A Touch of Midnight

A Touch of Midnight is a paranormal romance novella that serves as a prequel to the Highlander series. The story follows Gwen Cassidy, a law student in New Orleans who encounters a mysterious and ancient Highlander warrior named Hawk. The narrative centers on Gwen's discovery of supernatural forces at work in her city as she becomes entangled in a centuries-old conflict. Her meeting with Hawk pulls her into a hidden world of immortal beings and ancient Celtic mythology that exists alongside modern society. When strange deaths begin occurring around New Orleans, Gwen and Hawk must work together to confront dark forces threatening the city. Their investigation leads them through the historic streets and shadowy corners of the French Quarter. The novella explores themes of destiny, the intersection of past and present, and the price of immortality. Through its supernatural elements, the story examines how ordinary people react when confronted with extraordinary circumstances that challenge their understanding of reality.

Readers call this novella a quick introduction to the Midnight Breed world, though many note it works better after reading other books in the series rather than as an entry point. Readers appreciated: - The background story of Gideon and Savannah - Fast-paced romance development - Insight into how the Breed world began - Connection to events referenced in later books Common criticisms: - Too short at 75 pages - Rushed relationship between characters - Limited world-building - High price point for length Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (12,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (600+ ratings) "Perfect companion piece but wouldn't make sense as a standalone," notes one top Goodreads review. Multiple Amazon reviewers mentioned feeling the $2.99 price was steep for a novella. Several readers recommended starting with Kiss of Midnight instead, then returning to this prequel for added context.

Dark Lover by J.R. Ward A vampire warrior finds his destined mate in a human woman while protecting his species from extinction through a series of battles in modern-day New York.

Night Pleasures by Sherrilyn Kenyon A centuries-old Dark-Hunter meets his match in a human woman while defending humanity from soul-stealing Daimons in New Orleans.

Angels' Blood by Nalini Singh A vampire hunter works with archangels to track a rogue angel through a world where vampires serve immortal angels.

Kiss of Midnight by Lara Adrian A photographer discovers a hidden race of vampires when she witnesses a murder and becomes entangled with their warrior leader.

Some Girls Bite by Chloe Neill A graduate student transforms into a vampire and joins Chicago's Cadogan House while learning to navigate supernatural politics and ancient feuds.

🌙 "A Touch of Midnight" serves as a prequel novella to Karen Marie Moning's popular Highlander series, providing crucial background for understanding the larger narrative arc. ⚔️ The story features Galen, one of the legendary 13 Druids who must protect an ancient grimoire of spells from falling into the wrong hands. 📚 Though published later in the series chronology (2016), the events in this novella take place before those in "Beyond the Highland Mist," the first published book in the series. 🔮 The book blends elements of Celtic mythology, time travel, and Highland romance—themes that would become hallmarks of Moning's writing style. 💫 Karen Marie Moning originally worked in insurance, bartending, and computer programming before becoming a full-time writer, and she wrote her first book while working as a bartender.