Dreamveil [Mass Market Paperback]

In Shadowlight the first book in the series, we learned that years ago evil scientists conducted genetic experiments on orphans, resulting in those kids growing up to be different--with unique powers. They are known as the Kyndred. As adults, a few of them formed a secret group, so they could talk to others of their kind. But that's when they found out the scientists were not gone--the GenHance scientists want to kill them and harvest their powers. We met Rowan Dietrich, a Kyndred who was trying to save other Kyndred who were targeted. When she touches a man, her ability enables her to shift into the image of his ideal woman--his true love. Rowan had a hard life growing up. She was in an abusive home and lived on the streets for three years after running away.

At the start of Dreamveil, she is just moving back to New York when her motorcycle crashes behind Marc Dansant's restaurant. He comes to her rescue, helping her to clean her wounds. She takes a job at his restaurant and moves temporarily into the apartment over the restaurant, until she can earn some funds and get her bike repaired. Sean Meriden lives in the other apartment above the restaurant. Sean owns a garage and agrees to repair her bike. But there's a lot more to Marc and Sean than what they first appear. There are a lot of intricate plot twists in this book from the mystery of why Marc has exactly the same face as Michael Cyprien to a search for a missing girl to undercover operatives and of course the bad guy from the first book is back--Jonah Genaro. The fast paced plot had so many twists and turns as well as some BIG SURPRISES towards the end.

I was very impressed by this book. It is some of the author's best work--definitely as good as the first Kyndred book and as good or better than the Darkyn books. The author did a great job of delivering a highly original storyline that was an engrossing mix of suspense, mystery, drama, action and romance. Like the first book, this book also had an intricate plot but it was handled more smoothly in this installment. The first book sometimes felt a bit choppy, and the pacing was better in book two. The only area for improvement was that I would have liked a little more focus on the relationship development.

It was good to see many characters again from the first book: Gavin, Jessa, and Andrew as well as met some interesting new ones like Paracelsus, another Kyndred, and Taine, the missing girl--also a Kyndred. It was also nice to see Alex and Michael, the main characters from the Darkyn series. Although I enjoyed the intrigue and action, I also enjoyed all the scenes when Rowen was working with the chefs in the fancy french restaurant. I'm not a big cook, but it was fun to get a behind the scenes look at the workings of a high end restaurant.

If you are a fan of urban fantasy or paranormal romance, I think you'll enjoy this series. You need to read the first Kyndred book Shadowlight before this one. The author wrote a Darkyn series before this one, and some of the Darkyn characters have roles in this series. You don't have to read Darkyn, however it would help with your understanding of the characters and storyline to read the Darkyn books before starting the Kyndred series.

If you are on the hunt for more books like this, check out my list of paranormal romance and urban fantasy favorites...
http://www.amazon.com/Paranormal-action-romance-must-reads/lm/R214ESW3HL12HM/ref=tag_lag_rb_munk_lmfull
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Wow. I loved this book. At the beginning I was totally lost but the characters were so enthralling that I couldn't stop reading. I might have been a bit lost because I didn't start with the first one but I figured stuff out. I just stuck with the story and everything was explained down to the most minute questions which had been confusing at the beginning of the book. Except for the continuing story arc, of course, but that is going to play out over several books obviously. The author just drops you into the middle of the story and explains and ties things together as she goes. It was great fun figuring things out as we went along.

I absolutely loved the main character, Rowan. She was kind of a roll with the punches kind of girl. I loved the twist at the end which I guessed pretty early on but then I had the fun of watching it all play out. I loved the French chef Dansant and the surly mechanic Sean. Two really great characters and the love story was very well done and very touching. There was one pretty hot love scene. While explicit it was still tasteful.

The paranormal stuff was well thought out and interesting. Can't wait for the next one and I'm going to get the first one to read as soon as possible. I read a lot of books for free but this one I'm definitely going to get my own copy of.

I'm giddy with pleasure at this book. But then I finished it at 2:30 in the morning having read it in one sitting so that may factor in. :-)

I'm a big fan of the darkyn series, so I was excited when Viehl made a spin off, the Takyn. The Takyn are children that were experimented on as infants. They possess paranormal/supernatural powers and abilities. The Takyn have the ability to become the Darkyn if given the virus/blood. This is a very rare ability to be made a darkyn so they are tracking and helping the Takyn. As well as a network of Takyn themselves that knows the truth. Shadowlight: A Novel of the Kyndred was the first in the series with Jessa and Matthias, along with updated stories of the Darkyn. There was only one update in this of Darkyn Michael and Alexandra, but a nice tidbit just the same. There is much more updates of the Takyn network.

Dreamviel is a fast paced entertaining book, I enjoyed it! This one is about Rowan, from shadowlight, making a change in her life. Location work.. etc. On her way to Boston she wrecks her bike in a back alley of New York. A chef, Jean-Marc, there with an instant attraction to Rowan, offers to pay for her bike repairs in exchange for work at his restaurant. She agrees, enjoying learning more of French Cuisine and the talented Jean-Marc. She also meets her next door neighbor, Sean Meridian. Sean is the one fixing her bike. Rowan and Sean have a raw pull towards one another. I liked their chemistry more...but who will she choose??

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 12 reviews  4.2 out of 5 stars