Midnight Court (House of Arkhangel'sk, #2)

by Jane Kindred

[Cocktails and Books]

It amazes me, a few days later, to find this book is still rattling around in my head. I'm not one for demons, angels, or other biblical referencing stories, but Jane Kindred has created this fabulous world that captures your attention, with complex characters and a story that will stay with you for a long time.

The Midnight Court picks up one year after the end of The Fallen Queen (and yes, you must read that book to continue on with this one). Belphagor, Vasily, Anazakia and Love are living in their little dacha in Russia raising Anazakia and Vasily's daughter, Ola. You'd think, since a year has gone by, things might be back to 'normal' for Belphagor, Vasily and Anazakia. However, we find everything has changed for our trio.

Belphagor and Vasily find themselves not able to get their relationship back on track, while Anazakia and Vasily's relationship has gone by the wayside now that Belphagor is back. What do they all share is the love of Ola. When she's kidnapped, the depth of despair between the three threatens to tear all of them apart...for very different reasons.

The Midnight Court spends a great deal of time setting up the factions that wish to dethrone Queen Aeval and what they'd do to achieve their end goal. War is hell and for those that are stuck in the middle of the fight between good and evil, it truly is. Ola is kidnapped, Belphagor is ravaged with guilt because she was taken while with him, Vasily and Anazakia float between being grief-stricken to overflowing with anger, while Love and the monk Kirill suffered unimaginably It's not an easy read, but in my opinion, the message is clear. Through adversity one finds great strength. Each and every one of those characters goes through this journey and comes out the other side stronger. None more so than Anazakia.

Anazakia finally matures by the end of The Midnight Court. She's been put through the proverbial ringer and finds herself in love with the father of her child, who in turn loves another man. So at eighteen, we should and do see Anazakia breakdown and/or shut down. But somewhere deep down inside of her, she finds the strength to be the royal leader she was meant to be. One who will lead the people of Elysium to rise up again Aeval and reclaim her daughter.