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Embraced by Darkness - Book One: Sacrifices

Tarah L. Wolff
Tarah Wolff (2011)
ISBN 9780985022808
Reviewed by Kam Aures for RebeccasReads (2/12)

“Osondrous was smiling at all those naughty things that Telenay had at the back of his head.  She was smiling because all she had to worry about was Telenay’s impatience.

Her horse heard the arrow first.  His head snapped up.

She gasped.

The arrow clipped over Tamarack’s ears.  A long black shaft, aimed right at her heart.  She dove out of the way.  Too late.  The arrow hit her and threw her back.” (p.3)

This passage is from the opening pages of Tarah L. Wolff’s first novel in her “Embraced by Darkness” series of books.  In this first installment, the reader is introduced to a group called the Wards, who after being enslaved, have risen to a position of power.  However, their security and safety is soon threatened.  

Perhaps, the most enchanting part of the book though, is the focus on the lives and decisions (many of them poor) of the three main female characters.  Wolff paints a vivid picture of the events that are taking place and the characters in the novel, particularly these female characters, are very well-developed.

In the “More about the Author” section of “Embraced by Darkness- Book One:  Sacrifices” the reader learns that author Tarah Wolff (born in 1986) developed her love of writing at a very young age.  At age eleven, she joined The Jackpine Writers’ Bloc and eventually Wolff and her aunt actually took charge of the group.  Her work on “Embraced by Darkness- Book One:  Sacrifices” began when she was very young and continued through some of the more difficult and trying years of her life.

I do want to note though, that the first thing that grabbed my attention about the book was the racy cover art.  While Wolff is making a bold statement about the book and letting the readers know what kind of content they can expect within, I kind of question the decision.  I can only speak for myself, but I would have preferred a little more toned down cover.  In its present form, it is not a book that I would carry around in public¸ nor even leave face up at home on my coffee table with children in the house.

With that being said, the novel is definitely written for a mature audience as it contains strong sexual content and language.  This fantasy novel is a unique work within its respective genre.  I think that Wolff is a very talented young author and look forward to what she has in store for the reader in the next installment in the series,   “Embraced by Darkness- Book Two:  Stricken.”

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