Halfway To The Grave by Jeaniene Frost
Series: Night Huntress #1
Published by Avon
Published on: October 13, 2009
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 384
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased
Amazon | GoodReads
Half-vampire Catherine Crawfield is going after the undead with a vengeance, hoping that one of these deadbeats is her father—the one responsible for ruining her mother's life. Then she's captured by Bones, a vampire bounty hunter, and is forced into an unholy partnership.
In exchange for finding her father, Cat agrees to train with the sexy night stalker until her battle reflexes are as sharp as his fangs. She's amazed she doesn't end up as his dinner—are there actually good vampires? Pretty soon Bones will have her convinced that being half-dead doesn't have to be all bad. But before she can enjoy her newfound status as kick-ass demon hunter, Cat and Bones are pursued by a group of killers. Now Cat will have to choose a side . . . and Bones is turning out to be as tempting as any man with a heartbeat.
When I mentioned that I was going to be reading this book next I had a few people raving to me about how good this book is. At first I was skeptical, but after having finished this book in record time, my final thoughts are yes it is that good! This book had me hooked from beginning to end and has left me wanting more. I hear that One Foot in the Grave is even better. Oh my!
I was worried that this book had too much in common with the Anita Blake series. The storyline is loosely similar but that’s where the similarities end. I don’t think I can write a review that can do this book justice but here it goes!
Cat is the main character. She’s a twenty two year old college student from a small town that’s full of prejudices and of course, Cat has one huge difference: she’s half vampire. I loved Cat as a main character. I read many Urban Fantasy books for their kick ass female lead and this book has one in spades. Cat’s lineage is due to a misfortune that happened to her mother and as a result, her mother has a seething hatred for all vampires. She encourages Cat to use her enhanced abilities to hunt them down.
Cat’s already achieved a pretty high kill count and has perfected a killing technique that works for her. That is until she meets Bones. I LOVED Bones! I may have to review my Top Ten Fictional Crushes! Bones is an ancient vampire with an English accent (gotta love a man with an accent!) who’s also a vampire bounty hunter. Until Cat met him, the vampire world had only one shade: black. Evil. Bones turns her whole world upside down.
You have to read this book if only just to make Bones’ acquaintance. He’s quite something! He takes Cat under his wing after she attempts to kill him and fails. He teaches her how to fight and how to become the perfect bait to attract her targets. He also immediately takes a liking to Cat and deeper feelings quickly ensue.
I really enjoyed how Frost developed the relationship between the two main characters. Rather than the typical boy meets girl and girl falls in love, their eventual romantic relationship took time. Bones had to woe her and convince her that not all vampires are evil. Cat had to overcome her beliefs that were instilled to her by her close-minded mother. It’s a morbid love story, but one that I couldn’t get enough of.
Finally, Cat gives in and succumbs to Bones charm. Boy do the fireworks fly! The sex scenes in this book will blow your mind. The reader can feel the lust between the two characters. Julie from Yummy Men and Kick Ass Chicks tells me that chapter 32 in the second book is one of the hottest ones in fiction. Oh man! You mean it gets better than this? I’m sold!
The fights in this book were amazing. Frost has such a way with words that I felt like I was there on the sidelines. I could see all of the flips, kicks and slashes in vivid detail. My imagination while reading books is pretty good but in this novel you don’t even need it. The author does all of the work for you, all you have to do is read. I felt like I was watching a movie but better!
The ending of this book left me saying: “What? No! But…” So I headed over to Amazon to read the second book’s summary to put my mind at ease. Crisis averted! Needless to say, I loved this book! Too bad I finished it so quickly and don’t have the second book on hand. Otherwise, I would already reading One Foot in the Grave. The torture! No supernaturals in this book other than vampires but Bones more than makes up for that. More Night Huntress anyone? Yes please!
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Owner, designer and main blogger behind Rabid Reads. Avid book reader, snowboard bunny, video gamer and Supernatural fan. I love all things paranormal, werewolves especially. Oh, and I’m Canadian, eh!
Glad you liked it!I’m crazy about Night Huntress series and needless to say Bones is my no1 fictional crash!Why those men aren’t real?(at least none among those i’ve met…)
So glad you liked the series! I was skeptical at first because it was shelved in romance. I like some romance in the book, but not straight romances. OMG, this series was amazing!!! Wait til you read the rest!
And be sure to give Frost’s Night Huntress World series a try! It’s really great! Can’t say more than that because there is other news about her books, but you need to meet the new characters first! So really don’t read the Night Huntress World books until you’ve read the first 4 of the Night Huntress series books!
Great Review Carmel! This is one of my mostest favorite books and Bones is for sure on my Book Boyfriend list! Love!
I’m reading the series as well at the moment, but not half as fast as you, Carmel. I like Bones as a character, I just don’t love him like most other female readers do. I love how their relationship developed and their obvious desire for each other. It’s totally kick-ass.
Bones sounds a lot like Spike from Buffy… English accent, vampire-killing vampire, eventually gains the vampire hunting girl’s trust. This does sound like a good book though– everyone’s always talking about it. Thanks for the review. 🙂
Bones is definitely similar to Spike in many ways. I hadn’t made that connection. Thanks! 🙂
Thanks for the great review! I have been looking at this book for a while, and you convinced me to give it a try 🙂
Keep readin, this series gets better with each book! Oh, and get ready for Chapter 32!! You’ll know what I mean once you read One Foot in the Grave! [he! He!]
Kristin
@NocturnalBites
OMG! Now I have Julie AND Kristin tormenting me about Chapter 32. The second book can’t arrive fast enough! I’m tracking it via Canada Post. Crazy obsessed I am, I know!
Hey Carmel! Thanks for stopping by to say Hi!
Sadly, I could not get into this book. I guess I felt the main plot was a little too predictable and Bones was too much like Spike. I was about 50 pages from the end and I had to set it aside because I wasn’t enjoying it.
I might end up giving it another shot soon since most people I come across rave about it. It might be better for me the second time around.
Two words on the second book: chapter 32. Get ready 😉
-Linds, bibliophile brouhaha
Hahaha! You’re all ganging up on me now! MEANIES! 😉
You have no idea – I was stunned, and I loved it! Even my fiance was impressed 😉
Now I can’t wait to read your comments on book # 2!! You will be scandalized!! Welcome to the Frosty club!!
Okay, just throwing this out there… I loved the first book, but the second one not so much.
I actually had to go and look up chapter 32 to recall what was so scandalous.
I do plan to read the third in the series as I do like Cat and Bones very much. But it wont be until my TBR pile is at least 1/3 of the size it is now.
Chazz
It’s been awhile since I read those books, but I liked them. Nice review though.
I LOVE BONES!!!! Jeaniene’s writing is so amazing that you actually feel that you are watching these two on the sidlelines and you become so invested in their well-being. As Anna commented earlier WHY CAN”T MEN BE LIKE BONES! LOL If they were it would be very difficult to leave the house, but then I wouldn’t complain if I had BONES! 😉
DarkBloodyVamp – I know what you mean. My guy is great and all but he’s no Bones! (luckily he doesn’t follow my blog) 😉
Carmel @ Rabid Reads – LOL I feel the exact same way about my guy. 🙂
DarkBloodyVamp – Hehe if they only knew!
Great review Carmel!
I can’t wait for you to read One Foot in the Grave. AND CHAPTER 32!! OMG!! Dies! Reads again! DEAD AGAIN!
OMG I adore that chapter!! *blushes* Just sayin.
Be prepared to get your toes curling. *giggles*
Darn it, I’m only on chapter 9 and apparently I’m not allowed to cheat and skip ahead for a peak. Blast my lack of time to read!