Night Vision (Indigo Court #4) by Yasmine Galenorn
Urban Fantasy
July 2, 2013
Berkley

Reviewed by Tori

Favorite Quote: “Life is often an illusion, Cicely. Illusion that is very real, very strong, but still-place the right amount of force on the right spot and it breaks.“

Night Vision, the fourth installment of Yasmine Galenorn’s dark and sensual fae fantasy, picks up right where Night Seeker ended.  Well-plotted and cast with characters that are strong and personable, Night Vision is filled with taut suspense, delicious intrigue, and dangerous antagonists. While Night Seeker was the turning point of the series; very physical and action packed, Night Vision is the emotional aftermath. Galenorn spends more than half the book addressing the emotional changes Cicely is experiencing as she takes her place as the Queen Of Winter.  We are taken deep into Cicely’s psyche as she struggles to overcome her fears of the future and her sorrow at what she is losing.  A strong storyline with captivating subplots further drives this story towards the finale as Cicely, her wounded prince, and an obsessed vampire all fight for what they want.

Ms. Galenorn continues to evolve and strengthen her convoluted world with her own fascinating twists on supernatural mythology that first started in Night Veil.  Detailed descriptions and scenes define this installment as Cicely meets the Winter Court and learns what will be expected of her as Queen. There is no turning back for her or Rhiannon. The arc remains a subtle presence as long running open storylines are finally closed for good. Galenorn is preparing for the end, leaving clues that will have long time readers wondering how she can end this series with our hearts in tact. The world continues to blend carnal passions, electrifying action, dynamic characters, and stark reality into a sensuous feast for the senses.  Well plotted, it creates a satisfying development for the main characters and culminates in two very different sort of conflicts that will be decided in the final book.

I continue to enjoy Cicely Waters as a character. Loyal, intelligent, and strong willed, she has made choices that many would balk at making yet she made them without batting an eye.  A perfect heroine whose strong moral code that shines against the manipulations of those around her. Born to a drug user with no knowledge of her father, her survival on the streets made her into the warrior we see before us. Her maturity has grown throughout the series, though she still has a vulnerable side that preserves her humanity.  We continue to share an intimate connection with Cicely as her pain, her sorrow, and her triumphs become our own. It has been an exciting ride as we have watched her grow from a solitary figure to having friends, family, and a lover. She is still scared but she has learned to trust in herself and others.  She has finally reached the point where she can share her life freely with her lover, Grieve,  but her association with the Vampire Court will continue to shadow her.

Grieve and Lannan are the two men who are integral parts of Cicely’s life. Grieve, a former Fae Prince of Summer, has been a part of Cicely’s life since she was a little girl. Past installments show us that they are actually old souls who cheated death and found a way to reunite. Grieve’s love for Cicely is a physical entity. Their chemistry burns the pages with each small moment they are able to steal. Lannan, on the other hand, is a sado masochist vampire whose obsession with Cicely has only brought pain to their relationship. Cicely originally signed a contract with the Crimson Court and Lannon for help, but her rise to royalty dissolved the contract and left Lannon angry over the circumstances. In Night Seeker, she and Lannan formed a tentative truce that is reinforced in here, leaving us to wonder what new position he will hold in her life.

The cast of supporting characters are a vivid and dynamic group. Each one fully capable of holding their own story. I like that each have distinct, separate personalities and substories; ensuring they are never overwhelmed by our protagonists. The main conflict of the story is a whirlwind of intrigue, tension, and action,  though for me it was short and I wish the two storylines had balanced better. As I stated earlier, more than half the book is spent watching Cicely and Rhiannon (to a much smaller extent), take the thrones and I felt the in depth descriptions and internal thoughts dragged the story down in certain areas. I also wish sometimes we could see other POVs besides Cicely’s. I would pay big money to know where Lannan is emotionally right now.

Regardless of my small issues, Yasmine Galehorn’s Indigo Court series is an addictive heady noir urban fantasy that stretches all your boundaries. I highly recommend. I am looking forward to Night’s End, set to release in July 2014, though I am sad this is the final book of series.

Overall Rating: B

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