Midnight Labyrinth: An Elemental Legacy Novel

By: Elizabeth Hunter

Narrated by: Sean William Doyle

Length: 10 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's Summary

He's one human caught in a tangled maze of theft, politics, magic, and blood. In other words, it's just another night.

Benjamin Vecchio escaped a chaotic childhood and grew to adulthood under the protection and training of one of the Elemental world's most feared vampire assassins. He's traveled the world and battled immortal enemies.

But everyone has to go home sometime.

New York means new opportunities and allies for Ben and his vampire partner, Tenzin. It also means new politics and new threats. Their antiquities business is taking off, and their client list is growing. When Ben is challenged to find a painting lost since the second world war, he jumps at the chance. This job will keep him closer to home, but it might just land him in hot water with the insular clan of earth vampires who run Manhattan.

Tenzin knew the painting would be trouble before she laid eyes on it, but she can't deny the challenge intrigues her. Human laws mean little to a vampire with a few millennia behind her, and Tenzin misses the rush of taking what isn't hers.

But nothing is more dangerous than a human with half the story, and Ben and Tenzin might end up risking their reputations and their lives before they escape the Midnight Labyrinth.

Midnight Labyrinth is the first book in an all new contemporary fantasy series by Elizabeth Hunter, author of the Elemental Mysteries and the Irin Chronicles.

©2017 Elizabeth Hunter (P)2018 Elizabeth Hunter

Keeps You Guessing Whodunit - Loaded with Humor

I love the Elemental World Elizabeth Hunter created, first in Mysteries, then in World and now in Legacy. I am a very selective reader of fantasy. Much of it is too complicated. I get so bogged down in the world building and trying to keep track of who has what kinds of special powers, I lose track of the plot. But Hunter got her World right in her very first book, she added some unique twists to widely recognizable fantasy types, didn't over complicate it, made the characters engaging and entertaining and included libraries and books as central to the plot line. And the humor.

This is the 4th story in the Ben and Tenzin line, following the conception and launch of their lost artifacts recovery business. The only possible thing that could muddy up the Elemental Legacy series is the relationship between Ben and Tenzin. Hunter seems to realize this and while there is an attraction, she is proceeding cautiously so far. Seeing them as anything more than good friends, tempting as it sounds, might just hit the wrong note. The difference between them is so vast and the fact that she knew him when he was quite young, might make a relationship hard to swallow. Not sure why I feel that way.

This was a great plot, it kept me guessing, the mystery and the planning kept me engaged. As usual, there was lots of humor. I wish some of the other characters from prior books were more involved. I really liked the introduction of Ben's high school sweetheart. Her budding friendship with Tenzin and relationship with Gavin was great. I hope she shows up in future books.

I still miss Dina Pearlman narrating these books. But Sean William Doyle does a good job.

good book

the hashtag metoo bit that dragged on for 5 chapters too long dropped it 1.5 stars.

Dang that was excellent!

Ben & Tenzin stories never fail to entertain and leave the readers/audiobook listeners begging for more. The characters are brilliantly written and the story executed perfectly. The reader/listener is provided suspense, a couple of love interests, a heist, domestic violence, vampire politics, deception that will likely leave one main character hesitant to start future relationships, and a gauranteed good read that you will wish to finish in one setting. I love Chloe & Gavin as a couple too! Awesome work! The narrator did an excellent job with providing distinct voices for each character, tone inflections, & speed of reading.

Just the beginning!

The taste of Ben and Tenzin’s future relationship was what I needed. I love these stories, so much. Tenzin has always been my favorite vampire. And her own story brings me into depression when I read/listen. But throw some Ben in there and we spice it all up! My only complaint while listening, was the narrator. Every single time he pronounced Emilie’s name, it sounded like “Amy Lee” and I wanted to stab a fork in my ear. I couldn’t stand it. I found myself focusing so much on it bothering me, that I couldn’t wait for it to be done with. And that made me sad, because EH is my favorite writer and I have spent so much money on these books in every form. Audio happens to be my preferred medium, because of driving, housework, etc. But dang, I probably won’t re-listen to this one.

Expectations

The narrator kept interest in what is already a well written story. The romantic relationship I expected to hear more about did not occur. A small number of inferences and a very minute action scene with the main characters still left the reader questioning if a relationship would take place. Apparently this will be another series exploring relationships.

Looovvveee this entire series.

i love every single book in this series. its a series that I will read again and again. i cant wait for the next book.

One of my favorites

This is one of my favorite books by my very favorite author Elizabeth Hunter. I have read book multiple times but this was my first time to listen to it on Audible . I really enjoyed it! It made the story really come alive for me!

I love Benzin

I have to be honest. I'm partial to Dina Pearlman, she really brings the characters to life. Sean is good but I don't feel myself being pulled in like I am with Dina. The story is great, and I'll surely get the next one regardless of who narrate it.

Tenzin and Ben in the Big Apple

Ben finds himself falling for a beautiful maiden in distress, one who comes with a mystery and of course something worth a lot of $$. Tenzin is there creating chaos and being the best pain-in-the-ass anyone could ask for and we love her for it.
This book is definitely a page turner or at least one that I couldn't stop listening to. There is an introduction of a new assistant in this book so we can look forward to more interesting ways this character will be used in up coming stories. I believe Ms. Hunter said there are going to be 5 Ben& Tenzin stories. I hope there will be much more. MORE Please, I love these stories!

So fun

Great story great characters great reading!! I plan to buy all of the books in this series. Y’all should too.

Another Priceless Adventure with Ben and Tenzin!

I'm already a fan of Elizabeth Hunter's books. Her characters are fantastic creations, even the paranormal ones feel believable. I think her plots are always intelligent and well written, they're the perfect balance of action and mystery, with a good sprinkling of humour.

Sean William Doyle is a new-to-me narrator. I liked the pace at which he read the story and the emotions he conveyed in the different scenes. It seems to be a tricky task for male narrators to do different voices for multiple female characters. I was a bit confused during the various conversations between Tenzin, Chloe and Amelie. However, Sean's accent for rogue Scottish vampire, Gavin... mmm. ;-)

Ben and Tenzin are a couple of my favourite characters and have found a place in my heart since meeting them in Elizabeth's Elemental Mysteries series. However, Elizabeth hasn't rested on her laurels; Ben and Tenzin continue to evolve and grow during this series.

Midnight Labyrinth is the first novel in the Elemental Legacy series. However, it's also a part of a well-established world, do I think you need to have read other books to appreciate this one? Possibly. However, I do feel that if you haven't read any of Elizabeth's Elemental books before now, then you are missing a literary treasure.

Great story but marred by narrator

Great story but was ruined by the terrible attempts at accents by the narrator. I like the narrative on previous Elemental books by Sean William Doyle but listening to "Gavin" was cringe worthy (I live in Scotland) as for Italian I actually laughed out loud, I don't think that was what the author was aiming for. Why aren't narrator's auditioned for accents with a story?