This Side of the Grave (Early Review)

This Side of the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

Night Huntress #5

Danger waits on both sides of the grave. Half-vampire Cat Crawfield and her vampire husband Bones have fought for their lives, as well as for their relationship. But just when they've triumphed over the latest battle, Cat's new and unexpected abilities threaten to upset a long-standing balance . . .
With the mysterious disappearance of vampires, rumors abound that a species war is brewing. A zealot is inciting tensions between the vampires and ghouls, and if these two powerful groups clash, innocent mortals could become collateral damage. Now Cat and Bones are forced to seek help from a dangerous "ally"—the ghoul queen of New Orleans herself. But the price of her assistance may prove more treacherous than even the threat of a supernatural war . . . to say nothing of the repercussions Cat never imagined.

Cat and Bones have had a very rough time of it lately and while they have come out on top in the last few battles, there still were loved ones lost and irreparable consequences. In this latest installment, Cat is still coming to terms with her new, mostly pulse-less status. She was unique as a half vampire, so it makes sense she wouldn't be a normal full one either. However, this spells trouble as a nasty Ghoul is using the threat of the "Red Reaper" to incite a war between the Vampires and Ghouls. They must scramble to round up their allies as well as try and find away to stop the war that could destroy them all. They seek out the help of Majestic, the Queen of New Orleans. The biggest question is not whether or not they will get her support, but if they will survive her "help" if she gives it, because one never knows just what the VooDoo Queen may have up her sleeve.

Cat has really had just about all she can take of dangers and threats to herself and her loved ones. So when her "borrowed" powers start causing her problems she scrambles to find a way to tone them down. She tells Bones that she isn't meant to handle them since she isn't a master vampire. This may be true, but when push comes to shove, she will do whatever it takes when her loved ones are at risk, even if it means using powers that wreak havoc and completely overwhelm her. However, I think most of her problems with the powers is that when she tries to use them, she over thinks it, as well as refuses to accept them as her own. Granted, they are only borrowed, but until they wear off, they belong to her, and I think if she could learn to accept them, she just might surprise herself.

I was so thrilled to see Cat and Bones fully together in this book. Their separation in the previous book was very hard to bear and they are by far my favorite fictional couple. In this book it seems they are closer than ever, and Cat is really trying to not repeat the mistakes of her past. Every time she has the inclination to run off on her own to try and save the day, she stops and takes a moment to talk herself out of it. She finally has come to terms with the fact that where she goes, Bones will, and no matter how much she may want to protect him, he will always be there at her side whenever danger strikes. Bones has even made some major strides in accepting that she will always have to be hip deep in the action and that he can't keep her on the sidelines either. I'm sure there will always be some tension between them as they are both extremely strong willed, but in the end they could not be more perfect for one another.

Since this is my favorite series, there always is the fear that the latest book will not live up to my admittedly high expectations. However, after reading this book I realized my fear was completely unnecessary, as this book was every bit as good as its predecessors. Be prepared for plenty of high stakes, heart pounding action, and plenty of steaminess. The book was jammed packed with emotions, and the ending will leave a smile on your face. Fans of the series will not be disappointed. If you haven't checked out this series yet, you don't know what you are missing.

Received copy from the Publisher

Rating:

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This Side of the Grave (Night Huntress, Book 5)

Challenge Categories:
Outdo Yourself
Horror and Urban Fantasy
Vampire