form. However that gift comes with a price. It was part of a deal his ancestor made with that very famous being who shall not be named, and each time the descendants shift, they lose a part of their soul and get closer to Hell. Knowing he is damned regardless, Adrik lives as a mercenary, fighting wars for a price, killing men who don't deserve to live, seducing women as he pleases, and sometimes accidentally doing the right thing, pretty much breaking rules as he encounters them.
When he sees strong, capable Karen, something clicks. He's got to have her. Right or wrong.
Karen has no idea who or what Warlord is. Part of her thinks it's just a dream when he comes to her at night. One day, Warlord saves her life during a natural disaster. And Karen sees that something is not quite right with him, trying to break it off. No problem. Warlord decides to just keep her as his captive. This is where some readers were pretty offended. Okay, not very pc. But in this book it worked. Those scenes were pretty hot (I should be ashamed of myself). One reason this works for this book is because Karen is a very strong, capable woman. She's not an annoying uber-alpha woman who thinks she needs no one and is better than everyone. In contrast, Karen is the real deal. She has been raised to do most things a man can do and then some. Her father sent her on building projects that most people wouldn't send their worst enemies, and she has the reputation for getting it done. In my mind, she was a perfect match for Warlord, and probably the only woman who could save his soul. Warlord is forced to let Karen go when his camp comes under attack, although he's not particularly happy about it.
The story takes a 180 turn and we see these lovers meet again under totally different circumstances. Adrik gets another chance at love and to save his soul.
This was a great book. Full of action, steamy, interesting plot, and some underlying themes that give you something to think about. Dodd is one of my favorites, but if this was the first book I read by her, I would have fallen in love with her writing just for this book alone. She took a chance with Adrik aka Warlord, and with this storyline and this series. But in my opinion it pays off.
This was a great addition to the Darkness Chosen quarter, and definitely my favorite.
November 3, 2013
I’ve had this one sitting on my TBR shelf for a couple years now and in saying that I wish I’d found the time to read it back then because my tastes have changed and this just didn't do it for me now. Granted I read it as a standalone, but I don’t feel like I missed too much there. The hero is the ultimate bad boy; cursed, violent and seducing woman at will and the love scenes are pretty hot, in a bodice ripper (un PC)sort of way.
I really did enjoy the first half of the book, which takes place in the Himalayas at the foot of Mt Anaya between Nepal and Tibet. This was a different setting and a fun literary vacation. Our heroine Karen is overseeing the construction of a resort catering to climbers and trekkers looking for the ultimate challenge. She is struggling to prove herself to her father, doing what is considered a man’s job in this part of the world. The mountain is also meant to be alive, so it is spoken about in hushed tones and there is always discontent among the native workers.
This might be why she allows her mysterious dream lover to come into her tent and do delicious things to her body on such a regular basis. Girl needs a release. As the construction progresses the mountain strikes back with a rock slide. Karen is rescued by her (as it turns out) very real dream lover and he, for whatever reason decides to kidnap her.
“He” is Adrik Varinski aka ‘Warlord’, leader of a band of mercenaries fighting the Chinese army. He is also a shape shifting panther, cursed or gifted with this ability by a pact made by some ancient ancestor. Warlord is not a very nice guy but he does have it bad for Karen. Holding her captive and placing slave bracelets on her wrists is probably not the right way to go about things though. When their camp is attacked Warlord is forced to release Karen but not before vowing that he will find her again.
And that was when the book kind of lost me because when we pick up two years later it’s like a different story altogether. Karen is now working at a posh hotel and seems to have been able to put her traumatic experience behind her. And while she hasn’t had a lover since Nepal there is something about this man Rick Wilder, staying at the hotel for a conference that might just change that. He of course turns out to be Warlord (how she didn’t recognize him I have no idea) and from there the book goes deep into paranormal territory with curses and amulets, giant venom spitting snakes, shape shifting eagles, wolves, a plane crash. It was all a bit OTT for me.
I really did enjoy the first half of the book, which takes place in the Himalayas at the foot of Mt Anaya between Nepal and Tibet. This was a different setting and a fun literary vacation. Our heroine Karen is overseeing the construction of a resort catering to climbers and trekkers looking for the ultimate challenge. She is struggling to prove herself to her father, doing what is considered a man’s job in this part of the world. The mountain is also meant to be alive, so it is spoken about in hushed tones and there is always discontent among the native workers.
This might be why she allows her mysterious dream lover to come into her tent and do delicious things to her body on such a regular basis. Girl needs a release. As the construction progresses the mountain strikes back with a rock slide. Karen is rescued by her (as it turns out) very real dream lover and he, for whatever reason decides to kidnap her.
“He” is Adrik Varinski aka ‘Warlord’, leader of a band of mercenaries fighting the Chinese army. He is also a shape shifting panther, cursed or gifted with this ability by a pact made by some ancient ancestor. Warlord is not a very nice guy but he does have it bad for Karen. Holding her captive and placing slave bracelets on her wrists is probably not the right way to go about things though. When their camp is attacked Warlord is forced to release Karen but not before vowing that he will find her again.
And that was when the book kind of lost me because when we pick up two years later it’s like a different story altogether. Karen is now working at a posh hotel and seems to have been able to put her traumatic experience behind her. And while she hasn’t had a lover since Nepal there is something about this man Rick Wilder, staying at the hotel for a conference that might just change that. He of course turns out to be Warlord (how she didn’t recognize him I have no idea) and from there the book goes deep into paranormal territory with curses and amulets, giant venom spitting snakes, shape shifting eagles, wolves, a plane crash. It was all a bit OTT for me.
July 28, 2012
*spoiler*
What I learned from this book: Great sex = love. A "passionate" man is one who is willing to do whatever it takes to show you just how much he wants you. Like having sex with you while you sleep. And kidnapping you. And tying you up.. And having more sex with you. Against your will. Because even though you say "NO" he knows better. And hell, eventually you go with it because damn, the sex is just that good. Then when luck decides to help you out and free you of him, you decide to take those sex slave bracelets he branded you with and in an act of defiance you hammer them and remake them into... different bracelets... that you now carry around like a memento. And when later he storms back into your life giving you more hot sex and briefly asks you to forgive him for you know, the whole holding you hostage thing and the 2 weeks of rapes (although of course all that is merely implicit, since his actual words are more along the lines of "Now I know what it's like to have been held against my will. So I'll never do it to you again. Forgive me?"), naturally you do forgive him. And so, of course, the next step in this Stockholm-meets-battered-wife-syndrome-girl-and-evil-but-oh-so-sexy-rapist romance story is...? Marriage.
The previous two stories had the same characters only with different names. The man is cocky and sexy. The woman is stubborn and try as she might, cannot overcome her desire for said man. Only in this story the main character Adrik is so controlling that the sex is so blatantly RAPE, unlike the other books where it was on the line. So while I enjoyed the other books, though was unsettled when the sex was nearly crossing the line into rape, this book was just infuriating.
What I learned from this book: Great sex = love. A "passionate" man is one who is willing to do whatever it takes to show you just how much he wants you. Like having sex with you while you sleep. And kidnapping you. And tying you up.. And having more sex with you. Against your will. Because even though you say "NO" he knows better. And hell, eventually you go with it because damn, the sex is just that good. Then when luck decides to help you out and free you of him, you decide to take those sex slave bracelets he branded you with and in an act of defiance you hammer them and remake them into... different bracelets... that you now carry around like a memento. And when later he storms back into your life giving you more hot sex and briefly asks you to forgive him for you know, the whole holding you hostage thing and the 2 weeks of rapes (although of course all that is merely implicit, since his actual words are more along the lines of "Now I know what it's like to have been held against my will. So I'll never do it to you again. Forgive me?"), naturally you do forgive him. And so, of course, the next step in this Stockholm-meets-battered-wife-syndrome-girl-and-evil-but-oh-so-sexy-rapist romance story is...? Marriage.
The previous two stories had the same characters only with different names. The man is cocky and sexy. The woman is stubborn and try as she might, cannot overcome her desire for said man. Only in this story the main character Adrik is so controlling that the sex is so blatantly RAPE, unlike the other books where it was on the line. So while I enjoyed the other books, though was unsettled when the sex was nearly crossing the line into rape, this book was just infuriating.
June 26, 2008
Fabulous read. It's been almost a year since book two in the "Darkness Chosen" paranormal series by Christina Dodd, but wow, "Into The Shadow" was definitely worth the wait. This series follows a family whose forebear made a deal with the devil--the ability to change into a predator in exchange for the souls of he and his descendants. After one thousand years, one family is working to break this covenant and the rest of the clan will do whatever necessary to keep that from happening. A very different take on shifters from an author I always enjoy.
Adrik is a wild one. Unlike the rest of his brothers, he relishes the thrill of the hunt and the savagery of victory. He left his family seventeen years ago to live life as he chose. Then he met her...Karen, and from that point on, all that was important was her safety.
This book is darker than Dodd's usual fare. It's a tale of love redeeming a soul fallen into darkness. The heat between these two is scorching while they both fight for precedence, neither willing to concede. What a perfect match they are. The scope of the book takes place over 2 1/2 years, so this isn't a story of instant love. They both must discover what's truly important before they are right for each other and ready to fight together. The next in this series, "Into The Flame" will be released in August 2009. I'll be waiting...
Adrik is a wild one. Unlike the rest of his brothers, he relishes the thrill of the hunt and the savagery of victory. He left his family seventeen years ago to live life as he chose. Then he met her...Karen, and from that point on, all that was important was her safety.
This book is darker than Dodd's usual fare. It's a tale of love redeeming a soul fallen into darkness. The heat between these two is scorching while they both fight for precedence, neither willing to concede. What a perfect match they are. The scope of the book takes place over 2 1/2 years, so this isn't a story of instant love. They both must discover what's truly important before they are right for each other and ready to fight together. The next in this series, "Into The Flame" will be released in August 2009. I'll be waiting...
August 18, 2010
great series. Very unique.
September 10, 2012
Unfortunately I can't do negative stars.
This book started out pretty good, much better than the previous two books. I had hope for it! But it turned out to be oh so much worse than the previous two books in the series (I didn't think it was possible!).
The rough beginning is that Karen is in the Himalayan Mountains working on building a hotel for her father. It just so happens that every few nights she has a mysterious visitor who comes to her tent and they have sex. She doesn't know his face or name. This struck me as off... very odd and unusual, but I was willing to go with it. After all, it was two responsible adults having some consensual fun.
Events happen and then her mystery lover is revealed after he saves her life. They have sex and afterwards she beats herself up over it. She thanks him and makes to leave and Adrik - get this folks - pulls a gun on her and threatens her. He forces her onto his motorcycle and takes her to his tent in the middle of a giant mercenary camp and he confines her there (Yes, against her will). Things happen, plot and characters - and then comes the scene that made me sick.
He ties her to the bed and rapes her (but don't worry, the pleasure he 'inflicted on her unwilling body' was REALLY good! *sarcasm*). It's not 'consensual' rape like in the previous books (which was bad enough) but she says no and he just up and ties her and takes her. To top it all off he also decides to put some lovely, charming gold 'slave bracelets' on her; in order to get those off she has to go to a jeweler and get them cut off.
She dwells on the fact that he raped for most of the book when she's around him (hell I would too. I'd be jumping out of my skin if I ever saw someone like him again), either wondering why she doesn't leave Adrik to die in certain situations (because "he deserves it") or (in the beginning) looking out and being afraid of him (which, Adrik tells her, wasn't fear, but anticipation!).
I hated this book with a passion and will not be buying the last book. The only reason I completed the series up to this one was because I had bought the first three in the series (A horrible mistake, as it turns out).
This book started out pretty good, much better than the previous two books. I had hope for it! But it turned out to be oh so much worse than the previous two books in the series (I didn't think it was possible!).
The rough beginning is that Karen is in the Himalayan Mountains working on building a hotel for her father. It just so happens that every few nights she has a mysterious visitor who comes to her tent and they have sex. She doesn't know his face or name. This struck me as off... very odd and unusual, but I was willing to go with it. After all, it was two responsible adults having some consensual fun.
Events happen and then her mystery lover is revealed after he saves her life. They have sex and afterwards she beats herself up over it. She thanks him and makes to leave and Adrik - get this folks - pulls a gun on her and threatens her. He forces her onto his motorcycle and takes her to his tent in the middle of a giant mercenary camp and he confines her there (Yes, against her will). Things happen, plot and characters - and then comes the scene that made me sick.
He ties her to the bed and rapes her (but don't worry, the pleasure he 'inflicted on her unwilling body' was REALLY good! *sarcasm*). It's not 'consensual' rape like in the previous books (which was bad enough) but she says no and he just up and ties her and takes her. To top it all off he also decides to put some lovely, charming gold 'slave bracelets' on her; in order to get those off she has to go to a jeweler and get them cut off.
She dwells on the fact that he raped for most of the book when she's around him (hell I would too. I'd be jumping out of my skin if I ever saw someone like him again), either wondering why she doesn't leave Adrik to die in certain situations (because "he deserves it") or (in the beginning) looking out and being afraid of him (which, Adrik tells her, wasn't fear, but anticipation!).
I hated this book with a passion and will not be buying the last book. The only reason I completed the series up to this one was because I had bought the first three in the series (A horrible mistake, as it turns out).
May 4, 2010
4.5 stars, almost 5! almost.
Good. Now I can be happy. LOL. With the previous book I was so frustrated that I even thought I would stop with the series. Last book lacked everything which was good about the series IMO.
But we get it back with book 3. I loved sexy, mysterious and powerful worldlord,lol. I loved his ruthless and savage personality. But I loved him even more once he got to be Adrik again. Much more when he got back to the family.
I enjoy so many things about this series that it's hard to mention them all. I love all the mystery and the fear that comes with the pact with the devil. I love as well everything related with the family and their story.
I can't put this series in my favs shelf though because it lacks' many things I love in this kind of series as well. I think that there could be a much better character and world development. The bases are great but so much more could be done with it. Nevertheless, It's an amazing series and I would recommend it to prn-romance lover's who don't know what to read next.My problem is like even though I have no complaint's with the romance and the characters who integrate the family, I feel like a real villain is missing. Those Varinski made a good enemy in the first book which was why I enjoyed that one the most. But now they are just something annoying which don't present a real danger. It's like they are described as this lazy and good for nothing individuals but then they go and almost kill the hero in each book. I don't know, it doesn't sound real to me. That's my only complaint. I think that with a better enemy this book would have been much more interesting.
Question... didn't you think that the heroine's father was totally out of place at the end? Like an addition that had nothing to do there? Just my opinion,lol.
Good. Now I can be happy. LOL. With the previous book I was so frustrated that I even thought I would stop with the series. Last book lacked everything which was good about the series IMO.
But we get it back with book 3. I loved sexy, mysterious and powerful worldlord,lol. I loved his ruthless and savage personality. But I loved him even more once he got to be Adrik again. Much more when he got back to the family.
I enjoy so many things about this series that it's hard to mention them all. I love all the mystery and the fear that comes with the pact with the devil. I love as well everything related with the family and their story.
I can't put this series in my favs shelf though because it lacks' many things I love in this kind of series as well. I think that there could be a much better character and world development. The bases are great but so much more could be done with it. Nevertheless, It's an amazing series and I would recommend it to prn-romance lover's who don't know what to read next.My problem is like even though I have no complaint's with the romance and the characters who integrate the family, I feel like a real villain is missing. Those Varinski made a good enemy in the first book which was why I enjoyed that one the most. But now they are just something annoying which don't present a real danger. It's like they are described as this lazy and good for nothing individuals but then they go and almost kill the hero in each book. I don't know, it doesn't sound real to me. That's my only complaint. I think that with a better enemy this book would have been much more interesting.
Question... didn't you think that the heroine's father was totally out of place at the end? Like an addition that had nothing to do there? Just my opinion,lol.
April 14, 2021
I maybe re-reading the series backwards and out of order, but it just reminds me how good and amazing it is. Adrik Wilder is a memorable bad boy and I love reading his and Karen's story all over again.
February 10, 2009
At day Karen Sonnet is building another hotel for her father's hotel chain deep in the Himalayas, at the foot of the "Evil Mountain", at night she's visited in her tent by a mysterious lover. When the enraged mountain one day enacts her revenge on the construction site, nearly taking Karen's life in a rock slide, it is her lover that rescues her...Then promptly kidnaps her, whisking her off as his little wife-slave.
He is Warlord, leader of a band of mercenaries, a thorn in the side of the Chinese army. The Chinese army that's hired a ruthless Varinski to get rid of the Warlord problem. When the camp is attacked, Warlord sends Karen to safety with an ominous promise he would one day find her again.
Two years later Karen has finally put the traumatic experience behind her, when handsome and enigmatic Rick Wilder, baring an uncanny resemblance to Warlord, waltzes into her life. Presumed dead by his family, Adrik has emerged from the pit of Hell a new man, his soul saved by the woman who's captured his heart, the woman he promised he would find once again.
But can Karen forgive him? And if she can, will they stay alive long enough for him to savor it?
This was the darkest story in the series to far, and the most compelling one.
With Adrik Christina Dodd has created a wonderful character. He's dangerous, rotten to the core, violent, deadly, literally walking at the edge of the precipice, yet still beautiful and redeemable. He encompasses the two extreme poles of the human psyche, the black and white. At the beginning of the story he's so brutal, so uncaring to anything but his own desires, yet there's something skirting just below the facade that makes him impossible to despise fully.
And when, coming face to face with the fact he isn't invincible, the realization of having let everybody down and faced with the love for an incredible woman, he finally transforms, redeems himself in his eyes and the eyes of those around him, the feeling is still bitter-sweet, for he knows he has to face the most ruthless enemy of all - how to gain the forgiveness of the woman he loves.
Karen, compared to her rather immature predecessors, was a breath of fresh air in this series. What she's suffered (though not of the same magnitude as what Ann and Tasya's ordeal) has shaped her, lent her strength, resilience, and determination.
She's stubborn when it comes to forgiving Adrik, but rightfully so, considering what he put her through. But eventually she realizes what he's been through, how he suffered and how he's won, and knows he's truly changed. This is also thanks to the fact it was mostly because of her and what woman wouldn't find that balm for the ego.
The suspense was yet again wonderful, the action escalating into the final battle, with the just victory incredibly short-lived. I was crying like a baby at the injustice of it all, but thanks to Ms. Dodd's writing genius and a little help from the icon, I quickly found myself smiling through the tears.
This was an amazing book, a wonderful story of redemption in the face of love, and highly recommended by this reader.
He is Warlord, leader of a band of mercenaries, a thorn in the side of the Chinese army. The Chinese army that's hired a ruthless Varinski to get rid of the Warlord problem. When the camp is attacked, Warlord sends Karen to safety with an ominous promise he would one day find her again.
Two years later Karen has finally put the traumatic experience behind her, when handsome and enigmatic Rick Wilder, baring an uncanny resemblance to Warlord, waltzes into her life. Presumed dead by his family, Adrik has emerged from the pit of Hell a new man, his soul saved by the woman who's captured his heart, the woman he promised he would find once again.
But can Karen forgive him? And if she can, will they stay alive long enough for him to savor it?
This was the darkest story in the series to far, and the most compelling one.
With Adrik Christina Dodd has created a wonderful character. He's dangerous, rotten to the core, violent, deadly, literally walking at the edge of the precipice, yet still beautiful and redeemable. He encompasses the two extreme poles of the human psyche, the black and white. At the beginning of the story he's so brutal, so uncaring to anything but his own desires, yet there's something skirting just below the facade that makes him impossible to despise fully.
And when, coming face to face with the fact he isn't invincible, the realization of having let everybody down and faced with the love for an incredible woman, he finally transforms, redeems himself in his eyes and the eyes of those around him, the feeling is still bitter-sweet, for he knows he has to face the most ruthless enemy of all - how to gain the forgiveness of the woman he loves.
Karen, compared to her rather immature predecessors, was a breath of fresh air in this series. What she's suffered (though not of the same magnitude as what Ann and Tasya's ordeal) has shaped her, lent her strength, resilience, and determination.
She's stubborn when it comes to forgiving Adrik, but rightfully so, considering what he put her through. But eventually she realizes what he's been through, how he suffered and how he's won, and knows he's truly changed. This is also thanks to the fact it was mostly because of her and what woman wouldn't find that balm for the ego.
The suspense was yet again wonderful, the action escalating into the final battle, with the just victory incredibly short-lived. I was crying like a baby at the injustice of it all, but thanks to Ms. Dodd's writing genius and a little help from the icon, I quickly found myself smiling through the tears.
This was an amazing book, a wonderful story of redemption in the face of love, and highly recommended by this reader.
May 11, 2021
Great Read
I really enjoyed this book, it had everything an adventure book should have, danger, excitement and love. I love this author’s books and look forward to reading more.
I really enjoyed this book, it had everything an adventure book should have, danger, excitement and love. I love this author’s books and look forward to reading more.
July 1, 2022
This book was amazing, I enjoyed the 1st 2. However there was just something about this book that made me love ❤️ the series 🙂
November 21, 2022
4.5 stars. This series just keeps getting better. Books 1 and 2 were good, this one is an non-stop page turner.
August 4, 2008
Incredible and Unputdownable!
And I mean, unputdownable! I read this on Saturday, started right before lunch and finishing right after dinner, in between loads of laundry and my kids.
The action is great, especially the last action scene. The romance is hotter than hot.
In this novel, we finally meet Adrik. He’d been mentioned before but mostly in passing, as he was the son/brother who up and left. At first, we learn that he is the ‘ghost lover’ of Karen, who slips into her tent in the dead of night to make incredible love with her. We learn that his name is Warlord, has eyes so black the pupil seems to blend with the iris, he is the leader of a group of rebels, is the best at stealing from the rich and pillaging from nearby soldiers on both sides of the Nepal border. He takes what he wants, when he wants, and when the moment appears, he takes Karen for himself, turning her into his ‘love slave’, bracelets and all, thinking that even maybe later, he may just use her for ransom.
Karen is a strong-willed, fiercely independent woman who doesn’t take crap from anyone. Her father taught her how to survive in any given situation, is a quick learner in every circumstance, and does what she deems fit for herself and those under her charge.
One thing leads to another and she finds an old Russion icon. She hides it in the safety of her jacket pocket, and is then taken by Warlord. At first, it was a rescue, and later turns into much worse, for after trying to escape, Warlord chains her up using pure gold slave bracelets.
War erupts and he tells her to flee. She does, and upon getting home, she learns something very personal and leaves, determined to live a carefree life for a year. Warlord ended up captured and thrown into a gold-mine along with some of his men. Finally, after a year of captivity, pain, and hopelessness, he finally manages to escape with most of his men and has tracked Karen down. Only - he isn’t the same man he was when Karen first met him.
He has learned to fight his inner battle and has turned his life around. In just a year, he has become Rick Wilder (Adrik), an international businessman who started it all with a video game called Warlord. At first, Karen believes he may be the same man but convinces herself otherwise. Mainly because of his manner and his eyes, now an odd light green. Just when she’s convinced Rick isn’t Warlord, one kiss proves her wrong.
Then, just when things get hot, they’re under attack and on the run. The Varinskis make a play - somehow knowing that Karen has the icon, now learning who Warlord actually is, and both try to escape. The plan turns a little foul, and are attacked again, this time with reinforcements.
I won’t comment about the ensuing battle, except that it was perfect. I balled my head off, but then I got to smile through those tears on more than one occasion.
Dodd is incredible and twisting a story together that has you gripped from the very first page to the very last. Good luck trying to put this one down. Especially the very ending - where a twist to the story brings astonishing and heart-wrenching news to the family. Now I really can’t wait for the next book, Into the Flame, out August 5th.
And I mean, unputdownable! I read this on Saturday, started right before lunch and finishing right after dinner, in between loads of laundry and my kids.
The action is great, especially the last action scene. The romance is hotter than hot.
In this novel, we finally meet Adrik. He’d been mentioned before but mostly in passing, as he was the son/brother who up and left. At first, we learn that he is the ‘ghost lover’ of Karen, who slips into her tent in the dead of night to make incredible love with her. We learn that his name is Warlord, has eyes so black the pupil seems to blend with the iris, he is the leader of a group of rebels, is the best at stealing from the rich and pillaging from nearby soldiers on both sides of the Nepal border. He takes what he wants, when he wants, and when the moment appears, he takes Karen for himself, turning her into his ‘love slave’, bracelets and all, thinking that even maybe later, he may just use her for ransom.
Karen is a strong-willed, fiercely independent woman who doesn’t take crap from anyone. Her father taught her how to survive in any given situation, is a quick learner in every circumstance, and does what she deems fit for herself and those under her charge.
One thing leads to another and she finds an old Russion icon. She hides it in the safety of her jacket pocket, and is then taken by Warlord. At first, it was a rescue, and later turns into much worse, for after trying to escape, Warlord chains her up using pure gold slave bracelets.
War erupts and he tells her to flee. She does, and upon getting home, she learns something very personal and leaves, determined to live a carefree life for a year. Warlord ended up captured and thrown into a gold-mine along with some of his men. Finally, after a year of captivity, pain, and hopelessness, he finally manages to escape with most of his men and has tracked Karen down. Only - he isn’t the same man he was when Karen first met him.
He has learned to fight his inner battle and has turned his life around. In just a year, he has become Rick Wilder (Adrik), an international businessman who started it all with a video game called Warlord. At first, Karen believes he may be the same man but convinces herself otherwise. Mainly because of his manner and his eyes, now an odd light green. Just when she’s convinced Rick isn’t Warlord, one kiss proves her wrong.
Then, just when things get hot, they’re under attack and on the run. The Varinskis make a play - somehow knowing that Karen has the icon, now learning who Warlord actually is, and both try to escape. The plan turns a little foul, and are attacked again, this time with reinforcements.
I won’t comment about the ensuing battle, except that it was perfect. I balled my head off, but then I got to smile through those tears on more than one occasion.
Dodd is incredible and twisting a story together that has you gripped from the very first page to the very last. Good luck trying to put this one down. Especially the very ending - where a twist to the story brings astonishing and heart-wrenching news to the family. Now I really can’t wait for the next book, Into the Flame, out August 5th.
September 21, 2008
I was anxiously awaiting these last two books in the Darkness Chosen series by Christina Dodd and Into the Shadow was definitely worth waiting for. The prophecy has been playing out in this series but the third brother was thought to be dead so it was a huge surprise to his family to find out that he was alive and with his mate running for their lives.
Karen Sonnet was a daughter never wanted, struggling to earn her father’s love and respect she has worked the family business from the bottom up. But when it came to this latest venture at the edge of a very dangerous and “evil” mountain she’s had enough. The only thing keeping her there have been the overnight visits by her dream lover.
Warlord is hard, no one gets past his walls – until his eyes fall on Karen. Then changes begin to overcome him he hadn’t thought possible. When the worst occurs he sends her away to save her life but his becomes a living hell. Knowing that she is his mate he plans for them to be together and help his family break the curse they have been under for the last 1,000 years.
Ms. Dodd gives her readers one hell of a ride, from the mountains in Asia to Washington State, we are kept enthralled with the depth of the story and the intensity and passion of the characters. If you haven’t read the previous two books in the series you can still read this one, but you’ll be missing an awesome experience. Into the Shadow as well as the rest of the Darkness Chosen series has found a home on my keeper shelf.
Karen Sonnet was a daughter never wanted, struggling to earn her father’s love and respect she has worked the family business from the bottom up. But when it came to this latest venture at the edge of a very dangerous and “evil” mountain she’s had enough. The only thing keeping her there have been the overnight visits by her dream lover.
Warlord is hard, no one gets past his walls – until his eyes fall on Karen. Then changes begin to overcome him he hadn’t thought possible. When the worst occurs he sends her away to save her life but his becomes a living hell. Knowing that she is his mate he plans for them to be together and help his family break the curse they have been under for the last 1,000 years.
Ms. Dodd gives her readers one hell of a ride, from the mountains in Asia to Washington State, we are kept enthralled with the depth of the story and the intensity and passion of the characters. If you haven’t read the previous two books in the series you can still read this one, but you’ll be missing an awesome experience. Into the Shadow as well as the rest of the Darkness Chosen series has found a home on my keeper shelf.
March 20, 2012
My Thoughts:
This is Adrik book and we don’t have much information about him, because he escaped from home with only 18 and everyone though he was dead but in reality he was in the Himalayan Mountains leading a mercenaries group, much like Robin Wood.
And that’s how he met Karen, when she was send to the mountains to help on the construction of a new hotel, but every night she got the visit from this strange man and they had amazing sex, one day when an avalanche happened Adrik saved Karen and kidnapped her to his tends.
But the Varinskis discovered about him and now Karen has to fight for her life and escape with Adrik.
I loved Adrik, he’s hunted by a death that occurred when he’s no more than a child and Karen actually helps him, is really to see how he reconnect with his past and also helps find the icon. Karen is strong and they match from the first moment. I think Adrik has the best women from the whole brothers.
This is Adrik book and we don’t have much information about him, because he escaped from home with only 18 and everyone though he was dead but in reality he was in the Himalayan Mountains leading a mercenaries group, much like Robin Wood.
And that’s how he met Karen, when she was send to the mountains to help on the construction of a new hotel, but every night she got the visit from this strange man and they had amazing sex, one day when an avalanche happened Adrik saved Karen and kidnapped her to his tends.
But the Varinskis discovered about him and now Karen has to fight for her life and escape with Adrik.
I loved Adrik, he’s hunted by a death that occurred when he’s no more than a child and Karen actually helps him, is really to see how he reconnect with his past and also helps find the icon. Karen is strong and they match from the first moment. I think Adrik has the best women from the whole brothers.
August 18, 2008
I wasn't a great fan of the first two books in this series. The characters are interesting but the writing is just not very good. The paranormal aspects were not well-written either.
I really enjoyed this book. The hero was very interesting and quite harsh for the first part of the book. There was a lot that didn't make sense about their relationship especially after they meet again after two years, but the story was still very interesting and action filled. I would have liked to see more of their relationship after meeting again, instead they just decide they are in love despite all that Warlord did to Karen the first time (kidnaps her, practically forces her to make love).
So this is a really good book as long as you don't look too closely at the relationship and just enjoy the story.
I really enjoyed this book. The hero was very interesting and quite harsh for the first part of the book. There was a lot that didn't make sense about their relationship especially after they meet again after two years, but the story was still very interesting and action filled. I would have liked to see more of their relationship after meeting again, instead they just decide they are in love despite all that Warlord did to Karen the first time (kidnaps her, practically forces her to make love).
So this is a really good book as long as you don't look too closely at the relationship and just enjoy the story.
September 6, 2010
I'd really probably give this 2 1/2 stars if I had that option, and the 2 1/2 stars is because I like the overall series so well, not this book. I'll hand it to Christina Dodd for writing Warlord's despicable character so well that I'm still seething about him a day after I finished reading the book. I hated Warlord's character and while Adrik was a bit better, a lot of things he said as both characters just pissed me off. It was unbelievable to me that Karen, a smart, independent woman would fall in love and agree to stay with a man who had treated her so badly. And though it was clear Adrik felt bad for what he'd done to her, I didn't think he was nearly remorseful enough.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 21, 2017
Non so se sia per merito dell'amicizia con la Kleypas, ma finalmente questa storia decolla e mi è piaciuta, anche per il mio amore per i felini.
Karen e Adrik, i protagonisti di questo libro,sono riusciti a farmi provare delle emozioni e a incuriosirmi per l'intera durata della lettura.
Anche gli scontri con i temibili Varinski cattivi hanno più senso che nei precedenti libri.
Ora si sono riunite tre icone sacre e il colpo di scena sul finale mi fa proprio venire voglia di leggere l'ultimo libro.
Karen e Adrik, i protagonisti di questo libro,sono riusciti a farmi provare delle emozioni e a incuriosirmi per l'intera durata della lettura.
Anche gli scontri con i temibili Varinski cattivi hanno più senso che nei precedenti libri.
Ora si sono riunite tre icone sacre e il colpo di scena sul finale mi fa proprio venire voglia di leggere l'ultimo libro.
February 28, 2012
My favorite of the series hands down. Adrik is dark and mysterious you just can't fit him into a mold because you know he is bound to break it and surprise you. It is realistic because we all have issues with family, etc so the homecoming was beautiful. Adrik unlike the other brothers to me has layers which any good character does. Even though he is selfish he evolves and I adore that. This book is a MUST read! Love this series.
October 31, 2020
This was a decent read, but it was kind of all over the place. It felt as if I was reading two different books. The last half was much better than the first. I liked it well enough, but I don't feel the need to check out any of the other books in the series.
2020 Reading Challenge
October Word: Shadow
2020 Reading Challenge
October Word: Shadow
February 5, 2017
I loved it! Yes, Warlord isn't a good guy, but he redeemed himself.
May 14, 2020
Great series and this one has lots of twists and turns and will keep you guessing along the way. Lots of action.
August 29, 2020
First half 2 stars, second half 5 stars. Rounded up to 4 overall.
March 14, 2024
I understand the hero's behavior in the first part is due to him being submerged by his dark side and so more like the Varinskis, but it didn't feel right to read these first forced sex scenes, even if the heroine's body finally enjoyed them.
A good point for the hero's change after realizing he was on a very bad path.
A good point for the hero's change after realizing he was on a very bad path.
July 21, 2008
Loved, loved, loved this book. Read it in one day. Dodd is a master of tension and suspense. Writing stories that keep the reader in the edge of their seat and turning pages. A few different things about this book even though it’s number three in a series.
The hero is evil at the beginning of the book. His journey is one of redemption throughout the book. The way Dodd gets away with this is she has him sneaking into the heroine’s tent in the very first scene to make love to her—he’s been her secret lover for the past two months. A tender, generous lover who has held and comforted the heroine when she wakes with nightmares. We don’t find out until he kidnaps the protagonist that he’s a mercenery—a gun for hire who has bloodstained hands. Once Warlord kidnaps Karen Sonnet, her feelings for him change on a dime. He’s betrayed her. Nothing he’s done is what it seems. She escapes once, but he tracks her down. Then keeps her tied up for two weeks before civil war and unrest in the area interrupt his plans and he has to set her free to take care of business. He tells her to watch for him, he’ll find her no matter where she goes in the world. She gets away safe. We basically see her next two years later. She’s changed careers, found herself. But she’s still spooked by relationships and men who look like Warlord.
When a man walks into the spa resort where she works who is the spitting image of Warlord except he’s a civilized businessman with the wrong color eyes, Karen’s first instinct is to run. She packs her bags and is ready to flee when someone convinces her she’s safer at the resort where the security is strong. Rick Wilder, Warlord’s doppleganger, begins to court Karen. He’s gentlemanly, kind, considerate, and totally appropriate. We, as the reader, are wondering along with the heroine whether this guy is Warlord or not. We worry. We’re not sure. She invites him back to her room on the last night of the business meeting at the spa location. At first he doesn’t kiss her, he begins to seduce her. She’s ready to go to bed with him to defeat the hold Warlord has over her in this whole area. The situation gets out of hand and he kisses her. She slugs him. She knows immediately that it is Warlord. She knows him by the way he tastes.
Then the bad guys show up, attack and almost fatally wound Warlord/Rick Wilder, she leaves him for dead and runs with the icon she’s been intrusted with because he deserves no better. But after she leaves, we see Warlord who knows he’s going to die alone. He’s full of self-recimination. He knows he deserves no better than to die alone for all his past sins. Karen comes back. She lances his wound, helps get the poison out, bandages him up, and they get out of there. During the next five days as they’re on the run from the bad guys, the heroine begins to share the hero’s memories. She’s ingested some of his blood and has a pyschic link with him because of it. We see, through the hero’s memories, the whole scenerio when he kidnapped her and what happened afterward. He was captured by the opposition and imprisioned and beaten for a year. So this is where the author begins to really turn the story around and turn the hero into a good guy for the reader. We see his motivations. We see his guilt for his life of evil. We see his redemption and the justice served when his freedom is stripped from him for over a year. He promises to the heroine towards the end that he’ll never restrain her again, he’s a changed man. He now knows what it feels like to lose his freedom.
The author did an excellent job of turning this seemingly evil character around. Someone who was more villanous than not at the beginning is morphed into to someone we’re rooting for and crying with at the end when the heroine dies. Yes, she dies. She’s then brought back by his prayers and brokenness, not to mention his paranormal blood that she’s absorbed on several occassions.
The hero is evil at the beginning of the book. His journey is one of redemption throughout the book. The way Dodd gets away with this is she has him sneaking into the heroine’s tent in the very first scene to make love to her—he’s been her secret lover for the past two months. A tender, generous lover who has held and comforted the heroine when she wakes with nightmares. We don’t find out until he kidnaps the protagonist that he’s a mercenery—a gun for hire who has bloodstained hands. Once Warlord kidnaps Karen Sonnet, her feelings for him change on a dime. He’s betrayed her. Nothing he’s done is what it seems. She escapes once, but he tracks her down. Then keeps her tied up for two weeks before civil war and unrest in the area interrupt his plans and he has to set her free to take care of business. He tells her to watch for him, he’ll find her no matter where she goes in the world. She gets away safe. We basically see her next two years later. She’s changed careers, found herself. But she’s still spooked by relationships and men who look like Warlord.
When a man walks into the spa resort where she works who is the spitting image of Warlord except he’s a civilized businessman with the wrong color eyes, Karen’s first instinct is to run. She packs her bags and is ready to flee when someone convinces her she’s safer at the resort where the security is strong. Rick Wilder, Warlord’s doppleganger, begins to court Karen. He’s gentlemanly, kind, considerate, and totally appropriate. We, as the reader, are wondering along with the heroine whether this guy is Warlord or not. We worry. We’re not sure. She invites him back to her room on the last night of the business meeting at the spa location. At first he doesn’t kiss her, he begins to seduce her. She’s ready to go to bed with him to defeat the hold Warlord has over her in this whole area. The situation gets out of hand and he kisses her. She slugs him. She knows immediately that it is Warlord. She knows him by the way he tastes.
Then the bad guys show up, attack and almost fatally wound Warlord/Rick Wilder, she leaves him for dead and runs with the icon she’s been intrusted with because he deserves no better. But after she leaves, we see Warlord who knows he’s going to die alone. He’s full of self-recimination. He knows he deserves no better than to die alone for all his past sins. Karen comes back. She lances his wound, helps get the poison out, bandages him up, and they get out of there. During the next five days as they’re on the run from the bad guys, the heroine begins to share the hero’s memories. She’s ingested some of his blood and has a pyschic link with him because of it. We see, through the hero’s memories, the whole scenerio when he kidnapped her and what happened afterward. He was captured by the opposition and imprisioned and beaten for a year. So this is where the author begins to really turn the story around and turn the hero into a good guy for the reader. We see his motivations. We see his guilt for his life of evil. We see his redemption and the justice served when his freedom is stripped from him for over a year. He promises to the heroine towards the end that he’ll never restrain her again, he’s a changed man. He now knows what it feels like to lose his freedom.
The author did an excellent job of turning this seemingly evil character around. Someone who was more villanous than not at the beginning is morphed into to someone we’re rooting for and crying with at the end when the heroine dies. Yes, she dies. She’s then brought back by his prayers and brokenness, not to mention his paranormal blood that she’s absorbed on several occassions.
April 18, 2011
Summary:
Seventeen years ago, Adrik turned his back on his family and embraced his wild side. He found himself in Asia where he started making a name for himself as Warlord.
Two years ago, Karen Sonnet was on site as the construction manager for her father Adventure Hotels on the side of the Anaya Mountain, where people go to climb natures wildest but never return the same or whole. All her life she has wanted to make her father proud and strived to be the best, but this job might just be the death of her; nothing is going right, except the nightly visits from her mystery lover. Warlord saw Karen in the train station and just knew that she would be His! Under the cover of darkness he visits her tent. One early morning one of Kerens men runs into a burial site, when Karen looks in she sees a small child that literally opens its eyes and looks directly at her, when it’s eyes close, the bones crumble and left underneath the remains is a small tile of the Virgin Mary, Karen realizes that she must protect the Virgin Mary at all costs, she knows that she was chosen. Almost immediately following the mountain side starts coming down around her. Looking up a man on a bike is coming down to rescue her, hoping on the back of the bike, she realizes this is her mystery lover. What she didn’t realize was that he was going to take her hostage. Warlord is more evil than good, but he knows that he needs Karen; something about her makes him want to be good. Karen is having no part of being held captive! All she needs to do is get away.
Present Day:
For two years Karen has been looking over her shoulder for Warlord, when he let her go he said he would find her and she believed him. After her captivity, she returned home to her father, and that didn’t go so well, so she left and took a year to herself. Now she is a successful events coordinator at a Spa and Hotel, she has finally rebuilt her life on the ashes that was Asia. Now a handsome man named Rick Wilder comes into the hotel and she immediately senses a kinship to Warlord, immediately weary, she is somehow convinced to stay. Rick woos her, and her uneasiness starts to wan, until he kisses her. Warlord was held captive by a Varinski, sadistically tortured until he was begging for death. The only thing that got him through was Karen. He had to get back to his Karen. Upon his escape, he knew he had to change his life, to embrace the good, and he set out to do exactly that. Now he is different and ready to reclaim his woman. Only to have the Varinski, find her the same time he did. Will he have to embrace the dark to save them both?
Click here for the rest of my review and other books of this series
Seventeen years ago, Adrik turned his back on his family and embraced his wild side. He found himself in Asia where he started making a name for himself as Warlord.
Two years ago, Karen Sonnet was on site as the construction manager for her father Adventure Hotels on the side of the Anaya Mountain, where people go to climb natures wildest but never return the same or whole. All her life she has wanted to make her father proud and strived to be the best, but this job might just be the death of her; nothing is going right, except the nightly visits from her mystery lover. Warlord saw Karen in the train station and just knew that she would be His! Under the cover of darkness he visits her tent. One early morning one of Kerens men runs into a burial site, when Karen looks in she sees a small child that literally opens its eyes and looks directly at her, when it’s eyes close, the bones crumble and left underneath the remains is a small tile of the Virgin Mary, Karen realizes that she must protect the Virgin Mary at all costs, she knows that she was chosen. Almost immediately following the mountain side starts coming down around her. Looking up a man on a bike is coming down to rescue her, hoping on the back of the bike, she realizes this is her mystery lover. What she didn’t realize was that he was going to take her hostage. Warlord is more evil than good, but he knows that he needs Karen; something about her makes him want to be good. Karen is having no part of being held captive! All she needs to do is get away.
Present Day:
For two years Karen has been looking over her shoulder for Warlord, when he let her go he said he would find her and she believed him. After her captivity, she returned home to her father, and that didn’t go so well, so she left and took a year to herself. Now she is a successful events coordinator at a Spa and Hotel, she has finally rebuilt her life on the ashes that was Asia. Now a handsome man named Rick Wilder comes into the hotel and she immediately senses a kinship to Warlord, immediately weary, she is somehow convinced to stay. Rick woos her, and her uneasiness starts to wan, until he kisses her. Warlord was held captive by a Varinski, sadistically tortured until he was begging for death. The only thing that got him through was Karen. He had to get back to his Karen. Upon his escape, he knew he had to change his life, to embrace the good, and he set out to do exactly that. Now he is different and ready to reclaim his woman. Only to have the Varinski, find her the same time he did. Will he have to embrace the dark to save them both?
Click here for the rest of my review and other books of this series
February 9, 2017
Out of this whole series this novel has to be my absolute favorite. It was both the characters and story plot that did it for me. I mean, honestly, it had me hooked from the very first page. And from then on I was committed. It's just not very often that I get to read a novel that I like so much. So the fact that I read this novel in just today says it all. It's still one of my favorites, even though I first read it years ago. And it's one that I'm very proud to own as well.
Karen is damn good at what she does and she doesn't have to prove it to anyone. Well, except her father who is never proud of her no matter what she does. Karen manages her father's out-of-state construction sites and she runs a tight ship. Currently he's trying to build a hotel high on the mountains. Mountains that are known for cursing people. However, Karen doesn't believe in curses and is even starting to enjoy her stay as well. Mostly because of her mysterious night lover who comes to her almost every night. Adrik has gone far into his beast and is proud of it. He's known as The Mighty Warlord and can strike fear into the bravest of men. Adrik isn't known for his curiosity, but when it comes to Karen curiosity killed the cat. Adrik finds himself drawn to her and instead of leaving her be, he opted to visit her every night. He's so intrigued by her that he goes as far as to kidnap her when the moment arises. He even goes as far as to put slave bracelets on her and tie her to his bed. Karen is both surprised and outraged at the same time when she discovers her mysterious lover is real. She had thought that her night lover was a dream and finding out that he was real is quite shocking. But not as shocking as the fact that now declares her to be his slave and to satisfy his every command. Now all that Karen can think about is trying to escape from him. However, that may prove harder than she originally thought.
This novel is an adult romance urban fantasy novel, and an amazing one at that. This novel will blow you away on the very first page. There's just so much all at once that my senses were in constant overdrive. You just can't help it. The multiple plot twists may have something to do with this as well. This just made the plot even better because of all the excitement that's around it. It makes the reader want even more, and it's already over with. Making this a novel that is going to be very hard to forget. So my recommendation for this novel is to pick it up at your nearest bookstore as soon as possible. That's one that you'll never forget about and that's for sure. So if you're an urban fantasy or romance lover, then go and get this novel today.
*Read on September 5th, 2014
Karen is damn good at what she does and she doesn't have to prove it to anyone. Well, except her father who is never proud of her no matter what she does. Karen manages her father's out-of-state construction sites and she runs a tight ship. Currently he's trying to build a hotel high on the mountains. Mountains that are known for cursing people. However, Karen doesn't believe in curses and is even starting to enjoy her stay as well. Mostly because of her mysterious night lover who comes to her almost every night. Adrik has gone far into his beast and is proud of it. He's known as The Mighty Warlord and can strike fear into the bravest of men. Adrik isn't known for his curiosity, but when it comes to Karen curiosity killed the cat. Adrik finds himself drawn to her and instead of leaving her be, he opted to visit her every night. He's so intrigued by her that he goes as far as to kidnap her when the moment arises. He even goes as far as to put slave bracelets on her and tie her to his bed. Karen is both surprised and outraged at the same time when she discovers her mysterious lover is real. She had thought that her night lover was a dream and finding out that he was real is quite shocking. But not as shocking as the fact that now declares her to be his slave and to satisfy his every command. Now all that Karen can think about is trying to escape from him. However, that may prove harder than she originally thought.
This novel is an adult romance urban fantasy novel, and an amazing one at that. This novel will blow you away on the very first page. There's just so much all at once that my senses were in constant overdrive. You just can't help it. The multiple plot twists may have something to do with this as well. This just made the plot even better because of all the excitement that's around it. It makes the reader want even more, and it's already over with. Making this a novel that is going to be very hard to forget. So my recommendation for this novel is to pick it up at your nearest bookstore as soon as possible. That's one that you'll never forget about and that's for sure. So if you're an urban fantasy or romance lover, then go and get this novel today.
*Read on September 5th, 2014
March 1, 2014
Adrik Wilder gilt als tot. Vor vielen Jahren hat er die Familie verlassen und ist seither verschollen. Doch er lebt - in der Bergwelt zwischen Tibet und Nepal ist er Warlord, der Anführer einer Bande Outlaws und durch seine blutrünstigen Taten ist der längst der dunklen Seite verfallen. Bis er eines Tages die Amerikanerin Karen Sonnet sieht, die in den Bergen ein Luxushotel für Abenteurer bauen will. Nacht für Nacht schleicht er zu ihr und nach einem Unfall auf der Baustelle verschleppt er sie in sein Lager und kettet sie dort an. Doch eines Tages flieht sie und sieht ihren mysteriösen Geliebten erst zwei Jahre später wieder in Arizona. Sie tritt ihn mit Hass entgegen aber bald muss sie sich und ihm eingestehen, dass sie ihn längst liebt, auch wenn ein Fluch über ihn liegt. Doch eine Ikone, die sie in den Bergen des Himalaya gefunden hat gibt Hoffnung - doch ihre Feinde, die Varinskis, sind ihnen schon auf den Fersen..
Vor über zwei Jahren hatte ich den zweiten Band gelesen und seitdem lagen die beiden Folgebände bei mir herum. Nun endlich hab ich den dritten und vorletzten Band gelesen, in dem es den jüngsten der Wilder Brüder geht. Adrik wird von der Familie für tot gehalten, nachdem ihnen vor zwei Jahren die Nachricht übersandt wurde, dass er getötet wurde und man ihnen seine Asche geschickt hat. Mutlos hat es sie werden lassen, denn der Fluch der Wilder kann nur gebrochen werden, indem alle 4 Kinder eine Ikone finden und diese wieder zusammenführen. Und ohne Adrik wäre das nicht gelungen.
Adrik hat viel Böses auf seine Seele geladen und kommt anfangs düster rüber. Vorallem als er wie ein Neandertaler Karen in sein Lager verschleppt und ihr mitteilt, dass sie nun ihm gehört.. für immer. Doch Karen ist eine willenstarke Frau und zeigt dem Macho wo es lang geht. Die beiden werden wieder getrennt und finden sich Jahre später wieder und erst da erfährt Karen mehr über den Fluch.
Mit einem kleinen Zeitsprung wird die Geschichte weitergeführt, dieses Mal mit Adrik und Karen in der Hauptrolle. Erst gegen Ende kommen die restlichen Familienmitglieder ins Spiel und wie es sich für eine vierteilige Reihe gehört, endet der vorletzte Teil mit einem kleinen Paukenschlag, der einen geradezu nötigt, sich den letzten Band zu holen um zu erfahren, ob die Wilders letztlich den Teufel besiegen und den Bann brechen können oder ob Konstantin auf ewig in der Hölle schmoren muss.
Keine großartige Reihe aber durch den Fluch und die Gestaltwandler doch eine ganz gute Unterhaltung. Außerdem mag ich die Familie sehr und bin nun natürlich gespannt, wie die Geschichte ausgeht.
Vor über zwei Jahren hatte ich den zweiten Band gelesen und seitdem lagen die beiden Folgebände bei mir herum. Nun endlich hab ich den dritten und vorletzten Band gelesen, in dem es den jüngsten der Wilder Brüder geht. Adrik wird von der Familie für tot gehalten, nachdem ihnen vor zwei Jahren die Nachricht übersandt wurde, dass er getötet wurde und man ihnen seine Asche geschickt hat. Mutlos hat es sie werden lassen, denn der Fluch der Wilder kann nur gebrochen werden, indem alle 4 Kinder eine Ikone finden und diese wieder zusammenführen. Und ohne Adrik wäre das nicht gelungen.
Adrik hat viel Böses auf seine Seele geladen und kommt anfangs düster rüber. Vorallem als er wie ein Neandertaler Karen in sein Lager verschleppt und ihr mitteilt, dass sie nun ihm gehört.. für immer. Doch Karen ist eine willenstarke Frau und zeigt dem Macho wo es lang geht. Die beiden werden wieder getrennt und finden sich Jahre später wieder und erst da erfährt Karen mehr über den Fluch.
Mit einem kleinen Zeitsprung wird die Geschichte weitergeführt, dieses Mal mit Adrik und Karen in der Hauptrolle. Erst gegen Ende kommen die restlichen Familienmitglieder ins Spiel und wie es sich für eine vierteilige Reihe gehört, endet der vorletzte Teil mit einem kleinen Paukenschlag, der einen geradezu nötigt, sich den letzten Band zu holen um zu erfahren, ob die Wilders letztlich den Teufel besiegen und den Bann brechen können oder ob Konstantin auf ewig in der Hölle schmoren muss.
Keine großartige Reihe aber durch den Fluch und die Gestaltwandler doch eine ganz gute Unterhaltung. Außerdem mag ich die Familie sehr und bin nun natürlich gespannt, wie die Geschichte ausgeht.
January 1, 2023
"L'aveva riportato a galla dal baratro in cui era sprofondato.Lui l'aveva strappata alla morte.Adrik credeva che fossero destinati a stare insieme.Erano uniti nella battaglia contro il Diavolo.Erano uniti per l'eternità.Era la sua pantera.Il suo amore."
Fin dal primo volume, Adrik è stato senza dubbio il fratello più intrigante, seppur non fisicamente presente, ma non immaginavo che la sua storia mi avrebbe coinvolta e commossa così tanto spiccando su tutti gli altri Wilder (e non credo che Firebird riuscirà ad eguagliarlo nonostante la rivelazione bomba nel finale!). Adrik si è allontanato dalla famiglia quando era solo un ragazzo, infastidito dalle rigide regole del padre e desideroso di seguire la sua natura animale e selvaggia. Dopo più di un decennio la sua famiglia ormai lo crede morto e lui è sprofondato nel suo lato oscuro. Mercenario, assassino, ladro: Adrik è conosciuto come Il Guerriero e insieme alla sua banda domina i monti dell'Himalaya, le sue mani sporche di sangue non fanno che aumentare la leggenda che circonda la montagna Anaya, Il cuore del Maligno. Karen è una direttrice di cantiere e si trova lì per costruire l'ennesimo hotel per conto del suo gelido padre. Il loro rapporto inizia come la favola di Amore e Psiche: Adrik infatti seduce Karen nell'oscurità della notte, lentamente, e la ragazza si lascia andare tra le braccia del suo misterioso amante, come fosse un sogno. Ma il giorno in cui, con un incredibile evento soprannaturale, trova l'icona e la montagna crolla, Karen viene salvata proprio dal suo amante, uscito dritto dall'inferno. Adrik non ha intenzione di lasciarla andare e la tiene con se anche contro la sua volontà, facendosi desiderare e odiare in egual misura finché, inevitabilmente, i due devono separarsi. Ma due anni più tardi Adrik ritorna, profondamente cambiato tanto quanto lei e pronto a qualunque cosa per salvare la donna che ama e che ancora lo teme nonostante condividano il sangue e i ricordi , mentre i crudeli Varinski si avvicinano sempre più. Il questo terzo volume i sentimenti di entrambi i protagonisti sono così vivi e intensi che sembrano balzar fuori dalle pagine, Adrik deve affrontare il suo passato, la sua famiglia, e conquistare la donna che conosce la sua parte peggiore come quella migliore mentre Karen è una vera forza della natura e nonostante abbia ricevuto anche lei la sua dose di batoste dalla vita, è una combattente nata. La parte finale in cui insieme affrontano la morte l'uno per l'altra è stata davvero commovente, la passione e l'amore che sprigionano quando sono insieme, nonostante l'inizio poco ortodosso mi ha definitivamente conquistata! Consigliato!
Fin dal primo volume, Adrik è stato senza dubbio il fratello più intrigante, seppur non fisicamente presente, ma non immaginavo che la sua storia mi avrebbe coinvolta e commossa così tanto spiccando su tutti gli altri Wilder (e non credo che Firebird riuscirà ad eguagliarlo nonostante la rivelazione bomba nel finale!). Adrik si è allontanato dalla famiglia quando era solo un ragazzo, infastidito dalle rigide regole del padre e desideroso di seguire la sua natura animale e selvaggia. Dopo più di un decennio la sua famiglia ormai lo crede morto e lui è sprofondato nel suo lato oscuro. Mercenario, assassino, ladro: Adrik è conosciuto come Il Guerriero e insieme alla sua banda domina i monti dell'Himalaya, le sue mani sporche di sangue non fanno che aumentare la leggenda che circonda la montagna Anaya, Il cuore del Maligno. Karen è una direttrice di cantiere e si trova lì per costruire l'ennesimo hotel per conto del suo gelido padre. Il loro rapporto inizia come la favola di Amore e Psiche: Adrik infatti seduce Karen nell'oscurità della notte, lentamente, e la ragazza si lascia andare tra le braccia del suo misterioso amante, come fosse un sogno. Ma il giorno in cui, con un incredibile evento soprannaturale, trova l'icona e la montagna crolla, Karen viene salvata proprio dal suo amante, uscito dritto dall'inferno. Adrik non ha intenzione di lasciarla andare e la tiene con se anche contro la sua volontà, facendosi desiderare e odiare in egual misura finché, inevitabilmente, i due devono separarsi. Ma due anni più tardi Adrik ritorna, profondamente cambiato tanto quanto lei e pronto a qualunque cosa per salvare la donna che ama e che ancora lo teme nonostante condividano il sangue e i ricordi , mentre i crudeli Varinski si avvicinano sempre più. Il questo terzo volume i sentimenti di entrambi i protagonisti sono così vivi e intensi che sembrano balzar fuori dalle pagine, Adrik deve affrontare il suo passato, la sua famiglia, e conquistare la donna che conosce la sua parte peggiore come quella migliore mentre Karen è una vera forza della natura e nonostante abbia ricevuto anche lei la sua dose di batoste dalla vita, è una combattente nata. La parte finale in cui insieme affrontano la morte l'uno per l'altra è stata davvero commovente, la passione e l'amore che sprigionano quando sono insieme, nonostante l'inizio poco ortodosso mi ha definitivamente conquistata! Consigliato!
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