Book review
Written by Susan Sizemore
Pocket Books paperback
Release date Out now

Sexy vampire hunter Eden Faveau gets more than she bargained when a case of mistaken identity leads to a passionate (and potentially deadly) partnership. They say that desire is in the blood - especially where vampires are concerned - and Eden is about to discover how dangerous getting too close to the enemy can be…

Eden is battling against vampire crime in downtown San Diego. Together with her new partner she’s in with a chance of cracking a drug-pushing ring of vampires who are wreaking havoc in the city. New guy Sid Wolf is slick, enigmatic and irresistible, but something about him doesn’t quite add up. Renegade vampire Laurent is hungry for sex and knowledge. Posing as Sid Wolf, he wants to use and abuse Eden for her code-cracking abilities and supple body. Little does he realise that he’s about to get caught up in something much closer to home than he could ever imagine.

Another addition to Susan Sizemore’s series about Primes, Master of Darkness is gritty, action-packed and smouldering with dark passion in at least some of the right places. It depicts a version of San Diego’s underworld overrun with gangs of bloodthirsty vampires roaming the streets, hungry for drugs and fighting for supremacy. Throw in a cute werewolf called Joe and you’ve almost got a recipe for success.

This is an easy reading supernatural romantic thriller with a spattering of action and suspense. Sadly, the story starts to drag partway through, and you can’t help but wonder why the book isn’t half the length or the characters more believable.

Master of Darkness is easy to consume and guaranteed to get the blood pumping, at least in places. Quench your thirst on steamy sex scenes galore and, if that isn’t enough to satisfy you, then the gun-toting finale should just about make up for the lengthy build up and lacklustre characters. Cassandra Zoro

VERDICT: 6/10
Sexy vampire suspense thriller, with just enough steamy scenes to keep you interested. Don’t expect too much depth and you won’t be disappointed.