Title:  Chaos and Moonlight
Series:  Order of the Nines #1
Author:  A. D. Marrow
Genre:  Paranormal, Romance
Published:  May 6, 2015
Publisher:  Full Fathom Five
My Rating:  5 stars
Source:  NetGalley
Synopsis:

The Nines, an elite group of vampires, was established to stand as protection for their race. Fractured by centuries of betrayal and loss, the group is now little more than myth, its remaining members scarred and shattered.

Taris, the oldest living vampire, is no stranger to loss and heartbreak. He is all that holds the Nines together as they struggle to save themselves from total extinction.

Enter the beautiful and brilliant Dr. Sarah Bridgeman, whose medical research has resulted in a breakthrough for both humans and vampires. Her work may be the salvation this weary band of guardians has been looking for.

Taris needs to reach Sarah and enlist her help—before those aligned against him can act. Can a vampire king convince a stunning young scientist to save a species that isn’t even supposed to exist?

For now, only one thing is certain: no science can explain the explosive chemistry between them.

Read on for my thoughts on Chaos and Moonlight.  No true spoilers, promise.

I have loved and read about vampires for decades now.  I have my favorite authors and series.  So let me tell you upfront it takes an exceptional vampire story to earn a 5 star review from me… reserved usually for only my most cherished series and authors.  I have just added a new auto-buy to that list with this very first novel in the Order of the Nines series by A. D. Marrow.  Chaos and Moonlight offers absolutely everything I need in a really great vampire novel – and then some.  Oh, it will not unseat my ultimate favorite vampire series, but it is looking to become my third favorite (hey, long term relationships count, ya know?) – and that, my friend, is saying a lot.

Vampires live among us, have no doubt about that fact.  But their race is dying out.  Females are no longer able to bring their pregnancies to a full term.  It is a heartbreaking situation on so many levels.  Vampires and humans have crossed over into each other’s lives so much now that the interbreeding of both races seems to be leading to the death of the vampire race.

It’s possible that the research into a solution to transplant rejection might hold the answers that the vampire race so desperately needs.

Taris is the oldest living vampire and the leader of The Nines.  By chance he sees an interview done with Doctor Sarah Bridgeman about a breakthrough in transplant rejection research that will possibly change the lives of thousands of transplant recipients worldwide.  It is possible that it could also save an entire race of vampires.  But she doesn’t know that, yet.

There is a balance in life and death.  While Taris and The Nines represents the good, there is Morrigan who represents the worst of the vampire race.  Determined to take over the human race, placing the vampires at the top of the chain of command of this planet, Morrigan will destroy as many humans as she possibly can in that quest.  One of her priorities is Dr. Sarah Bridgeman and her possible cure.

Taris and Sarah meet when he (in his opinion) rescues her from the threat of Morrigan or when she is kidnapped (in her view) by Taris.  No matter which view you take,  it is unmistakeable that sparks of all kinds start from their very first moments together.

And there you have the basics – and I wouldn’t dream of spoiling your enjoyment of the story by telling you much more.

This was an introduction novel into the unique world of the vampires of The Nines and the humans they will encounter and perhaps bring into their world.  We meet some of the characters that will most likely be in future books.  We also learn that this group of vampires faces not only their own unique challenges but also the same challenges that any of us living in this modern world also do.  I was delighted to find many of those challenges within Chaos and Moonlight.  It makes their world more real, more a shared experience.  It drew me in deeper, and I enjoyed that submersion.

I would strongly recommend this novel to those readers who absolutely love Paranormal Romances, vampires, a detailed world building and engaging characters that you will be rooting for… this is one novel, one series that you will want to pick up.

*I received an e-ARC of Chaos and Moonlight from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*

Available now for the Kindle