Sandy M’s review of Dangerous Temptation (Daughters of Myth, Book 1) by Kathleen Korbel
Contemporary paranormal romance released by Silhoutte Nocturne on 1 Oct 06
I had a little trouble with this Nocturne in the beginning. Everything finally evened out about halfway through the book, once some action started and the good versus evil began to come through. Until then, though, it was touch and go.
The main reason I didn’t care for the beginning of this book was the much-too-saccharine description and feel of the fairy land where Nuala lives. Yes, I know the land of fairies is supposed to be goodness and light with some flying thrown in, but this just went on a little too long and it felt more like a children’s story than a romance.
And I didn’t care for Zeke’s reaction to the place. He was duly skeptical at first, thinking everything was a dream, including Nuala, but for a manly man, the type of romantic hero man we’re used to, somewhere in there he should have been scoffing at a few things. He was too enthralled the whole time to give his actions a realistic feeling, especially if he’s supposed to be dreaming. Being a man, I think Zeke would have thrown some testosterone around if it had truly been a dream.
But once the sweet description of the place and its people was pretty much over with, things begin to pick up. I enjoyed the second half of the book so much more. Even though Nuala knows she can never be with Zeke because of her future and his family, she still wants him and gives in to the growing desire between them, and they have some very nice love scenes.
Mab, the queen, also wants Zeke, but Nuala convinces her mother to send him home and he is to be given three tests he must pass for his ticket out of there, and those tests are quite imaginative. In the background through all of this is Orla, the sister who wants to be queen and will do whatever it takes to make that happen. So when her scheming calls evil into their midst, all hell breaks loose. Zeke’s spine is suddenly in attendance and everything rings more true during this part of the book.
The characters are quite interesting, including Cadhla the talking horse, and Zeke’s family joins the fray at the end, which I really liked. The magic used to play havoc with Zeke is well done. The ancient history of the Filial Set, three gems that give the fairy clans their power, gives the story its balance of good and evil and is enjoyable. I just wish the beginning had been done differently for a more rounded story.
Grade: C
From the back cover:
To anthropologist Zeke Kendall, the idea that the heir to the Fairy throne had been watching him, falling in love with him, for years was laughable. Then he met Nuala and lost his heart to her dangerous beauty.
Eldest daughter of the Fairy Queen, Nuala must marry among her own kind to keep the line pure, but her heart has long been possessed by the handsome mortal. Now she will do anything–even align herself with humankind against the terrifying power of her own people–to make him hers.
Read an excerpt.
