WAIT FOR DUSK by Jocelynn Drake

The Fifth Dark Days Novel

EOS Books

978-0-06-185181-0

July 27^th, 2010

Urban Fantasy

Mass Market Paperback

Reviewed by Dawn (love2read28@gmail.com)

Obtained by Publisher

Mira is now an elder after the Coven calls her to take her place among them. But Mira has more then just vampire politics on her mind for the feared naturi now roam the world and humans and vampires alike are not safe from them. Betrayal also looms for Mira as her trust is shattered by one person she never thought would do this to her and the vampires and humans she protects.

WAITING FOR DUSK is one fast paced wild ride from start to finish. When we open the first page of this fifth Dark Days book, we find Mira being beaten by her biological father, the devil, and powerless. Add that with Mira being told it is time to take her place as a vampire elder and to fight the feared naturi, well let’s just say things go from bad to worse that only get worse when her ally, the one she trusts completely betrays her in a way that shatters Mira. All I got to say is WOW! This book is one story that readers will fall in love with. I do have to recommend reading the series in order as each story capitalizes on the past book(s). All the reader can do once you get involved in this series is take a seat and hang on as it is about to get a bit turbulent for Mira. Ms. Drake is an eloquent storyteller who knows how to hook her reader from the first page and deliver a story that leaves them breathless.

Ms. Drake’s characters in the Dark Days novels are very well written, complex and are equally feared yet enthralling. It doesn’t matter if you love them or hate them, Ms. Drake gives you characters you can’t help but love to hate no matter what. The secondary characters also help keep the story moving at a nice even pace. Mira though is the star of the series as a master of fire as well as being a vampire though it pains her to know that other vampires fear her for her power is one that can really hurt a vampire. I just love Mira. She is a strong heroine who knows how to get things done, regardless of how she feels about it. She comes across as a tough yet vulnerable person who knows how to be hard for her job and soft when she is with her love, Danaus or with friends.

WAIT FOR DUSK is one wild ride from start to finish and I urge you to hang on to your hats as you follow Mira’s adventures in trying to stay alive and in one peace as she battles the naturi as well as the vampires who want her dead. Ms. Drake is one talented author and I can not wait to see what is in store in the final books of the series.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement

BURN THE NIGHT by Jocelynn Drake

The Final Dark Days Novel

Harper Voyage

June 28^th, 2011

978-0-06-185182-7

Urban Fantasy

Mass Market Paperback

Reviewed by Dawn (love2read28@gmail.com)

Obtained by Publisher

 

The chains that have bound the naturi are now broken and as they roam the earth bent on taking their revenge. Mira, the fire starter is determined to defeat them and put them back where they belong. With the help of her love, vampire hunter Danaus, Mira needs all her strength, her power and her allies as the naturi army comes knocking on her door. The days are dark and about to get darker still as the lines between friend and foe, allies and enemies blur and the final war is reached between nightwalkers and the nature. Will Mira be able to stop the coming onslaught and still live to see another day?

The final book in the exciting Dark Days series is here and Ms. Drake delivers on action packed story to end all stories. With amazing cast of characters, a few plot twists I didn’t see coming and an ending that leaves you gasping for breath, Ms. Drake delivers one of her best work yet in BURN THE NIGHT. With her amazing storytelling, this author delivers the finale readers have been clamoring for. The writing is tight, story flows smoothly and the characters weave a spell around you as you try to see if Mira and her friends & allies make it to see another day.

Mira is a vampire who is also a fire starter, feared by her kind, destined to do great things but first she needs to lick her wounds from pasty events. Too bad she doesn’t get that time. The naturi are bent on coming out of the shadows and have their revenge…too bad the nightwalkers are determined to keep them there. A war is brewing but Mira is tired of fighting. BURN THE NIGHT is a story of not just Mira and her lover, Danaus, it is also Nyx’s story as well. The point of view switches between Mira and Nyx so be prepared as some may not enjoy this aspect of the final book. The growths of the characters are amazing. I loved how Mira and the rest of the characters grew in all the books and as they get ready for this final battle, the readers are on the edge of their seat, hoping for Mira’s survival and the Naturi’s defeat.

The ending of BURN THE NIGHT is a story that isn’t just a cookie cutter type of ending of a series but one fraught with twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat. This is a story that is best to savor and enjoy, as you find yourself rooting for Mira and Danaus to win the day. This is a truly enjoyable book that when you flip that last page you need to read it again. I do encourage that you read the series in order as each book builds upon the past ones. BURN THE NIGHT is one wonderful read that I can’t wait to read again. I look forward to seeing what this author has in store next for her readers.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement

PRAY FOR DAWN by Jocelynn Drake

The Fourth Dark Days Novel

EOS/Harper Collins

June 29^th, 2010

978-0-06-185180-3

Urban Fantasy

Mass Market Paperback

Reviewed by Dawn (love2read28@gmail.com)

Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Pray-Dawn-Dark-Days-Book/dp/0061851809/ref=pd_sim_b_2

Obtained by Publisher

 

Mira is dealing with issues from her past as the dreaded Naturi have broken their chains and have vowed revenge against the nightwalkers and the world. In order to defeat the ghosts of Mira’s past and get ready for the final battle with the Naturi, Mira and vampire slayer Danaus must band together and trust one another. For Danaus has also another fight on his hands as the woman he loves slowly goes mad and the bori try to gain his soul. Its one step closer for these two and it will take everything they have inside them to win this battle.

With this fourth book in the Dark Days series, we get Danaus as the narrator and the story weaves its way around you. Though at times the repetitiveness does get annoying, you find yourself drawn into the story where the one person who can save the world is also slowly going insane. It is a story that leaves you breathless from start to finish. The point of view in the first three books was by Mira which was a fun way to get to know her but this time we get Danaus’ as a narrator. It does work though you need to keep reading in order to get to the good spots, which in my opinion is most of the book. I do have to stress that though each book is a stand alone story it is better to read them in order to get the full effect of the series storyline arc.

PRAY FOR DAWN moves the storyline along okay but nothing major was introduced except maybe a new villain though it felt like it was just by rote. You know drop a villain here, push the story along there and hopefully get to the end where we can get to an ending that may confuse some readers. I enjoyed the first three books in Ms. Drake’s Dark Days series but felt a little let down by this one. Though the storyline delivers, at times, that pulse pounding action we grew to love in the first three books, this fourth one didn’t quite make the grade for me. Though we get a different point of view for this book, it felt a bit off as well, like the author was just counting down for the final two books. Overall, PRAY FOR DAWN delivers most of the time though it does misfire at times. Overall, this may be the weakest book in the series but as a whole it still delivers some amazing moments for readers to enjoy.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement

 

NIGHTWALKER by Jocelynn Drake

4Dark Days book 1
Publisher: Eos
Date published: July 2008
ISBN: 9780061542770
Paranormal romance
Paperback
Reviewed by Valerie
Obtained via publisher


Mira, a nightwalker is a guardian and has the unusual power of being able to command fire. She has been a nightwalker for a long time and is very strong. She makes sure that the other nightwalkers stay within the rules and has no qualms to take anyone out who disobeys. But now another enemy is stalking her. Danaus is a vampire hunter. When they meet, it seems that Mira has the upper hand, but Danaus, as it turns out, is not out to kill her. No, he needs her help, for a foe far greater than the both of them is coming back to destroy humans and vampires. Even though they would rather kill each other, Mira and Danaus have to work together and keep each other alive in order to face the danger that stalks them. Mira also discovers that Danaus is much more than he appears to be.

This is one wicked exciting story that had me up until the wee hours of the morning, devouring every page. Ms Drake writes a very tight story with multi-dimensional characters. She has created a world where vampires live among us but hidden. They try to keep their existence a secret so are not really a danger to humans. Danaus knows that vampires are evil and has made it his mission in life to kill them. When he has to work with Mira, he discovers that his views may not be right after all. I loved how these two were together. Mira is really sassy, Danaus is totally mysterious and I was totally intrigued with him. Throughout the whole book I was wondering if they would develop feelings for each other and by the end I still wasn’t one hundred percent sure. But, there is a little build up of tension between them. The plot is really exciting. The Naturi are the enemy here, a very dark and nasty type of elf. There is lots of action, blood and gore. Oh, yes, this book was very much my cup of tea and I hope to catch up with the rest of the series as soon as possible.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

DAWNBREAKER *Book 3 in Dark Days series* by Jocelynn Drake

Publisher: Eos Books/Harper Collins
Date published: September 2009
ISBN: 9780061542886
Urban Fantasy
Mass Market Paperback
Obtained via: Publisher
Reviewed by Tammy


The third book in Jocelynn Drake’s Dark Days series, DAWNBREAKER, is the battle between the Nightwalkers and Naturi that fans of this series have been waiting for.

In this third Dark Days novel, DAWNBREAKER, we find 600 year-old nightwalker (vampire) Mira in the middle of a war between the Nightwalkers and Naturi, a race of beings bent on ridding Earth of all humans. The Naturi are on the verge of breaking free of the seal that keeps them in their world. Mira and her band of allies are the only thing standing in their way.

DAWNBREAKER takes place a few months after the conclusion of DAYHUNTER in Mira’s hometown of Savannah. Like the first two books, the action is a constant whirlwind of fighting and strategizing while the clock is quickly ticking down to the final showdown in Peru where the Naturi hope to free their Queen and her army of destruction on the human race. The pace is breakneck and the storyline complex. The characters are multi-dimensional. Mira is a deadly and near unbeatable vampire that luckily has an interest in keeping humans walking the Earth. Danaus, a vampire hunter and yet her strongest ally is fighting a constant battle with himself over aiding Mira, yet in the end he realizes he must. There are delicious undercurrents of attraction between these two lead characters that soften both of their hard edges and bring out their compassionate side. As with the other two books, questions are answered and more are raised. While this book is part of a series, it does stand alone just fine as Ms. Drake does a wonderful job of filling in the background as the story unfolds.

Jocelynn Drake’s Dark Days series and DAWNBREAKER in particular, is a really engrossing action-packed urban fantasy that fans of dark suspense are sure to enjoy. This book has earned a strong buy recommendation.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

DAYHUNTER Book 2 of the Dark Days Series by Jocelynn Drake

Publisher: EOS Books/Harper Collins
Date published: May 2009
ISBN: 978-0-06-154283-1
Fantasy
Obtained via: gift
Reviewed by Dawn




Mira is humanity and nightwalkers last chance before the evil nature force their way back to our world. Gifted with the use of fire, Mira is unique among the nightwalkers and other supernaturals. She has come to Venice with her companions and finds betrayals, secrets and alliances that shake her life upside down as the nutria gain a foot hold into our world. Can Mira and her friends find a way to stop this threat or will she die trying?

DAYHUNTER brings back Mira, a vampire with unusual power over fire and it kicks off just a few days after the last battle in England. If you haven’t read Nightwalker, I highly recommend you do so first as DAYHUNTER continues the storyline from that. Ms. Drake captivates the reader with vampire betrayals, politics and more as Mira finds out as she races with her friends to find a way to stop the scourge, nutria. I was enthralled from start to finish with DAYHUNTER and finished it in a matter of hours. This is an author who really keeps you guessing what happens next and all the plot twists keep you gasping. Add in some really interesting and complex characters, and you have a storyline that continues to leave questions even as they answer some.

The Dark Days Series introduces you in Nightwalker to Mira, a vampire with a unique power of fire, a power that frightens vampires even as she finds out long buried secrets that has her questioning all she has believed in her entire vampire life. In DAYHUNTER, Mira is finding out things in the capital of the Nightwalker people, Venice, that what she thought happened long ago, is not true. Add in some betrayals that will stun you and some new faces that join her fight against the nutria, Mira finds herself on the edge of something that will forever change her life as she knows it. Can Mira find the truth before it is too late? DAYHUNTER is a captivating read that will keep you glued to the edge of your seat as you try to figure out Mira’s enemies and friends. The secondary characters kept the story flowing smoothly and I highly enjoyed the dynamics between Mira and her friends. Ms. Drake really gets to the hearts of her characters as they question all they believed in yet continue to fight on, regardless. DAYHUNTER is fast paced action packed story that leaves you gasping for more and I am highly anticipating the next in the series, Dawnbreaker. If you enjoy a unique vampire story, then grab both Nightwalker and DAYHUNTER. These are definitely to be read again and again.



THIS IS NOT AN ENDORSEMENT OF THIS BOOK. THIS IS AN OBJECTIVE UNBIASED REVIEW