Dark Awakening (Dark Dynasties #1) in Vampires, Weres and Fae!

Jul 18, 2011 Lori {Romancing the Dark Side} rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2011, netgalley-reviews, paranormal-romance, vampires, werewolves, my-favorites

Originally reviewed on Romancing the Darkside:

A phenomenal start to a series that flawlessly weaves vampires and Egyptian Mythology into one original paranormal romance!

In a vampire world separated by dynasties and hierarchy, Tynan MacGillivray of the Cait Sith bloodline, is rejected by most and nicknamed a "lowblood," due to his shapeshifting abilities but used by his queen for his extraordinary hunting skills. With an impending war between immortals, Ty is given the task of finding a Seer Originally reviewed on Romancing the Darkside:

A phenomenal start to a series that flawlessly weaves vampires and Egyptian Mythology into one original paranormal romance!

In a vampire world separated by dynasties and hierarchy, Tynan MacGillivray of the Cait Sith bloodline, is rejected by most and nicknamed a "lowblood," due to his shapeshifting abilities but used by his queen for his extraordinary hunting skills. With an impending war between immortals, Ty is given the task of finding a Seer who can ultimately be his people's salvation. A simple job turns into more when Ty locates the Seer he's searching for. Lily provokes a lust and insatiable need in Ty that will test his loyalties in the name of love and unleash powers in her that she's never known.

There is much detail and back story to Dark Awakening in the beginning chapters that might seem much for some but is completely necessary in introducing us to the author's fascinating paranormal world. The concept of different dynasties among the vampire race truly makes this book stand out. The politics and feuds among the different classes in the vampire world make for an interesting plot. Blending history, mythology and the paranormal isn't an easy feat but the author accomplishes it beautifully. Not every dynasty is touched upon in detail in this story but I hope the author revisits this in the following books.

Ty is a tortured hero who earns your sympathy and admiration. Taught to think he's nothing more than a pet to those he serves, Ty often struggles with proving his worth to avoid being an outcast. He's a little dark rough around the edges due to his past but is still loyal, caring and sexy as hell. A vampire who purrs...that's all I have to say!

Lily is just as much an outcast as Ty in her world. Abandoned by her adoptive parents, she has never felt safe and loved. Keeping her abilities to herself for most of her life, she alienates herself from those around her and yearns to live a normal life. Lily is a strong and loving character despite the challenges she's had to overcome. What struck me most about her was her calm and collective stance on the chaos that ensues when she meets Tynan and is introduced to his world. The romance that develops between Lily and Ty is a flawless match, two wounded souls who seek acceptance and love. Their chemistry is short of sizzling and my only complaint is that there weren't more scenes between the two!

This book is a solid beginning to a new vampire world in paranormal romance. You completely immerse yourself in the story and characters who take you on an emotional and action filled ride. Another great addition to the story are some of the supporting characters who will leave you wanting with their smooth talking ways, Jaden and Vlad in particular. Dark Awakening is a compelling story of self discovery, growth, acceptance and love mixed with secrets, power and danger that is sure to captivate readers!

{Ebook courtesy of NetGalley for review} ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Jul 18, 2011 Cindyg rated it it was amazing

WOW...Ms Castle you did it...Ist book in a new series and you won me over. The book pulled me in from the first page and held on tight until the final word.
The characters are so warm and engaging, you can't help but latch on to them. Ty is a lowblood, considered the lowest of the lowest, but as the reader you just know that's hogwash; it's the highbloods that are guttertrash.
But it wasn't just Ty and Lily I fell in love with, there was also Jaden and Damien...both with painful pasts, which exp ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Jul 07, 2012 Melindeeloo rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: shapeshifters, paranormal-romance, vampires

From the first time he sees Lily in the moonlight, catshifting vamp Ty is captivated, but when moves in for a little taste of the beguiling Lily, he finds tha Lily is more than she seems - and she is just what he has been hunting for, a Seer. And as much as Ty wants Lily, as a servant to the queen of a powerful vampire house he has no choice but to complete his hunt and deliver the Seer into the dangerous vampire world knowing full well that queen will never allow Lily to be his.

I am really not From the first time he sees Lily in the moonlight, catshifting vamp Ty is captivated, but when moves in for a little taste of the beguiling Lily, he finds tha Lily is more than she seems - and she is just what he has been hunting for, a Seer. And as much as Ty wants Lily, as a servant to the queen of a powerful vampire house he has no choice but to complete his hunt and deliver the Seer into the dangerous vampire world knowing full well that queen will never allow Lily to be his.

I am really not a super vamp fan, so on my first attempt at reading Dark Destiny I read the prolog and it didn't grab me. But, I am trying to start attacking my TBR pile and doing a “choose it or lose it” on some of the numerous complete (or nearly complete) series languishing there and the two books of Castle's series was the least daunting choice. Well even though my reasons for picking this back up were dubious, I have to say that in giving it another chance, the first real chapter was really good and the rest just kept on getting better.

It is hard not to go into too much detail but I thought that the world that Castle created was interesting with a smattering of mythology, and a caste system running through the different vampire clans. The mindset that goes along with having been a victim of those prejudices plays a key part in the story because it defines the characters – especially the leading man, Ty, and several of his 'blood' brothers as well – and it sets up the 'obstacle' that the staring pair have to overcome to be together. And all of that just worked really well for me, I loved Ty, who is an awesome hunter but very vulnerable in his belief that as Cait Sith – a catshifting vamp with fae origins - he is just a 'gutterblood' and that serving the queen of one of the 'highblood' clans is the best he can do, I also loved his struggle against wanting to keep his leading lady Lily for himself, when duty demands he turn her over for the good of that race. And I loved Lily, she is at a disadvantage as a mortal in the cross hairs of the immortals, but she controls what she can, and takes the chance on grabbing some happiness with Ty however fleeting that may be.

So, the bottom line is that I really enjoyed this first episode in Castle's Dark Dynasty series and it's actually worked to my advantage in being so late to the party because I have the second book on my pile already and the third book is out soon, so I don't have too long to wait for more of the Ty's Cait Sith brethren, Jaden is up next in Midnight Reckoning and Damien is on the horizon in Shadow Rising. ...more

1 like · Like · see review