What do you think?
Rate this book
Dark Days #3
Dawnbreaker
The dawn brings new terror for the creatures of the night . . .
Those of her race fear Mira for the lethal fire she bends to her will—a power unique among nightwalkers, both a gift . . . and a curse.
The naturi despise Mira for what she is—as they prepare the final sacrifice that will destroy the barriers between the worlds. And once the naturi are unchained, blood, chaos, and horror will reign supreme on Earth.
Mira can trust only Danaus, the more-than-mortal vampire slayer, though he is sworn to destroy her kind. And now, as the day approaches when titanic forces will duel under cover of darkness, destiny draws them toward an apocalyptic confrontation at Machu Picchu. But all is not lost, for a wild card has been dealt to them: a rogue enemy princess who can change the balance of power and turn the dread tide.
Those of her race fear Mira for the lethal fire she bends to her will—a power unique among nightwalkers, both a gift . . . and a curse.
The naturi despise Mira for what she is—as they prepare the final sacrifice that will destroy the barriers between the worlds. And once the naturi are unchained, blood, chaos, and horror will reign supreme on Earth.
Mira can trust only Danaus, the more-than-mortal vampire slayer, though he is sworn to destroy her kind. And now, as the day approaches when titanic forces will duel under cover of darkness, destiny draws them toward an apocalyptic confrontation at Machu Picchu. But all is not lost, for a wild card has been dealt to them: a rogue enemy princess who can change the balance of power and turn the dread tide.
372 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
43 people are currently reading
2037 people want to read
About the author
Jocelynn Drake
143 books2,899 followersNew York Times Bestselling author Jocelynn Drake loves a good story, whether she is reading it or writing one of her own. Over the years, her stories have allowed her to explore space, talk to dragons, dodge bullets with assassins, hang with vampires, and fall in love again and again.
This former Kentucky girl has moved up, down, and across the U.S. with her husband. Recently, they’ve settled near the Rockies.
When she is not hammering away at her keyboard or curled up with a book, she can be
walking her dog Ace, or playing video games. She loves Bruce Wayne, Ezio Auditore, travel, tattoos, explosions, and fast cars.
She is the author of the urban fantasy books: The Dark Days series and the Asylum Tales. For gay romance, she has completed The Exit Strategy and Shadow Elite series, and is now working on a spin-off of her MM paranormal series, Lords of Discord. She has also co-authored with Rinda Elliot the following series: Unbreakable Bonds, Ward Security, Pineapple Grove, the Weavers Circle. In addition, she has co-authored with AJ Sherwood the following series: Scales 'N' Spell and Wings 'N' Wands. She can be found at JocelynnDrake.com.
This former Kentucky girl has moved up, down, and across the U.S. with her husband. Recently, they’ve settled near the Rockies.
When she is not hammering away at her keyboard or curled up with a book, she can be
walking her dog Ace, or playing video games. She loves Bruce Wayne, Ezio Auditore, travel, tattoos, explosions, and fast cars.
She is the author of the urban fantasy books: The Dark Days series and the Asylum Tales. For gay romance, she has completed The Exit Strategy and Shadow Elite series, and is now working on a spin-off of her MM paranormal series, Lords of Discord. She has also co-authored with Rinda Elliot the following series: Unbreakable Bonds, Ward Security, Pineapple Grove, the Weavers Circle. In addition, she has co-authored with AJ Sherwood the following series: Scales 'N' Spell and Wings 'N' Wands. She can be found at JocelynnDrake.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
October 31, 2009
Rating is closer to 3 1/2 stars, but I rounded up since I'm feeling hopeful about the next book. I have no idea why though ...
This series is extremely frustrating, but I keep reading it. It's like watching a TV show where you want to two main characters to admit their feelings and ... get together already. But, they never do. Yet you keep watching, hoping, season after season getting more and more frustrated.
In the first book, Nightwalker, I didn't like Mira much at all. In the second book, Dayhunter, I grew to like her and liked Danaus even more. I had high hopes for this one and it was a slight let down.
Equally frustrating is that these books to plug along for about 3/4, then in the last 1/4 everything picks up. Where I almost had to force myself to continue reading I then find myself unable to stop reading ... what will happen next? Will he/she die? Will their plan succeed? It's frustrating.
So that's my insightful review ... frustration. :)
This series is extremely frustrating, but I keep reading it. It's like watching a TV show where you want to two main characters to admit their feelings and ... get together already. But, they never do. Yet you keep watching, hoping, season after season getting more and more frustrated.
In the first book, Nightwalker, I didn't like Mira much at all. In the second book, Dayhunter, I grew to like her and liked Danaus even more. I had high hopes for this one and it was a slight let down.
Equally frustrating is that these books to plug along for about 3/4, then in the last 1/4 everything picks up. Where I almost had to force myself to continue reading I then find myself unable to stop reading ... what will happen next? Will he/she die? Will their plan succeed? It's frustrating.
So that's my insightful review ... frustration. :)
November 7, 2009
I found myself liking this book so much more than the others before it. I like the relationship that is brewing between Mira and Danaus. They definitely have a love / hate thing going. It does seem like the more time they spend around each other the more that they are the only ones that understand each other.
Mira seems to be surrounded by people that want her dead or just use her to their benefit, then kill her, which can't be good for a person's sanity. As she battles people on all fronts it is interesting who comes to fight on her side and the surprising allies she finds. She has always known this battle is coming and that she may not survive, but as the thoughts were spoken out loud the reality of it really sank in. In the end the fight went places she didn't expect and the toll was great, the war still marches on with a slight break, and alliances hanging in the balance.
Mira seems to be surrounded by people that want her dead or just use her to their benefit, then kill her, which can't be good for a person's sanity. As she battles people on all fronts it is interesting who comes to fight on her side and the surprising allies she finds. She has always known this battle is coming and that she may not survive, but as the thoughts were spoken out loud the reality of it really sank in. In the end the fight went places she didn't expect and the toll was great, the war still marches on with a slight break, and alliances hanging in the balance.
May 20, 2017
"Dawnbreaker" once again finds Mira pitted against the naturi. She is back in Savannah and has extended an offer of family to Knox and Amanda.. If they accept, Mira realizes that she may be putting a target on their backs but in the end she feels it is for the best.
Meanwhile, Barrett and the werewolves are overwhelmed when the naturi come to Savannah and several of his wolves end up dead as collateral damage. Things come to a head between them. However soon she must leave to go to the final battle at Macchu Picchu. During one of the many battles Mira stumbles upon a naturi prisoner who will serve as a bargaining chip.
As the battles wage and war is becoming inevitable Mira gains some new abilities. She is quick on her feet and will try to exploit her enemies vulnerabilities. Will it be enough? Will they be able to stop Aurora from opening the seal and entering our world? You will have to read this installment to find out.
I enjoyed this read and like the way the author takes her time to build relationships between characters all while making it clear Mira doesn't really trust anyone. Yet in the midst of all of this chaos, she and Danaus manage to find enough trust between them to survive the perils at hand. I can't wait for book 4.
Meanwhile, Barrett and the werewolves are overwhelmed when the naturi come to Savannah and several of his wolves end up dead as collateral damage. Things come to a head between them. However soon she must leave to go to the final battle at Macchu Picchu. During one of the many battles Mira stumbles upon a naturi prisoner who will serve as a bargaining chip.
As the battles wage and war is becoming inevitable Mira gains some new abilities. She is quick on her feet and will try to exploit her enemies vulnerabilities. Will it be enough? Will they be able to stop Aurora from opening the seal and entering our world? You will have to read this installment to find out.
I enjoyed this read and like the way the author takes her time to build relationships between characters all while making it clear Mira doesn't really trust anyone. Yet in the midst of all of this chaos, she and Danaus manage to find enough trust between them to survive the perils at hand. I can't wait for book 4.
April 16, 2011
The third installment of the Dark Days saga picks up a couple of months after the conclusion of
Dayhunter
. Mira has returned home to Savannah with Tristan in tow and she is ready to expand her vampire family to her favorite minions Knox and Amanda. But the naturi have no plans to let her live in peace. They’ve followed her back to the States and they’re trying to kill her before she stops their queen from returning to Earth. Vampire hunter Danaus comes back into her life, just in time to join her for the latest big battle against the naturi… back in Machu Picchu, the same place where they tortured her all those years ago.
We don’t see much of the secondary characters featured heavily in the first two books. Tristan stays in Savannah during Mira’s trip. We don’t see Nico or Ryan. And we only get small cameos from Jabari and Sadira. But we do pick up some new faces, including Nia, the naturi princess, and Stefan, a vampire with aspirations to join the coven.
So here’s what I got out of this book: It really sucks to be Mira. She is proving time and time again that she’s a pretty stand-up gal. She takes her duty very seriously. She is willing to put herself in harm’s way to protect those she is loyal to. And she knows that her attempts to save humanity (and the nightcrawler race) will likely end in her death, and she does it anyway. But all this comes at great personal expense. Her mentor, Jebari, is a rat-bastard. Rowe, the naturi leading the effort to free the queen, relentlessly pursues her. And perhaps worst of all, she must acquiesce to being a puppet, to the whims of both Jebari and Danaus.
And speaking of Danaus. Why the hell can’t these two recognize what they have together? We see over and over, through Mira’s thoughts and actions that she cares deeply for Danaus. And he seems to have to remind himself that she is the enemy. These two need to get it on already… in a big way. Three books is plenty of time for me to wait. I definitely need some payoff. (And not just physically, by the way. These two have a deeper connection.)
So when all is said and done, we get our big battle, more reveals about what Danaus is, and big questions about the future of the naturi. And while the book may be over, there is obviously plenty of story left to go. 4 stars.
P.S. If you haven’t read the first two books in the series, you don’t want to start with this one. It won’t make sense and you won’t have the same investment in the characters. This is not meant to be a stand-alone. Trust me.
We don’t see much of the secondary characters featured heavily in the first two books. Tristan stays in Savannah during Mira’s trip. We don’t see Nico or Ryan. And we only get small cameos from Jabari and Sadira. But we do pick up some new faces, including Nia, the naturi princess, and Stefan, a vampire with aspirations to join the coven.
So here’s what I got out of this book: It really sucks to be Mira. She is proving time and time again that she’s a pretty stand-up gal. She takes her duty very seriously. She is willing to put herself in harm’s way to protect those she is loyal to. And she knows that her attempts to save humanity (and the nightcrawler race) will likely end in her death, and she does it anyway. But all this comes at great personal expense. Her mentor, Jebari, is a rat-bastard. Rowe, the naturi leading the effort to free the queen, relentlessly pursues her. And perhaps worst of all, she must acquiesce to being a puppet, to the whims of both Jebari and Danaus.
And speaking of Danaus. Why the hell can’t these two recognize what they have together? We see over and over, through Mira’s thoughts and actions that she cares deeply for Danaus. And he seems to have to remind himself that she is the enemy. These two need to get it on already… in a big way. Three books is plenty of time for me to wait. I definitely need some payoff. (And not just physically, by the way. These two have a deeper connection.)
So when all is said and done, we get our big battle, more reveals about what Danaus is, and big questions about the future of the naturi. And while the book may be over, there is obviously plenty of story left to go. 4 stars.
P.S. If you haven’t read the first two books in the series, you don’t want to start with this one. It won’t make sense and you won’t have the same investment in the characters. This is not meant to be a stand-alone. Trust me.
November 14, 2014
An excellent third addition to the Dark Days series!! There was never a dull moment. Lots of action, drama, and suspense to keep readers on their toes. I couldn't have enjoyed this book more.
Mira is back in Savannah, where she had hoped to escape the influence of the Coven and her Naturi problems. However, the Naturi seem to have followed her home, and they are coming after her with ferocious intent. She will have to rely on her hunter companion and her slowly increasing family to have her back in this trying time.
The Naturi invading her territory is not the only problem that Mira has. It's not even the worst. The Naturi plan to open the door that will free their trapped queen, Aurora, and Mira has only days to stop them. When a Naturi proclaimed to be a traitor to her own kind winds up in Mira's possession, she has hope that she may be able to keep Aurora from re-entering into her world; but can this Naturi be trusted? After all, she appears to be the youngest sister of the Naturi queen, princess to the Naturi. Where exactly do her loyalties lie?
Mira will discover this and more as she races to close the portal between the worlds and save the world from the disastrous return of the Naturi queen. Secrets will be revealed. Loyalties will be tested. And trust will become the most fluid commodity available. Who do you trust when you're surrounded by enemies?
Mira is back in Savannah, where she had hoped to escape the influence of the Coven and her Naturi problems. However, the Naturi seem to have followed her home, and they are coming after her with ferocious intent. She will have to rely on her hunter companion and her slowly increasing family to have her back in this trying time.
The Naturi invading her territory is not the only problem that Mira has. It's not even the worst. The Naturi plan to open the door that will free their trapped queen, Aurora, and Mira has only days to stop them. When a Naturi proclaimed to be a traitor to her own kind winds up in Mira's possession, she has hope that she may be able to keep Aurora from re-entering into her world; but can this Naturi be trusted? After all, she appears to be the youngest sister of the Naturi queen, princess to the Naturi. Where exactly do her loyalties lie?
Mira will discover this and more as she races to close the portal between the worlds and save the world from the disastrous return of the Naturi queen. Secrets will be revealed. Loyalties will be tested. And trust will become the most fluid commodity available. Who do you trust when you're surrounded by enemies?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 10, 2011
I have to say, this book is very refreshing...
The storyline is great and characters are all different... all i can say is that Dawnbreaker is an interesting break from all your typical love/ action stories.
There are interesting twists in the plot every now and then that keep you reading on. Some of the twists are completely unpredictable, causing your head to spin!
Dawnbreaker is one of those books that you can casually read without having to rush to get through, an advantage because you can take the time to memorise each of the details.
All i can say, is that Dawnbreaker was like a refreshing glass of lemonade on a scorching hot summers day: Invigorating and calming (though at some parts in the book I was slightly worked up, jumping up and down, to be exact. But that's irrelevant to my point)
:) smiles
The storyline is great and characters are all different... all i can say is that Dawnbreaker is an interesting break from all your typical love/ action stories.
There are interesting twists in the plot every now and then that keep you reading on. Some of the twists are completely unpredictable, causing your head to spin!
Dawnbreaker is one of those books that you can casually read without having to rush to get through, an advantage because you can take the time to memorise each of the details.
All i can say, is that Dawnbreaker was like a refreshing glass of lemonade on a scorching hot summers day: Invigorating and calming (though at some parts in the book I was slightly worked up, jumping up and down, to be exact. But that's irrelevant to my point)
:) smiles
February 2, 2019
Kat Mandu says...
This is such an exciting read and my favorite in the series. It’s also my favorite cover. Can you blame me? That plot with that cover? Gorgeous and meant to be.
This third one runs much more smoothly than the second; there’s still a lot going on but it’s less to take in. I love the references to magic, earth, and blood, and it’s very cool that Mira has a new role to play in the next couple novels. Not that it’ll help get her out of the sticky situations she always tends to find herself in, but it might help a little.
One character, Tristan, has always been one of my favorite characters, being both young and restless and not quite sure what his place is in the world. I think it’s cute he has an affinity for Amanda and I want to see how that plays out since their slightly broken relationship was never really fixed at the end of the book.
And now we have Stefan coming into play. That’ll get interesting for the next couple books as Mira starts to realize her position on the Coven will play an even more important role for the upcoming battle. Cynnia and Nyx, too, adding a little chaos to the mix, being from the enemy side.
Beautiful writing as always and Danaus is just as brooding as we expect him to be. I like that he was a bit vulnerable in this one, needing to be put under the sleep spell and then later needing Mira’s help to heal himself during the final battle. I love that their relationship is going to be taken to the next level. Or at least I can hope.
This is such an exciting read and my favorite in the series. It’s also my favorite cover. Can you blame me? That plot with that cover? Gorgeous and meant to be.
This third one runs much more smoothly than the second; there’s still a lot going on but it’s less to take in. I love the references to magic, earth, and blood, and it’s very cool that Mira has a new role to play in the next couple novels. Not that it’ll help get her out of the sticky situations she always tends to find herself in, but it might help a little.
One character, Tristan, has always been one of my favorite characters, being both young and restless and not quite sure what his place is in the world. I think it’s cute he has an affinity for Amanda and I want to see how that plays out since their slightly broken relationship was never really fixed at the end of the book.
And now we have Stefan coming into play. That’ll get interesting for the next couple books as Mira starts to realize her position on the Coven will play an even more important role for the upcoming battle. Cynnia and Nyx, too, adding a little chaos to the mix, being from the enemy side.
Beautiful writing as always and Danaus is just as brooding as we expect him to be. I like that he was a bit vulnerable in this one, needing to be put under the sleep spell and then later needing Mira’s help to heal himself during the final battle. I love that their relationship is going to be taken to the next level. Or at least I can hope.
February 22, 2021
Hilary Huber could make the phone book sound interesting and there is no question that her voice elevates this book in ways that mere reading could not. She adds a level of emotion and nuance that made me want to keep listening. This is the third book in the Dark Days trilogy. This is it. The naturi have to find a way to break the seal and bring Aurora through and she is going to kill all the nightwalkers and humans. Mira has a few tricks on her side. She has the Queen's sister, Cynnia. Cynnia has shown her how to use Earth magic. She has Danaus. She is willing to die for the cause although she doesn't really want to. But she is the Firestarter, it was prophesied. The book is one very long fight scene broken up by some recovery time but then followed by more fighting. In that, the book is very monochromatic. Mira fights with everyone whether they are on her side or not. When in doubt, kill them. After a while you start to wonder who is left. But, as I said, I wanted to keep listening and I enjoyed it. Mira is a strong character. She isn't always right but she protects those weaker than she is. There are worse traits in a leader.
August 16, 2017
The series is starting to pick up a bit of steam. So much fighting happened in this book that their really wasn't much personal relationship building going on. More characters are introduced, and well Jabrari is still around, altho Mira's maker gets much what she deserves.
Personally, I'd like to see Mira be part Bori like Danaus. It would make for an incredibly interesting story and would account for their bond. I don't want her to be part Naturi. But the road is being paved for the author to let the reader know what she is.
Along those lines of thinking, PLEASE let Mira and Danaus' relationship move along. Otherwise Ill be getting bored real quick with this series. Less new characters and more focus on the current ones, please. :)
Personally, I'd like to see Mira be part Bori like Danaus. It would make for an incredibly interesting story and would account for their bond. I don't want her to be part Naturi. But the road is being paved for the author to let the reader know what she is.
Along those lines of thinking, PLEASE let Mira and Danaus' relationship move along. Otherwise Ill be getting bored real quick with this series. Less new characters and more focus on the current ones, please. :)
April 8, 2018
Another winner
Yep, this was another great addition to the series, although it's really time for these two to just do it already. Four books is really a slower burn than most people like. So this one had everyone along with a couple new characters, trying to stop the release of Aurora, the queen of the bad guys. Unfortunately the book was more stumbling around without a plan, barely surviving and not accomplishing much, but it was fun to read. And of course our girl attracted several more enemies. She's lucky she has an author on her side, because it's the only way she survives!
Yep, this was another great addition to the series, although it's really time for these two to just do it already. Four books is really a slower burn than most people like. So this one had everyone along with a couple new characters, trying to stop the release of Aurora, the queen of the bad guys. Unfortunately the book was more stumbling around without a plan, barely surviving and not accomplishing much, but it was fun to read. And of course our girl attracted several more enemies. She's lucky she has an author on her side, because it's the only way she survives!
May 26, 2018
After having spent a few years away from this series, I am super glad I decided to pick back up on it! There was so much action going on that it kept me wanting more! Very pleased. I cannot wait to read what happens next!
February 3, 2025
There wasn't any real movement in this novel, especially with the world building. I feel tired of Mira's random inner monologues and chaotic emotions. And I'm tired of all the fight scenes. I don't think I'll go on with the series.
July 18, 2017
See final book
December 14, 2017
Love it keeps you on you're toes ,funny
December 19, 2019
Now onto pray for dawn
March 25, 2020
Wow! What a ride! Mira needs more allies and a HEA though!
December 4, 2021
I thought this series was pretty interesting and original but it did seem to go on a little long. I enjoyed the whole series.
February 28, 2023
2.5 stars
October 17, 2009
http://janicu.livejournal.com/86581.html
his review is for an ARC I received from EOS books
The Premise: This is the third Dark Days novel, narrated by Mira, a 600 year old vampire, known as the Fire Starter, the only nightwalker (aka vampire) with the power over fire. Mira is in the middle of a war between the nightwalkers and the naturi, a race of beings who think that all humans and nightwalkers should be eliminated to cleanse the earth. Mira's fight with the naturi has traversed the globe, from her home in Savannah, to London, to Venice and back. Now things have progressed so that the naturi are about to break free out of the seal keeping most of them out of the world, but Mira is hellbent on stopping them.
**** There are minor spoilers for the past books from this point on ****
My Thoughts: I had very similar thoughts about this book as I did for the previous two, except I would say that this book has even more action. Dawnbreaker is like one of those blockbuster movies with plenty of fights and pyrotechnics (which makes for a quick read whenever I picked it up). The book starts off where Daywalker left off, with naturi pursuing Mira while she tries to stop them from breaking the seal that keeps most of their kind from returning to the world. By Mira's side are several people who we've been introduced to in the past couple of books. There's a lot of characters to keep track of, but I had no issues remembering who they were because of quick summaries of who is who exactly when I needed it. All of these people are under Mira's protection and she takes her job very seriously, but the bombardment from the naturi means Mira is a busy woman.
One of the people surrounding Mira is the vampire hunter Danaus who over the past couple of books has become something of a friend. Their relationship is an odd one. They have to work with each other because only Danaus is able to expand Mira's abilities, but they are natural enemies. This book is very much an urban fantasy because there is almost no romance, but there are hints that Danaus and Mira feel more for each other than they are willing to admit. These hints were *very* few and far between, and are about equal in number to the comments that one day Mira and Danaus will kill each other. They both seem able to understand one another in times of trouble, but Mira and Danaus have seen each other do things they didn't approve of. In any case, because this book was focused on the race to stop the naturi from re-entering the world, there was less time to delve into relationships as deeply as they were in previous books. Much of the interesting interactions happened in the last quarter of Dawnbreaker. I don't doubt we'll see more of that to come, both between Mira and Danaus, and between Mira and others, including the vampire Coven leaders, whose long term plans are hard to guess, and Mira's new vampire family. This book leaves us with some problems solved and other problems appearing (Mira's seat on the Coven, Danaus' identity, The Great Awakening). I can't wait to see how Mira and Danaus tackle them!
My family used to live there, so I have a very small nit about the Peruvian weather: Peru isn't far from the equator and the change of seasons is quite mild, so the description of the winter winds and seasons being the opposite of North America's isn't accurate. I'd say Cusco is only colder because of the altitude and there really is only a dry season and a rainy season, not four seasons.
Overall: Ramps up the non-stop action which is found in the first two books. This book continues with the same dark, Gothic undertones and epic scope. I love the complex relationships between characters which is sparingly doled out here, but I have no doubt they will come to the forefront again soon enough. There are a couple of juicy issues left for Mira and Danaus to tackle after this book, and I'm looking forward to the next installment.
his review is for an ARC I received from EOS books
The Premise: This is the third Dark Days novel, narrated by Mira, a 600 year old vampire, known as the Fire Starter, the only nightwalker (aka vampire) with the power over fire. Mira is in the middle of a war between the nightwalkers and the naturi, a race of beings who think that all humans and nightwalkers should be eliminated to cleanse the earth. Mira's fight with the naturi has traversed the globe, from her home in Savannah, to London, to Venice and back. Now things have progressed so that the naturi are about to break free out of the seal keeping most of them out of the world, but Mira is hellbent on stopping them.
**** There are minor spoilers for the past books from this point on ****
My Thoughts: I had very similar thoughts about this book as I did for the previous two, except I would say that this book has even more action. Dawnbreaker is like one of those blockbuster movies with plenty of fights and pyrotechnics (which makes for a quick read whenever I picked it up). The book starts off where Daywalker left off, with naturi pursuing Mira while she tries to stop them from breaking the seal that keeps most of their kind from returning to the world. By Mira's side are several people who we've been introduced to in the past couple of books. There's a lot of characters to keep track of, but I had no issues remembering who they were because of quick summaries of who is who exactly when I needed it. All of these people are under Mira's protection and she takes her job very seriously, but the bombardment from the naturi means Mira is a busy woman.
One of the people surrounding Mira is the vampire hunter Danaus who over the past couple of books has become something of a friend. Their relationship is an odd one. They have to work with each other because only Danaus is able to expand Mira's abilities, but they are natural enemies. This book is very much an urban fantasy because there is almost no romance, but there are hints that Danaus and Mira feel more for each other than they are willing to admit. These hints were *very* few and far between, and are about equal in number to the comments that one day Mira and Danaus will kill each other. They both seem able to understand one another in times of trouble, but Mira and Danaus have seen each other do things they didn't approve of. In any case, because this book was focused on the race to stop the naturi from re-entering the world, there was less time to delve into relationships as deeply as they were in previous books. Much of the interesting interactions happened in the last quarter of Dawnbreaker. I don't doubt we'll see more of that to come, both between Mira and Danaus, and between Mira and others, including the vampire Coven leaders, whose long term plans are hard to guess, and Mira's new vampire family. This book leaves us with some problems solved and other problems appearing (Mira's seat on the Coven, Danaus' identity, The Great Awakening). I can't wait to see how Mira and Danaus tackle them!
My family used to live there, so I have a very small nit about the Peruvian weather: Peru isn't far from the equator and the change of seasons is quite mild, so the description of the winter winds and seasons being the opposite of North America's isn't accurate. I'd say Cusco is only colder because of the altitude and there really is only a dry season and a rainy season, not four seasons.
Overall: Ramps up the non-stop action which is found in the first two books. This book continues with the same dark, Gothic undertones and epic scope. I love the complex relationships between characters which is sparingly doled out here, but I have no doubt they will come to the forefront again soon enough. There are a couple of juicy issues left for Mira and Danaus to tackle after this book, and I'm looking forward to the next installment.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2011
I have a confession to make: I like urban fantasy and paranormal romance novels. Okay - I've said it. I'm almost embarrassed to say it, but it's true.
I've recently gotten into some of the wildly popular adult and young adult urban fantasy/paranormal romance novels (even of the mass market paperback type) because they are full of fun and are great means of escape. That doesn't mean that I think all these novels are good. In fact, since I've started to read so many, I have become even more critical as to which ones are worthwhile reads. Not all of them are great, or even good - really, most of them are mediocre. Dawnbreaker, the third book in Jocelyn Drake's Dark Days series, however, is one of the better ones that I've read recently. I wouldn't say that it's great, but it's definitely a notch above mediocre - and, of course, downright fun.
Dawnbreaker continues the adventures of Mira the nightwalker, a kind of ancient vampire and one-of-a-kind fire bender, as she battles the naturi, a kind of evil elf-like race. The naturi are gaining power and preparing a dangerous sacrifice that will unleash the entire race on the planet and lead to death and destruction. In order to stop the naturi, Mira desperately teams up with vampire-slayer Danaus (complete with climatic relationship tension) to capture a rogue naturi princess who claims she opposes her race's apocalyptic plans. With the princess's help, Mira and Danaus must prevent an apocalyptic summoning at Machu Picchu and save humanity.
Drake writes with an ease and understanding that pulls readers through the novel. I was completely enthralled by her unique and detailed world. Even though Drake does base her races on traditional fantasy/horror creatures (vampires and elves) she throws a fresh, much-needed twist into the mix that keeps readers wondering what they are going to do next. While Drake's world can sometimes feel a little confusing or is ill-explained, the overall feel of it is dark, different, and filled with fun, unique approaches to traditional fantasy icons. Plus, while this novel does include vampires, it's not your typical vampire romance story. Sure, there is a strong romance element between two unlikely allies who must team up to save the world, but there is not a hint of vampire angst or cliche vampire romance. In fact, the vampire element seems like it's minimized in Dawnbreaker, focusing more on the vampire-based nightwalker race that Drake created for her world.
Filled with fast-paced action, unique plot elements, and a vivid world, Dawnbreaker was a surprisingly fun and powerful read from start to finish. The characters deal with realistic, adult problems while balance feelings of unease and unexpected news of treason in the ranks. While Dawnbreaker had few witty one-liners (okay, I was hoping for more a la Rachel Morgan style), the dialog feels natural and easy for the characters.
The ending of Dawnbreaker feels like it could be the end for the entire series. Even though Drake does leave an opening for subsequent novels, all of the action that previous novels have been building up to end here (and in a rather satisfying way). While I'm not sure if I was intrigued enough to continue this series if there are more books, it's a great way to pass a lazy few hours or take some time out of a busy day to drift into another world.
Fans of Drake's Dark Days novels will eat this one up and beg for more. It's fun, fast-paced, filled with great action sequences and builds to an epic climax that blows the rest of the series out of the water. A great addition to any urban fantasy/paranormal romance fan's library.
I've recently gotten into some of the wildly popular adult and young adult urban fantasy/paranormal romance novels (even of the mass market paperback type) because they are full of fun and are great means of escape. That doesn't mean that I think all these novels are good. In fact, since I've started to read so many, I have become even more critical as to which ones are worthwhile reads. Not all of them are great, or even good - really, most of them are mediocre. Dawnbreaker, the third book in Jocelyn Drake's Dark Days series, however, is one of the better ones that I've read recently. I wouldn't say that it's great, but it's definitely a notch above mediocre - and, of course, downright fun.
Dawnbreaker continues the adventures of Mira the nightwalker, a kind of ancient vampire and one-of-a-kind fire bender, as she battles the naturi, a kind of evil elf-like race. The naturi are gaining power and preparing a dangerous sacrifice that will unleash the entire race on the planet and lead to death and destruction. In order to stop the naturi, Mira desperately teams up with vampire-slayer Danaus (complete with climatic relationship tension) to capture a rogue naturi princess who claims she opposes her race's apocalyptic plans. With the princess's help, Mira and Danaus must prevent an apocalyptic summoning at Machu Picchu and save humanity.
Drake writes with an ease and understanding that pulls readers through the novel. I was completely enthralled by her unique and detailed world. Even though Drake does base her races on traditional fantasy/horror creatures (vampires and elves) she throws a fresh, much-needed twist into the mix that keeps readers wondering what they are going to do next. While Drake's world can sometimes feel a little confusing or is ill-explained, the overall feel of it is dark, different, and filled with fun, unique approaches to traditional fantasy icons. Plus, while this novel does include vampires, it's not your typical vampire romance story. Sure, there is a strong romance element between two unlikely allies who must team up to save the world, but there is not a hint of vampire angst or cliche vampire romance. In fact, the vampire element seems like it's minimized in Dawnbreaker, focusing more on the vampire-based nightwalker race that Drake created for her world.
Filled with fast-paced action, unique plot elements, and a vivid world, Dawnbreaker was a surprisingly fun and powerful read from start to finish. The characters deal with realistic, adult problems while balance feelings of unease and unexpected news of treason in the ranks. While Dawnbreaker had few witty one-liners (okay, I was hoping for more a la Rachel Morgan style), the dialog feels natural and easy for the characters.
The ending of Dawnbreaker feels like it could be the end for the entire series. Even though Drake does leave an opening for subsequent novels, all of the action that previous novels have been building up to end here (and in a rather satisfying way). While I'm not sure if I was intrigued enough to continue this series if there are more books, it's a great way to pass a lazy few hours or take some time out of a busy day to drift into another world.
Fans of Drake's Dark Days novels will eat this one up and beg for more. It's fun, fast-paced, filled with great action sequences and builds to an epic climax that blows the rest of the series out of the water. A great addition to any urban fantasy/paranormal romance fan's library.
December 24, 2009
My first reaction when I finished this book? “ARGH I FRICKIN HATE THIS SERIES”. But really I love it, i am just impatient and want answers NOW! Its like the TV show LOST – you want to boycott because it constantly makes you question what the hell is going on, but you can’t because its just too good to ignore! Dawnbreaker is another great installment in the Dark Days series.
Mira is nightwalker, but she is a nightwalker with a unique gift. She can control fire and uses it to her advantage whenever she can. Mira is tasked with stopping a race of supernatural beings called the naturi from opening a portal that would allow them to cross into our world and destroy both humans and supernaturals.
Mira is not a character that is immediately likable. I read the first book and was a bit taken aback by her, but I have to admit she grows on you. She can be ruthless and violent. At 600 years old she knows what is necessary to protect herself and her people and is willing to do it without question. But she can also be sarcastic, funny, and protective of those she cares about or feels a duty to protect.
Mira’s unlikely partner in crime is a vampire hunter named Danaus. He is dark, dangerous, and deadly. The two call a tentative truce in book 1 in order to fight the naturi and it has carried throughout the series so far. Dawnbreaker gives us a tiny bit more insight into the relationship between Mira and Danaus. In between light hearted jokes about killing each other we get little hints that maybe these two feel for each other more than they are willing to admit. I certainly hope they do get it on soon…we could all use a little relief in the “will they/wont they” tension! When they do get together it is going to be good. I can’t image smex between Danaus and Mira as anything but rough and primal and all things yummy.
In Dawnbreaker the action starts immediately! The author wastes no time plunging Mira into danger and things never seem to slow down. The plot is dark and violent and it seems that someone is always bleeding. I was constantly on the edge of my seat, even the threat of my kids making a mess in the kitchen couldn’t pull me away! There were a couple spots where I felt like things skipped ahead or paragraphs were left out at the end of a chapter. Not enough to make it unreadable, but enough that I had to go back and page and make sure I hadn’t missed something.
My only other gripe is that for all the violence, I was still left feeling a tiny bit frustrated. I wanted more answers to questions about the developments in Mira’s powers over the last 2 books, as well as the relationship between her and Danaus. For being 384 pages long, the book seemed to end too quickly for me. There is resolution to the main story arc, but with that resolution comes so many new twists and turns. What lays ahead for Mira? What about Danaus? I guess its a good thing there are at least 6 books planned for the series!
Dawnbreaker is one of those great reads that has you loving it, cursing it, and finally scratching your head at all of the possibilities to come.
Mira is nightwalker, but she is a nightwalker with a unique gift. She can control fire and uses it to her advantage whenever she can. Mira is tasked with stopping a race of supernatural beings called the naturi from opening a portal that would allow them to cross into our world and destroy both humans and supernaturals.
Mira is not a character that is immediately likable. I read the first book and was a bit taken aback by her, but I have to admit she grows on you. She can be ruthless and violent. At 600 years old she knows what is necessary to protect herself and her people and is willing to do it without question. But she can also be sarcastic, funny, and protective of those she cares about or feels a duty to protect.
Mira’s unlikely partner in crime is a vampire hunter named Danaus. He is dark, dangerous, and deadly. The two call a tentative truce in book 1 in order to fight the naturi and it has carried throughout the series so far. Dawnbreaker gives us a tiny bit more insight into the relationship between Mira and Danaus. In between light hearted jokes about killing each other we get little hints that maybe these two feel for each other more than they are willing to admit. I certainly hope they do get it on soon…we could all use a little relief in the “will they/wont they” tension! When they do get together it is going to be good. I can’t image smex between Danaus and Mira as anything but rough and primal and all things yummy.
In Dawnbreaker the action starts immediately! The author wastes no time plunging Mira into danger and things never seem to slow down. The plot is dark and violent and it seems that someone is always bleeding. I was constantly on the edge of my seat, even the threat of my kids making a mess in the kitchen couldn’t pull me away! There were a couple spots where I felt like things skipped ahead or paragraphs were left out at the end of a chapter. Not enough to make it unreadable, but enough that I had to go back and page and make sure I hadn’t missed something.
My only other gripe is that for all the violence, I was still left feeling a tiny bit frustrated. I wanted more answers to questions about the developments in Mira’s powers over the last 2 books, as well as the relationship between her and Danaus. For being 384 pages long, the book seemed to end too quickly for me. There is resolution to the main story arc, but with that resolution comes so many new twists and turns. What lays ahead for Mira? What about Danaus? I guess its a good thing there are at least 6 books planned for the series!
Dawnbreaker is one of those great reads that has you loving it, cursing it, and finally scratching your head at all of the possibilities to come.
December 18, 2012
Originally published on my blog, My Urban Fantasies
The seal to the door is finally broken. Jabari orders Mira to return to the coven. Mira tells him no, that she's returning to Savannah, where she is needed, and that she will fight the naturi when the time comes. Mira also invites Danaus to come with her, claiming that it will be easier to kill him if she does not have to hunt him down. *smirk* Yeah, like any of us believe that's the reason Mira want Danaus with her.
Dawnbreaker starts roughly two months after Dayhunter. Mira and Danaus had parted ways long before Mira reached Savannah. He flew with her from Crete, but got off the plane in Paris. Mira is now in Savannah and everything is not going as well as she had hoped. Ties with the local pack are becoming more strained due to the constant naturi attacks. The naturi are using the werewolves to attack the nightwalkers. The nightwalkers are forced to defend themselves usually resulting with dead werewolves. This leaves us with a less than happy Barrett. When Danaus arrives in Savannah the naturi attacks become worse.
Danaus decides to stay in Savannah. Mira is forced to make him swear he will not hunt another nightwalker while in her domain. Mira no longer trusts Danaus with vampire allies because he killed Penelope with little warning and no hesitation. Mira tells Danaus that she can not worry about protecting her people from him and the naturi. Eventually Mira and Danaus come to an understanding. If one of Mira's nightwalkers attacks Danaus, he can defend himself. If Danaus hunts any of the nightwalkers Mira will gut him and send his charred entrails back to Ryan in a doggie bag.
Along their journey the trust slowly begins to build again. Danaus is essentially Mira's only ally in that battle against the naturi. On the way to stop Rowe from opening the door, Danaus has to trust Mira like he never has before. The enemy are attacking and the only way for Danaus to stay alive is to be completely vulnerable and trust Mira to keep him safe, from the small army of naturi and a room full of nightwalkers.
Dawnbreaker is action packed, and beautifully written. The characters are evolving, I finally find myself becoming emotionally invested in them. Mira is quickly becoming my favorite character. It's amazing that she's not completely insane. If something bad can happen to Mira, it usually does. Mira's constantly confronting ghosts from her past, starting when she was human right up to the present. There seems to be a growing list of people who want to control Mira or just want her dead.
If you're expecting Mira and Danaus to grow a collective brain and realize they actually like each other and do not want to kill each other, you're going to be disappointed. Mira and Danaus do not hook up in this book. I have high hopes for future books though, mostly because I'm a romantic and refuse to believe they will be oblivious of their feelings forever.
The seal to the door is finally broken. Jabari orders Mira to return to the coven. Mira tells him no, that she's returning to Savannah, where she is needed, and that she will fight the naturi when the time comes. Mira also invites Danaus to come with her, claiming that it will be easier to kill him if she does not have to hunt him down. *smirk* Yeah, like any of us believe that's the reason Mira want Danaus with her.
Dawnbreaker starts roughly two months after Dayhunter. Mira and Danaus had parted ways long before Mira reached Savannah. He flew with her from Crete, but got off the plane in Paris. Mira is now in Savannah and everything is not going as well as she had hoped. Ties with the local pack are becoming more strained due to the constant naturi attacks. The naturi are using the werewolves to attack the nightwalkers. The nightwalkers are forced to defend themselves usually resulting with dead werewolves. This leaves us with a less than happy Barrett. When Danaus arrives in Savannah the naturi attacks become worse.
Danaus decides to stay in Savannah. Mira is forced to make him swear he will not hunt another nightwalker while in her domain. Mira no longer trusts Danaus with vampire allies because he killed Penelope with little warning and no hesitation. Mira tells Danaus that she can not worry about protecting her people from him and the naturi. Eventually Mira and Danaus come to an understanding. If one of Mira's nightwalkers attacks Danaus, he can defend himself. If Danaus hunts any of the nightwalkers Mira will gut him and send his charred entrails back to Ryan in a doggie bag.
Along their journey the trust slowly begins to build again. Danaus is essentially Mira's only ally in that battle against the naturi. On the way to stop Rowe from opening the door, Danaus has to trust Mira like he never has before. The enemy are attacking and the only way for Danaus to stay alive is to be completely vulnerable and trust Mira to keep him safe, from the small army of naturi and a room full of nightwalkers.
Dawnbreaker is action packed, and beautifully written. The characters are evolving, I finally find myself becoming emotionally invested in them. Mira is quickly becoming my favorite character. It's amazing that she's not completely insane. If something bad can happen to Mira, it usually does. Mira's constantly confronting ghosts from her past, starting when she was human right up to the present. There seems to be a growing list of people who want to control Mira or just want her dead.
If you're expecting Mira and Danaus to grow a collective brain and realize they actually like each other and do not want to kill each other, you're going to be disappointed. Mira and Danaus do not hook up in this book. I have high hopes for future books though, mostly because I'm a romantic and refuse to believe they will be oblivious of their feelings forever.
February 4, 2010
(3.5 stars)
“And where does that leave us?” Jabari demanded.
To my surprise, a half smile tweaked one corner of her mouth as she looked from me to Jabari. “On hold.”
This bit of dialogue, taken from one of the final chapters of Dawnbreaker, sums up my experience with the Dark Days series a little too well.
There’s nothing wrong with Dawnbreaker. It’s a perfectly fine book. Jocelynn Drake's prose is competent and vivid, and there are several interesting surprises tucked into the storyline. Mira uncovers an unpleasant clue to the origin of her powers, Danaus struggles with his own humanity, and a family feud among the naturi comes to light.
The narrative begins in Savannah, Mira’s home, to which she has returned after the events of Dayhunter. We watch as Mira attempts to shore up her power base and prepare for the imminent showdown with the naturi. Later, Mira and her band of uneasy allies travel to Machu Picchu, hoping to stop the naturi from opening a gate there, even if it means their own deaths. It’s an exciting story, yet at Dawnbreaker’s end, I found myself disappointed with the series as a whole.
I spent some time collecting my thoughts and trying to figure out why. What I’ve finally come up with is this: Dark Days either needed to end here and be a trilogy, or it needs more subplots. I’ve found that the most successful fantasy series fall into one of two categories: either they run for a predetermined number of books and then end, or they run indefinitely but explore a large number of plots and subplots. (For example, many urban fantasy series feature a protagonist who works as an investigator, and the character’s job generates an endless supply of plot hooks. While each book advances the metaplot, it also introduces and resolves a smaller plot.)
In Dark Days, we’ve been focused almost solely on the conflict between nightwalkers and naturi for three books now, and Dawnbreaker ends in a stalemate of sorts. The only other prominent thread is the romantic tension between Mira and Danaus, and that plot doesn’t move much either. It makes me worry about future books in the series. If they consist of “Mira has several small conflicts, Mira banters a little with Danaus, Mira travels to an ancient monument and has an indecisive fight against the naturi, The End,” it’s going to get tired.
However, there are hints that the next book, Pray for Dawn, may not deal much with the naturi at all. It may explore nightwalker politics, and definitely has something to do with the Themis Society, so I’m curious enough to read it and find out.
Read this and other Jocelynn Drake reviews at Fantasy Literature!
“And where does that leave us?” Jabari demanded.
To my surprise, a half smile tweaked one corner of her mouth as she looked from me to Jabari. “On hold.”
This bit of dialogue, taken from one of the final chapters of Dawnbreaker, sums up my experience with the Dark Days series a little too well.
There’s nothing wrong with Dawnbreaker. It’s a perfectly fine book. Jocelynn Drake's prose is competent and vivid, and there are several interesting surprises tucked into the storyline. Mira uncovers an unpleasant clue to the origin of her powers, Danaus struggles with his own humanity, and a family feud among the naturi comes to light.
The narrative begins in Savannah, Mira’s home, to which she has returned after the events of Dayhunter. We watch as Mira attempts to shore up her power base and prepare for the imminent showdown with the naturi. Later, Mira and her band of uneasy allies travel to Machu Picchu, hoping to stop the naturi from opening a gate there, even if it means their own deaths. It’s an exciting story, yet at Dawnbreaker’s end, I found myself disappointed with the series as a whole.
I spent some time collecting my thoughts and trying to figure out why. What I’ve finally come up with is this: Dark Days either needed to end here and be a trilogy, or it needs more subplots. I’ve found that the most successful fantasy series fall into one of two categories: either they run for a predetermined number of books and then end, or they run indefinitely but explore a large number of plots and subplots. (For example, many urban fantasy series feature a protagonist who works as an investigator, and the character’s job generates an endless supply of plot hooks. While each book advances the metaplot, it also introduces and resolves a smaller plot.)
In Dark Days, we’ve been focused almost solely on the conflict between nightwalkers and naturi for three books now, and Dawnbreaker ends in a stalemate of sorts. The only other prominent thread is the romantic tension between Mira and Danaus, and that plot doesn’t move much either. It makes me worry about future books in the series. If they consist of “Mira has several small conflicts, Mira banters a little with Danaus, Mira travels to an ancient monument and has an indecisive fight against the naturi, The End,” it’s going to get tired.
However, there are hints that the next book, Pray for Dawn, may not deal much with the naturi at all. It may explore nightwalker politics, and definitely has something to do with the Themis Society, so I’m curious enough to read it and find out.
Read this and other Jocelynn Drake reviews at Fantasy Literature!
February 4, 2015
After the gate was opened, Mira has finally returned to Savannah, her haven. However, the war is not yet over with the naturi and they are threatening Mira's only home. Naturi are all over the city hunting her down, killing the people in Savannah, as well. The naturi are driving her away from her home.
Mira needs to prevent Aurora from entering earth. They need to stop the ritual in Machu Pichu, again. With the help of Jabari, Danaus, Shelly, an earth witch, & Cynnia, the naturi princess, Mira must risk her life again for her people. Only this time, she doesn't know if she will come back out of Machu Pichu alive.
This book seriously has more action than the last one. The big battle with the naturi has finally come. This book is a great way to, somehow, partially end the saga of the naturi. This book contains a lot of heart pumping scenes, from the final battle to the kidnapping. I wasn't able to stop myself from actually finishing the book. My bags are big and dark because of this and I have a floating head for my classes.
Technically, the whole book is about stopping the ritual, which means Mira needs to enhance her powers to stop it. I love that Mira has finally tried to improve her abilities. Though, a bit lacking, it's totally an improvement. There are still a part where problems are piling up for Mira but it is totally less than the last 2 books. Still, I pity Mira for her problems and I hate Barrett in this book for being a total ass. Also, Mira seems to be more in control of the situations in this book, which is a total plus. Girl Power! However, she still can't stop Jabari & Danaus from making her a puppet.
On the relationship side, still no progress, folks. I think a lot of us are getting frustrated with how slow they are actually opening up to each other. Though, I could say that they are much more than friends now. They just don't know it yet. More trust & dependence. I can't wait for them to realize what they are actually feeling for each other.
Can't wait to read the next book.
PS: Sorry for the short review. School just started and it has been a chaos.
Mira needs to prevent Aurora from entering earth. They need to stop the ritual in Machu Pichu, again. With the help of Jabari, Danaus, Shelly, an earth witch, & Cynnia, the naturi princess, Mira must risk her life again for her people. Only this time, she doesn't know if she will come back out of Machu Pichu alive.
This book seriously has more action than the last one. The big battle with the naturi has finally come. This book is a great way to, somehow, partially end the saga of the naturi. This book contains a lot of heart pumping scenes, from the final battle to the kidnapping. I wasn't able to stop myself from actually finishing the book. My bags are big and dark because of this and I have a floating head for my classes.
Technically, the whole book is about stopping the ritual, which means Mira needs to enhance her powers to stop it. I love that Mira has finally tried to improve her abilities. Though, a bit lacking, it's totally an improvement. There are still a part where problems are piling up for Mira but it is totally less than the last 2 books. Still, I pity Mira for her problems and I hate Barrett in this book for being a total ass. Also, Mira seems to be more in control of the situations in this book, which is a total plus. Girl Power! However, she still can't stop Jabari & Danaus from making her a puppet.
On the relationship side, still no progress, folks. I think a lot of us are getting frustrated with how slow they are actually opening up to each other. Though, I could say that they are much more than friends now. They just don't know it yet. More trust & dependence. I can't wait for them to realize what they are actually feeling for each other.
Can't wait to read the next book.
PS: Sorry for the short review. School just started and it has been a chaos.
March 14, 2010
I'm not sure why, but I'd really convinced myself Dawnbreaker was going to answer many of the questions I had about this series. Instead, it left me more confused than ever and extremely annoyed.
Dark Days started out as an intriguing and original story, but now I find the bad things outweigh the good, and it seems the author is confused about where to take the story and characters.
My main beef with this series, like so many other's, is the 'will they, won't they' thing with Mira and Danaus. It's not like I want them to jump into bed together or anything, I would just like a little more clarity on their relationship. I think the author tried to make it a bit of a slow burner, but instead it's just annoying and confusing. Mira & Danaus have more of an emotional than a sexual connection, which is different, but makes it a little hard to see if it'll ever go anywhere. As it is, the whole storyline feels like a pesky fly I can't swat that detracts from the actually pretty decent plot.
I admired how the protagonist is a 600 year old female vamp - many people shy away from having it in the vamp's POV, since there would be too many memories & experiences I'd imagine. But Drake managed to make Mira relatable, though she does have her moments where I feel like I can't really connect to her. The majority of the characters are a little vague - that guy whose name begins with a J (sorry, bad memory) & even Danaus are all a little ambiguous. The world is dark and intriguing, and Drake really can write excellent fantasy - it's just the characters I feel that let her down a lot. Mira & Danaus seemed to really connect in the last book in particular, so to have them go back to the whole 'It's a shame I'll have to kill you when it's all over' line feels tiresome and repetitive.
Finishing Dawnbreaker left me feeling drained & fed up. There are still a ton of questions to be answered, and I just hope they won't be dragged out over many books as a money making ploy. Although I remember swearing never to touch another Dark Days book again, I think I'll read the next one, if only as a make-or-break for carrying on with the series.
I just hope that Drake pulls it together and sorts of the story, otherwise it'll be a sad waste to a potentially great series.
Dark Days started out as an intriguing and original story, but now I find the bad things outweigh the good, and it seems the author is confused about where to take the story and characters.
My main beef with this series, like so many other's, is the 'will they, won't they' thing with Mira and Danaus. It's not like I want them to jump into bed together or anything, I would just like a little more clarity on their relationship. I think the author tried to make it a bit of a slow burner, but instead it's just annoying and confusing. Mira & Danaus have more of an emotional than a sexual connection, which is different, but makes it a little hard to see if it'll ever go anywhere. As it is, the whole storyline feels like a pesky fly I can't swat that detracts from the actually pretty decent plot.
I admired how the protagonist is a 600 year old female vamp - many people shy away from having it in the vamp's POV, since there would be too many memories & experiences I'd imagine. But Drake managed to make Mira relatable, though she does have her moments where I feel like I can't really connect to her. The majority of the characters are a little vague - that guy whose name begins with a J (sorry, bad memory) & even Danaus are all a little ambiguous. The world is dark and intriguing, and Drake really can write excellent fantasy - it's just the characters I feel that let her down a lot. Mira & Danaus seemed to really connect in the last book in particular, so to have them go back to the whole 'It's a shame I'll have to kill you when it's all over' line feels tiresome and repetitive.
Finishing Dawnbreaker left me feeling drained & fed up. There are still a ton of questions to be answered, and I just hope they won't be dragged out over many books as a money making ploy. Although I remember swearing never to touch another Dark Days book again, I think I'll read the next one, if only as a make-or-break for carrying on with the series.
I just hope that Drake pulls it together and sorts of the story, otherwise it'll be a sad waste to a potentially great series.
September 17, 2013
I like this series, but I do find it frustrating at times. Mira is a vampire or nightwalker as they are called in this book, but one with a special talent that no other vampire has - she has the ability to create and manipulate fire. She's back in Savannah to try and protect her people now that the naturi are determined to break open the door to their world and kill all humans and nightwalkers in the process.
Mira seemed to be constantly fighting for her life and loses many friends and allies in the process. The naturi are not an easy enemy to fight and Mira doesn't know if she will come out of this battle alive or not. But either way she has to try and stop them from opening the door which will destroy the world as she knows it, even if it does mean returning to Machu Picchu, the place of her nightmares.
Danaus makes a reappearance and luck sometimes happens to be on Mira side, but the battle to Machu Picchu is slow and painful for Mira. She's still not 100% trusting of Danaus, but he is someone she trusts and can rely on more than some of the nightwalkers who have come to help, especially Jabari.
Even though Mira lost the battle at the end, she did kind of win in that she didn't die! But the path has now been set and the on-coming fight is going to be a big one and I can feel that Mira's future is not going to be an easy one by any means.
My frustrations with this series are not with anything in particular. I just wish this whole naturi story would be over and Mira manages to defeat them all, but I know that's not going to happen just yet. I also wish other people, but other nightwalkers in particular would help her out a bit more. Mira seems to be fighting the naturi on her own, without the Coven really getting involved when I think it's really their problem and not solely Mira's. Yes they do send some reinforcements in this time, but they only help out when it suits them! I completely understand why Mira doesn't want to be part of the Coven at all.
I will read the rest of this series - I need to see the naturi being defeated once and for all, but I think I'll leave it for a while before jumping into the next book, so my frustrations die down a little hehe!
Mira seemed to be constantly fighting for her life and loses many friends and allies in the process. The naturi are not an easy enemy to fight and Mira doesn't know if she will come out of this battle alive or not. But either way she has to try and stop them from opening the door which will destroy the world as she knows it, even if it does mean returning to Machu Picchu, the place of her nightmares.
Danaus makes a reappearance and luck sometimes happens to be on Mira side, but the battle to Machu Picchu is slow and painful for Mira. She's still not 100% trusting of Danaus, but he is someone she trusts and can rely on more than some of the nightwalkers who have come to help, especially Jabari.
Even though Mira lost the battle at the end, she did kind of win in that she didn't die! But the path has now been set and the on-coming fight is going to be a big one and I can feel that Mira's future is not going to be an easy one by any means.
My frustrations with this series are not with anything in particular. I just wish this whole naturi story would be over and Mira manages to defeat them all, but I know that's not going to happen just yet. I also wish other people, but other nightwalkers in particular would help her out a bit more. Mira seems to be fighting the naturi on her own, without the Coven really getting involved when I think it's really their problem and not solely Mira's. Yes they do send some reinforcements in this time, but they only help out when it suits them! I completely understand why Mira doesn't want to be part of the Coven at all.
I will read the rest of this series - I need to see the naturi being defeated once and for all, but I think I'll leave it for a while before jumping into the next book, so my frustrations die down a little hehe!
December 15, 2014
Dawnbreaker was certainly an improvement over Dayhunter! Starting about a month later, we're back in Savannah with Mira and Tristan. It's not the quiet break she was hoping for, since small groups of naturi have been attacking steadily the entire time. It's a few days until the equinox, when the naturi will perform their next sacrifice, and Mira is struggling to get her domain in order before taking off to Machu Picchu in order to stop it.
The focus is once again back onto the inevitable war between the nightwalkers and the naturi. The naturi are becoming much more visible and reckless than they have before, but that's nothing compared to the havoc they'll unleash if the seal between worlds opens. It is battle after battle as the two species make their way to the sacrificial site. I had a feeling of what was coming, but I was nervous the entire time hoping it wasn't so. There's plenty of twists and turns along the way though!
I also liked how Dawnbreaker showed more of the varied relationships between all of the supernaturals. Tensions are SUPER high between Mira and the werewolves, since she's like a beacon for the naturi who can control them. The local pack leader is understandably not happy that Mira has dragged her personal war into the city. There's a new witch in town, who is suppose to help Mira with the impossible task of learning to control Earth magic. She didn't get much page time, but I liked her and hope to see her again. Then, of course, there's Danaus who is something totally unique (and supposedly impossible). He's a bit more dangerous than everyone assumed.
Dawnbreaker was super tense and exciting! I'm loving the mythology and world building, and how it's creating this interesting story arc. Mira is much more than she knows, and I had a theory about what that is. There's lots of holes in my theory, but I do think it's possible, but I was wrong. The ending has a slight cliffhanger, and I can't help but wonder what the witches want with Mira now.
Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.
The focus is once again back onto the inevitable war between the nightwalkers and the naturi. The naturi are becoming much more visible and reckless than they have before, but that's nothing compared to the havoc they'll unleash if the seal between worlds opens. It is battle after battle as the two species make their way to the sacrificial site. I had a feeling of what was coming, but I was nervous the entire time hoping it wasn't so. There's plenty of twists and turns along the way though!
I also liked how Dawnbreaker showed more of the varied relationships between all of the supernaturals. Tensions are SUPER high between Mira and the werewolves, since she's like a beacon for the naturi who can control them. The local pack leader is understandably not happy that Mira has dragged her personal war into the city. There's a new witch in town, who is suppose to help Mira with the impossible task of learning to control Earth magic. She didn't get much page time, but I liked her and hope to see her again. Then, of course, there's Danaus who is something totally unique (and supposedly impossible). He's a bit more dangerous than everyone assumed.
Dawnbreaker was super tense and exciting! I'm loving the mythology and world building, and how it's creating this interesting story arc. Mira is much more than she knows, and I had a theory about what that is. There's lots of holes in my theory, but I do think it's possible, but I was wrong. The ending has a slight cliffhanger, and I can't help but wonder what the witches want with Mira now.
Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.
April 17, 2016
The dawn brings new terror for the creatures of the night . . .
Those of her race fear Mira for the lethal fire she bends to her will—a power unique among nightwalkers, both a gift . . . and a curse.
The naturi despise Mira for what she is—as they prepare the final sacrifice that will destroy the barriers between the worlds. And once the naturi are unchained, blood, chaos, and horror will reign supreme on Earth.
Mira can trust only Danaus, the more-than-mortal vampire slayer, though he is sworn to destroy her kind. And now, as the day approaches when titanic forces will duel under cover of darkness, destiny draws them toward an apocalyptic confrontation at Machu Picchu. But all is not lost, for a wild card has been dealt to them: a rogue enemy princess who can change the balance of power and turn the dread tide.
Review“With its ever–thickening plot, fans of supernatural drama are sure to get their money’s worth.” (Romantic Times BOOKclub )
“NIGHTWALKER is an action-packed, stellar debut. Jocelynn Drake will have you coming back for more.” (Jeaniene Frost, New York Times bestselling author of Halfway to the Grave )
“An unflinchingly self-assured first novel, chiseled with subtlety and irony into a darkly suspenseful and blessedly surprising story. In exacting detail, and with prose as silky and enticing as her protagonist, Drake has composed a love letter to the vampire genre. I wish I’d written it.” (Vicki Pettersson )
“An intoxicating mix of jet-setting action and sparkling turns of phrase that let me taste the Nile and feel the British fog. NIGHTWALKER is a must-read addition to the urban fantasy genre, filled both with action and satisfying characters.” (Kim Harrison, New York Times bestselling author of For a Few Demons More )
About the AuthorThe bestselling author of the Dark Days series and former financial analyst, Jocelynn Drake lives in Kentucky.
June 11, 2010
Dawnbreaker is the third book in Jocelynn Drake's Dark Days series. Dawnbreaker is told in the first person point of view from the main character Mira, a centuries old vampire also known as the fire starter. She has a major battle coming up between herself and her unlikely partner Danaus against the Naturi, unearthly creatures that have been locked in captivity for years. If these Naturi were to escape, then vampires and humans alike would be in serious trouble, as the Naturi want to kill them all.
Alright, I admit it. I had some problems with this book and I did struggle through the reading of it. Mainly the romance is pretty much non-existent and by book three in the series, I really need a connection to be established between the main couple. To put it bluntly, I need more romance!
Mira is a hard character to connect with. She is fair and protective, but at the core of her is a killer. The plot and characters are very well drawn and well developed, but the pacing of the book is on the slow side. It is most evident at the beginning of the book when things are being set up. It had been a while between reading books in this series and therefore I couldn't quite remember everything that had happened previously. So for a little while there in the beginning I felt a little lost as to what the heck was going on. Eventually, things started to pick up, but it took me a while to be drawn into the story.
I really like the mystery surrounding Danaus. The reader really has no idea what is going on with him. As I heard it from Jocelynn herself, Danaus will be narrating the next book, Pray for Dawn. I think this is such a smart move on her part. I really don't think I would be all that interested to continue this series, but that is some serious temptation. I want to know more about Danaus!!
Alright, I admit it. I had some problems with this book and I did struggle through the reading of it. Mainly the romance is pretty much non-existent and by book three in the series, I really need a connection to be established between the main couple. To put it bluntly, I need more romance!
Mira is a hard character to connect with. She is fair and protective, but at the core of her is a killer. The plot and characters are very well drawn and well developed, but the pacing of the book is on the slow side. It is most evident at the beginning of the book when things are being set up. It had been a while between reading books in this series and therefore I couldn't quite remember everything that had happened previously. So for a little while there in the beginning I felt a little lost as to what the heck was going on. Eventually, things started to pick up, but it took me a while to be drawn into the story.
I really like the mystery surrounding Danaus. The reader really has no idea what is going on with him. As I heard it from Jocelynn herself, Danaus will be narrating the next book, Pray for Dawn. I think this is such a smart move on her part. I really don't think I would be all that interested to continue this series, but that is some serious temptation. I want to know more about Danaus!!
July 16, 2010
Okay, I know I said that if Mira and Danaus did not hook up in this book it would be the last one I read. Well...I have changed my mind about that. Mira's character is evolving and I am finding that I am cheering for her to remain independent. Everyone seems to want a piece of her except Tristan. Although they are not romanticly involved, it is the only relationship in her life that is good for her. Knox also seems to be a legit friend. Don't get me wrong, I love the character of Danaus but he has issues.
This book gives the readers a sense of direction for the characters and greater understanding of the naturi. I was hoping to see that storyline resolved so we can get back to the drama of the Coven but not the case. I was really looking forward to Rowe getting his due and he does but not the way I expected. I also had hoped that the Naturi were not one dimensional and they are not, so that got resolved for me. I won't comment on Aurora, the Naturi queen, because there is no way to do so without it becoming a spoiler. I didn't like how that was resolved.
MY WHINE LIST...Jabari's character continues and he does not become more likable or deader. A new vamp is introduced, Stefan. He discovers Danaus's secret then that storyline is dropped in this book. Shelly,a witch, is introduced to teach Mira how to use her powers. Her character is not developed much so I was disappointed. Mira continues to have drama whenever she needs to use her power. She is either hungry, tired, or in pain (many times a combination of all three). It got old after three books. She should be stronger.
The 4th book is out and is told from Danaus point of view. I will read it because, like I said, he has too many issues that Mira's perspective can't clear up.
This book gives the readers a sense of direction for the characters and greater understanding of the naturi. I was hoping to see that storyline resolved so we can get back to the drama of the Coven but not the case. I was really looking forward to Rowe getting his due and he does but not the way I expected. I also had hoped that the Naturi were not one dimensional and they are not, so that got resolved for me. I won't comment on Aurora, the Naturi queen, because there is no way to do so without it becoming a spoiler. I didn't like how that was resolved.
MY WHINE LIST...Jabari's character continues and he does not become more likable or deader. A new vamp is introduced, Stefan. He discovers Danaus's secret then that storyline is dropped in this book. Shelly,a witch, is introduced to teach Mira how to use her powers. Her character is not developed much so I was disappointed. Mira continues to have drama whenever she needs to use her power. She is either hungry, tired, or in pain (many times a combination of all three). It got old after three books. She should be stronger.
The 4th book is out and is told from Danaus point of view. I will read it because, like I said, he has too many issues that Mira's perspective can't clear up.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews