Night Embrace

I said that the last book, Night Pleasures, was possibly my favorite in the Dark Hunter series (so far, I’m attempting to go back and read them ion order). The next book, Night Embrace, is my least favorite so far (unless we’re counting the Dream Hunter offshoot).While it normally takes me a day or two to finish one of these books, I spent five days slogging through the first half of Night Embrace. I got a little more than halfway through today, and it finally picked up so that I could happily finish it in one sitting. This is something I can normally do with all DH books, start to finish. The first half is an exercise in patience.I can’t pinpoint the exact reason, but I wasn’t initially vested in the story at all. It wasn’t until later, when an interesting and profound discovery was, well, discovered, that I felt I had to keep reading to see what would happen. I can still honestly say that I wasn’t in love with the way the characters were handled. Talon was absolutely expected, standard issue. Sunshine was interesting and quirky at first, but degenerated quickly into your run-of-the-mill heroine. And the “I want her but must let her go” typical mantra was repeated ad nauseam, in between “I can’t keep my hands off her”, of course. It got so old.But there are a couple threads in this story that are absolutely essential reading. First, we meet Zarek, an interesting character who doesn’t seem DH material, and who becomes the unlikely hero of the next book, Dance With The Devil (and my introduction to the DH world).More importantly, we learn quiet a bit about the hidden past of everyone’s favorite enigma, Acheron. This is also the first time we meet Simi, though not in the form we’re more accustomed to. And there's also Sanctuary, which we'll revisit again in later books.Even though I didn’t love it, I expect I’ll re-read it again someday and find it a more enjoyable read the second time around.

This is the 3rd (????--one of my complaints about this series is that there is no real list of reading order even on the authors site) book in the Dark-Hunter Saga. It is an enjoyable read and while I found myself wanting to learn a little more about some of the secondary characters, the main characters are a great couple to root for. You do learn more about the lore and the storyline carries on quite nicely.

Night Embrace
3.5 Stars

Synopsis:
After sacrificing his soul for vengeance against those who murdered his family, Talon becomes a Dark Hunter and vows never to love again. However, once Sunshine Runningwolf comes into his life, he can no longer deny his emotions. As the two grow closer, they discover that they are merely pawns in a horrendous plan to release the ultimate destroyer on an unsuspecting world. Talon and his fellow Dark Hunters are the only ones who can stop the inevitable destruction but will it be at the price of Sunshine’s life?

Review:
A good story with some really funny moments and some equally poignant ones. It does, however, drag at times. The first half in particular feels too drawn out until the action begins. In addition, an excessive number of characters and concepts are introduced, and I personally found it difficult to keep track of everyone.

Kenyon’s strongest skill is her characterization and this book is a case in point. Talon and Sunshine's personalities and back stories are engrossing and they are what make this a worthwhile read. Talon’s suffering is heart-wrenching but not overwhelming and he never comes across as too anguished or whiny. Sunshine is also a likeable character once you get passed her annoying name and tendency to fall for inappropriate men. She is strong and independent, and I found her quirky forgetfulness endearing. While their sexual relationship begins very quickly, their immediate connection is explained within the plot and is, therefore, realistic and believable.

The secondary characters are just as interesting, especially the psychological and physically tortured Zarek. I also look forward to reading more about Vane and the other Were-Hunters.

The epilogues are also something I appreciated in the book. The flashbacks of the other Dark Hunters’ histories are actually what compel me to continue reading the series as I am interested in discovering the connections between the characters and how they will overcome their differences.

Overall, a worthy read with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing.

This is the 4th Dark Hunter book. It follows Dark Hunter Talon. He runs into Sunshine (yes, that's her name) when she is attached by Daimons (the creatures Talon hunts). He's injured and she takes care of him. Thay are attracted to each other and begin a romance that is pretty much forbidden by everyone around them. Multiple gods show up in this book, as well as characters from past Dark Hunter novels. We learn more about the "Buy Guy" (Acheron). This was another pretty darn good book by Ms. Kenyon. I love the world she has created in these books and I can't wait to get to the next one.

Night Embrace was a fun book with likeable main characters and great side characters. While I liked Sunshine and Talon, I felt their relationship needed to be developed more in the first half of the book. I wasn't too into the story until it picked up in the second half, where I found myself suddenly addicted to the rest of the book. Even though it's fiction, I found myself hurting for these people, especially Ash and Zarek; it really tugged at my heart. As I said before, the last half, particularly the last one-hundred or so pages was wonderful. And yes, while I enjoyed the side stories more, I really liked Sunshine and Talon by the end of the book and was so happy for them I could burst. All the characters felt like real people and I have already started the next book with Zarek. A great read that I think I'll keep for a while yet.

Of the Dark Hunter series that I've read so far this one is my least favorite. I had a hard time staying focused on it. It was too easy to put down to tend to other things. I still enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone who loves paranormal romance as much as I do.

This entry to the series was a bit more fun than usual. Talon is not as bogged down by doom & gloom thinking. He enjoys his chicory, his donuts and being a total badass. Moreover, Sunshine is a breath of fresh air. She's artistic, flamboyant and more than a match for Talon! These two made a great couple who captured me with witty banter and a lot of humor. As per usual, there is also a lot of action (both in the romance department and the fighting department) and Ash pops in. Overall, a great story that pulled me in, had me rooting for the good guys and that I could not put down. Kenyon truly shines with her characterizations and rich world-building. Highly recommended!

This is the third dark hunter book I've read and it's certainly not my favourite. I just about gave up half way through since it wasn't going anywhere, but I'm glad I went back to it. Second half was much better, filled with more plot and pace. Characterisation was a bit weak!

I enjoyed this story immensely. I thought it was well written, the plot line was well thought out and I definitely didn't see a lot of the twists coming. I am enjoying the way Kenyon writes. I'm enjoying the mixed genre.This is quickly becoming one of my favorite series.

Dark Hunter: " A souless guardian who stands between mankind and those who would see mankind destroyed" SK "Dance With The Devil"Talon is a dark hunter that fears nothing. He has protected mankind from what lurks in the night and has had some fun on the way. No committment, no strings attached is his perfect idea of an evening out. Sunshine Runningwolf is unconvential and extravagant. Gifted with artistic ability. Sunshine saves Talon's life. She is the perfect person for him with her flamboyant ways and she wants no committments, just a night. The more time Talon spends with Sunshine the closer he comes to uncovering dreams of long ago.With the enemy lurking, waiting for the perfect moment to destroy them, they need to come together and learn to let love conquer all.

I tried. I really tried, but I simply couldn't care about either Sunshine or Talon. Sunshine is supposed to be an unconventional and strong woman. We're told this time and again. Yet, all she seems to do is get herself in trouble and wait to be rescued. As for Talon, for someone who has suffered much due to his own people's prejudice, he seems overly judgmental of Zarek. Often striking out without giving the other person a chance to explain. Sigh...It is really unfortunate when the best parts of the story belong to the supporting characters. The best scene belongs to Zarek and a little lost boy he meets while the antagonistic relationship between Acheron and Artemis certainly leaves you wondering and wanting to know more.Read only if you're a fan of the Dark-Hunter series.

This is the 2nd book in Kenyon's Dark-Hunter series. Talon is a 1500 year old Celt who's cursed by the God Cumulus that anyone he loves will die. Therefore, he's lived the last millennium in solitude, doing his duty as a Dark-Hunter to save the human population from Daimons. Sunshine Runningwolf is an artist, with the soul of his long-dead wife, who just may be able to save Talon's soul, and break his thousand-year curse in the process.I liked this book a bit better than Night Pleasures, the first in the series. Though some of the same things that bugged me about Night Pleasures still plagued me here as well. For instance, mostly towards the beginning of the book, Kenyon would drag on an on about how gorgeous Talon's body was, how sculpted his pecs, saying the same thing over and over and over.... Those parts read like some sappy romance novel to me and I find my mind wandering. I remember thinking, like I did with the first book, that if this didn't stop, I was putting down this book and not picking up any more in the series.Fortunately, after the first 100 pages or so, the author must figure we've got the picture: Talon is a hottie! Okay, enough already! I guess you can't say that she doesn't develop her characters well... I just think it's a bit too well sometimes, and a bit too syrupy. But once all that has stopped, you can really get into the meat of the rest of the story, and the danger stalking Talon and Sunshine through the streets of New Orleans during Mardi Gras.Unlike Night Pleasures, which left me unsure as to whether or not I want to continue reading this series, this one left me wanting more. :)

This was Talons story with a lot about Acheron. Talon meets a women who reminds him of his dead wife. Sunshine has an immediate reaction to Talon when they sleep together, like remembering a past life together.

Something big is suppose to happen during Mardi Gras and the hunters need to be prepared.


There were many new players introduced in this book but you could follow along easily. I felt there were looses ends regarding the wolf men.

Plot: For the first third of the book, plot is nonexistent because the heroine scared it off. After that, it warily comes to the surface again, but tends to flee whenever she enters a scene again. Any time actual progress is made, it's with her far, far away, which results in the side characters having to do all the plot work. What plot there is is a standard romance plot with what is turning out to be this series' typical villain plot.Characters: It doesn't happen often, but this heroine sent me screaming for the hills. How on Earth is anyone supposed to identify with her? What's worse, there is no actual character building done for her beyond painting her as an artsy chick with butterflies for brains. The hero is rather flat, and chemistry between the two never really comes up. The side characters are considerably more fun, but don't get a lot of page space.Style: Can we stick with one POV for an entire scene please? The constant shifts in perspective are whiplash-inducing. Still not all that much worldbuilding, with far too many deus ex machina solutions that aren't consistent with the other books in the series.Plus: Nice side characters. Minus: The heroine is like nails on a blackboard.Summary: It could have been a good story if the heroine had gotten killed in chapter 2.

Second in the Dark Hunter series. Talon is a 1500 year old celt who is the ultimate loner until he meets Sunshine, an artist who just might be able to save his soul. Beautifully written and we get to know a bit more about the Dark Hunter’s leader Acheron.

I'm generally not much for romance, but I like the mythological/paranormal twist in these. They're pure fluff, and very formulaic (when you read a few in a row, it's easy to see that all the men and women act the same), but they're fun enough to keep me reading.

The story of Talon and Sunshine Runningwolf, actually the first one I read months ago in a raid of Kieran's shelves and the first instance I fell in love with this series. Talon is a celt and is still haunted by the death of his wife and sister, literally in the case of his sister. When he rescues Sunshine and gets run over by a float little does he realise what's going to happen next.

Kenyon's vampires are vampires of her own making. A group of sexy men who turned Dark Hunter out of desire for vengeance, their legend, mixed with the legends of mythological gods, makes this series intriguing to me, despite the fact that Kenyon has a spotty reputation as far as how good her novels actually are.I liked Night Embrace, but I must say it didn't get good till halfway through. The first half was all talk about how much Sunshine (the heroine) wanted Talon (the hero) and how sexy he was. (In addition, Kenyon's overuse of the word "sample" became a tad annoying. I started counting and rolling my eyes after the third time I saw it). Still, like I said before, once the story got about halfway to two-thirds through, it picked up substantially.

I'm not really sure why these books tend to languish in my TBR pile so long. I always really enjoy them when I read them, but I'm never in any hurry to read the next one. Hmmm.Anyway, this is the third Dark Hunter book, about Sunshine and Talon. He'd been cursed centuries before by a god to lose any woman he loved, and Sunshine was deliberately placed in his path to distract him during Mardi Gras, when a couple of gods planned to release The Destroyer and reclaim their godhoods.The time of year is also a bad time of year for Daimons (vampires), and the baddest-of-the-bad Dark Hunters, Zarek, has been called to New Orleans from Alaska to help out.I enjoyed the romance between Sunshine and Talon--Sunshine was independent and practical, things I always appreciate in a heroine, and of course Talon was tormented by fear of his curse. There's a twist in their relationship later on, and I thought that was handled well, and realistically.In addition, there was quite a bit of character development of the secondary characters--we learned more about Ash, Zarek, and Valerius--and some of the history and politics of the Dark Hunters.All in all, a fun, satisfying read. I believe there are 3 more in my TBR pile. I'll get to them eventually, and no doubt I'll enjoy them when I do.

This series is awesome. I love the struggles that the characters go through and the way things turned out in this one was interesting!

Even when this series was young, this was never one of my favorite installments. Still, it was fun at the time.