Review: Sentinel of Darkness (Darkness #8)

Sentinel of Darkness (Darkness #8)

by Katie Reus

Blurb:

She thought she’d put her past behind her…

Local artist Keva might be human, but she knows about the things that go bump in the night. Years ago, a dragon shifter saved her from certain death. Ever since, she’s lived in his clan’s territory and put her life back together. But the feeling of security is only an illusion, because her past has come back to haunt her. A past with claws and fangs, demanding blood.

He’ll do whatever it takes to defend his mate…

Dagen has finally met his mate—except he insults her the first time they meet. He’s not too proud to grovel to get back into her good graces. But when a threat from her past emerges, he realizes that he’ll do anything to keep her safe. Even if it means dying—or losing her forever.

Themes: Paranormal, Shifters, DRAGONS

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

I love a good story about a woman taking back her independence and sensuality after abuse and Katie Reus always manages to tackle that theme with magical skill and add in the spice and individuality that makes her story better than anyone else's.  If you are a longtime fan of the series you will recognize most of the supporting characters in Keva and Dagen’s tale, even if you might not recognize them right off the bat.  I enjoyed every single second of this story and getting to see both of these lovers find their footing together and would have loved it even more had this story been twice as long, to be honest.  Keva was a woman that has worked hard to get over the trauma in her past, even if she knows she still has a few issues to work through, and she knows that she won’t ever again let a man take advantage of her.  She tugged at my heartstrings in a lot of ways but the best part was seeing Dagen make a fool of himself as he tried to make her fall in love with him.  Dagen is a bit of a typical dragon in that his arrogance knows no bounds, but he sees immediately he has made a serious mistake when he realizes he has alienated his mate with an unintended insult.  Breaking through her walls and making her see that he is the man for her makes him more human and shows us that he can be a tender and loving mate for her.  I LOVED seeing Dagen brought low as any man should be as he falls in love, before Keva picks him back up and shows him the man he is truly meant to be. The danger and suspense in this novel carried some weight for such a short novel, but I liked that, even as I wished the length of the story had been a bit extended. This series continues to amaze me in that Katie always seems to find a way to keep it original while maintaining the magic and heart of the very first story that stole my heart.  I cannot wait to see where this series goes next. Keep the magic and of course the DRAGONS coming, Katie!

*ebook provided by publisher (via netgalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.