Night Embrace
Night
Embrace by Sherrilyn Kenyon is the second novel in her Dark-Hunter series and is
the story of one of the characters previously met in Night Pleasures.
Talon of the Morrigantes has been a Dark-Hunter since he was betrayed by his clan when he gave up his life for his beloved sister and they then murdered her anyway. His cry of betrayal brought him to the attention of Artemis and like the other Hunters he gave up his soul to her for revenge.
Now he is in New Orleans and Mardi Gras is around the corner. With Kyrian retired from the job Acheron (the leader of the Dark-Hunters) introduces his replacement as Valerius, a former Roman, and the backup because of Mardi Gras is Zarek of Moesia, normally in exile in Alaska and described by Nick (in Night Pleasures) as a psycho. The four of them meeting in the street do not bode well for things to come. Zarek and Valerius hate each other on site (Roman nobility and Greek slave not being the best pair to work together), both of them take pleasure in insulting Talon (the Celt) and poor Acheron has the job of keeping the peace.
It soon becomes apparent that they are all being played by the gods who have a much more powerful presence in this book than in the Night Pleasures. For whilst it is not allowed for a Dark-Hunter to be in the presence of a god it does not stop the gods from interfering and manipulating their lives.
Talon has just saved the life of Sunshine Runningwolf, a free-spirited artist who knows nothing of the work of the Dark-Hunters. Talon is only interested in one night stands until he meets her after being run down by a Mardi Gras float. Trapped in her apartment during the day he has no problem in passing the time of day in her bed but when he comes to leave he finds his pride rather hurt by her easy acceptance of his leaving her forever. The male ego surfaces and he cannot resist returning to her, although as always there is a more powerful reason for his being drawn to her than first appears.
Added to the mix is the fact that Acheron (Ash) appears to be acting very strangely and although it is not clear to the characters, it is very clear to the reader that someone is posing as the leader of the Dark-Hunters.
Using divide and conquer tactics and manipulating each of the Hunters in the city the hidden agenda of the "bay guys" is a dangerous plan that will alter the world forever.
This second novel is as good as the first one and in some ways better. Again a whole new set of characters are introduced as well as the return of familiar faces from Night Pleasures and Fantasy Lover.
In this novel we learn more about the Apollites and Dark-Hunters and in particular we learn more about the mysterious Acheron and the sarcastic, psycho Zarek.
This novel also introduces some of the Were-Hunters, including Fang and Vane who are going to get their own stories in the course of the series.
The world which was opened up in Night Pleasures spreads out as Talon and Sunshine find themselves falling in love even as they are manipulated into remaining together.
But Talon knows that he can never have a relationship with anyone for not only is he a soulless Dark-Hunter he is cursed to watch everyone he loves die as punishment for a mistake he made in his life which has cost him his entire family. He knows that that curse still holds strong, now more than ever, and he knows that if he opens his heart to Sunshine she will be the next one to die.
But sometimes help can come in the most unexpected form and in this book I was
truly surprised by just where help came from. Very few books can take me
completely by surprise but this is one that did and for that reason alone I
would give it a four heart rating. Combined with another powerful story
with a whole world of possibilities this series looks set to be one of the best
on the market.
RATING : 
(if you need an explanation of the hearts ratings see
my homepage)
Also by Sherrilyn Kenyon: Link to the Complete Dark-Hunter series List. (at least to date)
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