Raphael - D.B. Reynolds

Back cover summary-

Malibu, California-home to rock-and-roll gods and movie stars, the beautiful, the rich . . . and vampires. Powerful and charismatic, Raphael is a Vampire Lord, one of the few who hold the power of life and death over every vampire in existence. Thousands call him Master and have pledged absolute loyalty on their very lives. But when, in a brazen and deadly daylight attack, a gang of human killers kidnaps the one female vampire he'd give his life for, Raphael turns to a human investigator to find his enemies before it's too late. Cynthia Leighton is smart, tough and sexy, a private investigator and former cop who's tired of spying on cheating spouses and digging out old bank accounts. When Raphael asks for her help in tracking down the kidnappers, Cyn's happy to accept. But she soon realizes her greatest danger comes not from the humans, but from Raphael himself. Battling Russian mobsters and treacherous vampires, and betrayed by those they trusted, Cyn and Raphael find themselves fighting for their lives while caught up in a passion of blood and violence that is destined to destroy them both. 

Review (warning spoilers!!)


I just finished reading Raphael by D.B. Reynolds and I have to say that I loved it!  It is one of the stronger vampire books I have read lately.  The plotting is sharp, the romance believable, the writing is smooth, and the vampires powerful.  I read it in one sitting and wasn't even tempted to skip pages.  I was quite hopeless to find another urban fantasy/paranormal romance series that I could be truly excited about until I read Raphael today.

Raphael, the title character, is one of eight vampire lords ruling the American continent. No, the book was not written from his point of view but from the third person. He is dark, strong and powerful. While Raphael was away for a vampire conference, Alexandra, a vampire he cared about deeply, was kidnapped by a trusted friend.  Having heard of private detective Cynthia Leighton, Raphael hired her to help him find Alexandra.  Sparks fly and romance grew in the process of her detective work for the vampire lord and of course, Cynthia found Alexandra at the end.

Cynthia Leighton is your typical urban fantasy heroine.  She is a beautiful, strong, stubborn, gun-totting  kick-ass woman.  Raphael is also your typical vampire hero.  He is strong, beautiful, powerful, dark and mysterious.  What makes this story effective is these characters were written in a very believable way.  Raphael truly behaves as what you would expect of a powerful vampire lord.  He is confident and oozing in his power.  Cynthia is as believable.  She is human and weak as such but she uses her cunning to come through and save the day.  She was not made to do anything that will make you go "huh?" as sometimes I feel about Anita Blake.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to the next one, Jabril.  For sure, this series goes on my list of what to read after the Sookie Stackhouse series.

Rating: *****

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