Valerius. I’ve been hearing mention of this name since book one in Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark-Hunter series. Valerius is portrayed as a heartless and cruel Roman bastard in the earlier books. He is described that way before we even get to really meet him. But in Seize the Night, he has a chance to shine. Since this is his book, he has the opportunity to completely redeem himself. And he does. He really does. By the end of this book, I was totally in love with Valerius. And Tabitha and Valerius have become my new favorite DH couple.

Valerius is a Roman General. He is used to being pretty much alone since everyone either misunderstands him or blames him for the actions of his family over two thousand years ago. (Yes, these Dark-Hunters tend to hold grudges for a long long time) So being alone means he’s not used to answering to anyone. He is very particular about what he likes. Let me put it this way: He pretty much has a stick up his bum. All the time. Oh, and he is Kyrian’s number one enemy, the hero from book one.

Tabitha is a free spirit. One of 9 sisters, she is used to saying what is on her mind, mostly filter free, in order to have herself be heard. Tabby is Amanda’s twin sister, the heroine from book one. You can see how this couple may seemed doomed from the get go. She is everything Valerius is not and her brother-in-law is Val’s mortal enemy. But after accidentally stabbing Valerius and bringing her home to tend to him, Tabitha is drawn to him…and him to her. I love how their relationship plays out. We have known Tabby since book one and she is a recurring character in some of the previous books. In other books, she is portrayed almost as flighty and short tempered. But in reality, she is a caring friend and sister, very compassionate and overall just someone who fights to protect human kind. There is so much more to her than I first assumed. And how she brings out just a bit of tenderness from Valerius…it’s perfect. I really like how Sherrilyn didn’t go overboard with this. How Tabitha didn’t make Val completely change. Through the book, she is still she and he is still he…just enhanced. Brought a little more to life.

Let’s talk about one of my favorite characters in this series, Acheron. Ash appears in each and every book and in each and every book, he becomes a little more of a mystery. Well, and get ready for this, in Seize the Night he becomes…even more of a mystery. You are left thinking “Whoa…blue?…fire spitting?…lightning bolts?…immortal-er?” I guess we really do have to wait for his book to finally get some answers. *sigh*

And Nick! Whoa again! There is a little side plot that comes pretty much out of nowhere but that you can tell will play a significant role in future installments. This little development were Nick is concerned makes you think “OMG…Nick?…A what?…And…whoa!” I can’t wait to see where his new adventure takes him.

I am loving this series. I mean really really loving it. (I know I’m one of the last people on the planet to read these…let’s not talk about that.) I am finding myself being pulled into this fabulous world that Sherrilyn Kenyon has created more and more and although I’ve met many already, I can’t wait to fully get to know the characters in the following books. And Ash?… I’m starting to think the ‘mystery of Ash’ will soon be on par with the ‘mystery of Barrons’. Seize the Night reminded me how much I enjoy everything about these Dark Hunter books…and it has made me want more. Thank goodness there are still 13 books left for me to read before I’m caught up to the series. And Sherrilyn is still writing it! That is an epic win.