May 2 2007
REVIEW: Night Lost by Lynn Viehl
Dear Ms. Vieh:
While the first book in this series is my favorite, Night Lost takes a close second. It highlights all the strong elements that I loved in If Angels Burn and brings to the forefront a very romantic tale of souls finding each other against extreme odds.
Gabriel Seran was captured by the Bethren, a sadistic group of individuals who operate under the guise of the church. Since his abduction, he has been tortured mercilessly by the Bethren but not allowed to die. In his pain, sometimes he slips off into a dreamstate where he is visited by a woman who provides him surcease.
Nicola Jefferson is a thief who is seeking the Golden Madonna. She dreams of a green man in the forest who beckons her but she cannot find him. While in France, she comes across a painting of a chapel that depicts the place where the green man may reside. She is warned that this place is one of great unrest but she must go.
Nearly equal time is given to the continuing thread of Dr. Alexandra Keller’s search for a cure for vampirism. She’s currently under the “hospitality” of the high lord of the Darkyn, Richard Tremaine. Richard is suffering a terrible disease that is eating away at his flesh. Soon, he believes that he will not be of right mind to rule. He steals Alex in hopes that her medical knowledge will find a cure in time. Alex, however, cannot be away from Michael for very long. The binding between them causes near physical pain with separation. But even beyond the mystical binding is the binding of Alex’s heart to Michael’s. While she is loathe to admit to a softer emotion, it’s present.
I adore Alex and Michael and it is no hardship for me to read about them. I almost liken this series to JD Robb’s Eve Dallas series. Here, Alex and Michael play similar roles in their books as that of Dallas and Roarke. Both couples provide the sun around which characters orbit. Alex and Michael are the center of a pinwheel of characters as are Eve and Roarke. Dallas and Alex are prickly and not given to outward displays of affection or emotion. Roarke and Michael are both more giving of a nature. Michael is willing to break rules and even lie to Alex to keep her safe. This is not to say that I think Alex and Michael are copies of Eve and Roarke but that those readers who enjoy that dynamic might find similar enjoyment in your Darkyn series.
There is a great plot twist in the book that can be sussed out through careful attention to the clues provided about one of the main characters. The one drawback is that I felt that the dream sequences were derivative of those done in Private Demon. I’ve never quite understood how your books don’t get the same attention that many of the other vampire novels in the romance genre as your world building is unique and fully realized and you have a compelling couple that makes major screen appearances in each book. It may be, perhaps, that at times the main characters in each new novel tend to take a back seat to the strong personalities of Alexandra and Michael and because it is not advertised as a series of ongoing stories about them, readers expectations are caught off guard by the number of players and plots that take place in each book that are part of a greater whole. B.
Best regards,
Jane
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May 02, 2007 @ 04:44:51
A B that’s good, I’ve not read the review though, it’s next up on my TBR pile–chose to read the new Susan Squires first.
May 02, 2007 @ 05:39:10
Man, you suck, Jane.
I adore Lynn Viehl’s stuff and reading this is torture, since I haven’t even had a chance to buy it yet. I agreed to help a friend out and I have no free time until the weekend.
Sulk.
May 02, 2007 @ 06:45:09
Not reading the review because I don’t want spoilers, but I’m so jealous that you’ve already read it! I’m sulking with Shiloh. Don’t have my copy yet. Sob.
May 02, 2007 @ 08:30:34
LOL. I read Shiloh’s comment and was thinking, “I’ve not even commented yet!” (I thought she said “May, you suck”) Yeah yeah yeah, I know the world doesn’t revolve around me.
IMHO, one reason is that in this series, the romance isn’t always at the forefront. Frankly, I’d say that Night Lost is the most romancey of the 4 Darkyn books out so far.
Wednesday Web Wanderer « Milady Insanity
May 02, 2007 @ 08:46:45
[...] read it, as it means everyone else can get to read this wonderful wonderful book too. *beams* Jane gives it a [...]
May 02, 2007 @ 08:57:03
I could have posted it last week and truly tortured you. I thought the multiple plot threads were very well integrated as opposed to the last book which I didn’t much like. I don’t really enjoy the Bethren parts though.
May 02, 2007 @ 09:25:59
I’ve got to go to the store now. I forgot it came out yesterday. How did I manage that one? Great review.
May 02, 2007 @ 10:05:14
I love Lynn Viehl’s books. I’ve read the StarDoc series and also her romance books written under Jessica Hall and Gena Hale. I was so busy yesterday though that I forgot the release. Now I have a good reason to stop by the book store … :D
May 02, 2007 @ 11:29:35
Currently waiting impatiently for this to be available in the UK.
I think you hit the nail on the head with your last comment. I’ve read on a couple of Amazon reviews for If Angels Burn that the sex isn’t romantic enough. (LOL paraphrasing there). But I love the realism of the Darkyn series.
Another complaint I read a lot on reviews for all the books in the series so far, is that they don’t want to read about Alex’s brother and can’t understand why he gets page time. It’s lazy reading – some readers prefer to have everything wrapped up by the end of the book even if it is an ongoing series. I really think John’s story is there for a reason and readers need to pay attention to it.
May 02, 2007 @ 14:10:32
I’m about halfway through the first one, and really enjoying it. I had avoided this series because it got mixed reviews, and I had plenty of Vamp series going. But the title and cover called to me. Granted I’m not finished yet, but I’m getting more of a Urban Fantasy feel, where romance is present, but not the only element. Maybe that’s why some romance readers were dissatisfied. Oh, and I love the green eyes on this cover, but I didn’t read the review because I’ve gotta read the other ones first.
May 02, 2007 @ 19:32:11
I’m sulking too – I love this series and I have a suspicion we won’t be seeing this one in Australia until at least the end of the month. Humph.
Is it just me or has this instalment felt like quite a long time in coming?
May 02, 2007 @ 21:00:08
I don’t deserve torture… I’ve been so well behaved lately. I deserve some time to read this book.
I’m afraid to even get started until i have some quiet time. which isn’t right now… her royal highness aka the baby bratlet is demanding i forget anything (including sleep) and tend to her needs….