BURNED BY DARKNESS (Dragons of Eternity #1) by Alexandra Ivy-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 30, 2015

The Dragons of Eternity were once creatures of myth and legend. Now they’ve returned to the world, prepared to claim what’s rightfully theirs…

Tayla is desperate for a place to call home. After years on the run, the young imp impulsively buys a teahouse and is determined to build a new life. Unfortunately, she’s barely opened the doors when she’s tracked down by the dragon who purchased her from troll slave-traders. He demands she pay off her debts…in his harem.

Baine has devoted a quarter of a century to tracking down his beautiful concubine. And now that he has her in his grasp, he’s not about to let her go. But it’s soon apparent that he isn’t the only demon hunting her. He must uncover her secrets or risk losing her forever.

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REVIEW: BURNED BY DARKNESS is the first installment in Alexandra Ivy’s adult, contemporary, new Dragons of Eternity paranormal romance series-a spin off from Alexandra’s Guardians of Eternity PNR series. This is dragon shifter Baine, and imp Tayla’s storyline. Our little gargoyle Levet crosses over and establishes himself a match making business .

Told from several third person perspectives BURNED BY DARKNESS finds our heroine on the run. For twenty five years Tayla has barely stayed one step ahead of the dragon who seeks Tayla as part of his hoard. What Tayla doesn’t know is that she is payment for a debt owed by someone close-someone she hasn’t seen or heard from in years. What ensues is a building relationship between Tayla and Baine, and Baine’s need to claim Tayla as his mate.

BURNED BY DARKNESS is a quick read that focuses on the history between dragons, imps, demons and fae. There is also a hierarchy of dragon power that finds Baine at the helm of his own following, but one that does not usurp the power of the man who sired our hero. Baine’s father wants Tayla for his own purpose, but Baine must ensure that Tayla is protected at all times.

The relationship between Tayla and Baine is acrimonious as Tayla has been on the run from Baine and his father. But there is a definite attraction between our leading couple, one that does not go unnoticed by a perpetually nosy gargoyle, or Baine’s assistant-half dragon-Char. The $ex scenes are limited in number; there is some spark and heat where it concerns Tayla and Baine’s sexual activity.

BURNED BY DARKNESS includes plenty of humor thanks to Levet and his inability to use modern English slang. Alexandra Ivy introduces her readers to another entertaining and wonderful paranormal series that is very similar in style, world building and supernatural character development as her successful Guardians of Eternity. I suspect there will be many cross over characters in future storylines.

Copy supplied by Netgalley.

Reviewed by Sandy