Black Dawn, 8

In my opinion, this is the best book in the Night World series and it's all because of a detailed, layered plot, and Maggie Neely. L.J. Smith finally gives us a heroine who is brave and heroic, but also a *real* person. All her other heroines are grouped into three catagories - the tough girls (Rashel, Jez and Keller) who don't really have much personality and are magically cured of their pessimissim at the end of the books; the wise, docile, tree-hugging girls (Hannah, Mary-Lynette and Thea) who are the standard damsels in distress, and the downright irritating girls (Poppy and Gillian) who flounce around without any idea of what their doing. But Maggie is a successful break-away from these stero-types, simply because she is a mix of all three - she is strong, determined and willing to put up a good fight (thus her nickname Steely Neely), kind and compassionate, as we see when she refuses to abandon 'Cady' but still is realistically unsure and scared when it comes to some of the decisions she has to make. All this makes her a realistic and enjoyable heroine, someone to relate to, as well as someone to admire.The second thing that makes this the best book is the number of sub-plots and characters that are ultimately all linked. Within the Night World there is a kingdom in the mountains called the Dark Kingdom where Night People reside, served by human slaves, and relatively un-touched by the outside world. They are so un-touched that they are all still living in a castle known as Black Dawn, and have their own monarchy (L.J. obviously wanted to go medievial). But this kingdom is soon to be over-run by many different characters, each with their own adjendas. Delos the Prince, is the second Wild Power, and struggling to know who he can trust, and what he should use his power for. Hunter Redfern has just found the kingdom, and eagar to exercise dominance over his great grandson in a subtle but cruel mind-game. Jeanne McCartney and P.J. Penobscot are two young slaves, desparate to escape captivity, and Aradia, the Maiden of all the Witches is on a diplomatic mission to the kingdom when disaster strikes. Maggie herself, is brought to the kingdom against her will by her brother's girlfriend, Sylvia Weald who claims her brother Miles is dead. Maggie doesn't believe her, and is desparately searching for him, but before she can get far, she is kidnapped by the Night People. All of these plotlines are weaved up, along with the elements of political upheaval in the Night World when the witches leave the Joint Council, a prophesy concerning Maggie as the Deliverer of the slaves, and the impending battle between the forces of good and evil. Black Dawn leaves the rest of the Night World books in the dust, so make sure you read this one!

Like all L.J Smith books this is a really good book. This is a Wild Power book and actually has a pretty original plot. It's about Maggie Neely going to look for her brother who is an extremely experienced climber, his girlfriend said his was dead and Maggie didn't believe her so she went to see for herself. She follows the girlfriend and is taken to be a slave in the darkest place in the night world where she meets her soulmate, Delos Redfern. The Prince and Ruler of the Dark Kingdom. You should read all L.J. Smith books so you should definately read this one. As intriguing as all her other books this is a must read.

Once again LJ mixes romance with horror in her latest installment to the series. In the story Maggie's brother is missing, and when she goes searching for him she gets more than she bargined for. Wild Powers, vampires, shapeshifters, witches and maybe... a soulmate? Delos and Maggie are great charecters and the new midevil setting is fascinating. I loved this story almost as much as huntress as they continue there search for the second Wild Power.

~for those of you that do not know what this book is about here it is: this girl maggie's brother dissapears, his girl friend reports his death and maggie has suspisions about this strange girl. the night of her brother's reported death she follows this girl home to find out what really happend to her brother. next thing she wakes up and finds herself in this cart being halled to this dark kingdom, she meete 3 girls who are in the cart and with them she tries to escape. one of these girls is an escaped slave and tells her of the horors of the dark kingdom and that it is ruled by the strange, and deadly delos. this book to me was the best one of the night world series. it was so interresting like all her other books. i was 0nly one third into the book when i just couldn't stop reading it. i read it from about 2-12 am (I am such a slow reder).my favorite part in this book was on page 90, it was so funny and sweet to.

All of L.J. Smith's books are so totally kicking. She's like one of the only authors that I re-read their books over & over & over again. All of her books, not just the Night World ones, make me wish to be that particular heroine & feel what it's like to find their soulmate. These people who're clowning on Ms. Smith are SO insane!