Halfway to the Grave
Title: Halfway to the Grave
Author: Jeaniene Frost
Series: Night Huntress Series (book #1)
Publication Info: Harper Collins Publishers, Oct 2007
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Rating: <3 <3 <3 <3
New author Jeaniene Frost restores life (harhar) to the dying Vampire Romance genre with her debut novel Halfway to the Grave, a witty, action-packed, love-filled, coming of age story about a half vampire heroine coming to grips with her heritage while killing blood-sucking fiends and falling in love with the most dashing vampire hero since Julian Kane in The Vampire Who Loved Me. Honestly, most vampire romances are dreadfully off-putting, full of characters caught up in angsty whining, but this book kept me in bed reading all day (I’m still in my pjs at 3:30 pm!). Thank you Ms. Frost for writing characters with intelligence! Cat is a feisty heroine who works through her issues and grows, transforming into a kick-ass, emotionally strong young lady through the book. Bones, her mentor turned lover, is charming, patient, and formidable. He luvs her! Ooooooo, sigh. If only he weren’t blond he’d be so my type.
Cat’s mother was raped by a vampire and knocked-up – with Cat. Her mixed parentage gives her special powers, but also insecurity from being half “evil” and a guilty drive to kill the monsters who hurt her mother. When she meets Bones, in an unsuccessful attempt to kill him, she discovers for the first time that not all vampires are inherently bad. Bones teaches grasshopper real fighting skills (wax on, wax off), and she becomes a mean, green, vampire killing machine. They hunt down a secret conspiracy theory plot of evil n’ere-do-wells and fall in love in the process, forcing Cat to face her own prejudices and her mother’s blind hatred.
The basic premise reminds me of that really really bad movie BloodRayne with Ben Kingsley in what has to be the worst regret of his life. (Half-vamp/half-human from the rape of her mum kills vampires to get back at her Eeevill vampire daddy.) But this book is soooooo much better. No comparison. I shouldn’t have mentioned it.
My only real complaint is the lack of Happily-Ever-After: there are currently five books planned for the series with, I assume, Cat as the heroine in each. I am denied my HEA high for now.
Frost is EXCELLENT at writing action fighting scenes. I am really impressed. This book would make a great movie. It is fast paced, has witty dialogue, funny scenes, great costumes, love, murder, complicated relationships… what more could Hollywood ask for? Of course Hollywood often botches completely good stories; I don’t know if I’d trust ‘em with mine.
The next book in the series is out in May 2008. I’m looking forward to it!
Tags: "romance novels", "vampire romance", Jeaniene Frost, Night Huntress Series, Paranormal Romance
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