Book source ~ ARC. My review is voluntary and honest.

Known as Cliff the Vampire at network headquarters, he’s a favorite of the human employees and the Immortal Guardians whose job it is to kill vampires, not protect them. However, one night several years prior during a massive confrontation between the Immortal Guardians, Bastien (long story), and vampires, Cliff and two others were asked if they wanted to surrender and be housed at the network while the doctors work on a cure for the virus that transforms the non-gifted into vampires. Since the other option is to be killed outright they agree. Plus, they really wanted to be cured.

Cliff has survived longer than any known vampire, but he’s struggling. His friends do anything and everything they can think of to keep him sane and one person who quiets the voices is Emma. Years pass and as time marches on and there’s still no cure, Cliff has to face reality – he’s slowly succumbing to the madness that afflicts all vampires and he needs to make a choice soon about how he wants to die. When a final terrible battle is thrust upon them, Cliff grabs his chance to die a hero. But will the people who love him let him go?

Wow. And holy shit. I love this story! Love it! It’s different from all of the other Immortal Guardians tales in that we have known Cliff from Book 1. He has been an integral part of the Immortal Guardian Universe for several years and 10 books. He’s been in the background as a secondary character in every single story. Getting his own book just feels right. Plus, he’s a great character! He may not be an Immortal Guardian, but as a vampire he is still a central character in the fight against a virus that destroys anyone who is not gifted.

Now, I wondered how the hell Dianne Duvall was going to write about a guy we’ve come to know and love over such a long span. Someone who has been in the background, but who is such a wonderful guy that he makes friends among everyone. Well, she started at the beginning, of course. And it works. I love how we get scenes from previous books, but from Cliff’s POV. Seeing everything through his eyes made all the other books richer and in-depth to me. But that’s just my opinion. I love multiple POVs.

It wouldn’t be an Immortal Guardians book if there wasn’t a strong woman to stand up for the man she’s attracted to and that’s where Emma comes in. Cliff saves her after she was trying to save others when network HQ is attacked. And a slow-moving romance blossoms from a friendship encouraged by their friends. Emma and Cliff give us insight into network headquarters and we get to see, up close and personal, Cliff’s struggle with the madness that has consumed his friends and is slowly consuming him. Emma is strong yet vulnerable, intelligent, and her humor shines through. She’s a perfect match for Cliff.

There are other readers who were disappointed in the ending to Cliff’s journey. I’m not one of them. I think it was the right choice to make and it is perfect. To me anyway. I love the Immortal Guardians, Cliff the Vampire, and all the other individuals who exist in this wonderful universe. The fast action, steamy attraction, humor, and fantastic characters make my fingers fly through the pages as I devour each book in one sitting. Dianne Duvall’s books continue to sit on my Top Ten Favorite Series List. I cannot recommend them enough. In fact, you’ll probably get sick of me singing their praises. But I can’t help it. When I’m really down or stuck in a slump I will always turn to the Immortal Guardians to lift me back up. Because that’s what old friends do. ( )