From J. Kenner, the New York Times bestselling author of Release Me and Claim Me, writing as J. K. Beck
FBI agent Alexis Martin knows that vampires exist—because one of them killed her sister. Assigned to investigate a series of bizarre homicides in Los Angeles, Alexis believes the murders are the work of rogue vampires—perhaps even the monster responsible for her sister’s death. Now she finally has a chance for retribution. Even better, Alexis receives unexpected help from a sexy stranger as hungry for rogue blood as she is.
Serge is a centuries-old bad boy who stays off the grid—keeping his secrets, his hunger, and his heart safe from exposure. A new breed of vampire that feeds off other shadowers, Serge finds sweet torture in Alexis’s arms. Loving her is a chance to be free from the hiding, the loneliness, the secrecy. But the truth about what he is, and what he’s done, may banish him to the dark confines of his own private hell—and destroy the beginnings of their love.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
“J. K. Beck’s new vampire series is riveting, dangerous, and not to be missed!”—#1 New York Times bestselling author Sherrilyn Kenyon
“Gripping and utterly compelling. J. K. Beck takes you on a dark, twisty ride that will leave you breathless.”—New York Times bestselling author Larissa Ione, on When Blood Calls
About the Author
J. K. Beck spent more than ten years as a litigator in Southern California and central Texas, using her rare free time to indulge her passion for writing. Now she uses her legal background as inspiration for her paranormal romantic suspense series the Shadow Keepers, set in and around a secret judicial system hidden within and mirroring our own. California-born, J. K. Beck lives and writes in Texas, where she hangs out with her husband and daughters and drinks far too much coffee.
Product Details
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition
Reviewed by Nadine for My Secret Romance Book Reviews
This book was provided by the author/publisher in return for an honest review.
Alexis is out to avenge her sister's death. A former FBI agent, she won't stop till she drives a stake into the monster who took Tori from this world. Until then, she fights, hunting the monsters and eliminating them one at a time.
Serge has walked the earth for two thousand years. He's tired of the daemon within. The daemon is blood thirsty and thrives on violence and the fear in others. Cursed, he now has another beast inside him to contend with. The beast doesn't need blood to survive, it needs a life force. Refusing to give in to either and slaughter innocents, Serge now has become a different kind of monster. Once he stalked humans. Now, he hunts his own kind.
Alexis and Serge cross paths as they both fight to rid the night of the monsters that thrive off it. Injured, Alexis has no choice but to take blood from Serge to heal. She used to be repulsed by vampires. Now, Serge fills her mind with erotic desires.
When Darkness Hungers is like the grown up version of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. Alexis outfitted with stakes and crossbows hunts down vampires, hoping to one day get the one who murdered her sister. Serge hates what the daemon in him makes him do. He battles himself constantly to suppress it. Now with the beast he can feed in a different way. He hunts the vampires who have gone rogue. The ones who kill for the simple pleasures of it. The ones who were once like him.
I'm really on the fence with this one. The story was full of action and gore. The romance aspect though seemed rushed. Serge and Alexis didn't finally meet until the book was well in play. Once they got romantic it was absolutely hot of course, but it felt out of sync. The storyline took on a new dynamic. It went from action to romance. It just didn't flow well for me. Plus, part of it was hard to believe. Alexis has spent her last few years hating vampires. Yet, after two encounters with Serge she finds herself not only attracted to him, but falling in love as well. I can accept the attraction and desire, but love?
I will say though that when they are romantically entwined it's sweet to see a softer, vulnerable side of both her and Serge. Somehow Alexis is able to soothe the monsters inside him. The need for blood and destruction is subdued around her. Serge feels maybe he has finally earned redemption. But, when the truth is discovered he feels it's his own private hell instead.
When Darkness Hungers is part of The Shadow Keepers series. It can be read as a stand alone book. I had no problems keeping up with the storyline or previous characters.
This book was provided by the author/publisher in return for an honest review.
Alexis is out to avenge her sister's death. A former FBI agent, she won't stop till she drives a stake into the monster who took Tori from this world. Until then, she fights, hunting the monsters and eliminating them one at a time.
Serge has walked the earth for two thousand years. He's tired of the daemon within. The daemon is blood thirsty and thrives on violence and the fear in others. Cursed, he now has another beast inside him to contend with. The beast doesn't need blood to survive, it needs a life force. Refusing to give in to either and slaughter innocents, Serge now has become a different kind of monster. Once he stalked humans. Now, he hunts his own kind.
Alexis and Serge cross paths as they both fight to rid the night of the monsters that thrive off it. Injured, Alexis has no choice but to take blood from Serge to heal. She used to be repulsed by vampires. Now, Serge fills her mind with erotic desires.
When Darkness Hungers is like the grown up version of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. Alexis outfitted with stakes and crossbows hunts down vampires, hoping to one day get the one who murdered her sister. Serge hates what the daemon in him makes him do. He battles himself constantly to suppress it. Now with the beast he can feed in a different way. He hunts the vampires who have gone rogue. The ones who kill for the simple pleasures of it. The ones who were once like him.
I'm really on the fence with this one. The story was full of action and gore. The romance aspect though seemed rushed. Serge and Alexis didn't finally meet until the book was well in play. Once they got romantic it was absolutely hot of course, but it felt out of sync. The storyline took on a new dynamic. It went from action to romance. It just didn't flow well for me. Plus, part of it was hard to believe. Alexis has spent her last few years hating vampires. Yet, after two encounters with Serge she finds herself not only attracted to him, but falling in love as well. I can accept the attraction and desire, but love?
I will say though that when they are romantically entwined it's sweet to see a softer, vulnerable side of both her and Serge. Somehow Alexis is able to soothe the monsters inside him. The need for blood and destruction is subdued around her. Serge feels maybe he has finally earned redemption. But, when the truth is discovered he feels it's his own private hell instead.
When Darkness Hungers is part of The Shadow Keepers series. It can be read as a stand alone book. I had no problems keeping up with the storyline or previous characters.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition
Read from October 06 to 07, 2012
Book Synopsis
FBI agent Alexis Martin knows that vampires exist--because one of them killed her sister. Assigned to investigate a series of bizarre homicides in Los Angeles, Alexis believes the murders are the work of rogue vampires--perhaps even the monster responsible for her sister's death. Now she finally has a chance for retribution. Even better, Alexis receives unexpected help from a sexy stranger as hungry for rogue blood as she is.
Serge is a centuries-old bad boy who stays off the grid--keeping his secrets, his hunger, and his heart safe from exposure. A new breed of vampire that feeds off other shadowers, Serge finds sweet torture in Alexis's arms. Loving her is a chance to be free from the hiding, the loneliness, the secrecy. But the truth about what he is, and what he's done, may banish him to the dark confines of his own private hell--and destroy the beginnings of their love.
My Thoughts
There was quite a bit going on in this book, rogue vampire slayings that coincided with the homicides in LA; the mystery of just exactly what vampire had murdered Alexis sister Tori, what exactly Serge had become and what he was still evolving into; the Vampires that made up a special secret unit inside Homeland Security and most of all a hot and heavy romance developing between Alex and Serge that made them both vulnerable to the leader of the rogues.
Throughout the book as one mystery is revealed there is still another waiting to be solved. The rogue vampires are a deadly menace that not only Alexis is fighting but Serge also uses them to keep his "darker nature" under control so as not to have to feed on humans whom would end up then dying at his hands once his "inner beast" took command.
The way that previous story lines was incorporated was well done, the appearances of Sara and Luke as well as Ryan Doyle helped to fill in the gaps left when the story lagged and fans of this series will enjoy this book but for me it was not a favorite just a fast easy read that whetted my appetite for the next book to come as it will delve more into the PEC and the ongoing battle to keep the "shadow world's inhabitants" from being exposed to humans.
Murder, vampires, witches, curses, mysteries, revenge and romance are a good combination for a paranormal read but for me this fifth book in the Shadow Keepers series just did not have the exciting "feel" that I found when reading the first 3 books in the series. Part of the problem for me is the fact that it has been over a year since I started the series and part of the problem is that I never really "connected" with Alexis Martin's character. Serge was pretty fascinating, but only up to a point and then even he could not get me to really stay involved in what was happening.
I am looking forward to When Temptation Burns: A Shadow Keepers Novel (Shadow Keepers Novels) and seeing what happens in the last book of the series to tie up the story arcs.
[EArc from Netgalley in exchange for honest review]
Book Synopsis
FBI agent Alexis Martin knows that vampires exist--because one of them killed her sister. Assigned to investigate a series of bizarre homicides in Los Angeles, Alexis believes the murders are the work of rogue vampires--perhaps even the monster responsible for her sister's death. Now she finally has a chance for retribution. Even better, Alexis receives unexpected help from a sexy stranger as hungry for rogue blood as she is.
Serge is a centuries-old bad boy who stays off the grid--keeping his secrets, his hunger, and his heart safe from exposure. A new breed of vampire that feeds off other shadowers, Serge finds sweet torture in Alexis's arms. Loving her is a chance to be free from the hiding, the loneliness, the secrecy. But the truth about what he is, and what he's done, may banish him to the dark confines of his own private hell--and destroy the beginnings of their love.
My Thoughts
There was quite a bit going on in this book, rogue vampire slayings that coincided with the homicides in LA; the mystery of just exactly what vampire had murdered Alexis sister Tori, what exactly Serge had become and what he was still evolving into; the Vampires that made up a special secret unit inside Homeland Security and most of all a hot and heavy romance developing between Alex and Serge that made them both vulnerable to the leader of the rogues.
Throughout the book as one mystery is revealed there is still another waiting to be solved. The rogue vampires are a deadly menace that not only Alexis is fighting but Serge also uses them to keep his "darker nature" under control so as not to have to feed on humans whom would end up then dying at his hands once his "inner beast" took command.
The way that previous story lines was incorporated was well done, the appearances of Sara and Luke as well as Ryan Doyle helped to fill in the gaps left when the story lagged and fans of this series will enjoy this book but for me it was not a favorite just a fast easy read that whetted my appetite for the next book to come as it will delve more into the PEC and the ongoing battle to keep the "shadow world's inhabitants" from being exposed to humans.
Murder, vampires, witches, curses, mysteries, revenge and romance are a good combination for a paranormal read but for me this fifth book in the Shadow Keepers series just did not have the exciting "feel" that I found when reading the first 3 books in the series. Part of the problem for me is the fact that it has been over a year since I started the series and part of the problem is that I never really "connected" with Alexis Martin's character. Serge was pretty fascinating, but only up to a point and then even he could not get me to really stay involved in what was happening.
I am looking forward to When Temptation Burns: A Shadow Keepers Novel (Shadow Keepers Novels) and seeing what happens in the last book of the series to tie up the story arcs.
[EArc from Netgalley in exchange for honest review]
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By S. Schairer
Format:Mass Market Paperback
WHEN DARKNESS HUNGERS (Shadowkeepers 5) by JK Beck
WHEN DARKNESS HUNGERS is the fifth storyline in JK Beck's Shadowkeepers series.
Alexis is an ex-FBI agent who left the force to search full time for the vampire who killed her sister. Tormented by guilt, Alexis focuses the hunt for Tori's killer with the help of a friend-a witch. Leena's powers stem from a family history tormented by vampires and daemons and it is with those powers that Alexis hopes to track down the killer. But vengeance comes with a price, and it was a price that Alexis was willing to pay.
Serge is a 2000year old vampire, who is barely able to contain the daemon that rides him hard. But a curse placed upon the vampire has left him with a power that even he is rarely able to contain. The daemon's need for torture and pain is nothing compared to the creature that lurks just under the skin, and it is that creature that Serge let's loose when on the hunt for rogue vampires on a killing spree. But the PEC (Preternatural Enforcement Coalition) as well as the Alliance and Division 6 are not happy with the killings.
Vampires killing vampires must be sanctioned and apparently they believe one of their own has gone rogue. Without knowing who they are looking for Division 6 must use all of their resources to find the vampire responsible-but the bodies left behind are not the work of a normal kill. Fearing something bigger is at work the Division and the Alliance bring in their special team. But the reports of mummified bodies increase without any new leads or information.
Serge and Alexis paths will cross of many occasions. With the help of Leena, Alexis is able to track the vampire that killed her sister, but what she witnesses will force her to step back and re-evaluate the true nature of a vampire and his need to kill.
With Serge she sees the compassionate side of the beast, but what he hides beneath the surface is the one thing she never wants to learn. Forcing herself to look closer, she realizes that Serge is not the evil she was tracking, but a man that she has fallen in love (with). But when Serge finally discovers the true identity of Alexis's dead sister, it is only then that Alexis knows the pain of loss in more ways than one.
Once again, JK brings many of her characters back and re-integrates the familiar by way of the Alliance and Division 6. Severin Tucker uses his ability to control minds at the crime scene, but not everyone is so easily controlled: Richard Orion continues as the medical examiner looking to find ways to control the beast of the newly turned and an explanation for the mummified corpses of vampires: and the percipient Daemon Doyle who is able to pull out the last images from the recently deceased to help track down their killer: and Lucius Dragos (Luke) the vampire liaison to the Alliance and the new governor of the Los Angeles territory , and best friend to Serge.
Alexis and Serge's relationship is slow to build. In fact, their paths only cross a few times in the first half of the book. JK writes her stories with plenty of background information so that new readers to the series are not lost but in doing so the reader can be overwhelmed with the copious amount of detail. I would suggest reading the series from the start to alleviate the confusion. Like walking into the middle of a movie, sometimes going back to the beginning is the only way you are able to understand all the nuances and subtleties in the mind of the characters. I am looking forward to reading WHEN TEMPTATION BURNS-release date July 31, 2012.
Copy supplied by Netgalley
see all of my reviews at :thereadingcafe.com
WHEN DARKNESS HUNGERS is the fifth storyline in JK Beck's Shadowkeepers series.
Alexis is an ex-FBI agent who left the force to search full time for the vampire who killed her sister. Tormented by guilt, Alexis focuses the hunt for Tori's killer with the help of a friend-a witch. Leena's powers stem from a family history tormented by vampires and daemons and it is with those powers that Alexis hopes to track down the killer. But vengeance comes with a price, and it was a price that Alexis was willing to pay.
Serge is a 2000year old vampire, who is barely able to contain the daemon that rides him hard. But a curse placed upon the vampire has left him with a power that even he is rarely able to contain. The daemon's need for torture and pain is nothing compared to the creature that lurks just under the skin, and it is that creature that Serge let's loose when on the hunt for rogue vampires on a killing spree. But the PEC (Preternatural Enforcement Coalition) as well as the Alliance and Division 6 are not happy with the killings.
Vampires killing vampires must be sanctioned and apparently they believe one of their own has gone rogue. Without knowing who they are looking for Division 6 must use all of their resources to find the vampire responsible-but the bodies left behind are not the work of a normal kill. Fearing something bigger is at work the Division and the Alliance bring in their special team. But the reports of mummified bodies increase without any new leads or information.
Serge and Alexis paths will cross of many occasions. With the help of Leena, Alexis is able to track the vampire that killed her sister, but what she witnesses will force her to step back and re-evaluate the true nature of a vampire and his need to kill.
With Serge she sees the compassionate side of the beast, but what he hides beneath the surface is the one thing she never wants to learn. Forcing herself to look closer, she realizes that Serge is not the evil she was tracking, but a man that she has fallen in love (with). But when Serge finally discovers the true identity of Alexis's dead sister, it is only then that Alexis knows the pain of loss in more ways than one.
Once again, JK brings many of her characters back and re-integrates the familiar by way of the Alliance and Division 6. Severin Tucker uses his ability to control minds at the crime scene, but not everyone is so easily controlled: Richard Orion continues as the medical examiner looking to find ways to control the beast of the newly turned and an explanation for the mummified corpses of vampires: and the percipient Daemon Doyle who is able to pull out the last images from the recently deceased to help track down their killer: and Lucius Dragos (Luke) the vampire liaison to the Alliance and the new governor of the Los Angeles territory , and best friend to Serge.
Alexis and Serge's relationship is slow to build. In fact, their paths only cross a few times in the first half of the book. JK writes her stories with plenty of background information so that new readers to the series are not lost but in doing so the reader can be overwhelmed with the copious amount of detail. I would suggest reading the series from the start to alleviate the confusion. Like walking into the middle of a movie, sometimes going back to the beginning is the only way you are able to understand all the nuances and subtleties in the mind of the characters. I am looking forward to reading WHEN TEMPTATION BURNS-release date July 31, 2012.
Copy supplied by Netgalley
see all of my reviews at :thereadingcafe.com
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
There is something for everyone in this story -- murder, revenge,...
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.
Quick & Dirty: There is something for everyone in this story -- murder, revenge, romance, vampires, and much more. Read more
Quick & Dirty: There is something for everyone in this story -- murder, revenge, romance, vampires, and much more. Read more
Published 19 days ago by Dark Faerie Tales
5.0 out of 5 stars
love it
Five stars loved it. I loved the whole series. Keeps you in suspense. I will buy her books in the future
Published 1 month ago by Anita Buchanan
2.0 out of 5 stars
not for me
**WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS**
I have HUGE mixed feelings about this title and I honestly am not sure whether I enjoyed it or not. Read more
I have HUGE mixed feelings about this title and I honestly am not sure whether I enjoyed it or not. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mrs. J. A. Belfieldd
4.0 out of 5 stars
Darkness can be a good thing
Darkness is a good description of how Serge lives, ever trying to keep the darkness within him from taking control. Read more
Published 4 months ago by shill822
5.0 out of 5 stars
"takes you on a long journey of love and loss, with the outcome being...
Alexis Martin knows exactly what is out there in the shadows and is determined to end the lives of as many as possible. Read more
Published 4 months ago by M. Nix
4.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable
I have defiinitley been enjoying reading this series. I would start with the first book, the author does a great job of building this world and involving many of the characters... Read more
Published 7 months ago by L. Beyerle
3.0 out of 5 stars
A Familiar and Safe Story
When Darkness Hungers is a reasonably safe, familiar story involving Vampires, hunters, and secret FBI divisions. Read more
Published 9 months ago by BookChatterCath
3.0 out of 5 stars
Face paced in the beginning, but had flaws
When I started When Darkness Hungers I could hardly put it down. J.K. Beck wrote her characters with such depth I couldn't help but be captured by the story. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Annie Slasher
4.0 out of 5 stars
An Interesting World.
Alexis is an FBI agent and when she get handed a file on a dead woman her world gets turned upside down. The woman is her missing sister and nothing human killed her. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Ms C. McKechnie
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not for me.
The Shadow Keepers series is one I've been meaning to get to for some time now. If you know anything about me know that I dislike reading a series out of order. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Nikki B
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