Beckoning Darkness: A Supernatural Suspense Thriller (Book 1) is an entertaining book that launches an Angel and Demon together as they both have their eyes on the next prophet. Ariel, the young, hot Angel is finally back on Earth. She did something (unknown: part of backstory) to be imprisoned for centuries. Her shot at redemption – guide and guard the next Prophet. Unfortunately, a Demon intends to manipulate the prophet to add chaos to his playroom and plaything; the surface and all the humans. Not a spoiler – the prophet doesn’t last long. This happens early, and isn’t the thrust of this book. What does develop is a need for Ariel and the Demon, Caelum, to co-exist in order to figure out what is going on with the monsters. They say Heaven and Hell are planning the Apocalypse. Who? Why? To what conclusion? These are the threads that bind the story together. Some fights, flights, betrayal and more fill the pages. I found this entertaining, but nothing too drastic or dramatic. Since this is the first of four, I’m sure the story will continue to unfold and character development, including memories from another life, will all rise to the surface. Author provided review copy.
3 of 5 stars From the Publisher:
A gripping supernatural mystery and unlikely love story, The Beckoning Darkness, Book 1 in the Damned and the Pure Series, is a thrilling page turner you won’t want to put down. After centuries of imprisonment in Heaven after committing the sin of falling in love with a human, Ariel is given a chance to redeem herself in the eyes of the archangels. So many years after her last descent, Ariel is tasked to return to the mortal land and prepare the humans for the coming of God. But when her first mission goes horribly wrong, Ariel finds herself at the edge of a mystery that brings into question the true motives of her orders, and she must decide where her faith truly lies. The city of Chicago was the chosen residence of the eccentric demon, Caelum. His taste of entertainment sets him apart from the rest of his kind, driving him to walk amongst mortal men. But when he is presented with an opportunity to have a hand in Hell’s grand plan, it was an offer he couldn’t refuse. Walking through shadows and nightmares he crosses paths with an angel from Heaven, and memories of his forgotten humanity begin to resurface. For Ariel, encountering Caelum was an unexpected surprise and challenge, and although he is clearly a sworn enemy and at odds with her mission, she finds something inexplicably familiar about the demon in her way. Caelum, a cynical, sarcastic, and mischievous demon at best, finds himself inexorably drawn to Ariel. Their chance encounter sparks memories of his humanity he once thought long gone. He has orders to stop Ariel at all costs but then again he's never been one to follow rules and orders anyway. Both Heaven and Hell have plans for the End of Days with the angel, Ariel, and the demon, Caelum, at the center. When faith is tested and alliances are blurred, two natural enemies become unlikely allies in a war that will determine the damnation or salvation of all humanity.
