Jabril {book review} * * * 3/4

Jabril by D.B. Reynolds

- UF, paranormal, romance -

reviewed by Tara SG

bought book from Amazon.com

Book Order (Vampires in America)

1. Raphael * * * 1/2
2. Jabril * * * 3/4
3. Rajmund

Links

Author’s Website : www.dbreynolds.wordpress.com

Amazon : paperback

Add To Your GoodReads TBR List

This book in 6 words:

scared by creepy vampire bad guy

Why did I read this? And am I glad I did?

I really enjoyed the first in this series, Raphael, and the ending definitely left me needing more. I actually enjoyed this a little more than the first book. This had some violent scenes, and a bad guy that made me cringe (which says a lot considering the amount of books I read in this genre). However, it was nicely balanced by romantic tension, hot scenes, and drama. The mystery is mostly about how they’re going to fix everything with a touch of whodunnit. I was much more pleased with the ending and I’ll definitely be looking for more by this author.

Brief Summary

Houston, Texas – Cowboy boots, baseball and journeys to the stars . . . right? Wrong. Because Houston is also home to Jabril Karim, one of the eight powerful Vampire Lords who control all of North America. And as Private Investigator Cynthia Leighton will soon discover, not all Vampire Lords are created equal. For Jabril is the face of evil in the new world, a vampire who values no life but his own, who enslaves those he desires, steals whatever he covets and destroys anyone who stands in his way. Running from L.A. and its seductive Vampire Lord, Raphael, Cyn sees the Houston job as a welcome refuge, a place to get away and heal her broken heart. But Texas will be no vacation. For in Jabril Karim, Cyn will confront a true enemy, one who will go to any lengths to satisfy his lusts, enrich his coffers and expand his power. Fighting for the lives of two young sisters, Cyn’s journey will take her through the streets of Houston and back to L.A., where the human police are determined to bring Raphael down for the murder of one of their own. But the danger doesn’t end there. For Jabril has set his sights on Cyn, and he will stop at nothing to have her.

- via GoodReads.com

Plot/Pacing/Writing Style

Contains slight spoilers for previous book!

Cyn takes a job in Texas that turns out to be far more than she was looking for. Heartbroken and needing a change of scenery, she goes to Texas and finds much more than she’s looking for. Jabril is evil. Look up sadistic vampire and his picture comes up. He probably was a monster before turning. The mix of his storyline and two girls he has terrorized blends perfectly with the chaos happening back in LA.

We get to see some more of Raphael and the tension between him and Cyn was perfect. The pacing is much like the first book, you will have a hard time putting this down. I read it all in one sitting… staying up until 5am to finish it.

Characters

We get to learn more about Cyn and I like her even more. She made me laugh out loud and her reactions fit perfectly to her past and personality. I know she’s not the main character in the next book, but I hope to see more of her in the future.

Raphael is in the book, but isn’t a main feature until later. We learn more about his personality and his past. Alexandra is also a larger focus. As is the two new characters, sisters “owned” by the evil Jabril.

Jabril made me sick. He was sadistic and gruesome and evil. I loved how well the author made me hate him.

Recommendations

If you liked the first book then I don’t believe I need to tell you to read this. I think it’s a shame that this series isn’t more well-known. If you like dark UF, please give this series a try! You do need to read the first book before this one.