Out of the Darkness (The Offspring, 2)

If you like your paranormal romance without vampires or werewolves, you'll love this. OUT OF THE DARKNESS combines passion with a page-turningly dangerous plot.

I enjoyed this book more than the first. I did like A Perfect Darkness I just felt that it took a while to get off the ground but part of that was due to all the information that needed to be given to set up the series. In Out of the Darkness the action starts almost right away and is pretty steady throughout the entire book. I also enjoyed the relationship between Zoe and Rand. They both tried their hardest to stay away from each other and keep up there 'I only care about me' attitudes but I knew it wouldn't last and enjoyed watching them lose the battle against each other. You also meet and learn about a couple new Offsprings. Cheveyo is a mysterious character who helps the good guys but from a distance and only gets involved if necessary. Nicholas is a character that was told one thing but is teetering on the line between sides. Jamie Rush's doesn't leave the books wrapped in a perfect bow. I was satisfied with how it ended but there were still big questions that were not answered and it left me still wanting to know and read more. As far as I can tell the next Offspring book comes out in May 2010 and I'll be adding it to my TBR pile.

I liked this book just as much as the first in the series (A Perfect Darkness). Jaime Rush has a way of spinning it all together that you just can't help but to root for the "Rogues." Not as much romance as I expected. A lot of action, and chases. It was almost dizzying trying to keep up with each character's perspective of what was going on. Yet and still I'm a big fan of this series. I only wish that the third book, Touching Darkness, would come out sooner than May 2010! If that is the last book in the series I hope that Jaime Rush gives the Rogues some sort of closure. Not necessary a "happily ever after," but a bit of normalcy after all they've been through. Over all a very interesting story. I liked it ALOT!

I thought it was slow to start, but got better and ended great. I fully enjoyed this book.

Tattoo artist Zoe Stoker is frightened after receiving an enigmatic cautionary message from a dead person; allegedly CIA. However that seems calm compared to an assassin who tries to kill her. Cheveyo saves her life, but though she does not trust him she goes with him to a recently created support group, the Offspring; as she is one of the children of psychic parents who participated in a government sponsored experiment (see A PERFECT DARKNESS). Rand Brandenburg also recently joined the Offspring although he preferred not to. His uncanny gambling skill made him known to those who want the Offspring under control or dead like original experimenter Gerard Darkwell. Rand feels for the wary Zoe, but she knows from her past not to allow emotion to control her as her out of control telekinetic skill sends objects flying; however she also finds him to be the first person she cannot keep outside of her heart. The names alone are great symbols with Cheveyo, Stoker, Brandenburg and Darkwell, etc. providing hints of a dark urban fantasy landscape. This second thriller is fast-paced with the suspense building up from the first Darkness novel; leading to a hooked audience wanting the next entry yesterday. However, in spite of the terrific overarching saga, the keys to OUT OF THE DARKNESS is the lead couple as he embraced his ability for personal gain while she fled her ability out of fear mindful of the X-Men's Rogue. Fans will root for this couple and have dark thoughts about flying bodily objects. Harriet Klausner