Shadowed (Dark Protectors, #6)

by Rebecca Zanetti

[Cocktails and Books]

After being tortured for five years at the hands of the demons, Jase Kayrs is a changed man. What was once a happy, lighthearted soul is replaced with anger and vengeance. Five years after his rescue, he’s asked by the king to mate with Brenna Dunne to help save her from a poison that’s been slowly killing her for the past 10 years. Jase agrees to the mating in order to have access to her powers and the possibility of rekindling his own powers which have been dormant since his torture. Will the mating save them or destroy what’s left?

With the war escalating, demons, witches, and Kurjans attacking from all sides and an unexpected, yet dangerous ally, the Kayrs brothers can’t seem to catch a break. Brenna has her own problems to deal with: dying, losing the ability to form magic, being hunted by all factions, and facing a loveless mating, just to name a few. Brenna always thought she was a freak because she was born as an eighth sister to a seventh sister since there has never been a recorded event of that in all of the history of witches. There’s a lot of speculation around Brenna’s birth that has factions either trying to mate her to balance the immeasurable powers she is prophesized to receive on the winter solstice and another faction, including the Citizens Revolting Against Pagurus (CRAP, hehe), that want Brenna dead. It seems business as usual for the Kayrs.

I have had my fingers crossed for a Jase/Brenna mating ever since Brenna was introduced in Conn’s book! I knew she would be perfect for Jase and I’m glad Rebecca did as well! I hated seeing how Jase’s character changed since his torture. His laughter and easy smile killed by those damn demons. Brenna’s loving and nurturing nature really paired well with Jase’s hard edges. It wasn’t an easy road to journey and there were many times I didn’t think Jase could pull up from the self-destructive blaze of glory he’d resigned himself to.

My favorite part of the book was seeing all the brothers interacting together. When there are so many characters in a book, it’s hard for everyone to have face time. I’m sure glad the Kayrs brothers did, even though they were conversing in fisticuffs the majority of the time.

This book is the most action-packed of the series. There is so much going on, as soon as something else seems tied up, something else happens and the domino effect continues. There’s also lots of explosions, rescue attempts, smokin’ hot chemistry between Jase and Brenna, many fights between brothers, aFifty Shades reference that had me laughing out loud and a hilarious drunken barroom brawl with a couple of shifters.

Zane, Zane, Zane. We finally get to see him in the real world and not just in Janie’s dreams. I totally love him but he is starting to piss me off. He needs to show up, throw Janie over his shoulder and ride off into the sunset; perhaps in the next book? There are many surprises in the story and a scene that really “killed” me to read. I laughed, I cried, I was on the edge of my seat with anxiety and anticipation.

Rebecca is a great author and creates characters with such depth and emotion. Her books are always an auto buy for me because she is masterful in creating these magical worlds to get lost in. I recommend ANY Rebecca Zanetti book to readers who enjoy the same.

Reviewed by Elizabeth for Cocktails and Books