SHADOW OF DARK DESIRE (Shadows Eternal 1) by Ashley Lockwood

FREE ebook Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / B&N / KOBO /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 9, 2024

In this world, not all who roam the darkness are monsters. Sometimes the dark creature lurking in the shadows is exactly who you’ve always been waiting for.

In a realm where the lines between the magickal and the mortal blur, a young woman finds herself at the heart of a tumultuous power struggle. With her unusual newfound abilities shrouded in mystery, she navigates the shadowy paths of magic, seeking to uncover the truth of her past origins and the extent of her powers.

Allied with a brooding, sexy vampire whose loyalty is as enigmatic as his past, they face dangers both external and within on a journey that challenges their boundaries of trust and temptation.

She discovers a world of mages, dragons, witches, and other creatures known as the Folk. Forced to navigate this new world and the truths of her past, the last thing she needs is a crush on her vampire protector.

This story weaves a tapestry of magick, danger, and temptation, inviting readers into a richly imagined realm where destiny is not always written in the stars, but in the choices we make.

•••••

REVIEW: SHADOW OF DARK DESIRE is the first instalment in Ashley Lockwood’s contemporary, adult SHADOWS ETERNAL paranormal/fantasy series focusing on ancient vampire Sirus, and Gwendolyn ‘Gwen’ Moore.

Told from omniscient third person perspectives (Sirus and Gwen) SHADOW OF DARK DESIRE introduces the premise and players in the new author’s Shadows Eternal series. Sirus is an ancient vampire who has been contracted and tasked to find and protect our story line heroine. Gwen Moore is a nobody; without powers or parents, and in this she believes Sirus has mistaken our heroine for someone else but Sirus has been hired to protect Gwen Moore, a woman who is much more than she appears to be. Someone has targeted our story line heroine, she is a prize worthy of chaos and death.

The world building follows several paths including the introduction of numerous characters: Barith (dragon), Levian (mage), Abigail (witch), Bridgette (witch), and Sirus’ sister Niah. The requisite evil has many faces. No one knows for sure who or, what is Gwendolyn Moore, and in this, the reader has been left in the dark, like the story line characters.

The relationship between Gwen and Sirus begins as an assignment to find and protect. Our couple find themselves attracted to one another but any attempts to act on their feelings, is brushed off, or broken by our story line hero. There are no $ex scenes, limited romance, and no seduction. The attraction is acknowledged but mostly through internal dialogue and reflection.

SHADOW OF DARK DESIRE is a slow building story line of secrets and lies, power and control, magic and mayhem but in this we learn very little. We have yet to discover the how or the why, or the powers, heritage and probabilities of our story line heroine. The premise is intriguing; the romance is virtually non-existent; the characters are determined and desperate. SHADOW OF DARK DESIRE ends on a cliff hanger-you have been warned.

Own a copy

Reviewed by Sandy