Title:  Bite Club

Author:  Rachel Caine

ISBN: 978-0451233189

Pages: 352

Release Date: May 3, 2011

Publisher: New American Library

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Source: Borrowed from a friend

Rating:  4.0/5

Summary:

College student Claire Danvers discovers that an extreme sport pitting vampire against vampire–and sometimes vampire against human–is being broadcast on the internet from Morganville, Texas.

Review:

I finished reading Bite Club only seconds ago. I wanted to make sure that I wrote the review while the excitement was still fresh in my mind. I didn’t want to have to go through it again to check details and maybe have my first impression altered.

First I have to say that it took me two tries to get into his book.  The fact that some is told from Shane’s point of view threw me right off at the beginning and I went to go read something else for a bit to clear my mind. This afternoon I picked it back up and it should be quite telling that it is now after 11 pm and I’m up and writing this review. All right, reading that, I realize that 11 pm is not that big a deal for most of my readers, but keep in mind that I have a 16-month old baby who still wakes up twice in the night – every night.

After coming back to it, I loved this book.  I took a mark off because I couldn’t get into it at first, but my second attempt had me hooked. I found myself anxiously waiting to see what would happen to Shane and Claire’s relationship, even though I’m not a huge Shane/Claire fan to begin with. It’s not that I’m necessarily a Myrnin/Claire fan either, but something about Shane makes me feel uneasy.  I think that feeling was justified in this novel.

I’m very happy that I can hearily recommend this book.  It’s really hard to say any negative things about a book in a series by an author that you normally enjoy reading.  I’ve developed a real appreciation for reviewers in the last few weeks.  It’s one thing to read a book simply for enjoyment and then be able to put it down without thinking, but a completely different endeavour when you have to analyze it and critique it, knowing that the author may read what you’ve written.

Title:  Ghost Town

Author:  Rachel Caine

ISBN:  9780451231611

Pages:  338

Release Date:  October 26, 2010

Publisher:  NAL Hardcover

Genre:  Urban Fantasy

Source:  Library

Rating:  3.5/5

Summary:

While developing a new system to maintain Morganville’s defenses, student Claire Danvers discovers a way to amplify vampire mental powers. Through this, she’s able to re-establish the field around this vampire-infested Texas college town that protects it from outsiders.

But the new upgrades have an unexpected consequence: people inside the town begin to slowly forget who they are-even the vampires. Soon, the town’s little memory problem has turned into a full-on epidemic. Now Claire needs to figure out a way to pull the plug on her experiment- before she forgets how to save Morganville…

Review:

Some days I’m just not sure why I like these books. That may be a confusing opening to a review, but it’s really how I feel – just sort of ambiguous about the whole series. The book starts with a series of unrelated events, we eventually hit the main plot, and those events have sort of brought us to the conclusion, but the way they were written into the story feels like they were an afterthought written in to conveniently tie up the rest.

THAT being said, I still really liked this book. I finished it feeling satisfied and didn’t feel any of the annoyance until I went back through it to write the review. I think that might be my key issue here – upon first read, these books are enjoyable, but I don’t think they’d be ones I could read over and over. It might be fine if I gave it a few years in between readings, but not while the stories are still fresh in my mind.

What I loved about this book – and despite what I wrote above, make no mistake that there’s parts I loved – was the interaction between Claire and Myrnin. It’s such a complex relationship – filled with respect, humour, and the always present danger (and let’s never forget the bunny slippers with fangs).

**Be warned, I wrote this review on a weekend while I had the stomach flu – may have affected my outlook.**

Title:  Kiss of Death

Author:  Rachel Caine

ISBN:  978-0451229731

Pages:  256

Release Date:  April 27, 2010

Publisher:  Signet

Genre:  Urban Fantasy

Source:  Library

Rating:  4.5/5

Summary:

Vampire musician Michael Glass has attracted the attention of a big-time producer who wants to cut a demo and play some gigs – which means Michael will have to enter the human world. For this, he’s been assigned escorts that include both a dangerous immortal as well as Michael’s all-too-human friends. And with that mix of personalities, this is going to be a road trip from hell…

Review:

I love a good road trip story! Seeing the crew get out of Morganville really highlighted to me the extent of their isolation from the outside world. Claire might be new to the vampire-ridden town, and Shane may have escaped for a few years, but for Michael and Eve, this is their first foray beyond the city limits. To top keep them from enjoying their freedom, they’re assigned a babysitter in the form of the-never-know-what-to-expect Oliver.

I can truly say that this story sucked me in (no pun intended, I swear) and kept me reading right through to the end with as few interruptions as I could manage. Getting the action to move outside of Morganville for a change was justbthe change of pace that the series needed.

My only issue with this book is that the story didn’t seem to be quite as cohesive as Caine’s other books in the series. In fact I think I was more than 50% through before I felt like I had reached the main plot behind the story. Despite that, the story kept me captivated right until the end.

Title:  Fade Out

Author:  Rachel Caine

ISBN:  978-0451228666

Pages:  256

Release Date:  November 3, 2009

Publisher:  Signet

Genre:  Urban Fantasy

Source:  Library

Rating:  4.0/5

Summary:

Without the evil vampire Bishop ruling over the town of Morganville, the resident vampires have made major concessions to the human population. With their newfound freedoms, Claire Danvers and her friends are almost starting to feel comfortable again…

Now Claire can actually concentrate on her studies, and her friend Eve joins the local theatre company. But when one of Eve’s castmates goes missing after starting work on a short documentary, Eve suspects the worst. Claire and Eve soon realize that this film project, whose subject is the vampires themselves, is a whole lot bigger-and way more dangerous-than anyone suspected.

Review:

After my so-so review of the last book, Carpe Corpus, I was happy to realize that in Fade Out I was getting back into the world of Morganville. I don’t think I’m all the way in yet, but I’m still enjoying the series. I’m especially glad that Bishop is out of the picture – I really hated that guy. I think my big problem is that I like a bad guy I can relate to a little bit, and in Fade Out, we get that.

I got some good giggles out of this book. Absurdity abounds in Morganville and a semi-insane vampire running around in bunny slippers with fangs epitomizes what I really enjoy about this series. Oliver playing a major part in a theatre production also tickled me.

As usual, Claire is dodging death throughout this book.  It’s a lucky thing that she’s so smart – she barely has time to run to class in between attempts on her life.  When Eve’s friend Kim goes missing, I was sure that it was the work of one of the usual suspects – after all, she had been doing a film project digging into the pasts of the vampires of Morganville. Caine managed to keep me guessing until the end and I really enjoyed the conclusion.

This book is a great addition to the series and I can’t wait to read the next one – Kiss of Death.

Title:  Carpe Corpus

Author:  Rachel Caine

ISBN:  978-0451227195

Pages:  256

Release Date:  June 2, 2009

Publisher: Signet

Genre:  Urban Fantasy

Source:  Library

Rating:  3.5/5

Summary:

In the small college town of Morganville, vampires and humans lived in (relative) peace-until all the rules got rewritten when the evil vampire Bishop arrived, looking for the lost book of vampire secrets. He’s kept a death grip on the town ever since. Now an underground resistance is brewing, and in order to contain it, Bishop must go to even greater lengths. He vows to obliterate the town and all its inhabitants-the living and the undead. Claire Danvers and her friends are the only ones who stand in his way. But even if they defeat Bishop, will the vampires ever be content to go back to the old rules, after having such a taste of power?

Review:

This is a really great work of Young Adult fiction.  Author Rachel Caine has created a diverse cast of young (and some not so young) characters who somehow manage to keep going with all of the tragedy and weirdness that abounds in Morganville.  That being said, why did I give it only three and a half stars?  Well, this was my first attempt at going back to a series that I remember loving in 2010.  That first go-round I listened to the audio book version and I don’t remember it’s being so … young adult. A lot of the paranormal fiction that I read is classified as young adult, but this series doesn’t appeal to the adult part of me nearly so well.  Maybe it’s the fact that the main characters are still teenagers, dealing with teenage issues at the same time they’re fighting for their lives.  I don’t miss the gratuitous sex scenes that are so common in the Adult Paranormal fiction (it’s just not my thing and I normally skim through it to get back to the story), so don’t think I’m missing the point that it’s supposed to be teen-friendly. I just felt somehow, especially at the beginning, that I was having a hard time relating as well to these character as I do to those in other books.

That being said, my absolute favourite character in this series is Myrnin, who I always wonder if he’s finally going to snap and kill everyone around him, or if he’s really just pretending and is just a teddy bear at heart.  I have a hard time with the character of Monica Morrell though – she is just so EVIL. The girl sets a fire that kills a girl and then has no trouble trying again and again to kill Claire throughout the series. Intellectually I know she must be a psychopath, and lord knows, growing up in Morganville could do that to a person, but people like her are so rare in the world (especially in young girls) that I cringe inside whenever she enters a scene.

I haven’t said much about Claire, the main character. Claire is okay. I think her housemates are far more interesting, and I’m sure that Rachel Caine has written them that way. After all, Claire was born and raised outside of Morganville, and hey, having an out-of-this-world IQ isn’t that staggeringly normal.

This review has mostly been about the series as a whole, rather than the specific book, because I was really ready for the Bishop storyline to be over. I really look forward to the next book in the series Fade Out, and I think I’ll be in a better frame of mind to appreciate it as it’s meant to be appreciated.

Title:  Kitty Goes to War

Author:  Carrie Vaughn

ISBN:   9780765365613

Pages:  334

Release Date:  June 22, 2010

Publisher:  Tor Books

Genre:  Urban Fantasy

Source:  I own it

Rating:  5.0/5

Summary:

Kitty Norville, Alpha werewolf and host of The Midnight Hour, a radio call-in show, is contacted by a friend at the NIH’s Center for the Study of Paranatural Biology. Three Army soldiers recently returned from the war in Afghanistan are being held at Ft. Carson in Colorado Springs.  They’re killer werewolves–and post traumatic stress has left them unable to control their shape-shifting and unable to interact with people.  Kitty agrees to see them, hoping to help by bringing them into her pack.

Meanwhile, Kitty gets sued for libel by CEO Harold Franklin after featuring Speedy Mart–his nationwide chain of 24-hour convenience stores with a reputation for attracting supernatural unpleasantness–on her show.

Very bad weather is on the horizon.

Review:

Author Carrie Vaughn handles the sensitive topic of Post-Traumatic-Stress Disorder with sensitivity and humour. Kitty, having recently gone through her own war zone in the mountains of Colorado, is in a good position to sympathize with the unique issues that her werewolf brethren are going through upon their return from Afghanistan.

This is one of the last books I bought before switching over to a tablet. I didn’t get to it until only recently (being amazed by the sheer number of books I can fit onto my tablet and the convenience of carrying it around with me) and it felt strange to hold a paper book in my hands once again. I know some people are going to assume that I missed that feeling, but honestly … I didn’t. I have chronic pain in my hands and wrists and holding open a book and physically turning pages hurt too much to do a lot of reading in the evenings. I’m really glad that my library lends out ebooks now, because that will make my reading life much easier.

But back to the book at hand – literally for now.  Besides the chronic pain, I had a hard time putting this book down. Something with Carrie Vaughn’s style just captures my attention and holds it. I really wanted to know what was going to happen to these soldiers. Would they ever be able to get a handle on their warewolf side and be able to re-enter human society?

The parallel plot line of Speedy Mart mogul Harold Franklin’s unnatural interest in Kitty got my mind whirling with the possibilities of conspiracies and intrigue. I can’t wait to see where the possibilities introduced by Vaughn in this story go on from here!

Title:  Kitty’s House of Horrors

Author:  Carrie Vaughn

ISBN:  9780446199551

Pages:  292

Release Date:  January 1, 2010

Publisher:  Grand Central Publishing

Genre:  Urban Fantasy

Source:  Library

Rating:  5.0/5

Summary:

In the seventh entry in Carrie Vaughn’s bestselling Kitty Norville series, a publicity stunt turns into a fight for the popular radio talk show host’s life.

Talk radio host and werewolf Kitty Norville has agreed to appear on TV’s first all-supernatural reality show. She’s expecting cheesy competitions and manufactured drama starring shapeshifters, vampires, and psychics. But what begins as a publicity stunt will turn into a fight for her life.

The cast members, including Kitty, arrive at the remote mountain lodge where the show is set. As soon as filming starts, violence erupts and Kitty suspects that the show is a cover for a nefarious plot. Then the cameras stop rolling, cast members start dying, and Kitty realizes she and her monster housemates are ironically the ultimate prize in a very different game. Stranded with no power, no phones, and no way to know who can be trusted, she must find a way to defeat the evil closing in . . . before it kills them all.

Review:

Wow. As much as I know that author Carrie Vaughn is one of my all-time favourite paranormal authors, this book blew me away and made me admire her all the more.  Kitty seems to find the worst kinds of trouble wherever she turns and by now I would think she would have the foresight to set up some kind of arrangement with her husband Ben – for example, calling him at least once a day or he sends in the army to find and rescue her. The problem with that idea,I suppose, is that sometimes it’s those same people in power who are out to get her – not that that’s the case here – just saying it could happen.

The sub-plot of Cormac finally getting a parole hearing takes a bit of a back-burner, but it was always in the back of my mind – will he get out, will there still be that romantic tension between him and Kitty, how will it all affect her relationship with Ben?

One of these days I’m going to have to start reviewing books from authors I don’t know. By reviewing authors that I already love, I’m pretty much guaranteeing a 4.5 to 5 out of 5 every time. I love reading books that leave me with such anticipation for the next in the series, but I somehow feel like I’m letting my readers down if I don’t review a “not-so-good” book once in awhile.

Title:  Pale Demon

Author:  Kim Harrison

ISBN:  9780061138065

Pages:  432

Release Date:  February 22, 2010

Publisher:  Eos

Genre:  Eos

Source:  Library

Rating:  5.0/5

Summary:

Condemned to death for black magic and shunned, Rachel Morgan has three days to somehow get to the annual witches convention in San Francisco and clear her name. If she fails, the only way she can escape death is to live in the demonic ever after . . . for ever after.

Banned from the flight lists, Rachel teams up with elven tycoon Trent Kalamack, headed for the West Coast for his own mysterious business. But Rachel isn’t the only passanger along for the ride. Can a witch, an elf, a living vampire, and a pixy in one car survive for over 2,300 miles? And that’s not counting the assassin on their tail.

A fearsome demon walks the sunlight, freed after centuries of torment to slay the innocent and devour souls. But his ultimate prey is Rachel Morgan. While the powerful witch with nerves of steel will do whatever it takes to stay alive, even embracing her own demonic nature may not be enough to save her.

Review:

There is so much I love about this series! Kim Harrison’s characters are so well-developed and vibrant that I could clearly see the ragtag group as they drove from one chaotic event to the next.

Poor Rachel never gets a break. If the witches aren’t trying to kill her, there are demons trying to manipulate each other for control over her and her potential offspring. Then there’s Trent’s mysterious quest that seems to become more and more dangerous to his travel-mates with each mile travelled.

Personally, I’m happy that Rachel’s romance with Pierce has taken a back-burner in this book. We get a small tast of what Rachel/Al and Rachel/Trent relationships could look like and I have to admit that I’m a Rachel/Trent fan.  I forgot to mention the potential for a Rachel/Ivy relationship in my last review, but while I understand Rachel’s temptation there, I don’t see it ever being fulfilled.

I really enjoyed this book. I especially liked the soul-searching that Rachel went through to finally come to terms with who and what she really is. Author Kim Harrison also did a fantastic job in surprising me at the end with the result of Trent’s quest.  I’m not sure if I was wearing blinders or something, but I didn’t see it coming.  If you’ve enjoyed the other books in this series, I’m sure you’ll love Pale Demon. Now I’m just waiting for the Feb. 21, 2012 launch of A Perfect Blood!

Title: Black Magic Sanction

Author: Kim Harrison

ISBN:  9780061138034

Pages: 487

Release Date: February 23, 2010

Publisher: Eos

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Source:  Library

Rating: 5.0/5

Summary:

Rachel Morgan has fought and hunted vampires, werewolves, banshees, demons, and other supernatural dangers as both witch and bounty hunter—and lived to tell the tale. But she’s never faced off against her own kind . . . until now.

Denounced and shunned for dealing with demons and black magic, her best hope is life imprisonment—her worst, a forced lobotomy and genetic slavery. Only her enemies are strong enough to help her win her freedom. But trust comes hard when it hinges on the unscrupulous tycoon Trent Kalamack, the demon Algaliarept, and a lowlife ex-boyfriend-turned-thief.

Review:

I’ve been waiting to get back to this series for awhile. This was the last book I read from Kim Harrison, and now I remember how frustrated I was last time I finished it and couldn’t get my hands on the next one right away. When it comes to books, especially in a series, I’m all about instant gratification. So I hope you’ll understand when I try to keep this review short. I have the next book, Pale Demon, ready to go and I’m not sure how long I can keep it out of my hot little hands.

I hope I’ve managed to convey how much I loved Black Magic Sanction. Things have changed drastically in the life of Rachel Morgan – her own people, the witches, are trying to kill her. A sense of urgency can be felt throughout the novel and I’m not embarrassed to admit that I was brought to tears at one point. I had a really hard time putting this book down, and even found myself trying to read while doing dishes. You get a good look into Rachel’s inner psyche, her fears about her demonic side and her insecurities when it comes to men. I wonder who Rachel will end up with. Will it be the gentlemanly Pierce, who spent more than a decade watching her before she even knew he was there? Maybe the love-hate relationship she seems to have with Trent will finally come to fruition. My newest suspicion is that she may end up having a fling with Al, her demon mentor. Al throws a lot of innuendos at Rachel and perhaps she’ll see it as a way of keeping her demon children with her (if she has them) instead of having them killed/kidnapped by the witches, or stolen by the demons.

Kim Harrison is a fantastic writer who has created an amazingly realistic parallel universe, richly developed characters and some of the best dialogue I’ve read. Swearing pixies make me giggle every time.

Despite one semi-steamy scene, I’d have no problem letting my 14 year-old read this book. I’d recommend it as a great read for teens or adults alike.

Title:  Ghost Story

Author:  Jim Butcher

ISBN:  978-0451463791

Pages: 496

Release Date:  July 26, 2011

Publisher:  Roc Hardcover

Genre:  Urban Fantasy

Source:  Library

Rating:  4.0/5

 Summary:

When we last left the mighty wizard detective Harry Dresden, he wasn’t doing well. In fact, he had been murdered by an unknown assassin.

But being dead doesn’t stop him when his friends are in danger. Except now he has nobody, and no magic to help him. And there are also several dark spirits roaming the Chicago shadows who owe Harry some payback of their own.

To save his friends-and his own soul-Harry will have to pull off the ultimate trick without any magic…

Review:

I’m not sure if reading Ghost Story right on the heels of Changes was a great idea. Changes had an amazing intensity that was curiously lacking in this story. Don’t get me wrong, I loved Ghost Story; I think Harry will come away from his ghostly experience with a wealth of new knowledge and some new tricks to boot.  I just felt like I spent most of my time waiting for answers, instead of being distracted by Harry’s normal hijinks. The answers were there, make no doubt about it, but I felt disconnected from my other favourite characters.

Interesting thought there. Perhaps Butcher meant the reader to experience Harry’s feeling of disconnect from his friends. After all, Harry is a ghost now (I don’t think I’m giving anything away, considering the title) and has a major disconnect from reality of his own to deal with.

All in all, Ghost Story is a little different from the norm. I’ll have to give it a reread before the next book, Cold Days (release date still to be announced), and I might have a totally different feeling about it then. I only dropped it one star from Changes 5.0, because it was still a fantastic book – I just felt a little, tiny bit of let down after all of the excitement of Changes.