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Wings in the Night #3.5-4

At Twilight: Born in Twilight / Beyond Twilight

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Beyond Twilight

He was a vengeful vampire hunter - fated for a forbidden love to last an eternity. Pixie-faced vampire Cuyler Jade unwittingly helps carry out the DPI's plans for agent Stephen "Ramsey" Bachman.


Born in Twilight
He found her in an abandoned building, half-starved, her face chalk white yet strikingly beautiful. Those violet eyes drew him closer, even though Jameson Dryant knew what she was. Even though she warned him away. But it was too late. With one parting of her lips, the hungry creature of the night took him ... Nine months later, their tiny dark angel was born ... in twilight.


352 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2002

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496 people want to read

About the author

Maggie Shayne

257 books2,574 followers
I live in the teeny, tiny town of Taylor, NY, (Alliteration Alert!) though my mailing address is Cincinnatus, my telephone exchange is Truxton and I pay taxes and vote in Cuyler. All of these are at least in the same rural county in the southern hills of New York State; Cortland County. There are more cattle than people here. The nearest “big” cities are Syracuse and Binghamton and they are an hour away, in different directions, and not really all that big by most standards, though they both seem humongous to me. I look out my window to see rolling, green, thickly forested hills, wildflower laden meadows and wide open blue, blue skies. My road is barely paved. The nearest neighboring place is a 700 acre dairy farm.

My house is a big, century old farmhouse. I moved in here after my divorce in 2006. Just a little over a year later, the house, which I had named, SERENITY, burned. It was 99% gutted, and I lost my two dogs, Sally, an 11-year-old great Dane, and Wrinkles, my 14-year-old, blind bulldog. This was the culmination of my Dark Night of the soul, which had seemed to hit me all at once in 2006-2007. My mother died that year, after a 14 month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was only 60. The youngest of my five daughters had left home that same year, and while that’s not a tragedy at all, it felt like one to me. Then came the divorce. And finally there was the fire--it seemed my darkest night wasn’t quite finished with me after all. I had lost almost everything before that point, and as I poked through the wet ashes and soot the next day, I realized that I had now been stripped all the way to the bone.

No better time to start over. (And no, I didn’t come to that realization that day--there were a few days of wallowing in pity first, particularly the day after the fire, when I hit a deer and smashed up my car, which I was practically living in!)

That’s when I started to laugh. Just sat on the side of the road as the deer bounded, uninjured and carefree, out of sight, and laughed. It was just too ridiculous at that point, to do anything else!

And from there, I picked myself up, and brushed myself off, and said, okay, there’s only one way to go from here. Forward. And that’s what I did. There I was at the age of harrurmphemmph, living in my one, mostly undamaged remaining room, with a dorm-sized mini-fridge, a futon, a TV, my cat (nine lives!) and a laptop. And not much else. (Though thank goodness the room that survived the fire, was a room that had its own attached bathroom!)

Since then I have rebuilt my beloved home, which really has become my haven, my “Serenity.” I share it now with my fiancé, Lance, and we have accumulated quite the little family together. “Little” being a relative term. We have a pair of English Mastiffs, Dozer and Daisy, who weigh 203 pounds and 208 pounds respectively, and a little pudgy English Bulldog named Niblet, who is bigger than both of them, inside her mind. We also have the aforementioned cat, Glorificus (“Glory” for short,) who adores her canine pups and keeps them firmly in line. And we've acquired a pair of stray cats as well, a mother and son, Luna (Lulu for short) and Butters aka Buddy. Lulu showed up pregnant during a lunar eclipse, had a litter, and vanished again. We found homes for all the kittens except one. Butters. We got him fixed and kept him. A few months later, Lulu returned, again expecting. This litter was born on the "Monster Moon." Again, all the kittens were spayed and neutered and placed in homes, and this time we got Lulu to the vet in time to spay her before the cycle could repeat.

Glory is not amused.

She has a story of her own, my old Glory cat, having been with me before the Dark Times descended, she went through it all with me, moved with me, survived the fire, and remains with me still. She's tolerating the newcomers. Barely.

My partner is an artist, a mechanic, a welder and an inventor, and the rumors are true, he is much younger than I

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5 stars
341 (43%)
4 stars
261 (33%)
3 stars
150 (19%)
2 stars
25 (3%)
1 star
6 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
Profile Image for Cristina.
864 reviews12 followers
July 15, 2020
Questo libro, grazie all'intelligenza della Harmony che ha aumentato per i prossimi volumi paranormali il prezzo di copertina, almeno non è una sottiletta o una fregatura ma bensì un tocco di acume. Invece di contenere un solo racconto troppo piccolo, e voler quindi marciare sul portafoglio di noi lettori; o invece di non pubblicare uno dei racconti brevi in originale di questa serie, ci regala un libro corposo e due racconti in uno solo! Evvaiiiiiiiiiii

-Beyond Twilight:
Questo primo racconto prosegue la vicenda dell'agente del DPI Ramsey, stregato e legato inaspettatamente alla vampira Jade Cuyler e da un circolo vizioso di sogni che li porteranno alla scoperta del loro vero legame falsamente camuffato dai continui esperimenti del DPI. E' un racconto piacevole, molto fantastico per la natura di "campanellino" che rende tutto effimero e rosato e che strega per sempre il povero malcapitato di turno. Comparsa familiare di questo racconto è Damien, quasi il protettore anziano di tutti i vamp giovani e Rihannon che sebben citata si scopre essere la creatrice di Cuyler!

-Born in Twilight:
Lei, una novizia vergine e consacrata mentalmente alla sua futura vita da Suora...Lui, prescelto protetto da sempre dai vampiri Rihannon, Tamara, Eric, Ronald e cresciuto nel loro amore e salvaguardia contro i tentativi di attacco e reclusione del DPI.
Una storia davvero bella, contrastata dalla loro reciproca repulsione fittizia iniziale e con un epilogo non molto importante ma il finale invece è davvero bello!!! E' forse il racconto più bello di quelli fino ad ora pubblicato, con la loro lotta interiore, soprattutto di Angelo e la ricerca di una figlia ignota nata in provetta grazie alle mire di ricerca del DPI ma per il resto sempre rapita e celata ai propri genitori! Bellissimo, proprio da meritarsi 4**** piene piene senza togliere ma tutto da aggiungere perché ne sono rimasta innamorata fino all'ultimo, soprattutto per il ritrovo di tutti i vecchi amici.
L'unica mia preoccupazione è che questa storia vada a porre fine ad un primo ciclo e col prossimo racconto se ne apra uno nuovo senza ritrovare i vecchi cari amici ci rimarrei malissimo ed orfana inaspettatamente!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jessica Handley.
32 reviews
January 12, 2024
2 for 1 Great Addition to this Series

This book contains 2 individual books in the Wings of Twilight series. I LOVE this series, and both of these stories are wonderful additions to this series. My only very small quibble with this book, is that the stories are backward. They should have been put in together, but in reversed order, and I would really recommend reading the second story first, and vice versa. Otherwise, I have zero complaints.

The first story is one of my very favorite stories in this series! It brings together many, if not all of Maggie Shayne’s fabulous characters from her previous books, and she does it in some fascinating ways. These books have fully fleshed out, interesting 3 dimensional characters, including complete backgrounds, wonderfully detailed settings, and intriguing plot lines that hold your interest right through the last word.

I would really recommend reading these in order, because each plot line flows right into the next, superbly, and characters from previous books, pop up, often, in the books that follow. Since they’re delightful and diverse characters, I’m always happy to see more of them. The way that Maggie Shayne weaves these characters into her excellent storylines, is something marvelous to behold. Each book is really a subplot in an overarching narrative, and you will miss things, sometimes really important things, if they’re read out of order.

This really is an amazing series! If you like the paranormal, vampires, remarkable love stories, a little intrigue and danger, in well written stories, with fantastic characters, then these books, and this series, are made for you. I highly recommend them. Enjoy!
Profile Image for Silvia.
179 reviews
October 21, 2022
Non ho ben capito perché sia un libro unico - ne potevano tranquillamente uscire due diversi. Detto ciò, un testo piacevole, quasi migliore degli altri. La saga potrebbe finire qui: come l'allungheranno? Ora vedo.
Profile Image for Serena.
234 reviews4 followers
July 18, 2012
TRAMA: Potenti e immortali. Condannati a lottare per il semplice diritto di esistere... Mentre dà la caccia alla bellissima vampira Cuyler Jade, l'agente del DPI Stephen "Ramsey" Bachman si ritrova a fare i conti con una verità imprevista e agghiacciante che minaccia di distruggerlo. Ma Cuyler lo aiuta a superare lo shock e lo conquista per l'eternità con il suo fascino malizioso e fiabesco. Contemporaneamente un'altra incantevole vampira, Angelica, viene catturata dagli scienziati di White Plains. A salvarla dall'orribile destino che l'attende è il giovane Prescelto Jameson Bryant, che abbagliato dalla bellezza di Angelica accetta di mettere a repentaglio la propria vita per tirarla fuori di lì.
Questo romanzo è basato su due distinte storie. Non per questo mi è piaciuto di meno. I personaggi ci vengono presentati sotto ogni aspetto e ognuno di loro ha un passato tormentato. Eppure si ritrovano in queste pagine animati da sentimenti di cui quasi ignoravano l’esistenza. Non si tratta più di storie d’amore e basta. Qui i vampiri cercano di fare fronte comune contro il DPI,per porre fine agli esperimenti atroci che portano avanti nei loro laboratori. Ma è comunque l’amore che muove i loro cuori e li spinge ad oltrepassare i limiti fino a nuove conquiste. Davvero insolita la seconda parte di questo libro perché ha come protagonista una ragazza che sta per prendere i voti e diventare suora. . E’ una specie di angelo che una volta diventata vampiro per volere altrui si odierà e farà male ad altre persone. Così,una quasi suora,amata da Dio,si riterrà impura e immeritevole nella sua nuova condizione non realizzando che i vampiri sono anche creature compassionevoli ,con sentimenti,monogami e degni dell’amore di un essere superiore. Non svelo il finale,ma è una storia a sé stante ,davvero particolare. Come sempre la Shayne ha una buona scrittura che tiene il lettore incollato al libro. Non dico che fa sospirare per romanticismo,ma sa dare vita a mirabili intrecci.
Profile Image for Megan.
1,604 reviews56 followers
July 3, 2017
Contains "Born in Twilight" and "Beyond Twilight." These two books are number 4 and 5 in the series, but they are almost interchangeable, you can read whichever on first, however, it makes more sense to read "Beyond Twilight" first. Also, in Ms. Shayne's webpage it lists "Born in Twilight" as book 5 and "Beyond Twilight" as book 4.


"Born in Twilight" book 5 in the series. 2-3 stars. Not one of my favorites, but did include the characters from the first two books in the series. Focuses on Jameson Bryant (a Chosen- who gets changed at the very beginning of the novel) and Angelica (vampire). This book was originally published as a stand alone novel, but since it has been OOP for a long time, I'm very glad it was reissued.

"Beyond Twilight" book 4 in the series. 5 stars. It is a short story that was (when first published) part of an anthology. This story is about Cuyler Jade (vampire) and Stephen "Ramsey" Bachman (a Chosen). We met Ramsey from Twilight Illusions he is a DPI agent. Damien makes an appearance at the end of this story. I do like the short story vary much. Short and oh so sweet!
30 reviews
June 18, 2015
I'd forgotten how much I liked this series. This world of vampires and the society (called the DPI) out to destroy them draws you in as you read it. This particular book is a bind up of books 4 and 5 of the wings in the night series.only certain people can be turned into vampires and they are often used as bait by the society out to kill the vampires. the first story born in twilight is about a man who through his life had often been protected by several vampires and a novice nun who after being forcibly turned accidentally drained him to the point of death. his friends turn him and she spends several months in the care of the DPI believing she was being punished by god. this was not an easy romance between them. the Second story beyond twilight is about a female vampire and the DPI agent hunting her. she basically takes him prisoner because she is often compelled to protect him which confuses her because as far as she can since he doesn't have the antigen that would make it possible for him to be turned. Both stories drew me in and I can't wait to reread the other books in this series that I own.
Profile Image for Amanda Dudley-Penn.
Author 25 books46 followers
November 10, 2013
This book actually has two stories in one. The first is Beyond Twilight and is about pixie-like vampire Cuyler Jade and DPI officer Ramsey. I'm going to try to do this without giving away the best parts because I think it would ruin the story but I will say the love story is beautiful. I love Cuyler, who was a flapper which is something I had always wanted to be. Ramsey is a strong character though I must say that I disliked him at first because of his run-in with Shannon in the previous book but Maggie Shayne made me love him.
The second story is Born at Twilight. This story quickly became my favorite. I couldn't help it. It had Jameson (Jamie) in it and I have pretty much read as he grew up. He is tossed together with Angelica a rebellious nun. Yes...I said nun. I love the story with them. It is love/hate at first sight. They do have a baby together thanks to the DPI and also thanks to the DPI, the baby was taken from them. They go on a thrilling and eye opening search for this baby. I will honestly say that if you do not read this book you are missing out.
Profile Image for Gaynell.
619 reviews
July 27, 2010
This is a two story book. The first is Beyond Twilight. It is Stephen "Ramsey" Bachman (a DPI operative) and Cuyler's story. I thought it was cute. I really, really liked Cuyler.

The second is Jameson and Angelica's story. It had a twist in that a baby was born to a newly formed vampiress. It was interesting also. I like the fact that Shayne has the characters from her previous books as secondary characters in her books. As I said before, I find her books to have more emphasis on romance with the paranormal as the backdrop.

The book was a good read, but I feel I need to take a break and read something else before I start the next book.
Profile Image for M.M..
Author 5 books13 followers
December 6, 2012
I only read the first story in the book because I thought this book was awful. The vampires in this book are extremely weak and pathetic. There are so many contradictions in this novel, a vamp can bleed to death from a bullet hole but not from being bit and fed off of from anouther. They can jump so high that they almost fly yet if they land wrong they could break an ankle or heaven forbid get a scratch, which would in turn cause them to Bleed to death very quickly!! Anyways I couldnt be bothered to read the second book because I know if I had forced that sort of punishment upon myself I would end up with an over whelming urge to pluck my eyes out.
Profile Image for Tiffany Lynn Kramer.
1,967 reviews10 followers
May 28, 2016
The writing wasn't bad but try as I might I couldn't get past the fact that all the vampires mentioned are raven haired beauties with often unnatural colored eyes, because in this stories universe only people with black hair and vibrant eyes are able to be turned into vampires. I know this isn't the first nor the last vampire book where all the fangs are supermodels but for some reason this one really rubbed me the wrong way.
Profile Image for Lenna  Wright.
3,402 reviews36 followers
December 21, 2014
First off, you got to read the second smaller story of Ramsey Bechman & Cuyler Jade's fast love story before Jamey and Angelica's story of a larger scale, when DPI finds out mortal Chosen men and get newly turned female vamps pregnant and they found a way and and Jamey was captured again and collected 'samples' and found a newly turned Nun Angelica and used her for their means. Will will see the whole gang come together towards the end of Born at Twilight. But still a great read.
Profile Image for Crystal.
Author 1 book11 followers
November 23, 2010
READ #5 BEFORE #4!!!! For some reason (maybe the way they were published??) #5 is actually set BEFORE #4 and is only about 80 pages (ebook format)

I wish I had known before hand but they were still good stories regardless! #4 jumps at the epilogue over a decade so I'm hoping #6 picks up at the end of #4.
Profile Image for Sara Kalt.
396 reviews1 follower
January 12, 2012
Per suggestions I read #5 first - and am glad I did. I really liked Bachman and Cuyler's story - I kind of figured out the diabetes thing. But enjoyed their characters.

I liked Jameson and Angelica's story - but the thinking the other hated/despited them got old after a while. Curious what will happen with Amber Lily (ick on the name) and if she'll be in future books.
Profile Image for Debra.
475 reviews8 followers
November 12, 2015
This review is for Beyond Twilight. One of my favorite so far from the series. Bachman (aka Ramsey) was the villain in the previous book - Twilight Illusions - working for DPI. In this book he's one of the lovers. I guess Maggie Shayne decided he was a worthy soul. Good story. Fast paced and plenty of action.
Profile Image for Melissa.
15 reviews
January 9, 2012
this was my first book that I read in this series and I was hooked instantly!! I was drawn into the story almost from the first page and couldn't stop reading till I was finished. I will look for the complete series to finish it. AMAZING!!!!
Profile Image for Sarah.
2,133 reviews30 followers
March 8, 2013
This book is different then the 1st lot. It could be read has a stand alone but I no mean is it bad. Really like the action/suspense and shock in what happens throw book. I love Ramsey cos sometimes he clueless to what's going on but rolls with it. HEA
Profile Image for Andrea.
7 reviews
February 15, 2015
great books. I'm really enjoying The Wings in the Night series. I am 5 books in and ready to start the 6th shortly. It should be a quick read and I will purchase the second series set including books 7-12. I can't wait.
Profile Image for Donne.
1,552 reviews102 followers
January 5, 2016
While I have enjoyed the first five books of this series, I don't think I will be continuing with it. Cit seems like the story arc that I have liked is over. Not interested in the series enough to start a whole new arc or cast of characters.
Profile Image for Britta.
328 reviews32 followers
July 5, 2008
Fantastic. Having trouble finding the first book in this series but I'm not giving up hope yet!
Profile Image for Melissa.
26 reviews
November 6, 2010
It wasnt one of my favorites, so I cannot remember a lot about it. I just remember at the time I could not put it down, but at the same time not caring to pursue the rest of the series.
145 reviews13 followers
September 28, 2011
This book was alright. I would definitely recommend reading the beyond twilight book before the born in twilight as well. It gives the Bachman backstory and doesn't affect any other storyline.
331 reviews
September 18, 2012
I keep forgetting how much I dislike these books and then get one out of the library and then I am reminded.
Profile Image for Elizabeth.
806 reviews5 followers
April 7, 2014
Loved all of Maggie Shaynes books but this is my favorite.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews

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