Phantom Shadows (Immortal Guardians, #3)

May 14, 2013 Terri ♥ (aka Mrs. Christian Grey) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audio

Oh la la, not sure I can wait for the next one. Review to come.

Quick review:

Cover: Yum
Rating: NC-17
Steaminess: HOT HOT HOT
Thumbs Up: 5
Overall: I was left wanting more
Characters: Well Written
Plot: There is war and no one is safe
Page Turner: Yes
Series Cont.? Yes
Recommend: Yes
Book Boyfriend: Sebastian

SUMMARY (50 words or less)
Okay, it’s been a while since I read this series. I spent the first several chapters trying to reacquaint myself with the series. Still this book was on the move. It m...more

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Oct 12, 2012 Gabriel rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: defender-warriors, vampires, super-powers

I loved, loved, loved this book!!

Phantom Shadows was packed with ass-kicking action, good doses of romance and by the Gods I laughed with these immortals!
I enjoyed entering into the world of the Immortal Guardians once again but I have to say I was worried to read this one. The stunt pulled in the last book (yes, Ami, that's with you) kind of freak me out, I didn't like it at all and that made me worried about future books, but I read two pages and all my worries were left behind. All I cared a...more

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Oct 30, 2012 Mystehry rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

We need more!!!! 2013 is too long to wait!

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Oct 29, 2012 Lucy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Bastian Newcombe has spent the past two centuries hating the Immortal Guardians. He believed that his pregnant sister was slaughtered, drained of her blood, and his brother-in-law forever changed into a vampire at the hands of a vicious Guardian. Then Bastian too was changed by his brother-in-law, a man he greatly admired, and who he watched descend into madness until he was murdered by the Guardian, Roland Warbrook, the same Guardian who Blaise said was responsible for his sister’s death.

Basti...more

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May 17, 2013 Naudia rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Uh, yeah. With three chapters left i'm soooo over this book. I loved Bastien and was really looking forward to his story but this is just not what i expected. I wanted more for and from him, and i'm just not a fan of the woman being the aggressor, at least not the whole dang time. =D

(view spoiler)...more

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Dec 01, 2012 Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: action-adventure, contemporary, paranormal, non-erotic

Originally posted at: http://www.longandshortreviews.blogsp...

I adore stories where the underdog finally wins the girl but not too often is the good guy a bad guy that everyone wants to see executed. It takes a special woman to not only see beyond the common perception and clamoring for blood, but to also be able to see the truth of the man inside. The challenge for the heroine is to open everyone else’s eyes to the truth as well. Such is the story of Melanie and Bastien.

Phantom Shadows is a rea...more Originally posted at: http://www.longandshortreviews.blogsp...

I adore stories where the underdog finally wins the girl but not too often is the good guy a bad guy that everyone wants to see executed. It takes a special woman to not only see beyond the common perception and clamoring for blood, but to also be able to see the truth of the man inside. The challenge for the heroine is to open everyone else’s eyes to the truth as well. Such is the story of Melanie and Bastien.

Phantom Shadows is a real page flipper. There is so much drama, suspense and action of various levels in each chapter that it was almost impossible to put down. There is an incredible amount of detail woven throughout the book that brings the whole world that Ms. Duvall has created into vivid focus. It sucks a reader in so effectively, time ceases to exist. I totally enjoyed my reading experience because of it.

Melanie is a character that has been in a couple of books. She’s a doctor; she’s smart, sassy and has a secret crush on the resident bad boy, Bastien. Except her infatuation isn’t shallow or short-lived, it’s the start of a budding romance birthed in violence and aggression. The first time the heroine met the hero was pure chaos and yet, she saw what no one else did. Bastien trusted her with knowledge that planted the seed of their future alliance. The fruit of that initial meeting is realized in this book and Ms. Duvall simply awed me with the intricacy of the tale.

What is so intricate? It was how she let a reader know bit by bit the true scope of Bastien’s ability to be a true hero. It came about during well-paced and placed dialogue. It was how she had her hero interact with Seth, Richart, Ami, Darnell, Sarah, Roland, Cliff, Joe and Marcus and a slew of other characters. Not a one detracted or diverted a reader’s attention to the fact that this book is about Melanie and Bastien. What it did do was make me feel like I was watching a movie, about a community under fire and everyone was at their battle stations. Every single character played an important role that propelled the plot, conflict and action that affected the choices that Bastien and Melanie had to make, both apart and together. The result of dealing with each crisis helped the protagonists learn about each other, their strengths and weaknesses and it was effective. I enjoyed watching their bond grow and strengthen throughout the story. Because of how Ms. Duvall wrote her characters, they were easy to root for and applaud their efforts, even when Bastien was being a jerk. Actually, that was part of his charm. I got a lot of smiles out of his baiting the other characters. He’s such a troublemaker. Yet, his heart is in the right place and that’s one of the reasons that I think he’s an awesome hero.

Melanie is no slouch. She has a few surprises up her sleeve too. And she scares the tar out of Bastien more than once in the story. So much so, it’s amazing he didn’t have gray hair by the end of the book. To say that she is his perfect match is an understatement.

I felt really bad for Stuart. And I was saddened at what happened during one of the main and brutal attacks in the book. Someone gets captured and the results are heartbreaking. The good thing is that the bad guys, the really bad, bad guys, get their comeuppance. I wanted to be there with the hero and heroine and kick some evil derriere myself, that’s how hyper I got. I really like the people I’ve “met” while I’ve read this series and all of them are precious to me. It must have been hard for the author to write some of these scenes. And yet, she accomplished them with brutal clarity so my emotions were involved. That’s quality writing.

There is so much more I could go into in reviewing this book. It has great depth of emotion, descriptions that made me laugh or weep and parts that kept me wide eyed from the action. A writer has to have almost military precision with words to be able to get the effect of intense action off of the pages and into a reader’s mind without diluting the scene with unnecessary words. Ms. Duvall has that talent.

Honestly, Phantom Shadows is a must read. True, it would have much more impact for a reader if they’d read the previous books to understand why Bastien’s use of Ami was such a daring and profound choice. This series has been amazing so far and Phantom Shadows continues to astound and impress, not only with the quality of writing, but the sheer scope of its undertaking. How the author can keep all the players doing their thing while focusing on the current romance yet feeding a reader’s desire to continue the relationship with previous heroes and heroines is an art. An art that Ms. Duvall is mistress of. Rock your world and read Phantom Shadows. I’m glad I did. (less)

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Nov 07, 2012 May Mostly Romance rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Phantom Shadows ของไดแอนน์ ดูวัล

นี่เป็นเล่มที่สามในชุด Immortal Guardians ค่ะ และเป็นเรื่องราวของคาแร็คเตอร์ที่เราอยากอ่านมากที่สุดในชุดนี้แล้ว

สำหรับคนที่่อ่านเล่มหนึ่ง Darkness Dawn จบไปก็น่าจะคิดเหมือนเรานะคะว่า คาแร็คเตอร์ของบาสเตียนเป็นส่วนที่น่าสนใจมากที่สุด สำหรับคนที่ยังไม่ได้อ่าน เราก็คงต้องบอกว่า หยุดนะคะอย่าอ่านต่อ เพราะจะเป็นการสปอลย์เล่มแรกไม่น้อยเลย

บาสเตียนตั้งตนเป็นศัตรูกับพวก Immortal Guardians มาเกือบตลอดชีวิต หลังจากที่เขาถูกเปลี่ยนให้เป็นแวมไพร์ เขาก็ถูกตามล่าโดยกลุ่ม Immortal...more

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Oct 09, 2012 Buffy Kennedy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is a work of art. There’s so many amazing things that I loved about it that I don’t even know where to start! Let’s go simple and start with our stars. We meet Melanie briefly in book 2, but she really shines in this book. She’s strong and brave for a human, and she’s more than willing to stand up for who and what she believes in. Bastien is the villain from book 1, so naturally he’s not exactly voted most popular with the Network or the Immortals, but we get to know a side of him that...more This book is a work of art. There’s so many amazing things that I loved about it that I don’t even know where to start! Let’s go simple and start with our stars. We meet Melanie briefly in book 2, but she really shines in this book. She’s strong and brave for a human, and she’s more than willing to stand up for who and what she believes in. Bastien is the villain from book 1, so naturally he’s not exactly voted most popular with the Network or the Immortals, but we get to know a side of him that no one else seems even interested in glimpsing. They’re compelling as individuals, but as a couple they’re even more so.

I think what might be the most amazing part is that the book in no way felt long or drawn out, yet SO MUCH is incorporated into it. We see Bastien and Melanie’s romance progress, we get a little insight into Richart, Etienne, and Lisette, revisit Ami a little, get more insight into Seth, and meet a new player Zach. That doesn’t even include the conflict! The big bad is perhaps darker in this one than in the last two. Then, right as we’re getting our pretty little bow at the end, a bomb of sorts is dropped. OMG. And she does all this without leaving the reader lost or confused or let down in any way, ever.

Dianne doesn’t usually end the books on a cliff hanger, though she will leave you with something that makes you want more, but this time she leaves you aching, screaming for the next installment! She’s an absolute artist. The mystery she builds is just masterful, both long term and short term. The fight scenes are perfect, because she includes you and keeps you riveted, but without bogging you down with excessive details. With these abilities, she’s woven a very powerful tale.

Phantom Shadows is every bit as good, if not better than its two predecessors. The comraderie between the various people, the character development, the unrelenting excitement of the plot make for a story that is so gripping that you just want to climb into it. It’s a masterpiece that I believe every paranormal romance fan should read, and I can’t get enough!(less)

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Oct 09, 2012 Shauni rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I am so very excited about this book, it is one that has been on my waiting list since I finished Night Reigns (the second book in the Immortal Guardians Series). The problem that so often happens when expectations grow like that is the book falls flat.. WHOOOO EEEEE Can I just say that did so NOT happen. Dianne Duvall has started the snowball rolling in her Immortal Guardian Series and it has hit Avalanche speed!

In Book Three, the Vampire King is dead but now humans have gotten in on the deal....more I am so very excited about this book, it is one that has been on my waiting list since I finished Night Reigns (the second book in the Immortal Guardians Series). The problem that so often happens when expectations grow like that is the book falls flat.. WHOOOO EEEEE Can I just say that did so NOT happen. Dianne Duvall has started the snowball rolling in her Immortal Guardian Series and it has hit Avalanche speed!

In Book Three, the Vampire King is dead but now humans have gotten in on the deal. Humans that want to control/kill the guardians.. They are greedy, viscous and WAY more evil than any Vamp could claim to be. Face it, the Vamps have an excuse, they are infected and their minds are being turned into mush. But the humans, oh yeah.. what they will do in the name of "science", "protecting humans", "national security" yeah right. let's just call it GREED. These are the men who held Ami captive for 6 months and the torture they inflicted was beyond imaginable. So now, they want to have access and control of the Vamps and more importantly the Guardians.

Bastion has a problem, he was the "vamp" who figured out that he could gather all the newly turned vamps under his control and teach them how to survive. Only trouble was, well he wasn't a Vamp.. It's been two years since he found out that he was a Guardian and not a Vamp and he still doesn't quite play nice. His loyalties are to his two remaining vamps who turned themselves in and live in the network, allowing themselves to be studied. Ami, who was the first person to actually offer him unconditional friendship and Dr Melanie Lipton who believes in him and is well, just plain hot..

Dr Melanie Lipton, the chief medical person in the Network.. she is committed to saving Chris and Joe if at all possible. Because of that she is in constant contact with Bastion and has from the start seen the man behind the snark. Her world would be perfect if only he could shut his mouth for five minutes and not piss everyone off.. like her boss, his boss, his co-workers, her co-workers.. but in the end none of that matters, he does.

These two are fantastic. Falling in love in war time is difficult and even more so when just about everyone hates one of you. The Vamps call him Bastian the Betrayer and the Guardians, well they try not to call him at all. But it's time to try and band together.. to search out the humans who have created a tranquilizer that can take out a Guardian.

As I said in the beginning this series just keeps getting better and better. There were scenes in it that just made me want to break down and cry.. actions of such atrocity that really only man could do such horrid things. And yet, with each atrocity that hits the guardians and the network, they grow closer.. they bond as a unit and step up to become an even better team. I rather like that the evil is an insidious one, one that slithers and sneaks upon them slowly infiltrating and then discovering just who the real bad boys are.

Through it all, the relationships, Melanie and Bastion at the forefront, sizzle. We see how after two years Sarah and Roland have grown. How Marcus and Ami are thriving and yes we see teases of what could be the next relationships but we aren't sure. Each layer is carefully crafted and delivered when the time is just right. It's an exciting adventure that Ms Duvall takes us on. I have only one question.. when is the next book coming?

Shauni

For more reviews by Shauni check out Tea and Book and
Bodice Rippers, Femme Fatales and Fantasy (less)

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Oct 10, 2012 Angela rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Phantom Shadows (Immortal Guardians #3) by Dianne Duvall

Sebastien Newcombe is the Black Sheep of the Immortal Guardians. He had previously thought he was a vampire and led an uprising against the Immortal Guardians - then found out that he was really one of the Immortal Guardians himself. Add the uprising to the fact that Bastien had also killed one of the IG's years earlier - he's not exactly Mr. Popularity.

Dr. Melanie Lipton works for the network where she is trying to find a cure for the madn...more

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Oct 08, 2012 Beth rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: vampires, immortals, romance, action-adventure, action-romance, adult, aliens

Phantom Shadows is the story of Sebastien Newcombe. He is the reforming villain from Darkness Dawns. Bastien fought and even killed an Immortal before he realized he was one. Shunned by nearly every Immortal and mortal in the Guardians compound, Sebastien faces a difficult road and he chooses to face it alone.

Dr. Melanie Lipton is struggling to find a cure for the madness that eventually attacks all vampires. She befriends the vampires in her care and has always been kind to Bastien. Bastien is...more

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Sep 19, 2012 Vanessa theJeepDiva rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, paranormal-romance, request, autographed

The Immortal Guardians is a series that you really need to read in order. Dianne does a little rehashing on key points as refreshers so you’ll easily remember some of the details from the previous two books. Bastien started as in the first book Darkness Dawns a man who thought he was a vampire. He is hell bent on getting revenge against the Immortal’s who he believed killed his sister. He is now within the network of immortals that are fighting the vampires and a new unforeseen foe.

Bastien may...more The Immortal Guardians is a series that you really need to read in order. Dianne does a little rehashing on key points as refreshers so you’ll easily remember some of the details from the previous two books. Bastien started as in the first book Darkness Dawns a man who thought he was a vampire. He is hell bent on getting revenge against the Immortal’s who he believed killed his sister. He is now within the network of immortals that are fighting the vampires and a new unforeseen foe.

Bastien may be one of the special gifted immortals, but he still feels like an outsider. His attitude towards his fellow immortals leaves him constantly at odds with them. He has been with them for two years and remains the black sheep. This is all around everyone’s fault. His life among the vampires has him keeping himself on the outside. His lack of trust in people does not allow for them to see who he really is. (I absolutely loved his meltdown when he threw certain things at the bus!)

Melanie is one of the few people who don’t harbor any animosity towards Bastien. She in fact is infatuated with him. The moment she finds that he shares the attracted with her leaves her with no choice but to pursue him. I loved the fact that every time he tries to push her away with the I’m not good enough for you excuse she not so subtly reminds him that she wants him, he wants her and that is all that matters.

The fight scenes (yes, a couple of big battles!) were intense, shocking, and amazing. They were overflowing with tons of kick ass. Readers got to see past books couples in the mix of the fights. We also got to learn more about the characters who have not gotten their own books.

I found myself giggling a lot with this book. I don’t remember the others being quite this humorous. Bastien gives his fellow immortals hell, and they all dish it right back at him. The quick wit and snark also come from the seconds as well. Phantom Shadows quickly became my favorite of the series thus far. I love this series and cannot wait to get my hands on the next book. The surprise for one of the characters at the very end was an excellent addition and I’m looking forward to seeing where that goes.
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Oct 11, 2012 Pam rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Bastien was an Immortal Guardian who for centuries thought he was just a vampire. He built an entire vampire army a few years back to kill Roland to seek revenge for the death of his sister. He lived with vampires, tried to help them adapt before the madness took them over. Because of this, he had very few friends among the other Immortal Guardians. The only thing that saved Bastien from execution was that Seth, leader and oldest, most powerful of the Immortal Guardians, always seemed to have hi...more Bastien was an Immortal Guardian who for centuries thought he was just a vampire. He built an entire vampire army a few years back to kill Roland to seek revenge for the death of his sister. He lived with vampires, tried to help them adapt before the madness took them over. Because of this, he had very few friends among the other Immortal Guardians. The only thing that saved Bastien from execution was that Seth, leader and oldest, most powerful of the Immortal Guardians, always seemed to have his back. Dr. Melanie Lipton worked for the Network Headquarters of the Immortal Guardians. She had a big heart where her physcian skills were concerned. She worked closely with the vampires that the Network had in custody and truly cared for their well being. She worked extremely hard to find a cure to the viral infection that plagued the vampires. A Special Ops force began to surface posing a threat to both the vampires and the Immortal Guardians. This put into motion the battles and changes that the Immortal Guardians were going to have to face. Phantom Shadows is an amazing love story and action packed adventure thriller. Dianne Duvall has written an awesome tale of fantastic friendships, loyalty, and passionate romance. Although this was a story of Bastien and Melanie building a relationship, Duvall also brought in all of the characters introduced in previous books and continued to develop them. The action in this book was exciting and kept me on the virtual edge of my chair. Dianne spun a web of intrigue, violence, mystery and drama that kept the reader guessing about some aspects until the very end. And through it all, she added a dose of humor into the mix that helped prevent the story from spiraling into dispair. Her characters were amazing and I couldn't help but love each one of them. They interacted so well together it made them believable. Their inner thoughts and verbal sparring had me laughing out loud at times. The sex scenes and sexual tension was wonderful without overtaking the entire story. This book is among my all time favorites. I am looking forward to many more books being written and published about each of these characters. I would love to see a book with Seth finding his HEA. I loved this book and these characters have become my friends. (less)

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Oct 06, 2012 Diana N rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: for-review, vampires, ebook

Rating:B

I have been waiting for Bastian's book since the end of Night Reigns. Phantom Shadows picks up not to long after the events in Night Reigns and it kept up its action and momentum. Bastian is unlike any of the other Immortal Guardians and they despise him in response. He goes out of his way to encourage their animosity. Only a few people like Bastian and only one understands him: Dr. Melanie Lipton.

Melanie was a good fit for Bastian. She was strong, smart and willing to open herself to B...more

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Oct 05, 2012 Lisa Annesley rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle, pnr, vampire, reviewed-4-blog, warriors

4.5♥s

Survival Is On The Line

[For the uninitiated, a glossary of terms used in the Immortal Guardians books and in this review is located on Dianne Duvall's Web site at http://www.dianneduvall.com/immortalg....]

Sebastien Newcombe was the villain from Darkness Dawns who believed he was a vampire. He was the nemesis of the hero of that book, Roland Warbrook, and led a vampire attack against the Immortal Guardians. To top things off, he once killed an Immortal Guardian.

And then he found out that he,...more

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Oct 22, 2012 Melindeeloo rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal-romance, paranormal-romance-vampire

I was pretty excited about Bastien's book, because I like it when former 'villains' get a shot at redemption, but Phantom Shadows didn't end up being quite what I was hoping for. First of all, despite being the leader of the vampires and a thorn in Roland's side in the first book, in retrospect Bastien really wasn't all that bad. But he is pretty antagonistic to the rest of our immortal warriors which doesn't always add to his appeal here. And initially I was pretty bored with the setup which dr...more I was pretty excited about Bastien's book, because I like it when former 'villains' get a shot at redemption, but Phantom Shadows didn't end up being quite what I was hoping for. First of all, despite being the leader of the vampires and a thorn in Roland's side in the first book, in retrospect Bastien really wasn't all that bad. But he is pretty antagonistic to the rest of our immortal warriors which doesn't always add to his appeal here. And initially I was pretty bored with the setup which dragged and I got tired of all the Immortals sitting in a room snipping at Bastien while trying to come up with a plan to tackle the big bad.

And in the romance, Bastien's relationship with Lanie didn't blow my skirt up either, it is 'nice' but lacking any real conflict - besides the other Immortals' distrust - for the pair to overcome to be together. Lanie is just so sure and straightforward about what she wants and Bastien 'knows' what she feels so there isn't any agonizing over whether she wants him and I found myself thinking about *gasp* skipping the love scenes so that I could get back to the background action which I thought was fairly interesting.

Really it is that background action and the other cast members that kept catching my interest and motivated me to finish. I liked the bits with Ami way more than I thought I would - I especially liked her scene with the winged Zack. (and actually the mystery surrounding him and Seth has my interest piqued.) I think that there is real potential for vampire Cliff and I also liked Richart and his siblings, Lisette and Etienne, and Bastien's second too.

But even though Bastien and Lanie quite didn't live up to my expectations, the rest of the story still ended up being pretty good and I am interested enough in the rest of the cast that I will be on the look out for Richart's story (I am looking forward to finding out more about his mysterious girlfriend.) He's slated for a short story in the Predatory anthology due out Spring of 2013 with a full length book for his brother Etienne to follow.
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Oct 13, 2012 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I liked Phantom Shadows more than Night Reigns. Bastien and Melanie worked for me. I loved the idea that the "bad boy black sheep" of the immortals was all about the brainy doctor. These two balanced eaach other nicely and I felt like Dianne Duvall didn't try to change who Bastien is. He is really more misunderstood than bad, but he remains pretty unpopular amongst the immortal guardians and I liked that.
I really like the series, but I've decided my one big problem is that I just don't care abo...more

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Sep 28, 2012 Cocktails and Books rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-reading-challenges, publisher-provided, paranormal

I have truly enjoy the Immortal Guardian series. Dianne Duvall has created such a fabulous world where Gift Ones, lead by Seth and David, fight to save humans from the evil clutches of vampires and those that would use them as weapons to gain world domination. Each story demonstrates how living hundreds of years could put a slant on how a Gift One would view the world and the job they do to save it, until they find the one person who makes them whole.

Given Bastien's confusion over who he was and...more I have truly enjoy the Immortal Guardian series. Dianne Duvall has created such a fabulous world where Gift Ones, lead by Seth and David, fight to save humans from the evil clutches of vampires and those that would use them as weapons to gain world domination. Each story demonstrates how living hundreds of years could put a slant on how a Gift One would view the world and the job they do to save it, until they find the one person who makes them whole.

Given Bastien's confusion over who he was and his role in the vampires being used as a weapon, I was truly looking forward to his and Melanie's story. And while Bastien lived up to my expectation as far as how he was fitting in (or not) with the other Gift Ones and their seconds or how he worked tirelessly with Melanie to save Joe and Curtis, the storyline involving Emrys, his plot to create Super Soldiers and the Immortal Guardians efforts to take him down seemed rushed,at times jumped around and then suddenly, it was over. I wanted to know if Ami got her revenge or if Seth, David or Marcus did it for her. But instead that part of the book jumped ahead one month to a completely different storyline. It left me wanting more (more blood, more body parts...I don't know, but just more).

Back to Bastien. I really, really liked him. No matter how he ended up where he was, in his heart he was doing what he thought was right. Even when he thought he was a vampire, he took a higher road and in his warped sense of justice had his vampires taking out criminals rather than stalking innocent humans. He really was a man with a huge heart who needed a woman who could see past his misguided deeds to who he fundamentally was. Melanie saw that from the very beginning and was able to draw Bastien out of his shell and be the fun loving person he probably would have been had things not gone wrong hundreds of years before.

Overall, a solid installment in the Guardian series. I'm looking forward to see what the newest development with Ami and Marcus will mean for the Guardians and who exactly will be there next foe.(less)

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Oct 13, 2012 Ronna rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adult-paranormal-romance

In the latest Immortal Guardian series, the threat from the human mercenaries is increasing. Disappearances on college campuses are on the rise as the vampire population is drawn in after the vampire king was defeated to face the threat from what they think is the Immortal Guardians, but really its the mercenaries. The Immortal Guardians are on guard more than ever, and the threat of the mercenaries tranquilizers, and their ability to immobilize the guardians, hangs over them. The guardians need...more In the latest Immortal Guardian series, the threat from the human mercenaries is increasing. Disappearances on college campuses are on the rise as the vampire population is drawn in after the vampire king was defeated to face the threat from what they think is the Immortal Guardians, but really its the mercenaries. The Immortal Guardians are on guard more than ever, and the threat of the mercenaries tranquilizers, and their ability to immobilize the guardians, hangs over them. The guardians need to squash the mercenary threat, capture Emrys, their ringleader and Ami's torturer, and start controlling the vampire attacks.

Back at their network headquarters, Dr. Melanie Lipton, continues her compassionate work with Sebastian Newcombe's (Bastien's) former vampires - those that were salvageable from his pack before he learned he was an Immortal Guardian - desperately trying to stop or slow the virus that turns them mad. She also is testing antidotes to the tranquilizers. Bastien is in awe of this beautiful and brave human woman, and with every brush against her, his empath senses tell him she feels the same for him. But, he knows he is an outcast among the immortals, having started a vampire uprising and after killing one of their own. He also believes he is not good enough for her and that she doesn't deserve the scorn that could befall her should they become more than acquaintances.

When circumstances arise such that Melanie and Bastien are thrown into a dangerous situation and Melanie almost dies, Bastien realizes how deep his feelings are for Melanie and that her feelings for him are just as strong. Add to that a risky suggestion that compromises the network, and things become even more complicated for Bastien and Melanie. Are their feelings strong enough to bond them during this latest threat, if they and their friends even survive it?

This book is packed with the expected twists and action we have come to expect from the Immortal Guardians series. There's romance, this book featuring Bastien and Melanie, but it reunites us with all the Immortal Guardians - Roland and Sarah, Marcus and Ami, the French siblings, Seth and David, all the seconds, their human support network, etc. The back story in this one was interesting and we did get closure on one part and yet many new potential story lines were started.

I really enjoyed this one, especially the character development. I liked Bastien even before this book, and even more now. And Melanie is a worthy heroine to pair with him. I enjoyed how naturally their relationship developed and I was rooting for them the whole time. Any fan of this series will likely enjoy this story. I anxiously await the next installment. (less)

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Oct 03, 2012 Melissa rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Oh yes! One of my favorite vampire series is back! This time we get the story of Bastien. I really wanted this story. I mean it's the most annoying, cynical, obnoxious immortal of the bunch! How could I resist? I know wanting to alternately kick the guy's arse and simultaneously aww at his reluctant romance will get to you as well. Plus, Bastien has probably the biggest soft sides of all of them. He constantly worries about the ones he loves having problems because of their association with him....more

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Mar 16, 2013 BiblioJen rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, 2013

3.5 stars

Hmmm ... so, I really enjoyed the first two books in this series. If you are looking for the intense, ramped up Black Dagger Brotherhood-esque stories? These are not the droids you're looking for. If you want emotionally damaged men, saved by falling in love with good women, with a minimum of relationship angst? BINGO! You have won the gift card to the Friday night buffet at David's house.

Some of the elements that worked in the first two books got a bit tired by round three. I was hear...more

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Oct 21, 2012 jD rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, 2_kindle_own, fantasy_myths, fantasy_vamps, fantasy_romance

I know I can't always get what I want but I start cutting stars when I don't get what I need. I didn't get the enjoyment I expected from a series that is by far one of the best vamp romances around. It has it all and then some overall but this one disappointed. I still love the series and will read the next one but won't be as happy to fork over the $7.95.

In a nutshell, the characters that I have become addicted to all showed up to kick-ass and take names. The alpha male meter was on full blast...more

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Nov 13, 2012 Patricia rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I am so loving the Immortal Guardians series. Phantom Shadows delivers a gritty, edge of your seat powerpacked story from beginning to end. Personally, the reader will have a very hard time putting this book down, it'll just capture you and take you away to another realm leaving you feeling as if you are a part of the story. The story flows wonderfully and the characters were so well matched and I liked the fact that the prior couples continued on into this story. The reader feels passion for th...more

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Oct 12, 2012 Edwina " I LoveBooks" "Deb" rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

GOOD STORY!!!! EDITED REVIEW 10/12/12

Phantom Shadows is book 3 in the the Immortal Guardian series, featuring Bastian an Melanie. Their was not enough love and romance in the story between Bastian and Melanie. They were together a lot, but mostly they were attacked in some way by vampires or the human mercenaries who were out to destroy them and poor Melanie was always severely hurt. The few love scenes were OK. Also I didn't like the fact toward the end when Melanie had to be converted to Immor...more

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Feb 05, 2013 Pam rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal-read-in-2013, read-in-2013

I was sent a copy of this book for an honest review. Dr. Melanie loves her work with the supernatural and knows a lot about them. She helps all of those that she can even the ones that the other supernaturals want to kill or don't trust. She fights to protect those she cares about. The other doctors don't like Sebastien Newcombe and the supernatural have reasons to hate them. Melanie is attracted to him even if tho she knows she shouldn't she sees more in him than the others do. Bastien is used...more I was sent a copy of this book for an honest review. Dr. Melanie loves her work with the supernatural and knows a lot about them. She helps all of those that she can even the ones that the other supernaturals want to kill or don't trust. She fights to protect those she cares about. The other doctors don't like Sebastien Newcombe and the supernatural have reasons to hate them. Melanie is attracted to him even if tho she knows she shouldn't she sees more in him than the others do. Bastien is used to everyone not trusting him or liking him. Melanie is different than the others. She treats him different but he still tries to keep a wall up and not let her in. She may just fight him tooth and nail to get over that wall.

Melanie is one of those characters that I loved right away. She is tough, doesn't let anyone boss her around and takes up for the ones other people want nothing to do with. She also has a soft heart but she has plenty of backbone. Even while Bastien fights to keep her away she fights to show him all she is. I love her she is amazing. Bastien has so many layers to him. He has to face people daily that don't like or hate him. He has done many things wrong in the past but doesn't hide them or try to explain them away. He lets people think what they want. He is afraid to let Melanie get close to him because he has been alone so long. He also is afraid she will be hurt some how. I loved getting to know him as I read this book.

I have not read any of the other books in this series but I didn't get lost reading this one. I will be reading the other books because I really enjoyed the story line of this book. The battle you get to see unfold in front of your eyes is incredible. I loved all the fight scenes and all the action this book has in it. It really has the perfect mixture of action and love in this book. It really was a pleasure to read Bastien and Melanies story as they have a wonderfil chemistry that you just know they will be perfect for each other. I really enjoyed all the secondary characters as well. I need to pick up their books to see their story. This book is just jammed packed with awesomeness that left me craving more books by this author. If the rest of the series is like this book I recommend it to all paranormal lovers.
(less)

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Nov 04, 2012 Kelsey rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal

Oh, Dianne, you love to torment me with your boys! Duvall has done it again with another great addition to her Immortal Guardians series. I was so excited when I found out this was Bastien’s story I was excited and Duvall did not let me down.

Bastien’s past with the Immortal Guardians is not a good one. Before Bastien knew that he himself was an Immortal Guardian, he thought he was just a vampire and using his vampire army he was going to overthrow the Guardians. Now he works with the Guardians t...more

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Mar 23, 2013 Toni rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kensington-arcs

4.5 Stars

Phantom Shadows in the third book in the Immortal Guardians series. Ms. Duvall’s vampire world is action packed and filled with deliciously sexy immortals. Need I say more?

Bastien could be a poster child for bad boys; gorgeous, angry, misunderstood and tortured. Man you gotta love them bad boys! For the last two years, he has been working with the Immortal Guardians. All of his existence has been trying to destroy them, so it’s understandable that they are leery of him and would rather...more 4.5 Stars

Phantom Shadows in the third book in the Immortal Guardians series. Ms. Duvall’s vampire world is action packed and filled with deliciously sexy immortals. Need I say more?

Bastien could be a poster child for bad boys; gorgeous, angry, misunderstood and tortured. Man you gotta love them bad boys! For the last two years, he has been working with the Immortal Guardians. All of his existence has been trying to destroy them, so it’s understandable that they are leery of him and would rather see him die a painful violent death. His view on the situation…bring it on boys!

Melanie has watched how the immortals have treated Bastien and she is confused. While she has seen the bad side of him, she has also seen the good. She might not understand why everyone hates him, but she is more curious with how much she desires him. Following her feelings, she needs to figure out how to convince him that he is worthy of her attention. Their blossoming romance may be the last thing they should be developing right now, but it is exactly what they both need.

The battle Bastien started years ago is escalating and needs to be stopped before all hell breaks loose. The immortals need to let the past go and Bastien needs to look towards the future and Melanie just needs to survive. Can these three sides find a way to bring it all together and save all they know and cherish?

I’m always game for a great vampire story and Ms. Duvall doesn’t disappoint. Her vampires have humor and brawn and for me that is a perfect combination. In this third novel, we get to see the other side of the resident black sheep, Bastien. I could tell from earlier books in the series that he was not what he seemed and I couldn’t wait to read more about him. I really enjoyed the development of Bastien and the view that he really is “human” and cares deeply and will likely love even deeper.

I’m not sure if I would consider Phantom Shadows a standalone book. Both the prior novels are referenced often and when I went back to reread a scene that I forgot, I realized how intertwined the novels are. Ms. Duvall has done a great job with continuity and storytelling and I believe this series should be read in order.

Phantom Shadows is a fantastic addition to a richly developed series. The action is exhilarating and the love scenes are heart pounding. This is top notch reading and high quality paranormal world building. So grab the Immortal Guardians series with both hands and hold on tight. These guys really know how to take you on a ride of your life!(less)

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Nov 23, 2012 Nikki Brandyberry rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Phantom Shadows is Dianne Duvall’s third book in her Immortal Guardian series and those that enjoyed the last two books are sure to feel the same about this one. I had the privilege of going into this one blind. I owned the first two books but because of time restraints I chose to read this one first and see if I could understand it as a stand alone book…which happily I did. Of course knowing the back ground information is always a good idea and I really try not to read out of order but I found...more Phantom Shadows is Dianne Duvall’s third book in her Immortal Guardian series and those that enjoyed the last two books are sure to feel the same about this one. I had the privilege of going into this one blind. I owned the first two books but because of time restraints I chose to read this one first and see if I could understand it as a stand alone book…which happily I did. Of course knowing the back ground information is always a good idea and I really try not to read out of order but I found I understood this one quite nicely. Maybe because of that I liked Bastian’s character much more because I didn’t get to see him as the mean guy in the previous books. By this point in the continuing story he’s been integrated into the inner fold of characters though many are not happy about that. They are leery of his motives and had he not had the backing of their leader, he may not have had such a passable road to where this book opens.

While I did find this to be a lot like several other series I have been reading, I thought it was still well done. Though it may have a hard time standing on it’s own in such a saturated genre, if you like JR Ward or Gena Showalter you’re sure to enjoy these as well. Duvall writes engaging characters that kept me both amused and interested in their various plights. I found that reading about the secondary characters made me want to go back and read how they got here and why they behaved as they did. I wanted to know more about them. The dynamics of this team and the drastic differences between all the characters really made the book stand out to me. This particular group of characters from human to vampire to alien was what set this apart in my mind from the other like books I had read.

Bastion was an interesting character because no one really knew who he was, except for Melanie who saw parts of him everyone else ignored. She immediately believed in him and that bolstered him to become the true fighter he was meant to be and take his place among the guardians. Melanie herself, though not immortal had the tenacity of a pitbull and a backbone of steel. She never backed down and, as a human, was incredibly brave. Her scientific smarts and Bastians abilities together made them a tough team to take on.

I enjoyed this one immensely and I recommend you give this series a try! Duvall has proven herself worthy to me and I will continue to read this series.

I give Phantom Shadows by Dianne Duvall 3.75 stars! (less)

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Apr 16, 2013 Mindy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Revisiting the Immortals--Sebastian is falling for the beautiful and gifted Melanie, a research doctor on staff. Melanie works with Bastian's vampires, Cliff and Joe. I like how the author includes all the characters from previous books and allows us to get to know more about them in each new story. Bastian and Melanie's romance is fun because Mel is so spunky and has him around her little finger. Ami and Marcus are a point of focus because of Ami's origins and the end of the book has a big surp...more

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Oct 02, 2012 Christi Snow rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My Review:
Last year, this was one of my new favorite series and I have been dying for Bastien's book. The original bad-guy (in book #1) this is an Immortal that has been on the outside for much too long, when he didn't know any better.

Now, three books later, he has settled into the Immortals group, although no one is very comfortable with the fact. He is daily faced with outright distrust and aggression. What makes this so heartbreaking is the fact that he's truly a good guy. He's always out th...more My Review:
Last year, this was one of my new favorite series and I have been dying for Bastien's book. The original bad-guy (in book #1) this is an Immortal that has been on the outside for much too long, when he didn't know any better.

Now, three books later, he has settled into the Immortals group, although no one is very comfortable with the fact. He is daily faced with outright distrust and aggression. What makes this so heartbreaking is the fact that he's truly a good guy. He's always out there trying to protect the underdog (which is how he ended up on the other side from the immortals...he was trying to save the vampires). But too many times, things end up going badly and he gets wrongly judged for it.

One of the few people who truly sees the real him is Dr. Melanie Lipton. She's the doctor working with the vampires they have in captivity, trying to come up with a cure for the virus that drives them insane. The two vampires she's working with are two of Bastien's former followers and he's friends with them. She sees him as he visits them every day and knows he's doing everything he can to ease their positions....even to the detriment of his status within the Immortals. This is a guy who will do ANYthing he has to if it helps a friend in need.

They have a mutual attraction that Bastien keeps putting off. He knows his outcast status will hurt Melanie and possibly even cost her the job she loves and is so good at doing. It's not a risk he's willing to take....either for her or the vampires that she's helping. They are too important to him....all three of them. But things come to a head rather quickly when Melanie discovers an antidote to the drug that can take down the Immortals and Bastien self-doses himself with it to test it.

I continue to adore Bastien's character. He's incredibly passionate. When he believes in something he fights with all that he has for it. But he's also incredibly protective and sweet. He can sense feelings with a simple touch and that makes him incredibly empathetic. He's always willing to give someone an extra chance...and there are several examples of that in this book. I loved watching him become close to the French Immortal brothers in this one. They originally hated him, but by working with him, start to see the error of their ways, especially Etienne who can pick his brain when Bastien accidentally lets his mental barriers down.

I love this whole group of characters. They are a very different group than you normally find with these types of books, but I like them all in their own ways. I am especially fascinated with Zach (much like I was fascinated with Bastien before this book) and hope we get more of his story soon.

I will admit there is A LOT to the over-riding series story...and it is definitely going to some really intriguing places. This whole series is amazingly creative. But in this book, I was thrilled with the first half because it truly focused on Bastien and Melanie. The second half went more into the overall story. While I like that story, I wasn't ready to spend time on it away from Bastien and Melanie yet and that hurt my overall rating on the book, although I do love the whole over-riding series. I know, I know...there's no pleasing me. I just wanted MORE Bastien & Melanie, but that would have probably added another 100 pages to an already long, but really good, book.

If you haven't tried it yet, I highly recommend this series!!

Giggle-worthy quotes:
Sarah cleared her throat. "If it helps, I didn't see Bastien coming either."
Darnell grinned. "Yeah, but you managed to shoot him twice and stab him in the ass."Laughter erupted.
Seth held his hands up. "All right. All right. Settle down. We're all glad Sarah stabbed Bastien in the ass."

I received a complementary copy of this book in return for an honest review.(less)

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Phantom Shadows (Immortal Guardians #3)

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