The Midnight Bride

The Dead Lands #2

by Kati Wilde

To save her family from a tyrant king, Mara of Aremond must win a tournament—and she won’t let anyone stop her from claiming the prize. Especially not Strax, the barbarian warrior who has tormented her every step of the way. But when a sorcerer’s trap binds them together, Mara must decide whether Strax is her greatest enemy, or if everything she seeks can only be found in the barbarian’s arms…

The audiobook version of this novella was originally featured on the Read Me Romance podcast. This release marks the first time this story is available in ebook or print, and includes a bonus epilogue and map not included in the podcast version.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Fantasy Romance, Novella, Audiobook, Magic, Enemies To Lovers

138 pages, Paperback

First published June 17, 2019

About the author

Kati Wilde is a tight-lipped, loose-hipped woman of indeterminate age and low breeding. Born into a very large family, she now has a very small family (no laws were broken in this transition), and she writes romantic fiction to assuage her darker urge to write Transformers erotica. She lives in Oregon, so most of you are safely far enough away, and has two old cats.

Kati writes the Hellfire Riders MC romance series and will be publishing her first New Adult novel, Going Nowhere Fast, with Berkley later this year.



About Our Series:

The Motorcycle Clubs series is for romance readers who want all the heat and emotion, but who don’t have all of the time. At this time, we are only publishing novellas — our intention is to provide readers with short (yet satisfying) MC romances. Sometimes we might continue one couple’s story over several novellas, but each individual novella will have a satisfying romantic resolution. Because they are short, we focus the stories on the eroticism and romance, and will be building the MC worlds as each series progresses.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me -- kati@katiwilde.com.

Reviews

[Shruti (Hiatus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

10 out of 5 stars - I love this book with MY ENTIRE BODY 😩🌈💓 I think I love this sequel even more than the first installment (they are each standalones, but I'm a happy puppy when I approach things in order 😚☺️ **EDIT - not complete standalones - I'm reading the next book right now and it would help to avoid minor spoilers by reading these books in order)

Strax = book boyfriend? NAY! ✋ BOOK HUSBAND ✋🤝 Make that HUGSband 😩💘
Mara and Strax are SO FUCKING GOOD TO EACH OTHER, WHAT IS THIS LIFE. Their tension is hot, their sex scenes are hot, their love made me cry and die and wail at how single I am, and there are 2-3 places where humor and innuendo took me by surprise. What more do you want?!? What more do you need from a novellaaaaa?!?

I wish this book was longer. I wish I could marry this guy. I wish I wish I wish.
READ THIS BOOK. READ THIS SERIES.




TW:
Not a hint of OW/OM - how wonderful!! 💘
There is one small dark scene where Mara is abducted and her future looks bleak but it's quickly resolved. This book is much less dark and a hell lot warmer than the first book with regards to background info, since there is very little focus on anything that's not the MCs.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Love is Magic Stars

So much sweetness and heart!

This story takes place in the same world as "The Midwinter Mail-Order Bride," (which I also loved) and features a strong, fierce barbarian warlord and a courageous, determined noblewoman.

The story is short, but packed with adventure and an amazing amount of emotion. I absolutely adored Strax, Keeper of the Secret Oath, son of the Fang Clan of The Dead Lands, who is so smitten with Mara that he will do *anything* to protect and cherish her. He is charged with fulfilling a sacred vow (and his admiration for Mara and her own task makes this vow difficult). However, Strax is absolutely devoted and fiercely protective, and this melted my heart. Mara is (understandably) wary, but watching her fall in love with this hulking hunk was so sweet. They make a wonderful pair who learn that together, they make an amazing team.

I read this via KU, but since the book is 99c, I decided to treat myself to my own copy to reread when I need something sweet and comforting.

[Céloise · Rating 3 out of 5]

3☆ Sweet but sorta cringey

This wasn't bad, but it didn't match the cozy charisma and entertainment level of its predecessor, The Midwinter Mail-Order Bride. I liked the beginning, but the pacing was uneven so that the ending was rushed, and the MCs straddled the line between cute and cringey a little too often.

[Gi's Spot Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

I listened to the professionally narrated audiobook on the Read Me Romance Podcast for FREE!

[Sammie Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

These short novels/novellas are so sweet! They pack a punch too, and have a full blown plot along with everything else. Lots of adventure, fantasy, romance, and an awesome HEA. Loved it!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

For such a short book, this has amazing world building, character development, relationship development, and an interesting magic system. If I hadn’t been listening to the book, I would’ve highlighted the crap out of it! It was really fun to have this available on a podcast as well as on YouTube so I could listen to the audiobook.

This couple is amazing and I love them so much. It has the storyline of an epic fantasy in such a small package. And I am completely satisfied!.

[Rain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strax, Keeper of the Sacred Oath, son of the Fang Clan of the Dead Lands, has to be the absolute true-blue-always-stand-by-you hero EVER. No matter what Lady Maraserit ik Terin of Aremond throws at him, he allows, absorbs, and gives her back in support and unwavering adoration.

“Do you not know that I would risk death for a taste of you? That I would happily die if it brought you pleasure?”

This is simply a sweet fantasy about a very strong woman and the man who vows to support her. As they slowly learn to trust the other, their own magic grows.

[Stacie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4+ "Cherry Blossom" Stars!

This was a really fun adventure. It's a very short, but complete story. I like both main characters and was so happy for them in the end. I really like Kati Wilde. I can't wait for her full length novel she has coming soon in The Dead Lands world. Happy reading!

[Petra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fantasy romance novella. I love the writing style and this strange world that the author build.
But what made me fall in love with the book the most, was this love and devotion that Strax (main hero) has for heroine. Even though she treats him terribly, he is there for her ready to die and kill. He never begrudges her bad behavior. He seems supernaturally strong, stronger than anyone in this world yet he is not portrayed as alfa hero. I wanted to know more about him and was hoping he will come to shine in the end but that didn’t happen.
Mara our heroine is interesting, she is distrustful and independent but she finds her way to love.
It was a good short read for a very busy week.

[Romance_reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book delivered exactly what I was expecting from it - steamy, fantasy erotica with likeable protagonists. Kati Wilde is definitely one of the better smut writers out there. However, I have to say I liked the first book in the series more; but this is good enough.

[Alex (HEABookNerd)]

DNF @ 23%

I'm just not really feeling THE MIDNIGHT BRIDE. The book starts 6 months into the tournament and Strax has already fallen completely in love with Mara. So far all the action is happening off page including the tournament up to this point, the disappearance of Strax's twin brother, Mara's kidnapping, and Strax killing the evil sorcerer king to save Mara. I feel like I'm getting a summarized version not the actual full story.

[Mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just love this series of fantasy romance novellas-- they have just enough worldbuilding to give me a light fantasy flavor, plus I love this whole fantasy barbarian trope. This series has been a big hit for me this year

[Averie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this, but I, unfortunately, didn't :(

I loved The Midwinter Mail-Order Bride so much, but this one felt lacking to me. The world-building was not as good & the plot was basically all over the place. But I liked these two characters and how devoted the hero was.

[Grisette · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.6 stars

Love only needed one, but trust took two.

Kati Wilde is an author who has never deceived me. This is my 5th book by her and I continue to be amazed by her pen. Thank you KW, what an honour to read your writing!

Her Dead Land series is seriously *chef's kiss*. And this book contains everything I love: enchanting fantasy world; layered leads; a sweet, devoted barbarian H; a strong and noble h; sensual and steamy chemistry; an epic adventure; a well-laced plot with rich world building (even as a novella); and love as the central message, written so lyrically. Sigh-worthy epic romance in brief 🥰🥰❤!

Anyone reading this review, I will repeat myself hoarse: Kati Wilde is a bloody extraordinary author who deserves to be more widely known - go for it, you won't regret it!

P.S. I find that stories that usually feature maps at the start is bound to be really good stories.

P.S.2. The bonus map at the end was 😍💋

[HankReadsRomance · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars. Listen, this was bonkers and fun but I can only suspend disbelief so far when it comes to disgustingly dirty—and not in a good way—main characters having sex. I want to clarify that my 2-star rating isn’t because the characters never bathed (that was just one of many plot holes). The 2-stars are because the storyline was spread way too thin for it to have much depth or development.

Back to my silly sex gripes. *spoilers ahead* Allow me to paint you a picture: When the story begins, these characters have already been traveling together for six months. The FMC is completely naked except for a large shirt for most of the story (she had her stuff stolen and was imprisoned naked but don’t worry it only lasted like two pages). This girl doesn’t even have SHOES but over the course of a couple weeks is riding a horse all day every day, hiking, building a funeral pyre and dragging rotting corpses onto it, rock climbing straight up a cliff for three days straight— ALL WHILE PORKY PIGGING IT (just top no bottoms). Both MC’s fingers and toes are scraped up and bloody from the climb. They are presumably as filthy as two people could possibly be so of course it’s now the perfect time to take the FMC’s virginity. They are barely over the face of the cliff before the MMC puts his scraped up, blistered, unwashed rock climbing fingers inside the FMC. I just *shudders* couldn’t disassociate enough to enjoy it even a little bit. Nary so much as a sponge bath is ever mentioned—unless you count the MMC going down on the FMC’s unwashed for weeks (even after the bottomless horseback riding) lady bits multiple times as “bathing”. I personally do not, but different strokes and all that.

This 140 page novella took place over the course of a year (not counting the six months they knew each other before the story picks up). To say Wilde “skipped over a lot” would be an understatement. It had some interesting plot points but barely brushed the surface when it came to an actual relationship between the MC’s.

I did, however, absolutely love the first book of this series and have read it more than once. This one was lacking the “true magic” the first one captured so beautifully.

[❀ Crystal ✿ - PEACE ☮ LOVE ♥ BOOKS · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned fairly early on that I was missing a whole hell of a lot of backstory by jumping into this book without reading book one. Given the length though I didn’t give up as I did find the author giving enough details that I was able to follow along and understand the characters interactions from book one. The heroine is on a quest to save her people and the hero is on his own quest to stop anyone else from succeeding in the quest to retrieve the mystical gauntlet that would bestow upon its owner unbelievable power. Until 50% the heroine loathes the hero. The hero has spent the past however many months belittling and berating the heroine thinking as she’s a strong woman rather than tearing her down, she will be more determined to succeed. Like a typical man our hero really doesn’t understand the ways of women lol. The story itself was ok, kinda interesting but more about the journey the characters are on. Honestly nothing of extreme import happens and even once the climax occurs, the heroines takedown and rescue of her family (her goal all along) was basically summed up by her when she wakes out of her trance in only a few paragraphs. That was a bit disappointing I mean it was the whole point of seeking out the gauntlet to begin with. Oh well it’s not that serious lol. This was a interesting short read which probably would have read better had I started with book one. Alas I did enjoy the story and maybe one day I’ll go back and start from the beginning.

[Danielle The Book Huntress · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this one for a quick romance fix back in the early part of the year. I enjoy Kati Wilde's books. They are pretty raunchy but also very romantic. Her characters have a lot of depth for such short books. The low fantasy setting stands out for paranormal romance. I always really feel the love between her characters and the strength of their emotions. Mara has to win a life or death competition. Strax took a vow that he'd make sure that no one won. But his feelings for her got in the way. Their relationship turns from an adversarial one to a relationship full of intense, powerful love that makes both of them count the cost of vows made and what they have to give up to achieve those goals. Wilde is channeling Robert E. Howard's Conan series, so she she doesn't pull her punches with the barbaric violence or the arcane dark sorcery despite the sweet, and heartfelt love story. The ending is very sweet.

[Steph's Romance Book Talk · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars / 3 Steam Fans

This was a weird one for me. Not amazing but not awful either, just maybe not for me.

This specific video review will be included in the June 2019 wrap-up.

For other video book reviews check out my YouTube channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.

(Review may be edited at a later date)

[hea booktubes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very fun, short, fantasy romance between a barbarian warrior and a noble woman who has entered a tournament to save her family. Their dynamic was exactly what I wanted, and it was short enough to keep my attention during my reading slump.

[Tracy C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. A great PNR world. I wish we had more of their story

[Севдалина · Rating 5 out of 5]

О, Боже... това беше супер сладурско, супер необичайно и невероятно страхотно четиво. Трябва да призная, не знаех какво да очаквам, когато започнах книжката, но наистина й се насладих. Беше така прекрасна. Да не говорим, че й се насладих на аудио формат благодарение на Read me Romance Podcast <3

Кати ни отвежда в един фантастичен свят изпълнен с магия и чудеса.

Главната ни героиня Мара, е единствената жена, участваща в брутално състезание, в което победителят трябва да пътува с месеци... над 6 месеца... подлаган на физически и психически предизвикателства, за да достигне до една божествена пещера, където се намира ръкавица направена от сърцата на боговете. За разлика от повечето състезатели Мара не участва заради слава и богатства. Участва, защото семейството й е уловено в лапите на зъл магьосник, който ще убие всички, които тя обича, ако не му занесе ръкавицата. Мара е предпоследна в състезанието и макар да вярва, че е изгубила всички шансове да успее, тя е решена да не се откаже до самия край. След нея е само един воин, който постоянно я обижда и подценява.

Стракс е воин от "Мъртвите земи" дал кръвна клетва да не позволи ръкавицата да се окаже в ръцете на злия магьосник, той не се състезава, за да вземе пръв ръкавицата, а следва жената в която е лудо влюбен. Стракс знае, че не му е позволено да помага по никакъв начин на състезателите, и все пак, сърцето му не му позволява да се отдалечи от Мара. Решен да не й позволява да се отказва, той смята, че я надъхва, като постоянно й повтаря, че няма да се справи, без да подозира, че думите му я нараняват. Всичко обаче се променя, когато Мара попада в лапите на робовладелци, и той трябва да я спаси, а след това да й помогне да спечели състезанието.

За една толкова къса книга, в тази се случиха толкова много супер яки неща. Звездата за мен в книгата е именно Стракс. Той беше толкова страхотен и прекрасен герой. Обожавам сцената в която отиде да спасява Мара от робовладелците и като осъзна, че около врата си тя има каишка, която е омагьосана и може да бъде свалена само от господаря й, той й каза само, след малко се връщам и отиде да убие магьосника сложил й каишката. След това, като осъзна, че това не разваля магията и реши да се ожени за нея, всичко беше толкова смахнато и едновременно сладурско. Сватба в килия, където булката е гола, а младоженеца опръскан с кръв, свещеника наплашен, а единствения им свидетел отрязаната глава на злия магьосник.... как въобще успя да го измисли това авторката. Сцената в която главния беше казал, че един съпруг трябва да събуди съпругата си с глава между краката й беше много чаровна, а когато героинята реши да си намаже интимните части със сок от някаква билка, за да се отърве от него, беше адски силна. Стракс знаеше, че тя е използвала билката и в зависимост от количеството билката или щеше да го убие или преспи, но той просто ТРЯБВАШЕ да я вкуси без значение последици. Следващата супер силна сцена, която обожавам е тридневното им изкачване по планината и как когато Стракс се подхлъзна и започна да пада Мара го сграбчи. Стракс знаеше, че е обречен и я караше да го пусне, без да откъсва поглед от лицето й, защото искаше последното нещо, което е видял в живота си, да е нейното лице, и силата, която Мара намери в любовта си, за да го спаси беше неописуема. Цялата сцена бе така интензивна, толкова силна и прекрасна.

Книгата наистина беше страшно уникална, прекрасна, запомняща се и чудесна. Препоръчвам с две ръце. Едно малко четиво, което е способно да изпълни читателя с толкова много прекрасни емоции... чак ме е яд, че беше толкова късичка. Искам още и още и ощееее. Сега ще отида да видя какви ги е сътворил брата близнак на Стракс и да се надяваме, че някъде по пътя ще срещнем отново тези двама сладури <3

[girlwithhearteyes · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars. Kati Wilde’s fantasy romance novellas have a pretty distinct style that I always enjoy. Tournament/road trip + courageous/scheming heroine + smitten/powerful hero… sign me up! There is also a dramatic “save yourself, leave me behind” scene, which I’m a sucker for.

[Laura Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the previous books in this series. So, I was excited to get an ARC for this book. The only disappointment in this one was that it was really short and we already sorta know the outcome from the last book. Strax is just fabulous and Mara is thankfully a smart girl , who is motivated by love to save her family. This is a lovely little fairy tale and I look forward to more of them. 🤞

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barbarian warriors who find their special someone and (slightly) bumble their attempts at wooing are...apparently my new thing. This doesn't really surprise me because that sounds like it's exactly up my alley, but it wasn't something that was on my radar until this series. It's official now, though. Insanely competent barbarians who like more than a little bloodshed and mayhem and find their match in fierce women are now my thing.

Which brings us to Strax and Mara. Strax has that who sacred duty thing going for him and it puts him in a bit of a bind because Mara's on a quest for exactly the thing he's honor bound to protect. Mara has some very compelling reasons for joining the tournament and her growing affection for Strax (no matter how hard she tries to deny it) means she's torn between what she needs to do and what she wants to do.

Bloodshed, a surprise marriage, sexy times that don't always end as planned, and a whole lot of power makes this one a fun read. Then again, all KW's books thrill me in the best way, so liking this one isn't a surprise at all.

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal

[Lolina ⋆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking for more books to read by KW, and I wasn't really feeling any of the contemporary ones, and was really happy when I found more books in the same world as 'The Midwinter Mail-Order Bride'.

Although I haven't read any other books by KW aside from the two in this series, I can already tell that the thing that I enjoy most about her writing is her ability to mix fantasy and romance together.

Eventhough I didn't love this one (plainly because I would've loved to have seen the characters meet for the first time, instead of starting from a point where they had already interacted with one another on multiple occasions), I still thoroughly enjoyed it.

It was a super sweet story, with an interesting plot that was part of a world that I'm kind of obsessed with. I'm really looking forward to reading the next one.

[Elle ♡ [semi-hiatus] · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25

For what that was: a short magical little fantasy quest romance that was highly enjoyable. I found the pace to be perfect, the characters interesting and the story/world building was good and just enough for the length of the book. I’m surprised by how much I liked that and excited to read the rest of this series.

[❀ Jess ( Semi hiatus ) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve decided to read this thanks to Shruti’s review. ❤️ And I have never been happier to push aside housework to read a story. 🥰

After reading so many contemporary first person narrations it was such a nice feeling to circle back to my first love, third person narration, fantasy romance.
THIS WAS SO GOOD.


Strax was literally perfect. How he OPENLY voiced his love and admiration for Mara, 🥰🥰

As soon as Mara believed in his love she was just as fierce in her love for him and it was so beautiful.

I would’ve gladly read a longer version of these two but for how short it was, it really worked well that there weren’t really any other characters involved so we really got to focus on our MCs. It tied together very nicely and I was happy to see their HAE.

I don’t care how cheesy it was, love and trust conquers all. 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

[Jenn (The Book Refuge) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this entry to the Dead Lands! Strax made me so happy. What a sweet, strong, alpha barbarian.

I love Mara too. She was strong, and smart, and never got defeated.

I loved them both together and this quick story was awesome.

[Stephaniec · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a short story the author packed enough world building for it to be interesting.i liked both main characters and will be checking out the others in this series. Barbarians do it for me

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This needs to be longer 😭😭💕