Drawn Into Darkness (Soul Gatherer, #1) in SOS: Serious Overload of Series

Aug 28, 2009 Shawna rated it really liked it

Shelves: pnr-paranormal-romance, 2009-reads, pbs-trades, i-read-no-longer-own-sold-swapped, hero-alpha‎, pnr-angeldemon-fae-magic-witch-misc, highlanders-hunks-in-kilts-scots, hh-warrior, 4-stars, hero-abused-scarred-tortured-angst

4-4 ½ stars – Paranormal Romance

Drawn Into Darkness is a fascinating debut read in an inventive, unique new PNR series about modern day Soul Gatherers charged with battling demons for the souls of the dead. Author Annette McCleave has created an imaginative world where angels and demons are fighting a war for possession over the souls of the dead, with Soul Gatherers mastered by the goddess of Death, caught in the middle, and the power is starting to shift in favor of the dark side.

Former Scott 4-4 ½ stars – Paranormal Romance

Drawn Into Darkness is a fascinating debut read in an inventive, unique new PNR series about modern day Soul Gatherers charged with battling demons for the souls of the dead. Author Annette McCleave has created an imaginative world where angels and demons are fighting a war for possession over the souls of the dead, with Soul Gatherers mastered by the goddess of Death, caught in the middle, and the power is starting to shift in favor of the dark side.

Former Scottish Highland knight Lachlan MacGregor still has 91 years left on his five-hundred-year sentence to atone for his past sins by serving as a Soul Gatherer for the goddess of Death. He’s lived a solitary existence for the past 400 years, maintaining limited distance from human contact, which has enabled him to become one of the most powerful, supernatural warriors and successful Soul Gatherers of all time.

Now posing as a priest in San Jose, Lachlan’s tasked with protecting a 14-year-old Goth teenage girl named Emily Lewis who appears to be an integral player in the war between good and evil and who’s being lured by a powerful demon named Drusus, who also has ties to Lachlan’s painful past. When his neighbor, the lovely, lonely divorced artist Rachel Lewis, begs Lachlan to help save her daughter Emily, can he keep his distance and avoid having his personal feelings interfere with his penance and duty to Death, or will Rachel shatter his self-control and bring the fierce warrior to his knees?

Even though the premise of the series was a bit complex at times, I still found myself absorbed in the story. Lachlan is an angst-laden, hunky, sword-wielding immortal warrior with a sexy Scottish accent who kicks some major demon ass to prevent them from stealing the souls of the dead. He’s a very appealing hero, he and Rachel have combustible chemistry and sweet, sexy romance, and there are a couple of smokin’ hot love scenes.

This series spins a fresh, interesting twist on good versus evil, angels battling demons, and heaven and hell, and the characters were all intriguing. I’m curious to see where the series goes from here, and I’ll definitely check out the second book, Bound By Darkness when it comes out in May’2010. 4-4 ½ stars!
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May 22, 2010 Steph rated it really liked it

Shelves: year-read-2010, series-ongoing, author-웃, series-book1

Drawn Into Darkness is an interesting introduction to the Soul Gatherers. I wasn't sure how much I'd like this one, as I'm not a big reader of highlander warriors, but Lachlan's story was very intriguing.

Drawn Into Darkness introduces us to Lachlan MacGregor, a former Scottish Highland knight who, after taking his own life, is now in the service of Death for 500 years as a Soul Gatherer. He's currently living his life under the guise of a priest in order to discourage human contact, mainly t Drawn Into Darkness is an interesting introduction to the Soul Gatherers. I wasn't sure how much I'd like this one, as I'm not a big reader of highlander warriors, but Lachlan's story was very intriguing.

Drawn Into Darkness introduces us to Lachlan MacGregor, a former Scottish Highland knight who, after taking his own life, is now in the service of Death for 500 years as a Soul Gatherer. He's currently living his life under the guise of a priest in order to discourage human contact, mainly that of females. Throughout his "term of service" he's become the most successful Soul Gatherer and a fierce warrior. Upon gathering the soul of a recently deceased person, he takes the soul into his heart where it's held until Heaven's "courier" claims it. Recently though the courier has been arriving late which puts the soul at risk of being taken by couriers for Hell. Each time this happens he must fight the demons off, keeping the soul safe until delivery can be made.

We are also introduced to the artistic single mom, Rachel Lewis and her 14-year old Goth daughter, Emily. Rachel struggles to maintain her career as a print designer while taking care of her newly rebellious daughter. Death orders Lachlan to protect Emily. So, he watches over her, not exactly sure what Death's interest is in the girl. Unfortunately a powerful demon, one Lachlans dealt with in the past, Drusus, notices his attention on the girl and is determined to take her from him.

In protecting Emily, Lachlan is forced to deal with Rachel, who he finds extremely attractive. He battles with his feelings and the reality of his life as a gatherer, but ultimately cannot deny them. As their relationship grows, the ensuing battle between good and evil brings them all together, fighting to save Emily, who's significance is ultimately revealed.

This book surprised me with all it's sword-wielding battles, good vs. evil, Heaven vs. Hell, touching and hot romance and the fight to save those you love enough to die for. I will definitely check out book 2, Bound By Darkness which tells Brian's story, another Gatherer, who we met in Drawn Into Darkness being trained by and working with Lachlan. ...more

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