Seize the Night (Dark-Hunter, Book 7) [Paperback]

Sherrilyn Kenyon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 3, 2005

Dark-Hunter: an immortal warrior who has traded his soul to Artemis for one moment of vengeance on his enemies. In return, they swear to spend eternity protecting mankind from the daimons and vampires that prey on them. Valerius isn't a popular Dark-Hunter - he's a Roman, which means that the largely Greek Hunters have a major grudge against him and his civilization for superceding them. To make things worse, he's very conscious of his aristocratic background and breeding. So it serves him right when he runs into Tabitha Devereaux. She's sassy, sexy, and completely unwilling to take him seriously. (Not to mention Tabitha is also the sister-in-law of Kyrian, a former Dark-Hunter and Val's mortal enemy.) What Tabitha does take seriously is hunting and killing vampires-and soon she and Val have to grapple with the deadliest of all Daimons - one who's managed to come back from the dead, and one who holds a serious grudge against both of them. To win against evil, Val will have to loosen up, learn to trust, and put everything on the line to protect a man he hates and a woman who drives him nuts.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

What do you get when you pair a vivacious female vampire hunter with a cool, punctilious immortal Dark-Hunter and pit them against a bunch of blood- and soul-sucking Daemons? This taut, rollicking romance from Kenyon (Kiss of the Night, etc.), who's fast becoming a grand dame of the paranormal romance arena. Steely Dark-Hunter Valerius Magnus and gutsy, wisecracking Tabitha Deveraux are two of Kenyon's most appealing creations. Brought together by a humorous twist of fate—Tabitha stabs Valerius, mistaking him for a Daemon—they light up every scene in which they're together. Unfortunately, their romance seems doomed. The husband of Tabitha's twin has a 2,000-year-old grudge against Valerius, many of Tabitha's friends hate him for atrocities he supposedly committed many years ago and a group of unusually powerful Daemons are intent on annihilating Tabitha, her sisters and anyone who stands in their way. Tabitha and Valerius are aided by Kenyon's familiar crew of Dark-Hunters and Dark-Hunter friends, including their enigmatic ringleader, Acheron, who is explored in more depth here than in the author's earlier novels. Though Kenyon doesn't skirt melodrama entirely with this tale—evidenced by the flashbacks to Valerius's unbelievably tortured past—she succeeds in offering a lively read containing her signature blend of brisk action, sensual thrills and light humor.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

From Booklist

*Starred Review* Valerius has been an outsider all of his life. As a human he was scorned as weak by his father. As a Dark-Hunter he's hated by his own kind for the perceived sins of his mortal past. The last thing he needs is to get tangled up in the life of vampire hunter Tabitha Devereaux, who, in addition to being human, is the sister-in-law of his sworn enemy. But something in her warm smile, her openhearted love of life, makes him wonder if it truly is never too late for second chances. A lot happens in Kenyon's latest Dark-Hunter novel, stressing again how important it is to read this series in order. Kenyon delivers the goods readers have come to expect, and more. This novel isn't just the tale of a Hunter du jour, but rather a true building of consequences, secrets, and life-altering events, something few romance series achieve. Warn your patrons to set aside an evening before they pick the book up; they won't be able to put it down. Nina Davis
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Piatkus Paperback (March 3, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0749935871
• ISBN-13: 978-0749935870
• Product Dimensions: 4.4 x 7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (119 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #924,503 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

In the past two years, New York Times bestselling author Sherrilyn Kenyon has claimed the #1 spot twelve times. This extraordinary bestseller continues to top every genre she writes. With more than 23 million copies of her books in print in over 30 countries, her current series include: The Dark-Hunters, The League, Lords of Avalon, BAD Agency and the Chronicles of Nick. Since 2004, she has placed over 50 novels on the New York Times list. The preeminent voice in paranormal fiction, with more than twenty years of publishing credits, Kenyon not only helped to pioneer, but define the current paranormal trend that has captivated the world.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best in the series to date!!!!!, December 30, 2004

By 

Tanya L. Schaub "TSchlaack" (Livermore, Maine USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Seize the Night (Dark-Hunter, Book 7) (Mass Market Paperback)

In the world of Sherrilyn Kenyon being a Dark-Hunter means that you are a soulless immortal being who is hunting the vampires the patrol the night to steal the human souls. Valerius "Val" Magnus isn't a popular Dark-Hunter, he's a Roman, which means that the largely Greek Hunters have a major grudge hatred against him. He is also very conscious of his "background and breeding" making him even harder to stand as he acts as if he is above everyone else.

Tabitha "Tabby" Devereaux is a self taught vampire hunter. She hunts at night and runs an adult store in New Orleans during the day. She is sexy, sassy, takes no **** from anyone and immediately attracted to Valarius. This leads to conflicts in her family as her twin sister is married to a former Greek Dark-Hunter.

As Tabby and Val's love grows so does the danger they are in. One of the vampires that has a powerful grudge against Tabby and those around her resurfaces with the object to destroy Tabby's extended family as well as her.

In this story you will also see the death of 2 Dark-Hunters as well as the birth on one.

I was thoroughly blown away by this book. Kenyon continues to write better and better as the storyline goes on. Usually in a series I start to get a bit bored or can easily figure out what will happen next. These stories are so well put together I never even foresaw who the new Dark-Hunter would be until it happened. I was shocked. It is not all books that make me laugh out loud as well as cry. I read it in one setting and this one is going on my shelf of keepers. They best in the series to date!

40 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful one of her best, December 30, 2004

By 

Elaine C McTyer "avid reader" (Dawson, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Seize the Night (Dark-Hunter, Book 7) (Mass Market Paperback)

I really thought it would be hard for Ms Kenyon to write a better DH novel than DANCE WITH THE DEVIL, however I was wrong. This is a delight to read. Still a Dark Hunter novel it also has a great story of humanity and compassion.

Tabitha Devereaux is the twin sister of Amanda, who saved and married Kyrian, in the book PLEASURES OF THE NIGHT. Tabitha is an empath, her psychic abilities attract the daimons. She was attacked at the age of 13, when Talon saved her she found out about the Dark Hunters and has become friends with many of them including Ash and Simi.

Valerius Magnus is the brother of Zarak from DANCE WITH THE DEVIL he is hated not only by Zarak but all of the other Dark Hunters and squires. Because of the brutality of the Romans none of them are liked. The Greeks esspecially hate them.

While Valerius has held to his cold harsh facade for the last 2000 years, he can't fool Tabitha. She can feel his emotions and the lonely emptyness he carries within him. Rather than being cold and unfeeling he is sensitive and caring. However, nobody else seems to care about him. And now Desiderious is searching for a body for his spirit to occupy. He will not be happy until he has his revenge on Kyrian and his whole family which now includes Tabitha's family.

Kyrian has always hated that the grandson of the man who crucified him was also a DH. Tabitha encounters Valerius Magnus while on her hunt for daimons. Unfortunately she stabs him thinking he is a daimon during a heated battle in a dark alley. Helping Valerius leads Tabitha into deep waters with her family. And falling in love with him is the very last thing she needs to do, now that the bloody battle has begun. Sometimes forgiveness is the only way to go, when daimons call hopefully Dark Hunters will answer.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of the best tales this terrific series has to offer, December 28, 2004

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Seize the Night (Dark-Hunter, Book 7) (Mass Market Paperback)

Valerius Magnus was the son of an Ancient Roman Senator and a successful General until he traded his soul to become a Dark-Hunter. Centuries later he still hunts vampires, but remains alone as his peers are Greeks who hold a bias that has led to an unfriendly rivalry just because he is a Roman.

In New Orleans, mortal Tabitha Devereaux represents a new breed of vampire hunter who has proven her worth without bartering her soul. Val meets her while she battles the undead. She stabs him during the melee so afterward she takes him home. Tabitha realizes that his haughty aloofness is a front to hide his hurt and fear of rejection; she plans to peel away his armor. However, as she sets in motion her plan a dangerous vampire surfaces with a powerful grudge from his previous life; his objective is to destroy Tabitha's extended family, which forces two Dark Hunters to either end their feud or watch their loved ones die.

The latest Dark Hunter tale is one of the best tales this terrific series has to offer as the exciting story line contains plenty of action, deep characterizations (including the return of the stars of NIGHT PLEASURES) that provide additional light on the origins of the good guys, and a strong romance. Val is an interesting protagonist because though almost two thousand years have passed since his change over he remains an aristocrat deep into his soul, which makes the earthly Tabitha his total opposite except when it comes to hunting vampires. Readers will embrace the darkness of the Kenyon night seeking other works in this pleasurable series.

Harriet Klausner