Helpful Score: 5
The world that Lynn Viehl has created, with its melding of science and vampires, is not the easiest to wrap one's mind around, with all of its complexities and twists, but it is entirely original, and genuinely interesting in all respects. Beyond that, what makes this book stand out in the increasingly-crowded field of paranormal romance, is the actual romance. Viehl has created, and sufficiently developed, three main characters who are easy to root for, and compel a person to read on to find out what happens to them. There is the street-smart heroine Rowan, who is talented in some surprising ways, and who is quite strong, but is not the standard tough-as-nails heroine that has become commonplace - she has her vulnerabilities, and readers can relate to her, regardless of the things she has endured. Further, once she finds love, she embraces her feelings rather than fighting them tooth and nail (even though the situation is not without its fair share of complications). Then there is Sean, who is testosterone personified - a man of few words, who is all muscles and attitude. What he is not, however, is obnoxious and abrasive, because even though he's not an easy man to relate to and has more than a few rough edges, he is also a man of character, with a strong sense of right and wrong; he may not readily accept his feelings, but once he's forced to face them, he falls hard and is utterly devoted. Finally, there is Jean-Marc, who is gorgeous, elegant, and sophisticated beyond the telling of it. He is a man who (like Sean) has some huge secrets, but he doesn't let them lessen his enjoyment of life, or harden him to the joys of human interaction and emotions.
The connections between Rowan and Jean-Marc, and Rowan and Sean, are instantaneous and cannot be denied. Viehl has written a love triangle that avoids all of the usual cliches and pitfalls, while simultaneously reveling in an abundance of heat, passion, and genuine affection and caring. In fact, I found the relationships so compelling and sincere that they actually provided my one problem with the book - I wish more time had been devoted to these characters and their interactions with one another. Granted, Viehl had to juggle a fairly large cast of supporting characters and several different plotlines, and it is to her credit that sufficient time was devoted to all of them. I just wanted Rowan, Jean-Marc, and Sean to be featured a bit more.
One of the most captivating aspects of the book is Rowan's feelings for both men, and her struggle with the thought of having to choose one over the other. And it is here that Viehl truly impressed me - her resolution to the love triangle was inventive and creative, and like nothing I had ever read before. She deserves a lot of praise for that, in my view, because given the sheer amount of love triangles that have been tackled by writers, I thought that it would be impossible to break any kind of new ground. Happily, Viehl's talent and imagination proved me wrong. And then some. It takes a very special, talented writer to not only come up with all of these plots, but to ensure that they are always fresh and original. I highly recommend this book, and I am very much looking forward to the next installment in this series.
The connections between Rowan and Jean-Marc, and Rowan and Sean, are instantaneous and cannot be denied. Viehl has written a love triangle that avoids all of the usual cliches and pitfalls, while simultaneously reveling in an abundance of heat, passion, and genuine affection and caring. In fact, I found the relationships so compelling and sincere that they actually provided my one problem with the book - I wish more time had been devoted to these characters and their interactions with one another. Granted, Viehl had to juggle a fairly large cast of supporting characters and several different plotlines, and it is to her credit that sufficient time was devoted to all of them. I just wanted Rowan, Jean-Marc, and Sean to be featured a bit more.
One of the most captivating aspects of the book is Rowan's feelings for both men, and her struggle with the thought of having to choose one over the other. And it is here that Viehl truly impressed me - her resolution to the love triangle was inventive and creative, and like nothing I had ever read before. She deserves a lot of praise for that, in my view, because given the sheer amount of love triangles that have been tackled by writers, I thought that it would be impossible to break any kind of new ground. Happily, Viehl's talent and imagination proved me wrong. And then some. It takes a very special, talented writer to not only come up with all of these plots, but to ensure that they are always fresh and original. I highly recommend this book, and I am very much looking forward to the next installment in this series.
Helpful Score: 3
Rowan Dietrich grew up on the streets. Now she's out to start anew, find a job-and keep her identity as a Kyndred secret, as well as her ability to "dreamveil" herself into the object of others' desires.
But Rowan isn't using her gift when world-class chef Jean-Marc Dansant is stricken by her beauty and strength. And when dark secrets from her past threaten her new life and love, Rowan realizes she can't run forever...
Lynn Viehl is one of only about a half dozen authors who are on my auto buy list without ever reading review one. While at first I didnt think I would like the other half of the Darkyn series, Kyndred, as much as the first half of the series, this book totally convinced me it was a winner. While the Kyndred doesnt have the rich historical focus that made me fall in love with this series back in 2005, this book has so many twists and turns that it has blown me away. Ill think I have a thing or two figured out and Viehls storyline takes a whole other turn that makes me smile and shake my head with satisfaction. The mystery and suspense is worthy of several Patterson books Ive read and definitely more entertaining. This is NOT a series that can be read out of order and why would you want to? The characters in this series have been superb and I loved the setting of this book in a French restaurant. I started this book late in the afternoon and did not lay it down until I finished the last word in it. I just picked up the next book Frostfire and am planning an all night read tomorrow night.
I list both series here because they go together as far as I'm concerned. You can't enjoy one without the other.
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)
Kyndred
1. Shadowlight (2009)
2. Dreamveil (2010)
3. Frostfire (2011)
But Rowan isn't using her gift when world-class chef Jean-Marc Dansant is stricken by her beauty and strength. And when dark secrets from her past threaten her new life and love, Rowan realizes she can't run forever...
Lynn Viehl is one of only about a half dozen authors who are on my auto buy list without ever reading review one. While at first I didnt think I would like the other half of the Darkyn series, Kyndred, as much as the first half of the series, this book totally convinced me it was a winner. While the Kyndred doesnt have the rich historical focus that made me fall in love with this series back in 2005, this book has so many twists and turns that it has blown me away. Ill think I have a thing or two figured out and Viehls storyline takes a whole other turn that makes me smile and shake my head with satisfaction. The mystery and suspense is worthy of several Patterson books Ive read and definitely more entertaining. This is NOT a series that can be read out of order and why would you want to? The characters in this series have been superb and I loved the setting of this book in a French restaurant. I started this book late in the afternoon and did not lay it down until I finished the last word in it. I just picked up the next book Frostfire and am planning an all night read tomorrow night.
I list both series here because they go together as far as I'm concerned. You can't enjoy one without the other.
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)
Kyndred
1. Shadowlight (2009)
2. Dreamveil (2010)
3. Frostfire (2011)
Helpful Score: 1
I was really looking forward to this book since loved the first novel of the Kyndred and all of the Darkyn books. While enjoyable and well written, I found something missing from this book. I always have to gear up for Viehl's books because they are rather intense and not a light fluffy read. That being said, I kind of felt this piece to be rather fluffy and all about Rowan for the most part. Usually Viehl reveals more discoveries about the enemy and other key players that may appear in the future. While I like to be left wanting for more, anxious for the next book, I just felt as if something was missing. Hopefully Viehl will have more with the next book.
Helpful Score: 1
This book starts off confusing, if Veihl had just told us from the start that Rowan was the girl who worked for (and fell in love with Mathias) it would have made more sense. The snobby french food stuff was just annoying and pointless. And it seemed there were too many broken pieces of stories all happening at the same time, it didn't flow well. None of it came together until the very end, and i was disappointed. I wanted to know more about Sean and Dansant, and how they came to be. I hope we learn more about them in the future. This book left me wondering whether or not i will bother with the rest of the series....
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