The third book in the series. This time we back-track to the night of the full moon (when, in book 2, Lindsey finally made her chose between Connor and Rafe) and we see how Brittany copes with transforming alone. Remember, Dark Guardian legend foretells that when a female faces her first transformation, she will not survive if she doesn’t have a male with her.

The book starts at the point just before the transformation is to happen. Brittany is terrified as she knows she may not be alive to see the sun rise again, but she waits and waits and waits.

Nothing happens and she’s devastated.

Because of the opening to the story, I believe I managed to swap characters to Brittany’s point of view quite easily. I felt sorry for her. And because of that, I think I tolerated her story more than I did Lindsey’s. She had more reason to act the way she does in the book. And there weren’t as many cheesy bits, or maybe I had just become more accepting of those too.

My biggest complaint with the book was how swiftly Connor went from Lindsey to Brittany. The explanation is viable, but it was too quick in my opinion and there were not enough hints of how Connor might have felt in the second book for me to accept it so readily in this one. Yeah, I know it’s just a story, but still…

There was less hiking and camping in this book, which by now I was glad of. However, the Bio-Chrome threat was ever present. More so, as the threat became a bigger part of the story and is resolved by the end of the book. I was pleased with this.

The thing I liked most about this book, it that it felt closer to reality where emotions were concerned. I’m not talking about the romance side of things, I mean the feelings we hold much deeper and often keep secret from others – our fears. Often we do stupid things to be accepted and Brittany is no different when she makes her decisions.

I give this book 3.5 stars. I enjoyed it more than the second book, it ‘spoke’ to me, drew me right in, and even made me shed a tear. However, I still feel the first book’s freshness made it stand out from the rest, even with the cheesy parts. ( )

Poor Rachel Hawthorne... she just can't seem to get it right. She's a good writer- not great, but a sound craftswoman. And yet she keeps dropping the ball. The previous two Dark Guardian books have provided enjoyment, but also disappointment. In the third installment, she cleans up the technical problems- Dark of the Moon is well-paced, centers around an appealing couple, and it weaves it's central romance into the overall plot of the series very nicely. Freed of the minor issues, she produces a pretty good teenage love story. But it doesn't fit at all with what her readers have come to expect, rendering it perhaps the biggest disappointment of them all.

Lupines and Lunatics

Reviewed by Jennifer Rummel for TeensReadToo.com

Brittany 's the only girl to face her transformation alone in centuries, since she failed to attract her soul mate. In reality, she did choose. He just happens to be taken.

The elders tried to play matchmaker, but that didn't work. She won't submit to transforming with someone she doesn't love.

Stubbornly, she sets off alone preparing for a night of horrible pain...that never quite happens. She doesn't transform.

She doesn't know what to do or who to tell. It rocks her world and will change her future. While she's still reeling from the shock, she's captured by the group wanting to prove to the world that werewolves exist. They also capture Connor - the one she loves.

They can tell by her blood she's human and that Connor isn't. She'll do almost anything to keep Connor alive - but will he hate her for it?

I love this series of paranormal reads. They're romantic with a dash of danger and strong bonds of friendship and family. ( )