Kitty and the Midnight Hour (Kitty Norville, #1)

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Kitty and the Midnight Hour (Kitty Norville #1)

by Carrie Vaughn (Goodreads Author)

3.69 of 5 stars 3.69 · rating details · 13,920 ratings · 965 reviews

Kitty Norville is a midnight-shift DJ for a Denver radio station - and a werewolf in the closet. Her new late-night advice show for the supernaturally disadvantaged is a raging success, but it's Kitty who can use some help. With one sexy werewolf-hunter and a few homicidal undead on her tail, Kitty may have bitten off more than she can chew?

From the Publisher (Warner Books...more

Mass Market Paperback, 259 pages

Published November 1st 2005 by Grand Central Publishing

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Oct 14, 2010 Elizabeth rated it 2 of 5 stars

Recommended to Elizabeth by: Ceridwen

Shelves: 2010, in-by-of-the-americas, reviewed, vamps-and-other-mythical-beasts, fantasy-sci-fi, the-knights-who-say-meh, hem-steppers-and-bodice-rippers

I don't think I can tell you anything about this book; I read it in about a minute. And it doesn't matter. The book is pretty much the same as the rest of the genre: pretty woman, suffered violence, struggles to rebuild herself and her life, learns to stand on her own, with werewolves and vampires. I loved these when I was seventeen and twenty two. It doesn't hold the same allure now. Writing about it makes me yawn.

But. I read this as a reaction to a difficult week at work and while reading Fier ...more I don't think I can tell you anything about this book; I read it in about a minute. And it doesn't matter. The book is pretty much the same as the rest of the genre: pretty woman, suffered violence, struggles to rebuild herself and her life, learns to stand on her own, with werewolves and vampires. I loved these when I was seventeen and twenty two. It doesn't hold the same allure now. Writing about it makes me yawn.

But. I read this as a reaction to a difficult week at work and while reading Fierce Leadership: A Bold Alternative to the Worst "Best" Practices of Business Today. (I know, cheesy management books are cheesy management books, but more about that when I write that review). The result was that I spent the short time it took to read this book and then several hours afterward thinking about how, if you strip out the werewolves, vampires, and violence, how real the situations are to everyone, just day to day. There is always a pack, of some sort, a group with a hierarchy, and it is dangerous to show uncertainty. Someone is on top and his insecurities and need to assert his control will drive the relationships of the team members to him and each other. The path that the team takes, especially if it is the wrong path, is entirely caught up in these personal (emotional) issues, and it can feel impossible to stop, or get out, or be yourself in that environment.

Think about it from a larger perspective too. Since my state just elected a homophobic, truck-driving misogynist to the Senate because we (apparently) don't care about anyone but ourselves (we have health care here, the rest of the country can go fuck themselves), I'm feeling particularly annoyed by people who follow a winning smile and cheap political gimmick. My point is that he isn't a leader, he's a follower. He's another puppy to be herded by the Republican alpha dog who leads that mean-spirited pack, and we, the voters (and especially the non-voters) elected the guy to replace Ted Kennedy. (I wasn't a big Kennedy fan, actually, but he did believe that people shouldn't die because other people think it's not their problem).

What does it take to change this situation? It's the courage of individuals who are going to challenge bad ideas, resist the dominance of the pack alpha, stand up. Everyone has heard it before (I'll skip the inspiring quotes from assassinated leaders) but that's what it takes. And it doesn't always work out well for the person who takes up the cause. (It did or it didn't in this book; I actually found the ending refreshing for not producing a simplified solution). So I'm thinking about this from the perspective of work. How do I influence the direction of my organization? Do I just let it go down that path that puts us at risk? Do I challenge the dominance of that insecure alpha? There's a risk to me to do it, especially in this economy. Is it more important to have the courage of your convictions? Could I live with myself if I didn't try?

The book makes me think about something else too. Hiding, pretending submission, doesn't make the problem go away. It isn't going to get better if I pretend it isn't happening. So if I don't do something, I've contributed to my own ruin. I am culpable, accountable. (This is where the cheesy management book comes in; I'd rather not make a total hash of my career here, but I do want to find a way to live with myself and still like my job every day). This is why I used to love these books. There aren't a lot of women characters, historically, that have to make tough decisions in these terms. There are lots of them who do the literary equivalent of throwing themselves under the train for love, from despair, etc. There is another group who sacrifice themselves for some cause (like he loves someone else and I'm just going to bow out because that's how much I luff him, or the family is so important to me, oh despair, what would I do without quitting my job to take care of my children). Lots. Of. Them. They have their place, and make compelling points in their own way, but I'm not always interested in these triumphs of the human spirit books. I want to see the action, the stand, the courage, the simple black and whiteness of taking down a serial killer.

So, if a book, any book, makes me stop and assess that situation, and my contribution to it, it has been worth reading. There is something about books in the fantasy genre that does this for me. It's why I keep coming back to it. Sometimes intellectual questions are important, sometimes the visceral questions are more important.(less)

33 likes · like · see review

Jun 01, 2012 Jeann rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own, paranormal-uf, werewolves, buddy-reads

Kitty Norville pleasantly surprised me with it's unique radio talk show segments and intriguing heroine. Unlike most other heroines in PNR UF series, Kitty is at the bottom of her pack and she's the meek one who needs the protection of others. Her radio talk show about supernatural beings suddenly takes off, and intrinsically she finds herself wanting to break out on her own and lead the pack.

The whole 'pack' mentality was interesting in this one. Even as humans, the Alpha can do whatever he wan...more

11 likes · like · see review

May 10, 2010 Bry rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, 2010, urban-fantasy

Thoughts from before I finished the book:

Only 3 chapters in and I am slightly disgusted. All the reviews here talk about this story being a coming to story for Kitty, a woman traumatized and learning to stand on her own again. Seriously though the way she is treated within the pack is just as emotional and mentally abusive as the half ripping her to shreds to make her a were in the first place.

In the name of 'protection' she cannot even go out by herself, has to fork over half of her money to k...more

20 likes · like · see review

Mar 25, 2010 Heather rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, urban-fantasy, skimmed-to-finish

I'll admit it, Vaughn lost me at the pornstache, but I'll take it from the top.

For starters, her heroine is named after a stripper. Kitty? Are we serious? But I could have overlooked that had she not have been so flat, dull, and underdeveloped. Kitty is a werewolf at the bottom rung of her pack. She allows herself to be commanded and screwed by the men of her pack in exchange flickering moments of affection, that almost always occur while she is being pounded, and “protection”, which must have b...more I'll admit it, Vaughn lost me at the pornstache, but I'll take it from the top.

For starters, her heroine is named after a stripper. Kitty? Are we serious? But I could have overlooked that had she not have been so flat, dull, and underdeveloped. Kitty is a werewolf at the bottom rung of her pack. She allows herself to be commanded and screwed by the men of her pack in exchange flickering moments of affection, that almost always occur while she is being pounded, and “protection”, which must have been hidden underneath the life control. I’ve seen several reviews that say this story is about a woman coming into her own after having endured a traumatic and abusive lifestyle, and though I agree that being attacked by a werewolf, and therefore being turned into one would have been traumatic, and the dynamics she faces within the pack are certainly abusive, I can’t say that the reason Kitty is submissive and meek are because of these factors. She had a normal life, with a loving family, prior to becoming a werewolf. She wasn’t abused or mistreated until she enters the pack and allows herself to become so. So really, Kitty only has herself to blame for how she allowed herself to be treated within the pack. I’m convinced that had I been turned into a werewolf and adopted by Kitty’s pack, I would have been dead or high ranking. It is simply not within me to be passive, dictated to or controlled and I would fight to the death before I would let some man “do” me whenever he felt the urge simply because he was Alpha.

Then there is the talk radio format. Reading Kitty’s dynamic with her listeners reminded me of riding in my mother’s Nissan Sentra and listening to Delilah on my way home from school. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Delilah, she is very popular among women who need affirmation from a woman whose voice sounds as though her larynx has been injected with steroids. After Delilah dishes out the least practical advice to her listeners, she then segways into some corny Bette Midler ode. Celine Dion is also popular. Kitty’s advice is just as tragic, but rather than subject her listeners to Bette, she prefers Credence Clearwater Revival.

Lastly there is the supposed love interest, Carmac. He has a mustache. I doubt I need to say more, but I will. He is a vampire hunter/werewolf assassin. His and Kitty’s first encounter occurs when he is sent to execute her. They have one, two second conversation after he fails to kill her and the next thing I know, she is calling him for help and attempting to jump his bones. Um, where did that come from? I don’t even have the heart to flesh out this lack of build up in my review as I see no reason to spend more time on these two characters than their creator.

If you’re looking for a corny read, with no character development, little to no plot, and a submissive heroine, by all means, read this. Otherwise, steer clear of Kitty.
(less)

14 likes · like · see review

Sep 15, 2011 David rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: werewolves, fans of hawt chicks in leather

Shelves: female-author, fantasy-contemporary, fantasy, urban-fantasy, vampires, werewolves, audiobook, female-protagonist

I am generally not a huge fan of post-Buffy urban fantasy, particularly the "hot chicks in leather" genre. The only reason I decided to try the first book in the popular "Kitty Norville" series is that I've heard good things about the author, Carrie Vaughn, and also it was on sale on Audible.com.

Well, Kitty and the Midnight Hour is well-written and not as schlocky as I feared, but it did not change my mind about the genre, nor am I likely to continue following the series. I found the story enter...more

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Mar 20, 2012 Regina rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: audio-also-listened-to, bingo-r4, listened-to-audio-only, urban-fantasy-uf

I listened to the narration of Kitty and the Midnight Hour. I was expecting to not be impressed and walk away from this series believing it was just another take on an overdone theme. After all, the series is about werewolves and vampires -- hasn't this theme been done before? But I was pleasantly surprised with Kitty and I plan to continue on to the next book ... sometime. But I won't be rushing to read it or listen to it.

Kitty is the main character and I liked her well enough. Kitty is not li...more

5 likes · like · see review

Mar 11, 2010 I ♥ Bookie Nookie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: genre-pnr-uf, species-weres-and-shifters, 2010-read-in, zz-reviewed

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

3 likes · like · see review

Oct 03, 2009 Ceridwen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Ceridwen by: Carrie Vaughn

Shelves: for-teh-ladies, urban-fantasy, mystery, stolen-from-richard, drunk-book-reviews, necrophilia, america-and-environs, baying-at-the-moon

Okay. So I'm supposed to do a drunk book review of Dead Until Dark*, but now that I'm actually drunk, I find that I don't want to deal with Sookie Sackhouse and whatever she's about. I also find that I keep having to go back and clean up my crappy typing, but I guess that's the problem with the drunk book review. (I simply don't want to know how long it took me to clean up that last sentence.)

Anyway, I pretty thoroughly dug this book. I've been on this mission to understand what's up in paranorm...more Okay. So I'm supposed to do a drunk book review of Dead Until Dark*, but now that I'm actually drunk, I find that I don't want to deal with Sookie Sackhouse and whatever she's about. I also find that I keep having to go back and clean up my crappy typing, but I guess that's the problem with the drunk book review. (I simply don't want to know how long it took me to clean up that last sentence.)

Anyway, I pretty thoroughly dug this book. I've been on this mission to understand what's up in paranormal chick lit for a while, starting with Twilight, moving into the Sookie books, and then finally with this Kitty book. Unlike the former two, I actually want to read more in this series, and I think it's because of one thing: sex. Twilight's all crazy-sexless, you know, except for the parts where we sigh and breathe about how lovely and alabaster and marble-hard Edward is, and the Sookie book is all full of sex that makes me feel like I'm in a 7th grade sex ed class with a full-on diagram of the female reproductive tract, and that doesn't feel that sexy either.

Oops, here comes the drunken digression. I think I might hate vampires. This may be my sister's fault, because she has described them as “high functioning zombies”, and this has gotten inside my brain, and every single time one of these paranormal chick-lit protagonists beds a vampire I think, “Ye gads, girl, you have just fucked a corpse,” which is terribly gross and wrong, but I can't tell if the gross and wrong is inside my brain, or inside the damn corpse who is also the masculine ideal. I mean, yikes. I like guys. I think they are neat in their guyness. I'm trying hard in my drunkenness to not make fun of them, but I guess I'm trying to say I like when guys are guys and not alabaster fucking corpses who are like 300 years older than the spunky chicks that they impressed with. (That sentence ended with a preposition. Moving along...)

Anyway. Kitty. What I liked about this story was that it was about a person who begins, in medias res, already having this werewolf thing, and that the werewolf thing was pretty well thought out. Werewolves are different from vampires in that they are not gross corpses, but divided people. They're like most of us, with our ids and superegos, only once a month their ids go all crazy and run all over the countryside baying at the moon and killing shit and rolling in super gross stuff like the collie I had once that rolled in a dead fish because her weird collie-brain told her that that was a good idea. You know? Kitty's part of a pack, and unlike people, the pack is based on all this weird dominance shit. (Ha ha, right? Anyone? Get it?)

So Kitty starts a call-in show about the paranormal, and then all hell breaks loose, and then she has to come to terms with the fucked up couple who are the alphas of her pack. As usual, I'm struggling to not be insanely confessional on a book-themed social networking site, but I've know couples in my day like the alphas in Kitty's pack, couples where the woman used sex and the man used cluelessness to get what they wanted, and Kitty's reaction of love and disgust seemed just about right.

Although, just to be a big reviewer bitch, I didn't like that the main character was named Kitty, even if the author joked several times about how it was a bad name for a werewolf. I dislike cutesy names, which may be one of the main reasons why I don't like chick-lit, even if it might be otherwise okay. I don't know, maybe it isn't okay. I find it hard to judge in my current state. Oh, and back to sex, there was very little in this book, and that made me happy, because I think dog-sex may be as bad as corpse-sex, and I'm not really interested in either. Yuck. I'm going to go drink some water and lie on the floor.

*I had to fix the bad italics, even though Richard's ragging on me to leave it as an example of how you really can slur while typing. what.ever.(less)

47 likes · like · see review

Oct 08, 2012 Kelly Maybedog Hawkins rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: what-modern-fantasy

Updated 10/8/12

My review is a cautionary tale. If one listens to a book on tape and hates it, but it's something they expected to like, always give the print edition a try.

Here is my review after I tried to read this book for the first time:

I listened to the first couple of chapters on cd and it was so bad I had to stop even though I still had a hundred miles to drive with nothing on the radio. Since then I've realized that a bad narrator can ruin an audiobook so I think I'm going to try to read...more

10 likes · like · see review

Mar 29, 2009 Lady Danielle aka The Book Huntress rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: owned-copy, part-of-a-series, urban-fantasy, werewolf, favorites

This was an interesting read that takes a different path for the urban fantasy heroine. Kitty is not the usual kickbutt heroine who can handle whatever life throws at her. She's a regular girl, who happens to be a werewolf. I found that intensely refreshing.

Kitty is the wolf of lowest status in her pack and complete submissive when the story starts. She has to come into her own and into the realization that she can make it on her own, and that she doesn't need the pack so much that she can deny...more This was an interesting read that takes a different path for the urban fantasy heroine. Kitty is not the usual kickbutt heroine who can handle whatever life throws at her. She's a regular girl, who happens to be a werewolf. I found that intensely refreshing.

Kitty is the wolf of lowest status in her pack and complete submissive when the story starts. She has to come into her own and into the realization that she can make it on her own, and that she doesn't need the pack so much that she can deny her sense of self.

The description of werewolf pack dynamics kept my attention. I didn't care much for the way the pack controlled Kitty's life. I tend to be a loner because I don't like doing things because they are expected of me by others, and not because I want to. That's why I could really identify with Kitty's situation.

Kitty is still trying to deal with her dual selves, as a werewolf, and as a human. She became a werewolf under some pretty awful circumstances, and has lingering trauma over that. When the book starts, her parents don't even know she's a werewolf. She avoids going to family get-togethers because of fear that the wolf would emerge.

The one thing is hers and makes sense is her radio dj gig that becomes a show about preternatural creatures, and as it grows, helps Kitty to find her sense of self and meaning in life.

This story has plenty of action, but it is also a story about a woman coming into herself and dealing with her identity. That is one of the reasons I really like this story, because of the introspective aspects teamed with a good, action-oriented urban fantasy tale. Cormac is a hunter of vamps and weres who his hired to kill Kitty, but is convinced to call off the contract at the last minute by Kitty herself. Cormac certainly caught my interest, and I'd like to see more of him.

When this story ends, very few of the external conflicts are wrapped up. You know that Kitty has troubles ahead to face. But you know that she can handle it, because she is a wolf in control of her own destiny.(less)

24 likes · like · see review

Mar 21, 2008 nimrodiel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2008-books-read, bookcrossing-books, controlled-release

When a late radio dj, who is also a werewolf, gets bored what do you suppose will happen? Kitty Norville accidentally turns her late night music show into "The Midnight Hour". A late night talk show for all sorts of supernatural beings (and not) with problems. However, as her show skyrockets to fame, Kitty finds herself in dire need of help. The local vampire clan has hired a werewolf hunter to kill her, Local police have asked for her help in catching a serial killer who might be a vampire, and...more

3 likes · like · see review

Jul 24, 2009 Jim rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, paranormal-urban

Oh my - old timers! I thought I had this book, but couldn't find it. For some reason I'd collected the next 4, but didn't have the first, which was weird. I hadn't realized I read it! Well, I'm going to re-read it & then read the others that I have. I guess it wasn't particularly memorable.

I barely got into it & remembered it fairly well. I blame my lack of memory on me & reading dozens of similar books over the past few years. It was fun! On to the next!!!

------- From 27Oct08 ------...more

5 likes · like · see review

Jul 16, 2008 Jean Tatro rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Jean by: My Aunt

Shelves: urban-fantasy

The writing is smooth and easy to read, the characters have that ring of reality to them that's so important and the book doesn't get lost in its universe. On the downside it reads more like a string of events and less like a plot. It was clearly set up with a series in mind.

The main conflict plays hide and seek and I was never quite sure what it was until it came roaring out of nowhere towards the end. To put it simply there was a lot going on at once and the focus never really settles on one t...more

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Aug 20, 2009 Sheri rated it 5 of 5 stars

Kitty and the Midnight Hour is a laugh out loud fast paced page turner.
Kitty works as the "grave yard shift" D.J. for a Denver radio station. She is hiding a secret, she is a werewolf. One evening on the show, it slips she is a werewolf, her whole world changes. Soon she has a werewolf "bounty hunter" on her trail, an upset Vampire leader, and (her) Alpha-male pack leader wanting her to quit the show.

Fast paced, suspenseful and humorous, this book is not like any other werewolf story. Kitty is a...more

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May 09, 2011 Yui rated it 4 of 5 stars

After starting 5novels I couldn't finish that had my head pounding after a couple of chapters and (pitiful though it may sound) feeling as if I'm ready to slit my own throat to get away to bad writings, I found this book at the back of my bookshelf forgotten and full of dust. I can only be glad that at the time I had strength left in me to test a couple of pages and that I didn't have to get past 20pages to get interested.

I normally wouldn't give a four star rating at a book that isn't EPIC but...more

1 like · like · see review

Sep 18, 2012 Lady Jaye rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012, stars-3, fantasy-urban-fantasy, first-in-series, meh-ok, new-to-me-author, part-of-a-series, pb-vampires, pb-werewolves-or-shapeshifters

The last 25% of the book is a massive improvement over the first 75% of the book, in my opinion, and major reason I've rated this book as 'good' (3 stars) instead of 'didn't like it' (2 stars). I also think that my feelings about this book have to do in large part with my own expectations gone wrong.

What I Expected:
Before starting this book I'd heard it was about submissive werewolf. That had me majorly excited because in all the werewolf fiction I've come across, dominant, not submissive wolve...more

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Nov 30, 2011 Lauren aka John Matthew's Girl rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: library-has-a-copy

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This is a pretty good story. But it's far from the best I've ever read. The plot itself is really good and it was definitely enough to keep me turning the pages. But the characters on the other hand........ In a word? Terrible. Kitty for starters was a wimp, the girl's a freaking werewolf! And what does she do when provoked or challenged? Instead of fighting and sticking up for herself, she just inwardly whimpers and whines and externally looks all cowed and scared and subservient. And she lets...more This is a pretty good story. But it's far from the best I've ever read. The plot itself is really good and it was definitely enough to keep me turning the pages. But the characters on the other hand........ In a word? Terrible. Kitty for starters was a wimp, the girl's a freaking werewolf! And what does she do when provoked or challenged? Instead of fighting and sticking up for herself, she just inwardly whimpers and whines and externally looks all cowed and scared and subservient. And she lets the guy who's her pack master run roughshod all over her and basically use her! And the pack-master (Carl)? J-E-R-K doesn't even begin to describe him, he uses Kitty and pushes her around and is a total bully. And when his mate (Meg) (more on her later) tries to have Kitty killed and also creates a werewolf to try and have her mate killed, what does he do? She kisses up to him and acts all subservient and crap and he forgives her! And that just pissed me off to no end. And there's also the fact that he has sex with Kitty in spite of the fact that he already has a mate! And not only does Meg know, but she doesn't seem to care. And Kitty willingly has sex with him. That element is what turned me off most of all, when you're seriously involved with someone you don't sleep with other people, period. As for Meg, nasty and petty doesn't even begin to describe her, like I mentioned she tried to have Kitty killed and have Carl killed. Why? Because Kitty does start to show some backbone and she doesn't like that. And as for Carl, it seems to be because she wants to be pack-master, but doesn't have the guts to fight for herself. *Gag* How simultaneously petty and spineless can you get? To be honest, I flat out hated Carl and Meg. As for the other characters? There was one, Cormac who I actually liked a fair amount, he was a pretty interesting character and he wasn't a jerk. But the author decided to give him a mustache, and I don't like mustaches (too many Burt Reynolds associations *shudder*), that aside though I liked him. And the rest of the characters ranged from interesting to unremarkable, some I liked, some I didn't and some I was neutral on. The plot on the other hand was pretty good and about the only thing that kept me from giving up on this book entirely. The whole Midnight Hour radio show where the supernatural and undead can call in and get advice from Kitty? Very cool, and I just all around enjoyed it And the secondary plot of the rogue werewolf murdering girls? Pretty good, if somewhat predictable. But I did like the ending, it was nice to see Kitty break free of her abusive pack and grow as a person. Final verdict, while I didn't love this, I did like it and the storyline is interesting enough that I will be giving book 2 a spin. The plot itself=4 stars. The characters=2 stars.(less)

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Mar 15, 2011 JG (The Introverted Reader) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to JG (The Introverted Reader) by: Sandi

Shelves: audio, author_american, fantasy, fiction, read_in_2011, reviewed, setting_us, strong_females, paranormal, 3_stars

Kitty Norville is a late-night DJ who stumbles upon a popular idea for a talk show--"The Midnight Hour" in which she and her listeners discuss any and all thing supernatural. And the girl knows what she's talking about. She's a werewolf. Unfortunately, her new-found success brings her some unwanted attention. Her Alpha and the master of the local vampire family want her off the air. Someone hires a werewolf hunter to take her out. And Kitty has just found out that there's a rogue wolf in town ma...more Kitty Norville is a late-night DJ who stumbles upon a popular idea for a talk show--"The Midnight Hour" in which she and her listeners discuss any and all thing supernatural. And the girl knows what she's talking about. She's a werewolf. Unfortunately, her new-found success brings her some unwanted attention. Her Alpha and the master of the local vampire family want her off the air. Someone hires a werewolf hunter to take her out. And Kitty has just found out that there's a rogue wolf in town making everyone else look bad.

This was good. It was. My issues with it were purely my own and don't even necessarily make sense. I admit it.

First, I personally didn't care too much for the narration by Marguerite Gavin. It was very consciously cadenced and very staccato, even when that style didn't feel appropriate for what she was reading. It just felt like she was trying too hard. I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to stick with this at first, but I did and it bothered me less as time went on.

Now for the big thing, and the thing that makes the least sense. I didn't like the pack dynamics. My head knows that a pack of werewolves would interact in exactly this manner. There would be an alpha and his female, and they would punish and reward as they chose. Strength would be a big factor in status. There would be power struggles. My heart just doesn't like reading about any man slamming a woman around and then having sex with her as a reward. I just can't get past it. That part definitely improved as Kitty grew more confident, and that was one of the points of the book, but it really did push my buttons.

That stuff out of the way, I did mostly manage to get caught up in the story. I would find myself speeding a little faster in my car when there was a fight scene or a confrontation. I wanted to know who the rogue was and what the pack was going to do about him. I wanted to know what was going on with Cormac (because there has got to be a juicy back story there). I honestly wanted to see Kitty kick some ass. There were some people--beings?--that were just begging for it. And what is up with the creepy faith healer?

I thought Vaughn did a really good job in exploring what would happen if supernaturals ever did "come out of the closet," so to speak. Would our laws apply to them? How would you give a vamp life in prison? Would it be murder to kill one? She grounded the whole idea pretty firmly in reality by including the NIH and CDC and classifying these conditions as diseases. I found myself actually pondering some of these questions!

Despite an ending that I was very unhappy about, I'm not sure if I'll continue the series. I've added it to my wishlist on my library's small audio website, so I might get to it someday, but I'm in no rush.

If you're less squeamish than I am about what I can only (unfairly) call violence toward women, and you do like paranormals, I think you'll like this one.(less)

1 like · like · see review

Feb 09, 2011 Steph rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: audiobook, 2011, series-ongoing, author-웃, recommended-2-me, series-book1

Kitty and the Midnight Hour is our first look into the life of Kitty Norville. She's a were who can shift at any time, however prefers to only shift when necessary - on the night of the full moon. In her world, shifting outside of the full moon can lead to becoming more wolf than wo/man and she's not about to let that happen.

Kitty hosts the "Midnight Hour" radio show and loves her job. So, when her alpha tells her that talking about the supernatural community, even in a "they may or may not exi...more

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Oct 26, 2012 Krys rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own, werewolf-shapeshifter, urban-dark-fantasy-paranormal, short-length-book, first-person-narrative, third-person-narrative, lgbtqi, read-in-2011, series

There is a giveaway for this book, and several other books, here:

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The books are all signed by the authors. Contest ends 11/20/2012

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Carrie Vaughn is coming to the store I work at, and I have had a copy of the first in the Kitty Norville series forever... so it's the perfect time to pick it up. Hooray, all of the stars in the universe align!

In book one, Kitty and the Midnight Hour, Kitty is a...more

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Mar 19, 2009 Chris rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ufa

This book is a great debut from Carrie. It's a fast paced read with several twists and turns, and some good suspenceful momements. I love Carrie's characters here. Kitty is a great protagonist, a werewolf that's near the bottom of the ladder in the pack and is not used to taking care of herself, a "puppy". This was a great journey along with Kitty as she learns her way in the world a little bit, through the help of her radio show, "The Midnight Hour".

I like the supporting cast as well: Cormac,...more

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May 31, 2012 Komal rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Be forewarned, Kitty is not the typical cookie cutter urban fantasy heroine who often glosses so many of the books in this genre. She is a scarred, scared young woman who is trying her best to get by- to survive in a world where she is continuously taught that she is subordinate to everyone else.

That being said, I loved her for everything that she wasn’t and everything that she was. Her fears and struggles were real and I found that I could relate to her in so many ways (which hardly ever happe...more

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Sep 30, 2007 Rachel rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: urban fiction readers, supernatural fiction readers

Shelves: supernatural

This was an interesting take the dichotomy between group security and personal freedom. It is the story of Kitty, a DJ and lowest werewolf on the totem pole, as she builds a radio show, and builds her self-confidence to the point where she needs to find a different relationship with her pack. While a well-imagined take on what a werewolf pack might be like, the author also uses this (and Vampire Families, and even cults) to explore the ideas of belonging and freedom, and how growing and changing...more

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Aug 03, 2008 Jiaka1981 Winfield rated it 2 of 5 stars

I love good werwolf story, but i feel that this one came little short. The this book was written to introduce the next one, too many loose ends were left open. I also couldnt relete to the completely submissive behaveior of kitty is she the heroin or the damsel distres. She's one of those women who stays in abusive reletionships and doesnt bother hiding the bruises. Not all my favorite female heroins are Anita blake badass but i'd like a little self respect. I like the world she lives in and am...more

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Aug 12, 2011 Jenn rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy

I'm not sure how I feel about this book.

I liked Kitty's growth from submissive doormat to someone with a little more oomph in her back pocket but she hasn't quite changed because she's still kind of wussy at the end. I wanted her to go all the way at the end (view spoiler)

And how was...more

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May 20, 2013 Amanda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Until recently, I have been falling into the same trap that quite a few of us fall so easily into. We rate books against each other, and against the same standard. Which isn't fair, really - just as we expect dog shows, for instance, to rate each breed only against a standard set for that particular breed, I am going to attempt to look at books the same way.

This particular novel is brain candy. It's a coming-of-age story, with werewolves. And it's really not fair to rate it against fine literatu...more

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Apr 06, 2013 Scott Weber rated it 3 of 5 stars

Book Review – “Kitty and the Midnight Hour” by Carrie Vaughn
I may spew out some spoilers. I may also spoil out some spewers. If you are worried, stop reading. If you aren’t worried, then put on your plastic protective gear and read on.
Kitty and the Midnight Hour is the first book in Carrie Vaughn’s series featuring Kitty Norville, a late night radio host and recently turned Werewolf. Kitty has come to terms with here were-hood in a meek accepting kind of way. He is part of a pack which gives the...more Book Review – “Kitty and the Midnight Hour” by Carrie Vaughn
I may spew out some spoilers. I may also spoil out some spewers. If you are worried, stop reading. If you aren’t worried, then put on your plastic protective gear and read on.
Kitty and the Midnight Hour is the first book in Carrie Vaughn’s series featuring Kitty Norville, a late night radio host and recently turned Werewolf. Kitty has come to terms with here were-hood in a meek accepting kind of way. He is part of a pack which gives the wolf part of her comfort, but being low in the pecking order is doing nothing for her self-esteem. Her only solace is her nightly radio show where she plays her favorite music, talks about weird stories from the tabloid and takes calls from listeners. Her listeners start to respond more the more she talks about the supernatural, weres, vamps and such. In the course of the book she develops a strong radio following, has a major problem with her pack, and gets involved with a serial killer.
The Good – This book is well written. When I say that, I mean that it was easy to read. I could read it on the treadmill, in bed or on the porch and never have to worry that I missed something. Her writing is clean and clear. She chooses the right word where others would put in two or three that might be good enough. Kitty is a likeable character, one you enjoy spending time with. She is wry, doesn’t whine about her problems, but is realistically torn by the different emotions that her situation brings.
The Bad – The rest of the characters are a bit thin. The overbearing wolf pack leader, his conniving mate, the supportive other pack member…. they aren’t two dimensional, but they are just a bit short of being living breathing characters. Kitty does seem to let traumatic events roll off of her a bit easily, getting onto the next thing after a wash and a shrug. I would think that a bit more introspection would be in order given the severity of the events in the book.
The Other – This is the first book in a series, it has a lot to do in a very short time frame. A lot like the pilot to a TV show. She has to set the scene, the characters, establish the tone of the book, and tell a good story all at the same time. First books are rarely the best books in a series. That being said, this one is one of the better series starters I’ve read. It makes its choices carefully, doesn’t reach too far, and still delivers on a good story. I have some quibbles about how easily Kitty’s radio show grew to a national level, and I wonder about her pack leader’s behavior through it all. These details were not seamless in the story, but they didn’t bring it to a halt either.
Final Verdict
The final verdict for any author is whether or not you would read another book by them. In this case, the answer is yes. I enjoyed the book, it was fun, entertaining and a good read. Vaughn has delivered a book chock full of entertainment value. This is another one, like the Sandman Slim series by Richard Kadrey and the Nightside series by Simon Green that I will keep going back to when I need a fun, gritty read that I am sure to enjoy.
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Feb 19, 2013 Text Addict rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy, fantasy, colorado

Werewolves again! But I liked this one, though it'll most likely be triggering to rape survivors. It's funny what it'll take to get a person to start to stand up for themselves; in Kitty's case, it's the growing popularity of her new radio talk show, and the feeling that she can perhaps make a positive difference in people's lives (as well as interview interesting guests and so forth).

Be advised that Kitty is dragging herself up from years' worth of trauma, including but not limited to being tur...more

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Feb 01, 2013 Briarcraft rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: series

My Favorite Werewolf

Absolutely loved this book! And I'm buying the rest of this series as soon as I can. Why? Let me count the reasons...

1) Very believable characters. I want to get to know Kitty and friends way better. Unlike many/most urban fantasy heroines, Kitty is not bad-ass. She's lovable. She's not foul mouthed. She learns how to fight, but starts out unsure of herself.

2) Excellent premise for a series. Great story line. Wonderful character development.

3) After reading dozens of urban fa...more

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Jan 03, 2013 Spinster rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy

I will start by saying that pathetic female characters always manage to rub me the wrong way. Kitty definitely falls into the pathetic category - she's weak, submissive and craving attention from people who more or less either abuse her or ignore her, and she's happy with the scraps she gets thrown at her. Having said that, Kitty as a character wasn't as frustrating or annoying as I thought she'd be. Sure there were times when I wanted to slap her around, but mostly the writing was able to expla...more

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topics	posts	views	last activity
Urban Fantasy ser...: May BOTM: KITTY AND THE MIDNIGHT HOUR by Carrie Vaughn	20	39	May 23, 2013 01:44am
Urban Fantasy Afi...: Kitty And The Midnight Hour (Spoilerific)	22	68	May 14, 2013 01:38pm
TV Series?	13	119	Apr 21, 2013 02:32pm
SOS: Serious Over...: May Buddy Read: Kitty and the Midnight Hour by Carrie Vaughn	24	36	Jun 02, 2012 05:45am
Urban Fantasy Afi...: Kitty And The Midnight Hour (Without Spoilers)	30	26	May 07, 2012 07:49pm
Carrie Vaughn is in da BBB house	1	44	Jan 06, 2010 11:04am

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About Carrie Vaughn

Vaughn was born into a military family and has lived all over the U.S. She received a BA from Occidental College, after which she went on to work too many jobs to count until she went back to school to receive her MA from University of Colorado at Boulder. She currently lives in Boulder, CO.

More about Carrie Vaughn...

Books by Carrie Vaughn

Kitty and the Silver Bullet (Kitty Norville, #4)

Kitty Goes to Washington (Kitty Norville, #2)

Kitty Takes a Holiday (Kitty Norville, #3)

Kitty's House of Horrors (Kitty Norville, #7)

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Quotes from Kitty and the Midnight...

“I'm a werewolf trapped in a human body."
"Well, yeah, that's kind of the definition."
"No, really. I'm trapped."
"Oh? When was the last time you shape-shifted?"
"That's just it - I've never shape-shifted."
"So you're not really a werewolf."
"Not yet. But I was meant to be one, I just know it. How do I get a werewolf to attack me?"
Stand in the middle of a forest under a full moon with a raw steak tied to your face, holding a sign that says, 'Eat me; I'm stupid'?” — 133 people liked it

“Hey, Cormac. You ever have to deal with a PMSing werewolf?” — 48 people liked it

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Kitty and the Midnight Hour (Kitty Norville #1)

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