Dark Alpha’s Night

Talk about a close call. Bran has gotten quite sneaky and is one step ahead of the reapers yet again. Can they not catch a break???

Daire and others are searching for Bran’s family. Looking for a clue. Searching for assistance. The search brings Daire to Kilkarney. The search brings him to Cat and her sisters, living on acreage, following in their ancestors ways.

Jamie has talent as a mechanic. Carrie is a magician in the kitchen. Ettie, the eldest, can wield a weapon, any weapon. But why? To protect what? How will Ettie know when she has to protect something. Daire is just as curious.

Daire is curious about Ettie in others way as well. The connection is intense. He hands her an elfin weapon but she can’t hold it. He tries another, but it doesn’t work either. Protecting her from Bran is getting more complicated.

Bran is becoming more powerful. Bran is more determined. He will not stop until he has it all. Is Bran the one that Ettie has been waiting for? Will she be able to win with the help of the Reapers?

Grab the popcorn. You are going to need it while reading this intense, suspenseful story.

Fantasy, paranormal and romance wonderfully meet…

I don’t know how but I managed to start in the middle of the series. I hate when I do that but I couldn’t stop reading! I love this author’s stories, whether they be cowboys or – now – Fae…

Dark and Light Fae are at odds and nothing like throwing Death in the middle to mix things up even more. Good vs evil. Dark vs Light. It’s an age old story that knows no boundaries and it is nowhere better displayed in this read. This was a mix of modern and old, in a time that I couldn’t nail down but wished were possible… Three sisters are waiting. For what, they’re unsure of but Ettie knew it was coming. When not one but two men come to their door, she quickly finds she is in the middle of a battle that would affect all of mankind…

Don’t give up on me…

*swoon*

Friendship and love, and heart-pinging romance made this novella an edge of my seat read from start to finish. Ettie and Daire, and their sisters and brothers in arms, have me hooked and I can’t wait to dive into more!

*I happily reviewed this story
**Thank you to NetGalley

DARK ALPHA’S NIGHT is the fifth instalment in Donna Grant’s contemporary, adult REAPER paranormal, fantasy romance series. The REAPERS is a spin off from Donna’s DARK KINGS series which is a spinoff from Donna’s DARK WARRIOR series which in turn is a spin off from Donna’s DARK SWORD series- all set in the Highlands of Scotland. You do not have to have read any of the previous series to understand the premise but many of the events overlap with the events of the Dark Kings. This is Reaper Daire, and Fae Halfling Ettie OByrne’s story line. Daire has been on assignment following Rhi (a Light Fae warrior) in the Dark Kings series, but his return to the Reapers means the possibility of finding his future.

SOME BACKGROUND: The Reapers (believed to be a folk lore amongst the Fae) are a group of Dark and Light Fae, selected by Death (aka Erith), on their own deathbed, to do her bidding-Death is the judge and jury; the Reapers are the executioners. The Reapers are not harbingers of death, but are tasked with destroying the Light and Dark Fae who have crossed a line from which there is no return. All Reapers must follow two rules: never to fall in love; and never to reveal their existence to anyone. If you have read Donna’s DARK KINGS series you will recognize the familiarity between the two series as both follow a similar plot and premise including betrayal by one of their own. Bran is a former Reaper who fell in love but Death ended their relationship by destroying his heart and the woman he loved, sentencing Bran to Netherworld for millions of years. Upon his escape, Bran sets about to destroy the Reapers, and seeks revenge against the woman known as Death.

Told from several third person perspectives including Ettie and Daire DARK ALPHA’S NIGHT follows Daire and the Reapers as they go in search of Bran’s descendants-Fae and half-Fae whose magical powers may be used against the Reapers and the women they love. Enter Ettie O’Byrne, and her younger sisters Carrie and Jamie who, for all of their lives, had been preparing for a possible attack by the Fae. What ensues is the building romance between Ettie and Daire; and the discovery of magic and power shrouding the O’Bryne lands.

Death is dying; her powers have been slowly siphoned off such that Death is no longer able to help the men and women who do her bidding. As the Reapers continue their search for Bran, Bran continues to seek revenge against Death and her Reaping minions. Ettie O’Byrne is a warrior; preparing all of her life for the inevitable meeting with the Fae but Ettie never expected to be caught up in a war between good and evil, and it is Ettie who may hold the clue for what it is Bran is looking.

The relationship between Daire and Ettie is quick to develop although someone else has staked a claim on our story line heroine. Bran needs something that Ettie hides but Ettie is unaware of the item or its existence. Daire becomes guardian and protector of the woman with whom he is falling in love but Bran’s powers are growing exponentially, and the Reapers are seriously out-powered by the man they once called a friend. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including most of the Reapers and their significant others, Erith (aka Death), and Bran. Reaper Eoghan is still missing, caught up in the magic of the Light Fae Rhi-magic that sent the Reaper to places unknown.

The world building reveals the O’Byrne family history and their connection to the Fae, as well as Daire’s original demise and how he came to be part of Death’s Reapers.

DARK ALPHA’S NIGHT explains and discloses some of the history between Bran and the Reapers, as well as the truth about Death’s beginnings and her true identity. The premise is exciting and affecting; the characters are dynamic and charismatic; the romance is fated and seductive. DARK ALPHA’S NIGHT is a great addition to Donna Grant’s REAPERS series.

Another fantastic addicting installment from Donna Grant.

3.5 stars

Daire’s assignment to this point has been to shadow Rhi, the stunning Fae enigma. His new mission brings him to the home of three sisters caught in Bran’s crosshairs and if he can’t convince them of his identity and purpose, they’ll be instrumental in Death and her Reapers’ demise. Ettie is used to being overshadowed by her sisters in virtually every way. When a darkly attractive man shows her attention it puts her in a position she has never been in. Her life spent training for an unnamed threat has left her unprepared for matters of the heart and she’s struggling to balance the distrust of her sisters, the attentions of a man, and another man claiming to be Fae and that they are in danger without his assistance. Unless Daire and Ettie can find the truth surrounding the sisters and if Ettie can’t sort out her head and her heart, they’ll give Bran everything he needs to win.

With Daire’s statement of attraction to Rhi I was honestly surprised when he fell so quickly for Ettie. I did believe his draw to Ettie, but I felt their connection and evolution was underdeveloped. There were also some disturbing connections between Bran and Ettie that, while millennia removed, it was still superbly weird. Ettie’s introduction was really good because it showed a fierce fighter with a head clear on her training and preparedness. It was disappointing then, to see her so easily doubt so much. I get that they didn’t really have many clues or information to go on, but it was her almost reversion to adolescence in her attitude and perceptions that bothered me. It seemed as if virtually everyone was blind in this story and that was more frustrating than anything. Either they were ignoring clues or they were overlooking them. Everything did progress, however, and the appearance of what Bran was looking for was both shocking and exciting for its implications. It was kind of the only thing that pushed the book forward though, so while this isn’t my favorite book of the series, it gave the series momentum to carry it through.

Daire is finally taken off guard duty. His focus is now on finding a means to defeat Bran. With the help of River they track the descendants of Bran to the sisters O’Byan, who unfortunately have already had contact with Bran.

Daire instantly is attracted to Ettie, the oldest sister. They work together to figure out what Bran is searching for on their land. I liked their relationship but it was a little rushed for me. I feel with the other Reapers there was a little more build up between the characters. With these two they instantly were together the first day and it was a little too rushed for me.

Overall,I still enjoyed this story but wished the romance was a little more flushed out.

3.5 stars

I’ve enjoyed the glimpses of Daire throughout this series. He’s loyal, a little reckless, and sweet. So I was surprised his romance was so instant! I mean, all the relationships are quick, but the connections and chemistry have been relatively believable. Until Daire and Ettie’s. I didn’t care for their romance. It felt more like a convenient hook up, rather than a potentially enduring relationship! I was slayed about this because I really, really, really, wanted to like Ettie…but I didn’t. She just wasn’t who I pictured for Daire. I didn’t imagine Rhi at all, there’s only total friend vibe between those two! Alas…

Although the romance wasn’t my favorite in the series, the plot had a lot going on. Bran is getting closer to removing Death from the gameboard, the Reapers are working double time to try to squeak ahead of Bran, and Death, well she’s got some serious explaining to do if Cael can ever get her alone!

I haven’t read all the book in the Reapers series yet so I felt a little lost at time with all of the characters but I did like Daire and Ettie and thought they were good together. And, although I’m still learning who everyone is, I enjoyed how all the characters interacted with each other.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, however; my thoughts and opinions are my own.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader –
M/F Paranormal

Hmm, this is the first book that I’ve read in the series and I would suggest that people read the previous books because I definitely felt that I was missing nuances within the story.

Daire and Ettie are a strange couple. Daire is on a mission from death and when they figure out what their rival is searching for, the mission changes drastically. Daire has seen a lot of his fellow Reapers find love and settle down. It’s a little disheartening because he sees what he could have.

Ettie and her sisters are always prepared, but since they never really know what for, their background is very mysterious. I liked how protective she was of her family, but also thought that when she was given the chance to have happiness for herself, she was almost too trusting.

Daire and Ettie are a strange couple. Their relationship is a whirlwind and yet, it somehow kind of works with how the story flows. It’s a shorter story with a lot going on. Overall, it was a good story with a good love connection.

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Dark Alpha’s Night (Reaper #5) by Donna Grant to read and review.

So happy Daire has found his mate. I have more questions than answers is this book. The big question is why don’t the Reapers ask the Dragon Kings for help? I know Donna has a plan for both series so my question is a moot point but it’s still a question I have. Daire finally stops following Rhi around and this is when he finds his mate. I really like Ettie and wonder how she will fit in at the end of this series. Like I said I have more questions than answers in this book and yes I am repeating myself.

*Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this for my honest review*