Tempt Me with Darkness (The Doomsday Brethren, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

by Shayla Black (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
More Spamalot than Camelot, the debut of Black's Doomsday Brotherhood series introduces Marrok of Cadbury, who was a brave warrior in King Arthur's army until his unhappy lover, Morganna le Fay, cursed him with immortality and perpetual sexual frustration. Fifteen centuries later, Marrok is working as a sculptor in London and searching for a way to unlock Morganna's nasty little book of spells, the Doomsday Diary, though he's not sure he can break the curse without unleashing the book's deadly magic. Marrok also has to hide the Diary from villainous wizard Mathias d'Arc (Cruel, clever, hedonistic, rapacious. Brilliantly evil.) and decide whether beautiful art gallery owner Olivia Gray, Morganna's descendant, is his greatest nemesis or his sexual salvation. This orgasmic paranormal might make T.H. White turn over in his grave but will keep Black's fans panting for the next installment. (Sept.)
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Review
"Shayla Black keeps me turning the pages!"-- New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter

"Shayla Black's writing is pure magic. Gripping, sensual, and absolutely delicious."-- New York Times bestselling author Cheyenne McCray

"Pure magic."-- Cheyenne McCray

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Pocket (August 26, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416558586
• ISBN-13: 978-1416558583
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #202,611 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

• This is item 1 in The Doomsday Brethren Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Addictive new paranormal romance series!, September 9, 2008

By	Jennifer Ray "Reviewer for Wild on Books (www... (Nashville, TN United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

For over fifteen centuries, Marrok has tried in vain to break the curse laid on him by the infamous Morgana Le Fay. To that end, he stole her book of power, the Doomsday Diary, long ago, but all attempts to unlock its secrets prove futile.

When he meets Olivia Gray, he is seized with desperate hope, and unmitigated distrust. Is Olivia really the innocent she seems? Or is she the witch Morgana returned to taunt him further? Whatever the case, he suspects she is the key to his freedom and will do whatever it takes to get her to open the Doomsday Diary.

But Olivia manages the most insidious spell of all when she captures his heart. Can he trust the woman who is the spitting image of his ancient enemy, or will she be his final doom?

Fans of Shayla Black's work have long awaited her first foray into the realm of paranormal romance, and the author succeeds with considerable aplomb in TEMPT ME WITH DARKNESS: THE DOOMSDAY BRETHREN, BOOK 1.

This book indulges fans with Ms. Black's unique brand of sensual romance while showcasing just how creative this talented author's imagination truly is. Creating her own spin on the Arthurean legends, Shayla Black weaves a fascinating story that absorbs the reader from page one, expanding on the myths of Merlin and Morgana in a way that is all at once familiar but also new and exciting.

Ms. Black has a knack for character building, and never has this been more evident than with the heroes of her DOOMSDAY BRETHREN series. Hungry fans have been devouring tidbits on each of the men who make up this noble group of magical warriors for months on her website. Now that we have the first novel in our hot little hands, these characters take on a life of their own, with personalities that intrigue and engage the reader.

Kicking the series off with Marrok and Olivia makes perfect sense. As a descendant of Morgana Le Fay, Olivia ties the series to that legendary sorceress seamlessly, making the world-building seem almost effortless. Don't get me wrong, while it may seem effortless, this world is not a carbon-copy of the Camelot we have heard so much about already. Instead, Ms. Black sets her story in modern times, with the descendants of those historic figures taking the stage, complete with their own mythos.

Olivia is a breath of fresh air. Even though her life until now has been lonely, without a real and lasting connection to anyone else, her heart is warm and open, and she wants only to do what is right. She feels a deep empathy that you might not expect for a person brought up by a parent who kept her at arms' length her entire life. When she meets Marrok, she feels a bond with him, and yet is understandably afraid to open herself up to it, for fear of losing him.

As for Marrok, he begins the story angry, as you can imagine a man who has suffered an unbearable curse with no end in sight for the last fifteen hundred years would be. He is angry at everyone and everything magical, and most of all angry with the woman who seems to be the embodiment of the very woman responsible for his current predicament. But as he learns more about Olivia, he warms to her - even against his better judgment - and we enjoy watching the walls this warrior has built around himself crumble beneath the weight of their love.

And of course, what paranormal romance would be complete without a nasty villain? The heinous Mathias fills that role admirably, proving a formidable antagonist with his considerable powers and legion of evil followers.

TEMPT ME WITH DARKNESS will be like catnip to lovers of paranormal romance, and will certainly foster an epidemic of happy addiction to Shayla Black's new series, THE DOOMSDAY BRETHREN!

**Courtesy of Wild on Books**

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars HIGHLY EROTIC, PARANORMAL!! AWESOME!!, October 4, 2008

By	Sabrina L. Pugliese "Summerville, SC" (Summerville, SC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have never been one to read a paranormal book before, but Shayla has never let me down before. Shayla rocked this book with sexiness, magic, twists and turns everywhere!! Never a dull moment with this book!! I am impatiently waiting for the next in the series.

A virgin woman, Olivia, in search of a fathers love she never knew. An immortal warrior, Marrok, looking for his freedom, not knowing it lied within the love he refused for centuries. And a friend, Bram, determined to do anything necessary to save the 'good' magical world.

An exquisitely written book, like watching a high dollar movie in your mind!!! Bravo Shayla, again and again!!

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Its a good romance but not a great book, October 4, 2008

By	raqssharqi (USA) - See all my reviews

I read it but only after my TBR pile was empty. Even then I kept putting it down and forgetting to read it for a few days. Don't get me wrong, the story was well written and all the other reviews here give you a clear picture of the storyline. For me the gal in the book 'Oliva' was annoying which really made it hard for me to read. Whinny, "Oh who should I believe, my immortal mate or the father I haven't ever seen before?" She wasn't street smart, witty, funny, interesting, intelligent. But she was a soon to be powerful witch, young, a virgin etc. I had to skip over paragraphs of her "will I or won't I" dialogue as it set my teeth on edge. Thats just me. I enjoy a novel more if I like the main gal, when she annoys me well its a struggle.

Soooooo 3 stars out of 5 but as I said, it is a good book but not my cup of tea.