Review: Blade of Darkness by Dianne Duvall

Title: Blade of Darkness
Author: Dianne Duvall
Genre/Age: Paranormal Romance/Adult
Series: Immortal Guardians (Book Seven)
Publisher: Self-published
Format: Paperback via The Romance Reviews
Rating: ✺✺✺✺
Links: Goodreads
Synopsis: Dana Pembroke has been able to glimpse the future of those she touches for as long as she can remember. But she never saw Aidan coming. When the tall, dark Celt with the charming grin yet world-weary eyes walks through her door, the future she sees for him is one full of violence, danger, deception... and passion. Because amidst the terrifying battles that unfold in her visions, she also sees herself in Aidan's arms and in his bed. Dana knows she should keep her distance, but the tender moments and laughter they share entice her even as she finds herself thrust into a world of vampires, immortals, and other preternatural beings.

Immortal Guardian Aidan O'Byrne has been hunting and slaying psychotic vampires for nearly three thousand years, so visions of bloody battles don't trouble him. The battles Dana foresees, however, show Aidan's brethren turning against him, so he can't help but feel alarmed. While he spends as much time as he can with Dana, struggling to decipher her dire predictions, Aidan finds himself utterly smitten. Hope rises that he has finally found a woman who can banish the darkness and loneliness that plague him. But when vampires begin targeting Dana and a powerful enemy spawns chaos, will fate grant them time to find happiness together?

**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book.**

A man finds the woman he's been searching for...and others go missing.

Aidan is looking for the one. The woman who will finally fill the void in his three-thousand-year-old life as an immortal vampire slayer. He knows she will be gifted, he just doesn't know which power she will have. When he does find her, he discovers she's a psychic and everything he's been hoping for. But when she has a vision of his future, he's startled to learn that the people he trusts will turn against him.

Dana can't believe her luck after this man walks into her shop. Not only is he handsome and strong, he's also surprisingly understanding about her supernatural power. He claims to have some of his own and she's sure she has found someone she can be herself with. However, there is trouble brewing and soon the pair aren't sure who to trust as a powerful villain's scheme unfolds.

I definitely recommend reading this series in order, mostly because of the massive number of characters involved in the story. This is the seventh book and a lot of the couples are already together, but there are still several single characters and many scenes featured all of the people in the same room. It can become confusing with so many names and backstories. So while this can be read as a standalone, I don't recommend doing it that way.

The plot was busy, yet I didn't really mind that. It's pretty much one storyline, just with lots of moving parts and a couple of side threads playing out. We do have a few chapters where we jump into the heads of other characters and see things from their points-of-view. It helped to get to know them a little better and was a nice surprise. I particularly liked Seth and look forward to getting to know him more.

Our focus couple in this book came together early on and spent quite a bit of time together. There was some insta-love here, which I find often happens with paranormal couples who are destined for each other. I can't say I liked or disliked that. It just happens and I tend to ignore it to focus on the rest of the story. Some people might be turned off by it, but it didn't really bother me.

What I did find problematic was that our pair barely had any conflict between them. I usually like couples better if they have disagreements they learn to overcome. This pair had things come a little too easy for them. Their relationship was definitely on the sweet side. I'm sure other couples in the series will have the sizzle I tend to like.

In closing...

I absolutely want to know more about this paranormal world. Four suns!

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