Customer Reviews

Dark Protector (Paladins of Darkness, Book 1)

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Devlin Bane is a Paladin, a warrior whose job is to protect to the death, the barrier between the Earth and the Others. A death that can come at any time but that is also temporary. Paladins are able perish and then be brought back to life, but at a cost to their human souls. The more a Paladin dies and rises, the more of his humanity is lost. Older than most, Devlin knows that it could only be a matter of time before his Handler has to make the choice to permanently end his life. If only he was not so attracted to his Handler Devlin could accept his destiny. Devlin can only think about how much he wants her, even though he can never have her. The touch of her hand during a hated routine test shows that Lauren is not indifferent to him as he thought. Their attraction to each other fights its way to the surface. After just one kiss, Devlin is certain that he will not give her up without a fight.

Dr. Lauren Young thought she lost Devlin this last time he died and that is unacceptable to her. Encouraged by her employers not to become emotionally involved with the Paladins she handles, Lauren is unable to follow orders, especially where Devlin is concerned. Following lab protocol, Lauren is disheartened to see that Devlin's test show a change. Hoping against hope that she can help him, Lauren pleads with Devlin to allow more tests. Only after Lauren touches him does he agree. What these latest tests will reveal? Lauren does not know, but she does know one thing. She loves Devlin Bane, and will not put him down without a fight.

Lauren and Devlin have another battle to fight besides his slow sink into inhumanity. The last time Devlin was killed, it wasn't by an Other. Devlin is positive that the hand that struck him was Human, a human that is now stalking Devlin and Lauren, and waiting on the chance to put get rid of Devlin permanently. A chance that Devlin, Lauren, and his band of warriors won't give freely.

Dark Protector by Alexis Morgan stunned me with its raw emotions and the poignant love shared by the two main characters. Not actually knowing what Dark Protector was about, I innocently started reading. The whole book later, I could not have asked for a better story. On the edge of my seat, I inhaled every breath Devlin took and shed every tear that Lauren shed. Devlin made my heart flutter before he admitted loving Lauren, afterwards it sang for joy. Lauren struck me as an emotionally strong, silent heroine who refused to give up. I fought right along with the both of them and just treasured the ride.

Dark Protector by Alexis Morgan is about a new brand of warriors that I can't wait to read more about. I look forward to the second book in this series, especially since the character was introduced in Dark Protector. I raise my sword high in the air Ms. Morgan for a story well told!


Talia
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

I wasn't sure that I would like this one when I bought it, cause there are alot of books trying to be a Dark-Hunter or Carpathian look-a-like. Also a first book in a series has to set the stage for the rest, and that is hard for an author to do. If it's just one book she is free to interpret things in a very broad manner, but a series has to follow a certain outline and can narrow an author's focus.

However, after getting through the first third, where alot of the explainations have to come, I found I like the premise of the books. I definitely will be on the outlook for more.

Devlin Bane is a Paladin, a secret warrior who protects Earth from the Others. He has been fighting for a long time and each warrior finally turns into what he fights (an Other). So they have a Handler who patches them up when they die in battle, or ends their lives if they turn Other. I Know, I know, sounds like you've heard it before. But I guess I never get enough of Macho Men.

Dr. Laurel Young is his Handler. She is Handler for alot of the Seattle Paladins. But she in not in love with alot of the Seattle Paladins, only one, Devlin Bane. It is forbidden for a handler to love a paladin.

Everything goes along as usual until Devlin is killed by a human. There is a conspiracy in the Ordinance or Research Division. The attacks on Devlin lead to revealing the secret desires of both of them. Both are in danger now and the other Paladins rally to protect their friends. Everything leads to a violent conclusion.

This has very graphic love scenes and leaves you with alot of questions,I hope we get some answers in her next novel. But I have to conclude there will be more novels. For the first novel in a series I think it is better than most of the others I have read. And I do think it is worth the price and the time.

"Many opposites rule the ebb and flow of our lives: night and day, winter and summer, youth and age..."

Alexis Morgan storms the Romance market with this debut hit! "Dark Protector" is about a race of warriors (Paladins) who live to protect the earth from the siege of "Others" - a race of warriors who threaten the balance of good and evil. But are the Others really evil? Or do they just serve as a distraction from something more evil...something more human?

As a Paladin Handler (one who treats and brings warrior's back to life), Dr. Laurel Young must maintain a professional distance from each Paladin. She cannot afford to form any personal attachments - due to the fact that each warrior only can die and be reborn so many times before he loses his humanity. And when/if that happens, it would be Laurel's job to "put him down."

Despite her better judgment, Laurel cannot fight her attraction to Devlin Bane...nor can Devlin refuse the gentleness and love that emanates from his handler's care. Both risk everything to be together - their careers, their reputations, as well as their very lives.

It's a beautifully written story - and quite believeable. Morgan did a great job developing these two characters - not to mention, the Paladin Race as a whole. But this is only the beginning. There are a still quite a few questions that need to be answered about Paladins (i.e. How were they created? Where did they come from? Are there any female Paladins?).

I'm very anxious to read the next book in the series. Morgan is assured at least one buyer for her next novel - there's no doubt about that!

I really, really liked this book. I am on break from the BDBrotherhood/J.R. Ward series and I needed something to read. This filled the bill. Devlin is awesome and fulfulls every promise of a sexy, strong Alpha that is expected. But Laurel, or should I say Dr. Laurel Young was awesome. I really like this strong, stubborn, kind, loving Heroinne. She is great. She is a great strong, sexy, feminine character without all the silly sarcasm (as in Natasha from the Feehan series). You will actually see their love grow, and know why they are in love and great lust with each other. The Others/Villians are interesting and are not the True Villians of the series. Check it out, you will not be sorry.

Well, if you like the Black Dagger Brotherhood or Dark-Hunter series you'll really enjoy this book. The Paladins of this series have far less magical and psychic ability but they make up for it in brute strength, hacking, and the really weird part- dying and nearly perpetually coming back to life. These fellows have no expiration date and are extremely loyal to each other, though they aren't afraid of kicking each others asses if needs be.

Laurel Young is a Handler, a medical doctor who patches up the paladins, helps revive them, and tests and moniters them to make sure they aren't about to go off the deep end. She also has the duty of pushing the needle and putting them down if they get too out of hand.

Devlin Bane is one of the leading Paladins. A warrior that has battled underground against a menace known as the Others for decades, his body keeps him at this peak and revives him from countless deaths- some meaningful, others wasteful and pointless.

The two battle an even fiercer attraction but eventual put aside good doctor/patient practices for good old lust. But what if Laurell is forced to euthenize Devlin? And what about the last time Devlin died?...by a human hand this time. Someone is after Devlin and they'll use Laurell to get to him. They'll need all the help they can get from the other Paladins and maybe a bit more to beat this enemy.

I can't wait for Dark Defender at the end of November!

I agree with the reviewer who said that this book was just so so. The way I judge a book is if I can bear to put it down when I know I have other things that need doing. This book got kicked to the curb many times. I first I couldn't figure out why-it had many things that usually have me wanting to turn the pages. I liked the hero,Devlin Bane and I liked the premise of the book-the whole idea of a secret sevice that saved the world from alien invaders. The action was great and I liked Devlin's other Paladins. What I didn't like was the heroine,Dr.Whats-her-name, oh yeah,Laurel. That about sums her up for me. Also,I need to know more- where do these others exactly come from?how? I assume all questions will be answered in forthcoming books,of which I will probably get from my local library. This was a 2.5 star book for me.

I have to disagree with the other reviewers. This isn't an exciting book. In fact, it was so unexciting I put it down a little over half way through and I doubt I'll come back to it. It's not terrible, but it just doesn't feel all that original. Sure, the Paladin who is reborn over and over to fight against the Others may seem like a new twist, but it's not. Just like Christine Feehan's series, you've got a hero who's been fighting against the bad guys so long he may be in danger of becoming one of them, and the heroine who will save him from himself.

With a style also similar to Sherrilyn Kenyon and numerous other supernatural romance authors, Alexis Morgan really needed to bring something fresh to the table but did not. The unoriginality could have been forgiven had there been some great chemistry between our hero and heroine. Sadly, there wasn't any. Sure the blatant words and images were there to let the reader know that they were really hot for each other, but it felt empty and forced, and . . . boring.

If you love Feehan and Kenyon and can't get enough of the same old story, give this one a try. But if you're like me and the last thing you want is more of the same then avoid this one.

This was a great book for a first time effort from this author. Dr. Laurel Young, is the handler for the Paladins, the warriors who fight against the Others attempting to cross the barrier. This book had a unique story line and a wonderful and touching romance. The ending is left open for future books and that's okay with me. I read it knowing this would be a series, so I didn't have a problem with the ending being left open for future drama and more lucuious men! I recommend this book if you like the Dark Hunters in Sherrilyn Kenyon's books & the Black Dagger Brotherhood in J.R. Ward's novels. A definite strong 4 stars. I would have liked to have read a bit more about the Others, and I expect that will be covered more thoroughly in the next book.

In the rash of urban fantasy books at the moment there's a lot of sameness. I had hopes that "Dark Protector" might be the beginning of a series that was a little different, like (for example) J R Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood, which is a fresh look at the vampire genre.

"Dark Protector" is the first in a series about the Paladins, semi-humans who exist to protect the barrier between our world and the dark world of 'The Others' who try to cross into our world periodically and who do it harm. The Paladins fight with swords and knives against 'The Others' whenever they break through the barrier (which is related to seismic and volcanic activity in our world) and if they are killed in the fighting they come alive again after a couple of days. Unfortunately the more times a Paladin dies, the less human they become until eventually one day they will wake up as one of 'The Others' and have to be euthanased.

Devlin Bane is one of the oldest Paladins - he's treading perilously close to the edge of losing his humanity and becoming one of the Others. The story starts when he is revived by his Handler, Dr Laurel Young, after a rather unusual fight with a couple of the Others. And from that point on things don't go according to plan as he tries to work out what's going on, discovers someone is plotting against him from the human side, and gets involved with Laurel Young, his Doctor and the woman who will have to end his life when he loses his humanity.

We are introduced, in this story, to several of the other Paladins, most of whom will no doubt feature in subsequent books. The world of this story is an interesting one with a traditional battle between good and evil, with the evil sometimes coming from your own side. At the end of the book there was an interesting loose end about the intrinsic evil of the Others which may serve to muddy the water but had possibilities but is evidently only going to be explored in subsequent books.

Unfortunately for this book, and despite the interesting and different premise on which it's based, there wasn't enough meat to it. The romance seems more about lust than love and it's hard to see quite where it's going long term, the mystery aspect of the renegade human never really grabbed my attention and there were some slow parts of the book. The fighting between Paladins and Others isn't really described very well (which could have added interest to the story) and although the characters are good, they also felt a little one-dimensional. Dr Young is that common-in-fiction completely wonderful doctor who will do anything to help a patient, and yet she also breaks one of the basic rules about the doctor-patient relationship.

I didn't feel that this book lived up to its possibilities and I didn't find myself caring enough about any of the characters to feel that this had been a worthwhile read. It's not badly written, it's just too run-of-the-mill in an overcrowded genre.

Step into a world where warriors battle to protect humans against inhuman creatures who live on the other side of the barrier....

Devlin Bane is a Paladin and as such, he continues to fight the Others and be resurrected after each death in battle. As a Paladin, he knows his humanity slips away with each death and that one day he, too, will become like the Others and his Handler will end his life.

Dr. Laurel Young is Devlin's Handler and she believes in the value of the human touch. She uses band-aids with kittens and smiley faces on the mighty Paladins and all of them feel a bit protective of her. Devlin, however, feels so much more despite the fact that Paladins supposedly are unable to fall in love. Unfortunately, the relationship with Devlin puts Laurel in danger from a human betrayer in their midst and the Paladins must do whatever it takes to protect both Laurel and the barrier.

Alexis Morgan enchants the reader immediately with her compelling story about a race of warriors who are revived repeatedly to protect humans. A barrier exists to protect this world from the world of the Others but this barrier is very fragile. The flickers in the barrier are explained by an interesting twist- environmental causes! Apparently, as plates shift in the earth, the barrier weakens or fails so occurrences such as earthquakes and volcanoes are particularly disastrous. Kudos to Alexis Morgan for her ingenuity!

DARK PROTECTOR is an extremely well-written and highly engaging book. Once opened, the reader will not be able to close this book until its conclusion! Alexis Morgan is a first time author and luckily already at work on a sequel about Blake Trahern, this reviewer's favorite secondary character.

The struggle between good and evil is an old one but Alexis Morgan puts a new twist to it. She has cleverly crafted a world that exists outside of the normal and made it appear believable. DARK PROTECTOR is an exciting new book in the paranormal genre and one readers definitely should not miss out on!

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES