Embraced by Darkness
Keri Arthur
book reviews:
· general fiction
· chick lit/romance
· sci-fi/fantasy
· graphic novels
· nonfiction
· audio books

Click here for the curledup.com RSS Feed

· author interviews
· children's books @
   curledupkids.com
· DVD reviews @
   curledupdvd.com

newsletter
win books
buy online
links

home

for authors
& publishers


for reviewers

East meets West across time and tradition as three young American women and their Indian immigrant mothers take first steps toward true sisterhood, shattering secrets and sharing joy and tears in Keri Arthur'
Embraced by Darkness (Riley Jensen, Guardian, Book 5)
.




Buy *Embraced by Darkness (Riley Jensen, Guardian, Book 5)* by Keri Arthur online

Embraced by Darkness (Riley Jensen, Guardian, Book 5)
Keri Arthur
Dell
Paperback
384 pages
July 2007
rated 5 of 5 possible stars

buy this book now or browse millions of other great products at amazon.com
previous reviewnext review

Embraced by Darkness is a real improvement over Keri Arthur's earlier stories in the "Riley Jensen, Guardian" series - there is a greater focus on plotting and characterization, less emphasis on sex to carry the story along.

Riley is on an island holiday to recover from the events of the last year (and the last four books). She is contacted there by a member of her former pack, who demands that she look into the disappearance of a pack member, Adrienne, and threatens to hurt Riley and Rhoan's mother if she doesn't comply. Shortly afterward, the Directorate ask her to look into the strange murder of a woman who appears to have been torn limb from limb by her fiancé, and Riley discerns a supernatural element to the crime. She works on both investigations at the same time, also finding herself under attack from an unknown assailant, dealing with the memories that contact with her pack has dredged up, and trying to make sense of her relationship with Kellen, who wants to 'go solo' with her. Riley's not sure if she can commit to that and clearly has some feelings still for vampire Quinn, although he doesn't appear in person in this story.

The plotting here is excellent with good pacing and the variety of two simultaneous investigations. The caustic relationship between Riley and Salliane, 'The Cow,' adds some light relief to a story with a fair amount of darkness. Riley's skills are growing and strengthening, and she discovers a new aspect of her nature in this book following the drug treatment that she received in the first installment. Her brother, Rhoan, features in this story as he helps Riley at the denouement when they uncover the evil behind a string of grisly deaths from the UK to Germany to Australia.

Embraced by Darkness relies far more on plot and characterization, particularly Riley's workaholic nature and her complete absorption in being a Guardian and how that plays out with her personal relationships, rather than sex, making it a much stronger read and making Riley a more sympathetic character. It ends on a cliffhanger in Riley's personal life (although the major plot lines are all completed) and makes me look forward to the next book. Although part of a series, all the relevant backstory is given in a smooth, concise way, so this book will be easy to understand for a first-time reader despite the complex supernatural world and varied skills that the non-humans have. Embraced by Darkness is a great addition to the series and a book that will probably win this author new readers.



Originally published on Curled Up With A Good Book at www.curledup.com. © Helen Hancox, 2007

Also by Keri Arthur:

buy *Embraced by Darkness (Riley Jensen, Guardian, Book 5)* online
click here for more info
Click here to learn more about this month's sponsor!


fiction · sf/f · comic books · nonfiction · audio
newsletter · free book contest · buy books online
review index · links · · authors & publishers
reviewers

site by ELBO Computing Resources, Inc.