#BookReview – “Midnight Redemption” by Arial Burnz

Blurb

Obsession doesn't begin to cover it.
Soul mate. Eternal love. Even those words don't do her justice.
I crave her.
I need her.
And yet this damned prophecy looms over every stolen moment we’ve had together.
The entire supernatural world is coming at us like a comet, bent on destroying those we love.
Come heaven or hell, I'll protect her.
No matter what the cost.
No matter who I have to kill.
Even if I have to die to keep her safe.

Review

 

In the sixth and final book in the Bonded by Blood series, Rick finally gets his Blossom!

For five hundred years, Scottish vampire Broderick “Rick” MacDougal has been finding, loving, and losing his beloved wife Davina. She’s died four times, and he needs to find her fifth reincarnation to fulfill the prophecy that’s been hanging over their heads.

Davina Ferris doesn’t remember her past last lives. Then she meets Broderick and everything she’s ever known falls apart.

Oh my God! What an amazing story!!! Two things I really wanted to happen, happened—the new heroine is named Davina and she looks like her original self from the 1500s! Whoohoo! Rick and Davina have had a turbulent, earth-shattering romance for centuries, but Rick didn’t have to work so hard at romancing her this time around. In all her past lives, she’s never remembered him and their time together (outside of vague dreams), so he had to woo her. That finally changes. Once her memories return, she’s instantly in love with him.

With book five, Midnight Savior, I found it strange but also amusing that Rick was a wealthy celebrity of sorts and that he was living with modern inventions and conveniences (the year was 1888). This continued with Midnight Redemption since it’s set in present day. Rick is still rough around the edges and speaks with his sexy Scottish brogue, but he’s no longer the kilt-wearing vampire from the 1500s or the sea captain of his shipping vessels in the 1600s and 1700s. With each new book, the overall flow and feeling of the series has changed, but that’s to be expected. As time passes, the characters have to adapt and move on.

The side characters were amazing, as usual: Angus and Kahli; Amie (Amice); Cailin and James; Anthony and Christine; Jericho and Chandler; Peter and Cordelia; Malloren; and more. The bad guys were perfectly wicked, but I felt sorry for some of them, especially Mikhail.

I’m not a big fan of flashbacks, but I was in reader heaven each time James and Cailin were on the screen, especially when they were in 1533. (I wasn’t a big fan of them in book 2, Midnight Captive, but I loved them in this story.) The search for the Heart of Terra was a great subplot.

I cried a bit—okay, a lot—when Rick and Angus finally reconciled. These poor brothers have suffered so much from the other’s hand, and I loved each and every scene when they were finally being nice to one another.

I absolutely loved Korban Frost. This book is his first appearance in the series, but he made a huge impact. When his spin-off series is available, I would love to read it.

The finale between the good guys and the Prince was riveting. I couldn’t tear my gaze from my Kindle. All the time-jumps were awesome!

Even though this book is a standalone, it really should be read after the others. A lot of previous characters and events were referenced in this story, and new readers might be confused. I had to rack my brain to remember everything, and sometimes I just couldn’t. There is a glossary/reference table at the back of the book, but it didn’t clear up everything for me. I really wish I had reread those stories before beginning this one.

Ms. Burnz did a wonderful job plotting, but there are some unanswered questions: will Angus and Kahli change their minds and choose redemption (I hope so!); what happened with the original brothers of the prophecy (this might be explained in the spin-off with James and Cailin); what’s going to happen with the Army of Light since their ranks have been decimated; and what about Rick’s and Anthony’s ages (they both look like they’re in their mid-30s, but the human world knows them as father and son, which doesn’t make sense)?

On the whole, the story flows great and is well written. Some scenes could’ve used more detail, but I understand it’s hard to keep every character in sight and on page when so many characters are involved. After all, this book is huge with so much going on. It was a blast to read!

Arial Burnz is one of my favorite authors, and I look forward to reading more from her.

4.5 Stars