Book Review: Dawn of the Immortals by Draven M

Title: Dawn of the Immortals (The Immortals Saga #1)

Author: Draven M

Published: October 10, 2023 by Editingle Indie House

Source: Received from the published, in exchange for a review. Read on KU

Type: e-copy

Blurb:

In a world where darkness reigns and secrets lurk in the shadows, Salem Dregan is a man haunted by his past. Captured and tortured by the ruthless vampire king, he emerges from captivity as nothing more than a broken shell of his former self. With the help of Remus Ducar, Salem manages to escape but finds himself forever imprisoned by his own thoughts, living a life of seclusion. Nonetheless, fate has other plans for Salem when he crosses paths with Irina Miller, a woman whose presence draws him in like a moth to a flame. As much as he longs for happiness, Salem knows the dangers of allowing Irina into his life, especially when the vampire king discovers he still breathes. Will Salem seize the opportunity for a second chance at happiness, or will he remain trapped in the shadows of his past?

Meanwhile, Irina Miller’s sole ambition is to secure an internship with the esteemed Dr. Deborah Faulk. However, her world crumbles when she encounters a mysterious classmate who fills her with inexplicable dread. The truth about him sends shivers down her spine and unravels her reality. When danger lurks on the horizon, Irina finds herself rescued by an enigmatic figure who dwells in the realm of darkness.

Fate intervenes as Irina lands at the doorstep of her enigmatic savior from that perilous night. She discovers that he not only walks in darkness but may hold the key to an enthralling but perilous future. Will Irina defy reason and gamble on the unknown, or will she opt for a safer path, leaving her yearning for a life untamed?

‘Dawn of the Immortals’ is a gripping tale of love, danger, and the choice between darkness and light. Join Salem and Irina as they navigate a treacherous path where their decisions will determine the course of their destinies. Dive into this thrilling paranormal romance and discover if they will seize the chance for happiness or remain captive to the eternal shadows.

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“Dawn of the immortals” is an interesting start to a new series by Draven M. With an interesting variety of characters, the story will slowly captivate you and leave you wanting for the next instalment. Despite having most of its chapters dedicated to understanding each character’s role and struggles, it builds anticipation for the conflict resolution. While I did enjoy my time reading it, there are a few elements which could have been better executed.

My Thoughts

There are many interesting elements to the story. The one that piqued my interest is the variety of characters, each bringing their perspective based on their experience. We have a vampire with a traumatic past and a desire for revenge that has been boiling for many centuries.

Then we have detective Crane, who thought he has seen it all in his many years solving crimes. He duels with his personal issues, mainly struggling to bond with his young daughter.

I left for last our female main character, as I see her role the least important for the events in this book. She’s a typical college student, thrust in the world of supernatural beings, all while trying her best to keep her friendship with her best friend Nolan.

There are other interesting characters added to the mix, such as a rogue vampire hunter and other humans looking to obtain immortality. The negative character is also quite complex, even though we see little of him. We get to know of him through stories and facts our detectives uncover.

We must stop him before he brings forth the apocalypse.

The relationship between them and how most of them manage to work together to defeat a common enemy is this book’s strongest point. The other element very well realised is the path to the final confrontation. The author paid attention to details and gave the reader a comprehensive picture of how Salem ended up fighting for survival and as well has created in an exquisite way the mystery around the murderer.

However, there are two things that did not stand well with me. From the blurb, the reader is led to believe this is a romance book first and foremost. But not only does the romance happen very late, but also it definitely does not take a central role. I did not feel Irina as a main character and her contribution to the events from the second part of the story was almost non-existent. I did not feel the connection between Salem and her. I did not feel the sparks or that powerful love.

The second thing that should have been better executed was the ending. It felt rushed, with most of the action more like dumped, than narrated. I didn’t even have time to digest all the events from the last chapters.

Cover Review: I love the cover! It ties so well with the events from the story and the details make it feel regal, in a way.- which is fitting for main character Salem.

I do believe the author did a great job with the story. We have an interesting approach on vampires and their abilities, we have other types of creatures as well, and the ending left me wanting more from the series. I can’t wait for book 2 to come out. Something tells me it will be significantly better than this one.