A Shining in the Shadows

Gabriel Davenport #2

by Beverley Lee

Menacing dark fantasy and paranormal suspense combine in the second book of this reader acclaimed supernatural series (Gabriel Davenport) from British author Beverley Lee. Gabriel Davenport has been remade from darkness. Now, he must adapt to survive.

In a small seaside town, Gabriel's maker unwittingly takes his wards into the throes of a deadly new game. There are rumblings on The Bloodvyne, the mental web of linked vampire consciousness. Whispers about a cleansing, about the ruling council hunting vampires with impure blood.

Gabriel finds himself thrust into a new nightmare, where the hunter becomes the hunted. When his maker is taken, he must battle to untangle the mystifying clues laid out in an uncovered labyrinth to find the only creature strong enough to fight against those that hunt his new-found family.

Gaze long into the darkness, and you'll find old vampire foes out for revenge, new ones with their own agenda, and a witch who holds the key. But just who is the monster in the middle?

Genres: Horror, Vampires, Adult Fiction, Fantasy

371 pages, Paperback

Published April 7, 2017

About the author

Beverley Lee is the bestselling author of the Gabriel Davenport series (The Making of Gabriel Davenport, A Shining in the Shadows and The Purity of Crimson) The Ruin of Delicate Things, The House of Little Bones and The Sum of Your Flesh.

She is also co-author of Crimson is the Night: A Vampire Novelette and the vampire horror romance series A Conclave of Crimson: A Queer Vampire Romance, featuring a meeting of characters from the Gabriel Davenport series and the Beguiled By Night series with Nicole Eigener . Her shorter fiction has been included in works from Cemetery Gates Media, Kandisha Press, Brigids Gate Press and Off Limits Press. In thrall to the written word from an early age, especially the darker side of fiction, she believes that the very best story is the one you have to tell.
You can visit her online at beverleylee.com (where you’ll find a free dark and twisted short story download) or on Instagram and Twitter.

Reviews

[Sadie Hartmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm very serious when I say that Beverley can gladly assume the position of my favorite, modern day author of Vampire fiction. A Shining in the Shadows is the sequel to Lee's debut novel, The Making of Gabriel Davenport. And sometimes, if the first book is so well loved and amazing, the second book suffers from a bit of the "sequel doldrums". Not in this case!
This book far exceeded my expectations! Without any fancy or fussy introductions, we get the pleasure of jumping right back into the story where book one left off (Thank you Bev!).
I have to say, my new favorite character is D'Grey, (I won't tell you who this person is, you'll have to read it to enjoy him for yourself) there were a couple chapters where I was in Vampire heaven, soaking up all the evil deliciousness of Beverley's dark mind--what vampires do in secret.
In terms of writing style--I am a HUGE fan of the short chapters and the changing POV because Bev is deft enough to pull that off without any stalls or confusion.
The female characters are well thought out and unique which is a difficult task since the men rule the day, I mean NIGHT, in this book. Our threesome, Teal, Gabe and Moth were always a joy to read about--especially when they were with their Father Figure, the lovely Clove (rawr!)
I don't want to spoil any of the plot details or even get anywhere near disclosing that ending! So I'm just going to wrap this up by saying I LOVED this book as much (if not a bit MORE than book one) and I'm over the moon excited for more. MORE!!!
If you haven't started this series yet, buy them both!!

[Nils | nilsreviewsit · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘I’m working on being at one with the night, a shadow of a shadow. Because sometimes I feel like the dark is my only friend.’

A Shining in the Shadows is the sequel to The Making of Gabriel Davenport by the lovely Beverley Lee. This book starts off dealing with the aftermath of the ending of the first book, as we delve into Gabriel’s new world.

I don’t want to say too much about the plot, because if you haven’t read the first one yet, then you really don’t want to know any spoilers. Let’s just say though that this book gets a lot darker, and the stakes all get much higher.

I’ll concentrate on character’s that I particularly liked. I was immediately drawn to Teal, I loved that we got chapters from his perspective, and particularly enjoyed his storyline. His innocence, and his open kindness was something that really cut through and beautifully contrasted the darkness of the world he lived in.

I found that Gabriel and Moth’s characters had a little bit too much teen angst going on, for my personal taste, but it was still nice to get to know them more too.

Another character that really grew on me was The White Witch. Every time there was a chapter that involved her, I was totally immersed. Her power, her lust for revenge for all the torment and hatred she had suffered, really seeped through. I found myself hoping she would kill them all!

Clove was a character that I loved from the first book, and I was pleased to see that he featured a lot more in this. Through his story arc we saw more of the order of vampires, their hierarchy, and their ritualistic behaviours. To be honest there was a scene here, that I found too dark and uncomfortable, but having said that it didn’t spoil my enjoyment. As with the first book, the writing was really atmospheric and I thought Bev did a fantastic job here.

If you’re looking for a great horror series full of vampires and legends, then I’d say you need to be reading this.

[Maika · Rating 4 out of 5]

La historia comienza con los mismos personajes que nos encontramos en su antecesora “La creación de Gabriel Davenport”, pero claramente esta segunda parte gira hacia la fantasía más oscura: vampiros 🧛🏻‍♂️, brujas 🧙🏻‍♀️…con un ritmo ágil y que te impide dejar de leer, debido quizás a que los capítulos son cortos y dinámicos, de esos que necesitas empezar el siguiente para ver qué pasa 👌🏻.

No puede haber espacio a los Impuros, hay que erradicarlos. Desde aquí nos vamos a encontrar en una carrera sin fin, para poder derrocar esa Cohorte de Seres Ancestrales, personificados en Emron D’Grey, y alguna otra sorpresita que no vi venir.
Una leyenda, un laberinto…¿Vencerán o serán vencidos?

No le doy 5⭐️ porque la parte de la relación sentimental, a veces sentí que me sobraba.

Me voy de cabeza a por la tercera y última parte de esta trilogía “the Gabriel Davenport Series” porque cuando acabes esta novela, vas a necesitar saber cómo se cerrará este círculo ⭕️.

Ojo!! ⚠️ la segunda y tercera parte de la saga, no están traducidas al castellano. Yo las adquirí a través de una plataforma muy conocida, pero en su idioma original, Inglés.

So, if the author is reading this😅: PLEASE
Translate into Spanish. There are many Spanish reader who will be very pleased to keep on reading the Gabriel Davenport Series.
Regards.

[Chandra Claypool (WhereTheReaderGrows) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gabriel has woken up into a brand new life, unable to see anyone from his past and learning his new ways. In the vampiric world, things are getting bloody. New problems arise with the talk of impure blood vampires being hunted - a cleansing. Gabriel finds himself, along with his brothers, having to fight to save his new family while still trying to fit in and control his new abilities. The past comes back to haunt him while he fights for his future. How can he find a way to survive without completely losing himself in the process?

I LOVE it when a series book just picks up where the last book left off. Zoom - right back into the story in full force. Vampires, demons and witches, oh my! Gabriel reminds me at times of Claudia from Interview with a Vampire - young, new and having to mature at a very quick pace to insert himself to his surroundings. Bev's way with words is beautiful and puts you right into the atmospheric, gothic world she created. I love word play and instances throughout the book made me smile: "They were like those crows, these killers. A murder of crows." Oh Bev, you devil ;). And while she had these fun lines, there were other lines that made my spine tingle: "The sound from her throat was the skittering of a thousand insect feet." (This is the voice I would imagine to be used for the audiobook.)

My recommendation is, get The Making of Gabriel Davenport and pre-order this now and binge yourself on some vampire goodness. Tell Moth I sent you. Huge thank you to Beverley Lee for this advanced copy, and for just being a wonderful person and fantastic writer all around. <3

[Beverley Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished my continuity read of Shadows and it's now filled with post it notes to check against my current draft of The Purity of Crimson. Which leads to that awkward moment when you have to rate your own book....

At the time of writing it has 50 ratings with an average of 4.74 so I think I'm okay to go with a 5!

[exorcismemily · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Night followed night followed night. An endless cycle of unimaginable cold and blood and loneliness."

A Shining in the Shadows is the second book in Beverley Lee's Gabriel Davenport series. This book is pretty different from The Making of Gabriel Davenport - it is much more focused on vampires instead of the paranormal community as a whole, and I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about it since I had recently read two other vampire horror novels that were just okay. I shouldn't have been worried because this book is so well-done, and the story is quite addicting.

I really like these characters. There aren't really any heroes in the traditional sense, but I root for everyone in this story. Usually I don't care about romantic storylines, but I was sold on the one in A Shining in the Shadows. It takes a lot to get me invested in the relationship aspect of a book, and Beverley did a great job.

Don't hate me for saying this - this is coming from someone who loves Twilight - but I think if you enjoyed the more action-focused aspects of Twilight (not that there were many), you might enjoy this book. I would not consider it to be YA, but parts of this book felt like home because it reminded me of being back in the worlds of Twilight and True Blood. This book is nowhere near as cheesy as either of those, but it just has some familiar parts of the story that I loved.

There were lots of good surprises in this book, and I enjoyed it the entire way through. It doesn't have the same scary aspect that the first book does, but it's still such a great read, and I think people who loved the first book should still read this one. We have less than a month to go until book 3, and I can't wait!

[Sarina Langer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having devoured Lee's debut novel last year I was really excited to get my hands on the sequel. And it delivered! Book 2 was every bit as thrilling, with new plot twists and new fascinating developments - and, of course, new cliffhangers setting up Book 3 - but no spoilers there ;)

Come to me, she whispered, and the fireflies in her eyes took flight.

The focus at the beginning is on Clove's little group; however, previous POVs still made plenty of appearances, too, which gave a brilliant overview over (almost) everything that's going on. I especially loved Moth's and Teal's POVs. Both boys really came into their own in this sequel and it was great to see just how much they developed over the course of the story.

There were also a few new characters who brought with them an interesting look into vampire politics!

I shuddered, the sensation running down my spine like the edge of a fingernail. My vision blurred and I blinked back tears, but I wasn't sure if I was crying for what I had lost or what I had found.

Speaking of Moth and Teal, their character development was a personal highlight. We already knew a few things about them from Book 1, but this time we really got to know them and I loved watching them cope with all the new developments throughout. They are two very different boys who added a lot of depths to the plot. There were some fascinating facts about Teal which were revealed slowly as the plot progressed, and seeing Moth slowly open up was wonderful. For most of the book all I wanted was for Moth and Gabriel to get together and adopt Teal, because they'd make such a beautiful family! <3 Honestly, I can't think of one character in Lee's books I don't like.

The writing was another highlight. Lee's style is beautiful, and I found more quotes than I usually do - hence why I've chosen to include three rather than the usual two.

Something shifted deep inside him. Moth wasn't prepared to lose another brother. If they went down, they would all do it together.

There's everything to love about A Shining in the Shadows, and I can't think of one aspect I didn't enjoy. If you're looking for a gothic urban fantasy with demons, vampires, and ancient magic (and why wouldn't you? That sounds awesome!) I can't recommend this book enough. It has everything you could want, and will keep you on the edge of your seat until the end.

[Beth Skye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gabriel Davenport's life has not been a restful one. In this second installment of horror and mystery, Gabe is learning how to function in his new world. He's got 'brothers' and a mentor to keep happy and his place to figure out.
Things aren't going to be easy, but he's a smart guy and willing to put his all into the effort,
despite the pull toward his old life and friends.

But the darkness, the evil, that took him and others isn't gone, it's been waiting. With an upheaval in the vampire world and talks of hunting and 'cleansing' Gabriel and his new family are on the move.
From the moors of England to a small tourist village by the sea they are seeking safety and answers. But are they just falling into a well crafted trap? How can he, so new to this life, be of any help especially when the old life and new collide?

Beverley has once again written a novel that keeps you on tenterhooks. The transition from the first book was so smooth, effortlessly flowing into this sequel without a hiccup or feeling of loosing any of the story. The relationships so engrossing and real, the horror as creepy as a clown covered in snakes and spitting scorpions, the mystery, myth, and magic are just 'can't stop reading' amazing! I am so happy that I was given the privilege to read this book from the author before publication (for my honest review, of course).
Yes, I do feel smug.
And happy.
And like I need the next book now!

If you like the things that go bump in the nigh: witches, vampires, demons and myth, along with fascinating and diverse characters, and a plot that twists like a knife, I say go get the first book, 'The Making of Gabriel Davenport' and pre-order this gorgeous sequel ASAP! You will not be disappointed.

[Austrian Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starting a Beverley Lee book is a momentous thing – you know before you enter her world that it’s going to be fully immersive. Beverley writes with a solid eye on character – they drive everything and take center stage. A shining in the shadows (ASITS), the second book in the Gabriel Davenport series continues this trademark, and Beverley layers trait upon trait, introspective thought upon thought onto her characters, to the point where we know them so well, we cannot do anything but feel for them in their individual plights.

This is my fifth outing with Beverley and her meticulously edited books, having read her shorts in Daughters of Darkness, and her novels The ruin of delicate things, The house of little bones, and The Making of Gabriel Davenport – the first part of the series. Each book has followed certain Lee trademark flourishes – ASITS is comparable to the making of Gabriel davenport in that it presents a slow build tension, is composed of short chapters with increasingly barbed hook endings, focuses on character motivation, internal thought and replays scenes from different characters perspectives. As such, it plays well to the reader, especially those that have read the first in the series and liked exactly those characteristics – I include myself in that category.

I’ve noticed in a lot of the vampire stories that I’ve read (Anne rice’s vampire chronicles, Nicole Eigener’s Beguiled by night, Briana Morgan’s Mouth full of ashes) that there’s a trend in making the vampires Gay (or Bi). It fits well, certainly – vampires (to begin with) are creatures not fully in control of their abilities and passions, driven by the need to take what society regards as forbidden (blood from others)– the guilt of that need, that uncontrollable desire, finally succumbing to what is their nature – I get it – I can see that journey to self-acceptance and acknowledgment reflected in a lot of LGBTQ people’s own experiences, simply wanting to exist as they are whilst the damn stubborn world tries to chew them up, and for me, that is then understandable that so many vampires have no sexual preference – are Bi or Gay or whatever they want to be, because when you have to hide from the world because the world stubbornly won’t accept you, then the best thing you can do is be honest with yourself at least, and this book tracks that journey with two of the main characters.

Effectively, this then is a coming-of-age story. Fight me over this, but that’s how I see it, and I think that element is upfront the “actual” story here. Yes, there is the ongoing story of the vampire world, Gabriel’s demon-possessed mother and a witch buried alive in the walls of an unknown location, and yes, the characters from the first book reappear here and move everything along to a showdown, but as is obvious from what I said above, the final showdown harks back to the lessons of all young forbidden love stories the world over – stay strong to one another, hold firm, and the world and all it throws at you will have no effect.

That Beverley frames that story, surrounded in her lush prose and beguiling inner thought and sumptuous poetic description, with compassion and an astute understanding of pacing and tension, elevates this to an un-putdownable book. You can see why the series has been lauded as much as it has, it’s spellbinding (so far)

I enjoyed this Beverley, despite not being a vampire guy, as I have previously said, this remained enthralling, and once again, the editing was divine.

Just what you’d expect from a Beverley Lee book.

5 out of 5 ⭐’s and my first review of the new year. Great start to 2022.

[Paul Preston · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I’m working on being at one with the night, a shadow of a shadow. Because sometimes I feel like the dark is my only friend.” -Gabriel
Book two of the Gabriel Davenport trilogy brought me back to a beautiful gothic world that have missed. Vampires, ghosts, demons and witches add to the excitement that I could not stop reading. When I wasn’t reading, I was thinking about the story and the predicaments that the characters were in. I brought this book everywhere with me because I wanted to read with every chance I got. Beverley brings the tension in this one with her elegant and sensual writing style.
Being book two I won’t give any type of summary because it would spoil book one. I can’t wait to start book three.

[Grayson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great second book in a trilogy! Sometimes, second books tend to fall into a rut with second book syndrome, but this one is certainly an exception to that! I loved getting to know more about the vampire characters, their personalities, this expanded vampire world, and Gabriel's coping with his turning. A Shining in the Shadows is just the right amount of messed up.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent continuation of Gabriel's story!! Beverley Lee really knows how to craft her stories and her characters. I am so excited to see where Gabriel's story is headed.....

[BookzBookzBookz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was thrilled to finally read Beverly Lee's A Shining in the Shadows! This is the follow up novel to The Making of Gabriel Davenport, which I read in 2016. Book 2 didn't disappoint; I am happy to say.

Book two picks up where the first ended, but a short while later. Gabriel's been sacrificed, in order to be saved from a demon- the demon he and his crew from book one were battling. The problem is, Clove (a vampire) saved him; thus beginning a new journey for him. As if he wasn't already confused about who he was!

A Shining in the Shadows shares a complicated journey of revenge, hatred and eventually a surprising alliance. The story is about family and how, when united, any foe can be defeated.

I was impressed with book two of the Gabriel Davenport series. Beverly Lee gave blood and sweat to ensure the story's buildup of Gabriel's new life was understood. The hierarchy of training and when dealing with ancient ones and paranormal creatures- all the things he was being trained to fight against! Now being one with the night, he's on a completely new ballfield - and actually develops well.

The concept of information traveling through what's called a Bloodvyne was totally awesome. It's like the internet for vamps! LOL Information of a so-called cleansing was being passed- but I can't say much more, because that would be offering up SPOILERS, and I just don't do that. It was very creative and I loved it.

The book is good and if you've not read book one, it's okay. I'd honestly say that it could be standalone, but it would be best to read The Making of Gabriel Davenport. There is a lot of references to the first book, you even revisit them, so grab that book! Also, I believe there's another coming. Don't be left behind!

Okay, so I'm on to the next read. Cheers!

A Shining in the Shadows, Book 2
The Gabriel Davenport Series
Beverly Lee
Published by Amazon Digital Services
Released April 7, 2014

[BigLittleBookz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow the follow up from The Making of Gabriel Davenport is an amazing read. From the first page i was hooked. It feels so much darker & it really sets the feel of the book.

Gabe, Moth, & Teal along with their maker Clove are all fantastic characters. It's great to learn more about them throughout the pages, as their past catches up to them. I also enjoyed the introduction of new characters, Bev knows how to write a bad guy.

But My heart, when Gabe gets to have some happiness and romance, if anyone deserves it he certainly does.

This book is full of Vampires and adventure with some love, heartache and a Witch thrown in for good measure.

A Shining in The Shadows will pull you in from the first page. No second book syndrome here. Beverley's writing is sublime. I could not put it down.

[K.J. Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is featured on my blog: Writerly Bookish Stuff.

Another masterpiece from Lee. After relishing Lee’s effortless writing style in book one, I was yet again sucked into Gabriel’s world and led like a sleepwalker through the pages and plot twists with ease. Lee makes writing seem easy. The pacing, narrative, and character development has a superb flow, and as a reader, you wake up at the end wondering where you are and how you got there. Book hangover!

Some points that I have to mention:

1. The relationship dynamics are on fire. There are some curve balls, and then relationships that blossom organically, despite initial thoughts.
2. Plot twists are subtley woven into the narrative. The ending is a weaving together of story pieces. Writing tapestry.
3. Character development is a huge part of my reading experience. When you’re rooting for anti-heroes of sorts, you know the writer has got it right.

In summary, this is a vampire read that isn’t cliche. The characters and relationships are well crafted, and the story is littered with breadcrumbs that tie up effortlessly at the end. I highly recommend this series.

[Gee Rothvoss · Rating 5 out of 5]

If "The Making of Gabriel Davenport" was extraordinary, this one simply kicks it out of the park. In a masterful exception to the "second book in a trilogy" syndrome, "A Shining in the Shadows" picks up where "The Making of Gabriel Davenport" left our characters. There was something in the way the two books were seamlessly connected, and yet uniquely different, that won my heart right from the start - if book one felt a lot like an origin story of sorts for Gabriel, book two feels like a trial by fire that has Gabe come into his power.

Something that took my breath away in this second installment in the series was how nuanced and complex all the characters are. Every single character that got a PoV was incredibly three-dimensional and full of life, and although I refuse to play favourites with what's quickly becoming one of my favourite sagas of all times, I do have to take my hat off regarding how beautifully written the Teal bits were. This is not to say that nobody else got lovely prose, because God knows there were many heartstopping lines in all PoV's, but there was a particular kind of magic whenever Teal took the stage. He's one wonderful and odd creature, and I couldn't be happier that the author decided to give him a spin-off series!

Regarding the other two fledglings, Gabriel and Moth, I can only sigh like a sickly Victorian child. It was so incredible to have both young men tell the story from their own point of view, because it allowed for so much depth and nuance. Despite the fact that I love all three fledglings fiercely, and will refuse to pick favourites no matter the consequences of said refusal, I do think that each of them stands out from his brothers in a special way. In Gabriel's case, I was absolutely feral over how much of his humanity he retained, and I loved the fact that he never stifled his softer, caring side to survive. On the other hand, Moth - OH MY GOD MOTH THE MAN THAT YOU ARE - was an extraordinary study in moral chiaroscuros, whose motives and backstory were so artfully crafted that I nearly cried whenever he was around. There was something in the way he unwillingly let his guard down around both his brothers that stole my heart, and honestly, there is never going to be a more iconic trio than these boys.

In terms of plot, this book was simply brilliant. Starting with a seemingly scattered cast of characters, it brought everything together without a hiccup, the prose never faltering as Lee juggled multiple characters' points of view and, subsequently, perceptions of the situation. Getting to know more about the Davenport universe lore was really fun, since there's a very rich worldbuilding surrounding Lee's vampires, and I really enjoyed the deepening of character dynamics as they were pushed together and pulled apart by their circumstances.

Off to read book 3 now, and if you ever want to make me happy beyond words, know that all you've gotta do is get me physical copies of this EXTRAORDINARY trilogy <3

[Julia Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read the first book in this series last year, I was eager to see where the second one would take me. The answer was into a dark, twisted, world lying just out of human sight, down back alleys and in the sewers beneath our feet, where undead creatures hunt and a crisis is building to an ignition point.

The author wastes no time in plunging us straight into the plot, no catch-up or leniency given to those who might not have read the first book. No, you are there from the first word, which I liked. Superbly written, there isn't a single wasted word and the author's talent shines through every sentence. It is a well-crafted book, with a fast-moving plot which takes place practically in a 24 hour period, thus lending an air of urgency to the novel. You can feel the tension ratcheting up in every chapter, and know you're building to a climax, only you're not sure what that is going to be.

There are a few controversial scenes, but the author handles these confidently and sensitively, so they work well and are very necessary to the plot.

Given that the subject matter is vampires, usually, the domain of silly YA fantasies with sparkly, candy floss characters, the vampires in this book are grimly realistic. Driven by the need to survive and the need to feed - on us. A refreshing change from making them out to be sexy, good guys, it was a relief to get back to a more traditional, Dracula inspired, model.

The characters too were very three dimensional, an all too human mix of good and bad personality traits making them feel relatable - even the vampires. This gave them understandable motives for their actions, they didn't just do bad things because they were bad. Likewise, the characters on the side of good didn't always behave honourably but were jealous and moody, petulant and difficult. All flaws we can all empathise with.

As I said, the plot cracks along at a fair old pace. And it's this efficiency of pace that really cranks up the tension making the book literally unputdownable, especially the last few chapters. The climax, when it comes, is both surprising and satisfying and I'm very much looking forward to the next book in the series.

Overall, a sophisticated, tightly woven read which will enthral lovers of vampiric and gothic tales alike.

[Jen (Fae_Princess_in_Space) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay I’m officially obsessed with this series. Queer vampires, supernatural politics, angst, threat, love… this book has literally everything I love. And the adorable Achillean romance at the heart of it? I’m not going spoil anything here, but I would die for all of these characters.

This book has moved beyond the horror of the first book and we are plunged headfirst into the catty and dangerous world of vampire politics. Clove and his young fledgling vampires Gabriel, Moth and Teal have traveled to a city as rumours of a purge of weak fledgling and mutated vampires have been circulating. Clove meets up with his ex-lover, master vampire and spymaster Emron D’Grey. Social climber D’Grey is keen to make Clove’s life difficult by capturing him and trying to wrangle his fledglings to present to the envoy of the ruling masters, claiming that one of the fledglings that Clove is protecting is one of the dreaded mutants. Shockingly, the envoy turns out to be someone familiar to Clove and the boys and someone they had hoped to avoid at all costs.

This book was such an engaging read… I read it in one day, that’s how good it was! I am obsessed with Clove and his fledglings and with the intricacies of the world-building from this author.

Cannot recommend this enough for fans of vampire stories, queer literature and urban fantasy 💕 Will I be continuing with the series? Heck yeah, book three is being downloaded as I type!

[Alex (ReadingBetweenTheNotes) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The things to fear don't always scream the loudest..."

Beverley Lee has done it again. This second book once again showcases her fantastic talent for writing - she truly has a way with words. I loved the combination of old-world mythology with fun pop culture references; other writers wouldn't be able to make this work but it was excellent in this case.

The story is perfectly paced. Even though the book opens a year after the events of its predecessor, the reader is thrown straight back into the action and not made to wait for a single second. It was so much fun to see Gabriel adjusting to his new life and how everyone is coping in the aftermath of the events that took place at the manor.

One of my favourite aspects of this novel was the character development. We see the return of old favourites but not necessarily as we knew them before. Certain relationships form in this book that I have to say, I was very happy to see ;) There are also some fantastic new characters introduced and I sincerely hope we will be seeing more of Emron D'Grey (most amazing name ever!) and the White Witch in book three!

Another great read from a very talented lady!

[Cherie · Rating 5 out of 5]

First we had a demon and vampires, but now we have more thrown into the mix. Gabriel and co are thrown in at the deep end, and it's good to see how they all react differently to the threat they find themselves under.

My only criticism is how little time we spend with each character before the POV jumps. Whilst I can see that each piece of narrative is used to push the action along, and it effective, I just felt that we could have lingered a little with each one and delved a little deeper.

4.5

[Roshan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it.. I need to thank Beverley for this book.. Had been in a reading rut.. DNF'd a lot of books in the last 2 months.. Beverley's book was the ideal escape i needed.. The World of Vampires where Gabriel moves around is awesome. I cant wait for the time when Gabriel becomes stronger and more senior in the Vampire world.. I know that Beverley is writing the 3rd book right now and i really cant wait to read it..

If Vampires are your thing, don't hesitate to pickup the book.. start from the 1st book in the series.. The joy of reading will double...

[Nicola Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant read from Beverley Lee. I thoroughly enjoyed following Gabe on this new journey in his life, seeing him grow and find his place. And,  you know... vampires! I love vampires!

Once again we are drawn into the ticking countdown of something epic - tension building,  twists turning,  sweeping us along this path towards the dramatic conclusion.  Great stuff!

[Shane Douglas Douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much! Way more to say about it soon, but if you haven't read Beverley Lee's work or this series, you should unfuck that ASAP

[ThatReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

What else can I say, other than Beverley Lee has not disapointed. After being utterly smacked in the face and swept away by The Making of Gabriel Davenport, I expected nothing short of another sublime read from the lady, and have not been let down at all. If in the previous instalment I found myself drawn to Clove, this book had me longing to delve further into Moth, Gabe, but mostly Teal. I wanted all the secrets to come out into the light, they did not, which has made me hungrier for more, of course. If I had disregarded the two vampire boys in the first book, I found them impossible to ignore in this second novel on the series, they are bigger than life, and shine brighter than the brightest of stars. That is one of the things Ms. Lee excells at, her characters won't leave you indifferent, and they're so well designed, the weaving of who they are is so fine, so rich, so intense, and yet... you're constantly hungry for more, asking yourself who are they, really, what is their story, what is their past... and what will their future be. You cannot fail to care for them, and even when they are meant to be loathed, you will, but if anything like me, you'll constantly wonder why, why are they so detestable, what has made them this, who turned them into that. Superbly done, the characters simply enter you and refuse to leave.
I was left hanging on air, the fate of my favourite character unknown, and cannot wait to get my hands on the final - no, how can it be the last one??? - book of the series, wishing to see all my questions finally answered, secretly longing that I'm left with still too many questions, maybe Ms. Lee will grant us one more story where we get to hang with Clove, Gabe, Moth and Teal again...
One amazing read.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was sensational. It was so cleverly laid out, compounding a new paranormal feature and seamlessly weaving it into the main story. I can’t get over how well thought out and intricate the plot is. The romantic connection between a couple of the characters makes my heart want to burst. I love them together. I’m so eager to read the third book, and I’m kind of glad I’m late to the game so I can read them back to back without waiting!!

[Linda Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book two of this exciting dark vampire fantasy is both thought provoking and a page turner. I couldn’t read nor turn the pages fast enough, consequently, I ended up rereading passages because I wanted to be sure a didn’t miss a single detail. This book is all about Gabriel, Moth and Teal coming together, finding themselves and coming to terms with their predicament. Gabriel finds himself as the leader of this most unlikely motley cauldron of young vampires. Moth is the protector/enforcer and Teal is the glue that holds them all together.

We learn a little more about Clove who is a loner and yet has taken in two young outcast vampires and fathered another on impulse. How did he come by his name? What is his history? A loner who pretty much remains an unknown...an unknown to whom I’m inexplicably drawn. Then there’s Noah who was there when Gabriel was a mere babe and somehow managed to escape the clutches of evil; but at the cost of his faith. There are two love developments...one I expected and one I did not, however both play an integral role in the story.

The strength of this book lies in the character development, both the good and bad; but there’s one who begins to emerge to the surface in this most dark tale within an even darker world.

Again, there is much symbolism on the cover which is red with black wings. There is also a silhouette figure in upward flight behind the title. I love all of these touches that makes the book stand apart from all of the rest.

The author asks, you, the reader to “Gaze long into the darkness, and you will find old vampire foes out for revenge, new ones with their own agenda, and a witch who holds the key. But just who is the monster in the middle?” That is the question... Who?

[Stephen Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast-paced and fulfilling sequel

The second book in the Gabriel Davenport series delivers in much the same way the first does, while delving further into this world’s mythology. There are twists and turns aplenty, mysteries to unravel, splashes of romance, and a breathless excitement to the story’s pacing. The relatively short chapters work so well in this series! And I’m a fan of the character -development-by-actions approach too.

If vampires are your thing, then you simply shouldn’t ignore this series. I’ll be looking forward to the third part.

[Kay Kipling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely adored this book! I'm truly devastated that I have finished it! Gripped from page 1, fell more in love Gabriel and his family. I cannot recommend this book highly enough!

[MamaMiaReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! I thought the first book was fast-paced but this seems to be even faster. It was wonderful to read more about the characters and to dive into their world. A beautifully written story that has vampires, demons, and humans who research the supernatural. I know this is book two but I highly recommend this series.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant as usual! Bring on book 3!