Review: Steamy, Creative, Humorous with Sexy Scottish Immortals
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 3, 2012
Grade: B- or 3.5 Stars (rounded to 4 stars)... Britt Bury enters the PNR scene with very promising debut! What readers will find: Original paranormal beings, snarky humor, and steamy sexy times!!! If readers like Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark series or Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter series then this book will most likely appeal!The StoryA thousand years ago, Kelvin Kerr vowed to avenge his butchered and decapitated chieftain father by eliminating every last member of the Campbell Fionns. The immortal Pookah and Fionn clans' feud lasts until the Campbells have one Battle Chief, also known as "the McCall", remaining in their bloodline. Nothing will sway Kelvin from what must be done, until he discovers the woman he must kill is his mate and the last human on Earth. The clock is ticking. As the winter solstice approaches, his kind go into a mating rut; his Pookah animal's instinct rises as the nights last longer; and taking his mate on the darkest day will permanently bind him to his clan's hated enemy.Izel Campbell has been glamoured, emotionless, and kept in ignorance her entire life. She journeys to Scotland at the request of her Mystic grandfather. Izel is unaware of the danger she's about to face. Her mystical disguise vanishes revealing her mortality and true appearance. Emotions flood her being. Now she needs answers.Once it's revealed the Campbell Fionn is the last human and likely Kelvin's mate, the Immortal who'd been about to kill Izel offers to take her to Kerr Castle, lead her to her people and, possibly, her missing grandfather. In a world where beings with a heavy ratio of humanity offers the sweetest blood and most savory flesh, Izel will need the strongest type of immortal for protection from flesh-eaters and vampires.PraiseThere are some very creative aspects in the Immortal Heat world I've never seen in a paranormal romance. Due to the natural selection process, humans have become extinct. The immortal races carry `superior' genes but retain a spark of humanity. Some may carry the human recessive gene or inherit some human genes marking them as a highly desirable prey. Applying evolutionary theory and genetics to create this alternate world is incredibly clever! Loved it!Britt Bury introduces readers to new paranormal beings! There's the animalistic Pookahs (Razorback, Wolverine, Bear), and the magical Fionns (Mystic, Poet, Warrior), which feature in The Darkest Day. They have distinctive characteristics and mating processes. The world also includes witches, warlocks, ghouls, vampires, and dryads, just to name a few. (Ms. Bury doesn't overwhelm the reader with tedious detail. Only a few of the immortal races are introduced.) The author's description of one of the worst kind of demon is my favorite![Quote]The creature was something from a nightmare. It was just as big as Kelvin, but with translucent skin and thick black veins. Dark blood vessels tracked all over his face, neck, and body, live rivers on a map. He truly was a Hell beast. His yellow eyes glowed against the darkness and darted around as he neared Kelvin. "I can smell the human, Pookah. Best to just hand her over and I'll be on my way." The demon's voice was venomous, and the way his ebony lips drooled out ashen spittle had Izel covering her mouth in disgust.[End Quote]More, more, more!!!CriticismFor all her originality I wish Ms. Bury would have spent a little more time with her world-building. These superior beings are set over today's human world and technology, which didn't jibe with their magic and supernatural abilities. What little I saw of society didn't seem culture specific or different. When Kelvin runs across the street to grab a pizza I was put out.My biggest criticism is the way Izel's transformation was handled. For twenty-five years she functions without feeling and has a completely different appearance. She changes in an instant, passes out, then functions fine. The blonde `Plain Jane' is gone! In her place is beautiful olive-skinned brunette bombshell. Her mystical glamour may as well not have been included as her change was never expanded upon or explored. Izel' grandfather hiding her mortal scent seemed the only useful aspect of the glamour. This was a lost opportunity for character development.Final ThoughtsThe Darkest Day is an entertaining paranormal romance. It's humorous with snarky dialogue. Lovers of growly alpha males with Scottish brogues will be very happy with the possessive Pookah hero. The sexy love scenes steamed up my ereader's screen. Spicy hot!!! The characters don't always make the most plausible choices yet their chemistry make up for it, and they did engage my emotions.This book sets up future pairings without distracting the reader with unnecessary subplots. I anticipate future work from Ms. Bury. The Immortal Heat series has the potential to become a darker series, but whether she takes future books in that direction she'll have paranormal romance fans who will love her fierce Immortals and brand of humor. Who knew Pookahs could be so damn sexy?!!!