Book Review-Dark Longing by Aja James

Dark Longing by Aja James
Also in this series: Pure Healing, Dark Desires, Dark Pleasures , Pure Rapture , Dark Redemption, Dark Possession
Series: Pure/Dark Ones #2
Published by Self Published By Author on January 18, 2018
Genres: Paranormal Romance
Pages: 335
Format: eBook
Source: Kindle Unlimited

“Every story has more than one side, like a crystal that captures and reflects different colors of light. Do not take for granted what you think you know, for until you hold the entire jewel in your palm, the temptation is to fall prey to illusion and deception.”

This is a story of the Dark Ones…
Inanna: the vampire warrior
Known as the Angel of Death among her kind, she has lived millennia alone, one of the remaining True Bloods in existence, unconsciously longing for the one male she could never have.
Gabriel: the forbidden human
His soul recognizes hers from the first encounter. With the first touch, he is awakened. Though he does not know it, he has been searching for her across the ages.
But even as they are finally reunited, their love faces seemingly impossible odds. Will history repeat itself or will they break all the rules and chart a new course together?

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

Dark Longing is the second book in the “Pure/Dark Ones” series by Aja James. I first heard about this author about a year ago, and ever since on Goodreads, I have been seeing so many users read these books and love them so much. I will admit I wasn’t really that impressed with book one, I had heard that it wasn’t the best in the series though and there was quite a bit of information overload and multiple plot lines, so I really had to get used to that. But as I was going through my Kindle Unlimited library I realized I still had the second book all this time and hadn’t realized it. So I thought it’s the month of October, its spooky season, so lets get some more paranormal romance in and I have to say that I LOVED this book so much. The main couple that we see in this book won my heart instantly and I knew this was the book and now I can’t wait to delve into this series and explore more of this author’s work.

Our story begins with two fated people who were destined to meet across the ages:

• Inanna– vampire warrior, angel of death, lived through the centuries alone when she lost her mate until she found him and watched over him and his son

• Gabriel-human male with pure one genetics, grew up in China learning how to battle, has a strength foreign to many of his kind, loving father to this son and a protector

Gabriel has been a devoted father and loving husband, and even though he has never been intimate with Olivia, he has remain true and faithful to her despite the struggles she has faced. But now she is dying of cancer, and wants him with her best friend Inanna, and to protect their son. Gabriel will do all it takes to protect those he loves. When he first meets Inanna he knows they have a connection he has never felt before, she awakens new life in him. But his life becomes ever changed when he makes a choice. With the medical bills stacked to the brim, he knows he has no choice but to go to a underground fighting ring he heard rumors of, he earns enough to keep them solid for a while, but when the owners of the fight, part of the Russian Mob, threaten his son, he knows he has no choice. But this time it might just cost him his life, what he didn’t plan on was becoming turned into a vampire (a dark one) and finding himself mated to Inanna. But what Gabriel doesn’t realize is their story didn’t just start recently but centuries before when they loved each other as young and now Gabriel has been reincarnated and Inanna found her other half again and will do anything to protect the man she loves and the boy he calls son.

What is Fate but pearls of choices strung together? What is Destiny but a path we walk on of our own free will? Remember, Dark Ones, that nothing is written in the fabric of time until you decide where, when and what shall be the first verse.

I truly had such a blast with Dark Longing and I couldn’t seem to get enough of this book or the story that it brings to the table. Now I believe the first book was more focused on the “Pure Ones” of the race and in this one we get more focus on the “Dark Ones” I am still learning the culture of this species but I can’t wait to learn more of it throughout the series. Its definitely one that may have you feeling overwhelmed by some the knowledge thrown at you. But unlike book one, where I think I was confused by much of what was going on, in this one, I was stunned by the sweet passionate romance. There are some side plot lines so be aware of those but there aren’t too many so it didn’t overwhelm the story too much. There are flashback scenes, but just a few and it shows the bond that Gabriel and Inanna once had and some of you may know of my dislike for flashbacks however I LOVED them in this book. They were so captivatingly written and my heart just went out to young Gabriel and Inanna, but seeing them find each other again and especially when Gabriel gets him memories back….it took my breath away. Their love was so beautifully captured in this book and I adored seeing their story unravel and I have to say I am so curious to see where they go from here.

I didn’t care if we never consummated our union as long as you could be with me forever. One moment with you is far more precious than a lifetime with anyone else.

The characters that we see shown in this book were so captivating. From the very beginning, your heart breaks for this family. I am curious what kind of mother Olivia actually was, because the young son didn’t seem to talk of her much after her death so I did find that a bit odd. I did love his character and how he accepts this world as the normal (he really likes his Lord of the Rings) so it probably felt like some aspects of that world was coming alive for him. I adored our hero, Gabriel. He is one of my favorite heroes I have read in a long while. He is loyal, strong, loving, affection and true to those he loves. Honestly there is nothing wrong with this man at all, he is true perfection and tops my book boyfriends of the year. The heroine, Inanna, was a delight. She is a warrior and fighter, and a dark one but not your average dark one, so there is definitely more to her story than meets the eye. I found her friendship with the queen different and you can see the respect between the both of them. I loved Inanna as the heroine though. She is strong but also shows her vulnerabilities at times too, and her devotion to Gabriel and his son, was beyond precious.

Love cannot be stolen. It can only be given. And it always takes two to make it happen

Overall I found Dark Longing to be a stunning addition to this marvelous series and I NEED more of it now!

About Aja James

Hello readers!

This is Aja (pronounced Asia). Welcome to my site!

A bit about myself:

I’ve been writing stories since the age of six, and novels since the age of thirteen. Can’t say that those early efforts were particularly good, but I sure loved putting them down on paper! And whether I document them or not, stories are forever forming and expanding and interconnecting in my head.

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