DARK SHADOW OF GUILT (Winged Assassin 1) by TM Smith-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 18, 2025

Madeline has lived a tough life, but nothing prepared her for being kidnapped and thrust into the unknown dimension of OneWorld where she is tortured by a white-eyed monster. Dominion, the Immortal black-winged assassin of the OneCreator, rescues her. As their paths intertwine, Madeline grapples with newfound powers and her unexpected evolution while Dom comes to terms with his guilt from an event in his past. Theirs is a tale of twists and turns, doubt, forbidden love, forgiveness, and conflict that threatens the existence of OneWorld.

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REVIEW: DARK SHADOW OF GUILT is the first instalment in TM Smith’s adult WINGED ASSASSIN erotic, paranormal, fantasy romance series set in the author’s Blood Coven World. This is Immortal Black-winged assassin Dominion ‘Dom’, and human librarian Madeline’s story line.

Told from several omniscient third person perspectives including Dom and Madeline, using present day and memories from the past DARK SHADOW OF GUILT follows in the wake of the abduction and rescue of our story line heroine. Madeline is a research librarian at the St. Louis library but finds herself a victim of an abduction , trapped and abused by a creature known as a Mind Rat but her ‘rescue’ by Dominion finds our heroine in the throws of becoming something else and something more, and as the hours and days go by, Madeline is no longer the woman she once was. While Dominion calls in help from Ohngel aka Roark, and his mate Indigo (The Phoenix-Blood Coven 5), the inhabitants of Angor-OneWorld, and Vast-OneWorld, become suspect as a former assassin begins to amass an army of supernatural creatures, and a series of environmental events affect the man in charge.

The well developed world building is detailed and multi-layered as the author re-introduces numerous supernatural creatures including Flesh Eaters, Blood Leeches, Mind Rats and Soul Suckers, Firebrands, Assassins, Warriors, Aeternals, Immortals and Wolvers. The politics of Oneworld, ruled by OneCreator is enmeshed in rules and laws that are to be tested as Dom’s claiming of Madeline is new and untried.

The relationship between Dom and Madeline begins as a rescue but Dom doesn’t do relationships, and Madeline becomes the aggressor against her will. Dom is determined to uncover the truth about what happened to Madeline but the deeper Dom journeys, more questions remain unanswered. In an effort to protect our story line heroine, Dom must claim Madeline as his own, a claiming that catches the attention of the people in charge. The $ex scenes are provocative and passionate.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, powerful and energetic secondary and supporting characters including winged warriors, Michael, Ely, Remi, Ohngel and his mate Indigo; former warrior Lucian; former Scourge Harmony; Mind Rat Praevus, Scourges Serita and Malacour; Freki the wolver. Each has a vital role to play, but not everyone can be trusted.

DARK SHADOW OF GUILT is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, madness and murder, power and control, acceptance and love. The character driven premise is dramatic, intricate and captivating; the romance is fated and impassioned; the characters are determined, lively, and larger than life.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy