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Darklight #1
Awakening
Nathen was recently diagnosed with autism, and he’s a newly created vampire. His maker, a multinational corporation with its finger on the pulse of the technology industry, has recruited him to stop a terrorist plot. In the process, he meets Cameron, a telepath and psychologist, who has a troubled past he keeps locked up in the shadows of his psyche.
Nathen is confused by social cues and Cameron can barely block out the thoughts of others.
Together, they find common ground, and with the help of their friend Syn, they work out the secrets of the terrorist group and learn that the plot is far greater than they could have imagined.
Nathen is confused by social cues and Cameron can barely block out the thoughts of others.
Together, they find common ground, and with the help of their friend Syn, they work out the secrets of the terrorist group and learn that the plot is far greater than they could have imagined.
322 pages, ebook
First published May 11, 2020
50 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
May 20, 2020
The premise of the book was rather interesting, and that's what caught my attention. The Corporation with its fingers in every pie is creating vampires and holds their leashes tight. Curious I was. Vampire who is also autistic? Even more curious I was. I was really happy about an autistic MC. I think the authors showcased the traits specific to autistic person very well, especially considering that you meet one person with autism, you've met ONE person with autism, as the saying goes. I am sure some things were personal in Nathen's behavior patterns but they were well presented in the story.
The plot twist in the end was so unexpected and rather brilliant. I loved the way authors lead the story to its conclusion. That said, what kept me from fully enjoying the story was the fact that the conversations between Cameron and Nathen felt and read clinical, as if both men being the consummate professionals that they were kept over analyzing and over psychoanalyzing everything under the sun. I feel if they just hung out without over discussing and deconstructing every single thought they both had, it would have been more fun for me. The time frame of the story is approximately one week, so at times it felt a bit insta attraction/love although the authors managed to avert this from happening.
I am sorry to say but I never warmed up to Syn, Cameron's BFF. She blew hot and cold, was so temporary in her views and stance that it at times grated on my nerves. The dark part of the story came from recollections of Cameron's past trauma. That was well written and I liked how Nathen handled himself in the situation, how he gave Cameron the support he needed. Another thing to note is that the story happens in the same universe as the author's previous novel Escape and has an encounter with the book's MCs, Theo and Robbie. That was fun. The story was steadily paced with possible triggers, mildly angsty and medium level of steam. I liked the concept, the plot twist and how the ending sounded and opened the door for the sequel that should happen. Copy received for my honest and unbiased review
The plot twist in the end was so unexpected and rather brilliant. I loved the way authors lead the story to its conclusion. That said, what kept me from fully enjoying the story was the fact that the conversations between Cameron and Nathen felt and read clinical, as if both men being the consummate professionals that they were kept over analyzing and over psychoanalyzing everything under the sun. I feel if they just hung out without over discussing and deconstructing every single thought they both had, it would have been more fun for me. The time frame of the story is approximately one week, so at times it felt a bit insta attraction/love although the authors managed to avert this from happening.
I am sorry to say but I never warmed up to Syn, Cameron's BFF. She blew hot and cold, was so temporary in her views and stance that it at times grated on my nerves. The dark part of the story came from recollections of Cameron's past trauma. That was well written and I liked how Nathen handled himself in the situation, how he gave Cameron the support he needed. Another thing to note is that the story happens in the same universe as the author's previous novel Escape and has an encounter with the book's MCs, Theo and Robbie. That was fun. The story was steadily paced with possible triggers, mildly angsty and medium level of steam. I liked the concept, the plot twist and how the ending sounded and opened the door for the sequel that should happen. Copy received for my honest and unbiased review
June 18, 2020
You know, I love the collaborations of these two. I’m fascinated by their stories, although I’m going to have to get Sean if he don’t quit with the spiders ;) . But once again, they have hit it out of the park for me and I have to give them props. To make one of the main characters not only autistic but a vamp???? I love it. I love seeing that so much. Characters with disabilities are just as good at things as everyone else. They just sometimes have to do it differently and I love that it was described in here as well. How the disability affects him and what he needs to do. People don’t often get it and I love to see information being made known like that.
Nathen woke up in an office, having no clue where he was or how he got there. All he knew was that he was meeting with a psychologist to see where he was on the Autism Spectrum and then a blank. Next thing he knows, he’s being told he has a new job where his hacker skills would be used and he’s now a vamp. And with his mind not being able to process like everyone else’s, it’s really freaking him out. It doesn’t help that everything is making him overstimulated. But once he’s away, he’s able to process a bit and immediately starts talking to his contacts to figure out the project he’s supposed to be working on. What it leads to will change his life forever. He meets for the first time, his online friend Syn, who is a hacker like him, and they’ve done jobs together. But it’s her friend Cameron that throws him off. And Cameron as well. Cameron being a mage is used to reading people, but he gets nothing from Nathen and that scares him. After secrets start coming out, they realize they are up to their eyeballs in corporations that are shady as heck. And their secrets are now exposed. So now they have to decide to fight this and figure out what’s really going on, or try to run and see how long they can stay under the radar.
Man, I felt for Nathen so bad in this book. With coming to terms that he is autistic and vamp within the same day??? Yeah, not cool. I immediately didn’t like the company that did this to him either. I knew there was something shady with them from the beginning and the more I learned the more I feared for all of them. Especially when Cameron and Syn got involved, and they all found out the extent of these guy’s reach. It didn’t help when they realized some of what was really going on either. Because I will be honest, these people are MESSED up with a capital F, if you get my drift. And the fact that others are trying to hide under the radar as well. Yeah, I don’t blame them. It’s like our government and feeling like you’re being watched all the time. Same principle, but it’s high powered corporations that are doing some messed up stuff. And the threat they put out was small in comparison to what they’ve been up to.
But I have to tell you, this book will keep you captivated. Wondering what’s going to happen next. It’s a conspiracy theorists dream come true. Also a mystery persons. It’s got all you need to keep you entertained and I loved every page. And I’m ready to see what’s next.
http://lovebytesreviews.com/
Nathen woke up in an office, having no clue where he was or how he got there. All he knew was that he was meeting with a psychologist to see where he was on the Autism Spectrum and then a blank. Next thing he knows, he’s being told he has a new job where his hacker skills would be used and he’s now a vamp. And with his mind not being able to process like everyone else’s, it’s really freaking him out. It doesn’t help that everything is making him overstimulated. But once he’s away, he’s able to process a bit and immediately starts talking to his contacts to figure out the project he’s supposed to be working on. What it leads to will change his life forever. He meets for the first time, his online friend Syn, who is a hacker like him, and they’ve done jobs together. But it’s her friend Cameron that throws him off. And Cameron as well. Cameron being a mage is used to reading people, but he gets nothing from Nathen and that scares him. After secrets start coming out, they realize they are up to their eyeballs in corporations that are shady as heck. And their secrets are now exposed. So now they have to decide to fight this and figure out what’s really going on, or try to run and see how long they can stay under the radar.
Man, I felt for Nathen so bad in this book. With coming to terms that he is autistic and vamp within the same day??? Yeah, not cool. I immediately didn’t like the company that did this to him either. I knew there was something shady with them from the beginning and the more I learned the more I feared for all of them. Especially when Cameron and Syn got involved, and they all found out the extent of these guy’s reach. It didn’t help when they realized some of what was really going on either. Because I will be honest, these people are MESSED up with a capital F, if you get my drift. And the fact that others are trying to hide under the radar as well. Yeah, I don’t blame them. It’s like our government and feeling like you’re being watched all the time. Same principle, but it’s high powered corporations that are doing some messed up stuff. And the threat they put out was small in comparison to what they’ve been up to.
But I have to tell you, this book will keep you captivated. Wondering what’s going to happen next. It’s a conspiracy theorists dream come true. Also a mystery persons. It’s got all you need to keep you entertained and I loved every page. And I’m ready to see what’s next.
http://lovebytesreviews.com/
May 28, 2020
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.25 stars
There are moments in this book that worked for me. The bare bones of a larger world are sketched out, hinting at greater depth with mentions of fae, mages, and hunters, without actually stopping the story to detail them. I think my favorite part was when Nathen, calmly, says that “I get to live indefinitely” as opposed to being immortal. It felt both very Nathen, and … I don’t know, it made me snort.
However, there is a great deal that didn’t work for me. There isn’t much to this book beyond the relationship between Nathen and Cameron. While Nathen is hired to track down hackers who did … something to a children’s hospital for … reasons, it’s mostly a red herring with a few moments at the beginning, a reminder in the middle, and then a hand waving “and then it was fixed” at the end. With the emphasis of this book being on Cameron and Nathen, it feels almost more like a prequel to a series rather than the first book, setting up the main characters as a couple without spending much time on anything else.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
3.25 stars
There are moments in this book that worked for me. The bare bones of a larger world are sketched out, hinting at greater depth with mentions of fae, mages, and hunters, without actually stopping the story to detail them. I think my favorite part was when Nathen, calmly, says that “I get to live indefinitely” as opposed to being immortal. It felt both very Nathen, and … I don’t know, it made me snort.
However, there is a great deal that didn’t work for me. There isn’t much to this book beyond the relationship between Nathen and Cameron. While Nathen is hired to track down hackers who did … something to a children’s hospital for … reasons, it’s mostly a red herring with a few moments at the beginning, a reminder in the middle, and then a hand waving “and then it was fixed” at the end. With the emphasis of this book being on Cameron and Nathen, it feels almost more like a prequel to a series rather than the first book, setting up the main characters as a couple without spending much time on anything else.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
May 20, 2020
Awakening is an ambitious multi-genre tale of love and intrigue.
Nathan is an autistic newbie vampire. Cameron is a psychologist who is also a mind reading mage. Syn is Cameron’s GBF who is a hacker with a handgun.
Part of this story purports to be a techno thriller but the tech is so dated Windows ME and Windows 7. Oy. Part of this story purports to be gay romance but as a psychologist Cameron should know better than insta love.
There are so many unanswered questions and hanging plot lines that this book just left me confused and disappointed.
Nathan is an autistic newbie vampire. Cameron is a psychologist who is also a mind reading mage. Syn is Cameron’s GBF who is a hacker with a handgun.
Part of this story purports to be a techno thriller but the tech is so dated Windows ME and Windows 7. Oy. Part of this story purports to be gay romance but as a psychologist Cameron should know better than insta love.
There are so many unanswered questions and hanging plot lines that this book just left me confused and disappointed.
June 27, 2020
I wish there had been a bit more of the mystery in the book, honestly. It was an interesting one but it was sort of pushed to the side. I'll also admit it was really weird for me to see Cameron constantly using the term Asberger's as if that was a better term for Autism even though it's an older term and was pushed out of use for a reason. It seemed strange to me that someone with a psychiatry background would push the term so much.
February 19, 2025
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The book's description of an autistic vampire working for a multi-national corporation sounded really interesting. However, the book really didn't live up to my expectations. I was expecting a lot more action than what was presented.
Nathan Hale is a computer hacker who wakes up in a room with a person from the corporation's HR department. He is informed that he is now an employee of the Impetus corporation. He is also told he's a vampire.
He takes everything pretty well considering. He is recently diagnosed as autistic which might be the reason why he's taking everything pretty well. At least, that's the impression I got. I don't know too much about autism, but I would expect a more emotion reaction even from someone on the spectrum. He eventually does show some emotion when a glass of blood is brought to him and his vampire senses really kick in.
He was hired to find out who is behind a recent threat against a children's hospital. The hospital's computer system was taken over by a group called the Sons of Discord. He asks his hacker group for help and one of the, Syn, invited him and others to her apartment to meet and try solve the threat. There, he meets Syn's roommate Cameron, who is a mage. He can read people's thoughts and emotions. He freaks because he can't read Nathan. He thinks he's fae, and I guess faes aren't big fans of mages. It's never really explained, and it really should be. It feels almost like this is the second book in a series because Syn and Cameron have a history together that's only touched on. I wish that the authors had given us more information on the two.
All we know is that Syn and Cameron grew up together. Cameron left their Texas hometown to attend a college in San Diego at age 16. She followed him shortly after. They had been best friends since Cameron and his mother, now dead, moved to Texas. Syn's also a lesbian so they had their sexuality in common.
As I said, Nathan comes over to their apartment and is the only from their hacker group who did. Cameron, who is a psychologist, is fascinated by Nathan after he accepts the fact that Nathan is truly a vampire and will not hurt them.
I don't know that much about autism, but since one of the authors is also autistic, I'm guessing that Nathan is portrayed accurately. The authors refer to him as having Asperger's Syndrome. This really dates the book since its no longer used by medical professionals.
Cameron and Syn join Nathan in his quest to find out who is behind the threats to the children's hospital. Cameron and Nathan begin a relationship. Neither have had good luck in the past, and there are a few bumps in the proverbial road for them. They do have lots of spicy times. Nathan, as a vampire, feeds on Cameron during these times.
The plot is slow and I felt the ending wasn't that great. I really wasn't surprised by the ending and I don't understand how the main characters were either. I won't read the other books in the series, but I can see others really enjoying this.
The book's description of an autistic vampire working for a multi-national corporation sounded really interesting. However, the book really didn't live up to my expectations. I was expecting a lot more action than what was presented.
Nathan Hale is a computer hacker who wakes up in a room with a person from the corporation's HR department. He is informed that he is now an employee of the Impetus corporation. He is also told he's a vampire.
He takes everything pretty well considering. He is recently diagnosed as autistic which might be the reason why he's taking everything pretty well. At least, that's the impression I got. I don't know too much about autism, but I would expect a more emotion reaction even from someone on the spectrum. He eventually does show some emotion when a glass of blood is brought to him and his vampire senses really kick in.
He was hired to find out who is behind a recent threat against a children's hospital. The hospital's computer system was taken over by a group called the Sons of Discord. He asks his hacker group for help and one of the, Syn, invited him and others to her apartment to meet and try solve the threat. There, he meets Syn's roommate Cameron, who is a mage. He can read people's thoughts and emotions. He freaks because he can't read Nathan. He thinks he's fae, and I guess faes aren't big fans of mages. It's never really explained, and it really should be. It feels almost like this is the second book in a series because Syn and Cameron have a history together that's only touched on. I wish that the authors had given us more information on the two.
All we know is that Syn and Cameron grew up together. Cameron left their Texas hometown to attend a college in San Diego at age 16. She followed him shortly after. They had been best friends since Cameron and his mother, now dead, moved to Texas. Syn's also a lesbian so they had their sexuality in common.
As I said, Nathan comes over to their apartment and is the only from their hacker group who did. Cameron, who is a psychologist, is fascinated by Nathan after he accepts the fact that Nathan is truly a vampire and will not hurt them.
I don't know that much about autism, but since one of the authors is also autistic, I'm guessing that Nathan is portrayed accurately. The authors refer to him as having Asperger's Syndrome. This really dates the book since its no longer used by medical professionals.
Cameron and Syn join Nathan in his quest to find out who is behind the threats to the children's hospital. Cameron and Nathan begin a relationship. Neither have had good luck in the past, and there are a few bumps in the proverbial road for them. They do have lots of spicy times. Nathan, as a vampire, feeds on Cameron during these times.
The plot is slow and I felt the ending wasn't that great. I really wasn't surprised by the ending and I don't understand how the main characters were either. I won't read the other books in the series, but I can see others really enjoying this.
May 18, 2020
When computer wiz and hacker Nathen Hale opens his eyes… he’s being presented with a work contract from Impetus. It surprises him because he’s just recently been diagnosed with Autism and doesn’t exactly remember being interested in the job. Oh yes, and he’s also a brand new vampire.
What’s interesting about Nathen is that what some people might consider to be an “illness” or a “disability” is just part of Nathen’s makeup. I really liked that! He’s neurodiverse, certainly, but he has a great understanding of the way his mind works differently from that of those around him. His challenges with social immunization and emotion do seem to allow him to accept some of the craziness that has been introduced into his life. When he awakens as a vampire, he doesn’t panic or lose his grasp on reality… he is curious and intrigued by what has happened to him.
When Nathen aggress to meet up with an online hacking friend, Syn, he meets her roommate and chosen-family member Cameron.
Cameron is a mage… he can read minds, communicate psychically, and can even influence peoples’ actions. He works as a psychologist, trying to make the most of his gift and help people. When he meets Nathen, he’s shocked because he is unable to sense Nathen at all. Interestingly, the fact that he can’t sense Nathen… blinds him in a way… and puts him on a level playing field with Nathen.
The two men have an instant connection and are drawn to each other physically very quickly. There is a lot of sex int his book! More sex than plot for the most part! The sexual intimacy is made even more intense by some of the changes in Nathen’s physiology. As a vampire, he has saliva that is an aphrodisiac. Biting and drinking from a person gives them an intensely erotic experience and once he has tasted someone’s blood, he can read their emotions and thoughts for a time.
The main reason that these three people come together is to try and get to the bottom of a mystery. The Sons of Discord have infected a children’s hospital with ransom software. The three main characters in the book are determined to understand what is going on and why this hacking group would attack a hospital.
The main focus of this book is on the characters. There is a lot of discussion and descriptions of memories. If you are just interested in getting to know the two main characters then you will enjoy this book. The plot, while intriguing, really is confined to the first part of the book and the end. I was very interested in the mystery that is in the book, but I would have liked to have seen it expanded across the entire novel.
What’s interesting about Nathen is that what some people might consider to be an “illness” or a “disability” is just part of Nathen’s makeup. I really liked that! He’s neurodiverse, certainly, but he has a great understanding of the way his mind works differently from that of those around him. His challenges with social immunization and emotion do seem to allow him to accept some of the craziness that has been introduced into his life. When he awakens as a vampire, he doesn’t panic or lose his grasp on reality… he is curious and intrigued by what has happened to him.
When Nathen aggress to meet up with an online hacking friend, Syn, he meets her roommate and chosen-family member Cameron.
Cameron is a mage… he can read minds, communicate psychically, and can even influence peoples’ actions. He works as a psychologist, trying to make the most of his gift and help people. When he meets Nathen, he’s shocked because he is unable to sense Nathen at all. Interestingly, the fact that he can’t sense Nathen… blinds him in a way… and puts him on a level playing field with Nathen.
The two men have an instant connection and are drawn to each other physically very quickly. There is a lot of sex int his book! More sex than plot for the most part! The sexual intimacy is made even more intense by some of the changes in Nathen’s physiology. As a vampire, he has saliva that is an aphrodisiac. Biting and drinking from a person gives them an intensely erotic experience and once he has tasted someone’s blood, he can read their emotions and thoughts for a time.
The main reason that these three people come together is to try and get to the bottom of a mystery. The Sons of Discord have infected a children’s hospital with ransom software. The three main characters in the book are determined to understand what is going on and why this hacking group would attack a hospital.
The main focus of this book is on the characters. There is a lot of discussion and descriptions of memories. If you are just interested in getting to know the two main characters then you will enjoy this book. The plot, while intriguing, really is confined to the first part of the book and the end. I was very interested in the mystery that is in the book, but I would have liked to have seen it expanded across the entire novel.
September 7, 2024
Awakening (Darklight book 1)
By Sean Ian O'Meidhir & Connal Braginsky
Ninestar Press, 2020
Five stars
You had me at gay autistic vampire.
Nathen Hale (did the irony of this name register?) is a computer genius, and also (as he’s just discovered) on the spectrum. The surprise is, sitting in this anonymous corporate conference room, that he is also apparently a vampire. And he doesn’t know how that happened.
Nathen assumed that this was a world without either magic or monsters, and was content to live a quiet, if lonely, life with his mother in Marin County in their family’s Victorian mansion. Apparently, the healthcare benefits offered by this corporation were attractive, given that his mother’s treatment for MS was going to be costly and longterm. The rest, however, is a little fuzzy.
Nathen’s new employer is very concerned about a cyber-terrorist group that calls themselves the Sons of Discord, who have infected the software systems in a San Francisco children’s hospital and demanded a ransom. Dealing with this is part of his job, his skills as a cyber-hacker heightened by his new vampiric powers.
Then Nathen gets a message from his longtime online friend Syn, who is also very concerned about the Sons of Discord and their attack on the hospital. Still vague about his new powers, he breaks protocol and goes to her apartment for a gathering intended to discuss this problem and consider how to help. There he meets Cameron Corazon, a tall redhead with magical powers the likes of which Nathen has never imagined.
What I loved about this book is that the plot is important, and while the instant and unexpected connection between Nathen and Cameron goes beyond mere attraction, the crisis they are trying to avert at the children’s hospital remains front and center.
There’s a weird Hitchcockian darkness to the plot, leavened by the rom-com goofiness of Nathen’s autistic perception of everything around him. Nathen doesn’t worry about how others see the world—only about how HE sees the world around him. Cameron, however, is an enormous distraction, and both of these young men quickly begin to understand that their connection is something nobody—cyber terrorists or sinister corporate suits—anticipated.
My favorite line toward the end is “It probably doesn’t matter,” voiced by Cameron. Rather than a cliffhanger, the authors cleverly drop this line into a casual conversation, just before the reader finds out that, after all, this is only the first book in a series.
I’ve bought the whole series because it is such a fascinating and fun take on vampires, while also being a high-tension adventure and a great gay romance. Boom.
By Sean Ian O'Meidhir & Connal Braginsky
Ninestar Press, 2020
Five stars
You had me at gay autistic vampire.
Nathen Hale (did the irony of this name register?) is a computer genius, and also (as he’s just discovered) on the spectrum. The surprise is, sitting in this anonymous corporate conference room, that he is also apparently a vampire. And he doesn’t know how that happened.
Nathen assumed that this was a world without either magic or monsters, and was content to live a quiet, if lonely, life with his mother in Marin County in their family’s Victorian mansion. Apparently, the healthcare benefits offered by this corporation were attractive, given that his mother’s treatment for MS was going to be costly and longterm. The rest, however, is a little fuzzy.
Nathen’s new employer is very concerned about a cyber-terrorist group that calls themselves the Sons of Discord, who have infected the software systems in a San Francisco children’s hospital and demanded a ransom. Dealing with this is part of his job, his skills as a cyber-hacker heightened by his new vampiric powers.
Then Nathen gets a message from his longtime online friend Syn, who is also very concerned about the Sons of Discord and their attack on the hospital. Still vague about his new powers, he breaks protocol and goes to her apartment for a gathering intended to discuss this problem and consider how to help. There he meets Cameron Corazon, a tall redhead with magical powers the likes of which Nathen has never imagined.
What I loved about this book is that the plot is important, and while the instant and unexpected connection between Nathen and Cameron goes beyond mere attraction, the crisis they are trying to avert at the children’s hospital remains front and center.
There’s a weird Hitchcockian darkness to the plot, leavened by the rom-com goofiness of Nathen’s autistic perception of everything around him. Nathen doesn’t worry about how others see the world—only about how HE sees the world around him. Cameron, however, is an enormous distraction, and both of these young men quickly begin to understand that their connection is something nobody—cyber terrorists or sinister corporate suits—anticipated.
My favorite line toward the end is “It probably doesn’t matter,” voiced by Cameron. Rather than a cliffhanger, the authors cleverly drop this line into a casual conversation, just before the reader finds out that, after all, this is only the first book in a series.
I’ve bought the whole series because it is such a fascinating and fun take on vampires, while also being a high-tension adventure and a great gay romance. Boom.
August 18, 2020
This was a fascinating story but not really for me. I think it was a bit too techie for my tastes. Having said that I really enjoyed the characters in this story. Cameron and Nathen are an unlikely couple. Nathen is an autistic vampire working for a shadowy corporation and Cameron is a mage in hiding. His best friend and flat mate is Syn who has powers of her own. Syn met Nathen on line and pulls him in to help when a children's hospital finds that their computer system has been hacked and held to ransome by cyber terrorists.
Nathan is directed by his shadowy corporation to find out who has hijacked the hospital's computer systems. Nathan is a newly turned vampire and doesn't really know much about the corporation he works for. When he teams up with Syn and Cameron his attraction to Cameron is instant and mutual. The two of them work together solving the mystery but also finding out more about the corporation that employs Nathan.
It is an interesting story because the characters are complex. The authors manage to portray the twists and turns of the mystery, the complexity of the characters and their feelings for each other and all these different elements are held together really well. There is enough romance for those who like romance and enough of a mystery for readers who like mysteries. There are also mages, mind reading special powers and abilities which will attract fans of urban fantasy. Everything combines into an engaging story.
I did enjoy reading this but it felt like the first book in a series. Nothing wrong with that but it didnt completely gel for me. I think this was just a matter of taste.
I enjoyed the vibrancy of the characters and it was this that kept me going. I do think another book is needed in order to explore the characters in more depth and to find out more about the corporation and some of the side characters and how they all fit together. There is a tantalising glimpse of the main characters from other books by these authors, although this is a stand alone book.
Obviously this has left me feeling curious about the other characters and the battle at the heart of these stories. Definitely worth exploring and getting into. These are the kind of books that grow on the reader as the different stories develop. They have promise and an ability to reel the reader in even when some questions or aspects are left open
Copy provided by NineStar Press via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
Nathan is directed by his shadowy corporation to find out who has hijacked the hospital's computer systems. Nathan is a newly turned vampire and doesn't really know much about the corporation he works for. When he teams up with Syn and Cameron his attraction to Cameron is instant and mutual. The two of them work together solving the mystery but also finding out more about the corporation that employs Nathan.
It is an interesting story because the characters are complex. The authors manage to portray the twists and turns of the mystery, the complexity of the characters and their feelings for each other and all these different elements are held together really well. There is enough romance for those who like romance and enough of a mystery for readers who like mysteries. There are also mages, mind reading special powers and abilities which will attract fans of urban fantasy. Everything combines into an engaging story.
I did enjoy reading this but it felt like the first book in a series. Nothing wrong with that but it didnt completely gel for me. I think this was just a matter of taste.
I enjoyed the vibrancy of the characters and it was this that kept me going. I do think another book is needed in order to explore the characters in more depth and to find out more about the corporation and some of the side characters and how they all fit together. There is a tantalising glimpse of the main characters from other books by these authors, although this is a stand alone book.
Obviously this has left me feeling curious about the other characters and the battle at the heart of these stories. Definitely worth exploring and getting into. These are the kind of books that grow on the reader as the different stories develop. They have promise and an ability to reel the reader in even when some questions or aspects are left open
Copy provided by NineStar Press via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
May 27, 2020
This was, for me at least, an incredibly unique book. It is paranormal, sci-fi, and romance.
Nathen is a tech wizard and his vampire story is like none that I've known before. He does possess some common traits of vampires, but others not so common. The fact that he's autistic also adds to his uniqueness. Cameron works in psychology and possesses magic that interacts in unexpected ways with Nathen's vampiric state, (at least unexpected for the characters). There is a third character, Syn, who is also a tech genius and Cameron's best friend. I very much liked all of these characters and their interactions.
The romance between Nathen & Cameron progresses at light speed, with a fair amount of sweet, angsty, and sexy moments. The whirlwind insta-nature of it is probably unrealistic, but this is a paranormal sci-fi book with aspects that allowed me to be forgiving of that.
There is a kind of mission for the characters, as they investigate a cyber terrorist group. If you're not tech-savvy yourself, you'll probably be like me - totally & completely lost during many conversations as they analyze this situation. I confess I did a lot of skimming, because my own mind kind of fogs over when I see tech-speak. I probably missed important aspects of the story due to this, but was still able to enjoy the characters and the general feeling of the story. There are also conversations involving technology, artificial intelligence and how they can be used in society; with this, there is obvious social commentary that may or may not appeal to readers.
I found the first half of the book on the slow side - VERY interesting, but I wasn't on the edge of my seat. The last half of the book, on the other hand, became gradually more suspenseful and had me needing to know how it would end. I could not have predicted the ending at all. I shall say no more about that for risk of spoilers.
I need there to be more books with this world and characters and hope they are soon to come. For one thing, there's a LOT that was not clear about Cameron's past and his abilities. There's a lot to do with how Nathen became a vampire and the existence of other paranormal individuals that remains to be explained. It seems pretty clear to me that the authors want to give explanations over time, to keep readers wondering how this alternate world works.
Nathen is a tech wizard and his vampire story is like none that I've known before. He does possess some common traits of vampires, but others not so common. The fact that he's autistic also adds to his uniqueness. Cameron works in psychology and possesses magic that interacts in unexpected ways with Nathen's vampiric state, (at least unexpected for the characters). There is a third character, Syn, who is also a tech genius and Cameron's best friend. I very much liked all of these characters and their interactions.
The romance between Nathen & Cameron progresses at light speed, with a fair amount of sweet, angsty, and sexy moments. The whirlwind insta-nature of it is probably unrealistic, but this is a paranormal sci-fi book with aspects that allowed me to be forgiving of that.
There is a kind of mission for the characters, as they investigate a cyber terrorist group. If you're not tech-savvy yourself, you'll probably be like me - totally & completely lost during many conversations as they analyze this situation. I confess I did a lot of skimming, because my own mind kind of fogs over when I see tech-speak. I probably missed important aspects of the story due to this, but was still able to enjoy the characters and the general feeling of the story. There are also conversations involving technology, artificial intelligence and how they can be used in society; with this, there is obvious social commentary that may or may not appeal to readers.
I found the first half of the book on the slow side - VERY interesting, but I wasn't on the edge of my seat. The last half of the book, on the other hand, became gradually more suspenseful and had me needing to know how it would end. I could not have predicted the ending at all. I shall say no more about that for risk of spoilers.
I need there to be more books with this world and characters and hope they are soon to come. For one thing, there's a LOT that was not clear about Cameron's past and his abilities. There's a lot to do with how Nathen became a vampire and the existence of other paranormal individuals that remains to be explained. It seems pretty clear to me that the authors want to give explanations over time, to keep readers wondering how this alternate world works.
May 26, 2020
This book focuses on the relationship between two super intriguing characters: an autistic, newly-made-under-shadowy-circumstances vampire and a mind-reading mage. One of the things I really love about the way these characters are handled is that their uniqueness really comes out in the writing— not just in the interior thought processes of each character but also in the structure of the story itself, which often reflects and mirrors the abilities and limitations of the characters. There’s a lot of focus in the narrative, for example, on the strangeness of otherwise routine human emotions and behaviors, which do truly seem strange as they’re described in the novel, but very little investment, at least early on, in the why/how/who of the vampire’s recent transformation. It’s often fascinating to read, and easy to get drawn into. At the beginning of the novel especially, this does tend to put plot on the back burner, which can make events feel a bit rushed and/or under-developed. When the plot does become central, it escalates quickly, and it's darker, and more dramatic, than the beginning of the novel might have led one to expect. Personally, I was fine with this pacing: the characters were interesting enough and their relationship building immersive enough that the sometimes flimsy nature of what they were doing and why early on didn’t bother me.
The thing I was less able to get over, ultimately, was the fact that I just don’t like the mage character, Cameron, very much: he claims he tries to be careful and respectful with his mind-reading powers and not imposing his will on other people, and then he does things like casually mind-wiping the maid: “Has suggested that Alice bring her some sandwiches…which I’ve taken the liberty of cancelling from Alice’s mind. I hope that’s okay. I mean…I’m not hungry.” Reading this actually made me viscerally angry: ”I’m not hungry” is not an excuse to violate someone’s free will. Not ok, dude. Not ok. Still, I respect the fact that I was invested enough in the character to be so disappointed in him, and Nathen remains awesome and interesting throughout.
Ultimately, this is an interesting, unconventional read, and worth checking out.
*I received an ARC of this book and voluntarily composed an unbiased review
The thing I was less able to get over, ultimately, was the fact that I just don’t like the mage character, Cameron, very much: he claims he tries to be careful and respectful with his mind-reading powers and not imposing his will on other people, and then he does things like casually mind-wiping the maid: “Has suggested that Alice bring her some sandwiches…which I’ve taken the liberty of cancelling from Alice’s mind. I hope that’s okay. I mean…I’m not hungry.” Reading this actually made me viscerally angry: ”I’m not hungry” is not an excuse to violate someone’s free will. Not ok, dude. Not ok. Still, I respect the fact that I was invested enough in the character to be so disappointed in him, and Nathen remains awesome and interesting throughout.
Ultimately, this is an interesting, unconventional read, and worth checking out.
*I received an ARC of this book and voluntarily composed an unbiased review
May 30, 2020
This book is honestly impossible to explain but I enjoyed it so freaking much and I have no idea why. It starts off almost surrealistic so it took me a moment to immerse myself in the story. I think that is because the first chapter is written from the perspective of Nathen who is autistic and looks at the world differently but also reacts much differently than what is "normal". So while a neurotypical character would likely be freaking out that he had just been murdered and turned into a vampire by an evil corporation, Nathen just calmly observes his surroundings and situation with what amounts to an emotional shrug. Then we get the perspective of Cameron who has Professor X level telepathy but is a rather shy awkward guy.
So I think one of the main reasons I liked these MCs so much is because they are not the typical beefy or alpha or sassy character archetypes. They are also true to their age. Early 20-somethings are the main age group depicted in romances but they NEVER act their age. I'm 24 and when Cameron described his messy room and perpetually unmade bed, I was like "Yes! Finally somebody is like me, a real person, and not a platonic ideal of being in your 20s". Of course, their frequent use of food delivery instead of Michelin star level cooking that they "learned from their mom" was totally realistic too.
Nathen and Cameron have instant love and lust, so while they are trying to solve the crime that is the main conflict of the story, they frequently get distracted by very exciting romantic interludes. But the important is that they save the day and have "fun" along the way. I can't wait to read more about them because the epilogue suggests that there will be more to their story.
So I think one of the main reasons I liked these MCs so much is because they are not the typical beefy or alpha or sassy character archetypes. They are also true to their age. Early 20-somethings are the main age group depicted in romances but they NEVER act their age. I'm 24 and when Cameron described his messy room and perpetually unmade bed, I was like "Yes! Finally somebody is like me, a real person, and not a platonic ideal of being in your 20s". Of course, their frequent use of food delivery instead of Michelin star level cooking that they "learned from their mom" was totally realistic too.
Nathen and Cameron have instant love and lust, so while they are trying to solve the crime that is the main conflict of the story, they frequently get distracted by very exciting romantic interludes. But the important is that they save the day and have "fun" along the way. I can't wait to read more about them because the epilogue suggests that there will be more to their story.
May 21, 2020
I didn't really like this book that much. It averages between 2 and 3 stars for me, so I'm rounding up. I did like the paranormal part (vampires and mages) and I did like the relationship between the main characters some of the time, but for me the negatives outweigh the positives just a bit.
Things I didn't like:
1. The "mystery" (or main conflict if you prefer) was not compelling and got forgotten for many, many pages through the middle section. The conclusion was rushed and very unclear. I'm not sure if the authors are lazy or just trying for a vague ending a la The Giver or Handmaid's Tale, but either way I am pretty annoyed that I slogged through 300 pages just for THAT.
2. The writing was stilted and amateurish and I struggled to stay interested. The authors seemed to want to accurately portray how an autistic person processes information by writing the book from that perspective, but as a person who doesn't process information that way, I was intermittently bored by the plot or apathetic about the characters. I definitely never cared what happened to them, and that to me is the definition of bad writing.
3. The tone of the book was extremely uneven and the authors just never decided what they wanted the book to be. Sometimes it was a technical/digital thriller with white hat hackers, sometimes it tried to be a romance, sometimes it tried to be a paranormal mystery.
I think the premise is interesting and I respect what the authors tried to do with representing the autism spectrum, but overall the book didn't work for me. There was just too much going on and not enough focus on any one thing. It's kind of a jumbled mess, to be honest.
Things I didn't like:
1. The "mystery" (or main conflict if you prefer) was not compelling and got forgotten for many, many pages through the middle section. The conclusion was rushed and very unclear. I'm not sure if the authors are lazy or just trying for a vague ending a la The Giver or Handmaid's Tale, but either way I am pretty annoyed that I slogged through 300 pages just for THAT.
2. The writing was stilted and amateurish and I struggled to stay interested. The authors seemed to want to accurately portray how an autistic person processes information by writing the book from that perspective, but as a person who doesn't process information that way, I was intermittently bored by the plot or apathetic about the characters. I definitely never cared what happened to them, and that to me is the definition of bad writing.
3. The tone of the book was extremely uneven and the authors just never decided what they wanted the book to be. Sometimes it was a technical/digital thriller with white hat hackers, sometimes it tried to be a romance, sometimes it tried to be a paranormal mystery.
I think the premise is interesting and I respect what the authors tried to do with representing the autism spectrum, but overall the book didn't work for me. There was just too much going on and not enough focus on any one thing. It's kind of a jumbled mess, to be honest.
June 28, 2020
Nathen is Autistic and has difficulty gauging people’s emotions, intentions and expressing his own feelings. That is until he wakes up in a strange room with a man sat at a desk telling him about new abilities, that you only hear about in films. Films that centre around vampires at that.
He soon finds out that he has been turned into a Vampire without his permission, but he decides to roll with it all, well he has not exactly got much choice anyway.
Cameron is a psychologist with telepathic abilities but is puzzled when he meets Nathan and cannot read his mind.
Nathan and Cameron meet up through Syn a mutual friend, as they plot to out smart a group of criminal hackers. Their relationship is awkward at first and both men are weary of the other.
Their investigations lead them on a dark and sinister chase against time to find and stop the hackers. But what also becomes clear is that Nathans employers are also dangerous.
The dynamics between the characters really brings the story to life. I think the story is well paced and exciting right till the end. And the mystery and thrills keep you turning the pages, willing them to stop the hackers. The author has done a great job of weaving the different story threads together and showing us Nathans and Cameron’s special abilities with out dumping information on the reader.
If you enjoy a good and exciting mystery- thriller, this book is for you.
I am so hoping that there will be a book 2 with these characters.
He soon finds out that he has been turned into a Vampire without his permission, but he decides to roll with it all, well he has not exactly got much choice anyway.
Cameron is a psychologist with telepathic abilities but is puzzled when he meets Nathan and cannot read his mind.
Nathan and Cameron meet up through Syn a mutual friend, as they plot to out smart a group of criminal hackers. Their relationship is awkward at first and both men are weary of the other.
Their investigations lead them on a dark and sinister chase against time to find and stop the hackers. But what also becomes clear is that Nathans employers are also dangerous.
The dynamics between the characters really brings the story to life. I think the story is well paced and exciting right till the end. And the mystery and thrills keep you turning the pages, willing them to stop the hackers. The author has done a great job of weaving the different story threads together and showing us Nathans and Cameron’s special abilities with out dumping information on the reader.
If you enjoy a good and exciting mystery- thriller, this book is for you.
I am so hoping that there will be a book 2 with these characters.
February 20, 2025
Ah, hmmm, ok. So this book is kind of a lot to process, but it definitely did its job in making me want to dive right into the next one. I don’t know how I keep finding so many books with neurodivergent rep (maybe my own neurodivergency attracts them?), but here I am with another one.
There’s so much that happens in this first book that I’m not even completely sure I followed all of it. I reread multiple sections because I thought I completely got lost. Some of the tech stuff went way over my head, but Cameron was the same way so that made me feel better. I really like the supernatural aspect of everything. Mages are probably my favorite, but all of it also sounds exhausting.
Gotta be honest, I’m not a huge fan of the way autism was referred to as Asperger’s multiple times. That’s not how we refer to it anymore given the very negative connotation and it was jarring to see it repeatedly. I know one of the authors has autism and it’s still common among people diagnosed quite some time ago, but I still didn’t like it. I’m newly diagnosed, but I don’t think I’m being overly sensitive.
That aside, this was a really intriguing book overall. I received a copy of it from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my very honest review. Here’s hoping the terminology improves lol. 3.75 stars because this book felt like it was published in, like, the 90s but definitely wasn’t set in that decade.
There’s so much that happens in this first book that I’m not even completely sure I followed all of it. I reread multiple sections because I thought I completely got lost. Some of the tech stuff went way over my head, but Cameron was the same way so that made me feel better. I really like the supernatural aspect of everything. Mages are probably my favorite, but all of it also sounds exhausting.
Gotta be honest, I’m not a huge fan of the way autism was referred to as Asperger’s multiple times. That’s not how we refer to it anymore given the very negative connotation and it was jarring to see it repeatedly. I know one of the authors has autism and it’s still common among people diagnosed quite some time ago, but I still didn’t like it. I’m newly diagnosed, but I don’t think I’m being overly sensitive.
That aside, this was a really intriguing book overall. I received a copy of it from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my very honest review. Here’s hoping the terminology improves lol. 3.75 stars because this book felt like it was published in, like, the 90s but definitely wasn’t set in that decade.
February 10, 2025
Wow!
If you like glimpsing into the frightening possibilities corporations will go to in order to gain more power, this is the book for you!
Then toss in some paranormal aspects of mages who can read minds (and memories), a best friend who is a security/weapons expert, vampires who are newly made and recruited to do the bidding of said organizations, and psychopaths who truly do love killing, pull up a chair and 'buckle in' for a rocky ride.
Nathan and Cameron both have to deal with loneliness due to their autism and mind reading abilities.
Cameron's dating history is especially traumatic, since you'd have thought he'd been able to discern Jerry's personality early on.
Syn, Cameron's best friend, does her best to protect everyone!
There is a loving romantic entanglement that saves our heroes, while bestowing special talents to each.
For me, the most frightening part was looking into the mind/memory of the psychopath. My imagination is just too vivid!
The segment with the woman in the basement of the building by Coit Tower was spine-tingling.
I received an ARC from Goodreads and this was my introduction to the minds of O'Meidhir and Braginsky. What a treat!
In the future I'll be reading their works earlier in the day so I'm able to get to sleep before 3:30 a.m.
If you like glimpsing into the frightening possibilities corporations will go to in order to gain more power, this is the book for you!
Then toss in some paranormal aspects of mages who can read minds (and memories), a best friend who is a security/weapons expert, vampires who are newly made and recruited to do the bidding of said organizations, and psychopaths who truly do love killing, pull up a chair and 'buckle in' for a rocky ride.
Nathan and Cameron both have to deal with loneliness due to their autism and mind reading abilities.
Cameron's dating history is especially traumatic, since you'd have thought he'd been able to discern Jerry's personality early on.
Syn, Cameron's best friend, does her best to protect everyone!
There is a loving romantic entanglement that saves our heroes, while bestowing special talents to each.
For me, the most frightening part was looking into the mind/memory of the psychopath. My imagination is just too vivid!
The segment with the woman in the basement of the building by Coit Tower was spine-tingling.
I received an ARC from Goodreads and this was my introduction to the minds of O'Meidhir and Braginsky. What a treat!
In the future I'll be reading their works earlier in the day so I'm able to get to sleep before 3:30 a.m.
February 27, 2025
Nathen is dealing with many changes. He was recently diagnosed with autism and he is a newly turned vampire. His new employer assigns him the important job of discovering what he can about the group who is holding the computers at a children’s hospital for ransom. Calling upon an online friend for help, Nathen meets her roommate, Cameron. Nathen is confused by Cameron, as his ability to read social cues is limited. Cameron, who is a telepath and a psychologist, is unable to get a handle on Nathen. In spite of all this, the two find themselves attracted as they investigate the hacking. Along with their friend, Syn, the three discover the plot is much deeper than they thought.
This turned out to be an intriguing book. Nathen, with his autism, was a delight. He took everything so literally making for some great misunderstandings and fantastic conversations. Cameron had his telepathic abilities but found he originally could not read Nathen. The plot behind the hacking left many questions unanswered, which should be answered in the coming books. We shall all pounce on them once we finish this one. Great reading and excellent heroes and one heroine make this a must read book.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
This turned out to be an intriguing book. Nathen, with his autism, was a delight. He took everything so literally making for some great misunderstandings and fantastic conversations. Cameron had his telepathic abilities but found he originally could not read Nathen. The plot behind the hacking left many questions unanswered, which should be answered in the coming books. We shall all pounce on them once we finish this one. Great reading and excellent heroes and one heroine make this a must read book.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
June 26, 2020
Disclaimer: One of the authors is a friend of mine and kindly sent me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
This wasn't my favourite book by these authors. But I also didn't hate it. I'm not even sure I disliked it. Not really. And that which I didn't like about it is mostly personal preference, so don't take this too seriously.
There was just something about this one. I found I couldn't get into it. I stuck it out until the end, waiting for it to have that "ah-ha!" moment that sucked me in, but it didn't come for me. It was interesting enough, certainly, but it just didn't suck me in.
Also, there was a bit too much steam for my personal preference. I'm totally fine with such things in books, but I prefer them to have a purpose; to be relevant to the plot at large, rather than just happening for the sake of happening. I didn't really get that from this one.
The writing was good, though. I think this is maybe the best book of those I've read by the authors writing wise. Very few errors that I noticed.
I also thought it was neat that the characters from the other series were incorporated into this - always fun to see series overlaps like that!
This wasn't my favourite book by these authors. But I also didn't hate it. I'm not even sure I disliked it. Not really. And that which I didn't like about it is mostly personal preference, so don't take this too seriously.
There was just something about this one. I found I couldn't get into it. I stuck it out until the end, waiting for it to have that "ah-ha!" moment that sucked me in, but it didn't come for me. It was interesting enough, certainly, but it just didn't suck me in.
Also, there was a bit too much steam for my personal preference. I'm totally fine with such things in books, but I prefer them to have a purpose; to be relevant to the plot at large, rather than just happening for the sake of happening. I didn't really get that from this one.
The writing was good, though. I think this is maybe the best book of those I've read by the authors writing wise. Very few errors that I noticed.
I also thought it was neat that the characters from the other series were incorporated into this - always fun to see series overlaps like that!
May 24, 2020
Ok, I confess I liked this. In fact, I actually felt a sense of affection for the characters. Nathen, an Autistic vampire, Cameron, a mage whose abilities seem everchanging, & Syn, computer whiz & possibly something "other".
The story concept was great. However I do think that the writing needed to be tighter. The action scenes felt more "told" rather than experienced by our characters. I really enjoyed the conversations between Nathen & Cameron. I actually had to use my Kindle's dictionary feature a few times & while that may be irritating to some, I love reading about new concepts.
The biggest drawback to this story was the weak resolution to the Sons of Discord terrorist plot. Yes, I know the ending itself was an intriguing cliffhanger, but for all the build up to the terrorist plot, when it was resolved while interesting, it felt sorely anticlimactic.
Still I really, really like Nathen & Cameron as a couple & in view of the cliffhanger ending, I am quite looking forward to a continuation of the story.
June 4, 2020
Customer Review

reviewer
4.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting and very unique
Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2020
Pros:
1) Sean Ian O'Meidhir and Connal Braginsky's Awakening is unique in their paranormal world of vampires, shifters and mages.
2) I enjoyed the main characters, Cameron and Nathen, and their romance: They were both sweet and adorable.
3) I love how unpredictable and the twist and turn of the resolution.
Cons:
1) I thought too much time was spent on and a bit repetitive explaining how Nathen is autistic and how a vampire functions.
2) Syn really annoyed me.
3) Needed more world building: It's mentioned that Cameron is a mage and there are other paranormals but what's the dynamics amongst the paranormals and with the humans (other than the human/vampire relationship).

reviewer
4.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting and very unique
Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2020
Pros:
1) Sean Ian O'Meidhir and Connal Braginsky's Awakening is unique in their paranormal world of vampires, shifters and mages.
2) I enjoyed the main characters, Cameron and Nathen, and their romance: They were both sweet and adorable.
3) I love how unpredictable and the twist and turn of the resolution.
Cons:
1) I thought too much time was spent on and a bit repetitive explaining how Nathen is autistic and how a vampire functions.
2) Syn really annoyed me.
3) Needed more world building: It's mentioned that Cameron is a mage and there are other paranormals but what's the dynamics amongst the paranormals and with the humans (other than the human/vampire relationship).
May 26, 2020
Nathen is a genius with a computer, a newly born vampire and recently diagnosed with Autism.
The Vampires who turned him didn't really give him a choice about being or not a vampire, but Nathen didn't fully understand what really happen to him until he met Cameron.
Cameron is a telepath and psychologist. He's also very concern about Nathen and the company behind his transformation, but they have first an important mission ... rescuing a children's hospital against some hackers.
I loved Nathen, he was so naive and honest and pure. Cameron is sensitive and very strong, he would kill for the people he loves.
Together are a perfect match.
The book was interesting , and the plot captivating, I'm curious to discover what will happen in the next book.
To be continued...
The Vampires who turned him didn't really give him a choice about being or not a vampire, but Nathen didn't fully understand what really happen to him until he met Cameron.
Cameron is a telepath and psychologist. He's also very concern about Nathen and the company behind his transformation, but they have first an important mission ... rescuing a children's hospital against some hackers.
I loved Nathen, he was so naive and honest and pure. Cameron is sensitive and very strong, he would kill for the people he loves.
Together are a perfect match.
The book was interesting , and the plot captivating, I'm curious to discover what will happen in the next book.
To be continued...
November 13, 2023
The blurb for this book drew me in immediately - autistic vampires, telepaths, terrorist plots - all kinds of characters and elements I enjoy mixed together in a new and unique way and, the start of a series. I have read these author's work before and knew how good they were at building a world and setting the characters in it, especially characters who are taken out of their comfort zone in some way and have to figure out how everything works. Those talents were fully on display here. Both these characters have things that make it nearly impossible sometimes to function in the world but together they find ways to work. There are clearly wheels within wheels behind the scenes and I look forward to seeing how this world develops and who/what is really pulling all the strings.
May 20, 2020
This story is about Nathan, a hacker who wakes up as a vampire with no idea what has happen and Cameron, a mage who can read minds. Nathan is autistic and struggles to keep his focus. They work together along with Syn, another hacker to solve a mystery involving a children’s hospital. Great chemistry between the two main characters. Unique story line. I enjoyed getting to know all the characters who played a role in the story, but I didn’t like that it ended on a cliffhanger.
I am voluntarily leaving a review form an ARC that I received from Gay Romance Reviews. My reviews are solely based on my thoughts and opinions.
I am voluntarily leaving a review form an ARC that I received from Gay Romance Reviews. My reviews are solely based on my thoughts and opinions.
November 19, 2025
This book had a really interesting premise, and the first chapter really set the scene for the story. I found it very character driven, and although the plot was pretty good the world building was a bit bare on the ground. More is hinted at, so maybe the next book will have a bit more detail. There was enough of a mystery in the story to keep me interested though. Both Nathen and Cameron were well written, with their connection (though fast) feeling like a good one. For being first released in 2020, some of the tech mentions were a bit out of date. As well, the use of the term "Aspergers" made me cringe a little. All that to say I'm looking forward to reading more.
May 31, 2020
I really enjoyed reading this great, amazing, fresh , original, complex, completely unexpected, unconventional, exciting, smoldering, definitely different, fascinating, grab-you-by-the-feels, and totally awesome story. I must admit that the story dragged along here and there, but in the end, it was well worth the effort. Filled with mystery, secrets, espionage, danger, and more twists and turns than a roller coaster, it had me hooked from beginning to end, and I can't wait to see what happens next.
June 11, 2020
This is the first book in The Darklight Series. This was a unique story with some good ideas but although good the writing needed some help. The plot was entertaining and it was steady throughout the book. I found the story and characters interesting. The characters were developed and thought out. Cameron is a telepath and Nathen is a vampire and they are the MC’s of this book. The story ends with an HFN and a cliffhanger kind of. I voluntarily read an advance copy of this book for an honest review.
June 18, 2020
This title is the first in the Darklight series.
Nathen was recently diagnosed with autism, and he’s a newly created vampire. His maker, a multinational corporation with its finger on the pulse of the technology industry, has recruited him to stop a terrorist plot. In the process, he meets Cameron, a telepath and psychologist, who has a troubled past he keeps locked up in the shadows of his psyche.
Nothing is as it seems. Multiple plot twists keep the reader as off-balance as the protagonists. A great start to a new series.
Nathen was recently diagnosed with autism, and he’s a newly created vampire. His maker, a multinational corporation with its finger on the pulse of the technology industry, has recruited him to stop a terrorist plot. In the process, he meets Cameron, a telepath and psychologist, who has a troubled past he keeps locked up in the shadows of his psyche.
Nothing is as it seems. Multiple plot twists keep the reader as off-balance as the protagonists. A great start to a new series.
February 6, 2025
Awakening is the first book in the Darklight series. This is the story of Nathen a newly created vampire who is autistic and Cameron a psychologist who is a telepathic mage. This was the first book by Sean Ian O’Meidhir that I have read and it certainly won't be the last. I loved the original way Nathen was made a vampire. I felt Nathen's autism was well written and very believable. I loved the characters and world building in the story. I loved the way the author led us through the story. I can't wait for the next book in the series. I would definitely recommend this book.
May 19, 2020
Very cool, interesting world filled with interesting abilities and characters. I really liked both Nathen and Cameron, and there was a good amount of heat between the two. Loved the cameo from Robbie and Theo (I loved their story, and hope that this shows that it will continue). This one didn’t work for me as much though, there were some typos/editing issues and the overall story was just a little less compelling to me.
May 20, 2020
This was absolutely thrilling! Page after page of holding my breath, gripped by the suspense and my brain buzzing with questions. Not to mention, the autistic vampire + telepathic mage combo, which was a delight. Nathen and Cameron together were a combination of beyond cute and incendiary, and I liked seeing them blend their obvious opposite personalities and gifts.
AND, kudos to the authors for the ending, I didn't see that coming.
AND, kudos to the authors for the ending, I didn't see that coming.
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