When Darkness Hungers by J. K. Beck
The Shadow Keepers, Book 5
Bantam Books
Paranormal
ISBN: 978-0-345-52565-9
Reviewed by Jo




Alexis Martin knows exactly what is out there in the shadows and is determined to end the lives of as many as possible.  She really wants to track down and end the life of the one who killed her sister.  Alexis does not mind that she is seriously putting her life on the line for this.  This changes a bit when Alexis learns that not all the shadow people are evil monsters.

Serge is an ancient vampire who has fought his demon ever since he was changed.  He has gone from a blood lust to a totally different type of need with all the twists and turns his life has taken.  Serge is the poster boy of the idea of a bad boy and most people in the shadow world know this, but Serge knows that they have no idea just what type of bad boy he really is.  While on a hunt, Serge comes across a woman who sparks his attention for several reasons.

Alexis knows that Serge is a vampire and yet she is beginning to have feelings for him, feelings that he returns as their time together goes on.  Alexis teams up with Serge to find the vampire who killed her sister, along with a person who has been helping Alexis the entire time.  As Alexis and Serge become closer, so are the answers she is looking for.  Serge has a secret about his true hunger and he knows that admitting it could not only hurt his standing with Alexis but also with the Shadow Council itself and an old friend.  But that might be the least of Serge’s problems when all the final answers are discovered for everyone.  Will the truth bring Alexis and Serge closer together or will it tear them apart forever?

A vampire hunter and an ancient vampire discover that their worlds aren’t so far apart when love is the combining factor.  When Darkness Hungers brings Alexis, a new vampire hunter with a chip on her shoulder and Serge, an old vampire with a very interesting twist together.  I watched and wondered as Alexis and Serge came together and started to fall in love.  Knowing their pasts, I knew this would be a hard gap to bridge and yet I found myself rooting for them to not only bridge the gap but to make it red hot.  Serge had been through so much, I just had to hope that Alexis would not only understand the past but would also let her heart answer his call.  Both Serge and Alexis learned, almost too late, that when love has decided you belong together it would take a whole lot to tear you apart.  When Darkness Hungers takes you on a long journey of love and loss, with the outcome being the best kind of love – the kind that will last an eternity.