"This whole dark world is fabulous and scintillating"
This book or rather Volume 1 is in two parts. The first
being our introduction to the sensual desires of the dark
with ONE WITH HUNGER.... This story introduces us to a gorgeous but reserved red-
head named Shai. What we don't realize at first is that
behind her conservative appearance lies the highly dark
sensual nature of her being. Working our way around the
table at Shai's birthday dinner, each friend shares their
secret sexual fantasy. After several glasses of wine, Shai
finally opens up about her dream for a tall dark and
handsome man to take her by candlelight and leave her
completely and utterly sated. Little does Shai know her request was heard by the very
keen ears of one VERY yummy vampire. And as a reader you
do not have to wait long before tall dark and gorgeous
comes hovering outside her window to grant her wish. My oh
my! Valentin is one of the older vampires and is
described in the most delicious manner. J.C. Wilder is one
uninhibited writer. I brought this book to work and kept
panicking that my boss might catch a glimpse of what I was
reading. Thank god the cover is really classy! (But I
digress...sorry) Our villain is one disturbed, psycho stalking vampire
named Mikhail. He has become totally fixated on Shai and
the need to possess her. The fact that Valentin has moved
in on her already does not bode well. I like the fact that
even though Mikhail has quite a few screws loose, the
author still made him visually appealing; which I think is
a good contrast to his true nature. The only concerned I had about the first story however,
was the fact that I didn't get to spend more time with the
characters Valentin and Shai before I was on to the second
story of the book, called RETRIBUTION. But never fear, RETRIBUTION was great in every way, shape
and form. In this story it is 10 years since Shai and
Valentin first met and we are moving on to learn about
other vampires and revenants. The second story revolves
around Jennifer who was created by Mikhail our villain
vampire from the first story and Connor MacNaughten (Mac),
who is a long lost love of Jennifer's and also a revenant. In RETRIBUTION the reader has a better view of the
vampire / revenant culture and the order with which it
operates in. The vampires are not your typical blood-
sucking, cross-fearing types as Hollywood would lead us
believe. Rather they are a highly sensual, peaceful and
enigmatic people that move through the centuries adapting
as they go. Here again I really liked how J.C. didn't
create her vampires and revenants as depressed and
dwelling in the darkness they live in; as I have read in
many other vampire novels. Instead her characters embrace
their uniqueness and pursue their afterlife to the ever
loving fullest. Very cool! Anyhow the gist of RETRIBUTION is an ancient Vampire,
Miranda, has been abducted by the same villain vampire
from ONE WITH HUNGER, Mikhail and Jennifer, his revenant
is determined to help save her. But to do so Jennifer
must face her master, a man she escaped from a century
ago. Little does Jennifer know she is but a pawn in a far
greater plan that Mikhail has devised, which brings many
in the vampire and revenant culture to the surface. J.C. Wilder creates fabulous sexual tension between the
two long lost loves, Jennifer and Mac, as they work
together to save Miranda and salvage whatever is left of a
love lost. J.C. also invites us in to the inner sanctum
of the vampire council that governs the undead to see how
this culture is ruled. This whole dark world is fabulous
and scintillating. RETRIBUTION kept me on the edge of my
seat and panting for more. I've read a lot of authors who write vampire like novels.
IE: Christine Feehan, Amanda Ashley, Maggie Shayne,
Heather Graham, Linda Lael Miller etc. Each has taken a
different slant on the vampire nature and I was happy to
see that J.C. Wilder did too. Her books are completely
delicious!!! J.C. Wilder knows how to make her sex scenes
sizzle, her villains hateful and her heroes damn sexy! I
could not read them fast enough. I am so glad I have yet
to get to the next volumes in her Shadow Dweller Series. I
highly recommend the Shadow Dweller Series Vol. I.
Reviewed by Mindy Lobaugh
Posted June 12, 2003
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