Darkness Unleashed (Guardians of Eternity, #5)

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Darkness Unleashed (Guardians of Eternity #5)

by Alexandra Ivy (Goodreads Author)

4.2 of 5 stars 4.20 · rating details · 3,265 ratings · 129 reviews

The Guardians of Eternity are vampire warriors without equal, bound by their loyalties and sworn to protect their charges from every danger...except those posed by their own hungry desires...

A scarred recluse, Jagr makes no secret of his disdain for others' company. But now, as a member of Chicago's powerful vampire clan, he has certain obligations to fulfill. The latest:

...more

Paperback, 357 pages

Published November 1st 2009 by Zebra (first published October 30th 2009)

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Apr 18, 2012 Ren rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal, reviewed, vampire, shape-shifter-and-or-werewolf, tortured-hero

Read the translation version and write review in Indonesian

4,5 stars.
Seperti wine, semakin lama gaya menulis Alexandra Ivy semakin bagus.
Buku ini juga lebih bagus dari sebelumnya, walau masih belum terlalu jelas arah cerita mau dibawa kemana.

Jagr, oh Jagr. Keren sangat, tortured hero emang keren ;). Apalagi tortured hero with big and soft heart like Jagr. Dan gw juga suka banget ama Regan. Tokoh wanita favorit. Ga lemah, keras kepala, dan yg bagus dari Jagr-Regan, mereka ada proses untuk menga...more

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Oct 09, 2012 Gwenith rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: lovable-re-reads

I Love this series!!!!! OMG ..."The Librarian"Jagr♥

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Oct 08, 2012 May Mostly Romance rated it 3 of 5 stars

Darkness Unleashed ของอเล็กซานดร้า ไอวี่

หนังสือเล่มนี้เป็นเล่มที่ห้าในชุด Guardians of Eternity ซึ่งอ่านมาแล้วห้าเล่มก็ยังไม่เข้าใจความหมายค่ะ

จุดเด่นในงานเขียนของอเล็กซานดร้าก็คือ หนังสือของเธอไม่มีความเป็นชุดที่มากจนเกินไป การเกาะเกี่ยวของเรื่องราวในแต่ละเล่มจะเป็นที่ตัวละครมากกว่าที่พล็อต ดังนั้นจึงไม่จำเป็นเลยค่ะที่จะต้องอ่านเรียงกันมาตั้งแต่เล่มแรก แม้ว่าในเล่มนี้จะมีการสปอยล์เรื่องราวในเล่มสามของชุดไปบ้างเล็กน้อย แต่ก็ไม่ได้เสียหายอะไรร้ายแรง

เพราะความเลวร้ายในอดีตที่เขาถูกทรมานนานหลายร้อยปี...more

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Aug 01, 2012 Kathy Davie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, romance

Fifth in the Guardians of Eternity paranormal romance series based in Chicago and revolving around a group of vampires. The couple focus is on Regan and Jagr and Hannibal, Missouri is the setting for this story.

My Take
Well, Jagr certainly has a unique method for shutting Regan up. It's also a nice workaround to Styx's orders that Regan be brought to Chicago without blemish. Styx has an ulterior motive to sending Jagr to fetch Regan. With his own horrific background, Jagr will be more understandi...more

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Sep 29, 2011 Sharon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: alpha-male, murder, paranormal, series, spitfire, torture, violence, urban-fantasy, vampire

Well,

Not being a big fan of urban paranormals, have to say I must have been in the mood for something very different to lose myself in when I picked this up. Let's not forget it was only a buck.

This book is #5 in a series, so I jumped right into the middle with this one. I won't read anymore unless I trip over one in the 2nd hand store again. But I did enjoy it and found it entertaining with all the odd ball characters thrown in the mix...vampires, werewolves, imps, witches, you name it.

Reminded...more

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Jul 25, 2011 Sari rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: supernatural

Dari series Darkness yg ud gw baca, buku ini yg paling mengecewakan, pdhl tadinya penasaran bgt pengen baca, pas baca karakter Jagr di buku ke-4. Taunya.... jauh banget dr gambaran karakter dibuku ke-4. Di buku ke-4 Jagr digambarkan sebagai sosok yg dingin n kejam, bahkan di awal bab pertama pun dia masih menunjukkan sisi dingin tsb ketika diberikan misi oleh Sryx utk mencari adik Darcy. Tapi.... pas dia ptama ketemu Regan, karakter cool langsung hilang begitu saja. Masa karakter yg digambarkan...more

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Jul 24, 2011 Olivia rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: alexandra-ivy-author, demons, owned-papperback, romance, vampire, werewolves-and-or-shapeshifter, paranormal-romance

Yaiyyy!!! Akirnya kelar dalam 5 jam. Hiphip \(´▽`)/ \(^o^)/

Rate 5 of 5
Gileeee!!! Cinta terkewer2 ama si Jagr. Gak kalah pesonanya ama si Dante, Viper, Styx ato Cezar ( ♥͡▽♥͡ )
And he is MINE!!!
Yakk dimulai review nya..

Diawali dengan Styx memanggil Jagr ǗπƮùƘ melacak werewolves pureblood ƔάϞƍ tak lain adalah saudara kembar Darcy dr 4 saudara Darcy yg terpisah sejak kecil karena diculik oleh para cur...
Para cur, percaya bahwa werewolves pureblood dapat mengubah nasib mereka. Sehingga mereka mencu...more

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Feb 08, 2011 Tracy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal-romance

Alexander Ivy started her Guardians of Eternity series five books ago, and so far, after a slow and stumbling start in When Darkness Comes (Guardians of Eternity, Book 1), the Guardians provide a few good hours of entertainment and enjoyment with each book.

Darkness Unleashed gives Jagr, the vicious recluse vampire with a borderline personality-disorder who was introduced in Darkness Revealed (Guardians of Eternity, Book 4), and Regan, one of the four genetically altered were siblings (sister to...more Alexander Ivy started her Guardians of Eternity series five books ago, and so far, after a slow and stumbling start in When Darkness Comes (Guardians of Eternity, Book 1), the Guardians provide a few good hours of entertainment and enjoyment with each book.

Darkness Unleashed gives Jagr, the vicious recluse vampire with a borderline personality-disorder who was introduced in Darkness Revealed (Guardians of Eternity, Book 4), and Regan, one of the four genetically altered were siblings (sister to Darcy, the Anasso's mate, who we met in Darkness Everlasting (Guardians of Eternity, Book 3)) - their turn to find an HEA, if possible.

I admit, the premise of the Guardians of Eternity series as a whole isn't the most original and there's not much that sets it apart from the legion of other series in the paranormal romance sub-genre. That being said, Ivy does pen sympathetic, amusing, fun, frustrating, and challenging characters...and vile villains, too, actually...that you feel for - either to root for or to despise - through the book. And not every paranormal romance manages that with me. Darkness Unleashed in particular had a lot of really good interplay between Regan and Jagr. They were yummy and fun together.

Also, the series seems to lack (or I've missed it) an overall arc or goal that holds each of the books together (like J.R. Ward's BDB series, just to name one). This series is more akin to a less intense version of the Immortals After Dark series (Kresley Cole), in that it seems to rely on character connection and relationships to link the books, instead of a well defined overall arc. That's an observation, not a complaint, actually, as I enjoy when I can catch up on the characters I've fallen for in previous books, like Levett the diminutive gargoyle (though, admittedly, his characterization seemed a bit off from previous books), Darcy and Styx, etc. In fact, it's one of the draws of the series for me, so I wish we'd seen a wee bit more of it in Darkness Unleashed. Or, in one case, less.

There was a fair bit of Salvatore, the King of the Weres in this one...and he's always struck me as sort of a self-serving and abusive dictator so that wasn't really a plus (nor, unfortunately, was the preview of the next book in the series which appears to be Salvatore's book - I sincerely hope I'm mistaken).

All in all, Darkness Unleashed was fun. Hell, the whole series is fun. It's a light read, sometimes loving and most of the times witty, with sarcastic and strong characters that I enjoyed spending time with. And really...that's what I look for. I recommend the series to anyone who enjoys light paranormal romance series without any truly dark story lines or gruesome detail (though there is violence, most of it isn't gruesomely described), but I'd start at the beginning. There's just too much character crossing to merit considering any book in the series a stand-alone.

~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another. (less)

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Dec 22, 2009 The Romance Reviews (Carole) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-romance, vampire-romance

"Alexandra Ivy has me hooked on this series, craving it like I would the finest chocolates."

Alexandra Ivy created a winner with this combination of sexy, gorgeous hero, a courageous heroine who's more than a match for him, sly humor, action, magic and hot passion guaranteed to sizzle a page or two.

Regan, kidnapped and abused from young, is a pureblood Were who was finally rescued from her kidnapper, Culligan. However, when Culligan escaped, she vowed not to rest until she has him in her grasp an...more "Alexandra Ivy has me hooked on this series, craving it like I would the finest chocolates."

Alexandra Ivy created a winner with this combination of sexy, gorgeous hero, a courageous heroine who's more than a match for him, sly humor, action, magic and hot passion guaranteed to sizzle a page or two.

Regan, kidnapped and abused from young, is a pureblood Were who was finally rescued from her kidnapper, Culligan. However, when Culligan escaped, she vowed not to rest until she has him in her grasp and exacts her revenge. However, she didn't account for Jagr, a smokin' hot vamp who fired her blood the moment she set eyes on him.

Sexy, gorgeous, muscled, virile hero (really, any other description for a hero, anyone?) Jagr, a reclusive vampire who had been tortured for centuries, is sent to bring Regan back home to her sister in Chicago. However, he understood her need for revenge, having undergone the same thing himself years ago. Attracted and unable to help himself, he joined forces with her to track down her ex-kidnapper.

Ms. Ivy's world is one wherein demons (referring to vamps, weres, imps and just about anything non-human) live under the humans' noses in disguises or passed themselves out as humans. I think the premise here is that the humans generally don't know that the demons live among them, except for some special people, such as those who had been in the service of the demons for years as caretakers, housekeepers, etc. Vamps belong to clans and weres to packs, and there exist a sort-of harmony/peace between the two tribes, but it only takes for something to happen and an all-out war would flare between them. There are other demons, of course, such as imps, trolls, gargoyles, etc. Nothing new in this nor in the way both main characters fight their attraction to one another, but the story has more twists and turns than a labyrinth which surprised me in a pleasant way.

There are lots more things I love about this book. There's the strong heroine and her humor and the real issues Regan brought to the relationship. There's the way Regan's character grew and developed over the course of the story, in the way meeting Jagr changed her and the way she suddenly realized how her priorities have changed. There's the way Jagr opened up a bit about himself to Regan early on in the book (about 100 pages into the book) and it is as a result of this that they have their first intimate moment. All too often in some books, sex happened for no reason other than that it's time to have a sex scene. And there's the way Jagr oozed all those protective male testosterone... *melts* He's utterly yummy.

And regarding the descriptions, we have an insight into the way each character viewed the other party toward the middle of the book. Yes, they're still attracted to the other's physical attributes, but there's something more, something deeper.

Regan on Jagr: Icily aloof and yet so terribly vulnerable. Strong and yet tender. Raw, ruthless power with the soul of a scholar.

Jagr on Regan: His tiny Were, with the soul of a warrior and the innocence of an angel.

Apparently, like all the heroines in the series, I also like Levet! I'm sure I'm not the only reader with this sentiment. He provided comic relief, and I'm certain there was once or twice when he stole the scene completely from the main characters. I'm eager to read the other books, if only for Levet, but that's not the entire reason. Ms. Ivy has me absolutely hooked on this series.

I'm happy to say that this book is a standalone and it's not necessary to read the other books in order to understand it, since this is my first Guardians of Eternity book as well. But I'm getting the other books while I wait for Salvatore's story.

Reviewed by Silver for The Raving Readers(less)

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Dec 17, 2009 Katie(babs) rated it 2 of 5 stars

Darkness Unleashed is book five in this series about eternal guardians, vampire warriors who lurk in the shadows, keeping law and order even though they walk a fine line themselves. The latest guardian in this tale is Jagr, a former Visigoth chief turned recluse who prefers to have no ties to anyone, but in order to stay alive and have protection if there is a need, has joined forces with Viper, the powerful vampire clan chief of the Chicago clan. Viper calls on Jagr to do a special deed for Sty...more Darkness Unleashed is book five in this series about eternal guardians, vampire warriors who lurk in the shadows, keeping law and order even though they walk a fine line themselves. The latest guardian in this tale is Jagr, a former Visigoth chief turned recluse who prefers to have no ties to anyone, but in order to stay alive and have protection if there is a need, has joined forces with Viper, the powerful vampire clan chief of the Chicago clan. Viper calls on Jagr to do a special deed for Styx, an Aztec who is the current king of the vampires. His mate Darcy has a sister who is missing and must be found before it is too late. Darcy’s sister, Regan Garrett, has been freed after thirty years of being imprisoned and tortured by a greedy and selfish imp. Regan and Darcy are non-shifting pureblood werewolves who have been genetically altered and never knew of one another, including their two other sisters because they were stolen from their werewolf clan when they were very small. Regan has gone off to kill the imp that held her captive for so long and her actions could get her killed. Jagr is the only one Styx trusts to track her down and bring her back so she can be under his protection. Jagr is less than thrilled with this obligation but has no choice because it would be foolish for him to anger his new liege.

What Jagr doesn’t know is that Regan is being hunted by a band of rogue Curs, werewolf type creatures who kill without any regards to the consequences. Jagr must find Regan before she can come to harm. Also, Salvatore Giuliani the current king of the weres, wants Regan safe because she was once meant to be his mate. Jagr won’t let any man or creature near Regan unless it’s him. The moment Jagr meets Regan, he knows she is special even though she pushes all his buttons. He would love nothing more to hold her close and hide her away in his lair, not only for safe keeping but as his lover who can break through his icy heart and shields he has placed around himself.

Darkness Unleashed is a typical paranormal series with supernatural creatures, action packed fighting scenes and two main characters who have a great amount of issues to deal with before they can find their happily ever after together. I wish I could say that Jagr and Regan really impressed me, but unfortunately I found their personalities and dialogue flat. These two are very much like every other paranormal romance couple I’ve read before in the past. Jagr is written in such a way where he should be dark, brooding and sexy, as well as a he-man type warrior. I found him to be whiny and very one-dimensional. Regan didn’t fair much better and her reasons for things, as well as placing herself in danger for no reason grated on my nerves. These two banter back and forth, which should be a nice form of foreplay, but came across as very weak and didn’t interest me in the least. And when these two come together and have sex there was more fizzle than sizzle.

The villains in Darkness Unleashed are very comical and almost eye rolling. Their actions and reasons for certain things didn’t make sense either. I really couldn’t understand their motivations.

Fans of this series by Alexandra Ivy will probably be interested in the somewhat boring and tedious adventures of Jagr and Regan. When reading a book like this makes you want to stop finishing before the end, perhaps it’s a sign of series fatigue and things should be wrapped up sooner than later.(less)

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Dec 10, 2009 Ally rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2009

I wanted to like this book so badly. I love the rest of the series so much! And I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book, it was out of stock on Amazon so I ordered it from an American company and waited roughly two weeks for it and read it in one sitting.

'A scarred recluse, Jagr makes no secret of his disdain for others company. But now, as a member of Chicago's powerful vampire clan, he has certain obligations to fulfill. The latest: track down a missing were pureblood and return her to he...more

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Aug 22, 2012 Fairyblood rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fairy-s-fangfest-reading-challenge

The more you withrawal from the world the more the world tries to find you. Poor Jagr just wanted to stay in his lair secluded from everyone when Styx sends him out to find Darcy's sister, Regan. Having been kept in a cage for 30 years, Regan was released to Salvatore the king of the Weres. Still wanting to create a pureblood Were, Salvatore throws Regan out after finding out she is infertile. Only Jagr after his centuries of captivity and torure will be able to understand all the fury, revenge...more

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Jan 08, 2012 Noodle rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-romance

Book five in the Guardian of Eternity series and although I took a break from these delightfully easy, but oh so sexy books, to read a JR Ward book, somehow they have drawn me back in. And I am very glad they have, because they just keep getting better and better. Or maybe, the more we see of the world created by Ivy, the more entrenched we become.

Either way, I'm enjoying them as a light-weight romp through a vampire and demon ridden fantasy world.

This time we follow Jagr, an ancient reclusive a...more

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Jul 29, 2011 Astri Nasthasia Videlia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Hahhhaaayy... Alexandra Ivy is The Best!!! Love Her books so Much!!!

Jagr.. is Jegeeerrr!!! Gyahahahahahha...

Ternyata.. di balik sikap dinginnya dy sama orang lain.. ada sejarah 'mengerikan'.. Dan di Balik sikap Dinginnya dy itu.. ada sikap lembut saat dy bertemu Regan.. Uhuuuyyyy...

yg bikin gw kaget.. adegan uhuk uhuk nya ampe mecahin barang - barang di sekelilingnya saking HOT nya... huahahahahhaha

HOT boooooooooo... hmpffth

daaann.. daaannn.. daaannn.. yang bikiin gw konsentrasii baca...more

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Nov 04, 2009 Melindeeloo rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-romance-vampire

3.5 stars -Physically Free, Yet Imprisoned By Their Pasts - Love Is The Key

Regan, one of Darcy's other quadruplet sisters is freed from 30 years of imprisonment and torture, and is on the hunt to wreck vengeance on her captor. Regan comes to the story with a whole lot of anger and baggage, apart from the psychological scars from her imprisonment and abuse, the rejection by the were-king Salvatore - because the non-shifting bioengineered pureblood Regan is sterile and of no use as a breeder - o...more 3.5 stars -Physically Free, Yet Imprisoned By Their Pasts - Love Is The Key

Regan, one of Darcy's other quadruplet sisters is freed from 30 years of imprisonment and torture, and is on the hunt to wreck vengeance on her captor. Regan comes to the story with a whole lot of anger and baggage, apart from the psychological scars from her imprisonment and abuse, the rejection by the were-king Salvatore - because the non-shifting bioengineered pureblood Regan is sterile and of no use as a breeder - opens up the scars of what she's assumed was her abandonment by the family who left her to suffer her horrible fate.

The aloof controlled vampire Jagr's past too includes captivity and endless years of torture, so he is the one sent to retrieve Regan and bring her back to her sister. Regan wants and needs no one, much less the icily beautiful Jagr, but still she is drawn to the vampire who understands her need to pursue her vengeance and is willing to help her. But Regan's days of freedom may be numbered, because even as she hunts her former jailor, Regan is being hunted by a group of rogue were Curs who want Regan for the secrets of blood to enhance their own power.

I have to say that I enjoyed reading Darkness Unleashed. I am exceedingly hero centric and Jagr, once Regan melts the ice around his heart, ends up being a really good leading man - passionate, protective and willing to sacrifice and endure centuries of heart breaking loneliness in order to give the commitment-phobe Regan the freedom she has been denied. The chemistry between the pair is good and the relationship between them isn't rushed and ends up making Darkness Unleashed satisfying from a romance standpoint. For the series overall, the story is not really that memorable and just puts a check mark for one more sister down and two more to go. In fact, though Reagan and Jagr intend to continue on to search for another imprisoned sister, they both end up dropping the hunt - so they can pursue their own elusive happily ever after.

Still I enjoyed this book, I really like Ivy's strong noble vampire warrior leading men. So with that in mind it will be interesting to see what happens with the next book Beyond the Darkness (Guardians of Eternity, Book 6), where the leading man is not a vamp but the arrogant were-King Salvatore - actually I am really hoping that he has to grovel for his HEA.
(less)

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Jun 28, 2010 Cynthia (aka Artemis) rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Paranormal Romance Readers

Recommended to Cynthia by: No one

Shelves: paranormal-romance, vampires, werewolves, own, favorites

Not being familiar with the author, I picked this book up on a whim from the local library's book sale shelf. It has been on my TBR shelf for a while now; so I thought, eh, why not. WOW! It should come with a warning label. CAUTION: Events that occur may lead to spontaneous combustion.

Regan Garrett, pure blood Were, is all set on revenge (and freedom) after 30 years of imprisonment. She doesn't need help from anyone, let alone a centuries old vampire. Jagr, under orders from his King, to find Re...more

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Jan 08, 2013 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This was pretty interesting. There were a couple times where Ivy used the wrong name (mixing up Darcy and Regan, for example). My biggest complaint, though, was when Jagr and Tane were searching for Salvatore, who has been kidnapped. Jagr has just finished telling Tane that Tane could leave if he wanted to, because Styx had specifically told Jagr that he was in charge of rescuing Salvatore. Tane insists on staying, since he knows Jagr doesn't need to be going in alone. The next thing we know, Ja...more This was pretty interesting. There were a couple times where Ivy used the wrong name (mixing up Darcy and Regan, for example). My biggest complaint, though, was when Jagr and Tane were searching for Salvatore, who has been kidnapped. Jagr has just finished telling Tane that Tane could leave if he wanted to, because Styx had specifically told Jagr that he was in charge of rescuing Salvatore. Tane insists on staying, since he knows Jagr doesn't need to be going in alone. The next thing we know, Jagr suddenly decides he's too preoccupied with wondering about Regan, so he just up and goes home. Wait, what? What kind of warrior leaves someone else to complete his mission? It was totally opposite of what Jagr's personality has been throughout the book. That part really upset me.

Another part that continues to bother me is the consistency with the curs. It's stated over and over that the curs are not as mentally capable as the purebloods. They make good warriors, but they are not fully-functioning up top. They can't make decisions on their own. Well, if that's the case, how do we explain Sadie and Duncan and Caine? All of them are simple curs, but they all contrive intricate plans just as well as the purebloods. It makes no sense at all.

Yet another part that upset me is that Regan runs off to start this life on her own, to prove to herself that she doesn't need anyone else. She gets a job and an apartment, and she even begins having some luck selling sketches on the side. That's all great. And then suddenly some big money dude walks in and offers her loads of money for the sketches she already has, plus wants her to continue sketching for him weekly. She goes from having nothing of her own to being wealthy. It was pointless to add that part in there. It just makes it all even less believable. Having her earn her own way for a while was great, but then the millionaire man was just too much. It didn't add to the story in any way.

But beyond all of that, I loved Regan. She was a spitfire, and I think she was the perfect other half for Jagr. (less)

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Apr 23, 2010 Marsha rated it 4 of 5 stars

Darkness Unleashed by far is my favorite in the series. We are introduced to the second of four genetically altered were sister who were born 30 years prior and subsequently kidnapped in infancy. Regan was held prisoner and tortured by an imp name Culligan. After escaping she cannot fathom enjoying life until she hunts down her captor and kills him. Regan's sister, Darcy wants her found, returned and kept safe so her husband Styx enlists the assistance of Jagr, a recluse vampire who also had bee...more

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Apr 19, 2010 D.C. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Darkness Unleashed was the fifth book in Alexandra Ivy's Guardians of Eternity series. The Guardians of Eternity are vampire warriors without equal, bound by their loyalties and sworn to protect their charges from every danger.
This is the story of Jagr, a scarred recluse who has been tortured for three centuries, and makes no secret of his disdain for others' company. Styx calls upon Jagr to track down a missing were pureblood and return her to her sister. The problem: Regan Garrett has no inten...more

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Mar 21, 2013 Kristi rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. So good. It took me so long to read it because my own writing was taking precedence.

Jagr, oh man, what a great guy he was. He almost made me cry a few times when he was so hopelessly in love with Regan but she was afraid to commit to him. I don't know if vampires can cry but I think he was close to it a few times. Not a whole lot was revealed as to exactly how he was tortured while he was in captivity but he was deeply scarred both physically and mentally and Regan understood that just like he u...more

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Dec 15, 2010 Holly rated it 5 of 5 stars

Regan, a pure blood were who was kidnapped and abused from a young age, has finally escaped her captor, an Imp who held her in silver chains until now. Vowing revenge she sets of after him setting into effect a crazy, chaotic and dangerous time. While on her way she never suspects she just might get more than her revenge.

Jagr, a vampire that has long since kept to his lair, makes no secret of his hate for others company, and for a long while it had stayed that way. Until his Clan leader and King...more

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Nov 28, 2009 Schultzies rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own, paperback, paranormal, series

SYNOPSIS: Book five of the Guardians of Eternity series revolves around Jagr whom we met in Book 4 (Darkness Revealed) . Jagr is a recluse, who shuns his clan and has no loyalty to his King. He is a former Visigoth Chieftain who dislikes others’ company and does not take orders easily. It’s with great reluctance that he agrees to do the King’s bidding when ordered to Chicago. His prey - the Anasso’s sister-mate, Regan.

Regan is one of quadruplets that were stolen as babes; because of their purebl...more SYNOPSIS: Book five of the Guardians of Eternity series revolves around Jagr whom we met in Book 4 (Darkness Revealed) . Jagr is a recluse, who shuns his clan and has no loyalty to his King. He is a former Visigoth Chieftain who dislikes others’ company and does not take orders easily. It’s with great reluctance that he agrees to do the King’s bidding when ordered to Chicago. His prey - the Anasso’s sister-mate, Regan.

Regan is one of quadruplets that were stolen as babes; because of their pureblood Were natures. Genetically altered so they could not shift during pregnancy, the four women are considered a highly valuable commodity. Regan has spent the last thirty years of her life in captivity. A sadistic Imp has kept her chained, abused and demoralized, and all for the sake of a dollar. Freed by Salvatore, King of the Weres, she’s quickly released once he realizes she’s not that valuable after all. The one thing he needs, she can’t provide.

Jagr is sent because he and Regan share a similar past; he too was imprisoned and tortured for centuries. Regan doesn’t want the vampire with the icy eyes to assist in her quest for vengeance, but she can’t help but relate to him and his past. As Jagr patiently waits for her to dole out her retribution on the Imp, he soon realizes there are others waiting to cash in on his “valuable commodity.” Somewhere along the way, he realizes that Regan has been destined by the fates to be his for eternity. The only problem is-convincing the loner Were.

Together, Regan and Jagr will try and battle the rogue Were Curs out for her DNA. With the help of a Were King, a tenacious Gargoyle, and several deadly vampires, they will try and flush out the Cur behind the plan and perhaps save a sister in the process.

REVIEW: My synopsis might be confusing if you haven’t read this series. First, there were four pureblood Weres that were kidnapped thirty years ago. The first Were, Darcy, we met in Styx’s book. She’s now married to the Anasso, but has longed to have her sisters back. Hence, Jagr’s little quest to Chicago. We’ve now met the second sister and the end of this book foreshadows a future meeting of a third.

Onto the review: I really enjoyed the budding romance between our Hero and Heroine. Alexandra Ivy does a good job at portraying Regan’s insistence on vengeance and Jagr’s understanding and support of Regan. There was a point when I got confused as to why they both kept changing their minds, but in the end love does really conquer all. That being said, it wasn’t an easy road our lovers took, but with some effort on both parts…if you chisel enough at a wall, eventually it crumbles.

I was happy to see some characters from previous books in this one, including the yummy Viper. And of course, the introduction to a new hulking Vamp by the name of Tane. It’s always good to see the sardonic gargoyle Levet too. He’s truly becoming my favorite character in this whole series! Salvatore had quite a part in this book, and I’m not sure if I like his character or not. He’s overbearing, arrogant, condescending and an overall arse. I suppose the next book, which is Salvatore’s, will either redeem him or write him off completely in my opinion.

My only complaint (and it’s not a major complaint) about this series was an overall storyline. I didn’t quite see one until this book, it seemed it was the characters’ ties that bound the books together. Now however, there seems to be a driving storyline that can carry this series on at least another two or three books. I would still read the series either way, it’s a light read with a lot of lemons, witty banter and hawt Alpha males.

All in all, this was a great read and I can't wait for the next book in the series, Beyond the Darkness (the 6th installment). The ending of Darkness Unleashed sets up the next book marvelously. I'm interested to read more about the two missing quadruplets. And, I'm dying to find out if there is a Were out there that can tame Salvatore, King of the Weres.(less)

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Aug 20, 2011 Kimberly rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is book #5 of Guardians of Eternity series and while I think I may always think the 1st was the best this one comes in a close 2nd. The interesting thing about Ivy's books are the women are just as strong in their own way as the ancient vampires who are the heroes of the story but this one takes the cake. Jagr falls victim in this book to be held and being knocked out, etc but Regan never seems to. She is a tough little thing and proves it. Jaqr is a loner until he meets Reagan and Regan tr...more

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May 14, 2012 Lisa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Lisa by: Being bored by fitzgerald

Shelves: 2012, own, kindle-baby

While this one doesn't really differ from its predecessors, other than replacing the previous terms of endearment with 'little one' and 'chief', this was like a brain sorbet after suffering my way through a deadly dull book before picking this up. Thankfully, Regan and Jagr were also easier to like than some of the vamps and their mates that have come before (I'm looking at you, Styx).

It probably would have rated a 2 had I read this at any other time due to the plot inconsistencies and tendency...more

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Nov 18, 2009 Danielle rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own, urban-fantasy-fiction

What is it about romantic stories about vampire and werewolf couples, first Lucien and Sonia, partly Selene and Michael Corvin, Styx and Darcy, and now Jagr and Regan. There may have been a great deal of stories before Darkness Unleashed but the story of Jagr and Regan was just perfect. To have a glimpse of the inner thoughts and feelings of two people who had been tortured for years but who were now experiencing the need to be with someone else or to care so much for someone else, was extremely...more

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May 30, 2011 Jaimie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-romance

This was by far my favorite of the series. The tortured members of the group usually end up my favorites and this was no different. There was a lot going on in this book though and in order to fit it all into the 357 pages, there were times when a chapter would end with some dramatic moment and you flip the page expecting for the drama to continue however it was hours later and the person had been rescued. I think if the book was another 100 pages it could have given it some extra depth and coul...more

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Sep 02, 2012 Carrie rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Apr 20, 2012 Mutia fatimah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

bang jagr ini kalo mau disamain sama tokoh vampir lain, mungkin mirip dengan Zarek (sherrylin kenyon) ato Zsadist (jr. ward). dingin dan menutup diri akibat kenangan masa lalunya yg ga enak. tapi ketika ketemu Regan (adiknya Darcy -istrinya Styx-), eh luluh juga dia. padahal Regan ga kalah galak pertama2nya lho... tadinya mau kasih 5 bintang, tapi karena makin lama makin banyak bermunculan nama2 yg bikin agak2 pusing, yah jadi 4 bintang ^^

pokonya kalo kata maroon 5: "you gotta move like Jagr.. y...more

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May 26, 2010 Kaleigha rated it 4 of 5 stars

From some of the other reviews I had skimmed over before starting this book, I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I have the rest of the series. There seemed to be a somewhat less than stellar opinion of Regan, so I was braced for her to annoy me. I was pleasantly surprised when she didn't.

This time around, we get the story of the brooding, isolated ancient vampire Jagr - historian, recluse, warrior. His almost monastic life keeps him out of tribe business, but when his King commands him, he c...more From some of the other reviews I had skimmed over before starting this book, I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I have the rest of the series. There seemed to be a somewhat less than stellar opinion of Regan, so I was braced for her to annoy me. I was pleasantly surprised when she didn't.

This time around, we get the story of the brooding, isolated ancient vampire Jagr - historian, recluse, warrior. His almost monastic life keeps him out of tribe business, but when his King commands him, he can do no other than serve. He is less than happy when his mission is to rescue the escaped sister of his new Queen. After a lifetime of imprisonment and abuse at the hands of a greedy Imp, Regan is alone and on the hunt for revenge. And Jagr's own horrid past makes him the only one who can understand her.

Regan has only known life in a cage, waiting for the day she will be free to find the vengeance she has always dreamed of. She trusts no one...not the other Weres, not the Vampire King or her long lost sister, and certainly not the icily controlled vampire sent to bring her back. But Regan finds herself both fascinated and frustrated by the powerful warrior, with her need for revenge tempered by her need for Jagr.

As I do most males in my books, I was very drawn to Jagr. His very coldness covers a fiery rage and passion, a need he himself didn't even know he had. Regan did get a bit old sometimes with her constant harping on her 30 years of torture, but she is newly freed and really has known no other life. Even though Jagr suffered far worse for far longer, he had also had centuries to learn to deal with his painful past. Watching Jagr unthaw was actually quite touching, and seeing Regan learn to find her own way, on her own terms, was well done. The only "complaint" I could actually make is that I am very glad I read Salvatore's story first. Having started the series at the end, then going back to the front, I had a soft-spot for both Sal and Caine, and it made reading about them here much more enjoyable. They would not have even registered on my interest meter otherwise. Another great addiction to the series, and I am very anxious to get my hands on Tane...er, Tane's story. Yeah. (less)

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Jan 08, 2012 Angie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ivy-guardians

I enjoyed the sass and tension between Jagr and Regan. Tortured (in the metaphorical and as well as literal manner) characters are my favorite in these kind of books, and Jagr didn't let me down. Although we only get glimpses into their terrible pasts, the heat between Jagr and Regan was intense. I love that this book does lead us to the next 2 books - we find Salvatore being his usual smug self, and introducing us to Tane. A good read, and it also built up the "good guys vs. bad guys" storyline...more

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About Alexandra Ivy

I'm not exactly sure when I fell in love with books. Probably on my mother's knee listening to her read Dr. Seuss to me. I do remember that I was barely old enough to cross the street by myself when I discovered the delights of the local library. Could anything be more wonderful than spending summer days surrounded by stacks of Nancy Drew mysteries? Over the years I fell in love with Victoria Holt...more

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Books by Alexandra Ivy

When Darkness Comes (Guardians of Eternity, #1)

Darkness Everlasting (Guardians of Eternity, #3)

Embrace The Darkness (Guardians of Eternity, #2)

Beyond the Darkness (Guardians of Eternity, #6)

Darkness Revealed (Guardians of Eternity, #4)

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Darkness Unleashed (Guardians of Eternity #5)

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