UNMASKED

The fourth entry in Hardt’s (Undaunted,
2018, etc.) erotic supernatural saga finds a vampire struggling to control the
darkness within himself as he and his human lover search for missing friends
and family.

Lately, Dante Gabriel has
felt a dark energy pursuing him, but he’s come to realize that he is that darkness. However, the ever present
ghost of the vampire’s father, Julian, convinces him that he can learn to
control his inner evil. Dante believes that his greatest asset in this task is Erin
Hamilton, the woman he loves and with whom he shares a blood bond—one so strong
that he may not be able to live without her, and vice versa. Dante regularly
consumes Erin’s blood for his sustenance and their sexual gratification. Now,
he begins experimenting with BDSM in the bedroom—a riding crop is involved—as a
way to embrace his dark energy without allowing it to take over. Meanwhile, some
of couple’s loved ones have gone missing, including Erin’s best friend, Lucy;
Dante’s pregnant sister, Emilia; and his uncle (and Julian’s twin), Brae.
Dante’s cousin, River, and Erin’s brother, Jay, who are partner detectives, aid
in the couple’s search, but they believe that answers may be found in the
seemingly untranslatable Vampyre Texts. Dante’s paternal
grandfather, Bill, knows the book’s secrets, but he’s inexplicably mum, and
finding another copy is an exhausting task. It’s soon apparent that the being who’s responsible for people
going missing is also leading rogue vampires who’ve targeted Erin. That leader
is likely the same female vampire who, for a decade, held Dante captive for
unclear reasons.

Hardt’s latest installment
shows some definite character and plot evolution. Over the course of the
series, Dante and Erin’s sex has progressively intensified, particularly in
Dante’s aggressive demands. But this book has added new suspense, as there’s a
strong possibility that he could lose control and hurt Erin (without her
permission). Dante also shows frightening signs of an elitist mentality; for
the first time, he may see vampires as superior to humans. The mystery proceeds
well; the investigating group identifies at least one of the rogue vampires,
and Erin finds a prime suspect for the vampire boss. Dante’s former captor has
been an enigma since the series’ beginning; this time, the author treats her
readers to a big reveal, although this is most certainly not the final series
installment. Hardt also centers on her characters’ human traits, eschewing vampire
conventions such as immortality and lethal sunlight, but her narrative makes
sure to showcase other supernatural elements. Dante, for example, continues to
gain new powers, and Julian possesses an ability that could have a serious
impact on the world at large. As in preceding books, the plot maintains a
brisk, steady momentum courtesy of Hardt’s condensed descriptions and
rapid-fire dialogue. At one point, for instance, Dante equates Erin’s “irresistible”
scent with a bevy of images and senses: “Dark coffee, dark chocolate, the
richest, darkest blackberry, the richest, darkest Merlot.”