Books & Spoons Review: DARKEST BEFORE DAWN by Maya Banks

The Kelly Group International (KGI): A super-elite, top secret, family-run business.
Qualifications: High intelligence, rock-hard body, military background.
Mission: Hostage/kidnap victim recovery. Intelligence gathering. Handling jobs the U.S. government can’t...

The enigmatic Hancock has been both opponent and ally to the KGI teams for as long as they've known him. Always working a deep game, Hancock's true allegiance has never been apparent, but one thing is for certain—he never lets anything get in the way of duty.

But now, his absolute belief in the primacy of his ultimate goal is challenged by a captive he's been ordered to guard, no matter how much she suffers in her prison. She's the only woman who's ever managed to penetrate the rigid walls surrounding his icy heart, but will he allow his perplexing feelings for the beautiful victim to destroy a mission he's spent years working to complete or will he be forced to sacrifice her for “the greater good.”

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A dark and gritty story, that takes you to the edge of the human mind, via danger, betrayal, and torture.
Setting the scene of the plot takes a rather long time, the beginning of the book, about 20% of it, moves on a bit slowly, with long inner thoughts and very little dialog. But it picks up after the scene is set and the characters meet each other. The book as a whole is rather wordy, and there's some repetition that could have been edited out, but overall that didn't take away from the interesting plot.
The story-line is mind blowing, the elements of the story are taken into so extreme that at times they dance on the border of being believable.
The heroine Honor, is honorable, humble, kind, and touches everyone's soul she meets. The hero, Hancock, is the total opposite, dark, dangerous, not to be trusted, 'a killing machine'. Now, I liked both of the characters, I actually liked all the characters in the story, and for those who has followed the series, the previously introduced KGI members do play a part in the story.
I admit there are a couple scenes in this story, where the assaults are so raw, that they had my guts turning. The danger is constant, and action is close combat, bloody, and gory. The main focus is on the mission, and the complications and obstacles it creates. The romance comes later in the story, as the contact between Honor and Hancock is built through respect, admiration, and a fragile trust. That trust is put on a trial, that chances everything in the relationship.
I found myself conflicted with the story, as I thought there's a lot of repetition, but at the same time the language is flowing and the scenes set in my mind are so clear. The characters are over the top, yet likable and charismatic. The action is rough, but believable. But the message of redemption, forgiveness, and rare soul mates finding each other comes clear in the story, leaving on an imprint
~ Four Spoons