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Immortal Guardians #8
Awaken the Darkness
He awakens encapsulated in dirt with no knowledge of how he came to be there. Riddled with injuries, he can remember neither his past nor who he is. Nor can he remember what he is. But surely no mortal man could survive being buried deep beneath the earth. All he knows with certainty is that the soothing voice and presence of the woman moving around above enables him to endure the agony of his wounds. And he will do whatever it takes to be with her.
When Susan first sees the old two-story house for sale, such warmth and longing fill her that—against all reason—she makes an offer. It will take years of hard work and money she frankly doesn’t have to fix up the place. So she can’t explain why she bought it. She also can’t explain what compels her to spend hours one night, digging in the basement until she unearths a man. A man who still lives and breathes despite having been buried alive. A man whose intense brown eyes glow amber with pain, declaring him far more than ordinary. Susan knows she should keep her distance. He has no memory and possesses gifts that would make most fear him. But as the two work together to unravel the mystery of his past, she finds herself drawn in by his teasing nature and tender touch. So much so that she loses her heart to him even as they find themselves hunted by unknown enemies who are ruthless in their quest to capture them.
When Susan first sees the old two-story house for sale, such warmth and longing fill her that—against all reason—she makes an offer. It will take years of hard work and money she frankly doesn’t have to fix up the place. So she can’t explain why she bought it. She also can’t explain what compels her to spend hours one night, digging in the basement until she unearths a man. A man who still lives and breathes despite having been buried alive. A man whose intense brown eyes glow amber with pain, declaring him far more than ordinary. Susan knows she should keep her distance. He has no memory and possesses gifts that would make most fear him. But as the two work together to unravel the mystery of his past, she finds herself drawn in by his teasing nature and tender touch. So much so that she loses her heart to him even as they find themselves hunted by unknown enemies who are ruthless in their quest to capture them.
261 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 10, 2018
470 people are currently reading
1160 people want to read
About the author
Dianne Duvall
34 books3,947 followersDianne Duvall is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of the acclaimed Immortal Guardians series, the exciting new Aldebarian Alliance series, and The Gifted Ones series. She is known for writing stories full of action that keeps readers flipping pages well past their bedtimes, strong heroes who adore strong heroines, lovable secondary characters, swoon-worthy romance, and humor that readers frequently complain makes them laugh out loud at inappropriate moments. AudioFile Magazine chose The Segonian (Aldebarian Alliance Book 2) as one of the Best Audiobooks of 2021 and awarded it the AudioFile Earphones Award for Exceptional Audio. It was also a Barnes and Noble Top 5 Indie Favorite Pick. Audible chose Awaken the Darkness as one of the Top 5 Best Paranormal Romances of 2018.
Reviewers have called Dianne's books "fast-paced and humorous" (Publishers Weekly), "utterly addictive" (RT Book Reviews), "extraordinary" (Long and Short Reviews), and "wonderfully imaginative" (The Romance Reviews). Her audiobooks have been awarded AudioFile Earphone Awards for Excellence. One was nominated for a prestigious Audie Award. And her books have twice been nominated for RT Reviewers' Choice Awards.
When she isn't writing, Dianne is active in the independent film industry and has even appeared on-screen, crawling out of a moonlit grave and wielding a machete like some of the psychotic vampires she creates in her books.
For the latest news on upcoming releases, contests, and more, please visit www.DianneDuvall.com, where you can also subscribe to her newsletter.
Be sure to follow Dianne on BookBub so you'll be among the first to know about sales, pre-orders, and new releases! https://www.bookbub.com/authors/diann....
Reviewers have called Dianne's books "fast-paced and humorous" (Publishers Weekly), "utterly addictive" (RT Book Reviews), "extraordinary" (Long and Short Reviews), and "wonderfully imaginative" (The Romance Reviews). Her audiobooks have been awarded AudioFile Earphone Awards for Excellence. One was nominated for a prestigious Audie Award. And her books have twice been nominated for RT Reviewers' Choice Awards.
When she isn't writing, Dianne is active in the independent film industry and has even appeared on-screen, crawling out of a moonlit grave and wielding a machete like some of the psychotic vampires she creates in her books.
For the latest news on upcoming releases, contests, and more, please visit www.DianneDuvall.com, where you can also subscribe to her newsletter.
Be sure to follow Dianne on BookBub so you'll be among the first to know about sales, pre-orders, and new releases! https://www.bookbub.com/authors/diann....
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 329 reviews
March 7, 2019
4 Long Lost Brother Stars
Awaken The Darkness is the 8th book in the Immortal Guardians series, and though it was a nice read it didn't really move along the series plot. It was mainly just about Stanislav being found alive and him and Susan (the gifted one that found him} falling in love. The others don't join in until the end for the sweet family reunion.
Slower paced than the others it still had some action in it. It was nice to see Stan brought home to his family. Stanislav reminded me a bit of Jacques from Christine Feehan's Dark Desire, buried alive for years, can't remember who he is? Though Stanislav wasn't as dark or as insane as Jacques was. Stanislav through it all was still very sweet, worrying about protecting Susan. Susan and Stan had a slow burn love. They didn't know if Stan had a wife so they waited until they knew before getting together. Which I could respect. I loved that Stan got to see Yuri again. It was my favorite part of the whole book. Overall a good read but not my favorite. Bring on Seth's book!! Lol I can't wait for him and David to get lady loves.
Awaken The Darkness is the 8th book in the Immortal Guardians series, and though it was a nice read it didn't really move along the series plot. It was mainly just about Stanislav being found alive and him and Susan (the gifted one that found him} falling in love. The others don't join in until the end for the sweet family reunion.
Slower paced than the others it still had some action in it. It was nice to see Stan brought home to his family. Stanislav reminded me a bit of Jacques from Christine Feehan's Dark Desire, buried alive for years, can't remember who he is? Though Stanislav wasn't as dark or as insane as Jacques was. Stanislav through it all was still very sweet, worrying about protecting Susan. Susan and Stan had a slow burn love. They didn't know if Stan had a wife so they waited until they knew before getting together. Which I could respect. I loved that Stan got to see Yuri again. It was my favorite part of the whole book. Overall a good read but not my favorite. Bring on Seth's book!! Lol I can't wait for him and David to get lady loves.
April 24, 2024
Buried underground for over two years, Stanislav is found by Susan after she purchases the house that he ‘slumbers’ under. This book was a refreshing change of pace after the last story. Slow moving, deeply sweet love story about a man who doesn’t even remember his name, and a kind woman with a little dog.
August 17, 2018
3.75 Stars
This was my first audio and such a wonderful experience! I always wanted to listen to an audiobook, I even tried two or three times but the narrations were really slow! So I switched to the books! But this one was really good! Kirsten Potter did a good job on this one, it had a good speed on it and she did a fantastic job on the Russian accent! Loved it! I like this world Dianne Duvall created! I enjoyed all the books in this series and love all its characters. I would enjoy it more if the other characters were more active in this one like the previous books, they came to the story but it was a bit late (at the end) and we didn’t have their POVs!
Told in dual POV, 3rd person. It’s the eighth installment in the "Immortal Guardians" series and It’s safe to say you can read it as a standalone. Because there is a prologue that explains what you should know, the other characters don’t participate in this one and it doesn’t end with a cliffhanger! Overall, liked it and hope you enjoy it as well!
This was my first audio and such a wonderful experience! I always wanted to listen to an audiobook, I even tried two or three times but the narrations were really slow! So I switched to the books! But this one was really good! Kirsten Potter did a good job on this one, it had a good speed on it and she did a fantastic job on the Russian accent! Loved it! I like this world Dianne Duvall created! I enjoyed all the books in this series and love all its characters. I would enjoy it more if the other characters were more active in this one like the previous books, they came to the story but it was a bit late (at the end) and we didn’t have their POVs!
Told in dual POV, 3rd person. It’s the eighth installment in the "Immortal Guardians" series and It’s safe to say you can read it as a standalone. Because there is a prologue that explains what you should know, the other characters don’t participate in this one and it doesn’t end with a cliffhanger! Overall, liked it and hope you enjoy it as well!
August 20, 2018
I really enjoyed this! Another great one in this series! I’m looking forward to the next one.
July 10, 2018
I always enjoy returning to the world of the Immortal Guardians. This eighth installment is an awesome gift for long time fans of the series. This is Stanislav‘s book. You read that right. One of the immortals believed to have been killed a few books back is actually alive! He has been buried alive for the past 2 1/2 years, ever since he was horribly wounded in the battle that killed his best friend, Yuri. He has been in and out of stasis this whole time and doesn’t remember who or what he is; he knows only loneliness and pain. Until Susan comes.
Susan is a Gifted One who moves in to the home above the basement where Stanislav is buried. He uses his empathetic gifts to prompt her to buy the house and eventually to dig him up. Susan is a telepath, so the two of them are able to communicate truths to each other that help get past what would be a mountain of fear and suspicion for most women. I mean, if most ladies were to dig up a body six feet underground and find him still living, at the very least they would call 911. Susan ends up letting Stan stay with her and nurses him back to health.
The bulk of this story takes place in Susan‘s home. This couple is largely isolated and we don’t see the rest of the cast until near the end of the book. But I still enjoyed this so much. I never felt particularly connected to Yuri or Stanislav in the early books. I guess I just kind of thought of them as cannon fodder. But then Yuri got his story and now seeing his best friend essentially brought back from the dead has been really cool. Props to Dianne Duvall for finding a way to make this happen.
Stanislav is a great hero. He is a gentleman and at no time does he fail to put Susan first: her safety, her feelings, her fears. And he does it without ever being an alpha hole. I loved that Susan was able to take care of herself without needing to be big and bad. And even though they fell for each other quickly, I loved taking the journey with them.
Big points and major feels when Stan gets reunited with the rest of his team. And as always, excellent world building. These books are very well written PNR. And there has been no drop in quality whatsoever as the series made the jump to independent publishing. In fact, Duvall has managed to hang onto the quality and maintain the tone and feel of the series over time better than many other long running authors in the genre.
If you’ve never tried this series before and you’re in the mood for some solid paranormal romance, I would recommend you give it a try. Or if you enjoyed some of the books early in the series and think you might like to come back, give it a go. I’m already looking forward to where the series takes us next. Raising my hand again for a Chris Reordan book. I’m not giving up.
Rating: B+
*ARC provided by author
Susan is a Gifted One who moves in to the home above the basement where Stanislav is buried. He uses his empathetic gifts to prompt her to buy the house and eventually to dig him up. Susan is a telepath, so the two of them are able to communicate truths to each other that help get past what would be a mountain of fear and suspicion for most women. I mean, if most ladies were to dig up a body six feet underground and find him still living, at the very least they would call 911. Susan ends up letting Stan stay with her and nurses him back to health.
The bulk of this story takes place in Susan‘s home. This couple is largely isolated and we don’t see the rest of the cast until near the end of the book. But I still enjoyed this so much. I never felt particularly connected to Yuri or Stanislav in the early books. I guess I just kind of thought of them as cannon fodder. But then Yuri got his story and now seeing his best friend essentially brought back from the dead has been really cool. Props to Dianne Duvall for finding a way to make this happen.
Stanislav is a great hero. He is a gentleman and at no time does he fail to put Susan first: her safety, her feelings, her fears. And he does it without ever being an alpha hole. I loved that Susan was able to take care of herself without needing to be big and bad. And even though they fell for each other quickly, I loved taking the journey with them.
Big points and major feels when Stan gets reunited with the rest of his team. And as always, excellent world building. These books are very well written PNR. And there has been no drop in quality whatsoever as the series made the jump to independent publishing. In fact, Duvall has managed to hang onto the quality and maintain the tone and feel of the series over time better than many other long running authors in the genre.
If you’ve never tried this series before and you’re in the mood for some solid paranormal romance, I would recommend you give it a try. Or if you enjoyed some of the books early in the series and think you might like to come back, give it a go. I’m already looking forward to where the series takes us next. Raising my hand again for a Chris Reordan book. I’m not giving up.
Rating: B+
*ARC provided by author
July 27, 2018
Reasons, Awaken the Darkness, is my favorite book of the series to date.
Duvall brings her characters completely to life. She fleshes them out and gives these characters history, baggage, emotions, and family ties. She allows the reader to become emotional connected. The story begins with a prologue. The Immortals are attacking compound . We feel our hero's pain as one of his own is torn from this world. Then the world goes dark before he awakens in pain and finds himself trapped beneath dirt. He hears a soothing voice and brings him comfort and this is where our story begins.
Most of our story takes place in an old farmhouse. Her we Susan Meyer an author who is also happens to be a telepath. She, along with her dog are searching for a property with lots of privacy. Susan can read the thoughts of others and is looking for some tranquility. I liked Susan almost immediately. I mean she write, is a gifted one and a dog lover. BFFs forever. Something about this farmhouse speaks to her, and soon she is moving in.
Susan and her dog discover our guardian and rescue him. Susan first helps him heal and soon discover he has lost his memory. In the process the two become close and despite their sizzling chemistry they do nothing more than hold hands and exchange a few kisses. Neither knows if he is already in a committed relationship. I loved this time the spent alone together and the discoveries they made. Things triggered partial memories like the fact that he speaks several languages and can heal. As they talked, we learned more about Susan's past and I began to make connections. I love how Duvall weaves threads throughout the series.
Before finding him, Susan dreamt about him and I loved when she connected the guardian to the man in her dreams. As the two sleep they share a dreamscape and it was pretty dang interesting.
When our guardian and the rest of the immortals reunite I wept. Oh lord, grab the kleenexes. The emotions and connections. So many feels.
We get some intense action scenes that would put most action movies to shame. Heart-pounding, near death moments but Duvall weaves in her signature humor with banter, teasing and more. Susan is quite the kick-ass heroine. She knows how to handle a gun and fearlessly defends our guardian. I loved her spunk.
Healing, reunions and passion made for an addictive tale. We discover a few things and weave threads together in the overall arc before getting an epilogue that made me smile. Now if Ms. Duvall could write faster, all would be well.
This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
Duvall brings her characters completely to life. She fleshes them out and gives these characters history, baggage, emotions, and family ties. She allows the reader to become emotional connected. The story begins with a prologue. The Immortals are attacking compound . We feel our hero's pain as one of his own is torn from this world. Then the world goes dark before he awakens in pain and finds himself trapped beneath dirt. He hears a soothing voice and brings him comfort and this is where our story begins.
Most of our story takes place in an old farmhouse. Her we Susan Meyer an author who is also happens to be a telepath. She, along with her dog are searching for a property with lots of privacy. Susan can read the thoughts of others and is looking for some tranquility. I liked Susan almost immediately. I mean she write, is a gifted one and a dog lover. BFFs forever. Something about this farmhouse speaks to her, and soon she is moving in.
Susan and her dog discover our guardian and rescue him. Susan first helps him heal and soon discover he has lost his memory. In the process the two become close and despite their sizzling chemistry they do nothing more than hold hands and exchange a few kisses. Neither knows if he is already in a committed relationship. I loved this time the spent alone together and the discoveries they made. Things triggered partial memories like the fact that he speaks several languages and can heal. As they talked, we learned more about Susan's past and I began to make connections. I love how Duvall weaves threads throughout the series.
Before finding him, Susan dreamt about him and I loved when she connected the guardian to the man in her dreams. As the two sleep they share a dreamscape and it was pretty dang interesting.
When our guardian and the rest of the immortals reunite I wept. Oh lord, grab the kleenexes. The emotions and connections. So many feels.
We get some intense action scenes that would put most action movies to shame. Heart-pounding, near death moments but Duvall weaves in her signature humor with banter, teasing and more. Susan is quite the kick-ass heroine. She knows how to handle a gun and fearlessly defends our guardian. I loved her spunk.
Healing, reunions and passion made for an addictive tale. We discover a few things and weave threads together in the overall arc before getting an epilogue that made me smile. Now if Ms. Duvall could write faster, all would be well.
This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
April 10, 2025
I really enjoyed this installment. It's a bit of a side detour to find out what happened to Stanislav.
While Stanislav remains in the dark...
Susan is a good heroine. While the heroines of this series are tending to blend together in my mind, I still enjoyed her character. She has spent most of her life separated from society because of her telepathy. I would have liked to have seen this played up a bit more. Mostly the author just tells us how hard it has been for her. But one thing I like about this author is if she gives a character a trait/skill, it becomes a part of the story with repercussions etc.
Intrigue, evil government?/corporation? dudes and tight action.
Then there's an H with amnesia and the attractive woman who helps him heal. sigh.
What's not to like!?
It takes over half the story before Stan and Susan even meet anyone from his past. So most of the story is them on their own and coping. It was kinda nice not to have as many characters cluttering the stage for this book. I also appreciated a break from the whole psycho Gershom thing.
Even though I'm not a dog person, I would have liked her dog to have been a bigger part of the story too. But that's nitpicking and I still had a hard time putting the story down so I still say 5 Stars!
The audio reader; Kirsten Potter was terrific!
Safety is great
While Stanislav remains in the dark...
Susan is a good heroine. While the heroines of this series are tending to blend together in my mind, I still enjoyed her character. She has spent most of her life separated from society because of her telepathy. I would have liked to have seen this played up a bit more. Mostly the author just tells us how hard it has been for her. But one thing I like about this author is if she gives a character a trait/skill, it becomes a part of the story with repercussions etc.
Intrigue, evil government?/corporation? dudes and tight action.
Then there's an H with amnesia and the attractive woman who helps him heal. sigh.
What's not to like!?
It takes over half the story before Stan and Susan even meet anyone from his past. So most of the story is them on their own and coping. It was kinda nice not to have as many characters cluttering the stage for this book. I also appreciated a break from the whole psycho Gershom thing.
Even though I'm not a dog person, I would have liked her dog to have been a bigger part of the story too. But that's nitpicking and I still had a hard time putting the story down so I still say 5 Stars!
The audio reader; Kirsten Potter was terrific!
Safety is great
November 22, 2024
Awaken the Darkness is book 8 in this series, but does read well as a standalone, with enough context that you can understand the good guys vs. bad guys, with some of the world building. It’s helpful that the story features memory loss for Stanislav (H) so the majority of the book is the main characters themselves trying to piece together what is happening and who Stanislav is. With full disclosure, I have read the first book in a spinoff series connected to this world so I did have additional information, but I still think it’s fine to hop in for this singular read if you wanted.
The story starts with Stanislav headed into battle with other Immortal Guardians and their allies, fighting mercenaries and vampires. The part of the battle that he and his best friend are involved in goes sideways, Stanislav is severely injured and dragged away by some bad guys, to be buried in a hole (the why of this comes later). He’s in rough shape and can’t heal or save himself, though some of his power, specifically to manipulate emotions, is retained and he uses it to do some damage to the ones who buried him.
Moving forward two years, Susan (h) is a telepath who’s looking for peace and separation from others. Her gift has to be hidden and is overwhelming at times. We also find out later that she suffered a scare related to it. She views an isolated home for sale and gets unusual feelings about it, thinking that she hears someone asking for help and being enthusiastic and hopeful about the home when she’s there, but then concerned about the cost and work needing to be done when she’s away. Eventually, she purchases it and moves on in with her adorable dog, not knowing there’s a mystery buried in the basement.
Written in third person, dual POV. No ow/om drama and both are experienced but it’s been a long time for both (a loooooooooong time for the H y’all). When the main characters first feel attraction to each other, the H is adamant that nothing go too far because even though he doesn’t feel like he’s engaged or married, he doesn’t want to betray a potential unknown woman and that’s just, swoon.
I’m not going to spoil how Susan discovers Stanislav, but I will say that I appreciated how he was remorseful later. He’s both open to Susan, while also hiding his peculiarities from her that he thinks could terrify her. Some of which are impossible to conceal though. He doesn’t know what he is but some knowledge is still floating around in his head, which is very helpful. Susan was a solid combo of compassionate and wary when she should be. She’s strong and adaptable, not wilting at the sidelines too.
Stanislav is overwhelmed while still being inherently charming and of course, he’s a badass. He’s frustrated over his inability to remember and the healing process, but he’s also enamored with Susan cause he recognizes how amazing she is immediately. I loved these two together and the delicate dance they started right before danger rears up. You’d also think it might be difficult to develop depth in a connection that’s hampered by memory loss, however the way the author wrote this worked for me. There is some slow burn steam and it’s good, not the focus however considering their relationship and all the moving pieces they’re trying to work out.
There’s plenty of violence, suspense, and uncertainties over who to trust once the story picks up its pace. The mystery over why Stanislav was buried does get answered and it was a little farfetched for me, but we’re also talking about Immortal Guardians, humans with gifts, the threat of vampires, etc. I loved how figures from his past are reintroduced to him and yes, he does get his memory back. The love that this group had for each other was beautiful. Susan finding a place with the good guys was also a lovely touch given her backstory, which also doesn’t take away from the bond that she and Stanislav have formed individually.
The ending is HFN with hints of their HEA. The last part had a final element that was fantastic though and left me with a punch of emotion because of the tiny thread I didn’t expect to be tied up but was. Still, an epilogue further out is always going to be my preference. Based on how many obviously prior characters were at the end of this story, I’m sure this couple features as side characters at some point in the later books, but I had questions about what their HEA looked like, esp with one big decision. I enjoyed this a lot though and I’m grateful for Rain’s review that led me here. It looks like not all the books in the series have this fantastic dynamic, so I’m probably going to backtrack but pick and choose.
The story starts with Stanislav headed into battle with other Immortal Guardians and their allies, fighting mercenaries and vampires. The part of the battle that he and his best friend are involved in goes sideways, Stanislav is severely injured and dragged away by some bad guys, to be buried in a hole (the why of this comes later). He’s in rough shape and can’t heal or save himself, though some of his power, specifically to manipulate emotions, is retained and he uses it to do some damage to the ones who buried him.
Moving forward two years, Susan (h) is a telepath who’s looking for peace and separation from others. Her gift has to be hidden and is overwhelming at times. We also find out later that she suffered a scare related to it. She views an isolated home for sale and gets unusual feelings about it, thinking that she hears someone asking for help and being enthusiastic and hopeful about the home when she’s there, but then concerned about the cost and work needing to be done when she’s away. Eventually, she purchases it and moves on in with her adorable dog, not knowing there’s a mystery buried in the basement.
Written in third person, dual POV. No ow/om drama and both are experienced but it’s been a long time for both (a loooooooooong time for the H y’all). When the main characters first feel attraction to each other, the H is adamant that nothing go too far because even though he doesn’t feel like he’s engaged or married, he doesn’t want to betray a potential unknown woman and that’s just, swoon.
I’m not going to spoil how Susan discovers Stanislav, but I will say that I appreciated how he was remorseful later. He’s both open to Susan, while also hiding his peculiarities from her that he thinks could terrify her. Some of which are impossible to conceal though. He doesn’t know what he is but some knowledge is still floating around in his head, which is very helpful. Susan was a solid combo of compassionate and wary when she should be. She’s strong and adaptable, not wilting at the sidelines too.
Stanislav is overwhelmed while still being inherently charming and of course, he’s a badass. He’s frustrated over his inability to remember and the healing process, but he’s also enamored with Susan cause he recognizes how amazing she is immediately. I loved these two together and the delicate dance they started right before danger rears up. You’d also think it might be difficult to develop depth in a connection that’s hampered by memory loss, however the way the author wrote this worked for me. There is some slow burn steam and it’s good, not the focus however considering their relationship and all the moving pieces they’re trying to work out.
There’s plenty of violence, suspense, and uncertainties over who to trust once the story picks up its pace. The mystery over why Stanislav was buried does get answered and it was a little farfetched for me, but we’re also talking about Immortal Guardians, humans with gifts, the threat of vampires, etc. I loved how figures from his past are reintroduced to him and yes, he does get his memory back. The love that this group had for each other was beautiful. Susan finding a place with the good guys was also a lovely touch given her backstory, which also doesn’t take away from the bond that she and Stanislav have formed individually.
The ending is HFN with hints of their HEA. The last part had a final element that was fantastic though and left me with a punch of emotion because of the tiny thread I didn’t expect to be tied up but was. Still, an epilogue further out is always going to be my preference. Based on how many obviously prior characters were at the end of this story, I’m sure this couple features as side characters at some point in the later books, but I had questions about what their HEA looked like, esp with one big decision. I enjoyed this a lot though and I’m grateful for Rain’s review that led me here. It looks like not all the books in the series have this fantastic dynamic, so I’m probably going to backtrack but pick and choose.
July 6, 2018
Awaken the Darkness is the latest installment in the Immortal Guardians series. And just like all of the other ones that I have read, I loved it. This is Stanislov's story. If you haven't read the series up to this point, make sure to read the prologue. It will catch you up a bit. Stan has been missing form the group for two years and feared dead by his friends. I loved finally finding out what happened to him. Thank you to the author or bringing him back!
I'm not going to spoil where he has been, so you'll have to read how Susan rescues him. It's a shorter book than others in the series and one I devoured. I loved Susan and Stan together. I can't wait to see more of them in the next book. It can't come fast enough....who is it going to feature? I'm dying to know! I love this series and highly recommend it!
I'm not going to spoil where he has been, so you'll have to read how Susan rescues him. It's a shorter book than others in the series and one I devoured. I loved Susan and Stan together. I can't wait to see more of them in the next book. It can't come fast enough....who is it going to feature? I'm dying to know! I love this series and highly recommend it!
September 6, 2019
3 stars - Paranormal Romance
I love the Immortal Guardians series, but this lacked the energy and excitement of the previous books. I really missed the interactions with all the IG characters. The story dragged, and I honestly felt like it could've been a novella.
I love the Immortal Guardians series, but this lacked the energy and excitement of the previous books. I really missed the interactions with all the IG characters. The story dragged, and I honestly felt like it could've been a novella.
January 27, 2019
Immortal guardians, vampires and human bad guys, oh my! This series is one of my favorite in the paranormal romance realm and this book not only fit right in, it also has taken over as my favorite book of the series.
Number 8 in Duvall’s Immortal Guardian series quickly became one of those books that I couldn’t put down. Silly me decided that 4 a.m. was a wonderful time to start this book and two and a half hours later I finally had to stop to sleep-only to finish it later on that same afternoon. I only rarely do that anymore so that’s saying a lot. At this point I am going to say that if you read this series there will be spoilers in this review after this point so just a heads up.
Stanislav is an immortal guardian and has been buried in the basement of an abandoned house since the last immortal guardian/mercenary battle. You find this out very quickly so not really a spoiler. He’s been missing and presumed dead for over two years. Susan is an author of romances that is out house hunting when she starts hearing voices in her head telling her to stay in the house. The house is probably a money pit, but she decides to buy it anyway. When she and her beagle move in, things get interesting pretty quickly. It’s not long before the dog is trying to dig in the basement, and then Susan finishes the dig. When she finds an emaciated, horribly wounded man in the hole, life for Susan changes irrevocably.
Stanislav was never one of the guardians that I was that interested in. I admit it. Now, he is one of my favorite. When he was lost and presumed dead along with his best friend, Yuri, in the previous book, I was still sad at the loss of this duo that were always together in all their scenes. He’s been alive for centuries, is very handsome, but also is very lonely. He’s an empath and can cause people’s emotions to change at will. Now he has lost all of his memory and doesn’t even know he’s an immortal. Susan is feisty and can read minds which is why she was looking for a house in the country. She wants away from people and their thoughts. It’s been pretty impossible for her to sustain any relationship due to being able to read any of her boyfriend’s minds.
Immortal guardians are not vampires, but are infected by the same virus that infects vampires. The difference is huge since vampires will ultimately succumb to madness while the immortal won’t. It’s all in the DNA because immortals have that something extra in their’s that give them a special gift like empathy or mind reading. Only those with the something extra can be transformed into an immortal. It’s a lonely world for them, unless they can find someone else with a gift or another immortal guardian to love. Their mission in life is to hunt down the vampires that feed off of humans and kill them. With all the human’s that are trying to capture them for nefarious purposes, life has been pretty deadly lately. That being said, most humans know nothing about them.
I have enjoyed all of the books and novellas in this world the author has created. Duvall is a good writer that is adept at writing all out war for her characters to fight in, as well as writing a very sensual love scene. I’ve heard people say this was a really different book and I have to agree. I think that is due to the couple being away from all of the other immortals for a lot of the book. As much as I love the other guardians, it worked for me because of how wonderful the romance and story was in this book. Imagine not knowing what you are, but also knowing you need blood to live…it really added to the story. Throw in some really bad humans and you have a story that kept me on the edge of my chair throughout. I highly recommend this book to adult paranormal romance readers.
Number 8 in Duvall’s Immortal Guardian series quickly became one of those books that I couldn’t put down. Silly me decided that 4 a.m. was a wonderful time to start this book and two and a half hours later I finally had to stop to sleep-only to finish it later on that same afternoon. I only rarely do that anymore so that’s saying a lot. At this point I am going to say that if you read this series there will be spoilers in this review after this point so just a heads up.
Stanislav is an immortal guardian and has been buried in the basement of an abandoned house since the last immortal guardian/mercenary battle. You find this out very quickly so not really a spoiler. He’s been missing and presumed dead for over two years. Susan is an author of romances that is out house hunting when she starts hearing voices in her head telling her to stay in the house. The house is probably a money pit, but she decides to buy it anyway. When she and her beagle move in, things get interesting pretty quickly. It’s not long before the dog is trying to dig in the basement, and then Susan finishes the dig. When she finds an emaciated, horribly wounded man in the hole, life for Susan changes irrevocably.
Stanislav was never one of the guardians that I was that interested in. I admit it. Now, he is one of my favorite. When he was lost and presumed dead along with his best friend, Yuri, in the previous book, I was still sad at the loss of this duo that were always together in all their scenes. He’s been alive for centuries, is very handsome, but also is very lonely. He’s an empath and can cause people’s emotions to change at will. Now he has lost all of his memory and doesn’t even know he’s an immortal. Susan is feisty and can read minds which is why she was looking for a house in the country. She wants away from people and their thoughts. It’s been pretty impossible for her to sustain any relationship due to being able to read any of her boyfriend’s minds.
Immortal guardians are not vampires, but are infected by the same virus that infects vampires. The difference is huge since vampires will ultimately succumb to madness while the immortal won’t. It’s all in the DNA because immortals have that something extra in their’s that give them a special gift like empathy or mind reading. Only those with the something extra can be transformed into an immortal. It’s a lonely world for them, unless they can find someone else with a gift or another immortal guardian to love. Their mission in life is to hunt down the vampires that feed off of humans and kill them. With all the human’s that are trying to capture them for nefarious purposes, life has been pretty deadly lately. That being said, most humans know nothing about them.
I have enjoyed all of the books and novellas in this world the author has created. Duvall is a good writer that is adept at writing all out war for her characters to fight in, as well as writing a very sensual love scene. I’ve heard people say this was a really different book and I have to agree. I think that is due to the couple being away from all of the other immortals for a lot of the book. As much as I love the other guardians, it worked for me because of how wonderful the romance and story was in this book. Imagine not knowing what you are, but also knowing you need blood to live…it really added to the story. Throw in some really bad humans and you have a story that kept me on the edge of my chair throughout. I highly recommend this book to adult paranormal romance readers.
July 22, 2019
Dianne Duvall’s Immortal Guardians is my favorite series hands down. Every character is beloved. Every story is intense, funny, romantic and exciting. If you haven’t read the Immortal Guardians, you are truly missing out!
If you read the IG series, you are among those of us who have been fretting and stressing out for some time now about what fate befell Stanislov during the battle with the mercenaries. We lost one Immortal Guardian and that loss was already devastating. The thought of losing Stanislav as well…well, I know that you too have stayed up nights worrying.
“We feared you hadn’t survived but couldn’t give up hoping…”
That line sums it up for all of us. We have come up with crazy theories and impossible explanations of what could have happened to our missing friend, but what could cause Stan to disappear from even Seth’s transcendent senses?
Once you start Awaken the Darkness, you will finally know what happened to him and the suffering that Stan has endured for the last two and a half years that he has been missing. But Stan was found again by a gifted one named Susan Meyer. Susan is a telepath who heard Stanislav’s pleas for help.
Susan doesn’t know anything about gifted ones or Immortal Guardians, but then again…neither does Stan. Stan has been rescued but he doesn’t know his own name. There is no question that Stan isn’t like everyone else, his glowing eyes attest to that, but he has no idea why.
Growing up as a telepath, Susan understands different, but she always believed she was alone with her peculiar abilities. She is also aware that she should be very afraid of a man with glowing eyes, an ability to manipulate her feelings, and who has no idea who he is, but she can’t bring herself to abandon him when he is so lost and alone.
Romance blooms between them but as long as Stan can’t remember his past, he has no idea if he is married or in a relationship with another woman. He can’t bring himself to be unfaithful to an unknown wife so Stan has to battle his own hormones as well as memory loss.
Danger is coming for them and it won’t wait until Stan is ready for battle. Stan doesn’t know who to trust or who to turn to. He just knows that he will protect Susan with every special ability that he has.
This is the eighth book in the series, which also has two novellas, and each story is a treat. These stories grab your attention from the start and have action from beginning to end, and plenty of humor to still keep it light. The romance is sweet and just as enthralling as fighting vampires with swords. All of the characters are beloved with no special favorites (*cough* Bastian *cough, cough* Zach. Okay, I love those black sheep).
If you haven’t tried the Immortal Guardians, what are you waiting for? You are truly missing out on a remarkable series.
Received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
See more at EBookObsessed.com
If you read the IG series, you are among those of us who have been fretting and stressing out for some time now about what fate befell Stanislov during the battle with the mercenaries. We lost one Immortal Guardian and that loss was already devastating. The thought of losing Stanislav as well…well, I know that you too have stayed up nights worrying.
“We feared you hadn’t survived but couldn’t give up hoping…”
That line sums it up for all of us. We have come up with crazy theories and impossible explanations of what could have happened to our missing friend, but what could cause Stan to disappear from even Seth’s transcendent senses?
Once you start Awaken the Darkness, you will finally know what happened to him and the suffering that Stan has endured for the last two and a half years that he has been missing. But Stan was found again by a gifted one named Susan Meyer. Susan is a telepath who heard Stanislav’s pleas for help.
Susan doesn’t know anything about gifted ones or Immortal Guardians, but then again…neither does Stan. Stan has been rescued but he doesn’t know his own name. There is no question that Stan isn’t like everyone else, his glowing eyes attest to that, but he has no idea why.
Growing up as a telepath, Susan understands different, but she always believed she was alone with her peculiar abilities. She is also aware that she should be very afraid of a man with glowing eyes, an ability to manipulate her feelings, and who has no idea who he is, but she can’t bring herself to abandon him when he is so lost and alone.
Romance blooms between them but as long as Stan can’t remember his past, he has no idea if he is married or in a relationship with another woman. He can’t bring himself to be unfaithful to an unknown wife so Stan has to battle his own hormones as well as memory loss.
Danger is coming for them and it won’t wait until Stan is ready for battle. Stan doesn’t know who to trust or who to turn to. He just knows that he will protect Susan with every special ability that he has.
This is the eighth book in the series, which also has two novellas, and each story is a treat. These stories grab your attention from the start and have action from beginning to end, and plenty of humor to still keep it light. The romance is sweet and just as enthralling as fighting vampires with swords. All of the characters are beloved with no special favorites (*cough* Bastian *cough, cough* Zach. Okay, I love those black sheep).
If you haven’t tried the Immortal Guardians, what are you waiting for? You are truly missing out on a remarkable series.
Received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
See more at EBookObsessed.com
February 24, 2022
I just love this series. This one heavily relies on past books in the series so although the premise is fully explained the full impact of what the characters have gone through (specifically Stanislav and Yuri not to mention Seth) it is best to read this series in order with the short novellas as well.
With this one we really hadn't had much time to jump on the Stanislav bandwagon as both he and Yuri were introduced only mid series but I liked the way his book was handled. The continuing story arch connecting the last 2 books is all but paused while Stan's story played out but I was ok with this.
The romance part of this book was pretty typical of this series. Both Immortal Guardian and their love interest are thrown together with a whole lot of action and turbulence and the I love you's are quick but satisfying. There were some minor battles within the book but not as many (or as epic as the ones that occur in previous books) but because this book is about Stan and his amnesia this too is ok.
Once again Kirsten Potter does an amazing job narrating. With Immortals from all over the world I fully believe all of her accents and will always listen to these books providing I can get them all easily from my library system.
With this one we really hadn't had much time to jump on the Stanislav bandwagon as both he and Yuri were introduced only mid series but I liked the way his book was handled. The continuing story arch connecting the last 2 books is all but paused while Stan's story played out but I was ok with this.
The romance part of this book was pretty typical of this series. Both Immortal Guardian and their love interest are thrown together with a whole lot of action and turbulence and the I love you's are quick but satisfying. There were some minor battles within the book but not as many (or as epic as the ones that occur in previous books) but because this book is about Stan and his amnesia this too is ok.
Once again Kirsten Potter does an amazing job narrating. With Immortals from all over the world I fully believe all of her accents and will always listen to these books providing I can get them all easily from my library system.
August 30, 2018
I knew I wouldn't be able to put this down once I started.
*Book source ~ Purchased
This story starts out recapping a huge, action-packed, suspenseful event from over two years ago, but from a POV we didn’t see at the time. If you haven’t been spoiled yet by who the main character is I won’t mention his name. But if you’ve read all the books up to this point, trust me when I tell you, it won’t take you long to figure it out. While most of this series will tug at your heartstrings at some point or other, this one will nearly yank your heart out. So be prepared. It’s that awesome.
This is my 10th Immortal Guardians story (shorts included) and I love them just as much today as the day I picked up book 1, Darkness Dawns. I cannot even imagine what it will be like when this series ends. It will join those few that I will read over and over again because I won’t be able to let it go. I read many genres because they all give me something that the others lack. But this one…I’ve said in all my reviews previously how much I love this series, that it has everything I love about books all wrapped up in one great package – humor, paranormal, action, steaminess, romance, mystery, snappy dialogue, kickass characters, and great writing. Like I said, everything. If you haven’t read this series yet, I’m disappointed.
*Book source ~ Purchased
This story starts out recapping a huge, action-packed, suspenseful event from over two years ago, but from a POV we didn’t see at the time. If you haven’t been spoiled yet by who the main character is I won’t mention his name. But if you’ve read all the books up to this point, trust me when I tell you, it won’t take you long to figure it out. While most of this series will tug at your heartstrings at some point or other, this one will nearly yank your heart out. So be prepared. It’s that awesome.
This is my 10th Immortal Guardians story (shorts included) and I love them just as much today as the day I picked up book 1, Darkness Dawns. I cannot even imagine what it will be like when this series ends. It will join those few that I will read over and over again because I won’t be able to let it go. I read many genres because they all give me something that the others lack. But this one…I’ve said in all my reviews previously how much I love this series, that it has everything I love about books all wrapped up in one great package – humor, paranormal, action, steaminess, romance, mystery, snappy dialogue, kickass characters, and great writing. Like I said, everything. If you haven’t read this series yet, I’m disappointed.
September 20, 2018
This audiobook was okay. It wasn't as action packed and didn't move the plot along at all. Last full novel, Gershwin had raised a vampire army to battle Seth's immortals. He had gotten really tricky and gave the immortals just about all they could handle.
This book basically consisted of an amnesiac Stanislav being rescued by a gifted woman named Susan. My main issue was that she seemed to lack apprehension and fear that I felt should be evident in a mortal coming into contact with an immortal. Nothing seemed to really rattle her. She quickly became a ride or die chick for a guy whom she knew not much about and a guy who had really weird idiosyncrasies.
There wasn't anything wrong with the book except everything was just so neat tidy and smooth. And we didn't get to see the rest of the gang until the last 20% of the book. Overall Susan and Stan were cool. But this was definitely the least exciting book in this series.
This book basically consisted of an amnesiac Stanislav being rescued by a gifted woman named Susan. My main issue was that she seemed to lack apprehension and fear that I felt should be evident in a mortal coming into contact with an immortal. Nothing seemed to really rattle her. She quickly became a ride or die chick for a guy whom she knew not much about and a guy who had really weird idiosyncrasies.
There wasn't anything wrong with the book except everything was just so neat tidy and smooth. And we didn't get to see the rest of the gang until the last 20% of the book. Overall Susan and Stan were cool. But this was definitely the least exciting book in this series.
July 11, 2018
Wonderful story! I didn't want it to end!
August 18, 2018
4 stars!
Book #8 in the Immortal Guardians series brings a change in pace from the earlier books as we shift away from the action for a bit and in its place we get a slower-moving, heartfelt romance that is gorgeously sweet and swoony. Of course there is still some action and supernatural goings, it’s more about the love story in this one, and I loved it!
Before that this book, and this review, contains spoilers for earlier books in the series so make sure you’ve read the previous books before diving into this one as finally we get the answer to the question – whatever happened to Stanislav?
After the big mercenary battle, Stanislav went missing, with his Immortal Guardian brethren clueless as to his whereabouts, or if he even made it out of the fight alive. Well, he did….. but barely. Battered and broken, a barely conscious Stanislav was taken and buried alive, regaining consciousness for brief moments only to pass out again, and unable to heal himself. For two long years he suffered, until he hears the sound of a woman’s voice that soothes him like no other.
Susan is a writer who has a telepathic ‘gift’. She can hear others’ thoughts, she has no idea how or why, but the constant noise drives her crazy and has proven to be dangerous in the past. She has just bought herself a house in the middle of nowhere, a place that gives her a peace like she’s never experienced before. When she is compelled down to the basement one evening, she is overcome with curiosity and digs into the dirt ground, eventually finding a gravely wounded and emaciated man who is bizarrely alive, but with no memory of who (or what) he is or how he came to be there.
Drawn to help him, Susan cares for Stanislav and they realise that they both share special gifts – while she can read his thoughts, he can read and control her emotions – and recognising these gifts makes Stanislav’s bizarre survival easier to accept. It is also these gifts that begin to bring them together as there are absolutely no secrets between them, with everything exposed and out in the open, and I love that! It makes for a really interesting dynamic when they both know what the other is feeling, and dreaming, making them nothing but honest with each other, and it brings a fantastic edge to their undeniable attraction.
I love Stanislav! Despite his badassery, he is such a gentle soul. Kind, polite, and absolutely charming, he’s nothing but sweet and respectful with Susan. His vulnerability over his predicament is beautifully written and gives him a softer edge, but he’s also fiercely protective and sexy as all hell. And Susan is a great match for him - smart, sensible and confident, she is surprisingly welcoming and accepting of Stanislav's presence in her life, but she more than held her own against him, and I loved watching things develop between them.
But there are people who knew that Stanislav was buried and they will stop at nothing to try and find him again. And how will Stanislav get his memories back and what will happen when he does? He knows that he is different, and he has natural instincts that are not normal, but he doesn’t know why. And what of the Immortal Guardians who think he’s dead? So many questions to be answered, and I was so excited as I read, trying to figure out how it was all going to happen and beyond excited to get there.
But I did enjoy the slower pace of this book. With Stanislav removed from the rest of the Immortal Guardians, there’s a different feel to this one without all of the action and intrigue that comes with the group. There is still some excitement, but I appreciated the attention paid to Stanislav and Susan’s unfolding love story as they fell hard for each other. They are fun and playful together, and although things happen quickly, it feels like a slow burn, and there’s a delicious sense of anticipation as we wait for it all to happen for them.
The rest of the Immortal Guardians do eventually make an appearance in scenes that had me grinning like an idiot, and the book ends beautifully – better than I could have hoped, and a balm to the soul of series fans.
I loved this book! It was a great addition to the series, and I eagerly await whoever’s story is coming next!
4 stars.
Book #8 in the Immortal Guardians series brings a change in pace from the earlier books as we shift away from the action for a bit and in its place we get a slower-moving, heartfelt romance that is gorgeously sweet and swoony. Of course there is still some action and supernatural goings, it’s more about the love story in this one, and I loved it!
Before that this book, and this review, contains spoilers for earlier books in the series so make sure you’ve read the previous books before diving into this one as finally we get the answer to the question – whatever happened to Stanislav?
After the big mercenary battle, Stanislav went missing, with his Immortal Guardian brethren clueless as to his whereabouts, or if he even made it out of the fight alive. Well, he did….. but barely. Battered and broken, a barely conscious Stanislav was taken and buried alive, regaining consciousness for brief moments only to pass out again, and unable to heal himself. For two long years he suffered, until he hears the sound of a woman’s voice that soothes him like no other.
Susan is a writer who has a telepathic ‘gift’. She can hear others’ thoughts, she has no idea how or why, but the constant noise drives her crazy and has proven to be dangerous in the past. She has just bought herself a house in the middle of nowhere, a place that gives her a peace like she’s never experienced before. When she is compelled down to the basement one evening, she is overcome with curiosity and digs into the dirt ground, eventually finding a gravely wounded and emaciated man who is bizarrely alive, but with no memory of who (or what) he is or how he came to be there.
Drawn to help him, Susan cares for Stanislav and they realise that they both share special gifts – while she can read his thoughts, he can read and control her emotions – and recognising these gifts makes Stanislav’s bizarre survival easier to accept. It is also these gifts that begin to bring them together as there are absolutely no secrets between them, with everything exposed and out in the open, and I love that! It makes for a really interesting dynamic when they both know what the other is feeling, and dreaming, making them nothing but honest with each other, and it brings a fantastic edge to their undeniable attraction.
Ooh. That’s so cool. Even in your thoughts, your voice deepens and gets all growly when you’re turned on. Before he could respond, she made a sound of impatience. Damn it. Now I’m turned on.
I love Stanislav! Despite his badassery, he is such a gentle soul. Kind, polite, and absolutely charming, he’s nothing but sweet and respectful with Susan. His vulnerability over his predicament is beautifully written and gives him a softer edge, but he’s also fiercely protective and sexy as all hell. And Susan is a great match for him - smart, sensible and confident, she is surprisingly welcoming and accepting of Stanislav's presence in her life, but she more than held her own against him, and I loved watching things develop between them.
“You need someone you can trust.”
Smiling, he touched her cheek. “I already have someone I trust. You.”
She clasped his wrists and turned her head, pressing a kiss to his palm. “Flirt.”
He winked. “Just wait until I confirm I'm not married. Then I'll take flirting to a whole new level.”
“Hell yes, you will,” she declared.
He laughed.
But there are people who knew that Stanislav was buried and they will stop at nothing to try and find him again. And how will Stanislav get his memories back and what will happen when he does? He knows that he is different, and he has natural instincts that are not normal, but he doesn’t know why. And what of the Immortal Guardians who think he’s dead? So many questions to be answered, and I was so excited as I read, trying to figure out how it was all going to happen and beyond excited to get there.
But I did enjoy the slower pace of this book. With Stanislav removed from the rest of the Immortal Guardians, there’s a different feel to this one without all of the action and intrigue that comes with the group. There is still some excitement, but I appreciated the attention paid to Stanislav and Susan’s unfolding love story as they fell hard for each other. They are fun and playful together, and although things happen quickly, it feels like a slow burn, and there’s a delicious sense of anticipation as we wait for it all to happen for them.
The rest of the Immortal Guardians do eventually make an appearance in scenes that had me grinning like an idiot, and the book ends beautifully – better than I could have hoped, and a balm to the soul of series fans.
I loved this book! It was a great addition to the series, and I eagerly await whoever’s story is coming next!
4 stars.
July 19, 2018
Susan Meyer has a gift that has its pros and cons. The pro being she constantly hears people's thoughts, even going one step further by being able to view their history. The con is that she constantly hears people's thoughts, which is why she needs a remote place to live where she won't be exposed to the constant bombardment of people's thoughts.
Finding an excellent multi level home that meets all her needs, Susan resigns herself to pass as the purchase price is way beyond her means. Yet. It seems the house itself is calling to her telling her not to leave, that she has come "home". All this while being hit by an overwhelming compulsion that she needs to buy the house, regardless of price, regardless of condition, buying it is the single most important thing in her life to do.
By a seeming miracle the current owner lowers the asking price which enables Susan to buy it. Haste makes waste as she moves in as soon as the paperwork is signed with her dog Jax, the only man in her life. Things look good as Susan is finally free of the constant bombardment of intercepting everyone's thoughts except for the house that continues to project feelings of loneliness, pain, hope, and affection.
Stanislav awakens to find he has been buried alive but doesn't know why or for how long? All he knows is pain and a lack of memories to understand why someone would do what they did. Sensing a female nearby who is able to hear his projected thoughts, he compels her to help him. To free him. To end his unceasing torture.
Freeing Stanislav is only the first step as without his memories, Stan doesn't know who to trust or what to do. All he knows is that he also has gifts that defy reason and feels that it is because of these gifts that he must be extra vigilant.
* * * *
This is the 8th installment in the "Immortal Guardians" series that can be read as a stand alone.
The author included a prologue that sets the stage for the actual story. I do feel that if any potential reader hasn't read any of the previous installments, this is a good one to start on just because of that prologue. Provides a good feel regarding the author's writing style and series characters.
The main characters. Stanislav is an alpha paranormal sort of guy which comes through despite having amnesia. A polite alpha with social skills that can charm the pants of women for sure. Susan is the socially awkward kind of girl who has a degree of naivete but because she can hear the thoughts of others she knows the core of those she associates with. The dynamics between the two work in this situation.
The secondary characters. Varying degree of characters from previous installments interact through the story providing depth to the world building. Always a good thing if a series is to have longevity. I'm pretty positive that the "must read" installment in the series is going to be Seth. Count me in on that myself.
Issues I have isn't really a critique or negative. I enjoyed and appreciated this story as a whole. Has a sort of J. R. Ward "Black Dagger Brotherhood" series vibe with Lara Adrian's "Midnight Breed" series so if you like either or both of those this might be a series to check out. I just felt there really wasn't a wow factor that pushed the story into a five star rating for me. A solid four star though. The other issue I have was over the fate of Jax. As a pet lover (and I totally love when pets are included in the stories I read) I care about final outcomes for even the side kick pet characters.
This is a contemporary paranormal romantic suspense that features a slant on good guy vigilante vampire type heroes who meet their lady loves while embroiled in saving the world from the bad guys. Is a solid concept story for the paranormal vampire romance fans who look for the added spice of adult content romance.
Finding an excellent multi level home that meets all her needs, Susan resigns herself to pass as the purchase price is way beyond her means. Yet. It seems the house itself is calling to her telling her not to leave, that she has come "home". All this while being hit by an overwhelming compulsion that she needs to buy the house, regardless of price, regardless of condition, buying it is the single most important thing in her life to do.
By a seeming miracle the current owner lowers the asking price which enables Susan to buy it. Haste makes waste as she moves in as soon as the paperwork is signed with her dog Jax, the only man in her life. Things look good as Susan is finally free of the constant bombardment of intercepting everyone's thoughts except for the house that continues to project feelings of loneliness, pain, hope, and affection.
Stanislav awakens to find he has been buried alive but doesn't know why or for how long? All he knows is pain and a lack of memories to understand why someone would do what they did. Sensing a female nearby who is able to hear his projected thoughts, he compels her to help him. To free him. To end his unceasing torture.
Freeing Stanislav is only the first step as without his memories, Stan doesn't know who to trust or what to do. All he knows is that he also has gifts that defy reason and feels that it is because of these gifts that he must be extra vigilant.
* * * *
This is the 8th installment in the "Immortal Guardians" series that can be read as a stand alone.
The author included a prologue that sets the stage for the actual story. I do feel that if any potential reader hasn't read any of the previous installments, this is a good one to start on just because of that prologue. Provides a good feel regarding the author's writing style and series characters.
The main characters. Stanislav is an alpha paranormal sort of guy which comes through despite having amnesia. A polite alpha with social skills that can charm the pants of women for sure. Susan is the socially awkward kind of girl who has a degree of naivete but because she can hear the thoughts of others she knows the core of those she associates with. The dynamics between the two work in this situation.
The secondary characters. Varying degree of characters from previous installments interact through the story providing depth to the world building. Always a good thing if a series is to have longevity. I'm pretty positive that the "must read" installment in the series is going to be Seth. Count me in on that myself.
Issues I have isn't really a critique or negative. I enjoyed and appreciated this story as a whole. Has a sort of J. R. Ward "Black Dagger Brotherhood" series vibe with Lara Adrian's "Midnight Breed" series so if you like either or both of those this might be a series to check out. I just felt there really wasn't a wow factor that pushed the story into a five star rating for me. A solid four star though. The other issue I have was over the fate of Jax. As a pet lover (and I totally love when pets are included in the stories I read) I care about final outcomes for even the side kick pet characters.
This is a contemporary paranormal romantic suspense that features a slant on good guy vigilante vampire type heroes who meet their lady loves while embroiled in saving the world from the bad guys. Is a solid concept story for the paranormal vampire romance fans who look for the added spice of adult content romance.
August 16, 2018
IT IS HERE; THE BLURB. And. I. Am. Dead.
May Dracula, Maui, Seth, or whatever, whoever, immortal out there find me when this is out, thanks. This slayed me and I don't know how to deal. May Dianne Duvall the Kind, have pity on the rest of us and give us another blurb soon. Like...Seth's blurb 😂. Anyway, see you all in July.
UPDATE!
It's August and I'd finished the book a while ago. I would have been here ASAP updating my review but damnit, it wouldn't let me. Anyway, I'm here and it's working! YAAAAAY.
Moving on.
By the time I finished this book I finally understood why Dianne Duvall turned this into a novel and not a novella. Guys, if she had written a novella I would've been...pissed LOL. I didn't even know how further in I was until I saw I was 70% done. Like, what? But he just...and she just...and they were just...! Yep, it was THAT kind of book. I'm still not sure whether this book helped stave off my Seth addiction for a while or not. I mean, I was ecstatic to read about my hot buddy Seth but somehow I find myself checking up on Dianne Duvall's page all day everyday just to see if Seth's blurb AND release date is out yet LOL. Addicted? Pffft whaaaa...
Stanislav and Susan were perfect.
Perfect for me. Perfect for each other. Perfect for now. Just...perfect. I look forward to Dianne Duvall's books because they provide the entertainment and solace one needs in this chaotic and stressful world. The strong heroines, and their perfect immortal match is something I will never ever tire of reading.
Susan was everything you could've asked for. Her cool head prevailed in times of stress, how she was introduced, and how she her side of things were told was very balanced. Though I was expecting different because...Stan and his head. I was wrong. Or maybe not. Look, I don't remember hehehehe. All I can say is; by the last page I was reading it slower than a snail walking by my foot. I did not want that story to end. Nope. Nope. But at the same time, I wanted to finish the damn page already so I can jump online and check for Seth's blurb LOL.
Overall, Stan and Susan took me along with them in what I later realised as a very satisfying ride. Slow and steady. And just when I thought I wouldn't be seeing the rest of the family this time; In they all jumped and we all had a little laughing party. I'm sad to say I'm already missing them. So it looks like I'll be saying hi to Roland and Sarah (Darkness Dawns) after this. Or maybe I could just start from the beginning of the timeline...hello Alyssa and Dillon (A Sorceress of His Own) :) . Stanislav was a sweetheart to read all about. And Susan...all anxious inside yet badass to the bone! She'll fit right in to the badass house of the badass David filled with the badass immortals.
I loved this book. Cover is as cool as the rest of the book. Or maybe I'm lying because really, that cover is amazeballs. It doesn't need a story. But it came with one anyway, and I'm grateful for the presence of DIANNE DUVALL in this time. Give it a read if you're into smooth books with healthy and balanced relationships, good looking people, strong badass leads, and strong badass family. Also Seth. If you like other humans, then read these books solely for Seth LOL. Trust me. Seth and maybe Sheldon tehehehehe.
Happy Reading! :)
May Dracula, Maui, Seth, or whatever, whoever, immortal out there find me when this is out, thanks. This slayed me and I don't know how to deal. May Dianne Duvall the Kind, have pity on the rest of us and give us another blurb soon. Like...Seth's blurb 😂. Anyway, see you all in July.
UPDATE!
It's August and I'd finished the book a while ago. I would have been here ASAP updating my review but damnit, it wouldn't let me. Anyway, I'm here and it's working! YAAAAAY.
Moving on.
By the time I finished this book I finally understood why Dianne Duvall turned this into a novel and not a novella. Guys, if she had written a novella I would've been...pissed LOL. I didn't even know how further in I was until I saw I was 70% done. Like, what? But he just...and she just...and they were just...! Yep, it was THAT kind of book. I'm still not sure whether this book helped stave off my Seth addiction for a while or not. I mean, I was ecstatic to read about my hot buddy Seth but somehow I find myself checking up on Dianne Duvall's page all day everyday just to see if Seth's blurb AND release date is out yet LOL. Addicted? Pffft whaaaa...
Stanislav and Susan were perfect.
Perfect for me. Perfect for each other. Perfect for now. Just...perfect. I look forward to Dianne Duvall's books because they provide the entertainment and solace one needs in this chaotic and stressful world. The strong heroines, and their perfect immortal match is something I will never ever tire of reading.
Susan was everything you could've asked for. Her cool head prevailed in times of stress, how she was introduced, and how she her side of things were told was very balanced. Though I was expecting different because...Stan and his head. I was wrong. Or maybe not. Look, I don't remember hehehehe. All I can say is; by the last page I was reading it slower than a snail walking by my foot. I did not want that story to end. Nope. Nope. But at the same time, I wanted to finish the damn page already so I can jump online and check for Seth's blurb LOL.
Overall, Stan and Susan took me along with them in what I later realised as a very satisfying ride. Slow and steady. And just when I thought I wouldn't be seeing the rest of the family this time; In they all jumped and we all had a little laughing party. I'm sad to say I'm already missing them. So it looks like I'll be saying hi to Roland and Sarah (Darkness Dawns) after this. Or maybe I could just start from the beginning of the timeline...hello Alyssa and Dillon (A Sorceress of His Own) :) . Stanislav was a sweetheart to read all about. And Susan...all anxious inside yet badass to the bone! She'll fit right in to the badass house of the badass David filled with the badass immortals.
I loved this book. Cover is as cool as the rest of the book. Or maybe I'm lying because really, that cover is amazeballs. It doesn't need a story. But it came with one anyway, and I'm grateful for the presence of DIANNE DUVALL in this time. Give it a read if you're into smooth books with healthy and balanced relationships, good looking people, strong badass leads, and strong badass family. Also Seth. If you like other humans, then read these books solely for Seth LOL. Trust me. Seth and maybe Sheldon tehehehehe.
Happy Reading! :)
August 26, 2019
4.5-5 stars
This was a great story and addition to the series. I will say that I've been wondering what happened to Stanislav so it's nice to find out and see him get together with Susan. Stanislav's story is somewhat of a standalone as the rest of the series characters don't come into it until much later in the story. And since he lost his memory, there are more explanations than there normally might be.
Susan is a woman with powers, the ability to hear the thoughts of others. This has often been as much of a curse as a gift and others finding out about Susan's abilities has brought much danger in the past. Susan keeps herself hidden and wants to find a remote home where people won't notice her and she also won't hear the stray thoughts of others.
Stanislav is an Immortal Guardian that's around 400 years old. Immortal Guardians have powers and hunt vampires to protect humans from the vampires. Stanislav was in a battle in which he was severely injured and the he was abducted and then buried alive. Immortal Guardians are hard to kill but being buried will put them into stasis until their uncovered.
When the story begins, Susan is looking for a house to buy that is remote. She visits one that's nice and remote but it's a real fixer-upper and she's unsure. But she just a feeling about the place that makes her want to buy it. A feeling that fades after she leaves the house but comes back with a vengeance whenever she's at the house. After some wishy-washy behavior, Susan finally decides to buy the house and moves in a while later. When Susan finds Stanislav, she's freaked by the obvious issues with him being alive after being buried in the dirt for however long. Stanislav doesn't have his memories and has no idea who he is or how he got there but he his instincts tell him it could be dangerous to call the authorities. Susan doesn't want to involve the police and decides to trust him since she's able to read his mind and knows that he's not lying to her and doesn't want to hurt her.
Susan and Stanislav bond quickly...partially because they're very similar and work well as a couple and partially because they're in a situation together that requires them to rely on and trust each other. Susan's purchase of the house prompted some people to action and soon the bad guys that were after Stanislav are intent on getting on capturing him. Since Stanislav can't remember anything about his past, he can't call anyone for help and Susan is his only ally. Thankfully, Susan is able to take care of herself so she's a good partner for Stanislav. Eventually, Stanislav and Susan are able to figure out a way for him to access his past and finally regain his memories. Once all that's taken care of and the bad guys are dealt with, Susan is welcomed to the "Immortal family" and the story ends with Susan and Stanislav doing well and heading towards a HEA together.
I greatly enjoyed this story. I really liked Susan...she was smart, strong willed and competent but wasn't outrageously badass in an unbelievable way. I already liked Stanislav in previous stories but didn't really know him well in those stories. In this story, I loved him and was so happy to see him get his piece of happiness. Overall, I loved the characters and the story was great and very engaging so I'd definitely recommend this story. :)
* note - I listened to the audio version of this story and the narrator did a great job.
This was a great story and addition to the series. I will say that I've been wondering what happened to Stanislav so it's nice to find out and see him get together with Susan. Stanislav's story is somewhat of a standalone as the rest of the series characters don't come into it until much later in the story. And since he lost his memory, there are more explanations than there normally might be.
Susan is a woman with powers, the ability to hear the thoughts of others. This has often been as much of a curse as a gift and others finding out about Susan's abilities has brought much danger in the past. Susan keeps herself hidden and wants to find a remote home where people won't notice her and she also won't hear the stray thoughts of others.
Stanislav is an Immortal Guardian that's around 400 years old. Immortal Guardians have powers and hunt vampires to protect humans from the vampires. Stanislav was in a battle in which he was severely injured and the he was abducted and then buried alive. Immortal Guardians are hard to kill but being buried will put them into stasis until their uncovered.
When the story begins, Susan is looking for a house to buy that is remote. She visits one that's nice and remote but it's a real fixer-upper and she's unsure. But she just a feeling about the place that makes her want to buy it. A feeling that fades after she leaves the house but comes back with a vengeance whenever she's at the house. After some wishy-washy behavior, Susan finally decides to buy the house and moves in a while later. When Susan finds Stanislav, she's freaked by the obvious issues with him being alive after being buried in the dirt for however long. Stanislav doesn't have his memories and has no idea who he is or how he got there but he his instincts tell him it could be dangerous to call the authorities. Susan doesn't want to involve the police and decides to trust him since she's able to read his mind and knows that he's not lying to her and doesn't want to hurt her.
Susan and Stanislav bond quickly...partially because they're very similar and work well as a couple and partially because they're in a situation together that requires them to rely on and trust each other. Susan's purchase of the house prompted some people to action and soon the bad guys that were after Stanislav are intent on getting on capturing him. Since Stanislav can't remember anything about his past, he can't call anyone for help and Susan is his only ally. Thankfully, Susan is able to take care of herself so she's a good partner for Stanislav. Eventually, Stanislav and Susan are able to figure out a way for him to access his past and finally regain his memories. Once all that's taken care of and the bad guys are dealt with, Susan is welcomed to the "Immortal family" and the story ends with Susan and Stanislav doing well and heading towards a HEA together.
I greatly enjoyed this story. I really liked Susan...she was smart, strong willed and competent but wasn't outrageously badass in an unbelievable way. I already liked Stanislav in previous stories but didn't really know him well in those stories. In this story, I loved him and was so happy to see him get his piece of happiness. Overall, I loved the characters and the story was great and very engaging so I'd definitely recommend this story. :)
* note - I listened to the audio version of this story and the narrator did a great job.
July 13, 2018
Audible book review of Awaken the Darkness. The Narrator Kristin Potter was Outstanding as usual. The storyline not so much. I am so Happy that Stanislav is alive and has found love with Susan both of this characters have strong resemblances to the other Immortal Guardians and Gifted One in the prior books. Its like the names were changed but its the same character descriptions of prior IG and GO's. The story itself reminded me a bit of the 2nd book "Dark Desire" in the Dark Series by Christine Feehan, but that story was written a whole lot better then this one.
I missed the interactions of the other Immortal Guardians they don't find out Stanislav is alive until the very end of the story. Then its brief greetings. I love Dianne Duvall's Immortal Guardian and Gifted Ones series. But Awaken the Darkness is the weakest story in the series. So the story was just ok even though it didn't move the storyline along. Gershom is still out there waiting to attack the IG but he was silent in this story.
I trust Dianne Duvall so I am still giving the story 3 stars because I love having Stanislav back and I loved the little surprise at the end.
I missed the interactions of the other Immortal Guardians they don't find out Stanislav is alive until the very end of the story. Then its brief greetings. I love Dianne Duvall's Immortal Guardian and Gifted Ones series. But Awaken the Darkness is the weakest story in the series. So the story was just ok even though it didn't move the storyline along. Gershom is still out there waiting to attack the IG but he was silent in this story.
I trust Dianne Duvall so I am still giving the story 3 stars because I love having Stanislav back and I loved the little surprise at the end.
May 7, 2019
3 Stars
Overall, I enjoyed this book but it felt it should have been a novella not a full length novel. Nothing really happened in this book to progress the overall story arc. The focus of this story was on the couple and their relationship. As much as I liked the love story, it also lacked that little extra something that would have made it swoon-worthy.
All in all, Awaken the Darkness was a good read. It’s more of a filler book and should have been a novella instead of full length novel. Nothing really happens in this book and I miss the humor and interactions between all the Immortal Guardians that was sorely missing in this book.
Overall, I enjoyed this book but it felt it should have been a novella not a full length novel. Nothing really happened in this book to progress the overall story arc. The focus of this story was on the couple and their relationship. As much as I liked the love story, it also lacked that little extra something that would have made it swoon-worthy.
All in all, Awaken the Darkness was a good read. It’s more of a filler book and should have been a novella instead of full length novel. Nothing really happens in this book and I miss the humor and interactions between all the Immortal Guardians that was sorely missing in this book.
October 17, 2021
Why did we have this book? I mean, it would have been a nice novella and all, but it made no sense having this as part of the series. I am glad the hero is alive but not so glad as to have a full book about it. The book was nice but not in a continuation of the series kind of way.
So, if you feel like it, you could skip this book and jump right to the next one.
3.5 stars.
So, if you feel like it, you could skip this book and jump right to the next one.
3.5 stars.
July 16, 2018
Awaken the Darkness was a gripping addition to the Immortal Guardians series that moved me beyond measure. The story itself is quite different from previous books as it centers strictly around the main couple Stanislav and Susan for 99.9% of the story-line, as opposed to having the rest of the immortal guardian family popping in every so often to help support the plot. I believe this is because this story was originally intended to be a novella, but outgrew it. This didn't diminish the story at all in my opinion as many paranormal romances are written similarly, the ending definitely made any slight deficit worth it. The series arc itself didn't move forward, but the author promises to make up for that with the next book, which just happens to be the immortal's leader, Seth. I'm on pins and needles waiting for that release. I loved Stanislav and Susan together, they fit perfectly and their chemistry was palpable from the pages. Stanislav story was heart-breaking at times, but witty dialogue and sizzling passion rounded it out nicely. This entire series is a recommended read for any and all paranormal romance fans.
Read Linda's full review of this title at Reading Between the Wines Book Club
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Read Linda's full review of this title at Reading Between the Wines Book Club
Visit Us!
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May 11, 2020
I held off on this one for a while because I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy it without having read all the previous books in this series. Now I'm kicking myself because it was so good and I could have read it twice by now.
I use my "heroine-ruins-it" shelf quite a lot, but I should make a "heroine-makes-it" shelf for this book. Susan fucking rocked.
I use my "heroine-ruins-it" shelf quite a lot, but I should make a "heroine-makes-it" shelf for this book. Susan fucking rocked.
July 16, 2018
Really good, better than anything I’ve read in a while. I must admit confusion. I’m not a re-reader and with so much time between books, I couldn’t remember the circumstances of Stan’s situation. I also felt lost about Uri. I think I missed a novella or maybe book. I only listen to this series, so if it’s not on audible, I haven’t “read” it. So much of the book I accepted the backstory without really remembering it. I think it took a little of my enjoyment away. Yes, we were given the history in great detail, but it didn’t jog my memory. Probably because when I heard it before it was from a different POV. So not really the author’s fault. Anyway, I look forward to the next installment. Not sure which immortals are not hitched.
April 29, 2019
4 Stars
I thought Susan was more likable than some of the other human women in the books and selfless at times. I didn't like the woman in the previous book so that was a relief. It was really great to learn more about Stanislav. I felt for him with all that he'd gone through for such a long time. Susan was a wonderful savior and it was interesting to see one of the immortal guardians in such a vulnerable state.
I wish there'd been more romance in this book in the form of sex but I liked this couple nonetheless. It was great that how they both worked together throughout it all and supported one another. I loved the reunion and the dream at the end.
Some things that have bothered me:
- I wish the men were less hesitant to drink blood around their human women. If they're weak, they can't protect the women they care for. Also, they can simply go into another room to drink blood if they're both so uncomfortable about it. So it annoys me when they're like "no I don't need blood." "No I refuse to drink in front of her."
- Slightly annoyed me that Stan wouldn't allow Alexei to call Seth so much longer ago. After he'd protected them and helped them, I thought it was quite ridiculous. They should have checked for tracking devices long ago too. I feel like that should have been instinctual to Stan. Instantly when Stan remembered, he should have called Seth.
- One thing that's getting old to me is the men letting the women have their way even in a situation where the woman could be removed from danger so that the Immortal guardian doesn't have to split his attention between protecting himself and her. It's one thing if the woman actually has skill but it'll be a larger risk if the human gets hurt than the immortal guardian.
I really would like Aidan to transform all future Immortal Guardians and/or Roland. Roland needs to get over himself. They need all immortal guardians to be as strong as possible to defeat Gershom. He shouldn't have made a big deal about the other two women he was asked to transform since he knew what kind of attacks they were facing and now it's even worse. He shouldn't have an issue with it. That's just selfish in my opinion since their goal is to protect humanity. I'd forgot I'd been angry about that.
I thought Susan was more likable than some of the other human women in the books and selfless at times. I didn't like the woman in the previous book so that was a relief. It was really great to learn more about Stanislav. I felt for him with all that he'd gone through for such a long time. Susan was a wonderful savior and it was interesting to see one of the immortal guardians in such a vulnerable state.
I wish there'd been more romance in this book in the form of sex but I liked this couple nonetheless. It was great that how they both worked together throughout it all and supported one another. I loved the reunion and the dream at the end.
Some things that have bothered me:
- I wish the men were less hesitant to drink blood around their human women. If they're weak, they can't protect the women they care for. Also, they can simply go into another room to drink blood if they're both so uncomfortable about it. So it annoys me when they're like "no I don't need blood." "No I refuse to drink in front of her."
- Slightly annoyed me that Stan wouldn't allow Alexei to call Seth so much longer ago. After he'd protected them and helped them, I thought it was quite ridiculous. They should have checked for tracking devices long ago too. I feel like that should have been instinctual to Stan. Instantly when Stan remembered, he should have called Seth.
- One thing that's getting old to me is the men letting the women have their way even in a situation where the woman could be removed from danger so that the Immortal guardian doesn't have to split his attention between protecting himself and her. It's one thing if the woman actually has skill but it'll be a larger risk if the human gets hurt than the immortal guardian.
I really would like Aidan to transform all future Immortal Guardians and/or Roland. Roland needs to get over himself. They need all immortal guardians to be as strong as possible to defeat Gershom. He shouldn't have made a big deal about the other two women he was asked to transform since he knew what kind of attacks they were facing and now it's even worse. He shouldn't have an issue with it. That's just selfish in my opinion since their goal is to protect humanity. I'd forgot I'd been angry about that.
February 15, 2022
I love this series so much. I was just going to read ONE MORE chapter before bed and now it’s 4 hours past my bedtime, I just finished this book and I have to get up in 4 hours for work.
Woo! Can’t wait for the next one
Woo! Can’t wait for the next one
May 31, 2023
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.The heartbreaking ending in Night Unbound left me curious to learn the fate of two of the Immortal Guardians, Yuri and Stanislav. After learning of Yuri's fate in Phantom Embrace the story left me wondering what Duvall had in store for Stanislav. In Awaken the Darkness, she provided all the answers needed for closure.
The story begins with a recap of the last events in Night Unbound. Then it fast forward two and a half years later to the discovery of Stanislav buried alive in a basement for that entire timeline. Because of the lengthy period of being buried with no form of sustenance, his body entered stasis mode. He awakens after two and a half long years with no memory of his past. The only thing he knows is pain and loneliness.
Enters Susan Meyer, an author and a telepath. Susan is searching for property to purchase. Somewhere peaceful and which will provide her freedom from the thoughts of others. On seeing the farmhouse, she felt compelled to purchase it, despite its state of disrepair. After moving in, Susan, with the help of her dog, discovers Stanislav and freed him from his underground prison. She nursed him back to health. During this time, the two became close.
This installment focused on Stanislav's recovery, his growing relationship with Susan, and their attempts to learn who buried him alive. The other members of the series appeared near to the end of the story, resulting in a heartfelt reunion. Duvall did not mention much about Stanislav in the previous books. So learning about him in Awaken the Darkness was a treat. Protective, caring and definitely a gentleman all traits which Susan appreciated. Susan was also a wonderful character. Brave, strong and protective. She surely knows how to handle herself, to the dismay of the villains. Also, I loved how she fearlessly came to Stanislav's defense.
The story revealed some interesting tidbits about Susan and how she came to be on the leader of the guardian's radar. We get some action, which of course was intense and brutal. This, along with the humour and the romantic scenes, made for a compelling read. The epilogue evoked a combination of smiles and tears, culminating in a satisfying conclusion. If you enjoy paranormal romance, then this series would make a great addition to your bookshelf.
The narration by Kirsten Potter has become my expectation for this series. She is the voice of the series. I don't believe another narrator could do justice to the series. She does a wonderful job with the characters, accents and all. Her narration breathes life into the story.
This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading
The story begins with a recap of the last events in Night Unbound. Then it fast forward two and a half years later to the discovery of Stanislav buried alive in a basement for that entire timeline. Because of the lengthy period of being buried with no form of sustenance, his body entered stasis mode. He awakens after two and a half long years with no memory of his past. The only thing he knows is pain and loneliness.
Enters Susan Meyer, an author and a telepath. Susan is searching for property to purchase. Somewhere peaceful and which will provide her freedom from the thoughts of others. On seeing the farmhouse, she felt compelled to purchase it, despite its state of disrepair. After moving in, Susan, with the help of her dog, discovers Stanislav and freed him from his underground prison. She nursed him back to health. During this time, the two became close.
This installment focused on Stanislav's recovery, his growing relationship with Susan, and their attempts to learn who buried him alive. The other members of the series appeared near to the end of the story, resulting in a heartfelt reunion. Duvall did not mention much about Stanislav in the previous books. So learning about him in Awaken the Darkness was a treat. Protective, caring and definitely a gentleman all traits which Susan appreciated. Susan was also a wonderful character. Brave, strong and protective. She surely knows how to handle herself, to the dismay of the villains. Also, I loved how she fearlessly came to Stanislav's defense.
The story revealed some interesting tidbits about Susan and how she came to be on the leader of the guardian's radar. We get some action, which of course was intense and brutal. This, along with the humour and the romantic scenes, made for a compelling read. The epilogue evoked a combination of smiles and tears, culminating in a satisfying conclusion. If you enjoy paranormal romance, then this series would make a great addition to your bookshelf.
The narration by Kirsten Potter has become my expectation for this series. She is the voice of the series. I don't believe another narrator could do justice to the series. She does a wonderful job with the characters, accents and all. Her narration breathes life into the story.
This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading
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