I really love this series and I enjoy each book in the series. Although you could probably read this as a stand alone I recommend reading the earlier books in the series first since both characters are introduced in previous books.

Guardian of Darkness centers around Vega and Gabriel who are both reoccuring secondary characters. I've always liked Gabriel and while Vega hasn't been my favorite she did grow on me in this book and I ended up enjoying her. I liked Vega and Gabriel together as well although I thought Gabriel's turn around was a bit abrupt. The couple doesn't spend as much time together as her couples usually do but the plot itself was very well done. I also really enjoyed that we moved to a new location and were introduced to some new characters. (Yes I'm very excited about meeting Judoc and hope we get his story soon and I also found August to be an intriguing character).

I loved the way Vega has matured and her confidence and spirit especially towards Gabriel once he told her about his vision. I also found the humor in this book that I enjoy in this series. I also loved that once the two started working together they didn't keep secrets but were honest with each other.

Overall, a great edition to a wonderful series that continues to entertain!

LICK ;p....love the cover.

Thanks Netgalley for a copy to read and review.


Part of a series but can be read as a standalone which is why I think this book was a little off for me. Tons of character of weird hybrids, seemed like no two shifters alike and various inter species breeding. A whole new world. Dragons, vampires, werewolves, bears...etc. I was overwhelmed which might of been cleared up had I read the other six....I'm guessing.
Did I like it? It was a cute, fluffy read and basically starts on a premonition. A future filled event in which Gabriel's mate Vega dies. How to combat that? Don't mate with Vega....I'm seeing holes in this already..lol. Trying to circumvent the fates is never a real event but an imagined one. I enjoyed parts of it, giving it 3.5 entertainment stars. I'd read another. Some sexy scenes, no cheating here, and I thought it was an interesting concept that a werewolf and a vampire could breed.

I’ve loved catching up with the Darkness series and have wondered how Finn, Lyra and the rest of the pack would take the Pack Princess getting mated. And then to figure out it was to Gabriel…that was the icing on the cake.

Gabriel has been the guardian of the Stavros Pack for decades and has basically been Finn’s right-hand man. He came to the pack when he had a vision forced upon him of his future mate dying on his family’s pack lands. Determined that the vision never happen, he left knowing that while he was ensuring his future mate wouldn’t be killed, he was also making it so they’d never even meet. Heartbreaking! Unfortunately, decades later his mate is brought to the pack as Finn’s daughter that no one knew about.

I liked Vega in past books, but her attempts to show how adult she was came off as immature to me at times. It took a bit, but she does finally settle down and start to make grown-up decisions. This is good because I was beginning to think poor Gabriel got a bum deal when it came to his mate.

I really liked Gabriel. Although I questioned his decision on distancing himself from Vega because of the vision, I did understand it. He navigated the minefield of mating his best friend and alpha’s daughter well. At times his loyalty would be pulled both ways, but he always made the right choice. He was steadfast and wise, and also the type of alpha who made sure his woman was as safe as she could be while also letting her do what she needed to and I adored him for it.

Since Vega joined Augustus’ covert ops unit, there was a heightened level of suspense. With a bad guy to catch as well as a previously unknown danger no one was expecting, there was lots of action. Judoc, Gabriel’s cousin and the area alpha, was all kinds of intriguing to me. But who really got my interest was Mira and her sister, Prima. I would love to read an Augustus/Mira story as I think she’ll lead him on a merry chase.

Barring my issues with Vega, this was a great read. It was fast-paced with lots of mystery and action and of course some sweet sexy times. I’m thrilled we are going to have more to come with this series.

Rating: 4 Can’t Get Enough Stars

Thrills and romance keeps reader glued to the pages of this exhilarating new Darkness novel by Katie Reus.

Vega and Gabriel are two electrifying characters that spark readers’ imagination as they easily draw readers into their story with their sizzling chemistry, steamy romance and charismatic personalities. The romance between these two have a rocky start but when situations arise, tempers spark and the truth comes out which keeps this romance on the fast track to happily ever after and the characters are life like, easily related to and sexy to boot which makes for one exhilarating love story.

The fast paced, action filled plot keeps readers on the edge of their seats with lots of suspense and thrills as Vega and Gabriel find themselves in hot water in a Black Ops mission where lines are blurred and tensions are high. To top it off the situation is further complicated by some surprising twists that lands the couple in a life altering, nerve-racking and frightening event.

The Darkness world is brought to vibrant life by Katie Reus’s brilliant words, thrilling plots and fascinating characters and I just can’t get enough of it. Guardian of Darkness had me spellbound from the very beginning and Gabriel and Vega was two very sexy characters. I can’t wait for my next visit to the Darkness World.

Guardian of Darkness is part of my very favorite series by Katie Reus, so I had high expectations. It meets everyone and more. Ms. Reus creates a world that is well thought out, tying characters and situations together in ways I did not see coming. Gabriel as the older broody wolf shifter paired together with the young adult enthusiastic and daring, Vega has them well matched for each other. Together they make this a sexy romantic suspenseful read.

I love the characters, the interaction and complexity of the story line, the colorful cast of minor characters. The author made me care even about the new supporting characters brought into the story. The writing is very compelling.

So while I wouldn’t feel that it is totally necessary to have read the other books in the series, this one brings up characters and events that one would really want to know more about, so be aware it is addictive.

4.5 stars-- GUARDIAN OF DARKNESS is the seventh full-length instalment in Katie Reus’ contemporary, adult DARKNESS paranormal, fantasy romance series. This is wolf shifter and Stavros Pack guardian Gabriel, and vampire/wolf hybrid Vega Stavros’ story line. GUARDIAN OF DARKNESS can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary although I recommend reading the series in order for backstory and cohesion.

Told from several third person points of view including Gabriel and Vega, using present day and ‘letters’ from the past, GUARDIAN OF DARKNESS follows the hunt for a traitor, a shifter willing to sell secrets of the paranormal to the highest bidder. Vega Stravros is the newest member of the government’s supernatural Black Ops team, a position she has trained for the past few years. When her father’s Guardian, the man that calls to her heart but a man that refuses to acknowledge their attraction, walks in on Vega’s latest assignment, our heroine must come to terms that not everything is as it seems. Enter Gabriel, her one-time bodyguard, and the man with whom Vega is still in love. What ensues is the ‘pretend’ lovers relationship between Vega and Gabriel as the couple must go undercover in an effort to ferret out the traitor hiding in a place Gabriel knows only too well.

Gabriel walked away from Vega two years earlier when a seer showed our hero the future-a future wherein Vega would die in Gabriel’s arms. Gabriel intends to keep his distance believing he can change the future, a future he knows will break his heart. Vega Stavros has no idea why the man that she loved walked away without a backward glance. Intending to move forward without the man she believed was her intended mate, Vega will come to learn the truth about the past, the present and their future.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful secondary and supporting characters, most are familiar but with the re-introduction of the Black Ops Team including August McGuire, Neema and Eli, and Gabriel’s cousin Judoc McGrath and his Pack, there is the potential for many more story lines especially with the discovery of a long, lost ancient.

GUARDIAN OF DARKNESS is a sexy thrill ride with sassy characters and an intriguing plot. The premise is entertaining and engaging; the characters are familiar and intense; the romance is fated and seductive.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

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I had already met Katie Reus' Red Stone Security series, but I didn't know she also wrote about Shapeshifters and vampires. So when I stumbled onto Guardian of Darkness, with Vega: half vampire, half wolf I got curious. Although this is the 7th book in a series, you can easily read this as a standalone. Vega is the daughter of Finn and Lyra Stavros. She wants to be independent and not only be treated as the precious princess of the pack. Therefore, she has joined the paranormal Black Ops team. One minor detail: she still has to tell her parents. Finn is already suspicious about Vega's whereabouts and actions. Therefore he sends Gabriel, the pack guardian after Vega. However, Gabriel had a vision five years ago, in which he saw Vega die in his arms. In order to avoid this happening, he has been avoiding Vega ever since. During an assignment gone wrong, can Gabriel help Vega? Or will he be responsible for her death, as he has foreseen? Find out for yourself with this exciting story. Four out of five stars from me and a thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

http://gisspotreviews.com/index.php/2018/03/20/release-blitz-review-guardian-darkness-darkness-7-katie-reus/

4.5 stars

Guardian of Darkness is book 7 in the Darkness series and while I have enjoyed all the stories in the series this one was my favorite. Gabriel is the Guardian of the Stravos pack. He left his pack after a vision was forced upon him of the death of his mate. So he figured if he left his pack that future would never be. So imagine his surprise when his mate shows up to the Stravos pack as his Alphas daughter. Gabriel was great. He was protective and definitely loved Vega but he was also very stubborn. Vega was awesome. She has grown into a wonderful young woman who is fierce and coming into her abilities. I loved her determination towards Gabriel when he finally told her about the vision. She is strong and confident while not being cocky, she excepts help and wasn't constantly trying to prove her. I loved the surprise to the Stravos pack and I loved all the new characters that were introduced, I can't wait for their stories. Especially the new Dragons.

***ARC provided by NetGalley***

This is a voluntary review of advanced copy.

This was so much fun to see Vega from the first book in the series all grown up! We get to see some of the characters from the previous books in this one so I love that part of the book. It is so funny to see Finn and Lyra as such over protective parents and expecting another baby!

Wow, what can I say about Gabriel who thinks that he can outwit destiny and protect Vega by staying away from her and not mating her after seeing a vision where she dies and he can feel their mate link disappear when she dies. Even though he as been told that a vision does not foretell the future "in stone" and he just ghosts on Vega without telling her anything.

I loved that Vega was so strong and just kept finding more and more gifts and abilities that she grew into. And just when Gabriel thinks that his vision can't come true because the time line does match the moon phase, he is wrong.

Sorry no spoilers on the outcome of the vision but will just say that Gabriel and Vega do get a HEA! I hope that the introduction of the two dragon sisters will continue into the next book because I want to know if August and Judoc are possible mates for them.

I love this series and when I start reading the book, it is hard to put it down as it get so caught up in the story, and I am already for the next book in this series!

This author has given me yet another reason to track down and read each and every book of this mostly new to me paranormal series. Having loved Book 6, Saved by Darkness, I had high hopes Book 7, Guardian of Darkness, would be equally entertaining. Katie Reus did not disappoint, folks. If you are into wolf/vampire/dragon shifter romances, you’ll likely feel the same.

Actually, even if you have never read this paranormal genre, there is a good chance Ms. Reus’ writing style will appeal to you, as well. Her good guy alpha protective heroes will do anything for their destined to be together, strong, sassy lady loves and vice versa. These lady shifters got game, folks. They stand side by side their soul mates as they fight to ward off evil villains.

Gabriel and Vega were no exception. Proving you can’t always predict the future, Gabriel’s good intentions of trying to keep Vega safe taught him a valuable lesson. Grab the goodness of life while you can, because you never know when or if it will be ripped away from you. Destiny will continue to happen whether you try to deny it or not, and time is too precious to waste.

Though starting off at a relative slow pace, life-threatening, unfolding, multi-pronged action packed scenes take over and forces join together to save the day. With a conclusion that clearly sets the stage for continuing this series in a whole new direction, we can be sure Ms. Reus has more romantic tales and drama up her sleeves. Afterall, we are given two new female dragon shifters to add to the mix, folks. I can’t wait to read what happens next.

Title: Guardian of Darkness, Series: Darkness (Book 7), Author: Katie Reus, Pages: 250, stand-alone but part of a series, HEA, alpha protective wolf shifter hero, alpha psychic vamp-wolf shifter/virgin heroine, some very steamy scenes, romance safe, bloody battling evil scenes, celibate hero, no love triangle, no cheating, no OW/OM drama.

Book 1 - Darkness Awakened (Finn & Lyra), Pages: 161, 11/3/13
Book 2 - Taste of Darkness (Drake & Victoria), Pages: 265, 7/24/14
Book 3 - Beyond the Darkness (Keelin & Bran), Pages: 345, 3/10/15
Book 4 - Hunted by Darkness (Nyx & Bo), Pages: 209, 2/9/16
Book 5 - Into the Darkness (Rhea & Conall), Pages: 350, 4/5/16
Book 6 - Saved by Darkness (Ian & Fiona), Pages: 304, 2/21/17
Book 7 - Guardian of Darkness (Gabriel & Vega), Pages: 250, 3/20/18

(I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not given any payment or compensation for this review, nor is there any affiliation or relationship between this reviewer and the author/publisher/NetGalley.)

Guardian of Darkness was worth the wait! Katie Reus delivers an action packed installment of her Darkness series.

Gabriel and Vega have been dancing around each other since the first Darkness book, Darkness Awakened. While Vega has grown from that scared girl into a beautiful woman, powerful in her own right, Gabriel has been holding himself back. Not only himself, but also Vega. He's spent years trying to prevent a future that's not even written in stone.

Reus has created a rich and complex world, and Guardian of Darkness introduces us to many new faces, and revisits familiar friends. I love this world! Vega is determined to find her own way, leave a mark that has nothing to do with being the pack princess. While Gabriel just wants to lock her away, he understands the importance of her mission. Just when they're close to catching their man, a hidden threat bring even more danger.

You won't see any of the twits Reus has in store for you in this action packed thrill ride. She's packed Guardian of Darkness full of danger and feels! This emotional roller coaster will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Phenomenal!

Engaging and intriguing! I couldn’t put it down. The characters are amazing and the emotion is real.

I voluntarily read an advanced copy.

This is book 7 of the Darkness series and I would absolutely read the previous books before reading this one. Yes, this one "could" be read as a standalone but it makes a lot more sense if you know what happened in the previous books. This one is about Vega, who is the daughter of the Alpha of the Stavros pack and Gabriel, who is the Guardian of the same pack. Gabriel had a vision while he was still with his original pack of a woman dying in his arms in location on that pack's lands. He had never met this woman but believed if he left pack lands that he could change the outcome. That he would never meet and there would be no chance for the vision to come true. But once he meets Vega and knows she is the woman from the vision, he tries to keep his distance. Until she starts hiding things and he must figure out what is going on. Vega has been recruited to a Black Ops paranormal group and is about to go on her first mission. All without telling her parents exactly what she is doing. When But Gabriel finds out and inserts himself into the mission to try to ensure her safety. And that is when things change for them.

I loved this book! Gabriel is very protective alpha male who is trying to keep his distance from a woman he has seen die. His version of trying to protect her is to push her away. Vega has grown from the teen we originally saw in the previous books to a kick butt woman! She knows what she wants to do with her life and she doesn't want her parents or any of their pack to stand in the way of what she feels is right for her. I loved how things played out between them. Yes, Gabriel should have stepped forward and explained his reasons for what he was doing from the get go but when he fully understands and realizes what he could have missed? It was excellent! And then you throw in the great side characters? I loved them too! I hope they get their own books, including the sisters!!

Vega is the half-werewolf, half-vampire daughter of two very powerful supernaturals and has long been the darling of her father's pack. When we met Vega in the first Darkness book, she was a teenager, and although we didn't see most of her years since then, she's now a recent college graduate who is ready to make her mark in the world. Knowing her parents may object, Vega joined a secret government supernatural Black Ops team and is heading out on her first mission.

Gabriel has known Vega is his destined mate long before he even met her, and when his feelings started to become more-than-a-Guardian in nature, he put distance between himself and Vega. He thinks staying away from her will prevent the vision of her death coming true; however, when he sees her strike out on her own with a dangerous group, he is compelled to intervene. Now he's part of her Black Ops mission and heading straight into the heart of his former home, where he foresaw Vega die.

Ms. Reus's Darkness series is a favorite of mine. I enjoy the breadth of the mythology, bringing in all types of supernatural beings, including different half-breeds, each unique and with interesting abilities. Vega is a wonderful example; she was something different and new to the Pack when we first met her, and her abilities continue to evolve as she matures. 

One thing I adore about Vega and Gabriel’s story is the straightforward nature of relationship. Don’t get me wrong – there is subterfuge, and both keep secrets, but once they are together and working on the mission, they open up. For example, Gabriel’s vision was used in the past as a way to keep the pair apart, and could have easily continued to remain a secret, but he shares with her his knowledge and concerns rather than allow them to fester. Likewise, Vega could have hidden her sleuthing activities from Gabriel, but she is honest, and they work as equals on a team. The mutual respect and admiration ignites their sexual chemistry, and they cannot keep their lust at bay.

Guardian of Darkness introduces several new interesting individuals to the Darkness world, each with ties to existing characters. While the addition of so many new players could feel cumbersome, Ms. Reus integrates each with a solid storyline, and in the process has created several new intriguing avenues for the series. I’m most interested in August, the bear-hybrid shifter and leader of Vega’s Black Ops team.

In the end, Guardian of Darkness is an enjoyable, exciting addition to one of the few paranormal romance series I continue to read. The mythology is both traditional and inventive, and with the introduction of so many new players, I continue to look forward to each new title.

My Rating: B, Liked It

I gather this book is one of a series. Perhaps that's why I felt Vega and Gabriel - and the plot itself - were a little short on complexity. The book did pique my interest in some of the secondary characters. The dragons seemed particularly intriguing as did Judoc. I would definitely be interested in reading more about them. Still, the book was a good, light read. I rate it a 3 1/2 out of 5 stars.
My thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I have been waiting for Vegas story since meeting her in the very first. Given the chance to read this book ad an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review was icing on the cake.

Vega has always known she's different thanks to being a hybrid. However wanting to go out on her own she jumps at the chance to be part of a black ops group. The problem? Gabriel. He's always been then since she joined her father's pack. When he went away things sucked but she's making it her own now.

When he barges back ijnto her life things are gonna get a little interesting. Shes his mate but years ago he saw her death and he will do aytjing to prevent it. When faced with choices Gabriel isn't going to have a choice when it comes to Vega.

It was a great read and I was sad to see it end. I can't wait to see what happens with Mira and August.

I really enjoy reading this series and this may just be my favorite yet. This is an awesome PNR filled with all the things I look for in a good PNR; thrills, fun, steam and of course, romance. I love Gabriel and Vega and was rooting for them from the get-go. This is such a great story line and it seems that Katie Reus can do no wrong with where she takes this series. Can’t wait for more!!

I received this ARC from Netgalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

3.75 Stars
I love this series, and this was a solid addition to it. I had read a review that said Guardian of Darkness seemed like filler, but I didn't get that. My only complaint was that yes, it did feel a bit short/light. I loved their story (I was thrilled to see Vega get her HEA!), and the plot was interesting, and there was good interaction between several different characters. I just wanted a bit more. Maybe more angst or conflict or something. I can't really articulate that missing wow factor. Not to say I didn't like it, because I did! I gobbled it up in one sitting even! But I didn't feel it was quite as good as other books of the series.

I absolutely loved Gabriel and Vega! So far this one is my favorite of the series. I really wasn't expecting to love it so much because the blurb led me to believe there would be pushing away from Gabriel. While he did keep her at arms length for 2 years, the book started and wasted no time in bringing these two together.

While I hate pushing away, I love the reason Gabriel tried to stay away from Vega. He literally thought she was going to die if they mated. That didn't stop him from jumping right in the middle of an ops to protect her. He's a true alpha protector.

Vega was such a great heroine. I love that she is a hybrid and I'm fascinated with her special powers. I think the author could have delved even more into that but I'm guessing she is saving some for later books since these characters appear in more than one book.

Mena was a fascinating side character in this book and I think when it comes time for her story, she's going to leave just as much as an impact. All the side characters leave me wanting more and that's a true success for a series. Keep em coming Katie Reus! ARC provided by NetGalley.