The Path of Razors by Chris Marie Green
Urban Fantasy- Aug 4, 2009
4 stars

The Path of Razors is an engrossing Urban Fantasy from the extremely creative mind of Chris Marie Green. Her books are a real treat that are not to be missed! For those who have not read her works, this is the 5th in her Vampire Babylon series. The first three are a trilogy within the series that has a storyline which is resolved by the third book. Because the Path of Razors is the second book in the ‘second trilogy’ (starring the same characters as the first), I would suggest at least reading A Drop of Red before reading The Path of Razors to orient yourself properly. (Or if you would like the full enjoyment reading the first 4 stories to appreciate the growth in the characters!)

As explained The Path of Razors is the second book in the second trilogy of Chris Marie Green’s series and as such it leaves the reader with many answers but also many surprises. All of which I hope will be resolved in her 6th book!

The Path of Razors is actually composed of 2 storylines. The first deals with: evil vampires, the Queenshill School and the mysterious Underground. The second storyline concerns the heroes who are bent on finding them and exterminating their nest.

In the heroes’ story, the heroine Dawn, the mysterious Costin and the rest of the team are investigating an inhuman school for girls and trying to find its link to a secret Underground lair of vampires. Unfortunately there is conflict within the team as the leader Costin fights against the body he occupies for control and the vampire abilities he was forcefully given to save his life. He finds himself now the enemy he has sworn to vanquish. Adding to the tension is the love triangle between Dawn’s father, mother and a murdered ghost!

The villains’ storyline is equally if not more compelling as secrets behind: Mrs. Jones, Wolfie and the Queenshill dorm are revealed. Small references to the secret vampire underground also kept me on edge as I tried to figure out where the story might be leading.

What I find most unusual about Christ Marie Green’s books is that she develops the villains equally if not better than the heroes. I often find myself preferring them to the ‘heroes.’ The author has the rare ability to make the villains: relatable, vulnerable and vastly appealing. I found the sections with the school girls exciting and was drawn to their sheltered lives as they tried to discover the secret behind Wolfie and Mrs. Jones. Mrs. Jones’s story is revealed and it was a fantastic surprise which was well worth the price of the book!

I feel I have invested time in these characters and grown to know them. Chris Marie Green really knows how to develop her characters and create tension. I am eager to discover how or if their situations with be resolved in the next book. The school girl Della in particular is an absorbing character which I would love to see in more books past the next?! I am also curious to find out more about the mysterious Whisperer and dragon.

This is a fantastic series not to be missed. But WARNING, once you start you will become addicted!

Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club