Review of Once Burned (Night Huntress Universe #9) by Jeaniene Frost

Once Burned is the first book in the Night Prince series and the ninth in the Night Huntress Universe.

After an accident as a child, Leila has electric currents running through her body. She shocks anything she touches with her right hand, and can use that hand to pull information about people from touching them or objects they've handled.

Her life is lonely. She performs in a traveling circus with an acrobatic partner that can handle her currents because he is a vampire. Marty is a father-figure to her, and she replaces the daughter he lost.

When word gets out about her abilities, vampires kidnap Leila and force her to hunt down another vampire through objects. She finds him and is able to warn him about what's happening. He uses her information to find her location, kill the vampires, and take her to safety.

Leila is stunned to discover her savior is no other than Vlad the Impaler. She's shocked by his violent nature and surprised by his tenderness toward her. Vlad's pyrokinetic abilities allow him to safely absorb her current, so for the first time since her accident, Leila can touch someone without fear. He warns her that he's incapable of loving her, but she ignores that and dives into a passionate affair with him.

Danger rises, and Vlad protects Leila and her family from danger. One of his oldest enemies is back to destroy Vlad forever, and only Leila can lead Vlad to victory.

From the first time Vlad entered the Night Huntress series, I was fascinated by him. He seemed to have a dual nature—the tender inside and hardened, violent nature he projects. This novel confirmed that about his character.

He's a medieval warlord who kept control of his kingdom through viciousness in war, unshakable values that don't mesh to today's standards, and harsh punishments within his own ranks for disloyalty. Though it was at times tough to read, I was glad that Jeaniene Frost didn't change the things that gave Vlad the reputation he has historically. Fictional Vlad still favors impaling as punishment, tortures enemies, and rules with a threatening iron fist. It's what he had to do as a human, and he rules over his vampire kingdom in the same fashion.

Bones may have adapted to the modern world smoothly, but Vlad has not. Leila takes issue with the violence with which Vlad approaches the world, and his arrogance drives her up the wall, but she can't help falling for the charms he hides from the world and only reveals for her.

I'm not sure I would fall for him if I was in her place, but I could see the love between them, even if Vlad insists he's incapable of loving her.

I loved the way Vlad encouraged her to be stronger and harness her abilities. She became a formidable warrior, and those changes made me cheer.

The plot itself was enthralling. Many twists and turns, many elements of danger, many elements of romance, and an explosive climax. The characters had depth and substance, as is usual for this author, and I admire her ability to create a wide variety of character types within her universe. All the main characters for her novels, and there have now been four couples with books focused on them, are unique in their strengths, weaknesses, desires, needs, and motivations. Vlad is probably the most unique of any of them, and I admire the homework that Ms. Frost seems to have done on the real Vlad's life in order to populate her novel with accurate character development.

I read the entire book in one evening. Two hours before bed, I opened it to read for a while. Before I realized what happened, I was finishing the last page in the wee hours of the morning. I've read several books in the Night Huntress Universe with this much enthusiasm, but I didn't expect it. It was a night well spent with the Prince of Darkness.

Photo Credit pakorn via freedigitalphotos.net

Stars Image Credit lovethenerddesigns