The Dark Highlander (The Highlander Series, Book 5)

I may be Karen Marie Moning's biggest fan! I have read all of her books and "The Dark Highlander" is my favorite. Daegus MacKelter, the dark, intense, super-alpha hero, (the most alpha man around), is the reason. He is smart, sexy, enchanting and determined. Once you meet him, you won't be able to put this book down. The plot happens to be intelligent and exciting also. Daegus is a 16th century Highlander living in a lush apartment in 21st century Manhattan. Yes, there's time travel here, as well as magic, romance, mystery, adventure and edge-of-your-seat suspense. McKelter is in this century searching for an ancient manuscript, from his time, so he can find the method to exorcise the thirteen evil Druid entities that possess him. He has to find the texts soon because their dark presence threatens to take him over completely, and their power grows with every minute. Chloe Zanders, an antiquities dealer who is especially interested in 16th century military pieces, is found in Daegus' apartment snooping through his texts and manuscripts. She had actually gone there on official business. When she found the door unlocked she entered. Daegus was not at home - but his treasures, ancient artifacts which appear new, are all over the place, right out in the open - like a museum! How can she resist? Actually Daegus is the one who finds her....and he ties her up. How like an alpha male! He is immediately drawn to this intelligent, feisty lady who would bargain away her soul to get her hands on some of his antiquities. He holds Chloe captive - but this is not your usual captive damsel romance plot. Chloe is no damsel, believe me! There are plot twists, hilarious scenes that ooze with sexual tension and sensuality. Yum! The dialogue and banter between the two is outstanding! They eventually travel to Scotland because the book he has been searching for is not in America after all - but back home. There he meets with his brother and sister-in-law. Daegus had been avoiding his family because he feared their learning of his possession - knowledge which could lead to his death. And in Scotland the evil grows stronger. The "Tuatha De Dannan," (a fairy type immortal race), had made a pact with the human race hundreds of years before. The Keltar became the chosen to protect the earth, nourish it and rebuild the land. A compact was forged between the two races - man and fairy. Under extreme duress, Daegus was forced to break this pact and when he did, the 13 "Tuatha De Dannan," who had broken away from the main group and turned to dark ways, possessed Daegus' mind, and eventually threatened his very soul. This is a very special and most unusual story. Ms. Moning has created a magical world where time has little meaning and lovers will cross centuries and continents to stay together. The author has included fascinating, accurate details of Celtic Druid lore and life. Her characters are three-dimensional and so likable. All I can say, to sum up, is that I read avidly - all kinds of books. This is one of my Top Ten favorites. Highest recommendation! JANA

The Dark Highlander is really three love stories. A love story between a man and a woman, between brothers and between a father and son. Dageus is a druid with a problem. He has broken his oath in order to save his brother, Drustan. In breakng this oath, he has invited thirteen dark druid souls into his body that are slowly taking over. Once they take over he we cease to exist. Chloe is a bright spirited and tenacious. She is passionate about relics, especially Scottish relics. She is about to go on adventure that will put her knowledge and heart to the test. Again just like Kiss of the Highlander, The Dark Highlander is beautifully written. But where Kiss of the Highlander was a little lighter, The Dark Highlander is more intense. You still have the humour to break up the intensity but we learn the differences between they way the brothers deal with the world. It explores many relationships. You not only feel the love between Dageus and Chloe, but you get to know the relationship between the twin brothers and Dad and son all while trying to save Dageus. Dageus really learned how he fits into his family. We also get to know more about the Compact that was created between The Tuatha De Danaan and The MacKeltar's. And the consequences of breaking the sacred Compact. This book takes the reader on a journey through space and time. It has joy and sorrow and always leaves you wanting to this book again.

OK, I like a good story and so I'm reading this series (Beyond the Highland Mist, To Tame a Highland Warrior, The Highlander's Touch, Kiss of the Highlander, etc.). And, some of the books even feature highlanders though you get little of the highland way of life or the castle/keep ambiance. And, she does little in the way of character development for any but the main few characters. But this one seems to me to be primarily a fantasy/fae story that mostly takes place in the modern US (you don't even get to Scotland until nearly page 200). And the male lead, Adam Black, is not a Scottish highlander though he's assumed that disguise in his past 5000+ year life as a fae. And my other complaint about this "highlander" series is that the language is mostly modern even among the so called highlanders. But if you can accept all that and not be disappointed, it's a good story and she does well with the sexual tension and love making scenes. I read though her books pretty fast as there's not much substance there and after really meaty highlander and historical Scottish romances, I'm not sure this one is even a 4 star though...might be a 3 star plus. For a 5 star highlander romance, see my other reviews.

This the second of the best of the Highlander series. Start with 'The Kiss of the Higlander and then finish (for now at any rate) with 'Spell of the Highlander' and 'The Immortal Highlander'. There are others that touch on the MacKeltar/Fae world but these four are by far the best. The Dark Highlander is time-travelling Dageus MacKeltar, born 600 years ago and now possessed the souls of 13 evil druids as a result of saving his brother's life ('The Kiss of the Highlander'). He has to find a way to rid himself of these souls before they consume him, and while he battles within himself he kidnaps Chloe, an historian and lover of Scottish artifacts. Their emotional and physical journey to free him is original, sizzling and will keep you coming back for more. I just love this book! The next in the series are 'The Immortal Highlander' and the 'Spell of the Highlander'. I can't decide which I love best - they are all different and reveal different pieces of the Highlander world. They all have women who seem real, with weaknesses and strengths and distinctively different characters. Oh, and those MacKeltar men...

Der Traum jeder Frau, der Albtraum aller Männer. Genauso wie dieses Buch! Perfekt für lange Sonntage.Witzig, charismatisch und sehr sehr romantisch und wild.

Very good service, good condition. Will add to my books collection. SUZIE

Ce cinquième tome de la série des "Highlanders" commence juste après la fin de "Kiss of the Highlander" où on apprenait que Dageus Mac Keltar, le frère jumeau de Drustan, pour sauver son frère d'un destin funeste, avait brisé le pacte qui leur interdisait de remonter le temps pour leur propore intérêt. De ce fait, il a libéré les âmes des 13 druides noirs qui avaient été scellés plus d'un millénaire auparavant et qui, maintenant, résident dans son corps. Et il est bien décidé à trouver un moyen pour les renvoyer d'où ils viennent... Ce que j'apprécie plus particulièrement dans cette série, c'est que l'auteur se renouvelle à chaque histoire. On ne retrouve jamais deux fois la même situation. On sait qu'on va avoir notre "Happy Ending", mais il est impossible de deviner comment on va y parvenir (personnellement, je n'y suis pas encore arrivée). C'est ce qui rend le récit aussi addictif. Bien sûr, les personnages sont attachants: Dageus est irrésistible et Chloé est adorable (son obsession des antiquités celtiques est à l'origine des scènes les plus drôles du roman). Le fort tempérament des personnages rend leurs relations explosives et, quand la tension atteint son paroxysme, c'est un feu d'artifices d'émotions qui nous laisse, nous lecteurs, à genoux. C'est le genre de récit qui laisse une empreinte émotionnelle indélébile dans notre mémoire. A peine la dernière page tournée, je n'avais qu'une envie: revenir à la première page...

Dageus MacKeltar broke a four-thousand-year-old compact with the ancient, powerful, and magical people, the Tuathe De’ Danaan, for purely selfish reasons, something the MacKeltars are expressly forbidden to do – he did it to save his twin brother’s life. In doing so, the souls of thirteen evil druids now live within Dageus, tempting, teasing, and torturing him in body, mind, and soul in their attempts to be released. If he just gives in to their demands, they promise he’ll be free, but Dageus knows that will never be. Instead, he must find a way to break the curse and return the druids to the dimension in which the Tuathe De’ Danaan banished them. Only then can he return home to the place of his birth not in shame, but with his honour restored. To do that, he needs the help of a ravishing, and undoubtedly the most stubborn lass he’s ever seen. Chloe Zanders is no fool. Innocent in the ways of men and sex she may be, but no, she’s not stupid. There’s no way she’s about to hand over a priceless book to a man who can’t possibly read its ancient languages let alone appreciate such a valuable piece of history. She’s prepared to tell him exactly what she thinks of the dangerously attractive man too, but all that fades into comparison to the wonders he can share with her. Indeed, the wonders he can show her too. But not everything adds up when it comes to this strange man who seems more suited to the Scottish Moors than contemporary New York City. Chloe’s afraid she may lose so much more than her heart to this wild man, a man who claims he is not of this time. A man who is so much more than he seems. I’ve been fascinated by the Tuathe De’ Danann and Celtic tales in general for many years, so not only was I excited to read something that touches on this belief, but also to step out of my comfort zones and read a time travelling story. In the Dark Highlander, I found both. I admit I was disappointed when I first read about an experienced man who falls for a sweet, innocent virgin. It seemed so cliché. But I had to consider when it was written, and the more I read, the more drawn into the story I became. And it was so much more than just a romance. It had my Celtic legends, ancient artefacts, and my favourite paranormal topic – curses. If you’re like me and you love Celtic tales, you’ll enjoy this story. And if you like sexy Scottish men – well, need I say more? :)