If Angels Burn (Darkyn Series #1)
4.0
155
5
1
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780451214775 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Penguin Publishing Group |
| Publication date: | 04/28/2005 |
| Series: | Darkyn Series , #1 |
| Edition description: | Reissue |
| Pages: | 304 |
| Sales rank: | 740,791 |
| Product dimensions: | 6.74(w) x 10.90(h) x 0.81(d) |
| Age Range: | 18 Years |
About the Author
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
If Angels Burn (Darkyn Series #1)
4 out of 5
based on
0 ratings.
155 reviews.
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I picked up this book based on the recommendation that it was similar to the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. I have to say I find the two series similar, in the fact that they both have romantic elements but not necessarily focus on romance and the plots in both series are dark and gruesome. Dr. Alex Keller is dedicated to her patients and her work. Unfortunately, having a reputation as one of the fastest and most efficient plastic surgeons has made her a target. Michael Cyprien, a vampire part of the Darkyn society (Darkyns are Dark Kyn, a/k/a vampires) chooses to kidnap Alex and force her to perform surgery on his face, that has been obliterated by the Brethren (the Brethren are a group of men/cult who have hunted down and killed the Darkyn through the ages). A terrible situation arises and Alex is exposed to the Darkyn blood. Regardless of Alex's exposure, the virus fails to fully turn her, therefore causing her to walk between two worlds, Darkyn and human. Straddling both worlds pushes Alex into the spotlight and renders her an anomaly that breathes new hope for certain Darkyn of expanding the species, and also causes her to become a threat to the Brethren. Alex is a strong woman, who has confidence, independence, intelligence and fire. However, her constant resistance and verbal abuse towards Michael started to became overbearing. Had the author toned down Alex's spunk a bit, Alex would have pretty much been the perfect heroine. There was a religious aspect to the novel that I could've done without. The author is not preaching to us, actually it's just the opposite; the church turns out to be the hypocrites. Personally I would've liked the author to have chosen a different back story for the Brethren that didn't include being tied to the church. Regardless of the religion included, the author fabulously built a dark world, where nighttime is a feeding ground for those naïve enough not to believe or protect themselves from monsters and those unlucky enough to be caught. As a dark urban fantasy reader, I am always looking for something new to read. I would recommend this to fellow dark urban fantasy readers who can spare the patience to flip through the too coincidental, predictable and emotional parts to stick with the plot. Regardless of my 3-star rating, this series has great potential and I look forward to reading the next book in the series Private Demon.
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This book is so annoying! It reminds me of Jacquelyn Franks book, "Hunting Julian" which is the worst book I've read in many years. A woman can be firm, professional, independent and still be a warm, loving compassionate woman. It irks me that a woman (or man) can be portrayed so one dimensionally. Don't waste your time or money on this one!
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This book annoyed the sh*t out of me, it was good to a point but when I read a book I like when people end up together and stuff I know its lame but this book was stupid with some things. One moment they are saying they need to be together and having sex and the next she is leaving and won't go near him and then at the end you think it all changes but we don't know do we? No because they don't go on about it... But I must say I am curious about what happens in the next book so I will read that. I wouldn't suggest not reading but I would NOT say it is a must read.
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I was looking forward to a new author, but was very disappointed. I always like for my heroines to be strong and independent, but Alexandra took it to an extreme. The interaction between her and Michael left me wondering why they continued to have anything to do with each other; other than the obvious fact that he turn her to Darkyn. Not really a recommended read for me...
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I read some reviews and what this book was about and it sounded pretty good. This is not a very good book. I didn't like it. There were a few parts where it wasn't too bad, but then it would get worse a couple pages later. I do not recommend this book.
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Even though four million dollars would go a long way in her charitable medical practice, Dr. Alexandra Keller (Alex), turns it down; the reclusive millionaire who repeatedly ups his offers of recompense for her services sets off her internal alarms. Since Michael Cyprien is not used to taking 'no' for an answer, he doesn't, having her kidnapped and brought to him to perform an impossible, for multiple reasons surgery. Then, when she has saved his life, he takes hers. Oh, he does not exactly kill her, but turns her into what he is, a Darkynn, a vampire. Instantly, she becomes her priestly brother's enemy, though John Keller does not know this immediately. The young minister, long tortured by his own id, has recently been recruited into the service of a secret Catholic order, to fight what his sister has become. Both siblings are now unwilling participants in an ancient war against the forces of a Hell only one of them believes in. ................................... In saying this is a very dark book, I am not being deliberately ironic or making a bad pun. The tone is dark, gritty, and for the most part, hopeless. Alex's noble intentions and spunk are negated by the bitterness that spreads through her life. Whatever intrigue this book might hold is killed by its total lack of joy and overly gritty descriptions of things that for the most part do not need to be described.
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Where do I start? The "heroine" was nothing more then a whiney, foul mouthed, contradiction. She bashed every character in the book, she was nearly the villian for 3/4 of the time. No where in the book did the author incline that she was falling for Michael except for a few minor notes that she may or may not be attracted to him. Then to throw an "I love you" 10 pages to the end, with no build up to it, or a follow through from it. The book ended with cliffhanger (which I normally like) but had nothing to do with the characters the novel was about. I was told by many that the books get better from this book on out. I do like the writing style, so I will try again with book 2. My recomendation skip book one.
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This truly is one of the worst books I have ever read. The writer bounces around from one thing to the next, to the next. She absolutely does not flesh out her characters, her plot nor her story. I am still trying to figure out the weasel, the jolly green giant, the man with the tux and no shirt. This book is just awful. It never finishes a complete thought. The premise of the book sounds great. It just never gets there.I average $175-$200 a month on books. I read at least five a week if not more. So I feel completely justified in saying this truly is the worst book I have ever read.
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Good book to read not great read better, but have def read worse. Like the some of the characters some of the detailed scenes were a bit twisted for my taste but left little to imagination...
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The heroine was terrible. She had NO passion for the hero. I get what the author was trying to do, but a heroine can not go from pissed off - smart mouth to love and passion in the same sentance. Could have been a great story if the emotions would 'flow' more easily. VERY disappointed.
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Personally, I got mighty tired of the two main characters and the way they interacted with each other throughout the entire book.
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In my experience, most series start with a book that contains a lot of background information (which this book did) but they usually have the complete arch of the main characters while introducing other characters who will be fleshed out in subsequent books. Unlike some reviewers, I came to like the main characters in this book, but I also agree that they were underdeveloped and their "romance" seemed very hard to follow or believe. The book was uneven and some plot points were very poorly followed up--most importantly, did the female lead survive her transformation? I was left feeling that a final chapter or an epilogue was left out of the printing. I am hopeful that, since this was the first in the series, the next book will answer some of the questions and the characters will feel more substantial. Otherwise, I will have to give up on Lynn Viehl.
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The author goes to great lengths to decribe various tortures in graphic detail. Actually she goes to the point of being disgusting. Why then could she not lengthen the book to flesh out(no pun intended)why the characters act the way they do ? She starts to explain an incident in their lives, but then swerves off to some other far-fetched idea with absolutely no substance. I knew when I picked up the book that there were probably going to be grisly events. I just didn't know that they would be the only points fully explained. I read one of the other Darkyn novels before I started this one so it is not as if I expected sweetness and light. I just expected to at least care about the characters. The only two I remotely felt anything for were minor characters who were only in the story as scenery. I normally pass my books on to friends who might like them, even the ones I didn't care for. This one I pitched in the garbage.
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This is an ok book. Not the greatest, but I've read worse. This book is like an inverted bell-curve. It is good in the beginning, sags in the middle and then rises back up in the end. This is not the best of the vampire novels but it has some potential and some interesting ideas about what vampires or Darkyn are. I will give the series another shot and read the next one when it comes out.
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Interesting premise but extremely disappointing. I found the heroine to be annoying and the hero completely undeveloped. The story had some real possibilities but, as it was written, is simply depressing. There was so little character development that most of the action actually comes as a surprise. Too many characters who are just there and who really don't progress the story or provide much interest.
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Chicago plastic surgeon Alexandra Keller has a soft spot for victims, and no respect for pushy billionaires, so when a wealthy prospective client offers her a cool four million to come to New Orleans and operate in his home, she turns him down... repeatedly.Unfortunately for Alexandra, Michael Cyprien isn't a man to take no for an answer. Kidnapped and threatened, Alex is still determined to resist - but Michael's injuries and amazing ability to heal present a challenge she can't resist. But Michael has a deadly secret, one that will cost Alex everything - but might end up bringing her more than she ever dreamed.Not the most unique storyline, but likable characters and lots of action.
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I do so love it when I get book recs from people (whose reading tastes I actually respect, that is). Credit goes out to E, who passed this series along to me. More vampires, 'cause you know how I like 'em. Thankfully, not a frilly, laced-necked poet's shirt was found among them. The story opens with Alexandra Keller, plastic surgeon extraordinaire. She's being pursued by a mysterious millionaire, one Michael Cyprien, to perform an undisclosed operation. The catch? He refuses to leave his home in New Orleans, offers a suspicious payment of $4 million, and won't take "no" for an answer. We can see where this is going, I'm sure. What follows is an intriguing story as Alex is pulled, kicking and screaming death threats, into the vampiric underworld. And you'd like Alex -- I know I did. So hostile, so violent. Her compulsive urge to hurt people was vastly entertaining, let me tell you. They all deserved it, though, don't worry. I also enjoyed Viehl's take on the paranormal classic. Her vampires aren't completely innovative but have some distinctive characteristics, some more original than others. I was warned about the scent thing, true, but for the life of me can't figure why one would make their main dude smell like roses. Not pine needles, or juniper, or even lilies. Demons, thankfully, seem to universally smell of amber and spices. Point for them. My complaints: I was not convinced by the chemistry (or love, for that matter) between Alex and Michael. Nor did I find Cyprien to be particularly appealing. When he wasn't being an anacronistic blockhead, he sulked around feeling good about how patient and understanding he was being. Shyeah. Alex should have totally slapped him around more. And Phillipe should have given Cyprien a run for his money. Not surprising but I liked him and Lucan better than Cyprien. Thankfully, I've got Dark Need right here waiting to be read.
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Enjoyable take on the vampire genre. I liked the mix of vampires, romance, and medicine.
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This is the story of a human plastic surgeon, Alex, who is brought in to fix the decimated face of an Darkyn, Micheal. Whilst in the attempt she is sucked into the world of the Darkyn, a powerful but heavily hunted species. She is determined to keep that world at arms length, while Micheal is determined to have her as his own.Now, this really sounds like a romance novel and that's what you would expect, given the fact that it's located in the romance section. Thus I feel I must warn readers that it's really not all that romantic. The love story takes a back seat to all of the world building and fantasy drama. Looking at it as a fantasy novel, it's quite good. It has an intense and well paced plot, plenty of spooky stuff, and a lot of subtle humor. As for the characters, I found Alex to be sharp, whitty, and a little mean. Micheal, on the other hand, can only be described as blah. The chemistry between the two was just not there for me.So, if your looking for a vampire based, urban fantasy sort of series, this is a decent pick. It's just not great romance.
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I liked this book, but I think potential readers should keep one thing in mind; this, despite the classification, is not a romance. Yes, there is a love story, but the primary focus of the book is world building, and the story is a paranormal thriller with a romance sub plot. If I judge the book this way, I like it a lot. If I were to judge it as a romance, it would fail, because Viehl's primary purpose is not developing romantic love; it's the story of one a woman and her brother and their dangerous involvement in the world of the Darkyn and the Brethren (enemies of the Darkyn). The world building is intricate; Viehl has a strong and compelling voice, and the characters are nicely drawn.Unlike other reviewers, I did not dislike the heroine. She can be a bit abrasive, but I found this more realistic and true to life. I am heartily sick of sweet, silly, perfect heroines. Alex read to me like a real woman, who had real issues stemming from losing her parents and her brother. She also had the distinction of being one of the few Romance heroine surgeons, who I actually believed was a surgeon, rather than Doctor Barbie. The hero was slightly more problematic, because he did not seem to be as developed, and his motivations were less clear.This book is part of a series that I am enjoying, and reading it is necessary to really appreciate the other books. If you approach this expecting a good paranormal, rather than a good Romance, I think you will find yourself pleased and intrigued enough to continue with the rest of the Darkyn saga
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Dr Alexandra Keller is a brilliant reconstructive surgeon living in Chicago, she's approached by some employees of Michael Cyprien to do some surgery on him, but she has to go to him. She initially refuses and they kidnap her. When she finds that Cyprien has terrible wounds and recovers very quickly from wounds. When she's finished with the surgery he bites her and she finds that she's now unable to go back to her old life.It's an interesting and involved story and I did enjoy it, there's nothing deep here just a fun story.
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I have mixed feelings about this book. It was a good story and I really like the world Viehl has created. However, it took me forever to read and I'm not sure why. I had to keep going back to it, but I wasn't sucked into it and trapped there like I often am with a book I really like. I don't know if I would reread it, but I certainly want to know more about the world and will be buying the sequel. I'll see how that one goes before making any final decisions about reading or not reading more books beyond that. Some of the darker passages are a bit unpleasant, but it is never dwelled on long enough to make the reader cringe too much. The villianess (for lack of a better term) is particularly nasty, but she is drawn in broad brush strokes rather than more detailed ones, giving both her and her actions less impact than perhaps they should have. In fact, this is probably true of all the characters - they are more stand-ins for a role than real people the reader cares greatly about. I think this explains my ambivalence and the slow read. I like the world and want to see more of it but I'm not to fussed about the fates of the individual characters. I wasn't hanging on to each page to see how it turned out for them. If the world-building and the characterisation can both be major factors in the next book, it should be a good one.
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I enjoyed 'If Angels Burn', in part because I knew (to an extent) what I was getting in for. I read it for a book club, and was told before I read it that it was more dark fantasy than paranormal romance. So I expected dark going in. However, there are a few sections that, when I re-read the book, I will probably skip. They're just that side of too dark for me. But - there aren't enough of those sections (1, maybe 2) for me to get rid of the book and never read it again.I liked the treatment of some of the characters in this book a lot, though they were mostly the supporting cast and not the main characters. I also liked the variation on the vampire myth. Vampirism has been presented as a virus and as a curse before, but Viehl takes these and combines them in a way that I want to watch her explore further.The plot, I felt, was fairly average. Very few of the actions in the story surprised me, yet for the most part I did enjoy the pacing of the story. The ending was a tad confusing... but as this is the first in a series of at least three, I have hopes that my confusion will be cleared up. (The next two Darkyn books, 'Private Demon' and 'Dark Need' have already been released.)I will definitely keep this book, and re-read it. I will also buy the next in the series, and keep reading as long as my enjoyment overshaows the darkness of the books. But I will only recommend it to those people who know what they're in for, and want it. For them, this book is a must buy. For those who don't like their fantasy this dark, I have some other books you might enjoy instead.
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I am waiting on the next books
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Great read wish it was a audio book.
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