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Paladins of Darkness #1
Dark Protector
Devlin Bane: Born a Paladin, he is a member of an ancient band of warriors locked in a centuries-old war against evil.
His destiny: To die over and over again to protect mankind from the Others, only to be revived each time by his mortal Handler.
But his fierce strength and courage cannot save him from gradually becoming one of the monsters he was born to destroy.
Dr. Laurel Young, who has spent years training to become a Handler, must remain detached from her patients. But each time she revives the darkly compelling Devlin Bane, he claims a little more of her soul and incites in her desires that grow wilder and wilder — even as he inches closer to losing his humanity.
As the war against the Others grows more desperate, Laurel and Devlin can't help but give in to the fierce hunger that's sizzled between them for so long. Now they'll face the ultimate battle together — to save a dark, passionate love that goes against every rule as they join forces to fight an enemy who is closer than they ever imagined....
His destiny: To die over and over again to protect mankind from the Others, only to be revived each time by his mortal Handler.
But his fierce strength and courage cannot save him from gradually becoming one of the monsters he was born to destroy.
Dr. Laurel Young, who has spent years training to become a Handler, must remain detached from her patients. But each time she revives the darkly compelling Devlin Bane, he claims a little more of her soul and incites in her desires that grow wilder and wilder — even as he inches closer to losing his humanity.
As the war against the Others grows more desperate, Laurel and Devlin can't help but give in to the fierce hunger that's sizzled between them for so long. Now they'll face the ultimate battle together — to save a dark, passionate love that goes against every rule as they join forces to fight an enemy who is closer than they ever imagined....
322 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 27, 2006
61 people are currently reading
3386 people want to read
About the author
Alexis Morgan
94 books999 followersAlexis Morgan grew up near St. Louis and received a B.A. in English from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. She and her husband have made the Pacific Northwest their home for more than thirty years, where she launched her career as a writer. She is published in paranormal romance, fantasy romance, American West historicals, and most recently, contemporary romances with her new Snowberry Creek series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 203 reviews
March 28, 2009
WOW!!
A very different Paranormal read. I really enjoyed this book. It is different from all the others that I have read. It goes on it's own tangent and it's not a rehashing of some other series.
Devilin is a Paladin, a member of an ancient brotherhood of warriors. They battle against the Others, monsters from a different dimension. Devilin is the leader of the Seattle branch. Paladins are guardians of "The Barrier", an energy barrier between our world and the Other's world. The barrier is the weakest around fault lines and volcanos. Paladins are destined to fight the others but they can be killed over and over again, only to regenerate and fight again time after time but they lose small peices of their humanity each time this happens.
Laurel Young is a doctor but she is a Handler of the Paladins. She nurses them back to health and monitors them to make sure they do not go totally crazy. If they do they must be put down like rabid animals for they are vicious. Laurel is Devilin's handler but she is falling in love with him and he is with her which is forbidden under the rule of the governing body of the Paladians, the Regents.
Phew!! Ok, i think I got that explained right, I hope. This book was different and I really like it. After awhile if you read the same genre after awhile it becomes all the same but this is different and refreshing.
A very different Paranormal read. I really enjoyed this book. It is different from all the others that I have read. It goes on it's own tangent and it's not a rehashing of some other series.
Devilin is a Paladin, a member of an ancient brotherhood of warriors. They battle against the Others, monsters from a different dimension. Devilin is the leader of the Seattle branch. Paladins are guardians of "The Barrier", an energy barrier between our world and the Other's world. The barrier is the weakest around fault lines and volcanos. Paladins are destined to fight the others but they can be killed over and over again, only to regenerate and fight again time after time but they lose small peices of their humanity each time this happens.
Laurel Young is a doctor but she is a Handler of the Paladins. She nurses them back to health and monitors them to make sure they do not go totally crazy. If they do they must be put down like rabid animals for they are vicious. Laurel is Devilin's handler but she is falling in love with him and he is with her which is forbidden under the rule of the governing body of the Paladians, the Regents.
Phew!! Ok, i think I got that explained right, I hope. This book was different and I really like it. After awhile if you read the same genre after awhile it becomes all the same but this is different and refreshing.
December 22, 2020
3.5 stars. Not the best paranormal romance out there, but I had fun reading it and that's all that matters. Found the plotline and characters to be pretty decent and quite entertaining to read about but don't have the real depts of a really good series but I will continue on with it.
July 3, 2015
Brilliant Doctor Lauren Young has an unusual job- she is a "handler" for a group of men called the Paladins, a band of immortal men who fight along a barrier that separates us from the evil "Others". Although immortal, the handsome, rangy warriors can die- and as their physician, it's her job to bring them back.
Devlin Bane is one of the oldest of the Paladins and he knows he only has a certain number of deaths left in him before he turns "Other". But when Lauren revives him after his latest brush with death, he realizes he has more to fear about turning into one of his hated enemies than ever before. Not only was it NOT an Other who killed him this last time, but something about the pretty doctor has awakened his humanity- as well as emotions he hasn't felt for a long time.
An unholy alliance has arisen between the Others and humans and someone will stop at nothing to keep Devlin from discovering the truth- including using Lauren to get to him.
Whereas I found Morgan's Dark Protector to be an entertaining read, I wouldn't place it high among my favorite paranormal romances right now. Still it has an interesting hook and is the beginning to a well-established paranormal romance series. I am definitely going to continue on in the series to see what more the author has to recommend us to her!
Devlin Bane is one of the oldest of the Paladins and he knows he only has a certain number of deaths left in him before he turns "Other". But when Lauren revives him after his latest brush with death, he realizes he has more to fear about turning into one of his hated enemies than ever before. Not only was it NOT an Other who killed him this last time, but something about the pretty doctor has awakened his humanity- as well as emotions he hasn't felt for a long time.
An unholy alliance has arisen between the Others and humans and someone will stop at nothing to keep Devlin from discovering the truth- including using Lauren to get to him.
Whereas I found Morgan's Dark Protector to be an entertaining read, I wouldn't place it high among my favorite paranormal romances right now. Still it has an interesting hook and is the beginning to a well-established paranormal romance series. I am definitely going to continue on in the series to see what more the author has to recommend us to her!
May 2, 2013
I decided to read this book because I am totally into this author's Warriors of the Mist series. I knew it was not going to be anything like those books, but since it involved swords and such I decided to try it. It probably is better than a three star read for those who read and enjoy romance novels and especially ones with a supernatural twist. Although the premise of the story was good, there were some things I that are just not my taste in reading. I liked the two main characters, one being Devlin who is one of a band of ancient warriors dedicated to fighting the evil that is trying to come into the world. The other is Dr. Laurel Young who is a scientist/doctor whose task, among others, is bringing Devlin and other Paladins back to life after they are killed fighting the "Others". For my personal taste in books I would like to have had some more back story on Devlin and would like to have had a better understanding of both the Paladin and the Others they are fighting. That and less of these two hopping into bed every time they get near each other. I just don't need a descriptive narrative every time that happened - which is probably why I seldom pick up a romance novel.
It was still a good read and I certainly was never tempted to put it down and not finish it. It does end as the first book of a series, but I probably will not read further. It did have an interesting twist at the end that is tempting, because I do want to know more about the Others. I will anxiously await the next book in her Warriors of the Mist series instead!
It was still a good read and I certainly was never tempted to put it down and not finish it. It does end as the first book of a series, but I probably will not read further. It did have an interesting twist at the end that is tempting, because I do want to know more about the Others. I will anxiously await the next book in her Warriors of the Mist series instead!
June 13, 2011
2.5 stars: an OK read
What I liked:
1. Overall premise of the series--Paladins protecting the world from the Others
2. Lead gal is a doctor--smart, likable, hard working
3. Lead guy is a hot alpha warrior type
4. Setup of the group of Paladin heros working together--I liked the scenes of them interacting but would have liked more of that
What could be improved:
1. Emotional depth--one of the critical things I look for in a great romance is the ability to make me feel emotion and emphathize with the characters--that was missing in this book
2. Character development--the characters felt one-sided and I didn't connect with them or care about their story
3. World building--there were too many unanswered questions in my mind, ie, needed better explanation about the Paladins and the Others, but perhaps that will be addressed as the series goes on
After reading the book, I saw in the author description that this was a debut novel. So for a first timer, it was a pretty ok read. I will read reviews of the next book in the series to see if they improve before deciding whether to continue the series.
What I liked:
1. Overall premise of the series--Paladins protecting the world from the Others
2. Lead gal is a doctor--smart, likable, hard working
3. Lead guy is a hot alpha warrior type
4. Setup of the group of Paladin heros working together--I liked the scenes of them interacting but would have liked more of that
What could be improved:
1. Emotional depth--one of the critical things I look for in a great romance is the ability to make me feel emotion and emphathize with the characters--that was missing in this book
2. Character development--the characters felt one-sided and I didn't connect with them or care about their story
3. World building--there were too many unanswered questions in my mind, ie, needed better explanation about the Paladins and the Others, but perhaps that will be addressed as the series goes on
After reading the book, I saw in the author description that this was a debut novel. So for a first timer, it was a pretty ok read. I will read reviews of the next book in the series to see if they improve before deciding whether to continue the series.
January 28, 2010
Dr Young is a Handler. She fixes the Paladins when they come back from battle. Devlin is a Paladin, a protector of humanity from the Others an alien race. Dr. Young starts falling for Devlin even though she knows she may have to end his life if he turns Other due to his coming back from the dead. Then there is that pesky "who is that human who killed me while I was fighting the Others" Delvin has to figure out.
While I like the main characters. The story (The Others, the plot) fell a litte flat. There are 2-3 more books in this series. I am interested to see how the other Paladins stories play out but I am in no rush in buy the series right now. Overall I did like this first time reading of a new author.
While I like the main characters. The story (The Others, the plot) fell a litte flat. There are 2-3 more books in this series. I am interested to see how the other Paladins stories play out but I am in no rush in buy the series right now. Overall I did like this first time reading of a new author.
May 19, 2011
Laurel is a Doctor who has to take care of Devlin - Devlin is a paladin- an ancient warrior who is locked in an age old war, he lives and dies over and over and it is Laurel who has to look after him and bring him back to life and his body mends his self..
When he is brought back to life i feel sorry for him because he has to go through some pretty nasty tests to prove he has some humanity left in him.
When Laurel is looking after Devlin she finds her feelings for him growing into more then just his Doctor, and she is shocked to realise he feels the same. When they finally get together and touch and kiss in the lab i thought it was so hot, i was pretty gutted they got disturbed. But don't worry ladies there is more hot stuff to come later in this book. hot stuff to make your toes curl.
As you can guess there love doesn't go to plan because someone goes behind Devlins back and trys to kill him. so that the guy who wants Devlin dead, is getting money for the others (bad guys) to move across the border..
Ok I'm going to stop there because again I don't want to give away to much of the story, just know that this book is filled with lots of action, lots of passion, and I thought some funny bits as well. I will say there was bits in this book that made me feel really sad for the guys, they go through so much to make sure the humans are safe and they get no thanks for it.. Alexis has a wonderful way of writing, a way of making you feel like your a part of the book. I love all of the characters not just the main ones, I love d.j. and cullen but there are others that you just cant forget. I really think you guys should read this book and let me know what you think, its well worth the read.
Thank you Alexis for this wonderful read.
When he is brought back to life i feel sorry for him because he has to go through some pretty nasty tests to prove he has some humanity left in him.
When Laurel is looking after Devlin she finds her feelings for him growing into more then just his Doctor, and she is shocked to realise he feels the same. When they finally get together and touch and kiss in the lab i thought it was so hot, i was pretty gutted they got disturbed. But don't worry ladies there is more hot stuff to come later in this book. hot stuff to make your toes curl.
As you can guess there love doesn't go to plan because someone goes behind Devlins back and trys to kill him. so that the guy who wants Devlin dead, is getting money for the others (bad guys) to move across the border..
Ok I'm going to stop there because again I don't want to give away to much of the story, just know that this book is filled with lots of action, lots of passion, and I thought some funny bits as well. I will say there was bits in this book that made me feel really sad for the guys, they go through so much to make sure the humans are safe and they get no thanks for it.. Alexis has a wonderful way of writing, a way of making you feel like your a part of the book. I love all of the characters not just the main ones, I love d.j. and cullen but there are others that you just cant forget. I really think you guys should read this book and let me know what you think, its well worth the read.
Thank you Alexis for this wonderful read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 17, 2009
2.5 stars
This book was pretty ho-hum. Paladins protect the world from the Others. Paladins die, but can be revived. However, there is no explanation on what exactly the Paladins and Others are. We know the Others are bad, but that's it. We don't know what makes them bad and it's very sketchy where they come from. What makes the Paladins tick? Are they born this way? Is there something in their DNA? What? It was very poor world building, in my opinion. None of the characters had any depth and I didn't really care who was trying to kill Devlin. There was a slight spark of interest near the end concerning the Others and I may read the next one because of it.
This book was pretty ho-hum. Paladins protect the world from the Others. Paladins die, but can be revived. However, there is no explanation on what exactly the Paladins and Others are. We know the Others are bad, but that's it. We don't know what makes them bad and it's very sketchy where they come from. What makes the Paladins tick? Are they born this way? Is there something in their DNA? What? It was very poor world building, in my opinion. None of the characters had any depth and I didn't really care who was trying to kill Devlin. There was a slight spark of interest near the end concerning the Others and I may read the next one because of it.
November 9, 2016
I'm surprised to say , this was actually good!
I didn't expect that.
Not truly.
To be very honest my friend Val rated this a 1 star and that's what I based my low expectations on.
Most times my ratings are very similar to hers, so I was very much prepared to not liking this.
Thankfully I was wrong.
Why'd I choose this if that were the case you ask?
Well... I liked the blurb, also couple of the quotes that I read before getting this, had me intrigued.
Theres not much for me to tell you about the book/plot. It was very cookie cutter and not much variation.
I really didn't like that proposal at the end btw.
But I am excited to read Trahern and D.J's stories! :D
May 11, 2020
Me enamore completamente de este libro, la historia contextual es genial y muy interesante. Quizás la parte romántica y erótica es cliché pero la cosmogonía me re atrapó.
September 14, 2017
Soooo, this was not good. But not good in a the-genre-has-grown-up sort of way. This book is from 2006 and just like bodice rippers are out of style in the romance genre, I think the sort of plotting in this book has gone out of style in the paranormal romance genre. We readers just expect so much more now than a thinly defined Other enemy of paranormal origin, a characterless alpha hero and a sweet little thing heroine. Maybe this would have been enough when there weren’t a lot of other PNR books around, but not anymore.
The enemies from across the ill-defined border are literally just called Others and the reader learn almost nothing about them except that they’re evil in some way that effects the environment. But even this little bit of information is compromised at the end and maybe wrong. (A “twist” I saw coming from the beginning.) The hero has no history or character beyond alpha-asshole warrior man. The heroine has a little more, but not much. The romance is instant, except that they’ve known one another for three years. So, I still have no idea why they suddenly had this sudden, irresistible attraction to one another. And the book has a bad case of sex=love. They have sex and suddenly they’re in love. The villain? Totally obvious (as is the bigger villain that is carrying over to the series). [Spoiler] If you are told the bad guy is a guard and only one guard in the whole book shows up more than once and is given a name, that’s the bad guy.
All in all, the mechanical writing and editing is fine. This was apparently Morgan’s first book and there are tons now, so I’m willing to give her another chance, maybe with something a little more recent. Plus, I do have three more Paladin of Darkness books to read.
The enemies from across the ill-defined border are literally just called Others and the reader learn almost nothing about them except that they’re evil in some way that effects the environment. But even this little bit of information is compromised at the end and maybe wrong. (A “twist” I saw coming from the beginning.) The hero has no history or character beyond alpha-asshole warrior man. The heroine has a little more, but not much. The romance is instant, except that they’ve known one another for three years. So, I still have no idea why they suddenly had this sudden, irresistible attraction to one another. And the book has a bad case of sex=love. They have sex and suddenly they’re in love. The villain? Totally obvious (as is the bigger villain that is carrying over to the series). [Spoiler] If you are told the bad guy is a guard and only one guard in the whole book shows up more than once and is given a name, that’s the bad guy.
All in all, the mechanical writing and editing is fine. This was apparently Morgan’s first book and there are tons now, so I’m willing to give her another chance, maybe with something a little more recent. Plus, I do have three more Paladin of Darkness books to read.
June 18, 2018
This gem of a series has been hiding from me. Or at least that is my excuse for not having read any of the Paladins of Darkness series before now. I enjoyed the fresh take the author had for the paranormal series. Forces of darkness emerging whenever a disturbance in the earth took place and Paladins who fought those forces back. I can't imagine living as long as a Paladin and dying only to be brought back each time until my sanity left me and I become like those evil beings I was fighting. It's an honorable but heavy weight to bear. And this story delves straight into that. I thought the author did a great job conveying emotion and bringing the characters to life. And I will be hunting up the other books in this series and catching on new releases.
January 6, 2015
I thought for sure I had jumped in the middle of a series and thought that the whole time, until after reading I got on and saw this was the first in a series. I was shocked! There was no history on these people, no information whatsoever, I thought of course it’s a later book and I’m reading out of order because the author isn’t taking the time to reiterate any details assuming we’ve read the previous books and already know everything. I can’t believe this is the first book and I know next to nothing about these people.
The book led me to believe it was a Sherrilyn Kenyon moment where the man had to die over and over again as punishment, not that dying was a natural process and they were just hard to kill and stay dead. Which doesn’t really make sense. None of the rules were clear, and I thought it was a major copout to call a whole race or species of people Others, rather than actually think up a name to call them. I just would have appreciated an actual name or title for these people rather than Others, because it didn’t have a whole lot of creativity to it. I think a lot of authors are taking the easy way out nowadays and just capitalizing mundane, common words to make them important instead of actually coming up with their own names. Also, I would have liked it so much more if Mt. St. Helen hadn’t been in there. Actually I would have really liked it had the border been something the author created and not something that already exists in this world. I didn’t like the volcano concept at all being the entrance from the other world, I wanted something a little more original because the volcano idea was hard for me to wrap my head around, like when it spews that’s when the border is vulnerable and Others get through or something like that that could’ve been more clear.
It leads to believe the author doesn’t really know what she’s creating and doesn’t have anything planned, and will just make it up as she goes along. As is typical of a series, conflict is introduced in the first novel that isn’t resolved by the two characters who it seems in their novel really need it to be solved, instead being foisted off on future couples while I’m wondering what’s going to happen to the first couple. For instance, the issue of
She spends the entire book contemplating the reason as to why Devlin isn’t showing signs of changing soon and becoming like a monster, or something, but doesn’t pursue the thought actively. She just takes the idea and lets it sit there. And it was like Christine Feehan’s guys turning dark but it didn’t make sense. They’re trained to tell when the volcano blows up, and there’s others like them all over the world, I guess stationed at volcanoes? Well I can wonder away because the author didn’t explain that either. They can also feel energy so at one point Devlin is trying to manipulate the lasers in a confusing scene that didn’t make sense either.
There’s only so many times you can hear someone say they need to do something before you’re getting sick and tired of it and you want them to shut up and just do it already. Also, they kept having sex left and right, and most of why it bothered me was because there wasn’t enough detail at all. The author just blew over it like they were all quickies, and in a romance novel I need at least a few of the romance scenes to be long and drawn out or else it feels like I’m being cheated out of the romance. It’s no fun to read a sentence saying they had had sex 2 times in the night, she had woken him up first and then he woke her up later, in a completely offhand manner like it’s not important and just deserves to be brushed over. It’s a romance novel for gods sake, that’s why we’re reading it! Another reason why it really bothered me was because I kept waiting and waiting, and waiting some more, for Laurel to get in the lab and actually do something like the doctor she’s supposed to be and find out why Devlin is living longer and figure out how to help the rest of the Paladins do the same. Instead she’s wanting to jump Devlin all the time and he’s wanting to have sex with her, and they’re taking strolls hand in hand for ice cream and browsing cheap souvenir shops, and going to the beach and flying kites and riding scooters and go carts like they haven’t a care in the world. I think someone as dedicated to their patients and saving lives as Laurel claims she is should be putting trivial things on hold and maybe taking a cold shower every now and then if she can’t control herself to actually get something done and save everyone before someone dies and can’t be brought back, but that’s just my way of thinking.
And omg, the repetition! Idk how many times it was pointed out that Laurel was exhausted. Almost every time her scene was up the first line started out Laurel was exhausted or tired and her back ached. Okay, sick of hearing that and Idc how she’s feeling anyway. I can’t stand reading the same thing esp with the same exact phrasing over and over again. Another thing that was repeated was Devlin telling the story of being attacked by a human 5 times. He repeated the story to Trahern, D.J. and Cullen I think, someone else, and then Laurel on pg. 235. There’s 322 pages in here and he’s still telling that story this late in the book. How about you quit talking about it and do something about it! Idk how many times it was pointed out that someone was following him and they don’t even try to find out the person’s identity, they just take this mild form of watching Laurel that really doesn’t accomplish anything because not only did they not find out who it was but Trahern ends up getting shot and the bad guy wins again.
The plot was pretty basic and just your run of the mill supernatural romance except not nearly as dynamic as some of the series I think this is modeled after. Usually when authors copy other books they incorporate some of their own ideas into it, except this was just a watered-down version that had nothing going for it, not even real likable characters. There was no world building whatsoever, therefore I don’t know where I’m at and it’s really confusing. The only interesting characters were Trahern and Barak, the Other that has respect for Paladins and risked his life for Laurel. My interest in Trahern faded though in the little preview at the end of the book that shows him with some woman he’s apparently known for a long time. And of course she’s witnessed her dad get blown up who’s really been a Paladin living this secret life he never told her about. Gee, where have I read that before? I believe Lara Adrain had basically the same concept, and I can’t keep up with who’s copying who because I don’t feel like looking to see which books were written first. But anyway, I wish people would come up with something new rather than doing something that’s already been done, whoever’s doing it, and if you’re going to do something that’s been done before make sure you do it better because we don’t need any more poorly written and thought-out books for readers to waste their time on.
I expected there to be a problem in the book, some conflict for a human woman to get with an immortal who’s 30 years older than her but doesn’t look it, but predictably there’s not even a mention of it by the author, as if she doesn’t think that’s potentially a problem for an immortal to get with a mortal. To me the problem was glaring, I actually expected some conversion process like Feehan created in her Dark series to turn the women into Carpathians so they could live out their lives like their mates. But nope. No such problem in here cuz apparently immortals who don’t age normally and who can’t be killed easily can just get with human women who will always be aging and getting older, and looking older! Hello! How was this not a problem?
I was also heartily sick of hearing about Devlin’s past with women, which was repeated quite a few times. At what point do you quit looking back and thinking about all of the women you’ve gotten mutual satisfaction from in quick relationships that usually last no more than a few weeks, most just a night, and just focus on the woman you’re with? I was so sick of hearing about his past. It’s dragged out until the very end, literally, when Devlin makes the comment to the guy that took Laurel that his kind go through women like water. Ew, that’s really not attractive at all. And then later he knows Laurel heard it and brings it up, and she just shuts it down saying she doesn’t care about the woman he’s been with, but Devlin knows that she really does, and he tells her she’s the only one he loved and asked to marry him, and suddenly that conversation is over as she accepts and they just have sex, again. Another thing brought up but not entirely discussed or resolved.
The time when Laurel’s inability to actually do anything really hit me when Devlin is clearly worried about something and wants to protect her, telling her to trust him and hurry and pack, after Trahern has been shot, so it’s already self-explanatory that something is wrong. But her “stubbornness” kicks in and
He tells her there was something different about this death, it was by a human, and then points out it’s the 4th time he’s told someone this. Glad the author has kept track of how many times she’s repeating herself, wish she would’ve realized she’d done nothing about it and at least make it look like an attempt so frustrated readers would think the characters had some sense. He apologizes and says someone followed him to her house.
“So he knows we’re involved.” She snuggled closer. “And that’s why you had Trahern watching my place.”
“I was on my way to find out if he’d seen anything when I found him bleeding in the alley. We figure the car accident was staged as a diversion. Trahern was right about the crash covering the sound of the shot, but I think the culprit also planned on using the confusion to make a grab for you.”
“He figured I’d come running with my medical bag, and I played right into his hands.” She shivered despite the warmth. “Any idea who it might be?”
He hedged his answer. “We’re pursuing several lines of investigation.”
She lifted her head and propped it up on her hand. “Don’t give me that line of hooey, Devlin. Tell me everything. You promised.” She poked him in the chest with a finger.”
I had to reread, but no, I hadn’t misread. There was a definite lack of reaction there. Nice show of smarts with your deduction skills there, Doc, but if that was me I’d be shocked knowing that someone was watching me and following Devlin around, not just snuggling closer basking in contentment after yet another bout of sex, which should’ve waited and been postponed so they could have this talk first. What’s more important, your life or your sex life? And she just goes on to keep figuring things out and putting together pieces of the puzzle, without having an appropriate reaction to the news. And why is it in every supernatural romance with an older immortal the woman speaks and acts like an immature idiot, saying kidish words like “hooey” and "Mr. Big Bad Tough Guy" and "buster." She wants to fly a kite and ride scooters and go-carts, and poking him and getting him to do childish things? It’s just so wrong to me.
I was hoping in the beginning, when it was pretty interesting about the handler/Paladin relationship that this was going to be a series to get into, but now I really don’t want to continue, es with Trahern who isn’t so interesting anymore. Apparently there’s a woman he’s known most of his life or whatever, who wasn’t even so much as mentioned in here, and Trahern’s connection is like a judge or something I think. Usually in a series all of the characters are matched up, or at least the next couple whose book it will be are showing signs of getting together in this one. You know exactly who’s going to get with who and have time to prepare for it as the author builds up the chemistry. No such luck in here. In fact, Laurel was the only woman in this entire novel. That’s right, if you don’t count the past sex lives of Devlin and the other Paladins, who mentioned they only like loose women who just want their itch scratched or something like that. So Trahern knowing this innocent woman who knows nothing of Paladins but whose family took him in was a pretty big shock. And Trahern sounded so out of character from the supposedly scary, tough and mean Paladin that the author made him out to be. He’s saying disgusting phrases like he wants to have wild monkey sex with Beth or whatever her name is. Who even says monkey sex? That’s so disgusting. And they have sex, way to give that away, leave us no surprises, and she’s acting weird cuz she’s thinking of running away and can’t pull it off (so I already know I won’t like her because she’s acting like an idiot already, she’ll be helpless, incapable of doing anything, and more annoying than Laurel) and Trahern asks “what’s gotten into you?” besides himself last night. Okay, way to be crude. That’s really not acceptable to me to act so crude and gross about something, a woman you’ve apparently always liked and should be more respectful to. And he’s practically crooning to her, saying hush and honey and all that that’s completely out of character for him based on how he acted in this one. It’s really unsettling when you think you know a character and how they act and an author just pulls the rug out and makes them do a 360 and then you don’t know where you stand.
There were so many questions I had throughout the book that I kept waiting to be answered, but never were. If you're gonna write a book, esp a supernatural/paranormal one, you have to answer these questions and set up a world that makes sense completely or else the book just isn't ready to be published. This needed more work and more creativity to be published. I wondered how humans even came to be working with Paladins, how did Laurel take to discovering the existence of Paladins when she never knew about them and was from a different state or city? And how was Laurel even contact by Research for the same criteria? She was just sent a letter out of the blue inviting her to work, and there was no other info provided by the author at all to explain this mysterious occurrence. And I take it there's some kind of privacy policy that prevents her from telling her family, but that wasn't addressed either.
Another problem I had was their whole relationship. She'd been his handler for 2 years I think, and in that time they hadn't touched or anything. Then it's stated that Laurel finds him attractive, and I'm wondering how long she's thought that. And Devlin just knows it. It seems like a pretty recent event, because she's trying not to let it show. And then he's just saying they will have sex and when they do it'll be somewhere private. They went from 0 to 60 in 2.5 and it almost gave me whiplash. They didn't seem that closer, strictly professional, maybe even like they didn't know each other much, and then she's taking her shirt off, they're touching and almost going further before they interrupted, and not long after that they're having sex and continue almost like rabbits. Not a good way to start a relationship and have me like the characters.
I might read the next one when I have enough time to forget my feelings about this one and convince myself it wasn’t as bland as it really was. I expect better in the rest because the author should’ve pinned down some facts about these people and then maybe share it with readers so we know what the heck is going on. I don’t want to put up with another book that doesn’t make sense and there’s no rules to rely on outside of some mediocre and vague concepts.
The book led me to believe it was a Sherrilyn Kenyon moment where the man had to die over and over again as punishment, not that dying was a natural process and they were just hard to kill and stay dead. Which doesn’t really make sense. None of the rules were clear, and I thought it was a major copout to call a whole race or species of people Others, rather than actually think up a name to call them. I just would have appreciated an actual name or title for these people rather than Others, because it didn’t have a whole lot of creativity to it. I think a lot of authors are taking the easy way out nowadays and just capitalizing mundane, common words to make them important instead of actually coming up with their own names. Also, I would have liked it so much more if Mt. St. Helen hadn’t been in there. Actually I would have really liked it had the border been something the author created and not something that already exists in this world. I didn’t like the volcano concept at all being the entrance from the other world, I wanted something a little more original because the volcano idea was hard for me to wrap my head around, like when it spews that’s when the border is vulnerable and Others get through or something like that that could’ve been more clear.
It leads to believe the author doesn’t really know what she’s creating and doesn’t have anything planned, and will just make it up as she goes along. As is typical of a series, conflict is introduced in the first novel that isn’t resolved by the two characters who it seems in their novel really need it to be solved, instead being foisted off on future couples while I’m wondering what’s going to happen to the first couple. For instance, the issue of
She spends the entire book contemplating the reason as to why Devlin isn’t showing signs of changing soon and becoming like a monster, or something, but doesn’t pursue the thought actively. She just takes the idea and lets it sit there. And it was like Christine Feehan’s guys turning dark but it didn’t make sense. They’re trained to tell when the volcano blows up, and there’s others like them all over the world, I guess stationed at volcanoes? Well I can wonder away because the author didn’t explain that either. They can also feel energy so at one point Devlin is trying to manipulate the lasers in a confusing scene that didn’t make sense either.
There’s only so many times you can hear someone say they need to do something before you’re getting sick and tired of it and you want them to shut up and just do it already. Also, they kept having sex left and right, and most of why it bothered me was because there wasn’t enough detail at all. The author just blew over it like they were all quickies, and in a romance novel I need at least a few of the romance scenes to be long and drawn out or else it feels like I’m being cheated out of the romance. It’s no fun to read a sentence saying they had had sex 2 times in the night, she had woken him up first and then he woke her up later, in a completely offhand manner like it’s not important and just deserves to be brushed over. It’s a romance novel for gods sake, that’s why we’re reading it! Another reason why it really bothered me was because I kept waiting and waiting, and waiting some more, for Laurel to get in the lab and actually do something like the doctor she’s supposed to be and find out why Devlin is living longer and figure out how to help the rest of the Paladins do the same. Instead she’s wanting to jump Devlin all the time and he’s wanting to have sex with her, and they’re taking strolls hand in hand for ice cream and browsing cheap souvenir shops, and going to the beach and flying kites and riding scooters and go carts like they haven’t a care in the world. I think someone as dedicated to their patients and saving lives as Laurel claims she is should be putting trivial things on hold and maybe taking a cold shower every now and then if she can’t control herself to actually get something done and save everyone before someone dies and can’t be brought back, but that’s just my way of thinking.
And omg, the repetition! Idk how many times it was pointed out that Laurel was exhausted. Almost every time her scene was up the first line started out Laurel was exhausted or tired and her back ached. Okay, sick of hearing that and Idc how she’s feeling anyway. I can’t stand reading the same thing esp with the same exact phrasing over and over again. Another thing that was repeated was Devlin telling the story of being attacked by a human 5 times. He repeated the story to Trahern, D.J. and Cullen I think, someone else, and then Laurel on pg. 235. There’s 322 pages in here and he’s still telling that story this late in the book. How about you quit talking about it and do something about it! Idk how many times it was pointed out that someone was following him and they don’t even try to find out the person’s identity, they just take this mild form of watching Laurel that really doesn’t accomplish anything because not only did they not find out who it was but Trahern ends up getting shot and the bad guy wins again.
The plot was pretty basic and just your run of the mill supernatural romance except not nearly as dynamic as some of the series I think this is modeled after. Usually when authors copy other books they incorporate some of their own ideas into it, except this was just a watered-down version that had nothing going for it, not even real likable characters. There was no world building whatsoever, therefore I don’t know where I’m at and it’s really confusing. The only interesting characters were Trahern and Barak, the Other that has respect for Paladins and risked his life for Laurel. My interest in Trahern faded though in the little preview at the end of the book that shows him with some woman he’s apparently known for a long time. And of course she’s witnessed her dad get blown up who’s really been a Paladin living this secret life he never told her about. Gee, where have I read that before? I believe Lara Adrain had basically the same concept, and I can’t keep up with who’s copying who because I don’t feel like looking to see which books were written first. But anyway, I wish people would come up with something new rather than doing something that’s already been done, whoever’s doing it, and if you’re going to do something that’s been done before make sure you do it better because we don’t need any more poorly written and thought-out books for readers to waste their time on.
I expected there to be a problem in the book, some conflict for a human woman to get with an immortal who’s 30 years older than her but doesn’t look it, but predictably there’s not even a mention of it by the author, as if she doesn’t think that’s potentially a problem for an immortal to get with a mortal. To me the problem was glaring, I actually expected some conversion process like Feehan created in her Dark series to turn the women into Carpathians so they could live out their lives like their mates. But nope. No such problem in here cuz apparently immortals who don’t age normally and who can’t be killed easily can just get with human women who will always be aging and getting older, and looking older! Hello! How was this not a problem?
I was also heartily sick of hearing about Devlin’s past with women, which was repeated quite a few times. At what point do you quit looking back and thinking about all of the women you’ve gotten mutual satisfaction from in quick relationships that usually last no more than a few weeks, most just a night, and just focus on the woman you’re with? I was so sick of hearing about his past. It’s dragged out until the very end, literally, when Devlin makes the comment to the guy that took Laurel that his kind go through women like water. Ew, that’s really not attractive at all. And then later he knows Laurel heard it and brings it up, and she just shuts it down saying she doesn’t care about the woman he’s been with, but Devlin knows that she really does, and he tells her she’s the only one he loved and asked to marry him, and suddenly that conversation is over as she accepts and they just have sex, again. Another thing brought up but not entirely discussed or resolved.
The time when Laurel’s inability to actually do anything really hit me when Devlin is clearly worried about something and wants to protect her, telling her to trust him and hurry and pack, after Trahern has been shot, so it’s already self-explanatory that something is wrong. But her “stubbornness” kicks in and
He tells her there was something different about this death, it was by a human, and then points out it’s the 4th time he’s told someone this. Glad the author has kept track of how many times she’s repeating herself, wish she would’ve realized she’d done nothing about it and at least make it look like an attempt so frustrated readers would think the characters had some sense. He apologizes and says someone followed him to her house.
“So he knows we’re involved.” She snuggled closer. “And that’s why you had Trahern watching my place.”
“I was on my way to find out if he’d seen anything when I found him bleeding in the alley. We figure the car accident was staged as a diversion. Trahern was right about the crash covering the sound of the shot, but I think the culprit also planned on using the confusion to make a grab for you.”
“He figured I’d come running with my medical bag, and I played right into his hands.” She shivered despite the warmth. “Any idea who it might be?”
He hedged his answer. “We’re pursuing several lines of investigation.”
She lifted her head and propped it up on her hand. “Don’t give me that line of hooey, Devlin. Tell me everything. You promised.” She poked him in the chest with a finger.”
I had to reread, but no, I hadn’t misread. There was a definite lack of reaction there. Nice show of smarts with your deduction skills there, Doc, but if that was me I’d be shocked knowing that someone was watching me and following Devlin around, not just snuggling closer basking in contentment after yet another bout of sex, which should’ve waited and been postponed so they could have this talk first. What’s more important, your life or your sex life? And she just goes on to keep figuring things out and putting together pieces of the puzzle, without having an appropriate reaction to the news. And why is it in every supernatural romance with an older immortal the woman speaks and acts like an immature idiot, saying kidish words like “hooey” and "Mr. Big Bad Tough Guy" and "buster." She wants to fly a kite and ride scooters and go-carts, and poking him and getting him to do childish things? It’s just so wrong to me.
I was hoping in the beginning, when it was pretty interesting about the handler/Paladin relationship that this was going to be a series to get into, but now I really don’t want to continue, es with Trahern who isn’t so interesting anymore. Apparently there’s a woman he’s known most of his life or whatever, who wasn’t even so much as mentioned in here, and Trahern’s connection is like a judge or something I think. Usually in a series all of the characters are matched up, or at least the next couple whose book it will be are showing signs of getting together in this one. You know exactly who’s going to get with who and have time to prepare for it as the author builds up the chemistry. No such luck in here. In fact, Laurel was the only woman in this entire novel. That’s right, if you don’t count the past sex lives of Devlin and the other Paladins, who mentioned they only like loose women who just want their itch scratched or something like that. So Trahern knowing this innocent woman who knows nothing of Paladins but whose family took him in was a pretty big shock. And Trahern sounded so out of character from the supposedly scary, tough and mean Paladin that the author made him out to be. He’s saying disgusting phrases like he wants to have wild monkey sex with Beth or whatever her name is. Who even says monkey sex? That’s so disgusting. And they have sex, way to give that away, leave us no surprises, and she’s acting weird cuz she’s thinking of running away and can’t pull it off (so I already know I won’t like her because she’s acting like an idiot already, she’ll be helpless, incapable of doing anything, and more annoying than Laurel) and Trahern asks “what’s gotten into you?” besides himself last night. Okay, way to be crude. That’s really not acceptable to me to act so crude and gross about something, a woman you’ve apparently always liked and should be more respectful to. And he’s practically crooning to her, saying hush and honey and all that that’s completely out of character for him based on how he acted in this one. It’s really unsettling when you think you know a character and how they act and an author just pulls the rug out and makes them do a 360 and then you don’t know where you stand.
There were so many questions I had throughout the book that I kept waiting to be answered, but never were. If you're gonna write a book, esp a supernatural/paranormal one, you have to answer these questions and set up a world that makes sense completely or else the book just isn't ready to be published. This needed more work and more creativity to be published. I wondered how humans even came to be working with Paladins, how did Laurel take to discovering the existence of Paladins when she never knew about them and was from a different state or city? And how was Laurel even contact by Research for the same criteria? She was just sent a letter out of the blue inviting her to work, and there was no other info provided by the author at all to explain this mysterious occurrence. And I take it there's some kind of privacy policy that prevents her from telling her family, but that wasn't addressed either.
Another problem I had was their whole relationship. She'd been his handler for 2 years I think, and in that time they hadn't touched or anything. Then it's stated that Laurel finds him attractive, and I'm wondering how long she's thought that. And Devlin just knows it. It seems like a pretty recent event, because she's trying not to let it show. And then he's just saying they will have sex and when they do it'll be somewhere private. They went from 0 to 60 in 2.5 and it almost gave me whiplash. They didn't seem that closer, strictly professional, maybe even like they didn't know each other much, and then she's taking her shirt off, they're touching and almost going further before they interrupted, and not long after that they're having sex and continue almost like rabbits. Not a good way to start a relationship and have me like the characters.
I might read the next one when I have enough time to forget my feelings about this one and convince myself it wasn’t as bland as it really was. I expect better in the rest because the author should’ve pinned down some facts about these people and then maybe share it with readers so we know what the heck is going on. I don’t want to put up with another book that doesn’t make sense and there’s no rules to rely on outside of some mediocre and vague concepts.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 11, 2011
They're not vampires, but Alexis Morgan's Paladins are warriors who can't die. Well...they can, but it doesn't stick. Unless they're seriously wounded, anyway. Like decapitation-type wounds. A bullet to the brain or a stake through the heart might do it, too...but they're not vampires. They're humans...with a bit extra. Honestly, though, at the core, the Paladins are a group of warriors who stand against the Others, a murderous, wrong race of creatures that spew into our world when geologic or seismic activity brings down the barrier between our world and theirs. If they get into our world, their genetic dissonance messes it up. Paladins protect it. And the Paladins are the human/Other hybrids that have been born with the drive to kill Others before Others can wreak their havoc on our lives. Each time they die, however, more and more of their soul slips away, so their fight dooms them to the very existence they fight so valiantly to stamp out. One day, when they rise from the dead, they will rise Other - and they will be executed.
If you look too closely at these Paladins, you may notice they bear more than a striking resemblance to other warrior brotherhoods in other books - like J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series, or Lara Adrian's Midnight Breed series, or Gena Showalter's Lords of the Underworld series, or Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunters...and the list goes on. And frankly, other authors do it better. Yet, Dark Protector isn't a bad book, and serious paranormal romance junkies will very much enjoy the story of Devlin Bane and his earnest handler, Dr. Laurel Young.
Devlin has been a Paladin for a long time - longer than most manage to without turning Other - but coming back from the dead this last time took far longer than it should have. Is he becoming Other...or is it the fact that he was not slain by the hands of an Other in battle, but by the human hands of a traitor? And when he wakes this time, his handler is there - a handler he's always been attracted to, but his life as a Paladin doesn't make for anyone's HEA, so he's stayed far away. Except...while going through the tests necessary after a rising...she reaches out and holds his hand. That one act of kindness may be both of their undoings.
I say again, Dark Protector is a reasonably nice read, but it does have some things that bugged me. It certainly wasn't as fully realized or well developed as the books from some of those other series I mentioned. The mythos and world building were limited and two dimensional. And then there were the things that weren't explained, didn't make sense, and strained any willing suspension of disbelief. Are we really supposed to believe that in the long, long history of the Paladins, none of them have ever fallen in love before? And though it's not stated, is there any doubt why Devlin's test results have improved? So the mystery of that doesn't exactly work. There were also a few things that as a reader just annoy me. The author defines a Paladin's skill set early on in the book, but when faced with a crisis at the end, suddenly Devlin can do something completely new that will help him get out of it. Inexplicable addition of powers to get out of sticky situations is a pet peeve of mine. It's sloppy writing. And another thing...what's the deal with vilifying a race of creatures for an entire book...then having one pop up all honor-bound and protecting? Did I miss something?? Also, the dialogue between Laurel and Devlin during the sex scenes was another thing that niggled me. Well...and the sex scenes themselves were a bit off, too. I couldn't quite put my finger on what, exactly, bugged me about them, but when I noticed I was skimming over them, I realized they seemed very stilted and discordant somehow. I wish I could be more specific, but it was more a feeling I got than something I can definitively point to.
Now, all that being said, I still thought the book was an okay read, and the reason I was able to cite all those other similarly-themed series is because I like that sort of camaraderie and brotherhood that goes with a group of warriors fighting the good fight together. And I liked Dark Protector the most when Trahern, D.J., or Cullen were around. I will be reading the next in the series. I guess I'm a sucker for gorgeous, doomed warriors. Somehow, I'm okay with that.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
If you look too closely at these Paladins, you may notice they bear more than a striking resemblance to other warrior brotherhoods in other books - like J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series, or Lara Adrian's Midnight Breed series, or Gena Showalter's Lords of the Underworld series, or Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunters...and the list goes on. And frankly, other authors do it better. Yet, Dark Protector isn't a bad book, and serious paranormal romance junkies will very much enjoy the story of Devlin Bane and his earnest handler, Dr. Laurel Young.
Devlin has been a Paladin for a long time - longer than most manage to without turning Other - but coming back from the dead this last time took far longer than it should have. Is he becoming Other...or is it the fact that he was not slain by the hands of an Other in battle, but by the human hands of a traitor? And when he wakes this time, his handler is there - a handler he's always been attracted to, but his life as a Paladin doesn't make for anyone's HEA, so he's stayed far away. Except...while going through the tests necessary after a rising...she reaches out and holds his hand. That one act of kindness may be both of their undoings.
I say again, Dark Protector is a reasonably nice read, but it does have some things that bugged me. It certainly wasn't as fully realized or well developed as the books from some of those other series I mentioned. The mythos and world building were limited and two dimensional. And then there were the things that weren't explained, didn't make sense, and strained any willing suspension of disbelief. Are we really supposed to believe that in the long, long history of the Paladins, none of them have ever fallen in love before? And though it's not stated, is there any doubt why Devlin's test results have improved? So the mystery of that doesn't exactly work. There were also a few things that as a reader just annoy me. The author defines a Paladin's skill set early on in the book, but when faced with a crisis at the end, suddenly Devlin can do something completely new that will help him get out of it. Inexplicable addition of powers to get out of sticky situations is a pet peeve of mine. It's sloppy writing. And another thing...what's the deal with vilifying a race of creatures for an entire book...then having one pop up all honor-bound and protecting? Did I miss something?? Also, the dialogue between Laurel and Devlin during the sex scenes was another thing that niggled me. Well...and the sex scenes themselves were a bit off, too. I couldn't quite put my finger on what, exactly, bugged me about them, but when I noticed I was skimming over them, I realized they seemed very stilted and discordant somehow. I wish I could be more specific, but it was more a feeling I got than something I can definitively point to.
Now, all that being said, I still thought the book was an okay read, and the reason I was able to cite all those other similarly-themed series is because I like that sort of camaraderie and brotherhood that goes with a group of warriors fighting the good fight together. And I liked Dark Protector the most when Trahern, D.J., or Cullen were around. I will be reading the next in the series. I guess I'm a sucker for gorgeous, doomed warriors. Somehow, I'm okay with that.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
August 6, 2012
2.5 rating because there were parts that were kind of interesting.
The Paladins are a group of warriors, able to regenerate, that fight against the Others that try to crossover into our world. Devlin is one such warrior. The only problem is, that each time he comes back from the dead, he (and Paladins on a whole) progressively loses more and more of his humanity.
Enter handler and doctor Laurel, with whom he shares an attraction, which causes some amount of conflict. Oh and there's a guy out to off Devlin.
The concept is interesting enough, and I started this book hoping to like it. I didn't have any great expectation, but I liking it would've been the preferred outcome. Instead I'm indifferent.
Why?
Those uber rawr warriors? The Paladin? I don't even know what they are. We don't know how they came about, we don't know how it is that they come into their powers. We don't know what separates them from the humans, other than you know, being able to come back from the dead. What makes them so special? How did they know they were Paladins?
And then there are the Others. Why are they the bad guys? Because that's all we really know. They're the bad guys and they contaminate the environment.
At this point I have to pause and go wth?!
If it was explained bit further than that, then I don't think I would have had that moment. Which basically brings me back to the point I made with the Paladins and the Others. It wasn't explained enough.
Then we go on to our romance, now mostly when I read a paranormal-romance, the ideal thing for me, would be for it to have equal parts of each, or hey, if the romance is there and there's just a tinge of the paranormal aspect, I'd still like it. I'd feel cheated, but nonetheless if the romance was well-written. I would still enjoy.
For Dark Protector, the romance is supposedly and in abundance. I say supposedly, because although we do get to proper read time on the main characters' relationship, it just doesn't do it for me. I wasn't able to connect with them or their romance at all. Moments when I should've been smiling I didn't. Instead I was looking at, okay when is this book going to finish.
I think like the world-building in this book, we were supposed to just take the relationship at face value. Nothing else was there.
That said, there are a good amount of readers who have enjoyed this book, so maybe you can also.
And I guess a counter-argument someone could use, in terms of the world-building is that, it's a part of a series, and maybe all will be revealed later on.
Okay, I can buy that, but there was so little here that I felt myself floundering about trying to figure out what on earth was going on, and not in the good way.
Also, I'm a person, who (I'd like to think) is not so harsh on my ratings of books. I can ignore a lot of things as long as I enjoy the book. However, with this book that was not so.
However I may read the second book sometime in the distant future, the author introduced some new things that did catch my eye. Besides some of her other works have a high enough rating, so it may just be this one.
The Paladins are a group of warriors, able to regenerate, that fight against the Others that try to crossover into our world. Devlin is one such warrior. The only problem is, that each time he comes back from the dead, he (and Paladins on a whole) progressively loses more and more of his humanity.
Enter handler and doctor Laurel, with whom he shares an attraction, which causes some amount of conflict. Oh and there's a guy out to off Devlin.
The concept is interesting enough, and I started this book hoping to like it. I didn't have any great expectation, but I liking it would've been the preferred outcome. Instead I'm indifferent.
Why?
Those uber rawr warriors? The Paladin? I don't even know what they are. We don't know how they came about, we don't know how it is that they come into their powers. We don't know what separates them from the humans, other than you know, being able to come back from the dead. What makes them so special? How did they know they were Paladins?
And then there are the Others. Why are they the bad guys? Because that's all we really know. They're the bad guys and they contaminate the environment.
At this point I have to pause and go wth?!
If it was explained bit further than that, then I don't think I would have had that moment. Which basically brings me back to the point I made with the Paladins and the Others. It wasn't explained enough.
Then we go on to our romance, now mostly when I read a paranormal-romance, the ideal thing for me, would be for it to have equal parts of each, or hey, if the romance is there and there's just a tinge of the paranormal aspect, I'd still like it. I'd feel cheated, but nonetheless if the romance was well-written. I would still enjoy.
For Dark Protector, the romance is supposedly and in abundance. I say supposedly, because although we do get to proper read time on the main characters' relationship, it just doesn't do it for me. I wasn't able to connect with them or their romance at all. Moments when I should've been smiling I didn't. Instead I was looking at, okay when is this book going to finish.
I think like the world-building in this book, we were supposed to just take the relationship at face value. Nothing else was there.
That said, there are a good amount of readers who have enjoyed this book, so maybe you can also.
And I guess a counter-argument someone could use, in terms of the world-building is that, it's a part of a series, and maybe all will be revealed later on.
Okay, I can buy that, but there was so little here that I felt myself floundering about trying to figure out what on earth was going on, and not in the good way.
Also, I'm a person, who (I'd like to think) is not so harsh on my ratings of books. I can ignore a lot of things as long as I enjoy the book. However, with this book that was not so.
However I may read the second book sometime in the distant future, the author introduced some new things that did catch my eye. Besides some of her other works have a high enough rating, so it may just be this one.
June 2, 2011
This was exactly what I was in the mood for when I picked up this book. Metaphorically speaking because I read it on the computer. Which, for the record, it not really the point. What I'm trying to say is that this book gave me everything I wanted and more. I wanted something with action. I got that. I wanted something with sheet-twisting shenanigans. I got that, too. I wanted a group of bad-ass, hard to kill warriors who protect the world from nasty critters. I totally got that. Bonus: These bad-ass warriors are cursed to slowly lose their humanity and turn into the very things they're hunting. OMG! I LOVE IT!
Here's the thing, I totally thought Devlin and Laurel were awesome and had great chemistry and everything but by the time the end of the book rolled around I was more than half in love with all the secondary characters, too. I mean, I want to freaking pet Trahern because he's just so damaged. Yes, I know. Once again my soft spot for emotionally closed off, completely damaged Alpha males rears its ugly head. *sigh* I just can't help myself. I go all gooey when they're trying to be tough but that glimpse of pain sneaks through.
I'm going to have to read book 2 ASAP, aren't I?
Back to this book. I love that the mystery of who's pulling the strings is left open. I love that there were a lot of things that weren't explained regarding the Others and the world they come from. Right now we're working on bits and pieces of information, much like the Paladins are, and the things we're being told aren't all adding up. I keep thinking that there's a big, bad cover-up going on and I really want to get to the next book in the series to see what the next set of clues we uncover are going to reveal.
This is a fast-paced, action packed romance where things aren't always what they seem and sparks fly between the main characters.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
Here's the thing, I totally thought Devlin and Laurel were awesome and had great chemistry and everything but by the time the end of the book rolled around I was more than half in love with all the secondary characters, too. I mean, I want to freaking pet Trahern because he's just so damaged. Yes, I know. Once again my soft spot for emotionally closed off, completely damaged Alpha males rears its ugly head. *sigh* I just can't help myself. I go all gooey when they're trying to be tough but that glimpse of pain sneaks through.
I'm going to have to read book 2 ASAP, aren't I?
Back to this book. I love that the mystery of who's pulling the strings is left open. I love that there were a lot of things that weren't explained regarding the Others and the world they come from. Right now we're working on bits and pieces of information, much like the Paladins are, and the things we're being told aren't all adding up. I keep thinking that there's a big, bad cover-up going on and I really want to get to the next book in the series to see what the next set of clues we uncover are going to reveal.
This is a fast-paced, action packed romance where things aren't always what they seem and sparks fly between the main characters.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
August 23, 2010
I had this in my TBR pile for a while before I got to it. This is my first time reading a book by Alexis Morgan. I heard a lot of good things about this series and I wasn't disappointed.
The story is about a group of immortal warriors called Paladins. They are destined to fight a species of people referred to as "Others". The Paladins fight and sometimes die in the process. However, they are able to revive themselves as long as the wound is not too severe or their head is not cut from their bodies. After dying and reviving so many times, they eventually turn into one of the "Others" themselves. Devlin Bane is the oldest of the Paladins. Dr. Young is his "handler". She takes care of him and all the Paladins went they are brought in after dying. She is also the person who job is to administer a drug to kill them if they die and come back as "other". She studies the Paladins hoping to find something that will keep them from turning into Other. Devlin senses that Laurel cares a bit more for him than a doctor does for a patient so he fights it by being cold and bitter toward her. But of course that doesn't work and after a while their relationship grows into something more, although forbidden.
It was great that the backdrop of story was Seattle and the surrounding areas. I always think it's cool when an author uses a places I've been to or live in/near.
The story was interesting and there was enough smexy time to keep me happy. lol I'm already looking forward to reading the story of Blake Trahern.
The story is about a group of immortal warriors called Paladins. They are destined to fight a species of people referred to as "Others". The Paladins fight and sometimes die in the process. However, they are able to revive themselves as long as the wound is not too severe or their head is not cut from their bodies. After dying and reviving so many times, they eventually turn into one of the "Others" themselves. Devlin Bane is the oldest of the Paladins. Dr. Young is his "handler". She takes care of him and all the Paladins went they are brought in after dying. She is also the person who job is to administer a drug to kill them if they die and come back as "other". She studies the Paladins hoping to find something that will keep them from turning into Other. Devlin senses that Laurel cares a bit more for him than a doctor does for a patient so he fights it by being cold and bitter toward her. But of course that doesn't work and after a while their relationship grows into something more, although forbidden.
It was great that the backdrop of story was Seattle and the surrounding areas. I always think it's cool when an author uses a places I've been to or live in/near.
The story was interesting and there was enough smexy time to keep me happy. lol I'm already looking forward to reading the story of Blake Trahern.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 23, 2008
Dark Protector is a refreshing take on the paranormal romance genre. Paladins secretly protect "our" world from the world of the Others by defending the barrier that divides them. The barrier is prone to the fluctuations in its environment especially in volcanically active areas. The Paladins can sense when the barrier will fall and they scramble, swords at the ready, to take on the Others who want to invade our world.
The interesting twist on the Paladins is that they "die" and then come back. So their physiology is not exactly human. After dying so many times, a Paladin will basically become unstable and with their strength they will become a threat to all around them. Unfortunately this might mean that the Paladin will have to be "put down". Upsetting plot twist there. However, I think the Ms. Morgan has an idea that if a Paladin finds one woman who loves them (a soul mate of sorts) that horrific change at the end of their lives might be put off or avoided. That is just a thought I had regarding the plot.
Great start to a series! A great re-read as well! :-)
The interesting twist on the Paladins is that they "die" and then come back. So their physiology is not exactly human. After dying so many times, a Paladin will basically become unstable and with their strength they will become a threat to all around them. Unfortunately this might mean that the Paladin will have to be "put down". Upsetting plot twist there. However, I think the Ms. Morgan has an idea that if a Paladin finds one woman who loves them (a soul mate of sorts) that horrific change at the end of their lives might be put off or avoided. That is just a thought I had regarding the plot.
Great start to a series! A great re-read as well! :-)
October 11, 2009
Re-reading...
One of the things I like most about the series is that the author managed to write a a paranormal that didn't involve vampires, shifters, mythological creatures or immortal hunters. Not that I don't like those too, but it's nice to run across something different.
The plot is action oriented with lots of layers. The Paladins fight and die in secret to protect the invading Others. They have the ability to return to life with proper care - up to a certain point. After that - they will have taken on too much 'otherness' and must be destroyed. Laurel is their Handler - a doctor who attempts to save them: from injury, from death, from sliding into otherness.
Another series where order is important, especially in the later books.
Paladins series
1. Dark Protector (2006)
2. Dark Defender (2006)
3. In Darkness Reborn (2007)
4. Redeemed in Darkness (2007)
5. Darkness Unknown (2009)
6. Defeat the Darkness (2010)
One of the things I like most about the series is that the author managed to write a a paranormal that didn't involve vampires, shifters, mythological creatures or immortal hunters. Not that I don't like those too, but it's nice to run across something different.
The plot is action oriented with lots of layers. The Paladins fight and die in secret to protect the invading Others. They have the ability to return to life with proper care - up to a certain point. After that - they will have taken on too much 'otherness' and must be destroyed. Laurel is their Handler - a doctor who attempts to save them: from injury, from death, from sliding into otherness.
Another series where order is important, especially in the later books.
Paladins series
1. Dark Protector (2006)
2. Dark Defender (2006)
3. In Darkness Reborn (2007)
4. Redeemed in Darkness (2007)
5. Darkness Unknown (2009)
6. Defeat the Darkness (2010)
June 15, 2011
I put this one down in November 2010 and have yet to pick it up again... I'll read it eventually perhaps, but the little that I read was just too rushed. I can understand a 'relationship' moving along quickly, but come on.
It had potential, the premise has potential, but the story/characters had no build up. I'm not even talking about Morgan's 'descriptive' talents here. Again, of the little I read... I was reminded of a really bad movie I saw years ago where the director obviously suddenly decided at the end that, "you know what? I know it's a horror flick, but we should have some romance. Let's have them meet, and in 5 minutes of film time, have them f*ck." Pardon my french.
lol... oh well. Can't like them all.
It had potential, the premise has potential, but the story/characters had no build up. I'm not even talking about Morgan's 'descriptive' talents here. Again, of the little I read... I was reminded of a really bad movie I saw years ago where the director obviously suddenly decided at the end that, "you know what? I know it's a horror flick, but we should have some romance. Let's have them meet, and in 5 minutes of film time, have them f*ck." Pardon my french.
lol... oh well. Can't like them all.
February 21, 2014
Really good. I loved the whole Paladin Warriors thing.
The only real issue I had with it... it makes you want to go buy the second book.
Devlin Bane being a rough and tough Paladin, yet a sweet, kind, easy lover with Laurel (well for the most part). I mean as fantasies goes...is there a better one?
Loved the extra characters , cant wait to get the second book and read about Trahern! Cullen defending Laurels honor even if he didn't need to, promising Devlin that they would pick up this fight if he hurt laurel.. loved it. Barak, even though he comes in at the end of the story, just makes you have to wonder... they are suppose to be so bad... yet he risked his life twice to save Laurel's.
The only real issue I had with it... it makes you want to go buy the second book.
Devlin Bane being a rough and tough Paladin, yet a sweet, kind, easy lover with Laurel (well for the most part). I mean as fantasies goes...is there a better one?
Loved the extra characters , cant wait to get the second book and read about Trahern! Cullen defending Laurels honor even if he didn't need to, promising Devlin that they would pick up this fight if he hurt laurel.. loved it. Barak, even though he comes in at the end of the story, just makes you have to wonder... they are suppose to be so bad... yet he risked his life twice to save Laurel's.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2010
I really liked this book. It had the right amount of excitement, danger and romance for me. What I liked most was how the author wrote the sex scenes they are done with great taste, she left out the words most ladies don’t like to read in a romance storyline. The downside is you don’t get to know much about the Paladin or the Others, I hope this is cleared up in the next book, but what is there is really good.
I really liked Dr. Young she really cares about how these warrior’s are treated handled. Of course, she fall for one of the Paladin warrior’s , Devlin he doesn’t know he has a heart for love but he finds out really quick with Dr. Young.
I really liked Dr. Young she really cares about how these warrior’s are treated handled. Of course, she fall for one of the Paladin warrior’s , Devlin he doesn’t know he has a heart for love but he finds out really quick with Dr. Young.
December 31, 2010
YUCK! Seriously proud of myself for even getting through this one, and yet not somehow since it was such utterly awful writing. Would have been prouder if I had stopped reading. Or better yet, never started. Damn reviewers who gave this series high ratings! What do you see here??? Maybe I am spoiled by the world-building of Nalini Singh or Marjorie Lui, but wow! There is no connection between the main couple, their attraction lacks any genuine spark whatsoever, plus I kind of hated both of them within the first few pages anyway. Enough, no need to beat a dead horse here. If you have any standards for yourself as a fan of paranormal romance, leave this series off your list!
January 4, 2010
The Paladins are so cool, I love what they do and I hate the Ordnance that manages them. I hope that they can bring Trahern back from the brink, and I like the way that Laurel and Devlin fell in love. great series and I'm excited to read the rest...Alexis Morgan left just enough threats against them to ensure the sequels, but still give us a happy ending. I thought the ending with Barak (the Other who slipped out) was great. I am really excited to read more about him. He seems too much like the warriors to be a bad guy.
July 3, 2013
I finished this book and still felt confused about the ins and outs of the world and why the Paladins exist and why they let themselves be treated like that by Regents and Handlers when they hate it so much. I enjoyed the story and the main characters a lot but it definitely suffered from the fact that it was a new world that needed more work to be truly understandable to the reader. I still plan to continue with the series and check out the rest.
February 17, 2009
Meh.
The romance portion was relatively hot. And the idea that the warriors can come back from the dead was interesting.
But what is this barrier? Who are the Others? Why does their very presence in this world create an ecological breakdown?
Sigh. I guess I'm just not a real romance girl...I demand too much in the plot department.
The romance portion was relatively hot. And the idea that the warriors can come back from the dead was interesting.
But what is this barrier? Who are the Others? Why does their very presence in this world create an ecological breakdown?
Sigh. I guess I'm just not a real romance girl...I demand too much in the plot department.
January 17, 2020
This book reminds me a lot of the Immortal Guardians series, which I love. Interesting idea with the Paladins protecting the barrier from the Others, seismic activity weakening the barrier, etc. Good backdrop for what feels like a Warm Bodies scenario. Looking forward to the next book!
May 2, 2008
Giving this author a try. So far so good. O.k. bored. I may finish this later, but right now, no real desire.
February 27, 2009
Read like a cheap Harlequin romance IMO. No real depth to the story or development of the characters. I couldn't even force myself to finish it.
May 3, 2013
Good premise, lukewarm execution. Hopefully, the author will improve over time. Predictable, and... Well... Not really hot.
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