Deadly Darkness (Daughters of Highland Darkness Trilogy, Book 2)

HISTORICAL:  Adaira lives with a deep secret: she is a blood drinker, courtesy of the evil Unseelie Queen who made a blood pact with Adaira and her two younger sisters in exchange for taking their abusive and cruel stepfather’s life. The blood pact can never be broken, and the sisters must live with darkness inside them while striving not to let the evil consume their souls. Rafe is the alpha wolf of his pack and very much in love with the rebellious and strong willed Adaira, but she’s too afraid of her darkness to let herself love him. Still, nothing will stop Rafe from protecting Adaira from the sinister machinations of Lord Cormach who wants the rightful heir to the throne dead: Adaira. Will the darkness inside Adaira rule her, or will she trust Rafe enough to open her heart to love?

“Deadly Darkness” is a story that starts out strong and shows great promise. However, be prepared for several plot holes and unanswered questions when reading this unique tale of bloodsuckers and wolf shifters. Overall, the story is captivating and intriguing, but it feels very rushed; therefore, it lacks depth and strong characterization. Ms. Zak introduces several side stories that interest the reader but fails to follow up or explain anything more than an introductory page or two. This book starts out with a bang, but the glaring grammatical and punctuation errors are a grave distraction. Still, the story itself is interesting and unconventional in a superb way, making it a great weekend read. “Deadly Darkness” by Victoria Zak will be revered for its originality and creative plot.

Tiffany Landers