title: Dark Awakening (Dark Dynasties, Book 1)
author:  Kendra Leigh Castle 
description: "Castle demonstrates considerable skill in crafting a tale that offers readers a conflict-ridden forbidden love interlaced with political intrigue and betrayal . . . The author's world-building is intricate and cohesive . . . plenty of action . . . I like Castle's voice and look forward to reading more of her work."<b><i>USAToday.com on <i>Midnight Reckoning</i></i></b><br /><br />"Rising star Castle is sure to please with an exciting new series. Passion and loyalty collide as the hero is forced to re-evaluate the choices that have driven his life."<b><i>RT Book Reviews</i></b><br /><br />"Castle's world-building is superb and leaves readers wanting more."<b><i><em>Romantic Times</em></i></b><br /><br />"[<i>Dark Awakening</i>] grabs you from the first page and the next thing you know you've been reading for several hours immersed in Lily and Ty's world. I adored this story, was sorry it ended so soon and have put the next in the series on my wishlist already. Fans of the paranormal romance, urban fantasy and vampire genres should put this on their wishlist."<b><i>BittenByParanormalRomance.com</i></b><br /><br />"I am always thrilled when I find a new spin on the vampire mystique, and <u>Dark Awakening </u>certainly fits the bill. An amazing story of ancient dynasties, class divisions, curses and blood feuds, this book has opened new and exciting views into vampire worlds...The problem with such a new and detailed book is there is so much information I want to impart, but the most important thing I can say is READ THIS BOOK."<b><i>You Gotta Read Reviews</i></b><br /><br />"Castle is a rising star! Call Of The Highland Moon thrills with seductive romance and breathtaking suspense. This is an author to watch!"<b><i>Alyssa Day, USA Today bestselling author on <em>Call of the Highland Moon</em></i></b><br /><br />"Ms. Castle continues to show the depth and honor of the Scottish heritage. This book defines all the parts that I enjoy for a great read. I look forward to Ms. Castle's next book in this series and wonder what new horizons she will cross..."<b><i><em>Romance Junkies</em> on <em>Dark Highland Fire</em></i></b><br /><br />"Castle put a fresh spin to her vampire series that I hadn't seen before. The world building was superb and I found myself captivated from the very first page. I <b>HIGHLY</b> recommend this one and found this to be a total and complete book seduction. Yay! I've got another author to add to my ever growing list of favorites. I am so looking forward to the sequel."<b><i>SeducedByABook.com</i></b><br /><br />"Kendra Leigh Castle has set the stage for a phenomenal new vampire series which will take the paranormal genre by storm. DARK AWAKENING has one of the most interesting and well-thought out vampire hierarchies that I have encountered in a vampire novel. Vampire novels just don't get any better than this!"<b><i>FreshFiction.com</i></b>
zlib_text: Forgotten Realms
  
  Blades of the Moonsea: Corsair
  
  By Richard Baker
  
  PROLOGUE  
  15 Ches, The Year of the Mages in Amber (1466DR)  
  The shrill ring of steel on steel woke Geran Hulmaster in the dark hour before
  dawn. He rolled up onto one elbow in his bed, listening with his brow creased
  in the darkness of his room. He could hear cries of alarm spreading through
  the castle of Griffonwatch, his family's ancestral home. For a long moment he
  wondered if he were caught in one of those strange dreams that came with a
  delusion of wakefulness. Then the shouts and the commotion started again, and
  Geran came fully awake.  
  He threw off his covers and jumped out of bed; the flagstones of the floor
  were cold under his bare feet. Fighting in Griffonwatch? he wondered. He'd
  lived in the castle of the Hulmasters all his seventeen years, and never had
  the castle come under any kind of attack. Oh, there were the occasional
  barracks-room brawls down in the Shieldsworn quarters, but that was down in
  the c