Review: A very fun read with a strong emphasis on drama and suspense.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 12 9, 2013
I had been waiting for this book for a while. Here, the ancient vampire Ceri tries to break a curse that was placed upon him so that he could be with his fate-chosen mate, Virgil.As previously established, Ceri (and his twin brother, Rhys) were the second-oldest vampires born (the oldest being their elder brother Christian), and all other vampires are descendants. When he was young though, an ancient warlock filled with hate placed a curse on him that would force him to consume flesh and devour people. Because of this, he became the most-feared vampire in existence. Now awake after a long sleep, he has met his mate and is trying desperately to break the curse since whenever he's with Virgil, he becomes overwhelmed with the desire to consume him.The characters are well-defined. Ceri has appeared in the past in the Brac Pack and Christian's Coven books, and now his motivations are explained as we're privy to his thoughts and desires. Virgil was previously introduced in the books when he attacked his brother's mate and was portrayed as sociopathic. Here we find out it's not quite as it seems. Disturbed, yes. But not sociopathic and emotionless. Both characters are well-written and quite enjoyable to read. The book is also filled with many other characters introduced throughout the series, and a strong emphasis is placed on advancing a long-running plot where the demon Marino Malone is seeking revenge against all of the leaders.A lot happens in this book, with twists and turns and TONS of surprises. The only drawback I can find is that with so many things happening, I think Lynn Hagen should have spent more time on certain key events. Some truly epic events could have used a bit more detail. Still, it's a very engrossing and rewarding story, and I'm very glad I got it.