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Curse of the Guardians #1
Kiss of Darkness
He despises her... almost as much as his beast craves her.
Kyra’s seen and survived the worst things imaginable, all because of the magic she was born with. Trapped by her secret, she has no choice but to serve Councilman Gallagher or risk everything she has tried so hard to build. Because despite black magic being banned, her very survival depends on it.
When she’s commanded to summon a Daemon, a Breed notorious for their corruption and brutality, she’s torn between keeping her secret and doing the right thing.
Xander’s hate for black witches was notorious, but nothing frustrated him more than the one witch that brings trouble with a capital T. With dark amber eyes, and a controlled strength that fascinated his beast - the monster he’s cursed to share a soul - Xander will do anything to push her away.
So when he’s forced into protecting her, he must put aside his prejudice and ignore his growing desire that’s an insult to his past.
Because he’s had an entire childhood to remember why you can’t trust black witches.
And he definitely can’t trust Kyra Farzan.
Warning: Kiss of Darkness is an enemies to lovers paranormal romance. The story contains explicit content, graphic violence, profanity, and topics that may be sensitive to some readers. Full details can be found listed inside the book. Recommended for 18+.
This novel is written in British English including spelling and grammar.
Kyra’s seen and survived the worst things imaginable, all because of the magic she was born with. Trapped by her secret, she has no choice but to serve Councilman Gallagher or risk everything she has tried so hard to build. Because despite black magic being banned, her very survival depends on it.
When she’s commanded to summon a Daemon, a Breed notorious for their corruption and brutality, she’s torn between keeping her secret and doing the right thing.
Xander’s hate for black witches was notorious, but nothing frustrated him more than the one witch that brings trouble with a capital T. With dark amber eyes, and a controlled strength that fascinated his beast - the monster he’s cursed to share a soul - Xander will do anything to push her away.
So when he’s forced into protecting her, he must put aside his prejudice and ignore his growing desire that’s an insult to his past.
Because he’s had an entire childhood to remember why you can’t trust black witches.
And he definitely can’t trust Kyra Farzan.
Warning: Kiss of Darkness is an enemies to lovers paranormal romance. The story contains explicit content, graphic violence, profanity, and topics that may be sensitive to some readers. Full details can be found listed inside the book. Recommended for 18+.
This novel is written in British English including spelling and grammar.
300 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 6, 2022
2931 people are currently reading
16438 people want to read
About the author
Taylor Aston White
23 books377 followersTaylor Aston White writes deliciously dark fantasy & romance, where tension burns, secrets break, and love always wins. Based in the UK with her childhood sweetheart and their two children, she's the author of several bestselling series and loves to explore mythology and European faerie tales to create her own, modern twists.
Follow her on Instagram - @taylorastonwhite, and join her newsletter on www.taylorastonwhite.com
Be sure to follow Taylor on BookBub for the latest on sales https://bit.ly/3rNVVlm
Follow her on Instagram - @taylorastonwhite, and join her newsletter on www.taylorastonwhite.com
Be sure to follow Taylor on BookBub for the latest on sales https://bit.ly/3rNVVlm
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 370 reviews
June 2, 2022
I did not love nor hate this.....if you are familiar with me I would much rather love or hate than be on the fence.
Kyra continuously makes horrible decisions. We see a lot of backstory for her which should lead the reader to accept this....I am not one of them. Kyra causes a great deal of her own problems. She is one that could be a stellar FMC, however she did not peak for me.
Xander is an ass. Straight up ass. I do not like him. He is mean and inconsiderate to Kyra. By the time he makes a turn around I have already labeled him immature. For a MC that is not a positive label to have.
Picking up book 2? To be determined.
Happy reading,
DD 🥂
Kyra continuously makes horrible decisions. We see a lot of backstory for her which should lead the reader to accept this....I am not one of them. Kyra causes a great deal of her own problems. She is one that could be a stellar FMC, however she did not peak for me.
Xander is an ass. Straight up ass. I do not like him. He is mean and inconsiderate to Kyra. By the time he makes a turn around I have already labeled him immature. For a MC that is not a positive label to have.
Picking up book 2? To be determined.
Happy reading,
DD 🥂
May 10, 2022
I really don’t know what to say after finishing kiss of darkness. I think a lot of people might like it because it checks alot of boxes that people like, such as paranormal romance, fae and demons, different realms, fantasy, but I just didn’t feel connected to the story. It was a good story and there wasn’t really anything wrong with it but I just didn’t click with it. There were so many different fae/ creatures and breed and I felt sort of confused through most of the story, there’s brief explanations about everything but I didn’t feel like I got a good enough concept of this world to really picture and understand how this world or realm works. I didn’t feel like I got to connect with the characters and their relationship felt a little rushed for me. But like I said, it’s not a bad story, I just might not be the right reader for it. And it’s also the first book in a new series so as the series goes on some of the world building and confusion I had might make more sense with more books. All in all, this is a pretty good story, just not the best fit for me personally, but I think others might really enjoy it.
*(I received a free e-book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way changed or influenced my views or opinions.)
*(I received a free e-book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way changed or influenced my views or opinions.)
March 3, 2024
He was created to help and protect, while she was born to sacrifice innocents.
5 stars!
This is one of those books that I became completely obsessed with while reading. I just could not read fast enough to satisfy my complete obsession with Xander and Kyra and their journey through this complicated fantasy world created by Taylor. This is my first book by this author, so I definitely felt like I was missing the backstory of these characters which we apparently get in her previous series. Even though I was a little lost and the "rules" of this magical universe were a little convoluted at times, I found myself unable to stop, and I completely devoured the love/hate relationship between these two. I cannot freaking wait for Kace and Eva's book next and even more love/hate tension!♡
Tropes: fated mates, shifter/witch pairing, reluctant mates, hate-to-love-you, enemies-to-lovers, slow burn, bodyguard hero, powerful heroine, magical urban fantasy, forced proximity, only one bed, STEAMY🔥
March 24, 2025
I really enjoyed the creativity of this book.
Kyra is a witch who uses death magic. She works with a counsel member, Gallagher. He has an iron fist on her and she’s forced to do things she doesn’t want to.
Xander despises everything Kyra is. He doesn’t like the kind of witch she is, but as he gets to know her he realises everything isn’t as it seems.
This is an enemies to lovers with creative world building.
Xander has a beast within him and I was expecting it to be more dominant with the way the blurb reads but this was not the case.
Audiobook read.
✅ Enemies to lovers
✅ Fantasy
✅ PNR
RARE25 Morally Grey Readathon. Book six out of eighteen. I don’t know if I’m becoming desensitised to morally grey subject matter but I’m not sure this ticks the box. 🤷♀️ *Shrug. I liked this book anyway.
Kyra is a witch who uses death magic. She works with a counsel member, Gallagher. He has an iron fist on her and she’s forced to do things she doesn’t want to.
Xander despises everything Kyra is. He doesn’t like the kind of witch she is, but as he gets to know her he realises everything isn’t as it seems.
This is an enemies to lovers with creative world building.
Xander has a beast within him and I was expecting it to be more dominant with the way the blurb reads but this was not the case.
Audiobook read.
✅ Enemies to lovers
✅ Fantasy
✅ PNR
RARE25 Morally Grey Readathon. Book six out of eighteen. I don’t know if I’m becoming desensitised to morally grey subject matter but I’m not sure this ticks the box. 🤷♀️ *Shrug. I liked this book anyway.
May 19, 2022
**Thanks to NetGalley, Taylor Aston White, and Dark Wolf Publishing for this ARC**
Kiss of Darkness by Taylor Aston White was a good, but not spectacular, PNR. I wish I had known going in that, while this IS the first book in the series, it is a spin-off series to another, fully completed series that is referenced heavily throughout. As a result, I felt like I entered this story in the middle of the action, and was supposed to already know and care about characters I had just met. The author sometimes neglected to explain things, presumably because they were explained in the previous series. Unfortunately, I wasn't interested enough to go back and read 5 other books to understand this one better. There were also A LOT of weird editing problems. The author used the wrong word frequently (bumbling instead of bubbling, etc) and it was distracting and took away from the story.
All in all, I liked this, but it wasn't a new favorite.
Kiss of Darkness by Taylor Aston White was a good, but not spectacular, PNR. I wish I had known going in that, while this IS the first book in the series, it is a spin-off series to another, fully completed series that is referenced heavily throughout. As a result, I felt like I entered this story in the middle of the action, and was supposed to already know and care about characters I had just met. The author sometimes neglected to explain things, presumably because they were explained in the previous series. Unfortunately, I wasn't interested enough to go back and read 5 other books to understand this one better. There were also A LOT of weird editing problems. The author used the wrong word frequently (bumbling instead of bubbling, etc) and it was distracting and took away from the story.
All in all, I liked this, but it wasn't a new favorite.
May 17, 2022
This is book 1 in a Supernatural Romance series by Taylor Aston White. This isn't the best beginning to a new series. The story feels as if I am missing book one and not starting book one. The story seems to be missing something I can't quite put my finger on. The story is your typical supernatural romance with all the supernatural beings from Demons to Fea's. The story is very typical with the strong male and hot sexy romance that many supernatural readers I assume enjoy.
The world the author created didn't seem to quite comes to life and instead fell flat and dull. Well written supernatural stories the author is able make the world or cities as a character in the story. Unfortunately, this doesn't happen in Kiss the Darkness.
Kiss the Darkness is nothing more than what I have been avoiding in Supernatural romance stories. Alpha, sex and very little story.
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of Taylor Aston White Kiss Of Darkness.
The world the author created didn't seem to quite comes to life and instead fell flat and dull. Well written supernatural stories the author is able make the world or cities as a character in the story. Unfortunately, this doesn't happen in Kiss the Darkness.
Kiss the Darkness is nothing more than what I have been avoiding in Supernatural romance stories. Alpha, sex and very little story.
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of Taylor Aston White Kiss Of Darkness.
May 5, 2022
Really enjoyed pandora although initially I got Holllows vibes because of a witch and a demon the story was complex enough to let me overcome that . I will say if you enjoy BDB this will strike a core with its uninvited guest !
May 23, 2022
Review: Kiss of Darkness 🌟🌟🌟⬇️
Short review: Similar world to Crescent City, but less than 300 pages long! Pick this up if you want a fast-paced, action-packed urban fantasy with romance.
Spice: 🌶🌶/5 Slowburn for the most part
Plot/Pace:
Kyra is a black witch. This automatically makes her illegal, as Black witches wield dangerous powers. In order to remain alive, she must serve Councilman Gallagher. Xander is originally a Druid, turned Guardian. Guardians are basically shifters that protect the world from Daemons and others alike. The story follows Kyra as she tries to figure out who is threatening her, but ends up ultimately fighting for her freedom.
Okay, this is where I took off points. This seemed VERY promising in the beginning. I thought the book would be based more on the world as in the corruption that is shown, etc. Instead, the plot ended up being very character driven which was fine until it was underwhelming. The ending as in the last 10-15% of the book was a little too rushed. Some details were glazed over, and the plot of that seemed too easy. It may have been that I was so impressed with the beginning that I expected that much more from the ending. Don’t get me wrong, it was an acceptable ending but it just didn’t live up to my very high expectations.
Characters:
I enjoyed following Kyra & Xander. Even though the book is short, I feel that we get to know Kyra pretty well. Xander as well. We explore both character’s pasts and presents.
Setting:
The world building was well done enough that I thought the book would be more so a world driven plot (events happening in the world) rather than the character driven plot it was. One of my favorite scenes was a magical marketplace!
Short review: Similar world to Crescent City, but less than 300 pages long! Pick this up if you want a fast-paced, action-packed urban fantasy with romance.
Spice: 🌶🌶/5 Slowburn for the most part
Plot/Pace:
Kyra is a black witch. This automatically makes her illegal, as Black witches wield dangerous powers. In order to remain alive, she must serve Councilman Gallagher. Xander is originally a Druid, turned Guardian. Guardians are basically shifters that protect the world from Daemons and others alike. The story follows Kyra as she tries to figure out who is threatening her, but ends up ultimately fighting for her freedom.
Okay, this is where I took off points. This seemed VERY promising in the beginning. I thought the book would be based more on the world as in the corruption that is shown, etc. Instead, the plot ended up being very character driven which was fine until it was underwhelming. The ending as in the last 10-15% of the book was a little too rushed. Some details were glazed over, and the plot of that seemed too easy. It may have been that I was so impressed with the beginning that I expected that much more from the ending. Don’t get me wrong, it was an acceptable ending but it just didn’t live up to my very high expectations.
Characters:
I enjoyed following Kyra & Xander. Even though the book is short, I feel that we get to know Kyra pretty well. Xander as well. We explore both character’s pasts and presents.
Setting:
The world building was well done enough that I thought the book would be more so a world driven plot (events happening in the world) rather than the character driven plot it was. One of my favorite scenes was a magical marketplace!
May 14, 2022
Kiss of Darkness was a bit hit-and-miss for me. On the plus side, I liked the premise and the characters had potential. The sex scenes were also steamy. However, I struggled to feel attached to any of the characters and the world building was lacking, often leaving me confused about the exact skills different Breeds had, with new powers suddenly appearing without any foreshadowing when they were needed for the plot. Like I said, there was potential here, but the book needed better world building and editing to pull it all together. I am giving it three stars, as I didn't hate it and found it reasonably entertaining, but I won't be rushing to continue the series.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 6, 2022
This is a fantastic action packed read. Kyra is a black witch who has no choice in what she does, Xander is a guardian who is to protect the world from Daemons. They are both fantastic characters, strong, kick ass and of course complex! The storyline is exciting, enthralling and full of danger, suspense, intrigue and so much more. A slow burn romance with a lot of surprises and I cannot wait for more!
May 7, 2022
”Keep surviving Kyra, don’t let the darkness win.”
Kyra has a secret: she is so much more than just a dark witch. And she is currently being used and abused for it. So she has no choice but to ask the druids for help, especially when she starts receiving threats and a daemon shows up wanting her. But Xander, second to the leader of the druids, is far from friendly. So why can’t they keep their hands off each other?
_________________________________________
This was good.
I enjoyed this so much more than I thought I would. In fact, I read it within two days. I wanted to see Kyra and Xander banter, fight, and make sweet sweet love. But rough.
I think the author did a great job at building this world. I could really visualize it without feeling like she spent too much time on the details. I also think the plot was unique. I like the twist in Kyra’s powers. I haven’t read something like that. It wasn’t overly complicated and crazy detailed but it was still deadly.
Kyra is a dark character with a lot of strength. She isn’t the usual “sassy” girl with a big mouth. She knows when to talk back and is usually quite smart with her comments in my opinion. But she wants to be good. So I do wish her character had embraced her darker side more, especially as the story went on.
Xander is sexy, of course. He is a dick for a while and sometimes reverts back unnecessarily. It was like whiplash. I thought when he finally got past hating Kyra and was all over her in the bath that their relationship would just build from there. And it did but then they had another spat when he makes mean comments when she isn’t even at fault? But then they make out.
I don’t know. I didn’t loooooove that. But his aggressiveness and protectiveness was hot. I also like the “don’t touch her” and the fact that he is battling his instinctual need for her. When he did show care for her, I couldn’t help but smile. Plus his backstory really explains his angry feelings.
I like how much time Kyra and Xander spent together but I wish they had more intimate time. There are only two actual sex scenes and maybe three or four if you include foreplay only. What the author wrote was really good but I just personally think it would have benefited from some more. Like, turn it up. Give it to me. More dirty talk and roughness.
But overall, this was really good. I highlighted quite a bit, if anything, just to revisit in my own time. I’m really looking forward to the next one. I’m kinda hoping it’s about Kace??? 🤞🏼
.
.
.
“He wanted to kiss her, to press his lips against hers until she felt nothing but him. Thought of nothing but him.”
Kyra has a secret: she is so much more than just a dark witch. And she is currently being used and abused for it. So she has no choice but to ask the druids for help, especially when she starts receiving threats and a daemon shows up wanting her. But Xander, second to the leader of the druids, is far from friendly. So why can’t they keep their hands off each other?
_________________________________________
This was good.
I enjoyed this so much more than I thought I would. In fact, I read it within two days. I wanted to see Kyra and Xander banter, fight, and make sweet sweet love. But rough.
I think the author did a great job at building this world. I could really visualize it without feeling like she spent too much time on the details. I also think the plot was unique. I like the twist in Kyra’s powers. I haven’t read something like that. It wasn’t overly complicated and crazy detailed but it was still deadly.
Kyra is a dark character with a lot of strength. She isn’t the usual “sassy” girl with a big mouth. She knows when to talk back and is usually quite smart with her comments in my opinion. But she wants to be good. So I do wish her character had embraced her darker side more, especially as the story went on.
Xander is sexy, of course. He is a dick for a while and sometimes reverts back unnecessarily. It was like whiplash. I thought when he finally got past hating Kyra and was all over her in the bath that their relationship would just build from there. And it did but then they had another spat when he makes mean comments when she isn’t even at fault? But then they make out.
I don’t know. I didn’t loooooove that. But his aggressiveness and protectiveness was hot. I also like the “don’t touch her” and the fact that he is battling his instinctual need for her. When he did show care for her, I couldn’t help but smile. Plus his backstory really explains his angry feelings.
I like how much time Kyra and Xander spent together but I wish they had more intimate time. There are only two actual sex scenes and maybe three or four if you include foreplay only. What the author wrote was really good but I just personally think it would have benefited from some more. Like, turn it up. Give it to me. More dirty talk and roughness.
But overall, this was really good. I highlighted quite a bit, if anything, just to revisit in my own time. I’m really looking forward to the next one. I’m kinda hoping it’s about Kace??? 🤞🏼
.
.
.
“He wanted to kiss her, to press his lips against hers until she felt nothing but him. Thought of nothing but him.”
July 11, 2022
KISS OF DARKNESS is the first book in the Curse of the Guardians series, but it is a spin-off from the Alice Skye series. I wish I had read that first as some of the explanations in this book about the magic systems, breeds of demons, classes of witches, etc, were only skimmed over. I'm presuming it goes into greater detail in the original series. Anyway, back to this one.
Kyra is labelled as a black witch - illegal unless she has a special license. One of the triad of witches in charge of everyone else has a secret to hold over Kyra, making her his puppet. Xander has hated black witches for a long time so that, coupled with his attraction to Kyra, makes for a volatile situation every time she is mentioned.
The general story is Kyra trying to find out who is threatening her, plus dealing with her delight of a boss. Xander is the one assigned to protect her which, of course, leads them to be in close proximity to each other. Xander does turn it around, but his dislike of Kyra (without actually knowing her) is a bit offputting for a while.
I enjoyed this story and would like to see where it goes next, but I would definitely want to read the original series first.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Kyra is labelled as a black witch - illegal unless she has a special license. One of the triad of witches in charge of everyone else has a secret to hold over Kyra, making her his puppet. Xander has hated black witches for a long time so that, coupled with his attraction to Kyra, makes for a volatile situation every time she is mentioned.
The general story is Kyra trying to find out who is threatening her, plus dealing with her delight of a boss. Xander is the one assigned to protect her which, of course, leads them to be in close proximity to each other. Xander does turn it around, but his dislike of Kyra (without actually knowing her) is a bit offputting for a while.
I enjoyed this story and would like to see where it goes next, but I would definitely want to read the original series first.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
May 13, 2022
4 Stars!!
I feel like this book was thrown into my "lap" (aka kindle lap) by the universe or something bigger picture because I have been craving a paranormal romance with demons! This book has witches, druids, demons, and fae in an urban fantasy setting. The heroine is a black magic witch who is trying to escape indentured servitude and the hero is a druid/demon hunter/beast. They start as enemies and progress pretty quickly to lovers. I really wish they groveled a little more and kept the angst high.
Overall, this book was a great first book in the series and I cannot wait to read about more of the Guardians and their future partners. However, I felt that this book just needed a little bit more. Maybe more about Kyra's childhood, more about how she was first discovered in London as a black magic witch, more about how the Guardians formed or what led up to their formation. I just wanted more details because I loved the setting and the premise of the book!
I feel like this book was thrown into my "lap" (aka kindle lap) by the universe or something bigger picture because I have been craving a paranormal romance with demons! This book has witches, druids, demons, and fae in an urban fantasy setting. The heroine is a black magic witch who is trying to escape indentured servitude and the hero is a druid/demon hunter/beast. They start as enemies and progress pretty quickly to lovers. I really wish they groveled a little more and kept the angst high.
Overall, this book was a great first book in the series and I cannot wait to read about more of the Guardians and their future partners. However, I felt that this book just needed a little bit more. Maybe more about Kyra's childhood, more about how she was first discovered in London as a black magic witch, more about how the Guardians formed or what led up to their formation. I just wanted more details because I loved the setting and the premise of the book!
May 3, 2022
I thoroughly enjoy books by Taylor Aston White; she does an excellent job creating multidimensional characters and building a complex world for readers to travel to.
In this story, Kyra is a black witch doing her best to survive in a world where Breed (supernaturals) are present and there are severe consequences if you can't follow the rules. Rules which make Kyra's life difficult. And there's someone or something out there making her life more difficult. Xander is a Guardian trying to keep the world save from daemons and other things that go bump in the night. He also hates black witches. When he's assigned to guard Kyra from the threats, he's decidedly not happy.
The story is well paced with plenty of action and an enjoyable enemies-to-lovers romance. I really loved getting to know Kyra more and I'm glad she got her own story! She has so much to offer, but was always on a short leash due to the Councilman who I do not like at all. I liked her character growth and her friendship with Eva (a human). Xander was always a grump and now we learn why that is. I love their chemistry together!! I also enjoyed Xander getting a little jealous at times.
For being considered paranormal romance, it comes off as more urban fantasy with romantic elements than the typical PNR. This book is more heavy on the plot compared to most PNR which tend to be more romance based. There are steamy scenes in the story.
All in all, this is an entertaining story with wonderful characters (both the main and the secondary, looking at you Kace!) and I look forward to continuing this series!!
Note: This is a spinoff of the Alice Skye urban fantasy series. It is not necessary to read that series before reading this book. I do think you'd enjoy this one more if you did.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
In this story, Kyra is a black witch doing her best to survive in a world where Breed (supernaturals) are present and there are severe consequences if you can't follow the rules. Rules which make Kyra's life difficult. And there's someone or something out there making her life more difficult. Xander is a Guardian trying to keep the world save from daemons and other things that go bump in the night. He also hates black witches. When he's assigned to guard Kyra from the threats, he's decidedly not happy.
The story is well paced with plenty of action and an enjoyable enemies-to-lovers romance. I really loved getting to know Kyra more and I'm glad she got her own story! She has so much to offer, but was always on a short leash due to the Councilman who I do not like at all. I liked her character growth and her friendship with Eva (a human). Xander was always a grump and now we learn why that is. I love their chemistry together!! I also enjoyed Xander getting a little jealous at times.
For being considered paranormal romance, it comes off as more urban fantasy with romantic elements than the typical PNR. This book is more heavy on the plot compared to most PNR which tend to be more romance based. There are steamy scenes in the story.
All in all, this is an entertaining story with wonderful characters (both the main and the secondary, looking at you Kace!) and I look forward to continuing this series!!
Note: This is a spinoff of the Alice Skye urban fantasy series. It is not necessary to read that series before reading this book. I do think you'd enjoy this one more if you did.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 10, 2022
I was super excited to be able to sign up for a free copy of Kiss of Darkness through Katie and Brey PA once I read the blurb.
If you like:
🔥 Slow burn
✨ Magic
🔍 Mystery
🖤 Strong female characters
then you need to pick up Kiss of Darkness (available on #KindleUnlimited)! I flew through this book and legit wanted to abandon all of my responsibilities to read it. I'm actually excited this wasn't an ARC because that means I can go ahead and read the second book in the series while I wait for the third one to come out!
If you like:
🔥 Slow burn
✨ Magic
🔍 Mystery
🖤 Strong female characters
then you need to pick up Kiss of Darkness (available on #KindleUnlimited)! I flew through this book and legit wanted to abandon all of my responsibilities to read it. I'm actually excited this wasn't an ARC because that means I can go ahead and read the second book in the series while I wait for the third one to come out!
May 8, 2022
Thank you to Dark Wolf Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. I thought this was okay, it’s a quick paranormal romance that can easily be read in a day. It follows Kyra, a black witch with a dangerous power, and Xander, a shifter who hates black witches. He feels an intense pull toward her despite his hatred, and is assigned to protect her when several threats are made on her life. I liked the enemies to lovers aspect obv, but Xander wasn’t my favorite love interest. I liked his protectiveness of Kyra, but I thought he was a bit hypocritical and wishy washy. I didn’t mind Kyra though and appreciated how she wanted to remain good despite everything that she’s been through. The writing also wasn’t my favorite but I was satisfied with the ending.
November 16, 2023
1.5 stars
May 9, 2022
Thank you love tour for my advanced copy for my honest opinion.
I haven't read a book like this in a long time! I loved it!. I was gripped from the first page. You could kind of guess that Kyra and Xander would end up together but that didn't spoil it for me.
These type of paranormal books arent for aren't for everyone but I love them.
I can't wait for the next one
I haven't read a book like this in a long time! I loved it!. I was gripped from the first page. You could kind of guess that Kyra and Xander would end up together but that didn't spoil it for me.
These type of paranormal books arent for aren't for everyone but I love them.
I can't wait for the next one
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5
I received an e-ARC of this title from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own!
Kiss of Darkness is the first book in the Guardians series, preceded by the Alice Skye series that is set in the same universe. It is a world of magic and violence, populated by the powerful and secretive "Breeds". You're just as likely to encounter a "Normie" (non-magical) as you are a Witch while getting your morning coffee. The magical is mixed with the mundane, but that does not mean that the Breed are any less deadly.
Kyra is a Black Witch, feared and punished by the Magicka for their practice of death magic. But Kyra is free... At least, she is as free as she can be while leashed to the power-hungry Frederick Gallagher. She's happy enough, until the shadowy presence that has been stalking her for months escalates to physical attacks. Kyra finally reaches out for help, but she certainly doesn't expect for it to come from Xander. The broody, mysterious, sunglasses wearing Guardian expressed his disdain for the Black Witch from the very first moment he met her and is not looking to change his opinion of her because of some measly threats. But as the danger grows and daemons become involved, Xander finds that there may be more to Kyra.
This book checks all my favorite paranormal romance boxes! A vivid world that is bursting with magic, enemies-to-allies-to-lovers, and whole bunch of kick ass characters. The spice is minimal, but what we do get is excellent. Every single character has a unique personality and I look forward to seeing them all shine in the following books in this series.
However, while Kiss of Darkness is the first book in a standalone series, it didn't exactly "stand alone". The world building drew heavily from the preceding series, and since I have not read the Alice Skye series, I felt as if I was missing part of the story. Additionally, there was vagueness in the transitions between scenes, locations, and times. All of which resulted in an emotional distance from the characters that prevented me from being fully invested in the story.
Overall, Kiss of Darkness is good time! I can’t wait to explore and get to know the other Guardians better throughout the series. If what we see in Kiss of Darkness is anything to go by, it is never boring when one of the Guardians (or Lucy) is around.
I received an e-ARC of this title from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own!
Kiss of Darkness is the first book in the Guardians series, preceded by the Alice Skye series that is set in the same universe. It is a world of magic and violence, populated by the powerful and secretive "Breeds". You're just as likely to encounter a "Normie" (non-magical) as you are a Witch while getting your morning coffee. The magical is mixed with the mundane, but that does not mean that the Breed are any less deadly.
Kyra is a Black Witch, feared and punished by the Magicka for their practice of death magic. But Kyra is free... At least, she is as free as she can be while leashed to the power-hungry Frederick Gallagher. She's happy enough, until the shadowy presence that has been stalking her for months escalates to physical attacks. Kyra finally reaches out for help, but she certainly doesn't expect for it to come from Xander. The broody, mysterious, sunglasses wearing Guardian expressed his disdain for the Black Witch from the very first moment he met her and is not looking to change his opinion of her because of some measly threats. But as the danger grows and daemons become involved, Xander finds that there may be more to Kyra.
This book checks all my favorite paranormal romance boxes! A vivid world that is bursting with magic, enemies-to-allies-to-lovers, and whole bunch of kick ass characters. The spice is minimal, but what we do get is excellent. Every single character has a unique personality and I look forward to seeing them all shine in the following books in this series.
However, while Kiss of Darkness is the first book in a standalone series, it didn't exactly "stand alone". The world building drew heavily from the preceding series, and since I have not read the Alice Skye series, I felt as if I was missing part of the story. Additionally, there was vagueness in the transitions between scenes, locations, and times. All of which resulted in an emotional distance from the characters that prevented me from being fully invested in the story.
Overall, Kiss of Darkness is good time! I can’t wait to explore and get to know the other Guardians better throughout the series. If what we see in Kiss of Darkness is anything to go by, it is never boring when one of the Guardians (or Lucy) is around.
May 16, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5
I received an e-ARC of this title from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own!
Kiss of Darkness is the first book in the Guardians series, preceded by the Alice Skye series that is set in the same universe. It is a world of magic and violence, populated by the powerful and secretive "Breeds". You're just as likely to encounter a "Normie" (non-magical) as you are a Witch while getting your morning coffee. The magical is mixed with the mundane, but that does not mean that the Breed are any less deadly.
Kyra is a Black Witch, feared and punished by the Magicka for their practice of death magic. But Kyra is free... At least, she is as free as she can be while leashed to the power-hungry Frederick Gallagher. She's happy enough, until the shadowy presence that has been stalking her for months escalates to physical attacks. Kyra finally reaches out for help, but she certainly doesn't expect for it to come from Xander. The broody, mysterious, sunglasses wearing Guardian expressed his disdain for the Black Witch from the very first moment he met her and is not looking to change his opinion of her because of some measly threats. But as the danger grows and daemons become involved, Xander finds that there may be more to Kyra.
This book checks all my favorite paranormal romance boxes! A vivid world that is bursting with magic, enemies-to-allies-to-lovers, and whole bunch of kick ass characters. The spice is minimal, but what we do get is excellent. Every single character has a unique personality and I look forward to seeing them all shine in the following books in this series.
However, while Kiss of Darkness is the first book in a standalone series, it didn't exactly "stand alone". The world building drew heavily from the preceding series, and since I have not read the Alice Skye series, I felt as if I was missing part of the story. Additionally, there was vagueness in the transitions between scenes, locations, and times. All of which resulted in an emotional distance from the characters that prevented me from being fully invested in the story.
Overall, Kiss of Darkness is good time! I can’t wait to explore and get to know the other Guardians better throughout the series. If what we see in Kiss of Darkness is anything to go by, it is never boring when one of the Guardians (or Lucy) is around.
I received an e-ARC of this title from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own!
Kiss of Darkness is the first book in the Guardians series, preceded by the Alice Skye series that is set in the same universe. It is a world of magic and violence, populated by the powerful and secretive "Breeds". You're just as likely to encounter a "Normie" (non-magical) as you are a Witch while getting your morning coffee. The magical is mixed with the mundane, but that does not mean that the Breed are any less deadly.
Kyra is a Black Witch, feared and punished by the Magicka for their practice of death magic. But Kyra is free... At least, she is as free as she can be while leashed to the power-hungry Frederick Gallagher. She's happy enough, until the shadowy presence that has been stalking her for months escalates to physical attacks. Kyra finally reaches out for help, but she certainly doesn't expect for it to come from Xander. The broody, mysterious, sunglasses wearing Guardian expressed his disdain for the Black Witch from the very first moment he met her and is not looking to change his opinion of her because of some measly threats. But as the danger grows and daemons become involved, Xander finds that there may be more to Kyra.
This book checks all my favorite paranormal romance boxes! A vivid world that is bursting with magic, enemies-to-allies-to-lovers, and whole bunch of kick ass characters. The spice is minimal, but what we do get is excellent. Every single character has a unique personality and I look forward to seeing them all shine in the following books in this series.
However, while Kiss of Darkness is the first book in a standalone series, it didn't exactly "stand alone". The world building drew heavily from the preceding series, and since I have not read the Alice Skye series, I felt as if I was missing part of the story. Additionally, there was vagueness in the transitions between scenes, locations, and times. All of which resulted in an emotional distance from the characters that prevented me from being fully invested in the story.
Overall, Kiss of Darkness is good time! I can’t wait to explore and get to know the other Guardians better throughout the series. If what we see in Kiss of Darkness is anything to go by, it is never boring when one of the Guardians (or Lucy) is around.
March 12, 2023
this is my second time trying to read this book bc the first time i read it i just couldn’t deal w the writing style and the second time i still cant fucking deal w it like i’m tryna think of why the author made the wording of the shit so confusing bc i genuinely felt so dumb bc i kept rereading sentences bc of the formatting being in a weird order that i’m not used to reading like some commas would’ve been helpful. i’m thinking it’s supposed to be british english to excuse it but i just think i’m dumb or the writing style is just not for me or most people. also the world building / magic system sucked too why was some of this shit never explained like what is chi i assumed it to be their energy or power and wtf is arcane i know it’s supposed to be something about their power. and then there’s wands the witches use but some don’t use it whats the purpose of it then and the words the girl says out loud when using magic like is that something that all witches do or this specific spell she’s using i just wanted an explanation for all of this the author just throws shit in your face and you’re supposed to know what it means like pls i’m a little slow can i get a breakdown. also i was confused w the explanations of breeds and fae and all that i just feel like the world building could’ve been done in a more clearer way. but despite all of that i pushed through and finished the book bc the plot was intriguing to me like i’ll give the author that and i did really enjoy the romance between the main couple they had good tension and were true to the enemies to lovers trope but the author claims for this to be fated mates but never really mentions them being mates it’s implied but i kinda wanted a more direct approach to that plot point. also while i do like the romance between the characters i’m unsure how i feel about the characters they feel kinda boring to me like we get their sad traumatic childhood that made them how they are now but idk i don’t feel attached to them. like the main girl got a lot of shit going on w the death threats and then this head witch guy basically controlling her bc she’s a black witch which is illegal but i feel like there’s not more to her than the bad shit she’s going through. like she’s a savior kinda girly always tryna help people w her powers despite her having the death magic but i want more to her besides that heroic shit like her humor and her relationships w her friends i feel like we get nothing from her besides the nonstop conflict she’s always in and the occasional romance w the main guy. the main guy doesn’t got much going on either like hes kinda obsessed w the main girl even tho he swears he hates her but that’s bc dark witches attacked his village when he was younger and he was blamed for the attack it was crazy fr which is why he hates them which is kinda racist in witch form tbh but he’s attracted to her despite all that like make up your mind babes. idk i feel like him putting moves on her but also hating her is so contradicting it gives me whiplash when he was feeling her up but then he’s like oh you’re evil you suck which didn’t happen that much i’m just being dramatic now but yk what i mean. like he was bitchy to her but then he was being kinda civil and understanding to her but then he switched up a few times. idk i feel like he’s the same as the main girl w not much going on w the character but at least we get to see his relationship w his guardian buddies and see another side of him. idk i just feel like the characters aren’t fully developed and shown in all these different lenses to make them more likeable and complex to me. i did like the plot i suppose bc i kept reading to find out what happened next but again i was a tad lost half the time like the ending was so rushed i was like ain’t no way theres 10 pages left for the end of this conflict i’m kinda confused how the demon got finished bc main guys just passed him to the leader of the group to be dealt w and then the main girl just all a sudden knows how her powers work and kills this other guy. i didn’t even understand the villains whole evil plan w trying to make more demons? i’m guessing i was skimming the ending bc i was both confused and wanted to be done w this book. like they had a happy ending where this other guy is caught so she got closure and she’s free and chooses to stay w the main guy idk why he never said anything about her being his mate or just having this connection w her but whatevs. tbh this book made me angry bc i felt like i was in english class tryna understand what was going on. like i don’t wanna give it a 2 stars but tbh shit got me fucked up im leaning towards a 3 bc it wasn’t the worse but damn it put me through the ringer. after reading other reviews agreeing w me imma give it a 2 stars i’m sorry it’s a 5/10.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2022
ARC from NetGalley
This is a rare case of me relatively enjoying a book that is objectively not good. I motored through this shit even though I doubt an editor had ever set eyes on it.
There were a few times where I had to reread bits and still didn't end up understanding wtf was going on. I don't think that this is a case of confusion due to British wording or slang. It just didn't make any sense in spots.
There were some things that happened that were very eye-rolly. Like him demanding she take off her skirt so he could tend to her wound.. on her leg. Are you familiar with skirts? Have you ever met a skirt? Also, the thing with visiting his mom's house was absofuckinglutely ridiculous.
There was one point where the very butt-hurt MMC who has treated the FMC like crap for some time suddenly does an about-face and is being all sexy-friendly with her, and it was just off. It was not timed well or written well.
The bad guys were super one-dimensional, bad for the sake of bad because the story needs a villain. The MCs backstories were similar, comically tragic almost. It was very much in the moustache-twisting and assorted cackling realm of bad guys.
This book is the first in a series, but it is also a spin off of another series that the author seems to expect everyone to read because she just plops you in there with no explanation or backstory. It didn't really hamper the story for me too much, but I could see it irritating others.
The sexy bits were okay, nothing spectacular, could have been better. They were pretty sparse for a book of this nature. If you have a cover that is 98% naked man torso, you need to up your sexy bits game.
All that bitching aside, I mowed through this fast. It was decent, but it could have actually been good with a bit more effort and polish.
This is a rare case of me relatively enjoying a book that is objectively not good. I motored through this shit even though I doubt an editor had ever set eyes on it.
There were a few times where I had to reread bits and still didn't end up understanding wtf was going on. I don't think that this is a case of confusion due to British wording or slang. It just didn't make any sense in spots.
There were some things that happened that were very eye-rolly. Like him demanding she take off her skirt so he could tend to her wound.. on her leg. Are you familiar with skirts? Have you ever met a skirt? Also, the thing with visiting his mom's house was absofuckinglutely ridiculous.
There was one point where the very butt-hurt MMC who has treated the FMC like crap for some time suddenly does an about-face and is being all sexy-friendly with her, and it was just off. It was not timed well or written well.
The bad guys were super one-dimensional, bad for the sake of bad because the story needs a villain. The MCs backstories were similar, comically tragic almost. It was very much in the moustache-twisting and assorted cackling realm of bad guys.
This book is the first in a series, but it is also a spin off of another series that the author seems to expect everyone to read because she just plops you in there with no explanation or backstory. It didn't really hamper the story for me too much, but I could see it irritating others.
The sexy bits were okay, nothing spectacular, could have been better. They were pretty sparse for a book of this nature. If you have a cover that is 98% naked man torso, you need to up your sexy bits game.
All that bitching aside, I mowed through this fast. It was decent, but it could have actually been good with a bit more effort and polish.
October 4, 2022
Not the way lucifer was my fav character. This book was so bad it was almost funny every time they kiss it was the worst possible timing. My particular favourite was when she's kidnapped by a demon and the love interest comes to save her and she tells u about the four rotting bodies in the room and how bad they smell, puts her hand through their guts to get a knife and stab a fifth guy, and then makes out with him for a good long while in the same room still covered in all the blood, in the middle of her escape attempt, conveniently wearing just her bra.
Yikes.
It was crescent city but rly bad.
Also the ending where the government was like lol jokes we were wrong nvm sorry for stereotyping black magic users that was so bad and forced. Also the book felt like not the first book like she just expected u to know what all the high fantasy words meant and there was all this backstory u were probs meant to kno but didnt make sense so just was rly awkies. Also the plot was stupid and i hated the whole book.
Yikes.
It was crescent city but rly bad.
Also the ending where the government was like lol jokes we were wrong nvm sorry for stereotyping black magic users that was so bad and forced. Also the book felt like not the first book like she just expected u to know what all the high fantasy words meant and there was all this backstory u were probs meant to kno but didnt make sense so just was rly awkies. Also the plot was stupid and i hated the whole book.
November 2, 2023
Kiss of Darkness by Taylor Aston White is a dark paranormal romance that I listened to on audio narrated by Lilly Drake and DB West. This is the first book in the Curse of the Guardians series.
This is the first book of Taylor's that I have read, and it won't be my last. I really enjoyed the relationship that bloomed between Kyra and Xander. It was messy but you couldn't help but root for them. I liked that we got both of their points of views throughout the book.
I can't wait for the next book in the series Touch of Blood to be released on audio so I can get Kace and Eva's story.
Lilly and DB did a great job on the narration. I look forward to listening to more of their work in the future.
I would recommend this book if you're looking for a paranormal romance, fated mate's romance, enemies-to-lovers romance, or a bodyguard romance.
The Flock Team
This is the first book of Taylor's that I have read, and it won't be my last. I really enjoyed the relationship that bloomed between Kyra and Xander. It was messy but you couldn't help but root for them. I liked that we got both of their points of views throughout the book.
I can't wait for the next book in the series Touch of Blood to be released on audio so I can get Kace and Eva's story.
Lilly and DB did a great job on the narration. I look forward to listening to more of their work in the future.
I would recommend this book if you're looking for a paranormal romance, fated mate's romance, enemies-to-lovers romance, or a bodyguard romance.
The Flock Team
November 7, 2023
I’m book hungover! Xander is everything 🥵
How grumpy he is to her and mostly because he is to stubborn to admit his feelings to her. And the other reason is that it just pisses him off that she is that careless with her life 😂
He hates her yet he wants her. He hates her yet he appointed himself as her guard. He hates her yet he is possessive of her. He hates her yet gets jealous when she goes out of a date with someone.
This book was pure gold!!! I can’t say it enough. The yearning, the tension between them. Lighting was about to strike!
Just know this is a slow burn but it’s so worth it 🔥
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️
(meaning: plenty of touching and dirty talking but only one full graphic scene)
How grumpy he is to her and mostly because he is to stubborn to admit his feelings to her. And the other reason is that it just pisses him off that she is that careless with her life 😂
He hates her yet he wants her. He hates her yet he appointed himself as her guard. He hates her yet he is possessive of her. He hates her yet gets jealous when she goes out of a date with someone.
This book was pure gold!!! I can’t say it enough. The yearning, the tension between them. Lighting was about to strike!
Just know this is a slow burn but it’s so worth it 🔥
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️
(meaning: plenty of touching and dirty talking but only one full graphic scene)
April 3, 2024
2.5 ⭐️, 2 🌶️. I liked the story, but it felt like the author rushed some of the writing. Some scenes fell a bit short, needing more depth. I often got confused on who was talking / it seemed like the writing style would change throughout the book. The world building was a bit rough. I liked the world, but the way it was presented was a bit hard to follow. I did enjoy the tension between the characters. Not sure if I will continue the series.
So are mates fated in this world? I still wasn’t sure by the end of it.
So are mates fated in this world? I still wasn’t sure by the end of it.
May 19, 2022
I loved the premise of this book but felt at times it feel a bit flat!
I really liked Kyra and definitely wanting to have her back so she could be free and who she should be I felt the being of the book was a bit confusing and it didn't really get going until half way through.
I also really like Xander and despite the 🌶 being good I felt the build up could have had a bit more heat
Overall whist I did enjoy this book and as much as I wanted to love it I just wasn't blown away by it
I really liked Kyra and definitely wanting to have her back so she could be free and who she should be I felt the being of the book was a bit confusing and it didn't really get going until half way through.
I also really like Xander and despite the 🌶 being good I felt the build up could have had a bit more heat
Overall whist I did enjoy this book and as much as I wanted to love it I just wasn't blown away by it
August 5, 2022
I really wanted to like this book more than I did. I really like the characters and their development throughout the book. I just wish that I found the world building more interesting. It felt like information overload with all these terms thrown out there that didn't get much explanation until you'd heard them 10 times and by then I was already confused. It just didn't flow in my opinion. That took a hefty toll on me trying to finish this book, so it was hard for me to get through it. I ended up skimming parts of it towards the middle/end of the book because it was just blah. But I did really like how the story played out and felt the ending was really good, all things considered.
Thank you Netgally for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you Netgally for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
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