Book Review: Midnight Bride

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Midnight Bride     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Susan Carroll
Class/Genre:   Fantasy   Magic
Ballantine, May 2001, $22.00, 336pp.

In the nineteenth century, the evil Rafe Mortmain returns to Cornwell to die and to extract vengeance on Val St. Leger. At the same time that Rafe hands over the shard of an evil magical crystal, Val grips his foe's hand and uses his powers to remove the illness and apparently part of Rafe's soul. At the same time, Kate Fitzlegger performs a black magic spell to gain the love of Val. Rafe vanishes and Val has absorbed some of his enemy's soul.

After years of avoiding intimacy with Kate, Val chases after her, beds her, and announces they will marry. This is in opposition to the Bride Finder, who always names the wife of a St. Leger and once informed Val he had no future bride. Val turns irritable and nasty, and soon loses his will to live, as he hates his dark side. Kate finally understands the meaning of real love, but that may prove too late to save the soul of her beloved.

Best-selling author Susan Carroll returns with a strong exciting magical sequel to the fabulous Bride Finder, but this time starring "Saint" Val, brother to the previous book's hero. The story line is filled with non-stop action in a vividly described historical context with paranormal elements. The novel's warmth emanates from the powerful characters, which cast quite a spell on the reader who, in turn will find Ms. Carroll is quite a wonderful author.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner

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