Mass Market Paperback, 352 pages
Expected publication: August 7th 2012 by Zebra
ISBN 13: 9781420124569
Source: Publisher, for the purpose of an honest review
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Series: Deadglass, book #1
Stars: 5
Flames: 2
Hearts of Darkness has to be
the most unique book that I have read this year. It is definitely the furthest
outside of my typical reading box/comfort zone. This story had so many
different elements that I loved, the blend of mythologies and legends, the
characters that I never knew which side they were fighting for, and then there
is the setting. Kira has created a very dark Seattle that I never would want to
visit. The crime is high, the political system is corrupt and beyond broken, anyone
can be bought for a price, and the humans are completely blind to what they
living among.
Kira has mixed Native American folklore, Babylonian mythology,
paranormal elements of shifters and ghosts, a mild almost steampunk element
with the technology and the characters attire, and then readers are still given
the mystery of what happened to Kayla’s sister. The way that she has blended
these elements makes for one incredible tale wrapped in a book that is impossible
to put down.
I am still is shock over the ending of this book. At the beginning
readers meet Kayla who has traveled to Seattle due to her sister’s untimely
death. Kayla immediately finds out that multiple people are looking for a
necklace that she had in her possession at the time of her death. To point out
that as the pages turn there is so much more going on than a missing necklace would
be a massive understatement. It took me a few chapters to really get into Hearts of Darkness. Once this book gets
going it picks up speed and never slows down. The ending is amazing and I never
saw it coming. It is not a cliffhanger, but an intensely shocking game changer.
The spine of this book lists it as paranormal romance. Hearts of Darkness feels more urban
fantasy to me than it did paranormal romance. There is a couple and they do get
a happily ever after, but the romance was minimal and seemed to be more of a
side story in this book. I’m big on the pursuit with any romance. I never got
that with Kayla and Hart. I think I got more invested in their roles in the
overall story than I did in their romance.
The romance was my only disappointment and it is a mild disappointment.
Kira’s story telling is phenomenal. The Seattle she has created is so very dark
and gritty. I think this book should be a must read for anyone who enjoys
paranormal or fantasy reads. It is so different from everything else out there.
I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book. I’m so curious about the changes
that were made with the ending of Hearts
of Darkness. I want to know how these changes are going to affect the
characters and the world.
