A Gate of Night

A Shade of Vampire #6

by Bella Forrest

BOOK 6 HAS ARRIVED!

Welcome back to The Shade...

Derek and Sofia are finally enjoying a well-deserved break. Staying at a resort with good food, sun and sea, Sofia is thrilled to witness Derek’s re-introduction to the human world.

They would almost be mistaken for a normal young couple, if it were not for the red-eyed monster lurking in the shadows and watching their every move, waiting for his signal to pounce…

Genres: Vampires, Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult, Paranormal Romance, Fiction

277 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 7, 2014

About the author

UPDATE MARCH 11, 2024:

BELLA IS BACK!

*** New, updated online store at https://BellaForrest.com

*** New books coming soon

*** Possible Film/TV series coming soon

*** Stay up to date by joining our e-mail list at https://BellaForrest.com/join

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Bella Forrest is a lover of fantasy, romance, action, and mystery infused stories with twists you don’t see coming. She has sold over fifteen million books since her first novel was published in 2012.

Check out her website for a full list of her books: https://BellaForrest.com

Official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BellaForrest...

Here's a list of some of Bella's books:

DARKLIGHT

Darklight (Book 1)
Darkthirst (Book 2)
Darkworld (Book 3)
Darkblood (Book 4)
Darktide (Book 5)
Darkbirth (Book 6)
Darkfall (Book 7)
Darkwilds (Book 8)
Darkhunt (Book 9)

A LOVE THAT ENDURES (Trilogy)
A Love that Endures 1
A Love that Endures 2
A Love that Endures 3

HARLEY MERLIN AND THE SECRET COVEN

Harley Merlin and the Secret Coven (Book 1)
Harley Merlin and the Mystery Twins (Book 2)
Harley Merlin and the Stolen Magicals (Book 3)
Harley Merlin and the First Ritual (Book 4)
Harley Merlin and the Broken Spell (Book 5)
Harley Merlin and the Cult of Eris (Book 6)
Harley Merlin and the Detector Fix (Book 7)
Harley Merlin and the Challenge of Chaos (Book 8)
Harley Merlin and the Mortal Pact (Book 9)
Finch Merlin and the Fount of Youth (Book 10)
Finch Merlin and the Lost Map (Book 11)
Finch Merlin and the Djinn's Curse (Book 12)
Finch Merlin and the Locked Gateway (Book 13)
Finch Merlin and the Forgotten Kingdom (Book 14)
Finch Merlin and the Everlasting Vow (Book 15)
Finch Merlin and the Blood Tie (Book 16)
Finch Merlin and the Legend of the Luminary
Persie Merlin and Leviathan's Gift (Book 18)
Persie Merlin and the Door to Nowhere (Book 19)
Persie Merlin and the Witch Hunters (Book 20)
Persie Merlin and the Dying Song (Book 21)

THE CHILD THIEF

The Child Thief (Book 1)
Deep Shadows (Book 2)
Thin Lines (Book 3)
Little Lies (Book 4)
Ghost Towns (Book 5)
Zero Hour (Book 6)

HOTBLOODS

Hotbloods (Book 1)
Hotbloods (Book 2): Coldbloods
Hotbloods (Book 3): Renegades
Hotbloods (Book 4): Venturers
Hotbloods (Book 5): Traitors
Hotbloods (Book 6): Allies
Hotbloods (Book 7): Invaders
Hotbloods (Book 8): Stargazers

THE GENDER GAME

The Gender Game (Book 1)
The Gender Secret (Book 2)
The Gender Lie (Book 3)
The Gender War (Book 4)
The Gender Fall (Book 5)
The Gender Plan (Book 6)
The Gender End (Book 7)

THE GIRL WHO DARED TO THINK

The Girl Who Dared to Think (Book 1)
The Girl Who Dared to Stand (Book 2)
The Girl Who Dared to Descend (Book 3)
The Girl Who Dared to Rise (Book 4)
The Girl Who Dared to Lead (Book 5)
The Girl Who Dared to Endure (Book 6
The Girl Who Dared to Fight (Book 7)

A SHADE OF VAMPIRE

Season 1: Derek & Sofia’s story

Books 1 to 7

Season 2: Rose & Caleb’s story

Books 8 to 16

Season 3: The Shade continues with a new hero...

Books 17 to 24

Season 4: A Clan of Novaks

Books 25 to 32

Season 5: A Dawn of Guardians

Books 33 to 41

Season 6: A Gift of Three

Books 42 to 50

Season 7: A Call of Vampires

Books 51 to 59

Season 8: A Voyage of Founders

Books 60 to 68

Season 9: A Birth of Fire

Books 69 to 77

Season 10: An Origin of Vampires
An Origin of Vampires (Book 78)
A Game of Death (Book 79)
A Veil of Dark (Book 80)
A Bringer of Night (Book 81)
A Circle of Nine (Book 82)
A Bender of Spirit (Book 83)
A Memory of Time (Book 84)
A Shard of Soul (Book 85)
A Break of Seals (Book 86)

Season 11: A Shade of Mystery
A Shade of Mystery (Book 87)
An Isle of Mirrors (Book 88)
A Sanctuary of Foes (Book 89)
A Ruler of Clones (Book 90)
A Gate of Light (Book 91)
A Dawn of Worlds (Book 92) ➜ Coming soon!

Reviews

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 5 out of 5]

“We were strongest together and we were weakest apart.”

A Gate Of Night is book six in the series A Shade Of Vampire by Bella Forrest. I do believe this latest installment in this series is the most stressful of all the books so far. During most of the book, our characters are all in three different places, and things are not going well in any of them.

Derek and Sofia finally have a beautiful future together within their grasp. They are on their honeymoon and Derek is a human. Sofia is so enjoying introducing Derek to all the wonders of being a human. But their happiness is short lived.

There are so many different agendas at play. The Elders want Sofia. The Ageless who is kind of the Queen of the witches, wants Derek. The hunters want the vampires. The Elders also want to take over The Shade.

Its heartbreaking because all of the characters we have gotten to know throughout these books seem to have love and happiness within their grasps only to have it ripped away. The Elders are truly evil and it horrified me to see what was to become of the beautiful island, The Shade.


This is how I imagine The Shade looked in its best days!

If you haven’t started this series yet, you need to read them in order. I believe the next book is the final book so perhaps that is why Bella Forrest left us hanging with a huge cliff hanger and with everyone’s lives in such upheaval. I can only hope that the next book will be out soon. You can’t just leave me freaking out like this, Bella!!! I need the conclusion, now!!!

[Roxana]

Just one-clicked this baby!!!

ummm... I NEED a release date for this... like NOW...I read the whole series in a matter of 4 days...

[Alaina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it.. but at the same time.. I was a bit annoyed?

A Gate of Night is just another book from the A Shade of Vampire series that separates Derek from Sophia. It was kind of annoying how they were just kidnapped and then separated for about 5ish months. Yes, they still love each other.. but what the hell is with everyone going after Sophia. I get that she's immuned and all and people what her babies and shit.. but damn can the girl ever catch a break?

Plus the action in this book was just subpar. It meant nothing to me. A lot of people died or were easily turned to the dark side. A bit predictable but never really saw that witch turn the tables and give up Sophia. It didn't seem like it bugged her at all to make that trade - which again, was ridiculous.

I have no idea what the next book will bring me but at least the ending of this book was interesting. I would like to see how this new change will go for their relationship - if they are ever reunited.

[Rachmi · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I first met Sofia and Derek more than a year ago, I couldn’t help not to fall in love with them and their story. And since then, I really enjoyed reading the series and it’s always on my top reading priority. But after 6 books I’m not sure anymore.

It’s because I don't know what the main focus in this series anymore. And there are always new bad guys in each book. First there were Lucas and Gregor Novak, and then Borys and Ingrid Maslen. Next was Emilia, a daughter of The Elder. Now there are another Elder’s children, Kiev and Clara and later it reveals that there is more than one Elder which I believe will be the villains for the next books. As the antagonists change, the focus of the story is also changes. The problem is the protagonists don’t know what and who they have to face. Thus, I don’t know either. It’s like they (and I do too, as a reader) keep in the dark. I actually don’t mind being don’t know what will I read in order to get surprise along the story, but in this book it’s just dragging and in some part I’m bored. I also have problem with the way some of the characters tell their POV. They talk the same thing over and over.

However, I liked the twist at the end of the book. I think it is good enough for me to keep reading this series, though I’ve changed my priority now. It isn’t on my top reading list anymore. Not after this dragging and kind of boring story.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Agonisingly Brilliant.

Ok...I've loved all these books and eagerly await the next one and like all lovers of romance I want the two main characters to find their happy ever after, in the case of Derek and Sofia I always assumed that he would remain a vampire, after all I love vampires so that would be good, and I somehow hoped that something would happen to make Sofia immortal giving the book a perfect ending. The end of the last book threw my thinking for a loop, the cure had been found and Derek was human, why was I not happier, well even though I wanted them to be happy I somehow felt saddened that Derek was no longer a vampire, he'd have to be turned back surely but then would he be as strong or would he be a 'normal' new vampire, if he didn't turn back who'd keep Sofia safe, I had all these questions flying around and wondered just where on earth Bella was going to go from here, I must admit I felt a bit apprehensive on starting book and that apprehension was right.
It starts with Derek and Sofia enjoying their honeymoon Derek even has a tan, life is looking good, dare they even hope this continues. Meanwhile life in the Shade is not going as well Vivienne and Aiden are running things but it's not easy having the humans and vampires of the shade living in close quarters with the hunters that hate them so much surely it's only a matter of time before it blows up in their faces.
While the honeymoon's going well, the Shade's struggling, but coping and things aren't looking too bad but then true evil in the form of the Elder raises it's ugly head, he's after revenge on Derek and Sofia and any one who sided with them. Life will never be the same and as their worlds are turned upside down we're left wondering who'll survive and will they be the same.
As with all the previous Shade books this proved to be compulsive reading, I literally couldn't put it down, I was hooked but by the end I wasn't happy, not happy at all, I wanted it to be longer, or shorter or just different, to say I didn't like the ending is an understatement did I mention that I'm not happy, but despite me not liking it I can admit it's completely brilliant and I'll be over my little sulk and ready to download the next one as soon as it comes out so as always, please write quickly Bella, but this time I really mean it write quickly.

[Angi Lackey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am extremely disappointed that I invested in this series. Bella Forrest is obviously an amateur writer and expects her readers to just accept whatever she throws at them. Just when you think you know the rules of what is going on, she changes the entire game. Book 6 had me more frustrated than any of the other books because it seemed to draw out for so long. I liked the way she gave each character's point of view in the first books. It allowed you to see the story from all angles. My problem with Book 6 is it felt like a soap opera...just when you got invested in one story line, it switched. The cliffhanger she leaves at the end was extremely disappointing to me because she completely changed the rules she herself set as a writer. If you are going to make a key part of the story revolve around one certain thing...you can't change that rule just for shock factor. I was very irritated and frustrated with the book. I will read book 7 only because I am already invested in the story line...but if the 7th book doesn't resolve the story...I am done with Bella Forrest as an author.

[Pearl Angeli · Rating 3 out of 5]

What. Was. That?! Holy crap. Why end such a book like that?

Anyway, this book is basically ugh, I don't know what to think about. All the while, the book kind of annoyed me because I didn't see any progress at all. The events were cruel and the characters were put into misery that I guess, is way too much for them to handle. The upper hand was obviously on their enemies-- no question about that. I understand that it's part of Bella's scheme in order to continue the story but I guess it's a worse thing to do. You can't possibly torture your characters like that, especially at the ending. No just no!

I hate how the story went. It's too disappointing. :( However, I am looking forward to read the 7th (the final book) of this series and hoping that the ending is worth it all.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series

[Carrie (Book Fairy) Fort · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite Lines “Sofia is my calm.”

“Because if he wasn’t able to escape, then he’s most likely dead, and that’s a reality I won’t be able to live with. He’s alive. That means he is somewhere.”

“You are who you choose to be. No matter how much light is shed upon you, if you still choose to remain in darkness, that’s your doing, not anyone else’s.”

“Don’t tell me that you can’t. You want to know how Derek turned to light? He stopped playing the part of a victim and began taking responsibility for his own actions! That’s how. He owned up to his choices instead of cowering away from them.”

“If there’s anything I’ve learned watching you and Sofia blossom into the couple that you have become, it’s that we hold our fate in our hands. We always have a choice. Don’t settle for less than the future that you dream of with her.”

“It’s because we’re family that I need to agree to this.”

Whenever I start a new book in the series, I always wonder can Bella Forrest do it again? OF COURSE SHE CAN!!!
Derek and Sophie are one of my favorite couples! They are true soul mates! It's heartbreaking to watch what they have to go through. So heartbreaking but through it all the one thing that never diminishes is there love for each other!
Sophia is stuck in The Blood Keep and Derek is stuck in another realm. It's madness! There are Elders and Guardians playing games with people's lives and it makes me livid. I want to tell you the OMG moments because they are EPIC! This author just keeps getting better and better! She loves to keep us guessing! It's worth the wait though because every book is amazing!

I was given this book by author in exchange for an honest review

FIVE CRAZY FAIRIES

[Lisa Guzman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely a great series so far

This is one of those series I am very happy it is on kindle unlimited because otherwise I would not be able to read all the books in this series. The story just keeps getting better and better. It is filled with action and drama and more action. If you love vampire stories then this is perfect. Just keep in mind that there is no steamy sex scenes or vulgar language. This is truly a G rated series but still filled with passion.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every single book ends with a cliffhanger!!!
Come on damn it!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh how I love this series.

The last couple of books were not as great as the first two... let me tell you this book was just as great as the first two books. I never in my mind thought I would find a series I am loving as much as I do this one Kindle Unlimited.

This book is non stop. I started listening to it today & I am officially done, I just could not stop listening to it while I worked.

I love Sophia & Derek. I love their love... I love how they are when they are together and man it is gut retching when they are apart.

I am ready to start the next book and will be starting the book asap. Sadly I have to go to the dentist here shortly, but at least I have this awesome series to listen to while the dentist destroys me :)

This book certainly deserves a spot on my 2016 favs :)

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was another good book in the series. It is a pretty good book that again completely changed the series.

The main characters are Sofia and Derek still. Except from in this book they've been separated again. They both get kidnapped on their honeymoon by Kiev and taken to the blood keep. Derek gets out quickly after receiving a thorough beating but Sofia gets stuck there while she goes through her pregnancy alone.

There are some secondary characters but they are getting more and more interesting as the series goes on and I want to reserve my judgement until later on in the series.

The storyline is getting very interesting and I love how each book brings in a new aspect of the mythology of vampirism. The pacing is great and each book leaves us readers wanting more, I'm just going to wait a while before I buy and read the next book in the series.

3 stars

[Cris · Rating 1 out of 5]

Actual rating: 0.5

Fucking sick and tired of the goddamn cliffs and the useless crap in this series. It's goddamn annoying and if you're wondering why I don't simply stop reading it, well, I can't. I can't not finish a series that sucks so bad because I hold hope that it'll redeem itself. The way I see it, it's not happening here. I regret the day I started this thing.

[Laura Dobb · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book certainly hasn't gripped me as much as the other 5 books. From about half way thorough I found myself just wishing that the author would end this book with a nice ending or even a bad ending, but either way, just end it. As per usual, this book ends on a cliffhanger, but I am not going to be jumping up and down when the next book is released. The impossible (if you believe vampires ARE possible) is starting to happen. Things we've been told throughout the entire series that can't happen, are suddenly starting to happen. (Don't want to give spoilers, you'll know what I mean when you read it). I liked the writing style still but the contents has left me a bit annoyed this time, hope book 7 is the last of the series, if if is, I'll read it, if not I may be saying goodbye to a shade of vampire. Feel free to let me know how u got on with it

[Tori · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have felt conflicted my whole way through this series. Part of me has enjoyed the plot and characters enough to speed through them with ease, while another part of me has been disappointed by plot holes and a lack of character development.

I think this series has introduced more characters than it can carry, which leads to much more confusion that it is worth. The original and main plot has become buried under a mass of subplots that only subtract from the story, not add to its appeal.
I'm interested to see where the seventh leads, but unfortunately, at this point, I don't have high hopes.

[A little birdie told me... · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am so glad I am only one book away from finishing this infuriating series. I am angry that I have allowed myself to become so enthralled with this very ridiculous story. That's the nature of guilty pleasures, I guess.

After this though, it's back to my usual smutty pleasures, though. This YA stuff is so tame and boring.

[Danii · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hadn't read this series in a really long time, so I was a bit confused at the beginning of this.
Completely forgot Derek was a human now... Like how do I forget that?! Ugh. I also liked some of the things we learned about vampires going human, they were interesting and I bet make for a good plot twist in the next book.
Sofia went through so much when she was held captive, and that really broke my heart because shes already been through so much, she didn't deserve for this to happen. And poor Derek not being able to protect her...
Overall, this was a good installment to the series, and I might continue on with the little plot addition that was added.

[Book Vamp Jade Williams · Rating 2 out of 5]

The synopsis to the 6th book is as follows..

Derek and Sofia are finally enjoying a well-deserved break. Staying at a resort with good food, sun and sea, Sofia is thrilled to witness Derek's re-introduction to the human world.

They would almost be mistaken for a normal young couple, if it were not for the red-eyed monster lurking in the shadows and watching their every move, waiting for his signal to pounce...

Right of the bat, let me say this, I enjoyed this book a bit more than the others. That doesn't mean that it was any less frustrating. There was just a bit more action in this book than the others, which I have dubbed the woe-is-me reads.

If you are a fan of this series do not read what goes beyond this point, and if you have not read this book yet you might not want to read on. It might be better for you to make your own judgement.

So on to my RANT

Having said that there is more action in this book and Derek and Sofia are whinning a lot less I still felt like banging my head against something. What is the main focus of this series? There is just to much going on, that my constant reactions was WTF is this!! Forrest has the constant love triangle going. Why!?

First there was Ben, Sofia and Derek.
Then there was Emilia, Derek and Sofia
Now there is Kiev, Sofia and Derek.

Why? I just see the point. It's fine that it was there in the first book but why does she ave to keep introducing it

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a little drawn out in places and somewhat boring at times... but other times it was page turning and action packed.

The time spent at the blood keep and the sanctuary were boring. I feel like everyone is switching sides or becoming something different. Hunters and vampires working together, vampires and witches turning into humans, humans turning into witches, an immune becoming a vampire... I mean, really?! This is turning into a complicated mess. Everyone at the shade is possessed or dead, the few survivors are with the hunters making deals.
Then after all that, Sophia gives birth only to be taken away by a witch and somehow turned into a vampire by the crazy lady from the blood keep... WHAT!?

Before I got to the last chapter I had planned on taking a break from the series for a bit, maybe binge reading was taking some of the excitement out of it... but then the massive cliffhanger hit me and I really want to know HOW THE HELL that happened! Sigh... on to the next book.

[J. Kahele · Rating 4 out of 5]

After testing two of the vampires, Sophia's mother included, they think they may have found a cure. Derek feels as leader, he should be tested, instead of other vampires. Sophia is insistent on wanting to marry Derek before he takes their plunge.

Early morning, after their wedding Derek takes the plunge that involves exposing him to daylight to see if the cure works. I was literally on the edge of my seat as I read this part. I had grown fond of this couple, especially Sophia and was excited when it worked. Derek was now human.

They take off on a month long honeymoon, to enjoy their lives as a human couple. But evil lurks close and soon they are taken by the Elders and cast into a cell. Without his vampire skills and strengths, how will they survive against the original and strongest vampire alive?

[Susan Shipman · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book 7 did me in

I was ready for the conclusion of this series but now I'm just pissed off. bye bye Bella, I'm done with your "Derek and Sofia are better together. and don't even get me started on Aiden. I won't be buying the last installment - this ending was awful.

P.S. I started this series when I was sick in bed and once you read one, you sort of go on to another and they are cheap on kindle and easy reading. Believe me, save your $2.99 a book - far better spent on quality books. Although the Twilight series was captivating and interesting, this series pales (no pun intented) in comparison. Save your money!

[TJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nope, nope, nope. Everything I loved about the series just flew out the window. The entire book has Sophia and Derek apart. For the last 5 books we are convinced they can't live with out each other, then... Tah Dah!! They go nine full months and an entire book apart! And, with very little emotion even displayed in that fact. Even the one thing that kept me loving the series - Sophia's light and goodness are thrown out the window, along with every other relationship any reader cared for in the entire series. VERY disappointed in this turn-of-a-book. I'll be skimming the next one just to get to the end.

[Dani · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know.. at first I loved this series and couldn't put it down.. now.. it's hard to finish.. the POVs were awesome at the beginning but now.. not so much. I was bored with this book. I think she's trying to make too much happen that she skips the good stuff.. and I'm sick of all the antagonists she keeps adding each book. and now for that cloffhanger.. I'm pissed. but I need to read more to see what happens there.. IF anything gets resolved. I just feel like THE Shade is just not anymore. everyone is getting killed off but we make it a blip in the story because we have so many other conflicts being added and NOT resolved.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

So release date is Friday March 14th! Who's going to spend the entire night reading this book?? ME!!! Super excited!
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A-MA-ZING!!!! Didn't know I would be impatiently waiting on book 7 already!!!! No spoilers here, you just need to read this series! Love, hurt, pain, happiness, fear...it has it ALL! Will definitely leave you in tears and aching for book 7 to find out what happens! Thank you Bella Forrest for this amazing, captivating series! I may have to read all six over again just to get me through till book 7 comes out!

[Laurielu Bona Fide Reflections · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so tough to finish. The depravity and evilness of the Elders and their spawn was despicable. Their lack of humanity was daunting and beyond uncomfortable. I will read the next book just to find out how things turn out for Sofia and Derek. But, I cannot see myself reading beyond that if the remaining books are about Kiev. He has no redeeming value or qualities in my opinion and therefore, no reason to continue the series.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was going to be the same as the others but I was wrong. The ending left me wondering did that really just happen? Can't wait for the next one!

[Hayley Hemming · Rating 2 out of 5]

AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!! OMG!!!!

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had a lot happen. Witches are not what they are led to be thought of. Sophia must face a new darkness and Derek has a lot to learn. I loved seeing Aiden start to let go of his prejudices. This book is the darkest yet and most destructive! And the ending is a major cliffy that has be antsy for the next. It was addictive and I devoured it in a single sitting! Kiev and Clara are major nutcases! They sort of scare me more than the Elder since they are unpredictable.

[Natty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Griping from the start...

Just when you think you know what's happening and can predict what plot twist will happen next this story leaves you surprised and shocked. So much drama. Cannot wait to read book seven.