This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
Reviewed by Jennifer Joyce
Megs and Godric married two years ago, but out of convenience rather than love and haven’t seen one another since their wedding day. Godric remained in London while Megs moved to Godric’s Cheshire estate. However, Megs is unexpectedly back in London, determined to carry out two tasks: find the murderer of her lover and true love, Roger and consummate her marriage to Godric in order to have a baby.
While Megs is still grieving for Roger, Godric is also consumed with grief for his first wife, Clara. While Godric went along with the wedding to Megs, he never planned on having a new wife in anything but name. He doesn’t want a wife on a day to day basis and he certainly doesn’t want to betray Clara by having one in his bed. Godric has been living a solitary life for the past two years so he isn’t pleased when Megs turns up, along with her Great-Aunt Elvina, Godric’s sister, Sarah and an array of staff to run Godric’s dusty old house. As well as disrupting his house, Megs’ arrival threatens to unveil Godric’s secret. For years, Godric has been leading a double life. During the day he is simply Godric St John, but at night he becomes the Ghost of St Giles, a masked avenger protecting the most violent streets of 1740’s London. Part of the reason Megs has travelled to London is to unmask the Ghost of St Giles and kill him because rumour has it that it was the Ghost who murdered her beloved Roger.
I was a little confused when I first started reading Lord of Darkness as it begins right in the middle of the action, when Megs arrives in London and is in a bit of a standoff with the Ghost of St Giles. I didn’t really know what was going on as Megs, the Ghost and some robbers battled it out before we’d even been introduced to the characters. However I got past that first scene and it all fell into place and from then on I really began to enjoy the story. Both Megs and Godric are grieving from the loss of their lover/wife and have no intention of ever falling in love again. They didn’t know each other before their wedding and barely know each other now. They have only ever exchanged a few letters during their marriage, but I loved how they quickly got to know each other, developing affection and respect for one another as well as a growing attraction.
I found the Ghost of St Giles aspect interesting and not just because Megs wants him dead, not knowing he is her husband. The Ghost is looked upon as the enemy, as a cold-blooded killer when really he is protecting the people of St Giles. Children in the town are going missing, snatched from the streets and sent to warehouses where they are mistreated and worked practically to death. The Ghost is determined to find the girls and rescue them while bringing their captors to justice. I liked the contrast between Godric’s character. On the surface he seems closed off and uncaring, but deep down he is a compassionate man, which shows in his work as the Ghost and his treatment of Megs. As the Ghost he is courageous, but is also angry at having lost Clara, which drives him and allows him to disregard his own life as he puts himself in dangerous situations. The book is full of passion and romance, however it is equally full of action and mystery as the Ghost tries to uncover the whereabouts of the snatched girls.
8/10
Elizabeth Hoyt’s Website