Midnight Marked

Character list
Caroline Evelyn Merit "Sentinel" = lead character, strong female vampire, member of Cadogan House
Ethan Sullivan = Master vampire, ruled Cadogan House, Merit's maker, boss, and love
Mallory Carmichael Bell = sorcerer, Merit's best friend, newlywed
Catcher Bell = magician, trained Merit how to fight after she became a vampire, married to Mallory, difficult past wiry Ethan, and works for Merit's grandfather
Gabriel Keene = Apex of the North American Central Pack of shifters, Fri Dec to Merit and Mallory
Bernard = cook for the pack, always tries to feed Merit
Chuck Merit = Merit's grandfather,  Catcher's boss, Chicago Supernatural Ombudsman
Jeff Christopher = shifter, computer guru, friend of Merit's, works for Chuck and with Catcher, dating Fallon  (Gabriel 's sister)
Malik = Ethan 's second in command
Luc = Cadogan House guardian captain
Juliet = Cadogan House guard, friend to Merit
Lindsey = Cadogan House guard, friend to Merit, dating Luc
Paige = sorcerer,  dating Cadogan House librarian
Scott Grey = Master of Grey House
Jonah = Merit's Red Guard partner,  Guard captain of Grey House
Morgan Greer = Master of Navarre House
Noah Morgan = Member od the Red Guard, unofficial leader of Chicago rogue vampires
Adrien Reed = enemy of Merit's, leader of Chicago criminal underworld, leader of The Circle
Sean = manage of Temple Bar, Cadogan official tavern
Colin = Sean's brother and other manager of Temple Bar
Caleb Franklin = former member of the pack
Annabelle Shaw = necromancer

Book Summary/Review:

Halfway through the story, and there is tension between the Pack and all the vampire houses, and more importantly between Ethan and Merit.  One dead shifter starts the novel and then Reed is interwoven and his fingerprints are on events, but no solid links to causing the killings.  Mallory and Catcher are married and many of the cast of characters are happy in their love lives.  Ethan and Merit are in an argument, but it seems that it will easily be overcome.  Merit deals not only with Reed but with a vampire that has a special (and unpleasant) connection to her past.  Merit is also in a strange place with Jonah and that is sad, because he was a good partner and balance to Ethan in Merit's life.  Ethan does have a new car after the events of the last book.  I give props to the author, Chloe Neill, because she makes several allusions to pop culture in this book more than other, or at least more memorable ones.  An appropriate Harry Potter reference from Luc and more than a Darth Sullivan reference for Star Wars were the ones that stand out right now.
The ending brought the biggest smile to my face, and the Epilogue is a must read for the full and complete story.  The personal lives of Ethan and Merit are in a great place for the prophecy mentioned in earlier books (and referenced in this book).  The idea that as a team supernaturals defeated the current threat and are working as a team, give great hope as a potential villain is given for the last book in the series.  As always Merit is growing closer to her supernatural family while maintaining her humanity and love of Chicago.  The best thing about these characters is that they keep developing, growing, changing, and becoming part of your world as your read each book.

As a lover of this series it was hard for me to start reading this, as it is the second to last in the series and the last one will be about a year's wait.  The struggle between Merit and Ethan is never good, as these two are always at their best when they are on the same side and working together with peace between them.  The ending made me happy and tied nicely into the start of the book and pieces that didn't make sense but do when you know what was planned.

Personal theory, that I am also strongly considering by halfway through the book that Reed's wife is the real one causing supernatural problems here.  The hints were dropped while at the garden party and when Merit talks about her eyes...in fact hints were dropped early about the wife's eyes and Merit talking about her and describing her...hmmmm waiting to see how that pans out...the ending is not surprising if you have been following this series and author.

Vampirates: Demons of the Ocean (Book 1) by Justin Somper

Character List:

Grace = Conner's twin sister, smart

Conner = Grace's twin brother, strong
Dexter Tempest = lighthouse keeper, father if twins Grace & Conner
Polly Pagett = matron of Crescent Moon Bay Orphanage
Lachlan Busby = Crescent Moon Bay Bank Manager
Cheng Li = pirate that rescues Conner, sails on The Diablo, does not get along with Captain Wrathe
Molucco Wrathe = Captain of The Diablo
Bartholomew = pirate on The Diablo
"Cutlass" Cate Morgan = pirate & swordswoman on The Diablo
Lorcan Furey = rescued Grace, swears to protect her
The Captain = Grace's savior
Miss Darcy Flotsam = rings the Dawning bell and the Nightfall bell


Book Review/Summary:
Starting out the twins, Grace & Conner, hear the shanty (old song) of vampirates from their father, who in the next chapter is dead.  There is no mother in the picture, and given the choice of the orphanage or being adopted by the town banker the twins decide to take to the seas.  Unfortunately, the seas separate the twins and almost kills both of them, so that a few chapters in the twins are on separate pirate ships, but convinced that the other is still alive.
There is no real set up to how close the twins are, except that it is repeatedly stated and the twins miss each other.  The ships are mysterious at first and more characters and details about the ship are revealed in alternating chapters.  It is nice to know that every other chapter or so there is a switch from Conner's view to Grace's view.  The titles of the Chapters are also revealing of something key that will happen in that chapter, introducing a new character, or an event.
Half-way through the book the twins have been separated by fate, and are trying to find their way on the ship that has rescued each one.  Grace has realized that that shanty her father would sing to them is true and what kind of ship she is really on.  Conner is torn between knowing his sister is alive and what his shipmates tell him, and decided to follow the advice of his father "Make yourself ready and trust the tide."
The story ends predictably with the twins having reunited, but potential conflict looms in the air.  The Vampirates ship has an enemy and Grace may not be willing to leave.  The Diablo has a danger new person on their ship and Conner may not be willing to leave.
The ending of the book, makes me feel as if the purpose of this book was just to lay the ground work for future books.  There is the possibility of conflict and power struggles, on both ships, but nothing really has happened in this book.  While this is not the next great masterpiece that will change the world of literature, it is a fun lighthearted read.  I have hope that the next book in the series will improve my view, or I may end the reading there.

Book Rating:
3 books out of 5

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