Chaos Burning by Lauren Dane
Bound by Magick, Book 2
Berkley
Paranormal, Magic
ISBN: 978-0425250822
Reviewed by Jo




Lark Jaansen has come to Clan Owen to help them prepare for the battle that is headed their way.  She is a hunter for Clan Gennessee and has actually been the leader of the hunter teams, along with her sister.  Lark jumped at the chance to come up to Clan Owen, not only to help out but also to escape a situation that might have changed her relationship with her sister forever.  Lark knows she isn’t what most would expect from a hunter leader – small of statue and a quirky dresser; yet when it comes to the protection of Others – be it witches or any other species she proves that she is the best at her job.

Simon Leviathan is a warrior and a Lycan who has made his life on this side of the veil from his home.  The co-owner of a bar with Dominick, one of the co-rulers of Clan Owen, Simon volunteered to pick up Lark when she arrived.  Immediately Simon felt the need to take care of and protect Lark upon meeting her.  Used to dealing with society minded and designer fashion women, Simon is charmed by Lark and yet knows right off that she is a warrior like himself.

Lark and Simon fall into a fast and easy friendship as Lark discovers that the dangers facing all the Others is not just from the mages liked believed.  The question now is who is behind these latest killings and kidnappings.  Simon is concerned as Lark becomes drawn into more and more dangerous situations and starts to become hurt.  His wolf becomes outraged with every scrape, cut and bruise.  When the true danger to all Others on many realms is discovered, Simon realizes that Lark has become much more to him than a funny friend.  Passion explodes between Lark and Simon as the danger hits close to home.  Simon knows he can’t stop Lark from doing her job and protecting her clan, but nothing says he can’t use his own hard earned warrior skills to help her and give her the protection his wolf is demanding.  The final battle is fierce and bloody with losses on both sides.  When the morning comes, has the love and trust found between Lark and Simon been enough to help them face the new reality facing them?

Passion can come unexpectedly and be the hottest thing known, something Lark and Simon discover in Chaos Burning.  Before I go any further, I have to say that I loved the previous book, Heart of Darkness, but this one just knocked the series out of the realm.  Lark is strong and quirky and instantly loveable as she searches for and finds a new life for herself with Clan Owen.  Simon is the all GQ but with tattoos and a warriors instincts, never dreaming that Lark would be his one.  I loved watching how Lark and Simon ribbed each other and then were stunned by the passion that sprung up between them.  Then I really loved as they had to find a happy medium that made them both happy, with Lark doing the job she trained for and loved and Simon’s need to protect her and give her the nurturing his instincts demanded.   If the interactions weren’t enough to keep me turning the pages, and believe me they were, the build up and final battle against the newest evil facing the Others more than made Chaos Burning a page turner.

I have to admit that I re-read the final battle a few times before I could put it down and then ended up just re-reading the entire book over again.  Chaos Burning is friendships, passion, danger and strength of character, and yet that really doesn’t tell you what you will find inside the pages.  I could tell you so much more, yet if I do, you won’t have the same sense of excitement and discovery that I did.  What I can tell you is that Chaos Burning is not only outstanding and a instant keeper for me but it is also a book that I whole heartedly Joyfully Recommend as a book you will not want to miss reading.