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Dark Dynasties #2
Midnight Reckoning
Two separate worlds ... One passion that binds them
Wild and passionate by nature, Lyra Black is not just any werewolf. She's the future leader of the powerful pack of the Thorn - if she can stay alive long enough to inherit the title.
One of the Cait Sith bloodline of vampire cat-shifters, Jaden Harrison has no interest in the wars plaguing the world of night. But when he rescues Lyra from a violent attack, they're both captured by an insatiable desire that threatens to overwhelm them and bind them together for eternity... just as ancient enemies prepare to strike. And when they do, the Thorn and the Cait Sith - and Lyra and Jaden's love - may never recover from the deadly blow...
Wild and passionate by nature, Lyra Black is not just any werewolf. She's the future leader of the powerful pack of the Thorn - if she can stay alive long enough to inherit the title.
One of the Cait Sith bloodline of vampire cat-shifters, Jaden Harrison has no interest in the wars plaguing the world of night. But when he rescues Lyra from a violent attack, they're both captured by an insatiable desire that threatens to overwhelm them and bind them together for eternity... just as ancient enemies prepare to strike. And when they do, the Thorn and the Cait Sith - and Lyra and Jaden's love - may never recover from the deadly blow...
334 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
20 people are currently reading
1515 people want to read
About the author
Kendra Leigh Castle
38 books637 followersKendra Leigh Castle is the author of numerous paranormal romances, including the MacInnes Werewolves trilogy, the RITA award-nominated Renegade Angel, the Dark Dynasties series, and the Hearts of the Fallen series. 2014 will see the release of her first contemporary romance, For the Longest Time, which will be the first in her Harvest Cove series. Kendra lives in Maryland with her husband, children, two Newfs, and one obnoxious cat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews
November 28, 2021
I liked the idea of a vampire-werewolf pairing and overall, Midnight Reckoning was enjoyable.
If I sound tepid, it's because Midnight Reckoning like Dark Awakening, has an absolutely fun opening chapter that is then followed by a slumbering middle full of filler content. Characters think a lot. Get into their feels. Nothing particularly interesting or unique but the general stuff. Feels are only interesting if the characters have a unique perspective but when it's all obvious or repetitive, it gets boring. But then wow the ending. It races forward, packed with action.
Lyra and Jaden have a hot meet-hate in their brief but memorable first encounter in Dark Awakening. If you're expecting more of that, I'm sorry to disappoint you because after they bristle at each other, they become quite nice and understanding towards each other. This is the middle part lol. I would have loved to get that enemies-to-lovers vibe - I was kind of hoping for more angst, more doubt, more lust but this was good too.
I read the first few chapters of Midnight Reckoning quickly then persevered through the middle before giving it up. I was on the road and had about 40 minutes here and there, so I was able to finish this book. Not sure if I would have made it through the middle, but the twist at the end was good.
And you know what. That's good enough for me to read Shadow Rising! This one is the one that I'm really intrigued about. Damien has made an appearance through the series. He hasn't necessarily stolen the show but apparently his book is pretty good.
If I sound tepid, it's because Midnight Reckoning like Dark Awakening, has an absolutely fun opening chapter that is then followed by a slumbering middle full of filler content. Characters think a lot. Get into their feels. Nothing particularly interesting or unique but the general stuff. Feels are only interesting if the characters have a unique perspective but when it's all obvious or repetitive, it gets boring. But then wow the ending. It races forward, packed with action.
Lyra and Jaden have a hot meet-hate in their brief but memorable first encounter in Dark Awakening. If you're expecting more of that, I'm sorry to disappoint you because after they bristle at each other, they become quite nice and understanding towards each other. This is the middle part lol. I would have loved to get that enemies-to-lovers vibe - I was kind of hoping for more angst, more doubt, more lust but this was good too.
I read the first few chapters of Midnight Reckoning quickly then persevered through the middle before giving it up. I was on the road and had about 40 minutes here and there, so I was able to finish this book. Not sure if I would have made it through the middle, but the twist at the end was good.
And you know what. That's good enough for me to read Shadow Rising! This one is the one that I'm really intrigued about. Damien has made an appearance through the series. He hasn't necessarily stolen the show but apparently his book is pretty good.
June 28, 2022
2.5 stars
God, this was a giant letdown after the awesome introduction we got in Dark Awakening. I don't know what it was, really. The whole book just felt off to me. The writing was stilted and not as polished. Several sentences and passages had me rereading because they didn't make sense. And the characters--though I liked Jaden, I didn't love any of them. Lyra was not my favorite heroine. I enjoy a strong female lead, but there is a fine line the author has to walk to make her strong and remain likable and not just a bitch. I'm not sure Castle pulled it off.
I was also missing the heat of the first one. We had unbelievable sexual chemistry and tension with Ty and Lily, and I don't think it was there with Lyra and Jaden.
Finally, the ending was...what? I mean, really. What? I also felt like it was wrapped up too quickly. There was all this build-up and then it was just...done.
I'm still going to head into book 3, but I'm not quite as excited about it as I'd hoped...
God, this was a giant letdown after the awesome introduction we got in Dark Awakening. I don't know what it was, really. The whole book just felt off to me. The writing was stilted and not as polished. Several sentences and passages had me rereading because they didn't make sense. And the characters--though I liked Jaden, I didn't love any of them. Lyra was not my favorite heroine. I enjoy a strong female lead, but there is a fine line the author has to walk to make her strong and remain likable and not just a bitch. I'm not sure Castle pulled it off.
I was also missing the heat of the first one. We had unbelievable sexual chemistry and tension with Ty and Lily, and I don't think it was there with Lyra and Jaden.
Finally, the ending was...what? I mean, really. What? I also felt like it was wrapped up too quickly. There was all this build-up and then it was just...done.
I'm still going to head into book 3, but I'm not quite as excited about it as I'd hoped...
October 28, 2012
Wow, another fantastic installment in this world of the vampire shifters! Action, heat and plenty of intrigue makes this another winner! Loved it!
December 15, 2011
I'll just come out and say it: I love this series and I loved this book. You all know how I feel about sexy tortured heroes. Kendra Leigh Castle has created an entire race of them in her maligned and enslaved Cait Sith. They are lowblood vampires, who are also cat-shifters. The highblood Ptolemy vamps kept them as slaves and tortured them for centuries. But in Dark Awakening, they were finally freed. And now they have a chance to pursue the happiness they've been denied all these years.
Jaden isn't sure what he wants to do with his life now that he is no longer a slave. He's been offered a job as the Captain of the Guard for Lily, the head of a new highblood clan. With Lily and her husband Ty, Jaden has finally found people he cares about and who care for him. But he's restless. And he can't stop thinking about Lyra, the sexy werewolf who heats his blood like no one ever has. After he stops an attack on her and finds a family heirloom she left behind, he journeys to her home to return it. From there, he is drafted to help her train to become Alpha of her pack.
No one believes Lyra can win the Alpha competition. But she is smart and determined. She wants to make her pack stronger... to help them evolve into the modern world. They've got some very old ideas, not the least of which is a rule against interspecies coupling. That makes the passion and attraction she has for Jaden completely off limits... which makes it all the more delectable when they finally give in.
There was nothing I didn't like about this book. It had amazing sexual tension, thanks to the forbidden nature of Jaden and Lyra's relationship. And the payoff was outstanding. Jaden is a great hero. He had a miserable past, but it didn't break him. He's strong and honorable and so very sexy. Lyra is just right for him. She's young and maintains her idealism without ever coming off as childish or annoying. She's also feisty and bold and brave. Together, they make a couple so easy to root for. While much of the book focused on the development of their relationship, there was also a real sense of danger from the Ptolemy vampires who are targeting Jaden and the werewolves who could turn on Jaden or Lyra at any time.
The book builds well on the events of Dark Awakening, but I think it would still work easily as a standalone. It's got a fantastic love story, great sex and plenty of action. I can't wait to see where Castle takes the series next. Almost 5 stars.
*ARC Provided by Grand Central Publishing
Jaden isn't sure what he wants to do with his life now that he is no longer a slave. He's been offered a job as the Captain of the Guard for Lily, the head of a new highblood clan. With Lily and her husband Ty, Jaden has finally found people he cares about and who care for him. But he's restless. And he can't stop thinking about Lyra, the sexy werewolf who heats his blood like no one ever has. After he stops an attack on her and finds a family heirloom she left behind, he journeys to her home to return it. From there, he is drafted to help her train to become Alpha of her pack.
No one believes Lyra can win the Alpha competition. But she is smart and determined. She wants to make her pack stronger... to help them evolve into the modern world. They've got some very old ideas, not the least of which is a rule against interspecies coupling. That makes the passion and attraction she has for Jaden completely off limits... which makes it all the more delectable when they finally give in.
There was nothing I didn't like about this book. It had amazing sexual tension, thanks to the forbidden nature of Jaden and Lyra's relationship. And the payoff was outstanding. Jaden is a great hero. He had a miserable past, but it didn't break him. He's strong and honorable and so very sexy. Lyra is just right for him. She's young and maintains her idealism without ever coming off as childish or annoying. She's also feisty and bold and brave. Together, they make a couple so easy to root for. While much of the book focused on the development of their relationship, there was also a real sense of danger from the Ptolemy vampires who are targeting Jaden and the werewolves who could turn on Jaden or Lyra at any time.
The book builds well on the events of Dark Awakening, but I think it would still work easily as a standalone. It's got a fantastic love story, great sex and plenty of action. I can't wait to see where Castle takes the series next. Almost 5 stars.
*ARC Provided by Grand Central Publishing
January 9, 2012
4.5 Stars
I love this new and exciting world that Kendra Leigh Castle has created with her Dark Dynasties series and the second novel in it, Midnight Reckoning, continues the thrilling journey into the dark world of vampire factions and bloodlines by adding werewolves into the mix now!
Since the Lilim reformed with his best friend Ty and wife Lily, taking in the Cait Sith's, Jaden Harrison has felt adrift – without purpose. Taking a walk to clear his head Jaden smells wolves and pursues the smell intending to kick them out of vampire territory. When he arrives on the scene he’s not surprised by what he finds but by whom he finds, the she-wolf from when him, Ty and Lily were in the safe house; Lyra who is an alpha’s daughter. Taking out her attackers, Jaden doesn't receive so much as a thank you from the wolf but he does come by an undeniable attraction towards her. Unable the get Lyra out of his head, Jaden travels to her house, in the middle of pack lands, to return her necklace that was dropped during her attack.
Fighting off potential mates is just SOP nowadays for Lyra Black, at least until she can come out victorious at the Proving and become pack Alpha. But wolf packs are still archaic at best, viewing females as lesser then males, and the Thorn pack is no different. And the dark and sexy vampire Ty that keeps popping up is a distraction that she does not need right now. When he arrives at Lyra’s door though to return her mother’s necklace and her father persuades him to stay and teach her to fight, Lyra knows that she has a long battle ahead of her, and not just in the physical sense.
Passion and desire flare as Ty and Lyra get closer and closer, but in a world where it is forbidden for a vampire and werewolf to ever be together can Ty convince Lyra that one night is all he needs or will that one night end up costing Lyra everything?
Author Kendra Leigh Castle is an extremely talented story teller and it is easy to fall into the world she creates and the characters she brings to life in her books. I loved the first novel in this series, Dark Awakening, and Midnight Reckoning was no different.
Lyra and Ty had a roller coaster of a relationship with a bleak outlook, and it was easy to get emotionally sucked in. Especially since I loved the sweet, somewhat vulnerable and definitely tortured Jaden from the first novel. But don’t let his loyalty and charm fool you, Jaden is a fierce hero strong enough to take on a whole wolf pack. Jaden knew right away that Lyra was the one for him and does everything right by her, but convincing Lyra of the fact was not easy and her often dismissal of him and his feelings tugged at my heart. Though her point of view was relatable and understandable, if she let herself feel anything for Jaden then she stood to lose her pack, her father and even her life. Being a strong and independent woman in a world ruled by men, you can’t help but root for her as well, even if it means Jaden might get hurt. The passion between these two builds with yummy sexual tension until it combusts, in a very satisfying manner. ;)
The plot was smooth, fast and exciting keeping me glued to the pages. I really love the different vampire factions, they’re unique and interesting, as well as the added element of werewolves now. The underlying series arc of the nasty Ptolemy continues with the bitter queen who will stop at nothing to have Jaden and Ty returned to her and the Lilim taken down. Midnight Reckoning has plenty of action and suspense, though the suspense was focused mainly on the forbidden relationship of Jaden and Lyra and it's outcome, but there is a seriously wicked twist that I did not see coming at all and is sure to throw plenty of readers for a loop! I can’t wait to see what Castle has in store for us next but I am intrigued by the dark and mysterious Shadow, Damien! This book makes a good stand alone but better read in order of the series and is absolutely a must read!
I love this new and exciting world that Kendra Leigh Castle has created with her Dark Dynasties series and the second novel in it, Midnight Reckoning, continues the thrilling journey into the dark world of vampire factions and bloodlines by adding werewolves into the mix now!
Since the Lilim reformed with his best friend Ty and wife Lily, taking in the Cait Sith's, Jaden Harrison has felt adrift – without purpose. Taking a walk to clear his head Jaden smells wolves and pursues the smell intending to kick them out of vampire territory. When he arrives on the scene he’s not surprised by what he finds but by whom he finds, the she-wolf from when him, Ty and Lily were in the safe house; Lyra who is an alpha’s daughter. Taking out her attackers, Jaden doesn't receive so much as a thank you from the wolf but he does come by an undeniable attraction towards her. Unable the get Lyra out of his head, Jaden travels to her house, in the middle of pack lands, to return her necklace that was dropped during her attack.
Fighting off potential mates is just SOP nowadays for Lyra Black, at least until she can come out victorious at the Proving and become pack Alpha. But wolf packs are still archaic at best, viewing females as lesser then males, and the Thorn pack is no different. And the dark and sexy vampire Ty that keeps popping up is a distraction that she does not need right now. When he arrives at Lyra’s door though to return her mother’s necklace and her father persuades him to stay and teach her to fight, Lyra knows that she has a long battle ahead of her, and not just in the physical sense.
Passion and desire flare as Ty and Lyra get closer and closer, but in a world where it is forbidden for a vampire and werewolf to ever be together can Ty convince Lyra that one night is all he needs or will that one night end up costing Lyra everything?
Author Kendra Leigh Castle is an extremely talented story teller and it is easy to fall into the world she creates and the characters she brings to life in her books. I loved the first novel in this series, Dark Awakening, and Midnight Reckoning was no different.
Lyra and Ty had a roller coaster of a relationship with a bleak outlook, and it was easy to get emotionally sucked in. Especially since I loved the sweet, somewhat vulnerable and definitely tortured Jaden from the first novel. But don’t let his loyalty and charm fool you, Jaden is a fierce hero strong enough to take on a whole wolf pack. Jaden knew right away that Lyra was the one for him and does everything right by her, but convincing Lyra of the fact was not easy and her often dismissal of him and his feelings tugged at my heart. Though her point of view was relatable and understandable, if she let herself feel anything for Jaden then she stood to lose her pack, her father and even her life. Being a strong and independent woman in a world ruled by men, you can’t help but root for her as well, even if it means Jaden might get hurt. The passion between these two builds with yummy sexual tension until it combusts, in a very satisfying manner. ;)
The plot was smooth, fast and exciting keeping me glued to the pages. I really love the different vampire factions, they’re unique and interesting, as well as the added element of werewolves now. The underlying series arc of the nasty Ptolemy continues with the bitter queen who will stop at nothing to have Jaden and Ty returned to her and the Lilim taken down. Midnight Reckoning has plenty of action and suspense, though the suspense was focused mainly on the forbidden relationship of Jaden and Lyra and it's outcome, but there is a seriously wicked twist that I did not see coming at all and is sure to throw plenty of readers for a loop! I can’t wait to see what Castle has in store for us next but I am intrigued by the dark and mysterious Shadow, Damien! This book makes a good stand alone but better read in order of the series and is absolutely a must read!
February 7, 2012
I loved
Dark Awakening
, the first book in this series, so I had very high hopes for this story. Castle didn't disappoint me with this sequel.
Betrayal, forbidden desire, shattered dreams and an unlikely romance come together to make this a not to be missed read. I couldn't put it down and was so involved in the story I was surprised to reach the end so soon. I definitely want to read more about the characters in, and visit, Castle's Dark Dynasties world again soon.
It is not necessary to have read the first story in the series to understand what is going on but you should if only to understand Jaden better as well as the vampires of Castle's world.
This time it is Jaden's turn to find his special someone. Jaden is a vampire cat shifter. Lyra is a werewolf and pack alpha contender, hopefully. Who said dogs and cats can't play nice together?
Jaden had thought his sudden desire for her when they first met at the safe house in the first book, which didn't go too well, had just been an adrenalin induced, sick "fluke". But there'd been the sexy dreams. He was "appalled" to think he could actual want a werewolf.
They are both struggling to not give into their desires. It is forbidden -- especially from the wolves' point of view. For the vamps -- it simply isn't done. She could lose everything she's ever known, worked toward and loved if she gives into her desires for Jaden.
She is stunned when her dad hires Jaden to teach her to fight the bigger males, to give her a fighting chance to stay alive.
Includes a sneak peak at Shadow Rising , the third book in the series, and an excerpt from the first book in the series, Dark Awakening .
I am eagerly awaiting the third book in the series, Shadow Rising . Paranormal romance, vampire, and shifter fans, even urban fantasy fans, will enjoy this one. Put it on your wish list today.
Betrayal, forbidden desire, shattered dreams and an unlikely romance come together to make this a not to be missed read. I couldn't put it down and was so involved in the story I was surprised to reach the end so soon. I definitely want to read more about the characters in, and visit, Castle's Dark Dynasties world again soon.
It is not necessary to have read the first story in the series to understand what is going on but you should if only to understand Jaden better as well as the vampires of Castle's world.
This time it is Jaden's turn to find his special someone. Jaden is a vampire cat shifter. Lyra is a werewolf and pack alpha contender, hopefully. Who said dogs and cats can't play nice together?
Jaden had thought his sudden desire for her when they first met at the safe house in the first book, which didn't go too well, had just been an adrenalin induced, sick "fluke". But there'd been the sexy dreams. He was "appalled" to think he could actual want a werewolf.
They are both struggling to not give into their desires. It is forbidden -- especially from the wolves' point of view. For the vamps -- it simply isn't done. She could lose everything she's ever known, worked toward and loved if she gives into her desires for Jaden.
She is stunned when her dad hires Jaden to teach her to fight the bigger males, to give her a fighting chance to stay alive.
Includes a sneak peak at Shadow Rising , the third book in the series, and an excerpt from the first book in the series, Dark Awakening .
I am eagerly awaiting the third book in the series, Shadow Rising . Paranormal romance, vampire, and shifter fans, even urban fantasy fans, will enjoy this one. Put it on your wish list today.
July 11, 2012
I had some reservations about the writing and plot in the first one in the series, but I really liked the characters.
Unfortunately, in this sequel the same annoyances with writing and plot were still there, and I didn't like the heroine.
I wondered at the scenes the author chose to tell her story. I missed some scenes - of Jaden interacting with the town and the other werewolves, the relationship with Lyra's father, and Lyra's alpha-ness. I thought this needed to be showed, but instead I got other weird scenes. I didn't need a scene with a paranormal-hunter wanting his own TV-show. It made the story a frustrating read.
But what I really didn't like was the heroine. She is supposedly an Alpha female, who isn't allowed to take power because she is a woman. That is what we're told. But what we're shown... She is a whiny princess who blames her gender for not being handed everything on a silver platter. She was not a future queen, she was a spoiled princess.
Not a recommended read.
Unfortunately, in this sequel the same annoyances with writing and plot were still there, and I didn't like the heroine.
I wondered at the scenes the author chose to tell her story. I missed some scenes - of Jaden interacting with the town and the other werewolves, the relationship with Lyra's father, and Lyra's alpha-ness. I thought this needed to be showed, but instead I got other weird scenes. I didn't need a scene with a paranormal-hunter wanting his own TV-show. It made the story a frustrating read.
But what I really didn't like was the heroine. She is supposedly an Alpha female, who isn't allowed to take power because she is a woman. That is what we're told. But what we're shown... She is a whiny princess who blames her gender for not being handed everything on a silver platter. She was not a future queen, she was a spoiled princess.
Not a recommended read.
January 4, 2012
Previously review on Smexybooks.com
Lyra Black has had one goal in life-to become alpha, taking over for her father, for the very powerful pack of the Thorn. She’s lived it and breathed it and at the next full moon, she will participate in the Proving, a fight to the end where only the strongest will remain. Unfortunately, there are those who are against this, or who don’t believe that she can do it. They want her to find a strong mate instead. Someone worthy who can take on the pack with her at his side. Lyra refuses. This is her right, by birth and she won’t let anyone stand in her way.
Jaden Harrison is enjoying his new freedom from slavery to the Ptolemy now that the Lilim Dynasty has been reborn and Lily Quinn-MacGillivray has taken her place as leader. There is much to do and Arsinoe, queen of the Ptolemy, is still a huge threat to this fledgling dynasty. Lily wants Jaden to take over as Captain of the Guard for her, and he’d do anything for Lily, he’s just not sure he’s the man for the job.
When Jaden is out patrolling one night, he comes across a man and woman having a heated argument. Oddly, a scent comes to him that is familiar and as he approaches he realizes that the woman is someone he’s met before, and disliked on site, though he doesn’t know why. Back when he and Ty were protecting Lily from Arsinoe at a safe house, this woman, this wolf, was there. But as he listens, he realizes that she might not be able to handle the situation she’s gotten herself into and he intervenes. Lyra is less than grateful to say the least, and after a few choice words she shifts and disappears. When Jaden looks down, he sees a moonstone locket. He knows it’s Lyra’s and his first instinct is to just leave it there, but then, he picks it up and takes it with him.
Jaden is confused by Lyra. He doesn’t understand why she’s taking up so much of his thoughts. He knows the necklace is important and he wants to return it to her, even though venturing into pack territory is one of the stupidest things he could ever do. But he’s compelled for some reason and he heads out to return Lyra’s necklace. Needless to say, his unwelcome arrival at Lyra’s home is met with dismay as almost immediately; a wolf knocks him down and attempts to tear Jaden apart. But Jaden fights back and his graceful movements are no match for the wolf.
Watching this fight unfold on his front lawn, Dorien Black, Lyra’s father, is surprised by Jaden’s grace and agility as he easily fights off Simon. Lyra begs her father to stop Simon, explaining that Jaden only came to return her necklace. He’s alone and he didn’t come to fight. Calling Simon off and sending him away with Lyra, Dorien approaches Jaden. After seeing Jaden move, it occurs to him that Jaden may be useful in some way. He proposes to Jaden that he stick around and train Lyra on his fighting style, hopefully giving her a different kind of advantage when fighting in the proving. If Dorien can’t change Lyra’s mind and stop her from participating, the least he can do is give her every advantage.
Jaden is stumped by Dorien’s suggested proposal, but the confusing feelings he has whenever he’s around Lyra have him seriously considering it. Thinking with his heart, and perhaps another part of his anatomy, Jaden agrees to Dorien’s request. Now they just need to convince Lyra.
Unfortunately, Lyra and the upcoming Proving are not the only things that the weres or the vamps have to worry about. Someone in the pack is working with Queen Arsinoe and she’s promised him much if he can succeed in bringing Jaden to her alive. Arsinoe is determined to bring down the Lilim Dynasty and regain every one of her Cait Sith slaves, especially Jaden. But she’s thoroughly misjudged the capabilities of this new Dynasty and the people who have pledged themselves to Lily.
Midnight Reckoning is book two in Ms. Castle’s Dark Dynasties series and I really enjoyed her take on the pairing of a vampire and werewolf. While the first in this series, Dark Awakening, spent a lot of time creating, building and setting up the world of the dynasties, and the conflict with Queen Arsinoe, in this there is pure focus on our couple, Lyra and Jaden. As Jaden begins his training with Lyra, there is much sexual tension and the buildup is simply delicious! Jaden’s sarcastic snarky humor is really enjoyable as well. Lyra knew from the moment she’d met Jaden that he was trouble. As her training begins, and she spends more and more time with Jaden she begins to see him in a different light and it becomes harder and harder for her to ignore her feelings. But to give in is forbidden and Lyra has enough going against her at the moment to complicate things by taking a vampire for a lover. When Lyra finally gives into her feelings for Jaden, it starts a chain of events that neither of them could have prepared for. A long hidden secret is revealed from the were histories and Lyra is forced to make a very difficult choice.
I fell for Jaden’s quiet intensity and protective nature in the first book and really looked forward his story. I wasn’t too sure about a vampire and werewolf mating, but it really works in this and the special, attributes gained by this mating were unexpected. I was truly surprised at who the bad guy turned out to be as well. Ms. Castle’s fresh take on the world of vampires and werewolves in this series is unlike anything out there right now. Next up is the elusive Damien in Shadow Rising and I cannot wait to see what he has in store for us!
Lyra Black has had one goal in life-to become alpha, taking over for her father, for the very powerful pack of the Thorn. She’s lived it and breathed it and at the next full moon, she will participate in the Proving, a fight to the end where only the strongest will remain. Unfortunately, there are those who are against this, or who don’t believe that she can do it. They want her to find a strong mate instead. Someone worthy who can take on the pack with her at his side. Lyra refuses. This is her right, by birth and she won’t let anyone stand in her way.
Jaden Harrison is enjoying his new freedom from slavery to the Ptolemy now that the Lilim Dynasty has been reborn and Lily Quinn-MacGillivray has taken her place as leader. There is much to do and Arsinoe, queen of the Ptolemy, is still a huge threat to this fledgling dynasty. Lily wants Jaden to take over as Captain of the Guard for her, and he’d do anything for Lily, he’s just not sure he’s the man for the job.
When Jaden is out patrolling one night, he comes across a man and woman having a heated argument. Oddly, a scent comes to him that is familiar and as he approaches he realizes that the woman is someone he’s met before, and disliked on site, though he doesn’t know why. Back when he and Ty were protecting Lily from Arsinoe at a safe house, this woman, this wolf, was there. But as he listens, he realizes that she might not be able to handle the situation she’s gotten herself into and he intervenes. Lyra is less than grateful to say the least, and after a few choice words she shifts and disappears. When Jaden looks down, he sees a moonstone locket. He knows it’s Lyra’s and his first instinct is to just leave it there, but then, he picks it up and takes it with him.
Jaden is confused by Lyra. He doesn’t understand why she’s taking up so much of his thoughts. He knows the necklace is important and he wants to return it to her, even though venturing into pack territory is one of the stupidest things he could ever do. But he’s compelled for some reason and he heads out to return Lyra’s necklace. Needless to say, his unwelcome arrival at Lyra’s home is met with dismay as almost immediately; a wolf knocks him down and attempts to tear Jaden apart. But Jaden fights back and his graceful movements are no match for the wolf.
Watching this fight unfold on his front lawn, Dorien Black, Lyra’s father, is surprised by Jaden’s grace and agility as he easily fights off Simon. Lyra begs her father to stop Simon, explaining that Jaden only came to return her necklace. He’s alone and he didn’t come to fight. Calling Simon off and sending him away with Lyra, Dorien approaches Jaden. After seeing Jaden move, it occurs to him that Jaden may be useful in some way. He proposes to Jaden that he stick around and train Lyra on his fighting style, hopefully giving her a different kind of advantage when fighting in the proving. If Dorien can’t change Lyra’s mind and stop her from participating, the least he can do is give her every advantage.
Jaden is stumped by Dorien’s suggested proposal, but the confusing feelings he has whenever he’s around Lyra have him seriously considering it. Thinking with his heart, and perhaps another part of his anatomy, Jaden agrees to Dorien’s request. Now they just need to convince Lyra.
Unfortunately, Lyra and the upcoming Proving are not the only things that the weres or the vamps have to worry about. Someone in the pack is working with Queen Arsinoe and she’s promised him much if he can succeed in bringing Jaden to her alive. Arsinoe is determined to bring down the Lilim Dynasty and regain every one of her Cait Sith slaves, especially Jaden. But she’s thoroughly misjudged the capabilities of this new Dynasty and the people who have pledged themselves to Lily.
Midnight Reckoning is book two in Ms. Castle’s Dark Dynasties series and I really enjoyed her take on the pairing of a vampire and werewolf. While the first in this series, Dark Awakening, spent a lot of time creating, building and setting up the world of the dynasties, and the conflict with Queen Arsinoe, in this there is pure focus on our couple, Lyra and Jaden. As Jaden begins his training with Lyra, there is much sexual tension and the buildup is simply delicious! Jaden’s sarcastic snarky humor is really enjoyable as well. Lyra knew from the moment she’d met Jaden that he was trouble. As her training begins, and she spends more and more time with Jaden she begins to see him in a different light and it becomes harder and harder for her to ignore her feelings. But to give in is forbidden and Lyra has enough going against her at the moment to complicate things by taking a vampire for a lover. When Lyra finally gives into her feelings for Jaden, it starts a chain of events that neither of them could have prepared for. A long hidden secret is revealed from the were histories and Lyra is forced to make a very difficult choice.
I fell for Jaden’s quiet intensity and protective nature in the first book and really looked forward his story. I wasn’t too sure about a vampire and werewolf mating, but it really works in this and the special, attributes gained by this mating were unexpected. I was truly surprised at who the bad guy turned out to be as well. Ms. Castle’s fresh take on the world of vampires and werewolves in this series is unlike anything out there right now. Next up is the elusive Damien in Shadow Rising and I cannot wait to see what he has in store for us!
April 1, 2025
It's been 6 months since the new dynasty of vampires was established and the cats were freed from enslavement. The hero, a slave for most of his immortal life now finds himself a free man with options and choices. Normally a quiet and loner type, he now finds himself craving company and that connection that comes with family- he finds both in the arms of his new Dynasty.
While out for a walk, he comes across the heroine being attacked by a brutish werewolf male who is obviously unable to comprehend the word no. Typically he wouldn't be compelled to lend his aid to wolf problems but he knows this woman and has been secretly captured by her beauty even though she hates his guts. She probably won't thank him for his help and he's not surprised when she cusses him out and flees into the night but when he realizes she's left behind her necklace, he knows it's a reason to see her again. He's unclear as to what this fascination with the enemy is but he knows that if he doesn't see her again, he'll never be able to let it go. So, he bravely (or stupidly, depending on opinion) strolls deep into werewolf territory to see her again.
The heroine is sick and tired of outdated werewolf laws and customs that make females second class citizens. She's tired of everyone trying to force a mate on her and people telling her there's no way a female can be Alpha. She's determined to prove them wrong, that she doesn't need a man to be a leader and that she's the rightful heir to the pack. Then the hero shows up. She's stunned by these confusing and intense feelings inside for this male who should be the enemy but in her heart is quickly becoming something else. He is arrogant to show his face in werewolf territory but secretly, she's thrilled but his strength and sense of self. This is not a male who lets people walk all over him. She's more shocked to learn that her own father has recruited this male to train her for the upcoming battle for Second. She's to learn how to fight like a vampire and how to be strong but clever against those who stand between her and her dreams.
They train hard and the hero is relentless but she enjoys it. She enjoys his company. Maybe a bit too much because neither can deny the growing attraction and companionship between them. It's forbidden for a vampire and a werewolf to be together and the heroine can't risk taking the chance they are discovered. But he is so sweet to her and fiercely loyal to her though she's done little to reward such behavior. When she finally succumbs to the desires she has for this male, she's stunned to realize that she's now bonded to him. The pack finds out and she is quickly shunned, despite the heroes pleads on her behalf. Now she's an outcast from everything she's known and perhaps worst of all, she's taking advantage of the hero’s unconditional love- sulking in her own misery. But no more. She's hell and determined to be stronger and take what life has given her, the choices she made and live by them. This means waking up and realizing that the hero is everything she's wanted and in his arms, she has a true and lasting legacy.
I love it when a book is a guaranteed good read. This whole series has been unfailing in excitement, passion and unique mythology and Midnight Reckoning is included in that. In this book we see Jaden, the anti-social, tormented cat vamp shifter from the first book and Lyra, the determined werewolf who is fighting for her true birth right. The pair may have had a rocky start in the first book but this book showed them quickly becoming what I would call companions. They were enemies technically, though the hero was never sold on the idea, not as much as the heroine was. He knew what it was like to be considered a lesser being and it's this empathizing that allowed him deep in the werewolf society, a place no vampire has gone before. They desired each other from the jump, neither denied that to themselves but the choice to do something about those desires was a long and drawn out fight. They knew the risks, the taboo nature of what they were considering but it was the heroine who had everything to lose. She had fought for so long and so hard to gain the respect of her pack that she feared allowing her feelings for the hero to grow would kill all her dreams. She was strong but vulnerable. She had sass but in the hero’s company the reader began to see a change in that standoffish attitude. She softens to him and learned to appreciate him without always worrying about being that warrior woman. The hero was a lovely character. He was somber at times but at others he was able to laugh and tease. He was always quick with a flippant comment and held himself with dignity and a quiet strength- showing others that while he was a slave, he was free man now. I also love the development of this new dynasty. With every book the family grows and strengthens. Great book written by a gifted author.
While out for a walk, he comes across the heroine being attacked by a brutish werewolf male who is obviously unable to comprehend the word no. Typically he wouldn't be compelled to lend his aid to wolf problems but he knows this woman and has been secretly captured by her beauty even though she hates his guts. She probably won't thank him for his help and he's not surprised when she cusses him out and flees into the night but when he realizes she's left behind her necklace, he knows it's a reason to see her again. He's unclear as to what this fascination with the enemy is but he knows that if he doesn't see her again, he'll never be able to let it go. So, he bravely (or stupidly, depending on opinion) strolls deep into werewolf territory to see her again.
The heroine is sick and tired of outdated werewolf laws and customs that make females second class citizens. She's tired of everyone trying to force a mate on her and people telling her there's no way a female can be Alpha. She's determined to prove them wrong, that she doesn't need a man to be a leader and that she's the rightful heir to the pack. Then the hero shows up. She's stunned by these confusing and intense feelings inside for this male who should be the enemy but in her heart is quickly becoming something else. He is arrogant to show his face in werewolf territory but secretly, she's thrilled but his strength and sense of self. This is not a male who lets people walk all over him. She's more shocked to learn that her own father has recruited this male to train her for the upcoming battle for Second. She's to learn how to fight like a vampire and how to be strong but clever against those who stand between her and her dreams.
They train hard and the hero is relentless but she enjoys it. She enjoys his company. Maybe a bit too much because neither can deny the growing attraction and companionship between them. It's forbidden for a vampire and a werewolf to be together and the heroine can't risk taking the chance they are discovered. But he is so sweet to her and fiercely loyal to her though she's done little to reward such behavior. When she finally succumbs to the desires she has for this male, she's stunned to realize that she's now bonded to him. The pack finds out and she is quickly shunned, despite the heroes pleads on her behalf. Now she's an outcast from everything she's known and perhaps worst of all, she's taking advantage of the hero’s unconditional love- sulking in her own misery. But no more. She's hell and determined to be stronger and take what life has given her, the choices she made and live by them. This means waking up and realizing that the hero is everything she's wanted and in his arms, she has a true and lasting legacy.
I love it when a book is a guaranteed good read. This whole series has been unfailing in excitement, passion and unique mythology and Midnight Reckoning is included in that. In this book we see Jaden, the anti-social, tormented cat vamp shifter from the first book and Lyra, the determined werewolf who is fighting for her true birth right. The pair may have had a rocky start in the first book but this book showed them quickly becoming what I would call companions. They were enemies technically, though the hero was never sold on the idea, not as much as the heroine was. He knew what it was like to be considered a lesser being and it's this empathizing that allowed him deep in the werewolf society, a place no vampire has gone before. They desired each other from the jump, neither denied that to themselves but the choice to do something about those desires was a long and drawn out fight. They knew the risks, the taboo nature of what they were considering but it was the heroine who had everything to lose. She had fought for so long and so hard to gain the respect of her pack that she feared allowing her feelings for the hero to grow would kill all her dreams. She was strong but vulnerable. She had sass but in the hero’s company the reader began to see a change in that standoffish attitude. She softens to him and learned to appreciate him without always worrying about being that warrior woman. The hero was a lovely character. He was somber at times but at others he was able to laugh and tease. He was always quick with a flippant comment and held himself with dignity and a quiet strength- showing others that while he was a slave, he was free man now. I also love the development of this new dynasty. With every book the family grows and strengthens. Great book written by a gifted author.
September 27, 2012
So... this book. Probably a 2.5 for me - rounding to 3 for GR purposes. It took me five days to read, and if you know me at all that is practically unheard of. I don't even know what to say because the book itself is pretty good, but I felt absolutely nothing... nothing for these two characters. I was so flipping excited to read about Jaden after the little taste we got of him in the first book (Dark Awakenings). And, to be honest, I liked him in this book... I just didn't care for Tyra all that much.
So... I told my BFF that I'd try to attempt doing this review with only gifs. Here goes.
End of Dark Awakenings (which I loved!!) - and rushes off to read Midnight Reckoning
After the first few chapters...
and then a few more chapters...
of course throw in a bit of this...
as reading continues...
I hear more of Tyra's story...
how I felt about starting this book immediately after one I loved...
We reach the climax of the book (which I figured out pretty early on) and suddenly ...
... everything is solved in about a chapter.
As I said, the story is pretty good, I just felt absolutely nothing for Tyra ... This book was filled with so much talking and stuff that I just didn't find interesting. Who knows maybe I have a deep seeded werewolf prejudice or something but it really didn't hook me and keep me interested.
I will be continuing with the series because I absolutely loved loved loved the first book and I'm going to give the characters the benefit of the doubt that the next will be much more my kind of book.
First - if you haven't read Dark Awakenings go back and do that ... then if you don't mind werewolves (though Jaden is a Cait Sith) give this a read. I'll let you know what I think of book three once I get myself back in the PNR mood!
This review can be found on my blog, Fic Fare:
So... I told my BFF that I'd try to attempt doing this review with only gifs. Here goes.
End of Dark Awakenings (which I loved!!) - and rushes off to read Midnight Reckoning
After the first few chapters...
and then a few more chapters...
of course throw in a bit of this...
as reading continues...
I hear more of Tyra's story...
how I felt about starting this book immediately after one I loved...
We reach the climax of the book (which I figured out pretty early on) and suddenly ...
... everything is solved in about a chapter.
As I said, the story is pretty good, I just felt absolutely nothing for Tyra ... This book was filled with so much talking and stuff that I just didn't find interesting. Who knows maybe I have a deep seeded werewolf prejudice or something but it really didn't hook me and keep me interested.
I will be continuing with the series because I absolutely loved loved loved the first book and I'm going to give the characters the benefit of the doubt that the next will be much more my kind of book.
First - if you haven't read Dark Awakenings go back and do that ... then if you don't mind werewolves (though Jaden is a Cait Sith) give this a read. I'll let you know what I think of book three once I get myself back in the PNR mood!
This review can be found on my blog, Fic Fare:
February 10, 2012
Originally Reviewed at:Mother/Gamer/Writer
Rating 5 out of 5 Controllers
Review Source:Publisher for Honest Review
Reviewed by:Me
A 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.
Rating 5 out of 5 Controllers
Review Source:Publisher for Honest Review
Reviewed by:Me
A 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.
January 8, 2013
Out for a walk to clear his head, Jaden heard a female in trouble. Of course he knew he needed to check it out and help the female from her would be suitors’ unwanted advances. But to his surprise it was Lyra, the sassy werewolf that stirred his interest the last time he seen her. He knew he needed to intervene, but also knew his help was not going to receive a warm welcome considering the foul way he treated her at their first meeting.
Lyra couldn't believe that this vampire cat-shifter dare think she needed his help; she had it all under controller. Even if she probably did, she still didn’t want to need his help. She was use to these types of issues, she was an alphas daughter and whoever can mate with her first gets to be alpha. So she's had many of these encounters since she became of age. Then to top it off the stupid vampire comes to her home to return her family air loom she lost that night he saved her. He stirred feelings inside her she didn't know she could feel, but she didn't need this distraction. She needed to prepare herself for the proving; when she will battle for her right to be alpha, even if everyone doesn’t think she can do it.
Jaden had no idea why he was personally returning this necklace to the she-wolf that stirs the forbidden wants in his body. But what really shocked him was when her alpha father asked him to stay and train her to fight the other werewolves that she will come up against in the proving. He knows he should say no, knowing there is no way hell he would be able to this close to her and not act on the feelings he has.
But when they both let go and admit what they feel for each other it may cost Lyra more than she willing to loose, her home, her pack, father and all.
Jaden knew he was asking too much for her to be with him but he wanted just this one time for someone to want him, choose him above all else.
I really liked the first book; the world Kendra has created is so exciting and new that it sucked me in immediately. This book was no different. I loved Jaden since book one he was so gentle and cute. In this book he was still so great and I loved him with Lyra. My heart couldn't help but go out to him every time Lyra pulled away.
Lyra is a strong alpha female stuck in a sexist world were her only attributes lie in the bedroom. She is determined to take what would be rightfully hers if she would have just been born a boy. But when Jaden comes into her world he throws a monkey wrench into her plans; she didn't plan for falling for any one ever must less a vampire cat- shifter.
There is a great story here, you are sucked in and kept glued to the pages the entire time. I can't wait to read more from this world. I'm not sure who the next book would be about but I am sure I will love it all the same. I'd love to read more about Dracul, I loved him in book one.
The books have a good underline story too; There was the high vampire bloods who kept the Cat Sithe as slaves and when the rightful queen rose up they lost their power over the Vampire cat- shifters and there queen will stop at nothing to get back at the those who caused the rebellion and eradicate the world of all Cat Sithe. If you have not picked up this series do so, I don’t think you'll be disappointed.
**Athenna**
Lyra couldn't believe that this vampire cat-shifter dare think she needed his help; she had it all under controller. Even if she probably did, she still didn’t want to need his help. She was use to these types of issues, she was an alphas daughter and whoever can mate with her first gets to be alpha. So she's had many of these encounters since she became of age. Then to top it off the stupid vampire comes to her home to return her family air loom she lost that night he saved her. He stirred feelings inside her she didn't know she could feel, but she didn't need this distraction. She needed to prepare herself for the proving; when she will battle for her right to be alpha, even if everyone doesn’t think she can do it.
Jaden had no idea why he was personally returning this necklace to the she-wolf that stirs the forbidden wants in his body. But what really shocked him was when her alpha father asked him to stay and train her to fight the other werewolves that she will come up against in the proving. He knows he should say no, knowing there is no way hell he would be able to this close to her and not act on the feelings he has.
But when they both let go and admit what they feel for each other it may cost Lyra more than she willing to loose, her home, her pack, father and all.
Jaden knew he was asking too much for her to be with him but he wanted just this one time for someone to want him, choose him above all else.
I really liked the first book; the world Kendra has created is so exciting and new that it sucked me in immediately. This book was no different. I loved Jaden since book one he was so gentle and cute. In this book he was still so great and I loved him with Lyra. My heart couldn't help but go out to him every time Lyra pulled away.
Lyra is a strong alpha female stuck in a sexist world were her only attributes lie in the bedroom. She is determined to take what would be rightfully hers if she would have just been born a boy. But when Jaden comes into her world he throws a monkey wrench into her plans; she didn't plan for falling for any one ever must less a vampire cat- shifter.
There is a great story here, you are sucked in and kept glued to the pages the entire time. I can't wait to read more from this world. I'm not sure who the next book would be about but I am sure I will love it all the same. I'd love to read more about Dracul, I loved him in book one.
The books have a good underline story too; There was the high vampire bloods who kept the Cat Sithe as slaves and when the rightful queen rose up they lost their power over the Vampire cat- shifters and there queen will stop at nothing to get back at the those who caused the rebellion and eradicate the world of all Cat Sithe. If you have not picked up this series do so, I don’t think you'll be disappointed.
**Athenna**
January 22, 2012
http://www.demonloversbooksandmore.co...
4.5 flames
Last year I was blind-sided by how much I loved the first book in this series, so it comes as no surprise that I loved this one too.
Jaden is a cait sith vampire (cat shifter/vampire), one of the lowest castes, but also a new member of the Lilium. So he is no longer a slave to the Ptolemy, but that’s not for lack of trying on their part. The Ptolemy is trying to kill all the cats who left them, branding them as traitors, so Jaden may have the backing of his new caste, but he is still being hunted by other vampires.
Lyra is a werewolf, and if the vampires look down on anyone more than the cait sith, it would be the werewolves. But she’s also the only daughter of an alpha, and ever since Jaden met her (at the safe house in Dark Awakening) he can’t get her out of his head.
Watching Jaden teach Lyra how to fight using her natural grace rather than just brute force was a new twist on fighting. And it made a lot of sense. You figure, the males are alphas because the wolves follow the strongest. Well, what happens when your strongest alpha has a daughter? She needs a strong husband, of course. Right? Wrong. Lyra wants things to change. She is up against her cousin, and the rumors are that he’s…got a dark side. Maybe he likes to hunt humans and play with his prey. Lyra can’t let him take over the pack. So she has challenged the pack males for leadership. The problem is that those males are really strong. Lyra has had no formal training, and she may be a scrapper, but she won’t last 5 minutes with one of them.
This is proved when a male from another pack finds Lyra in an alley. Jaden steps in, and Lyra is furious he helped her, but mostly she’s angry that she needed his help. That’s a bitter pill for an alpha-to-be to swallow.
I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. The action part may have been slow, but I felt that with the amount of prejudice they had to overcome, it had to move a bit slower. And I really enjoyed watching the wolves come to like Jaden. Oh! And his name! James Dennis= Jaden. I love that! It’s not too often their names means something. It was a nice touch. And I did NOT see the twist coming, I’ll tell you that.
I think the world-building was fantastic and easy to slip into, even if you haven’t read Dark Awakening. I think the prejudice that Jaden and Lyra had to deal with was hard to overcome, and I was impressed with how the author handled it. By about halfway through I was certain I knew how the author would “fix” the prejudice so that they could have their HEA. Uhhh, yeah, I was soo wrong. She surprised me with a move I thought was pretty gutsy. Not too many authors could have pulled it off, but Ms. Castle did, and I think she did it well.
**thanks to netgalley.com for the ARC
4.5 flames
Last year I was blind-sided by how much I loved the first book in this series, so it comes as no surprise that I loved this one too.
Jaden is a cait sith vampire (cat shifter/vampire), one of the lowest castes, but also a new member of the Lilium. So he is no longer a slave to the Ptolemy, but that’s not for lack of trying on their part. The Ptolemy is trying to kill all the cats who left them, branding them as traitors, so Jaden may have the backing of his new caste, but he is still being hunted by other vampires.
Lyra is a werewolf, and if the vampires look down on anyone more than the cait sith, it would be the werewolves. But she’s also the only daughter of an alpha, and ever since Jaden met her (at the safe house in Dark Awakening) he can’t get her out of his head.
Watching Jaden teach Lyra how to fight using her natural grace rather than just brute force was a new twist on fighting. And it made a lot of sense. You figure, the males are alphas because the wolves follow the strongest. Well, what happens when your strongest alpha has a daughter? She needs a strong husband, of course. Right? Wrong. Lyra wants things to change. She is up against her cousin, and the rumors are that he’s…got a dark side. Maybe he likes to hunt humans and play with his prey. Lyra can’t let him take over the pack. So she has challenged the pack males for leadership. The problem is that those males are really strong. Lyra has had no formal training, and she may be a scrapper, but she won’t last 5 minutes with one of them.
This is proved when a male from another pack finds Lyra in an alley. Jaden steps in, and Lyra is furious he helped her, but mostly she’s angry that she needed his help. That’s a bitter pill for an alpha-to-be to swallow.
I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. The action part may have been slow, but I felt that with the amount of prejudice they had to overcome, it had to move a bit slower. And I really enjoyed watching the wolves come to like Jaden. Oh! And his name! James Dennis= Jaden. I love that! It’s not too often their names means something. It was a nice touch. And I did NOT see the twist coming, I’ll tell you that.
I think the world-building was fantastic and easy to slip into, even if you haven’t read Dark Awakening. I think the prejudice that Jaden and Lyra had to deal with was hard to overcome, and I was impressed with how the author handled it. By about halfway through I was certain I knew how the author would “fix” the prejudice so that they could have their HEA. Uhhh, yeah, I was soo wrong. She surprised me with a move I thought was pretty gutsy. Not too many authors could have pulled it off, but Ms. Castle did, and I think she did it well.
**thanks to netgalley.com for the ARC
July 2, 2013
I'm just a girl growing up in a man's world.
Fighting and scrapping to get to the top.
They must not know me cuz I'll never stop.
Striving 'n' thriving to be all I can be.
Tryin' to hold me back with a heavy hand and sharp words.
Well, my words are really sharper, and my heart beats much stronger.
You make me wanna fight harder to break free and just be me.
Why can't you see that I'm not just a girl growin' up in a man's world?
I'm growing up to be ME.
by Nikki
I liked it even though it was a little tame/light and Lyra's father came around to see Jaden as a good guy pretty quick. The ending with the villain spilling all his secrets in a televised way made it a little cheesy and unbelievable. However, the theme of this read touched me. Lyra, A woman who is willing to fight a pack of werewolves to become her father's successor even though she's not as strong as them (and knows it), but is willing to do it to change how the wolves think and live in these times is a pleasant reminder of how a woman can be strong and determined in the face of great odds.
Fighting and scrapping to get to the top.
They must not know me cuz I'll never stop.
Striving 'n' thriving to be all I can be.
Tryin' to hold me back with a heavy hand and sharp words.
Well, my words are really sharper, and my heart beats much stronger.
You make me wanna fight harder to break free and just be me.
Why can't you see that I'm not just a girl growin' up in a man's world?
I'm growing up to be ME.
by Nikki
I liked it even though it was a little tame/light and Lyra's father came around to see Jaden as a good guy pretty quick. The ending with the villain spilling all his secrets in a televised way made it a little cheesy and unbelievable. However, the theme of this read touched me. Lyra, A woman who is willing to fight a pack of werewolves to become her father's successor even though she's not as strong as them (and knows it), but is willing to do it to change how the wolves think and live in these times is a pleasant reminder of how a woman can be strong and determined in the face of great odds.
December 19, 2011
At first.. Its kinda slow but wow.. Building in an awesome story until the end.
I love the humor between Jaden and Lyra, a crisp humor that makes me smile.
I just love the entire new dimension of paranormal world that Kendra Leigh Castle built for this series..
A Cat-Vamp! That's extraordinary, whom mated to a she-wolf.. Made my head spinning in a good way..
The end of the story, as sweet as it is, makes me really wondering, what will happen to the couple in the future (I wish I had my answer in the next book *crossfinger*)
My praise to Kendra Leigh Castle.. For awesome and exciting book..
I hope I can explore more of your extraordinary world soon.. :)
My huge thanks to NetGalley.com for provided me the ARC..
I love the humor between Jaden and Lyra, a crisp humor that makes me smile.
I just love the entire new dimension of paranormal world that Kendra Leigh Castle built for this series..
A Cat-Vamp! That's extraordinary, whom mated to a she-wolf.. Made my head spinning in a good way..
The end of the story, as sweet as it is, makes me really wondering, what will happen to the couple in the future (I wish I had my answer in the next book *crossfinger*)
My praise to Kendra Leigh Castle.. For awesome and exciting book..
I hope I can explore more of your extraordinary world soon.. :)
My huge thanks to NetGalley.com for provided me the ARC..
January 18, 2012
wow what a great continuation of this series. I was very surprised by just how naturally the plot seemed to flow together. I love when opposing sides unite in a big flashing love affair. Doesn't get any better.
Once again i was thrilled i found this series. Its super sexy and passionate with fun twists and turns. not to mention a fun whole new myth and legend to learn the in and outs of. can't wait for more!
Once again i was thrilled i found this series. Its super sexy and passionate with fun twists and turns. not to mention a fun whole new myth and legend to learn the in and outs of. can't wait for more!
May 26, 2015
Jaden is a Cait Sith like Tynan and when he comes across a werewolf named Lyra who he had met briefly before, his world gets turned upside down. With the Ptolemy after the werewolves now, it's up to Lyra and Jaden who is stuck in her world to help defend her pack. All the while dealing with a forbidden romance between vampire and werewolf.
Loved the action in this book and it was nice to see Tynan and Lily in this book as well.
Loved the action in this book and it was nice to see Tynan and Lily in this book as well.
February 17, 2012
Ok, so this is not for the scholars amongst us, nor for those averse to sloppy love stories. Nor might I add for those of us who like a little more explanation to some quite out there supernatural jumps (werewolf-vampire mating consequences) but it was a heart warming as a heart shaped water bottle. These books are good fun and super sweet. Give me more!
November 30, 2012
I was thoroughly disappointed with this one. The heroine was a pain in the ass,I get that she was a werewolf but really a guy saves your life and decides he's going to train you so you can save your sorry ass,and you chop his head off evey time he says "hi"? Nuh-uh.
I'm hoping Damien's story will be worth it,I'm gonna give it a shot.
I'm hoping Damien's story will be worth it,I'm gonna give it a shot.
May 15, 2012
~* 4.5 Stars *~
A Dark and Decadent Delight
To say that vampires and werewolves aren't exactly bosum buddies would be the sort of understatement that wins lifetime achievement awards, and the Cait Sith, a vampire bloodline enslaved by the highbloods until recently, well, they're vampires who can become large, predatory cats. You do the math.
In fact, Cait Sith Jaden Harrison tends to think of werewolves as nothing more than smelly, brutish thugs, though that's a pretty elitist opinion for a recently-not-so-former slave. Technically, it's not even entirely true. There is one werewolf in particular, Lyra Black, who Jaden definitely isn't lumping in with the others. Though he would really, really like to.
Lyra is entirely too...everything for Jaden's piece of mind. She stirs things in him he doesn't want stirred by a wolf. And it's definitely a pity when he practically trips over her as she's about to get mauled by an overeager male werewolf with non-consensual sex on his mind. In Cait Sith territory no less.
It's not like he can stand around not rescuing the lovely Lyra. At least he'll get some gratitude from her.
Lyra Black doesn't want a mate. She surely doesn't want some werewolf with an eye on his own upward mobility to even think about getting anywhere near her. As the only child of the pack Alpha, there's only one thing Lyra does want. To follow in his footsteps, be accepted as his second, and become Alpha when he steps down. Is that too much to ask?
Now she's got a werewolf wannabe trying to stake a claim and a vampire, of all loathsome species, stepping in to help her as if she's some dainty, fainting flower. Oh, no he didn't. She can take care of herself. She can save herself. And she damn sure doesn't want a leech like Jaden, no matter how hot and finely chiseled he is, to take that away from her, then have the audacity...the unmitigated gall...to act like she owed him thanks for his interference.
Not even if snowballs were piling up in hell, and no matter how delicious he smells to her sensitive nose. She hates the vampire and everything he stands for. Everything he is. And she's got too much going on to give him even a passing thought. She just wished that mattered to her libido, because she still hasn't been able to fully tuck him away into memory after their first encounter.
~*~
There's something special about this series. I noticed it in the previous book, the series debut. It's got a few elements similar in theme to other paranormal romance series, but fewer than most, and it's got enough of its own original mythos, unique world building, and surprising character backstory to make it stand out amidst a very large crowd. That's rare enough lately to take notice when I find it.
In the Dark Dynasties series, it's all about the Cait Sith. As former slaves to their highblood brethren, subjugated through the ages, the entire bloodline is burdened and defined by the psychological ramifications both from centuries of slavery and from newly found freedom and increased status after many lifetimes without. Those elements are being nicely woven into the main characters' personality and personal history in such a way as to provide depth and add dimension, as well as setting them apart as unique.
Jaden is a hard case. We met him in the first book and saw him as a dark, taciturn vampire with more internal scars than those on his back. In this one, though he's now free, he's still feeling restless and a little empty, and very unsure of his future. Within the parameters of his comfort zone as a fighter or a hunter, he's confident, controlled, and deadly. All business all the time. Push him out of that comfort zone, however, and dump an inconvenient, Lyra-sized attraction in his lap and he becomes cluelessly adorable as he sinks deeper and deeper in over his head. I loved him so much in this book.
He's got a full lust-on for Lyra, and the sparks between them are intense, but he falls flat on his face (metaphorically speaking) when his emotions get stirred into the mix. Those moments of emotional vulnerability and insecurity are all entirely endearing and cutely humorous.
Lyra is a bit more standard a heroine for the genre, but she's strong, fiercely independent, and wildly loyal to her pack, her father, and her loved ones. She's exactly my kind of leading lady and I both liked and respected her for her struggles and her clearly conceived plans for the future. She's also none too happy about her attraction to a vampire, but once that initial hurdle is leapt, she's far more philosophical about it and isn't afraid to grab for what she wants. Even startled vampires.
The two of them made a very strong team, with complimenting strengths and weaknesses, and I loved that Castle kept them more an evenly matched team instead of slotting Jaden into a position of protection and defense for Lyra. While that may have worked with the characters in the first book, the formerly human Lily and her vampire husband Tynan, it would have been disastrous for Jaden and Lyra's relationship. Those two need a partner, not a protector. I was thrilled to see Castle develop that and allow her characters to embody it.
The plot in this book was very different from that of the last. The Ptolemy are still around stirring up trouble, for sure, but most of this book focused on the relationship betwen Jaden and Lyra, as well as the pack issues and upcoming Proving that Jaden trains Lyra for. Much of the day-to-day training passed without expansive detail, but it helped the pacing of the book and kept the reader apprised that their relationship was evolving as time passed. In that regard, this book leans more heavily towards the romance than the plot-driven external conflicts that drove the first book.
There were some nice twists and turns in the plot, too. Some suspense elements that worked better than I expected and provided more entertainment than I would have guessed. Not all is hunky dory in the pack and though I did figure out a few key points of friction beforehand, others left me surprised. It's hard to surprise me.
All in all, I've become a huge fan both of this series and of Kendra Leigh Castle's writing. I can't wait to see who she turns up the heat on next. Her character's are memorable and endearing, flawed, even broken a bit, and their flustered insecurities make them ultimately sympathetic. They are also, of course, oh-so-very sexy! Pair that up with a richly defined, imaginative world and a solidly layered plot and you've got the sort of paranormal romance gold that tickles all my Happy Reader buttons...and then some.
Quotables:
Disclosure: An ARC of this book was provided to me by Forever publisher Grand Central Publishing via NetGalley. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
A Dark and Decadent Delight
To say that vampires and werewolves aren't exactly bosum buddies would be the sort of understatement that wins lifetime achievement awards, and the Cait Sith, a vampire bloodline enslaved by the highbloods until recently, well, they're vampires who can become large, predatory cats. You do the math.
In fact, Cait Sith Jaden Harrison tends to think of werewolves as nothing more than smelly, brutish thugs, though that's a pretty elitist opinion for a recently-not-so-former slave. Technically, it's not even entirely true. There is one werewolf in particular, Lyra Black, who Jaden definitely isn't lumping in with the others. Though he would really, really like to.
Lyra is entirely too...everything for Jaden's piece of mind. She stirs things in him he doesn't want stirred by a wolf. And it's definitely a pity when he practically trips over her as she's about to get mauled by an overeager male werewolf with non-consensual sex on his mind. In Cait Sith territory no less.
It's not like he can stand around not rescuing the lovely Lyra. At least he'll get some gratitude from her.
Lyra Black doesn't want a mate. She surely doesn't want some werewolf with an eye on his own upward mobility to even think about getting anywhere near her. As the only child of the pack Alpha, there's only one thing Lyra does want. To follow in his footsteps, be accepted as his second, and become Alpha when he steps down. Is that too much to ask?
Now she's got a werewolf wannabe trying to stake a claim and a vampire, of all loathsome species, stepping in to help her as if she's some dainty, fainting flower. Oh, no he didn't. She can take care of herself. She can save herself. And she damn sure doesn't want a leech like Jaden, no matter how hot and finely chiseled he is, to take that away from her, then have the audacity...the unmitigated gall...to act like she owed him thanks for his interference.
Not even if snowballs were piling up in hell, and no matter how delicious he smells to her sensitive nose. She hates the vampire and everything he stands for. Everything he is. And she's got too much going on to give him even a passing thought. She just wished that mattered to her libido, because she still hasn't been able to fully tuck him away into memory after their first encounter.
~*~
There's something special about this series. I noticed it in the previous book, the series debut. It's got a few elements similar in theme to other paranormal romance series, but fewer than most, and it's got enough of its own original mythos, unique world building, and surprising character backstory to make it stand out amidst a very large crowd. That's rare enough lately to take notice when I find it.
In the Dark Dynasties series, it's all about the Cait Sith. As former slaves to their highblood brethren, subjugated through the ages, the entire bloodline is burdened and defined by the psychological ramifications both from centuries of slavery and from newly found freedom and increased status after many lifetimes without. Those elements are being nicely woven into the main characters' personality and personal history in such a way as to provide depth and add dimension, as well as setting them apart as unique.
Jaden is a hard case. We met him in the first book and saw him as a dark, taciturn vampire with more internal scars than those on his back. In this one, though he's now free, he's still feeling restless and a little empty, and very unsure of his future. Within the parameters of his comfort zone as a fighter or a hunter, he's confident, controlled, and deadly. All business all the time. Push him out of that comfort zone, however, and dump an inconvenient, Lyra-sized attraction in his lap and he becomes cluelessly adorable as he sinks deeper and deeper in over his head. I loved him so much in this book.
He's got a full lust-on for Lyra, and the sparks between them are intense, but he falls flat on his face (metaphorically speaking) when his emotions get stirred into the mix. Those moments of emotional vulnerability and insecurity are all entirely endearing and cutely humorous.
Lyra is a bit more standard a heroine for the genre, but she's strong, fiercely independent, and wildly loyal to her pack, her father, and her loved ones. She's exactly my kind of leading lady and I both liked and respected her for her struggles and her clearly conceived plans for the future. She's also none too happy about her attraction to a vampire, but once that initial hurdle is leapt, she's far more philosophical about it and isn't afraid to grab for what she wants. Even startled vampires.
The two of them made a very strong team, with complimenting strengths and weaknesses, and I loved that Castle kept them more an evenly matched team instead of slotting Jaden into a position of protection and defense for Lyra. While that may have worked with the characters in the first book, the formerly human Lily and her vampire husband Tynan, it would have been disastrous for Jaden and Lyra's relationship. Those two need a partner, not a protector. I was thrilled to see Castle develop that and allow her characters to embody it.
The plot in this book was very different from that of the last. The Ptolemy are still around stirring up trouble, for sure, but most of this book focused on the relationship betwen Jaden and Lyra, as well as the pack issues and upcoming Proving that Jaden trains Lyra for. Much of the day-to-day training passed without expansive detail, but it helped the pacing of the book and kept the reader apprised that their relationship was evolving as time passed. In that regard, this book leans more heavily towards the romance than the plot-driven external conflicts that drove the first book.
There were some nice twists and turns in the plot, too. Some suspense elements that worked better than I expected and provided more entertainment than I would have guessed. Not all is hunky dory in the pack and though I did figure out a few key points of friction beforehand, others left me surprised. It's hard to surprise me.
All in all, I've become a huge fan both of this series and of Kendra Leigh Castle's writing. I can't wait to see who she turns up the heat on next. Her character's are memorable and endearing, flawed, even broken a bit, and their flustered insecurities make them ultimately sympathetic. They are also, of course, oh-so-very sexy! Pair that up with a richly defined, imaginative world and a solidly layered plot and you've got the sort of paranormal romance gold that tickles all my Happy Reader buttons...and then some.
Quotables:
He wished he could have spoken to someone with a similar experience, but one didn't just wander around asking random vampires whether they'd ever been possessed by the desire to get naked with a werewolf.
"You're not worried because I'm pale, are you? We've been over this. The pale skin is not a bug, it's a feature."
"It was her idea to bind herself to you for the rest of her life, and you're worried she doesn't love you," Ty said blandly.
"Well, I...yeah," Jaden replied, beginning to feel more than a little foolish.
"I'd like you to think about that for a minute, dumbass, and then get back to me on how well it makes sense."
Disclosure: An ARC of this book was provided to me by Forever publisher Grand Central Publishing via NetGalley. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
June 29, 2022
2.5 stars
God, this was a giant letdown after the awesome introduction we got in Dark Awakening. I don't know what it was, really. The whole book just felt off to me. The writing was stilted and not as polished. Several sentences and passages had me rereading because they didn't make sense. And the characters--though I liked Jaden, I didn't love any of them. Lyra was not my favorite heroine. I enjoy a strong female lead, but there is a fine line the author has to walk to make her strong and remain likable and not just a bitch. I'm not sure Castle pulled it off.
I was also missing the heat of the first one. We had unbelievable sexual chemistry and tension with Ty and Lily, and I don't think it was there with Lyra and Jaden.
Finally, the ending was...what? I mean, really. What? I also felt like it was wrapped up too quickly. There was all this build-up and then it was just...done.
I'm still going to head into book 3, but I'm not quite as excited about it as I'd hoped...
God, this was a giant letdown after the awesome introduction we got in Dark Awakening. I don't know what it was, really. The whole book just felt off to me. The writing was stilted and not as polished. Several sentences and passages had me rereading because they didn't make sense. And the characters--though I liked Jaden, I didn't love any of them. Lyra was not my favorite heroine. I enjoy a strong female lead, but there is a fine line the author has to walk to make her strong and remain likable and not just a bitch. I'm not sure Castle pulled it off.
I was also missing the heat of the first one. We had unbelievable sexual chemistry and tension with Ty and Lily, and I don't think it was there with Lyra and Jaden.
Finally, the ending was...what? I mean, really. What? I also felt like it was wrapped up too quickly. There was all this build-up and then it was just...done.
I'm still going to head into book 3, but I'm not quite as excited about it as I'd hoped...
August 19, 2017
Meh, little chemistry between the main characters. Worse yet, the ending was rushed. All the exciting stuff
September 23, 2019
This one hit all the right places - and Lyra is one of my favourite heroines of urban fantasy. Smart, rough, kick-ass without being all powered, and self-aware. Jaden, despite the shit name, was pretty great too. Not angsty but also not fluffy
February 13, 2012
She was the alpha's daughter with aspirations of taking his place as the leader of the Thorn pack.
"Oh yes, I want to fight in the Proving, so obviously I'm nuts. I'd like like a shot at my birthright, but going for it makes me a weak, stupid little she-wolf. You do realize how sexist you sound, right?"
He was a Cait Sith vampire and spent the majority of his life as a slave to the Ptolemy.
'Jaden now had what he always thought he'd wanted: friends, a home, and most important, his freedom...The empty places inside him still ached like open wounds. Something was missing.'
They weren't supposed to be attracted to each other. Vampires and werewolves weren't supposed to mix. They weren't supposed to fall in love. Sometimes love is a force of nature that cannot be denied.
'Dark Awakening', the first book in the Dark Dynasties series, by Kendra Leigh Castle was one of my top ten favorite books of 2011. It gave a whole new twist to the vampire genre and I simply adored it. Ms. Castle once again wowed me with Midnight reckoning and I know I've found a new series to love.
In 'Dark Awakening' the Cait Sith went from being considered nothing more than the undesirable "gutterbloods" of the vampire dynasties to being the foundation for the rebirth of a dynasty long thought extinct that had vanished years ago--the Lilim. With that rebirth, the Cait Sith reclaimed their dignity and were raised in rank among those in Vampire society, but some do not welcome the change. One Queen in particular was not happy that her favorite play things had been taken. Now Lily, the woman who carried the blood of Lilim will set out to solidify her new dynasty's place by assembling a court and guard. Both Ty and Lily would like Jaden to be the captain. Before he can commit to anything, however, he'll need to return a necklace to Lyra who lost it after a confrontation with an overly zealous werewolf suitor. Jaden put an end to the confrontation when it looked like Lyra was in trouble and ever since he couldn't get her out of his mind. He could have probably mailed the necklace to her. He probably could have sent it with someone else. He could have, but he didn't.
Lyra wanted to take her father's place in the Thorn pack. Werewolf society, at least in the Thorn pack, was a bit backward. They didn't believe a woman could lead the pack. They still lived by the old rules and the next pack leader was determined to be who ever won the Proving. The Proving was a fight to the finish violent contest where the winner takes all. No woman had ever won it before and only one woman had ever been brave enough to try. Male werewolves definitely had an advantage over their less bulky and weaker female counterparts. So while it sounded rather sexist, there was some real concern about Lyra entering the Proving. Only the strong and skilled survived and the last female who entered the competition died.
Both Lyra and Jaden were easy to relate to and very likable characters. Each is admirable for trying to rise above their status. Neither truly wished to start a relationship, but the attraction between the two was fierce, strong, and undeniable. They knew what they were starting was forbidden. They just didn't know all the consequences of their actions and they would pay dearly for it. On rhe Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one gets a STEAM rating.
The song that was playing in my head as I read this book was 'Brighter than the Sun' by Colbie Caillat.
"Oh, this is how it starts, lightning strikes the heart
It goes off like a gun, brighter than the sun
Oh, we could be the stars, falling from the sky
Shining how we want, brighter than the sun
I've never seen it, I found this love, I'm gonna feed it
You better believe, I'm gonna treat it better than anything I've ever had
Cause you're so d@mn beautiful..."
Overall, this one scored 4 1/2 out of 5 roses. There were twists and turns and plenty of action and drama. I am loving the series and looking forward to reading the next book.
Order of series:
1) Dark Awakening
2) Midnight Reckoning
3) Shadow Rising - Coming August 2012)
To view more of my reviews, please visit my blog at www.seducedbyabook.com
"Oh yes, I want to fight in the Proving, so obviously I'm nuts. I'd like like a shot at my birthright, but going for it makes me a weak, stupid little she-wolf. You do realize how sexist you sound, right?"
He was a Cait Sith vampire and spent the majority of his life as a slave to the Ptolemy.
'Jaden now had what he always thought he'd wanted: friends, a home, and most important, his freedom...The empty places inside him still ached like open wounds. Something was missing.'
They weren't supposed to be attracted to each other. Vampires and werewolves weren't supposed to mix. They weren't supposed to fall in love. Sometimes love is a force of nature that cannot be denied.
'Dark Awakening', the first book in the Dark Dynasties series, by Kendra Leigh Castle was one of my top ten favorite books of 2011. It gave a whole new twist to the vampire genre and I simply adored it. Ms. Castle once again wowed me with Midnight reckoning and I know I've found a new series to love.
In 'Dark Awakening' the Cait Sith went from being considered nothing more than the undesirable "gutterbloods" of the vampire dynasties to being the foundation for the rebirth of a dynasty long thought extinct that had vanished years ago--the Lilim. With that rebirth, the Cait Sith reclaimed their dignity and were raised in rank among those in Vampire society, but some do not welcome the change. One Queen in particular was not happy that her favorite play things had been taken. Now Lily, the woman who carried the blood of Lilim will set out to solidify her new dynasty's place by assembling a court and guard. Both Ty and Lily would like Jaden to be the captain. Before he can commit to anything, however, he'll need to return a necklace to Lyra who lost it after a confrontation with an overly zealous werewolf suitor. Jaden put an end to the confrontation when it looked like Lyra was in trouble and ever since he couldn't get her out of his mind. He could have probably mailed the necklace to her. He probably could have sent it with someone else. He could have, but he didn't.
Lyra wanted to take her father's place in the Thorn pack. Werewolf society, at least in the Thorn pack, was a bit backward. They didn't believe a woman could lead the pack. They still lived by the old rules and the next pack leader was determined to be who ever won the Proving. The Proving was a fight to the finish violent contest where the winner takes all. No woman had ever won it before and only one woman had ever been brave enough to try. Male werewolves definitely had an advantage over their less bulky and weaker female counterparts. So while it sounded rather sexist, there was some real concern about Lyra entering the Proving. Only the strong and skilled survived and the last female who entered the competition died.
Both Lyra and Jaden were easy to relate to and very likable characters. Each is admirable for trying to rise above their status. Neither truly wished to start a relationship, but the attraction between the two was fierce, strong, and undeniable. They knew what they were starting was forbidden. They just didn't know all the consequences of their actions and they would pay dearly for it. On rhe Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one gets a STEAM rating.
The song that was playing in my head as I read this book was 'Brighter than the Sun' by Colbie Caillat.
"Oh, this is how it starts, lightning strikes the heart
It goes off like a gun, brighter than the sun
Oh, we could be the stars, falling from the sky
Shining how we want, brighter than the sun
I've never seen it, I found this love, I'm gonna feed it
You better believe, I'm gonna treat it better than anything I've ever had
Cause you're so d@mn beautiful..."
Overall, this one scored 4 1/2 out of 5 roses. There were twists and turns and plenty of action and drama. I am loving the series and looking forward to reading the next book.
Order of series:
1) Dark Awakening
2) Midnight Reckoning
3) Shadow Rising - Coming August 2012)
To view more of my reviews, please visit my blog at www.seducedbyabook.com
November 4, 2017
The second in a great series.
January 11, 2020
i liked it. great love story.
July 1, 2020
I never wanted this book to end! The world building is superb...I was fully immersed! This one was the first of this series I have read and now I am ordering the rest!
June 1, 2025
Again. So. Good. I'm gonna read everything this woman writes. I picked the first one up 2 DOLLARS. Absolutely 100 times better than half the shit on paranormal romance shelves right now.
January 10, 2012
My kindle died when I was at 52% of reading this - I was going crazy waiting for my replacement when I realized I had Kindle PC on my computer! DUH!
Glad I was able to finish this one! It was great! I loved the whole Vampire/cat thing :) How Awesome would that be!
We start off with Jaden (Love that name) taking a little stroll around town in his sleek cat form. Bigger than a house cat, but smaller than a bob cat. The night was quiet and he was enjoying his time. Until he heard the harsh words of a familiar voice. One he had thought he'd never hear again...
Lyra - The very same werewolf that had hidden out in the Vampire safe house - The one that he recalled had a few very harsh words with him.. and yet he still thought about her every time he closed his eyes.
Lyra is the daughter of the Alpha of their pack, now that she's 22 years old, she has men hunting her down trying to get the position of the next alpha. But Lyra wasn't about to be handed out to just anyone. She wasn't planning on bonding with anyone in fact, that rightful spot of Alpha belonged to her! Even if she was a female, she knew in her heart she was going to be the next Alpha. And she would fight anyone who got in her way...
But the word didn't reach anyone. Trying to get some peace, she had left her safe home and tried to hide out again in a Vampire clamed city.. only the stupid wolf found her anyways.
He threatened her, tried to drag her back, but she fought him. Even when he yanked the moonstone necklace that was handed down to her by generations off her throat, she still didn't back down. Sure her father would be pissed, but there was NO WAY she was going to let this Neanderthal have his way with her.. It didn't matter if she didn't want it, Once a Werewolf bonded , it was for life. All he had to do was bite her at the right time, and it would be all over for her. She wasn't going to have it though..
Just as Mike/Mark? grabbed a hold of her hair, she let out a yelp - knowing she'd been caught and wouldn't be able to get away, Jaden stepped in. With ease the knocked Mike out and the fun began....
Lyra wanted to be grateful, but she's a strong hearted stubborn girl. So instead of Thank you, she let him know "she could have handled it" even though she knew she couldn't.
It was rare that a vampire would help out a werewolf. But when she had the chance, she shifted and ran off - ran back home. Because once word got around that she was in town, more Werewolves would have found her.
Meanwhile, Jaden picked up her moonstone necklace and kept it in his pocket. He knew she'd be wanting it back.
When he went home, Lily found him in the basement. She asked him what was going on, and he tried to hide it, but she saw the necklace, and she could see through him. She told him to go give her back the necklace so he could be at peace once again.
Realizing she was right, he did just that.. He drove out to Werewolf town - a place out of the way of everything where only Werewolves lived.
When he got there, Lyra answered the door. She had been arguing with her father about her love life. He had tried to get Simon, her best friend since childhood to take her neck for a bonding. but there was nothing between her and Simon that would lead to anything other than a miserable life.
When she saw Jaden at the door, her heart stopped. She had realized that she had feelings for Jaden, but knew it was forbidden, so ignored them and tried to move on.
When Dorian - the Alpha came to the door behind his daughter, and Simon just behind him, Jaden didn't have much time to react. Simon pounced on Jaden, taking him by surprise. But Jaden was able to doge Simon's advances, See werewolves fought with brute force, so when a slightly smaller sized vampire moved with grace and kept his temper in tact, he was able to side step just about everything the Werewolf threw at him. Giving him a few scratches here and there was actually pissing off the Werewolf more, making each advance that much easier to doge.
When Lyra explained to her father that Jaden had come to return her necklace instead of to fight, the Alpha called Simon off. And sent Lyra upstairs to help Simon lick his wounds.
That's when Dorian stepped out into the yard to speak with Jaden.
Realizing that his stubborn pigheaded daughter was determined to fight in the Proving in order to gain acceptance to her rightful spot in the pack, even though she was smaller than the rest of the wolves, he didn't want to see her die.
So he did what any father would do. He couldn't teach her to fight with force, knowing that she would be outweighed by 100 + lbs - so he asked the Vampire for his help... and Jaden was estatic to excpet. After all, why wouldn't he want more time with the lovely Lyra :)
Great story! Lots of fighting and tough guys all over the place.
Looking forward to the next book :)
January 2, 2014
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: Another solid strong female character and a few twists made this novel an engaging read.
Opening Sentence: On a night when only the thinnest sliver of a crescent moon rode the sky, at a time when even the most adventurous humans had fallen into bed and succumbed to sleep, a solitary cat padded in and out of pooled shadow as he made his way across the deserted square in the middle of town.
The Review:
Midnight Reckoning is the second novel in the Dark Dynasties series. This is a great series if you want strong female characters and unpredictable twists to the story. It has been a couple months now since the events of book one, Dark Awakening. Jaden is beginning to settle into his new life but he can’t quite get over an encounter that he had while in Chicago a few months ago. Her name was Lyra Black. She is a werewolf and now she is in vampire territory… (of course, werewolves and vampires do not get along) Jaden’s territory and he wants to know why. She leaves without an explanation and her necklace. Jaden risks venturing into werewolf territory to return Lyra’s necklace, even though such a feat could mean certain death.
Lyra wants nothing more than to be Alpha of her pack. Growing up the daughter of the current Alpha, she sees what the pack needs to change its ways. She wants to move the pack to a more modern way of thinking but as a female her pack will always see her as weak and inferior unless she can win The Proving. Whoever wins this test of might will be chosen as the next Alpha. Lyra has thrown her name into the contest which her father thinks will be the death of her. She only has one month to get ready for The Proving.
Jaden who was once very much the dark and brooding type completely changes when he is with Lyra. There is a lot of heated tension between the two because of their differences. I did wonder how their situation would turn out with so much at stake for Lyra. I was satisfied by the conclusion.
Lyra is a tough cookie who just wants to save her pack. She knows the pack will not evolve if her cousin becomes its leader. She’s afraid pack rulings will become even stricter towards the women of the group.
Midnight Reckoning sets up another dark and life-altering book with a few hints of humor. I enjoyed the twists as they came along, in my mind I kept seeing events taking place a different way and when they happened I was much more pleased by being wrong.
The novel is told in the third person jumping from each other’s point of views. The pacing kept me wanting to read from one chapter to the next, if it wasn’t the action that was going on it was the tension between the two characters that kept me divested in the storyline.
As a whole, I really enjoyed this world and how it is the next step in building a dynasty. I hope that everything I like about this series so far returns in the next novel, Shadow Rising.
Notable Scene:
That was when she saw it, a fast-moving shadow flying over the ground toward Jaden, whose back was turned. It passed several feet from her, and the breeze it kicked up from its rapid movement carried with it the scent of ancient death–the scent of vampire. Lyra reacted instinctively. There was no thought as she sprang forward, her body shifting in midair to become the sleek, muscular form of the wolf. When her paws hit the ground, she leaped again, pushing forward with all her might to try to reach Jaden before this interloper did.
Though what followed happened in seconds, in her memory Lyra would always see everything in slow motion: The way the shadow finally began to look like a man when it reached Jaden, the way Jaden turned, ready to fight, his coat flying around him and his eyes ablaze with unholy fire. She saw the blood burst from Jaden’s chest, saw the shock and fury on his face, and then she slammed into the attacking vampire full force. They rolled together, Lyra snarling and snapping, looking for a purchase with her teeth and claws.
She bit down hard on a fleshy upper arm, heard a banshee-like wail of pain just as a foul taste flooded her mouth. The vampire ripped the arm away and fled with a feral hiss, tossing Lyra aside as though she weighed nothing. She stayed loose, allowing herself to fall, to roll harmlessly when she hit the ground. Still, she was thrown with enough force to knock the wind out of her.
It took a few precious seconds for her to drag in a breath, longer to stagger to her feet and make sure that the new vampire was gone. But he was… though she could smell him on the light breeze, lingering. Fear, anger — retreat. Lyra showed her teeth in the direction it had gone, staking her claim on this territory–this man.
FTC Advisory: I purchased my own copy of Midnight Reckoning. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: Another solid strong female character and a few twists made this novel an engaging read.
Opening Sentence: On a night when only the thinnest sliver of a crescent moon rode the sky, at a time when even the most adventurous humans had fallen into bed and succumbed to sleep, a solitary cat padded in and out of pooled shadow as he made his way across the deserted square in the middle of town.
The Review:
Midnight Reckoning is the second novel in the Dark Dynasties series. This is a great series if you want strong female characters and unpredictable twists to the story. It has been a couple months now since the events of book one, Dark Awakening. Jaden is beginning to settle into his new life but he can’t quite get over an encounter that he had while in Chicago a few months ago. Her name was Lyra Black. She is a werewolf and now she is in vampire territory… (of course, werewolves and vampires do not get along) Jaden’s territory and he wants to know why. She leaves without an explanation and her necklace. Jaden risks venturing into werewolf territory to return Lyra’s necklace, even though such a feat could mean certain death.
Lyra wants nothing more than to be Alpha of her pack. Growing up the daughter of the current Alpha, she sees what the pack needs to change its ways. She wants to move the pack to a more modern way of thinking but as a female her pack will always see her as weak and inferior unless she can win The Proving. Whoever wins this test of might will be chosen as the next Alpha. Lyra has thrown her name into the contest which her father thinks will be the death of her. She only has one month to get ready for The Proving.
Jaden who was once very much the dark and brooding type completely changes when he is with Lyra. There is a lot of heated tension between the two because of their differences. I did wonder how their situation would turn out with so much at stake for Lyra. I was satisfied by the conclusion.
Lyra is a tough cookie who just wants to save her pack. She knows the pack will not evolve if her cousin becomes its leader. She’s afraid pack rulings will become even stricter towards the women of the group.
Midnight Reckoning sets up another dark and life-altering book with a few hints of humor. I enjoyed the twists as they came along, in my mind I kept seeing events taking place a different way and when they happened I was much more pleased by being wrong.
The novel is told in the third person jumping from each other’s point of views. The pacing kept me wanting to read from one chapter to the next, if it wasn’t the action that was going on it was the tension between the two characters that kept me divested in the storyline.
As a whole, I really enjoyed this world and how it is the next step in building a dynasty. I hope that everything I like about this series so far returns in the next novel, Shadow Rising.
Notable Scene:
That was when she saw it, a fast-moving shadow flying over the ground toward Jaden, whose back was turned. It passed several feet from her, and the breeze it kicked up from its rapid movement carried with it the scent of ancient death–the scent of vampire. Lyra reacted instinctively. There was no thought as she sprang forward, her body shifting in midair to become the sleek, muscular form of the wolf. When her paws hit the ground, she leaped again, pushing forward with all her might to try to reach Jaden before this interloper did.
Though what followed happened in seconds, in her memory Lyra would always see everything in slow motion: The way the shadow finally began to look like a man when it reached Jaden, the way Jaden turned, ready to fight, his coat flying around him and his eyes ablaze with unholy fire. She saw the blood burst from Jaden’s chest, saw the shock and fury on his face, and then she slammed into the attacking vampire full force. They rolled together, Lyra snarling and snapping, looking for a purchase with her teeth and claws.
She bit down hard on a fleshy upper arm, heard a banshee-like wail of pain just as a foul taste flooded her mouth. The vampire ripped the arm away and fled with a feral hiss, tossing Lyra aside as though she weighed nothing. She stayed loose, allowing herself to fall, to roll harmlessly when she hit the ground. Still, she was thrown with enough force to knock the wind out of her.
It took a few precious seconds for her to drag in a breath, longer to stagger to her feet and make sure that the new vampire was gone. But he was… though she could smell him on the light breeze, lingering. Fear, anger — retreat. Lyra showed her teeth in the direction it had gone, staking her claim on this territory–this man.
FTC Advisory: I purchased my own copy of Midnight Reckoning. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
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