I'm sad to say I was disappointed by this book.
Santino Hassel's characters are always soooo interesting, and these ones weren't an exception. For some reason I feel drawn to these dysfunctional drug dealers and (almost)heartless assassins. And of course I love the world it's set in*.

But everything else sadly just didn't do anything for me.
I got half way through and realised nothing had happened. There was a background plot but it was so poorly developed... and I keep saying this, I know, I'm sorry, but I'm really sad about it. I'm sad because it was potentially very interesting.
If only we got a little more into the action of the fights, the Agency business. Basically, if Adam had more than two chapters, most of my issues could have been solved.
I understand that we were focused on Gordon's struggles, and I did appreciate that aspect, but there was so much more going on which was impossible to care about even though it could have given us such strong sequences.

As much as I love the characters individually, I'm not sure I'm completely on board with their relationship. I know the author had written it a little differently at first, and this one does seem better than the original, but it still didn't work for me. Insta-infatuation on one side, and only really sexual attraction on the other (until he realises the other is infatuated).

So... I'm disappointed. So much potential to be great. Great world, interesting characters, but the development just didn't go with the expectations.


*yes, After Midnight is a stand alone companion novel from In The Company of Shadows. This is why I know the world and love it.
I have only read the first novel from that series so far, desperately waiting for the author to release the director's cut for the next one... (question to those who have read ICoS, can I read the full version of After Image without having read the full v of Evenfall?)