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Sin's Dark Caress (Dark Brethren #3)

by Tracey O'Hara (Goodreads Author)

3.85 of 5 stars 3.85 · rating details · 91 ratings · 26 reviews

An ancient darkness has risen from the ashes . . . and terror has been loosed upon an unsuspecting world.

Forensic witch Bianca Sin has never seen anything like it: homeless teenage girls torn to pieces by dark magic in the cold shadows of the city. More terrifying still is the symbol written in blood on an alley wall—the unmistakable seal of the Dark Brethren.

Teaming up wi...more

Paperback, Mass Market, 336 pages

Published July 31st 2012 by HarperCollins Canada / Science Fictio

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Jul 20, 2012 Dottie rated it 4 of 5 stars

A dark, graphic tale! Taken from my review at RomanceJunkies.com:

Bianca Sin, a forensic witch, had so far been unable to bond with a familiar so her powers were not fully developed. But after being called out to the site of a dead homeless girl whose body had been cleaved in half by dark magic and her baby removed from her body, things began to rapidly change. She knew that this was particularly bad, especially when she saw the sign that had been drawn in blood by the body…the seal of the Black...more A dark, graphic tale! Taken from my review at RomanceJunkies.com:

Bianca Sin, a forensic witch, had so far been unable to bond with a familiar so her powers were not fully developed. But after being called out to the site of a dead homeless girl whose body had been cleaved in half by dark magic and her baby removed from her body, things began to rapidly change. She knew that this was particularly bad, especially when she saw the sign that had been drawn in blood by the body…the seal of the Black Brethren, and the blood did not belong to the homeless victim. That night, the pendant that had been handed down to her and which she always wore seemed to set off her cat. Earlier in the day, she had noticed some movement and change of temperature with the pendant. When the cat practically attacked her, she took off the pendant and laid it on the table. Later, waking up, she discovered that the cat had claimed it and refused to give it up. Returning home from work the next day, she found her pendant had been broken in half and to her surprise her cat now had a friend…a blue dragon. Finding herself bonded to the dragon named Kedrax, she found her powers coming in fully. She also made some other discoveries. The dragon could talk to her and the reason she had been unable to bond with a familiar was that she had already mentally bonded with Kedrax when she was a child.

On the job, Bianca teams up with longtime friend, NYPD homicide detective Lancelot McManus and an elite task force, which is run by Oberon DuPrie, a shape-shifter, to investigate the case which has been labeled Womb Raider. Although McManus, who has a drinking and a Neon Tears drug addiction, desires Bianca, he tries not to show it after the one disastrous night they spent together. But these two must work closely together, trusting each other, even after McManus is suspended from his job for striking another officer. With one body after another showing up, each bearing the seal of the Dark Brethren, both the human and paranormal worlds have been thrown into disorder. In many cases, a fully formed fetus is removed from the body of the victims, even some victims who had not been pregnant that very morning. The pure, dark evil of the Dark Brethren has arrived and it is left up to McManus and Bianca, with the help of Kedrax, to stop it. But when the evil hits too close to home and Bianca’s loved ones, the powerful witch has had enough. With danger all around them, will they be able to defeat the dark forces before it is too late?

A dark tale, SIN’S DARK CARESS, the third book in author Tracey O’Hara’s DARK BRETHREN series, is an intense, suspense-filled paranormal urban fantasy. It is set in an alternate earth where humans and paranormal beings exist in a tentatively peaceful state. Although it takes off slow, it quickly picks up speed. Brimming with action, magic, witches, faeries, evil, suspense, mystery and an originally creative plot, this story is an exciting read. Romance is not a big component in Ms. O’Hara’s story, but I recommend it to lovers of urban fantasy. I loved Bianca’s spunky, heart-filled character as well as McManus’ sarcastic, bad boy persona. At times graphic, I don’t believe this story is for the faint of heart. Still it is an enjoyable read. Do not miss it!

Dottie, RomanceJunkies.com
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May 21, 2012 Iris (Paranormal Cravings) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy

The pace is brisk and intense. The story has betrayal and action, with plot twists to give great entertainment, but alas NO romance!

(view spoiler)...more

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Mar 16, 2013 Ozsaur rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy

Nicely suspenseful book in the Dark Brethren Series. The plot was intriguing enough that it kept my attention for the entire book. Bianca and McManus were interesting characters and I'm looking forward to getting to know them better in the next books. Oddly, McManus, who is not the main character, was better drawn than Bianca. I especially liked that the romance took a back seat to the plot. Bianca didn't spend paragraph after paragraph mooning over McManus. The balance between romance and the p...more

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Aug 15, 2012 Debbie rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fantasy/supernatural reader

Recommended to Debbie by: picked up the ARC for Night's Cold Kiss

Sin’s Dark Caress(Dark Brethren,#3), Tracey O’Hara, Dr. Bianca Sin is a witch with a secret not even she's aware she possess. Bianca partners up with a detective McManus who appears to be human and also so obviously her love interest. They have a really heinous crime spree to solve and it involves the Dark Brethren. Calling the crime the Womb Robbers, its really disturbing. This was a decent mystery set in the supernatural genre. This was also the third in the series. I really like the way O'Har...more

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May 18, 2012 Patricia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: source-e-arc, genre-urban-contemporary-fantasy, paranormal-dragons, paranormal-elves-faeries-pixies, paranormal-ghosts-undead-zombies, paranormal-magic, paranormal-incubi-succubi, paranormal-psychics, paranormal_shifters, paranormal-vampires, 2012, review-planned, release-2012-07-to-12, x-pov-3rd-person, x-pov-shared

This was surprisingly good, even though also a little confusing at first. Apparently you should read the prequels first. ; )

Proper review to come, but my first thoughts:

Apparently set in an alternate universe, similiar to The Hollows/Sookie Stackhouse series, though a little darker - More like the Kate Daniels novels or even Unbound.

Strong structures, heroine is a witch; hero is a cop with a drug problem and crappy past.

Women are being killed, their babies stolen (to be sacrificed)

Really loved...more

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Oct 01, 2012 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really do like this series, however, I wish we could go back to get more of Antoinette and Christian. I guess when I read what I consider to be urban fantasy, I'd like there to be a central group of people (usually two, but I'd settle for four) in the story line. I'd rather follow their exploits than to always introduce new characters. Yeah, I guess I'm selfish like that.

I did enjoy this story for the most part...however, the ending was so abrupt. I kept thinking that I must've missed a few p...more

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Oct 03, 2012 Michelle Bel rated it 4 of 5 stars

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Jun 28, 2012 Jessica rated it 5 of 5 stars

I received this ARC from the publisher via Edelweiss

Tracey O'Hara's Sin's Dark Caress was phenomenal! This series is really turning out to be a good one! It doesn't follow the standard series format where we see the same characters again and again, and I kind of like that! It's how I'm formatting my series as well!

So we meet Bianca Sin this time around, she's a forensic witch, working on murder cases where magic was involved and using her abilities to try find clues from the magic left behind. H...more

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Aug 02, 2012 Addictive rated it 4 of 5 stars

Although Sin’s Dark Caress didn’t have any sex or any sexual tension for that matter (although the author did try), I enjoyed reading the 3rd in The Dark Brethren series. There was just so much going on that it was hard to miss what wasn’t there. But of course it was not labeled as a romance, nor was it labeled as having any kind of romantic element it in.
The plot was unmistakably riveting. I was so engrossed; I was hard-pressed to concentrate on my real life. My mind was always going back to...more

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Jul 23, 2012 Shelleyrae at Book'd Out rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-are, aussie-author, edelweiss

It has been a while since I have read something in the Urban Fantasy genre and I've missed it. Having read Night's Cold Kiss and Death's Sweet Embrace last year I jumped at the opportunity to read Sin's Dark Caress as part of the AWW (Australian Women Writers) challenge I am participating in and was quickly drawn back into O'Hara's dark fantasy world.
Forensic witch Dr Bianca Sin features in this installment, called in by NYPD homicide detective Lancelot McManus when young women are found brutall...more It has been a while since I have read something in the Urban Fantasy genre and I've missed it. Having read Night's Cold Kiss and Death's Sweet Embrace last year I jumped at the opportunity to read Sin's Dark Caress as part of the AWW (Australian Women Writers) challenge I am participating in and was quickly drawn back into O'Hara's dark fantasy world.
Forensic witch Dr Bianca Sin features in this installment, called in by NYPD homicide detective Lancelot McManus when young women are found brutally murdered, an infant ripped from their womb and the Dark Brethren's mark painted nearby in blood. While the FBI blame a black market baby ring, McManus, Bianca and Oberon's team know that there is something much more sinister happening.

I enjoyed the plot of Sin's Dark Caress which blends action, mystery and magic with a touch of romance. There tends to be a fair bit of grisly violence in the story but it supports the gritty tone of the series. While the last two books in this series veered towards paranormal romance, Sin's Dark Caress is more properly urban fantasy. The relationship between Bianca and McManus is an aside rather than central to the story though O'Hara does ensure the romantic tension between the pair remains present throughout.

Bianca has appeared briefly in other installments of this series as a member of Oberon's elite team. She is a forensic specialist and also a witch but has never bonded with a familiar, a necessary process for a witch to come into full power. In Sin's Dark Caress her powers are activated when her pendant hatches to reveal a dragon, Kedrax. Dragons are the first guardians of the veil between this world and the dimension where the Dark Brethren are trapped, and Bianca's new power, along with McManus's surprising birthright, are crucial in preventing their escape.

Sin's Dark Caress is a fast paced read with plenty of action, exciting twists and strong characters. With its mix of murder, mayhem and magic I think its the strongest book of the three and though it could work as a stand alone, I would recommend reading the previous installments.

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Jul 19, 2012 Kt from A Book Obsession.. rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: received-for-review

Review originally posted on my blog: A Book Obsession..

As a forensic witch, Sin sees a lot of horrible nasty things, but her latest case may just be the worst. Girls are being torn apart as their unborn children are ripped from their wombs by the darkest magic. They carry the mark of the Dark Brethren, the darkest force imaginable. She partners up with her longtime friend, detective McManus and a special ops task force to get to the bottom of these brutal rituals before the unimaginable happens...more Review originally posted on my blog: A Book Obsession..

As a forensic witch, Sin sees a lot of horrible nasty things, but her latest case may just be the worst. Girls are being torn apart as their unborn children are ripped from their wombs by the darkest magic. They carry the mark of the Dark Brethren, the darkest force imaginable. She partners up with her longtime friend, detective McManus and a special ops task force to get to the bottom of these brutal rituals before the unimaginable happens and the Brethren are released unto this world, wreaking death, horrors, and destruction. Failure is not an option.

I really love Sin's character. She's considered the least of her peers as she was never able to bond to a familiar, so she tries to avoid the politics surrounding her kind. (Think high society with magical powers.) In fact, this lack actually lessened the standing of her family, something that is very important in Witch culture. Yet she never once shows an inferiority complex, and she puts her entire heart and soul into her job. I really admire the way she found a way to work with her limited powers to help others. Of course the power situation changes pretty early on in the story as events unfurl. I've always loved books that have an awakening of some sort where the character goes from the weakest to strongest. I think the time spent being "lesser" gives the character a unique perspective and more apt to use the power responsibly when the time comes. Based on what I've seen, no one is more capable and deserving than Sin.

I was rather frustrated with the lack of any real romance in Sin's Dark Caress, especially considering the much larger role it played in the previous installments. Sin and McManus had tried the whole intimacy thing in the past and claimed it was incredibly awkward, so they abandoned that idea to just be good friends. Yet, despite that, there still was a spark between them, and I just think there were several missed opportunities for their relationship to have been expanded on. Granted, McManus has had a very rough life, and has good reasons for distrusting Witches as his past haunts him. He has multiple vices of addictions, that are slowly destroying him, so he isn't really in the best of places for a relationship. That being said, the one constant in his life is Sin, and I think in time she could help him overcome his addictions and past. We were given glimpses of that potential with a kiss here and there, but nothing really substantial. Unfortunately, if this series continues the trend of changing character focuses, we won't get to see that growth and change, which is really disappointing.

The beginning of Sin's Dark Caress was rather slow, but once things got in motion, they took off with a bang, almost, but not quite to the point of chaos. I would have preferred a more even pacing, but that didn't hinder my reading experience as much as my frustration with the lack of romantic development. Honestly, I don't mind a slow romantic build up when the series continues with the same characters, but as we probably won't directly see these two together I feel rather let down. That being said, the rest of Sin's Dark Caress was pretty solid, and definitely worth the time spent. So if you enjoy Urban Fantasy and don't mind the lack of romance, then Sin's Dark Caress should largely appeal to you.(less)

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Aug 17, 2012 Stacy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: edelweiss

I gave it 3.5 stars

Book 1 of the Dark Brethren NIGHT'S COLD KISS remains my favorite of the series. It did a fabulous job of drawing me into the story so that I wanted to read more of what would come in the series. Book 3 SIN'S DARK CARESS was a good addition to the series. It follows Bianca Sin and Lancelot McManus as they investigate a string of mysterious crimes.

The other two books were heavy on the relationship front but SIN'S DARK CARESS is more about the story and mystery then relationship...more

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Jul 08, 2012 Stephanie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: advanced-reading-copy, read-2012, scifi-fantasy, nook, paranormal, shifters, vampires, spell-casters

Well...

The first thing I really wish is that the characters were more consistent. Each book has been about a new two characters. However, book 2 did a bit better incorporating the previous characters than this one did. Also, I can't even begin to predict who the next book will be about. There is no lead in for that.

I really missed the main characters from the last two books. I got to know them so well...and then this book pretty much just had them wave to us and had them tell us that they wouldn...more

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Jul 30, 2012 Scooper Speaks rated it 5 of 5 stars

Favorite Lines: "Bianca followed him back to the body and dropped to a squat. Dark blond hair was tacky with drying blood that pooled around the dead girl's head, and her lower abdomen was just an empty cavity." (p. 6, egalley)

Tracey O'Hara's Dark Brethren series gets better with each book. I didn't fall in love with book one, Night's Cold Kiss. It was okay, but I didn't really think about it after I read it. Book two, Death's Sweet Embrace, felt like a totally different series. I read it quickl...more

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Jan 17, 2013 Shelley aka Gizmo's Reviews rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-releases, edelweiss-arc, genre-paranormal-romance

*Rating* 3.0-3.5
*Genre* Paranormal Romance

*Review*

Sin’s Dark Caress, book three in the Dark Brethren series, surrounds Forensic witch Dr. Bianca Sin who is called to the scene of a crime after a woman appears to have been torn apart from the inside out. It appears she had given birth to a new born baby that is now missing and the Dark Brethren's mark is painted nearby in blood.

Sin teams up with her former love interest NYPD homicide detective Lancelot McManus who just happens to be addicted to a...more *Rating* 3.0-3.5
*Genre* Paranormal Romance

*Review*

Sin’s Dark Caress, book three in the Dark Brethren series, surrounds Forensic witch Dr. Bianca Sin who is called to the scene of a crime after a woman appears to have been torn apart from the inside out. It appears she had given birth to a new born baby that is now missing and the Dark Brethren's mark is painted nearby in blood.

Sin teams up with her former love interest NYPD homicide detective Lancelot McManus who just happens to be addicted to a new designer drug named Neon Tears and he is on the cusp of losing his job if he doesn’t clean himself up quickly. Sin and McManus are also joined by Oberon DuPrie, a shape-shifter who leads a Special elite team of paranormals, to investigate the case which has been labeled Womb Raider.

Bianca has appeared briefly in other installments of the Dark Brethren series as a member of Oberon's elite team. Until Sin’s Dark Caress, Sin had never bonded with a familiar which is something of a sore spot for her. In Sin's Dark Caress her powers are finally activated when her pendant hatches to reveal a dragon named Kedrax who she supposedly bonded to as a child.

Sin’s Dark Caress is a decent enough story that kept my interest peeked to the point of putting away another book I was reading at the same time in order to see it through to the very end. This also appears to be a bridge to another sequence in the Dark Brethren series now that the cat is literally out of the bag.

There tends to be a fair amount of violence in the story but it supports the gritty tone of the series to this point. The relationship between Bianca and McManus is an aside rather than central to the story though O'Hara does ensure the romantic tension between the pair remains present throughout.

Characters from the first two novels, like Antoinette Petrescu, Kitt Jordan and Raven Matokwe, make brief appearances in the story but aren't major factors in the story’s direction or conclusion. It's all about Bianca's new powers, and her relationship with McManus.

I would recommend reading NIGHT'S COLD KISS and DEATH'S SWEET EMBRACE before trying to read Sin's Dark Caress. Some have found it to be just as good as a standalone, but you miss the significance of other characters that have been introduced over the course of this series. There is plenty of action, along with characters who aren’t perfect. I am definitely hoping for a next installment to this series.

*ARC Recvd 05/10/2012 from Harper Voyager via Edelweiss. Released July 31, 2012(less)

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Apr 28, 2012 Tez rated it 4 of 5 stars

Pregnant young women are murdered, their foetuses removed, with the Dark Brethren's mark left as a signature. The Womb Raider case has Detective Lancelot McManus and forensic thaumaturgist Dr Bianca Sin investigating the links between the victims, and predicting whom will be next.

It's safe to say that the Dark Brethren series has entered bonkers territory. Weird shiz makes me laugh, keeps me entertained, so I'm happy to go along on this ride. But be warned - there are talking dragons. I'm used t...more

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Apr 20, 2012 Helen rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is such a great read MS O'Hara is building a great world that gets more intriguing with each book. Although there is not a big romance in this one the pull between McManus and Bianca is there and you can really feel the sparks between the two as they join forces and fight the Dark Bretheran as they make their way back into the world. The Black Magic is growing and I look forward to more books in this series.
A great read that will keep you turning pages late into the night

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Nov 04, 2012 Anna rated it 4 of 5 stars

review was [posted at http:vampchix.blogspot.com

I was sent this for review and did not have the benefit of reading the first two books but I did enjoy this one. I am planning on going back to read the previous books, but I think most readers will like this even if they haven't started at the beginning. The UF world is well crafted and original, with plenty of deceptions and betrayal to keep you guessing.

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Apr 15, 2013 Brittany Biddy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Although no sex it was a very good book. The action made up for it immensely. I also liked that the main character McManus wasn't the perfect poster child. He had issues and not just past issues. Present with the drug addiction. Makes him seem more real. But I'm wondering is there going to be a next book?? Maybe about Oberon (very much hope so), he's a character I definitely like to sink my teeth into!!

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Jan 17, 2013 Darcy rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, magic, pnr

I was really looking forward to this book as I have liked what I've read so far in this series. Right away I found myself confused, there were too many new characters and things weren't explained very well. I quick switched to read the definitions in the back, hoping that would help, but no luck. I didn't care for McManus, I hated his drugged and drinking ways, especially considering that he was a cop. I was ambivalent on Bianca, the most interesting thing about her was her new familiar. I found...more

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Feb 10, 2013 Sandra Berryman rated it 4 of 5 stars

Didn't read the first 2 books in the series, but this one was very good. Forensic witch with some great twists and turns,little romance but story line that kept me page turning. Would recommend for a different type of read, urban fantasy that didn't fall into a set category.

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Sep 08, 2012 Sandra rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is a very dark and gritty series. I would have liked a little more romance between Bianca and McManus but the story was good and Bianca is much more rounded, mature and likeable than the heroine of the other Dark Brethen book I read ( No 1).

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Sep 11, 2012 Mel Teshco rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: paranormal and UF lovers

Totally loved the hero in this book and the writing was solid, entertaining and fun. Want to read another installment, the dragons!!!!! (need I say more!)

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Aug 19, 2012 Emoore0916 rated it 3 of 5 stars

Hmmm I think I'm still wanting and looking for Antoinette and Christian....and I keep coming back for more nothing. This one I seemed to think something was going to happen but it never did......the story seemed to be all over the place, but came together in the end. 3.5 stars.....bring Antoinette back

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Jul 29, 2012 Pamela rated it 3 of 5 stars

Rated 3.5
Review courtesy of Romance Junkies: http://romancejunkiesreviews.com/artm...

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Sep 02, 2012 Marj rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: o, paranormal, urban-fantasy

3.5*

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Jun 12, 2013 Regina marked it as to-read

Jun 10, 2013 Lindy Still marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Jun 09, 2013 Kili rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

Jun 07, 2013 Danielle Long marked it as to-read

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About Tracey O'Hara

Tracey O'Hara was born in Tasmania, Australia, but actually grew up in North and Far North Queensland. She discovered a passion for writing when researching her family history and started with an Australian colonial saga.

She grew up reading Stephen King, Raymond E. Feist, Frank Herbert, Isaac Asimov, and J. R. R. Tolkien, and developed her taste for adventure and the paranormal thriller. Her love...more

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Books by Tracey O'Hara

Death's Sweet Embrace (Dark Brethren #2)

Dante Rising: The Birth of a Venator (A Dark Brethren Prequel)

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Sin's Dark Caress (Dark Brethren #3)

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