Review: a tale of conflict and loss:
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 30, 2014
The first in a new series, this is also the first opportunity I have had to read this author’s work.  Marie Treanor has managed to provide the necessary background information that readers would need to follow the story, and this book does stand alone without great difficulties in understanding.This story works on the premise that Vampire Hunters and Vampires have now declared a truce, and the vampires are essentially and mostly peaceful.  Yet, there are some bad seeds still walking the earth: and there are now humans possessed of psychic powers that are the ‘new thing’: good vampires want to possess them for their abilities, bad vampires want to use them.What emerges in this story is a tale of conflict and loss: the world you believed you knew versus the changes that are coming.  With the addition of a small child that is wanted by both good and evil vampires, and years of history behind them, the struggles for both main characters are well defined and displayed.  Mihaela is a hunter, born and bred, and she isn’t willing or able to trust in the treaty or the gorgeous ancient vampire who professes to care for her.Maximillian is an ancient, and near the top of the hierarchy.  Yet he is haunted by his own guilt for the suffering he believes he has caused both his maker and others.  As a pairing, these two are cleverly written and developed: each with solid and proven reasons to not trust in the other, yet some unknown element that makes them want to try.A nice mix of romance, threat and action kept me intrigued and reading on.  While the characters are beautifully developed and there are viable reasons and options for their behavior, the pacing was uneven and the tension seemed to ebb and flow without resolution for longer than necessary.  I was expecting a read that contained more edge of the seat moments, and while I didn’t receive those moments in great succession, I was intrigued and engaged for the entire read.I received an eBook copy from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.