The world of the vampires can be a dangerous one….

Jayr has loved Aedan mac Byrne ever since their first encounter. As his seneschal, she has done everything she can to keep him happy and content. Byrne fears his darker warrior side, fears that one day he will snap. Now, he is prepared to give up his role as suzerain after the tournament. But someone else had very dark plans, plans that could destroy more than just Byrne and Jayr....

Lynn Viehl integrates the world of the vampire with tales of old to produce some very interesting results. In EVERMORE, the myths and legends of Robin Hood and Sherwood Forest are explored. At first, the emphasis on the past was a bit distracting, almost boring at times. However, as the storyline built, it became quite intriguing. The ending was exceptionally satisfying.

Jayr and Byrne are two of the more likable characters Lynn Viehl has created. I initially enjoyed this series when it started with Michael Cyprien and Alexandra Keller, both of whom play a large role in this book. However, later characters tended to grate a bit for me. Jayr is by far one of Ms. Viehl's best characters to date. Not only is Jayr willing to give it all for love, but she also refuses to be treated differently because she is a female serving in the traditionally male role of seneschal. Byrne, too, is an excellent character, a man who struggles with his warrior nature and wants to protect others from himself.

The Darkyn series should be read in order. Without a doubt, the characters and plotlines continue to weave in and out of the series and there are numerous things that only make sense when read in the context of the series as a whole. While some aspects of EVERMORE do stand alone, the complexities of Darkyn society and the various relationships are much better understood if one has read the prior books.

Reviewed by Debbie

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Posted May 2008