Rating:  3⭐️

After enjoying Hidden Storm, the first book in The Witch’s Bestiary  by Evangeline Hunter, unfortunately, I found Midnight Storm suffering from second story syndrome.

It just doesn’t carry through on the potential from the original story.  Many of the interesting elements, the Bestiary itself are relegated to just barest scenes and the fact that Alicia Stormwell is a powerful rescuer and ally of exotic species is an inconsistent aspect of this story. 

The werewolf shifter she helped and is now her assistant, Kyle Matthews, is the most problematic character here. He’s still in search of his missing sister and wants Alicia to continue to help him find her. No issue here. 

However, his behavior is extremely immature. For a grown adult. When they run into dead ends and Alicia, reasonably wants to enlist all the assistance they can get, police aid included, he objects. Whining, throwing tantrums. 

As a reader, I both want to stop reading or put that character in a timeout.  He’s that childish. 

Only the author wants us to continue to connect with him and accept that this intelligent,highly powerful woman is attracted to this toddler? Just no.

And the storyline is further proof that the series has lost its original path when during the last section where the sister, just as irritating as her brother, has been located, it’s among the very abused exotics Alicia’s life is focused around. 

But that’s hardly mentioned except for a sentence at the end of the story.

It should be a huge deal but it’s not. And even the sister doesn’t mention her role in their damage. It’s all about her.

I’m surprised I finished this. And I’m debating going forward. The only reason why I would is that wolf boy isn’t in the next book . A plus.

No recommendation here.

The Witch’s Bestiary (5 book series):

Hidden Storm #1

Midnight Storm #2

Island Storm #3

Dragon Storm #4

Rising Storm #5

Buy link

        Midnight Storm: A Fast-paced Humorous Urban Fantasy Book (The Witch’s Bestiary Book 2)

Blurb 

A brutal tournament, a missing sister, and a witch with nothing left to lose.

I’m Alicia Stormwell, a witch who spends her days rescuing fantastic creatures and my nights battling the dark underworld of magical animal trafficking. But nothing prepares me for the mess I’m about to walk into.

When my hunky werewolf friend, Kyle Matthews, asks for my help in finding his missing sister, Sabrina, I’m all in. Our search leads us to the Velvet Claw, a shadowy organization running a supernatural fight ring where lives are currency and losing isn’t an option.

As the tournament reaches its sinister climax, I must race against time and use every ounce of my magical skill to rescue Sabrina before the Velvet Claw gets its claws deeper into her life, Kyle’s, and mine.

The Witch’s Bestiary includes:

· Witches, Werewolves, and Vampires

· Hidden magic and a magical underworld

A slow-burn / RH romance

· Fantastic creatures

· A badass female main character with snark and humor