Book Review: Night Play

Night Play

Dark-Hunters Series #5

By: Sherrilyn Kenyon

Published By: St. Martin's Paperbacks

Publication Date: August 3, 2004

Buy it at Amazon or IndieBound

Source: Owned by Reviewer

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Audience: Adult

My Thoughts:
Night Play is the story of Vane and Bride. Vane is a lethal wolf, a were-hunter use to fighting for everything he had; never finding comfort or safety. Bride is a curvy woman who is use to being hurt by men unable to accept her the way she is. When they cross paths unexpectedly, Vane is drawn to Bride in ways that he doesn't understand. It is not natural for a wolf to want a human the way he wants Bride. For Bride who has just been dumped by a boyfriend who was never satisfied with her and always had her on a diet or in an exercise program, Vane is too good to be true. He doesn't only accept her the way he is, but he loves her the way she is. Will she be able to accept him when his truth comes out? Will she be the safety and comfort he has never had? Vane will have only three short weeks to convince Bride that they are meant to be together and that only he can love her the way she has always dreamed of  being loved.

There are so many things I love about this book. First and foremost, the characters. I love that Bride is a real woman. She's not a super skinny super model waif of a girl. She struggles with body image, always attempting to lose weight and be what society considers beautiful. It's on the tip of my tongue to say that Vane sees past that, into her heart and soul; who she is on the inside... but the fact is that while he does see that, he also sees and loves what's on the outside too. He's the first (and only) man who loves Bride's body the way it is and has no desire to change her in anyway. Vane is in many ways a knight in shining armor for Bride. He always seems to be there when she needs to be rescued. He's a typical alpha male - large and in charge. But he finds himself, for the first time ever, unsure of his course. Facing danger and fighting for his life, protecting his siblings at all costs - these are the things he knows. He doesn't know or understand the softness and warmth Bride provides; he doesn't know or understand the human emotions and thoughts he has around her. While Vane is learning to accept the human side of himself, Bride must learn to accept the wolf in him, and the mythical world that he brings her into.


In true Sherrilyn Kenyon form, Night Play is action-packed and jammed full of steamy love scenes, swoon-worthy males, a terrific sense of humor, and her own twists on Greek Mythology. From the very first line of the book to the very last line, I couldn't put it down.

Summary from Goodreads:
Bride McTierney has had it with men. They're cheap, self-centered, and never love her for who she is. But though she prides herself on being independent, deep down she still yearns for a knight in shining armor. 


She just never expected her knight in shining armor to have a shiny coat of fur... 


Deadly and tortured, Vane Kattalakis isn't what he seems. Most women lament that their boyfriends are dogs. In Bride's case, hers is a wolf. A Were-Hunter wolf. Wanted dead by his enemies, Vane isn't looking for a mate. But the Fates have marked Bride as his. Now he has three weeks to either convince Bride that the supernatural is real or he will spend the rest of his life neutered--something no self-respecting wolf can accept...  


But how does a wolf convince a human to trust him with her life when his enemies are out to end his? In the world of the Were-Hunters, it really is dog-eat-dog. And only one alpha male can win.