The third Rulers of Darkness tale presents us with a new hero and heroine. For centuries Hadrian Lucretius, Vampire King of the Validus Clan, has been cursed with dark and violent memories of his past. He’s practically earned the reputation of the seven deadly sins all wrapped into one. Eva Maldonado, daughter of the Silveria Shifter Pack’s alpha, has been offered to him as a gift in hopes of maintaining peace between vampires and their kind. Whisked away to the secluded fortress high in the Carpathian Mountains, Eva senses more beyond his frightening veneer. And he senses more beyond her broken spirit. Drawn to one another like moths to a flame, will they be each other’s saviors or ultimate undoing?
You definitely get what you expect based on the synopsis and the cover. I felt like this one teetered on the erotica line a little more than its predecessors which felt more like your usual paranormal romance. The chemistry between Eva and Hadrian is very strong and the love scenes are well done, if gratuitous after a while. There’s a lot of unresolved sexual tension that may become frustrating for the reader, but that’s become the norm in this genre. I liked the appearances of characters from the prior novels. Though a paranormal romance, it allows everything to tie in to the current story a bit better.
When it comes to this series, I the first one remains my personal favorite. I enjoyed the regency feel and I felt like the focus leaned more towards the story and plot progression. I’d likely rank this one second though. Their secluded setting provided a similar feel.
This is quality paranormal romance. The writing, atmosphere, the angst, and the dynamic between the hero and heroine are all quite good. It’s just a matter of your tastes and your mood. I’m urban fantasy fan first so other details tend to catch my attention and I find myself wanting those fleshed out and explored more. Greene presents a supernatural world that can be pretty complicated between the various species all vying for control.
The books are standalones, but you definitely see glimpses of potential lead characters for the subsequent novels. I look forward to the sequels.
*ARC provided by the author.
H-o-double t…hott! Just the way I like ’em .
Thank you for accepting my book for review and I’m glad you enjoyed it.