Ashes of Midnight is book six in the Midnight Breed series, a story about vampires very much in the mold of J.R. Ward's
"Black Dagger Brotherhood." Nonetheless, these are still enjoyable books to read, if sometimes feeling rather derivative.
Ashes of Midnight focuses on Andreas Reichen, the German vampire who appeared in several previous books. The action takes place initially in Germany as we discover that Reichen didn't die in an attack on his Darkhaven but has instead been wreaking vengeance on those
responsible for killing his family. He has long kept the secret of the strange ability he has - that of becoming, in effect, a fireball - but he is now using it to
the maximum to destroy those with blood on their hands.
He now has just one person left to kill: the instigator of the attack on his Darkhaven, Wilhelm Roth.
Unfortunately for Reichen, his plans for Roth's destruction quickly go awry when he meets up again with Roth's wife and his former lover, Claire. He doesn't know what Claire knows about Roth's activities but finds himself drawn back into her life. When it seems that Roth is tangled up with things even more important than Reichen's own vengeance, he and Claire have to seek the help of the vampire Order.
Can Reichen avoid his probable future death, and what chance does he have with Claire, who is mated to another?
Reichen's pyrokinetic skill adds a certain amount of interest to this story, and the romance with Claire
is well-written. Still, overall this book left me a little cold. I found Reichen's single-minded violent quest for vengeance rather distasteful, and his and Claire's behavior
isn't always that sensible. Although Ashes of Midnight isn't in any way a gripping read, there is much to like about this series, and this entry is a reasonable enough read.