Sandy M’s review of Immortals: The Darkening (Book 2) by Robin T. Popp
Contemporary Paranormal Romance published by Love Spell on May 29, 2007

Two books down, two to go. And I’m still very happy with this series. Even with a different author this time around, the intensity of the characters and the storyline are still intact while the story moves forward at a quick and interesting pace. I enjoyed this book just as much as I did the first, The Calling by Jennifer Ashley.

We meet the second of the four Immortals, Darius. He has been basically imprisoned by his mother for the last 700 years to keep him safe, to use her words, so he won’t end up like his brother Tain — abducted and tortured into insanity by the most evil of demons who is determined to destroy the world by upsetting the balance of dark and light magic. Because Darius has been out of commission, so to speak, he has no idea of what his brother has endured for centuries, nor what his other two brothers have been up to, let alone all the goings-on of this demon who’s running amuck. He’s responding to the Calling his brother Adrian was responsible for in the first book of the series and escapes his mother’s clutches. That’s when he meets Lexi and he begins to learn of the world’s dire circumstances and what he’s been missing in the way of female company. He’s as macho and alpha as Adrian, and Lexi, the modern woman she is, can do without his attitude — until he has her in his arms and then she melts all over him, woman that she is.

Lexi is a werewolf, a witch, and a kick-ass bounty hunter able to take care of herself. It’s coming up to a full moon when Darius pops into her life and it takes everything she’s got not to jump into bed with him the second he demands it. Personally, I wouldn’t have hesitated. Eventually she’s sorry she did hesitate, because having met Darius, now her usual once-a-month bed mate doesn’t do it for her anymore. Every sexual nerve ending and stimuli is being rubbed to the max while she’s chasing down skips and trying to help Darius find his brother and kill a demon. I really enjoyed it when Lexi shifts into her wolf form, of which there are several scenes and all very well done.

There are a couple of twists to the story that make it fun and intriguing. Darius’ “affliction,” thanks to his mother, brings a little humor to the story, although it wasn’t in any way humorous to either Darius or Lexi. It was downright frustrating for them. We see a slightly different Tain this time, which makes one wonder is all really as it seems or is there something else going on. I enjoyed what interaction there was between these two brothers, their meeting not nearly as emotional and upsetting as in the first book, but still very touching. Of course, everything is left wide open for the next edition, The Awakening by Joy Nash. I will keep you updated!

Grade: A

From the back cover:

     Created at the dawn of time to protect humanity, the ancient warriors have been nearly forgotten, though magic lives on–in vampires, werewolves, the Celtic Sidhe, and other beings. But now one of their own has turned rogue, and the world is again in desperate need of the IMMORTALS.

     A werewolf and bounty hunter, Lexi was badass to the bone. She had no problem protecting herself in the seedy underground vampire clubs of New York City. Until the Immortal she had tried to summon actually appeared. It wasn’t the intricate tattoos around his well-defined muscles that intimidated her; it was the raw power she saw shimmering in his golden brown eyes, power mingled with lust. Though she longed to give in to the passion and pleasure he promised, they first had a curse to break, a brother to find, and a whole legion of vampires to prevent from joining …THE DARKENING.

     Read an excerpt (scroll down).