Draw Down the Darkness (Signet Eclipse) [Mass Market Paperback]

Naomi Bellis (Author)

Book Description

Series: Signet Eclipse | Publication Date: April 3, 2007

In order to save his family from ruin, Nicholas Saville, Viscount Redfern, secretly pledges his sword to King George's spymaster. But can he stop the dark magic of the Hellfire League in time to save-and win back-the woman he adores?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Bellis's second novel (after Step into Darkness) is a Georgian romantic adventure that blends historical and magical elements to make a satisfying potion with a strong bite. When Viscount Redfern secretly pledges to restore his family's fortunes by working for Sir Alaric, King George's spymaster, he doesn't realize he may lose the love of his betrothed. Distraught by Redfern's lengthy, unexplained absences, Helen Barrett ends their engagement and, after receiving an extravagant necklace from the odious Lord Waring, acquiesces to his romantic advances. Redfern's determination to win Helen back intensifies when, during his next assignment, he learns that Waring is the leader of the traitorous and sorcerous Hellfire League. Horrified, he watches Waring use occult powers to control Helen and her brother, James, a young but fast-rising politician. Aided by Sir Alaric, Redfern manages to free Helen from the villain's spell, and together they work to thwart Waring's plans for her brother. This lively adventure features vibrant leads and a tight plot, with well-drawn secondary characters and, in Waring, a bad guy readers will love to hate. (Apr.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Tired of waiting for her fiance, Nicholas Saville, to finally marry her, Helen Barrett breaks their long-standing engagement. After all, there are plenty of other men who would be more than happy to learn that she is available once again, including the annoyingly determined Earl of Warring. Up until now Nicholas has always put his duty as a secret spy for the British government first, even though it could cost him the woman he loves. But when Nicholas discovers that Warring might be involved in his latest mission--finding the notorious Hellfire League and putting an end to their treasonous plotting--Nicholas vows to do whatever it takes to stop Warring and win back Helen. Bellis' second paranormal-steeped historical is a particularly beguiling blend of subtly nuanced characters, elegant writing, and an intriguing plot expertly laced with danger, desire, and dark magic. John Charles
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Signet (April 3, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451220951
• ISBN-13: 978-0451220950
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,233,315 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Spy who came in from the cold..., March 26, 2010

By 

A. Lee (L.A., CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Draw Down the Darkness (Signet Eclipse) (Mass Market Paperback)

Nicholas Saville, Viscount Redfern, has been kept busy on many missions for King George's spymaster, Sir Alaric. He's been so busy that his fiancee, Helen Barrett, is tired of being neglected for years and breaks of their engagement. Nicholas wishes he could settle down with Helen, but his family was left in financial ruin and it's only with the help of Sir Alaric, in exchange for his service, that everything isn't lost--and he can't give Helen a convincing reason for his absences.

But Sir Alaric things the notorious Hellfire League is up to something and promises Nicholas that he may be free if he succeeds in foiling the plot. And luckily for Nicholas, the powerful earl who is wooing Helen (using dark magic to enchant her), is a suspect.

Nicholas isn't a magic-user, so there isn't a strong emphasis on the paranormal in this romance, even though the bad guys are using some magic and there's a ghost. I'm also not entirely sure Nicholas couldn't have handled his relationship with Helen a bit better before being totally out of touch for years and causing her to break off the engagement... But both characters were otherwise reasonable and fairly sympathetic, although I did wish I felt for them just a bit more than I did.

3.0 out of 5 stars Paranormal spy regency, July 28, 2008

By 

Suzanne (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Draw Down the Darkness (Signet Eclipse) (Mass Market Paperback)

Forced to work for the spymaster Sir Alaric Fitzwilliam to keep his family from scandal, Nicholas is tasked with hunting down a traitor amongst the ton while trying to win back his long-suffering ex-fiancée, Helen Barrett. What he doesn't know is that Fitzwilliam is not only a spymaster but a member of The Circle, a secret group of families of ancient lineage who have magic in their blood and the traitors are the Hellfire League, renegade members of The Circle. Redfern has Sir Alaric's promise that he'll be free to marry Helen and live in peace but first he has to uncover the Hellfire League and their nefarious plot... but can he do so and also save his beloved from the malevolent Earl's evil spell?

The writing was competent and the story fairly engaging but the characters were flat - I couldn't describe either the hero or heroine, and even the villain lacked enough character to make me really dislike him. It seems as if the characters were formless in the writer's mind so she couldn't really express their non-existent personalities. Still, "Draw Down the Darkness" an enjoyable paranormal spy thriller - I can recommend it to those who enjoy this kind of story.

4.0 out of 5 stars More like 4 1/2 stars...., September 8, 2007

By 

Deborah Wiley (Winter Haven, FL) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Draw Down the Darkness (Signet Eclipse) (Mass Market Paperback)

A woman can only wait so long for a man, and Helen Barrett is tired of being engaged and not married. Viscount Redfern, Nicholas Saville, has secrets he can't share with Helen and his obligations have kept him far away from the woman he loves. Unfortunately, Helen now appears mesmerized by the Earl of Waring, a man Nicholas suspects of treason and perhaps, even dark magic. Is the Hellfire League truly emerging to pit the powers of darkness against their own country's best interests?

DRAW DOWN THE DARKNESS has a haunting, almost foreboding atmosphere. The dark sorcery of the Hellfire League doesn't emerge immediately, as Nicholas is initially a doubter that such things exist. Overwhelming evidence begins to convince even the most skeptical of individuals, however, as the mysterious and devious machinations of the League start coming together. Naomi Bellis does a beautiful job at maintaining the right atmosphere for the story to be believable, as it was easy to imagine the dark corridors and hidden secrets that are revealed.

Naomi Bellis gives readers a glimpse of the dark side of the late 1700s as the descriptions are vividly portrayed. I particularly enjoyed the peek into the world of the theater during this time frame as the images seemed perfect for the treachery and intrigue that occur. Naomi Bellis does a spectacular job at not only creating the brooding atmosphere necessary, but also at maintaining the tension necessary to keep the reader interested.

The villain is perhaps the strongest character depicted in DRAW DOWN THE DARKNESS. While the love between Helen and Nicholas is powerful, the evil nature of the Earl of Waring is exceptionally done. Who couldn't help but despise the earl as he bewitches Helen and works his dark magic on all that surround him? DRAW DOWN THE DARKNESS is superbly done paranormal tale that has made this reviewer interested in reading more from Naomi Bellis.

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES