This took quite a bit of time for me to read. I did like the vampire "Darkyn" lore Viehl is setting up. I will read the next books because I have them in my library. I'm curious to see if Viehl improves writing wise. Because my major problem with this book is the writing. Cold, dry, aseptic. I did not care for any of the lead characters. Not Alex despite the fact that she is a strong, capable woman, definitely not Micheal whom I find is a pale carbon copy of some other writer French stereotype vampire. I did like Philippe and Thierry's family (he's the focus of book 2). Viehl did manage to surprise me at the end with two plot twists. One I should have seen coming and another that was a pretty good surprise.