[A] publishing phenomenon . . . [Sherrilyn Kenyon is] the reigning queen of the wildly successful paranormal scene. . .Just one example of arguably the most in-demand and prolific authors in America these days.” —Publishers Weekly

“Kenyon's writing is brisk, ironic and relentless imaginative. These are not your mother's vampire novels.” —Boston Globe

“[An] engaging read.” —Entertainment Weekly

04/01/2014
This collection features novellas first published in earlier Kenyon anthologies, stories previously available only on her website, and one new story, "House of the Rising Son," a prequel to her novel Styxx. Forbidden love is the most common theme here, as immortals and supernatural beings enter into taboo love affairs with humans, often leading to severe consequences. Other tales recall shameful pasts, lasting feuds, and bitter betrayals for powerful beings of many races, including demons, werewolves, demigods and dragons. By turns suspenseful, action-packed, emotional, and erotic, this sampler works best as an introduction to Kenyon's dark and sensual world; longtime fans are likely to have encountered most of these stories before, and not all are equally interesting. Voice actor Fred Berman does a capable job of channeling a wide spectrum of characters. VERDICT Most of the material in this anthology is duplicated in other collections, but Kenyon's enduring popularity virtually guarantees an audience. A solid choice for larger public library collections.—Claire Abraham, Keller P.L., TX

Kenyon's darkly intriguing works regularly claim the top spot on the New York Times best sellers list, and there are more than 30 million copies of her books in print. This first story collection includes pieces she has written over many years, including a few zingers —e.g., "Phantom Lover" (about V'Aiden), "A Dark-Hunter Christmas" (about Gallagher), and "Love Bytes" (about Adrian)—that have appeared only on her website. Plus, there will be a new "Dark-Hunter" story. Fans are already clamoring.