Midnight (Dark Age Dawning, #2)

Jan 15, 2012 Catherine rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: apocalyptic-post-apocalyptic, fiction-vixen-reviews, first-reads-arcs-won-a-copy, contemporary, excellent, fantasy-paranormal-sci-fi, magic-mystical-ability, prostitute-courtesan, rape-abuse, read-2011, romance, series, were-shifter

I said it before in my review of Nightfall and I’ll say it again. The world in this series is awesome. It is gritty and intense, and the setting is so easy to picture. The descriptions don’t overwhelm the narrative, but the author paints an extremely clear picture of the world three years after it all went to hell.

After losing Angela in the last book, Chris just couldn’t stay. He’s been on the move almost constantly for the last three years. A professional wanderer, you might say. He won’t let...more I said it before in my review of Nightfall and I’ll say it again. The world in this series is awesome. It is gritty and intense, and the setting is so easy to picture. The descriptions don’t overwhelm the narrative, but the author paints an extremely clear picture of the world three years after it all went to hell.

After losing Angela in the last book, Chris just couldn’t stay. He’s been on the move almost constantly for the last three years. A professional wanderer, you might say. He won’t let himself grow roots only to eventually see them ripped away, and he fears that is inevitable in this new world. He’s very different from the guy we first met in Nightfall. He’s become hardened, but not so much that he’s unable to connect with Rosa. Before he seemed very Beta. While he still has some shades of that, he has a much more forceful personality now. He is confident and self assured, but has no urge to take control of the situation and lead. He is content to be the follower and Rosa the leader. For the most part, at least. ;)

Rosa was quite unexpected. Given her position, the author walked a fine line between making Rosa too hard to sympathize with and too weak to be believable. I think she hit the mark dead on. She was compassionate and loved the life she had built, but she knew that she had to rule with an iron fist to maintain power. The first sign of weakness and she would have been eaten alive.

One of the big things I was surprised about was Rosa’s take on the Change. Most people bitterly regretted losing the life they had led and the people they had known, but not her. As she said…

How fucking sad—the end of the world had improved her life.

I was actually really pleased that she was cast this way. One of the things I loved seeing in the last book was how people from different walks of life reacted to the same event. That’s really emphasized here given the fact that Rosa was worse off in her BC (Before Change) life. This catastrophic event actually gave her a chance to pull herself up and take control of her life. Money, opportunity, education…it didn’t matter anymore. Now you survived on strength of will and determination. That’s what makes Rosa so impressive. Not only did she survive, but she created a whole community of survivors. They lived pretty well when you consider the rest of the people out there.

I like how we got to see a community of people struggling to carve out their spot in this crazy new world. They had their customs and beliefs, and although some of them might seem silly to an outsider, they gave them a sense of community and belonging that they desperately needed. Chris managed to walk into this community and sidestep many of the requirements of the community members. His skills as a doctor are needed enough to convince Rosa to ignore her gut feeling that he will be trouble. She’s frustrated by Chris’s ability to stand to the side of rest of her bravos. It’s not that he doesn’t respect her rule, it’s just that she can’t keep him off balance with her ‘Madonna/whore’ act. She’s forced to look at him as a man and is bewildered to find that she is attracted to him despite herself.

I loved most everything about this book, but I had a few irritants that I was not able to easily brush aside. Mostly it centered on Rosa and her refusal to bend in certain cases. I had no problem with her occasional hardness and her desire to keep her relationship with Chris a secret. She was leader after all, and she was walking a tightrope to keep from being challenged for her position. Plus, she was a good judge of her people and their motivations, so if she said it was necessary, I was willing to go with it. That doesn’t mean I didn’t cheer when Chris refused to accept less than he deserved, though. I understood her fears and the reasons she felt that way, but I was frustrated by her inability to see Chris’s side. That, combined with her bigotry and her behavior toward the end, made her a little harder to take. I still liked them together, but you might say that I lost my rose colored glasses in relation to her.

I’m really excited to see where the author will take us in the next book. I can’t wait to see how much time will have passed and how far the survivors will have progressed. I have high expectations and hope I end up enjoying it as much as I did this one.

Favorite Quote:

Chris wondered if she could feel the intimacy of what was happening. Ex was just a human tool, the means to do Rosa's bidding. Every stab of the needle into Chris's skin was her command, her claim over him.

*Review originally posted on Fiction Vixen*(less)

8 likes · like · see review

Jan 04, 2012 Ainslie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: dystopian

Four and a half stars.

In this second book in the trilogy, the authors' writing styles meshed seamlessly, and I wasn't conscious of who wrote what as I was with the first book.

I liked everything about this one. The world-building was was convincing (think Mad Max), and I enjoyed every part of it.

***SLIGHT SPOILER***

While rape was used in this book, it wasn't used for shock value, or as a cheap way of getting sympathy for the protagonist, which in fact it didn't happen to. In the context of the wo...more

1 like · like · see review

Nov 04, 2011 Paris rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: pnr, dystopian-post-apocalyptic, must-read-series

I really enjoyed the first book in this trilogy and although I was sad that the second book wouldn’t feature the same main characters, I was hopeful that I would enjoy it just the same. I was worried about Doctor Chris being the hero. I didn’t find him to be that interesting in the first book and I was concerned that he wouldn’t be able to hold up the storyline like Mason was in Nightfall. I was so very, very wrong about Chris. While during book one, he wasn’t that memorable, in Midnight he was...more

1 like · like · see review

Jun 02, 2012 Ambre rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really like this series. I didn't expect to like the second book as much as the first, but the author is very talented with character development, and her world is very intriguing!

This book is similar to the first in that it follows the path of a couple from meeting to common ground. In that sense, this is very much a romance. However, the world is more complex and grittier than one finds in most genre romances, and the characters more thoroughly developed. I suspect that this book would appea...more

like · see review

Oct 13, 2011 Christi Snow rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My Review:
I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to like this book or not. I wasn't a huge fan of Chris' character in the first book. And, I will be honest, the first quarter of the book, I was still feeling the same apathy towards him and to Rosa's character too, but eventually, I got caught up in the story and now I love both of their characters. BTW, there is absolutely no reason that you have to read book #1 before this book. There are a few references to events that happened in that book,...more My Review:
I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to like this book or not. I wasn't a huge fan of Chris' character in the first book. And, I will be honest, the first quarter of the book, I was still feeling the same apathy towards him and to Rosa's character too, but eventually, I got caught up in the story and now I love both of their characters. BTW, there is absolutely no reason that you have to read book #1 before this book. There are a few references to events that happened in that book, but not anything that would affect your enjoyment of this book.

This book takes place in a post-apocolyptic world. It basically takes place 3-4 years after the first book and Chris has been wandering alone that entire time. He, like everyone else, has lost so much since the Change. He is living, but it's simply survival...not a real life. He has changed a lot. He is tough. He is strong. He doesn't think twice about killing. He is straightforward. He is honest and truly has a good heart. He is still acting as a doctor whenever he runs across anyone in need. He has a pretty apathetic existence, until he wanders upon the settlement of Valle de Bravo.

Valle is ruled with an iron hand by Rosa. This band of about 20 people have settled into an old ghost town and made it their home. She is in charge there and if anyone has a problem with that, then they are thrown out. The world has become too harsh to accept anything else and Rosa has had to become harsh right along with it. The town has very basic rules and everyone knows what is expected of them. Because she is female, Rosa has had to establish very strict boundaries for herself so that no one questions her authority. One of those is that she doesn't get involved with men. After a history of sexual abuse because of the Change, this isn't a real issue for her. She has no desire to get intimate with any man and has never even been tempted until Chris shows up.

Neither Chris nor Rosa have been living anything that would qualify as a real life, so when their passion ignites, they are both in for some shocks. It was fabulous to read their return to hope in this world that they live in that has so little. I really grew to love these characters and the surprises at the end of this book left me reeling. This ended up being such a fantastic story and I am so glad that I read it. I actually grew to love the entire town and what they are developing there. The book has a great mix of characters that make up the little town of Valle de Bravo.

There is another book coming in this series, Daybreak (coming out Dec 6th,) which will go back to the original story line. That story is about Penny & Tru, the kids that are raised by Jenna & Mason (H/h from book #1, Nightfall.) While I loved this installment of the series, I cannot wait to know more about what has happened with all those characters.
(less)

like · see review

Sep 13, 2011 Marisa rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: parnormal-romance

If you’re looking for a cute, sweet or fun romance, this ain’t it kids. Midnight is a no holds barred, tension-filled, action packed, gritty post-apocalyptic romance where the world has changed beyond all recognition. Immediately you are brought into a world where survival is paramount, the characters are compelling, the action is riveting and the stakes are even higher.

Rosa Cortez is an amazing Alpha heroine with the unenviable position of balancing power while keeping it. Her strength and cour...more If you’re looking for a cute, sweet or fun romance, this ain’t it kids. Midnight is a no holds barred, tension-filled, action packed, gritty post-apocalyptic romance where the world has changed beyond all recognition. Immediately you are brought into a world where survival is paramount, the characters are compelling, the action is riveting and the stakes are even higher.

Rosa Cortez is an amazing Alpha heroine with the unenviable position of balancing power while keeping it. Her strength and courage are only matched by her tenacity, and her tenacity is borne from the love she has for the people she protects and their chance to not only survive but to thrive in a world gone mad. It’s a chance at a new beginning for everyone, including herself.

Chris Welsh was once a beta man who out of necessity has become an alpha man, allowing him to be a hero who can stand beside the woman he loves while giving her the support she needs to lead her people.

The beauty and delicacy with which the words and phrases are combined to describe the harsh and ugly world and actions of the characters are what amazed me most about this book. The prose immediately gives us a clear understanding of the beauty, cruelty, severity, simplicity and complexity of this world and its characters. In one of Chris’ first encounters with Rosa his feelings are simply described but allow us to know so much about him: “He’d been alone and wandering for more than three years. So much space, almost all of it deserted. The number of times he’d touched and held another living being was so small. Rock was rock. The air was air. He felt more in common with the elements than with these people. The draw of coming back into their fold was undeniable. And terrifying.” Each word is like a pebble dropped into a still lake rippling out and forever changing the landscape.

Midnight is the second book in the Dark Age Dawning series and can definitely be read alone. I loved the first book Nightfall, but I think Midnight is a stronger book. The immediacy of the action and the uniqueness of the hero and heroine are not only exciting but compelling. The language pops and the action electrifies. And through it all the romance is interwoven and vital.

This is a series that has taken hold of my imagination and won’t let go and is definitely a recommended read.

(If your interested the original review was posted on B&N's Heart to Heart blog http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t...)
(less)

3 likes · like · see review

Sep 09, 2011 CarisKicker rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: dystopian, beta-male, futuristic, paranormal, post-apocalyptic, romantic-elements, strong-heroine

I really enjoyed this book SO much more than the first one in the series.

It was complex, gritty and engaging.

I adore the fact that the heroine is not the standard white-bread placeholder. She is from Guatemala and her past history is what has made her into the survivor we meet at the beginning of this book. She's tenacious and determined to build the best life for the community she holds together, whatever the sacrifices that have to be made to do it.

The male lead is a beta, those that read boo...more

like · see review

Sep 03, 2011 Bookaholics rated it 4 of 5 stars

Midnight by Ellen Connor
Paranormal Romance – Sept. 6th, 2011
4 stars

Midnight is the second in the Dark Age Dawning series. It is an exciting apocalyptic romance that reminded me of the movie Mad Max. The world the author has created is untamed and so are the fearless characters. I thought this series would follow the characters from the first book but it actually only includes one of the characters from a prior book and does not need to be read in order.

Rosa is trying to keep her small community...more Midnight by Ellen Connor
Paranormal Romance – Sept. 6th, 2011
4 stars

Midnight is the second in the Dark Age Dawning series. It is an exciting apocalyptic romance that reminded me of the movie Mad Max. The world the author has created is untamed and so are the fearless characters. I thought this series would follow the characters from the first book but it actually only includes one of the characters from a prior book and does not need to be read in order.

Rosa is trying to keep her small community thriving. But after the Change, the world has become a barren wasteland. When a handsome and mysterious stranger named Chris arrives, she has a feeling that he is hiding something. But even worse, an outside gang is intent on taking over her town and have been attacking the community. Rosa is proud of her home and her role as leader or ‘jefa’ but even her second in command seems to want more power than she is willing to give. Beset on all sides, will having the stranger Chris in the community cause more harm than aid? She does not trust his willingness to accept shifters who are dangerous and killed her brother.

Chris is running away. He no longer cares about his life and drifts from place to place. When he finds Valle de Bravo, he is curious and attracted to the fiery leader Rosa. But he senses this small oasis will not last long with the violence that surrounds it. However, he still decides to stay for the comfort of lodging and food. Soon he finds himself becoming alarmingly attracted to Rosa and wanting her, but can he trust her with his darkest secrets?

If I hadn’t known that Ann Aguirre was the author of series, I would definitely like it. But knowing she wrote it made it fall a bit short. The writing and characters are solid but it lacks the complexity of her Grimspace series. This series is definitely less dense and a lighter read. I would say this is in between her other books written under Ava Gray, which are more heavily romance. I definitely liked this book better than the first book, Nightfall. It was exciting to read the infighting within the community and the attacks from the outside gang. Everyone seems somewhat suspicious. The romance between the two main characters was convincing, and I really liked how the hero wants to assert himself but respects Rosa and doesn’t try to control her or take over her leadership role. The heroine was particularly strong and clever and I liked that she had the guts to lead but still was feminine.

Ultimately this story is about hope and humanity’s resilience to survive. The paranormal elements were more peripheral as the small community tries to sustain itself. Definitely for those who enjoy movies like Terminator or the futuristic, post-apocalyptic genre.

Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club(less)

1 like · like · see review

Feb 04, 2012 Ami rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy-paranormal-futuristic

3.5 stars
The story happens around 3-years after book #1 ... unlike the previous book that feels more horrific and claustrophobic, this one feels more like Old Western, with gangs doing raids, and pirates, and holding over territory. There's not many paranormal elements in this one, except near the end.

While I find the story engaging, I'm having problems with the characters. First, Rosa, the heroine. I know she's portrayed as smart and a survivor, but it's so difficult for me to believe her as "L...more 3.5 stars
The story happens around 3-years after book #1 ... unlike the previous book that feels more horrific and claustrophobic, this one feels more like Old Western, with gangs doing raids, and pirates, and holding over territory. There's not many paranormal elements in this one, except near the end.

While I find the story engaging, I'm having problems with the characters. First, Rosa, the heroine. I know she's portrayed as smart and a survivor, but it's so difficult for me to believe her as "La Jefa". Rosa doesn't really have an extra ability that is more than her men; she doesn't have magic for example. Yes, Rosa can fight, but so do her men. I wonder what Rosa has that can make the men to be willing to be marked as hers. I wish there's some backstory to that, to make me understand how she can raise to her position as leader of the Bravos.

Rosa also comes a bit too prejudiced for my taste, though I can understand her reason after her bad experience with skinwalkers. However, I think Chris forgives her a little too easily. Let me just say one thing, if the position is reserved, and it is the hero that tells the heroine to go like Rosa does to Chris, I expect MORE groveling.

Second, Chris, the hero. Unlike some of the reviewers here, I found Chris in the book 1 as appealing (no, I don't find him bland at all). I liked his cheekiness over science and how he protested over Tru calling him "Harvard". There is none of that old Chris here :(. Okay, I believe he might hardened a bit after being alone for three years, after losing Ange. However, it also feels like he's been undergone 180 degrees character surgery. He's just too aloof, too detached, but at the same time a bit borrowing the strength of Mason in the first book. Like this series (and the world after Change) need a strong/relentless hero, and the old Chris just doesn't do.

Having said all that, I do like the sense of community. And the last part where the Bravos attack Peltz and his men to save their women is worth an action movie. I definitely will tune in to the last book of this trilogy.(less)

like · see review

Oct 12, 2011 Vanessa theJeepDiva rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, apocalypse, paranormal-romance

Dark Age Dawning is such an interesting series. It is set in a post-apocalyptical world than has been changed due to an unknown magical force. The people have changed. Not all can still claim to be human. I love the gritty darkness of the world. Midnight picks up several years after Nightfall. Life has drastically changed, no one has come to save the day and humans, changed or otherwise are just trying to survive.

Dr. Chris Welsh is not the same scientist that readers were introduced to in Night...more Dark Age Dawning is such an interesting series. It is set in a post-apocalyptical world than has been changed due to an unknown magical force. The people have changed. Not all can still claim to be human. I love the gritty darkness of the world. Midnight picks up several years after Nightfall. Life has drastically changed, no one has come to save the day and humans, changed or otherwise are just trying to survive.

Dr. Chris Welsh is not the same scientist that readers were introduced to in Nightfall. The Change has hardened him. He has grown accustomed to being a lone drifter. He has seen some horrific tragedies since the Change and they have changed him. One of his changes is what leads him to Valle de Bravo.

Rosa Cortex is a self-described warlord. She’s dragged herself up from the bottom of life. She expects to worst out of everyone around her and trusts no one. She expects her team of bravos to follow her orders, give her their allegiance, and keep their settlement safe and prosperous.

Rosa’s settlement is starting to experience some turmoil. They are experiencing raids more and more often. The men far outnumber the women. The woman leader gives all the orders and does not allow any of her bravos to stand/rule beside her. She knew the moment she saw Chris that he would cause trouble. This is the first functioning and organized settlement Chris has seen since the Change. His scientists mind has him curious. He wants to stay on and understand its workings. He also wants to get know Rosa.

Chris and Rosa worked well as a couple for me. They have both experienced great loss due to the Change. The Change has drastically changed who they were from just five short years ago. Rosa is an extremely difficult woman. At times it was hard for me to like her as a character. I think Chris provides a balance that she was previously missing. He doesn’t set out to change her, but he shows her that there is still some good in this horrifically changed world.

The Spanish word usage and slang terms got on my nerves. Some of the Spanish I was able to figure out just by the context of the sentence. I did have to Google some of the words. Spanish is the heroine’s first language and the setting is also a southwestern desert town, so the language usage goes with the story. I don’t speak any Spanish and having to look up some words slowed down my reading. This is a great book and I wanted to find out more about the story and its characters.
(less)

1 like · like · see review

Sep 30, 2011 Anna rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Anna by: Lovers of post-apocalyptic stories

Shelves: fantasy, futuristic, post-apocalyptic, romance, action

This is mainly the story of Rosa, a woman who had worse life and prospects in the Before Change world than in the After Change. She has built a miracle, a community where people respect each other, and share food, commodities, medicines, work...

I didn’t care much for the first part of the book, although it kept me turning the pages. I couldn’t understand how Rosa got all that men following her orders. Yes she found the place and she is a really good fighter, but so are other men. I would have l...more

3 likes · like · see review

Nov 30, 2011 Lisa Kay rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: genre-apocalyptic, genre-romance-sci-fi, genre-romance-paranormal, theme-pregnancy, vocation-psychic, buddy-read, reviewed-by-me

★★★½✩ Geez. Another 3½ star read out of the fascinating author-duo. I thought for a while it was going to make a full 4 stars, because I absolutely could not stick with the “buddy read” schedule (in fact, I failed abysmally **hangs head in shame** and finished early). There is something here in the making of this post-Apocalyptic world series that keeps me turning the pages compulsively and rapidly, making me want to repeat myself from my review of book #1, Nightfall: it is the best 3 star read...more

6 likes · like · see review

Nov 04, 2011 Kate added it · review of another edition

MIDNIGHT, by Ellen Connor, is the second book in the Dark Age Dawning series. This book can be read as a stand-alone but I think to get the full effect you need to read the first book, Nightfall. Since it is more of a stand-alone or companion, I found it hard not to compare it to the first book which was utterly amazing. They book are really great books but I found the original story of the survivors with Mason and Jenna was a little more captivating, but don't get me wrong, Midnight is definite...more

like · see review

Sep 23, 2011 Maria rated it 5 of 5 stars

OMG!!!This book totally rules!!”Midnight” by Ellen Connor is the second book in the Dark Age Dawning series and it’s AMAZING!!!

This dystopian / post-apocalyptic / paranormal romance book is what I call a “full book” because it has it all: action, romance and a lot of OMG moments! I absolutely loved the first of the series but this one is a very different level!

The story takes us some years after the Change and it’s the story of Chris (we met him in the first book) and Rosa.

Rosa is the leader of...more

1 like · like · see review

Oct 11, 2011 Alice Janell rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, pnr, romance

This is the second book in the Dark Age Dawning series (the first is "Nightfall"), but you don't necessarily need to read book one to understand book two. It helps, but book two follows a different set of characters -- only of which is introduced in the first book. Of course, fan girl that I am, I highly recommend you read book one first. ;)

"Midnight" is as explosive as "Nightfall", though I didn't find it nearly as gritty or dark as the first book. That disappointed me a little bit and it's the...more This is the second book in the Dark Age Dawning series (the first is "Nightfall"), but you don't necessarily need to read book one to understand book two. It helps, but book two follows a different set of characters -- only of which is introduced in the first book. Of course, fan girl that I am, I highly recommend you read book one first. ;)

"Midnight" is as explosive as "Nightfall", though I didn't find it nearly as gritty or dark as the first book. That disappointed me a little bit and it's the main reason I gave "Midnight" 4 stars instead of 5. Where book one explored a world turned to chaos in an "every man, woman, child for themselves" kind of way, "Midnight" is more about groups of people coming together and building their own mini-civilizations.

This is what Rosa has done in Valle de Bravo. She's in charge and her word is law. She's got cojones, and everyone knows it. With the help of her bravos, she brings in food, whiskey and other supplies. In return, everyone swears fealty to her and lives in relative safety within the borders of Valle de Bravo.

I really liked Rosa. I loved that she was tough and had a set of steel cojones that put her above all the men around her. Still, she wasn't without her flaws. Because she's had to be so tough, she doesn't trust the changes that are coming with the new world. She's got a strong prejudice against shifters -- which we saw in book one aren't all bad -- and she has to keep herself at arms length from the men around her. That means no steamy one-night-stands and definitely no relationships. She can't afford to be seen as weak and emotional and she sacrifices herself for the good of her people. You can't help but admire her for that.

But even tough-as-nails Rosa can't deny her attraction to Chris, the doctor who appears in Valle de Bravo after traveling on his own for so long. Their attraction is near-instant, and it's strong, but Rosa can't trust Chris right away. He could, after all, just be using her as a stepping stone to be in charge of Valle de Bravo himself -- he wouldn't be the first to try. But Chris is patient, which we saw a bit of book one. What we didn't see in book one was Christian's flirty bad-boy side.

For some reason, I had Chris pictured as a scraggly, kind of dumpy type of professor. I certainly did not imagine him looking like the man on the cover. I do now, though. Ha!

For tons of action and a slight "wild-west-in-chaos" feel, "Midnight" is definitely the book you want to read. There may not be as many hellhounds as in book one, but the dust pirates are definitely a threat and there are more characters to become involved with.

Four stars!(less)

like · see review

Jun 19, 2012 Carmen rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: never-finished

A library loan I did not finish (50%) due to reader apathy or busy schedule. I am not sure which. I might buy a copy for my kindle and tackle the read again, but I am stalling as the kindle version is more expensive than the paperback, which always sets me off on a rant. I did like this post-apocalypse romance and recommend the book to anyone liking the genre (Think Mad Max or Waterworld). I liked the damaged but strong female lead as well. If I finish this book I will rework this review

Synopsis...more

like · see review

Sep 15, 2011 Carien rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, post-apocalyptic

This book is pure awesomeness!

I already loved book 1, Nightfall, but Midnight is even better. I absolutely love the setting and world building. The Connor duo (Carrie Lofty & Ann Aguirre) sure know how to create an exciting, gritty and thrilling post apocalyptic world. I could talk for hours about the setting alone which is so immensely inspiring it made me really want to start writing my own post apocalyptic story. (Can you tell I have a weak spot for post apocalyptic settings ;-) )

The rom...more

like · see review

Dec 20, 2011 Stacie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: horror-apocalyptic, romance

Post-apocalyptic romance - what isn't there to love? A few things actually and I found a lot of them in the first book of this series. The two main characters in the first book came across as typical and formulaic - the slighty scary brooding loner and the beautiful, kick-ass woman who teaches him how to love. Throw in the currently trendy references to wolves mating for life and there weren't many moments that I really connected with them. With that said the story line, apocalyptic events that...more

like · see review

Sep 26, 2011 Katie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: alpha-type-hero, dystopian, paranormal

I was pretty disappointed in Midnight, especially in comparison to how much I loved the first book in the series, Nightfall.

Rosa (la jefa) is a former prostitute turned alpha bitch who has formed a community in the midst of the chaos that has now become the United States. Along comes Chris, the former scientist geek turned super studded ass kicker. When Chris stumbles upon Rosa and her village of bravos he is completely enamored with this organized civilization which was created solely with Ros...more

3 likes · like · see review

Sep 30, 2011 Jo (My House of Books) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Dang, Midnight is a great addition to this series.

What I found so striking is the change in Chris from when we met him in Nightfall until now. He's wandered for three years, alone perhaps by his own choosing but partially because he cannot escape the memory of Angela and her death. When he arrives at Valle de Bravo, he's certainly not looking for anything further than helping his own survival.

Rosa Cortez is also running from memories, though she channels her past into a future as "la jefe" of V...more

like · see review

Sep 21, 2011 gert rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

awesome. didn't enjoy it as much as the first one, though. mostly because did not enjoy meeting and getting to know our heroine. she's got some intense back-story, for sure. but i was put off by her personality.

hero, who we had met previously, sure had changed. was hard to solidify him in this book as he differed so greatly in both tone and attitude from our first meeting.

all in, the world building carried this book for me. such a great premise - society as we know it is dunzo. but our brave h...more

1 like · like · see review

Sep 25, 2012 Claire rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Dr Chris Welsh the nerdy scientist from book 1 is the male protagonist in this instalment and let me tell you Dr Welsh is no longer nerdy, Dr Welsh has manned up. He stumbles upon people who have made a home in an old desert town now named Valle de Bravo that is run by Rosa Cortez and having wandered around on his own for years he decides to stay for a while in Valle de Bravo.

This book isn’t as dark, gritty and desperate as the first book Nightfall and for that reason I didn’t enjoy this book as...more

like · see review

Sep 15, 2011 Smokinhotbooks K.C. rated it 3 of 5 stars

I really struggled giving this one a three or four stars. I loved the theme ( can I get a woo woo for post apocalyptic themes) but I just couldn't connect with the main female lead 'la jefe' aka Rosa. I kept envisioning this character from HBO's Capadocia, who ran a gang inside the prison and was super crazy. Moving on, I really liked the first book in this series and although I was hoping for this one to have more of the scary creatures and a female lead I could connect with I still say this is...more

1 like · like · see review

Apr 26, 2013 Sherri *The Lady Hillindale* rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013, alpha-male, apocalyptic, disappointment, ebook, futuristic, heroine-i-hated, kick-ass-heroine, paranormal-romance

This is one of those times I really with Goodreads would allow half-star ratings. For me, this is not quite a 3 but definitely a little more than a 2. I'm rounding down mainly because for me, there was just more about this story I didn't like than I did.

Midnight picks up several years after Nightfall and the collapse of the world as we know it. Chris has left his friends and makeshift family and set out on his own, not really able to deal with having lost Angela (his significant other) in the l...more This is one of those times I really with Goodreads would allow half-star ratings. For me, this is not quite a 3 but definitely a little more than a 2. I'm rounding down mainly because for me, there was just more about this story I didn't like than I did.

Midnight picks up several years after Nightfall and the collapse of the world as we know it. Chris has left his friends and makeshift family and set out on his own, not really able to deal with having lost Angela (his significant other) in the last book. I admit Chris wasn't one of my favorite characters in Nightfall, but I was willing to give him a shot. People change. Chris definitely did - going from a somewhat soft zoologist who doesn't want to believe what has happened to the world to a hardened Wanderer (what people are called who travel from settlement to settlement) who has seen things and experienced things he never thought he would. I ended up liking him quite a bit. He's not afraid of the unknown anymore because that's all there is. He's lean, rock hard and doesn't take any sh*t off those he encounters. It's during his latest trek that he stumbles upon Rosa's community and band of Bravos.

I disliked Rosa for the same reason so many other reviewers loved her. She has carved out a territory for herself, taken in other stragglers and rules with an iron fist. Her and her Bravos (group of men who fight for her and the community) have created a self-contained small village which she oversees as La Jefa. She makes the rules, she decides who stays or goes, she doles out punishment for rule infractions. She's a hard woman who knows her rule is tenuous and dependent upon keeping everyone in line. Reasons are given WHY she is so hard, and she does have an underscore of vulnerability, but for me it was too much. I love a kick-ass heroine but there's a fine line between strength and capability, and hard-nosed pride and prejudice. When Chris clues her in to some facts about skinwalkers that could literally save her community and lives, she gets angry at him instead of listening and taking into account that maybe she doesn't know everything about everything.

This is well written and the world-building is fascinating, but it's not quite romantic enough for me to classify this as a romance. Urban Fantasy or Paranormal, definitely Apocalyptic. For me Rosa took away my enjoyment of the story. I didn't "get" Chris's attraction to her. Honestly I was more interested in two side couples in Rosa's community, Tilly and Jameson and Ex and Allison, than I was Chris and Rosa. I also didn't cater to one plot point with Chris (view spoiler) that I found to be convenient but disappointing. I wish the author had handled this differently.

I'm not saying don't read this, but it's not MY favorite entry in this series. It can be read as a standalone, as it doesn't require reading the first book to understand what's going on. I am looking forward to the next book and getting back to the original cast of this series. I wanted to like this but it just didn't work for me. 2.25 stars

(less)

3 likes · like · see review

Feb 20, 2012 Lauren rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal-romance, post-apocalypse, pregnancy, kick-ass-heroines, feline-shifter

Midnight
3 Stars

Synopsis
After wandering the post-apocalyptic wasteland for several years, Chris Welsh is well on his way to losing all semblance of humanity until he comes across one of the last vestiges of civilization run by the iron hand of Rosa Cortez. A force to be reckoned with, Rosa fears showing any weakness but cannot resist the desire for intimacy that Chris evokes within her. As the two face off against each other, they must also deal with threats from both within their community and w...more

like · see review

Jan 13, 2012 drey rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-reads, dystopia

drey’s thoughts:

Ellen Connor’s Midnight is set after an apocalypse, and no I don’t know how it happened because I missed book 1 in the series, Nightfall. (No, I don’t know if it’s described there either.)

Rosa Cortez survived that apocalypse, and has managed to build a community of sorts in a ghost town she found in the middle of the desert. The hardscrabble town is stark and rough and brings to mind the frontier towns in the old westerns I used to watch. It’s not paradise, but it’s what they hav...more

like · see review

Feb 28, 2012 Melanie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ava-gray, dystopia, apocalypse-now, paranormal-romance, shifters-i-d-love-to-were, accents-make-me-melt, hey-look-what-i-can-do, library, frau-badass, prophecy, dark-age-dawning

4.5 stars

'Midnight' is the second 'Dark Age Dawning' novel from writing duo Ann Aguirre and Carrie Lofty. Under the pen name Ellen Connor, they have crafted a disturbing dystopia in which the world as we know it has succumbed to a nightmarish apocalypse where reason, common sense and technology no longer reign. In its wake, the too few survivors have been left trying to eke their way in the resulting Dark Age where reliance on instinct is a necessity and unknown magical forces rule the day.

Whil...more 4.5 stars

'Midnight' is the second 'Dark Age Dawning' novel from writing duo Ann Aguirre and Carrie Lofty. Under the pen name Ellen Connor, they have crafted a disturbing dystopia in which the world as we know it has succumbed to a nightmarish apocalypse where reason, common sense and technology no longer reign. In its wake, the too few survivors have been left trying to eke their way in the resulting Dark Age where reliance on instinct is a necessity and unknown magical forces rule the day.

While the underlying theme in 'Nightfall' (IMO) was the struggle of the characters to hold onto their humanity while the world around them disintegrated, I would say that the main theme of 'Midnight' was overcoming bigotry and acceptance of those who are different. About 5 years has passed since the events in 'Nightfall' and an emotionally scarred and distant Chris Welsh has been wandering the desolate wilderness since leaving Mason and Jenna. By chance he comes across a small town on the edge of the desert where the resident leader is a tough woman, Rosa, who rules with an iron fist to protect the meager citizens. While Rosa, and the town, eagerly welcome newcomers, they are understandably wary of skinwalkers - or those who for unknown reasons can now shift into individual animal forms. Trust is slow to come for both sides, but eventually the town becomes his home to help protect and he and Rosa build a relationship. When the town is threatened by dust pirates, the relationship is put to the test and Rosa in particular has to put aside her prejudice in order to save not only the town but what she's built with Chris.

My one nitpick with this book (and I think it was the same with 'Nightfall') was the disjointed way time transitioned. At certain points weeks passed from one paragraph to the next with no real explanation for what happened in between and because of this I had a difficult time in some spots trying to figure out when in the story I was. Nevertheless, I'm really enjoying this trilogy and am anxious to read about how things fare with Penny and Ty in 'Daybreak'!

(less)

1 like · like · see review

Oct 10, 2011 Lady Lioness rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: tbr-journal, read-october-2011, genre-apocalyptic-romance

Honestly, I saw this as the book I had to get through before I could start Daybreak. However, I actually liked it. Nightfall kinda laid things out, introduced the reader to this new world where magic runs amok and civilization as we currently know it has collapsed. Through Jenna and Mason, we experience that initial wave of change, see what humanity will have to go through to survive. Midnight represents the next stage in recovery, the glimmer of light in the darkness. Connor doesn't pull any pu...more

like · see review

Sep 15, 2011 Carien rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, pnr, post-apocalyptic

This book is pure awesomeness!

I already loved book 1, Nightfall, but Midnight is even better. I absolutely love the setting and world building. The Connor duo (Carrie Lofty & Ann Aguirre) sure know how to create an exciting, gritty and thrilling post apocalyptic world. I could talk for hours about the setting alone which is so immensely inspiring it made me really want to start writing my own post apocalyptic story. (Can you tell I have a weak spot for post apocalyptic settings ;-) )

The rom...more

like · see review

Jan 08, 2012 L-D rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: armageddon-apocalypse-dystopia, bikers-motorcycles, doctor-emt-vet, romance, shifters-weres, tats-piercings-scars-yum, series

In the second book of the Dark Age Dawning series, we find Chris Welsh, the bespectacled secondary character of the first book, traveling on his own. After the death of Ange and feelings of guilt that he didn't protect her, Chris left his friends Jenna and Mason, and has been traveling for the past 3 years. The 3 years of traveling have turned the nerdy scientist into a lean, hard, survivalist. Coming across a settlement of other Change survivors, Chris meets Rosa, la Jefa of the Valley of Bravo...more

like · see review

title link	preview: Midnight
avg rating	preview: Midnight Goodreads rating: 3.78 (324 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10557837-midnight?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1311703285l/10557837.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10557837-midnight?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Midnight by Ellen Connor[/url]

Midnight (Dark Age Dawning #2)

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (5)

Genres

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Ellen Connor

Books by Ellen Connor

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About Midnight