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Dark Impulse #2
Shadow Form
Temptation comes in many different forms. Jack Masterson thought he knew what temptation was, and he thought he could handle it. He was, of course, wrong in every sense of the word.
Life as a vampire is defined by constant, seductive temptation. So far, Jack has managed to get by, thanks to the help of his childhood friend, Katie, and his loyal maid, Ryoko.
But when a new enemy arises that threatens not just the town, but the people closest to him, he’s left at a crossroads. Unsure of where to draw the line, or whether there even is one anymore, Jack begins to explore the hazy morality of doing bad things to bad people.
Just how far is he willing to go in the name of vengeance? And should he be concerned by the fact that he’s beginning to enjoy it?
WARNING: This book contains graphic sex, a slow building harem, and increasingly disconcerting moral dilemmas.
Life as a vampire is defined by constant, seductive temptation. So far, Jack has managed to get by, thanks to the help of his childhood friend, Katie, and his loyal maid, Ryoko.
But when a new enemy arises that threatens not just the town, but the people closest to him, he’s left at a crossroads. Unsure of where to draw the line, or whether there even is one anymore, Jack begins to explore the hazy morality of doing bad things to bad people.
Just how far is he willing to go in the name of vengeance? And should he be concerned by the fact that he’s beginning to enjoy it?
WARNING: This book contains graphic sex, a slow building harem, and increasingly disconcerting moral dilemmas.
257 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 13, 2018
189 people are currently reading
54 people want to read
About the author
Edmund Hughes
31 books118 followersHey, I'm Edmund Hughes. I like to write fantasy novels with strong erotic themes, gratuitous amounts of sex and violence, and offensive humor. If that's what you're looking for, you've come to the right place.
Check out my page on Booksprout (https://booksprout.co/author/1303/edm...) for freebies and discounts. Check out my website (https://edmundhughes.com) for random musings and behind the scenes content.
Thanks for reading. Reviews are always appreciated
Check out my page on Booksprout (https://booksprout.co/author/1303/edm...) for freebies and discounts. Check out my website (https://edmundhughes.com) for random musings and behind the scenes content.
Thanks for reading. Reviews are always appreciated
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 19, 2018
I really like this author's last series, the Heartgem Homestead one. It made made me hopeful for his newer books and I always look forward to them. Well, I still haven't lost all hope.
Last book was average, kind of annoying, but not really bad. This book inherits all the mistakes from the last one and exacerbates them. So, if you didn't like last book, don't even start this one.
Remember the final part of last book, with that one line between the main characters that makes you think "fucking finally!"? Well, forget it. This book pretends it never happened, despite the main character acknowledging it, but never mind him. So, if you felt frustrated by how their relationship went last book, drop it now, you'll only get angry. I stuck with it just because I still have some hope since, as I said, I liked this author's other books. I was disappointed.
Jack and Katie's relationship is even more frustrating now. The characters as a whole in this book, aside from a single scarce exception named Mira, are all very annoying. Jack is a pussy, Katie is a cunt and Bruce is an ass. Kinda poetic, huh. Jack refuses to adapt to his new reality, and completely ignores the warnings of both vampire and vampire-hunter alike, acting like a child. You know you got to take an advice seriously when the two opposites agree on something, but he is too retarded to listen. Mira lived as a vampire for hundreds of years, she is a survivor, the least you could do is listen to the lady! And Katie, while a cunt, is much more experienced than Jack in supernatural matters. The outcome is obvious and factual.
Katie, as is habitual, is a double standards bitch. Which, okay, do exist in real life, but why would I want to read about a guy hung up on an annoying girl? Just move on, dude, she is obviously enjoying her abusive relationship with the retarded cop. I really don't see what this is all about. Fortunately, we get a break on this side with Ryoko.
I'll probably read the next one, but I am much more guarded regarding my expectations now.
Last book was average, kind of annoying, but not really bad. This book inherits all the mistakes from the last one and exacerbates them. So, if you didn't like last book, don't even start this one.
Remember the final part of last book, with that one line between the main characters that makes you think "fucking finally!"? Well, forget it. This book pretends it never happened, despite the main character acknowledging it, but never mind him. So, if you felt frustrated by how their relationship went last book, drop it now, you'll only get angry. I stuck with it just because I still have some hope since, as I said, I liked this author's other books. I was disappointed.
Jack and Katie's relationship is even more frustrating now. The characters as a whole in this book, aside from a single scarce exception named Mira, are all very annoying. Jack is a pussy, Katie is a cunt and Bruce is an ass. Kinda poetic, huh. Jack refuses to adapt to his new reality, and completely ignores the warnings of both vampire and vampire-hunter alike, acting like a child. You know you got to take an advice seriously when the two opposites agree on something, but he is too retarded to listen. Mira lived as a vampire for hundreds of years, she is a survivor, the least you could do is listen to the lady! And Katie, while a cunt, is much more experienced than Jack in supernatural matters. The outcome is obvious and factual.
Katie, as is habitual, is a double standards bitch. Which, okay, do exist in real life, but why would I want to read about a guy hung up on an annoying girl? Just move on, dude, she is obviously enjoying her abusive relationship with the retarded cop. I really don't see what this is all about. Fortunately, we get a break on this side with Ryoko.
I'll probably read the next one, but I am much more guarded regarding my expectations now.
August 20, 2018
Interesting story, mediocre characters.
Katie and Bruce are just miserable uninteresting characters, Ryoko is a trope, but at least has an interesting backstory and the main character is uninspiring. Still an enjoyable read, but need to work on making the characters less one dimensional, Margaret has potential if she isn't just made into a rigid defender of "good."
Katie and Bruce are just miserable uninteresting characters, Ryoko is a trope, but at least has an interesting backstory and the main character is uninspiring. Still an enjoyable read, but need to work on making the characters less one dimensional, Margaret has potential if she isn't just made into a rigid defender of "good."
August 20, 2018
Uh...
MC grew more stupid. Did not think it was possible. Picks every possible bad choice. Still a great story just wish McDonald's was not a dumbazz
MC grew more stupid. Did not think it was possible. Picks every possible bad choice. Still a great story just wish McDonald's was not a dumbazz
June 23, 2025
Dare Lord!!!
Where do I even begin? Jack is an idiot I swear to God. originally the first book wasn't even that bad. No, scratch that, the first book was actually very very good. Jack was put in a terrible situation, Mira—by far the best character in this series—Is a very unhealthy and obsessive woman and a great antagonist. Anyway we could empathize with the struggles the mc had to go through and it made sense with him still clinging to his morals in book one... but it doesn't make a lick of sense why he became even more impulsive, more indecisive and more stupid in book two.
The issue and baggage of book one get carried over to book two and while the story does progress there is no worthwhile development of any of the characters. The mc refuses to change his naive outlook on life while living in a dangerous supernatural world, he puts himself in dangerous situation by not calling out Katie on her bullshit and focusing on get a few trustworthy people to handle his craving issues. in fact this is the cause of many of the problems in this book.
Jack became so much of a pussy and love struck idiot, trying to please a cunt who can't even get her own head out her own ass, I mean talk about a stuck up bitch. Katie was the main problem with this book. what pains me more than anything was how the mc let people just walk all over him like a door mat! Like for Christ sake call these people out and punch someone. why on earth would you let Katie and Bruce talk to you like this? it doesn't make any sense. The normal reaction to people being unreasonable is to lash out at them for crossing your boundaries not to be quite and encourage them to do more of it.
There's so much I want to complain about and it pains me because the novel was actually good but the characters killed everything and it could have been avoided if the author actually decided to let these characters mature and let other characters call them out on their deficiencies. Katie would have been a better person to tolerate is Jack called her out on half the BS she was doing and actually forced her to consider their relationship, Jack would have improved if he you'd let his realize that he keeps making wrong decision and he way wont work, he could have been more analytical more critical in his decision been more decisive in his actions and actually stop to consider what might happen if things don't go his way. Bruce should go die in a ditch somewhere and Ryoko... She cool, best girl actually, would have been better if she started shining from book one after Jack realized that Katie is just a bitch who blames him for everything even when some of the problems that happen are her fault.
Where do I even begin? Jack is an idiot I swear to God. originally the first book wasn't even that bad. No, scratch that, the first book was actually very very good. Jack was put in a terrible situation, Mira—by far the best character in this series—Is a very unhealthy and obsessive woman and a great antagonist. Anyway we could empathize with the struggles the mc had to go through and it made sense with him still clinging to his morals in book one... but it doesn't make a lick of sense why he became even more impulsive, more indecisive and more stupid in book two.
The issue and baggage of book one get carried over to book two and while the story does progress there is no worthwhile development of any of the characters. The mc refuses to change his naive outlook on life while living in a dangerous supernatural world, he puts himself in dangerous situation by not calling out Katie on her bullshit and focusing on get a few trustworthy people to handle his craving issues. in fact this is the cause of many of the problems in this book.
Jack became so much of a pussy and love struck idiot, trying to please a cunt who can't even get her own head out her own ass, I mean talk about a stuck up bitch. Katie was the main problem with this book. what pains me more than anything was how the mc let people just walk all over him like a door mat! Like for Christ sake call these people out and punch someone. why on earth would you let Katie and Bruce talk to you like this? it doesn't make any sense. The normal reaction to people being unreasonable is to lash out at them for crossing your boundaries not to be quite and encourage them to do more of it.
There's so much I want to complain about and it pains me because the novel was actually good but the characters killed everything and it could have been avoided if the author actually decided to let these characters mature and let other characters call them out on their deficiencies. Katie would have been a better person to tolerate is Jack called her out on half the BS she was doing and actually forced her to consider their relationship, Jack would have improved if he you'd let his realize that he keeps making wrong decision and he way wont work, he could have been more analytical more critical in his decision been more decisive in his actions and actually stop to consider what might happen if things don't go his way. Bruce should go die in a ditch somewhere and Ryoko... She cool, best girl actually, would have been better if she started shining from book one after Jack realized that Katie is just a bitch who blames him for everything even when some of the problems that happen are her fault.
September 27, 2018
Well the first book went to a promising start. There were some signs of the otherwise normal protagonist having some issues, but they were in line with his very confusing situation.
Unfortunately the second book takes the form of the protagonist being a total idiot. A bit like those books where the teenage person just seems to run on hormones and turn off their brain. I am sure a competent author could have made this into a great follow up. But somehow the author protagonist lets people walk all over him and not think at all. not because he is a vampire but because he does not do what somebody with an IQ of 70 would achieve...
Reading this has been incredibly frustrating, after the first books promise.
Good points : interesting environment and alternative world close to our own, better than average vampire story
Bad points: protagonist I has no brain?, typical sob/girl love story, not at all realistic for the world that has been presented!, lack of plot
Suggestions for the author: think of what you might do in a situation you put your MC in and accredit your main char with at least some of your smarts, instead of letting him continually make a complete fool of himself and run with that story. It will make for a MUCH better story and better reviews.
Unfortunately the second book takes the form of the protagonist being a total idiot. A bit like those books where the teenage person just seems to run on hormones and turn off their brain. I am sure a competent author could have made this into a great follow up. But somehow the author protagonist lets people walk all over him and not think at all. not because he is a vampire but because he does not do what somebody with an IQ of 70 would achieve...
Reading this has been incredibly frustrating, after the first books promise.
Good points : interesting environment and alternative world close to our own, better than average vampire story
Bad points: protagonist I has no brain?, typical sob/girl love story, not at all realistic for the world that has been presented!, lack of plot
Suggestions for the author: think of what you might do in a situation you put your MC in and accredit your main char with at least some of your smarts, instead of letting him continually make a complete fool of himself and run with that story. It will make for a MUCH better story and better reviews.
November 30, 2023
This was a frustrating read for me as was the first book in the series. On one hand, it's better written than almost anything else in the genre. The prose is tightly written, the characters are believable and multi-dimensional, and the plot is well done. But to some extent that is all spoiled by the simple fact that there isn't a single member of the main cast who is particularly likable. To some extent, this works and matches the themes of the book, but it becomes a bit of slog sometimes to spend every other page mentally screaming at the protagonist to stop compulsively lying and hiding things from the people important to him.
Overall, still a good read.
Overall, still a good read.
June 5, 2024
A great opportunity taken to grow characters
I read Arcane Dropout before this series. I really liked Ryoko in that, and I like her a lot more after these first two books. At this point, I think Katie is scared of what she thinks that Jack is becoming. She isn't seeing it as he's a good guy that's doing some bad stuff to make it so that others are safe.
I can really understand where Katie is coming from, but I think Jack made the right decisions. His actions made the world a better place for countless others, not just the population of Lestron Island. I think Katie has to come around to that realization.
I read Arcane Dropout before this series. I really liked Ryoko in that, and I like her a lot more after these first two books. At this point, I think Katie is scared of what she thinks that Jack is becoming. She isn't seeing it as he's a good guy that's doing some bad stuff to make it so that others are safe.
I can really understand where Katie is coming from, but I think Jack made the right decisions. His actions made the world a better place for countless others, not just the population of Lestron Island. I think Katie has to come around to that realization.
October 20, 2018
Mc is total idiot. First, he could have told Ryoko in first book about this and feed from her, she's loyal and kind. It's lot better than attacking random people for blood and being reckless because of not feeding.
He just seems to make really bad decisions in general. And it seems like he is hell bent on ignoring law and doing thing in his own way.
I just can't bring myself to like Jack or Katie. Jack mostly though. Idiot scumbag would be my opinion on him.
He just seems to make really bad decisions in general. And it seems like he is hell bent on ignoring law and doing thing in his own way.
I just can't bring myself to like Jack or Katie. Jack mostly though. Idiot scumbag would be my opinion on him.
August 18, 2018
Another entertaining chapter in a different sort of vampire story
I have enjoyed the series thus far, though the length of the. Book is shorter than I prefer and has a sample at the end so it finishes a bit sooner than expected. I am eager to see book three which is supposed to be out next month.
I have enjoyed the series thus far, though the length of the. Book is shorter than I prefer and has a sample at the end so it finishes a bit sooner than expected. I am eager to see book three which is supposed to be out next month.
August 18, 2018
Enjoyed this book a lot
Another fine book by A great author I like the way this book went the character development and the story. Really looking forward to more from this guy. Can’t recommend this book enough
Another fine book by A great author I like the way this book went the character development and the story. Really looking forward to more from this guy. Can’t recommend this book enough
November 9, 2018
Another fun read in the Dark Impulse series. I'm really happy these books are being released as audiobooks. The author seems to be putting these out on a crazy fast schedule so I'm hoping the audio releases can keep up.
August 27, 2018
The second book in the series got a lot better. Edmund hughes is one of my favourite authors and he hasnt failed in this book
September 7, 2018
Great series
I think this is my favorite series from Mr. Hughes so far. I love the story, and the characters are each unique to this universe. Can't wait for the third installment.
I think this is my favorite series from Mr. Hughes so far. I love the story, and the characters are each unique to this universe. Can't wait for the third installment.
April 28, 2019
The main character just keeps getting dumber and dumber...
May 24, 2019
Better than the first book.
December 19, 2022
A great series so far
This second instalment of the series was even more enjoyable than the first.
Jack becoming more confident with his abilities leads to some intense scenes of combat.
The story is let down a little with the idiocy of the relationship between Jack and Katie, as she continues to berate him for “Doing something Stupid” while being a complete idiot her self, and the fact that this makes our dark lead sad and feel sorry is bewildering.
I Iook forward to seeing where the story goes from here.
This second instalment of the series was even more enjoyable than the first.
Jack becoming more confident with his abilities leads to some intense scenes of combat.
The story is let down a little with the idiocy of the relationship between Jack and Katie, as she continues to berate him for “Doing something Stupid” while being a complete idiot her self, and the fact that this makes our dark lead sad and feel sorry is bewildering.
I Iook forward to seeing where the story goes from here.
March 9, 2020
This is a great example of wasted potential. Secondary characters are multifaceted, and those facets are revealed fairly organically. The world building introduces complex antagonist that are more one dimensional making them quite relentless. The problem is strictly the main character is not worth your time. His moral dilemma is not worth your time, and his greatest threats are his own immaturity and bad decision making. There are times that this book reads like a teen soap opera, that had the potential to be so much more.
August 15, 2018
I don't usually read vampire books but I liked Edmund Hughes' previous series so gave this a go. This is a different take on the usual vampire books.
Jack is still getting to grips with his powers and is torn between right and wrong several times. This book centres around Ryoko and Jack learns more about her past.. The Katie/Bruce/Jack triangle rears its head several times and of course Mira pops up now and again.
If you liked the first book then you should like this one. All in all a decent follow up to the first book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Jack is still getting to grips with his powers and is torn between right and wrong several times. This book centres around Ryoko and Jack learns more about her past.. The Katie/Bruce/Jack triangle rears its head several times and of course Mira pops up now and again.
If you liked the first book then you should like this one. All in all a decent follow up to the first book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews