Thursday, May 17, 2018

Audio Book Review: Dark Watcher

Dark Watcher

By:  Lilith Saintcrow

Publish Date:  October 16, 2004, Audiobook Release April 16, 2018

Format:  Audiobook - 6 hrs 55 mins
Narrated By:  Jack Wayne & Rayna Cole

Genre:  Paranormal Fantasy

Series:  1st in The Watcher series

Impression:  New view of the magic world with a blooming love.

Synopsis:
Theodora Morgan knows she's a little strange. Her talent for healing has set her apart, marked her as different all her life—a life spent moving from town to town when too much notice is taken of her abilites. Unfortunately, her talent for healing has brought her to the attention of the Crusade—and the Dark. The Crusade wants her dead because she's psychic, the Dark wants to feed on her talent—and then there's Dante. Tall and grim and armed with black-bladed knives, guns and a sword, he says he's here to protect her. But what if Theo needs protection from him?

Dante is a Watcher, sworn by Circle Lightfall to protect the Lightbringers. His next assignment? Watch over Theo. She doesn't know she's a Lightbringer, she doesn't know she's surrounded by enemies—and she doesn't know she's been marked for death by a bunch of fanatics. Perfect. He can't protect her if she doesn't trust him, but how can she possibly trust a man scarred by murder and warfare—a man who smells like the same Darkness Theo has been running from all her life?

First Sentence:
Rain poured down, glittering and flashing, smashing it's silver needles against the pavement and the blank buildings.

Purchase At:
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Audible

My Thoughts and Summary:
*I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Two narrators for one book. I always love when we have a blend of male and female voices for a book. Rayna voices the chapters from Theodora's (Theo) POV. Jack voices the chapters from Dante's POV. I've enjoyed Rayna's voice previously, and do again. She has a calm about her tones that make me feel relaxed, which fits the character of Theo. Jack is new for me, but while listening it didn't feel that way. He voiced Dante's view with the feelings as the character would. I had to stop and think about the two voices after three chapters to realize they were voicing two different views of people. This is cool because we also get a feel for the POV's view of those they are talking to. The tones and innuendos from those around them and how they treat each other come out through the two different people. When Theo hears a voice or remembers hearing it, we get that voice from when Jack spoke it in Dante's chapter. This is a nice extra to get in audio.

Theo has a feeling something is off and when she sees a man who's following her, she acts with caution. She's anxious and worried. This is how she should be. But she's smart too. She thinks on what she's seen and felt. Her mind is always pondering and she asks questions, learning along with us about the creatures after her and The Circle Lightfall. This is a smart character. There's more to learn, I'm sure, but we get a strong feel of things here. Theo does have an insecurity though with relationships, like many people. But Theo is determined in life and will go where she's called to help others.

Lilith is great at lacing actions and characters with details that tell us of the world and why things are as they are. We gradually learn about the world through Dante's actions, the reason he's watching over Theo. The world and characters are formed as one as they are action and reaction to what's around.

This is the blooming of a love between Theo and Dante. It's intertwined with the action of the story and why Dante is here. We have the sweet moments where we can see there could be more between them. But they have to live through much more to get there, getting to know each other. We also have our action and fights as Dante protects Theo and the other witches.

I'm liking Dante. He's a big strong man who kills bad things for a living. Yet he's such a gentleman as well. He's like the bad guy girls love rolled together with the good guy you should be with. He's not perfect, but he's a great combo. But, Dante's had his share of trouble in the past, something he has to live with.

Such a great story. It's known what the characters want or don't want, and what they fight for. Then ultimately what the sacrifice is. But, what they get in the end feels as though it's more than what they wanted to begin with. It's going to be a difficult life, and I'm ready to follow them through the rest of the series.



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