Beneath the Skin - Vampire Book Review

Beneath the Skin
by Adrian Phoenix
Pocket; Original edition (December 29, 2009)

From the publisher:
THE FATE OF THREE WORLDS...
The dark pieces of vampire rock star Dante Baptiste's past are violently emerging, and it is only a matter of time before the Fallen discover he is the creawdwr they have sought for thousands of years. The destruction he left behind in Oregon threatens to reveal his identity as Fallen Maker and True Blood, exposing the young nightkind to shadowy predators -- mortal and supernatural -- who will do whatever it takes to win his favor...or destroy him.
RESTS IN DANTE'S HANDS.
When beautiful FBI special agent Heather Wallace went AWOL on assignment, she chose irresistible Dante over the shady government forces that now stalk them both. Heather has her own secrets of the past to uncover, but she is also the only one who can hold her nightkind lover together when his dangerous quest for the truth threatens to send him over the edge. And as she and Dante fi ght for their survival, she realizes they must work together to protect their future -- before his mysterious destiny tears them apart....


  

PVN: 

Dante's pain and his fight for sanity weaves The Maker's Song series together. His bond-mate Heather, a former FBI agent soothes him and aids him in his desperate search to heal his wounded soul. He has had a long difficult journey, but there is so much more that he must learn and do before coming into his own as the most powerful creation ever.


Slowly immortals and mortals learn that a True Blood Prince and a Fallen Maker has been born, kidnapped, tortured and programmed to kill. He has been and still is Project Bad Seed's most important subject. For Dante and Heather their love story rests in the heart of darkness.

At the end of In the Blood we witnessed the terrible fallout from Dante's fury as two factions, Elohim and Shadow Bureau seek control of him. The powerful rage provoked by Dante's mortal enemies left several dead and a deep crater where a large house once stood. Beneath the Skin continues the story.


Around the crater stands a stonehenge of angels some with faces of awe, others with looks of shock and dismay. When two FBI agents happen upon this scenario there is nothing in their backgrounds to explain what lies in front of them. One agent, a vampire, believes she hears beating hears within the angel statues. These are living beings, she tells her partner. And she is correct. Many Elohim (fallen angels), while seeking their creawdwr, were caught in the storm of Dante's passion.

Dante is a very powerful nightkind. His vampire mother was murdered soon after his birth. His father Lucien, now missing, was one of the Elohim.

A myriad of brilliantly written characters move throughout this dark, intricate story. Certain ones are truly evil while others are desperately trying to do what is right, something not always obvious. For me this series belongs at the top of any list of Urban Fantasy.

It is best to read the books in order of publications.

Book 1  A Rush of Wings   Read a Review

Book 2  In the Blood      Read a Review


[ Dear FTC, Beneath the Skin was sent to me by the publisher, and if they hadn't I would have gladly bought my own copy!]