4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful Story Of Love, Sacrifice and Redemption, June 23, 2009
This review is from: Taken by Sin (Mass Market Paperback)
Taken by Sin", was such a great read, I felt bereft when I finished the last page. This is a story of love, sacrifice and redemption and Jaci Burton infuses such passion and intensity into the narrative I was kept literally spellbound.
The story picks up right where "The Darkest Touch", left off, Dalton has rescued Isabelle from the cemetery in Sicily where a terrible clash has occurred between the demon hunters from the "Realm of Light" and the demons of the "Sons of Darkness". Isabelle had succumbed to demonic influence and was wielding power of great evil against the demon hunters and even her sister Angelique. Dalton sees the good in Isabelle trying to break free of the demon and when she responds to his pleas, he knocks her unconscious and carries her away from the fray.
Dalton is ordered by Louis and Michael both "Keepers" or leaders of the "Realm of Light", to put Isabelle to death. Instead he spirits her away, intent on saving her if he can.
Taken By Sin
On the run from his own people from "The Realm of Light" and the demonic forces of the "Sons of Darkness", Dalton takes Isabelle who is in shock and has withdrawn into herself, deep into the Louisiana Bayou to the home of "Georgie" and her family where he has roots and a history.
Georgie is a voodoo priestess, a practitioner of white or good magic that has been passed down to her through the generations. Magic flows through Georgie and her home and Dalton hopes that being in this place along with patience and care will give Isabelle time to heal emotionally and physically so she is strong enough to fight the darkness within her, and the demon threat.
Isabelle is plagued by self-doubt, remorse for her actions and her history of selfishness. Having fallen under the influence of the "Sons of Darkness", she fears them and herself. She especially fears the powerful demon lord and leader "Tase", who broke her defenses, allowing her "darkness" to emerge. She suffers from tortuous nightmares of being again taken by the demons. She is however inexorably drawn to Dalton, and gains an inner strength from him. Isabelle also wants him sexually but Dalton pulls away, feeling their getting involved will complicate his plan exorcise the darkness within her.
Dalton has been a character of great mystery. Jaci Burton hinted about his previous dark history and almost "otherworldly" abilities in "The Darkest Touch", however as more about him is revealed in "Taken By Sin", it becomes evident he is a tortured hero looking for his own redemption. In fact, he seeks to earn it by saving Isabelle. Dalton therefore sees the attraction he feels for Isabelle as being a weakness. However, when he seeks Georgie's counsel she explains that if they are going to survive the trial ahead a emotional and physical bond will need to be forged.
When Dalton and Isabelle do make love, it is beautiful and passionate, a sharing of power. I think I can describe Dalton best as an almost ethereal being, his body is perfectly sculpted, and kindness and gentleness flows from him when he is with Isabelle. As their love deepens so does the ferocity of their sensual encounters.
Meanwhile "Realm of Light", Keeper `Michael', and demon hunter `Mandy' stop in Florida while on the trail of Dalton and Isabelle. Purely by chance they find and track one of the new demons that are walking the earth in human form and capture it allowing the Realm of Light to learn more about the new species' abilities.
Jaci Burton has also penned a romantic subplot between Mandy, a strong willed, raven haired beauty with a body like an Amazon and Michael, who is her match and more in every way. I will say Mandy is a virgin and Michael sexually initiates her. And Michael? Totally Hot... ;)
The climax of this novel is riveting and brings not all but some of the main characters from previous demon hunter novels together at Georgie's Bayou home where a type of ritual is performed in an attempt to remove Isabelle's demon using Georgie's voodoo magic and Dalton's powers. When Tase again rears his ugly head in an attempt to take both Isabelle and Dalton into darkness one of them is forced to make the ultimate sacrifice to save the other.
"Taken by Sin" is my favorite of the "Demon Hunter" Novels.
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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
dynamic paranormal romantic suspense, June 25, 2009
This review is from: Taken by Sin (Mass Market Paperback)
During the Realm of Light recent battle victory over the sons of Darkness, demon hunter Dalton refused to follow a direct order to kill half-demon Isabelle Deveraux. Instead he abducts her and takes her to a hidden locale in the Louisiana bayou because he believes she possesses something that will insure his side's total triumph. To his chagrin, he is uncertain whether he took her because she is valuable to his cause, innocent in spite of the demon residing inside her, or he just wants her.
Michael is irate with Dalton's disobedience, but cannot worry about that as he is now in charge of the hunters. His biggest problem is the apparent appearance of a demon that can walk in sunlight; something thought impossible for the nocturnal evil breed. However, at the same time that demons search for Dalton's refuge so dos Michael's troops; while the apparently traitorous demon hunter and the half demon fall in love; another impossible happening.
The twin sequel to THE DARKEST TOUCH occurs soon after the previous thriller. The fast-paced story line works on two levels: that of a forbidden romance and as an action-packed urban fantasy. Although it helps to have read the prior novel as Isabelle is a key player in it, Jaci Burton provides another trademark dynamic paranormal romantic suspense as the eventual outcome of the demon war will determine the very planet's existence.
Harriet Klausner
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