So, I picked Dark Seduction by Sarah Piper up immediately after finishing the first book in the Vampire Royals series and, unfortunately, after finishing this book, I immediately started the third book. So, this review is going to be a bit vaguer than usually because I honestly cannot remember where one book ended and the other began. All that said, this continued to be such a great series that picked up immediately after the cliffhanger we were left on.
Charlotte survives with her life but not her love as Dorian decides everything about Charlotte has been fake, false, and a trap. He doesn’t want to give in to his emotions or trust his heart with her. Charlotte, meanwhile, is so incredibly hurt and feels so immensely guilty, yet even as she accepts that Dorian will never forgive her, she begs him for his help. And despite unwilling to trust her again, Dorian gives it. The angst between the two that want to be together, that feel a real connection, and being too afraid to give in after being burned is so delicious but also perfectly timed. It is there, it makes sense, but doesn’t overstay its welcome.
What makes this series so great is that it isn’t simply a romance. This isn’t just Dorian and Charlotte figuring things out with everything else as set dressing. There is plot and worldbuilding and we get a good deal of that expanded on with this second book. With everything out in the open now regarding Charlotte and Rudy’s plot to rob the Redthornes, the plot moves forward and goes deeper into the paranormal society Dorian is now ruling over. Now there was a part that really didn’t make sense to me but did a little later on. In my mind, the easiest way to stop the robbery and ensure Charlotte and her sister are safe would be to simply kill Rudy. Kill the entire racket. Mesmerize the ones you don’t want to kill. Dorian doesn’t do that, and yes, he’s got his own issues with taking a life and being a good guy, but I still didn’t get it until the very end when one very big reveal is made.
Dark Seduction by Sarah Piper is such a great book and definitely ramps everything up in the series. It’s a good second act that expands on the world and sets the stage for resolving the conflict between Dorian and Charlotte. Be prepared to have the third book on hand, however, because this ends on another cliffhanger and wildly unexpected revelation.
