I do like this story, it's just very stressful to read. So many complications, Risa can't seem to catch a break and with three different deadly sides demanding the keys how can she possibly win?
( )

The sixth book finds Risa in a funk after losing the second key, having Azriel save her life but preventing her from ever seeing her mother again in the afterlife and killing her mother's killer. She is regretting her decision to send Azriel away as both her father and Hunter have ramped up the pressure on her to get the missing keys and turn them over to one of them. Her father threatens to kill her roommate's girlfriend while Hunter sends out an assassin to kill someone close to her. Finally Risa gives in to the pressures and tells her Uncle what is going on. The plus was there was no side mission in this book but a new subplot about taking down Hunter gets added to the storyline. Not sure how everything is going to end since the series is almost done and I really can't see who will get the keys since so many people want them and they all have excellent pressures on her.

Digital copy provided by the publisher through Netgalley ( )

It took me some time to read this book which I received as a galley. While reading this, I found out that I really abhorred the previous book.

Review later. Sister using my desktop and I hate writing on touchscreens. ( )

Reviewed by: Rabid Reads

As a long time Keri Arthur fan it kills me to say this but the further I get in this series, the less I find myself enjoying it. Thank goodness there’s only one book left because I’ve been seriously contemplating calling it quits. The original Dark Angels storyline of “find the keys, save the world” seems to have gotten lost somewhere along the way amidst all of Risa’s relationship woes, problems with the vampire council and friendship complications. The fact that the heroine seems to fall into the same trap time-and-time again doesn’t exactly help matters either. The quality of Arthur’s writing and her knack for delivering non-stop action are undeniable which makes Darkness Splintered a worthwhile read even if the plot is a little too over-the-top for my tastes.

I know this is Urban Fantasy so the romance is supposed to be secondary but Risa and Azriel’s relationship is important to the overall plot line which kind of sends readers mixed messages in my opinion. At the beginning of this book, the two main characters aren’t exactly on the best of terms after what happened in the previous installment. Actually, that’s an understatement, Risa BANISHED Azriel in Darkness Unmasked. Now that’s pretty extreme and yet, after only a few chapters all is magically forgiven and they don’t even really talk it out. Also, there’s practically no sex in this novel, which again is to be expected, but then there’s this one, ridiculously orgasmic scene where they merge energies in order to sneak Azriel into Raziq territory but don’t actually have sex. I just felt like the author often jumped from point A to point C while completely skipping over those all-important middle parts.

*** SPOILER ALERT ***

The plot line is beginning to feel like a bad episode of Maury. Risa is preggo with Azriel’s baby but she banished him after he saved her life by turning her into a dark angel. But thank goodness she was already knocked-up, otherwise her ex Lucian, who also murdered her mother, would have raped her to try to impregnate her like he did with her BFF Ilianna. Then there’s poor Tao who’s still struggling to gain control over the fire element that he consumed in order to save his friends and don’t even get me started on the Madeline Hunter side story! The drama seems to get crazier and crazier with each new installment which has caused the main plot (i.e. finding the keys) to unfortunately, get lost in the shuffle.

Darkness Splintered is an enjoyable read just so long as you take the story with a grain of salt. I’m still holding out hope that the conclusion to this series will make trudging through the last few installments worthwhile. This definitely wasn’t one of my favourite books by Keri Arthur. ( )

The sixth book in the Dark Angel series is an intriguing urban fantasy read with lots of action and surprising twists.

To save those closest to her and stop all from breaking loose Risa has no choice but to stop the second gate from opening by finding the keys. She’s angered several powerful people and she’s feeling the pressure as she finds herself under the scrutiny of the vampire council, some of who thinks she’s a monster who should be put to death.

This smooth flowing fast paced plot engages the reader with lots of suspense, romance, action and surprises. The author portrays the story with lots of intense details and vivid imagery that has reader feeling as if they part of the story. The emotions invoked throughout the entire story are felt by the reader as the tension builds.

Keri Arthur’s world is an entertaining and intriguing one with compelling characters that continuously bewitch the readers with their personalities ensuring that the readers want more. Risa is a powerful and believable character that can kick butt, can take all the hard knocks that come her way and is yet is prone to be just like any other young “human” female in love. All of the scenes in the book are well written and believable making it easy for the reader to picture each and every one including the intense battles between Risa and her various enemies.

I love Keri Arthur’s books and this one is no exception and I can’t wait for the final book in the series. This series is best read in order as there is lots of background and events that take place that lead up to the events in this book however it can be read out of order. ( )