Golden Hood

Midnight Empire: New Dawn #1

by Annabel Chase

I’m just your friendly neighborhood Robin Hood. Ever since my coven was destroyed, I spend my days in The Wild stealing from the rich and giving to the poor, along with my merry band of werewolves and a grumpy wizard. The people protect my identity in exchange for my good deeds. If Lord Doran and his vampire rangers ever discover who I am and what I’m capable of, my body parts would end up as a crispy kebab.

When humans start dropping dead from a horrible disease, they turn to me for help, but they’re not the only ones. Lord Doran wants me to report my findings and I’m unnerved by my response to our first up-close-and-personal meeting. I stamp out the indecent thoughts because anything short of repulsion is unacceptable. Besides, there’s another interested party and this one doesn’t have a target on my back.

During my investigation, a new player emerges but I’m the one getting the blame. Somebody’s out for blood—and this time it isn’t a vampire.

As the pressure increases, so does the body count—and if I don’t play my cards right, there won’t be any winners.

Golden Hood is the first book in the Midnight Empire: New Dawn urban fantasy trilogy set in a world of darkness where vampires rule, magic abounds, and the biggest threat to the status quo is a woman who embraces her true power. While this series can be enjoyed on its own, I recommend starting with Wild Knight for a more fulfilling reading experience.

Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Vampires, Romance, Paranormal Romance, Magic

219 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 22, 2022

About the author

Annabel Chase is the author of urban fantasy and cozy mystery novels. She would love to live in a magical town where she can shop at Ready-to-Were for the the perfect outfit, flirt with hot angels and vampires, and cook gourmet meals without exerting any effort. Visit her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Annabel-Chas... or on her website at www.annabelchase.com.

Reviews

[Andi · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one just didn’t grab me like the others in the Midnight Empire series.

[Toni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Couldn’t get past 40%. The FMC was kinda badass...in theory. But she was portrayed as an unfeeling witch. The vampires were just bad...which was a broad statement about a species with only their experience. At this point in the book, you haven’t really met an vampires. Doran as the Lord vampire is boring and pompous. Since this is a series, the writing, characters and storyline were not engaging for me to continue reading. It was almost like you are dropped into an existing world when you start reading this book and the author doesn’t explain how you got there or where you are.

[Rajprasath · Rating 2 out of 5]

Problem in Core of Ecology
Problem in Storyline
Problem in character building.

1. If any or all volcano erupt in earth (Even if all of them together), it still can not eclipse whole earth for more than 10 Years.
If so, most of the animals and vegetation would die.
2. Humans becoming prey is possible but becoming brainless zombies?? not possible.
3. Character does what they want; they don't seems to care about community or their personal future at all.

More problem in story telling as well, but it has interesting concept.

[Mike Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining urban fantasy series

All the stories tie into a search for a way to return sunlight to the earth and defeat the vampires. Did they finally find the answer is it possible. There will be three supernatural people that may save the world. Read on and find out what the final puzzle pieces and how it all works out. This is book one in the final set. This is an entertaining urban fantasy adventure series. A great cast for characters and a entertaining storyline. This is the final chapter in a group of trilogy books of a set of characters in a post apocalyptic urban fantasy world. At some point in the future every super volcano on the earth irrupt. In the process it releases ancient demons monsters and creatures from beneath the earth And all of the ash and suet rises into the atmosphere and blocks the sun. Mini supernatural creatures that we’re living among us and hiding among us are now out in the open. Including werewolves witches and fairies and many others. The most dominant one are the vampires who now rule the earth. all the stories tie into a search for a way to return sunlight to the earth and defeat the vampires. Did they finally find the answer is it possible. There will be three supernatural people that may save the world. Read on and find out what the final puzzle pieces and how it all works out. This is Brooke one in the final set.

[Dan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first two series on this "world" however not too much of a big fan of this third series, the whole robin hood trope is frankly lacking and most of the characters are not that likable.

I think this last series is really a missed opportunity and could have been really good if it had introduced a 3rd character, lets drop the robin hood shtick, and brought forth the characters from the first two series to have them work together more...instead it looks like this whole thing will be wrapped up in one book which will be the last one of this 3rd series......

I am about the read the last book and maybe I will change my mind after....we will see.

[PepperP0t · Rating 4 out of 5]

After Aster Goodfellow’s coven and entire family are killed by the ruling vampire, Aster takes up the role of the people’s defender. She robs the vampire and his minions and returns and redistributes their ‘taxes’, though there’s nothing she can really do about the mandatory blood donations the humans have to give.

While returning a load of ‘taxes’ Aster and her crew discover a mysterious illness they dub ‘the Green Death’ that kills quickly and painfully, Aster decides she’ll get to the bottom of it all. Ruling vampire master, Doran asks Aster for her help to solve the Green Death mystery but she discovers it is a ruse but she finds herself helpless after a heartbreaking betrayal and is even more surprised to get aid from an unexpected source!
Rating: 4.25stars

[Tiffany Bumgardner · Rating 1 out of 5]

I Was SO Bored

No lie this dragged like I couldn’t even believe. I was bored from the get go but too lazy to find something different to read so I suffered through a train wreck.

Characters were obvious, juvenile, and limited. Most extends from the world, honestly none of it really makes sense. The twist and betrayal were obvious as well. Anyone could have seen it all from miles away.

[Spinneretta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

In this first book of the Midnight Empire: New Dawn series, we meet Aster, a witch with an unusual magic, and a Robin Hood attitude.
Determined to protect the people of Alaska from the evil vampires there, she steals from the vampires to give back to the people, causing havoc.
When a mysterious illness strikes the area, it’s Aster who searches for the cause, and looks for answers to what the cure might be.

Set a little after the events in the Midnight Empire: the Restoration series, we meet a new heroine and her crew in “The Wilds”, an area of Alaska separated from the main vampire held lands. Aster is another heroine with a troubled past, and unusual magic, and it doesn’t take long to discover that she is very different than London and Britt.
While there are quite a few adventures, and action in this story, the only hint of romance is attraction- to two different men. Aster is a conflicted person, with a great many secrets, and I look forward to seeing where her journey takes her.
An enjoyable tale, this one is best read after the first two series set in this world, and is a good choice for urban fantasy lovers.

[Graylark · Rating 3 out of 5]

This had a really cool premise--Robin Hood vs. the sheriff.

However, I ended up not really liking this book as much as her other ones.

- The conflict is based on a lot of miscommunication and assumptions as to what the other side is doing
- She does some dumb shit (Why, exactly, did she put the golden hood on during the attack at the end? What is the explanation for this? Just so she could be blamed for something she knew nothing about?)
- There's a love triangle being set up
- There are a bunch of situations where she just TELLS them something with no proof and they immediately believe her. The author does tend to do this, but it really stood out here because of how radically people changed their minds based on the heroine's say-so.
- Unlike her other books, almost all the characters here weren't likeable.

[Anne Gregor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't assume Annabel Chase's Hoodish character in any way wears a similarly heavy cloak of the Robin Hood played by Kevin Costner, Russel Crowe, or even the gifted Disney fox. Golden Hood's catch me if your can star, Aster, is the Hooded One and one BAB!

The Wild is her playground, where she usually robs the oppressive vampires of their ill-gotten taxes, but her extraordinary forest is dying. It's been dying ever since the vamp overlords killed Aster's entire coven. Balance must be found, and all prophecy roads lead to Aster's hidden light (and maybe help from an unexpected fangish foe)!

Midnight Empire is an original (very original) take on a classic tale! I love it!!!! I can not wait to get my hands on the third and FINAL book, Midnight Burns!

Kris
Whiskey & Wit Book Reviews

[D K · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me by surprise!

I must say that when I first started reading this book I was not convinced I liked it. Even though it is very well written and has a very intriguing story, it took me a while to warm up to it. It starts with a group of misfits that act like sort of Robin Hood, stealing from the vampires to give go the people oppressed by the vampires. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that as the story progressed it got more and more interesting and likable. I was even sad when the book ended and the fact that now I have to wait for the next book to come out for the continuation of the story. Enjoy!

[Miss W Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Golden Hood is the first book in the Midnight Empire: New Dawn Trilogy series.

The world building in this book was excellent. I absolutely loved the theme in this book.

Humans dying from a horrible disease, urban fantasy mixed with a little apocalyptic theme.

If you love exciting stories with vampires rule the world, this book is for you!

The characters are complex, complicated and well fleshed out.

The story moved at such a fast pace; I couldn't put this book down.

Can't wait for the next book in the trilogy!

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aster Goodfellow and her friends are the Robin Hoods of the Wilds near Fairbanks, Alaska. Vampire Lord Doran has been neglecting the people and the land for generations. Being separated from the mainland by the exploded super calderas, the vampire House Nilsson, who claims the land doesn’t care. But Aster does what she can to balance things. Then a deadly disease hits, and Aster and Lord Doran have to work together for the Wilds to survive.

Fave scenes: the donation substitution, saving the dog, the hot springs, and the fight with the Corentine.

[Paula Merns · Rating 4 out of 5]

Complicated characters and a promise of betrayal

When living in eternal night in The Wild, it’s hard to be a good person.

Astrid tries hard and generally succeeds.

Her life just keeps getting more and more complex and less and less safe as plagues, death, setups, and mysteries abound.

Not my favorite of the series so far, but it grows on you.

Highly recommend and I look forward to the rest of the series.

[Sue Devlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice start!

I love the Midnight Empire world. Aster, a Robin Hood character, is the leader of a gang. When citizens start dying from a plague-like disease, she takes it upon herself to find the cause. She's such a beautiful, selfless person who cares about everyone. She even finds herself caring for the vampire Lord of her area.
Bring on the next book.

[Steven Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Terrifying look at a world with no light and Vampires tule


Looking for a fight just to stay alive? This book gives you a glimpse of just how awful a world with one superior Leader and no one left with enough power to stop the deadly everyday hunger of the vampires. True horror.

[Tyamicia Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

I Liked Book 1

I liked the characters in the book, but Aster thinks more about everyone else and not enough about herself. She's lived her life to survive, never thinking about there being more.

The story is slow. It's a good start, but it's missing romance and steam. Hope to see that in book 2.

[Noone · Rating 2 out of 5]

TL;DR:
love triangle, ya, inconsistent, interesting FMC, some bad dialogue.

This book, taken on its own, was surprisingly good. It's certainly an improvement over "Wild Knight" which is the first book in the "Midnight Empire" world. I had given up on the notion that new and promising authors like this one might actually improve over time, but with this book, it felt as if the author genuinely took into account some of the critiques from the first book and made an effort to refine their writing.
Unfortunately, some of the biggest shortcomings present in earlier books still persist in this work. For instance, while the narrative reads like a young adult story in many places, the characters themselves are much too old to convincingly fit that mold. If they had been younger, the narrative would have been more suitable for them.
There is a lot of inconsistent and contradictory character behavior.
There is painfully corny melodrama. For example sentences like "Oh Billy, I don't know what I would have done if I lost you!" should be the exception if used unironically in contemporary writing imo. Some of the dialogue feels unnatural and reads more like a century-old stage play. The previous quote also serves as an example of that.
I wouldn't object too much to most of this if the characters were around 16. I still wouldn't enjoy it because I generally don't like reading about characters like that but at least it wouldn't feel so out of place. Teenagers are strange. They are in this interesting in-between space of imitation and original thought and action but they typically don't have the necessary self-reflection to recognize that. These are not teenagers!

Those are only my major complaints, I could go on about lots of smaller issues, but despite these, there is something interesting and refreshing in this story. Despite it borrowing many of the very common tropes, it feels different and interesting. Especially the main character and how self-reflected she is in some regards kept me reading. She knows that she has an overblown savior complex that leans uncomfortably far into self-sacrifice. She recognizes that her crew is anything but perfect and that absolute loyalty doesn't exist. And I can not remember the last time I've read this type of story with such a competent, if flawed, FMC.
If a book is self-aware of the flaws in its characters it almost always makes them much less frustrating to me.
She is wise and a bit cynical far beyond her years in some respect but that contrasts horribly with how ridiculously immature and short-sighted she acts sometimes.
Compared to the first series in this world, the direct threat to humanity without sunlight is much more present and feels much more real. It's not just some shallow throwaway world-building background like it seemed to be in the first book in this world. I still question why the entire world isn't frozen over and covered in meters of ice and snow but Magic I guess. I feel like the author still doesn't really comprehend the magnitude of the catastrophe she has built the story upon but at this point, well into the third series, harping on about it is pointless and pedantic, so I'll stop now.

If this book stood independently I would have probably rated it low 3 stars, but sadly the second book in the series doesn't really do anything with the great setup so at this point I am not entirely sure if the improvements in this book weren't just accidental.

For me, the biggest enjoyment killer was the whole love triangle setup which is only present at the very end of this book but continues much more prominently in the second book.
I never understood the fascination with this particular trope. Regardless of how I try to look at this trope, the FMC just has no leg to stand on. Either the MC is just weak and has no agency because of her indecisiveness and gets tugged back and forth between the two guys. Or the MC tries to sun herself in the attention of both guys for as long as possible. Or the MC just tries to keep the second choice in orbit to have a backup if something goes wrong with the first one. An FMC just loses my respect regardless of what the reasoning is. It's especially problematic in combination with otherwise strong FMCs like this one because there isn't even the excuse of a weak will or anything. It's just an asshole thing to do regardless of how I try to look at it.

To quickly justify my inclusion of the second book in the rating, the first book very much depends on continuation in the second book and doesn't really make sense as a standalone.

So, in conclusion, at least this first book is somewhat of an improvement over other books I've read by this author, but the kind of story this author generally tells is just too simplistic, too shallow, too inconsistent, with no well-thought-out world-building. In some instances, some of the characters were quite interesting until the triangle romance took over the story.

Edit:
I feel like my conclusion isn't entirely fair to the book because it has elements in the story that are surprisingly mature and have an uncharacteristic amount of depth and even some wisdom to them.
But it's just not enough. These better parts end up increasing the contrast to the worse parts of the book that fail miserably in this regard.

[Tan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Beginning

Good introduction for new characters in a familiar world. Astrid is a fierce leader with a soft heart and tons of secrets. Her motley crew seems to be a stellar group, but i was side eyeing a couple of them. Overall good beginning, but a bit of a slow starter for me. Took me awhile to get into it.

[Adrienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

slow burn

I almost put this down but I’m glad that I didn’t. It’s a slow burn with a deep rich background that is just barely scratched at in the beginning and only just expanded upon towards the end.
Love and romance hasn’t happened yet and it’s quite a cliff hanger to be left on. Just have to get the next one and hope to explore more of this world.

[Doreen Tuell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic new series!!

This story is set in the dystopian future when the Great Eruption of the super volcanos caused an Endless Night, effectively blocking out the sun and allowing monsters and vampires to take over.

[Anthony Boyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story!

This is such a good story! The plot is very well written and the story itself is really entertaining. Ms. Chase has an incredible imagination. You won’t be sorry to buy this book.

[Jim Symcox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vampire rulers beware

The girl with golden cloak and the hidden powers transitions from a Robin Hood character to something more complex. A well thought out story that leaves you wanting more.

[Amanda Schouburgh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic

What a fantastic first book in this new series, we are only just getting to know the main characters In this book, so I can't wait to see where there journeys will lead to in the next book.

[BookwormMomma7 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Golden Series!

Golden Hood is the first book of the last set for Midnight Empire and it starts with a bang, great setting and characters.

London and Britt had the first seven books and now we round out with Aster and her three books, great writing and superb story.

[Mrs. Garen L. Herd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

This series takes place in a futuristic Alaska....an Alaska in total darkness and crawling with danger. Book 1 has "the Green Death", sickness, demons, vampires (good and bad), traitors, and " family". Highly entertaining.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Home is where the heart is

A world ruled by vampires is intriguing. A world ruled by cruel vampires is slavery. It's an exciting beginning to the series as we watch the rebellion unfold.

[April Scially · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aster 1

Aster lives in rural Alaska in the same post apocalypse vampire ruling world as London and Britt . Despite losing her coven and family to vampires,Aster creates a band mourading stealing from the tax vampire tax collector and giving it back to the humans.

[Corey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

Aster us a witch who robs the vampires to give back to the towns people. She does more than just steal back their belongings she also protects them and when a plague starts killing villages she tries to solve how they ate getting sick.

[Felicite Lilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Continuance to the series.

I love this added continuance to the series. So much happened I this book, I had to make sure I was still reading the first book. I can't believe there are only 2 books left!