A ring of finality... Perhaps a new beginning... 
 The main protagonists drew me in from the start. 
 Sterling "Harvard" Chase has always had a place in my heart. He always strove to be the best with an arrogant attitude. I knew beneath the surface we would find a hero with a not good enough complex. From previous installments we knew he was battling bloodlust and on the verge of going rogue. I was surprised to learn that he had battled this, not only for the time we've known him, but since the death of his brother six years prior. 
 Octavia "Tavia" was an unknown name in the midnight breed world. We saw a glimpse of her previously as Chase tried to snipe a politician at a fundraiser. Tavia was a perfect surprise. Her origins were ingenious on Lara Adrian's part. Adrian's series is highly original, but the direction she took with Tavia and her "sisters" was above and beyond. I enjoyed Tavia's attitude as well as her internal dialogue. 
 Side cast of Characters 
 I removed a star because of the amount of point of view change ups . While I love being inside the minds of past loved characters this took away from the protagonists time to shine. I loved both Chase and Tavia, but we barely spent time with them causing an effect of disconnection between the reader and characters. This is hard for me, the pov is a delicate balance. Whereas we need to feel connected to the protagonists, we also need to connect to the rest of the cast to progress the main storyline premise. Darker After Midnight did not accomplish this, it felt slightly off balance. 
 A ring of finality 
 The ending of Darker After Midnight wrapped up a ten book storyline arc. Dragos' reign is decimated. All of the breed have been mated and most have young. This was tied up with a pretty red bow... Lara Adrian has not hinted that this is the final book, so I move forward with hope. I feel we have reached the end of this cast though. I feel she will breathe new life into the series... 
 A New Beginning? 
 Many threads have been left hanging. Are there more out there like Octavia, her living half-sisters ? Did all the HUNTERS fall when the mass cell phone call activated the ultra-violet collars? How will the BREED fair in the United Nations? What new issues will arise? What of Nathan, Kellen, and lil Maia; the 13&14 year old breed males forming a friendship to become warriors and their tiny seer Breedmate? This has great potential, along with all the new Breed Males born of the Order. Can Tavia have both sexes, or, as her breedmate sisters, is she destined to only have males? I have a feeling at least one of her twins will be female. What of the Ancient's warning and guesses about a second set of immortals fathering the females, while the Breed father the males? 
 Our new beginning: I believe that we will see a new Order, a stronger Order, Born from the current cast of characters. And this will be our new story... 
 I am left with a bitter sweet feeling at the end of Darker After Midnight, an emptiness... I guess I will have to take a new journey with another series to fill the void. 
 This review and others are posted on: vkwickedreads.wordpress.com