Monday, October 29, 2012

Review: Phantom Shadows


Phantom Shadows (Immortal Guardians #3)

by Dianne Duvall 

Blurb:

Dr. Melanie Lipton is no stranger to the supernatural.
She knows immortals better than they know themselves, right down to their stubborn little genes. So although a handsome rogue immortal seems suspicious to her colleagues, Sebastien Newcombe intrigues Melanie. His history is checkered, his scars are impressive, and his ideas are daring. But it’s not his ideas that have Melanie fighting off surges of desire . . . 

Bastien is used to being the bad guy. In fact, he can’t remember the last time he had an ally he could trust. But Melanie is different – and under her calm, professional exterior he senses a passion beyond anything in his centuries of experience. Giving in to temptation is out of the question – he can’t put her in danger. But she isn’t asking him . . .

Review:


I loved finally getting a chance to see Sebastian in action. His interactions with the other characters in the past, of course, have been full of angst and anger, being the bad guy in the first book and then finally learning the truth of what he is. Melanie has always felt a connection with Sebastian and is more than willing to learn more about the enigmatic and dangerously sexy immortal, but she'll have to get him to agree before she has any chance of a relationship with him. Working side by side throughout the book, they deal with attempting to change the minds of those around them and bring about a change in their very society.

The passion between these two is explosive and while it slowly begins to turn to love, Sebastian is reluctant to embrace their love, knowing it may cause some of the other immortal guardians to change how well they treat Melanie. Melanie refuses to allow the opinions of others to keep her away from Sebastian and is determined to keep the immortal hottie for her own.

Melanie and Bastien’s characters are both extremely well written and full of layers that need to be peeled away to get to the core of their natures.  In the beginning, you get the impression that Melanie is a bit naïve and ready to trust much too easily.   But as you learn more about her you are able to see that she is just one of those people who can see into your soul and see you for what you are, even on your first meeting.  Bastien on the other hand, is world-weary and experienced and knows that sometimes there is just no goodness in others.

When Melanie is endangered, Bastien has some very dark moments—maybe even making him a little too scary, but the gentle moments between him and Melanie remind you that sometimes even the darkest and most dangerous of predators just need someone to show them the softer side to their own natures.  

There are some seriously intense battle scenes and a lot of blood and death in this book.  Even more than I am used to in a lot of ways.  With some very intriguing and intense fights, the world of the immortal guardians is changed forever and this new world will be very intriguing to learn about in coming novels. Melanie and Sebastian lead us through a heart wrenching and passionate maze of the pitfalls or embracing the differences in ourselves and the similarities in old enemies, so that new enemies can be prevented from destroying both immortals and vampires alike. 

Can’t wait for the next in the series where we may learn once and for all…. Can immortal guardians and vampires work together enough to keep the psychotic humans after them from winning this war?

And of course the big question… what the Hell is Seth?

Rating: 4.5

Rose Rating: 


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