Customer Reviews

Night Lost: A Novel of the Darkyn

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

After reading the last novel in this series I had decided not to read anymore. They just did not appeal to me and I found them redundant. However, this one is different and I very much enjoyed the story which did not get bogged down but held your attention as the two adventures merged. It also gave me a better understanding of the Darkyn and was a very good tale.

These books are all set in a short period of time about 6 mo to a yr. So some of Gabriel's torture takes place while Alex and Michael are finding each other.

Nicola Jefferson is a thief, she is searching for the Golden Madonna, she finds the treasures of the Church and steals them she also releases any of the Darkyn she comes upon who are being tortured by the Brethren. On her motorcycle she travels all over Europe and England. She is small, but determined to find the statue which was taken from her parents.

Gabriel Seran is a Darkyn who has been held for over six months he has been tortured unbearably and blinded. The thing that has kept him sane is visiting the nightlands, a place in his mind, and enjoying the company of the young woman he meets there. In this place he is safe with her, and to her he is her Greenman.

Michael Cyprian and Dr. Alexandra Keller are brought togather in the first Darkyn book, IF ANGELS BURN, now Alex has been abducted by the king of the Darkyn. He is dying and going mad, his body is being deformed and he is desperate to find help, so he has kidnapped Alex and is trying to force her to help him. Meanwhile, Michael prepares to go to Scotland and rescue her from his adopted father

Gabriel tries to protect the secrets of the Darkyn and Nick has secrets of her own, only at the wonderful, astounding end do we learn these secrets. I loved the way the book ended and this will definitely wind up on my keeper list.

The action was non stop and I liked the way the two stories blended at the end. I don't know if I will buy the next novel in this series, but this one was definitely worth the time and money. I really, really enjoyed it.

I felt like I was reading two very interesting stories. As far as the Darkyn saga was concerned, they both were delightful and advanced the series in a great direction. However there was very little overlap between the two stories and it felt like I was reading two promising books that had been condensed and merged together.

On one page you have Michael and Alexandra's quest to get back to each other after Alex was kidnapped by the Darkyn King Richard in the previous book, Dark Need. Alex is being held captive not only for her skills as a talented doctor but also for her unique blood which has caused new life to the Darkyn species. Alex grudgingly looks for a cure for the king while trying to save her brother, John, from the not-so-tender mercies of Richard's homicidal wife.Michael meanwhile plots to challenge the king for his throne in order to save the woman he loves.A great new character emerges for hopefully the next hero of the series-Korvel, Captain of Richards guard and his most loyal supporter. I won't ruin the ending but it's definetly a good one.

The other pages are filled with the simple but touching story of Gabrial Seran, a captive tortured Kyn, and Nicola, one of Europe's greatest biker theif's. Nick has been having strange dreams of "The Green Man" that lead her to a blinded, weakened Gabrial who has been bricked up inside the walls of a dilapidating old french church by the Brethren ( most common evil guys of the series;their really creapy hypocritical priests). After the two are finally together they fall in love quickly and discover that France is not safe for either of them. Gabrial has always been the best tracker of the Kyn, helped by his unusual talent which is to control "The Many"...which for us common folk means he can completely control insects, worms, ect creapy crawly things.

The two stories intertwine for a moment at the end of the book when their are a few revelations. However my favorite part of this book was the fact that the Uber icky thoughts and actions of the Brethern were mostly missing or in line with the story of the book, no letting them rant pointlessly for page after page this time. Much Better!

For those confused souls who wish to read the earlier stories in this series:
If Angels Burn ( Michael & Alexandra)
Private Demon ( Theiry & Jema)
Dark Need ( Lucan & Samantha)

There are several newish authors out there who are raising the bar for the paranormal erotica genre and Lynn Viehl is definately one of my "can't wait for" favourites. As with J. R. Ward's heroes, Viehl's all have plenty of testosterone and macho, and a lot of emotional (and physical) pain and baggage, which, surprise, is defused and ameliorated by their women. Each author treats her men (and women) differently, but in an equally well-thought out manner. Viehl's DARKYN originated in a period of time (the Crusades) when mayhem and slaughter in the name of their God (both Christian and Moslem)(same deity?), was normal and SOP. So, the current bloody lives of her men are not unusual for their upbringing. In this, the fourth Darkyn novel, many threads are re-woven. In a continuing storyline, the heroine of the original book, Dr. Alexandria Keller, mate to head New-World Darkyn Michael Cyprien, has been kidnapped by the Darkyn High Lord, who is suffering from a truly horrible physical affliction, in his maybe not-necessarily wrong belief that Alexandria can cure him. At the same time, Alexandria's brother John, a former Catholic priest, physically tortured and tormented by the Brethern in previous books, re-enters the picture to help in Cyprien's attempt to rescue his mate and find a way to accept Alexandria's new life. At the same time as all this, the new book's protagonists, another Darkyn, Gabriel, is rescued from his Brethern-tortured existence by our new heroine, Nicola "Nick" Jefferson, who, unlike the previous heroines, has had an earlier run-in with the fanatical pseudo-Catholic Brethern order. Yes, there are a lot of story strings to tie together, and yes, it might be a bit complicated at times, but it is so refreshing to have something other than a single themed "romance" line. Both Nick and Gabriel are everything one would wish for in a romance. Plus, Nick is as ballsy and "bring 'em on" as all of the women in the Darkyns' lives must be. Plus, SPOILER, she looks hot on a motorcyle. (Wish she'd had a Harley!) All of Viehl's Darkyn books are worth buying and reading, preferably in order, and NIGHT LOST is just as good as the first three. Can't wait for #5, EVERMORE. Unfortunately, many of the humans in these books are not nearly as nice, hunky and honorable as the non-humans, but that is what makes these books "paranormal romances!" And all of Viehl's books, unlike some books I have recently purchased, are well worth spending the money on and buying new. These are keepers and re-readers!

I enjoyed the first book in the Darkyn series, "If Angels Burn," because the plot was very original. The only complaint I had w/ that was that it was too short and spent too much time on the heroine's brother's point of view. I did not read the last 2 books because I didn't like who the heroes were since they weren't very good people in the first book. I picked this book up because it looked like interesting.

Until the end of the book there are 2 stories that don't interact until the last chapter.

The first story is about Dr. Alexandra from the first book, who has been kidnapped and coerced into curing Darkyn King Richard in Ireland. The main reason why I liked this book was because Dr. Alexanra is in the majority of this book. Throughout the book, she is continually finding ways to try and escape back to her mate, while Michael Cyprien is trying to get to her from the US. I wish there had been more written on Michael Cyprien. It was disappointing there was no huge confrontation between Michael & his king for stealing what was his.

The second story was a lot darker and a little odd. Nicola is an international religious thief, often stealing from the Brethern who are the arch-enemies of the Darkyn. Along the way of her steals, she often finds and rescues tortured and imprisoned Darkyns. Nicola is on the hunt for the last piece she needs, the Golden Madonna. She ends up finding Gabriel buried alive behind a wall in a church while crucified to a cross after countless tortures. It is kind of unbelievable that he's been captured for 3 years and imprisoned behind the wall for 6 months, and as soon as she breaks him out they engage in some intimacy. Gabriel has been blinded and Nicola who has been dreaming of him for a long time ends up trying to help him, despite her urgency in finding the golden Madonna. Gabriel's special power in controlling insects was very interesting in a Mummy movie sort of way. Nicola's mystery about her past, her thievery, and her hunt for the last artifact were very much a surprise until the end.

In truth, both parallel stories didn't fit together until the end. Each story probably deserved an entire book dedicated to each. Going back and forth between the 2 storiess was a little disconcerting especially as it felt like one had nothing to do w/ the other.

I gave this book 4 star because I enjoyed Dr. Alexandra's sassiness and story, as short as it was. The second story, while good, wasn't very detailed because of the length of the novel. It's strange how such a thin book cost more than the standard 300-400 page novel, this book is way under 300 pages.

I loved the beginning of this series, but it's gotten out of hand. Too many characters, and goofy ideas in this one, ruined it for me. I don't enjoy books where I have to re-read paragraphs to keep up!

Night Lost (2007) is the fourth Fantasy novel in the Darkyn series, following Dark Need. In the previous volume, Lucan sets a trap for Richard with Alex as bait. But it also brings out the killer. Then another killer appears and shoots Sam.

Michael decapitates the Darkyn snakeman. Sam is saved by blood from Alex, but she becomes a Darkyn. Then Richard takes Alex back with him to the castle.

In this novel, Nicola Jefferson is a twenty-six year old woman with a mission. Her mother and step-father are dead and she is out to get the killer. Nick is also a thief, stealing from the holy freaks -- her name for the Brethren -- and freeing their Darkyn captives.

Gabriel Seran is a Darken and the brother of Angelica. He was moved before Lucan freed the Dumands. He has been a captive of the Brethren for three years.

Richard Tremayne is the Master of the Darkyn. His headquarters are in Dundellan Castle in Ireland.

Michael Cyprien is a Darkyn and is over seven centuries old. He is the seigneur of all jardins in the USA. He is also the lover of Alexander.

Alexandra Keller is a reconstructive surgeon. She is now a Darkyn, but unlike any other. Alex has become interested in the cause and cure of this ailment. She is also Michael's lover.

John Keller is Alexandra's older brother. He is a former priest and a former novice of the Brethren. Now he is loosely allied with Michael and his Darkyn.

Marcella Evareaux is a Darkyn and the sister of Arnaud Evareaux. They live in the Louisiana swamps. Alex has removed shot from Arnaud's hind end on several occasions.

In this story, Nick is searching France for the Golden Madonna. She is traveling through the south on her motorcycle, a modified twenty-five year old BMW GS. She stops in a small village and takes a room in the inn.

That night she has another dream about the Green Man. He is waiting in the woods just outside a meadow. She sees ruins around him and yellow flowers on the grounds.

She believes that the dreams are only figments of her imagination, but Nick asks the villagers if there are any ruins in the vicinity with marigolds. She is told that about a nearby haunted chapel. That night she visits the place.

She gets into the chapel, but then is run off by the caretaker. Yet later the green man mentions in her dreams that she had come near him. Maybe the green man is within the chapel?

When she goes back the following night, Nick climbs down a stairway into the basement and finds a recently bricked up wine cellar. She takes out the bricks and finds Gabriel chained to the wall. The old caretaker knocks her unconcious, but Gabriel overcomes him.

Meanwhile, Alex is a prisoner in Richard's castle. She keeps trying to escape. Naturally, she doesn't get very far, but she never gives up.

The presence of a sassy and determined American Darkyn is doing things to the staff of the castle. The Darkyn are aroused by her behavior and are thinking of finding her alone in a dark spot. The seneschal is concerned about staff morale and his Master's temper.

Michael prepares to set Alex free. He is only taking John and Marcella with him to Europe. Then John is abducted and taken to the castle.

This tale takes Michael and Marcella to London and then to Ireland. Nick and Gabriel also go to London. All eventually meet outside the castle.

Nick is a particularly mysterious character, with each chapter bringing new surprises. Gabriel becomes her lover despite his intentions. Then he visits her home.

This story continues the twisty suspense style of the previous books. The next installment is Evermore. Read and enjoy!

Recommended for Viehl fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of benign vampires, murderous priests, and true romance.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Nicola "Nick" Jefferson has seen the Green Man in her dreams. Is he real? She doesn't know for sure till she meets Gabriel Seran, one of the Darkyn who has been tortured by the Brethren. The Brethren believe the only good vampire (or Darkyn) is a dead one and Gabriel has refused to give them any information. Meanwhile, Nick has her own secrets as she is an infamous art thief, desperately seeking The Golden Madonna. The world of the Darkyn is about to be gravely shaken....

NIGHT LOST is the fourth book in an increasingly unusual vampire tale. NIGHT LOST probably best read as part of the series rather than as a stand alone due to the various subplots occurring with Dr. Alexandra Keller, Michael Cyprien, and Richard Tremayne. The entire political structure of the Darkyn is in serious jeopardy and many of the underlying issues will not make sense to a reader new to the series. NIGHT LOST begins tying some of the loose strands of the series together. Fans of the series will probably appreciate how the various threads are beginning to tie together.

One has to give Lynn Viehl credit for being willing to take chances. NIGHT LOST isn't your stereotypical paranormal romance by any means. Making the hero green for most of the book certainly makes NIGHT LOST unique among other vampire books. However, it wasn't this aspect that totally ruined NIGHT LOST for me. No, it was Gabriel's power, his ability to control the various bugs, that creeped me out. In fact, it was the scene with the spiders that made this whole concept over the top. Perhaps if Lynn Viehl had stuck to a strictly dark fantasy tale, this would have worked. However, it was very obvious that NIGHT LOST was intended to also appeal to readers of paranormal romance... and bugs just aren't sexy!

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

Night Lost is probably the most lightweight of the Darkyn novels, it is on the short side and has about 4 different threads going in the beginning. The two new love interests Nicola and Gabriel are likable, but they pretty much just go on a road trip and though they do end up in the same place with everyone else at the end, they could have been left out. Even better yet this would have made two really good short stories for a paranormal romance anthology.

While the author does make an attempt to give you a little of the background of what has gone before, I cannot see this book being all that interesting to a reader that is new to the series and I find it hard to recommend that someone start at the beginning of the series with If Angel's Burn. I really did not like that book. It had several scenes of sadistic torture that I thought were really unnecessary. In fact throughout all the books, there is the whole "Inquistion" thing going on with religious zealots out to expunge the Darkyn from the world - because when the good guys are natural preditors then the bad guys have to be really really bad.

For those committed to the series, a few interesting things happen, so you'll need to read this one to find out what happens to Alex who was kidnapped at the end of the last book. For Newbies check out the "So you want to " lists and find a really good series to put your time and money into instead.

I loved this one as well, it was a great read that was impossible to put down. The plot is extremely well thought out, the characters are vivid and likable. Even John Keller had a purpose in this one. I think this author is great and the world of Darkyn vs Brethen is very original, dark and interesting. Once again it is more of a dark fantasy than romance but at this point I don't care, as I am totally hooked. I can't wait for the next installment in the series and would highly recommend this author.

This writer has been difficult for me to follow. While I like many elements of her stories, many other elements are repelling. When it comes down to it her stories were interesting and thought provoking, but they weren't stories I wanted to keep on my keeper shelf.