The Dead Girls' Dance (The Morganville Vampires, #2)

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The Dead Girls' Dance (The Morganville Vampires #2)

by Rachel Caine

4.09 · rating details · 14,480 ratings · 864 reviews

Claire has her share of challenges. Like being a genius in a school that favors beauty over brains; homicidal girls in her dorm, and finding out that her college town is overrun with the living dead. On the up side, she has a new boyfriend with a vampire-hunting dad. But when a local fraternity throws the Dead Girls' Dance, hell is really going to break loose.

Mass Market Paperback, 238 pages

Published April 3rd 2007 by NAL Jam

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May 09, 2010

The Holy Terror rated it

Shelves: vampires, owned, young-adult, paranormal

I don't know what it is about this series that keeps it from being more than average for me. I like the ideas that Caine comes up with but I don't think she's the greatest writer. I find myself distracted while reading her books and not as emotionally connected as I should be. That being said, I liked it enough to want to continue on with the series and find out what happens with the characters.

This entry in the series starts right where the first book left off. This left me feeling ...more

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Apr 11, 2008

Cherie rated it

This is the second book in the Morganville Vampire series and it picks up right where book one leaves off. By now, we've learned a bit more about all the inhabitants of the Glass House, where Claire is currently living off-campus while attending Texas Prarie University. Her roommates—Eve the Goth girl, sexy hunk Shane, and mysterious Michael—have been having to fight off the vampires that rule Morganville because situations beyond their control have really pissed some of them off. It certainl...moreThis is the second book in the Morganville Vampire series and it picks up right where book one leaves off. By now, we've learned a bit more about all the inhabitants of the Glass House, where Claire is currently living off-campus while attending Texas Prarie University. Her roommates—Eve the Goth girl, sexy hunk Shane, and mysterious Michael—have been having to fight off the vampires that rule Morganville because situations beyond their control have really pissed some of them off. It certainly doesn't help when Shane's vampire-hunting father comes to town either, with a plan to take care of all the vampires of Morganville once and for all.

If I hadn't read the first book so recently I think I may have been lost for the first several pages as this book picks up mid-scene from the events of book one, with very little reminder cues. I really don't like when authors do this, particularly since these books are published several months apart and most people aren't going to read them right after another, but instead would read a number of other books in betweeen. Therefore, with this particular series, you might be better served picking up the first two or three books and then reading them all in one go.

In comparison to the other young adult urban (paranormal) fantasy books I've been reading, specifically the House of Night Novels by P.C. Cast, these seem a bit slower paced and not nearly as exciting. I remember thinking something similar about the first book of Ms. Caine's Weather Warden series, Ill Wind, when I read that. Certainly an interesting enough story, but it didn't have that wow factor for me that makes it a favorite. *shrug*

That said, the story is still interesting enough to keep going, and does pick up the pace more as things progress. Though written in the third person, you really only see into Claire's head most of the time, not any of the other main characters, so the inclusion of a few excerpts from Eve's diary at the end of the book is a welcome addition which lets you learn a bit more about what makes her tick.

I certainly plan to keep up with future books in this series, and already have Midnight Alley, the third in the series, waiting on my bookshelf. I'll just have to remember to read it sooner rather than later for the reasons stated above since I'll be passing this second book along and won't have it to refer back to.(less)

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Feb 28, 2009

Morning rated it

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Feb 16, 2009

Samantha rated it

Shelves: 2009, ebook-own

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Nov 22, 2011

Myvampfiction rated it

review by SarahBella

*Warning: possible spoilers ahead.*

Book two in the Morganville series-by Rachel Caine- is Dead Girls Dance. In this book, we follow Claire, Shane, Michael and Eve as they once again attempt to navigate the treacherous underworld of vampires.

Shane's father, a notorious Vampire Killer, has returned to Morganville with a score to settle and the vampires are sure that Shane is in on it. When a vampire ends up dead, Shane winds up in a cage aw...more

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Jan 23, 2011

Rachel rated it

Shelves: i-own

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This book was equally as good as the first.
The story picked up right where the first book left of and continued to be fast paced and entertaining the entire way through.
The characters continue to be the same great personalities they were from the first book, and I really liked Sam. I feel like he may be the first vampire we’ve met who could be as close to good as vampires in this series can get. I really like the character of Amelie, although I wonder exactly what her intentions ar...moreThis book was equally as good as the first.
The story picked up right where the first book left of and continued to be fast paced and entertaining the entire way through.
The characters continue to be the same great personalities they were from the first book, and I really liked Sam. I feel like he may be the first vampire we’ve met who could be as close to good as vampires in this series can get. I really like the character of Amelie, although I wonder exactly what her intentions are and just how far she’ll go to get what she wants. Who and what would she be willing to risk in order to protect herself?
Personally I think both Claire and Shane along with Eve and Michael are great couples. One of the things that struck me about this series straight away, is how there doesn’t appear to be any love triangles. Honestly, I’ve become sick of them and seeing two fresh couples who are all close and get along together without any extra issues is excellent. It’s a breath of fresh air and I hope it stays that way. I don’t want to see anyone pop up in the story that could be a threat to either romance.

I like that Claire continues to grow and appears to becoming stronger. It’s wonderful when the main character continues to evolve over the course of the series. I find that she’s very mature for her age too. Often during the book, I found myself forgetting that she is almost two years younger than her housemates. She’s very level and balanced that it’s hard to think of her as a child.
I find it very difficult to define Shane after this book. He’s not exactly a bad-boy, although he has that hint of rebelliousness that makes him fun and he’s not outright innocent or sweet either. After learning of his father, it’s obvious that he’s done a number on Shane over the years and that in a lot of ways Shane is vulnerable when it comes to his dad. He’s the only family Shane has left and while doesn’t completely agree or disagree with his father’s beliefs on vampires; Shane can’t deny that he’s a part of that world. Or was. At the end of the book Shane made it obvious how little he wanted to do with his father, but I wonder how long that will last.
I thought it was very interesting to see Michael become a vampire. If there is anyone who can become one of the unread and yet manage to hold on to his humanity and still be himself, it’s him.
Also I wonder how Eve’s brother Jason is going to affect the storyline. Is he really the one killing those girls? And will he be in the next book?

I’m looking forward to finding out.
Now, on to the next book......
(less)

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Jul 11, 2009

Jaime rated it

Shelves: contemporary, fantasy-and-or-paranormal

I like that this book picked up precisely where Glass Houses left off and kept to the fast pace. And even though she's often annoying because of it, I do like that 16 yr old small-town nerd Claire is written to be naive and sophomoric rather than implausibly sophisticated. The romantic aspect was also nicely done, as was the introduction of Sam. However, the villains were rather flat--perhaps to underscore that Claire is discovering that humans can be as bad as the vampires--so the sense of broo...more

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Dec 09, 2011

Brittanymurray rated it

I started The Dead Girls' Dance almost immediately after finishing Glass Houses. I read it in one sitting of about three and half hours. It was so easy to arrive right back in Morganville as this book starts where the first book ended. The transition is seemless and so I was absorbed from the very first page this time.
I will try to limit any spoilers but if you want to be left completely in the dark, please do not read any further.
Shane's father is hellbent on avenging the death of...more

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Feb 06, 2012

Jennifer rated it

Förra boken slutade i en cliffhanger (som jag hatade förresten) och det första jag gjorde när jag fick hem boken var att öppna boken och läsa första kapitlet, efter det var jag för chockad och hm jag vet inte hur jag ska uttrycka det men typ hjärtkorsad? Sorgsen? Något i den stilen i alla fall. Så jag suckade och lade in den i min bokhylla och röde den inte förrän jag skulle resa bort.
När jag väl började läsa boken på riktigt så blev jag glatt överraskad, boken var bättre än sin föregående...moreFörra boken slutade i en cliffhanger (som jag hatade förresten) och det första jag gjorde när jag fick hem boken var att öppna boken och läsa första kapitlet, efter det var jag för chockad och hm jag vet inte hur jag ska uttrycka det men typ hjärtkorsad? Sorgsen? Något i den stilen i alla fall. Så jag suckade och lade in den i min bokhylla och röde den inte förrän jag skulle resa bort.
När jag väl började läsa boken på riktigt så blev jag glatt överraskad, boken var bättre än sin föregående både till stråket och när det gäller karaktärerna. Dock störde jag mig på att i ett ställe i boken när karaktärerna pratade med varandra så kändes det inte trovärdigt. Det kändes mer som om författaren lät karaktärerna säga saker som hon trodde skulle uppskattas av läsaren men jag tyckte det bara var segt. Började till och med skratta då Clarie tänker något liknande med att de samtalar så naturligt med varann. Men nu ska jag sluta klaga på deras konversationer, för det blir bättre och bättre när boken fortsätter.
Den här boken är väldigt laddad och action fylld, Jennifer like,och när jag läste den så tror jag inte att det var några lugna stunder och jag ville hela tiden få reda på vad som skulle hända. Många tvister och lösa trådar som knyts ihop.

Karaktärstutvecklingen märks mer i den här boken än vad det gjorde i förra. Nu störde jag mig inte så mycket på Claire men jag tycker fortfarande att det är jobbigt när hon vill gå till skolan. Hela tiden. Det är som man vill ruska om henne och säga åt henne att hon är i fara när hon går dit och att hon vet att något dåligt kommer hända henne. Men bryr hon sig? Nej. Gash sånt går mig bara irriterad.
Shane och Michael är två helt underbara karaktärer som jag skulle vilja ha som bröder, helt underbart snälla och beskyddande är dom. Och det gör inget att dom är super heta båda två, hehe.

Jag kommer antagligen läsa tredje boken när den kommer ut på svenska för jag vill verkligen läsa hur konsekvenserna blir av Claires val. En ganska underhållande bok men den kommer inte upp i min top 10 favorit vampyrböcker, egentligen kommer den inte upp i någon av mina top tio listor men låt inte det avskräcka er från att läsa boken. Underhållande, sorglig och grym är vad den är!(less)

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Jan 28, 2012

Felicia rated it

Shelves: 2010-read

Publisher: NAL Jam
Purchased: Purchased from Amazon

What I Loved: Claire continues to be such a unique character for a YA Novel. She is growing stronger, less mousy, and you start to get the impression that she is important to the vampires of Morganville. This book continues the story quite nicely! You learn more about Shane, Micheal, and Eve and by the end you know that our awesome foursome have a lot to deal with in Morganville.

What I Liked: Usually it is the romanti...more

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Jan 08, 2012

Lady Entropy rated it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
A série dos Morganville Vampires é uma série de Fantasia Urbana YA, com vampiros, sobretudo. Em vez de, no entanto, estes serem o "love interest" de serviço, são perigosos, violentos, rancorosos, e inumanos. Em suma, o inimigo. Por isso, o primeiro livro é bom, e engoliu-me por inteiro, tendo-o acabado de ler num só dia. Todavia, nota-se que foi escrito como série, e o segundo livro, como continuação é passável, mas como stand-alone, falha. Sofre muito do síndroma de Casino Royal\...more
A série dos Morganville Vampires é uma série de Fantasia Urbana YA, com vampiros, sobretudo. Em vez de, no entanto, estes serem o "love interest" de serviço, são perigosos, violentos, rancorosos, e inumanos. Em suma, o inimigo. Por isso, o primeiro livro é bom, e engoliu-me por inteiro, tendo-o acabado de ler num só dia. Todavia, nota-se que foi escrito como série, e o segundo livro, como continuação é passável, mas como stand-alone, falha. Sofre muito do síndroma de Casino Royal\Quantum of Solace. O segundo livro é minúsculo (li-o hoje de manhã, entre as 9 e o meio-dia), e parece mais que foi "cortado" à pressão do primeiro e transformado numa segunda novela.

E vi, pela primeira vez, algo que só conhecia de teoria da literatura: os perigos de um narrador centrado numa única personagem. O livro tem um narrador de 3ª pessoa, mas centra-se SEMPRE na protagonista, Claire. Ou seja, ela tem que estar sempre presente ou o leitor não pode estar na cena. E isso resulta MUITO mal em Morganville Vampires: a heroína, uma míuda sobredotada de 16 anos, acaba por parecer suicida na sua determinação de estar presente no meio de todos os problemas, mesmo sabendo que a vida dela está em perigo. No segundo livro, isso ainda se justifica, porque amigos estão em perigo (apesar que ela é esquelética, e fraquinha, por isso a única coisa que acabaria por ser seria uma vitima ou empecilho). Mas no primeiro livro? Ela está determinada a ir ás aulas ainda que por duas vezes quase que foi morta pelas local "bullies" e sabendo perfeitamente que a líder das bullies é filha do Mayor e consegue (e já o fez) matar sem sofrer consequências. Chega a uma parte em que o ridículo da situação é tal que se nota perfeitamente que a autora tem que forçar a personagem a ser estúpida apenas para que a acção possa continuar. Vejamos: a protagonista descobriu que existem vampiros e que estes controlam a cidade; ela enfureceu a filha do Mayor que é protegido pelos vampiros mais poderosos -- que já a tentou matar várias vezes e só se safou por sorte, os pais obrigam-na a voltar para casa, dando-lhe 2 dias para arrumar as coisas -- e ela ainda assim INSISTE em ir ás aulas. Só porque sim.
Diga-se que admiro uma heroína com vontade forte, mas há limites -- quando fazem coisas estúpidas só porque sim nota-se que a personagem apenas está a servir de fio condutor à acção e mais nada.

Morganville Vampires é uma série que se passa em Morganville, uma cidade ficticia nos EUA, onde a protagonista descobre que é controlada por vampiros. A maioria dos humanos nativos de lá tem "protecção" dada por vampiros escolhidos, e todos são obrigados a pagar um "imposto de sangue" (dar x quantidade de sangue por mês). A heroína, depois de quase morrer às mãos de umas bullies, decide arranjar um sítio novo para morar, e descobre a Glass House, uma velha casa que pertence ao Michael Glass, e onde moram 2 outros míudos que também se opõem ao controlo dos vampiros.
O Millieu em si é um pouco estranho (sobretudo a amnésia que dá às pessoas quando saem da cidade) mas a história é suficientemente poderosa e emocional para não fazer muitas perguntas, e concentrarmo-nos nela em vez de questionar o setting. Os vampiros são apresentados de forma interessante, mas algumas das situações são resolvidas um nadinha à base de Deus ex Machina.

Eu acho que comprei o terceiro volume da série, mas não sei onde o meti -- gostaria de o ler para ver se a escrita da autora amadurece. Francamente, não choro o tempo perdido, mas não vai ser uma série que vá comprar.(less)

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Dec 27, 2011

Monica rated it

Shelves: reviewed

This girl is just insane. I remember how I was when I was a teenage but I don't think I had life threatening situations to contend with on a day to day basis. I feel bad that such a young but brilliant girl has to deal with these. The more and more I read about Morganville the more and more I wonder why in the hell everyone doesn't' just pack it up, get out, and stay out. Why would you want to stay in a Vampire feeding ground when there were so many other places to live. But...if the heroine lef...more

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Dec 07, 2011

Julie rated it

I very much like this book. I liked that even though it's the second book in a series, it dosen't give a summary of the first. It starts very quickly, and I was so excited over the book, I couldn't wait to finish it. I read it on a couple of hours (I've read it once since, and I found out, I missed out alot, because I didn't read it closely, but I wanted to find out what it ended with).
The heat between Shane and Claire rises, and I like it! I think they make a good match, and Shane is like...more

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Oct 27, 2011

Naomi rated it

The Dead Girls’ Dance is the second book in the Morganville Vampires series by Rachel Caine.

This book basically starts where the last book ends, Shane’s father and some of his road hog friends have barged into Glass House and are taking over the show. Shane’s dad isn’t going to leave Morganville without taking a whole bunch of vampires down with him at the same time. Luckily the members of Glass House are able to get rid of the intruders and try to get on with their lives. Until Shan...more

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Oct 25, 2011

E. rated it

Shelves: mg-plus, vampires, 二千十

Shane's dad and his associates have come back to Morganville, and they're out for blood - and killing Michael is only the beginning. Plus, Eve's criminal brother she had testified against is on the loose again, which adds to the tension coiling around the Glass House.
But when Shane is accused of having killed a vampire -thanks to his crazy dad- Claire and Eve can focus on only one thing: Save Shane, no matter what cost. Yet Michael can't help them, Amelie refuses to clear things up, and O...more

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Oct 10, 2011

Fangs for the Fantasy rated it

At the end of the last book, Glass House, Shane called in his father in a desperate attempt to save them from the wrath of Morganville's vampires. Of course, they managed to escape that wrath by earning the support and protection of Analee, the Founder of Morganville who had enough clout to keep them safe.

The problem is, Shane's father and his vampire slaying biker gang still arrived. And they're still looking for blood and they don't intend to leave without slaughtering as many vampir...more

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Oct 09, 2011

Ashlie Swainston rated it

I think this book only makes the series better. So much happens in Morganville in such a short amount of time. So much has happened to Claire anyway. The plot just gets thicker and I only love the characters more and more. I can't get enough of Morganville and it's creepy way of life, but at least there's a system. Kind of. Don't go out after dark, and when you do go out at all, don't go alone. It seems pretty simple, unless your Claire Danvers and you have a death wish. :)

I love...more

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Sep 12, 2011

Phaedra rated it

Shelves: 2011, nook

I liked this one much better than the first one, the pacing seemed better and there was more dimension to the characters. I like that there is a bit of a grey line with a few of the black hats and that it isn't just an 'us vs. them' kind of mentality through the book. It's tough to get over that Shane, Michael, and Eve are only 18 and Claire is 16 when they don't always act those ages or behave like believable teens. On the other hand, they're all growing as characters and each one is interes...more

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Jul 07, 2011

Delaney rated it

· review of another edition

Just like the first book, this held me from beginning to end. I was only a little surprised that Rachel Caine continued to develop her characters in addition to adding new characters with a lot of depth. She seems to be a very talented writer, and I really love all her series'. Shane's dad in this one...what a frightening dude, but I always love a different perspective, and getting his was interesting. I felt horrible for Shane, and honestly cried when he was arrested, and I never cry over books...more

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May 24, 2011

Charlotte Tatum rated it

The Dead Girl's Dance was the second book in the Morganville Vampires series by Rachel Caine. It pretty much started off right where the first book left off, I was glad I decided to read them all together, but you could probably catch up or remember what was in the first one fairly easy. It started out back at the Glass House from the first book, but diving deeper into each of the main characters of the book.

The plot line for this book was that Shane's vampire hunting and killing da...more

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Apr 25, 2011

Tess rated it

It’s been a while since I read the first book in the series Morganville Vampires, about 16-year old Claire who goes to Morganville to attend uni and finds out (first-hand) that the town is ruled by vampires. While I didn’t think it was fantastic I still thought it was a fun action-filled page-turner with the potential to become better as the series progressed. Which is why I thought I’d pick up the sequel.

I’m now a few chapters in. And it picks up just where Glass Houses left off, wh...more

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Mar 27, 2011

BBBTerri rated it

How the heck did I get sucked into the Morganville Vampires?? This is teenage, brainless vampire smut at it's finest. Seriously! I'll tell you how it happened to me.

It was such a mindless easy read...I flew through the the first book in a day. I must give credit to the author, Ms. Caine. She lead me into a clever trap at the endings of the first few books. I couldn't walk away without knowing what happened to these stupid, annoying teenagers in the Glass House. I went straight to my ...more

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Mar 17, 2011

Madelyn Grey rated it

Recommends it for: Ages 13+ For those who want a YA vampire novel that doesn't romanticize the vampire mythos.

Book two in the spectacular Morganville Vampires series by Rachel Caine is another jaw-dropping installment.

The book opens with the continuation of the heart-stopping cliffhanger left behind in "Glass Houses." The opening adds a steady dose of fear, anxiety, and sorrow with the Glass House gang in the thick of it once again.

Once the heat of that crisis dies down, life settles back to a semblance of calm for a bit. Our heroine Claire Danvers, still sixteen and a...moreBook two in the spectacular Morganville Vampires series by Rachel Caine is another jaw-dropping installment.

The book opens with the continuation of the heart-stopping cliffhanger left behind in "Glass Houses." The opening adds a steady dose of fear, anxiety, and sorrow with the Glass House gang in the thick of it once again.

Once the heat of that crisis dies down, life settles back to a semblance of calm for a bit. Our heroine Claire Danvers, still sixteen and a genius, continues to attend classes at the university while dodging mean girl Monica Morrell and her entourage of Monicas in training.

The bright side, if there could be one in a town riddled with the undead, is that Claire has a support system in the Glass House. Eve Rosser, still Goth and still willing to stick up for her little "Claire Bear." Michael Glass, her landlord who just happens to disappear at sundown. And Shane Collins, who is now Claire's (older) boyfriend...whose father happens to be the ringleader of a vampire-hunting, motorcycle-driving, leather-wearing gang--who don't discriminate the living from the undead.

Halloween approaches, and a fraternity at TPU is throwing the biggest bash of the season: The Dead Girls' Dance. This year Claire and her best friend, Eve, have been invited. As Halloween night draws near, it soon becomes clear that the world seems to be out for the residents of the Glass House, both humans and vampires alike.

To add another nail in the coffin, Amelie, the most beautiful and deadly of all the vampires, has a proposition for Claire, one that will change her, and the lives of her friends, forever.

Another witty, enthralling installment. Better clear your whole day when you pick this up, you won't be able to pry it from your hands.

____

The addition of Amelie (Pronounced phonetically ah-may-lee, which is being explained because this reader is tired of other fans pronouncing it wrong) is a superb injection of intrigue that aids to where the plot was weak in the first book. An excellent installment overall.(less)

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Mar 14, 2011

Lisa rated it

· review of another edition

I give this book 3.5 stars.

This book picked up right at the end of the first book. I really liked that there was no lag time between the books; it's almost as if you never left the story.

Claire is still the naive sixteen year old trying to fight the evil girls at school along with the evil vampires in town. I like that even though she is super smart Caine didn't try and make her extremely sophisticated and wise beyond her years. Instead she kept Claire down to earth and a...more

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Dec 30, 2010

Karissa Eckert rated it

This is the second book in the Morganville Vampires series. For some reason I just cannot get into this series. The story is okay, but the characters aren't all that engaging. I didn't finish this book thinking "Oh, I just can't wait for what happens next!".

This book starts out exactly where the last book left off, which is good considering the last book left off with a knife plunging toward Michael's heart. In this book Shane's father, a crazy vampire hunter, shows up and st...moreThis is the second book in the Morganville Vampires series. For some reason I just cannot get into this series. The story is okay, but the characters aren't all that engaging. I didn't finish this book thinking "Oh, I just can't wait for what happens next!".

This book starts out exactly where the last book left off, which is good considering the last book left off with a knife plunging toward Michael's heart. In this book Shane's father, a crazy vampire hunter, shows up and starts creating trouble for the residents of Glass House. It's up to Claire to try and figure out how to fix everything, especially when Shane gets imprisoned for a murder he didn't commit.

I will start out with the good stuff in this book. The Founder of Morganville, Amelie, is a great character; in fact I think she is the only interesting character in this book. She is intriguing and must have a very interesting past indeed. I also liked the addition of Sam the newest vampire in Morganville; although he wasn't in the story much. Okay, well that was the good stuff. I think the other characters are very stereotypical. The story is okay, but not all that engaging. The writing style is fine but nothing special.

I thought the title and synopsis of the book were both a bit misleading. The Dead Girl's Dance doesn't happen until almost the end of the book and the main characters have nothing to do with the preparation of it. The Dance just happens to be a place where some bad stuff happens. I also thought it was a bit strange that Claire rarely goes to class; I mean I understand that she is in danger, but Claire's actual classwork is really pushed into the background and dealt with as an afterthought...it's kind of weird since the whole reason she stayed in Morganville initially was to go to school. I also thought that Claire's parents were dealt with in a clumsy way; it was like Caine didn't really know what to do with them so she made them magically forget and left it at that.

Overall, this book was okay. I just didn't really get into it all that much. Everything about it remains average. The nice thing was that this book wrapped up the plot somewhat instead of leaving it wide open like the last book. I won't be reading anymore of this series. I just am not enjoying it; there is not enough creativity and the characters are not engaging enough.(less)

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Nov 08, 2010

Rebecca rated it

Claire has her share of challenges. Like being a genius in a school that favours beauty over brains; homicidal girls in her dorm, and finding out that her college town is overrun with the living dead. On the up side, she has a new boyfriend with a vampire-hunting dad. But when a local fraternity throws the Dead Girls' Dance, hell is really going to break loose.
The more Urban Fantasy I read, the more I love it. The Dead Girls Dance is sequel to The Morganville Vampires: Glass House and pic...more

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Oct 17, 2010

Kt from A Book Obsession.. rated it

Shelves: a-c

Claire and her friends were granted protection from the founder as long as they do not cause any more trouble. So, of course the inevitable happens and trouble finds them. Shane's dad is completely set on his vendetta against the vampires. He doesn't care who he has to sacrifice to achieve his goal, even his own son, Shane. With Shane mixed up in the mess with his dad, Micheal's inability to leave the house and Eve's general death wish, its up to Claire to save the day yet again. However, this t...moreClaire and her friends were granted protection from the founder as long as they do not cause any more trouble. So, of course the inevitable happens and trouble finds them. Shane's dad is completely set on his vendetta against the vampires. He doesn't care who he has to sacrifice to achieve his goal, even his own son, Shane. With Shane mixed up in the mess with his dad, Micheal's inability to leave the house and Eve's general death wish, its up to Claire to save the day yet again. However, this time shes in danger of losing something very near and dear to her heart.

This book is extremely intense, and the stakes are even higher than the last one. Once it got started, it never really stopped. The danger was very real in the last book, and involved all four of them equally. However, this time around it really hits home so much harder even though the biggest threat is only to one of them. It's funny how some things really seem to sink in more than others, even if the overall danger is less.

The ending of this book surprised me. It didn't really follow Caine's history of ending every book on a major cliffhanger. Well, I guess the ending could be considered a cliffhanger, but considering Claire's character and the nature of the vampires in Morganville, it really isn't a surprise. I had actually assumed the ending of this book was a point that was inevitable in the series anyway. However, since I just said this book really doesn't have a cliffhanger, I bet the next book has one heck of a doozy ending.

I enjoyed this book, and I really like the direction the series is taking. There definitely isn't a slow progression of events. There is a lot going on at once, and the action just keeps coming. This book had plenty of shocking events, and really kept me guessing. I'm finding the more I read, the more I love Claire's character and her inner strength. She really is admirable, and of course the rest of the characters are pretty great too. I cannot wait to read more of their story in the next book.(less)

· see review

Sep 19, 2010

Sharon rated it

This is Book two in the Morganville Vampire series following the first book Glass Houses: The Morganville Vampires Book 1, it has a pretty dark beginning as Michael is lying dead & bloodied in the front room. Shanes father Mr Collins has come wreak revenge on Morganville after his wife & sister dies & he will brook no arguement from his emotionally torn son Shane as his past comes flooding to the fore & we find out just how & why his mother & sister died & why.
Claire, Eve & Shane remain i...more

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Sep 18, 2010

Maria rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: finish

La verdad de las verdades, Los vampiros de Morganville
me dejo un buen sabor de boca, en el primer libro
nos presentaban a los personajes, y la jerarquia de esta
ciudad un tanto extraña...pero muy bien narrado y
con ganas de tener màs...El libro de esta saga lo tenìa desde
hace un mes, y como sabèis tenìa varios libros que leer
y todavìa tengo...Pues bien..seguì mi instinto y no me
arrepiento, pues he disfrutado con èl mucho màs que el primero
ya que empiezas a e...more

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Sep 01, 2010

Liberty Gilmore rated it

What’s Good About It

Well, it’s a step up from the last. Pacier with a more concrete sense of threat. The lengths to which Shane’s Dad is prepared to go to bring down the Vampires, and his complete lack of regard for himself and seemingly his son make him a real wildcard throughout the novel. You really aren’t sure what he’s going to do next, which makes the plot move much faster and with real tension.

There are some good ideas too – like the neutral cops, exploring a littl...moreWhat’s Good About It

Well, it’s a step up from the last. Pacier with a more concrete sense of threat. The lengths to which Shane’s Dad is prepared to go to bring down the Vampires, and his complete lack of regard for himself and seemingly his son make him a real wildcard throughout the novel. You really aren’t sure what he’s going to do next, which makes the plot move much faster and with real tension.

There are some good ideas too – like the neutral cops, exploring a little deeper into the politics of the Vampire world, and how they have survived for so long. But it felt a little like some of these characters, particularly the neutral cops, came out of nowhere to serve a plot purpose. Can’t have another argument about whether or not Claire can leave the house? Well, that’s okay – bring in two guys who for no apparent reason will drive her to school and back every day.

There are some hints as to where this is going next, which is always good for a bit of intrigue. I like the idea that there are worse things out there, because while Morganville is a dangerous place, it does have its rules, and if you play by them you can form some sort of life. That Claire and gang continue to break the rules is their choice and you can only be symapthetic towards trouble they’ve got themselves into so many times.

Character development was better, with Eve, Michael and Shane give a bit more depth, and Claire finally grew a spine, which is also good. It was a constant source of irritation in the last book how she was so drippy, super smart and yet stupid enough to try and take on things she didn’t understand. While intelligence and common sense are not necessarily linked, she lacked the backbone to really make me believe she had it in her to do the daring thing in the last book. Now she seems to be growing a little as a character and it’s much easier to swallow.

Above all, though, it was a fast read, and that is its saving grace really. I couldn’t cope with it if it was much longer than it is. But you don’t mind spending an afternoon reading a book that isn’t the greatest, but has its mildly entertaining moments.

What’s Not So Good

Like many YA Paranormal series, this one picks up directly where the last book left off. While that can be a good thing, and can work very well, sometimes the time between reading one book and picking up the next can leave your brain with the impression that the characters have known each other for longer than they have, because you’ve known them for a longer time.

It was easy to forget that Claire had only known the housemates for a few weeks at most, if that. I accept that intense situations make for intense friendships and loves, but sometimes it seemed a little too much, how much danger she was prepared to put herself in, especially as she doesn’t fully understand Morganville yet.

The titular Dead Girls’ Dance was a bit throwaway too. And the college kids are getting more and more irritating. Yes I know some people are jerks, and you do occasionally get high concentrations of them, but there seem to be an inordinate amount at the university. While I can see why Monica is the way she is, the kids from out of town wouldn’t all be the same way. It seems to me like a lot of the same plot tropes are being used again and again. Claire does something dumb and gets into trouble. Some college kids are mean. Shane makes chilli. Michael is incapable of doing anything because he’s trapped in the house. Claire and Eve are told to stay behind but don’t. Across two books, it’s just about okay, but if there isn’t something new in the next installment, I won’t be bothering tracking down the rest.(less)

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About Rachel Caine

Rachel Caine is a pen name of Roxanne Longstreet Conrad.

She has also published as:
Roxanne Longstreet
Roxanne Conrad
Julie Fortune
Ian Hammell

Her Facebook page:
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Books by Rachel Caine

Glass Houses (The Morganville Vampires, #1)

Midnight Alley (The Morganville Vampires, #3)

Feast of Fools (The Morganville Vampires, #4)

Carpe Corpus (The Morganville Vampires, #6)

Lord of Misrule (Morganville Vampires, #5)

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“Want to play baseball?’” she asked. Shane’s eyes opened, and he stopped stroking her hair. “What?’” “First base,’” she said. “You’re already there.’” “I’m not running the bases.’” “Well, you could at least steal second.’” “Jeez, Claire. I used to distract myself with sports stats at times like these, but now you’ve gone and ruined it.” — 479 people liked it

“Boys. I'd turn gay if they weren't so sexy. ” — 380 people liked it

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