Hunter is a trained killer who was bred for the sole purpose of destroying the Order, a group of Breed vampire warriors who protect civilians from Rogues. Having escaped and joined the Order to help stop his evil creator Dragos from his quest for world domination, Hunter's current task is to protect the beautiful Corinne. Corinne was held captive by Dragos, brutalized and tortured for over 75 years. Now all she wants to do is go home, and Hunter is there to make sure is delivered safely. When things start to go wrong, the two find themselves relying on each other and developing feelings that neither dreamed possible. But Hunter's duty may require him to do something that will shatter Corinne's trust in him forever.

Long-time readers of Lara Adrian's Midnight Breed series will not be disappointed with DEEPER THAN MIDNIGHT, the ninth installment in the series. Many have been anticipating Hunter's story since he was introduced several books ago, and it was well worth the wait. Having been raised for the sole purpose of killing, it's hard to imagine that Hunter could be more than an unfeeling fighting machine. Adrian does an outstanding job of showing how he grows and develops in his new found freedom. He finds an unlikely mate in the also recently free Corinne. She is able to trust and desire Hunter despite all the years she spent being brutally raped and beaten. It is an amazing and beautiful love story between a woman who has been abused for most of her life and a man who was never allowed to feel at all.

In addition to the love story, DEEPER THAN MIDNIGHT brings us deeper into the Breed world and the danger that exist within it. The storyline of the evil Dragos, who is set on world domination, has been building almost from the beginning of the series, and this book takes it to the next level. New readers may not want to jump in here since the plot could be a little confusing without having read prior books, but devotees who have been reading from book one will find themselves on the edge of their seats. As you near the end of the book you'll find yourself wondering how Adrian can possibly wrap everything up in such a short time, and the answer is she doesn't. She leaves things hanging and perfectly set up for the next book, which isn't due out until 2012. That's a long, cruel wait for serious fans of this dark, intriguing series that just keeps getting better and better.