3.5 
 Originally posted at Vampire Book Club 
 Seventeen years ago Finn Stavros was in a position to become Alpha of his uncle's pack. Doing so of course meant Finn needed to protect that which he held closest to his heart. The threat of retaliation against those he loved by his uncle forced Finn to break up with Lyra. Being a vampire, and with vampire and shifter relationships frowned upon, Lyra was in the most danger from Finn's uncle. After defeating his uncle for the title of Alpha, Finn searches for Lyra, to make amends; with no success, she's seemingly disappeared. When trouble causes Lyra to show back up in Finn's life, the feelings are still there. Finn is not willing to let her go a second time. 
 Lyra was devastated when Finn broke things off with her seventeen years ago. She understands why he did it, but that doesn't mean she has to like it. In addition to her broken heart, she was rejected by her vampire coven for the relationship between her and Finn. Even when the worst was thrown at Lyra, she made her way, she simply had to. Now, she needs help and even after all these years Finn is the only one she trusts enough to ask for help. The attraction between them is still palpable, but once Finn learns why Lyra needs his help, she can't imagine he'll want anything to do with her. No matter. Some things are more important than love: things like finding her and Finn's kidnapped daughter. A daughter he knows nothing about. 
 There was a whole Romeo and Juliet vibe going on with Darkness Awakened--minus the tragic star-crossed part of the pair of lovers of course. But I love a good reconciliation love story with feuding families in the background. Add in the fact that those feuding 'families' are vampires and shifters, and this series is perfect for VBC. 
 The story itself was nothing too complex or clever. The world of vampires and shifters followed the same mythology that we've all come to know after reading countless stories featuring these creatures. There were story threads started where I can see the series branching out a little bit in future books, but for a first in a series, things are set up quite nicely. Sometimes it's good to sit down with an uncomplicated book and just enjoy the story. Darkness Awakened does have an Alpha male who will declare the female his despite mistakes made in the past. It also has a headstrong heroine, clearly capable of taking care of herself, who only lets the Alpha male declare her as his because she wants him too. 
 The chemistry between Lyra and Finn is jump-off-the-page hot, but as is common with standard paranormal romance, you know that in some way, shape, or form the couple is going to get their happily ever after at the end. What happens then is I start trying to figure out which couple the next book will feature. The prospects are interesting enough to guarantee I'll be reading book two Taste of Darkness.