OMG Ava and Noelle crack me up! Victor so needed a girl like Ava
( )

Ecstasy in Darkness
3 Stars

Growing up on the mean streets of New Chicago, Ava Sans had nothing until she met Noelle Tremain and the two became AIR trainees together. Ordered to capture Victor McKell, a rogue vampire with the ability to manipulate time, Ava and Noelle relish the challenge until their gorgeous prey turns the tables on them and sets his sights on Ava. Against his better judgement McKell becomes obsessed with having the fearless Ava. But when the vicious Schön Queen threatens the woman he loves, McKell might have to do the unthinkable and give her up...

The weakest installment in the series so far. The romance feels forced and the Schön story arc is developing in some confusing directions.

In the previous book, McKell was a fierce warrior as well as sadist and a racist. This is still true of his character at the beginning of this novel, however, he has also deteriorated into an immature child annoyed at others for literally playing with his toys. Yes, he is a sexy stud, but his obsession with Ava is incomprehensible as her behavior is just as childish and idiotic as his, and it is unclear what they see in each other besides the obvious physical attraction.

Although their scenes together are sexy and steamy, the underlying human/vampire conflict (very reminiscent of Lothaire by Kresley Cole) puts a pall on the romance and is resolved too easily.

The wonderful interactions between the AIR team is missing in this book as well. The humor and sarcastic wit that was so appealing in the earlier installments comes across as ridiculous and absurd, especially with regard to Ava and Noelle’s slapstick friendship.

The Schön plotline is, unfortunately, not living up to its potential. To begin with the Schön Queen is simply revolting and the fact that Dallas feels any attraction toward her makes my skin crawl. Perhaps the fact that the series ends before Dallas gets his own story is actually a blessing in disguise as the idea of her as a heroine is not appealing at all.

Moreover, the manner in which the Schön threat is dealt with is both confusing and contrived. In fact, the whole time manipulation theme is a very weak and unimaginative method of forwarding the plot.

All in all, a disappointing addition to an otherwise entertaining series. The next and final book is Noelle and Hector's. Hopefully, it will be better. ( )

Ecstasy in Darkness by Gena Showalter

Ecstasy in Darkness is book 5 of the Alien Huntress series by Gena Showalter. Here's the gist of the story...

Goodreads blurb

Growing up poor on New Chicago’s meanest streets, Ava Sans had two options: be the predator or be the prey. No contest. Now, working for Alien Investigation and Removal, she’s been ordered to capture the biggest, baddest warrior of all—a vampire too beautiful to be real, with the ability to manipulate time. Once the leader of the entire vampire army, McKell has been deemed savage and unstable, spurned even by his own kind.To McKell, humans should be nothing more than sustenance. Yet the petite, golden-skinned Ava is a fascinating
contradiction—vicious yet witty, strong yet vulnerable, lethal but fiercely loyal.


Ecstasy in Darkness is enthralling, hilarious ride from it's outrageous characters to it's witty dialogue. Set in a futuristic world of aliens and vampires, the opening chapters are one of my all-time favourite and had me giggling at the banter between the characters.

I loved McKell, (I call DIBS on him) though a tough guy, he's so sweet but completely clueless at times. Ava and Noelle's argument's had me cracking up and just because they insult each other doesn't mean they'll take it from anyone else!

Ecstasy in Darkness was the first book I read in this series and I enjoyed it so much I went on to read the rest though I didn't warm to them as much. This book will always remain my favourite from the
series. ( )

amusing ( )

Can we be done with the vampire thing already? These are supposed to be alien novels, and all Showalter has done here is fit vampires into her existing mythology with a few minor twists. I'm not saying Ava and McKell aren't compelling characters, but come on. I started this series excited about the world building and the agency of alien hunters and now it's just devolved into the same blood sucking crap as every other urban fantasy series. ( )