Mother.GAMER.Writer

Originally Reviewed at:Mother/Gamer/WriterRating 5 out of 5 ControllersReview Source:Publisher for Honest ReviewReviewed by:MeA deliciously intriguing plot, a fantastic cast of characters and a steamy romance, makes Midnight Reckoning one hard book to put down. I was totally consumed by this story as soon as I read the first paragraph. And page after page Castle delivered exceptional world-building and characters I grew to adore. She has a way with words, and strings them together so eloquently I could picture everything, from smells, to beautifully painted skies. Each word was chosen with care, and reminded me of the ever talented Gena Showalter’s writing style (think Lords of the Underworld). So what makes Midnight Reckoning worthy of your undivided attention? EVERYTHING. Characters for me make or break a story. If I am not invested in your characters, then essentially I am not invested in your novel. Castle’s characters are by far some of the best. Our reluctant hero, Jaden, was swoon-tastic! He was the type of Alpha Male females yearn for, die to be near, and kill to touch or taste. He is a Cait Sith, or a vampire who shifts into a cat (yes you heard that right). He also had a horrific past, one that will make even the toughest person melt. Jaden was it for me, my new book boyfriend (Sorry Lucien). I couldn’t help but love the tough boy persona, while craving his gentle heart. Lyra, our female MC werewolf, was also a very likeable character. The only thing she truly wanted was to secure her birthright as the future Alpha of her wolf pack, something that was anything but an easy task to accomplish. Immediately, Castle created tension between her hero and heroine. And those two together provided hilarious banter and nonstop action. Though they danced around their feelings until Jaden offered Lyra a proposition, the result became a tug-of-war between forbidden love, undeniable lust, and incredible want. Can I just say, yummy? The story itself was fascinating. I did not read the first book in the series so it took a few pages in for me to understand the whole Dynasty aspect of the vampires. Who controlled whom, what each Dynasty was known for, how they all interacted as a society. Reading the first book, Dark Awakening, might be best for those of you who like back-story or reading a series in order. In my opinion Midnight Reckoning can work as a stand-alone title; however, it might just take a minute to process the entire world (although this should not deter you from reading it). The story also has some of my other favorite elements, such as betrayal, an unsuspecting enemy, and character’s who will do anything to rise above their circumstances. As soon as you hit around page 100, you can expect nonstop action and an intense emotional connection to the characters. A fantastic novel with a satisfying beginning, middle, and end. Overall, Midnight Reckoning is a surprise hit for me. Originally I was going to read Firelight but I managed to get through the first chapter and decided the book just wasn’t working for me. But when I reached on the coffee table and grab this book, I expected a lot less, and received so much more than I could have hoped for. I know I made this comparison earlier, but if you like Gena Showalter, I highly recommend picking up this series. Even if you are new to romance novels and just looking to get your feet wet, this book has so many other great elements I promise that you won’t be bored or feel overwhelmed.