In Darkness Reborn

I fell in love with Barak the first time I read about him. This book just confirmed my feelings. The warriors are all strong as well as their women. I felt Baraks and Laceys pain at not being able to come forward because he was from a different world as well as their undeniable love for each other.

I blew through the first two books in this series and waited anxiously for this one. I was really curious to see how the author would handle Barak as a hero. We met him in Dark Protector when he saved Dr. Laurel Young's life. He's one of the Others, the Paladin's sworn enemy. I had no idea what to expect and - wow, this book was great. No one does the tortured hero like Alexis Morgan. In the beginning of the book, Barak is alone in every sense of the word - he's a man between worlds. Then he's paired with Lacey, who has no reason to like or trust him. Her brother has dedicated his life to fighting the Others and now she finds herself attracted to the very man she's supposed to despise. But he's not like she expected. He's loyal, determined and intriguing. Both of them are torn. Barak has a secret that, if revealed, could cost more lives. This book surprised me, made me smile in places and kept me reading way too late into the night.

Barak q'Young is an Other and therefore reviled by the Paladins amongst which he works and lives. Rescued by Dr. Young and in turn her savior, Barak wants to make a life for himself on this side of the barrier but runs into obstacles most of the time. Usually those obstacles are huge Paladin warriors not wanting him to even breathe the same air as they do. Tired from constantly having to defend himself and seeing how it is affecting his friend, Barak agrees to a transfer to another lab. He wants to help in the fight to find the person responsible for selling the gems that light his world and in doing so hopes that he will become accepted among the people that call him enemy. Lacey Sebastian has spent her entire life watching her brother fight for his life time and time again in the ongoing battle between the Others and the Paladins. When she is told that her new lab assistant is none other than the Other that was rescued by Dr. Young, her ire knows no bounds. She refuses to trust in someone that could betray her at the blink of an eye, until she comes to know him. In Barak q'Young, Lacey becomes aware of many contradictions. He is not the loathsome subhuman monster that she grew up learning about in different horror stories. He is kind, loyal and sexy. Quickly falling under his spell, Lacey is unsure how she will keep him in her life. Torn between her love for Barak and her love for her Paladin brother, Lacey has decisions to make. Decisions that involve more than just herself and her selfish yearnings. Barak and Lacey work well together and in turn become very close. The battle between the Others and the Paladins rages on because blue gems are still being stolen and sold. When his beloved is kidnapped, Barak decides enough is enough and makes the choice to save her, even at the cost of his very life. If I could say anything to Alexis Morgan at this moment it would be, "Bravo!" I have been dying for In Darkness Reborn since reading Dark Defender. Fully anticipating Barak's story but unsure if I would like the romance between he and Lacey, I should have known that I didn't have anything to worry about. Written in such a way that was completely realistic, In Darkness Reborn captured my attention, kept me spellbound, and wound its way around my heart. I fell in love with Barak from scene one and ached at his yearning to be accepted not as a monster but as a man. I found his devotion to Lacey eye opening and romantic. Lacey's characterization was classic. The victim of an overbearing and stubborn older brother, I loved how she ended up having both her brother and Barak wrapped around her finger. Fully not expecting the storyline to take the turn it did, I have to admit complete surprise at the end. I love when authors stump and surprise me and Alexis Morgan did just that. The only thing wrong with In Darkness Reborn? It didn't come with the next installment and I have to wait until December for Cullen's story. The tim

I was delighted with Barak's story and can hardly wait for the next one. But let me tell you about this one. Lacey Sebastian is a geologist, she works to study the barrier, and the earthquakes and volcanos that affect it. Her brother is a Paladin who has an injured hand. Never very calm and likeable his temper is strained by the worry over whether he will be able to rejoin his fellows. Barak is from the Other world. He came across and saved Laurel's life in the first book so the Paladins have allowed him to live although not without putting up with alot of guff. He is transfered to Lacey's charge and ordered to work with her. He doesn't tell anyone anything about his world or the special powers he possesses. Barak is immediately attracted to Lacey but he knows that no human woman would want his attention. He and Devlin Bane and Blake Trehern are desperately trying to find out who is smuggling the blue garnets into our world. Barak is sensitive to the gems and they glow in his presence. I love this world and I feel Barak is one hero that is more underdog than hero until he shows his colors. Do not miss this one.

I was a little iffy with book one, pleasantly surprised with book two, but book three has firmly set me on the road to being a fan of Alexis Morgan's Paladins series. In Darkness Reborn, Barak (the Other) is still having problems fitting in. Laurel does her best by allowing him to work in her doctor's office, handling supplies and such, but just his presence there sets off the wounded Paladins. Therefore, Bane comes up with the idea to transfer him to the geology department. Of course he has to smooth it over by forking over funding money to that department, but gets it done. Barak is leery about his new position, but that all ends when he meets his boss, Lacey. She's blonde, blue-eyed, and as warm as the sun in his new world. She also hates his guts because her brother, Penn, is a Paladin and Barak represents the very people that Penn has to fight. Not to mention she starts off their new arrangement by trying to make his life hell. More information about the blue stones and why they are valuable comes to light in this book as well as the abilities of Others. There is also a hint in the end that the next book will provide even more information, but I'll let you read that for yourself. Overall, I found it quite enjoyable. I read it in just a couple of nights. The action is fast-paced. The love scenes are a bit steamy. My only complaint is that Barak is soooo stiff and unemotional--or at least he seems to. I would have to assume that Morgan made him that way because he is Other and sets himself apart because of his secrets.