The Assassin and the Libertine Les Dames Dangereuses Book #1
Vampire, Romance
City Owl Press: Mystic Owl
Oct 14, 2021
Kinde
263
Amazon
The fate of France itself is at stake if these sworn enemies cannot change their ways—and their hearts.
Daphne de Duras is a proper French duchess by day and fledgling assassin by night. Her latest mission is to dispatch justice and protect the French aristocracy by executing Étienne de Noailles, disgraced former noble, legendary rake, and vampire emissary to the court of King Louis XV.
But Étienne’s alleged crime—the gruesome murder of Madame de Pompadour, the King’s mistress and Daphne's friend—doesn’t quite fit the dashing vampire’s nature. With his immortal days suddenly numbered, Étienne needs to convince his would-be executioner not only of his innocence, but that they should hunt the real killer together—a challenge almost as difficult as convincing himself that he isn’t falling for her.
Daphne reluctantly agrees to a temporary partnership when Étienne persuades her that something more sinister is afoot. He can, after all, help her find answers in places she’s unable to go alone. And despite her deep loathing for any and all vampires, she can't help but start thinking of a few other places she'd like to go with him.
Reviewed by Linda Tonis
Member of the Paranormal Romance Guild Review Team
This was a wonderful book because it was one of my favorite genres, Paranormal Romance with Vampires. Etienne de Noailles is a vampire, vampire emissary to King Louis XV and former disgraced Viscount. He is accused of murdering the king’s mistress Jeanne Antoinette and has been ordered killed by the Order, it is Countess Daphne de Duras who holds the stake in her hands. Daphne works for the Order as an assassin and is ready, willing and able to kill when necessary.
When Daphne finally has Etienne in a place where she can carry out her assignment, she agrees to hear him out first when he claims his innocence. Unwilling to kill unless convinced of his guilt she agrees to visit Jeanne’s grave and view her body. There was no way a vampire caused her death; her throat was ripped out not by a bite so an uneasy alliance between Etienne and Daphne is agreed upon so together they can search for the real killer.
Etienne is immediately attracted to Daphne but the death of her beloved brother by a vampire has caused her to hate and distrust all vampires. It is her desire to bring the real killer to justice that forces her to agree to a pact with Etienne since he can go to places looking for information that she can’t possibly go alone. Etienne tries to enlighten Daphne about the plight of the vampires and the blood plague that is increasing their numbers. Peasants dying from starvation have willingly allowed themselves to be turned, blood is easier to obtain than food and Etienne knows that a revolution will happen leaving both vampires and humans dead in the streets.
Working together Etienne finds himself falling deeper and deeper for Daphne and she finds herself attracted to the very thing she hates most a vampire. It’s a lesson she and the other aristocrats need to learn that humans are killers as well as vampires, good and bad in every species. Daphne’s own husband was known as the Depraved Duke and his disappearance made her life more secure. When someone in the tonne loses everything, they resort to a marriage of convenience which was what happened to Daphne, a choice that she learned was worse than poverty.
There are so many surprises, secrets and lies that I couldn’t put the book down fore fitting dinner for a desire to get answers, and answers I got. This period in French history prior to the French Revolution brings an understanding of what the poor suffered and how the rich lived without giving them a thought. The only difference is that the peasants are represented by vampires, but the story is still the same, the arrogance of the well to do and their belief that they are beyond reproach, history has taught us that that is not the case.
I can’t wait to read book two which fortunately I have in my possession and will pick up after finishing this review. Book two is Charlotte’s story and she was a wonderful secondary character in this book, can’t wait to see what the future holds in store for her. I didn’t mention Charlotte, Daphne’s cousin, in my review but trust me she is a wonderful addition to this book.