Volume 1, Darkness Awakened

It just wasn't gripping or even that exciting. Or maybe I have read to many of this type of book. The writing itself wasn't bad, but I sure didn't find myself rooting for anyone or feeling involved to any of the characters at all and honestly I do with most books. Normally if a book is the.least bit good I windshield drawn into the world the author created, but this book did not draw me in, nor did I feel much interest in any of it. I was actually hoping it was almost done so I could start a better (hopefully) book. But as I said it was so similar to a lot of other books I have read that it was just boring for me, but someone else may love it. So really this book gets 2.5 stars from me. I don't think I will be reading. Took 2 either. There are just way too many good books out there I'd rather read.

This book was amazing!!! The entire story flowed so well!! I like to read book w/ slightly more dialogue and I get that in this book. the chemistry between Finn and Lyra (pretty name btw) wad HOT!! I love how everyone helped out each other in the pack!! I cant wait for the rest of the series!!

Seventeen years ago Lyra Marius a royal natural born vampire and Finn Stavros a werewolf shifter met and fell in love. But that love was not safe in their world and to protect his love Finn ended things before Lyra could tell him that she was with child. They never forgot each other, neither ever taking another lover for when you love that deeply and are destined mates no one else will do. Now Lyra has sought out Finn who has become a strong Alpha for help, the hybrid daughter he does not know of has been kidnapped and she had no one else to turn to for upon finding out about her pregnancy she was exiled from her coven and left to fend for herself in the human world. And so begins this tale of paranormal romantic suspense.

Katie Reus has created an interesting contemporary world where humans unknowingly live side by side with the paranormal (vampires, shifters, demons). Emotions long dormant between Lyra and Finn surface as they race against the clock to save their prophesied child from being used to unleash hell on earth. The storyline was engaging, well written, and elicited emotion. This reader found herself rooting for these two to find their child and reconnect permanently. Both Lyra and Finn are strong characters, the things they'd gone through during the years apart having given them strength. There was much action, suspense, and the rekindling romance was sexy but not over the top. I loved the ending. The supporting characters were likeable and intriguing. I hope to see many of them get their own stories. This is the first paranormal work I have read by this author and it won't be the last.

ARC provided by the author.

Seventeen years ago Lyra Marius a royal natural born vampire and Finn Stavros a werewolf shifter met and fell in love. But that love was not safe in their world and to protect his love Finn ended things before Lyra could tell him that she was with child. They never forgot each other, neither ever taking another lover for when you love that deeply and are destined mates no one else will do. Now Lyra has sought out Finn who has become a strong Alpha for help, the hybrid daughter he does not know of has been kidnapped and she had no one else to turn to for upon finding out about her pregnancy she was exiled from her coven and left to fend for herself in the human world. And so begins this tale of paranormal romantic suspense.

Katie Reus has created an interesting contemporary world where humans unknowingly live side by side with the paranormal (vampires, shifters, demons). Emotions long dormant between Lyra and Finn surface as they race against the clock to save their prophesied child from being used to unleash hell on earth. The storyline was engaging, well written, and elicited emotion. This reader found herself rooting for these two to find their child and reconnect permanently. Both Lyra and Finn are strong characters, the things they'd gone through during the years apart having given them strength. There was much action, suspense, and the rekindling romance was sexy but not over the top. I loved the ending. The supporting characters were likeable and intriguing. I hope to see many of them get their own stories. This is the first paranormal work I have read by this author and it won't be the last.

ARC provided by the author.

This is a really good book. The characters are each likable, and the author has done a great job in building the story. However, I can't shake the feeling that this is just another vampire/shifter romance - like I have read a thousand times before. It feels "old", and except for Drak (whom I truly hope is the lead charachter in the next book coming in 2014), there is no real surprise or "newness" to the book.

It should be said that my reading history may taint my reading experience, so my three star review should not deterr you from byuing this book. I was uncertain if I should give it three or four stars, but went with my gut since I couldn't fint any novel feeling about it - it didn't rouse me, cauz I already "knew" what would happen.

A solid book through and through, but may be boring for those of you who have read a lot of vampire/shifter romance (like me).

Darkness Awakened combines the best of paranormal romance and urban fantasy. The romance is paramount but there is enough action and storyline to qualify as urban fantasy. Finn and Lyra have a Romeo and Juliet type relationship, forbidden. Finn broke off their relationship years before because he feared that his uncle, the alpha at the time, would kill Lyra for being a vampire. Now, Finn is the alpha and Lyra has come to him with an unexpected favor to ask. There is much less conflict with Finn and Lyra getting back together than you might expect. They work well together as a team and I'm looking forward to reading the next book.

The synopsis promises too much. I expected Lyra and Finn to strategize and battle throughout the book to prevent a horde of demons from ravaging the human world while searching for their daughter. But by the end of Darkness Awakened, we only get to find out whether Lyra and Finn are able to retrieve their daughter and whether hell is (literally) unleashed on the world. I was also disappointed by the lack of romance when I expected a second-chance romance; there was zero depth in Lyra and Finn's relationship.

I was hoping to read more about hell's gates and the Akkadian demons or at least the coven, but Reus never gets into that. The demons, who are used only as pawns, don't serve any other purpose but to give the antagonist a motive for his actions. It also seems like the author inserted randomly interspersed fight scenes with demons for the sake of adding more action scenes; I like action-packed stories but I prefer fight scenes that are linked to the actual plot.

The MCs are one-dimensional and the romance falls flat. The world building is unimpressive, and is just enough to allow readers to make sense of the story.

Darnkess Awakwned is fast-paced and action-packed but is mediocre at best. It lacks in character development, plot development, and world building. Considering the length of the book/novella, I suppose the flaws are acceptable. I'm giving this one a 2.5 star rating only because the novella doesn't get boring and doesn't drag, so it wasn't a waste of time.

Recommend this for readers who want to kill time during a short plane ride but not for readers who want a well-developed story with complex characters and relationships.

2.5 ☆

The story begins with seeing Finn fighting some bad demons, and we see a certain bond he has with one of his closest friends and protector. We see the fun bantering and quick-witted humor between these two and the level of friendship they have. Then when Lyra enters Finn’s life again, he has no clue that he has a 17-year-old daughter. He doesn’t suspect a thing, but Lyra gets a bit devious and changes the age of her daughter so he doesn’t suspect. Now this is a “secret baby” themed trope, but the circumstances makes it seem endearing and you get captivated instantly. What I enjoyed was seeing how these ex lovers were able to connect almost instantly, even after all the time that has passed for them. The supporting characters were so fun, and a plus we get on possessive dragon shifter that comes into the mix (his book is next…SO THRILLED because he sure was delicious) We see some engaging members of Finn’s pack, and boy did Lyra stand her ground with them and win their loyalty, which is pretty fantastic considering that vampires and shifters are mortal enemies. Toward the last half of the book, we get an insight into Vega and what she is dealing with. We see how insane Lyra’s brother really is, crazed with power and being the leader of the clan, and how he promotes fear to get his people to do what he wants them to do. Vega is just like her parents though, strong and stands on her own. What we see happen in this story especially toward the latter half of the story, was a tear jerker, just broke me up inside, seeing Finn and Lyra be honest with each other, and finding their daughter together. So many great moments in this story that made it an astounding read for me (despite its shorter length, only 200 pages), but it didn’t feel that short. The plot is well-balanced, the characters written in a way where we see their strengths and weakness and how they face opposition, the romance short and sweet, but definitely strong in emotion and engaging till the end. What I most enjoyed was how the style of this author’s writing captivated me from the beginning, she draws you into the story in such a way that you can’t put it down, she creates a scene at the beginning which is exciting and full of action and then pumps you with emotion that you have to keep reading more, a intense page turner.

"Darkness Awakened" by Katie Reus. This is a paranormal romance that I found to be well written and full of suspense and love. I really liked Finn, our Hero. He's a wolf shifter that is strong and powerful, yet his dedication to his one true love is beyond belief. Who wouldn't want to be loved by Finn? Lyra is a strong and powerful vampire that has raised her daughter on her own. Despite being independent, she, too, needs the strength of her true love to get through a trying time. The story is filled with suspense - who done it? where is Vega? Will Finn and Lyra get their HEA? Ms. Reus keeps the reader involved with descriptive scenes and emotional and heart felt dialogue. I would have liked to have seen a touch more between Finn and Lyra - when secrets are revealed, Finn accepted things a bit too easily for me - I would have thought there would have been a bit more drama in that respect. But it still worked well. Overall, I enjoyed this tale by Ms. Reus and look forward to the rest of the series.

Darkness Awakened is the first book to Katie Reus' Darkness series, which is a Paranormal Romance that involves shifters and vampires. I love when author throws in a mixture of paranormal creatures into the story, especially when some are threatened by each other. Although, in this case we have a reunion of a vampire and werewolf that fell in love many years ago and now they are face to face again.

Vampire Lyra Marius never thought she would have to face Finn again, but circumstances have brought her to face him. Her daughter has been kidnapped and she needs his help to find her. Finn is the leader of the southern werewolf pack and he will do anything for Lyra, especially his heart never gave up on her. Lyra has a HUGE secret she's keeping from Finn and he may end up making him go a little crazy. There's also the issue of the demons infiltrating the human world that Finn has been dealing with and he's determined more than ever to keep the paranormal world out of the limelight from the humans.

I have always adored Katie Reus' books, ever since I started reading her books in 2012. I couldn't wait to dive into Darkness Awakened (or in this case listen to it). I just needed some time to squeeze it in between many review books I need to review. Darn it...I finally found the time and it only took me 4 hours to finish it. Katie had me hooked from the beginning to end with the storyline and the characters. I loved the premise of a vampire and werewolf rekindling their love for each other. I also enjoyed how Finn and Lyra came together through the toughest times and managed to get through it all.

It was a great story and the narrator, Jeffrey Kafer made it ALL come to live for me. He helped me get through cleaning my whole house, going through piles of laundry, and preparing dinner for the family. My husband tried to talk to me, while I was listening to Darkness Awakened a few times, but I couldn't hear him. It's all his fault for buying me wireless headphones. **He should know better by now. If I have my headphones on (a) I'm listening to a GREAT audiobook, so don't even bother (b) I'm listening to music and I really can't hear you at all. (He's learned his lesson)

Jeffrey Kafer did an amazing job telling Katie Reus' story and bringing ALL the characters to life. I'm glad I got a chance to listen to this book and I'm hoping the next book in the series becomes an audiobook too. I'll definitely be grabbing it up, when it does.

I will say this, I couldn't believe how fast I went through this audiobook. It was only 4+ hours long, so it didn't take very long, especially when I was deep cleaning, etc. It was the best 4+ hours of my life because it made the cleaning go by faster, especially with cleaning up after a 2 1/2 year old. =)

I give this audiobook / book 5 full moons and highly recommend it to PNR readers out there and fans of Katie Reus. If you are looking for a quick audiobook I definitely recommend this book. Jeffrey Kafter is definitely getting added to my list of narrators, I'm going to continue to listen to.

I received a complimentary copy of the audio version of Darkness Awakened via the author in exchange for an honest review.

My recap:

Seventeen years ago, wolf-shifter Finn Stavros left his lover, vampire Lyra Marius. He intended to keep her safe from the deadly politics within his pack. But Lyra had a secret that she didn't get a chance to tell him--she was pregnant with their daughter. Rejected by Finn, she was also cast out of her coven and forced to live as best she could in the world of humans.

Fast-forward seventeen years. Finn is now the powerful alpha of his pack. The gate to hell has been partially opened by an unknown enemy, and he is fighting the demons who are emerging. Lyra shows up on his doorstep for help in finding "her" daughter, Vega, who has been kidnapped. Her daughter's blood may fulfill a prophecy that will fully open the gate to hell. Finn helps her without question, and it's a dangerous race to find Vega. Getting together again reopens both old wounds and passions. And what will happen when Finn finds out that Vega is really his daughter?

My thoughts:

I liked both Finn and Lyra. Finn is a great alpha character--strong, protective, decisive, commanding, and sexy. Lyra has grown strong and learned to defend herself in the school of hard knocks.

The plot moved along quickly. There was good tension between Finn and Lyra, danger for the two to handle, and mistrust of Lyra by the pack.

The revelation of Vega's parentage was an emotional gut-punch.

Vega herself was a nice surprise as a character, especially in her handling of the oh-my-gosh that came out of the gate to hell.

There was a satisfying twist at the end. You'll finish with a warm heart.

I recommend DARKNESS AWAKENED and am looking forward to the next novella or book in the series. For those who love shifters, I highly recommend her Moon Shifter series, starting with Alpha Instinct: A Moon Shifter Novel. If you like romantic suspense, Targeted: A Deadly Ops Novel is excellent.

Enjoy!

I received an ARC of DARKNESS AWAKENED in exchange for an honest review.

Darkness Awakened is book 1 in Katie Reus' new Darkness series. It is a second-chance story between two clashing species, the shifters and the vampires. These two species have been long-time, violent enemies, and ultimately, that is what forced them apart 17 years ago. Now circumstances are such that she is forced to seek his help. In doing so, they are confronted with a larger conspiracy to wreck havoc in the world.

I thought the world-building in this book was intriguing. It is a setting of shapeshifting werewolves, vampires, dragons, and demons. The book revolves around the Romeo and Juliet-like story of Finn Stavros (I love the hint of Mediterranean background. It makes it much easier for me to envision what he might look like) and Lyra Marius. They are young lovers separated years ago by the dangers of two feuding species getting together. It is one of Finn's biggest regrets in life. As fate dictates, he gets a second chance at winning Lyra back. I enjoyed the idea of changing and evolving alliances and and the introduction a new species into the mix. Being a first book in the series, I can see how the story is foreshadowing future stories.

My critique of the book revolves around the second chance storyline. Normally, I am a sucker for these stories. I love books redemption themes. But this story left me a little cold. It felt like I was dropped into the middle of an on-going journey and never got a firm foundation from the past. I did not feel like I knew either character well enough to really understand their attraction to one another, or maybe I was a little skeptical of the initial attraction and why they became a couple in the first place. It did not ruin the book for me, but I felt a little less emotionally invested in the characters.

However, I am looking forward to the following books. There are lots of intriguing questions that need to be answered and, as a fan of this author's previous work, I am curious to see how and where she will take this story.

*I received a free ARC of Darkness Awakened from Negalley in exchange of an honest review*

Darkness Awakened is the first book in Ms. Reus new paranormal romance series, and it is filled with love, longing and mystery. Finn and Lyra fell in love when they were young, but circumstances inside of his pack made Finn leave her – just as she was about to tell him something extremely important. Ever since he challenged his uncle for the position of alpha wolf in his pack, he has tried to find her again, but it was as if she had disappeared from the face of the earth. Until one evening, when she shows up at the were-wolf compound looking for him, because she desperately needs his help.

When he comes home form fighting off and killing several Akkadian demons, Finn finds Lyra waiting for him. And she is adamant she needs his help finding her kidnapped daughter. Only, she doesn’t tell him the whole truth, namely that Vega is his daughter as well. Extremely rare, and thanks in part to the fact that Lyra is a born vampire, a shifter and a vampire have had a baby. And there is a very ominous prophecy about their offspring being able to open the gates to hell.

Pretty fast-paced, with plenty of action, fighting and a couple that has not been able to forget about each other even after all this time apart, Darkness Awakened is a spicy thriller-like paranormal romance. I enjoyed the fact that Lyra is very much able to take care of herself and her daughter, she knows how to fight, and she knows how to protect her family. However, with demons on the rise, she knows she needs someone powerful on her side, and Finn is the wolf who fits that description to a ‘T’. However, someone else who is very powerful is the one who betrayed Lyra, and they start a race against time to make sure they can save Vega – and the world before it’s too late.

The shifters and the vampires are slightly different in Darkness Awakened from those I am used to reading about, and that made reading about them even more enjoyable. The writing is very good, great descriptions, and tense action scenes. Even Vega is a character worth getting to know, even if she is only 16 years old, and both Lyra and Finn got to me as well. There are other characters who are well fleshed out, and I look forward to reading more in this series, both because of the apparent love between Lyra and Finn, and because of the dynamics between Finn and his pack, and how they all saw Lyra because of the fact that she’s a vampire.

I had to double-check the previous Katie Reus books I have read because the blurb reminded me so much of another book of hers (which I found to be DESTINED MATE, which does get a slight character shout out in DARKNESS AWAKENED). There are of course differences but it definitely had the same feel to it. Vampire Lyra goes to ex lover Finn for help finding her kidnapped daughter. Little does Finn know that her daughter just happens to be his.

There were some pretty predictable parts of the story but overall I enjoyed it. Finn and Lyra had a brief love affair 17 years ago. Finn pushed Lyra away to protect her and has regretted that decision every day since then. Lyra is understandably hesitant to trust Finn again but has no where else to turn when her daughter Vega is kidnapped. Although she is immediately reminded of how it felt to be with him she tried to hold herself back. She lasted longer than I thought she would. Their chemistry is electric from the start. You know right away that they will end up back into each others lives for good. We get some background on the characters but I wish we could have gotten more as I felt like I didn't really know them or why they acted like they did. We meet some interesting secondary characters, setting us up for who might be featured in the future. I am actually excited to learn more about Drake and how he ended up where he did.

DARKNESS AWAKENED was a quick easy read. It had little issues but it has great potential and I would not pass up reading more.

Darkness Awakened by Katie Reus had it all. Drama, suspense, shifters and a beautiful vampire destined to be the Alpha Mate of a powerful wolf shifter. But, before Finn and Lyra can come together as they were destined to be, they must save Vega, the daughter Finn never knew he had.

Ms. Reus delivered a wonderfully written story that had depth and meaning. Each character portrayed was well developed in their ability to stand alone and co-exist with the other characters. Any flaws they had were an integral part of the story and endeared this reviewer to them.

Finn was stoic and even upon discovering he had fathered a child, Ms. Reus gave him pride and integrity that did not diminish his alpha status but in this reviewer’s opinion created a more honorable man.

Lyra, although a vampire, was the personification of a mother who would protect her child at all costs. She was strong and determined and gave life to Finn; their love blossomed slowly as they navigated through the murkiness of finding Vega to discovering their feelings were as strong as ever.

The secondary characters brought excitement and intrigue to Darkness Awakened, a menagerie of shifters and an addition of a dragon. I look forward to reading book two in the series. Ms. Reus has captured my attention with her superb story telling.

reviewed by Evelise
book received from the author for the purpose of an honest review

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story! What drew me in was the cover, and they synopsis, and I wasn’t disappointed when I read the story.
The story starts off with you getting introduced to Finn. He is the alpha of his pack, and is determined to protect it. He has been working hard at keeping his pack safe ever since he defeated his uncle a few years back. Something he probably should have done a lot sooner, then he wouldn’t have lost his one true love Lyra. His whole world gets turned upside down though when Lyra comes to him after 17 years of no word from her and asks for his help. Her daughter has been taken and she needs him to get her back safely. Finn still cares deeply for her and will do anything to help get Lyra’s daughter back, but what he finds out later may change his mind about everything.
After 17 years, Lyra still feels the pull to Finn that she felt back then, and she isn’t sure if she likes it. Finn is still unbelievably gorgeous and has definitely got a darker edge to him than he did back then, but that just draws her to him more. She feels guilty for asking for Finn’s help to find her daughter without telling him the truth, but she doesn’t see any other way. She’ll do anything to get her daughter back safely, and that includes keeping this huge secret from Finn.
Will they be able to put their past aside and find Vega as quickly as possible. They only have a limited time before all hell breaks loose, literally.
Finn and Lyra have many obstacles and dangers to deal with before they can save Vega, and one of them is the chemistry that still ignites between them. While trying to keep a distance from each other, they still both feel the pull that is impossible to ignore. The only thing is though, will they both be able to forget the betrayal and finally give into something so powerful? Or will they go their separate ways once Vega is safe?
This was a fantastic book that had a little bit of all the paranormal in one great story. Katie does such a fantastic job with keeping the reader interested in the story and the characters romance, without having the steamy scenes take over the story. This was an entertaining quick read that I would recommend to any of my friends that are into paranormal books.

Darkness Awakened. Katie Reus

Review from Jeannie Zelos Book Reviews.

Paranormal Romance, shifters, vampires ....I'm in :) so began this book eagerly. I've not read any of Katie's books before so was interested in what sort of writing style she'd have. I found it easy to read, simple plots filled with realistic characters. Finn was typical Alpha, strong and decisive. He'd left Lyra unwillingly to keep her safe, his Mad vampire hating uncle was Alpha then, but he made her think he simply rejected her, that way she wouldn't try to stay and risk getting killed. Lyra was heartbroken, she was just about to tell him she was pregnant....then her coven kicked her out too. She's brought up daughter Vega alone among humans since then, but now Vega has been kidnapped and Lyra fears for her life. The only person she thinks can help is Finn, as he's now a very powerful and respected force in the supernatural world.
Poor Lyra, that was a tough blow, being abandoned by her lover and then her family she was heartbroken. She's never stopped loving Finn though, but I really felt for her when she needed to ask him for help. She was opening herself up to heartbreak seeing him again, especially if he'd since mated and had a family. She didn't know and it took courage to ask him, but she loves Vega so much she'd do anything for her rescue.
Finn, what a great Alpha, strong and caring, fair and respected, he was shocked at seeing Lyra again, and immediately agreed to help her. But that secret she holds could break all the trust between them when he finds out.
Its a great read, full of sexy and sensual moments, danger and betrayals on both were and vampire sides, demons, and the threat of them taking over and mass killing humans, and all the while the search for Vega gets more and more urgent. I loved this book, certainly found it an easy read as the story moved naturally from one plot to the next, all the while letting the minor plots grow as part of the overall danger.
A fun read, quick and easy and though there's danger and demons etc. its not a deep book but quite undemanding on content. Its priced at a bargain 49pence/$0.78 for 50,000 words but this may be an opening price of course and subject to change, I don't know but would say get it now just in case!
Stars: four, good read but a little light for five stars from me.
NB: ARC supplied via Netgalley

What is your favorite paranormal being? Vampires? Werewolves? Demons? Dragons? Katie Reus has all of those in her latest paranormal romance titled Darkness Awakened. I don't read a lot of paranormal romance but am always pleasantly surprised how much I enjoy it when I am reading one. Darkness Awakened is an against all odds love story where a vampire and werewolf shifter are brought back together after seventeen years because their daughter has been kidnapped. In their world vampires and werewolves don't mix. I love the suspense element that comes with paranormal romance as it brings a whole new level to the story.

We meet Finn and Lyra in Darkness Awakened. Let me tell you, Finn is one badass alpha. He gets things done and is well respected by his pack. Lyra is a vampire who was kicked out of her coven and has raised a daughter, Vega, on her own for the past 16 years. When Lyra comes to Finn for help, he can't say no because it is Lyra, the love of his life. He doesn't know the huge secret she is keeping from him, though and I think Katie planned the right time for it to come out.

Darkness Awakened is a fast paced, action packed story that will grab you from page one and it doesn't let up until the very end. Just when you think the climax has hit and the book is about over, something else happens. I love that about stories - the many adventures a reader goes on along with the characters. I found the love story to be believable because Finn and Lyra made finding Vega their focus and even if they haven't stopped loving one another, they know when it is a good time to show affection for one another and when to keep things on the task at hand.

Katie did a great job of the intimacy. It was sprinkled among Finn and Lyra's thoughts and little actions here and there throughout the story. Sometimes paranormal romances play on the primal instincts and can throw in sex scenes when they don't make sense. The ones in Darkness Awakened were at the right time and went along with the story. I really liked some of the secondary characters and it will be interesting to see which characters are featured in the next story. If you like your paranormal romance full of suspense and an unlikely love story, I recommend you try Darkness Awakened. It is a great start to a new series!

DARKNESS AWAKENED is the introductory storyline in Katie Reus's new paranormal adult series-Darkness. This is Finn Stavros (Alpha wolf shifter) and Lyra Marius's (pureblood vampire) story and one that began seventeen years earlier.

Darkness Awakened is a story about forbidden love and second chances for two people from different species that have more in common than anyone could have known. It has been close to seventeen years since Lyra was pushed away by the only man she has ever loved and the hurt has only increased in the ensuing years. But Finn knew that to enter into a permanent relationship with a vampire could bring about her death at the hands of his then pack alpha and uncle. To protect Lyra, Finn walked away without explanation and Lyra suffered additional rejection when her vampire coven threw her out.

The relationship and attraction between Lyra and Finn is one that has never waivered in all of their years of separation. Finn has always known that Lyra was his mate but her subsequent disappearance left Finn wondering what had truly happened to the woman he had loved.

The premise to the storyline follows the approach of Samhain and the eclipse. A powerful vampire intends to open a portal to Hell and Lyra's daughter has the perfect blood. When Vega goes missing, Lyra begs Finn for his aid and in the end, the truth about Vega's true heritage will be revealed to all.

Katie introduces a cast of secondary characters from pack and coven members to a long forgotten species that is larger than life. When the portal to Hell opens, it will take a tentative peace between shifters and vampires to ensure that the world in which they both live is safe for everyone. The reader is pulled into a world where the paranormal is real and the lives of everyone are threatened when a vampire takes control of a young woman whose only sin was to go looking for the father she never knew.

If you are a fan of the paranormal; stories with a little bit of mystery and suspense; and a sensual romance between two people that are perfect for each other than Katie's new DARKNESS series and DARKNESS AWAKENED is the perfect read.

Copy supplied by the author.

I haven't read much of Katie Reus' Paranormal Romances only her Romantic Suspense books, but I've come to the conclusion that whether she's writing RS or PNR, her stories are always engaging, well-written, and full of sexiness! To me, a Katie Reus book is always a guaranteed good read.

Darkness Awakened was more of a dark and suspenseful paranormal romance. What I loved about Darkness Awakened is that it was not only limited to werewolf shifters and vampires. There were demons and dragon shifters thrown into the mix as well which I found to be quite refreshing. There were also plenty of action, suspense and sexy romance to keep the reader turning the pages. The main characters, Finn and Lyra, were easily likeable and tons of sparks were present between the two. I also enjoyed and liked the secondary characters who played a great supporting role in the story. I hope that Victoria and Drake will get their own story soon! I would love to read about these two, a vampire and dragon shifter? Yes, please!

Overall, Darkness Awakened was an easy story to get into and definitely one to check out. I enjoyed it thoroughly and am excited to see what Katie Reus has in store for the rest of the series!

Oh my goodness, I LOVED this book! Everything about it! First in a new series Darkness Awakened is a fun quick read. It really captured my attention from the very start and I just couldn't help falling in love with this new world of shifters and vampires and dragons.

Lyra and Finn were ripped apart 16 years ago because of who and what they are and ever since they have both missed each other desperately. Lyra, needing his help to find her daughter, seeks out Finn because he's the only one who can help her. The fact that Lyra has kept a huge secret from Finn makes it a little rocky when he finds out but not impossible.

I was really pulled into this story at first because of Lyra and her desperation to find her daughter. I can't imagine losing my little girl so I hate imagining her going through that. Later on though, when the relationship between Finn and Lyra starts to resurface I was completely stuck because I just wanted these two to have their HEA finally! So many years they were separated but still they're both firmly devoted to each other. It was such a sweet story!

The other characters are so likable and funny. I really liked all of the shifters and even the vamps from Lyra's old coven but it was Vega and Drake that were my favorites! I am dying for more of them! Can't wait for the next book to release!

Packed full of crazy action and sexy romance, this start to a new series really sets the mood for the rest of the series. I'm so excited for more books and more of the hot new characters! If you haven't read any of Katie Reus' books yet, start with this one! :)

*I received a complementary copy of this book in exchange for a review. Everything stated is my true honest opinion.*

Summary: Years ago he ended things between them to protect her...

As leader of one of the fiercest werewolf packs in the south, Finn Stavros is in full battle mode 24/7. He has no choice--he's one of the few beings strong enough to fight the Akkadian demons, whose mysterious escape from hell threatens the entire world. With the battle turning bloodier by the second, Finn is ready for anything...until his vampire long lost love shows up on his doorstep in desperate need of his help, sending his heart into a tailspin. He agrees to help her, unaware that she carries a shocking secret that will turn his life upside down.

This time, he's not letting her go...

Vampire Lyra Marius curses the day she met Finn. The ruthless werewolf promised to love her forever, but he rejected her instead--before she could share her life altering news. Pregnant, kicked out of her coven, and cast aside by the love of her life, Lyra struggled to raise their rare shifter-vampire daughter Vega alone among humans. When the 16-year-old is kidnapped and used to fulfill a frightening prophecy, Lyra swallows her pride and turns to Finn for help. But how long can she fight her feelings for him and keep him from guessing the truth about who Vega really is? As they race against the clock to save their daughter, they must defeat the lethal threat imposed by demons infiltrating the human world and a hell gate that could not only reveal their existence to mankind, but destroy the world in the process.

Darkness Awakened grabbed me from page 1. I couldn't put the book down until I finished it. The characters were well written and their back story was well told. I love a story that has not only a strong hero but also a strong heroine. The imagery was written in such descriptive language that I found myself there. It's hard to find a book that flows from chapter to chapter and keeps you drawn into the story but that's what Katie Reus did. There wasn't a lull at all. It was action packed from beginning to end. Who wouldn't want to love a werewolf especially one as handsome as Finn? Watching Lyra and Finn work through there past in order to work together to rescue Vega was an emotional roller coaster for me. Katie Reus is a new author I've recently added to my list of must read authors and she is definitely there to stay. If you like paranormal along with shape shifters then this is the book for you.

I was provided an ARC of Darkness Awakened from the author for my honest review.

Both came from different worlds. Yet, they were in love so deeply.

Lyra Marius was from vampire royalty. When she met werewolf Finn Stavros, the two couldn't resist the deep attraction they had for one another. However, their love for one another was a `weakness' that neither could afford to expose. To protect Lyra from anyone that may harm her Finn decided to end their relationship. This happened to be on the same night that Lyra wanted to share some important news with Finn.....news that she never managed to share with him.

Years have passed.....sixteen to be exact. Lyra shows up unexpectedly on Finn's doorstep asking for help finding her kidnapped daughter. Vega has been abducted to fulfill a prophecy, one that can unleash all of the demons trapped in hell. Finn vows to help Lyra find her missing daughter. The two immediately feel that attraction they once had for one another....it still had not diminished after all of these years.

Lyra has spent the last 16 years hiding her daughter. Trying to keep the world from knowing how unique Vega's heritage is. More importantly, to keep Finn from knowing he had a daughter. After Finn ended their relationship all those years ago, Lyra found herself turned away from her coven. Trying to raise her daughter in secrecy in the human world. Turning to Finn also meant that Lyra would have to reveal who Vega's father was. Now that the two are drawn back together, will this secret that Lyra has kept under wraps ruin any future they may have? Can Finn help Lyra save their daughter before she is used to unleash the gates of hell on all mankind?

Thank you so much to Katie Reus for giving me a complimentary copy for my review!!

5 out of 5 stars! This fast-paced, action-packed, paranormal romance is one that will hold your attention and wish you could keep on reading even past the ending!!

Finn and Lyra are an unstoppable duo! They also, complete each other in a way that even though they've been separated for about seventeen years their relationship quickly picks up where they left off. It was fun to read about how Finn's pack would accept Lyra and how Lyra was able to hold her own against, almost, everything that came her way. In addition, I also enjoyed reading about this unique world that Ms. Reus created, along with its secondary characters. =0)

I can't wait to see where this series will take us next, and I'm hoping more information about Drake's background will come soon!

I recommend this novel to anyone who are fans of this author, who like paranormal romances, and to those who like stories involving werewolves and vampires!

Review By: From Me to You ... Book Reviews
-- read more of this review and a teaser on my blog: frommetoyouvideophoto.blogspot.com --