Twilight Fall: A Novel of the Darkyn

The Darkyn novels are such a great read. Before I'm even finished I'm wishing the next one is already out. You will not be disappointed if have read the others in the series. BUy, Buy, BUY

I started and finished (in one night!) Viehl's latest Darkyn novel (Twilight Fall and TOTALLY enjoyed it! I was only going to read a chapter or two before bed, but once I started, I couldn't put it down. If you've been reading Viehl's Darkyn series from the beginning, then you already know the hero of Twilight Fall's back story. In Private Demon (Darkyn Series Book 2), Valentine very nearly killed what he thought was the love of his life, Jema Shaw. Not only did he inadvertently begin the process of Jema's change to the Darkyn side, (pun intended), he ran her through with a sword while fighting the love of HER life, Thierry Durand (Private Demon), fellow Darkyn to Valentine. In retribution Thierry severed Valentine's arm and though Alex, bond-wife of the top Darkyn leader of America, Micheal Cyprien (If Angel's Burn, Book 1), was able to reattach the severed limb, his arm has been useless ever since. In Twilight Fall, Valentine the Darkyn Leader of Chicago (Suzerien in Viehl's world) meets our heroine Liling while visiting Alex's friend Louisa who is recovering at his private rehab. Liling also visits Louisa, bringing her fresh flowers every day from the Rehab's gardens which she tends with a deft hand. (An almost supernatural deft hand.) When a high profile incident happens at the hospital, a photog sneaks in to get pictures. But Valintine and the Darkyn's influence is strong and, not wanting to draw attention toward his private world, he suppresses the incident in the papers. A throw-away pict of Liling in her garden makes it to print instead of the scandal and the seemingly innocent picture is about to rock everyone's world, including Valentine's! I thought Evermore (the previous entry in the Darkyn Series) was going to be my favorite. I was wrong. This one is a scorcher! Whereas Evermore is the most romantic, this one is the most erotic. Valintin is very Dom in the bedroom- even better, Lilling didn't even want to fight it. But Val is very vulnerable outside of it. Seems difficult to imagine, but it totally worked for me. Granted, it won't work for some people who don't like Alpha men in the romance genre, but I believe Viehl handles (and addresses) his desire for dominance and her need to submit perfectly. Viehl also began tying up some major plot points to the series in Twilight Fall. Which ups the likability of this novel as far as I'm concerned. Viehl's has said that the next entry will be the last. Although I'm so going to be jonesing for more Darkyn after it's all said and done- I believe ending it soon may be a good thing, because pointing us in the direction of the end certainly made this novel a keeper!

I loved reading Val's story. I do recommend reading this series in order because these books involve a very complex cast of characters. I thought Lynn Viehl did a good job of building up Val's character in the previous books allowing her to spend more time dealing with his lonliness and insecurities in this one. I've enjoyed the Darkyn series and look forward to the next one.

The fifth novel of the Darkyn series is about Valentin Jaus, a character that I utterly love and I'm glad this book does him justice. In here we find him still crippled, with no use of his arm and with his heart turned to ice. But then, she meets Liling, a sweet shy woman who really hides a special gift and a somewhat intriguing nature of which I'm not gonna say anything as per not offer any spoiler. The book was well-packed, coherent and well-written as all the previous Darkyn books. I definitely give it a 5 stars rating and I'm waiting for the next in the series. If you have been following the series, you know what you will expect insiude this novel. If you haven't following them, you are going to find vampires, women, love, hot sex, and some dark passages, along with a interesting web of events and of characters that tie this Darkyn stories more than nicely.

In Chicago at the Lighthouse Rehabilitation Center, local Darkyn chieftain Valentine Jaus comes to see patient Luisa Lopez, but sees staff gardener Liling Harper visiting the woman. Liling fantasizes that Val makes love to her with he being her Master. Val is attracted to the Chinese-American, but she makes him think about the woman he loved Jema Shaw who is now the lifemate of Thierry Durand. The Chicago City News photographer gets a great shot of the beautiful gardens and the back of the gardener showing a red swan tattoo. The picture is placed in the Lifestyle Section and soon goes national. Chicago Archbishop August Hightower recognizes the tattoo though he had thought the Red Swan was dead. He wants her dead before she reveals what she knows about his operations. Meanwhile he also learns that Kyan has left China to kill the Red Swan. Liling learns of her fame; she plans to change identities, fly to Atlanta and drive to Texas. However, she cannot get a flight anywhere out of the city until morning. Val offers to fly her on his private jet as he is going to Atlanta anyway. She accepts. As they fly on his plane and join the Mile High Club, Kyan follows her via his watery skills. When they crash in the Everglades, Kyan hires Chinese-American Melanie Wallace as his interpreter while he rents a boat in the Everglades to get to Liling. The concept of a "war" between the Darkyn and the Brethen comes across very strongly in this powerful romantic fantasy suspense thriller. The lead pair is an interesting coupling as she has special healing skills that enhance his Darkyn abilities, which they will need as Kyan is a powerful individual with a deep personal grudge against Liling. Although TWILIGHT FALLS is a stand alone, subplots from previous tales continue (see NIGHT LOST and IF ANGELS BURN) the saga; it behooves newcomers to get the backlist. Lynn Viehl provides a character driven entry in her latest Darkyn tale. Harriet Klausner