Review: First Drop of Crimson by Jeaniene Frost

Title: First Drop of Crimson
Author: Jeaniene Frost
Publisher: Avon
Published: February 2010
Pages: 371
My Copy: Bought via Kobo

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Night Huntress series comes a breathtaking new journey to the dark side of desire.

The night is not safe for mortals. Denise MacGregor knows all too well what lurks in the shadows—her best friend is half-vampire Cat Crawfield—and she has already lost more than the average human could bear. But her family’s past is wrapped in secrets and shrouded in darkness—and a demon shapeshifter has marked Denise as prey. Now her survival depends on an immortal who lusts for a taste of her.

He is Spade, a powerful, mysterious vampire who has walked the earth for centuries and is now duty-bound to protect this endangered, alluring human—even if it means destroying his own kind. Denise may arouse his deepest hungers, but Spade knows he must fight his urge to have her as they face the nightmare together . . .

Because once the first crimson drop falls, they will both be lost.

This book was a breath of fresh air and a great start to the Night Huntress World series. I’m an avid fan of Cat and Bones but this book made Jeaniene Frost’s universe even better; a feat that I thought was impossible. First Drop of Crimson has a writing style that I love, the non-stop paranormal action that I’m accustomed too and a timeless romance that had me feeling weak in the knees. A few of the beloved characters from the Night Huntress series make appearances as well which made this novel all the more sweeter. You don’t need to have read her other series to be able to appreciate this read but it definitely wouldn’t hurt!

Bones obviously has a pretty complicated and colorful past that’s explored in detail in Jeaniene’s other series and I always assumed that Spade’s was equally as complex. After all, these two go way back. Charles was a mystery to me up until I finished this book. I’m so happy that he got to tell his tale because I was able to develop a deeper understanding of him and of what makes him tick. In my eyes, he’s no longer the dark and brooding best friend but a man combating a life-time of hurt and heartbreak. Most of the time he projects an image of a real tough guy but in this novel his inner self is revealed and he finds happiness, finally. His happily ever after is well-deserved in my opinion and if you read this installment I’m sure that you’ll agree.

I never really gave Denise a second thought. Sure she’s Cat’s best friend but other than that she’s human and doesn’t play an important role in the Night Huntress series. Her role in First Drop of Crimson is a whole other story. Denise hasn’t had it easy and I gained a better understanding of her hurt and of the reasons why she withdrew from the paranormal world. She and Spade share somewhat similar relationship stories and I think this is one of the main things that draws them together. Denise’s transformation in this novel is remarkable; she goes from being the victim to being a force to be reckoned with. For the first few chapters I suffered from the same prejudices as Spade did; she’s human and therefor weak but by the end I was reeling from her kick-ass-edness. Denise really steps up to the plate in this tale. You go girl!

My favorite part of this book was the dynamic between Spade and Denise. I’m a huge fan of Cat and Bones as a couple and Jeaniene uses her talents to write another brilliant love story. I felt as though I was rediscovering my favorite couple all over again but in a new light. Once I started reading this novel I just couldn’t stop. It’s a new take on a world that I already adore. Cat and Bones do make a brief appearance in this story as well so that was a nice little extra that I wasn’t expecting.

First Drop of Crimson is a delightful read and I highly recommend it. The love story is touching, the action is intense and there are even a few heart wrenching moments that’ll have you screaming at the characters through the pages. Well, at least I know I was… doesn’t everyone do that? A great read for fans both new and old.

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