Dark Hunters: Seize the Night and Sins of the Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon

[meganbmoore]

I have resumed reading the Dark Hunters books, the bastions of interesting if inconsistent mythology, emo overload, Mary Sue's and snarky immortals. Previous Dark Hunters posts can be found here and here.

Seize the Night is one that I was both looking forward to and dreading.  Looking forward to because Valerius is my second favorite Dark Hunter(Zarek is my favorite...Ash, Simi, Urian and Nick aren't really Dark Hunters, so...)  Dreading because...well...Tabitha.  Ugh.

So, basically, Valerius is still cool despite his "I piss everyone off and don't care" being turned into emo "everyone hates me anyway, so why complain about it?"  Tabitha seemed to get a brand new personality.  Nothing in her previous characterization indicated the tolerant, openminded intellectual we have here.  Actually, if it weren't for the fact that virtually every word out of her mouth in this book made her a complete hypocrite for everything she's said and done in her previous appearances.  I was sad that Amanda didn't get to tear into her for another 10 or so pages.  Also, most of the things about her and her life  that were supposed to loosen Valerius up and make him be more openminded came across more as cruelty and bullying.  Poor, poor Valerius...whatever did you do to deserve such a fate?

This book also convinced me that Julian and Kyrian are rancid little worms who should be flushed down the toilet.  I've had issues with the fact that their beyond-rabid hatred for him stemmed from his grandfather all along, but I'd assumed that the "Valerius was there and did nothing' tangent was at least referring to, at worst, a young teen Valerius, but a five year old?  Seriously, what did they expect him to do, attack a roomful of warriors, including his own grandfather with his butter knife and carry Kyrian out on his back?  Whatever, grow up you two.  Sadly, as always, Valerius's issues with Kyrian are treated as being more important than his issues with Zarek, which barely get any attention.  So much wasted opportunity...

Also, when the heck did Ash and Nick become best friends?  I barely recall them even knowing each other before.  Can you say "retroactive plot device"?  Also, who declawed Artemis?  Her appearance here was just downright depressing.

Sins of the Night surprised me in that I actually rather like it.  For a Dark Hunter book, it was surprisingly emo-light and was actually rather fun and adventuresome.  Well, up until they had sex, but even then it was only about have as much over-wrought emo as other Dark Hunter books.  While still A Mary Sue, Danger was far less a Mary Sue than most DH heroines, and rather likable.  Though I do queston her preferrence in actors...someone needs to talk to her about that.  I admit, though, that I haven't recovered from that name yet.  I mean, seriously, DANGER????  And her full first name is DANGEREUSE????  Do you realize how many times I had to put this down so I could giggle?  It was a lot...

IT's kind of starting to be absurd just how powerful Ash is, though.  The things he's done and the way he's built up, it seems like her should just be able to wave his hands and wipe out all the daimons in an instant.  It's also ridiculous how many people know Simi...I mean, virtually everyone in New Orleans knows her, and most think she's Ash's girlfriend...not the best way to keep his weakness a secret.