Book Review – Keystone (Crossbreed Series Book 1) by Dannika Dark (with a #giveaway!)

He circled around me, whispering in my ear. “I’m O positive. I’m everyone’s type.”

keystone-dannika-darkKeystone by Dannika Dark

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Dannika Dark is at it again. I don’t know how she does it, but she just has a way of drawing you into this fantasy world of Breed with rich characters and addictive story lines.

I’ve read every book Dannika Dark has ever put out to the public, and I’ve loved every. single. one of them. But the Mageri Series has literally been my all-time favorite series out of all the books I’ve ever read, and Christian Poe, the snarky, Vampire bodyguard introduced in Twist, Book 2 of that series, was one of my all-time favorite characters. There’s just something so utterly bad-ass about him, so humorous and salty yet likable. Oh, and did I mention he’s Irish?  (Cue my racing pulse.)

Now enter Keystone. A whole new series that begins after the final Mageri Series book (reading the former series not required), and we get another satisfying dose of Christian Poe as the leading man of the story. This book centers on a brand new character, a cross-breed anomaly who is half-vampire and half-mage. Raven Black is a rogue having to live under the radar for being what she is, and she’s got demons of her own to deal with. She’s a deadly huntress who’s killed more Breed than she’d care to count, and every one of them deserved it.

“Don’t you know who I am? I’m the Shadow. Legend has it that if a man loses his shadow, it means that I ate it, and I’m coming for the rest of him.”

But dammit, a girl’s gotta eat, and when you’re a rogue in the Breed world, it’s nearly impossible to find lucrative work. That’s where Keystone comes in, and though Raven fits right in with this bunch and their mission, to rid the world of evil, out-law Breed that the Higher Council is unable to find or unable to pin their crimes on to punish. The problem is, she has to prove herself first, and partnering her with the one Breed she hates the most – a vampire – might just be the deal breaker.

What I just freaking loved about this book, aside from being completely engrossed in the story from start to finish, was the moments here and there when we got to see this tender or seductive side of Christian-freaking-Poe. He says his heart is black as night, and he doesn’t feel love. He’s mouthy, and at times down-right hilarious in a sarcastic, ass-hole kind of way. And every now and then, he gives you a glimpse of this other side that no one gets to see, and I just ate it up. Couldn’t get enough of it.

“Did you get any blood on your breasts? I’m willing to go the extra mile.”

Then there were ALL the other characters. I’m amazed at how Dannika Dark can create these secondary characters that are so individual and full of life. Every one of them could have books all their own, they are so detailed, interesting, and full of personality. She did it in the Mageri Series (umm, hello… Christian Poe was a secondary character in that series, and look where we are now), and she’s done it here with Keystone, the first book in her new Crossbreed series.

And I cannot wait for Book 2.

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Amazon Giveaway

keystone-dannika-dark

CLICK HERE for a chance to win 1 of 3 copies of Keystone (Crossbreed Series Book 1) by USA Today Bestselling Author, Dannika Dark!  (Expires Jan 28, 2017)