Customer Reviews

Into the Shadow (Thorndike Core)

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

INTO THE SHADOW is the fabulously exciting 3rd book in Christina Dodd's--Oh-So-Thrilling!--The Darkness Chosen paranormal romance series.

The story first takes place in the Himalayan Mountains, somewhere on the border between Tibet and Nepal, high on top of Mt. Anaya; a place that area natives believe is cursed. Twenty-eight year old Karen Sonnet is on the mountain to oversea the building of a "boutique hotel" for trekkers and climbers looking for the ultimate challenge. She is the on site supervisor representing her extremely wealthy--extremely difficult and demanding--father, Jackson Sonnet. He's the owner of a chain of resort hotels that specialized in extreme adventure vacations, and though Mt. Anaya had a reputation for being "un-climbable" Mr. Sonnet felt that was what made it a very attractive area to build.

After three months of working on the mountain Karen has encountered many frustrating problems during construction; some because she's a woman doing what's considered a man's job. And others because the workers are afraid--they say she seeks to build the hotel on the "Heart of Evil"--and they believe the mountain will destroy anyone who tries to conquer it because it hides the "Evil One's" treasure.

Karen's not happy with the situation, but she's a brave, tough, and disciplined workaholic that won't run from a challenge so easily, or worse, be chased away by local superstitions... even though she's starting to believe them herself. So by day Karen fears the mountain she works on, and now also, the nights that are plagued by the mysterious "midnight lover" who haunts her sleep...

Unfortunately, she's not sure which she should fear more.
***
This story was extraordinary--I highly recommend it! If asked, I'd describe INTO THE SHADOW as a fantasy-action-adventure-story--and an example of paranormal romance at its finest.

I was completely captivated by the fast pace and wildly intense atmosphere; every action-packed, suspenseful, and deeply emotional twist and turn the author took me on, coupled with the considerable degree of steamy sensuality and--blazing--sexual tension between the characters... left me feeling breathless. The chemistry and passion between Warlord and Karen was extraordinary, and their wickedly sensual loves scenes practically burned up the pages.

And I felt the story worked so well because it was a paranormal romance and that really allowed Ms. Dodd to explore far darker, far edgier subject matter--with a much darker, grittier hero. A hero who takes the term "HOT-blooded" to a whole new level, and was in dire need of redemption--which honestly is something I might not have accepted in a straight contemporary or historical romance.

Yes, Adrik Wilder -aka- "Warlord" was killer-for-hire mercenary fighter and basically a "demon" because his ancestor made a deal with the devil a thousand years ago. And, like all the males in his family, he has the ability to shapeshift at will and turn into a sleek, powerful--and predatory--panther. And yes, he was a truly dark, domineering, possessive and unrepentantly alpha character, who had done many terrible things, and yet I came to care for him a lot--and shed more than a few tears for all he had gone through. I could readily accept all his faults and his extremely passionate--and lusciously so--wild side for what it undeniably was--the inner demon and the predatory male beast in him trying to break free. (Hey, it's my fantasy and I like cats! <G>) I liked him, though I'll admit there were times I was thinking he was just another bossy, controlling jerk of a man in need of a serious smackdown--from Karen.

But by accepting his demon and animal nature, it made his internal struggle--the battle between being/doing Good vs. being/doing Evil--completely understandable. I could sympathize with his plight because I think it would be quite thrilling to be able to turn into a panther or any animal, and after all, it wasn't Adrik that had made the bargain with the Devil in the first place. He was just a bi-product. Also, I felt Adrik tried to change for the better during the course of the story. I really came to love his character, and I believed his love for Karen was sincere. She was his light; and it was his love for her that pulled him back from of falling into the deepest, darkest pit of despair--and the brink of hell. It's her love that gives him courage to fight the evil in himself--and change--swearing to live the rest of his life as a virtuous man.

And truly, I'm in love with the whole Wilder family. Ms. Dodd did a fantastic job creating these engaging, lovable and realistic characters... they're loud, affectionately teasing, warm, caring, loving and so welcoming--exactly the way a happy close-knit family should be. They're "good" people; you can't help but want them to succeed in breaking the pack their ancestors made with the Devil. I want Konstantine to live a long happy life with his love, Zorana, and his family by his side--and I don't even care that they're half demon shapeshifters--I want them to adopt me!

Christina Dodd is indisputably a talented writer and a gifted storyteller; with INTO THE SHADOW she's confirmed once again that she has the ability, expertise and creativity necessary to write first-rate stories in ANY genre that piques her imagination... and also explains why her readers enthusiastically clamor for ANY book with her name on it. I've been a long time fan of Ms. Dodd's historical romances, and though I genuinely miss them and hope she'll write in that genre again, I have to say I heartily loved The Darkness Chosen series. And, needless to say, I can hardly wait to read the fourth installment of this terrific series--Into the Flame (Darkness Chosen, Book 4)--to be released on August 5, 08.

Also recommended - Ms. Dodd's Scent of Darkness (Darkness Chosen, Book 1) and Touch of Darkness (Darkness Chosen, Book 2)

Christina Dodd's characters are strong, stubborn, interesting, and fun. Some romances have rather cardboard male leads, but hers, thankfully, do not.

The background plot regarding the Varinski and Wilder families, the pact with the devil, and the prophecy to redeem the Wilder branch of the family is wonderfully conceived and executed. It's a fresh and fascinating take on things, and is used well to create a fast-paced and suspenseful plot that doesn't rely entirely on romance to keep it moving. I've never been entirely fond of books that rely wholly on the relationship struggles to keep things interesting---they almost always have to ratchet up the personality conflict artificially to keep things going. In this case, the Varinski mercenaries do a fine job of keeping things tense and dangerous as they seek to keep the Wilders from ending the pact.

Dodd conveys a tremendous sense of place. It's easy to see, taste, and feel each location in the book, from the mountains of Tibet to the luxurious gardens of a spa resort or the snowy cliff of a mountain. Her battles are well-drawn, and her sex scenes are hot, sexy, and moderately explicit. My only warning is that while Adrik is still in the grip of his darker side, he's rather domineering, and that includes the bedroom scenes---something that won't appeal to all audiences. This is definitely a romance, though, and one in which Karen wholly holds up her side of the struggle for survival.

All in all a gorgeous book, and I'm definitely reading the follow-on next.

I haven't been that excited about this series even though I love Christina Dodd, b/c I didn't think the first 2 books in it were that great. Good, but not great. Into the Shadow however, was the best book I've read in a long time! I read it completely in one day and now am greatly anticipating the next/last one in the series, Into the Flame. If you haven't read the first 2 yet, it'd be good to, just to get the back story on the family and b/c they were good reads, but I'd do it just to get to this one, b/c it's worth the wait! It was almost like a historical and comtemporary/paranormal wrapped up in one with Adrick. He's the most perfect blend of infuriating Alpha male and modernized sophisticated male that I've come across. Yummy!

This is one of those books that I stayed up all night just to finish even though I had work the next morning. I really like this series and I was excited to read a new one after such a long wait but it surpassed my expectations by a mile! I loved the relationship between Warlord and Karen. It's not thrown together and just there because the author says so. I could really feel the build up and the ultimate love between the characters. I don't want to say to much but the ending of this book had me on the edge of my seat. I would say each book of this series has been a little bit better and if the next one is better I may have to take a whole day off from work just so I can read it.

This was another fabulous entry in Dodd's DARKNESS CHOSEN series. I think it may even be darker and more passionate than the first two books. If you like Alpha heroes who need redemption, then you're going to adore "Warlord"! And Dodd gives him a strong heroine totally up to the task in Karen. Am loving the fact that Dodd is not shy about giving a voice to female fantasy in this book (or in any of her others) while still spinning a rousing good story! If you like your heroes dark and sexy and your romance passionate, I highly recommend this one!

And I mean, unputdownable! I read this on Saturday, started right before lunch and finishing right after dinner, in between loads of laundry and my kids.

The action is great, especially the last action scene. The romance is hotter than hot.

In this novel, we finally meet Adrik. He'd been mentioned before but mostly in passing, as he was the son/brother who up and left. At first, we learn that he is the `ghost lover' of Karen, who slips into her tent in the dead of night to make incredible love with her. We learn that his name is Warlord, has eyes so black the pupil seems to blend with the iris, he is the leader of a group of rebels, is the best at stealing from the rich and pillaging from nearby soldiers on both sides of the Nepal border. He takes what he wants, when he wants, and when the moment appears, he takes Karen for himself, turning her into his `love slave', bracelets and all, thinking that even maybe later, he may just use her for ransom.

Karen is a strong-willed, fiercely independent woman who doesn't take crap from anyone. Her father taught her how to survive in any given situation, is a quick learner in every circumstance, and does what she deems fit for herself and those under her charge.

One thing leads to another and she finds an old Russion icon. She hides it in the safety of her jacket pocket, and is then taken by Warlord. At first, it was a rescue, and later turns into much worse, for after trying to escape, Warlord chains her up using pure gold slave bracelets.

War erupts and he tells her to flee. She does, and upon getting home, she learns something very personal and leaves, determined to live a carefree life for a year. Warlord ended up captured and thrown into a gold-mine along with some of his men. Finally, after a year of captivity, pain, and hopelessness, he finally manages to escape with most of his men and has tracked Karen down. Only - he isn't the same man he was when Karen first met him.

He has learned to fight his inner battle and has turned his life around. In just a year, he has become Rick Wilder (Adrik), an international businessman who started it all with a video game called Warlord. At first, Karen believes he may be the same man but convinces herself otherwise. Mainly because of his manner and his eyes, now an odd light green. Just when she's convinced Rick isn't Warlord, one kiss proves her wrong.

Then, just when things get hot, they're under attack and on the run. The Varinskis make a play - somehow knowing that Karen has the icon, now learning who Warlord actually is, and both try to escape. The plan turns a little foul, and are attacked again, this time with reinforcements.

I won't comment about the ensuing battle, except that it was perfect. I balled my head off, but then I got to smile through those tears on more than one occasion.

Dodd is incredible and twisting a story together that has you gripped from the very first page to the very last. Good luck trying to put this one down. Especially the very ending - where a twist to the story brings astonishing and heart-wrenching news to the family. Now I really can't wait for the next book, Into the Flame, out August 5th.

INTO THE SHADOW is the third book in Christina Dodd's popular paranormal Darkness Chosen series and tells the story of Adrik Wilder and Karen Sonnet. Adrik is the third Wilder son and has been lost to his family for the past 15 years. He has turned away from his mother's love and his father's teachings and has fully embraced the darkness that is his Varinski heritage. He is a savage mercenary known as Warlord who controls an area deep in the Himalayas. A sexual creature who takes his pleasure when and where he wants, he is also a warrior who kills without mercy, both as a man and as a sleek, deadly, black panther. I found myself repelled and fascinated by him in equal measure and, to be honest, halfway into the story I still had no idea how Dodd was going to turn him into a hero worthy of Karen's love. The only child of a rich but ruthless man, Karen has spent her life trying to win her father's love or, at the very least, his respect. She has studied relentlessly, honed her skills, overcome her fears and now leads a building project in the Himalayas for her father's company. The project progresses smoothly until the day the site excavation reveals the body of a young child who was brutally sacrificed hundreds of years ago, a child who when touched by Karen's gentle hand, opens her eyes, stares directly at Karen with eyes the exact color of her own then crumbles to dust leaving behind a precious icon. The local workers flee in terror; the mountain shudders, the ground shakes. As the mountain begins to explode around her, Karen runs for her life, certain she's about to die, only to be rescued at the last minute by a mysterious man dressed all in black, riding a huge black motorcycle - a man she has seen standing motionless on the cliff, watching her. As they race away from the impending devastation she gives thanks for this stranger who has snatched her from the jaws of hell. How could she know? Her hell has just begun.

This book is darker than the first two in the series, and my favorite so far. Warlord is a man consumed by the darkness, without conscience or remorse, and his actions toward Karen, especially his sexual actions, reflect that. Karen, though, is no victim as she proves time and time again. The action is non-stop, the sex is primal, the race for survival compelling in its intensity and redemption, when it finally arrives, all the sweeter for having survived hell to attain it. Dodd has written an emotionally powerful story that will rip your heart to shreds then bind it back together stronger than before. Such is the power of redemption. Such is the power of love.

The books in the Darkness Chosen series build upon one another. If you have not read the first two books in this series, I strongly recommend you read them, in order, before reading INTO THE SHADOW. This is Dodd's first journey into the world of the paranormal but I sincerely hope it will not be her last.

As much as I loved the first two books in the "Darkness Chosen" series (and I did and do!), I have to say this is the best of the three so far! Excellent book. Great job by Christina Dodd. This series is a keeper and this book was great! Highly recommended! Loved this book. Can hardly wait for book 4.

Consistently good work by Christina Dodd; however this is the best in the series. Romantic, sexy, suspenseful - can't wait for 4th book.

I had the worst time putting this novel down and ended up finishing it in one sitting. I thought it was wonderful! Jammed packed with adventure, battles, abuse, caveman tactics (he, he). The "bad" brother was definitely bad in all the good ways. With the exception of Zadist from Ward's Brotherhood series, Adrik (aka-Warlord) is my favorite "bad gone good" character.