Shadowlight: A Novel of the Kyndred

Shadowlight: A Novel of the Kyndred is the first book in a new series by Lynn Viehl. I found this blurb on Shiloh Walker’s blog.

With a single touch, Jessa Bellamy can see anyone’s darkest secrets. She’s tried to hide her psychic ability from everyone, but a biotech company called GenHance has discovered her talent, and intends to take her, kill her and harvest her priceless DNA to sell it to the highest bidder.

A mysterious photographer named Gaven Matthias is also interested in Jessa; he’s been trying to find her for months. When GenHance makes their move, Gaven has no choice but to kidnap Jessa himself so he can protect her and convince her to join him in helping protect others like her. Jessa discovers that she can’t see any of Gaven’s secrets, so she doesn’t know if he’s telling the truth, but as a monstrous assassin created by GenHance’s experiments closes in on them, she must decide if the strong attraction they share is proof enough that Gaven is her greatest ally — or is a smokescreen hiding a terrible secret.

After Stay the Night (book 7 of the Darkyn), I was afraid we wouldn’t get any more books associated with the Darkyn. Luckily, the Kyndred books still have some of the characters from the Darkyn books. I was sent an eARC of Shadowlight and had to start reading it the minute I received the email. I loved all of the Darkyn books and was very excited to start reading the Kyndred series. Each member of the Kyndred, like the Darkyn, has a special ability. Jessa Bellamy can see anyone’s darkest secrets with just a touch. She tends to only trust her friends like her that she stays connected with over the internet. Gaven Matthias has been looking for Jessa for months. He knows because of her special ability, she is at risk. However, Jessa must first learn to trust Matthias and Rowen, Gaven’s assistant and friend, so she can learn more about the other Kyndred.Jessa has known for sometime there are others out there with special abilities, but until Matthias shows up, she has really only connected with others via the internet.

I really enjoyed Shadowlight, and look forward to more books in the Kyndred series in the future. I felt the book started out a little slow, only because it jumped around a bit. However, it picked up quickly and ended up being an action-packed read full of romance and adventure. I loved Jessa, Matthias and especially Rowen, who was really one of my favorite characters in the book. The release date for Shadowlight is currently scheduled for October 6, 2009.