Helpful Score: 5
This Side of the Grave shows a more mature Cat who doesn't rush impulsively into dangerous situations by herself. I did miss that impetuosity of hers. I liked it when she would run half-cocked into situations that she shouldn't have, but it's good to see her think, plan and act. While she's more restrained as far as assessing dangerous situations, she isn't restrained about her feelings concerning Bones. She's not as guarded because she really has given him her heart and soul. Some of the best parts of this book are found in the sections that deal with their relationship.
Bones and Cat are together more often in this book than they have been in last two books. If you've read Book 2 (One Foot In the Grave), you should remember the infamous Chapter 32 with Bones doing all sorts of naughty things after Annette taunts Cat with Anette's past with Bones. You'll find a similar chapter in this book in Chapter 20 when Cat does some things, but in my opinion, it's not as steamy as Chapter 32 of the second book. This time it's Cat turn to show her skills in the bedroom. I'll just say it's hot and I use that word both literally and figuratively. There's also a scandalous love scene involving Bones, Cat, and Mencheres.
Kira, Mencheres, Spade, Denise, Don, Tate, and Justina all make appearances in the book, but it's Vlad with his trademark one-liners who steals the show. Justina has a new role that I completely didn't expect. While there is action in the book, but it's not as epic as the fights in the previous books. There isn't much tension, romantic or otherwise. I missed Annette and Tate and the romantic tension they brought with their lust for Cat and Bones. The villain isn't that much of a threat. There's also a scandalous section in the book where Cat needs to be "serviced" because she's ingested some supernatural blood that acts like a super aphrodisiac. Rather than showing those scenes, Frost has Bones give a summary after the deeds have been done. No, don't recap! We need details! A certain beloved secondary character dies. It was sad, but was written well. I still consider Book 1 and 2 to be the best of the group, but I enjoyed Book 5 enough to keep it on my bookshelf.
Frost has written some very funny quips. This one from Vlad after he burns a ghoul Cat wanted to keep alive is especially good.
"What the hell was that?" I gasped. "Premature inflamulation," he replied. "Happens sometimes. Very embarrassing. I don't like to talk about it."
Bones had a good one with "Ask me if I sparkle, and I'll kill you where you stand."
If you haven't read the Night Huntress series, this isn't the book to start the series. You need to see Cat's evolution starting from Halfway to the Grave (Book 1).
Bones and Cat are together more often in this book than they have been in last two books. If you've read Book 2 (One Foot In the Grave), you should remember the infamous Chapter 32 with Bones doing all sorts of naughty things after Annette taunts Cat with Anette's past with Bones. You'll find a similar chapter in this book in Chapter 20 when Cat does some things, but in my opinion, it's not as steamy as Chapter 32 of the second book. This time it's Cat turn to show her skills in the bedroom. I'll just say it's hot and I use that word both literally and figuratively. There's also a scandalous love scene involving Bones, Cat, and Mencheres.
Kira, Mencheres, Spade, Denise, Don, Tate, and Justina all make appearances in the book, but it's Vlad with his trademark one-liners who steals the show. Justina has a new role that I completely didn't expect. While there is action in the book, but it's not as epic as the fights in the previous books. There isn't much tension, romantic or otherwise. I missed Annette and Tate and the romantic tension they brought with their lust for Cat and Bones. The villain isn't that much of a threat. There's also a scandalous section in the book where Cat needs to be "serviced" because she's ingested some supernatural blood that acts like a super aphrodisiac. Rather than showing those scenes, Frost has Bones give a summary after the deeds have been done. No, don't recap! We need details! A certain beloved secondary character dies. It was sad, but was written well. I still consider Book 1 and 2 to be the best of the group, but I enjoyed Book 5 enough to keep it on my bookshelf.
Frost has written some very funny quips. This one from Vlad after he burns a ghoul Cat wanted to keep alive is especially good.
"What the hell was that?" I gasped. "Premature inflamulation," he replied. "Happens sometimes. Very embarrassing. I don't like to talk about it."
Bones had a good one with "Ask me if I sparkle, and I'll kill you where you stand."
If you haven't read the Night Huntress series, this isn't the book to start the series. You need to see Cat's evolution starting from Halfway to the Grave (Book 1).
Karissa E. (ophelia99) reviewed This Side of the Grave (Night Huntress, Bk 5) on + 2527 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
This is the fifth book in the Night Huntress series, the 6th book in this series (One Grave at a Time) was released in August 2011 . This was an excellent addition to this series and does an excellent job of wrapping up the story arc that started in the last book (where the ghouls were worried about Cat becoming an uber-powerful supernatural entity). I listened to this on audio book and these audiobooks are extremely well done. I would recommend the audiobooks over reading the books on paper, the narrator is just so awesome.
Cat and Bones are struggling to figure out how to predict and control Cat's new powers. They've been trying to keep her crazy new vampire powers secret, but some rumors have gotten out and the ghouls aren't happy. Cat and Bones thought Cat becoming a vampire would make the ghoul factions happy, but now that she has strange new powers the vampire-ghoul balance is being threatened again. Cat and Bones will have to petition the super scary ghoul queen, Majestic, for help if they are going to avoid all our war between the two races.
This book wasn't as emotionally wrenching as the last one, but it was a solid and entertaining story. We learn a lot more about Cat's new powers and get to watch Car try to master flying (some very entertaining scenes there). There are lots of awesome action scenes and the pace moves quicklly.
Bones and Cat are stable as a couple; it was nice to see their loving relationship for each other and for them to finally get a little bit of a break in this book. There are some very well done steamy scenes between the two and I continue to adore them as a couple.
There were a couple things that completely floored me. I had know idea where Denise had gotten demon blood, I was like what the heck! Then there was Mencheres new girlfriend, who I liked, but was completely confused about where she entered the story. Finally I figured out that those two stories are featured in the Night Huntress World books. Of course now I totally want to read those books. It would have been nice to get a little bit more background on those things though so I wasn't completely confused in this book. So, if you really want to understand what's going on here go read the first two Night Hutress World books and then come back and read this one.
This book did a nice job of tying up the story thread about the ghouls being worried about Cat taking over the supernatural world. It makes me wonder what is next for our favorite vampire couple.
Overall a very solid addition to the series. I enjoyed the book, it was well written and well paced. I continue to enjoy Cat and Bones as a couple. I was a bit irked at being completely lost about what was going on with Denise and Mencheres; I wish a little more back story had been included. Other than that I was pleased with this book and am eager to see where the story goes in the next book, One Grave at a Time.
Cat and Bones are struggling to figure out how to predict and control Cat's new powers. They've been trying to keep her crazy new vampire powers secret, but some rumors have gotten out and the ghouls aren't happy. Cat and Bones thought Cat becoming a vampire would make the ghoul factions happy, but now that she has strange new powers the vampire-ghoul balance is being threatened again. Cat and Bones will have to petition the super scary ghoul queen, Majestic, for help if they are going to avoid all our war between the two races.
This book wasn't as emotionally wrenching as the last one, but it was a solid and entertaining story. We learn a lot more about Cat's new powers and get to watch Car try to master flying (some very entertaining scenes there). There are lots of awesome action scenes and the pace moves quicklly.
Bones and Cat are stable as a couple; it was nice to see their loving relationship for each other and for them to finally get a little bit of a break in this book. There are some very well done steamy scenes between the two and I continue to adore them as a couple.
There were a couple things that completely floored me. I had know idea where Denise had gotten demon blood, I was like what the heck! Then there was Mencheres new girlfriend, who I liked, but was completely confused about where she entered the story. Finally I figured out that those two stories are featured in the Night Huntress World books. Of course now I totally want to read those books. It would have been nice to get a little bit more background on those things though so I wasn't completely confused in this book. So, if you really want to understand what's going on here go read the first two Night Hutress World books and then come back and read this one.
This book did a nice job of tying up the story thread about the ghouls being worried about Cat taking over the supernatural world. It makes me wonder what is next for our favorite vampire couple.
Overall a very solid addition to the series. I enjoyed the book, it was well written and well paced. I continue to enjoy Cat and Bones as a couple. I was a bit irked at being completely lost about what was going on with Denise and Mencheres; I wish a little more back story had been included. Other than that I was pleased with this book and am eager to see where the story goes in the next book, One Grave at a Time.
Sherri B. (sharalsbooks) reviewed This Side of the Grave (Night Huntress, Bk 5) on + 259 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
The Night Huntress series is one of my favorite series. Cat and Bones are characters I connected with immediately and they continue to entertain me and make an impression. This story is a little sad, though, because one of the major characters isnt long for this world. Im still trying to figure out Marie, the voodoo queen. Is she an ally or an enemy? Several times in this book, my opinion fluctuated regarding her motives.
One of my favorite parts of the book is when Bones is teaching Cat how to fly. The means with which he is trying to trigger her flight skill was quite humorous and thoroughly enjoyable. There are some other new abilities that Cat receives in this story that were a little creepy and didnt make any sense initially.
We see quite a bit more of Vlad in this story and Im looking forward to reading his story when it comes out this month.
My only problem with this story is the very tiny appearance of Ian. I love this character and think he brings fantastic irony to otherwise tense situations and his special brand of humor and smart aleck remarks were sorely missed in this book.
Overall, another great installment of the Night Huntress series and I am eagerly anticipating the next one. If you enjoy paranormal romance, urban fantasy or action packed stories with lots of great fight scenes and covert military ops missions, this is a series you can really sink your teeth into.
One of my favorite parts of the book is when Bones is teaching Cat how to fly. The means with which he is trying to trigger her flight skill was quite humorous and thoroughly enjoyable. There are some other new abilities that Cat receives in this story that were a little creepy and didnt make any sense initially.
We see quite a bit more of Vlad in this story and Im looking forward to reading his story when it comes out this month.
My only problem with this story is the very tiny appearance of Ian. I love this character and think he brings fantastic irony to otherwise tense situations and his special brand of humor and smart aleck remarks were sorely missed in this book.
Overall, another great installment of the Night Huntress series and I am eagerly anticipating the next one. If you enjoy paranormal romance, urban fantasy or action packed stories with lots of great fight scenes and covert military ops missions, this is a series you can really sink your teeth into.
Helpful Score: 1
I'm with Jamie. Good but not great. Honestly, I got a little bored at times. I just could not get why Cat seemed so important to the Ghouls and while everyone in past books appeared, it was more in cameo form so there was no point to their appearance. However, she did set some things up for future books which might be really good and it was nice to see her and Bones work as a team without all the relationship angst. Let's see what the next books bring.
Helpful Score: 1
Coming off the disappointment in Harris's Sookie Stackhouse series, I read "This Side of the Grave" and thought this is who Harris needs to learn from when it comes to character growth in a series. I love how far Cat has come from the first book and how wonderfully Frost shows this. I think it shows how well Frost has grown as a writer as well.
And of course there are silliness in this book as well as the others. Some of the gags are rather immature but that's what I adore and they are funny. I especially love the whole thing with her learning to fly. There are a couple of other scenes that I literally laughed out loud. I cried in a few too.
I agree with the review that this book is slightly slower than the other books but the end seem to come really fast. I still really enjoyed it though.
Would love to see Ian get his. A good read, looking forward to the next one.
And of course there are silliness in this book as well as the others. Some of the gags are rather immature but that's what I adore and they are funny. I especially love the whole thing with her learning to fly. There are a couple of other scenes that I literally laughed out loud. I cried in a few too.
I agree with the review that this book is slightly slower than the other books but the end seem to come really fast. I still really enjoyed it though.
Would love to see Ian get his. A good read, looking forward to the next one.
