A classic never dies, but vampires are back in a big way. It’s always a puzzle to figure out how to blend vampires and humans on this earth, particularly in modern times. One of the most popular ways to do that is through a supernatural romance story.
Author Farahilda Winters has introduced readers to her own take on the genre in her novel, Midnight Kiss, part of her Bloodlines of Love series. Below is my review of Midnight Kiss followed by an interview with Winters below.
Midnight Kiss plot summary
Emily is working as a librarian in the rare books division of the New York Public Library when one night, she comes upon a journal from a French nobleman handwritten in blood. It’s the perfect resource for Emily who is in the process of writing a vampire novel. But the book acts as a beacon to actual vampires, including Alexander Knight, a member of the United Covens, or U.C., a vampire organization that protects the human race, but he’s also a former member of Sanguine Nox, a vampire organization that is out to destroy humans.
As Alex is tasked with retrieving the book, he and Emily form a bond that prevents him from carrying out his task. His hesitation attracts vampires from both organizations to Emily, and her increased exposure to the book puts her health in danger. As Alex and Emily’s romance develops, Alex is put in the terrible position of choosing love over duty, but Emily is also not who she seems, nor is she aware of her underlying power, and it may just be the key to saving her and allowing the two to be together.
The story
Midnight Kiss is a modern vampire tale with all of the usual supernatural romance tropes that readers would come to expect from the genre. There are ancient societies, mysterious pasts, and a normal, everyday heroine who becomes the eye of a supernatural storm of characters who will stop at nothing to get what they want.
The story is also a typical star-crossed romance. There’s the dark, brooding male protagonist who is both dangerous and protective. There’s the beautiful, naïve girl who seems completely unaware that she’s beautiful and naïve. And there’s a will they/won’t they quality to the story full of twists and turns that keeps you reading on to find out if the two will end up together – or even if they will survive to the final page.
Being a series, it’s safe to assume that this novel is only the beginning of Alex and Emily’s story. That being said, the book ends with a shocking cliffhanger that sets up the sequel and moves our characters into position for the next sequence of challenges and triumphs in their unorthodox romance.
The characters
The characters in this story are very cookie cutter, yet appropriate for the genre. Each chapter alternates between Alex and Emily’s point of view, and the chapters are kept short which makes for ideal pacing and a gradual unfolding of the story from the two very different perspectives.
I do wish that both Alex and Emily had a little more personality. Like most romance novels, the two seem to only be attracted to each other’s looks.
Emily has hints of some personality traits and backstory that I hope will be explored more, such as her pursuit of becoming a novelist and her childhood growing up in foster care after the death of her parents and her obsession with vampires which should give her more street smarts and knowledge of the issues she’s facing than she seems to have. Alex has an underlying strong moral compass that makes him trustworthy to the reader, even if Emily and her friends are unsure as to whether or not they can trust him, and I’d like to learn more about where that morality comes from.
Speaking of friends, I really like Emily’s group of supporting characters. From her neighbor, Michael, who crushes on her and keeps an eye on her from afar to her coworker, Jenna, and her roommate, Morgan, they help to heighten the stakes with their innocent ignorance.
On Alex’s end, there is a great group of villains to love to hate, from his current superiors at the U.C. to his former ones at Sanguine Knox. The most hateful of all, though, is his ex, Cassia, who is intent on furthering her rank in the U.C. by attempting to sabotage and eventually finish Alex’s job for him. The fact that they are all vampires too makes them extra dangerous and deadly, and they show their capabilities in the story’s action-packed climax.
My recommendation
I recommend Midnight Kiss to anyone looking for a short but sweet vampire novel that isn’t too graphic, either on the horror or romance front. It isn’t super original, but it hits all of the tropes that supernatural romance readers like to have in these types of stories, and the story isn’t padded with unnecessary fluff that slows it down. My interest was hooked from the beginning, and I remained engaged and entertained throughout this modern vampire tale.
My rating
An interview with Farahilda Winters
What advice do you have for writing a supernatural romance novel?
I’d say the most crucial element is creating a balanced supernatural world with clear rules that still allows for authentic emotional connection. With Midnight Kiss, I spent nearly as much time developing my vampire mythology and guardian bloodlines as I did crafting my characters’ emotional journeys.
My best advice is to ground your supernatural elements in something recognizable. I incorporated elements from real-world sanguinarian vampire communities and their “angel” donors to inform my guardian system. These real connections helped make the fantastical aspects feel more authentic.
Also, don’t be afraid to embrace classic tropes, but give them your unique twist. I deliberately incorporated the grumpy-sunshine dynamic and strangers-to-lovers progression, but the guardian-vampire bond adds complicated layers that push these familiar frameworks in new directions.
What vampire stories influenced this novel?
I was influenced by various sources, but I wanted to create something unique with the guardian bloodline concept. While classic works like Anne Rice’s vampires influenced the sensuality and moral complexity of my vampires, I was equally inspired by modern vampire communities that exist today – the sanguinarians and their willing donors.
For the mythology involving Lucifer and Michael, I wanted to ground vampire origins in a recognizable framework while putting my own spin on it. The idea that vampires were created by Lucifer while vampire hunters descend from Michael creates this eternal struggle that feels both ancient and relevant.
The United Covens were my attempt to move beyond the “good vampire” trope. I wanted an organization that has moral complexity – they’re protecting humans, yes, but they’re also using people like Alex as weapons and view guardians as resources to be controlled rather than people with agency.
The Elder’s obsession with his lost love was influenced by classic Gothic romance elements, but I twisted it into something more disturbing – his inability to truly let go becoming this grotesque mockery of love that drives his quest for power.
If you could be an original character in the novel, what group would you want to join, and how would you most like to influence the story?
I’d probably join the United Covens, but as one of those rare vampires questioning the ethics of their methods. The UC exists in this fascinating moral gray area – they’re opposing the subjugation of humans, which is good, but they’re also manipulating both vampires and guardians for their ends.
I’d want to possess unique abilities that let me see the past through touch – learning hidden truths about both covens that could potentially bridge understanding between vampires and hunters. I’d be someone who remembers the original purpose of guardians before knowledge was lost.
I’d most want to influence the story by helping Emily understand her true potential as a guardian without pushing her toward either coven’s agenda. The story desperately needs someone who values both human and vampire lives equally without ulterior motives.
If Midnight Kiss becomes a movie or TV show, who would you want to play the main characters?
For Alex, I think Nicholas Hoult would be perfect. He has that ability to be both intensely brooding and vulnerably charming when the walls come down. Plus, he’s already proven he can portray immortal beings with complex morality.
Emily would be wonderfully portrayed by Emma Stone. She can embody that quirky librarian energy while also having the emotional depth to show Emily’s trauma and growing strength as she discovers her guardian abilities.
For the Elder, I’d love Ralph Fiennes. He can deliver that terrifying calm that masks unhinged obsession, and he’d bring the necessary gravitas to a centuries-old vampire fixated on remaking the world.
Which chapters were your favorite to write: Alex’s or Emily’s? What are the pros and cons of writing from multiple points of view?
Alex’s chapters were often more satisfying to write because of the dramatic irony they created. I could show his internal struggle between duty and growing feelings while readers watched Emily fall for him without knowing his true nature. The vampire world was also incredibly fun to explore through his experienced eyes.
That said, Emily’s discoveries and growth were deeply rewarding to write. Her chapters in the latter half where she begins to unlock her guardian abilities and fight back were some of my favorite scenes in the entire book.
The biggest advantage of dual POV is showing both sides of a relationship where secrets and power imbalances exist. Readers get to experience Emily’s growing attraction alongside Alex’s guilt and conflict, creating a much richer emotional landscape than a single perspective could provide.
The challenge was maintaining tension when readers know more than the characters. I had to ensure Emily’s chapters remained compelling even when readers already knew about vampires through Alex’s POV. It was also tricky ensuring each voice remained distinct, especially since Alex is centuries old while Emily is thoroughly modern.
Do you have a favorite non-spoiler moment?
The cemetery walk date is definitely one of my favorites. There’s such beautiful tension in having Alex, a centuries-old vampire, walking among graves with Emily who’s innocently talking about her fascination with vampires. It encapsulates the dramatic irony running through the whole novel.
I also love the scene where Alex first feels protective of Emily when she’s attacked in the library. It’s this pivotal moment where his mission starts to derail because of genuine emotion – something he wasn’t prepared for after centuries of isolation.
The moments where Emily feels drawn to the book but physically ill around it were fascinating to write. I wanted that connection to feel visceral and almost like an addiction – something both irresistible and destructive that readers could feel through the page.
Who do you most want to read your book?
I wrote Midnight Kiss for readers who crave supernatural romance with substantial worldbuilding and emotional depth. While I incorporated popular tropes that perform well on BookTok and social media, I wanted the story to resonate beyond those hooks.
I particularly hope it reaches readers who enjoy moral complexity in their paranormal characters. Alex isn’t simply a “good vampire” – he’s someone who’s done terrible things and continues to make questionable choices even while falling for Emily.
Beyond vampire romance fans, I hope urban fantasy readers who appreciate detailed supernatural politics will discover the book.
What’s next for you?
I’m currently working on the fourth book in the series!
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