27 Jan 2012 1 Comment
Taken by the Others by Jess Haines
Taken by the Others by Jess Haines
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Zebra (January 1, 2011)
Once, New York P.I. Shiarra Waynest’s most pressing problem was keeping her agency afloat. Now she’s dealing with two dangerous, seductive vampires who have been enemies for centuries. The only thing Max Carlyle and Alec Royce agree on is that they both want Shia – for very different reasons.
Max is determined to destroy Shia for killing his progeny, while Royce’s interest is a lot more personal. That’s not sitting well with Shia’s werewolf boyfriend, Chaz. As the feud between Max and Royce gets ever more deadly, a powerful vampire-hunting faction is urging Shia to join their side.
Shia has always believed vamps were the bad guys, but she’s discovering unexpected shades of grey that are about to redefine her friends, her loyalties – and even her desires.
Fan of Jess Haines’ Hunted by the Others will really enjoy this adventure in the H & W Investigations series. How long does it take for the action to start? Well, Shiarra has someone pointing a gun at her on the first page… and the action doesn’t let up from there.
While the first book brought a few supporting characters into the spotlight (Chaz, Sara, Arnold), this one provides a little more insight into another group that plays a big role in the storyline — the vampire-hunters known as the White Hats. Yes, the hunters are still a group of gun-toting extremists who are a little too dedicated to hunting down Others, but we get to see a couple of them for what they really are — normal people whose lives were turned upside down when they learned that vampires, werewolves, and mages weren’t just characters in books and movies. While I saw the White Hats as little more than thugs before, I became a little more sympathetic to their cause as I got to know some of them a little better.
Of course, Shiarra is still the main character and what happens to her will have you on the edge of your seat. I like the fact that she has never been depicted as a ‘kick butt and take names’ type of heroine, always exhibiting normal characteristics that add a sense of realism to her, but the depths of vulnerability that she reaches in this book will really establish her as someone you care about.
Royce becomes an even more intriguing character, exhibiting a deadly charm that repels and attracts at the same time. With motives that are always unclear and actions that range from caring to manipulative, one can never be sure if he’s a good guy or bad guy. True to his vampire nature, the only thing Royce can be counted on for is that each move he makes is calculated to benefit him, but even what he considers beneficial is a mystery. Does he view Shiarra as a pawn? a slave? a lover? Nobody can really know for sure, and that’s what makes him such great fun.
Royce isn’t the only powerful vamp in town this time around; Max Carlyle, an old friend/rival, has stopped by… and he has an old score to settle. Through Max, we learn a little more about Royce, and we learn how bad a vamp can really be when he doesn’t play by the rules. Max may possess the vampire power of seduction, but there’s nothing charming about him.
Fast-paced and action-packed, with characters both old and new, Taken by the Others will thrill you from the first page to the last, while providing more than one or two chills along the way.
Other books in the series include:
Hunted by the Others (May 4, 2010) (review)
Deceived by the Others (July 1, 2011)
Stalking the Others (July 3, 2012)
Jan 27, 2012 @ 13:46:37
I just love this series, I’m glad you enjoyed this one. You’ll see the third book is just amazing!