Up From the Grave – Jeaniene Frost – Book Review

It’s been a while since I’ve done a book review but I’ve decided to give a couple a go this time. First up is one the latest from Jeaniene Frost. And man I love this woman, she is one of my favorite authors. I haven’t read anything by her that I didn’t love. And this book didn’t break that either. So lets get this book review started….

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Review postings include reviews on TV shows, books, music and movies. Reviews are simply, that reviews. I include information from each section and thus this information may or may not contain spoilers. Please take the warning now, if you don’t wish to see or read any SPOILERS, do not continue reading. If you do continue to reading, disregarding this warning, please don’t blame me if something is ruined for you. I did warn you after all. Also, review postings are my opinion and I stand by them. We may not have the same opinion and thus lets not argue over it.

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Oh Jeaniene Frost, I have been a fan of your books for a very long time. I have always loved a good paranormal novel but a twist on what is the “modern” version of a vampire, count me in for a read. “A Night Huntress” series has been a a journey through the eyes of Cat Crawfield, now Cat Russell since she married Bones a few books back. The love story between these two seems to be quite a pull but they are greatly attracted to each other and clearly in love. They just seem to test what their relationship is and how strong it is. Oh it’s a never ending struggle and it’s always tested, trust me.

We begin with Cat getting a blast from her past, this time the old paranormal unit she used to work with, only this time it’s being run by a not so great guy by the name of Madigan. He seemed to want to change the DNA of vampire, human and possible create a new species.  Needless to say the guy is pretty crazy and he is out for Cat, the only half human, half vampire known to the world/him. He also has Cat’s old team and is holding them to draw her to him. Meanwhile Bones has been working on developing is Master Vampire powers and he has gottan very good.

Bones has is powers tested when Cat gets inside of Madigan’s facility where is is holding her old team. They also learn there that Madigan did successfully create a new species, a girl that is human, vampire and ghoul. She has been trained since she was wrong to fight and has never known any other life except the need to protect and fight. She does attack a few people too and escapes before Cat and Bones can get to her, she is also Cat’s daughter (created from her DNA). Bones however has learned to dehydrate his body and make him look dead, something that even Cat believe happens. He did this to protect her and he also reveals, when he comes back to life, that his telepathic powers have increased greatly and that he was hiding this from Cat.

Meanwhile, the search for the little girl begins. We learn from Tate that her name is Katie. Cat wants to find her but if they do, the Law Guardians are going to kill her, they can’t risk her starting a war. Ghouls and Vampire relations have been tense and things can change at any moment and a war could break out. Cat and Bones even go to the Ghoul Queen, Marie, for help and to basically call a truce.

In the end with the help of all of their friends, Cat is able to save Katie but they have to disappear until she dies. Tate, Cat’s Mother, Bones, Katie and Cat all are going to take a long boat ride. They use the ploy of Bones being mad at Menchere’s to disappear. I don’t want to say why or how they saved Katie but I must say it takes quite a bit of teamwork and a little demon killing for it all to happen.

When it comes to a good book, I always want their to be a twist in the plot and old characters to return. They need to return especially if it’s a series. Jeaniene Frost has never been shy about taking a risk or causing a plot twist. However, the whole Katie idea just didn’t really work for me. I didn’t hate it or think it ruined the book, I just didn’t really enjoy it. Honestly all I think about now when I read something like this is the mess that Stephenie Meyer made with a possible vampire baby in the Twilight Series. And trust me, Jeaniene Frost is a way better author and storyteller than Stephenie Meyer. I give this book 9 out of 10 stars. Taking a point off for Katie, sorry folks. Hope you give it a read, and you should start with the beginning if you’ve never read.

Below is the reading order for A Night Huntress Series:

1. Halfway to the Grave

2. One Foot in the Grave

3. At Grave’s End

4. This Side of the Grave

5. One Grave at a Time

6. Destined For an Early Grave

7. Eternal Kiss of Darkness (Menchere’s book)

8. First Drop of Crimson (Spade’s book)

9. Once Burned (Vlad’s book 1)

10. Twice Tempted (Vlad’s book 2)

11. Up From the Grave