Tracy‘s review of Breaking Midnight (Uphyr) by Emma Holly
Edmund is an elder among the upyr, a shape-changing race of immortals. Kidnapped by rivals, he’s now a pawn in a deadly game to control the world, and only the love of the mortal beauty, Estelle, can save him.
Edmund has been captured and his family has no idea where he’s been taken. His family is at a loss without him and not quite sure what to do. Graham, his son, decides to take matters into his own hands and makes the decision to become upyr.
Estelle, Edmund’s fiancé, dreams of him though and is able to ascertain that he is in Switzerland. When it comes time to get a rescue party together his entire family wants to be involved. It is decided that everyone will go. But there are many bumps in their road and the rescue will not be easy.
This is book 7 in the upyr/shapechanger series by Emma Holly and the second in the Fitz Clare Chronicles. During the last book we witnessed Estelle and Edmund relationship coming together. We also saw Edmund’s two youngest children (who are adopted, no blood relation) start an illicit love affair. Ben has been in love with Sally forever and as Sally was made aware of this love she too found peace in Ben’s arms (this relationship continues in this book). Then there was Graham who was thralled into believing that his father was evil. Now that he realizes that his father isn’t evil, but the vamp who thralled him was, he feels doubly responsible for Edmund’s kidnapping.
As the family moves towards Switzerland they are met by Penelope (Pen to her friends), the daughter of Graham’s old boss. Pen wants everyone to believe that she’s just a rich American girl who wants to help, but there’s something more going on in Pen’s life that she doesn’t share. And I mean, she doesn’t share it for the entire book, which I have to say was a bit frustrating. I believe she’s working for some covert agency but I just wasn’t sure. Pen has a thing for Graham and soon they are in each others arms. But Graham is resistant to any sort of relationship and pushes Pen away. She’s good for a good romp but that’s about it.
I don’t want to give too much of the plot away because it’s nice to see it unfold without being told about it first. There were a few things about the book that I didn’t like. I truly didn’t feel like I was getting to know the characters very clearly except Edmund and Estelle. I got the feeling that although the book was based around Edmund’s kidnapping that we were to focus a fair bit on Graham – but besides his guilt and sexual hungers I didn’t know who he was by the end of the book. I’m hoping that’s cleared up by the end of the next book. Also, these really aren’t romances. Yes, it’s touted as a paranormal romance but after reading this I think it’s more of a paranormal erotica. We feel the love that Edmund has for Estelle and vice versa but it seemed to be more focused on the sexual aspect of things rather than the romantic aspect.
Despite the things I didn’t care for I’d have to say this was a decent read. I read it in a day so I definitely wasn’t bored at all. If you like paranormal reads as well as some incredibly hot sex in your books then this is the book for you.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
This book is available from Berkley Sensation. You can buy it here or here in e-format.