Review: A Touch of Crimson – Sylvia Day

A Touch of Crimson by Sylvia Day
Series:  Renegade Angels #1
Release Date:  October 4, 2011
Publisher:  Signet Book
Page Count:  368
Source:  NetGalley

Adrian Mitchell is a powerful angel leading an elite Special Ops unit of Seraphim. His task is to punish the Fallen-angels who have become vampires-and command a restless pack of indentured lycans. But Adrian has suffered his own punishment for becoming involved with mortals- losing the woman he loves again and again. Now, after nearly two hundred years, he has found her-Shadoe-her soul once more inhabiting a new body, with no memory of him. And this time, he won’t let her go.

This book was one hell of a ride!  I’ve never been a huge fan of books with Angels, but this one changed my mind!

Adrian Mitchell has one mission on earth and that’s to protect mortals from the Fallen (angels who broke the rules and are now vampires).  He’s content, most days, to hunt those who break the rule and ensure they are properly punished.  He does this with the rest of his special ops group of Seraphim, along with the help of the lycans (werewolves who are basically slaves to the seraphim).  The most important rule to all Seraphim, not to fall in love.

Lindsey Gibson is moving across the country to start a new life and to hunt the things that go bump in the night.  She’s taken aback when she sees the most gorgeous man waiting in line for her same flight to California.  When they make eye contact, they have an instant connection.  But despite this connection, Lindsey doesn’t see anything other than a one night stand happening.  She’s not able to explain her special abilities or that she hunts vampires.  No one would understand her need to avenge the death of her mother by a vampire attack when she was five.  Except she can’t seem to say no to Adrian and the more she’s with him, the more she begins to realize there is more to him than meets the eye.

I loved this story.  Adrian was a heartbreakingly (is that even a word??) wonderful character.  Often it seemed like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders while he tried to do the right thing.  But then there were other times when he was willing to let it all go so he could have the one thing he truly…Lindsey.  It didn’t matter how many times he told himself he’d let her go or how he was going to use her to bring the Vampires down, he could never let go of her.  She was essential to him.

Lindsey was just as great.  Strong and stubborn, she was hell bent on revenge for her mother’s death and willing to use Adrian’s resources to help her get that.  But once she got to know what Adrian was and what would happen if they let their urges tempt them, she put Adrian’s well-being in front of hers.  She was selfishly selfless at times, thinking she knew what was better for Adrian than he did, but it was generally to ensure that he kept those gorgeous wings and not become one of the things she’d sworn to kill.

The series was set up beautifully.  We have our evil Vampire lord, Sayre,  and his minions out to try and get rid of the Seraphim.  Then there’s the lycan, tired of being slaves to the Seraphim and wanted to install the proper order to the pack system with Elijah, an assumed Alpha.

Can’t wait for the next installment.  Hope it’s not a long wait.