I am participating in the Series in a Month Challenge (#SIAM May 2023) hosted by Because Reading. My contribution to this challenge involves returning to the world of the Immortal Guardians. I am continuing my journey with Awaken the Darkness, the eighth book in the series.
He awakens encapsulated in dirt with no knowledge of how he came to be there. Riddled with injuries, he can remember neither his past nor who he is. Nor can he remember what he is. But surely no mortal man could survive being buried deep beneath the earth. All he knows with certainty is that the soothing voice and presence of the woman moving around above enables him to endure the agony of his wounds. And he will do whatever it takes to be with her. I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.
Title: Awaken the Darkness
Author(s): Dianne Duvall
Series: Immortal Guardians #8
Also in this series: Darkness Dawns , Night Reigns , Phantom Shadows , In Still Darkness , Darkness Rises, Night Unbound , 🎧︎Phantom Embrace, Shadows Strike, Blade of Darkness, Death of Darkness, Broken Dawn, Cliff's Descent: A Vampire's Tale
Narrator(s): Kirsten Potter
Published by Tantor Audio on July 10, 2018
Pages: 261
Length: 8 hours 46 minutes
Genre(s): Paranormal Romance
Source: Publisher
Format: Audiobook 
Purchase: Amazon|Audible
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When Susan first sees the old two-story house for sale, such warmth and longing fill her that—against all reason—she makes an offer. It will take years of hard work and money she frankly doesn’t have to fix up the place. So she can’t explain why she bought it. She also can’t explain what compels her to spend hours one night, digging in the basement until she unearths a man. A man who still lives and breathes despite having been buried alive. A man whose intense brown eyes glow amber with pain, declaring him far more than ordinary. Susan knows she should keep her distance. He has no memory and possesses gifts that would make most fear him. But as the two work together to unravel the mystery of his past, she finds herself drawn in by his teasing nature and tender touch. So much so that she loses her heart to him even as they find themselves hunted by unknown enemies who are ruthless in their quest to capture them.
The story begins with a recap of the last events in Night Unbound. Then it fast forward two and a half years later to the discovery of Stanislav buried alive in a basement for that entire timeline. Because of the lengthy period of being buried with no form of sustenance, his body entered stasis mode. He awakens after two and a half long years with no memory of his past. The only thing he knows is pain and loneliness.
Enters Susan Meyer, an author and a telepath. Susan is searching for property to purchase. Somewhere peaceful and which will provide her freedom from the thoughts of others. On seeing the farmhouse, she felt compelled to purchase it, despite its state of disrepair. After moving in, Susan, with the help of her dog, discovers Stanislav and freed him from his underground prison. She nursed him back to health. During this time, the two became close.
This installment focused on Stanislav’s recovery, his growing relationship with Susan, and their attempts to learn who buried him alive. The other members of the series appeared near to the end of the story, resulting in a heartfelt reunion. Duvall did not mention much about Stanislav in the previous books. So learning about him in Awaken the Darkness was a treat. Protective, caring and definitely a gentleman all traits which Susan appreciated. Susan was also a wonderful character. Brave, strong and protective. She surely knows how to handle herself, to the dismay of the villains. Also, I loved how she fearlessly came to Stanislav’s defense.
The story revealed some interesting tidbits about Susan and how she came to be on the leader of the guardian’s radar. We get some action, which of course was intense and brutal. This, along with the humour and the romantic scenes, made for a compelling read. The epilogue evoked a combination of smiles and tears, culminating in a satisfying conclusion. If you enjoy paranormal romance, then this series would make a great addition to your bookshelf.
The narration by Kirsten Potter has become my expectation for this series. She is the voice of the series. I don’t believe another narrator could do justice to the series. She does a wonderful job with the characters, accents and all. Her narration breathes life into the story.
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About Kirsten Potter
Kirsten Potter, a graduate of the Boston University School for the Arts, has performed on stage, film, and television, including roles on Medium, Bones, and Judging Amy. An award-winning audiobook narrator, Kirsten has won AudioFile Earphones Awards for her reading of The Snowball by Alice Schroeder and her performance as Barbara in George Bernard Shaw’s Major Barbara. Her other titles include The Unthinkable by Amanda Ripley, Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson, Sammy’s House by Kristen Gore, and Madapple by Christina Meldrum, which was a Booklist Editors’ Choice for Best Audiobook 2008. Kirsten has received recognition from the American Academy of Achievement and the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts, as well as numerous regional awards.
About Dianne Duvall
Dianne Duvall is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of the Immortal Guardians paranormal romance series. Her debut novel Darkness Dawns, Book 1, was nominated for the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best Vampire Romance by RT Book Reviews and for Best Paranormal Romance – Vampire by The Romance Reviews. Night Reigns, Book 2, was declared an “utterly addictive” Top Pick by RT Book Reviews and was nominated for Best Paranormal Romance 2011 by The Romance Reviews. Phantom Shadows, Book 3, was named a Top Pick by both The Romance Reviews and Night Owl Reviews. Her Immortal Guardians novella “In Still Darkness” was released in the Predatory Anthology in May 2013. Darkness Rises, Book 4, was also nominated for the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best Vampire Romance. Night Unbound, Book 5 in the series, will be released on September 2, 2014. When she isn’t writing, Dianne loves all things creative. When her nose isn’t buried in a book, she is very active in the independent film industry and once even appeared onscreen as a machete-wielding maniac not unlike the vampires she so loves to create in her novels.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 2023 Audio Book Challenge
- 2023- Coyer
- Series in a Month- May 2023 COYER Version
I’m glad you’ve been enjoying this series and this book. It sounds great. And I love paranormal romance, so I’ll need to check this one out. 😉
Great review!
This is a great series to sink your teeth in.
I do love a good paranormal romance! And these characters sound so amazing. I’ll have to check this series out. 😀
Happy reading.
I see this series and author often but haven’t managed to read her yet.
I do believe you would enjoy this series, given your love for urban fantasy.
Way to go progressing through your #SIAM challenge books.
I’m glad learning this hero’s fate turned out to be an engrossing story, Nadene. You have me excited to read this series at some point. 🙂
I do hope you get the chance to read this series.
I love paranormal romance so this seems right up my alley.
I do believe you would enjoy this series, Mary.
Thats quite the cover Nadene it sounds like this might be the series end I’m glad it was satisfying.
Its not the end of the series. More have been written and there is still more to come.
This author really writes the intensity in the action scenes so well done. I am glad it turned out to be such a solid read for you darling!
Great review.
I do love this series and I am looking forward to the other books. I agree the action scenes are intense.
I love, love, love this series and author 🙂 So glad to see you enjoying them!