That’s what One Silent Night is though, and while I didn’t enjoy it as much as Sherrilyn Kenyon’s last several Dark Hunters novels, I did enjoy it, and I think it does work.  The reason for that is because instead of painting Stryker (and Zephyra) as pure evil, the way Satara was, Kenyon chooses instead to make them characters that are more complicated than that.  They aren’t exactly sweetness and light, but they have their own moral codes, and their motivations aren’t really that hard to buy into.  They got a really raw end of the deal, and they are fighting for their continued existance (and, you know, control of the world).

Having said all that, One Silent Night isn’t going to be the Dark-Hunter book I pick up to read again when I’m bored and waiting for the next book in the series.  The romance isn’t overly compelling; while I’ve always enjoyed Stryker, I couldn’t care less if he got back with his ex-wife.  I found some of the new characters compelling – Medea will prove interesting, I think, and while Jared currently seems to be Acheron 2.0, he has potential.  The new developments in Nick’s character will make good fodder in subsequent books, and his reconnection with Ash, while unwilling, should move the plot of the series along.  This is a bridge book, connecting the first part of the series to the second, so while the characters used to move the plot along, so to speak, aren’t as awesome as some of the others, I don’t really think that’s the main point.

Having said all that, I am hoping that Dream Warrior and Bad Moon Rising are stronger, character and romance wise.  I love the series, but really? I’m reading this for the pr0n.

I had trepiditions about this one.  I love the Dark-Hunter series to little bits and pieces, and Acheron is one of my favorite characters, so  I was worried the book wouldn’t equal the hype.  Thankfully, I was wrong.  I liked the love interest, Tory, and Ash was amusingly awkward but without losing the Ash coolness that’s characterizes him throughout the rest of the series.  Some thoughts in numerical list form, because I’m way too lazy to write full paragraphs here:

1. Nick continues to make epically idiotic decisions.  EPICALLY.
2. I was amused to see that one of my personal predictions, that Styxx would impersonate Ash to save the girl, actually did come true, and in almost exactly the situation I envisioned.
3.  On that note, I really want a Styxx story.  He’s a classic irredeemable character who has been redeemed, and I love stories with heroes like that.
4. First read through I was concerned that Artemis was being overly demonized, but upon thinking about it…no.  It was about right.  I have some sympathy for her, because I think she is lonely, but she’s also innately selfish to a degree that would be psychotic in a human character, and she’s done way too much to Ash to be forgiven.
5. One of the things I was worried about was the tease we got in Devil May Cry – that Ash’s girl would hate him.  But I don’t think Tory did for long, and honestly? It was understandable.
6. I think I’ll find I’ll reread this one a lot, but mostly the second half.  The first half, about Ash’s mortal life is important to fully understand his issues – his major, major issues – but it’s painful enough that it’s difficult to read.  Especially when, if you’re like me, and you’re reading on the public transit system and tear up at the drop of the hat.

In any case, already rereading a day later and thoroughly enjoying it again.  Stryker’s book is next, in time for Christmas, and I can’t wait.

However. Could someone just kill Satara already? I mean, seriously. Not only does she have no redeeming qualities whatsoever (I can handle, and actually like, that in a villain) but she has no charisma. She’s annoying, rabid, and operates on the lowest common denominator. It’s an invitation to be whacked. Hell, I’d do it myself if she wasn’t, you know. Fictional.

I like evil characters. There are evil characters that are awesomely amoral and charismatic, and I love those. There are evil characters who are so creepy they give me daymares, and I’m cool with those. But then there’s evil that’s so annoying you want to bring the wrath of a giant flyswatter down on them, and Satara is firmly in the latter group.