The Prince of Midnight

By: Laura Kinsale

Narrated by: Nicholas Boulton

Length: 15 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

He was once a legendary highwayman. Now he's a recluse in a ruined French castle, with only a half-wild wolf for a companion. When Lady Leigh Strachan comes looking for a man to aid in her revenge, she's disillusioned to find that the famed Prince of Midnight couldn't help even if he cared to - which he doesn't. S. T. Maitland wants nothing to do with his legend, or with this fierce, beautiful, broken woman... until the old thrill of living on the cutting edge of danger begins to rise in his blood again.

Laura Kinsale personally chose the exceptional talent of Nicholas Boulton to narrate The Prince of Midnight as a fully voiced audiobook, creating a unique work that brings all the life and color of the original to audio.

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Adventure and Love

This is the second time I listened to this book.
I learn more about the struggles of life in the characters.
I would recommend this book.
The narrative was great!

Wonderful Compelling Romance

The Prince of Midnight is one of the best romantic dramas I have listened to in a long time. The narration was superb. The main characters are endearing--flawed with human weaknesses that make them even more appealing. The wolf, Nemo, will melt your heart with his playfulness and devotion. Worth more than a 5 star rating. Great book.

One of my FAVORITES! Narration is BRILLIANT!

You cannot go wrong with any of Laura Kinsale's novels. This one happens to be one of my favorites though. I think the interactions the character has with all the animals is what endears it to me the most. As always, an epic and adventurous story by Miss Kinsale and brilliant narration by Mr. Boulton. Loved it!!!

AN INTENSE, WONDERFUL STORY!

I have been late to the Laura Kinsale “party,” (since this is only the 2nd book of hers that I’ve read), but I’m so glad I made it, because her writing is quite beautiful and just superb. In addition, paired with the magic of narrator, Nicholas Boulton, this audiobook is an experience you don’t want to miss.

The hero, S.T. Maitland lives in a secluded castle in France with his only companion being that of a lone wolf, and has left behind his life as a notorious highwayman and his legend as the “Prince of Midnight.” Yet, it is precisely this very same legend, that Lady Leigh Strachan has sought after to aide her in the revenge of the death of her parents, and sisters back in England. Lady Leigh Strachan is a survivor, and has not given herself time to mourn her family. She is a woman on a mission, who is skilled, has good instincts, but is very guarded. She doesn’t have room for nonsense, incompetency, and love is the farthest thing on her mind. Yet when she finally comes face to face with the Prince of Midnight, she has discovered not the legend, but a shadow of that man; and, a man who has a keen and romantic interest in her. To her chagrin, he follows her back to England, despite the reward for his capture. And this journey back to Leigh’s hometown promises to be a life changing experience for the both of them!

I really loved the chemistry between the two. These are two very strong, mature leads, who feel real because of their compelling backgrounds, resourcefulness, and they push forward as they grow in depth throughout this story.

I loved the hero, S.T., and his amazing wolf! S.T. is definitely the more mature and emotionally healthy of the two, and his wolf is such a faithful, remarkable side-kick.
S.T. strives to hold on to his dignity and pride despite having some hearing loss and suffering from vertigo. He is a charmer, tender-hearted, intelligent and brave. And, his endurance and perseverance is exactly what Lady Leigh needs, even though she doubts him many times. This aspect makes Leigh not so easy to like,---What wounded, traumatized person is? Leigh is mean to S.T., there’s just no getting around that. Yet, when she revealed the way her family was targeted and slowly taken out, it chilled me to the bone. I assumed it was bad, but when she tells the story, the evil and sinister movement that infected her community was worse than I anticipated. You have to keep this in mind throughout the novel because, if not, you may feel very frustrated with Leigh.

Thankfully, both S.T. and Leigh make it through EVERY struggle and hardship they face. Through a steady flow of FANTASTIC suspense, great action and many twists and turns, Kinsale gives her readers a wonderfully, triumphant ending.

S.T. never gave up on Leigh and he became her champion of justice and the love of her life. By the way, loved the epilogue! It was a delightful treat! This is an intense read, but delivers on all fronts!

Another WOW from this author/narrator combo!

As so many others have stated, amazing book and narration. For some reason I took a break halfway through this audio book. I think the female was hard to like, as others have said. But then when I did start the second half, I was so glad to finish it. Thinking about the time period for this book, all the horrendous things she had seen, as the book progressed her character became so much more real. This author has a true gift for describing real, flawed people and how they live life in spite of those flaws. So true for both Leigh and S.T. So many great subplots that kept things lively. And the wolf, the horses and their training, all of it, just can't say enough good things about it. Hope there are more from Kinsale and Boulton, this narrator is absolutely the best I've heard.

A Standing Ovation for The Prince of Midnight

Applause! Applause! Applause!

The Prince of Midnight by Laura Kinsale has moved to the top of my list for
Favorite Historical Romance...

This lovely, enchanting romance completely captivated me from page one.
It is an exceptional story with a collection of well developed, deep, full characters, who are brought together by circumstances that bring out their best and worst qualities, complimenting strengths and weaknesses in detail. Wow!

I LOVE Nicholas Boulton as the narrator. His rich baritone voice is mesmerizing.
Couple his tone with his many accents, and languages and you have nothing less than perfection!

This is a must listen...Absolutely Credit Worthy!

Nicholas Boulton is a narrating god

What made the experience of listening to The Prince of Midnight the most enjoyable?

I didn't realize how easy it was to listen to Nicholas Boulton narrate The Prince of Midnight. Laura Kinsale delivers another great story, although this one is not my favorite, and I find that I liked her other book Flowers from the Storm much more so than this. Perhaps it's the fact that I just want reach across the pages and shake Lee to death because I really couldn't understand her hot and cold-ness with T.S. But honestly, I can listen to Boulton read law books and I'll still probably enjoy it. The quality and the performance of this audio book is so much better than anything else I've ever listened to in audiobook format, it is the gold standard of voice performance. The story was very entertaining, but nothing ruins a good story like an annoying, obtuse heroine.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Least interesting had to be anything to do with Lee. If it wasn't for how fantastic T.S. is in this book, I would have not been able to finish the story.

Which scene was your favorite?

When T.S. saves Dove and meets up with Lee.

Any additional comments?

Nicholas Boulton, I love you.

Such an unusual romance!

This book is so very moving. It particularly grabs me because of the insight into the highwayman MC’s character and motivations and self-delusions. But OMG, so much angst! Much more than I would normally endure.
Partly I got hooked because I identified madly. A lifelong reader, I started listening to audiobooks following a concussion that permanently left me with frequent dizziness and an inability to read words on the page for any length of time, or to concentrate on nonfiction audiobooks. This novel opens with the male MC suffering from dizziness and balance problems due to deafness in one ear, a condition that leaves him considering himself a has-been. But perhaps many romance readers could identify something that’s disappointing about themselves in the face of a still youthful and longing and even a little quixotic heart within, and feel a similar pull toward both this touchingly complex character and the brave, fiercely honest female MC.
And I dare you not to be enchanted by their relationships with the animals in the book, each of whom are wonderful characters all their own. (CW: All animals are rescued and end up OK, But there is one difficult scene involving mistreatment.)
The plot involving the villain is OTT and not my favorite part of the book except in the ways that it develops the characters. If you can get through the angst and suspense, everything turns out OK in the end, And some of the intervening awful and apparently hopeless situations are resolved quite quickly.
I subtracted one star for the epilogue. The penultimate chapter has a great closing line and I wish that had been the end of the book. If you just want to know that all ends well, you can probably listen to the first Two minutes of the epilogue and be more than content. If OTOH you go in for unexpected fairy tale endings (for me disappointing in this book where balancing moonshine with earthiness is a major theme of the book) and want to enjoy a gratuitous and unlikely sex scene to boot, then the rest of the epilogue is there for you!

The Romantic Hero You Never Knew You Were Missing

In a grand departure from the stoic or reluctant heroes, S. T. Maitland is a dashing romantic hero whose greatest flaw is that he loves all women! Lady Leigh Strachan is a practical, methodical and level-headed lady who wants nothing to do with the fantastical world that the legendary Prince of Midnight is determined to draw her into.

Nicholas Bolton is absolutely superb, the voices, the accents, the acting - oh, be still my heart...

There is a particular scene with a stolen horse and feigned roaring drunk that will have you laughing out loud.

Laura Kinsale is by far my favorite historic romance novelist. I love every single one of her books, this one is just special. Sweet, tender, funny... worthy of a credit!

Not Your Ordinary Romance Novel!

I was so angry reading this book, not at the author but at the characters. What a weak man and a b------chy woman. I'd never put up with that kind of treatment or behavior.

Yes, these characters are so human and so layered, you feel like you know them and dislike or like them. This was a real departure from the cardboard characters I've read about in most romance novels. The protagonist isn't some pretty, frail woman with a smart mouth or a bad temper that she has to explain or suppress at the last moment, she is a bitter, mean young lady who you truly may dislike. I did. However, we see behind all the cruel words and weaknesses that flaw these characters.

I truly recommend this audio book. The writing is great and the narration excellent.