Review - Eternal Seduction by Jennifer Turner

Eternal Seduction is the first in Jennifer Turner's Darkness Within series.  The second installment, Eternal Hearts, releases in the near future.  On her blog, Turner has been detailing release information, check here for up to date notices. :)

Blurb from back of book:

After living on the streets of New York for over a decade, Logan admits her perceptions might be a little skewed. But twisted or not, there's a satisfying irony in watching a well dressed vampire stand in the middle of a ghetto alley, windblown trash scraping circles near his feet. What she finds even more intriguing, is waiting for him to decide if he's going to kill her.

Kerestyan hasn't made up his mind. As the Lord of New York, he can't let a drug addict, whose memories are packed with knowledge of vampires, run free in his city. It's not the first time he's been in this situation with a human, it's just the first time he's come face to face with one who doesn't seem to care. And that's what makes the decision so difficult.

What horrors could you witness before you went numb? How long would it take before you felt that way? What could make you care again?

Logan's answers are simple: the worst humanity has to offer, almost thirty, and something she never expected.

I really enjoyed this novel.  It struck me as a mix of Lynsay Sands' and JR Ward's writing styles.  You have the intense family ties and emotional struggle between the two main characters typical of Sands and the darker humor and violence we see with Ward.  The characters are novel and relateable.  Odin is hilarious, I love the snarky smart ass types so he was right up my alley.  Kerestyan is the typical alpha male hero with a savior complex.  And Logan, well Logan is...

Logan is not your typical heroine.  However, put her drug use and homeless street waif life aside and you have a strong female character with a quick wit and a smart mouth that reminds me of myself. :)  Logan may be haunted by her past; however, as seen after her detoxification process, she is not completely shattered by her guilt.  Her will to survive and evolve into a better person is kindled by Kerestyan's devotion and love.

World building is superb.  I loved how Turner captured the dark atmosphere while still making the reader comfortable and able to believe in the love between each character.  This is particularly true with respect to Kerestyan's father Stefan, his interesting sense of interior design, and his games of choice.  The promise of a story lying just beneath the main story is intriguing.  What exactly is Stefan up to? How do the politics of this fragile vampire "nation" play out?  Are the Fledgings simply a nuisance or do they have a story to tell as well?  And my personal favorite, will we get to become more intimate with Odin? ;p  Yes I do have a decent sized crush on him lol.

Jennifer Turner did a great job with the start to a series that promises to be addictive.  I can't wait to get my hands on the next installment.  If you are a fan of urban fantasy with a thick romance streak then be sure to check out Eternal Seduction!

Rating: 4/5

~Helena