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Nightcreature #5
Midnight Moon
Under the midnight moon, dark secrets are revealed-- Cassandra thought she had the perfect life until she suffered a devastating tragedy. Now she has a new identity as Priestess Cassandra, owner of a New Orleans voodoo shop, and a new purpose. A research trip for a paranormal secret society leads Cassandra to Haiti, where rumors fly of a sinister voodoo master, Jacques Mezareau, who can resurrect the dead. Fortune hunter Devon Murphy agrees to guide Cassandra there safely, but his sensual appeal promises danger of a different kind…
and desperate hungers must be satisfied…
As Cassandra and Devon make their way to the eerie jungle village, their attraction explodes into an intoxicating desire, and Cassandra begins to question her resolve to never let another man into her life. Her attempts to resist Devon become more and more impossible. But when she succeeds in learning Jacques's macabre ritual, her new powers may have come with a terrifying price. Now, haunted by violent dreams that grow more vivid as the midnight moon approaches, Cassandra must uncover the shocking truth about an ancient curse before it leads her to destroy herself--and everyone she loves…
"Elise is Handeland's most appealing heroine yet…this tense, banter-filled tale provides…solid entertainment."
-- Publishers Weekly on Dark Moon
and desperate hungers must be satisfied…
As Cassandra and Devon make their way to the eerie jungle village, their attraction explodes into an intoxicating desire, and Cassandra begins to question her resolve to never let another man into her life. Her attempts to resist Devon become more and more impossible. But when she succeeds in learning Jacques's macabre ritual, her new powers may have come with a terrifying price. Now, haunted by violent dreams that grow more vivid as the midnight moon approaches, Cassandra must uncover the shocking truth about an ancient curse before it leads her to destroy herself--and everyone she loves…
"Elise is Handeland's most appealing heroine yet…this tense, banter-filled tale provides…solid entertainment."
-- Publishers Weekly on Dark Moon
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 1, 2006
24 people are currently reading
909 people want to read
About the author
Lori Handeland
122 books1,347 followersLori Handeland is a five-time nominee and two-time winner of the prestigious RITA Award from Romance Writers of America, as well as the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over sixty novels spanning the genres of paranormal romance, urban fantasy, contemporary romance, historical romance and historical fantasy.
After a quarter-century of success and accolades, she began a new chapter in her career with her women’s fiction debut, Just Once (Severn House, January 2019), which received a coveted, starred review from Library Journal and was optioned as a feature film by Catalyst Global Media.
Lori lives in Southern Wisconsin with her husband of over thirty-five years. In between writing and reading, she enjoys long walks with their rescue mutt, Arnold, and visits from her two grown sons, awesome daughter-in-law and perfectly adorable grandchildren.
After a quarter-century of success and accolades, she began a new chapter in her career with her women’s fiction debut, Just Once (Severn House, January 2019), which received a coveted, starred review from Library Journal and was optioned as a feature film by Catalyst Global Media.
Lori lives in Southern Wisconsin with her husband of over thirty-five years. In between writing and reading, she enjoys long walks with their rescue mutt, Arnold, and visits from her two grown sons, awesome daughter-in-law and perfectly adorable grandchildren.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
May 27, 2016
This is story of Cassandra (real name unknown) and Devon Murphy.
Cassandra is already introduced in past series and this is her story. She started practicing voodoo because she wanted to bring back her dead daughter Sarah.
Though losing a child and grief caused by the same is understandable, the reason to raise your child as zombie, not. She goes to Haiti in order to find more and comes face to face with attractive stranger – Devon.
Their love story is cute and heart melting
Until zombie raising wereleopard enters the picture –
Believe m, I’m not making this stuff (zombie raising wereleopard!), my imagination is not that great but it was enjoyable read!
Cassandra is already introduced in past series and this is her story. She started practicing voodoo because she wanted to bring back her dead daughter Sarah.
Though losing a child and grief caused by the same is understandable, the reason to raise your child as zombie, not. She goes to Haiti in order to find more and comes face to face with attractive stranger – Devon.
Their love story is cute and heart melting
Until zombie raising wereleopard enters the picture –
Believe m, I’m not making this stuff (zombie raising wereleopard!), my imagination is not that great but it was enjoyable read!
April 3, 2015
I love the basic storyline of this book. We got out of New Orleans. In fact, Cassandra leaves the country completely and is in Haiti for most of the story. Then she returns to New Orleans later where Diana and the rest of Edward’s team join her. But there’s a lot of review of the previous books story which bogs down the action.
The part in Haiti was interesting. I wish the journey had felt a little more dangerous. There seemed to be more history than excitement. Though the village was really weird. I knew something was wrong with it.
While I like Cassandra as a character, her obsession with the daughter doesn’t quite feel right. I’m glad Devon helps her get over it. I love her relationship with Lazarus. But he seems at times to have more personality than Cassandra. The Witness Protection angle was interesting. I was curious for more details on her 1st husband’s current situation. Her friendship with Diana is the best. I like the tea vs coffee conversations. In fact, some of the best parts for me involve Lazarus, Luc and/or Diana.
Devon is perfect as a man. He’s smart, good-looking, funny, strong, understanding and even vulnerable: (i.e.: claustrophobia). He reminds me a lot of Michael Douglas in ‘Romancing the Stone’, but better. Too bad I couldn’t feel the connection between him and Cassandra.
Quick Thoughts: 1)Wonder what Henri’s ‘supreme sacrifice’ is going to be?
2)I’ve always said: You can trust animals, and children, on how they react to people. It’s hard to fool them.
3)I like the way the wereleopard transformations happen as sparkles instead of a painful body contortion. Prettier and easier on your wardrobe.
Fave Scenes: the hotel spirit attack, the waterfall, the zombie powder cloud, taking Lazarus to the vet and Mawu the voodoo queen.
The part in Haiti was interesting. I wish the journey had felt a little more dangerous. There seemed to be more history than excitement. Though the village was really weird. I knew something was wrong with it.
While I like Cassandra as a character, her obsession with the daughter doesn’t quite feel right. I’m glad Devon helps her get over it. I love her relationship with Lazarus. But he seems at times to have more personality than Cassandra. The Witness Protection angle was interesting. I was curious for more details on her 1st husband’s current situation. Her friendship with Diana is the best. I like the tea vs coffee conversations. In fact, some of the best parts for me involve Lazarus, Luc and/or Diana.
Devon is perfect as a man. He’s smart, good-looking, funny, strong, understanding and even vulnerable: (i.e.: claustrophobia). He reminds me a lot of Michael Douglas in ‘Romancing the Stone’, but better. Too bad I couldn’t feel the connection between him and Cassandra.
Quick Thoughts: 1)Wonder what Henri’s ‘supreme sacrifice’ is going to be?
2)I’ve always said: You can trust animals, and children, on how they react to people. It’s hard to fool them.
3)I like the way the wereleopard transformations happen as sparkles instead of a painful body contortion. Prettier and easier on your wardrobe.
Fave Scenes: the hotel spirit attack, the waterfall, the zombie powder cloud, taking Lazarus to the vet and Mawu the voodoo queen.
March 9, 2018
I think reading a lot about cultural appropriation made me not like the premise of a white woman becoming a voodoo priestess. Also, raising your dead kid as a zombie as a motivation is ... ok, granted I'm not a Mom and cannot imagine the pain of losing a child, but zombie!kid is kinda icky, Monkey Paws issues aside.
I mean, will zombie!kid grow or stay static and slavish to the mom? So much ick factor.
I mean, will zombie!kid grow or stay static and slavish to the mom? So much ick factor.
June 7, 2021
Band 5 von 11
Ich drehte mich wieder zu ihm um. "Ein Jaguar?"
"Nein."
"Ein Berglöwe, Leopard oder Kojote?"
"Gibt's hier alles nicht."
"Was gibt es hier dann?"
Er öffnete ein Auge. "Flamingos kommen ziemlich häufig vor."
"Das war kein Flamingo!"
S. 67
Inhalt
Die Voodoo-Priesterin Cassandra hat von den Jägersuchern, eine Geheimorganisation, die sich mit übernatürlichen und magischen Wesen auseinandersetzt, den Auftrag erhalten, in Haiti, der Heimat des Voodoo, nach einer Lösung für einen Fluch zu suchen. Der Auftrag kommt ihr gerade recht, hofft sie doch, in Haiti auch eine Lösung für ihr eigenes Problem zu finden, denn sie wünscht sich nichts mehr, als ihre Tochter von den Toten auferstehen zu lassen. Als Führer bekommt sie den unausstehlich charmanten Dieb und Überlebenskünstler Devon Murphy gestellt, und für die beiden beginnt ein übernatürliches Abenteuer, dass sie komplett verändern wird.
Meine Meinung
Einmal mehr passt das Cover nicht zum Inhalt. Aber bei dieser Reihe muss ich das nun wohl akzeptieren. Auch der Titel passt so gar nicht, im Original Midnight Moon, beschreibt Wolfsbann etwas komplett anderes. Aber anyway,...
Ich hatte mich sehr auf diesen 5. Teil der Reihe gefreut. Weil ich Cassandra in Band 4 echt cool fand und weil er sich mit viel Voodoo befasst, was ich faszinierend finde. Leider war der Teil aber für mich der bisher schwächste. Erst ab der Rückkehr aus Haiti nach New Orleans kam die gewohnte Spannung der Bücher zurück, vorher war es ein etwas langatmiger Indiana Jones meets Voodoo meets Mystery-Roman, der mich nicht ganz so packen konnte, wie gewünscht.
Klar, Cassandra hat einiges durchgemacht in ihrem Leben. Aber irgendwie fand ich sie in ihrem eigenen Band nun nicht mehr cool sondern... stoisch, etwas wirr im Kopf und gefährlich nah am Wahnsinn. Jemanden von den Toten aufzuerwecken finde ich nämlich... nein, einfach nein. Schmerz und Verlust sind verständlich, aber wer will bitte ein Zombiekind?
Murphy fand ich sehr interessant, aber obschon man auch seine Vergangenheit kannte, hatte ich bis zum Schluss das Gefühl, er hat ein Geheimnis und ist nicht ganz fassbar.
Als Setting wurde Haiti ausgewählt, was ich als Idee richtig cool fand, in der Umsetzung dann aber nicht so. Ein Grossteil der Geschichte spielt nämlich im "Urwald", und hier geht ganz viel von der Magie und der Geschichte des Landes verloren. Als Bösewicht fungiert ein anderer Voodoo-Priester, der einfach nur ... eklig war. Und wenn wir schon beim Thema sind: Die Liebes-/Erotikszenen waren auch etwas strange. Wer findet einen unterkühlten und nackten Mann und denkt dann direkt an Se*? Diesen einen sehr seltsamen Traum von Cassandra erwähne ich hier am besten gar nicht..
Fazit
Die Idee fand ich faszinierend: Voodoo, Haiti, Zombies, Wer*** (Spoiler ^^). Die Umsetzung hingegen war hier etwas... meeeh. Ich hatte mehr erwartet. Und spannend fand ich es erst so ab Seite 230, vorher war es eher nur unterhaltend aber nicht sehr packend. Von dem her für mich der bisher schwächste Teil.
3.5 Sterne
Ich drehte mich wieder zu ihm um. "Ein Jaguar?"
"Nein."
"Ein Berglöwe, Leopard oder Kojote?"
"Gibt's hier alles nicht."
"Was gibt es hier dann?"
Er öffnete ein Auge. "Flamingos kommen ziemlich häufig vor."
"Das war kein Flamingo!"
S. 67
Inhalt
Die Voodoo-Priesterin Cassandra hat von den Jägersuchern, eine Geheimorganisation, die sich mit übernatürlichen und magischen Wesen auseinandersetzt, den Auftrag erhalten, in Haiti, der Heimat des Voodoo, nach einer Lösung für einen Fluch zu suchen. Der Auftrag kommt ihr gerade recht, hofft sie doch, in Haiti auch eine Lösung für ihr eigenes Problem zu finden, denn sie wünscht sich nichts mehr, als ihre Tochter von den Toten auferstehen zu lassen. Als Führer bekommt sie den unausstehlich charmanten Dieb und Überlebenskünstler Devon Murphy gestellt, und für die beiden beginnt ein übernatürliches Abenteuer, dass sie komplett verändern wird.
Meine Meinung
Einmal mehr passt das Cover nicht zum Inhalt. Aber bei dieser Reihe muss ich das nun wohl akzeptieren. Auch der Titel passt so gar nicht, im Original Midnight Moon, beschreibt Wolfsbann etwas komplett anderes. Aber anyway,...
Ich hatte mich sehr auf diesen 5. Teil der Reihe gefreut. Weil ich Cassandra in Band 4 echt cool fand und weil er sich mit viel Voodoo befasst, was ich faszinierend finde. Leider war der Teil aber für mich der bisher schwächste. Erst ab der Rückkehr aus Haiti nach New Orleans kam die gewohnte Spannung der Bücher zurück, vorher war es ein etwas langatmiger Indiana Jones meets Voodoo meets Mystery-Roman, der mich nicht ganz so packen konnte, wie gewünscht.
Klar, Cassandra hat einiges durchgemacht in ihrem Leben. Aber irgendwie fand ich sie in ihrem eigenen Band nun nicht mehr cool sondern... stoisch, etwas wirr im Kopf und gefährlich nah am Wahnsinn. Jemanden von den Toten aufzuerwecken finde ich nämlich... nein, einfach nein. Schmerz und Verlust sind verständlich, aber wer will bitte ein Zombiekind?
Murphy fand ich sehr interessant, aber obschon man auch seine Vergangenheit kannte, hatte ich bis zum Schluss das Gefühl, er hat ein Geheimnis und ist nicht ganz fassbar.
Als Setting wurde Haiti ausgewählt, was ich als Idee richtig cool fand, in der Umsetzung dann aber nicht so. Ein Grossteil der Geschichte spielt nämlich im "Urwald", und hier geht ganz viel von der Magie und der Geschichte des Landes verloren. Als Bösewicht fungiert ein anderer Voodoo-Priester, der einfach nur ... eklig war. Und wenn wir schon beim Thema sind: Die Liebes-/Erotikszenen waren auch etwas strange. Wer findet einen unterkühlten und nackten Mann und denkt dann direkt an Se*? Diesen einen sehr seltsamen Traum von Cassandra erwähne ich hier am besten gar nicht..
Fazit
Die Idee fand ich faszinierend: Voodoo, Haiti, Zombies, Wer*** (Spoiler ^^). Die Umsetzung hingegen war hier etwas... meeeh. Ich hatte mehr erwartet. Und spannend fand ich es erst so ab Seite 230, vorher war es eher nur unterhaltend aber nicht sehr packend. Von dem her für mich der bisher schwächste Teil.
3.5 Sterne
January 31, 2018
Ich mag die Reihe immer noch gern, aber mit Voodoo kann ich nicht ganz so viel anfangen. Ganz abgesehen davon, dass die deutschen Titel mit dem "Wolf" dann doch irgendwie in die Irre führen, das ist im Englischen mit "Moon" deutlich besser gelöst. Prinzipiell finde ich, dass Dev und Cass ein schönes Paar sind, aber ich hätte mir vor allem bei Dev ein bisschen mehr Charaktertiefe gewünscht. Außerdem hätte ich mir mehr Jägersucher und mehr Lazarus gewünscht. Alles in allem aber trotzdem ein unterhaltsames Buch und drei Sterne.
July 15, 2019
I looked on the series page & couldn't figure out if the books were in a series....the character names were different so I took a chance. There was no one who had said "you need to read the books in orger".....Imagine my surprise when all through this book, it referred to the book before this one....
The story itself was good; but it was really irritating to know that I really didn't know what was going on or what the curse was Edward sent her to find......
The story itself was good; but it was really irritating to know that I really didn't know what was going on or what the curse was Edward sent her to find......
May 21, 2024
4/5
This review is taken from my notes from when I finished the book years ago.
Princess Cassandra is a voodoo priestess who is in WitSec. She becomes a priestess after her daughter was kidnapped and killed because her husband is a major drug dealer. She goes to Haiti to learn a ritual to raise a zombie that can speak and think. She needs it to ask a dead priestess how to lift a curse. She also wants to raise her daughter.
This review is taken from my notes from when I finished the book years ago.
Princess Cassandra is a voodoo priestess who is in WitSec. She becomes a priestess after her daughter was kidnapped and killed because her husband is a major drug dealer. She goes to Haiti to learn a ritual to raise a zombie that can speak and think. She needs it to ask a dead priestess how to lift a curse. She also wants to raise her daughter.
May 19, 2021
This series gets better and better the more I read of it.
July 29, 2025
I found this book to be extremely disjointed and very odd. Our heroine is a woman in witness protection after her ex husband’s mobster career caused the death of their Daughter. Now Cassandra is a practicing Voodoo Priestess in New Orleans, working for a secret governmentally run program that hunts monsters like werewolves and witches etc. She’s in Haiti to seek out a mysterious mountain man who has the ability to raise the dead and her companion is Devon Murphy, a man who changes accents like a girl changes clothes and is depicted as never wearing shoes (Basically dressed like a pirate). Together, they head into forbidden territory – along the way falling victim to their raw and undeniable sexual desires. When they find the magic man, Cassandra learns the spell which will bring her daughter back to life, they believe they killed the magic man, Murphy is arrested and Cassandra heads home to the USA. But unfortunately, the dangers of Haiti have followed her and she now finds herself cursed to be wereleopard.
The plotline was hodge podge to say the least, most of it not making a whole lot of sense. But my main issue with the story was the lighthearted atmosphere of the whole thing. Never did any character reveal any true depth to their personality and as a reader, I really wanted to know trauma and sadness in these characters because I knew it was there. Cassandra is willing to risk death, willing to break the laws of humanity to raise her daughter from the grave- even if it means she will essentially be a slave to her mother. Devon has never truly belonged and uses his gift of accents to kept people at a distance, even claiming that he has never loved any one, and no one has ever loved him. Sadly, all these characters were bland (and honestly White Washed, a pretty young white women being a voodoo priestess. The only black character being evil….)
This book missed the mark for me and I would saw skip it. This author has better novels in this series, I would seek them out.
The plotline was hodge podge to say the least, most of it not making a whole lot of sense. But my main issue with the story was the lighthearted atmosphere of the whole thing. Never did any character reveal any true depth to their personality and as a reader, I really wanted to know trauma and sadness in these characters because I knew it was there. Cassandra is willing to risk death, willing to break the laws of humanity to raise her daughter from the grave- even if it means she will essentially be a slave to her mother. Devon has never truly belonged and uses his gift of accents to kept people at a distance, even claiming that he has never loved any one, and no one has ever loved him. Sadly, all these characters were bland (and honestly White Washed, a pretty young white women being a voodoo priestess. The only black character being evil….)
This book missed the mark for me and I would saw skip it. This author has better novels in this series, I would seek them out.
August 22, 2010
I thought I'd give Lori Handeland's Nightcreature series another go and try an earlier book. I really liked the blurb about the book.
Cassandra thought she had the perfect life until she suffered a devastating tragedy. Now she has a new identity as Priestess Cassandra, owner of a New Orleans voodoo shop, and a new purpose. A research trip for a paranormal secret society leads Cassandra to Haiti, where rumors fly of a sinister voodoo master, Jacques Mezareau, who can resurrect the dead. Fortune hunter Devon Murphy agrees to guide Cassandra there safely, but his sensual appeal promises danger of a different kind. As Cassandra and Devon make their way to the eerie jungle village, their attraction explodes into an intoxicating desire, and Cassandra begins to question her resolve to never let another man into her life. Her attempts to resist Devon become more and more impossible. But when she succeeds in learning Jacques’s macabre ritual, her new powers may have come with a terrifying price. Now, haunted by violent dreams that grow more vivid as the midnight moon approaches, Cassandra must uncover the shocking truth about an ancient curse before it leads her to destroy herself and everyone she loves.
I really disliked Midnight Moon it was in first person narrative and it was all about Priestess Cassandra. She seemed very self obsessed and I just didn't find the overall story interesting at all. I didn't understand at all how Cassandra and Devon would even make their 'relationship' work it was just sex and I didn't seem to see any sort of connection between the two of them other than sexual chemistry which wasn't very amazing.
I'm really not sure if I'd ever pick up another book in the Nightcreatures series again.
Cassandra thought she had the perfect life until she suffered a devastating tragedy. Now she has a new identity as Priestess Cassandra, owner of a New Orleans voodoo shop, and a new purpose. A research trip for a paranormal secret society leads Cassandra to Haiti, where rumors fly of a sinister voodoo master, Jacques Mezareau, who can resurrect the dead. Fortune hunter Devon Murphy agrees to guide Cassandra there safely, but his sensual appeal promises danger of a different kind. As Cassandra and Devon make their way to the eerie jungle village, their attraction explodes into an intoxicating desire, and Cassandra begins to question her resolve to never let another man into her life. Her attempts to resist Devon become more and more impossible. But when she succeeds in learning Jacques’s macabre ritual, her new powers may have come with a terrifying price. Now, haunted by violent dreams that grow more vivid as the midnight moon approaches, Cassandra must uncover the shocking truth about an ancient curse before it leads her to destroy herself and everyone she loves.
I really disliked Midnight Moon it was in first person narrative and it was all about Priestess Cassandra. She seemed very self obsessed and I just didn't find the overall story interesting at all. I didn't understand at all how Cassandra and Devon would even make their 'relationship' work it was just sex and I didn't seem to see any sort of connection between the two of them other than sexual chemistry which wasn't very amazing.
I'm really not sure if I'd ever pick up another book in the Nightcreatures series again.
March 14, 2017
Cassandra, a New Orleans voodoo priestess, is obsessed with finding a way to bring back her daughter from the dead. Finally, after several years of searching, Cassandra has heard of a man in Haiti who can do this. Cassandra was an interesting character and her determination to get her daughter back was pretty compelling. However, near the end of the story when shit starts hitting the fan this determination starts becoming extremely annoying. Cassandra is faced with so many different reasons why bringing her daughter back from the dead would be horrible but despite everything she is still set on doing it. I understand that she was supposed to be deeply mourning her daughter, but I think that after seeing how she might hurt her daughter by bringing her back that Cass would at least have second thoughts. Not become more determined. I also hated that Cass didn't decide for herself to stop trying to raise her daughter from the dead. I would have of liked Cass to have looked at the bigger picture while she had power to raise her daughter and decide not to. Instead, Cass has the power taken away from her and eventually makes peace with it.
Despite that I thought the story was pretty good and I enjoyed both the setting of Haiti and New Orleans. And the hero, Devon Murphy, was interesting with his constantly changing accents. I would have of liked more time spent on the fact that he was a thief though. Also, I would recommend reading this series in order. Toward the end there were a lot of characters being introduced that are reoccurring in the series and they had some back-story that apparently links in with some things but it went completely over my head since I'm unfamiliar with this series.
Despite that I thought the story was pretty good and I enjoyed both the setting of Haiti and New Orleans. And the hero, Devon Murphy, was interesting with his constantly changing accents. I would have of liked more time spent on the fact that he was a thief though. Also, I would recommend reading this series in order. Toward the end there were a lot of characters being introduced that are reoccurring in the series and they had some back-story that apparently links in with some things but it went completely over my head since I'm unfamiliar with this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2016
My mum bought me this book as part of a bundle that included books from different series of the same genre. For some reason none of these books were the first in their series’ and this one, Midnight Moon was the fifth in a series that I had read no other books off. But this didn’t seem to matter as I was able to understand what was going on. I enjoyed this book but have little to say about it has little substance and is not something that you have to think about.
In Midnight Moon we follow Cassandra, a voodoo priestess that wants to raise her daughter from the dead, unable to let her go. When she’s sent by work to Haiti she feels that this is finally her chance as she goes into the jungle in search of a Voodoo priest that may be able to help her. But Haiti has more in store for her and she’s plunged into adventure with her guide, the attractive Devon, the only one brave or perhaps stupid, enough to take her.
Other than wondering whether Devon was actually the Voodoo priest at the beginning, the rest of the book was really predictable, especially the end. If I’m honest, the whole book doesn’t take that much thinking about. You can guess what’s coming next and you don’t really need to look any deeper than the surface of the book.
I did really enjoy this book and at some point, I do want to read the others of the series (you’ve probably never heard me say that before, or seen me write it either). From what I’ve heard this series is from different points of views which is a shame, because I quite liked Cassandra’s story, although others have said that they weren’t a fan of her. So maybe the other books will be better? There’s only one way to find out I guess.
In Midnight Moon we follow Cassandra, a voodoo priestess that wants to raise her daughter from the dead, unable to let her go. When she’s sent by work to Haiti she feels that this is finally her chance as she goes into the jungle in search of a Voodoo priest that may be able to help her. But Haiti has more in store for her and she’s plunged into adventure with her guide, the attractive Devon, the only one brave or perhaps stupid, enough to take her.
Other than wondering whether Devon was actually the Voodoo priest at the beginning, the rest of the book was really predictable, especially the end. If I’m honest, the whole book doesn’t take that much thinking about. You can guess what’s coming next and you don’t really need to look any deeper than the surface of the book.
I did really enjoy this book and at some point, I do want to read the others of the series (you’ve probably never heard me say that before, or seen me write it either). From what I’ve heard this series is from different points of views which is a shame, because I quite liked Cassandra’s story, although others have said that they weren’t a fan of her. So maybe the other books will be better? There’s only one way to find out I guess.
May 4, 2015
Achtung: Band 5 einer Reihe! Spoileralarm!
Wolfsbann schließt als fünfter Band von Lori Handelands Night Creatures direkt an die Geschehnisse von Band 4 an.
Im Mittelpunkt der Geschehnisse steht diesmal Priesterin Cassandra aus New Orleans, die nach Haiti reist, um ihre Voodoo-Künste weiter auszubauen. Dort heuert sie Devon Murphy als Führer an, der eine ungeheure Anziehungskraft auf sie ausübt. Aber Murphy würde für Geld alles tun und glaubt nicht an Vodun. Außerdem gibt es auf der Insel unaussprechliche Gefahren...
Wieder finde ich den Titel des Originals, Midnight Moon, wesentlich besser gewählt als Wolfsbann, aber da sich im Deutschen nunmal der Wolf als titelgebend erweist, musste man hier wohl Kompromisse eingehen. Auch das Cover, was wunderschön ist, hat in meinen Augen sehr wenig mit dem Inhalt zu tun, es sei denn, die Skyline gehört zu New Orleans, was ich nicht nachgeprüft habe.
Wolfsbann war für mich ein sehr emotionales und spannendes Leseerlebnis auf 352 Seiten. Cassandras Motivationen und Ängste sind sehr nachvollziehbar geschildert, zudem gab es sehr viele unvorhersehbare Twists innerhalb der Geschichte. Vor allem das Spannungsfeld der Träume war hochinteressant, wo niemals klar ist, ob das Geschilderte nun nur ein Traum oder vielleicht doch Erleben ist...
Sowohl Cassandra als auch Murphy sind starke Charaktere mit eigenen Zielen, was ihre Beziehung zueinander auch sehr unvorhersehbar gestaltet.
Lori Handeland hat mich mit dem ungewöhnlichen fünften Band ihrer Reihe wieder vollkommen überzeugt und ich bin jetzt schon sehr gespannt auf Band 6! Also, High Five for Five: fünf von fünf Punkten!
Wolfsbann schließt als fünfter Band von Lori Handelands Night Creatures direkt an die Geschehnisse von Band 4 an.
Im Mittelpunkt der Geschehnisse steht diesmal Priesterin Cassandra aus New Orleans, die nach Haiti reist, um ihre Voodoo-Künste weiter auszubauen. Dort heuert sie Devon Murphy als Führer an, der eine ungeheure Anziehungskraft auf sie ausübt. Aber Murphy würde für Geld alles tun und glaubt nicht an Vodun. Außerdem gibt es auf der Insel unaussprechliche Gefahren...
Wieder finde ich den Titel des Originals, Midnight Moon, wesentlich besser gewählt als Wolfsbann, aber da sich im Deutschen nunmal der Wolf als titelgebend erweist, musste man hier wohl Kompromisse eingehen. Auch das Cover, was wunderschön ist, hat in meinen Augen sehr wenig mit dem Inhalt zu tun, es sei denn, die Skyline gehört zu New Orleans, was ich nicht nachgeprüft habe.
Wolfsbann war für mich ein sehr emotionales und spannendes Leseerlebnis auf 352 Seiten. Cassandras Motivationen und Ängste sind sehr nachvollziehbar geschildert, zudem gab es sehr viele unvorhersehbare Twists innerhalb der Geschichte. Vor allem das Spannungsfeld der Träume war hochinteressant, wo niemals klar ist, ob das Geschilderte nun nur ein Traum oder vielleicht doch Erleben ist...
Sowohl Cassandra als auch Murphy sind starke Charaktere mit eigenen Zielen, was ihre Beziehung zueinander auch sehr unvorhersehbar gestaltet.
Lori Handeland hat mich mit dem ungewöhnlichen fünften Band ihrer Reihe wieder vollkommen überzeugt und ich bin jetzt schon sehr gespannt auf Band 6! Also, High Five for Five: fünf von fünf Punkten!
March 4, 2017
This is a direct continuation of Crescent Moon in which Priestess Cassandra, working now for the Jager-Suchers goes to Haiti to find a voodoo priest to show her how to raise the dead, partially to stop the crescent moon curse. But Cassandra's real motive is her desire to raise her 5-year old daughter from the dead. She finds Devon Murphy to be her guide. He's really rather mysterious and of course there's the instant attraction and sex (while constantly wondering if he'll be sticking around when it's all over).
First person point of view is always very iffy for me. I have to really like the character to enjoy spending an entire book in her head. Cassandra was interesting enough, but I got real tired of being in the thoughts of a person who finds no value in life and who only wants to pull her daughter back from the dead and make her a zombie (talk about selfish). I also prefer my heroine's to have a bit more self-respect. When the hero, who is actually something of a thief trying to avoid poverty, comes back, has sex with her and then disappears with the diamond and then comes back, has sex with her and disappears again and she doesn't really get angry or even push him away or confront him, then I have to believe she has no self-respect. Of course, she also believes her life has no value and I'm not a fan of that kind of heroine.
Nevertheless, this story did have all the great suspense and paranormal twists as normal. The way the author writes first person really does suck me into the story and I do enjoy reading this series.
First person point of view is always very iffy for me. I have to really like the character to enjoy spending an entire book in her head. Cassandra was interesting enough, but I got real tired of being in the thoughts of a person who finds no value in life and who only wants to pull her daughter back from the dead and make her a zombie (talk about selfish). I also prefer my heroine's to have a bit more self-respect. When the hero, who is actually something of a thief trying to avoid poverty, comes back, has sex with her and then disappears with the diamond and then comes back, has sex with her and disappears again and she doesn't really get angry or even push him away or confront him, then I have to believe she has no self-respect. Of course, she also believes her life has no value and I'm not a fan of that kind of heroine.
Nevertheless, this story did have all the great suspense and paranormal twists as normal. The way the author writes first person really does suck me into the story and I do enjoy reading this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 2, 2009
Yes, this is yet another Night Creatures novel, and it really shows a change in both writing style and in the general set up of the series. No longer are we really concerned solely with the Jager Suchers, but instead with paranormal creatures and their defeat by the hands of powerful men and women who happen to fall in love and have way way WAY too much sex all over the place. I will say I really enjoyed the plot—set in Hati, with a voodouin priestess searching for a master to teach her how to raise the dead in a way that will let them retain the life that had before for reasons she will tell no one. Yes, she is working, indirectly for the Jager Suchers, but the plot is all about her, her powers, the man she is attracted to, and all the crap that they go through. Oh and sex. Did I mention sex? Because there is LOTS of it. SEX SEX SEX. When they’re not doing it, they are thinking about doing it, or wondering why they want to do it with each other all the time. The ending was a bit of a “meh” as well, adding something that was totally not necessary and something that cheapened it all a wee bit. Not the sex, the plot. The sex remains constant.
January 1, 2011
Cassandra travels to Haiti so she can track someone down to show her how to raise a zombie. And what better place to go than the land of voodoo? With the help of sexy Devon Murphy, she tracks down a bokor rumoured to be able to do just that. Mezareau is scary and powerful. He also seems to control more than just zombies. And when he agrees to share the secret so she can go home and help Diana and Adam Ruelle, Cassandra gets more than she bargained for.
There was a gut-wrenching aspect surging her forward in this quest of learning how to raise the dead. It's so sad. She's so obssessed with it. It's the only thing fuelling her life. But I refuse to go into that because it's better to read it off the pages. Cassandra was yet another wonderful addition to this ongoing series. I loved her story, quest and conclusion. And the chemistry with Murphy sizzles from the first time they cross paths. Excellent!
I loved this book! Definitely worth reading. Lori's kicking butt with this series.
There was a gut-wrenching aspect surging her forward in this quest of learning how to raise the dead. It's so sad. She's so obssessed with it. It's the only thing fuelling her life. But I refuse to go into that because it's better to read it off the pages. Cassandra was yet another wonderful addition to this ongoing series. I loved her story, quest and conclusion. And the chemistry with Murphy sizzles from the first time they cross paths. Excellent!
I loved this book! Definitely worth reading. Lori's kicking butt with this series.
May 18, 2014
- thematisiert Voodoo und Zombies, Werwölfe nur ganz am Rande, gut recherchiert
- insgesamt aber eher mittelmäßige Abenteuergeschichte im Indiana Jones Verschnitt
- Paranormal Romance, Liebesgeschichte ist überhaupt nicht nach meinem Geschmack (Charaktere, fehlende Chemie, Notgeil auf den ersten Blick, zu viele in meinen Augen lieblose Sexszene, Emotionen kommen bei mir nicht an, unglaubwürdig...)
- Wohin verschwindet Devon ständig und wann macht er sich das nächste Mal aus dem Staub? Was verbindet die beiden Protagonisten überhaupt, dass am Ende von Liebe gesprochen wird?
- Devon hat Potential ist aber zu wenig ausgearbeitet und bleibt dadurch blas
- Cassandra: kann nichts mit ihr anfangen, Humor zündet nicht bei mir, klammert sich wie Besessen an ihr Kind, macht auf mich manchmal naiven Eindruck, Meisterin der Verdrängung oder extrem lange Leitung (u.a. Lazarus' Verhalten, Augenfarbe, Essverhalten, warum sie plötzlich geheilt ist (Kapitel 37)...)
- abruptes Ende mit einer schwülstigen Einlage a la Ghost Whisperer, Woher kommt der plötzliche Sinneswandel?
- insgesamt aber eher mittelmäßige Abenteuergeschichte im Indiana Jones Verschnitt
- Paranormal Romance, Liebesgeschichte ist überhaupt nicht nach meinem Geschmack (Charaktere, fehlende Chemie, Notgeil auf den ersten Blick, zu viele in meinen Augen lieblose Sexszene, Emotionen kommen bei mir nicht an, unglaubwürdig...)
- Wohin verschwindet Devon ständig und wann macht er sich das nächste Mal aus dem Staub? Was verbindet die beiden Protagonisten überhaupt, dass am Ende von Liebe gesprochen wird?
- Devon hat Potential ist aber zu wenig ausgearbeitet und bleibt dadurch blas
- Cassandra: kann nichts mit ihr anfangen, Humor zündet nicht bei mir, klammert sich wie Besessen an ihr Kind, macht auf mich manchmal naiven Eindruck, Meisterin der Verdrängung oder extrem lange Leitung (u.a. Lazarus' Verhalten, Augenfarbe, Essverhalten, warum sie plötzlich geheilt ist (Kapitel 37)...)
- abruptes Ende mit einer schwülstigen Einlage a la Ghost Whisperer, Woher kommt der plötzliche Sinneswandel?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2025
Read 2018
My least favorite book in the series.
🚫 I don’t want to read about voodoo, a heroine who is a voodoo priestess, or her pet snake.
🚫 I don’t want a crazy lady who plans to raise her dead daughter from the dead, making her a zombie. Because apparently, it's better to have a zombie daughter than for her to stay dead.
Ugh, that's horrible! And extremely selfish as well.
As usual, the PNR plot takes center stage. Again, the shallow romance includes an 'insta' relationship based on sex. I didn't feel any genuine love between the MCs.
𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗻𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱｡
My least favorite book in the series.
🚫 I don’t want to read about voodoo, a heroine who is a voodoo priestess, or her pet snake.
🚫 I don’t want a crazy lady who plans to raise her dead daughter from the dead, making her a zombie. Because apparently, it's better to have a zombie daughter than for her to stay dead.
Ugh, that's horrible! And extremely selfish as well.
As usual, the PNR plot takes center stage. Again, the shallow romance includes an 'insta' relationship based on sex. I didn't feel any genuine love between the MCs.
𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗻𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱｡
June 18, 2011
I read this book the fastest so far in the Nightcreatures series. From the very beginning it starts almost like a folk-lore story. The story is written smoothly and was so hard to put down. Priestess Cassandra, who practices voodoo is working for the Jager-Suchers. She is sent to Haiti hoping to find out how to end the Curse of the Crescent Moon. Once in Haiti, Priestess Cassandra hires a guide to take her up into the mountains to find the evil Sorcerer who will teach her how to raise the dead. Midnight Moon kept me guessing right to the end, full to the brim with werewolves, sorcerers, voodoo magic, shape shifters, zombies, and of course a little bit of sizzling romance. Unlike the earlier books in the Nightcreatures series, Midnight Moon cannot be read as a stand-alone book. You will need to have at least read Crescent Moon to understand Midnight Moon. Can't wait to read the next in the series: Rising Moon. I'm hoping it will pick up, right where this one left off.
December 2, 2010
This book is again much better than the previous one. I was very disappointed with the previous books in the series.
This book is about the voodoo priestess Cassandra. There is a lot of voodoo to be told and you realize that the author has researched well. The book is exciting and looks more like an adventure novel than a fantasy novel. Werewolves play also a subordinate role. A little scary and fantasy is of course included, a lot of excitement and magic. The Voodoo Master Jacques is a frightening figure and brings Cassandra close to the abyss of black magic. All in all I liked the book very well, the characters are good and with a lot of personalized information so that you can easily make a picture of them.
A little bit erotic is included but not so much than in the books before.
This book is about the voodoo priestess Cassandra. There is a lot of voodoo to be told and you realize that the author has researched well. The book is exciting and looks more like an adventure novel than a fantasy novel. Werewolves play also a subordinate role. A little scary and fantasy is of course included, a lot of excitement and magic. The Voodoo Master Jacques is a frightening figure and brings Cassandra close to the abyss of black magic. All in all I liked the book very well, the characters are good and with a lot of personalized information so that you can easily make a picture of them.
A little bit erotic is included but not so much than in the books before.
June 20, 2022
When Cassandra is sent to Haiti to find a way to cure Henri from Crescent Moon, she jumps at the chance to research what she wants the most. She hires Devon to be her guide, but she comes to find there are no coincidences in her quest for answers. When they end up fighting for their lives against an evil voodoo sorcerer, will they be able to save themselves, and maybe the world? I thought Devon was a little stubborn in his lack of belief even after he started seeing some strange things, and Cassandra was a little clueless. Overall I really enjoyed this book.
November 29, 2009
SPOILERS:
I find Lori Handeland's books entertaining, but the characters dont endear themselves to me. In this one, continuing a series, it didn't quite gel. I found Cassandra's obsession to bring her daughter back to life, unconvincing and I kept waiting for her to see sense. As a matter of fact, unlike in the earlier book when she was a minor character, I found Cassandra to be a less interesting and sympathetic character in this, her own book. It took a lot to make myself care about her traumatic life - it just didn't ring true. The hero though - he was delicious and I kept wanting to smack Cassandra for not appreciating him.
I find Lori Handeland's books entertaining, but the characters dont endear themselves to me. In this one, continuing a series, it didn't quite gel. I found Cassandra's obsession to bring her daughter back to life, unconvincing and I kept waiting for her to see sense. As a matter of fact, unlike in the earlier book when she was a minor character, I found Cassandra to be a less interesting and sympathetic character in this, her own book. It took a lot to make myself care about her traumatic life - it just didn't ring true. The hero though - he was delicious and I kept wanting to smack Cassandra for not appreciating him.
September 28, 2010
I never was a big fan of VooDoo and that book didn't help my case. I wasn't very into the story and I kind of missed the good old werewolf stories. I liked Cassandra in the book before, she was nice as a support character and a friend, but I really didn't like her as the main focus, I simply couldn't relate to her and her obsessive need to make her daughter a living dead.
Oh and did the author like man with long hair and weird earing? I'm so not on the same page with her about that.
Oh and did the author like man with long hair and weird earing? I'm so not on the same page with her about that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2011
Cassandra thought she had the perfect life until she suffered a devastating tragedy. Now she has a new identity as Priestess Cassandra, owner of a New Orleans voodoo shop, and a new purpose. A research trip for a paranormal secret society leads Cassandra to Haiti, where rumors fly of a sinister voodoo master, Jacques Mezareau, who can resurrect the dead. Fortune hunter Devon Murphy agrees to guide Cassandra there safely, but his sensual appeal promises danger of a different kind
April 4, 2011
So far my favourite book of the series - might have something to do with that it's the first I read in english. The first 4 books I read in german and though I already liked them, I enjoyed this one much more. Maybe there was a lot lost in translation - again *rollseyes*. I just loved the humor in this book - the banter between the protagonists is exactly the kind I like to read. And I think the "vodoo story" was quite nice also
July 2, 2011
I loved this latest Handeland book. She does such a good job of integrating native American legends with the Nazi horror. She's a good writer, with an interesting take on the werewolf stories.
Cassandra is such a interesting character. Her desire to learn more about Vodoo is so well done and the way in which she turns into a werelepord is brilliantly done. The passion is hot, the sex scenes well written. I enjoyed this book.
Cassandra is such a interesting character. Her desire to learn more about Vodoo is so well done and the way in which she turns into a werelepord is brilliantly done. The passion is hot, the sex scenes well written. I enjoyed this book.
March 14, 2014
This is a story from the Night Creature series, but you could read it as a stand alone.
Cassandra is a practicing voodoo priestess. She agrees to go to Haiti to discover If it is possible to raise the dead. She has her own reason to want the answer.
Deven Murphy agrees to guide her into the mountains to find the person who they believe holds the secret. Deven also has his reason for going. Many strange things happen while they are on the mountain, and after.
Quite a spooky read. Good fun.
Cassandra is a practicing voodoo priestess. She agrees to go to Haiti to discover If it is possible to raise the dead. She has her own reason to want the answer.
Deven Murphy agrees to guide her into the mountains to find the person who they believe holds the secret. Deven also has his reason for going. Many strange things happen while they are on the mountain, and after.
Quite a spooky read. Good fun.
May 4, 2016
2,5-3 Sterne. Das Buch war ganz okay. Mehr aber auch nicht. Cassandra fand ich als Protagonistin seht sympathisch, aber die Liebesgeschichte hat mir nicht so gut gefallen. Plötzlich sind die beiden unsterblich ineinander verliebt. Er haut immer ab und taucht dann irgendwann ohne Erklärung auf und alles ist in Ordnung. Das Finale war auch sehr schnell einfach abgehandelt. Das hatte man weitaus besser ausbauen können. Ich werde die Reihe wohl nicht weiter lesen.
December 31, 2007
Book #5 (follows Crescent Moon) I liked the main characters (Cassandra AKA Priestess) and Devon. They develop and interract well together. Most of this book takes place in Haiti and there is black magic (bad voodoo), zombies, etc. There is a very sad element in this book that pertains to the loss of a child.
July 3, 2010
2&1/2 stars
I can accept werewolves, but I can't accept a mother who wants to raise her daughter from the dead. What mother would want to see her child as a brains-eating-partially-decayed zombie? Only crazy ones. I don't know how Lori Handeland wants me to believe her main female character is anything but loony.
I can accept werewolves, but I can't accept a mother who wants to raise her daughter from the dead. What mother would want to see her child as a brains-eating-partially-decayed zombie? Only crazy ones. I don't know how Lori Handeland wants me to believe her main female character is anything but loony.
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