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Kitty Norville #10
Kitty Steals the Show
Kitty has been tapped as the keynote speaker for the First International Conference on Paranatural Studies, taking place in London. The conference brings together scientists, activists, protestors, and supernatural beings from all over the world—and Kitty, Ben, and Cormac are right in the middle of it.
Master vampires from dozens of cities have also gathered in London for a conference of their own. With the help of the Master of London, Kitty gets more of a glimpse into the Long Game—a power struggle among vampires that has been going on for centuries—than she ever has before. In her search for answers, Kitty has the help of some old allies, and meets some new ones, such as Caleb, the alpha werewolf of the British Isles. The conference has also attracted some old enemies, who’ve set their sights on her and her friends.
All the world’s a stage, and Kitty’s just stepped into the spotlight.
Master vampires from dozens of cities have also gathered in London for a conference of their own. With the help of the Master of London, Kitty gets more of a glimpse into the Long Game—a power struggle among vampires that has been going on for centuries—than she ever has before. In her search for answers, Kitty has the help of some old allies, and meets some new ones, such as Caleb, the alpha werewolf of the British Isles. The conference has also attracted some old enemies, who’ve set their sights on her and her friends.
All the world’s a stage, and Kitty’s just stepped into the spotlight.
342 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 31, 2012
77 people are currently reading
3145 people want to read
About the author
Carrie Vaughn
280 books4,523 followersCarrie Vaughn is the author more than twenty novels and over a hundred short stories. She's best known for her New York Times bestselling series of novels about a werewolf named Kitty who hosts a talk radio advice show for the supernaturally disadvantaged. In 2018, she won the Philip K. Dick Award for Bannerless, a post-apocalyptic murder mystery. She's published over 20 novels and 100 short stories, two of which have been finalists for the Hugo Award. She's a contributor to the Wild Cards series of shared world superhero books edited by George R. R. Martin and a graduate of the Odyssey Fantasy Writing Workshop.
An Air Force brat, she survived her nomadic childhood and managed to put down roots in Boulder, Colorado, where she collects hobbies.
Visit her at www.carrievaughn.com
For writing advice and essays, check out her Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/carrievaughn
An Air Force brat, she survived her nomadic childhood and managed to put down roots in Boulder, Colorado, where she collects hobbies.
Visit her at www.carrievaughn.com
For writing advice and essays, check out her Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/carrievaughn
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 397 reviews
August 3, 2012
For the most part, I'm a library girl, especially now that you can get Kindle books from the public library. But I do have a small list of authors - mostly their books in a series - that just immediately earn an Instant Buy from me. Vaughn's Kitty Norville series is one of these. I like the Kitty books because they're refreshingly...well, cheerful isn't the right word, but so often urban fantasies are all doom and darkness and sarcasm. Kitty Norville is a basically upbeat person, a talk radio host, who happens to be a werewolf. Vaughn's writing style is conversational and very quick-moving without being watered-down, which I really respect as a writer. The past couple of Kitty entries have been threatening to take that Charlaine Harris route, where the plot isn't so much organized around a central problem, but sort of wanders around the established set of characters, but Kitty Steals the Show steals the show anyway. I read it in an afternoon, and dearly wish I could read it again for the first time tomorrow.
August 7, 2012
I couldn't finish this. Kitty has become a boring, annoying, intellectual ; always off on some quest that gets her into trouble. I hate that the focus has left Denver and her werewolf pack. Vaughn pays a little lip-service to the pack at the beginning of this book before Kitty takes off to London, but it's too little, too late with no depth.
I find Cormic and his ghost passenger continuously creepy. It's like he's not even the same guy. Ben is dull as dish-water. I don't know why he lets Kitty lead him around, getting into vampire politics and games. Speaking of which. Either there's going to be a war or there isn't. I'm tired of hearing about the vampire's Long Game. There seems to be no focus anymore.
Vaughn's writing is still solid, I'm just done with Kitty.
I find Cormic and his ghost passenger continuously creepy. It's like he's not even the same guy. Ben is dull as dish-water. I don't know why he lets Kitty lead him around, getting into vampire politics and games. Speaking of which. Either there's going to be a war or there isn't. I'm tired of hearing about the vampire's Long Game. There seems to be no focus anymore.
Vaughn's writing is still solid, I'm just done with Kitty.
December 21, 2018
Solid ramp-up for the series, Kitty goes to London, starts a war, and does what she does best.
Talk. :)
The full direction of the series picks up to a decent clip here. I can see the final showdown against Roman the Vampire shaping up. We all need allies to make a REALLY huge death count.
This is generally a pretty good UF that keeps within the lines and plays with social issues and problems in a positive way. Not bad, but still kinda fluffy even when it calls the clarions of war.
Talk. :)
The full direction of the series picks up to a decent clip here. I can see the final showdown against Roman the Vampire shaping up. We all need allies to make a REALLY huge death count.
This is generally a pretty good UF that keeps within the lines and plays with social issues and problems in a positive way. Not bad, but still kinda fluffy even when it calls the clarions of war.
August 10, 2012
I liked this better than the last installment. Kitty, Ben, and Cormac travel to London and complictions occur.
First, I have to note that I do agree with aspects of Diane's one star review of this book. It would be very nice to see Kitty interact with her pack more. In many ways, the pack feels like an accessory. I can see Caleb, the alpha werewolf of Britian, as a pack leader, but it is becoming increasing difficult to see Kitty and Ben in those roles considering the brief interaction they seem to have with the pack in each book. Additionally, while Ben was closer to being a full character that he was in the earlier books, he still feels in some ways, as an add on. It's nice to see a happy married couple outside of Armstrong's series, but Ben needs to be more of a character and less of a eye candy, arm hanger.
That said, what I really liked about this book was the fact that Vaughn's world gets bigger and not smaller as some UF series do. I like that. It is also nice to see that maybe this over used vampire politics plot might be brought to an end soon. The idea of a conference about supernaturals was interesting and Vaughn does explore ideas she set up in the earlier books in addition to bringing back some guest stars. I like the fact that Kitty doesn't get to eat her cake, as it were. This makes the series stand out from the other UF series (Armstrong is another author whose work stands out in this way).
There is a wonderful passage comparing America to London.
But the best part of the book is Kitty's mouth, her super power as Ben calls it. When Kitty yaps, stuff happens and while Kitty can fight, she doesn't draw her gun or Wolf as quickly as some other heroines might (cough, Anita Blake, cough). This is a pleasent change.
I do wish the other female characters had more play. Those that appear - Emma, Jill, Dr. Schumacer among others - play important roles and no female characters come out as weak. But it is interesting that Kitty is the only big female player in the room at times (at least on the side of the angels). Alette has a guest apperance, but she isn't in the main action. It would've been nice to have a Kitty equal there, especially among the British werewolves.
Still a good strong installment.
First, I have to note that I do agree with aspects of Diane's one star review of this book. It would be very nice to see Kitty interact with her pack more. In many ways, the pack feels like an accessory. I can see Caleb, the alpha werewolf of Britian, as a pack leader, but it is becoming increasing difficult to see Kitty and Ben in those roles considering the brief interaction they seem to have with the pack in each book. Additionally, while Ben was closer to being a full character that he was in the earlier books, he still feels in some ways, as an add on. It's nice to see a happy married couple outside of Armstrong's series, but Ben needs to be more of a character and less of a eye candy, arm hanger.
That said, what I really liked about this book was the fact that Vaughn's world gets bigger and not smaller as some UF series do. I like that. It is also nice to see that maybe this over used vampire politics plot might be brought to an end soon. The idea of a conference about supernaturals was interesting and Vaughn does explore ideas she set up in the earlier books in addition to bringing back some guest stars. I like the fact that Kitty doesn't get to eat her cake, as it were. This makes the series stand out from the other UF series (Armstrong is another author whose work stands out in this way).
There is a wonderful passage comparing America to London.
But the best part of the book is Kitty's mouth, her super power as Ben calls it. When Kitty yaps, stuff happens and while Kitty can fight, she doesn't draw her gun or Wolf as quickly as some other heroines might (cough, Anita Blake, cough). This is a pleasent change.
I do wish the other female characters had more play. Those that appear - Emma, Jill, Dr. Schumacer among others - play important roles and no female characters come out as weak. But it is interesting that Kitty is the only big female player in the room at times (at least on the side of the angels). Alette has a guest apperance, but she isn't in the main action. It would've been nice to have a Kitty equal there, especially among the British werewolves.
Still a good strong installment.
September 23, 2024
Kitty Steals the Show suffers from its placement in the series more than any particular element of its storytelling.
We’re book ten into a thirteen book series (fourteen if you count Cormac’s standalone book) and Vaughn’s still telling stories that could have only struck a cord seven books ago. Placed here, it feels like an exercise in stalling for time.
Kitty going to England to be a keynote speaker at the First International Conference on Paranormal Studies? It’s got potential, but it doesn't feel like the natural escalation of the Senate hearings from EIGHT books ago, just a less impactful repetition of it.
We get the snapshot brochure vibe from Dead Man’s Hand of London, a few new characters that haven’t much of a hope of making an impression — and a few returning old characters that struggle to do the very same thing. I wish Emma was more of presence, but she’s relegated to underling for Ned. Ned is a decent character for the page-time he gets, but his backstory is well-trodden in this genre.
Tyler from Goes to War shows up just for Kitty to fret over, and Luis from Goes to Washington threatens to liven things up before Vaughn shows her cards too early with the Fae. Ben’s reaction to Luis kissing Kitty was the most personality I’ve seen from him in over five books. Ain’t that just depressing?
Cormac/Amelia are also there. Everything to do with him/them lacks a compelling hook and my indifference makes it difficult to form even this sentence about it.
This is also true of the vampire machinations afoot at and around the conference. When it comes to the Long Game, Kitty’s a woefully ill-equipped entrance point. Not because she’s a werewolf, but because her curiosity — while entertaining at times — is primarily conceptual, concerned about what tidbits she can get from someone like Ned and focusing entirely on what it might say about the culture, or history, and not necessarily Ned as a person. She’s got the intellectual acuity of a diagnostician: she’s looking for something specific rather than seeing the person beyond what interests her.
Vampires become their age, werewolves become their species, and everyone becomes a potential topic for her radio show.
That isn’t a bad thing outright, but when the author operates under the same philosophy, the worldbuilding and characters suffer.
Emma and Luis are perfect examples of this. We get two returning characters — one that can give us insight into the newly made vampire experience, the other an old flame of Kitty’s — and very little is done with this. Even the best authors struggle with large ensembles, and shuffling your cast of characters as frequently as Vaughn does makes it hard to grow attached to any of them.
As for the plot, the book is broken into two parts: the first part, Kitty traveling to London and meeting up with old friends and new acquaintances, and the second part, where Tyler is kidnapped, Flemming from Goes to Washington is revealed to be the kidnapper, and we have the classic man-behind-the-man trope, who is obviously Roman.
There are elements I enjoyed: Kitty meeting Emma and Luis again, despite how little we got. The snippets of the conference were fun and show off the strengths of this series.
What I didn’t like is a significantly longer list: Ben’s continued role as calming/holding Kitty back and generally fading into the background. The lack of momentum when it comes to the overarching plot involving Roman. How the little bit of fun we got with Luis/Kitty/Ben was cut criminally short. The pack introduced controlling the British Isles rather than Britain — being Irish, that rankles. Also, the pack just bringing into stark contrast the sheer pointlessness of Kitty’s pack.
And Kitty’s keynote “speech” is an off-the-cuff two-minute sound-bite that seems to completely disregard its audience. It’s as baffling as it is unprofessional, honestly, and the fact that its the crux of the story is kind of funny.
Kitty Steals the Show is more of the same, and if you’ve loved the last few instalments, you’ll love this. If you’re like me, you’ll just be frustrated.
We’re book ten into a thirteen book series (fourteen if you count Cormac’s standalone book) and Vaughn’s still telling stories that could have only struck a cord seven books ago. Placed here, it feels like an exercise in stalling for time.
Kitty going to England to be a keynote speaker at the First International Conference on Paranormal Studies? It’s got potential, but it doesn't feel like the natural escalation of the Senate hearings from EIGHT books ago, just a less impactful repetition of it.
We get the snapshot brochure vibe from Dead Man’s Hand of London, a few new characters that haven’t much of a hope of making an impression — and a few returning old characters that struggle to do the very same thing. I wish Emma was more of presence, but she’s relegated to underling for Ned. Ned is a decent character for the page-time he gets, but his backstory is well-trodden in this genre.
Tyler from Goes to War shows up just for Kitty to fret over, and Luis from Goes to Washington threatens to liven things up before Vaughn shows her cards too early with the Fae. Ben’s reaction to Luis kissing Kitty was the most personality I’ve seen from him in over five books. Ain’t that just depressing?
Cormac/Amelia are also there. Everything to do with him/them lacks a compelling hook and my indifference makes it difficult to form even this sentence about it.
This is also true of the vampire machinations afoot at and around the conference. When it comes to the Long Game, Kitty’s a woefully ill-equipped entrance point. Not because she’s a werewolf, but because her curiosity — while entertaining at times — is primarily conceptual, concerned about what tidbits she can get from someone like Ned and focusing entirely on what it might say about the culture, or history, and not necessarily Ned as a person. She’s got the intellectual acuity of a diagnostician: she’s looking for something specific rather than seeing the person beyond what interests her.
Vampires become their age, werewolves become their species, and everyone becomes a potential topic for her radio show.
That isn’t a bad thing outright, but when the author operates under the same philosophy, the worldbuilding and characters suffer.
Emma and Luis are perfect examples of this. We get two returning characters — one that can give us insight into the newly made vampire experience, the other an old flame of Kitty’s — and very little is done with this. Even the best authors struggle with large ensembles, and shuffling your cast of characters as frequently as Vaughn does makes it hard to grow attached to any of them.
As for the plot, the book is broken into two parts: the first part, Kitty traveling to London and meeting up with old friends and new acquaintances, and the second part, where Tyler is kidnapped, Flemming from Goes to Washington is revealed to be the kidnapper, and we have the classic man-behind-the-man trope, who is obviously Roman.
There are elements I enjoyed: Kitty meeting Emma and Luis again, despite how little we got. The snippets of the conference were fun and show off the strengths of this series.
What I didn’t like is a significantly longer list: Ben’s continued role as calming/holding Kitty back and generally fading into the background. The lack of momentum when it comes to the overarching plot involving Roman. How the little bit of fun we got with Luis/Kitty/Ben was cut criminally short. The pack introduced controlling the British Isles rather than Britain — being Irish, that rankles. Also, the pack just bringing into stark contrast the sheer pointlessness of Kitty’s pack.
And Kitty’s keynote “speech” is an off-the-cuff two-minute sound-bite that seems to completely disregard its audience. It’s as baffling as it is unprofessional, honestly, and the fact that its the crux of the story is kind of funny.
Kitty Steals the Show is more of the same, and if you’ve loved the last few instalments, you’ll love this. If you’re like me, you’ll just be frustrated.
January 19, 2020
This tenth volume in the Kitty Norville series is another good one. Kitty, Ben, and Cormac go to a convention in London, which gives us a nice look at the paranormal situation outside of Colorado and the U.S. She delivers the keynote address of the conference, meets up with some characters from former books, gains some insight into Roman's Long Game, and is introduced to some new players. I'm fairly sure that Vaughn set the book in London simply so she could use the "American werewolf in" line. Although it's not explicitly recounted in this volume, I have no doubt that at some point during her visit Kitty had a pina colada at Trader Vic's, and that, of course, her hair was perfect.
November 19, 2019
Snore.
I made it this far in the series despite not being totally impressed for a few reasons:
1-I honestly like Kitty. She's a pretty solid character.
2-Vaughn's world building is decent, especially Kitty's talk show (although all the werewolf packs in the cities is a pretty ridiculous idea. How did they stay hidden for so long, living in urban areas? Dumb.)
3-These books are super short to listen to and I flew through them.
4-I was out of Audible credits and my library's urban fantasy selection in it's audio collection is VERY limited.
5-Marguerite Gavin is the narrator and I LOVE her. It took a few books for me to not keep thinking I was listening to Kim Harrison's "The Hollows" series and Rachel Morgan doing things completely out of character, but once I got over that it was great.
6-Probably the biggest reason: I've been holding out the increasingly slim chance that Kitty will open her eyes and realize that Ben is totally boring and not the right mate for her and that Cormac IS SO MUCH BETTER.
Okay, so I should have given up that hope like, five books ago, I know. But I didn't. I kept thinking she and Ben would part amicably, because seriously, for a relationship as vanilla as theirs, that would be completely plausible:
Ben: "Ya know, I think it was only my wolf who wanted you. I think we should just be friends. Go back to how we used to be. I'll be a snarky, self-righteous lawyer, you keep making trouble for me to bail you out of."
Kitty: "Sounds good. I'm in love with your cousin."
Ben: "I know...go for it. You guys are meant to be."
See? So easy. But then Cormac got all weird with this old lady living inside him, and he got all sensitive and stuff. Blech. I was hoping for at least a big blowup between Kitty and Amelia, but even that didn't happen.
Anyway, "Kitty Steals the Show" seemed like it would be an entertaining read. Kitty the American werewolf goes to London...cheesy, right? Well, I like cheesy sometimes. But the plot was thin, Kitty seemed sort of whiny and weak, and this whole "Cormelia" thing just drives me bonkers. I want the gun-slinging hunk with a mustache back. I honestly don't remember a lot of it because I kept tuning it out as I was listening. And the end was so ridiculous. They practically ran off into the sunset. So I give up. I'm done. I'm actually also out of audio credits on my library app for the month, so it was a good time to throw in the towel.
I made it this far in the series despite not being totally impressed for a few reasons:
1-I honestly like Kitty. She's a pretty solid character.
2-Vaughn's world building is decent, especially Kitty's talk show (although all the werewolf packs in the cities is a pretty ridiculous idea. How did they stay hidden for so long, living in urban areas? Dumb.)
3-These books are super short to listen to and I flew through them.
4-I was out of Audible credits and my library's urban fantasy selection in it's audio collection is VERY limited.
5-Marguerite Gavin is the narrator and I LOVE her. It took a few books for me to not keep thinking I was listening to Kim Harrison's "The Hollows" series and Rachel Morgan doing things completely out of character, but once I got over that it was great.
6-Probably the biggest reason: I've been holding out the increasingly slim chance that Kitty will open her eyes and realize that Ben is totally boring and not the right mate for her and that Cormac IS SO MUCH BETTER.
Okay, so I should have given up that hope like, five books ago, I know. But I didn't. I kept thinking she and Ben would part amicably, because seriously, for a relationship as vanilla as theirs, that would be completely plausible:
Ben: "Ya know, I think it was only my wolf who wanted you. I think we should just be friends. Go back to how we used to be. I'll be a snarky, self-righteous lawyer, you keep making trouble for me to bail you out of."
Kitty: "Sounds good. I'm in love with your cousin."
Ben: "I know...go for it. You guys are meant to be."
See? So easy. But then Cormac got all weird with this old lady living inside him, and he got all sensitive and stuff. Blech. I was hoping for at least a big blowup between Kitty and Amelia, but even that didn't happen.
Anyway, "Kitty Steals the Show" seemed like it would be an entertaining read. Kitty the American werewolf goes to London...cheesy, right? Well, I like cheesy sometimes. But the plot was thin, Kitty seemed sort of whiny and weak, and this whole "Cormelia" thing just drives me bonkers. I want the gun-slinging hunk with a mustache back. I honestly don't remember a lot of it because I kept tuning it out as I was listening. And the end was so ridiculous. They practically ran off into the sunset. So I give up. I'm done. I'm actually also out of audio credits on my library app for the month, so it was a good time to throw in the towel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 2, 2012
Kitty, Ben, and Cormac/Amelia head to London to participate in the first international paranormal conference. As usual, Kitty finds herself embroiled in both vampire and werewolf power plays as their battle against Roman and his Long Game continues. The book is solid, but not overwhelmingly exciting.
I can't remember if I've said this before, but I'm not fond of this Cormac/Amelia storyline. I love Cormac, and as much as I like Ben, I've never been able to really get behind Ben and Kitty because I so much wanted her to pair up with Cormac and they seemed right on the verge before Ben got attacked. But Cormac's been so hamstrung since getting out of jail that you have to wonder why Vaughn even bothers to keep him around. The Amelia possession just seems a convenient excuse to do so, rather than something that actually makes him a vital part of the story. To heck with parole, give the man a gun and get him back to what he's supposed to be!!
I can't remember if I've said this before, but I'm not fond of this Cormac/Amelia storyline. I love Cormac, and as much as I like Ben, I've never been able to really get behind Ben and Kitty because I so much wanted her to pair up with Cormac and they seemed right on the verge before Ben got attacked. But Cormac's been so hamstrung since getting out of jail that you have to wonder why Vaughn even bothers to keep him around. The Amelia possession just seems a convenient excuse to do so, rather than something that actually makes him a vital part of the story. To heck with parole, give the man a gun and get him back to what he's supposed to be!!
January 17, 2024
Kitty Steals the Show
Kitty Norville, Book 10
I Picked Up This Book Because: Continue the series.
Media Type: Audiobook
Source: Hoopla
Dates Read: 1/15/24 - 1/17/24
Stars: 3 Stars
Narrator(s): Marguerite Gavin
The Characters:
Kitty Norville
Ben O’Farrell
Cormac Bennett, Ned, Young Female Vampire who’s name I cannot remember
The Story:
I haven’t listened to this series in a very long time so there was some confusion on characters and past events, but it didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the story. Kitty has found herself in a heck of a mess by the end only time will tell…
Kitty Norville, Book 10
I Picked Up This Book Because: Continue the series.
Media Type: Audiobook
Source: Hoopla
Dates Read: 1/15/24 - 1/17/24
Stars: 3 Stars
Narrator(s): Marguerite Gavin
The Characters:
Kitty Norville
Ben O’Farrell
Cormac Bennett, Ned, Young Female Vampire who’s name I cannot remember
The Story:
I haven’t listened to this series in a very long time so there was some confusion on characters and past events, but it didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the story. Kitty has found herself in a heck of a mess by the end only time will tell…
January 14, 2014
The 10th book in the Kitty Norville series, and just as refreshing as ever. In this book, Kitty is invited to give a keynote speech at an international conference on the supernatural in London. As one of the most high profile werewolves in the world, she is a target for both sides in the ongoing long war between various rival groups of vampires, so she has to deal both with vampire politics and the niceties of intruding on the territory of the werewolves of London (as yes, someone does try to make this joke but is mercifully slapped down for it).
The author makes good use of the London setting, unlike many American authors who seem to think that Mary Poppins is good reference material. I don't know if she actually visited the city or just made good use of Google maps, but it feels pretty well grounded (speaking as someone who has lived in London for many years). There is an occasional lapse into Dick van Dyke territory but it is minor enough to be excused under the circumstances.
As for the story, it has it's usual mixture of thrills, bloodshed and witty banter, and it all moves along very quickly. Kitty ends up pretty much adlibbing her keynote speech based on her experiences in this story, but given that she is trying to warn the planet about the upcoming vampire war, this falls onto pretty stony ground. Most people would rather believe that she has gone crazy than actually prepare for the war. Luckily she does gather quite a few allies here, so the stage is set for some pretty big things in future books.
Pretty easy reading all in all, but these are always good books and I am looking forward to the next in the series.
The author makes good use of the London setting, unlike many American authors who seem to think that Mary Poppins is good reference material. I don't know if she actually visited the city or just made good use of Google maps, but it feels pretty well grounded (speaking as someone who has lived in London for many years). There is an occasional lapse into Dick van Dyke territory but it is minor enough to be excused under the circumstances.
As for the story, it has it's usual mixture of thrills, bloodshed and witty banter, and it all moves along very quickly. Kitty ends up pretty much adlibbing her keynote speech based on her experiences in this story, but given that she is trying to warn the planet about the upcoming vampire war, this falls onto pretty stony ground. Most people would rather believe that she has gone crazy than actually prepare for the war. Luckily she does gather quite a few allies here, so the stage is set for some pretty big things in future books.
Pretty easy reading all in all, but these are always good books and I am looking forward to the next in the series.
September 30, 2013
Kitty receives an invitation to attend the First International Conference on Paranatural Studies in London. What's more: she has been tapped to be the keynote speaker. From the moment, she, her husband Ben, and the redoubtable Cormac arrive in London, where she renews an acquaintance with a young vampire (Emma) she knew in Washington and is introduced to Emma's patron and mentor Ned (the Master Vampire of London, who boasts of having known Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe, and Winston Churchill), they find themselves caught up in a long, twilight struggle among vampires and werewolves that could erupt into a full-scale war.
Where others might shrink from what may appear hopeless odds, Kitty struggles to stand tall, and together with some of Ned's fellow vampires and a number of werewolves from the UK pack (led by Caleb, a very wily and saavy alpha male), she has some rather hair-raising experiences. There's never a dull moment with this novel, which will always have the reader anxious to know how events unfold. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Where others might shrink from what may appear hopeless odds, Kitty struggles to stand tall, and together with some of Ned's fellow vampires and a number of werewolves from the UK pack (led by Caleb, a very wily and saavy alpha male), she has some rather hair-raising experiences. There's never a dull moment with this novel, which will always have the reader anxious to know how events unfold. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
August 10, 2012
I have been looking forward to the new Kitty book, and this did not disappoint. It's not a good stat for the new reader, as every page in the first few chapter calls back to something in the previous seven books. But the plot and the metaplot are picking up speed here, and it shows. Vaughn (like Naomi Novik) is very good as packing a lot of plot and characterization into a very short book, and that actually shows to great effect here. It's a breathless read, and when I put it down, I couldn't quite believe it was over.
I have always been very fond of Kitty's work to make allies and to use non-violent means of resolution. It's a refreshing counter to all the Strong Female Characters(TM) out there. Andd it's shown to good effect here, too. Kitty is definitely coming into her own.
As is Vaughn herself. Vaughn still has the quick and breezy style of Kitty and the Midnight Hour, but with time she has honed it to turn this series into something a lot more substantial than it seemed at the beginning.
Excellent book, but read the others first.
I have always been very fond of Kitty's work to make allies and to use non-violent means of resolution. It's a refreshing counter to all the Strong Female Characters(TM) out there. Andd it's shown to good effect here, too. Kitty is definitely coming into her own.
As is Vaughn herself. Vaughn still has the quick and breezy style of Kitty and the Midnight Hour, but with time she has honed it to turn this series into something a lot more substantial than it seemed at the beginning.
Excellent book, but read the others first.
August 30, 2012
She never disappoints me. I always look forward to the next book, and I hope it comes out soon.
July 11, 2020
Notes:
I enjoyed the key note speech until Kitty started to talk about Roman. That speech is a great example of what I think about the series. The speech was great until the Roman part. It was the core essence of what Kitty is like, how she thinks and the way she feels about certain things. Yet, the bit about Roman was vague and abstract. For the most part, Kitty's interactions with others are the strong points for the series. The conspiracy comes across as flat & cheesy.
I enjoyed the key note speech until Kitty started to talk about Roman. That speech is a great example of what I think about the series. The speech was great until the Roman part. It was the core essence of what Kitty is like, how she thinks and the way she feels about certain things. Yet, the bit about Roman was vague and abstract. For the most part, Kitty's interactions with others are the strong points for the series. The conspiracy comes across as flat & cheesy.
June 17, 2022
I think a nearby library system has the next book in a form I can download, so that’s next. This was a fun and sometimes unexpected installment.
November 14, 2012
I wasn’t sure what to make of this latest instalment of the Kitty Norville series. For one thing, it had been almost a year between reading the last book and this, and longer since I read the earlier works of the series. So I had a tough time recalling some of the details. Secondly, for a book that told the story of how Kitty continued to crusade against Roman (the ancient vampire and main villain of the series), it was really slow-moving. I actually felt sad to say this, but as a faithful follower of the Kitty series, I was sadly disappointed.
Yeah, I didn’t feel too hot about this book after I finished it. It felt flat and unlike the earlier books of the series.
Without divulging too much detail about the content of the book, I’d simply say that the bulk of it was spent on talking, talking, and more talking. It dedicated a large section to describing Kitty and Team (i.e. her hubby Ben and once-bounty-hunter-but-now-ghost-bound Cormac) travelling to London, England for a conference which focused on the paranormals. There were a bit of vampire and werewolf politics, fairy shenanigans, ghostly affairs involving family (as Amelia got to me her brother’s descendants) as well as some strong protest movements against all beings that deviated from the human norm. During her stay in London, Kitty got to learn a bit more about vampires in Europe, their social structure and interactions with were-animals, and the “cultural” differences (supernaturally speaking) in Europe as compared to American. Some of this was gleaned from her observations but for the most part, it was talked about. Like, a lot of talking.
Perhaps the author was attempting to explore the depths of the problems at heart amongst the different supernatural races, and how these differences could be overcome. In the keynote speech that Kitty delivered at the conference, she conveyed a clear message that people needed to unite and communicate with each other, especially if they wanted to stand up against an imminent “war” instigated by Roman. It was a learning that she made from her experiences during the week-long conference in London.
However deep-meaning, moving and touching her speech was though, it wasn’t enough to keep me interested.
That was the crux of my issue with this book. – too much talking and not enough doing anything. It wasn’t until almost two-thirds into the book when some real actions took place. Even then, it was mild and finished very quickly.
The central conflict in the series, i.e. the opposition against Roman (a.k.a. Dux Bellorum, or Gaius Albinus), was advanced by a tad bit due to Kitty’s involvement in the vampire world and her acts had caused dissent within the vampire families – . As a result, Roman’s intention of forming allies with some of the vampires was detracted as doubts were casted by Kitty and those who stood against Roman. For this part, I was happy because nothing really moved forward on this front in the last book.
Regardless though, the whole story took a long time to develop and the actions were largely missing and/or boring.
On the character front, I still liked Kitty’s smart-mouth tendencies but there wasn’t enough of it in this book. Thankfully, Kitty was a likeable character and that hadn’t changed for me despite my displeasure with this book. Her relationship with Ben had obviously gotten more solid over time and it made me very happen. Cormac didn’t have a lot of chance to shine in this book and his connection with the ghost Amelia could be quite creepy sometimes. He had come a long way since the beginning of the book and he was no longer the same person as he started out.
So what more to say other than – MEH! I’m giving 2 stars only.
Yeah, I didn’t feel too hot about this book after I finished it. It felt flat and unlike the earlier books of the series.
Without divulging too much detail about the content of the book, I’d simply say that the bulk of it was spent on talking, talking, and more talking. It dedicated a large section to describing Kitty and Team (i.e. her hubby Ben and once-bounty-hunter-but-now-ghost-bound Cormac) travelling to London, England for a conference which focused on the paranormals. There were a bit of vampire and werewolf politics, fairy shenanigans, ghostly affairs involving family (as Amelia got to me her brother’s descendants) as well as some strong protest movements against all beings that deviated from the human norm. During her stay in London, Kitty got to learn a bit more about vampires in Europe, their social structure and interactions with were-animals, and the “cultural” differences (supernaturally speaking) in Europe as compared to American. Some of this was gleaned from her observations but for the most part, it was talked about. Like, a lot of talking.
Perhaps the author was attempting to explore the depths of the problems at heart amongst the different supernatural races, and how these differences could be overcome. In the keynote speech that Kitty delivered at the conference, she conveyed a clear message that people needed to unite and communicate with each other, especially if they wanted to stand up against an imminent “war” instigated by Roman. It was a learning that she made from her experiences during the week-long conference in London.
However deep-meaning, moving and touching her speech was though, it wasn’t enough to keep me interested.
That was the crux of my issue with this book. – too much talking and not enough doing anything. It wasn’t until almost two-thirds into the book when some real actions took place. Even then, it was mild and finished very quickly.
The central conflict in the series, i.e. the opposition against Roman (a.k.a. Dux Bellorum, or Gaius Albinus), was advanced by a tad bit due to Kitty’s involvement in the vampire world and her acts had caused dissent within the vampire families – . As a result, Roman’s intention of forming allies with some of the vampires was detracted as doubts were casted by Kitty and those who stood against Roman. For this part, I was happy because nothing really moved forward on this front in the last book.
Regardless though, the whole story took a long time to develop and the actions were largely missing and/or boring.
On the character front, I still liked Kitty’s smart-mouth tendencies but there wasn’t enough of it in this book. Thankfully, Kitty was a likeable character and that hadn’t changed for me despite my displeasure with this book. Her relationship with Ben had obviously gotten more solid over time and it made me very happen. Cormac didn’t have a lot of chance to shine in this book and his connection with the ghost Amelia could be quite creepy sometimes. He had come a long way since the beginning of the book and he was no longer the same person as he started out.
So what more to say other than – MEH! I’m giving 2 stars only.
January 14, 2013
This book was a huge step forward with the over-arcing plot from the last few books. i.e. we get a lot more insight into what is going on in the shadows and begin to understand who some of the players really are.
Unlike the previous book, it made perfect sense for Kitty and Ben (and Cormac) to travel to London and muck about with the vampire/were scene there. And their actions once there flowed naturally from their purpose and all their motivations made actual sense. And yeah, I know I'm beating up on the last book here because none of this should be a surprise, but I find it reassuring that things are as coherent as I've come to expect from Carrie Vaughn. The only real weirdness, I felt, was a convention where the Keynote was held at the end. Maybe I just go to the wrong conventions and/or this is standard in Europe?
At any rate, Kitty and Ben have been thrust onto the world stage, and they reap the benefits and drawbacks in this novel. The world's vampires are aching to get a piece of her and see what gives Kitty the right to drag them out into the open. Kitty's response and actions display her growing confidence and ability to sidestep confrontations in order to put them onto her own terms. Yes, she has the gift of gab, but this is maybe the first book where we see how that is a powerful tool and see her use it to stunning effect.
This may be the last book where she can skirt the whole discussion about what it means to be “Alpha”, though. I mean, there's a reason so many of the weres of the world determine alpha by strength and Kitty and Ben are finding themselves in more and more situations where they have to be willing to fight to maintain status. It has to be more than merely not flinching and not displaying weakness. The simple fact of the matter is that Kitty isn't that strong physically (and neither is Ben, really) and eventually somebody is going to push in circumstances where she has to put up or shut up. That's going to be a very bad day for Kitty and she had better have a plan for when it happens. I want to know what that plan is, because this is going to be very important soon, I think—if only because it is becoming a bit unrealistic that she continues to skirt it.
Anyway, I liked the situation. The story was a strong one (even given the sight-seeing thing every American has to do if they visit London), and the action was excellent. Kitty continues to be impressive and I like where the story is going. I particularly liked the ending of this one. I look forward the next one. From the plot summary, it looks like Kitty is going to have to alpha-up, and that's fantastic...
Unlike the previous book, it made perfect sense for Kitty and Ben (and Cormac) to travel to London and muck about with the vampire/were scene there. And their actions once there flowed naturally from their purpose and all their motivations made actual sense. And yeah, I know I'm beating up on the last book here because none of this should be a surprise, but I find it reassuring that things are as coherent as I've come to expect from Carrie Vaughn. The only real weirdness, I felt, was a convention where the Keynote was held at the end. Maybe I just go to the wrong conventions and/or this is standard in Europe?
At any rate, Kitty and Ben have been thrust onto the world stage, and they reap the benefits and drawbacks in this novel. The world's vampires are aching to get a piece of her and see what gives Kitty the right to drag them out into the open. Kitty's response and actions display her growing confidence and ability to sidestep confrontations in order to put them onto her own terms. Yes, she has the gift of gab, but this is maybe the first book where we see how that is a powerful tool and see her use it to stunning effect.
This may be the last book where she can skirt the whole discussion about what it means to be “Alpha”, though. I mean, there's a reason so many of the weres of the world determine alpha by strength and Kitty and Ben are finding themselves in more and more situations where they have to be willing to fight to maintain status. It has to be more than merely not flinching and not displaying weakness. The simple fact of the matter is that Kitty isn't that strong physically (and neither is Ben, really) and eventually somebody is going to push in circumstances where she has to put up or shut up. That's going to be a very bad day for Kitty and she had better have a plan for when it happens. I want to know what that plan is, because this is going to be very important soon, I think—if only because it is becoming a bit unrealistic that she continues to skirt it.
Anyway, I liked the situation. The story was a strong one (even given the sight-seeing thing every American has to do if they visit London), and the action was excellent. Kitty continues to be impressive and I like where the story is going. I particularly liked the ending of this one. I look forward the next one. From the plot summary, it looks like Kitty is going to have to alpha-up, and that's fantastic...
February 4, 2013
I was really dissapointed with this book
One part of me would love to give it a five, this is the same part of me that is jumping up and down squealing 'OhMyGosh Kitty is in London! We have to go and see her!' I wasn't crazy about the last one and I hoped this one would be better. At first it seemed to be heading that way: I liked the liked the stress on prejudice and discrimination at the beginning and there was a point when I thought to myself, wouldn't it be good if.... And what do you know? That 'if' walked right into the room!
However here is the problem, Carrie Vaughn had a conference FULL of supernaturals and what did she do with them? Pretty much bugger all as far as I could see! I mean come on, weres aren't exactly known for their ability to keep their tempers, I understand the importance that the conference was seen as peaceful and calm, but paranormal activity has a distinct history of managing to stage whole wars while forcing out smiles for the cameras. All I wanted was a bit more DRAMA! I also felt that the whole thing with Professor Flemming just kind of, finished...no big showdown, or anything.
The ending was also a little depressing, I wanted Kitty to do something amazing with her key note speech, but it seemed to lack significance.
Here is a Serious Issue though. I can deal with most the things Carrie Vaughn throws at me but I cannot deal with losing 'the Midnight Hour', it was barely in this one and Kitty is not Kitty, without her light, fluffy, ridiculous conversations on her show. I just don't like the direction that this series seems to be heading in, hopefully the next one will go back to the Kitty I know and love, however if Kitty loses her listeners I don't know what I will do...
Another major problem I'm beginning to develop with this series is how unimportant the supporting characters are. WE are on book 10 now and Ben and Cormac seemed less important than ever, they just spent the entire thing following Kitty around.
All in all this book has made me stop listing Kitty Norville as one of my favourite Urban Fantasy series.
One part of me would love to give it a five, this is the same part of me that is jumping up and down squealing 'OhMyGosh Kitty is in London! We have to go and see her!' I wasn't crazy about the last one and I hoped this one would be better. At first it seemed to be heading that way: I liked the liked the stress on prejudice and discrimination at the beginning and there was a point when I thought to myself, wouldn't it be good if.... And what do you know? That 'if' walked right into the room!
However here is the problem, Carrie Vaughn had a conference FULL of supernaturals and what did she do with them? Pretty much bugger all as far as I could see! I mean come on, weres aren't exactly known for their ability to keep their tempers, I understand the importance that the conference was seen as peaceful and calm, but paranormal activity has a distinct history of managing to stage whole wars while forcing out smiles for the cameras. All I wanted was a bit more DRAMA! I also felt that the whole thing with Professor Flemming just kind of, finished...no big showdown, or anything.
The ending was also a little depressing, I wanted Kitty to do something amazing with her key note speech, but it seemed to lack significance.
Here is a Serious Issue though. I can deal with most the things Carrie Vaughn throws at me but I cannot deal with losing 'the Midnight Hour', it was barely in this one and Kitty is not Kitty, without her light, fluffy, ridiculous conversations on her show. I just don't like the direction that this series seems to be heading in, hopefully the next one will go back to the Kitty I know and love, however if Kitty loses her listeners I don't know what I will do...
Another major problem I'm beginning to develop with this series is how unimportant the supporting characters are. WE are on book 10 now and Ben and Cormac seemed less important than ever, they just spent the entire thing following Kitty around.
All in all this book has made me stop listing Kitty Norville as one of my favourite Urban Fantasy series.
November 18, 2012
Kitty Steals the Show takes us to London with Kitty, Ben & Cormac for the First International Conference on Paranatural Studies. Kitty's initial reactions to London reminded me of Bill Murray in 'The Man Who Knew Too Little' when he's at the customs desk listing all the things he wants to see and do while he's there. Kitty doesn't get to do much sightseeing, instead she's busy doing what she does best. She has an innate ability to talk her way out of just about any situation. Now, she wants to try to use that skill to save some fellow shifters from dying in the upcoming war.
It was great to reconnect with Luis, the jaguar-shifter; Emma, the college-student turned vampire; and Joseph Tyler, the former Army Special Forces soldier turned were. In addition to running into old friends, she makes some new ones - Caleb, the alpha of Britain, and vampire masters: Ned (Britain), Marid, Anthony (Barcelona). Very Kitty-like, she also makes some new enemies.
In the end, we're left with an ominous, dun-dun-dun-like ending proclaiming the big war is coming - prepare now or suffer later. As the blurb says, "All the world’s a stage, and Kitty’s just stepped into the spotlight." We'll have to wait until Kitty Rocks the House to see if her 15-minutes on the "world's stage" will reap big rewards or not.
It was great to reconnect with Luis, the jaguar-shifter; Emma, the college-student turned vampire; and Joseph Tyler, the former Army Special Forces soldier turned were. In addition to running into old friends, she makes some new ones - Caleb, the alpha of Britain, and vampire masters: Ned (Britain), Marid, Anthony (Barcelona). Very Kitty-like, she also makes some new enemies.
In the end, we're left with an ominous, dun-dun-dun-like ending proclaiming the big war is coming - prepare now or suffer later. As the blurb says, "All the world’s a stage, and Kitty’s just stepped into the spotlight." We'll have to wait until Kitty Rocks the House to see if her 15-minutes on the "world's stage" will reap big rewards or not.
August 10, 2012
I just finished this book like 20 minutes ago so I can say it is pretty darn fresh. The book itself was not Vaughn's best. It had a great start, Kitty is going to a HUGE conference in London! Heck yeah right?? No. She meets vamps, weres, and a whole lot of other people. That's about it.
You remember how they keep mentioning Roman and how evil he is and blah blah blah? Well they do the same here, but you don't even see the bastard in this book! The end is literally like...wtf?? Seriously? No fight? Maybe I have been spoiled in that I love to see a end-all-be-all fight that is a decisive turn of events that says "The book is now ended, wait for a year for the next installment". So yes, I'm kinda mad that I have no closure.
Kitty goes to this conference, stirs people up (like usual of course), upsets a lot of very sensitive vamps, has a quick battle (near the middle of the book), and then...well I dunno.
I gave this book three stars because I am used to the kick-ass heroine that Kitty is. I guess this book didn't live up to my earlier expectations of the 9 previous books. It was still OK despite all my ramblings up there but not her best. So overall opinion? If you like this series, then read it. It probably wont be paramount to have read it before the next book, but just wait to buy it until closer to next year (bc of course we have to wait 12 freaking months to get the next one). End rant.
You remember how they keep mentioning Roman and how evil he is and blah blah blah? Well they do the same here, but you don't even see the bastard in this book! The end is literally like...wtf?? Seriously? No fight? Maybe I have been spoiled in that I love to see a end-all-be-all fight that is a decisive turn of events that says "The book is now ended, wait for a year for the next installment". So yes, I'm kinda mad that I have no closure.
Kitty goes to this conference, stirs people up (like usual of course), upsets a lot of very sensitive vamps, has a quick battle (near the middle of the book), and then...well I dunno.
I gave this book three stars because I am used to the kick-ass heroine that Kitty is. I guess this book didn't live up to my earlier expectations of the 9 previous books. It was still OK despite all my ramblings up there but not her best. So overall opinion? If you like this series, then read it. It probably wont be paramount to have read it before the next book, but just wait to buy it until closer to next year (bc of course we have to wait 12 freaking months to get the next one). End rant.
August 3, 2012
4.5 Stars
I always look forward to when a new Kitty Norville book comes out. This series is so much fun and Kitty Steals the Show is no different. I think this is the best book in the series since Kitty and the Silver Bullet.
It was really fun to see Kitty, Cormac and Ben out of their element, in London. Kitty was still her ever curious and inquisitive self, still always asking the questions she knew would get her into trouble, especially with the vampires. It was really great to find characters that I had almost forgotten about from previous books (like Alette, Emma, Luis, Dr. Schumacher and Tyler) make an appearance.
I don't know if I will ever get used to the Cormac/Amelia situation, but their storyline was interesting and it was nice to learn more about her. As always, though, being such a huge Cormac fan, I would have enjoyed more Cormac in this book.
I thought the vampire convocation was really interesting and quite a bit disturbing. I liked that we got a look at how the European Master Vampires rule. I was, also, really glad that there was more progress with Roman and the Long Game. I'm intrigued with where this will go.
All in all, this was another great addition to the Kitty Norville series and I can't wait for the next one!
I always look forward to when a new Kitty Norville book comes out. This series is so much fun and Kitty Steals the Show is no different. I think this is the best book in the series since Kitty and the Silver Bullet.
It was really fun to see Kitty, Cormac and Ben out of their element, in London. Kitty was still her ever curious and inquisitive self, still always asking the questions she knew would get her into trouble, especially with the vampires. It was really great to find characters that I had almost forgotten about from previous books (like Alette, Emma, Luis, Dr. Schumacher and Tyler) make an appearance.
I don't know if I will ever get used to the Cormac/Amelia situation, but their storyline was interesting and it was nice to learn more about her. As always, though, being such a huge Cormac fan, I would have enjoyed more Cormac in this book.
I thought the vampire convocation was really interesting and quite a bit disturbing. I liked that we got a look at how the European Master Vampires rule. I was, also, really glad that there was more progress with Roman and the Long Game. I'm intrigued with where this will go.
All in all, this was another great addition to the Kitty Norville series and I can't wait for the next one!
September 27, 2012
I like Kitty, but I was disappointed with this book. On paper it should have been good: London, some historical characters, a focus on Kitty, Ben, Cormac, a new werewolf pack, baddies and a conspiracy theory. Sadly, it didn't really work: the characters were flat and underdeveloped, the London setting lacked conviction and suspense, Kitty lacked humour, and the mood was flat. Perhaps Vaughn was out of her comfort zone in the UK or perhaps it was rushed; sadly, for me, this one just didn't go anywhere.
Cormac is a typical example: he either disappears into London with Amelia, or just follows Kitty around. I'm increasingly convinced Vaughn just doesn't know what to do with him.
However, overall still a good YA/adult paranormal crossover series.
Incidentally if your'e looking for a paranormal book with a convincing London setting, try Mike Carey's 'Felix Castor' novels.
Cormac is a typical example: he either disappears into London with Amelia, or just follows Kitty around. I'm increasingly convinced Vaughn just doesn't know what to do with him.
However, overall still a good YA/adult paranormal crossover series.
Incidentally if your'e looking for a paranormal book with a convincing London setting, try Mike Carey's 'Felix Castor' novels.
May 4, 2016
Eğlenceliydi. Avrupa'daki doğaüstü varlıklara değindi. Başarılı, seri iyi gidiyor.
March 29, 2013
Tenth in the Kitty Norville urban fantasy series about a werewolf radio show hostess in Denver. This adventure finds Kitty in London.
My Take
Well, Kitty's happy. She's finally encountered a vampire who spills the secrets of ages past.
The conference is meant to foster communication and the keynote speech Kitty makes is all about communication as well as war. A dangerous message with tremendous repercussions in events that occur after the conference.
While the conference makes for an excellent excuse for Kitty and company to play tourist, it also makes an excellent opportunity to sniff out those who are with Roman and those against as well as introducing Kitty and her "superpowers" to a wider audience.
What??? It's true. Just as Ben says: talking is Kitty's superpower, LOL.
I love this comment of Ned's about Shakespeare and his plays. Why is it that critics and "know-it-alls" always think they have plumbed the truth of a famous person's reasons for creating? I've encountered so many docents who tell observers/patrons that the artist was thinking/doing this when they created an artwork, and it just pisses me off. Partly because some of those artworks I was present for the "birth" and I know damn well that wasn't what they were thinking at the time!
Sound familiar?
Okay, yeah, it's gross, but...it is funny.
Of course, Kitty and Ben are "funny" right back at the vampire orgy with Kitty's constant poking and their "high paw". That comment about Roman's coin, well that caught even more attention. Then there's Marid's comment about Kitty being a Regina Luporum. Hoo, boy. He even tells her how old he is!
I do have to agree with Marid about Kitty's jumping to judgment. No, I don't disagree with her about this day's "party", but she has no right to judge about the past. What was acceptable in the past is done. It was part of that culture then. It's like publishers and censors today who are rewriting books of the past to reflect today's prejudices and today's language. It's wrong. How are we to remember the good/bad of the past if we change it now to make ourselves feel better? We would be better to open up dialog and discuss how things were then, how they have changed today for the better, and what still needs to be improved. Sure, we'll make mistakes, but as long as we continue to learn from those mistakes and work to improve how we treat others, that's okay.
It's an interesting encounter for Amelia with family. Does give her a chance to lay some ghosts to rest on both sides.
Using Kitty's "superpower" to defang the vampires is useful, but it's too easy and too quick. What? Kitty just shows up, speaks a few words and suddenly it's a revolution? Nuh-uh, I don't think so. I like the concept of Kitty, but Vaughn is slipping down a muddy slope here, taking a quick way out without working this properly.
The Story
It's Kitty, Ben, and Cormac, oops, and Amelia Peabody, off to London for the First International Conference on Paranatural Studies---Kitty's giving the keynote speech!
The Characters
Kitty Norville is a radio show host in Denver who was outed as a werewolf. Since then, she has explored the supernatural world with her audience and become notorious throughout the world for it. She is also the alpha for the Denver pack. Ben O'Farrell is her werewolf lawyer husband. Cormac Bennett is Ben's cousin, a former werewolf bounty hunter, and on parole for saving Kitty's life. Sergeant Joseph Tyler is the only surviving soldier from events in Kitty Goes to War , 8, and is now part of the Seattle wolf pack. Susan is his girlfriend. Ozzie is the producer of her show at KNOB; he springs for first class. Matt is her sound engineer.
Lady Amelia Peabody was wrongfully executed and is now a ghost whose witch abilities have allowed her to inhabit Cormac's body; she wants to look up long lost (to her) relatives on this trip. Nicholas Parker is a solicitor and a great-greats-nephew of Amelia's.
Alette is the vampire Mistress of Washington, D.C. ( Kitty Goes to Washington , 2). Tom is her bodyguard/butler. Luis is a jaguar shifter and very touchy-feely when he meets up with Kitty. Esperanza is his environmentalist shifter sister who lives to plague illegal Brazilian loggers.
Edward Alleyn, a.k.a., "Ned is the vampire Master of London and an old friend of Alette's"---he was a Shakespearean actor back in the day; Emma is Alette's great-great-great+++ granddaughter who was turned in Kitty's Greatest Hits: Life is the Teacher, 2.4, and is being mentored by Ned. Andy is the driver, a human servant.
Marid is a Babylonian vampire and intrigued by Kitty. The Master of Venice delivers warnings. Antony is the Master of Barcelona---the vamp of the poet's shirt. Vidal of St. Petersburg and Nasser, the Master of Tripoli, are intrigued by Kitty's speech.
Caleb is the alpha werewolf for the British Isles; Michael, Jill, and Warrick are some of his wolves. Daisy and Rose are Fae with a bad sense of fun.
Dr. Elizabeth Schumacher took over as the new head of the Center for the Study of Paranatural Biology after Dr. Paul Flemming fled after events in Kitty Goes to Washington . Some of Kitty's guests for her London show range from Nell Riddy, the conference director, who redirected a childhood encounter with fairies into her scientific career path to Tracy Anderson and her hate group, Truth Against the Godless.
Gaius Albinus, Dux Bellorum, a.k.a., Roman, is the major bad guy. A vampire since his Roman general days, he's been working the Long Game for centuries. Mercedes Cook is the first celebrity vampire---and she's performing in London, "this week only". What're the odds? Jan is one of Roman's; Talbot is one of his. Solomon is the Master of Istanbul. Petra is the Mistress of Krakow. Njal was a vampire leader who had the werewolves, Harald and his submissive mate, in chains like pets.
Back in Denver, Shaun is still managing the New Moon Café. Rick is the sympathetic Master of Denver.
The Cover
The cover is a range of royal blues from light to dark creating a glorious night sky with deep shadows around the crouching Kitty and the wolfish Ben with Big Ben looming in the background.
The title, LOL, oh, yeah. Yeah, Kitty Steals the Show all right, but the stealing comes after the conference in all the fallout in peoples' and supernatural reactions to her keynote speech. It should be interesting to read the next in the series, Kitty Rocks the House , 11.
My Take
Well, Kitty's happy. She's finally encountered a vampire who spills the secrets of ages past.
The conference is meant to foster communication and the keynote speech Kitty makes is all about communication as well as war. A dangerous message with tremendous repercussions in events that occur after the conference.
While the conference makes for an excellent excuse for Kitty and company to play tourist, it also makes an excellent opportunity to sniff out those who are with Roman and those against as well as introducing Kitty and her "superpowers" to a wider audience.
What??? It's true. Just as Ben says: talking is Kitty's superpower, LOL.
I love this comment of Ned's about Shakespeare and his plays. Why is it that critics and "know-it-alls" always think they have plumbed the truth of a famous person's reasons for creating? I've encountered so many docents who tell observers/patrons that the artist was thinking/doing this when they created an artwork, and it just pisses me off. Partly because some of those artworks I was present for the "birth" and I know damn well that wasn't what they were thinking at the time!
"...we weren't trying to create fine art. We were trying to tell stories. ...Well, and we loved the attention. For those who were successful at it, the theater was a very good way to make money."
Sound familiar?
Okay, yeah, it's gross, but...it is funny.
"Humans---a renewable resource."
"We recycle! We're green!"
Of course, Kitty and Ben are "funny" right back at the vampire orgy with Kitty's constant poking and their "high paw". That comment about Roman's coin, well that caught even more attention. Then there's Marid's comment about Kitty being a Regina Luporum. Hoo, boy. He even tells her how old he is!
I do have to agree with Marid about Kitty's jumping to judgment. No, I don't disagree with her about this day's "party", but she has no right to judge about the past. What was acceptable in the past is done. It was part of that culture then. It's like publishers and censors today who are rewriting books of the past to reflect today's prejudices and today's language. It's wrong. How are we to remember the good/bad of the past if we change it now to make ourselves feel better? We would be better to open up dialog and discuss how things were then, how they have changed today for the better, and what still needs to be improved. Sure, we'll make mistakes, but as long as we continue to learn from those mistakes and work to improve how we treat others, that's okay.
It's an interesting encounter for Amelia with family. Does give her a chance to lay some ghosts to rest on both sides.
Using Kitty's "superpower" to defang the vampires is useful, but it's too easy and too quick. What? Kitty just shows up, speaks a few words and suddenly it's a revolution? Nuh-uh, I don't think so. I like the concept of Kitty, but Vaughn is slipping down a muddy slope here, taking a quick way out without working this properly.
The Story
It's Kitty, Ben, and Cormac, oops, and Amelia Peabody, off to London for the First International Conference on Paranatural Studies---Kitty's giving the keynote speech!
The Characters
Kitty Norville is a radio show host in Denver who was outed as a werewolf. Since then, she has explored the supernatural world with her audience and become notorious throughout the world for it. She is also the alpha for the Denver pack. Ben O'Farrell is her werewolf lawyer husband. Cormac Bennett is Ben's cousin, a former werewolf bounty hunter, and on parole for saving Kitty's life. Sergeant Joseph Tyler is the only surviving soldier from events in Kitty Goes to War , 8, and is now part of the Seattle wolf pack. Susan is his girlfriend. Ozzie is the producer of her show at KNOB; he springs for first class. Matt is her sound engineer.
Lady Amelia Peabody was wrongfully executed and is now a ghost whose witch abilities have allowed her to inhabit Cormac's body; she wants to look up long lost (to her) relatives on this trip. Nicholas Parker is a solicitor and a great-greats-nephew of Amelia's.
Alette is the vampire Mistress of Washington, D.C. ( Kitty Goes to Washington , 2). Tom is her bodyguard/butler. Luis is a jaguar shifter and very touchy-feely when he meets up with Kitty. Esperanza is his environmentalist shifter sister who lives to plague illegal Brazilian loggers.
Edward Alleyn, a.k.a., "Ned is the vampire Master of London and an old friend of Alette's"---he was a Shakespearean actor back in the day; Emma is Alette's great-great-great+++ granddaughter who was turned in Kitty's Greatest Hits: Life is the Teacher, 2.4, and is being mentored by Ned. Andy is the driver, a human servant.
Marid is a Babylonian vampire and intrigued by Kitty. The Master of Venice delivers warnings. Antony is the Master of Barcelona---the vamp of the poet's shirt. Vidal of St. Petersburg and Nasser, the Master of Tripoli, are intrigued by Kitty's speech.
Caleb is the alpha werewolf for the British Isles; Michael, Jill, and Warrick are some of his wolves. Daisy and Rose are Fae with a bad sense of fun.
Dr. Elizabeth Schumacher took over as the new head of the Center for the Study of Paranatural Biology after Dr. Paul Flemming fled after events in Kitty Goes to Washington . Some of Kitty's guests for her London show range from Nell Riddy, the conference director, who redirected a childhood encounter with fairies into her scientific career path to Tracy Anderson and her hate group, Truth Against the Godless.
Gaius Albinus, Dux Bellorum, a.k.a., Roman, is the major bad guy. A vampire since his Roman general days, he's been working the Long Game for centuries. Mercedes Cook is the first celebrity vampire---and she's performing in London, "this week only". What're the odds? Jan is one of Roman's; Talbot is one of his. Solomon is the Master of Istanbul. Petra is the Mistress of Krakow. Njal was a vampire leader who had the werewolves, Harald and his submissive mate, in chains like pets.
Back in Denver, Shaun is still managing the New Moon Café. Rick is the sympathetic Master of Denver.
The Cover
The cover is a range of royal blues from light to dark creating a glorious night sky with deep shadows around the crouching Kitty and the wolfish Ben with Big Ben looming in the background.
The title, LOL, oh, yeah. Yeah, Kitty Steals the Show all right, but the stealing comes after the conference in all the fallout in peoples' and supernatural reactions to her keynote speech. It should be interesting to read the next in the series, Kitty Rocks the House , 11.
January 23, 2021
To hear our review of Kitty Steals The Show please listen to our podcast For The Love Of Books! The episode name is Chapt 3: Want my cake and eat it too!
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https://fortheloveofbooks.libsyn.com/...
November 8, 2023
What fun! Kitty is such and entertaining character and you never know what she is going to get into next. Ben and Cormic don't disappoint either as they always are in for whatever happens. I so love these characters and can't wait for the next book. Very, very enjoyable!
August 9, 2015
This review appeared first at Fantasy is More Fun
4.5 stars
Well we're back on track - not that I ever stopped enjoying Kitty! - but the last couple hadn't been as great. But with Kitty Steals the Show some of the issues I've been having - Cormick! - waned and the sense of excitement and urgency stepped up a notch, or two! I should note that this is book 10 in the series, so there's definitely spoilers if you haven't read previous books.
My biggest problem with the last few books has been Cormick, something I never thought I'd say when this series started because I LOVED Cormick! I thought he and Kitty would end up together and that wasn't unreasonable to think. Kitty saw it as a possibility too - as she's been reminding us ever since Cormick got back from prison…. EXCEPT she didn't in Kitty Steals the Show!!! Yay! It's like Kitty has finally let go of that awkward possibility of something and Cormick has finally settled into her life as just another part of her family/pack (though he's not a werewolf). It's amazing what a difference it makes to have Kitty except that. Thinking back, though, I kinda think that Carrie Vaughn was right to have awkwardness there at first. Sure I wasn't a fan of it, but when you marry the cousin of the guy you had sparks with, while he's in prison for saving your life - even if he's genuinely okay with it and happy for y'all - I think some awkwardness is to be expected and it would take some time to create a new, not awkward relationship. So now that the awkwardess is over, I can see it more clearly for what it was :)
The other problem I've had with Cormick was Amelia - his resident ghost? Possession? - whatever Amelia is, it has taken me some time to get used to the way she's changed Cormick. But in Kitty Steals the Show we get to understand a bit more about Amelia and to see a bit more of her skills, so I'm getting more comfortable with her. Who knows, maybe another book or so and she'll feel normal to me!
I've also been talking about how the last couple books felt a lot like transitions. With Kitty Steals the Show we're definitely still building towards something, but it feels a lot less transitional and a lot more like things are happening. There's forward momentum - a LOT of it. I'm actually getting stupidly giddy over the momentum. I'm loving watching alliances get formed, alliances disintegrate, loyalties tested, and so on. What I love about it most is the role Kitty's playing in it all. Some of the vampires have started calling her Regina Luporum, which is Latin for Queen of the Wolves. Is she? Nah. But I can't help but think it's a little bit of foreshadowing for how things will develop as Roman's Long Game pushes forward and things heat up. Best part? She'd deserve that title - she's in this for all the right reasons. She wants to protect people and, as I loved seeing in Kitty Steals the Show, she's working hard to change vampire-werewolf relationships. That is, she's trying to stop werewolves from being cannon fodder/pets to vampires. Love it!
So yeah, this series continues to be fantastic and Marguerite Gavin continues to deliver wonderful performances. With Kitty Steals the Show I was particularly impressed with the range of British & other European accents she pulled out (we're in London for this book). I would love to know from someone that can distinguish the regional variations better if she nailed them or not. But for this unskilled listener, it was awesome!
I can't wait for more Kitty - especially after that speech she gave at the conference! - and thankfully I don't have to! Moving on immediately :) So fun to binge read!
*I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.*
4.5 stars
Well we're back on track - not that I ever stopped enjoying Kitty! - but the last couple hadn't been as great. But with Kitty Steals the Show some of the issues I've been having - Cormick! - waned and the sense of excitement and urgency stepped up a notch, or two! I should note that this is book 10 in the series, so there's definitely spoilers if you haven't read previous books.
My biggest problem with the last few books has been Cormick, something I never thought I'd say when this series started because I LOVED Cormick! I thought he and Kitty would end up together and that wasn't unreasonable to think. Kitty saw it as a possibility too - as she's been reminding us ever since Cormick got back from prison…. EXCEPT she didn't in Kitty Steals the Show!!! Yay! It's like Kitty has finally let go of that awkward possibility of something and Cormick has finally settled into her life as just another part of her family/pack (though he's not a werewolf). It's amazing what a difference it makes to have Kitty except that. Thinking back, though, I kinda think that Carrie Vaughn was right to have awkwardness there at first. Sure I wasn't a fan of it, but when you marry the cousin of the guy you had sparks with, while he's in prison for saving your life - even if he's genuinely okay with it and happy for y'all - I think some awkwardness is to be expected and it would take some time to create a new, not awkward relationship. So now that the awkwardess is over, I can see it more clearly for what it was :)
The other problem I've had with Cormick was Amelia - his resident ghost? Possession? - whatever Amelia is, it has taken me some time to get used to the way she's changed Cormick. But in Kitty Steals the Show we get to understand a bit more about Amelia and to see a bit more of her skills, so I'm getting more comfortable with her. Who knows, maybe another book or so and she'll feel normal to me!
I've also been talking about how the last couple books felt a lot like transitions. With Kitty Steals the Show we're definitely still building towards something, but it feels a lot less transitional and a lot more like things are happening. There's forward momentum - a LOT of it. I'm actually getting stupidly giddy over the momentum. I'm loving watching alliances get formed, alliances disintegrate, loyalties tested, and so on. What I love about it most is the role Kitty's playing in it all. Some of the vampires have started calling her Regina Luporum, which is Latin for Queen of the Wolves. Is she? Nah. But I can't help but think it's a little bit of foreshadowing for how things will develop as Roman's Long Game pushes forward and things heat up. Best part? She'd deserve that title - she's in this for all the right reasons. She wants to protect people and, as I loved seeing in Kitty Steals the Show, she's working hard to change vampire-werewolf relationships. That is, she's trying to stop werewolves from being cannon fodder/pets to vampires. Love it!
So yeah, this series continues to be fantastic and Marguerite Gavin continues to deliver wonderful performances. With Kitty Steals the Show I was particularly impressed with the range of British & other European accents she pulled out (we're in London for this book). I would love to know from someone that can distinguish the regional variations better if she nailed them or not. But for this unskilled listener, it was awesome!
I can't wait for more Kitty - especially after that speech she gave at the conference! - and thankfully I don't have to! Moving on immediately :) So fun to binge read!
*I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.*
October 5, 2012
This review appears at BOOK BRATS!
KITTY STEALS THE SHOW was like an unknown horse in the Kentucky Derby. It came to me by surprise that maybe this book should be on the radar, thanks to an intrepid publicist who correctly predicted the future (and should receive a bevy of medals for doing the unthinkable and seeing that I would really enjoy this one). I had never read a book in this ten book series before, nor did I know anything about it other than werewolves! A friend guided me through the history of this series, but I still really don’t know what happened. According to her, this might have been a good thing – I came into KITTY STEALS THE SHOW with no expectations, notions, or anything besides the barest hints of the storyline and characters.
Maybe it helped that book did not take place in Denver. Lost in the city of London, a city I know much better than Denver, the story of this book was able to take center stage. And what can I say? I can’t resist a good tale about the paranormal, wars of werewolves and vampires, the Folk, and every known paranormal critter gathering at a conference to talk about themselves with curious humans. I want to go to a conference like this, and although the story is not going to be a prose-fest of epic literary proportions, Vaughn is able to easily convey herself, setting the scene and allowing the reader to fall in.
The characters were enjoyable for the most part, with a few reservations. I didn’t like Cormac, probably because I still have no clue what he is, who he is, or what he is in relation to Kitty. He seemed like a tacked on character that wasn’t needed, and in fact his storyline just took away from the story rather than added to it. Hunting down Amelia’s descendants was more like a short story you would see put on Amazon as a promotional tool versus an actual needed aspect of the book. But I would like to know more, I will say that.
And maybe I expected some more romance. Apparently Ben and Kitty got married awhile ago, meaning the opportunities for sexytimes were about as limited as they could get (lots of gentle touches in public, but lots of sleeping in the bed without the adult fun). Maybe I just didn’t feel a spark between these two, or chemistry. I wanted more in the relationship and I felt a little let down.
But do you want to know what I REALLY enjoyed? The intrigue and mystery surrounding this Dux Bellorum fellow, who I admitted had to google because I didn’t know what any of the characters were talking about. Dux Bellorum kind of sounded like some Deluxe Bell o’ Rum that you might by at the liquor store that would kill you within five swigs.
Kitty was the strong willed heroine of my dreams. I enjoyed her self-esteem, her honesty, her determination to save the world and kill herself in the process of that was what it meant, because quite frankly she did some stupid things while her husband rightfully tried to stop her. Listen, ladies – you don’t have to run into the fray recklessly just because it might save the world. There are better ways if the operative word in the situation is MIGHT. Kitty’s recklessness, though, was amusing, and I wanted to know who was on what side right up until the climax that had me flipping pages like a madwoman.
My advice? Read the series before you get to KITTY STEALS THE SHOW. I really wish I had at least known more specifics about what had happened in books 1 through 9 before I dove into this one. I really enjoyed it for not having a clue about what happened in books 1 through 9, but if you know about this world and these characters, you might enjoy it more. But Carrie Vaughn has a new fan in me!
VERDICT: If you haven’t read books 1 through 9, skip it, but otherwise an enjoyable feast of the paranormal complete with a kickass heroine who knows how to use her words in addition to her claws.
KITTY STEALS THE SHOW was like an unknown horse in the Kentucky Derby. It came to me by surprise that maybe this book should be on the radar, thanks to an intrepid publicist who correctly predicted the future (and should receive a bevy of medals for doing the unthinkable and seeing that I would really enjoy this one). I had never read a book in this ten book series before, nor did I know anything about it other than werewolves! A friend guided me through the history of this series, but I still really don’t know what happened. According to her, this might have been a good thing – I came into KITTY STEALS THE SHOW with no expectations, notions, or anything besides the barest hints of the storyline and characters.
Maybe it helped that book did not take place in Denver. Lost in the city of London, a city I know much better than Denver, the story of this book was able to take center stage. And what can I say? I can’t resist a good tale about the paranormal, wars of werewolves and vampires, the Folk, and every known paranormal critter gathering at a conference to talk about themselves with curious humans. I want to go to a conference like this, and although the story is not going to be a prose-fest of epic literary proportions, Vaughn is able to easily convey herself, setting the scene and allowing the reader to fall in.
The characters were enjoyable for the most part, with a few reservations. I didn’t like Cormac, probably because I still have no clue what he is, who he is, or what he is in relation to Kitty. He seemed like a tacked on character that wasn’t needed, and in fact his storyline just took away from the story rather than added to it. Hunting down Amelia’s descendants was more like a short story you would see put on Amazon as a promotional tool versus an actual needed aspect of the book. But I would like to know more, I will say that.
And maybe I expected some more romance. Apparently Ben and Kitty got married awhile ago, meaning the opportunities for sexytimes were about as limited as they could get (lots of gentle touches in public, but lots of sleeping in the bed without the adult fun). Maybe I just didn’t feel a spark between these two, or chemistry. I wanted more in the relationship and I felt a little let down.
But do you want to know what I REALLY enjoyed? The intrigue and mystery surrounding this Dux Bellorum fellow, who I admitted had to google because I didn’t know what any of the characters were talking about. Dux Bellorum kind of sounded like some Deluxe Bell o’ Rum that you might by at the liquor store that would kill you within five swigs.
Kitty was the strong willed heroine of my dreams. I enjoyed her self-esteem, her honesty, her determination to save the world and kill herself in the process of that was what it meant, because quite frankly she did some stupid things while her husband rightfully tried to stop her. Listen, ladies – you don’t have to run into the fray recklessly just because it might save the world. There are better ways if the operative word in the situation is MIGHT. Kitty’s recklessness, though, was amusing, and I wanted to know who was on what side right up until the climax that had me flipping pages like a madwoman.
My advice? Read the series before you get to KITTY STEALS THE SHOW. I really wish I had at least known more specifics about what had happened in books 1 through 9 before I dove into this one. I really enjoyed it for not having a clue about what happened in books 1 through 9, but if you know about this world and these characters, you might enjoy it more. But Carrie Vaughn has a new fan in me!
VERDICT: If you haven’t read books 1 through 9, skip it, but otherwise an enjoyable feast of the paranormal complete with a kickass heroine who knows how to use her words in addition to her claws.
August 17, 2012
Review posted: Happily Ever After - Reads
Blog rating: 3.5/5
Kitty always seems to stir stuff up, no matter if she’s in Denver or in London where Kitty Steals the Show takes place. Kitty is there to attend the First International Conference on Paranatural Studies. She loves asking questions so the chance to be at this conference where she can learn and ask until her heart’s content has her eager to get things going. What she might not have expected was how in the middle of Roman’s “Long Game” she would end up being. The Long Game is led by vampire Roman, who basically wants to gather all the power he can, period. It’s a fight between vampires that’s been building for years and is now finally coming to a head spilling over into other supernatural beings, weres specifically. Kitty finds herself in the middle of it, as she meets with Master vampires from around the world, some against Roman, some with him, but no one is for sure who’s side everyone is on.
Kitty, Ben and Cormac are all in London and one of Kitty’s dreams come true: a vampire answers her when she asks him his age. For me, that is moment a completely Kitty moment. Throughout the series, we’ve followed her and her life as a DJ, a werewolf, a wife, a woman who longs to be a mother but can never have kids and an alpha. That small moment with Kitty asking her questions is always charming and makes her more human than werewolf.
As a keynote speaker at the conference, Kitty has her hands full with thinking about her speech, but also with all the new characters she comes across. She makes friends and enemies with various master vampires, she gets to know the local alpha, she runs across fairies, a past lover and even a few old human enemies. Crazy follows Kitty everywhere. The action is very subtle in this story. There’s not a lot of bloodshed, a few people do die at the hands of the Long Game players, but overall it’s a story that really sets into motion this Game that, as a reader, I need to see actually happen, soon. If the ending, and Kitty’s keynote speech is any indication, she shakes up the hornet’s nest and it’ll be interesting to see who lands on what side when the dust settles and alliances are formed.
One thing that continues to draw me to this series is the relationship between Kitty and Ben. I will mention this in every review I write for a book in this series because I love their dynamic. It’s rare to have an urban fantasy series that introduces a lead couple, and *gasp* keeps them together, happily. Maybe people will think it’s boring, or doesn’t add to the series, but I disagree completely. I love seeing Kitty and Ben strong and together throughout the series and the strength they draw from each other becomes more and more important, especially as Kitty keeps finding herself in the middle of tricky situations.
I can’t say that this was a favorite book of mine in the series, it lacks strong action but the story isn’t meant to be packed with it. It’s a long set up, kicking into gear events that have made the Long Game something that’s now taking place in the present and not a war that’s out there on the horizon. It’s here, Kitty and her crew are in the middle of it and I can’t wait to see how it all plays out.
Blog rating: 3.5/5
Kitty always seems to stir stuff up, no matter if she’s in Denver or in London where Kitty Steals the Show takes place. Kitty is there to attend the First International Conference on Paranatural Studies. She loves asking questions so the chance to be at this conference where she can learn and ask until her heart’s content has her eager to get things going. What she might not have expected was how in the middle of Roman’s “Long Game” she would end up being. The Long Game is led by vampire Roman, who basically wants to gather all the power he can, period. It’s a fight between vampires that’s been building for years and is now finally coming to a head spilling over into other supernatural beings, weres specifically. Kitty finds herself in the middle of it, as she meets with Master vampires from around the world, some against Roman, some with him, but no one is for sure who’s side everyone is on.
Kitty, Ben and Cormac are all in London and one of Kitty’s dreams come true: a vampire answers her when she asks him his age. For me, that is moment a completely Kitty moment. Throughout the series, we’ve followed her and her life as a DJ, a werewolf, a wife, a woman who longs to be a mother but can never have kids and an alpha. That small moment with Kitty asking her questions is always charming and makes her more human than werewolf.
As a keynote speaker at the conference, Kitty has her hands full with thinking about her speech, but also with all the new characters she comes across. She makes friends and enemies with various master vampires, she gets to know the local alpha, she runs across fairies, a past lover and even a few old human enemies. Crazy follows Kitty everywhere. The action is very subtle in this story. There’s not a lot of bloodshed, a few people do die at the hands of the Long Game players, but overall it’s a story that really sets into motion this Game that, as a reader, I need to see actually happen, soon. If the ending, and Kitty’s keynote speech is any indication, she shakes up the hornet’s nest and it’ll be interesting to see who lands on what side when the dust settles and alliances are formed.
One thing that continues to draw me to this series is the relationship between Kitty and Ben. I will mention this in every review I write for a book in this series because I love their dynamic. It’s rare to have an urban fantasy series that introduces a lead couple, and *gasp* keeps them together, happily. Maybe people will think it’s boring, or doesn’t add to the series, but I disagree completely. I love seeing Kitty and Ben strong and together throughout the series and the strength they draw from each other becomes more and more important, especially as Kitty keeps finding herself in the middle of tricky situations.
I can’t say that this was a favorite book of mine in the series, it lacks strong action but the story isn’t meant to be packed with it. It’s a long set up, kicking into gear events that have made the Long Game something that’s now taking place in the present and not a war that’s out there on the horizon. It’s here, Kitty and her crew are in the middle of it and I can’t wait to see how it all plays out.
August 5, 2012
GENRE: Urban Fantasy
THEME: Vampires/Werwolves
RECEIVED: Received for review from Tor
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/
REVIEW:
I’ve been a fan of Kitty for a long time; this series was my first in Urban Fantasy and the one that really got me hooked into the genre. This book feels like a new beginning for Kitty, a lot happens that I think will have a big impact in Kitty’s life for future books to come.
Kitty, Ben and Cormac have left Denver and have set foot in London for the International Conference on Paranatural Studies. Kitty is set to give the keynote speech but it seems that the Master Vampire Roman has stirred things up in London and Kitty becomes involved. A war is coming and she works together with the Master Vampire in London and the Alpha to stop Romans followers from reeking havoc during the conference.
Kitty gets herself into some interesting predicaments, especially with the vampires. She also seems to have caught a name for herself amongst them, as the Queen of the Wolves, which she doesn’t fully get. As always I enjoy her spunk and the way she always protect her friends. She even befriends some master vampires and gets to learn about the major differences of the vampires in Europe compared to the US. I feel even though she’s not much of a fighter, her words seem to make others think and grasp the bigger picture on what dangers are really out there.
Ben and Cormac are always by Kitty’s side and her major supporters and protectors. Though Cormac takes some side adventures for his companion Amelia whom we get some background on since London is where her family is. I kind of miss the old Cormac but I like what Amelia has brought out in him. Ben is definitely the person who keeps Kitty grounded and every scene with them together I always enjoy. I know some feel Kitty found her mate a little fast but I love these two together. There does come some moments where an old flame from her past flirts like crazy with her, jealousy from Ben happens but it shows his love for her.
Overall I really enjoyed the change of scenery in London and meeting all the new vampires and the Alpha of London was fantastic. I like how much respect Caleb (Alpha) and Ned the Master of London had from all of their followers and allies. It was interesting to watch Kitty learn from them and see into their world. The conference was also a highlight, Kitty has her keynote speech at the end of the book that I really enjoyed and think will bring major changes to Kitty’s world. Plus the baddies from the past are always entertaining and make Kitty’s life tough but it seems just to make her stronger in the end.
If you enjoy fast paced stories, lots of supernatural characters and a lead female character who gets herself into sticky situations, then this series is a must read.
RECOMMENDATION:
This is an urban fantasy series and number ten in the series, I recommend to read the first books to get to know these great characters. Fans of Laurell K. Hamilton and Kim Harrison will love world of Kitty Norville by Carrie Vaughn.
THEME: Vampires/Werwolves
RECEIVED: Received for review from Tor
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/
REVIEW:
I’ve been a fan of Kitty for a long time; this series was my first in Urban Fantasy and the one that really got me hooked into the genre. This book feels like a new beginning for Kitty, a lot happens that I think will have a big impact in Kitty’s life for future books to come.
Kitty, Ben and Cormac have left Denver and have set foot in London for the International Conference on Paranatural Studies. Kitty is set to give the keynote speech but it seems that the Master Vampire Roman has stirred things up in London and Kitty becomes involved. A war is coming and she works together with the Master Vampire in London and the Alpha to stop Romans followers from reeking havoc during the conference.
Kitty gets herself into some interesting predicaments, especially with the vampires. She also seems to have caught a name for herself amongst them, as the Queen of the Wolves, which she doesn’t fully get. As always I enjoy her spunk and the way she always protect her friends. She even befriends some master vampires and gets to learn about the major differences of the vampires in Europe compared to the US. I feel even though she’s not much of a fighter, her words seem to make others think and grasp the bigger picture on what dangers are really out there.
Ben and Cormac are always by Kitty’s side and her major supporters and protectors. Though Cormac takes some side adventures for his companion Amelia whom we get some background on since London is where her family is. I kind of miss the old Cormac but I like what Amelia has brought out in him. Ben is definitely the person who keeps Kitty grounded and every scene with them together I always enjoy. I know some feel Kitty found her mate a little fast but I love these two together. There does come some moments where an old flame from her past flirts like crazy with her, jealousy from Ben happens but it shows his love for her.
Overall I really enjoyed the change of scenery in London and meeting all the new vampires and the Alpha of London was fantastic. I like how much respect Caleb (Alpha) and Ned the Master of London had from all of their followers and allies. It was interesting to watch Kitty learn from them and see into their world. The conference was also a highlight, Kitty has her keynote speech at the end of the book that I really enjoyed and think will bring major changes to Kitty’s world. Plus the baddies from the past are always entertaining and make Kitty’s life tough but it seems just to make her stronger in the end.
If you enjoy fast paced stories, lots of supernatural characters and a lead female character who gets herself into sticky situations, then this series is a must read.
RECOMMENDATION:
This is an urban fantasy series and number ten in the series, I recommend to read the first books to get to know these great characters. Fans of Laurell K. Hamilton and Kim Harrison will love world of Kitty Norville by Carrie Vaughn.
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