Sandy M’s review of Darkest Before Dawn (KGI, Book 10) by Maya Banks
Romantic Suspense published by Berkley 27 Oct 15

I’d been hoping this series would get back on track, up to par with the first several books. While this one is a tad better than the last two, it has fallen victim to the same issues that have plagued Ms. Banks’ writing for a while now. It’s unfortunate, because Maya Banks is a terrific author, and while fans like me won’t give up too soon, I have a feeling others will have no problem leaving this series behind.

At least the emotion is back in this book, something really lacking in the last one in the series. That being said, all that emotion is nearly overshadowed by the repetitive nature that started in After the Storm. A lot of us have been anxiously waiting for Hancock’s book, the man who is a killing machine, betrayed by his country, and still trying to do right despite that. While that is the man we get in the beginning of this book. it’s not the man who trudges through the remainder.

Honor Cambridge is a relief worker in the Middle East. The shelter she works in is attacked, killing everyone but her inside. She’s trapped under debris, but is determined to dig her way out, not to be captured and tortured. Eluding terrorists for a week, she’s nearly to her destination when she’s intercepted by Hancock and his team. He lets her believe he’s there to rescue her, but his goal is single minded – trade Honor’s life to get near enough to take out the man Hancock has been after for years, a man who will kill thousands at the drop of a hat.

But Hancock’s respect and admiration for this slip of a woman grows during their journey, while his guilt eats at him for what he’s going to do. This is where Hancock seems to become a mere shell of himself. His guilt is thrown at us over and over again, all the while he’s sedating Honor – over and over again – because he doesn’t want to answer her questions, allow her to know what he’s really up to. Man up, Hancock. That’s not a way to deal with another human being, especially one you’ve come to respect.

Honor, on the other hand, is much too good to be true. Once she does discover what her fate is, she just sits up and goes with the flow – “At least my life will have meaning.” I’m not one who’s big on things being totally realistic in my romance – it is all fantasy, after all – but this is a bit much even for me. She continues to be her overachieving self. Well, until she realizes her true feelings for Hancock. That’s late in the story, so there’s not much romance to be had before that.  But the action and brotherhood of Hancock’s team are done very well.

I am very happy that the Kelly boys do show up later in the story. As much as I like the secondary characters getting their own books, I want the Kellys to be included as much as possible. They’re what initially made the series and that hasn’t changed for me at all.

I know Ms. Banks has had a couple of rough years, and I’ve assumed that’s where these issues stem from. But maybe it’s too many books in the series thus far? It could be a host of reasons, of course. At this point I’m not sure what the answer is in this regard. I wanted to go back to the first book in the series and reread it, to see the differences, the changes since then, but time constraints just won’t allow that right now. Perhaps that’s what Ms. Banks should do at this juncture. Because something needs to change, soon. This is still a good series and I’d hate to see it fall further and lose fans in the long run.

Grade: C

Summary:

The enigmatic Hancock has been both opponent and ally to the KGI teams for as long as they’ve known him. Always working a deep game, Hancock’s true allegiance has never been apparent, but one thing is for certain—he never lets anything get in the way of duty.

But now, his absolute belief in the primacy of his ultimate goal is challenged by a captive he’s been ordered to guard, no matter how much she suffers in her prison. She’s the only woman who’s ever managed to penetrate the rigid walls surrounding his icy heart, but will he allow his perplexing feelings for the beautiful victim to destroy a mission he’s spent years working to complete or will he be forced to sacrifice her for “the greater good.”

No excerpt available.

Other books in this series: