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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This Series is Getting Better and Better, Jan 5 2009
I waited for what seemed like forever for the publication of this book and I have to say, Lara Adrian did not disappoint. In fact, IMHO her "Midnight Breed", series is getting better and better.
For those of you that are not familiar with the stories, Ms. Adrian's vampires are a group of warriors formed by their leader 'Lucan', millennium prior to the story told in "Kiss of Crimson", the series opener. The "Gen One", vampires are direct progeny of eight extraterrestrials called the 'Ancients', who were lethal, powerful, bloodthirsty creatures. After arriving on earth the Ancients carved a path of bloody destruction, wiping out entire villages in their quest to feed. Lucan suffered great loss at the hands of his father, an Ancient, therefore he formed "The Order", a group of Gen One warriors, and engaged in a bloody war to wipe out the Ancients. The Order prevailed against the Ancients, and they thought they were all killed. The books all take place in present day and The Order's role has evolved to one of keeping their people safe from their enemies.
Breed males are powerful, not only with respect to strength and speed, but they also each have a unique gift passed down by their mother, a "Breedmate". The Breed can only conceive under certain special circumstances following the exchange of blood with one of these very remarkable human females. These women have an identical tiny birthmark somewhere on their bodies that identifies them. Breedmates all have a special gift such as the ability to heal wounds or psychic ability etc. Once a Breedmate and a Breed male exchange a blood bond, they are mated forever or until death. They have a special link, one knowing where the other is or when he or she is approaching.
Each book tells the story of one of The Order warriors and his mate. Ms. Adrian has gradually built their world, expanding the Order's "family" within the main base located in Boston. What I really like is that the setting for these stories have changed, not all taking place in Boston. The other outstanding point is that each of the Breedmate's is written as an exceptionally strong woman.
Civilian Breed vampires live in a colony type of setting called 'The Darkhavens'. The Breed are not tolerant of sun exposure and they do have enemies within their society. The Order also deals with bureaucracy within the Darkhavens and the civilian police force.
"Veil of Midnight", is Nicholai (Niko) and Renata's story and takes place in and outside of Montreal, Canada, where he is sent to track down 'Sergei Yakut', a reclusive Gen One vampire. The Order has been trying to locate and warn the Gen One's because an assassin has been targeting and taking them out one by one. There are very few Gen One vampires left.
Niko gets a lead on Yakut's whereabouts through questioning some young Breed males in a bar in Montreal when he sees and attractive woman come in. She attracts his attention, he approaches and questions her, then she runs from the bar with Niko in pursuit because he is sure she knows something about Yakut.
The woman (Renata) is a Breedmate who uses her powerful gift to bring Niko down in an instant. As the story progresses we learn that Renata is virtually enslaved to Sergei Yakut, who is a brutal bloodthirsty Gen One vampire living in an isolated area outside of Montreal. Yakut also keeps a young girl captive, who is a Breedmate with an extremely special gift. Renata has bonded with the little girl, loves her dearly and will do anything to protect her.
In addition to her Breedmate ability, Renata trains as a warrior incessantly and is an expert with weapons, especially knives. She is quite the lady!! She is however emotionally vulnerable and very suspicious of Niko as their relationship intensifies.
I always liked Niko's character, he is the "jokester" of the warriors. He loves to tease his fellow soldiers about their settling down and 'bonding', with their mates. He is a master with weaponry and actually crafts his own for use. Like all the Order's warriors, Niko is a battle honed soldier dedicated to carrying out his mission, he is completely committed to his brethren. Renata gradually earns his respect and ultimately his devotion and love as she too is a determined warrior. His special gift is a very unique one and when he and Renata make love, it comes into play. The sexual tension builds between these two and IMHO the eroticism was extremely HOT.
Ms. Adrian has developed a separate subplot in "Veil of Midnight", concerning 'Andreas Reichen', a high ranking, well connected and wealthy civilian who lives in one of the Darkhavens in Germany. Andreas was introduced in "Midnight Awakening", 'Tegan's' book and has been an ally of the Order. An exciting storyline surrounding Andreas is developed and next book in the series "Ashes of Midnight", is to be his story. While Andreas is a civilian, he is extremely powerful, his 'gift' is lethal and amazing.
I think of all the heroines in Ms. Adrian's novels, Renata is probably the strongest with respect to her gift combined with her warrior skills. She is well mated with Niko and Ms. Adrian wrote a lovely HEA for them.
The focus of "The Order's" missions have evolved and changed and this is a transition book. However, what I like about this series is that the plot has evolved over the course of the stories and at no time have the subplots overtaken the main storyline in each book. New characters have been introduced gradually and the subplots are well integrated along with the antagonists in the novels. If you have not read this series I would suggest starting with the first book "Kiss of Crimson", and if you like the story read them in order.
So, "sigh", now I wait until May 2009 for Andreas' story. I have to say, despite being way to old to admit to this, I am a total Lara Adrian 'fangirl'.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
GOOD BUT HAS IT'S FAULTS, Sep 1 2009
VEIL OF MIDNIGHT is an intricate, action packed and well written story. Containing several ongoing sub-plots and many different POV's. Although not as romance filled as the past 4 books in the Midnight Breed series. I feel that this instalment could easily be read as a stand alone as it steps away from the previous story arc and main `breed' characters. Lara Adrian has however filled in any relative back story and given the rules to her Vampire world, so you won't be lost.
Nikolai, a member of the military faction `The Order' has been sent to Montreal to find a Generation One Vampire targeted for assassination. Sergei Yakut at first proves difficult to locate, however once Nicolai identifies the beautiful but deadly Renata as his personal bodyguard, the game changes. She turns the tables, tricking and immobilizing the blonde warrior with her physic powers then delivering him personally to her boss's lodge. Initially Yakut plays the gracious host but after Nicolai snoops around the grounds and discovers the atrocities that have been taking place within, all bets are off. In a rage he confronts the Vampire and is expelled from his property.
Renata has been a prisoner of Yakut's for 2 years now, unable to escape because of the blood bond between the two; she is living a life of fear and random beatings if she refuses to follow his orders. While enslaved Reneta has taken into her charge a young girl named Mira. The also imprisoned child is an oracle, able to show the future in her mirrored eyes. Nicolai, having gazed into them saw a very sexual future between himself and the mysterious Renata. He's doubtful but just the same won't be leaving the lodge without learning more about Renata.
Events soon unfold which see Nicolai trying to stop another attempt on Yakut's life and being wrongly accused of murder. He is then taken into custody by the Enforcement Agency who plan to torture him for information then kill him. Mira is in turn sold into slavery. Although Renata now finds herself free from her years of servitude she is determined to rescue the young prophet. She won't be able to find Mira alone however. First she's going to have to free Nikolai and convince him to help her. Renata can only hope she's not too late and that the future foreseen between them can somehow be changed.
As I said this is a good read but not without its flaws. My main gripe (and I just couldn't get past this) is that this book takes place exclusively in Montreal yet not one character main, sub or otherwise speaks French or has any kind of accent. Ever. One of the secondary characters actually had a Texan accent and the heroine herself, although born and raised on the streets of Montreal never once speaks French. This could really have taken place anywhere and I'm wondering why you would base your book in Montreal and not have any French characters? It was almost as if the author wrote the story then pulled out a map and pointed a finger. There are also a couple of really silly scenes involving Nikolai's ability to grow vines, some of which could shoot guns. This had me saying to myself, Oh come on, that's ridiculous. (Then I reminded myself, you're reading Vampire romance)
I have enjoyed this series as a whole and most of this book was excellent. The ending chapters in particular are quite awesome; romantic, erotic and suspenseful. The next in the series, ASHES OF MIDNIGHT takes place in Berlin, I wonder if anyone will speak German?
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