Review: Embraced by Darkness (Riley Jensen, Guardian, Bk 5) by Keri Arthur

We learn more of Riley and Rhoan's past in this book. The Alpha of her pack, who just happens to be the man who once threw Riley from a cliff, demands that Riley and her brother track down the Alpha's granddaughter, who has gone missing. Riley only agrees to do so when she's told her mother will be killed if she does not.

I was a bit disappointed that we come into the story five weeks after the last book ended and we are told that the first three weeks were spent on an island with Kellen. I mean, I wanted to see some of that. Not all of it, of course, but a little glimpse wouldn't have hurt. But, I got over it.

And once Riley starts on the case and things start happening there isn't much time to think about that, anyway. It just seemed a bit of a teaser to tell us it happened and not let us see any of it.

There are some difficult to read parts of this book. Parts that, if it were a movie, would have me hiding behind my husband's shoulder. Riley has been in some pretty rough spots before, but this one had my adrenaline going more than some of the other books.  

As for growth of the characters, Riley has another skill present itself, something else she got from the ARCI-23. Something that can only be called A Very Big Deal. 

I won't say much about the romance in the book, other than to say we end on a bit of a cliffhanger.  All of the plots of the book get tied up, but her love life... not so much.

This was an enjoyable book to read. The plot was good, and I enjoyed learning more about Riley and Rhoan's childhood. We don't learn much that we didn't already know, but we learn some details, and we get to watch Riley and Rhoan both deal with the memories and emotions that come up. Also, Riley has to deal with one of her phobias head on in this book. Not something I'd have ever wished for her, but it works out in the end. And she's now stronger than she was before.

I'm giving Embraced by Darkness a 9 of 10.  The series remains a 9 of 10

Book Rating: 9 of 10
Series Rating: 9 of 10





1. Full Moon Rising (2006)
2. Kissing Sin (2007)
3. Tempting Evil (2007)
4. Dangerous Games (2007)
5. Embraced by Darkness (2007)
6. The Darkest Kiss (2008)
7. Deadly Desire (March 2009)