Oh this was such a wonderful read! I love it when I pick up a new to me author and the first in a series and then find out that I Really like it and know there’s more to come for me! This is what this book did for me, feeling wise. I’m so excited to continue this series in the nearby future.

I love the paranormal elements and the combination of action, storyline development, character development and the romance. The writing was engaging and that was the icing to the cake. In general, these kind of books often have the same kind of story line progress, so it wasn’t really unpredictable but that didn’t bother me though. It was thoroughly enjoyable and left me wanting more! Definitely recommend if you like these kind of paranormal romances!

Dommiel has been a major player in the war between good and evil. If you've read the Vessel Trilogy you will know what his role was. He is now an outcast helping the rebels however he can but never taking any one side. Enter Anya with a request that he cannot refuse. Little does he know that his soul is getting a second chance. A chance to redeem himself, in the form of the angel he must help.

Pretty good overall. I wasn’t a huge fan of Dommian but he worked well enough. I would have liked to see a little more development of the angel character, she goes from mouse to badass like a flipped switch. Good world building overall, and a universe I’d be happy to read more stories from.

EDIT 22 Aug 2018: Amazon link added.

UPDATE 17 Aug 2018: Revised/final review posted on GR (★★½) see added link). Will post on Amazon upon release. Thank you!
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NB: This is a preliminary feedback/review. I plan to hold off posting until the actual release date, at which time I'll come back & add links.

I had high hopes when I started to read DARKEST HEART. The writing seemed to flow & I quickly 'synched' with the author's particular style. Also, it was interesting to read dual first-person POV & the POV headers worked very well to remind the reader. However, what should've been a one-sit reading carried over to several days.

Firstly, I didn't realise that DARKEST HEART was a spin-off. Although I did have some questions early on, I understood a decision had to be made re: fuller explanation vs. info dump, especially at the beginning. But most of the lack fell to the wayside as I got into the story.

Secondly, the writing style that seemed so fresh at the beginning started to wear on me by the halfway point. Unfortunately, for someone like me, there's only so many participial phrases (dangling or not) & quasi-compound sentences that I can read before I start to mentally re-write what I'm reading. Another picky item for me is the use of 'till' (despite accepted use) instead of 'until'. IDK it's a geographical or educational quirk but my brain is stuck on using an apostrophe when shortening words like 'until' or 'because'. A small thing but I stutter-stepped in my reading every time I read it--think it appears almost 50 times? And use of 'sift' for teleporting... sorry, but as an avid baker, I kept thinking about flour :/

Also, incorrect tenses (namely, failure to use past perfect) made me pause often to mentally adjust timeframe for described events. In short, a story told in past tense usually can't use the same to describe events that occurred *before* the storyline.

Lastly, I'm not fond of insta-lust without some paranormal spark or cause. But I can usually bypass this if the romance is given more depth. Whilst the MCs' attraction progressed with the storyline, many of the 'lusty internal musings' slowed the pacing for me. If the MCs were en route to a place or meeting someone, I wanted them to continue, not pause for another round of mental thoughts which amounted to more telling, not showing.

Overall, I enjoyed DARKEST HEART even if I didn't get the 'wow' that I had expected at the start. The world-building was good & the various characters interesting. So I think that my impression will probably be in the minority.

Quick & Dirty: Entertaining enemies to lovers romance, loved the setting and loved the characters.

The Review:
Darkest Heart by Juliette Cross is the first novel in the Dominion series. According to Juliette’s website there is a full-length prequel novel, The Deepest Well, before Darkest Heart. Goodreads has that listed as the first in the series. I highly recommend Darkest Heart for those who like their hero on the tortured dark side, a hero who doesn’t believe he can be redeemed or have happiness.

Darkest Heart is a dystopian novel. I’m not sure if it is set in the near future or present day but angels and demons are at war with humans caught in the crossfire. Only a few select demons and angels are actually on the side of the humans otherwise they are just a necessary casualty of war. Anya has been bit by a demon prince and the venom will eventually put her under his spell and in order to cure herself, Anya must find an Archangel. Uriel is missing so Dommiel is enlisted to help Anya in her search. Dommiel is a high demon who has lost his domain and has now gone rogue. He has ties to angels and uses those ties to help during the war as long as it is in secret.

Dommiel is a fallen angel whom has embraced his dark side as a demon. Secretly he has been helping the angels during the war because he isn’t as evil as he pretends to be. He doesn’t believe in his own personal happiness. He wants to do the right thing but, in the end, he is still a demon and he has to deal with that. He is missing an eye and a hand but he has this really awesome mechanical hand. The cover really interprets him as I would have imagined him and it is rare for a cover to match the character so well!

Anya is an angel. She is a big-time optimist, always hopeful. As a warrior in the war and having a demon bite, she hasn’t let the fact that she could die or become evil stop her. She believes in the goodness of all without being too pushy about it. She fights for orphans and the lost. Anya isn’t turned off by Dommiel’s missing eye or hand.

In a way, I thought this would be an enemy to lover’s romance since they are at war with one another. They do have their prejudices towards each other but they are more intrigued by the other than anything. I really liked the way their relationship developed.

The story is dark but it isn’t too dark. The world is not in a good place, especially if you are a human. I really like how the story highlights the fact that there are bad angels and good demons. There is a lot of grey area. It is not just all black and white.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. I like demon/angel stories. I am intrigued by the apocalypse type setting and I can’t wait to read more in this series. There are quite a few characters that were introduced that I would love to see their stories! I definitely want to pick up the prequel!

Darkest Heart is told in dual point of views with Anya (an angel) and Dommiel (a demon).In the beginning of this book I struggled a bit mainly because I felt like there was some information I was missing. I’m not sure if this a spin off series or what. I did end up enjoying this book when I got past the beginning! I love a good anti-hero so Dommiel was right up my alley.

First time I’ve read this author and loved how the story unfolded. Light meets dark and love results. Definitely a great story that the-was two unlikely characters together that waited to meet the other for centuries.

I didn't finish this book, and I did not review it anywhere. I only write reviews for books I like. This one just never piqued my interest. I think there was too much build-up in the beginning, and I just never got interested in the story or characters.

Darkest Heart is the first book in the Dominion series by Juliette Cross. Anya was once a guardian angel, devoting herself to helping orphaned children. Now the Angel has become a warrior, fighting against the evil creatures that roam the earth. Bitten by the demon prince, Simian, during a battle, poison is now seeping into her body turning her into a thing she despises, a slave to the demon that bit her. Her only hope is seeking out the archangel Uriel.
Dommiel was once an angel before he was cast out and became a high demon. When the one person he respects call in a blood debt he finds himself drawn into a war he had hoped to avoid.
This is a story where light meets dark, and emotions and tensions are high. What follows is a thrilling ride with complex characters and superior word building that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
I received an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Love everything I've ever read by Mrs.Cross. This book is a wonderful beginning to another series that I'll be crazy waiting and wanting all the books in the series at once. I love a story where the lines are blurred and where the definition of "good" and "evil" can shift. Dommiel is a character that perfectly lives in that grey area. A series worth investing in.

Overall this was an okay read but for me, it was a little bit slow don't get me wrong there was nothing wrong with it I was just expecting it to be a little more fast paced. The characters were good and the storyline was well thought out. If your a paranormal fan ut is well worth a try

Cheese and crackers… Juliette you slay me. Just – ugh loved it comrades! This was a five stars hands down it was glorious. Juliette just take all the fucking stars. Gory hell it was an absolute phenomenal read.

I will admit here and now, I am in a huge binder read mode with Cross books. I have several of her series on my eReader that are on my TBR and I was blown away with her Vampire Blood Series that I have read at this point and I gotta say she is an amazing author. Her main characters always have this all-consuming, intensely passionate romance that just makes you gush. On top of that she rocks are world building.

So with that said …before I dive into the more important thing – the obvious romance porn, I mean that is why we are all here right? But what I will be completely honest about is that Juliette has this way with building this fictional world that these main characters revolve in that just blows your mind. I know, the characters should, and ARE the main attribute to all reasons why I love her writing style but I cannot and will not move on without mentioning the killer world building and lore of Darkest Heart.

Anyone a gamer? Play Blizzard’s Diablo? Whether you do or not doesn’t really make a difference just really something I personally noticed and really enjoyed overall based around the backstory of the world, more or less just a connection of what I really felt slayed me. So in the game it is about fallen angels, the corruption of angels, Diablo himself destroying the world all the while battling and controlling humans. In short, there is an entire lore around angels and demons living in the world with mortals. So skip ahead to Darkest Heart, my spidey senses are tingling because I get nothing but Diablo lore feels with this dramatically intense romance twist that made my heart pound, my mind crazy and my loins dripping.

THAT is what makes this fucking brilliant. There is logically based demonology backbone but without forcing any type of spiritual bias onto the reader. Putting it simply, it is a world where angels and demons co-exist in our mortal world, and it isn’t a pretty picture. The world is in ruin, the gates between hell and heaven are blurred, earth is desolate – humans are dying, demons are havoc, basic primal mayhem for conquering everything. It is a wasteland amongst a growing battlefield. And I say the line is blurred too (physically and dichotomy) because in the process of demons sucking our world dry, angels are no better; both sides fighting for control yet not caring what damage they are doing.

Alright – boom. I know that was a cluster fuck of amazing, but I couldn’t move on with appreciating the research, the storyline, the overall lore that Juliette created for this romance because it was masterful. I honestly think that anyone who goes into this book thinking it is going to be this erotic, paranormal romance that just beaver drools you off the chair, you won’t be wrong, it does that but it is not JUST the romance. When an author does paranormal fantasy world building and kicks ass at it, you have to take a moment to say you fucking nailed it.

Now what we all come here for – the romance… hold on to your tits babes.

Firstly I really enjoyed Anya. She was such a fierce, passionate type female, she was righteous yet grounded enough to understand herself and more importantly her needs. She is selfish yet selfless if that makes any sense. And more importantly, Anya as a guardian angel was just stunning. She wasn’t weak. Not saying she didn’t devolve into a lustful lush for our sexy as hell demon, Dommiel, but she was nonetheless a warrior. She kicked ass and took names all the while saving orphaned children. And as for the delicious demon…

Dommiel. Holy balls and yum comrades. Dommiel is the perfect fictional male character. I have a massive book boner for male characters with a hilarious sarcastic, flirty asshole complex, add in that he is a demon – you bet your bottom dollar I was head over heels in love with him. The crudeness, blatant sex appeal that radiates off him was entertaining enough. He too is also semi split in his personality as well. He is seen as a traitor among his own demon fellows but not entirely accepted by the other side, one in which he is now working for – the proclaimed good guys. He is compassionate towards the greater good while he also admits his own faults, the reason behind him falling.

Because of these clashes, Dommiel and Anya start an even more fierce connection that basically heightens the factor of blurred lines between demon and angels. Anya needs Dommiel’s help to find the Archangel Uriel (both for self-righteous and selfish reasons) yet along the short time of adventure finds herself battling this gnawing need to be connected to Dommiel. And Dommiel on the other front, well shit a demon falling for an angel, she is the light in his darkness. Obviously you can kind of get these insta-lust, perhaps insta-love vibes I might be dropping down, I mean really they meet and fall fast I won’t deny it but it flows smashingly. From the moment of meeting they have this intense just fierce chemistry that is just undeniable. It lights up the pages. Honestly when I wasn’t chuckling at their conversations, I was on the edge of my seat waiting for the duet to connect physically. Swoon worthy.

Absolute perfection.

I mean, what else can I say to peer pressure this book, hell this author onto more readers? Honestly this is one long review! But I couldn’t stop. It was just amazing. Everything blew me away. The characters, the romance, the world lore – Juliette slays me. I cannot recommend this author enough. If you enjoy this genre I highly encourage giving her a dive, she is worth the chance.

So what is next in our Dominion series? I cannot wait to find out!

Dommiel is a former high demon who was betrayed and now lives as an outcast. Tied to Genevieve, the Vessel from the The Vessel Trilogy, via a blood vow, he is asked to aid Anya, a guardian angel turned warrior, in finding the missing archangel, Uriel. Anya has a war injury that will forever change her life without the lifesaving capabilities of Uriel. She needs help to find him – help that can only come from a demon. Anya and Dommiel were ill-prepared for the effects each had on the other. Anya shouldn’t be attracted – but she is; Dommiel shouldn’t care – but he does.

Darkest Heart is a wonderful story of redemption and love involving a high demon and a blemish-free warrior angel. It is a captivating story of love, salvation, and why it’s important not to keep secrets. The bond the author created between Anya and Dommiel is deep; not superficial or for selfish means. The chemistry between Anya and Dommiel is evident and the author does a wonderful job making the thoughts, feelings, and dialogue realistic. Juliette Cross’s character development and world building is beyond exceptional. Anya and Dommiel are passionate, strong, complex characters. Each secondary character adds to the complexity of the plot and their mission. The story is well-written and plays out like a movie as you read along. It is not difficult to create the scenes in your head and actually feel like you are there trying to help Anya and Dommiel search for Uriel.

Darkest Heart is a riveting, fast paced story told with passion. This book contains suspenseful moments that had me wondering how exactly this whole thing was going to end. Would we get a happily-ever-after, would Anya find Uriel and be saved, would Dommiel double-cross and innocent angel? So many questions flew around in my mind as I devoured Darkest Heart. I love Juliette Cross’s writing style and the way she tells stories. The author’s ability to create paranormal stories with romance, action and a solid plot is what keeps me coming back.

This is for me the best paranormal book that I read so far. I loved the story, loved the characters. I loved the angel Anya and the demon Dommiel. I loved Dommiels thought thinking it was for me some of the best writing things ever. The story has it all something dark, some light, humor, action, love, passion, suspense, searching fight. I loved every f.u..... page. Well written, amazing read.
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for Netgelly

This book was absolutely amazing, I loved the characters, the development of the story, as well as the pace. It was interesting to see out two main characters and their undeniable chemistry. The interaction between all characters as well as the suspense was what kept me glued to my kindle screen until the early hours of the morning, I know my romance customers will absolutely love this story and any upcoming titles by this author. She has such a magnificent way with words, I am definitely adding this author to by must read for all her releases!

Copy received courtesy of Entangled Publishing via NetGalley for an honest and unbiased opinion.

It’s entertaining and exciting, I liked the characters, the romance and the world building and I’m looking forward to the next book.

I so love me an anti-hero, especially one that underneath it all there's still that inherent goodness. Dommiel had that in spades despite his living on the knife edge of good and evil.

A fabulous paranormal romance about redemption that had me glued to the page, recommended.

Release: August 20, 2018 | Genre: Fantasy/PNR | Dual POV - 1st person | Heat: 4 | Standalone - Dominion #1 | Publisher: Entangled Publishing LLC

A good read from author Juliette Cross. Some notable moments and characters but the story did not grab me as much as previous novels from the author.

Darkest Heart (Dominion, #1) by Juliette Cross
Entanged/Amara, 2018
Romance/Fantasy; 348 pgs
Source: E-copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley

I can always count on Juliette Cross to write an addicting novel that has me craving more. Darkest Heart is an apocalyptic novel set during the war between angels and demons, where humans are surviving by a thread. Dommiel is a high demon on the outs with his own kind. He is both powerful and dangerous--not someone you would expect to have a blood vow with an archangel, one he would do anything for. When she asks him to assist an angel in her quest to find another archangel, Dommiel agrees. It has little to do with the beautiful stoic angel in front of him who stirs something deep inside him, although that does not hurt.

Anya has spent time on the battlefield as a warrior fighting for the angels, having long ago given up her post as a guardian angel. What Dommiel does not know is that she carries the deadly poison of a demon prince and her only hope is to find the Archangel Uriel. She must find him--and fast--or risk coming under the prince's control.

Anya feels the attraction to Dommiel too, but tries to fight it. She is innocent in her own way--at least when it comes to vice, although can definitely hold her own. Dommiel plays the role of the big bad guy, but he is more complex than that. Although Anya helps melt his dark heart, I got the impression his heart wasn't as dark to start as he would want everyone to believe. There is definite chemistry between the two characters, and they are well matched in personality and skill. Both of them struggle with whether a match like theirs could possibly work--and, of course, there is the little matter of Anya's secret.

The world the characters live in is indeed dark. The signs of the war are everywhere and a person (or angel or demon) can never be sure who to trust. The reader meets quite a few different types of characters throughout the novel, from human to witch to angel and demon. The author has crafted a world that is not necessarily one I would want to live in myself, but certainly would visit again.

Darkest Heart has plenty of action and romance, which is just what I was hoping for when I began reading. I will definitely be reading more in this series in the future.

On a side note, I once had a cat we called Anya, named after a demon in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series. She was definitely more like an angel though.

What's a demon to do when his shrivelled up heart wants the very wrong kind of female, especially when she is of the Angelic persuasion???

These two souls show that not every demon is evil to the core and every Angel has a sliver of darkness, just like us poor humans. They can only trust each other, they are each the target for the others side.

Dommiel left his demon kindred behind but Anya and her fellow angels haven't exactly welcomed him with open arms. Uriel is suitably dark and evil and a soul stealer to boot!

Superbly atmospheric and a great read!

Linda's Thoughts:
“I'm not really what you'd call a damsel in distress."
"I hate fucking damsels. Always in such distress. Who wants a high-maintenance girl like that?”

Darkest Heart by Juliette Cross is the first fantastic installment in the author’s new Dominion series. I discovered Juliette’s books this past year with her awesome Vampire Blood series. I inhaled them all quickly and couldn’t wait to read more from her! So, you can understand why I was eager to dive into Darkest Heart and I was not disappointed in the least! To tell the truth, I was a little afraid at first as I’m not normally a fan of angels in my paranormal romances, but this engrossing tale is a huge exception as the chemistry between Dommiel, our demonic hero, and Anya, our angelic heroine, set my kindle aflame! My sole complaint is that I didn’t want their story to end.

You should know that the Darkest Heart shares some characters with Juliette’s Vessel Trilogy and her Age of Grey series. As this tale begins, we quickly discover that Dommiel shares a blood vow with vessel Genevieve who serves the light. He actually meets Anya when he responds to Genevieve’s summons. Genevieve needs Dommiel’s help in finding Uriel, a powerful archangel who is missing. We also learn that Earth is ground zero in a war between angels and demons. Unfortunately, humans are in the crosshairs between the light and dark and, as with all wars, it’s not a pretty picture. Tragically, the human race faces extinction if the war continues raging much longer.

Now, please don’t worry if you haven’t read any of the associated books. Darkest Heart is meant to be a stand alone read. Juliette discloses everything you need to know to fully enjoy Darkest Heart, all the while sneakily whetting your appetite to go back and read every juicy detail in the other series – which is just what I plan to do soon!

I fell in love with bad boy Dommiel from the very beginning. His back story pulled at my heart strings as it is leaked as the tale progresses.
Dommiel was previously the high demon of New Orleans, but was deposed in a coup. He’s now supporting the resistance behind the scenes and considered a traitor by his own kind. Dommiel doesn’t hesitate to step up at Genevieve’s request for assistance even though he knows that he may not survive the endeavor. However, he is not happy in the least about being paired with Anya, an extremely focused virginal angel who inspires him to yearn for the light – something he’s not done in eons. He’s a book boyfriend that I’d love to keep and savor.

Anya took a little longer to worm into my heart as I mistakenly saw her as a goody two shoes. She used to be a guardian angel looking over defenseless orphans and has evolved to be an accomplished, focused warrior. Unfortunately, in a recent battle, she was bitten by an evil demon prince and his poison will make her a slave to him for all eternity once it reaches her heart. Uriel is her only hope; Only he can heal her. I love how the longer she’s with Dommiel, she sees and brings forth the good in him. As an angel, she’s never been tempted by bodily pleasures. But, Dommiel awakens this part of her and she finds that she wants to experience it all with him. They already share a deep abiding loneliness. The longer they are together, their bond strengthens and they become more aware that their place is to be hand in hand. I found myself desperately – against all odds - pulling for both of them. Unfortunately, demons and angels aren’t normally destined for a happy ending.

Following please find a few of my favorite quotes from the Darkest Heart:

“If you try anything, I’ll take out the pretty eye you have left.”
He reached out and wrapped his hand around mine, rough and warm. “You think my eye is pretty, do you?” He winked. “Flattery will get you everywhere, baby.”
---

“I miss the stars the most. They give off their light, completely unaware or heedless of the life and death taking place beneath them. It doesn’t matter to them whether the angels win this war. Or the demons. Whether the whole world burns. In the end, they’ll still be there. Constant and true.”
---

There was no way where this ended well. Where I ended whole. I was sure of it as I was sure demons danced in hell. And they did.

Darkest Heart is an entertaining and exciting paranormal romance straddling the angelic and demonic worlds. It’s first and foremost a romance between two dynamic opposing forces – the light and the dark. But, it’s also an action-packed quest teeming with twists and turns amidst ever-present danger and suspense. Juliette keeps you on the edge until the very end. Darkest Heart is an emotional and passionate roller coaster ride to an epic ending that you won’t want to miss! I love a good tale of redemption and highly recommend Darkest Heart to anyone who enjoys paranormal romance!