Review: Kiss of the Vampire (Warriors of the Rift #1) by Cynthia Garner

Warriors of the Rift

Once a generation, the rift between the paranormal world and the human world opens, allowing entities to cross. Vampire, demon, or shapeshifter, they can save the world-or send it spiraling into chaos.

Half-demon, half-human, Nix de la Fuente is accepted by neither and mistrusted by both. Determined to prove she's more human than not, she devotes herself to solving crimes between the world's mortals and its most unsavory undead. But her latest case brings her face to face with the one vampire she could never resist . . .

Called in to investigate a string of violent murders, special agent Tobias Caine isn't interested in rekindling his relationship with Nix. Yet one look and the vampire knows his need for her is as strong as ever. Once, their all-consuming passion nearly cost Nix her fragile hold on her humanity. Now, as their hunger for one another intensifies, exposing them to an unimaginable danger, it could cost them both their lives.

Review by Lynelle:

The Rift, which occurs once a generation, is an opening between dimensions that has allowed supernatural beings to come here on earth. These beings have taken over the bodies of some humans, turning them into vampires, shifters, demons, fae, etc. Nix de la Fuente is a half-human/half-demon hybrid and is the human liaison between local police and the Council of Preternatural. Nix is currently working on a case with Human Detective Dante MacMillan where the 2nd vampire as been murdered in a short time. While on the scene she comes face to face with the new vampire liaison for the Council, Tobias Caine, her ex-boyfriend who up and left her 5 years before.

There is a lot of tension between Nix and Tobias with her anger towards him for leaving with little explanation and their major sexual tension. Thank goodness for Dante who is usually able to break some of the tension with his witty comments. I just loved Dante who is very laid back and pretty charming. As the 3 of them work together to unravel this mystery, we also unravel the miscommunication between Nix and Tobias and they work through their feelings together and the reasons that Tobias left 5 years ago.

The only trouble I had with this story is that it was hard for me to feel the love between Nix and Tobias. Oh, I got their lust loud and clear ;) but didn’t feel the love. Maybe if there was more info on their past relationship and how they *fell* in love, but the only memories that either had about their past relationship was the sex and passion. They often referred to their difficulty with dealing with their love for each other and working so close together on the case, but I just didn’t feel it.

Other then that I really liked this story and I find the world that Cynthia has built very interesting. I liked the characters and thought Nix, Tobias and Dante made a great team and even with Tobias was the designated leader he was able to see the strengths in the other two. I thought Cynthia did a great job keeping me guessing on who was behind the vampire murders and the why of it. I felt the details were reveled at a good pace as was the whole book and I was happy with the outcome.

I am really looking forward to reading the second book and seeing what happens next in this world and with these characters. I’m also excited because the book 2 follows the charming Detective Dante. Ohh, I can’t wait ;)