Dark Deceiver: The Esri (Silhouette Nocturne) [Mass Market Paperback]

Half Esri, Kaderil the Dark begins a quest to steal the magical stones needed to fully open the portal between his plane and the earth. Besides the theft of the stones, he must also kill the few humans who are immune to the Esri enchantment. Once he obtains the stones, completes the massacre, and opens the door, his full blooded Esri allies will invade and bind humanity in slavery.

However, on the earth side of the portal, Kaderil meets Autumn McGinn. She stirs his human half, which has been dormant for much of his life. He finds himself falling in love with this kind soul even as he knows she is the key to the Esri victory. Will he betray his heart or the Esri; even the confused Kaderil is unsure.

The sequel to the DARK GATE, DARK DECEIVER is a superb romantic fantasy mostly due to the suddenly conflicting nature of Kade. His human side never developed until he meets Autumn who is like spring to him. Readers will enjoy this passionate spellbinding thriller as love brings Kaderil the dark into the light, but will he choose to remain there with his Autumn or will he instead open the portal for the Esri to slaughter his beloved's species.

Harriet Klausner

Courtsy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

A CK2S Recommended Read!

Kaderil "Kade" the Dark is scorned by his kind, The Esri, for his imperfect bloodline. Low on magic, Kaderil is the Punisher for King Rith, using his physical strength to uphold the king's wishes. Now he has a new mission, set up to fail by his greatest enemy, Zander. Kaderil must enter the human realm through the Gate and infiltrate the small band of Sitheen who protect the humans from the Esri (see The Dark Gate for details) to find the seven magical stones that will open all gates between Esri and humans.

Autumn McGinn is not Sitheen herself but is one of their inner circle. Awkward and clumsy, the Amazonian beauty longs to prove herself worthy of the Sitheen, especially her best friend Larsen's, faith in her. When Kade enters her life, she sees her chance. With his help, she can find the stones. Kade however has other plans, but he finds himself torn between duty to his king and his inferior human heart. Autumn is everything the Esri despise, but her purity of soul may prove a lure impossible to ignore.

What will Autumn do when she discovers Kade is nothing but a Dark Deceiver?

I am a sucker for a story about the redemption of a bad boy and that is what Dark Deceiver is all about. Kade has never quite fit in anywhere. Hated by his fellow Esri for his bloodline and feared by the weaker humans, neither realm feels like home for him. He knows his mission to find the stones and destroy the Sitheen is crucial to the continued support of his king, but when he meets Autumn, a whole new world is opened to him. I felt his every battle as his heart and head fought to take charge. As the story progresses, we see Kade turn from a cold hearted punisher to a man so madly in love he would die to keep his woman safe. I was so incredibly moved by Kade's struggle that it was with a sigh that I turned the final page.

Autumn is so much like many women in the world. Tall and gangly, a complete klutz, what "ordinary" woman can't relate to her? While she always doubts herself, her inner beauty shines so brightly that it's impossible for anyone to miss. Her relationship with Kade has many hurdles to overcome, but through it all, we know they are meant to be together.

Pamela Palmer has written another compelling page turner in The Esri series with Dark Deceiver. I hated having to stop reading, even for a minute, so desperate to know what would happen next. Fast paced, dark and sexy... I loved it! Keep in mind however there are a few scenes that are extremely dark and something I normally cannot stand in a romance novel. Pamela Palmer writes them so sensitively that I was not even the slightest bit offended by these scenes since I completely understood the intentions and feelings behind them.

I thought it was impossible for Pamela Palmer to write a new story as exquisitely done as The Dark Gate, but I am very happy to say I was wrong! Dark Deceiver is every bit as fast paced, dark, shocking, and passionate, if not more. I absolutely adore Kaderil and Autumn's story. Even better, we get to visit with Jack and Larsen and the whole gang to see what's been going on in their lives since the defeat of Baleris. Run out and buy your copy of Dark Deceiver today. But be forewarned, you'll want to clear your entire schedule before starting as you'll not want to out it down.

© Kelley A. Hartsell, May 2008. All rights reserved.

I have read all 4 books in the Esri series by Pamela Palmer, and they were all good. This one was the best!! Excellent suspense, excellent tension, great character development. I loved it!