To love a Dark One is to invite death…
It is wrong to love her.
It is worse to want her.
It is sin to consume her.
I desire all three.
I’ve been given thirty days to prove my love to another immortal–as a human. Cursed to use nothing but the side of myself I’ve always despised to win her affection. I am Cassius, the King of the immortals, A Dark One.
And today I tasted fear for the first … One.
And today I tasted fear for the first time.
How can I win her when my human emotions over take every ounce of logic I possess?
A darkness is brewing.
One I cannot stop as a human.
One that Stephanie, my loves visions, have shown, will be my end.
Thirty days ago I was King of the immortals.
Today I know fear.
Today I know how I will die.
By her hand.
The woman I love.
(Complete Stand alone, interconnected within The Dark Ones Saga, each book is about a different couple)
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: Untouchable Darkness
: The Dark Ones Saga #2
: Rachel Van Dyken
: 4/5
After the ending of the first book in this series (all books can be read as standalones) I was really curious to where it would go next. I was hoping that Cassius would find his own mate after reading the first book and everything that happened. It was really nice to get into his head and see where this story goes. The writing and the pace were good as well, I wasn’t bored, and the plot was complicated, but well thought out. Again, there were a lot of plot twists, which I really liked. The story was again very steamy, I was just missing the connection and romance a bit between Cassius and Stephanie. Overall, a very good steamy paranormal read.
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I am loving the continuation of this series. I particularly enjoyed that the second book was about the “king” of the immortals and it wasn’t pushed off to be the last book which has happened too often in different series where one character is more mysterious than the others. Though Cassius is definitely mysterious we learned a lot about him in this book and his love for Stephanie. We also learned a bit more about the immortal world that the author is creating. The only reason I couldn’t give this book five stars is because some of the scenes were a bit jumbled to me and that took away from the storyline. However, I am really looking forward to the next book and continuing to see how Cassius has changed.
Untouchable Darkness (The Dark Ones Saga #2) was another great read by Rachel Van Dykeman. This book follows a different couple within The Dark Ones Saga. It is inviting death, to love a Dark One. Cassius is the King of the Immortals and has thirty days to prove his love for another immortal. The only thing is he must win Stephanie over with the side of himself he has always hated. It seems as though his human emotions overtake his logic. I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read more by Rachel Van Dyken.
Balance of light and dark
I love it when I unexpectedly fall Into a series and get
Hooked and can’t put it down! This series has fast become that for me ! I’m loving it .
This is book 2 of the dark ones saga , and it’s Stephanie and cassius’s story .
Stephanie has lived most of her existence believing she was something else (a siren) only to have discovered that was a lie, a ruse to shield her and protect her true identity and now she has to learn her powers and discover who and what she is and can do.
Cassius has loved her since she was created and makes a deal with an archangel (his father) to win her love in 30 days or he will die . Cassius is also a dark one , and he needs to train Stephanie to use her powers and to resist the darkness .
Their path together results in a push and pull of powers, love and fear driven resistance .
I love the bigger story that is evolving from one book to the next , and I love the mix of characters together ! There’s are some great laugh out loud moments and companionship within the group . The combination of a siren, a werewolf , a vampire and his pregnant mate and 2 dark ones is dangerous but hilarious and Ultimately they are a family and they look out for each other ! Really loving it and looking forward to reading book 3!
Although this is a series of standalone novels there’s also a larger plot playing out in the background of each love story.
Stephanie and Cassias had undeniable chemistry but of course that wasn’t enough to bring them together. Cassias had 30 days to get her love or he would die trying. These 2 were fire and ice but they were each other’s perfect match in every conceivable way.
I love that while you get a complete story in each book you also get pulled deeper into the world. I love this seemingly weird group of different paranormals that are as deeply intertwined in these books as the main characters.
Audio. DNF ~ the first book was pretty good, but this is a hot mess. Lots of back n forth from the past (like hundreds of years) to current that don’t make a lot of sense. MC’s constantly waiver between liking each other and hating each other. Premise is that H has to convince h he loves her to get his immortality back ~ yet he keeps acting like an asshole to her. Secondary characters are probably the only reason I managed to listen to 50% before giving up.
An excellent sequel in The Dark Ones saga
This saga continues with Cassius’s story. In it we get so much more than a love story between Cassius and Stephanie. We learn how the Dark Ones originated; which in Itself was a pretty amazing tale.
So much of Cassius’s life was explained and since he’s continuing as human from the previous book, we watch as he comes to terms with his human side. For centuries he’s closed off that part of himself to avoid the pain brought out by emotions and having to be human, gave him no choice in what he felt.
It allowed the rest of his friends and Stephanie see him in a whole new light. One so different from how they’ve known him. His humor, emotional inexperience and minor insecurities shined bright for Cassius as he learned who he was without all the power he was used to as a Dark One and their King.
All while he’s going through this, he’s having to teach Stephanie how to use her newfound powers and her new role of being a Dark One.
Not only are inner battles are fought but a struggle between good & evil; light & dark are told in this epic story. I’m looking forward the next installment of this wonderful saga. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Alex in the next book. 😉
I love this cast of characters & I love the whole paranormal world created in this series (so it really pains me to say this) but… I did NOT love this book. The first one in this series came out with such a BANG!, while this one was just okay.
I’m so happy that Cassius & Stephanie got together but it took me FOREVER to get through this one. 🙁
That said, I’m very much looking forward to the next book in the series, Dark Surrender, which features Alex. Can’t wait to see him brought to his knees by a human!
P.S. PLEASE tell me that Mason’s story is coming out soon! This werewolf NEEDS his happily ever after so badly!!
Loved this book to pieces. Even better than the second. Alex and hope’s dialogs were a riot. Can’t wait to get into Mason’s story though I feel his will be the best out of the bunch
There was one scene that Carrie Underwood’s song “before he cheats’ popped into my head especially while Stephanie and Cassius were in the car, “how dare you leave me!” She hit the accelerator causing me to slam back against the seat.” Stephanie can be agreeable:
“Now that we’ve gotten all the technicalities out of the way.” I motioned to her ring. “I’m going to make love to you.”
“Okay.” Her eyes brightened.
“And then…” I brushed a kiss across her lips. “I’m going to do it again.”
Mason’s book needs to be next he intrigued in both this book and the first he can be an ornery man but his reactions to fur boots were entertaining, “Ethan’s warm,” Mason barked. “Use him as a blanket, not these.” He snatched the boots and hugged them close to your chest.” I enjoyed this book this group is like a group of misfits, each bring a characteristic and charm to the group and without one of them the group wouldn’t be the same. I can’t wait for the next book.
The Dark Ones was the first of this series. It like any Rachel Van Dyken book “captured”(sorry, shameless plug for another RVD book) the hearts of many readers. I enjoyed it, but I have to say Untouchable Darkness is way better.
This book, it’s characters, and the story just pull you into their war. The war between the darkness and the light.
Stephanie struggles with the new knowledge of her origin. Cassius struggles with his test. Both struggles are centered around each other and the pull they have seems to make it worse. It’s forbidden, but what if love is truly enough…
Mason, Ethan, Alex, and Genesis are not forgotten. They are all along for this twisted ride that brings pain, love, darkness, and hopefully, light.
I long for Alex and Mason’s stories. Soon, they too will be brought to light.
I won an ARC through a Facebook contest. I agreed to give an honest review.
By the way, yes, RVD got me to cry with this book too.