TAKEN BY SIN - Jaci Burton
Demon Hunters, Book 4
Dell Books
ISBN: 978-0-440-24455-4
June 2009
Paranormal Romance

Louisiana and Florida - Present Day

Dalton Gabriel has always followed the rules laid down by the Realm of Light, but when ordered to kill Isabelle Deveraux, he hesitates. Unlike the other hunters, Dalton sees a glimpse of humanity struggling to escape the demon controlled by the Sons of Darkness that has overtaken Isabelle’s body. So, Dalton grabs Isabelle and escapes from Sicily, Italy, knowing that they only have a limited amount of time before the hunters track them down. In the two weeks it takes for them to travel to the bayou in Louisiana that Dalton calls home, he sees no signs of the demon within Isabelle, but is aware that she is still possessed, and has a plan to save her. Now, all he needs is the help of a voodoo priestess, and Isabelle to trust him, in spite of the fact that he’s already betrayed her.

The hunters are still reeling from what took place in Sicily and are not ready to answer to Michael, their new Keeper. Yet, Dalton and Isabelle must be found, and it is up to them to track the couple down. While Michael and Mandy are following up on a lead in Florida, Mandy sees a demon, walking in daylight, just before he disappears. The dangerous implications are enough to derail them from the search for a time, as the possibilities of a demon being able to survive daylight are staggering.

Switching gears from the previous books in the Demon Hunters series, TAKEN BY SIN is not an action packed adventure. This novel slows down the pace of the story a bit and gives readers a chance to look a little deeper into the characters it features. Rather than violent battles, we are treated to introspective struggles and people dealing with the fallout of the life of a demon hunter. Isabelle has always felt less worthy than her twin sister, Angelique, and learning of her demon blood has made things worse. During the battle in Sicily, the demon completely takes over Isabelle, and she tries to kill Angelique. Now, as she starts to come back to herself, Isabelle needs to believe that she is strong enough to control the demon, but she is not sure that she can. Dalton’s past is also revealed and, while this explains how he can be so certain in his belief that Isabelle can be saved, it also illustrates how the growing feelings between them are impossible. Meanwhile, Mandy is having difficulty adjusting to the changes within the group and Michael’s leadership. Orphaned as a child, Mandy was taken in by Lou and raised with the demon hunters. The repercussions of what happened in Sicily are especially difficult for her, and her attraction to Michael is an unpleasant surprise.

The slower pace of the novel does not make it in any way less riveting; TAKEN BY SIN will still keep readers on the edge of their seats. I would definitely advise reading the series in order, as this story is, in some ways, a continuation of the previous book, THE DARKEST TOUCH. A captivating tale, I highly recommend TAKEN BY SIN.

Jennifer Bishop