A darkly fascinating love story without a vampire cliché in sight.

I am not a fan of the recent overload of vampire books. I think it is important to state that right up front as every gothic writer under the sun seems to be writing vampire books these days. But this book is very different from what I expected and a far stretch from the typical vampire book. Yes, there is reference to wooden stakes though the heart and sunlight, but also the unique twist of redemption and the chance to break a pact with the devil. Gleason takes the general, expected plot items found in almost any vampire book and puts her own spin on this legend. This book is interesting and intriguing if just a little lagging in the middle.

Set in Regency England, this whole series revolves around the lives of the Woodmore family – a cheeky last name considering the older brother is a vampire assassin. Chas, the brother, is missing and his 3 sisters are left to fend for themselves under the guardianship of the reclusive Dimitri, Earl of Corvindale. A group of vengeful vampires are attempting to capture the girls, especially Angelica, said to have the SIGHT. In walks the bold Voss, Viscount Dewhurst, and Angelica must trust him to keep her safe and discover the whereabouts of her brother. But Voss and Angelica have an undeniable connection, one that is laced with deception. Voss as well as Dimitri are powerful vampires sworn to protect the Woodmore girls yet Voss’s nature is preventing him from getting what he really wants from Angelica and the release from his ancient pact with the devil that turned him into an immortal vampire to begin with.

This story, being the first in a trilogy, is very complex in terms of plot and I have found it difficult to really give any reader of this review a good snap shot of what the book is really about. The plot has so many facets with a simultaneous story going on between the oldest Woodmore sister, Maia, and Dimitri – apparently their perspective is contained within the second book. With the exception of a little lag in the middle of the book, I found Angelica and Voss’s story to be well paced and very interesting. I am eager to see what happens in the future novels which mean the author did her job and enticed me completely.

Voss is a very dark hero with a considerable amount of emotional baggage. He comes across as a complete blackguard at first and I found myself a little turned off by him. But as the story progresses you see the desperate and lonely man behind the vampire and his mission to free himself from his immortality becomes something close to your heart. I love that he has the ability to redeem himself and prove that he is a good man. I find that totally sexy in a hero and closed the book with a small place in my heart for him.

Angelica is a powerful woman with a desire to help protect her family. But, the girl has been careless with her gift of SIGHT and uses it to help silly debutants determine their marriage prospects. I did like her desire to help other people with her gift however. Another thing I like about Angelica is her ability to stand her ground when it comes to Voss, making it just that bit more difficult for him to win her. I like a girl that knows how to play hard to get but also knows when to give in.

I found all the characters to be well written and likeable – even the ones I know I wasn’t supposed to be drawn to yet. Dimitri, for example, is portrayed as a controlling man without compassion yet you get a glimpse of his true self and I began to anticipate his upcoming story. By the end of this book, the author has prepared the reader for Dimitri and Maia’s story and framed the plot for the next two books perfectly.

The love scenes are a little different and more gentle than I expected. Vampires are typically portrayed as such sexual creatures that I was warmed up for some very heated love scenes. But, alas, they were only a little steamy.

Overall, this book was a very interesting read and a refreshing look at the world of vampires. I eagerly anticipate the upcoming books and I can’t wait to see where Colleen will take this saga next.

Reviewed by: Danielle