Shadow Falls After Dark (1) - Reborn by C.C. Hunter
The spin-off series in Della's view... Reborn! (Im Sternenlicht, Métamorphose). I read it in English where it contained 386 pages. Same age as Born at Midnight. Originally published 2014.
Della's life isn't any easier as Kylie's: Not only do her parents and sister run frequent drug tests and think she’s a criminal, her father also kept the existence of an aunt and an uncle a secret – an aunt and uncle who possibly could be vampires, like Della herself! But that’s not the worst thing in this. Della’s stalked by a ghost - which should be impossible - and she’s getting ill. Which is actually impossible as well. She wants to take over a new case for the FRU, but can’t and then there’s Chase. The new, super-annoying/sexy vampire with more secrets than is possibly good for him. Who won’t stay away from Della. And her disease gets worse…
Very nice! I switch from liking Chase to wanting to hit him and back in a total of two seconds, because he’s both: Likable and hit-worthy. On the one hand, he’s super-annoying and manages to hit all of Della’s do-not-push buttons simultaneously (and she has a lot), on the other hand, he’s still kind of cool. In an over-confident, burn-down-the-houses bad boy with a lot to brag about kind of way. He’s really determined, knows what he wants and how to get it, and simply refuses to let Della push him away – a huge contrast to Steve. But what really got me on his side is how he takes care of Della. Sure, she doesn’t want him to do anything for her, but he makes sure she always gets herself what she needs. She doesn’t want to run, but it’s necessary for her? He pesters her until she does. He even helps her with Burnett. It’s not that he simply gives her whatever she wants, he helps her get it herself. And I like that way better than Knight in Shining Armor (like Asher from Touched (Der Preis der Unsterblichkeit) even though he’s still okay in the first book of the series). Besides, Chase has a remarkably kind side, as can be seen by the dog.
He and Della may be forced together, but they are a gorgeous team, both professional enough to keep each other’s backs, defending the other instinctively (which was definitely a point for Chase in my book) and creative enough to get out of all the stuff their arrogance got them into. The kiss idea was particularly interesting. Chase approved. Though I guess that he wasn’t happy it was just for show… Well. Chase has his secrets, but he’s too arrogant to lie – at least usually, he only really does lie on special occasions… Okay, I have no idea if that’s a good thing. Well. For Della it is, because she needs someone who is strong enough to put up with her, whom she can’t push around. For whom she doesn’t have to put on gloves. And, well, Chase is definitely strong enough to deal with her and to set her head straight again about her too over-the-top wish for independence and being the lonely cowboy. He’s not even one bit afraid of her.
Though he’s probably pretty careful when Kylie’s around. As he should be – we all know how no-nonsense she can gets when she’s really pissed. I’m sure he’ll be more afraid of her than of Della.
Kylie. It’s amazing to see the friendship of Kylie, Della and Miranda from another PoV, as Kylie as a character herself – and her relationship with Lucas. Again the thing about the perception of yourself and of others. Sure, we all know Kylie’s pretty capable of holding her own, no matter the situation – and that Lucas is a bit reserved and a born leader. But seeing both from Kylie’s perspective (who really doesn’t think she’s that strong and manages to get under Lucas’ skin like no one else) is way different from Della’s. Probably because she doesn't exactly want these powers. Yes, she wants to protect others, but she's not the biggest fan of violence. But through Della’s PoV, you actually realise just how impressive that girl and her abilities are, how kind and innocent she seems (more than she is). And how she sometimes (when in protector mode) seems really, really terrifying. How calm and reserved she might seem to someone who doesn’t know her.
You realise as well how much Lucas is integrated in their extended group while still keeping his distance, it’s… well, it’s a complicated dynamic. The Miranda-Della side of the friendship isn’t that altered, but still a little different. But I think that’s more due to the fact that Miranda has a new self-esteem and really grown (the how-to-get-your-aura-lighter as well as the kangaroos are so GORGEOUS! Miranda rocks! Even though it was pretty stupid to change them into that dangerous creatures, but the second curse to that, I couldn’t stop laughing) and because they both have boy-issues.
Would you please stop to appreciate how I got all of that information in basically one sentence and how it sounds stylistically terrible? But yeah, I’m judging others. What went wrong with me.
Whatever. Where was I? Right, boy issues.
Steve is a nice guy, and Della doesn’t really treat him right. Which is mostly because she’s so terrified of letting someone else into her life, and loosing him again. But the way she treats him still isn’t really okay. How she’s like I don’t want you around for anything, but you better don’t be with anyone else. I hate it when people do this! And he lets her, which is almost worse. Especially because she was attracted to Chase and m.o.l. accused him of an affair. But it is a realistic reaction, as much as I hate it.
And I hated that, after everything Chase did for her, she still runs home to Steve whom she didn’t even trust enough to tell about Chan!
Apart from that. I was a bit afraid of how this book would be, because, you know, at some point, an idea gets old. But there were so many original plot twists in it! Like the entire Reborn thing, gorgeous! And the problems with the FRU (and how Della and even Holiday approach this)… Hannah Rose’s birth was really well done, by the way. I’d love to learn more about Daddy’s little girl. Te he! That’s soooo so cute. And I adore Holiday, still do, always will. The two – three – of them are wonderful.
In brief:
I give stars for characters, ideas, style, content and the SoGH. And another star for the different PoV on relationships thing, as well as the kangaroos.
Prequel Series:
Shadow Falls Camp starting with Born at Midnight
Sequel: