The Daystar (Rene Lyons)

Dark, tormented bad boy vamp Constantine, AKA `Dragon', is in the spotlight in Lyon's second entry in her Templar Knight Vampire romance series. If you are unfamiliar with the series, it centers around five of the former Templar Knights who were tortured and burned to death in the Friday the 13th purge that targeted all the monk warriors of their order. Of all the Templars, these five had souls so stained by what they did in God's name, that they were cursed to walk the night as a vampires and only by earning redemption during their undeath, can they reclaim their souls and avoid eternal damnation. Constantine is the most dangerous of the 'brother' Knights, an angry solitary man behind the scowl and goth clothing. Constantine's heroine Lexine yearns for him even as he avoids her and tries deny the attraction between them -- Constantine is drawn to Lex because she is everything that he is not and everything he feels he doesn't deserve. Lex who is as light and pure as Constantine... Read more

The Templar Knights became so feared that they returned to their homes not as heroes, but as hunted men. They were imprisoned, tortured and finally burned to death in front of, and by the very people who sent them on their holy mission. That would not be the end for a few of these feared men. Some would be allowed to redeem themselves, reclaim their souls. These mean are Sebastian, Lucian, Constantine, Raphael, and Tristan. And The Daystar is Constantines's story. When Constantine first saw Lex, she was standing on the stairs of a church he could no longer enter. The feelings that she stirred within him had his beast roaring to take her in all the ways a woman should be taken. As soon as he realizes whom he lusts for he shuts down all of those desires. Fearing that he will soil the light, the warmth, which radiates from her. Feeling that he has no right to her goodness. Constantine however will not be able to stay away from Lex as he had hoped, for fate has other plans for these two... Read more

Lexine "Lex" Parker is a human amongst vampires. And not just any vampires, either, but vampires who are part of the legendary Knights Templar! Constantine Draegon is one of the most dangerous of the vampires in the Templar, a vampire tortured by the memories of his past and certain he is more monster than man. Lex finds herself drawn to him as she feels something different inside her, something changing. Can Lex heal Constantine's wounded soul? And just what is the secret behind Lex's changes? Rene Lyons weaves a magical tale in which the past and present events flow together seamlessly. In fact, the events of the past pack a strong emotional punch that make the present day persona of Constantine likable. The agony of Constantine's upbringing as he is constantly rejected, demeaned, and yes, even tortured, is heartbreaking. The flashbacks help ease the abrupt manner Constantine displays as it is easy to see that that he still bears emotional scars. THE DAYSTAR i... Read more

Thanks to her sister, Lex has become a part of the world of the Vampire Knights Templar. She is not a vampire, much less a knight, but she is among the few who is trusted with their secrets and allowed to hang out with them. For one, Constantine, aka, the Dragon, she is more, much more. She is a constant source of temptation. Moreover, she is also the keeper of the power of the Daystar, and that means every evil vampire in the world will want to use her. The time is fast approaching when she will have to go through a trial in order for the Daystar's power to be made manifest. That will either end her life or change things forever. In the time she has left, Lex wants to share her love with Constantine, but can he get past the horrors he lived through centuries ago? **** Ms. Lyons is most adept at building a complex fantasy world and keeping it interesting. Her version of vampirism has much in common with tradition, yet adds new aspects that make it wonderful. There are elements to th... Read more

This is a new chapter in the Templar's road to redemption and what a ride it has proven to be. We already met Lex in The midnight sun, sensing something is different about her and this is where the story in The daystar starts. Something is changing in Lex and as she's trying to figure this out it is Constantine that holds her attention. He's dark, dangerous, lethal and in no way ready for Lex or what she is. Still as the Templar's get a grasp on what she is, the feelings between Constantine and Lex have progressed and when Lex needs to travel to England it is Constantine that travels with her. This story rendered me breathless again, it is not the suspense in this novel that keeps me on the edge of my seat, it is love. Constantine with his dark, tortured past is incredibly well developed by Rene Lyons, she has woven his past and present allowing the reader to fully understand him which enhances his character and the impact of his story. With Lex she adds compassion, strength and ... Read more