5 Wine Glass #Review of Blade of Darkness by Dianne Duvall

Title:  Blade of Darkness
Series: Immortal Guardians #7
Author: Dianne Duvall
Format: Paperback, 383 pages
Published: September 19, 2017 (Dianne Duvall)
ISBN-10: 0986417157
ISBN-13: 978-0986417153
Links: Goodreads | Amazon| Nook | Kobo | iBooks | Audio
Reviewer: Linda
Source: Author
Rating: 5 out of 5 Wine Glasses

Dana Pembroke has been able to glimpse the future of those she touches for as long as she can remember. But she never saw Aidan coming. When the tall, dark Celt with the charming grin yet world-weary eyes walks through her door, the future she sees for him is one full of violence, danger, deception... and passion. Because amidst the terrifying battles that unfold in her visions, she also sees herself in Aidan's arms and in his bed. Dana knows she should keep her distance, but the tender moments and laughter they share entice her even as she finds herself thrust into a world of vampires, immortals, and other preternatural beings.

Immortal Guardian Aidan O'Byrne has been hunting and slaying psychotic vampires for nearly three thousand years, so visions of bloody battles don't trouble him. The battles Dana foresees, however, show Aidan's brethren turning against him, so he can't help but feel alarmed. While he spends as much time as he can with Dana, struggling to decipher her dire predictions, Aidan finds himself utterly smitten. Hope rises that he has finally found a woman who can banish the darkness and loneliness that plague him. But when vampires begin targeting Dana and a powerful enemy spawns chaos, will fate grant them time to find happiness together?

Linda's Thoughts:
“His beautiful eyes were full of dread and sorrow.
“You’re different,” she whispered.
He nodded. “Yes, I am.”
“You should have told me how different.”
A mirthless laugh escaped him. “When?”

Blade of Darkness by Dianne Duvall is the first book I’ve ever read by Dianne, but it certainly will not be the last. I’m happy to pass along that, even though Blade of Darkness is the seventh installment in Dianne’s Immortal Guardians series, it works quite well as a standalone. I never once felt lost and found myself completely immersed in the incredible fantasy world that Dianne has created from the very beginning. While the romance is fully self-contained in this novel, it is obvious that there’s a danger plot that encompasses the series. I’m thoroughly intrigued and will be reading the previous books soon to catch up, not only with the series’ storyline, but the stories of the other primary characters. This is the story of Immortal Guardian Aidan O’Byrne and fortune teller Dana Pembroke.

As the tale opens, readers learn that Aidan is lonely. That’s understandable given that he’s been alone for nearly three thousand years. The great news is that he has a plan to change his status sooner rather than later. To that end, he has broken into headquarters and stolen a list of female gifted ones from which he is determined to find his one and only. He’s been caught creating chance meetings with a couple of the ladies on the list by flattening their tires to meet them by gallantly changing their tires.

Next on his list to meet is Dana. To that end, since she’s a fortune teller, he’s set up an appointment to have his fortune told. Unexpectedly, when she touches Aidan, she sees him furiously fight with swords; then she seems them as a couple steamily making love. Admittedly, she a bit taken back, but she’s also strongly attracted to Aidan and not afraid to face the future.

Aidan is one hot, funny, strong and loyal Scot. Dana is amazing. She’s powerfully gifted, level-headed and single. Ooh la la! Their chemistry is sizzling from the get-go. I love how they were comfortable with each other from the start and how that feels right. Being honest with each other is a definite tripping point because Dana feels that Aidan would mock her abilities and Aidan can never find a good time to disclose that he’s medieval and possesses fangs. Such trivialities…

One of my favorite scenes is when Dana meets the other utterly imposing Immortals en masse but she doesn’t blink nor cut them any slack AND she stands up for Aidan against them even though any of them could crush her to a pulp. She is one tough cookie, for sure! I alternately laughed, swooned and fretted with them as forces interfered with Aidan’s wooing efforts by wreaking deathly havoc. The nerve! I look forward to keeping up with this couple as the series progresses and can’t wait to fill in Aidan’s back story from the previous installments.

Following please find a few of my favorite quotes from Blade of Darkness

 “Aidan ducked his head, burying his face in the crook of her neck. “Damn, you feel good,” he whispered, his deep voice hoarse with need.
It only excited her more. “What do you say we forget dinner and the movie?” she whispered, her breath shortening.
“How you tempt me,” he rumbled, tightening his hold.
“If I tempted you as much as you tempt me,” she pronounced boldly, “we would both be naked right now.”
---

“You think I’m a geek now, don’t you?” he jested.
She relaxed a little more. “No.”
“First I say fanny. Now this.”
She smiled. “Actually, I thought your fanny was cute.” Her eyes widened. “The fanny,” she corrected hastily. “I thought the fanny was cute. Your saying it, I mean.”
He winked. “I prefer the first one.”
She laughed. “I bet you do.”
---

“Sit down,” she ordered, nodding toward her bed.
He cast it an uncertain look. “I can’t. I’ll stain the covers.”
She stared at him. “You’re kidding, right?” He sported deep wounds that bled profusely and he was concerned about staining her bedding?
“Perhaps if I cleaned up a wee bit—”
“Sit your ass down,” she ordered, pointing at the queen-sized bed.
Eyebrows flying up, he sat so swiftly she almost laughed.”

Blade of Darkness hit all the right notes for me with outstandingly vivid characterizations, dangerous dynamics, humorous banter and swoony sexy times. If you enjoy passionately hot, action-packed paranormal urban fantasy romances teeming with twists and turns, I’d highly encourage you to check out Dianne Duvall’s Blade of Darkness!



Suggested Reading Order:
Darkness Dawns (Book #1)
Night Reigns (Book #2)
Phantom Shadows (Book #3)
In Still Darkness (Book #3.5)
Darkness Rises (Book #4)
Night Unbound (Book #5)
Phantom Embrace (Book #5.5)
Shadows Strike (Book #6)
Blade of Darkness (Book #7)