CHASING THE DARKNESS

A vicious warrior learns about his fractured past and attempts to forge a brighter future in this fantasy debut.

Seventeen years ago, the kingdom of Pandaren defeated its enemies, the Vastanes. But the celebrations ended when an Air Spectral killed King Valeri. With Queen Valeri too ill to rule, Kenneth Brenet became the kingdom’s steward. Cmdr. Drexus Zoldac then created an elite team of Hunters to enforce new laws that made Spectrals, or magic users, second-class citizens. Now, Azrael, the best of the Hunters, takes a serum to gain Spectral powers. With most Spectrals registered or jailed, his Watch Guard scours the region for Amps, whose magic can be stolen and bestowed on Zoldac’s fighters. Yet when Azrael starts feeling sympathy for the villagers they terrorize, he’s set up and attacked on Zoldac’s orders. Badly injured, he’s tossed in Bradwick Prison. But soon, Azrael is rescued by the warriors Kord and Kenz Haring. They bring him to meet Amycus Reins, the Air Spectral wanted for the king’s death. So begins Azrael’s new life in Carhurst, where he learns that his real name is Jasce Farone. His mother, killed by a Spectral wielding black fire, was a Spectral herself—and so is he. Will the path of vengeance ruin Jasce’s chance for a normal life with the Harings, who see him as more than just a killer? Sanchez’s series opener is a robust blend of fantasy and romance, seeded with twists for a consistently rewarding read. Once the protagonist sheds his murderous persona, he nevertheless worries that Kenz, whom he gradually falls for, deserves someone with a clean past. A skillful, teasing eroticism laces the narrative, with Jasce and Kenz pining for each other, as in the lines “He inhaled her clean, citrus scent, his eyes dropping to her mouth,” and “She licked her lips, and desire punched him in the gut.” The violence is never overindulgent, though several heads do roll. By the end, Jasce’s familial dynamic has changed, both for good and ill. The sequel will have much to explore.

A well-balanced romance/fantasy that fans of both genres can enjoy.