Dance of the Gods

Nora Roberts

Blair Murphy, demon vampire hunter, was the final member to join the Circle preparing a supernatural war against a vampire army. Now she is helping the group in Ireland They need to prepare for the war that will take place on Halloween/Samhain.

Glenna is a witch. Her new husband Hoyt is a powerful sorceror from Ireland of the 1100's. Moira and Larkin are from the altnerate world Geall, where the final war will be fought. Moira is the next queen of Geall. Larkin, her cousin, is a shapeshifter. The sixth member of the group is Cian, Hoyt's brother who was turned into a vampire shortly before Hoyt was pulled from his time into the present. Cian is immortal as a vampire but doesn't have the evil blood lust of Lilith and her army. Blair is ready to kill Cian, but eventually learns she can trust him.

Blair has always been alone. Her father trained her to hunt vampires, then kicked her out at 18. She hunts alone. She was going to marry until the man learned what she really is and what she has to do. He couldn't accept it and dumped her. She refuses to let anyone close now because her job is too dangerous for others - and because she doesn't want to get hurt again.

But Larkin, the shapeshifter, refuses to be pushed away. At the end of a skirmish with the vampires they are caught on a cliff. She urges him to get away while she fights them off - Blair can handle three or four easily. But there are twenty or so coming towards them. He ignores her order, turns into a dragon, and flies her to safety.

Blaire lets Larkin come into her life a little. Right now she doesn't know if she'll have a life after Halloween. The group continues to train as they gather all their weapons to prepare for departure. They cross from Earth to Geall, to prepare the people there for the final battle. First, though, they must convince those people that there is a real threat.

When Blair sees Larkin in his home land, she knows they can't have a future. She had expected that. Even if they win, there are still going to be vampires on Earth. She'll have to return to fight. He belongs here in Geall. In the meantime, she'll rely on his strength and affection for the time they have together.

Morrigan's Cross started this trilogy of an ultimate vampire vs human war. Dance of the Gods is the sequel and a good continuation. The overall arc of the story continues to build as both the Circle gets stronger and the vampires prepare for conquering the humans. The reader is taken into the vampire stronghold a few times to see what is happening there as well.

Blair's and Larkin's romance is predictable yet enjoyable. Imagine Blair's astonishment and excitement to ride on the back of a dragon - a mythical beast on Earth but real in Geall. When she asks about fire, Larkin looks at her quizzically. Why would dragons breathe fire? As usual with Nora Roberts, the book has its light moments like that as well as the serious war preparation. While this is a good book, I recommend you read the trilogy in order for the vampire war to make sense - as well as all the relationships between the characters.

Notice: Graphic violence, Strong sexual content

Morrigans's Cross
Dance of the Gods
Valley of Silence

Blood Brothers by Nora Roberts