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The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker

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The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker by Leanna Renee Hieber
Historical Paranormal Romance - April 27, 2010
4 ½ Stars

In 1888 London, there are six extraordinary mortals who possess the power to keep London from being overrun by ghosts. This group is led by Professor Alexi Rychman, the 6 members of the group have recently welcomed their 7th member, Percy Parker, who is the reincarnation of the Goddess Persephone. Together, Professor Rychman, his beloved Percy, and the rest of this group of misfits must stop the Whisperworld from taking over London. Worst of all, Rychman and his friends must also stop the Lord of Darkness from reclaiming Percy once more.

The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker is the second book in Hieber's Victorian Fantasy novel involving Percy Parker and the other Guardians of the mortal world. I would highly recommend starting this series by reading the first book The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker before reading this second novel. This story picks up right from where the first book left off. If you try to dive in without reading the first one, the second book will seem very confusing and difficult to read. Thankfully, the first book is a great read as well. As soon as I figured this was not a stand alone, I bought and read the first book and then dove straight right into this one. Hieber is such an engaging and talented writer that I could not stop reading for the past five days!

First of all, I think the story in the second book is even better than the first. Percy Parker, our protagonist, really matures by the second book and becomes quite feisty at the end. Hieber did an amazing job bringing Percy to life, especially during the final climax. I was so impressed that I read out sections of it to my husband! The rest of the characters are equally well written, from the brash (yet loving) Mr. Rychman to Jane, the group's Healer. Every character has their own problems/subplot that are original and well thought out.

Hieber is a writer who writes with love and care. You can see how much attention she pays to the details in her story and with all of her characters. She's the only writer who really writes like a Victorian. Unlike other romance writers, who even though they are writing historical novels, they still retains their contemporary "accent," Hieber really writes in the style of Gaskell or Austen. To keep it authentic, Hieiber also keeps her books romantic aspects very chaste. If you enjoy classics and supernatural fantasy, you will definitely want to give this book a try. Hieber does a successful job of marrying these two genres to create something unique and well worth your time.

Reviewed by Pauline from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club

Because the synopsis on the back of the book is so beautifully written (just like the rest of the book) I wanted to post it here for you to read.

From Leanna Renee Hieber's website:

With radiant, snow white skin and hair, Percy Parker was a beacon for Fate. True love had found her, in the tempestuous form of Professor Alexi Rychman. But her mythic destiny was not complete. Accompanying the ghosts with which she alone could converse, new and terrifying omens loomed. A war was coming, a desperate ploy of a spectral host. Victorian London would be overrun. Yet, Percy kept faith. Within the mighty bastion of Athens Academy, alongside The Guard whose magic shielded mortals from the agents of the Underworld, she counted herself among friends. Wreathed in hallowed fire, they would stand together, no matter what dreams or nightmares--may come.

After reading The Strangely Beautiful Tale last year and giving it a five star review and naming it my favorite book of the year, it is obvious that I had super high hopes for The Darkly Luminous Fight. I was not disappointed either! I am not usually big on romance novels, but this series is the perfect blend for me. There is the magical guard that protects London and Athens Academy, Percy being able to speak and see the ghost, a battle of light vs dark, and the romance that unravels for the characters involved.

The Darkly Luminous Fight starts off with the Guard celebrating their win against the darkness, and Percy and Alexi's engagement. They are such a sweet couple, even Percy's shyness about her pale skin and what Alexi will think is endearing. She is very inexperienced with men in general, and to go from nothing at all to a husband is difficult for Percy to grasp.

I really liked the addition of the old Guard trying to help the new Guard even if there are bad feelings between some of them. Percy having to be mediator made it quite interesting, because everyone had to rely on her to know what was going on. It proved to the other members that they definitely need her aboard.

I adore all the secondary characters in this story. They have such large hearts and care so much for what the prophecy has in store for them. They get on each others nerves sometimes, but they are always there for each other; never letting one person fight on their own.

Again, Leanna has such a great voice and I enjoy reading her writing so much. I can not wait to see what she has in store for us in the future. I also wonder how she could come up with another title for the next book (lol). My review definitely isn't getting across how much I adore this series. I do hope those who are lovers of paranormal romance will give this one a shot.

The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker picks up exactly where the previous installment concluded- with our daring members of The Guard finally finding peace in their seventh member- Persephone. The story was fascinating, beautifully entertaining and even better than the first! I suggest reading the first novel before beginning this one, you don't want to miss out.

This magical story propelled me into the emotional sacrifices Persephone and The Guard are forced to make so that their dearly fragile prophecy can continue to be protected. Now Percy finds herself with something she has never had- a family of wonderfully unique people who make her "special traits" seem not so unusual- The Guard. And after saving the Guard during a disastrously dangerous battle against Darkness, Percy finds herself starting a new life she never could have imagined possible. But the extraordinary life she has always dreamed of may not last quite as long as she would have liked. And unfortunately she finds herself wrapped up in yet another battle with Darkness. The fate of the mortal world rests on her ability to travel to the Whisper World and face Darkness herself. Can she conquer death for good this time, or will Darkness take The Guard and Persephone once and for all?

I thoroughly enjoyed this story! I was concerned that the "magic" would fade but it was just as fascinating in the second novel as it was in the first. One thing that I absolutely adored was that the plot took me to more personal places with The Guard. I felt like I could connect better with them because the story told more about their past and individual lives. Hieber writes with such beautiful detail and the romantic subplots are enough to keep the story sensitive without taking away from the terrific battles. Now I am extremely excited to get my hands on the third installment of Percy Parker - The Perilous Prophecy Of Guard And Goddess! I highly recommend this series for those that love historical romance, the paranormal and steampunk!

Although Ms. Hieber set the bar quite high with her first book, she certainly doesn't disappoint her readers with its sequel. Slower paced than the first, the reader gets to luxuriously bask in its Gothic romanticism. Ms. Hieber's eloquent writing style weaves another beautiful, romantic tale along the dark streets of London.

The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker is the immediate continuation of the story from the first book. It begins with the final showdown in Strangely Beautiful seen from the perspective of a new character: the shade Beatrice, the leader of the last generation's Guard come forth from the Whisper World to assist the current guard in a daunting task. From there, the author takes the reader on a delightful holiday through the horror of the underworld and the wonders of new love. Along the journey, we learn more about the other members of The Guard as well.

Readers got to know the handsome and intense Alexi Rychman quite well in the first book, but we see a different side of him in this book. Having saved his beloved Percy in Strangely Beautiful, he promptly marries her in a supernaturally luminous ceremony and whisks her away on a romantic honeymoon in York where they uncover a new mystery surrounding Percy's birth and strange appearance. However, he becomes quite possessive, controlling, and aggressive when his new bride is put up to a horrifying task. Beatrice tells Percy, the only one of the guard who can hear as well as see ghosts, that she must undertake a dangerous mission into the Whisper World in order to save thousands of imprisoned souls. Alexi, the leader of The Guard would rather the entire world fall into Darkness than allow his beloved to be put into harm's way.

I particularly enjoyed getting to know the other members of the Guard in this book and understanding their unique powers and personalities. By far my favorite was Elijah, the memory of The Guard. He can wipe memories of innocent bystanders when they see something harrowing, allowing them to lead a normal, ghost-free life. His wit had me laughing out loud several times throughout the book. He refers to Alexi as "Your Royal Eeriness," and his quips often lighten a scene, bringing a relief from the horrifying reality they all must face. He is deeply in love with Josephine, the artist of The Guard, who hopes they might reveal their love and get married themselves now that Alexi has found his Prophecy.

Rebecca, the intuition of The Guard and second in command, is heartbroken over Alexi's marriage and obvious adoration of Percy. She has loved him in silence for twenty years, and now she must face the truth that he will never love her. Still, she must hold it together long enough to play her part in the coming fight. And yet, love may not have eluded her completely, as there is Michael, the heart of The Guard, who can calm worry, fear, and anger with just a touch. He, in turn, has loved her these many years. His is the story that touched my heart the most in this book. He endured in the shadows for so long, always needed but never seen. Now he has a chance to come into the light and have Rebecca see him for the first time.

The final member of The Guard, Jane, the healer doesn't have a love interest, at least in the world of the living. Her power enables her to heal any wound or disease with a single touch. All of The Guard is possessed with a muse from ancient times, working together to save the world from Darkness, the character based on the classical Hades, who kidnapped Persephone and killed her love The Phoenix, which now possesses Alexi.

No spoilers here, but I will just say this about the character of Darkness: he certainly lives up to his name! The scene between him and Percy is quite dark and delicious. Ms. Hieber, once again, excels in her gift, describing Darkness as to reveal both his evil, smarmy nature and the desperate love that lies beneath it all.

The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker is pure Gothic brilliance. Ms. Hieber expertly and eloquently weaves together a beautiful story full of Greek Mythology and a myriad of Shakespearean references in this delightfully dark romance. The Strangely Beautiful series is a must-read for every paranormal romance fan.

*SPOILERS ALERT*Percy is finally united with The Guard and her beloved Alexi, now that the gorgon has been defeated. What better way to celebrate this new union and victory than by getting married to the one you love? Being engaged to the darling Professor makes it seem as if life cannot improve in any way.

Yet constant reminders of a looming war--thanks to a new ghostly character who rivals Alexi in the moodiness factor--seem to dampen the honeymoon on numerous occasions. With war, and the warnings of a betrayal, on the minds of The Guard's members, how will everyone cope?*END SPOILERS ALERT*


Darkly Luminous--much like in SB#1 (Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker)--started off somewhat slowly. Leanna took care to ensure that no detail was shrugged off while setting the scene. She focuses on Percy and Alexi's relationship so thoroughly, I can guarantee you there is absolutely no room to doubt the love betwixt them.

The second half of Darkly Luminous finally begins to pick up speed. Much like a person crawling up the hill of a roller coaster at a snail's pace, Leanna builds the tension between the members of The Guard and between Alexi and Percy. Without warning, readers quickly plummet down in a series of events that will make your jaw drop. My eyes were literally glued to the pages at this point. I ignored everyone (including my college professor...twice. Yes, I was reading during class LOL) to keep on going. I also nearly screamed in class upon reading what Darkness murmured in the Whiper-world.

Alexi, while cold and almost brutal to an extent in SB#1, undergoes a transformation. Instead of being constantly cold and scowling, his persona maintains a brilliant vitality about him. He's a pervert too! I was laughing hysterically at some of the comments he made to Percy and Elijah. Oh, and despite his alpha-esque qualities, Percy slowly learn how to put the man in his place. I was cheering for her inside my head the whole time.

Like I've said before, this series is definitely worth reading. It is a new and exciting breath of fresh air, sure to leave you salivating for more.

The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker begins right where The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker left off. Having survived the most recent ghostly misadventure, the Guard welcomes Percy into the fold. Of course, bringing Percy fully into the group sets off an inevitable reaction. The Guard, having forsaken love for the sake of their cause, sees the love Percy and Alexi share, causing them all to long for their own versions of romantic happiness.

I loved the love story of Alexi and Percy in Strangely Beautiful as well as its continuation here in Darkly Luminous. The focus on love with the rest of the Guard in this book was even more exciting and in some cases, rather unexpected. It seemed like each character was longing for something another wouldn't or couldn't give them, making each of their stories feel very fulfilling once concluded.

The ghosts in Strangely Beautiful were out in the world for the most part. In Darkly Luminous, much of the ghostly happenings occurred in the Whisper-world. The ghosts on their own didn't work for me as well as when they were interacting with the living. While the Whisper-world scenes were important to the story and ultimately led to the big fight at the end, I found them to be too dark for my personal taste.

The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker has the same basic feel as it's predecessor, but is very different in its focus. The supernatural aspects held much of the appeal of the original, but the many romantic story lines of Darkly Luminous make it a much more emotional book. The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker brings about a fantastic conclusion to the story of Persephone Parker.

The second book in Leanna Renee Hieber's Strangely Beautiful series is a lovely and exciting, if somewhat purple, continuation of the sweeping love story introduced in The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker. Hieber takes us deeper into Percy and Alexi's mystical world, delving into the underworld mythology that controls both of their fates.

I have to say, I'm getting more and more interested in the supporting characters, the members of The Guard whose job it is to protect London from angry spirits. Josephine and Elijah are particularly intriguing, and if I recall correctly, there should be a future book about Lord Withersby, and I can't wait for it. I also loved Jane in this book, and (no spoilers!) I hope she makes a few appearances in future books.

Percy continues to grow as a character, moving away from the meek girl she was at the beginning of the first book, and I'm very glad for it. As I mentioned in my review of book 1, I'm not the biggest fan of meek heroines, but I quickly developed a soft spot for Percy. It's nice to see her becoming more and more confident, particularly in her growing mystical powers. Sometimes she giggles and blushes a little too much for my taste, but she's definitely developing into a good heroine.

Alexi, on the other hand, is kind of going down a path that I'm not fond of. He's overprotective of Percy to the point of being utterly overbearing, and a few times, I wanted to reach into the pages and smack him. I understand that he loves her and doesn't want her to get hurt, but he's smothering her. Luckily, Percy stands up for herself, but I really, really hope that Alexi calms the heck down a bit for the next book.

I think my favorite thing about this book is the Underworld plot. The ghostly former Guard members are great, and I love the battle scene with all of the ghosts. The Underworld scene, where Percy goes to find the key, was fantastic, and I think Darkness is one of the most original, fascinating villains I've read in a while. He was utterly creepy in the way he shifts back and forth between flesh and bone.

The prose gets a little too purple for my taste; it occasionally overflows with adjectives, but the story is interesting, and the characters are relatable, and in the end, I enjoyed the heck out of this book.

Contains spoilers for the first book:

The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker is the sequel to The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker, and it picks up moments after the first book left off. The Guard have temporarily defeated their enemy, but visitors from the Whisper-world soon warn them that an even larger battle is coming, a battle in which Percy must play a key role.

Readers who enjoyed the first book will also enjoy the sequel, which has the same characters. One difference is that instead of fighting one enemy, in the form of Miss Linden, The Guard must defeat Darkness itself and all the minions of the Whisper-world.

The other key difference [not kidding about book one spoilers] is that in this book, Percy and Alexi are in love and get married. One of my favorite things about the first book was the tortured romance, and I confess to shedding a tear when Alexi was forced to deny Percy. What I like about this book is that we actually get to see their wedding and the early days of their marriage. Most novels end with the first kiss or the wedding, so it was nice to watch these two characters actually adjust to a life together.

Fans of the first book will not be disappointed, and should definitely read The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker. Though the story is tied up neatly at the end of the book, I would personally be eager to read more books in this series.

Percy Parker has not only become Prophecy, but she has fallen in love. At the end of The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker we discover the meek, almost ghostly Percy Parker fulfilled a destiny to become Prophecy, the seventh member of an elite Guard that keeps the evil spirits and demons in London at bay. Led by their fearless leader, Alexi Rychman, they battled great evil, and it was during the battle, Percy was revealed to have even greater powers.

Her powers are not the only thing making her life more interesting these days. She is in love, engaged and about to get married to Alexi, her former professor. Percy is not only shy and mild mannered, but merely nineteen in age, quite a contrast to the older, and aggressive Alexi. But age does not matter for these two who are quite desperately in love.

Percy is reintroduced to the other five that make up the Guard - Rebecca, second in command who is the intuition in the Guard. Josephine, the artist, and one that always has a pleasant smile. The very rakish Elijah, the memory of the group, and the one that always has a witty comeback. Jane the Healer and finally, Michael the Heart. Percy looks at this group, people that have given their life for a greater cause and can't help but feel a drop of sadness that she is so very lucky to have found Alexi. Percy has not known family, and now she has a very generous fiancé, and a family of people who understand her.

The job of the Guard waits for no one however, and as they dine one evening, the spirit of Beatrice Tipton, a former Guard member appears. Percy is able to communicate with ghosts and translates for the rest of the group. Beatrice brings troubling news from Whisper-world. The Darkness wants vengeance, and Beatrice has a call to arm. As Beatrice starts to warn Percy of the dangers ahead and her duty to one day enter Whisper-world as she only can, Alexi fears for his beloved.


The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker is truly a wonderful book. Now that Alexi and Percy have found each other and are madly in love, the angst of the future war brings many dark clouds. The ever fearless leader Alexi, is truly terrified of placing Percy in harms way. But because she is Prophecy, that may be her only course of action. He not only fears danger, but that she truly may not be human, and one day she may belong to a different place, rather than at his side. His fierce protectiveness refuses to allow her into the other side. The meeker Percy loves her dear husband, but knows this is what she is destined to do. She looks at her new family, and knows to keep them safe, she must be brave and face Darkness by herself.

The romance in this book is just swoon worthy. There is not a sex scene, but pages of beautifully written words between these two lovers. Really, Alexi stole my heart. They are absolutely adorable together - in the midst of new love. They are so cute going back to Alexi's professor office where their flirtations began. Alexi, the ever strict professor, now with his cravat messed up and buttons undone.

This book also focuses on the relationships of the other Guard members whom have all given up much in their life to follow their purpose. Rebecca, who has pined for Alexi for so long, must now truly admit, he is not hers to have. Her despair, her fight for wanting to be strong and follow purpose as second in command, and her despair for wanting to give up on her lonely life, is heartbreaking. But for as many soul-filled glances she has thrown to Alexi, another has been doing the same to her.

Elijah, one of my favorite characters, must decide if his love for Josephine is worthy of public knowledge. And Jane has a long lost love of her own - in another world and time.

While there was a time or two when I thought knowledge of future events could have been communicated better between the spirits and the Guard to warn off of impending danger, overall the build up to the conflict is well done.


The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker is a book not to be missed. It is adorable, utterly romantic and while the first book in the series, The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker made my favorites list of 2009, Leanna Renee Hieber wrote a second book that I enjoyed even more.


Rating: 4.5/5

In The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker, we find Percy Parker united with her true love, Professor Alexi Rychman. After many trials and dangers, Percy has now found someone who appreciates her for who she really is and the mysterious girl finally feels accepted and loved. Furthermore, the heroine has also made new friends, the members of The Guard. Percy's friends stand by her side no matter what nightmares might come and together, they are ready to face the forces of evil that want to overrun Victorian London. However, Percy needs to pay heed, as she will soon have to deal with betrayals, jealousy and revenge. Therefore, our heroine will need to keep faith in order to fulfill her duty and her destiny. Will The Guard be able to protect the young girl with snow-white skin and hair from the dangers that await her? And what about Alexi? Is their love strong enough to overcome any obstacle? Torn between duty and love, Percy realizes that she needs to be brave and strong in order to withstand the great storm that will approach. Furthermore, she needs to trust her instincts as well as her beloved Alexi, because she can only succeed and win the battle against evil if he is by her side!

I wish I could tell you more about this book, but I am afraid that I would spoil the story. Thus, I hope that you'll pick up these novels and read them, as they are both engaging and intriguing. Just as the first book in the Strangely Beautiful saga, The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker will draw the reader in from page one and he/she will sympathize with the protagonists and care deeply about them. Leanna Renee Hieber has again created a fascinating tale full of myth and spiritualism with a touch of gothic and mystery and the author has managed to draft a satisfying and believable sequel that will entrance readers once again. This wonderful second novel is packed with suspense, romance, fantasy and the paranormal and readers will delight in Percy's story, as there are some twists and turns, as well as other surprises to be discovered!

I must say that I loved this book as much as I loved the first one and I was again very sad when I finished reading it. Also, it occurred to me that I normally don't read series because I haven't found one that I actually liked. Thus, the Strangely Beautiful saga is the first one that piqued my interest and I was really excited about this sequel. I wanted to find out more about Percy Parker and her destiny and I must say that I am very pleased with The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker because I liked everything about it - the lyrical language, the beautiful descriptions, the supernatural elements, the Victorian setting and of course the romance between Percy and Alexi. Everything in this book is depicted so vividly and beautifully and the author has created such a special atmosphere, which is full of charm and magic. I can't really explain it, but while reading these two books, I felt transported to Victorian London and I could imagine being there, together with Percy and The Guard, witnessing all those mythic creatures and ethereal beings.

The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker is an imaginative tale that will appeal to fantasy fans and to everyone who likes to read a fascinating love story set against the backdrop of a dark and mythical Victorian London.