The Darkest Night, a magical Christmas novella set in the truly fascinating Marked Souls series, finds angel-possessed Cyril Fane on his way to visit The Mortal Coil, a bar frequented by the talya, the warriors possessed by repentant demons. Since he lost his angelic sword in battle and was subsequently cut off from his fellow angel-possessed fighters, Cyril has been in a bit of a bad mood, and he figures that a good scuffle may be just what he needs. That situation, coupled with a message about a rise in demonic activity he wishes to pass on to talya, provide the motivation for Cyril’s visit to the bar.

Unfortunately, when he arrives at the establishment, he notices the “closed” sign in the window. Though at first she resists, Bella, the almost-blind owner of the bar, allows Cyril to come in despite the closed status. After a drink and some well-placed conversational barbs, much to their own surprise the two end up having a brief but steamy sexual encounter. Bella has a motive that no one suspects, and the ties between her predicament and the current circumstance facing angel-possessed and talya alike create more questions.

This excellent novella with its setting during Christmas, a time of hope and love, provides an opportunity for a more than a glimpse into the lives of some of the non-talya characters in the terrific Mark Souls series. In addition, readers will enjoy the appearance of the main players from the books, as well. Bella and Cyril carry the story quite well all on their own, with just the right dash of humor thrown in. Not just a love story, The Darkest Night brings a message that even readers unfamiliar with the series should appreciate and enjoy.

Book Stats:
Reading level: Ages 18 and up
e-book, digital format
Publisher: Red Circle Ink (October 27, 2012)
Language: English
ASIN: B009Y0MBZ4

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Books in the Marked Souls series in the order they should be read:
Seduced By Shadows
Forged of Shadows
Vowed in Shadows
Darkness Undone
The Darkest Night