Review: Gideon by Jacquelyn Frank

Gideon by Jacquelyn Frank

Series: The Nightwalkers #2

Publication date: June 1st, 2007

Pages: 337

Synopsis (according to Goodreads):

They're called the Nightwalkers--proud, ancient beings who live in the shadows, existing just beyond the human world. But there are also dangerous humans who hunt them--necromancers who use the blackest magic to manipulate them. And for a Demon named Gideon, the battle against these evil forces will soon be all too personal...

AS A HEALER, HE KNOWS HER BODY. BUT IT'S HER HEART HE WANTS.

For a thousand years, Gideon has healed his people. And as the oldest surviving male of his race, his wisdom has always been respected without question. But Gideon knows that even he is vulnerable to the powerful, primitive desires that befall his kind during Hallowed moons--and nine years ago that truth was hammered home when he found himself claiming Magdalegna, the Demon King's sister, in a wild embrace. Horrified by his lack of control, he left her wanting and furious--and then exiled himself for the better part of a decade. Now, with necromancers threatening his people--and Magdalegna nearly their victim--Gideon must face another truth. He and the beautiful, stubborn Magdalegna are destined to be together, to share a love as deep and old as time itself. But first he needs to regain her trust. Then he'll have to save her life...

Every night holds secrets.

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Review:

After being exposed to Jacquelyn Frank's world of fabulous fantasy in Jacob, I found myself absolutely ravenous for the next installment in the book. So, I took myself down to my local used bookstore (that also happens to be my work) and bought out the entire Nightwalkers series. That's right, I am hooked. I met Gideon a bit in the first book, but was curious to see how this closed off man who had a distinct air of snobbery could ever allow himself to find a place not just in the Demon society but in the heart of the female. I had to find out.

Gideon is the oldest of his kind. The oldest surviving demon. He has been Siddah (essentially godparent) to countless demon fledglings, including the race's very own king, Noah. He is astute at being a fundamentalist. He knows how to act and what to do in certain situations, but he is not well versed in how to interact with others. The people around him that are supposed to love and respect him only seem to fear him. They think he has gone mad after locking himself away for 8 years with no public interaction. He only came out of hibernation after Jacob was injured. He had no choice but to start to face the world he had long since abandoned. And that includes the woman he abandoned too.

Legna knew Gideon as nothing more than an Ancient demon. She respected him as she was supposed to be she couldn't hide the frustration and hurt she also felt whenever he entered the same room as her. It was before his 8 year hiatus that he and her had shared a passionate encounter to which he ended quickly and retreated. Only a year after abandoning her to her ruminations on what went wrong, Gideon was caught stalking a human female and was swiftly brought to justice by Jacob, the Enforcer. People believe he left the public eye because of humiliation, but Legna suspects its her fault entirely.

Gideon and Legna know there is some draw they both have for each other but the distance in their ages and Gideon's social retardation keeps them apart. It is up to Legna to see if she can teach the elder how to once more feel and experience the world she so adores.

When I met Gideon in the first book, I didn't care for him. I felt he was one of those older characters who think they know everything and everyone else is just simpering idiots. After his snarky ways with Isabella I was ready to write him off entirely. It did not stop me from grabbing this book and hoping for the best. I am extremely glad I did. Gideon really altered my perception of him. I saw behind the mask that was plastered across the pages of Jacob and learned of Gideon's pain and the role he has to play as the oldest of their kind. I also got to know Legna a bit more and she was just as delightful as I first thought she would be.

The love entanglement between Legna and Gideon had a lot more bumps along the road than the first couple. I liked the fact that Frank maintained her poetic sonnets of love when Gideon and Legna spoke to each other, but also found a way to bring humor to situations. In one such instance, Gideon was discussing how he hadn't felt attracted to a woman in quite some time, Legna replied that she did not want to know about it if it happened within the last 1,000 years (how old Gideon is). Gideon feigned innocence and replied, "Did I mention I was a virgin?" I had a good giggle and the reservations about Gideon as a character were long gone.

Gideon is the second installment in a fantastic series of the love shared between creatures of the night. Even the boogymen of lore needs a little lovin'.