Beyond the Pale: The Darkwing Chronicles: Book One

by Savannah Russe

Book Overview

The government knows that Daphne Urban is a vampire, and they have an ultimatum: spy for them, or be killed. The choice is easy. She can speak 13 languages, has a genius IQ, and has escaped detection for nearly five hundred years-making her perfect for Team Darkwing. Her first mission is to get close to Bonaventure, a shady arms dealer with an unexpected gift for seduction. But when Darius, a darkly sexy vampire slayer, begins chasing her, Darius...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0451215648
• ISBN13: 9780451215642
• Release Date: June 2005
• Publisher: Signet Book
• Length: 295 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 4.3" x 6.9"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Finally a Romance for All the Thinking Girls Out There!

Beyond the Pale is unlike any other romance or paranormal romance on the market today. In addition to an amazing storyline, strong unforgettable characters, and HOT, HOT love scenes, Beyond the Pale showcases a well-written novel that leaves the reader thinking long after the final page is turned--an attribute that few other romances possess. In addition to entertaining the reader, Beyond the Pale goes deeper to give us complex characters with conflicts and emotions everyone can relate to. Finally, a romance for all the "Thinking Girls" out there! Beyond the Pale's heroine Daphne is a centuries-old vampire who now lives in present-day New York City. The author's descriptions of streets and scenes in NYC are so impeccable that one feels as if they're riding the subway and walking the streets with Daphne. Attention is paid to every detail in this book, and her characters receive the same thorough descriptions as her settings. We feel like we all know a Daphne, Benny, and Mar-Mar in our own lives. And come on, girls! Who hasn't been head-over-heels in love with their own Darius--the drop-dead gorgeous vampire slayer who Daphne can't say no to? The author gives us a vivid, strong, and immensely likeable character in Daphne. Although she is a vampire, she is very human with a passion for exquistely designed clothes, anything Italian, and bad boys (she even had a fling with one of the most infamous bad boys in history--Lord Byron!). But what makes Daphne so likeable and believable are her emotions and thoughts. Daphne is tough, beautiful, and street-smart on the outside, but on the inside she is deeply reflective, vulnerable, and yearns for desire and love just like any other woman. She is of the paranormal world, but her essence and heart are very human. I did not predict the ending and was surprised by its twist. I was sad to see Beyond the Pale end, but was relieved in knowing that this is just Book One in the Darkwing Chronicles. I eagerly await Book 2 to learn Daphne and Darius' fate. With literary references from the classics to contemporary times, sharp sarcasm and laugh-out loud scenes, fast-paced suspense, and one of the best love stories in literature, I recommend Beyond the Pale not just to romance readers but ALL readers interested in quality fiction.

An enjoyable little read.

Daphne is a 400 year old Vamp who's just been caught by the men in black so to speak. They want her to work for them catching terrorists and other less than desirable humans. So with her fellow darkwings Daphne is for once in her life going to find something that makes her life worth living. Not to mention a hot love interest in a fellow spy who works for a different 3 letter agency, problem is he hates vampires. I definitely recommend this book. This was much better than several of the last vampire stories I read. Ms. Russe has a great series going here and I look forward to many more of Daphy's adventures, not to mention you'll love her mom!

Surprisingly good...

I did not think that I would like this book because I try to stay away from spy/military type of books. I am glad that I was wrong. This book was witty and interesting. The author leaves enough taunting for her next novel that the reader is left wanting more. I personally can not wait for the next book to come out!

Bond Meets Underworld - What's Not to Like!?

I just finished Beyond the Pale and I want more! For anyone who loves the thrill of a good vamp or fantasy novel this one is a keeper. Part of the allure of this style of writing is fantastic characters who maybe don't fit into a stereotypical role. It makes them interesting! And there's no shortage of interesting characters in his book. Daphne is our main character and we catch up with her doing the tediuose 20 year annual errand of getting a new drivers license with a new identity to hide the fact that she is actually a 450 year old vampire. However she finds that she's being followed by several groups: one of which catches her and forces her to join project Darkwing. Project Darkwing is a new anti-terrorism group lead by the handler J and comprised of three newly recruited vampires: Daphne who speaks 13 languages and has a genius IQ, Benny- a wise-cracking southern belle from Branson who is an expert on jewels, and Cormac- the gay drama queen actor who lacks the ability to remain seriouse. Their first assignment: Stopping a Russian weapons dealer drom selling a nuclear device to Al Quida and also from aquiring art full of dark mojo is complicated by the appearance of Darius della Chiesa, who has also been following Daphne. He thought she was a vampire but after seeing her with a tan he changes his tune. He and Daphne can't trust each other but as they work together to help the mission they quickly fall in love. Ofcourse all's not well that ends well, since our anti-hero Mr. della Chiese is also a vampire slayer...hmm, how does Daphne explain that one to her mother?

Beyond the Pale

She was the mistress and unwitting slayer of Lord Byron. For more than four centuries, Daphne Urban has walked the world's night, existing, but not truly living. Love is too dangerous and eternity is rapidly becoming an exercise in monotony. Monotony would be welcome, however, when her world is turned upside down and she is conscripted into service for the US government as part of a highly secret team of vampires, along with a ditzy blonde Southern Belle and a shallow, gay vampire searching for his big break on Broadway. Perhaps the madness of the plan is its genius. Sent to prevent a dangerous man from gaining artifacts that could lead to worldwide destruction, the three's mission is soon complicated when Daphne is contacted by another governmental agency operative. Darius della Chisea has no idea she is a vampire, just that she works for another branch of the service, and he wants to work with her for reasons of his own. Though Daphne finds him extremely attractive, something she's not felt since accidentally killing Byron, there is a large drawback, Darius hates vampires, and does enjoy killing them. Romance is of secondary or even lower importance. First, she has to save the world. Highly classified mission or not, Daphne may have to resort to the most trusted method of accomplishing the impossible, calling in her mother, Mar Mar, an ancient teen aged hippie. ***** Inevitably, comparisons to Buffy, La Femme Nikita, Alias, early Anita Blake, and Rachel Morgan's various series can be made. However, those comparison's only go so far. The Darkwing Chronicles promise to be unique; exciting, fast paced, funny and just plain fun. It has everything, humor, action, mystery, and a bit of romance. Let's hope the wait between books is not long. *****