In the Shadow of Midnight

While not as spectacular as "Through a Dark Mist" or "The Last Arrow", "In the Shadow of Midnight" still delivers a wonderful, action packed story that will leave you riveted to the end. As the second in Canham's "Robin Hood" trilogy, readers find themselves following the adventures of the Black Wolf's illegitimate son, Eduard FitzRandwulf as he sets off for England to rescue the Pearl of Brittany, Eleanor, from her uncle John's political machinations. Granted, this book is not big on the romance, and there is a vast amount committed to detail and establishing the political turmoil of the time, which establishes a real sense of time and place. If you are looking for a light-hearted romp, this is not the book to pick up. It is heavy reading at times, and violence is dealt with in a manner that might offend some. While it can be explicit, I hardly thought twice about it, considering this is a book taking place during the Middle Ages where there weren't exactly laws against cruel and unusual punishment. Some of those people thrived on it, and you've got to expect that going in. Canham's characters once again sparkle, so well drawn you can't help but feel you know them. From the hero Eduard and heroine Lady Ariel de Clare to Ariel's brother Henry de Clare to Eleanor to Jean de Brevant (aka LittleJohn) to the young Robin Wardieu and his equally young love Marienne, you can't help but fall in love with them all. After reading "Through a Dark Mist", I couldn't imagine adoring anyone more than the Black Wolf and Lady Servanne, but Canham readily proved she's adept at creating memorable characters. And you can't help but despise the villains King John and Guy de Gisbourne. I thought Canham would have a difficult time creating villains you could hate more than the Dragon Wardieu and Nicolaa de la Haye from Through a Dark Mist; again, I was wrong. The depth with which she knows and portrays her characters, even the minor ones, is amazing. Admittedly, as another reviewer pointed out, it seems as though the romance takes a back seat to the plot and intrigue of King John's England. But when it finally does heat up between Eduard and Ariel, it is well worth the wait. While maybe not as intense as the Wolf and Servanne, Eduard and Ariel still make a fantastic and memorable couple. Another word of warning, though. While Canham does an excellent job of filling in an abbreviated version of the events from "Through a Dark Mist" without being tedious, and this book can technically stand alone, I wouldn't recommend it. Since we met Eduard in TADM as a young squire to the brutal Dragon Wardieu and son of the viscious viper Nicolaa de lay Haye, you miss some of his character and his motivation by not reading TADM. Aside from that, there are several returning characters in this novel, whether in cameo appearances, such as Gil Golden and Alaric, or larger roles, such as Sparrow and Eduard - obviously. In order to follow the relationships and keep t

For those who read Through A Dark Mist, you know that the Black Wolf discovers that he has an illegitimate son named Eduard. Well this is his story, and while I thought this story wouldn't be as good as its prequel, I was wrong. In the Shadow Of Midnight is a great sequel and a must for Canham fans.Lady Ariel de Clare is appalled that King John plans on forcing her to marry one of his repulsive guards. She flees England with her Brother, Henry, to Brittany to seek the help of her uncle, the marshall of England. The resolution her uncle decides on finds Ariel escorted in disguise to Wales by Eduard FitzRandwulf. What Ariel doesn't know is that her journey to Wales is really a smokescreen for the real mission Eduard is planning which is to rescue Princess Eleanor of Brittany who has been taken prisoner by King John. Sparks fly between Eduard and Ariel. They are both tempermental and stubborn, and neither wants to be in the other's company but traveling for days in dangerous conditions brings them closer together and makes it harder for them to deny the attraction developing between them. I think some people need to beware: this story is more centered around the plot than the romance which is finding out what King John did to his neice, Princess Eleanor. I did not mind this because the book is so filled with adventure and cliffhanging moments that it was kind of nice to read a book that's not all about the romance.All in all, this is a great story for anyone. Even those who don't like romance novels.

I loved the book! It brought me into another time and place ... feels like you are there. Every scene/setting is enjoyable, one scene leads to another like stories within the story ... it is detailed and absorbing ... loved the supporting charcters and dialogue too. The love story is great, especially when they discover/acknowledge their feelings for each other. It's a keeper ... I've re-read it three times over the years! The other two books in the trilogy (Through the Dark Mist and The Last Arrow) are also great but this second of the trilogy is my favorite.

I was totally immersed in the time period. The castles were dark and smelly, the people were real, the emotions gripping. I almost couldn't breathe when Eduard found the Princess and discovered her terrible secret! Excellent. Just like the other two books in the series.

The plight of Edward trying to save two (2) women at the same time makes you want to read this book all the way through. Again, the forest draws you in the "darkness" and the mystery of that era of Robin Hood, etc. Her books are simply wonderful in description and story telling.