Private Demon: A Novel of the Darkyn

I've read a lot of fantasy/horror what ever you want to call it. If it has a vampire/were-animal/etc, I've read it. So many of them take an idea and give it a twist. Which is ok for the most part. Lynn Viehl truly came up with an original story line. It was good reading and hard to put down. I'm excited to have found a new author to add to my favorites!

Truly an original vampire concept! This book was much better than the first. Very fast paced novel which kept you guessing and wanting more. This book also answered a lot of unanswered questions leftover from the first book. For all of you critics that complained about the first book being listed in the Romance section, this book is surely more your style. I will have to admit that the first book lacked romance (which didn't bother me one bit since I bought it online and didn't even check what "section" it was listed in). This book however was mostly romance based, which should make the romance fans happy. I still favor the Anita Blake series more than this one, but I would gladly recommend this highly original and unique series to anyone that asks. It has a strong plot filled with subplots and surprises, strong willed characters overflowing with great 3D personalities, and the story is actually believable and "plausible". There is no real "good" vs. "evil", just many different shades of grey which is actually fairly realistic, along with a wonderful idea of a scientific explanation for "vampirism". A MUST read for vampire fans.

I must confess that after reading the debut novel in this series, "If Angels Burn," I was more intrigued by the plot summary for the next book ("Dark Need") than for this one. I knew I would snap up a copy of "Private Demon", but I admit I didn't think I would enjoy this installment nearly as much as I did. Lynn Viehl has single-handedly created the most exciting new paranormal series I've read in the last couple years with the Darkyn novels. "Private Demon", I think, is a much more character-based installment than "If Angels Burn" -- opening the door wide on people we'd only previously been given a glimpse of, as well as deepening the already rich detail on players central to the story in the first book. The Darkyn universe is a fascinating place with multiple layers of conflict and intrigue and emotion and struggle. The various relationships are vividly drawn and incredibly compelling. Damaged as they are, Thierry Durand and Jema Shaw manage to find each other in this story, and their connection as it evolves under Viehl's skillful guidance is both moving and romantic -- and intensely erotic to boot. Interestingly, PD also managed to resolve many of the issues I'd had with the debut novel, by bringing back Michael and Alexandra from IAB and carrying them forward, while also clarifying some of the more convoluted twists surrounding the Durand family's connection with the evil Darkyn-hunting Brethren. Anyway...the Darkyn series is shaping up into a fantastic storyline. Better and more sophisticated and timely than a lot of other current offerings in the genre. The "Dark Need" excerpt at the end only makes the waiting worse. I absolutely cannot wait to read more. Here's hoping that Lynn Viehl has many more novels planned for this excellent series.

Diabetic Jema Shaw knows that death is imminent as only the treatments by family friend Dr. Daniel Bradford and her will to live life to the fullest keeps her breathing. During the day Jema works as an antiquities expert at the family owned Shaw Museum while at night she is a crime scene technician for the Chicago Police Department. His wife Angelica betrayed the Darkyn Thierry Durand to the Brethen. They tortured him and though he was rescued and Dr. Keller healed his body, he is insane. The American head of the Darkyn Michael Cyprien orders Chicago Seneschal Falco Erhart to bring Thierry in. Thierry sees Jema at a homicide crime scene and finds she provides a mental anchor for him. He creates in her dreams a fantasy world where they are together forever. However reality in terms of Falco and his minion and the Brethen collide with Jema forcing a willing Thierry to risk his existence to keep the mortal he loves safe. The strong second Darkyn vampire romantic suspense (see IF ANGELS BURN) is a tense multifaceted thriller that plays out on two major levels. First there is the superb confrontation between the Darkyn and the Brethen with Jema as bait; the outcome is in doubt throughout. Secondly there is the romantic triangle between the two Darkyn rivals as both desires Jema; readers will wonder which one she will choose, if any. Fans of Lori Handeland's "Moon" novels will want to read Lynn Viehl's delightful tale. Harriet Klausner