Draw Down the Darkness is the second book in Naomi Bellis's riveting series focusing around the traitorous Hellfire League, occultists partnered with the French. Well aware of the threat, King George's spymaster Sir Alaric intends to stop them at all costs.

After his brother committed suicide, Nicholas Saville--Viscount Redfern--accepted a generous offer with a high price. Sir Alaric would cover up the scandal, in exchange for Redfern's service as one of his spies.

Sworn to secrecy, Redfern has no explanation when his fiancée, Helen, demands to know why he's constantly traveling. Although he's kept contact with her in the form of letters and brief visits while he's in England, Helen's been left hanging for five years--and she's growing impatient.

At the beginning of the novel, Redfern returns to England with once again no explanation and no promise that he can stay. Both infuriated and saddened, Helen cuts off their engagement. She's almost immediately courted by the Earl of Waring, who gifts her with an expensive necklace. Although she tries at first to refuse, he clasps it around her neck; within minutes, Helen is under his control.

Redfern is on a mission from Sir Alaric to investigate Hellfire League activity--but now, he realizes the true threat to Helen and risks everything to rescue her from the spell.

All in all, I enjoyed this book quite a lot. One of my biggest disappointments with the series is that while the paranormal element is often played up in blurbs, it's more an overtone than an actual strong element. However, if one approached it as a historical with a light paranormal feel, I think one would be quite enthralled with this book. It's more disappointment akin to being promised chocolate cherry cake and receiving chocolate with vanilla filling than with the story itself.

I also felt that Helen for the better part of the book was a weak character. While she was aware of Waring's spell and knew she was acting unlike herself, she did not struggle against it. For a good portion of the book, she was essentially a puppet, and as such I felt it negatively impacted the romance between them. There was only about a third of the book for the romance itself to build, and I wished there could have been more interaction between the two.

However, once she's free of the Earl's spell…may I just say that Helen kicks ass? She's a very strong character after that point, and I'm disappointed that I didn't get to spend more time with her and Redfern together, rather than apart.

Now, I think it says something of Ms. Bellis's strength as an author that, despite the limited actual stage time of Helen, I cared about her quite a lot and wanted to find out what happened with her and Redfern--because at times, it seemed like the happy ending was not going to be possible.

Hats off to Ms. Bellis for making it work.

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