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Book Review of If Angels Burn (Darkyn, Bk 1)

If Angels Burn (Darkyn, Bk 1)
If Angels Burn (Darkyn, Bk 1)
Author: Lynn Viehl
Genre: Romance
Book Type: Paperback
kalynn avatar reviewed on + 6 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 15


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.