Into the Fire

by Jeaniene Frost
Published by Harper
Paranormal Romance

Narrator Tavia Gilbert’s voice seduces the listener into a dangerous fantasy world of vampires whose relationships include love, hate, and all-out vengeance. Vlad, the prince of vampires, and Leila, the love of his life, are caught in a trap guaranteed to end them both. Gilbert’s vocal variations balance the masculine strength of Vlad and the feminine yet strong aspects of his new wife. The story follows their tortuous quest, which continues from previous Night Prince books. Gilbert’s raspy timbre amplifies the book’s spookiness, enriching the listening experience. This is fantasy at its best. Listening to the series in order is recommended so as not to miss any of its creepy, dark elements. AudioFile Magazine

 

Into the Fire is the explosive and magic-defying conclusion to the Night Prince Series (featuring Leila and Vlad) which is itself a spin-off of the Night Huntress Series (featuring Cat and Bones) both of which make up part of the Night Huntress Universe.

 

Leila is running out of time. Her unwanted connection to a necromancer (Mircea) who has intertwined their physical fates is likely to lead to her demise if she, Vlad, and their allies can’t figure out how to break the connection (for she literally feels every injury he sustains and his enemies have caught on to their priceless and extortion enabling connection). The fact that Mircea is also Vlad’s bitter stepson, owing to Mircea’s resentment for never having truly achieved obtaining Vlad’s attention, further adds to the revenge/suspense plot line.

 

Tavia Gilbert’s narration, as always, was just fabulous – I couldn’t imagine experiencing this story any other way but through Ms. Gilbert’s talented voice. Tavia Gilbert is so unbelievably talented. She doesn’t just read this story, she is the voice of each one of the many characters that play a part in it. Each voice is so distinctive and unique that it sounds like we have a whole cast of narrators, not just one. The exceptional consistency that Ms. Gilbert has exhibited in voicing each one of these characters numerous times over this series and the prior ones that make up a part of the Night Huntress Universe is simply divine.

 

Moreover, Ms. Gilbert’s ability to deliver the tongue in cheek humor which requires remarkable attention to timing is off the charts. Particularly with Ian’s gregarious character, and crazy lines, she had me chuckling throughout. But that’s not all of Ms. Gilbert’s talents as she is equally adept at delivering urgency and suspense in the fast-paced action scenes just from the sound of her voice. And then when it comes to the more tender, affection-filled scenes where Vlad is communicating his feelings for Leila and vice versa, her ability to make the listener hear the chemistry between these two characters that we have come to love is also invaluable.

 

Narration: A+ from AudioGals