Angel's Pain (Wings in the Night) [Mass Market Paperback]

Maggie Shayne (Author)

Book Description

Series: Wings in the Night | Publication Date: October 1, 2008

Briar needs just two things: blood and vengeance. The first sustains her immortal life; the second gives it meaning.

First on her hit list is Gregor, the renegade vampire who schooled her in brutality, then betrayed and tortured her. To achieve her deadly ends, Briar joins the inscrutable Reaper and his misfit gang of vampires who are also hunting her old mentor.

But once she's destroyed Gregor, she'll be gone. The group means nothing to her. Not even Crisa—damaged, defenseless, a liability in every way—the childlike vamp with whom Briar shares a blood bond. Or Reaper. Though they shared one moment of pure passion, it's not as though Briar has feelings for him.

Because Briar needs no one. She needs only to satisfy her twin hungers—ones that may ultimately consume her.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Shayne crafts a convincing world, tweaking vampire legends just enough to draw fresh blood." - Publishers Weekly" --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Maggie Shayne is the bestselling author of more than forty novels, including the groundbreaking vampire series Wings in the Night, the most recent of which is called Prince of Twilight. Her numerous awards include two Romantic Times Career Achievement Awards, the National Readers Choice Award, and the coveted Romance Writers of America RITA Award. Maggie lives in a small town in southern central New York. Find her at www.maggieshayne.com.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Mira (October 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0778324982
• ISBN-13: 978-0778324980
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #591,858 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

New York Times Bestselling author Maggie Shayne has published 53 novels, all for major NY Publishers, in her 18 year career. So far. In 2012 she'll be releasing a brand new trilogy dubbed "The Portal" and its books will include MARK OF THE WITCH in October 2012, DAUGHTER OF THE SPELL CASTER in December 2012, and BLOOD OF THE SORCERESS in February 2013, all for MIRA Books.

Maggie has published westerns, category romances, romantic suspense, paranormal romances, urban fantasy, women's fiction, and just about everything in between, and is currently working on her first thriller. She's a winner of the RITA Award, the romance fiction industry's most prestigious prize, and has won countless others.

Maggie's "Twilight" series of vampire novels, officially known as Wings in the Night, began in 1993 with a TWILIGHT PHANTASIES from Silhouette Shadows. The series only just concluded with TWILIGHT FULFILLED in October 2011. (Printable list and reading order at the author's website and on her Facebook page.)

Besides being an author, Maggie is a Wiccan High Priestess, Reiki healer, Tarot Card Reader, unofficial Life Coach, Law of Attraction expert, advice columnist, and a licensed minister. Her long running newspaper advice column has just now been compiled into book form; SHAYNE ON YOU, the author's first non-fiction book.

Recently, Maggie has begun re-releasing her out of print novels in ebook format. So far these include FAIRYTALE, FOREVER ENCHANTED and ANNIE'S HERO, fantasy-romances she wrote for Avon Books (Harper Collins) in the early 1990's, and a novella WITCH MOON RISING, originally published by Spilled Candy Books.

There will be much more to come.

Of course Maggie's publishers also release E-versions of her works, and it's difficult for the average reader to tell whether an ebook is released by a publisher, or the author herself. Especially books that were previously published by a NY Publishing House. Just look for the "Publisher" listing in the book's information and you'll see what's what. The prices are usually a little bit lower on the books Maggie releases herself.

Maggie lives with her soulmate Lance in a tiny town called Taylor (phone exchange: Truxton, mailing address: Cincinnatus, tax map: Cuyler. Smalltown folks understand!) in New York State's little known but sprawling and gorgeous dairy farm & wine country near the Fingerlakes region. Together they have a pair of Old English Mastiffs (Dozer & Daisy,) a chubby little bulldog (Niblet), an arrogant cat (Glorificus,) a saltwater reef aquarium with two clown fish (Larry & Cill) and two damsels (Vinnie & Blue,) a bearded dragon (Captain Yellow Beard) and a life of utter contentment and joy.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars I wanted to like Briar's story......, October 3, 2008

By 

Emmie (WI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Angel's Pain (Wings in the Night) (Mass Market Paperback)

I usually like Maggie Shayne, I've read several of her books. I liked the first 2 books in this spin off series. They seemed to flow a lot better than this book, this one seemed forced to me. I didn't feel the connection at all between Briar and Reaper.

If you read the prior books, you knew her story going into this book.... Briar had an extremely hard life, hooked up with Gregor which was a really bad decision on her part (but this story tells you why that happened), Gegor betrays her, Briar is extremely bitter out for revenge from everyone who has ever wronged her in her life.

It would have been nice to watch Briar's progression from bitter hateful person to someone who under her icy facade kept all these passionate strong feelings for those she cared about. While in the end she finally admits feelings for her friends and Reaper, until well into the last few chapters it's all about her being this tough hateful extremely bitter person, a cheap sex scene and being plagued with residual pain from Crisa.

I truly believed she had feelings for Crisa even when she claimed she didn't. I felt the reluctant warm feelings a few times for the rest of the gang.. but with Reaper, not even close. If you are looking for a deep romantic connection between Briar and Reaper, you will be left wanting after this book is over. I never saw the slow build from Briar feeling for Reaper the "Can't stand you even though you are sexy" to "You make me live again". It was from one extreme to another.

In the end when Briar told Reaper she loved him, it felt cheesy, it's like she blinked toward the end of the book and thought.. Oh yea.. I love you now. Completely didn't feel the love at all. And was left scratching my head as to why Reaper would literally be panting after her.

I really wanted to like Briar's story and to like Briar as a character, but not so much. I felt like Reaper was cheated.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Was Hoping for More!, October 17, 2008

By 

Buster "BB" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Angel's Pain (Wings in the Night) (Mass Market Paperback)

I was so ready to read Angel's Pain. I really enjoyed Reaper and Briar's interaction in the prior two novels. While the story was good - really good in some parts there was a lack of passion between Briar and Reaper that was extremely disappointing to me. The sex scenes were quick and not very exciting. She pretty much jumps on him and that's it. I was looking for more depth more passion and a little more give towards the end of the novel from Briar. Also more anger from Reaper over the pain that Briar suffered all her life. The emotions were skimmed over in this story and it kept if from being as good as I think it could have been.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars a voice teacher and early music fan who LOVES to read, November 8, 2008

By 

George Peabody "Ariel" (U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Angel's Pain (Wings in the Night) (Mass Market Paperback)

ANGEL'S PAIN BECAME MINE ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH THIS BOOK!
Gregor, a rogue vampire, is being pursued by so many people, mortals and vampires alike, that one tends to lose track of who and why. However, Briar and Reaper seem to be the main chasers, so we get to see and hear more about them than the others, and they are incredibly tiresome; especially Briar, who I began to detest early on in the book. While Reaper is passed off almost as if he were a Saint.

An then there is Crisa, who is somewhat retarded and apparently is the Angel of the title, only it doesn't become obvious until about half the book is read. The CIA (but of course 'my dahling')is involved and the already thick plot thickens further. I never really totally grasped the significance of the Vampire Gang that follows Reaper; like a bunch of 60's 'hippies'. Naturally it all comes out right in the end, but by the time I got there, I didn't care! I just gave myself a pat on the back for 'hanging in there'.

This is the first book that I have read by Maggie Shayne that I did not like, so I'll no doubt try the next one too!!!!