Tempt Me With Darkness by Shayla Black

Title: Tempt Me With Darkness 
Author: Shayla Black
Genre: Paranormal/Urban Fantasy
http://doomsdaybrethren.com/books/tempt-me/
(In place of where to purchase this novel, I'm providing a link where you can not only find it in bookstores, but can also read the first chapter).

Harry Potter has graduated from Hogwarts, and we can only imagine what source of adventure his adult life is giving him. But, are you left craving more magic, mystery, and adventure? Would you read a book, or series, of adult grown-up wizards and witches fighting off evil and cursed pasts, that has a healthy dose of smexyness? If yes, then the Doomsday Brethren series by Shayla Black, may just be for you!

~*~Synopsis~*~

He’s an immortal knight hungering for satisfaction. . . .

As soon as Marrok sees Olivia Gray, he’s sure they met in eons past. He’s felt her soft, gentle curves writhing in pleasure beneath his own powerful body. . . Morganna! For centuries, towering Marrok, once the mightiest of King Arthur’s warriors, has endured a terrible curse the witch cast upon him when he spurned the witch.

She’s a modern woman about to discover ancient magic. . . .

Olivia shares a mystical—and irresistible—connection with brooding Marrok. Soon after the sexy warrior appears in her erotic dreams, he abducts her, demanding she uncurse him. Their intense passion is more powerful—and intimate—than either of them has ever known. Olivia may be the key to unlocking the diary that will break Morganna’s hold on his life. But in the wrong hands, the book also holds the power to destroy magickind. As they search for answers, a ruthless wizard returned from exile is building an army of evil. When he discovers Marrok and Olivia have the diary, only their love—with the help of a powerful group of magical Brethren—can save them.

~*~Review~*~

When I first starting reading this first book of the series, I thought to myself, 'Great. Another book with sexiness that is going to be faced past with undeveloped characters and carelessly thought out plot.' But, boy was I wrong. I actually ended up being pleasantly surprised by the turn of events that took place rather quickly in this lengthy novel. 

I'll admit that the first couple of chapters didn't fully capture my attention as I thought they would have after reading the synopsis. Yeah, I was intrigued, but I found my mind wandering off periodically while I was 'reading'. But, it didn't take long for that to change and for me to get hooked.

The characters are the typical mismatched heroin and hero that provides for some heated discussions that lead to some heated bedroom -- or wall-- dances! And, anybody who has read any of Shayla's work knows that she is quit gifted in that area!


~*~Slight Spoilers In Review Below~*~

Olivia, the twenty-three-year-old London shop owner, is unaware of her heritage to an ancient, magical blood line. The same blood line that has cursed, Marrok, in to immortality --something in which he is bound and determined to rectify, even if that means forfeiting his own life. Under the assumption that Olivia is the witch who cursed him, he steals her away to make her break the curse. Immediately, they feel connected to one another, but leery of why. And, in a hurried fashion, end up mated to one another during their first sexual encounter, regardless of the fact that she's a virgin, it's their first day knowing one another, and oh, yeah -that they don't trust one another. Yes, folks. This is why it's called fantasy!

It is only in the fact that both are in need of something that the other has, that they stick-it-out with one another. For, animosity and distrust are rampant emotions that envelope these two, and could almost be considered a subplot based on their influence on event outcomes. Despite the fact that the two of them had every reason to feel the way they did, it seemed to drag on too far in to the book. Will he, won't he? Does she, doesn't she? 


When a source of evil, (that paralleled the idiosyncrasy of Lord Voldemort in Harry Potter), Mathias, shows up to obtain something needed from both Olivia (herself) and Marrok (the Doomsday diary), they band together, however, not without maintaining a sense of suspicion towards each others motivates. But, in love do they fall, even if they won't admit it to themselves or each other.


The plot is realistic in the sense of evil trying to play the genocide card with the magical community. A group of magical men ban together to create the Doomsday Brethren, to keep the objects that Mathias wants, and needs, out of his hands. But, along the way, friendships are not just forged, but rather tested, as each character, whether main or secondary, displays disloyalty in way or another. This is where the true sense of mystery is interwoven. Almost all the characters have ulterior motives, which leaves you wondering, who will betray who?

~*~Final Key Points~*~

The book -- and plot -- picked up its pace shortly after the first couple of chapters. Trust, acceptance, and loyalty play pivotal elements in shaping the plot and subplots. One of the issues I did have with the book is the fact that the trust issue seemed to drag on forever between Olivia and Marrok, but it did go along with the theme. And, the fact that a lot of words and phrases were used repeatedly. Overall, it had a great air of mystery that kept me guessing. I was surprised at how well I enjoyed the book and plan on reading the next one in the series.