Blog Tour: Review of Nikolai by S.L. Jennings

Reading order...

# 1 - Dark Light 

# 2 - The Dark Prince

# 2.5 - Nikolai 

Two centuries ago, I clawed my way into a world of immorality, filth and destruction. A world seething with secrets and lies, both mortal and immortal.

Complete and utter Darkness. 

I know we’re supposed to be inherently evil, but something inside me refuses to fully believe our legends. Something that calls out for more…calls out for her. 

But there are rules. Rules that control the balance of nature. And if broken, it could destroy everything I’ve ever known. It could destroyme.

I am Nikolai Skotos, son of Stavros and Delia, and brother of Dorian, the heir of the Dark throne. I am one of the most powerful Dark forces to have ever walked this earth.

And I once was lost.
Now, I’m about to give it all up for the girl that found me.


*This is a PREQUEL NOVELLA for the Dark Light Series, NOT Book 3. The first two books Dark Light and The Dark Prince should be read BEFORE  Nikolai*

Jenn D. says...

I am a huge fan of the Dark Light Series and in my book, Dorian is top five book boyfriend material so when SL Jennings announced she was writing a novella for his little brother I was very intrigued.  We met Niko in the Dark Prince.  He comes in and stole the show a little bit and got me thinking hmmmm….  What is it about Niko that intrigues me???  When In Nikolai, we get a glimpse into  his world.  His father Stavros is the King of the Dark, the most powerful person in the Dark warlocks.  His older brother Dorian oozes sex appeal and is set to take over when their father steps down.  Then there is Niko… he is the outsider.  He has to fight for his own right.  He feels like he cannot live up to all that is Dorian and the all-powerful Stavros. 

“I want to bury this shit.  I want to erase all the confusion and anger that has haunted me my entire life.  Never good enough…. Always the black sheep.”

We start out with Nikolai in the 1990 in New Orleans.  He runs a large brothel that is very profitable.   He and his right hand man Varshaun are ruthless when it comes to business.  They are cold calculated murders and don’t care who they take from to get what they want.  They feel nothing.  They are the Dark and they and they are powerful.  The use sex, drugs, and alcohol to escape from it all.  They live in a fantasy world where everything they ever want is at the fingertips.  Nikolai feels nothing but emptiness and cold hatred runs through his veins.   Until he meets the girl that will change it all!

Amelie comes into Niko’s brothel by ways of a debt.  Her father is a drunk and has a heavy gambling problem so she agreed to be turned over to the brothel to have his debt settled.  Even though she came willing to save her father she is kicking and screaming the whole way.  The commotion brings Niko to investigate as they only take on girls that are willing to go into the profession.  She is fighting the men and resists being there but then reveals why she is resistance.... she is a virgin

“She’s a virgin but she’s banished herself to a life of shame and debasement, damned herself to live with a monster.  Even I can’t wrap my head around it, and I’m the king of mind-fucks.”

She also knows who he is, even though they have never met.  But Niko can sense there is something in her bloodline.  Even though she is human, he knows she has supernatural powers flowing through her.   There is something about her that he is drawn too.  He keeps her in his room where he can keep an eye on her.  She reveals to him that she was sick when she was ten and her mother called upon a witch to heal her.  Since then, she has dreamt of Niko every night.  Every evil killing or every sex filled night she has bared witness too.  She is part of a bloodline that is an enemy to the Dark.   She is a direct descendant of a Voodoo Queen.  The Dark feel their magic is unnatural and calls upon the dead, that it disrupts the balance of nature.  Even with this knowledge, Niko wants her more than anything he has ever wanted.  He feels a peace with her that he has never felt before.

“She sees me, and I allow her.  Maybe for shock value, or maybe because I know she’ll never survive long enough to confirm the legends of her people.  But I let her take it all in… the nightmare that is me.  The Dark One that needs to kill her… yet wants to own her.”

The more time Niko spends with Ameliee the more he falls for her.  She brings a light to his dark existence he has never felt before.  He feels love that he never felt from anyone.  Even though they have not been together in a sexual way, he craves to be with her.  Just being around her is enough for now.  He will do anything to protect her because if anyone from the Dark knew who she really was, she would be killed.

“In the span of a few short days, Amelie has become a warm and bright as the sun to me.  She’s become my light.  And I never thought in a million years, in eternity of existing in the dark, that I could ever crave that.”

This more evident than when the lovely Aurora makes a visit.  Oh how a sooooo despise this women!!  There is not a fictional character that I hate more!!!  I hope one day she gets what she deserves because she is so evil!!  So… she makes a visit to discuss Dorian with Niko.  While having a drink with Varshaun, Aurora, and Nadia (another member of the dark and a friend of Niko’s) Amelie over hears them discussing Niko’s notorious sexscapdes and runs off.  Niko runs after her and reveals the truth to her that even though their families are sworn enemies, he needs her.  He has an overwhelming sense to keep her safe.  He reveals that she has been under the spell of something, that she recently woke up possessed.  The people who still practice black magic know that Amelie is with him, with the Dark and will stop at nothing to kill them both. Also that voodoo magic use is on the rise and to keep the balance of nature the source needs to be sought out and killed.  He insists on moving her to his house and not the brothel to keep her safe.

Niko takes her to his house and Amelie decides she is ready to give herself to him.  These moments are touching and make my heart melt. But when you think they will be able to have happiness, all hell breaks loose…   Will Niko and Amelie be able to be together even though their families are sworn enemies?  With Niko being so wrapped up in all that is Amelie, he is blind to what is going on around him and one of his closest friend uses this to their advantage.  With betrayal and deception on the horizon, will Niko and Amelie be able to find the happiness they deserve or will it end in tragedy? You will need to read to find out!

Words cannot describe how amazing this book is!!  It truly has it all!!  Its smoking hot…  I may have gotten the urge to light up a cigarette after reading a couple of the sex scenes.  Its suspenseful… it had me turning the pages and devouring this book in one day!  And above all, it’s a wonderful love story about forbidden love and my heart melted and was ripped apart.  I found myself wanting Niko to find love when all he has ever known is cold and darkness.  It’s a fantastic additional to the Dark Light Series!!  Even though I am forever ruined by Dorian, Niko now has a part of heart as well! 

Most known for her starring role in a popular sitcom as a child, S.L. Jennings went on to earn her law degree from Harvard at the young age of 16. While studying for the bar exam and recording her debut hit album, she also won the Nobel Prize for her groundbreaking invention of calorie-free wine. When she isn’t conquering the seas in her yacht or flying her Gulfstream, she likes to spin elaborate webs of lies and has even documented a few of these said falsehoods.

Some of S.L.’s devious lies:

FEAR OF FALLING

AFRAID TO FLY (sequel to Fear of Falling)- not yet released

THE DARK LIGHT SERIES

v  Dark Light

v  The Dark Prince

v  Nikolai (a Dark Light novella)- coming November 2013

v  Light Shadows- not yet released

TAINT- coming soon

Meet the Liar:

www.facebook.com/authorsljennings

Twitter: @MrsSLJ