On Midnight Wings
by Adrian Phoenix
“On Midnight Wings” is Book Five of the ‘Maker’s Song’ series by Adrian Phoenix. This thrilling but dark urban fantasy continues to follow Dante Baptiste as events conspire to force him closer to madness and threaten to tip the balance so that he becomes the Unmaker. The betrayal and capture of both Heather and Dante stuns their allies who are handicapped by their inability to track either. The multitude of warring factions, each of which has its own plans for Dante, cause an odd game of tug of war which complicates the disposition of Heather. Sadly, the allies have their own obstacles to overcome before they can help the beleaguered couple who, as usual, may have to rely solely on themselves for rescue but it may be too late for Dante as he spirals downward into despair.
This complex and alluring urban fantasy is filled with an almost overwhelming cast of characters who are disturbing yet mesmerizing. There is a sometimes dismaying amount of death and destruction yet one cannot help but feel empathy for the dichotomy personified in the main character, Dante. The adamantine bond which has been formed between him and his mortal lover Heather is delicious to observe yet its existence can still be threatened and this only adds to the escalating tension that is a perpetual aspect of this enthralling series. It is definitely recommended that the series be read from the beginning and in order and even then it is somewhat difficult to keep track of the shifting alliances and multitude of goals being pursued. The harsh torments suffered throughout Dante’s life are constantly alluded to in his flashbacks and it is easy to see why his grasp of reality is so tenuous but one cannot help but empathize with him, despite his ofttimes horrific actions...which is why this author is so impressive. The ability to turn situations on end and make one sympathetic to actions that would not be otherwise condoned is an impressive talent and I always anxiously await the next installment in the series so that I can be amazed yet again by the machinations of the various factions. This was an excellent addition to the series although one should be warned that there are just as many questions, if not more, that still need to be answered. I look forward to unravelling more of the mysteries.
© Night Owl Reviews
I received a copy of this title in return for an honest review.
On Midnight Wings: Book Five of The Maker's Song (Amazon link)
My review for Etched in Bone is at this link.
(Note: I love this urban fantasy series. It started a little slow for me and I have had my ups and downs with it but I definitely find the characters compelling and enthralling to watch. That doesn't mean that I don't cringe at the considerable amount of havoc and horrific things that are described but I am still drawn to the series. I think this author is extremely talented and I also enjoy her other series with a Cajun flair that starts with Black Dust Mambo so once you finish with the 'Maker's Song' series...you might consider that one as well.)
Black
Dust Mambo (Amazon link)
