What do you do when the hero makes you want to throw your phone across the room and also never stop listening?
I was up way too late finishing this one. Like, 2 AM late. Frida was giving me that judgmental cat stare from the foot of the bed, and Diego had long since abandoned me for the living room. But Gregori had his claws in me—pun absolutely intended—and I couldn't stop.
The Dark One Had Me in a Chokehold
Look. Gregori is problematic. Capital P. He's possessive, controlling, and operates with the kind of "I know what's best for you" energy that would have me running in real life. But Christine Feehan does something clever here—she lets us inside his head, and what we find is this ancient being who genuinely believes he's a monster, who's been alone for centuries, who's so terrified of losing himself to darkness that he's already half-convinced he doesn't deserve Savannah.
There's this scene where Savannah reads his mind and memories, really *sees* him, and the trust that forms in that moment? My heart. MY HEART. I had to pause and just... breathe. Because here's this impossibly powerful male who could probably level New Orleans if he wanted, and he's completely undone by one woman choosing to understand him instead of fear him.
The vibes are immaculate if you're into that dark, intense paranormal romance energy. Tears of the Moon has that same atmospheric pull, though it trades vampires for Irish magic. New Orleans as a backdrop gives everything this sultry, dangerous atmosphere. It's a rainy Sunday book, but like, a stormy one. Thunder rattling the windows. Candles lit because the power might go out.
Sean Crisden's Voice is Velvet and... Honey-Adjacent?
Okay, here's where I have to be honest. Sean Crisden has this deep, commanding voice that works beautifully for Gregori's intensity. When he's delivering those dark, possessive lines? Chef's kiss. The emotional scenes hit. The quick-witted humor lands perfectly—and there *is* humor here, despite the dark premise.
But—and this bugged me more than I expected—he pronounces Gregori like "Gregory." Very Americanized. Once I noticed it, I couldn't un-notice it. For a character who's supposed to be this ancient Carpathian with centuries of European history, hearing "Gregory" kept pulling me out of the fantasy. Not a dealbreaker, but if you're particular about pronunciation (and I am, apparently), fair warning.
The emotional delivery is solid though. When Gregori despises himself, you feel that self-loathing. When Savannah pushes back against his overprotectiveness, Crisden captures her fire without losing her softness. It's good work, just... say his name right, please.
This Book Felt Like Being Claimed
I ugly-cried once—not my usual four-session marathon, but it was a good one. The ritual scenes, the inevitability of their bond, the way Savannah chooses him even knowing what he is... Abuela would have gasped at some of these scenes and then secretly loved every minute. She had a thing for telenovela villains who turned soft for their women, and Gregori is basically that in vampire form.
At 11 hours and 15 minutes, it's a commitment, but the pacing works. This isn't a slow burn exactly—they're lifemates, so the connection is immediate—but the trust-building, the emotional intimacy, that develops over time. I listened at my usual 1.0x because I was savoring the intensity.
Fair warning: there's violence, explicit sexual content, and themes of a controlling hero. If the "I own you" energy makes you uncomfortable, this isn't your book. But if you're here for the dark romance tropes—the possessive alpha who's actually terrified of losing you, the heroine who refuses to be cowed—this is the good stuff.
Who Gets to Claim This One
This is for my fellow paranormal romance lovers who want their heroes dangerous and devoted in equal measure. If you've been following the Dark Series, listeners are calling this the best one so far—and I get it. Gregori's been lurking in the background of earlier books, and his story delivers.
Skip if: you need your heroes to ask permission, pronunciation issues pull you out of stories, or you're not in the mood for intensity. This book doesn't do light and breezy.
Corazón, This One Grabbed Me
I finished feeling wrung out in the best way. The chemistry is *chef's kiss*, the emotional stakes are real, and despite my complaints about the name pronunciation, Sean Crisden made me believe in Gregori's centuries of loneliness and his desperate need for Savannah.
Is it problematic? Sure. Did I care at 2 AM with mascara running down my face? Not even a little bit. Sometimes you just need a book that grabs you by the heart and refuses to let go. This one grabbed.
