Excellent read. Although it is preferable that you read the first book before this one, it isn’t necessary to understand or enjoy the book.

Lots of action and adventure as Drake and Victoria grow closer.

Another great story by Katie Reus - she never fails to delight. Good well-written plot and characters enjoyed!

This book was fast paced, fun and furious - and I loved it!!

This was a real page turner, the characters worked well together and I really enjoyed getting to know them.

I have read a few books by this author now and she never disappoints - she has an excellent writing style and captures the heart of the story.

5 stars from me, a really enjoyable story - very highly recommended!!

Drake is a dragon shifter, trapped in hell since childhood after being sacrificed in an attempt to open the gates of hell, betrayed by someone he should have been able to trust. After finally escaping he is totally bewildered by the modern world he finds himself in but the one thing he does know is that Victoria, the healer of the wolf pack that has given him shelter is his. With a reunion with his estranged family on the cards and his memories coming to the surface just how much danger lies ahead especially when there is someone lurking in the background who’s already shown the lengths he’ll go to to avenge imagined slights.

What’s not to like about this book – dragons, wolf shifters, vampires, demons, did I mention dragons? What I love most about this author’s writing though is the underlying depths she gives to her characters. There’s no ‘wham bam thank you ma’am’. Yes, as mates the instant attraction is there but instead of jumping straight into bed, they build up to the big moment. In Taste of Darkness Drake might be a fully grown man but after a millennia in hell he still technically has the emotional maturity of the pre-teen boy he was at the time of his ‘death’. Add in his uncertainties of what dragon mating actually involves he’s worried about maybe hurting Victoria. It makes a change to have a hero who’s hesitant of taking that final step. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing soft about Drake. When it comes down to protecting the one he loves he’s the complete alpha badass with a take no prisoners attitude. After all he was strong enough to survive hell and all it’s abominations.

Having read the last books of this series, but not the first, I was very happy to see Taste of Darkness on Netgalley. So I could read about why the Wolf Shifters of Stavros and the dragons where in an alliance. It was because of Victoria, the lonely wolf shifter, who was adopted by Stavros and his pack and the recently escaped from hell dragon Drake who lived among them.
After an eternity in Hell, Drake has lost his memories. Since a boy of twelve years old, he has been surviving in the pits of Hell. And now, fifteen hundred years later, the world looks totally different than he can remember. Fortunately, the Stavros pack gave him refuge. And the funny and quirky Victoria is especially helpful to show him the normal things in life, like a can with wheels, which supposedly brings you save from a to b.
Victoria knows what it feels like to be without family, Because she was a cast-out once and has been surviving on her own, until Stavros took her in. But after years and years, the pack still treats her like a young cub. But with Drake, things are different. He really listens to her and accepts and appreciates her help.
But when Victoria gets targeted several times, Stavros and Drake must try to find out how is after her and why. Is it from her old life? Or maybe someone doesn't want Drake back from Hell? Find out for yourself in this wonderful read! Four out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

This is a voluntary review of a review copy.

I had read the first book in this series years ago, but didn't continue in the series until I saw the offer to review this book. We get more on the Stravos pack and see Victoria, wolf shifter, and Drake, dragon shifter, as they continue to dance around their attraction.

Things start to get interesting when two new dragons show up and an unknown figure keeps plotting against Drake. There are more dragons introduced and you wonder who Drake can trust and who is plotting against them. There is battle after battle as enemy dragons attack, there is several attacks on Victoria, and the real enemy is revealed.

Lots of drama and twists in this story that kept me reading and so hard to put this book down! I want to know Bran and Keelin;s story and if Conall and Rhea are mates, and who Gabriel sees as his mate!

I loved this book. Drake's time in help weaves through this story. It's so very well written it was a joy to read. Victoria is a surprise. A healer and wolf shifter her fortitude and inner strength was great. The villain of the story comes out of nowhere.

This book was great the characters battle evil but good win out. And the plot so good as well as twist and turns. This book grabs you.

This is the second book in this paranormal series. I really enjoyed this book. I like the story line and the characters. I love dragon books but this contains a lot more than just dragons. It has shifters, witches, and dragons. This is an older book , 2014) but I never started this series for so me reason. Lucky me, now I can read all 9 books in order.

I am completely unbiased I adore a Katie Reus book, this is no exception. They are fun, fast paced reads. This is no exception m great characters, funny, romantic and full of chemistry. It’s what I like to call a puck me up read, because when you do, you keep reading until the end.


Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

This is Drake and Victoria’s story. Drake is a dragon. A dragon with no past. Victoria is a wolf. Not just any wolf. She can heal. Victoria loves Drake. Is it possible for a dragon and a wolf to be in love, even mated? What stands in there way? Or who stands in their way? Taste the darkness by reading their story and find out what true love means!

I read this book as an arc from NetGalley. It gets 5 flaming stars

I really really like this new series and the direction it’s going in. There’s a real uniqueness in the mashed up world of wolf shifter, dragon shifters, demons, and other wild paranormals. The matches are new and exciting with me guessing and second guessing myself every step of the way.

Drake was the dragon shifter we met in the previous installment. His instant attraction to Victoria was overwhelming, but he has been trying to “make himself more deserving” of her before revealing his intentions to make her his mate. It doesn’t matter to him that she’s a wolf shifter or that she is wonderfully independent. The match is absolutely perfect. They both balance each other out in great ways, when they least expect it.

This isn’t your typical virgin romance. Victoria is tough as nails and confident in her sexuality. The sexy scenes sizzle right off the page. If you’re looking for a brand new twist on a shifter romance novel, you should definitely check this series out. It’s really shaping up to be a wonderful series.

Its no secret I ❤️ Dragons and Drake was amazing! Victoria was perfect for him. Another 100% safe PNR read.

If you like the opposites attract trope this book is a must read. This author always delivers super sexy, sweet and dynamic stories that pull you in and make you fall in love.

Drake and Victoria have been dancing around each for months but I loved the reason behind Drake taking his time in pursuing Victoria as his mate (he is still adjusting to the modern times he's suddenly been thrown into and he wants to be able to provide for Victoria. I personally loved his need to protect and provide for his mate. It was old fashioned but Drake was just so sweet about it all!) I also loved that Victoria, a modern girl, accepted Drake just as he was. These two really were the ying and the yang that were perfect together.

This can be read as a stand alone but I'd recommend reading it in order since there is a lot of side characters (both old and new) that move the main ongoing plot along to the next book in the series.

Drake is a dragon with a dark past he has been rescued from Hell where he has been for hundreds of years after been sent there as a child Now he is a member of the Stavros wolf pack but he doesn't feel as though he really belongs the only thing keeping him there is Victoria She is the healer for the pack She was adopted as a child and she feels that the pack still treats her like a child. For Drake she is his salvation she is a walking encyclopedia and is making his transition to modern life so much easier and he loves her but he isn't sure if it is love for a best friend or so much more. When dragons visit the Stavros pack Drake finds he isn't so alone any more and then he gets the true drift of his feelings for Victoria and when she is in danger he discovers just how strong a dragon he really is. This is a wonderful serifs and I can't recommend it highly enough some people say it is only young adult but believe may I am way past that and I thoroughly enjoyed this entire series

This is the second book in this paranormal series by Ms Reus and follows on from Darkness Awakened . As Darkness Awakened finished we met Drake a dragon shifter who had been trapped in hell for more than a thousand years. He has no memory of how or indeed why he was sacrificed and sent there but of one thing he's certain the beautiful wolf shifter Victoria smells like home ! Her scent leaves him in no doubt that she is meant to be his mate and luckily her pack have offered him a home but not everyone trusts him. Drake will do anything to win the heart of Victoria but feels he is unworthy as he has nothing of his own to offer her. Each day Drake watches the lovely healer Victoria and bides his time but woe betide anyone who comes between them. Drake is determined to prove he is able to both protect and provide for the woman that will complete him but as the only dragon how can he ?
Dragons have not been seen for centuries and had been believed to be extinct by many . So it's a huge surprise to all when another dragon is spotted over the compound where the wolves and Drake live. Then two more reveal themselves claiming that Drake is part of their Clan but Drakes memories are hazy at best and he has no true recollection of these two newcomers. Determined to get to the bottom of what's really happening Drake and Victoria go searching for answers but as their connection and relationship deepens Drakes past is stalking him. He may have escaped hell once but if danger takes Victoria away from him then hell is right here on earth!
This is just such an amazing new series that the author has written. There are so many diverse characters to interest the reader and you can easily see that there are a lot of romantic possibilities for Ms Reus to further explore. This book may feature the sweet Drake and stubborn Victoria but the supporting characters are not just thrown in no they each have a story to tell and it's a tantalising read.
Drake is not the typical alpha male dragon that so many authors give us . He is not arrogant and full of bluster , no he is caring, a little naive and very innocent but he really wants to give Victoria everything that he feels she needs. Victoria on the other hand is a loyal young woman who allows her pack to protect her as she understands the wolves mentality but she is constantly left feeling stifled and wishes for more freedom. Two truly likeable characters that deserve a happy ending but it's a hard journey for them both with steep learning curves especially for Drake. He is in a vulnerable position but as the story progresses his character grows and it's wonderful to see him able to rise above his past and find his place. I particularly liked the way he hesitantly expresses himself but as he has been in hell since he was twelve years old it's not surprising and as his confidence grows so to does the romance. It's no instant lust but when the couple finally do mate it feels right.
So there's lots going on and I'm sure much more to come. Dragons are back in the world but demons are still trying to escape hell. This book only touched briefly on the vampires that exist in this world the author has created but I'm sure much more will be revealed in subsequent books. It's well worth reading the previous book if you have missed it and a great read for fans of paranormal romance .
Four and a half from me

Victoria is a wolf shifter and Drake is a dragon shifter who was imprisoned in HELL for over a thousand years. He helps Victoria's Alphas daughter escape and stays with them for a couple of months. But when two dragons show up, claiming to be his brother and sister, his memory slowly starts to return. He and Victoria go visit them but someone wants him dead before he remembers who sacrificed him and sent him to HELL.
Awesome book! Can't wait for the next one. Sizzling, suspense, and great story. What more can you ask for?