Acquainted With the Night (Acquainted With the Night, #1) by Piper Maitland

Jan 02, 2012 Kate rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: genre-fantasy, author-gender-female, publisher-penguin, genre-romance, read-in-2012, author-nationality-usa, creatures-dhampirs, creatures-vampires, pov-third-person-limited, rating-1-star, set-in-multiple-locations, tense-past, reviewed-by-iamfantastikate

Should I read it? No. It isn't good enough to warrant trying, and it isn't bad enough to give you a laugh. It may appeal to some die hard urban fantasy romance readers who are looking for something to read, but I have to believe there are better writers of the genre.

What's the short and skinny of it? Upon the brutal death of her uncle, university-dropout-turned-tour-guide Caroline Clifford ends up in Bulgaria where she meets a biochemist who introduces her to the world of vampires. They fall in...more

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Nov 21, 2011 Lyndz rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, own, reviewed

Acquainted with the Night was a high-octane read from (as far as I can see) debut author Piper Maitland.
This was a surprisingly good book. I really had a hard time putting the book down at all. There is action and adventure and suspense on pretty much every page. I quite enjoyed reading it.
I was trying to describe the book to a friend and this is how I put it; “It reminds me of a combination of Dan Brown, Diana Gabaldon, and James Rollins. Dan Brown because it’s kind of science/archeology meet...more

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Dec 12, 2011 All Things Urban Fantasy added it

Shelves: reviewed-by-julia

Fans of both THE HISTORIAN and the Jason Bourne series will love ACQUAINTED WITH THE NIGHT, which brings murder, intrigue, and a biological twist to vampirism. I’m a sucker for authors who meld supernatural creatures with the science of our own world, and Piper Maitland did a great job bringing a medical sensibility to this classic myth.

For the first few chapters, Maitland’s mythology carried my interest above all else, as the heroine flounders from sheltered ignorance into the violence of her h...more

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Jan 29, 2013 Kenneth Hursh rated it 1 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Acquainted with the Night contains an interesting idea on the root of vampirism, but unfortunately gives it a back seat to an uninspiring romance and a DaVinci Code-ish hunt for artifacts. The heroine, Caro, suffers from unruly hair and lack of a boyfriend, the latter despite the fact she is half-vampire, which, we scratch our heads to learn, makes her highly alluring to men. Her uncle is murdered by vampires because he knows where artifacts important to vampires can be found, leaving us scratch...more Acquainted with the Night contains an interesting idea on the root of vampirism, but unfortunately gives it a back seat to an uninspiring romance and a DaVinci Code-ish hunt for artifacts. The heroine, Caro, suffers from unruly hair and lack of a boyfriend, the latter despite the fact she is half-vampire, which, we scratch our heads to learn, makes her highly alluring to men. Her uncle is murdered by vampires because he knows where artifacts important to vampires can be found, leaving us scratching our heads as to why they murdered him. But the murder introduces Caro to Jude, the man of her dreams and a geneticist unlocking the secret to vampirism. They travel to Bulgaria to get Uncle’s remains and are pursued by vampires seeking important artifacts who have now decided Caro is the key to getting the artifacts. We are treated to chase scenes straight out of every movie you’ve ever seen and to Caro and Jude’s relationship, which alternates between torrid sex and him brooding about how he can’t be with a half-vampire like Caro. I didn’t like either one of them.
Jude and Caro take it upon themselves to collect the important artifacts before the vampires kill them, so the artifacts won’t fall into the wrong hands. What the holder of these artifacts will be able to accomplish with them, we never really know. The interesting back seat story is that another geneticist, Caro’s evil non-biological father, Wilkinson, is unlocking the genetic secret to vampirism as well, and is on the brink of producing serums that will kill vampires and also give mortals all the benefits of vampirism without the inconvenient side effects. Wilkinson could be a really cool villain with this stuff, but never is, because he is hell bent on getting the aforementioned artifacts, despite already having the scientific means to put all of mankind and vampires at his feet. Scratch, scratch, scratch.
I was about to acquaint this book with my recycling bin after the first 100 pages, but then it started to redeem itself as the artifacts and genetic research appeared to take on importance. But in the end neither subject served any purpose other than to give people and vampires an excuse to try and kill each other. The last chapter was an expository rush to get the artifacts in one place, get Jude and Caro out of the clutches of bad guys, and tell us Caro’s uncle isn’t dead after all. These hasty conclusions felt more directed to satisfying a word count than a reader.
Matiland would have been better off limiting this story to the scientific angle and leaving the artifacts out of it. The two elements contradicted each other, muddling what the bad guys were after, and hence, why they were bad guys, and vice-versa what the good guys were after. A Jude vs. Wilkinson story, pitting the geneticists against one another with the fate of vampire-kind in the balance, would have worked better.
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Jan 14, 2012 Paranormal Haven rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviews-by-beth-guest-reviewer

3.5 stars

When Caroline Clifford’s uncle is murdered it launches her into a thrilling adventure that spans the reason her parents died in a fire, and the truth about her heritage. She is helped by a man named Jude, who her uncle wanted her to meet.

The story is set up like a thriller with a vampire twist. Both historical and scientific points melt the story into an interesting blend. The science behind why a vampire is a vampire, or how they make new ones was a lot of fun.

Soon after Caroline lea...more

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Nov 23, 2011 Obscured Vixen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: suspense, romance, urban-fantasy

Click here to read this review on my blog

A paranormal Da Vinci Code meets Mr & Mrs Smith… and better than both!

This book was downright awesome. Acquainted with the Night was filled with non-stop action. It started in the prologue when Nigel Clifford had his Achilles tendons sliced, and ended with Caro running for her life (praying for a sequel).

Poor Caro is lost in the world when her Uncle Nigel and her roommate are murdered within days of each other. Caro has no idea who she should be trust...more

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Nov 13, 2011 Kristin (MyBookishWays Reviews) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review, horror, thriller, vamps

You may also read my review here:http://www.mybookishways.com/201...

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started Acquainted With the Night. Piper Maitland is a new author for me,and I’m certainly always up for discovering new authors,plus,it’s blurbed by Diana Gabaldon,which is a win. I had a feeling I’d like it,but had no idea I’d enjoy it quite as much as I did. I’ll be honest,I have a ton of books on the TBR pile,so I readily admit to checking a books length,and if it exceeds the 300 page mark...more You may also read my review here:http://www.mybookishways.com/201...

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started Acquainted With the Night. Piper Maitland is a new author for me,and I’m certainly always up for discovering new authors,plus,it’s blurbed by Diana Gabaldon,which is a win. I had a feeling I’d like it,but had no idea I’d enjoy it quite as much as I did. I’ll be honest,I have a ton of books on the TBR pile,so I readily admit to checking a books length,and if it exceeds the 300 page mark,you might see me wince a little bit. Acquainted weighs in at a healthy and robust 500+ pages,but I swear,they go by fast! Caroline Clifford (Caro),is a former doctorate candidate turned London tour guide. Not really her dream job,but it’s a living,and she has a roommate she gets along with,so things aren’t too bad. When she gets word that her Uncle was killed in a horrible way while on a Bulgarian archeological dig,it’s a tragic blow for Caro,and it’s at that point that things begin moving very fast for our heroine.

When handsome Jude Barrett comes into her life,claiming to have a connection to her uncle,Caro doesn’t know what to think,but clues left behind with her uncle’s things will set them on a globe hopping adventure to find what may be the key to immortality. See,Jude is a biochemist,and had been researching vampiric properties in mice when things took a bad turn for him he had to run for his life. Turns out Caro’s uncle may have known a little something about the existence of vampires,and it could also have a connection to Caro’s parents and her past. What follows for Caro and Jude is an adventure filled with mysterious monks,religious idols,illuminated texts (one book in particular will prove very important),and the phrase “trust no one” will certainly prove true. Expect some sizzling hot romance with Caro and Jude,and while the twists are fairly easy to predict,I didn’t mind,because the ride was so much fun. A fascinating,historical story,some truly evil vamps (and a nasty human villain),brisk pacing and tight prose make Acquainted With the Night a worthwhile,rollicking read! The author certainly left things open for further novels with Jude and Caro,so I’ll definitely be on the lookout!(less)

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Feb 08, 2012 Kathryn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

This book was really enjoyable and took a surprising turn to me toward the last one hundred pages. I would have considered this a typical vampire novel most of the way through, but am inclinded to make comparisons to Dan Brown's novels and to "The Paradise Prophecy" by Robert Browne. If you like any of these books or a good vampire read this should be added to your "to-read" list right away. I thoroughly enoyed this book!

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Nov 24, 2011 Laurielu Book Savvy Babes rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-reads, netgalley, paranormal, suspense, review, friend-recommedation, romantica, vampire, urban-fantasy

Acquainted With the Night by Piper Maitland is a story where Indian Jones meets Da Vinci Code with paranormal mythos peppered into the mix to create an original story that will keep you guessing. The book offers a lot of excitement, emotion and adventure.

Going from mundane London tour guide, Caroline (Caro) Clifford becomes a person who is sought after by many people throughout many countries. There is a massive manhunt out there searching for her. Some of them are good guys; but, most of them...more Acquainted With the Night by Piper Maitland is a story where Indian Jones meets Da Vinci Code with paranormal mythos peppered into the mix to create an original story that will keep you guessing. The book offers a lot of excitement, emotion and adventure.

Going from mundane London tour guide, Caroline (Caro) Clifford becomes a person who is sought after by many people throughout many countries. There is a massive manhunt out there searching for her. Some of them are good guys; but, most of them are not. Fate has partnered Caro with Jude Barrett, a handsome, quirky former biochemist who studied mice in his experiments in which he was able to mimic vampirism. He is on his own quest to find out more regarding the mysteries he may have unlocked. And a long the way, he ends up with a lot more than he has bargained for.

Caro has her world turned upside down when she learns her Uncle/guardian has been brutally murdered while he was on an archeological dig in Bulgaria. His death leaves Caro’s world in a literal tailspin as she travels all over the globe to unearth hidden papers and truths many would like to leave well hidden. Along the way she finds out that the night has a lot more to offer than the normal things that go “bump” in the night.

Caro also discovers some truths about her self that will make her question the foundational certainty of who she always thought she was. As the mystery unravels and her journey gets more treacherous, she makes many discoveries that would make any normal person want to surrender, turn around, and go back home; but, Caro and Jude get to a point of no return and must see this adventure to the end.

This is a good story with many exciting twists and turns to keep the reader guessing and very entertained. There is an element to the novel that I found frustrating. In my opinion, the author was trying to juggle a lot of plots and then have them all culminate together at the end to give the reader a pulse-pounding ending; but, Ms. Maitland misses the mark a little bit by “putting too many irons in the fire.” I feel that the story was a little disjointed in spots, especially in the beginning of the book. But, given that, Acquainted With the Night by Piper Maitland is a good paranormal story that offers a lot of high adventure and romance. I am looking forward to more Caro and Jude adventures in the coming book which Piper is surely writing.

Happy Reading from Bona Fide Reflections!!

Review originally posted at Demon Lover Books and More.

(ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.)(less)

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Oct 30, 2011 Kai rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

Acquainted with the Night is better than AWESOME. The story started out as all great movies do (Star Wars, Indiana Jones and Harry Potter), the main character (Caro) lived a humdrum life. All of sudden, Caro got a phone call that her uncle Nigel was dead. She went to Bulgaria to retrieve his body. She ended up mugged and chased without knowing why. She meets Jude Barrett who told her that her uncle Nigel was planning to meet with him in regards to his research. They discovered together that Caro...more

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Dec 19, 2011 Sara Trimble rated it 4 of 5 stars

When I first received Acquainted with the Night, the sheer size of the book intimidated me. It took me over a week to work up my courage enough to attempt to begin reading. It didn't take me long to get hooked and I finished the thick paperback in just a few days time. I found the entire plot line to be fascinating. I love how the author uses scientific terms to describe the existence of vampires. Her spin on these overdone creatures is refreshing. I especially love how Caro gets up getting hot...more

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Nov 15, 2011 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Acquainted With The Night is a novel by Piper Maitland from Berkley.

Book Blurb:

Caroline Clifford’s bland life as a London tour guide flips upside down when her beloved uncle is brutally murdered at a Bulgarian archaeological site. While traveling to recover his remains, she meets a man who corresponded with her uncle. Jude Barrett is a biochemist on a mission - to rid the world of vampires...

At first, Caro is dismissive of Jude’s beliefs, but she can’t ignore the signs that are all around her: t...more

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Mar 26, 2013 Jan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: vampires, vampire-hunters, globe-trotting, mystery, thriller, urban-fantasy

4 1/2 stars. When Caro Clifford's beloved uncle is killed on a dig in Bulgaria, she goes there to claim his body. What she gets there is a lot if information she would rather not have, like, by the way, vampires are real and she is carrying something that the lots of other people, and vampires want. She also meets a hunky scientist, Jude, who is trying to protect her but comes off like a stalker. Finally, she joins forces with Jude as they try to solve the puzzle of her uncles death, and the mys...more

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Jan 15, 2012 Beth Dawkins rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011

3.5

When Caroline Clifford’s uncle is murdered it launches her into a thrilling adventure that spans the reason her parents died in a fire, and the truth about her heritage. She is helped by a man named Jude, who her uncle wanted her to meet.

The story is set up like a thriller with a vampire twist. Both historical and scientific points melt the story into an interesting blend. The science behind why a vampire is a vampire, or how they make new ones was a lot of fun.

Soon after Caroline leaves to p...more

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Dec 07, 2011 Kt from A Book Obsession.. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: received-for-review, hardcopy

Review originally posted on my blog: A Book Obsession..

Caro's life has become rather plain and simple since she stopped pursuing her Ph D. All that changes when her Uncle, the man who raised her was savagely murdered. In her journey to make the funeral arrangements she meets a man who was corresponding with her Uncle on a very tricky subject. Jude has some crazy ideas about vampires which Caro instantly writes off, but then she remembers some strange events that have happened in the past few day...more Review originally posted on my blog: A Book Obsession..

Caro's life has become rather plain and simple since she stopped pursuing her Ph D. All that changes when her Uncle, the man who raised her was savagely murdered. In her journey to make the funeral arrangements she meets a man who was corresponding with her Uncle on a very tricky subject. Jude has some crazy ideas about vampires which Caro instantly writes off, but then she remembers some strange events that have happened in the past few days and realizes that he may just be right. They set off on a quest to find answers in an ancient text. But first they must follow the breadcrumb trail her uncle left for her in order to find it.

In Acquainted With the Night, the vampires are a combination of both science and history, making for an interesting blend. Things really were a case of past meets present as Caro and Jude were on a quest to find answers in an ancient text, all the while being chased by a man who would use them for his own horrific science project. It would have been very easy for this story to have become jumbled and confusing, but it never did. Every new revelation was presented in a very understandable way that only added to story. I really love books that have a world behind them that is fully realized and very rich, but never overtakes the main plot.

The relationship between Caro and Jude at first seemed to be incredibly rushed. Not that I am really complaining though, as they sure made for an incredibly steamy couple. However, once a shocking reveal was made all of their progress as a couple seemed to be set back to the stone age, which left me more than a little heartbroken myself. I went from be more than a little cavalier towards their relationship to feeling bereft at the sudden change. The book's ability to grab a hold of my emotions in such a way was really impressive. I always love a story that can make me become fully attached to the characters, and Acquainted With the Night sure fits that bill.

Despite its length, Acquainted With the Night read very quickly, to the point where the pages seemed to fly by. In fact there was only one small section that seemed to drag, but that could also be attributed to reader fatigue as I read it straight through. It is no small feat to be able to fully hold my interest for 500+ pages in one setting, so Piper Maitland definitely deserves some major kudos. I cannot wait to see what is in store next for Caro and Jude as a whole new can of worms was opened up at the end that can only spell trouble for them in the future. (less)

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Dec 06, 2011 Kristen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adventure, paranormal, religious, romance, vamps, urban-fantasy

GENRE: Urban Fantasy
THEME: Vampire, Romance
RECEIVED: Review Request for Book Tour
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/

REVIEW:
Acquainted With the Night by Piper Maitland is a story the mixed adventure, mystery, paranormal and romance all into one suspenseful story. Maitland’s novel reminded me a lot of the Da Vinci Code; the story takes the reader to many different locations trying to solve the murder of the lead character uncle. It was a lot of information but it kept me guessing all the way th...more GENRE: Urban Fantasy
THEME: Vampire, Romance
RECEIVED: Review Request for Book Tour
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/

REVIEW:
Acquainted With the Night by Piper Maitland is a story the mixed adventure, mystery, paranormal and romance all into one suspenseful story. Maitland’s novel reminded me a lot of the Da Vinci Code; the story takes the reader to many different locations trying to solve the murder of the lead character uncle. It was a lot of information but it kept me guessing all the way through.

Caroline Clifford was shocked by the news of her Uncle’s death, but she never expected to be on the run and find out that her past is connected to an even larger mystery with creatures she thought never existed. Along with Jude, a biochemist who research vampirism, they try to unlock the mystery of who murdered her uncle and follow the clue’s he left behind.

Caroline aka Caro is about to have her life turned upside down, she goes through a ton of changes through out the novel and she took a bit to grow on me. I did enjoy the moments between Caro and Jude, their relationship was interesting from beginning to end and their chemistry had some pretty steamy moments. Though I did have mixed feelings with the slight immaturity that both characters seemed to have with trying to make up their minds and it frustrated me at some points.

Overall the story was loaded with adventure and massive twist and turns that were very entertaining. This was definitely a long read and there are many plots that Maitland had going on at some points I got lost trying to keep up with them all. But even so Acquainted with the Night by Piper Maitland is an entertaining paranormal story that is packed with action and romance that many readers will enjoy. I’m interested to see where Maitland takes her characters and what more mysteries need to be solved.

RECOMMENDATION:
This is an adult Urban Fantasy novel with some sexual content for mature readers. Fans of Dan Brown for the religious/science and Paranormal Romance will definitely enjoy Acquainted with the Night.
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Dec 02, 2011 Carmel (Rabid Reads) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Reviewed by: Rabid Reads

Acquainted with the Night is a high octave race against time, full of startling truths and suspense. This book is a unique cross between the Da Vinci Code and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. It's about Christianity but not overwhelmingly so, just enough to bring a bit of truth to this work of fiction. The science behind vampirism is also addressed which brings to light some interesting concepts. If you're looking for a "smarter" Urban Fantasy read, then this novel is for you.

I l...more Reviewed by: Rabid Reads

Acquainted with the Night is a high octave race against time, full of startling truths and suspense. This book is a unique cross between the Da Vinci Code and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. It's about Christianity but not overwhelmingly so, just enough to bring a bit of truth to this work of fiction. The science behind vampirism is also addressed which brings to light some interesting concepts. If you're looking for a "smarter" Urban Fantasy read, then this novel is for you.

I love stories where I feel like I'm actively participating in helping the heroine unravel a mystery and this book delivers on that front. The web of plot lines that Piper weaves is so intricate and clever that I doubt you'll get a jump on the conclusion before Caro does. It's near impossible to predict where this tale leads but the ride itself is the best part in my opinion. Maitland uses all 544 pages to her advantage. There's never a dull moment in this novel and every word feels like it's a crucial part of the story. The only drawback that I found was that at times it seemed like the author struggled with tying up the loose ends to too many simultaneous plot lines. Things get a bit muddled here and there. Everything gets sorted out in the end but Piper does force a few round pieces into square holes, if you know what I mean.

Maitland's scientific approach to vamps is inventive and will make you think. The author explores things such as DNA, hybrids vs full-bloods and how to eliminate weaknesses like sunlight vulnerability. This book is in part about one man's quest for immortality which presents a new take on an ancient goal. Wilkinson is prepared to do whatever it takes to live forever; including murdering his own flesh and blood. It turns out that Caro's apparently innocent search for the pieces of her legacy is running parallel to her enemies' mission. They need the same artifacts! What a kerfuffle!

The characters are well-developed but I didn't feel a strong connection to any of them. Acquainted with the Night is more about the chase than the people. I felt sorry for Caro. People around her are dropping like flies and her life goes from mundane to extraordinary. Who knew that your past could hide so many unknowns! On the other hand, I really felt for Jude. I wanted him and Caro's love for each other to grow but at the same time I understood his reluctance. The poor guy is forced to make some really tough calls and in the end he becomes the very thing that he hates most. Talk about bad luck!

This book's not for the faint of heart nor is it for those looking to coast through. Acquainted with the Night is thought provoking and Piper's vampires definitely do not sparkle. When you enter Maitland's world, be prepared to stay up until the very end. Caro and Jude's story is far from over and I for one can't wait to see where they go from here.

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Apr 06, 2013 Kathy Davie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy

First in the Acquainted with the Night urban fantasy series revolving around a dhampir and the prophecy that follows her.

My Take
This was just bad. Overly dramatic and stupid. An over-the-top villain using questionable employees. A "heroine" who insists on staying in a dangerous situation to talk. Sure, it makes sense that Caro wouldn't believe in the existence of vampires. However, all kinds of weird stuff is going on, she's witness to vampire-like activity, so, while I may not believe in vampir...more

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Jan 30, 2012 Becky Day rated it 2 of 5 stars

This book tried to do too much. You've got a powerful pharmaceutical CEO and his rather incompetent minions, miscellaneous government officials, a secret order of vampires (that we don't even hear about until like the last 50 pages), a hero who loathes vampires and then is forced to become one with what seems to be no lasting psychological issues, etc.

I liked the premise of vampires being the secret targets of the Albigensian Crusade and the Inquisition - that's neat. Vampires as part of the Ch...more

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Jan 05, 2012 Linda rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery, paranormal, quest

I don't get why this book received a lot of good reviews. I think it was exciting sometimes, but there were too many things that didn't make sense, that was really irritating.

Spoilers

There was never a vampire in sight in Caro's whole life, and suddenly you can watch them from the window, sucking the life out of people. Apparently, certain countries are full of them. And they wear this funny outfit that reflects light, and lotion to protect their faces from the sun. I mean, come on. There are st...more

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Jan 24, 2012 Elke rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: vampires, own, thriller, romance, review, series, first

This is one of those books where I had a hard time figuring out my rating. I both love and loathe this book, but as the positive impression prevailed I finally settled with a rounded four star rating.

The story in my words: After Caro's uncle, an archeologist, is murdered at an excavation site, Caro travels to Bulgaria to transfer his remains. She is joined by Jude, a mysterious biologist appearing out of nowhere claiming he was contacted by her uncle and on his way to visit. Soon, Caro is pursue...more This is one of those books where I had a hard time figuring out my rating. I both love and loathe this book, but as the positive impression prevailed I finally settled with a rounded four star rating.

The story in my words: After Caro's uncle, an archeologist, is murdered at an excavation site, Caro travels to Bulgaria to transfer his remains. She is joined by Jude, a mysterious biologist appearing out of nowhere claiming he was contacted by her uncle and on his way to visit. Soon, Caro is pursued and almost killed by some evil thugs with reflective capes and lots of zinc oxide ointment on their bare skin (does it smell like fangs in here?!), which leads to her being warranted for murder. An encrypted message Caro's uncle left before he died sends Caro and Jude on a quest through several countries. While trying to escape the police and their pursuers, they also put together the pieces of a long hidden mystery, revealing the unbeliavable truth about Caro's family and their history. Of course, it is inevitable for Caro and Jude to fall in love along the way, causing further complications. Through in some scientific explanations and the evil owner of a bio-medical science lab, and out comes a perfect historical-scientific-fantastic-romantic thriller.

I enjoyed the plot, which is in the typical style of adventure quests like Da Vinci Code, Tomb Raider etc. and would surely fill some Hollywood pockets if made into a movie. The vampires where nasty and repulsive with interesting mental disorders, making for excellent psychopathic thugs chasing Caro. Only later do we find confirmation that not all vampires are evil and vampirism is as diverse as humanity.

What annoyed me while reading this book was the sudden outbreak of love and sex between Caro and Jude. Explained as a side-effect of being bitten by vampires Caro's overwhelming sexual attraction seemed plausible, but they plunged head-on into their relation and into bed in the blink of a rushed sentence. Though these scenes are the easiest example, there are several other situations where the story experienced turns too sudden to fit into its narrative flow.

Finally, there was at least one plot mistake, where Caro takes great care to hide an important document only to retrieve it from her bag several pages later.

In conclusion, this book is a good variation of the vampire theme and may suit not only genre fans, but other readers alike.(less)

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Nov 28, 2011 Kelly rated it 3 of 5 stars

An elderly academic is murdered. In his death throes, he leaves a cryptic message intended for a young female relative. This coded message sends the young female relative and an attractive male academic on a treasure hunt across Europe. They discover a secret that casts new light on religious history and on the female lead’s genealogy, fall in love, and are pursued by both legal authorities and criminal goons.

You may be thinking you’ve read this book before. Piper Maitland adds a vampire twist...more An elderly academic is murdered. In his death throes, he leaves a cryptic message intended for a young female relative. This coded message sends the young female relative and an attractive male academic on a treasure hunt across Europe. They discover a secret that casts new light on religious history and on the female lead’s genealogy, fall in love, and are pursued by both legal authorities and criminal goons.

You may be thinking you’ve read this book before. Piper Maitland adds a vampire twist to the formula, but I could never quite shake that Da Vinci Code feeling. Of course, we all have our favorite tropes, and one reader’s “unoriginal” is another reader’s “comfortable like an old shoe.” If the idea of The Da Vinci Code with vampires appeals to you, then Acquainted with the Night is the book you’ve been waiting for. For me, though, the clichés hampered the reading experience.

Maitland does, however, flesh out the two central characters, Caro and Jude, more fully than many thriller characters are developed. For the most part, this is a positive. There’s a stretch in the middle of the book where both leads become annoying — their romance sours, he’s being a bigot, she’s trying to wheedle him into a reconciliation — and I didn’t like either of them much for a while. But overall, the two protagonists work well. I also enjoyed the vampire tycoon with a soft spot for our heroine, his dog, and modern-day goth rock. After meeting the other vampires in the novel, most of whom are evil and gross, he made a nice change. He’s manipulative, sure, but he’s interesting!

Acquainted with the Night is filled with action; the chase scenes and double crosses will keep the pages turning. Unfortunately, it ends on more of a “the story is just beginning” note than one might expect of a 500+ page book, and the unoriginal elements make the story predictable in places. Depending on your tastes, Acquainted with the Night could be a good popcorn book but, ultimately, it’s forgettable.(less)

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Dec 03, 2011 Regan rated it 3 of 5 stars

Interesting take on biblical and vampiric lore. I'm not a fan of vampires but this one intrigued me. Sadly the vamps' portrayal was kind of cartoonish. What I liked was that she almost, just almost, says one very well known historical figure was a a vampire. She doesn't quite and you can draw your own conclusions on that one but I like the concept. Parts were choppy and unfinished feeling, generally those scenes with the vampires.

I will read book 2 because I do want to find out what happens nex...more

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Dec 09, 2011 Julia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, fantasy, arcs, urban

More of a thriller than my usual fare, I loved the plot and was frustrated by the heroine. As part of the book's structure, *everyone* knows more than Caro for the first third of the book (even me, new to the world, had glimpses through the villain's eyes that put me ahead of poor, sheltered Caro). I loved the biology of Maitland's vampires, though, and for a stand alone I wasn't too worried about bonding with the characters (though based on the book's end, the plot is no where near finished). A...more

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Mar 25, 2013 Viv rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: must-have

First off, I won my copy of this book via a giveaway hosted by Goodreads.

While the plot was somewhat unique, parts of the book felt forced and abrupt rather than flowing in a mentally tangible (and appealing) way. As a lifelong adorer of vampires and vampire culture, I am automatically drawn to any book that boasts them as part of the plot. I have read any and every book I could get my hands on with vampires in them (including the Twilight series, regardless of the unorthodox portrayal of them)....more

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Feb 23, 2013 Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~* rated it 2 of 5 stars

Looked like a promising start to a series as quoted "like "Da Vinci Code" Diana Galbaldon raved it,"great historical mystery and sexy romance" and I only got half way,I just couldnt finish.
Bad writing and major editing needed!No character detail or background plot. Writing flipped all over the place..if you must library only,glad I didnt waste the bucks.

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Mar 08, 2012 Paula Howard rated it 3 of 5 stars

Acquainted with the Night was not what I expected. I was drawn to the book as I believed from the short description there would be religious intrigue. Vampires and romance dominated the story line. You had to search to find any religious sub plot. I believe that this book would appeal to someone who is into the vampire genre. Easy read.

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May 20, 2012 cathleen rated it 1 of 5 stars

a woman at my doctor's office gave this to me while i was waiting, and i started reading it, and only finished it because i had started it. this is not my type of book, so you might disregard my review. even if you are into this genre, it was only mediocre at best. it's a mass market trade paperback throwaway.

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Apr 09, 2013 Rayrumtum rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

Personally I thought this book about vampires was silly. It is a very pale shadow of Bram Stoker's wonderful novel. It attempted to be a Da Vinci Code for vampires and throw in plot elements from other bad books. I nearly quit a couple of time, but toughed it out. I recommend you bail.

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Feb 22, 2013 Esmeralda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 4-stars, books-i-won

I expected the same outline some book with with vampire stories. This book is a refreshing change from that. This book keeps you turning the pages. Not going to much away. But will tell you that I enjoyed reading this book. Waiting for book 2. From First-reads.

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Acquainted With the Night (Acquainted With the Night #1)

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Acquainted With the Night (Acquainted With the Night #1)

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