Darkling-Yasmine Galenorn

Darkling
Yasmine Galenorn
Berkley, Jan 2008, $7.99
ISBN: 9780425218938

Like her sisters, Camille the witch (see WITCHLING) and Delilah the death maiden (see CHANGELING) half-fae, half-human Menolly D’Artigo works for the Otherworld Intelligence Agency (OIA). However, unlike her siblings Menolly has struggled with what she has become, a DARKLING vampire changed by the malevolent Dredge as part of his torture of her when he held her prisoner.

For the most part she controls her cravings, but remains obsessed with killing her vampiric sire if he ever leaves Otherworld and comes to Earth. However as humans are being changed to vampires; she may have her chance finally since Dredge has joined with the demon Shadow Wing to break the barrier between the realms. If they succeed, Menoly might get what she wished for a chance to kill Dredge, but knows the fight if the foes breach the wall will require all from her and her sisters as the dark enemy has many dangerous allies while her side is bone tired from the war that still is ablaze. Their only newcomer is Roz the incubus mercenary hired to help them; but everyone knows when the going gets tough mercenaries get going from the fight. What the siblings do not know is Roz has a grudge with Dredge who killed his family when he was a child.

The tale told from Menolly’s viewpoint is a much darker erotic romantic fantasy than those of her sisters as she has the most problem adapting to what she has become. Camille and Delilah are back, but it is Menolly’s tale as she learns that sometimes you get what you wished for. Yasmine Galenorn provides a terrific thriller starring a fascinating protagonist with an obsession that could cost her life if she goes into the fight against an invincible opponent with her narrow objective even if Roz shares her need for vengeance.

Harriet Klausner