Review: Kendra Leigh Castle - Dark Awakening

Dark Dynasties Series:
Book 1:
 
Dark Awakening: Tynan MacGillivray and Lily Quinn
 

 
Summary:
From Goodreads.com
For centuries, shapeshifting vampire Tynan MacGillivray has prowled the night as an outcast, valued only for his ferocious hunting skills. When a feud among the immortals escalates into all-out war, he is ordered by his ruthless queen to locate a Seer - a human woman with a special gift - who can secure victory for their clan. Ty's search leads him to a quiet New England town, but once he has the Seer in his grasp, her touch awakens within him a hunger like he's never known...
 
Lily Quinn has always been different. Since childhood, she's had vivid nightmares and an eerie sixth sense. When a sexy, silver-eyed stranger demands her help, Lily plunges into a new world of danger and sensuality. With Ty, she discovers sizzling passions she cannot deny and powers she cannot control. Soon, it is clear that Lily is much more than a Seer - she holds the key to ancient secrets and unthinkable destruction. But will a vampire's vow of eternal protection stop these evil forces...or unleash her dark destiny?
 
Review:
 
Man I wish I had read this book BEFORE I read the second book in the series! There were things in the second book that I was confused on that this book cleared up. So with the third book coming out in the next couple of months I suggest not starting with that book, but starting at the beginning so much will be clearer to you as you read.
 
Ty and Lily for the most part are likely able. Their chemistry is intense from the beginning. I was actually expecting it to be a like a Mate situation since Ty is a cat-vamp, but that never came up. I think it should have, since it would better explain the instant attraction, which usually works as a mating situation. Even though it was not a mating situation it did not hinder the believability of the attraction at all, it was not annoying like a lot of insta-love situations.
 
Lily is vulnerable yet finds her inner strength. All her life she has felt rejected and knew she needed to hide what she can do; which has affected her natural ability to interact with people. By the end of the book she comes into her own and can stand up to the most powerful of immortals. Ty I feel so bad for, he has next to know self worth unless it comes to his hunting skills. His entire life both before he was turned and after he has been considered trash, the lowest of the low. He has no idea what a great man he is. It kind of reminded me of an emotional abused wife. I kept hoping he’d find some worth and wake up about the Queen. He was so horribly naïve about the queen, which I thought so out of character since he preaches not to trust anyone and to expect betrayal. However, despite his self worth issues and being so naive about the Queen even with faced with facts I still liked Ty. He was loyal, and for the most part kind and stood beside Lily. He’s the kind of man that lives by his own moral code even as he’s doing bad things. He’s managed to keep some of his humanity even after a few centuries of hard living. He was sexy and strong, I wouldn’t have kicked him out of bed.
 
The story line is fast paced and action packed. You are moving from almost the beginning to the very end. They are on a quest to find out with Lily is with: an assassin right on their tail, cryptic dream/visions, The Queen seeking Lily for visions (that Liliy is pretty sure she can’t produce), another cat-vamp who is on the run from the Queen, Dracul the leader of a enemy dynasty is trying to get his hands on Lily, a betrayer, a cursed being that is killing vamps left and right and Lilly’s occasional Power mishaps. Needless to say, this book is not boring in the least. I do have to admit that at first I felt like we were dropped kicked into this world and I wasn’t sure what was going on even with the terms dictionary, when your reading a eBook you cannot easily flip back to the terms and it was a lot to ingest. Eventually I felt like I had some the dynasties straight, but I’m still not sure on some of them. A lot of my enjoyment of this book came from the side characters, I have to say I enjoyed most of them. They made an impact and stood out from the crowd. I particularly liked Dracul and the assassin whose name I can’t remember for the life of me right now. I hope these two get books! Oh and I’m fascinated with the Grigori, they are so mysterious. I’d have to say I’m glad I went back and read this book, I quite enjoyed it.
 
Rating: