"Exciting paranormal romance"

American Tara Mason comes to Paris to visit her ailing grandpapa, but becomes worried about him when he spins a tale that she believes is born of senility. He insists he is a member of the Alliance, a group dedicated to fighting evil including vampires. Grandpapa is upset because he believes that an archeological dig in a churchyard has liberated a deadly vampiress.

On her grandpapa's insistence, Tara tries to sneak into the crypts of the church, but runs into Brent Malone. When they hear screams, Brent knows his worse nightmare has occurred as the diggers have freed Louisa on an unsuspecting world. Brent cannot persuade Tara of the existence of vampires, but she wonders why he and grandpapa act like old acquaintances. As Tara and Brent fall in love and he vows to keep her safe, evil approaches, ready to devour anyone in its' path including a skeptical American visitor.

The latest tale in Shannon Drake's vampire series, REALM OF SHADOWS, is an exciting novel that returns key characters from previous books in significant roles in this story. A vast ensemble tells the tale so that readers will need a scorecard to keep track of who is whom. Still the plot hooks fans wondering if Tara will accept the truth about the evil that stalks her and her family or remain a skeptic in spite of her love for true believers like grandpapa and Brent. Though the ending required a long dissertation to tie loose ends together, paranormal romance readers will relish the appearance of favorites in the latest battle between good and evil as a background to love.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted September 24, 2002

Summary

In a churchyard outside Paris, archaeologists reveal an ancient tomb. As the tomb is opened, something goes very wrong. Something too frightening to imagine, and too terrible to tell.

For American Tara Mason, the romantic city of her dreams has suddenly turned sinister. She has heard the blood- curdling screams in the churchyard and knows that she must run. A powerful stranger is after her, and her nightmares seem to be turning into reality.

In the dead of the night, at the country estate where she has sought refuse, a shadowy man appear. He calls himself a guardian, sworn to protect the innocent from an evil most never see. He has come to save her. If she doesn't believe him, she may lose her life....and soul.