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ljwrites85's review
4.0
So I read the first in this series, Crimson Siege, and enjoyed it so I was eager to read the second in the series.
Former lawman Anton Yoska is roaming the countryside, along with his crew of dwarf Quintz, his young helper Toby and of course their bear Samson. They are eking out a living getting rid of vampires until they get an offer from crown prince Leopold to track down the formula for Basium Lucis, Daylight’s Kiss, which has resurfed. It has the ability to create artificial sunlight and destroys vampires on contact.
Anton is cynical, Daylight’s Kiss has always been a myth but it’s an offer he can’t refuse. Things get even tougher when old enemies resurface hellbent on his destruction.
Daylight’s Deadly Kiss is a fast paced mix of historical and supernatural adventure.
At the moment I’m finding it a little hard to concentrate on reading but I still managed to race through this book!
I really enjoyed that we got to know both Anton and Quintz a little better in this book. I feel like Quintz really can into his own in this novel. I liked him in the first book but now even more in the second and learning some of his history made my heart break a little for him.
Again like the first book, it’s not overly gory or scary but it may contain a few scenes that may be a little upsetting.
The ending dropped a bombshell, leaving me anxious for the next book!
Daylight’s Deadly Kiss is a well written Gothic adventure that will leave you breathless at times.
Former lawman Anton Yoska is roaming the countryside, along with his crew of dwarf Quintz, his young helper Toby and of course their bear Samson. They are eking out a living getting rid of vampires until they get an offer from crown prince Leopold to track down the formula for Basium Lucis, Daylight’s Kiss, which has resurfed. It has the ability to create artificial sunlight and destroys vampires on contact.
Anton is cynical, Daylight’s Kiss has always been a myth but it’s an offer he can’t refuse. Things get even tougher when old enemies resurface hellbent on his destruction.
Daylight’s Deadly Kiss is a fast paced mix of historical and supernatural adventure.
At the moment I’m finding it a little hard to concentrate on reading but I still managed to race through this book!
I really enjoyed that we got to know both Anton and Quintz a little better in this book. I feel like Quintz really can into his own in this novel. I liked him in the first book but now even more in the second and learning some of his history made my heart break a little for him.
Again like the first book, it’s not overly gory or scary but it may contain a few scenes that may be a little upsetting.
The ending dropped a bombshell, leaving me anxious for the next book!
Daylight’s Deadly Kiss is a well written Gothic adventure that will leave you breathless at times.
jessbookishlife's review
5.0
First of all, I would like to say that I have read the first book and loved it, so when I saw the opportunity to read and review this book, I was very excited. I love vampire stories, I'm currently working on one, if that's any clue of my love for this topic.
It always amazes me the amount of versions that exist around the story of vampires, from the POV of the vampires itself, or the one that hunt them, it all brings diversity and a new take on the legend.
With book one, Crimson Siege, I loved how Jay Raven took the them and made it his own, and with this novel, he continues to go deeper into the world he created, taking us with him. And we, once again, follow Anton Yoska, a vampire hunter.
I will try to now say much since I don't want to give any spoilers, plus I recommend you all to read book one and them book two, so you can fully understand the main character and his background story.
I loved the new element added to this world, with the Daylight's Kiss, and Leonard Da Vinci's formula. That just made the story richer in my opinion. And since Anton is the one procuring it, it got me so curious about that would happen next. Because, let's be honest, it's a century old battle between vampires and the Vatican, both parts want to have it. One to destroy it, the other to use it. Anything can happen and I loved that.
Overall, I loved that this book was as awesome as the first one. It had it's fair amount of excitement, action, horror, vampires, and a war that come with lies and uncertainty. Like I said previously, I do recommend you to read the previous novel, that why you can understand the character's background and why certain things happen.
It always amazes me the amount of versions that exist around the story of vampires, from the POV of the vampires itself, or the one that hunt them, it all brings diversity and a new take on the legend.
With book one, Crimson Siege, I loved how Jay Raven took the them and made it his own, and with this novel, he continues to go deeper into the world he created, taking us with him. And we, once again, follow Anton Yoska, a vampire hunter.
I will try to now say much since I don't want to give any spoilers, plus I recommend you all to read book one and them book two, so you can fully understand the main character and his background story.
I loved the new element added to this world, with the Daylight's Kiss, and Leonard Da Vinci's formula. That just made the story richer in my opinion. And since Anton is the one procuring it, it got me so curious about that would happen next. Because, let's be honest, it's a century old battle between vampires and the Vatican, both parts want to have it. One to destroy it, the other to use it. Anything can happen and I loved that.
Overall, I loved that this book was as awesome as the first one. It had it's fair amount of excitement, action, horror, vampires, and a war that come with lies and uncertainty. Like I said previously, I do recommend you to read the previous novel, that why you can understand the character's background and why certain things happen.
ksmarsden's review
4.0
Anton is dragged into the middle of another looming vampire war, and has to work out who to trust.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first book I've read by Jay Raven, but I was told that each book in this series was a stand-alone.
Daylight's Deadly Kiss does work reasonably well as a stand-alone, and does fill in a lot of background, but I think I would have preferred reading Crimson Siege first.
Anton is a somewhat-professional vampire hunter. He works freelance with his small team, stumbling from job to job, because what else can he do? He was nearly turned into a vampire, and now has their speed and strength, along with a certain darkness that reveals itself. Anton is also famous - he's killed enough high-ranking vampires to make them fear his name; and he's pissed off his chain of command and is basically an outcast.
He's dragged into a plan that involves the church and the crown Prince Leopold. They have to travel to meet the man proclaiming to have Daylight's Kiss - a fabled weapon that can reproduce sunlight and kill any vampires.
I liked this story, it's more than a straight-forward baddies-vs-goodies. It keeps you guessing at the motives of all the players that are introduced, and where their loyalties really lie.
As you get further towards the goal, you start to wonder what the bigger picture is, and what price certain factions will pay, to get what they want.
I really liked the character Nadia, as she completely personified this. She kinda reminded me of Irene Adler from Sherlock Holmes - completely cunning and impossible to pin down.
The not-so-good.
Anton was a decent enough character, and I did like him for the most part; but for a so-called superior hunter with supernatural powers... he needed saving a lot. It starts with him being saved by Leopold's men; then by a bear; then by Nadia.
There wasn't a single fight in the first 75% of the book where he didn't need help from someone, even when the odds weren't terrible.
The writing occasionally got repetitive, and Raven has a habit of mixing speech being explained within narrative, followed by dialogue, which I found quite frustrating trying to keep straight what were thoughts, what were 'shared thoughts', what was said and not said.
It was more common in the first half of the book, and faded in the second, as everything became smoother and focussed on the building story.
Overall, I enjoyed the story, and I look forward to Raven's future, possibly more polished work.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first book I've read by Jay Raven, but I was told that each book in this series was a stand-alone.
Daylight's Deadly Kiss does work reasonably well as a stand-alone, and does fill in a lot of background, but I think I would have preferred reading Crimson Siege first.
Anton is a somewhat-professional vampire hunter. He works freelance with his small team, stumbling from job to job, because what else can he do? He was nearly turned into a vampire, and now has their speed and strength, along with a certain darkness that reveals itself. Anton is also famous - he's killed enough high-ranking vampires to make them fear his name; and he's pissed off his chain of command and is basically an outcast.
He's dragged into a plan that involves the church and the crown Prince Leopold. They have to travel to meet the man proclaiming to have Daylight's Kiss - a fabled weapon that can reproduce sunlight and kill any vampires.
I liked this story, it's more than a straight-forward baddies-vs-goodies. It keeps you guessing at the motives of all the players that are introduced, and where their loyalties really lie.
As you get further towards the goal, you start to wonder what the bigger picture is, and what price certain factions will pay, to get what they want.
I really liked the character Nadia, as she completely personified this. She kinda reminded me of Irene Adler from Sherlock Holmes - completely cunning and impossible to pin down.
The not-so-good.
Anton was a decent enough character, and I did like him for the most part; but for a so-called superior hunter with supernatural powers... he needed saving a lot. It starts with him being saved by Leopold's men; then by a bear; then by Nadia.
There wasn't a single fight in the first 75% of the book where he didn't need help from someone, even when the odds weren't terrible.
The writing occasionally got repetitive, and Raven has a habit of mixing speech being explained within narrative, followed by dialogue, which I found quite frustrating trying to keep straight what were thoughts, what were 'shared thoughts', what was said and not said.
It was more common in the first half of the book, and faded in the second, as everything became smoother and focussed on the building story.
Overall, I enjoyed the story, and I look forward to Raven's future, possibly more polished work.
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