As a Venator, Antoinette Petrescu is a highly trained Dreniac killer who enjoys her work and has racked up an impressive death count. That’s not surprising considering when Antoinette was six years old she witnessed her mother’s death at the hands of Dante Rubins, one of the Dreniac vampires who get their kicks from death-highs. A series of deaths and rumors points to a return of The Troubles, a tumultuous time before the CHaPR agreements between human and paranormal creatures that brought an end to revenge killings.
Christian Laroque one of the Aeternus, the honorable vampires sworn to uphold the CHaPR charter is seriously attracted to Antoinette but she has no love for the vampire race. Sparks fly when the two of them team up to find out who is responsible for stirring up old troubles and attempt to put the CHaPR back on track. Antoinette feels certain her old nemesis Dante is alive despite everyone’s insistence that he perished years ago. As Christian maneuvers Antoinette into position as bait, he knows it could possibly kill any chance of pursuing a romantic entanglement. He hadn’t bargained on the death of close friends or the depth of betrayal that would place them in the hands of a demented killer who will stop at nothing to ensure his immortality.
O’Hara’s debut vampire novel combines the dark elements of a gritty urban fantasy with steamy sexual tension and a strong mystery storyline. Several subplots provide depth while the assorted twists and turns keep readers on their toes. The characters are fully developed with plenty of history and personality quirks. While this is a satisfying stand-alone story, there are enough remaining loose ends for more adventures.
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