Midnight (The Vampire Diaries: The Return #3) by L. J. Smith

SUMMARY (from Goodreads): Elena returns from the Dark Dimension, having freed her vampire boyfriend Stefan Salvatore from imprisonment... but not without consequence. His salvation will demand a high price. Whilst still reeling from this latest shock, they are forced to confront the demons that have taken over Fell's Church.

MY OPINION:

The rule for this series is: expect the unexpected, and Midnight does not fail this rule. Its dynamic plot pulls the reader into a whirlpool of astonishing worlds and both horrific and wonderful experiences.

The characters reveal yet new sides while maintaining their core features. The relationship between them tangle some more, untangle, and then tangle again.

The clash between good and evil is epic and complicated. As it is common in the series there is always a bigger villain from the one you think. Shinichi has some big surprises up his sleeve, and I felt a little sorry even for him in the end. The good guys have secrets of their own, and some of those are not pleasant at all. This complexity of characters is what makes this series ever fresh and compelling.

My main complaint about this book is again the writing, which I would like a little less rushed. Some transitions could also be done somewhat more coherently to clear some confusing spots. The writing is basically the only thing that takes that half a star away.  

The plot unravels spectacularly, and the ending is as enticing as ever, providing a lot of potential for the continuation of the series. Although I think Alloy's firing L. J. Smith was unfair to her, I will continue reading the series, which will be taken forward by a ghost-writer. I hope the ghost-writer keeps the good things that L. J. Smith established – a gripping, unpredictable plot and fabulous characters, and improves the shortcomings – mainly too jumpy writing. 

I am certainly looking forward Phantom, the promising title of which is already making me speculate about its content. I hope it will be as surprising and familiar at the same time as the series so far.  

RECOMMENDATION: Midnight is an exciting ending of The Vampire Diaries: The Return trilogy, and the fans of the series will surely do not want to miss it.