Dayhunter by J. Drake

The second novel in Jocelynn Drake’s Dark Days series, Dayhunter was just as phenomenal as the first novel, Nightwalker.

A master of fire, Mira is the last hope for the world. For centuries she has secretly enforced the history-altering edicts of the Triad. Now she and her unlikely ally—the human vampire hunter, Danaus—have come to Venice, home of the nightwalker rulers. But there is no safety in the ancient city, for the threat of conflict is in the wind . . . with unholy alliances and earth-shattering betrayals taking hideous form in the shadows.

Banished for eons beyond the world’s boundaries, the malevolent naturi prepare to feed once again upon a vulnerable earth—and treachery is opening wide the portal that will enable their dread re-emergence. The great battle that has always been Mira’s destiny is looming, and she must remain powerful in the face of a shocking revelation: that Danaus, the only creature she dares to trust, is something more than the man he claims to be . . .

Seriously, Drake tells another captivating story that had me riveted to the pages.  We pick up within hours of Nightwalker and get to see the dawning of a new Mira starting to take place.  While heading to Venice, several things occur that ultimate change Mira from who she is (and pretty much wants to be) to who she needs to be in order to defeat the naturi once and for all.  While Mira tries and figures out all the power plays going on, she has to come to terms that her life is changing and she is not in control.  With her relationship with Danaus tested and the development of a family, Mira has to make some tough decisions and knows that her future is very shaky.  I have to say, I really like what Drake is putting Mira though.  We’re not given a heroine that automatically goes in and kicks butt and succeeds every time, but one that has flaws and is easily manipulated.  Drake doesn’t give complete control to Mira and the problems that bring up are only making Mira work more with her comrades.  Mira’s relationships are definitely taking turns that Mira didn’t see coming and I can’t wait to see how they continue to evolve in Dawnbreaker (September 29, 2009).  I will admit, I’m still waiting for the relationship between Mira and Danaus to explode into something totally expected, yet completely awesome.  I kind of get the feeling that it will, and that both have been slowly moving towards it, but they are definitely taking their sweet time and they are fighting it every chance they get.

The plot and pacing for Dayhunter was spectacular.  Not once were we given something not to get absorb in.  Regardless if Mira was taking a break and trying to relax or kicking butt, everything moved at a great pace that kept me glued to the pages.  The story wasn’t filled with action sequences, but it didn’t need to be.  There was enough going on everywhere that we never got bored or lost.  The conversations between Mira and Jabari or Mira and Sadira were fascinating and showed more of their relationships and still kept the story going.  Seriously, I was amazed with how much was going on, how well I was able to keep everything straight – how everything had a purpose and kept to that purpose, and how easily it was to get lost in the pages whenever I picked the book up.  I was able to set the book aside whenever I needed to (Ian was getting upset that I kept picking it back up) and I was able to come back without missing a beat.  As soon as I picked it back up, the story flowed into my head effortlessly and it was as if I had never gone away.

Seriously, I am loving this series.  If you’re looking for a new urban fantasy author, than look no further.  Jocelynn Drake has a wonderful story to tell and does it so well that you will be wanting more faster than she can write them.  I’m already eagerly awaiting Dawnbreaker and that doesn’t come out until September 29th.  If you haven’t checked her out yet, go do so now.  You won’t regret it.

Read Order:
Nightwalker
Dayhunter
Dawnbreaker (9/29/09)

Also reviewed by:
Darque Reviews
SciFiGuy
Merry Genre Go Round Reviews
Amberkatze Reviews