DARK ALPHA’S EMBRACE / DARK ALPHA’S DEMAND (Reaper #2 & #3) by Donna Grant-a review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 17, 2016

There is no escaping a Reaper. I am an elite assassin, part of a brotherhood that only answers to Death. And when Death says your time is up, I am coming for you…

My secret is an ancient one. I exist to exact vengeance on the Fae for their wrongs per Death’s orders. When I’m sent as a spy to one of the most treacherous, deceitful places in any realm – the court of the Light Queen – things go awry. Neve captured my soul with just a look from her seductive gaze. She is who I want, who I crave…who I hunger for. But someone has set out to kill her – and expose me. I’ll destroy any man – human or Fae – who brings harm to her, for she is the light my soul can’t risk losing

•••••••••••••

REVIEW: DARK ALPHA’S DEMAND is the third installment in Donna Grant’s adult, contemporary REAPER erotic, paranormal/fantasy romance series. The REAPERS is a spin off from Donna’s DARK KINGS series which is a spinoff from Donna’s DARK WARRIOR series which in turn is a spin off from Donna’s DARK SWORD series- all set in the Highlands of Scotland. You do not have to have read any of the previous series to understand the premise. This is Reaper Talin, and Light Fae Neve Everwood’s story line. DARK ALPHA’S DEMAND can be read as a stand alone but I recommend reading the series in order for cohesion and back story. There is a building series premise regarding a former Reaper named Bran who is out to destroy those he believed did him wrong.

SOME BACKGROUND: The Reapers (believed to be a folk lore amongst the Fae) are a group of Dark and Light Fae, selected by Death (aka Erith), on their own deathbed, to do her bidding-Death is the judge and jury; the Reapers are the executioners. The Reapers are not harbingers of death, but are tasked with destroying the Light and Dark Fae who have crossed a line from which there is no return. All Reapers must follow two rules-never to fall in love; and never to reveal their existence to anyone. If you have read Donna’s DARK KINGS series you will recognize the familiarity between the two series as both follow a similar plot and premise.

Told from several third person points of view including Talin and Neve, DARK ALPHA’S DEMAND focuses on the imminent danger in the Light Fae Court. Talin has been assigned to investigate the ‘rumors’ of Reapers running rampant amongst the Light Fae. Long thought to be a myth or bedtime story for the younger Fae, the Reapers (or one in particular) have been ‘haunting’ the Light Fae, and Talin is sure he knows the identity of the person involved. Never far from his thoughts, the Light Fae Neve is a forbidden romance; a treasure that Talin knows will be destroyed by Death if Neve uncovers his true identity. As the investigation grows, Neve finds herself targeted; her family goes missing ; and Talin’s position within the Reapers becomes very real and dangerous to our story line heroine. It is never revealed how Talin and Neve met or became lovers; there is a history between our leading couple that is as mysterious as Rhi’s former Dragon King lover. Queen Usaeil of the Light Fae has been mysteriously absent from Court; she has been linked romantically to one of the Dragon Kings, and in this her ‘kingdom’ is beginning to unravel amidst the rumors of Reapers and doom.

The Reapers is a spin off series from Donna’s DARK KINGS series and in this many of the events over lap and run parallel to one another. The Light Fae Rhi is beginning to figure more prominently in both series revealing a growing power within. It has yet to be revealed which Dragon King has broken Rhi’s heart but she is a female not without many potential suitors and loves including one of the Reapers. There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including all seven of the current line of Reapers, as well as several individuals from some of Donna’s other connected series and story lines.

The world building focuses on betrayal and revenge. A one time friend, and former Reaper Bran is seeking vengeance against those who destroyed the love of his live, and the Reapers and Death are his ultimate targets. He will use anyone and anything to achieve his goal-Neve and her family are a means to an end.

DARK ALPHA’S DEMAND is an exciting installment where sacrifices forge bonds; where revenge knows no boundary; where family and friendships suffer their greatest loss. The premise is entertaining and revealing; the characters are captivating and inspiring; the romance is seductive and enchanting. Donna Grant adds another enticing element to her interconnected DARK series focusing on the magical and supernatural.

Series Order and Previous Reviews
Dark Alpha’s Claim
Dark Alpha’s Embrace
Dark Alpha’s Demand

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

__________________

DARK ALPHA’S EMBRACE
(Reapers #2)
by Donna Grant
Genre: adult, contemporary, paranormal, fantasy romance

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 16, 2016

There’s no escaping a Reaper. I’m an elite assassin, part of a brotherhood that only answers to Death. And when Death says your time is up, I’m coming for you…

I’m a warrior. My unbreakable determination, my backbone of steel define me. As a Reaper who does Death’s bidding, weakness is a word I don’t understand. Until a stunning librarian stirs emotions deep within me I’ve never felt before. Her soft curves blunt the sharp edges of my soul, crushing my defenses – yet make me stronger. But underneath those wide eyes and fierce femininity, she has a weapon, one she won’t hesitate to use. And when the Dark begin their deadly descent, we’ll need each other’s love and protection…or risk fracturing apart.

•••••••••••••

REVIEW:  DARK ALPHA’S EMBRACE is the second instalment (novella) in Donna Grant’s REAPERS paranormal/fantasy romance series. The REAPERS is a spin off from Donna’s DARK KINGS series which is a spinoff from Donna’s DARK WARRIOR series which in turn is a spin off from Donna’s DARK SWORD series- all set in the Highlands of Scotland. You do not have to have read any of the previous series to understand the premise. This is Dark Fae/ Reaper Kyran Lightslayer, and librarian River White’s story line. DARK ALPHA’S EMBRACE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty.

SOME BACKGROUND: The Reapers (believed to be a folk lore amongst the Fae) are a group of Dark and Light Fae, selected by Death, on their own deathbed, to do her bidding. The Reapers are not harbingers of death, but are tasked with destroying the Light and Dark Fae who have crossed a line from which there is no return.

Told from several third person perspectives DARK ALPHA’S EMBRACE follows the Reapers as they go in search of the people responsible for killing the half Fae. The search finds Kyran and his brethren at the local library where River-the librarian-guards a secret with her life. When the Dark Fae attack, Kyran begins to suspect that River knows more about the Fae than humanly possible when she defends herself with the ease of a warrior, and the books she protects are the very things The Reapers have been searching for. What ensues is the forbidden but building relationship between Kyran and River, and the hunt for the source that threatens River’s life.

THE REAPERS is a spin off series from the Dark Kings, and in this, there are a couple of parallel story lines running between the two series: one of the Reapers is ‘following’ the Light Fae Rhi; and currently the ‘fallen’ Reaper Bran ( who has managed to escape from an inescapable prison in the Netherworld), and is wreaking havoc in Scotland, is travelling to the Fae realm in search of the Light queen.

The relationship between River and Kyran is forbidden by Death. Death’s team of Reapers must abide by a number of rules and one is that they not enter into any relationships otherwise be banished and the lover is destroyed. Similarly, like the struggle and continuing battles in the Dark Kings series versus the Silver King, one of the Reapers fell in love, and was banished into the Netherworld for defying Death’s orders. Death has seen the ‘error’ of her demands, just as King Con knows that he will never be able to stop his Dragons from falling in love. The similarities between these two series is familiar, and not without some déjà vu moments.

Most of the previous story line characters play secondary and supporting roles including Baylon and Jordyn (Reapers #1). The world building continues to focus on the forbidden; the search for the ancient books that reveal the history of the Fae families; and the annihilation of the half-Fae.

DARK ALPHA’S EMBRACE is an entertaining and enjoyable story line; a quick read that finds another Reaper falling in love and looking forward to a future. The premise is imaginative; the characters are passionate; the romance is intimate and intense.

I will add that I am having some issues with the titles in this series. ‘Dark Alpha’ does not seem to reflect the characters or the series direction, and although I was flummoxed by the first title in the series (but I did not mention my concerns), I think using ‘Dark Alpha’ in the titles is a little misleading. The Reapers are neither ‘dark’ nor ‘alpha’ as it pertains to the paranormal or supernatural romances.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley.

Reviewed by Sandy