Review: Ravenous by Sharon Ashwood

Ravenous (The Dark Forgotten, 1) by Sharon Ashwood

Paranormal Romance

Signet (Feb 3, 2009)

352 pages

From Amazon.com:

Holly Carver is a witch who sometimes relies on the help of Alessandro Caravelli for her family’s preternatural investigations business. Alessandro is the oldest and strongest vampire in Fairview—and he’s made no secret of his desire for Holly. But while she aches to succumb to his suggestive wiles, she knows it would be an invitation to trouble.

Then Alessandro’s queen, Omara, complicates matters when she turns up in Fairview to enlist his help. Sultry and manipulative, she is jealous of Alessandro’s feelings for Holly, and demands he use Holly to trap Geneva—the most evil demon of all.

Here we have yet another debut and first-in-series novel. If this initial outing is any indication, The Dark Forgotten will prove to be a formidable new series. While the book contains the requisite vamps and werewolves, among other species, the world in which they live and the abilities that each creature possesses is honestly unique to the genre. I especially liked the fact that a vampire bites is addicting and the tension this adds to the relationship between Holly and Alessandro.

The romance between the two main characters is sweet and the way that Ashwood resolves the issues that plague them just makes it even more so. The plot, which revolves around an outbreak from the demon realm named "The Castle", is nicely paced and includes a great secondary character, Conall, on whom the focus will shift to for the second part of this tale, Scorched.

If you like your paranormal romances dark, as opposed to fluffy, then Ravenous is for you. Ashwood as created a great foundation on which to build this series. The further exploration of the mysterious and dangerous dimension, "The Castle", is reason enough for me to pick up the next one.

Grade: B