This is book one of the Court of Magic: Vampires of Mist series and sees the main character Lady Dawn Darkmore, part fae, part vampire, has just lost her twin brother Liam, who had been the ruler and leader of the their clan in the city of Mist, a place where humans and supernaturals lived in peace. He had put a magical glamour over the city, making humans believe they were the only race living there, and made life better for the protected humans, as well as the supernatural clans. Peace has reigned and his magic and personality is as a healer and doer of good, finding it easy to bring everyone together. When the twins were born, a seer was brought to their parent’s chamber, to decide her fate. The seer saw a death in her magic, but also a spark of light within her. Her very touch is deadly, but she lost her magic completely after the deaths of her parents. Many see her as weak and there are some who want her ousted from leader of her clan and the city. They have their own ideas about how the city should be run and what they should be able to do with humans in particular, as many still like the old ways and the power they had over other races.
Dawn knows that one clan leader in particular is ready to challenge her for control and she receives some advice about finding a champion. The vision she is shown takes her to a family cabin and a man she grew up with and went to school with in Mist, but who disappeared over a decade ago. She thought Aiden was completely human and she had helped him out when he was a teen. He was one of her only friends but she could never have a relationship with him or any other, due to the darkness inside her. When she comes across him, he is being chased by a large group of shifters, who are not what they seem! They are in fact warlocks from another realm and can take any form. They have been experimenting on humans, trying to make a hybrid human shifter with increased strength, speed and so much more. If they got their way, they would kill all humans, or alter them, not caring how many they kill in their attempts. Aiden has been held prisoner for over a decade and is only one of two hybrids who survived the experiments. He has always loved her, but known he was never a suitable candidate for her, due to his lowly status, He thought she was human as well, but he isn’t anymore and can now see what she is as well.
They would have a chance for love, if she wasn’t so afraid of her deadly touch magic and the darkness inside of her, but the attraction definitely grows between them and they will have to decide whether they can ignore it, when both their lives are in danger and they could be killed at any moment. The wicked clan leader who has challenged her, is one who wants vampires on top and humans to be used as food and entertainment if wanted. He has allowed the experimentation and killing of humans on his lands and even setting a date for the challenge, doesn’t bother to keep to his word, wanting her to marry him and submit to him, or die. He thinks so little of her, he believes she would submit to marrying him, as an alternative to the challenge and a fight to the death! He obviously underestimates her and she learns a few heartbreaking truths about how low he would go, in order to gain overall control of the city. Lots of danger and sadness, but also coming to realise your true potential and overcoming your own fears, for a chance at life and romance, never mind not being alone anymore! A cracking read with two main characters you really relate to and want the best for, just as they face more danger. I can’t wait to see what is going to happen net in this series. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.