Awaken the Darkness by Dianne Duvall

Awaken the Darkness (Immortal Guardians, #8)

by Dianne Duvall

He awakens encapsulated in dirt with no knowledge of how he came to be there. Riddled with injuries, he can remember neither his past nor who he is. Nor can he remember what he is. But surely no mortal man could survive being buried deep beneath the earth. All he knows with certainty is that the soothing voice and presence of the woman moving around above enables him to endure the agony of his wounds. And he will do whatever it takes to be with her.

When Susan first sees the old two-story house for sale, such warmth and longing fill her that--against all reason--she makes an offer. It will take years of hard work and money she frankly doesn't have to fix up the place. So she can't explain why she bought it. She also can't explain what compels her to spend hours one night, digging in the basement until she unearths a man. A man who still lives and breathes despite having been buried alive. A man whose intense brown eyes glow amber with pain, declaring him far more than ordinary. Susan knows she should keep her distance. He has no memory and possesses gifts that would make most fear him. But as the two work together to unravel the mystery of his past, she finds herself drawn in by his teasing nature and tender touch. So much so that she loses her heart to him even as they find themselves hunted by unknown enemies who are ruthless in their quest to capture them.

Reviewed by Nadz@Totally Addicted to Reading on

4 of 5 stars

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I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.The heartbreaking ending in Night Unbound left me curious to learn the fate of two of the Immortal Guardians, Yuri and Stanislav. After learning of Yuri's fate in Phantom Embrace  the story left me wondering what Duvall had in store for Stanislav. In Awaken the Darkness, she provided all the answers needed for closure.

The story begins with a recap of the last events in Night Unbound. Then it fast forward two and a half years later to the discovery of Stanislav buried alive in a basement for that entire timeline. Because of the lengthy period of being buried with no form of sustenance, his body entered stasis mode. He awakens after two and a half long years with no memory of his past. The only thing he knows is pain and loneliness.

Enters Susan Meyer, an author and a telepath. Susan is searching for property to purchase. Somewhere peaceful and which will provide her freedom from the thoughts of others. On seeing the farmhouse, she felt compelled to purchase it, despite its state of disrepair. After moving in, Susan, with the help of her dog, discovers Stanislav and freed him from his underground prison. She nursed him back to health. During this time, the two became close.

This installment focused on Stanislav's recovery, his growing relationship with Susan, and their attempts to learn who buried him alive. The other members of the series appeared near to the end of the story, resulting in a heartfelt reunion. Duvall did not mention much about Stanislav in the previous books. So learning about him in Awaken the Darkness was a treat. Protective, caring and definitely a gentleman all traits which Susan appreciated. Susan was also a wonderful character. Brave, strong and protective. She surely knows how to handle herself, to the dismay of the villains. Also, I loved how she fearlessly came to Stanislav's defense.

The story revealed some interesting tidbits about Susan and how she came to be on the leader of the guardian's radar. We get some action, which of course was intense and brutal. This, along with the humour and the romantic scenes, made for a compelling read. The epilogue evoked a combination of smiles and tears, culminating in a satisfying conclusion. If you enjoy paranormal romance, then this series would make a great addition to your bookshelf.

The narration by Kirsten Potter has become my expectation for this series. She is the voice of the series. I don't believe another narrator could do justice to the series. She does a wonderful job with the characters, accents and all. Her narration breathes life into the story. 

This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading

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  • Started reading
  • 10 May, 2023: Finished reading
  • 10 May, 2023: Reviewed