Dark Awakening (Dark Dynasties #1) in SOS: Serious Overload of Series

Oct 27, 2011 Sharon rated it liked it

2.5 Stars

This story is set in a closed world. Vampires have divided into dynasties based on a powerful ancestor. Each dynasty has its own special powers and a distinctive mark that appears when you take their blood. The vampire society as a whole functions like a caste system with the “Highbloods”, the aristocracy, and the “Lowbloods” who are treated as slaves. The lowbloods are considered tainted blood and the lowest are the Cait Sith, a cat shifting vampire. Someone is killing off one of the o ...more

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Sep 06, 2011 Dahlia (yadkny) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

A war is looming in the night world. A war in which many will suffer or die and few will benefit. However, one mortal woman stands in the way and can forever tip the balance of power. A new dark destiny begins with bloodshed.

Tynan MacGillivray was given what was to be the simple yet all too important task of retrieving a Seer for his Queen. His superb Cait Sith (cat shifting vampire) hunting skills gives him the edge needed to find this seeming needle in a haystack. Unfortunately, it was his lac A war is looming in the night world. A war in which many will suffer or die and few will benefit. However, one mortal woman stands in the way and can forever tip the balance of power. A new dark destiny begins with bloodshed.

Tynan MacGillivray was given what was to be the simple yet all too important task of retrieving a Seer for his Queen. His superb Cait Sith (cat shifting vampire) hunting skills gives him the edge needed to find this seeming needle in a haystack. Unfortunately, it was his lack of self-defense with his prey that was to be his ultimate downfall. No one had ever breached the walls of his hardened heart, nor managed to challenge him in such unexpected and desirous ways. Yet this one did and by the time he realized it, it was too late. Torn between loyalty and desire, Ty must choose and suffer whatever consequences. His actions will dictate not only his fate, but the whole of the night world as well.

Lily Quinn thought she had finally gotten her life together after dealing with the traumatizing fallout of absent parents and barrage of psychiatric evaluations. Most of the unexplainable could be left behind, but no matter where she goes or what she does the nightmares continue. Then in one night she is kidnapped and forced to start living under the cover of darkness where her significance in the night world is revealed. There are those that want her enslaved, those that want her dead, and those that want her forever, but the formidable force that is Lily hasn't had her say yet.

A Mulo curse, power shifts, new alliances, love, and death will all take place by the time this story is finished. It's a twenty-first century paranormal tale with throwbacks in history to monarchs, hierarchies, court politics, and archaic practices. Ms. Castle creates vampiric Dynasties separated by blood with different abilities and tattoo symbols that can change as bloods merge. Even the infamous Vlad Dracul makes an appearance. The complex world-building is very creatively well done and the characters described with perfect detailing.

I'll admit that Ty for me lacked a certain finesse and charm that I find quickly enough with other romance action heroes, but after spending some quality time with him throughout the story I found a very loyal and passionate man instead. He still hasn't fully realized his self-worth, but he has potential. On the other hand, Lily was appealing to me from the beginning and grew to be more so as the story continued. Her mysterious heritage and unique back-story make for good reading, but I really enjoyed her caring personality. Although slow going, the connection between the pair is formed over conversations and mounting forbidden touches until it all becomes too much to deny. Our tortured hero and heroine may just stand a chance. In the heat department, these two have that down with a soul mate kind of passion that's easily read in their more intimate scenes...

“...she continued her gentle exploration of him, threading her fingers through his hair. It was soft, silken, as she stroked it, and she lifted her other hand to do the same. He tipped his head back slightly, giving in, just a little. A soft thrumming sound reached her ears, and it took her a moment to place it.”
“I've never made a man purr,” she said. “I like it.”

“When I touch you,” he said softly, “I want my teeth in you.”

The climax and ending left a bit to be desired as both came and went without enough of the expected heart-pounding rush and excitement for more now not later. However, Ty, Lily, the secondary characters, and the yet to be fully engaged and revealed other Dynasties do have me wanting more and more. The plot I am sure will continue to thicken and new characters will emerge with the next installment to the Dark Dynasties series. It's all more than enough to have me coming back to Ms. Castle's particular brand of night world. This is one not to be missed by any paranormal romance fan!

Review soon-to-be posted @ Night Owl Reviews ...more

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Aug 19, 2014 Katie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This is a very good start...set in modern times - but with vampire king and queens! The male lead is a white collar vampire that works/hunts for the largest vampire house - Ptolemy. He is the queen's pet - literally. Ty is on a mission to find a human seer; that will save the Ptolemy from extinction. He finds a unique woman, named Lily, that Ty thinks has seer qualities...the story is action packed as Ty tries to extract Lily from her everyday life and deliver her to his queen. Good stuff in her ...more

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May 01, 2021 Rachel-RN rated it it was ok

Shelves: read-2021

Interesting caste system with vampires. Each group originates with a god/goddess and has a unique to them ability (turning to smoke, being super fast, shifting). However with most groups, you have ones who think they are better and treat others as such. So, not surprising in this world, vamps can e snobby assholes.
Tynan is a Cait Sith. He can shift to a cat. The Cait Sith are also considered to be the lowest class and serve the Ptolemy (considered to be the highest). The Cait Sith that don't go ...more

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