Dark Beauty

Seeker ##0.5

by Taryn Browning

For fifteen-year-old Seeker, Isabelle Crowe, ridding the Houston streets of the undead is an inherited duty, passed down from her Cherokee ancestors. During her first night without her mentor, she encounters Abram, a more experienced Seeker from Chicago looking to avenge his cousin's death. Isabelle quickly learns she must work with Abram to protect her city. With one Seeker already dead, Isabelle's love of the hunt becomes a fight to survive.Praise for DARK BEAUTY...“YA fans of fresh, edgy urban fantasy are going to love Dark Beauty. Taryn Browning is a rising star. This is one author you'll want to keep your eye on as she shoots straight to the top of the charts!” —Kari Lee Townsend, National Best Selling Author of The Samantha Granger Experiment & The Fortune Teller Mysteries“Get ready for a new breed of vampire slayers! Browning has created an intriguing world that promises many interesting surprises to come. A terrific start to a new urban fantasy.” —Artist Arthur, author of The Mystyx Novels“Taryn Browning is a master writer. DARK BEAUTY is thrilling and beautiful, and follows only one good story-telling.” —Brent Taylor, The Naughty Book Kitties Blogspot“Once I started Dark Beauty, I couldn't stop. From the nonstop action to the well thought out mythology, I found something exciting and new with every page. If Dark Beauty is any indication of what's to come, I have no doubt that Browning will soon be one of my favorite authors.” —Alex Bennett, Electrifying Reviews“Fans of Cassandra Clare and Stephenie Meyer are going to love this prequel to Taryn Browning's DARK SEEKER novel!” —Michelle Madow, author of Remembrance

Genres: Young Adult, Vampires, Paranormal, Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Novella, Romance

54 pages, Paperback

First published July 23, 2011

About the author

Taryn Browning writes action-packed YA romantasy filled with dangerous magic, unforgettable characters, and romances that burn as fiercely as the worlds they inhabit. Her stories blend heart-pounding adventure with dark twists on mythology, where love is rarely safe—and power always comes at a cost.

Her debut urban fantasy romance, Dark Seeker (Seeker, Book 1), introduces a bold new take on vampire mythology, followed by Dark Return (Seeker, Book 2) and the newly released Dark End (Seeker, Book 3). She also authored the prequel novella Dark Beauty, available on Kindle and as bonus content inside Dark End.

Taryn is also the author of the YA paranormal romance Whispering Hills, a fan-favorite featuring ghosts, witches, buried secrets, and shocking twists readers never see coming—earning over four-star ratings on Amazon.

For readers drawn to epic fantasy romance, Emanare delivers angels, demons, shifters, and mythic bloodlines forged into weapons.

Taryn enjoys pulling readers into dark, magical worlds where enemies fall in love, forbidden love is tested, fate is challenged, and nothing stays buried for long.

She graduated with a B.S. in Education from Towson University and went on to earn a M.S. in Reading from Hood College. When I'm not writing, I enjoy reading, spending time with friends and family, dancing, music, nature, and the beach.

Reviews

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taryn Browning's book, "Dark Beauty," is a fast pace read. Isabelle Crowe is a fifteen year old seeker of the undead in the tradition of her Cherokee ancestors. While working in the streets of Houston at night she encounters Abram whom she must learn to trust to help in her quest. This short prequel is full of action and well developed characters. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book.

[A Book Vacation · Rating 4 out of 5]

Browning has created a very unique, interesting vampire tale, complete with both traditional vampires, and what Isabelle refers to as the Daychildren, those that can walk in the sunlight and are stronger and faster than anything Isabelle, or her mentor, have ever come up against. I especially enjoyed the fast-paced nature of this short prequel to Dark Seeker, as it ropes the reader in and gives some great background knowledge concerning the Daychildren and the Seekers’ never-ending job in ridding the world of such evil.

I thought Isabelle and Abram were a very interesting juxtaposition of character, one cool and collected, one angry and looking for a fight. Though their personal backgrounds are only briefly touched upon, Browning peaks the readers interest by alluding to the special makeup of the Seekers, one in which they continually recycle their ages, between 15-18, and must move to different cities every four years as to not be noticed. While the reader isn’t given much more information concerning the age changes or how the Seekers originally came to be, enough is given to whet the reader’s appetite, especially through the many action scenes in which Isabelle and Abram work together to rid their city of vampires...

To read my full review (10/26):

http://wp.me/p1jhaj-1hO

[Trisha Wolfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been a longtime fan of the short story. It’s such a great way to be entertained when you don’t have time to devote to a full-length book. Some shorts can be too short, and not give you enough of the characters or even have a clear, thought out plot. I tend to like more action and romance when reading, and I was really impressed with Dark Beauty. It had it all, and didn’t feel as if I was reading a short, but it wrapped everything up into a tight package by the end.

Isabelle was a completely developed character. I got a sense of her personality and past right away, and I related to her. Abram, yes please! Loved him. He’s what I want in a cocky guy. Strong, smart, and he knows it, but his feelings for Isabelle, who he calls Dark Beauty, are so endearing. I love when the macho guy falls for the girl and she’s the one to make his gentler side show through. A perfect romance building between these two and I want more.

I can’t tell you how hard it is to work a full plot into a short story. It’s a painful process. But Browning masters it. She’s created a world full of mythology and well-developed characters. And I thought her take on a popular paranormal creature was fresh and just plain out cool. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for more of her stuff. This is a short, action-packed read, great to get lost in for the afternoon. Can’t wait for more!

[Reading Vacation · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can you guess what I said when I finished reading Dark Beauty? I said “Hey, that was too short. I want more!” Dark Beauty is the thrilling prequel to Taryn Browning’s novel, Dark Seeker. It is a short story, like a novella, and Dark Seeker can’t get here fast enough!

Isabelle is introduced as a seeker, a type of vampire hunter. Isabelle has been training for years; and she is brave, smart, and very quick on her feet. One of the things I admire about Isabelle is that she is so proud of her Cherokee ancestry.

When Isabelle teams up with Abram, a seeker out for revenge, the action takes off. The seekers use weapons like stakes and silver knives against the vampires. I liked how the seekers would manipulate their surroundings when in battle. The scenes are intense and they come alive. I said it was thrilling!

I am looking forward to reading more about Isabelle, Abram, and the vampires. I have a feeling their fight is not over just yet.

RATING

5 Loved

COVER COMMENTS

I love seeing Isabelle’s dagger and I want to learn more about it. I wonder what Isabelle is looking down at. I wish I could see her eyes.

[Alex Bennett]

When I found out Taryn Browning had a short story out, I jumped at the chance to read it. Taryn is one of the sweetest people out there, and I am happy to say that I really did enjoy Dark Beauty.

Once I started Dark Beauty, I couldn’t stop. From the nonstop action to the well thought out mythology, I found something exciting and new with every page. The relationship between Isabelle and Abram was charming and cute, and I am really rooting for the two.

Dark Beauty ended with a bang and I am so very eager to read more from Taryn Browning. If Dark Beauty is any indication of what’s to come, I have no doubt that Browning will soon be one of my favorite authors.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark Beauty is an action-packed story, featuring a strong and sarcastic main character, and an attractive male protagonist. My favorite part of the story was undoubtedly the chemistry between Isabelle and Abram. Abram appears to be a bit of a player, and Isabelle just wants to be far, far away from him. She is not going to get what she wants though, which is for the best because watching these two fall in love will be a great treat for readers.

Dark Beauty is the prequel to Dark Seeker, and judging by the prequel, it will certainly be an action-packed story. If you are looking for romance, action, vampires, and a little bit of mystery this is a great story to check out!

[Once · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a prequel to Dark Seeker. I loved that you get to see Isabelle's (Janie's mother) story. They show how the hybrids from Dark Seeker were made and how amazing Isabelle is at being a hunter herself. She is in training in this book and meets Abram who comes into her territory for revenge on a vampire. He ends up teaching her about the new hybrids and its awesome to see how everything first started.


Only qualm I had about the book was that it was so short! I'm glad that after this book there is still Dark Seeker :)

review link: http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/2011...

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a prequel to Dark Seeker. I loved that you get to see Isabelle's (Janie's mother) story. They show how the hybrids from Dark Seeker were made and how amazing Isabelle is at being a hunter herself. She is in training in this book and meets Abram who comes into her territory for revenge on a vampire. He ends up teaching her about the new hybrids and its awesome to see how everything first started.


Only qualm I had about the book was that it was so short! I'm glad that after this book there is still Dark Seeker :)

Review at http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/2011...

[Becky Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really, really loved this prequel. I read it in one sitting in about thirty minutes tops, and was SO upset when it was over. Isabelle's character seems super independent and tough, and not afraid to pick a fight, adding that type of character with a steamy, arrogant guy who purposely pushes her buttons and you've got me hooked. I couldn't get enough of this story and i absolutely cannot wait to read Dark Seeker, which is the official first book in the seeker series. I recommend this prequel to anyone interested in the seeker series, anyone into YA, and anyone who loves vampire slayers.

[Michelle Madow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! DARK BEAUTY is action-packed, full of new vampire mythology, and romantic as well. The main character, Isabelle, is spunky and fun, and I love her relationship with Abram … the two of them share some great banter that will be sure to keep you on your toes. Fans of Cassandra Clare and Stephenie Meyer are going to love this prequel to Taryn Browning's DARK SEEKER novel!

[Andrea at Reading Lark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review Posted on Reading Lark 12/18/11: http://readinglark.blogspot.com/2011/...

Dark Beauty is the prequel to the new Seeker series written by Taryn Browning. It's intent is to provide just a small taste of Browning's writing and what readers can expect from the world of the Seekers. It sparked my literary appetite and I am excited to read the forthcoming series. The first installment, Dark Seeker, is already available.

Browning has shifted the lens in vampire novels to focus on the hunters rather than the creatures themselves. So many YA novels lately have painted the vampire as a sympathetic, romantic creature so it was refreshing to see someone go back to the basics and cast them in the role of villain once more. While Browning does stick to traditional vampire lore - the sun is a major enemy, stakes, etc. - she does introduce an interesting new breed of vampire, the Daychildren. The Daychildren are demons who have been converted to vampires; they are immune to the effects of the sun and often have special abilities such as telekinesis and mind reading. Conflict between the Seekers and both the vampires and Daychildren is introduced in this segment. I am interested to see how the conflict will play out in future books.

Finally, I really like Isabelle. She is smart, sassy, and knows how to kick a little vampire booty. She is a whirlwind of energy and comes with a Cherokee heritage and some killer martial arts moves. The diversity elements make this one an intriguing read. If you liked Buffy, you'll love Isabelle.

One Last Gripe: I wish there had been a bit more character development, but I am expecting that to come with the full length novels in the series.

My Favorite Thing About This Book: The combination of demons and vampires

First Sentence: Lesson three of Seeker training - always be prepared.

Favorite Character: Isabelle

Least Favorite Character: It was too short to truly feel intense dislike for any of the characters.

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I admit; I’ve been avoiding YA Vamp Tales lately. What convinced me to read this one was the fact that the vamps are the enemies, not the lovers, and that’s good…because these are disgusting vamps!

There’s never a dull moment in this short story, which gives us chase scenes, battle training, and actual vampire combat, all within a few chapters. I also enjoyed the effort Browning clearly put into creating a “different” sort of vampire and vampire-hunter for her story.

Speaking of vampire hunters…I’m not entirely sure how I feel about Isabelle. While I applaud the concept of a strong, kick ass vampire-hunter girl, she just didn’t endear herself to me. There’s a difference between confidence and cockiness; one is appealing, one is abrasive, and the line between them is very fine…I felt as if Isabelle was walking that line like a tightrope. To be fair, though, this IS a short story, so there is the potential for her to land on the appealing, confident side in a longer story, where we can see what’s underneath the swagger.

Overall, Dark Beauty is a quick, action-packed read that will entertain you, and could very well fire up your curiosity about the world and characters introduced.

[Lea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dark Beauty was an interesting introduction to a new series. At only a little over fifty pages it comes across a bit rushed but it drops enough tantalizing details to seize your interest and make you want to pick up the following volume, the full-length first novel of the Seeker Series. The vampires come across as classic but now there is a new race that has arisen from their King, and there is nothing dreamy about him. [Can you guys tell I'm a little tired of vampires in the paranormal romance genre? xD] The characters, what I got to see of them, seem interesting and I think the series is going to pack in a lot of fascinating mythologies...at least I'm hoping we get more from the Cherokee ancestors! All in all its a solid introduction and, I think, worth the read.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

To be totally honest I'm a bit disappointed in this. I've heard a lot about this series from fellow bloggers so I expected the prequel story to be quite good. Sadly it was only okay.
I found the main character to be rather bratty and a bit sadistic at times, don't get me wrong I love a girl who can kick butt it's just something felt off about the fact that she took the time to laugh during her vampire pummeling. I'm cool with sadistic, but it just came off as weird. Abrahm is annoying and arrogant and I don't really feel anything for him other than that.
The action is pretty good,and that's certainly a redeeming feature. I also find the storyline to be promising even if this wasn't that great of a delivery for me.
I do plan on reading the first one since I already own it.

[Donna Cummings · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an action-packed story, filled with exciting fight scenes, as well as fun banter between the main characters Abram and Isabelle. I have a little bit of a crush on Abram now, and hope I get to see more of him in future books. This is an intriguing series, and I'm looking forward to reading more!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great start for a series! Very short story. You meet Isabelle and Abram who both equally rock! I love Isabelle! She can totally kick butt! Abram is awesome. I got the feeling they are going to end up together. I gave it 4.5 Stars because I'm a little confused on the time frame it takes place in. What year was it? Other then that Awesome!!

[Aine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Felt very predictable. I didn't feel connected to the characters. I'm hoping the full novel will give me the chance to do that.

[Read for your future! · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read Sarah's review here:
http://readforyourfuture.blogspot.com...

[Adriana Rios de Biedermann · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK.. This start really good... So I will continuos... Hehehehehe... This book capture my atention.... So i go for the series

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the characters, I just wish they were in the next one... I hate starting over with characters in a series.

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice start to a series. A little prequel to the first book to give you an idea of what to expect. So far I like it.