Night Lost

Darkyn #4

by Lynn Viehl

Abandoned by his fellow Darkyn, Gabriel Seran is in continual torment as a prisoner of the religious zealots known as the Brethren. His only hope for rescue lies in Nicola Jefferson, a thief seeking a holy relic-and connected to Gabriel in more ways than she can possibly imagine...

Genres: Paranormal Romance, Paranormal, Vampires, Romance, Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction

296 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Also see S.L. Viehl, Gena Hale, Jessica Hall. Rebecca Kelly.

She writes mostly novels in a variety of genres and under several pseudonyms. Among them are science fiction (as S. L. Viehl), romantic fiction (as Lynn Viehl, Gena Hale, and Jessica Hall), and Christian fiction (as Rebecca Kelly). She has described herself as primarily a writer of romance: no matter what genre she is working in, an element of romance will always be present.

In what spare time remains she enjoys quilting, reading, cooking, painting, and knitting. She currently lives with her family in Florida.

Reviews

[Zeek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continuing where Dark Need left off, in Night Lost we find Dr. Alexandra Keller, lover of Michael Cyprien Top Darkyn in America, held hostage in the Irish castle of the Darkyn King. King Richard needs Alex's special talent to find a cure for the disease thrust upon him by their much loathed enemy, The Brethren. But Alex will have none of it- as we've seen before, blackmail and force will not get her to do a thing. Besides, how can she think when all she wants is to get back to Michael?

In the midst of this storyline we find Gabriel and Nicola. Gabriel Seran, thought dead by the rest of the Darkyn, is imprisoned in a hidden dungeon of a moldering old church in France, constantly tortured for information by the Brethren. Though she doesn't know it, Nikki has been visiting him in her dreams where he appears to her as a nymph-like woodland king. Gabriel doesn't understand how he can visit her because his talent is not to enter dreams- like Thierry, the hero of Private Demon- but rather, to command the insects of the earth!

Though troubled by these dreams, Nikki is on another mission- to seek out the ancient treasure stolen from her family home upon the murder of her beloved mother and father- and destroy the person who killed them.

Still, she is helplessly drawn to find the green man who haunts her dreams- because finding lost things is what she does best.

Night Lost was my favorite up until Evermore (REALLY liked that one!). Niki is strong and independent and Gabriel is heart breaking in his will survive.

The two tales in this story merge in a climax that not only sets you on the edge of your seat but also satisfies in its resolution.

Some resolved plotlines but look for a few new twists!

[Melindeeloo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two loosely connected shorts. Darkyn fans only. Newbies will not appreciate this story

Night Lost is probably the most lightweight of the Darkyn novels, it is on the short side and has about 4 different threads going in the beginning. The two new love interests Nicola and Gabriel are likable, but they pretty much just go on a road trip and though they do end up in the same place with everyone else at the end, they could have been left out. Even better yet this would have made two really good short stories for a paranormal romance anthology.

While the author does make an attempt to give you a little of the background of what has gone before, I cannot see this book being all that interesting to a reader that is new to the series and I find it hard to recommend that someone start at the beginning of the series with If Angel's Burn. I really did not like that book. It had several scenes of sadistic torture that I thought were really unnecessary. In fact throughout all the books, there is the whole "Inquistion" thing going on with religious zealots out to expunge the Darkyn from the world - because when the good guys are natural preditors then the bad guys have to be really really bad.

For those committed to the series, a few interesting things happen, so you'll need to read this one to find out what happens to Alex who was kidnapped at the end of the last book. For Newbies check out the "So you want to " lists and find a really good series to put your time and money into instead.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read! The story arc started in book 3 is completed. New charismatic characters are introduced, and Alexandra's medical skills triumph again. Very satisfactory read.

Order is very important.

Darkyn
1. If Angels Burn (2005)
2. Private Demon (2005)
3. Dark Need (2006)
4. Night Lost (2007)
5. Evermore (2008)
6. Twilight Fall (2008)
7. Stay the Night (2009)

[Aneca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another one in Viehl's Darkyn series. I had some trouble grading this book as I devoured the parts about Richard and Alex but wasn't really interested in the parts about Gabriel and Nick.

A NOBLE PRISONER...

Gabriel Seran has fallen into the hands of the fanatical religious order known as the Brethren. Though abandoned by his fellow Kyn, he remains honor bound to protect their secrets from his interrogators. Blinded, nailed to a cross, and sealed in a chapel cellar beneath a ruined château, Gabriel faces an eternity of suffering.

AN OBSESSED THIEF...

Nicola "Nick" Jefferson has been traveling across Europe, looting churches of their precious artwork and fencing the treasures to make her living. At each destination, she liberates the captive vampires, hoping they'll provide her with information leading to the one artifact she so desperately craves: the Golden Madonna.

A FATEFUL COUPLING...

Gabriel and Nick have met before in each other's dreams. Bound together more than coincidence, their destinies intertwine even as their passions ignite...

At the end of the last book of the series Richard, the High King of the Darkyn, kidnaps Alex, Michael Cyprien's Sygkenis. Alex is a reputed doctor who has already found some answers regarding the Darkyn's race and Richard has a medical condition that he wants her to treat. His body is suffering a mutation into an animal species that will eventually kill him.

I must confess that I have been curious about Richard and his problems for sometime now. He has been a secondary character in the earlier books, always surrounded with an aura of mystery and power and that makes him really attractive from this reader's point of view. I keep wishing Viehl would write a book about him but it doesn't seem to be happening soon.

So as I've been really curious about him, and because Alex usually steals the show even when she is only a secondary character, I paid much more attention to them than to Gabriel and Nick. These two never really interested me, we already had a book about a badly tortured Darkyn with Thierry Durand and Nick seemed more interested in abandoning him than preparing a future with him. I'm not sure where Viehl is leading us or if she is setting up things for future books but she does spend a long time with characters and events other than the main couple for which I was really grateful. Viehl ends up joining the two stories and surprised me with an interesting twist. However I felt the book was very uneven, very good with the High King's story and not so good with the rest...

Grade: B-

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gabriel was abducted by the Brethren 3 years ago - tortured and starved, then left as bait to lour in the one human that has been sneaking into the Brethren’s hide-away and helping the Darkyn escape.

Nick - Nicola - is a thief, murderer, and a liar, and she has a BIG secret she will die to protect - she watched her parents get tortured and the one that did it left her to die while running off with the Golden Madonna statue that belonged to her stepfather. And she wants it back!

Nick spent 10 years roaming around Europe from church to church disguising herself as a photographer in search for the Golden Madonna -
When her dreams start to possess a strange "green man" in which she develops a strange fondness for.

Now she is searching for him - Gabriel ....

Alex is stuck at the castle as Richard's prisoner in hopes to find a cure for him - She is missing Michael - the Bond between them is so strong, it is drawing both of them nearly Crazy to be separated for so long...

This book was pretty intense. Gabriel wasn't my favorite Darkyn, he seems a little venerable - a little too weak, needing Nick to help him defeat 3 brethren at the bookstore - that really shouldn't have been a problem for him. He wasn't lacking blood, and his eye sight was starting to come back - so why couldn't he go in with a base ball bat and beat everyone up??

Nick was awesome though - her super strength was awesome - she didn't fear anything - even the 200 spiders that were hanging over her and Gabriel in the forest :)

I thought the storyline in the castle was fun - I love Alex with her attitude - no one knows how to react to her being so forward with everything. And yet she does get the job done - just with a sassy attitude :)

Not sure what's left for this series, but I have 2 more books to read, so I'll get on it :)

[Andrea · Rating 1 out of 5]

Why did I keep reading this book to the end? Possibly so I could rejoice that it was over. At first some of the author's premises were interesting and I wanted to find out more concerning the heiarchy of this society but midway through I began to get sick and tired of such and such smelling like a rose or jasmine or candy or...and I began to feel like I was in Yankee Candles and those of you who know me know I can't stand the overwhelming stench of the place.

Now for the positives. I can see why the author has a good following. I can't really argue that her "human" characters are interesting and she has tallent. The problem for me comes in the guise of the imortal side of things. The imortals came out feeling flat and not interesting at all. And, there's always the basic romanice issue when dealing with a series...The reader always expects the heroine to fall for the strongest, smartest, etc. character. Well, you can't convince me that everyone who is Kyn is the best, the brightest, the strongest... After a while I'm dying to run across someone who'se rotund or lanky. Maybe someone socially awkward would be nice once in a while.

[Styles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gabriel and Nick

I presume you know what the book is about I'm letting you know what I liked or disliked about it.

It's no secret I've enjoyed each of the Darkyn protagonists Ms. Viehl has shared with us but I guess I favor Gabriel the most (so far ;) ). The deference demonstrated by Richard Tremayne, Michael Cyprien, and Korvel is remarkable. There must be more to his "story" - I think (hope!) there is more about Gabriel in upcoming books in the series.

I liked Nick too - self composed, assured, determined, focused.... yes, a strong character indeed.

There is just one hiccup I noticed... At one point John (Alex's brother) had been given the floor plans to Dundellon. The point being Michael had them to give to John in the first place... then fast forward and there was a delay while Michael searched for the floor plans. I suppose I missed something or the segue that explains that gap and if I did and if you read this review and know what I'm talking about... please let me know. I sure would appreciate it.

Well - I'm off to read Evermore next.... muwahhhhh

[Ladiibbug · Rating 4 out of 5]

#4 Darkyn series (vampires)

Another engrossing adventure within the Darkyn! I LOVE the world Lynn Viehl has envisioned, and the recurring characters.

This series is darker, and at times more violent, with occasional graphic descriptions of torture done to vampires. It fits in with the plot line, but it's not one of the "happy, funny" vampire series.

#4 lives up to the prior 3 books as far as excellent story telling, action, intrigue & adventure, with a bit of romance.

One of the major female characters, surgeon Alex Keller, reminds me so much of Vicki Nelson, the main female character of the "Blood" series by Tanya Huff ... also featured in the now-cancelled Blood Ties (?) TV series. Sassy, confident, intelligent, just love her!

[Donna Langley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! The character sin this book are particularly strong. I am becoming such a fan of Michael Cyprien. Again - you can read this out of order with the other books in the series, but the story lines are getting so intricate that I think reading them in order is the best way to go.

This book delves more into the biological makeup of the Darkyn and highlights what happens when Kyn get captured by Brethren.

[Daelith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series just isn't holding my attention well enough to continue with it. I, at least, enjoyed this book more than the third one in the series. I like the way the author has taken historical type figures and turned them into vampires, but for some reasons the plots don't click for me.

[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved rereading this book! A bit confused what was going on with the Green Man and the dreams, but yeah, really great, and I need to read more!

*First read April 2011*
Great book, loved the characters, loved the series!

[Shaunesay · Rating 4 out of 5]

The end felt a little rushed and conveniently tied up, but I still did really like it, looking forward to the next one!

[Melissa Wehunt]

Night Lost: A Novel of the Darkyn by Lynn Viehl (2007)

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

[Megzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The secondary characters, Alex and Richard stole the scene. It might be I hate bugs and Gabrielle's power was controlling all sort of insects. I was scratching as I was reading.

[May Mostly Romance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Night Lost ของลินน์ วีล เป็นหนังสือเล่มที่สี่ในชุดดาร์คคิน หนังสืออีกชุดที่เดินตามรอยเท้าความสำเร็จของดาร์คฮันเตอร์

แม็กซ์บอกตามตรงว่า ตอนแรกที่อ่านหนังสือชุดนี้ ไม่ได้ติดใจอะไรเป็นพิเศษ ไม่รู้สึกว่ามีจุดเด่นที่น่าอ่าน ประวัติศาสตร์ของพวกดาร์คคินก็ไม่เห็นจะน่าติดตามอะไรสักหน่อย หนังสือเล่มแรกที่ชื่อเรื่องเพราะมาก If Angel burn ก็ดูดีตรงที่ชื่อ ส่วนเนื้อเรื่องก็งั้น ๆ หนังสือชุดนี้ไม่เลวร้าย แต่ก็ไม่โดดเด่นอะไร

แต่เมื่อยิ่งได้อ่าน แม็กซ์กลับพบว่าตัวเองชักจะชอบชุดนี้ขึ้นมาซะแล้วสิคะ หนังสือเล่มสองสนุกกว่าเล่มแรก เล่มสามสนุกที่สุด ส่วนเล่มนี้ก็ไม่ได้แย่อะไร น่าติดตามด้วยซ้ำ

ปัญหาก็คือ สำหรับคนที่ไม่เคยอ่านหนังสือชุดนี้มาก่อนเลย อาจจะงง แล้วก็งง แล้วก็งงซ้ำ เพราะเนื้อเรื่องผูกพันกับเรื่องราวที่เกิดในเล่มก่อนหน้ามานี้มาก

จะว่าไปพระเอกนางเอกในชุดนี้มี 2 คู่ คู่แรกก็คือพระนางคู่เดิมจากเล่มหนึ่ง ซึ่งตอนท้ายในเล่มสาม อเล็กซ์นางเอกถูกจับตัวไป ในเล่มนี้ ไมเคิลพระเอกก็เลยต้องหาทางมาช่วย แม็กซ์ไม่ค่อยประทับใจกับพระนางคู่นี้ตอนที่เป็นตัวเอกหลักใน IAB หรอกนะ แต่ในเล่มนี้กลับรู้สึกว่าบุคลิกของเขาถูกพัฒนาขึ้นมาเยอะมาก

อีกคู่เป็นพระนางที่ถูกโฆษณาไว้ท้ายเล่ม เกเบรียล (ซึ่งเป็นตัวละครที่ถูกเอ่ยถึงในเล่มแรกของชุด) ซึ่งถูกเข้าใจว่าตายไปแล้ว แท้จริงแล้วยังไม่ตาย เขาถูกขังไว้ในโบสถ์ร้าง รอคอยการมาช่วยของหญิงสาวที่ติดต่อทางความฝันกับเขา นิค (คนแต่งมีโรคบางอย่างชอบตั้งชื่อนางเอกด้วยชื่อผู้ชาย) นางเอกเป็นโจรที่มีความสามารถ อดีตอันขมขื่น และความปรารถนาที่จะแก้แค้น ผลักดันให้เธอออกตามล่าหาสมบัติยุคครูเสด และการค้นหาของเธอก็นำเธอมาพบกับเกเบรียล

เริ่มแรกตัวละครทั้งสองคู่ ดูจะมีเรื่องราวที่แยกออกจากัน ด้านหนึ่งก็เป็นการแสดงให้เห็นถึงอเล็กซ์ที่ต้องพยายามเอาชีวิตรอด เมื่อเธอถูกจับมาเพื่อให้เป็นหมอ (อาชีพของเธอก่อนจะกลายเป็นแวมไพร์) รักษาอาการของลอร์ดสูงสุดแห่งแวมไพร์ ริชาร์ดเป็นแวมไพร์ที่แข็งแกร่งที่สุด แต่เขากลับเป็นโรคที่ทำให้มีอาการคุ้มดีคุ้มร้าย ร่างกายค่อย ๆ เปลี่ยนแปลงไป จนไม่ใช่ทั้งมนุษย์ และแวมไพร์ หาทางรอดเดียวของเขาฝากไว้ที่อเล็กซ์ แต่การพรากเธอมาจากคู่ชีวิตของเธอกลับเป็นเรื่องใหญ่ ไมเคิลเป็นผู้ครอบครองดินแดนของแวมไพร์แห่งอเมริกาเหนือ การกระทำของริชาร์ดก็เหมือนกับการประกาศสงครามกันอีกครั้ง

อีกด้านหนึ่งแสดงให้เห็นความทุกข์ทรมานของกาเบรียลที่ถูกกลุ่มผู้ร้ายจับมา จองจำและทรมาน และนิคผู้พยายามตามหาวัตถุโบราณโดยหวังว่ามันจะนำเธอไปสู่คนร้ายที่ฆ่าล้าง ครอบครัวของเธอได้

เส้นทางของทั้งคู่มาบรรจบกันเมื่อเกือบท้ายเล่ม เมื่อไมเคิลบุกมาถึงไอร์แลนด์เพื่อช่วยเหลือหญิงที่เขารัก และกาเบรียลเดินทางมาเพื่อพบกับริชาร์ด เพื่อหาคำตอบว่าเหตุใดจึงปล่อยให้เขาตาย โดยไม่ยอมส่งใครมาช่วยเหลือเขา

การบรรจบกันของเรื่องอยู่ในระดับที่ใช้ได้ค่ะ ไม่ถึงกับทำให้น่าทึ่งในความฉลาดของคนแต่ง แต่ก็น่าเชื่อถือมากพอ การแก้ปัญหาที่เกิดง่ายไปหน่อย แต่ก็ไม่ถึงกับเป็นไปไม่ได้ โดยรวมแล้ว แม็กซ์คิดว่าเล่มนี้เป็นเรื่องที่พลาดไม่ได้สำหรับแฟนหนังสือของชุด สำหรับคนที่ยังไม่ได้อ่าน ถ้าคิดอยากจะอ่านเรื่องแวมไพร์ โดยไม่คาดหวังว่ามันจะเยี่ยมยอดหรือน่าจดจำอย่างที่ชุดดาร์ค ฮันเตอร์ หรือแบล็กเด็กเกอร์ทำไว้ ชุดนี้ก็น่าสนใจค่ะ เพราะแม็กซ์คิดว่ายิ่งเขียน ยิ่งน่าติดตาม

อะไรที่แม็กซ์เสียดายรู้ไหมคะ ในเล่มนี้แม็กซ์ไม่ได้เห็นตัวละครที่น่าจดจำที่สุดในชุดอย่างลูแคนสักครั้ง

สำหรับคะแนนอยู่ที่ 70 ค่ะ (เทียบกับ 73 ที่ Dark Need ได้ และ 57 ที่ If Angel Burn และ Private Demon หนังสือในชุดเดียวกันได้)

[BooksBooksandmoreBooks69 · Rating 3 out of 5]

My review ....
This is book 4 in a 7 book series. And I don’t think it will spoil it too much.
Basically Gabriel has been caught by the resident bad guys in the series (The Brethren) he’s been tortured for the whereabouts of his kin, but he won’t give them up (even though he thinks they’ve forsaken him)
Blinded and walled up for eternity, Gabriel seeks comfort in his dreams. That is where he meets his angel, his only joy (but Gabriel can’t feel real joy or pain anymore)
They meet in the dream, but he can’t tell her where he is so he can be rescued. He only holds onto life for her (he hopes they can meet before he finally dies)

The Darkyn are vampires, they no longer drain their prey, but take enough to survive. They all have unusual talents (different from the usual sparkly vamps) 😉

Nicola is a relic hunter, she’s after a particular piece and vengeance for the death of her family.
She is numb to the real world, her only escape is in her dreams. She meets a green man (yes literally green) she isn’t frightened of him, but she is wary.

Together they find each other, and hunt for the relic, and are on the run from the brethren. She hopes to finds justice, he hopes to find out why he was never rescued by his kind.

There are a few surprises. And I liked the fact Nicola had no intention of falling for Gabriel (she was just going to rescue him and go) and right up to the end you don’t know if she stays.

I’m definitely going to read the rest of the series. And the spin off ?!?! Who knows

[Shelli Ingle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Awhile back I brought a series of these vampire books,but I DNF'ed the first book and I don't like the direction where it was going in.

Why not I should give this vampire series another chance? Well, The book had started out as okay. I do like the main female character Nick. There was two story plots that was going on with this book; the first one is about a female theft was to steal a statue but distracted by a vampire that who held captived against his will; and the second one is focuses on the doctor's brother teamed up with her abusive boyfriend to save the doctor from the vampire king that has kidnapped her.

I winded up DNF'ed this one anyway like I did with the first one. I hurled halfthrough when the theft girl forced the vampire to have sex with her after she saved him and they just met.

Oh man, this series is pure trash.

[Yasmin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Same as previous books, this book is not for children. But I think the sex scenes are just too much compared to its predecessors.

No matter how many couples that this book wants to introduced, no one can beat how amazing Viehl wrote Alexandra Keller. She only appear as a side character, yet she steals every spotlight from this series.

Nicola Jefferson is not unlikeable, but the author kept her secret too long for the sake of the ending twist which made her character hard to relate to. The plot twist will be amazing if it was movie, but for the book, it ends flat unfortunately.

Gonna pick up the next book for Alex's adventure.

[bookreader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ein solides Buch, das mich allerdings nicht vollständig überzeugt hat. Der ungewöhnliche Schreibstil erschwerte mir den Einstieg, und einige Plotelemente blieben entweder ungeklärt oder wirkten später überflüssig. Die vielen Perspektivwechsel haben eher verwirrt als bereichert, und durch die Vielzahl an Handlungssträngen fehlte mir die Tiefe zu den Charakteren. Insgesamt wirkte vieles oberflächlich. Dennoch: stellenweise unterhaltsam und mit humorvollen Momenten – aber kein Highlight.

3,5⭐️

[Kelly Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good, liked how all the characters are brought together in the end.

[Janet · Rating 2 out of 5]

2+ stars

[Phoebe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think that this book was amazing and i recommend this book to anyone who loves vampire Romance

[TinaNoir · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 4th book in the Darkyn series.

Nicola Jefferson is a thief. She is also hot on the trail of a religious artifact known as the Golden Madonna. Traversing Europe, she allows her uncanny sense of finding things to lead her trail to the artifact. During her travels she stumbles across Gabriel Seran, who bears the uncanny resemblance (and the scent of Evergreen) of the Green Man who populates her dreams.

Gabriel Seran is one of the Darkyn who had been kidnapped over a year ago along with Thierry, Jamys and the other Durands. Unlike that family who had been rescued by Lucan, Gabriel remained imprisoned and was tortured cruelly by the Brethren. Gabriel is in the pit despair, believing that his King Richard and his fellow Darkyn have abandoned him. In fact, they believe him to be dead. When Nicola comes along and frees him, her role as his savior and the burgeoning attraction between the two of them convinces him to accompany her on her quest.

In the meantime, Alexandra and Michael are suffering because of their separation. King Richard has kidnapped Alex and taken her to his fortress, Dundellan, in Ireland so that he can figure some way to use her to create more Darkyn. But Alex and Richard's human servant, Eliane have other ideas. Eliane wants Alex to find a cure for the changeling disease that is eating away at Richard's body and mind and is turning him into a monster.

This is probably my second favorite book of the series so far (Evermore, the next book is my hands down favorite).

First, I love the way Viehl reveals the character of Nicola. She allows the reader to discover Nicola in layers. I won't say very much about Nicola or Nicola and Gabriel's plot-line because if is really nice to discover her as you read about her. She is fascinating and I simply liked her.

Second the relationship between Gabriel and Nicola is a good solid romance. It is sexy and it hits all the emotional buttons. There is great chemistry between the two characters and some really good moments. One part I especially loved was how Viehl again shows the basic philosophical differences between a man of the 14th century and a woman of the 21st century. And those differences aren't super obvious. Gabriel, as was usual of his time, was very much a creature of the church. He was faithful and as a Templar very honorable. When he discovers that people he loved were killed because of him, his spirit simply rejects it, he feels that it is a matter of honor for him to end his own life because of it (actually he asks Nicola to because suicide is a sin). But Nicola smacks him (literally) rightfully and is vocally pissed that his honor seems more important that his survival. She basically tells him to stop his pity party. Lynn Viehl has shown this attitude disparity before with Alex and Michael. And it is nicely reiterated here with these two.

Third, I loved the structure of the book. In the previous books, the romance plot and the Darkyn/Alex/Michael plot intertwined with each other. In this book the two stories are completely separate, each running on its own trajectory and slowly converging in the end to create a nicely climactic moment. Each story was completely engrossing. While I was reading about Gabriel and Nicola I resented going back to read about Alex/Richard/Michale ---at least until I was about a paragraph into that storyline again and then I became upset when she went back to Nicola/Gabriel until I was about a paragraph back into that story again. I see-sawed the entire book. LOVED both plots equally. Also, Alex was at an all-time snarky high!

And Finally, Viehl allows a more complete look at Richard. In past books you never quite knew, was he a good guy? Bad guy? A megalomaniacal monster? But in this book Richard is revealed a bit more and it is a welcome look at him and his household. Also, Michael flexes him power in this one and shows why he is the seigneur. All along Michael has been shown to be sexy with a quiet power. He wasn't an obvious bad ass like Richard or Lucan. But in this one, Richard has really pissed him off. He flexes his muscle and it shows just how much power and loyalty Michael commands.

I guess I should mention that John Keller is there too. He has spent the last several books getting himself in really dangerous situations with the Brethren and this is no different. I love how all the Darkyn are like, "Michael why don't you just kill this guy already?" and Michael is like, "Well, he's my girlfriend's brother and I kinda promised...." I swear, John is like the tiresome in-law the everyone has.

Highly Recommended.

[Cid Tyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, I read through Night Lost in… five hours I think. With one break where I held a scalding hot microwave pizza in one hand and used the other to hold the book and read, so I never really stopped reading so much as I just slowed down.

Yes, these books are very much like an addiction currently, lol.

The Setting — this time you get to jump around! Part of the plot is in the familiar New Orleans. Some takes place in a small French town and over the French countryside and then the other bit takes place mostly in a castle with a name I can’t spell at the moment. I’m sort of suffering from sleep deprivation because I just can’t stop reading! I really liked the bits that happened in France; it was different from most of the other urban settings and I really liked the change of atmosphere.

The Characters — are as always phenomenal. I may want to reread all these books to just study how well the characterization is done. Their voices are all so unique – and we’re just talking about black squiggles on white pages here! (Okay, they’re off white but you get the picture!) Nick, the female main character featured in this book, just might be my favorite female lead yet. Alex whines and complains too much for me to like her, though even through this book I loved a lot of her dialogue. I liked Jema, but she was so much of a nice, yet clueless girl who just sort of had stuff happening around her. Samantha I really liked for many of the same reasons I like Nick; they’re girls who kick butt and take names. What makes me like Night Lost so much more – is that the male lead, Gabriel – who we only know about through a few mentions in earlier books and have been led to believe is dead – is not the bad-ass vampire type. Unlike Michael who as commander of the US vampires must make the decisions for them all – which routinely put him at odds with humans, and unlike Thierry who was the champion of slaying five thousand in the crusades alone and going stark raving mad, unlike Lucan who was the vampire assassin and their only enforcer like figure ~ Gabriel is different. Okay, he’s still a blood sucking fiend, but he is remorseful about it in a way the others are not. Robert still sort of creeps me out. There’s this bit where he’s attacking Alex and she has this eppifany that he’s turning into a cat and then starts thinking – while being ripped up – about the animals anatomy. Yeah, just disturbing.

The Plot — I loved that in Night Lost we were not dealing so much with a threat from the Bretheren. Okay, you know they’re looming just over the hill and around the next corner, but for the moment they are not the principal antagonist in the book. Instead you’re faced with more intrigue and vampire drama which was a great change of pace for the books. Unlike the previous book where the end came all at once and things just sort of happened, Night Lost really ended amazingly.

My only question is ~ why the heck do we never get to know if Nick asks Gabriel about the many? And was all of the blood in the castle laced with animal blood too? If so, then what’s going to happen to everyone else? Is there more drama coming up? And what the heck happened to Louisa?????

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot is good. The characters are okay. My issue is the anatomical descriptions and some of the writing is not as good as I've read in past books in the series.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a thief and a liar

Words consistently uttered by Night Lost's heroine, Nicola Jefferson. In the fourth installment of Lynn Viehl's Darkyn series, we follow Nick, an international thief wanted by Interpol, in her search of a family relic known as the Golden Madonna. While traveling through France, she stumbles upon an old, dilapated chapel in which we find Gabriel Seran, one of Michael Cyprien's closest friends and former Templar Knight turned Darkyn, blinded and sealed inside a room underneath the church.

Captured and tortured relentlessly for the past two years by the Brethren, a group of men passing themselves off as Catholic priests in order to destroy the Darkyn, Gabriel has pretty much given up on hope that he would ever be rescued. The only thing keeping him from completely losing his mind is the "pale haired maiden" he sees in his dreams or what he calls the "Nightlands." Imagine his shock when it turns out that the maiden actually does exist and she comes to rescue and release him.

Not only do we get to follow Nick and Gabriel's journey to love and the Golden Madonna, we get to see many of the couples from the previous books. After being taken hostage by the High Lord Richard at the end of Dark Need, Alexandra is forced to conduct experiments and figure out what on Earth is going on with Richard's mutated condition. It's not like she really has a choice, being the only Kyn doctor around. Between studying, taking, and comparing blood, she struggles with her separation from Michael and keeping Richard's guards off of her. Meanwhile, Michael plots to get his sygkenis while trying to keep his head in check. And of course, we get the Brethren and their foolishness.

I thought this was a solid entry in the Darkyn series. I appreciated that although the Brethren still received a little shine, they didn't have as a big a presence in this book like the others. Personally, I hate the Brethren and everything they allegedly stand for but I guess that's why they make such good villains, right? I always love to Michael and Alex. They are definitely my favorite couple of the series, Alex being my favorite of the pair. She's so snarky, sarcastic, and spunky, I can't help but laugh and applaud when she tells off some of the other characters.

What I didn't particularly care for was the Gabriel/Nick romance. Granted, I'm aware that they're story took place of over the course of three or four days, but something about it just bored me. I love seeing the main couple getting together at the end but there was just something missing in this one. Something really fell flat for me with them; though I think that there were pretty fleshed out as individual characters.

Overall, I give this 4 stars. Lynn Viehl can't do much wrong in my eyes.

[Tania · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Night Lost" by Lynn Viehl. Book 4 in the Darkyn series.

I liked this book. A little different than the first three because the bad guys (the Brethern) don't really have a big presence in this book. It focuses more on the main characters Gabriel and Nicola (Nick) and the ongoing series plot involving the high lord of the Darkyn, Richard. Gabriel is a character that was mentioned in the first book as being friends with Michael and Thierry. Nick is a new character we have not seen before.

This book was also different in that Nick is the stronger character rather than Gabriel. I liked that she is a very strong female character and basically gets along fine without Gabriel. I'm not saying Gabriel is a weak character, he is just a more calm character than the previous male main characters. He's sweet and caring and comes off as really mellow. The power he has is totally creepy but I'm not saying what it is...you can be surprised when/if you read it.

The main plot starts with Nick trying to find a statue called the Golden Madonna which was stolen from her family 10 years ago. Her reputation as a theif is growing. She knows about 'vampires' because when she's breaking into churches, she keeps finding Kyn being held prisoner, so she frees them. When she comes across Gabriel, she has to save him as well. Gabriel needs to get in connect with other Kyn to let them know he's still alive so Nick and Gabriel join forces because both their goals seem to be headed in the same direction.

The chemistry between Gabriel and Nick is very steamy. You can really feel that the two of them need to be with each other and make a really good couple. The side plot involving high lord Richard and his kidnapped victim Alexandra is really quite interesting. A lot of medical terminology in these sections which I didn't always understand but that's ok. You basically get the gist of what Alex is trying to do. This is the first book that doesn't end in a cliffhanger ending and every storyline comes to a conclusion.

Overall, it was a good book and I liked it. Time to start the next one.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I never expected that ending, but it was perfectly executed. I tip my hat to Richard. I used to think he was horrible and deserved what he got, but he’s as much a victim as the rest. I glad that it turned out okay.

And as always, Alex is a genius. Her human pre-Kyn intelligence has only be expanded with her change. When are these guys going to start appreciating what they have in her? The male Kyn are so chauvinistic.

In the beginning, I understood that Nick and Gabriel both have secrets that are supposed to be kept mysterious but Nicks seemed a bit forced. It’s too intertwined with finding Gabriel, then later it made sense.

Gabriel’s talent is so cool. It’s different than the others. As long as you have no phobias to insects, it has so many flexible uses, defense, attack, concealment, exploration, and lots more. Nick’s is more subtle and she probably has been using it for the wrong purposes. But her fighting skills are awesome. Their scents, evergreen and juniper, are almost identical which shows they belong together.

Quick Thoughts: 1)I love how they use a ‘Medieval Times’ dinner show venue as a cover for training the Kyn warriors. It’s perfect.

2)One thing I’ve learned in these books is to never take a person’s character at face value. Those you think are good, may turn out to be bad and visa-versa.

3)There’s more story about Alex than Nick & Gabriel.

4)I love the Amber room and the Templar treasure room.

Fave scenes: Alex confronting Richard about the difference between kings and presidents and cats, Alex’s first examination of Richard, Gabriel’s visit to his home and Gabriel using his insects to find and rescue Nick.

[Heather Dalgarno · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Night Lost" is the 4th book in the Darkyn series by Lynn Viehl.



For those of you that don't know, this premise of this series is that the Knights Templar, during their battles in the Holy Land, contracted a disease that has turned them into vampires. Fast forward to the present day and we see a modern day group of elite, tortured, warrior vampires living in a feudal system with a few human minions (willing of course). Oh..... and a war with an evil branch of the Catholic church bent on their destruction. If only these poor, tortured, incredibly gorgeous vampire knights had fair maidens to help them occupy their lonely existence......



So, this series is like a cross between Sherrilyn Kenyon and the Da Vinci Code.



There aren't a lot of women about that would be suitable. The vampires (or Darykn as they are called) infected some of their female relatives when they returned so they're not exactly girlfriend material and the Darkyn appear to have long ago lost the ability to turn humans into Kyn, so they can't make themselves a suitable woman either.



Luckily for these ultimate bachelors Viehl seems to conveniently drop a suitable woman into their laps (quite literally) in every installment. A good half dozen centuries or more of the lonely life and now the Darkyn are shacking up with their new-found honeys with a comfortable one-a-book pace.



This isn't exactly Pulitzer prize winning stuff, but it is entertaining. If you like Sherrilyn Kenyon then you'll like Viehl too. Give it a go....it's a guilty pleasure but a good one.