Review: Deliver Me From Darkness by Tes Hilaire

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deliver Me From Darkness

by Tes Hilaire
Sourcebooks Casablanca

February 2012

Paperback, 368 pages

ISBN: 9781402264344

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Series: Paladin Warriors #1

Rating: 4 flowers

Sensuality Rating: 4 flames

FTC Disclaimer: Provided by Publisher for honest review

 

 

Buy from: Amazon | B & N | Indiebound | Powell’s | Amazon UK | The Book Depository

 

Book Summary:

A stranger in the night…

He had once been a warrior of the Light, once of the revered Paladin. A protector. But now he live sin darkness, and the shadows are his sanctuary. Every day is a struggle to overcome the bloodlust. Especially the day Karissa shows up on his doorstep.

 

Comes knocking on the door…

She is light and bright everything beautiful—despite her scratches and torn clothes. Every creature of the night is after her. So is every male Paladin. Because Karissa is the last female of their kind. But she is his. He may not have a soul, but he can’t deny his heart.  

 

 

Sue’s Thoughts:

In our darkest hours, warriors descended from Angels watch over and protect humanity from the creatures of the night. The Paladin have dwindled in number until no more females of their own kind exist. When Roland, a fallen Paladin-turned-vampire, meets Karissa, he knows she is the one soul made for him as his mate. However, convincing her to take him as her mate and convincing the rest of the lonely Corps to accept it will be ultimate test.

 

From dream to reality to flashback, with changing points of view, the switches are sometimes jarring, jumping from scene to scene. However, the flow of the story is solid and progresses like an urban fantasy novel, with most of the first half of this book spent building the various characters and plotlines. From setting the scene on multiple fronts, laying down the rules of the universe, introducing the characters, to sowing the seeds of forbidden passion and love... everything races toward an unexpectedly epic ending.

 

The chemistry between Roland and Karissa is instant and intense, even when they are both trying to fight it.  I was immediately pulled into Roland's inner turmoil and his struggle against accepting Karissa as his mate; how could the last remaining female paladin, one lucky man's chance to replenish the powerful bloodline, be fated to be with one of the fallen... a vampire?  I think his fall from grace and the apparently-miraculous fact that he has a soul put me even more staunchly on his side. 

 

The premise for this novel was unique and engaging, and in a genre flooded with vampire stories so similar to each other, that's an impressive accomplishment. I liked the lore of the Paladin and their unique abilities and I enjoyed the setup of the various demon and vampire races as separate hierarchies that are unexpectedly working together. Characters you initially dislike become some of your favorites, and hidden connections between the players are slowly revealed to sweeten the tension and mystery. The explosive conclusion ties off all the major plotlines so there are no cliffhangers, but still leaves enough open to give you something to look forward to in the next chapter of this saga.  Deliver Me From Darkness is a recommended read! (Reviewed by Sue from GraveTells)