Iron Night

Generation V #2

by M.L. Brennan

Underemployed by day. Undead by night.

Underachieving film theory graduate and vampire Fortitude Scott may be waiting tables at a snooty restaurant run by a tyrannical chef who hates him, but the other parts of his life finally seem to be stabilizing. He's learning how to rule the Scott family territory, hanging out more with his shapeshifting friend Suzume Hollis, and has actually found a decent roommate for once.

Until he finds his roommate’s dead body.

The Scott family cover-up machine swings into gear, but Fort is the only person trying to figure out who (or what) actually killed his friend. His hunt for a murderer leads to a creature that scares even his sociopathic family, and puts them all in deadly peril.

Keeping secrets, killing monsters, and still having to make it to work on time? Sometimes being a vampire really sucks.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Vampires, Fantasy, Paranormal, Magic, Urban, Fae

305 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 7, 2014

About the author

M.L. Brennan is the author of the Generation V series - GENERATION V, IRON NIGHT, TAINTED BLOOD, and DARK ASCENSION, all published by Roc. Brennan holds an MFA in writing and is employed as an adjunct professor at several New England colleges.

For Brennan's thoughts on writing, publishing, and the world in general, please check out her official webpage at http://www.mlbrennan.com

Reviews

[M.L. Brennan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote it, and, yes, I do love it. It would be a little weird and something of a red flag if I gave it *less* than five stars, right?

[Mogsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

UPDATE: Guest post by the author and giveaway on the blog (YES THIS BOOK HAS KITSUNE FOXES WHEEE!) http://bibliosanctum.blogspot.com/201...

5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.blogspot.com/201...

All right, important things first: Urban Fantasy fans, you NEED to drop everything and check out Generation V by M.L. Brennan. Like, right now! I'll wait. After you read it, you'll be all caught up for Iron Night and then you will understand why I love this book so much, because if there's one word I can use to describe this sequel, it is "Perfection". I really enjoyed Generation V, but Iron Night takes things to the next level, and even goes further to address everything I had ever wondered or was skeptical about in the first book.

The best part is, you still get all the elements that made Generation V so great! Fortitude Scott is back, and though he may be one step closer to becoming a full-fledged vampire, he is still the underdog with a heart of gold that we know and love. Things seem to be finally looking up for Fort, too. His friendship with the kitsune Suzume Hollis is deepening, his brother is showing him the ropes to running the family territory, and though waiting tables isn't exactly bringing in the big bucks, at least he's got a job. And for once, he's even got a pretty cool roommate.

It was all too good to last for Fort, though. That cool roommate of his ends up dead one night, killed by something unnatural. The powerful Scott family matriarch immediately throws her weight around and covers up the details, pinning the crime on a patsy. Fort is left as the only one trying to figure out the truth behind his friend's murder, resolved to make the real killer pay. What he finds, however, is something more dangerous and terrifying than he could have possibly imagined.

First, what a great story, bolstered by incredible character development. If you've read Generation V you'll already know that the protagonist Fortitude Scott was funny, sweet, cute, but -- let's face it -- also kind of a doormat. Used and manipulated by everyone in his life, it almost got too painful to read! Like any underdog though, he comes into his own. I started to see that happening by the end of the first book, and I'd looked forward to seeing M.L. Brennan take that further in Iron Night and boy, does she ever! Fort's kind heart and goodness still shines through and gets him into trouble, but he's not letting just anyone walk all over him now (okay, Suzume still gets to but that's because, well, she's the Suze). A transitioning process like that has to be gradual and handled carefully, without making Fort go from "the little guy" to "top dog" overnight, and the author pulls that off flawlessly.

We also get to know more about the Scott family, along with those fascinating dynamics. Some of the best scenes in the book feature Fort's interactions with his family members, and I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm actually beginning to really like his sister Prudence. I was very glad to see her greater involvement in this novel, even though she's still insane and scary as hell. And finally, we get some answers and explanations into why Fortitude is "different" than his siblings. That was something I'd been itching to find out since the end of the last book!

Also, recall how I was completely blown away by the wildly original and unique ideas in Generation V. I bet you've never encountered vampires like M.L. Brennan's vampires! She does it again in Iron Night, offering a fresh take on supernatural creatures...though this time, it's with elves! Let's just say after reading this book, I'll never look at Legolas the same way again. And how can I review this book without talking about the humor? A lot of UF series these days feature humor, but this is one of the few that has actually made me burst out laughing. Incidentally, this was how I almost choked to death on the granola bar I was munching on while reading Iron Night, and that was only on page 2. Curse you, M.L. Brennan, your sharp wit will be my undoing!

There are just some amazing moments in this book. Having followed Fort's story over these two installments, I am so invested in these characters, both main and supporting, and it's nice to see the author has all kinds of surprises up her sleeve. I desperately wish I could go into one of my favorite scenes without revealing any spoilers, but for now I can only describe my reaction to it: the feeling I got at the end of the movie Se7en. All I can say is that the baddie in this book is one evil, ruthless monster. And it only made this story all the more awesome.

I can't recommend these books enough. This sequel was simply amazing, and it was everything I'd hoped for and more. Earlier this year when I read Generation V, I knew this had the potential to become one of my favorite Urban Fantasy series. Well, Iron Night pretty much made that official!

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jos jedna zabavna knjiga gde dobijamo malo vise informacija o svetu i rasama koje zive ispod ivica istog.

Brzo i lako citanje sa fino razvijenim likovima koji ne maju preterane dubine ali su opet dosta interesantni.

I sama prica je fino prezentonovana drzi paznju do samog kraja. U svakom slucaju slobodna preporuka.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Posted at Yummy Men & Kick Ass Chicks

OMG I am LOVING this series!!!

Iron Night by ML Brennan is the second installment in my newest favorite series. Generation V was released last year and it quickly became one of my favorite reads of the year. Fort and Suzume are such well crafted characters and the world the author produced is absolutely unique. It’s a book that stayed with me long after I was finished reading it and I was very anxious for the second book to release. You could say I had very high hopes for book two and I am happy to say that the book met each and every one of my expectations.

And then some.

Fort is a vampire but he has not finished transitioning into a full vampire yet. That means he’s a little bit vampire and a little bit human. When we meet him in book one he is fighting what he is becoming, vulnerable and scared. When we see him in this second book, he is a bit more comfortable with his role in his family and his ‘race’, but he’s still learning. In fact, his brother is showing him the ropes. That opening scene is SO FUNNY! Lines such as “This is why we don’t name or pet the goats.” made me laugh so hard. I love the humor in these books. It’s smart and witty humor – my favorite kind.

But back to Fort.

He is more confident but he still has that awkwardness and vulnerability that makes him so likable and so endearing. But I loved his growth and I love his moral making. He’s not cold like a vampire usually should be – he truly cares about the wellbeing of others, friends and strangers alike, and that is yet another thing I love about him.

Can you tell that I absolutely adore this character? He is definitely going on my favorite character list.

Another character that I absolutely love is Suzume. She is a kitsune, a fox shifter. She is unapologetic and sassy and suits Fort to a tee. The thing is they don’t seem to know this yet. But their chemistry is amazing, their dialogue is awesome and their scenes together are some of my favorite. She was sent to guard Fort in the first book and this time around she becomes his partner when they are trying to solve a mystery that Fort thinks he’s inadvertently involved in.

Which brings us to the story in this book.

Fort’s roommate, the first good one he’s had in ages, turns up murdered and Fort is wondering if it has anything to do with him and what he was responsible for in the first book. Turns out, the fae are involved and what is going on is EXTRA messed up! Amazing that ML’s imagination could even go there! The mystery part of the story really kept me on my toes. Let’s be honest though, there is no way anyone could figure out what was going on or who the ultimate bad guy was in this before you actually read it and your jaw hits the floor. And you wrinkle your nose. Because really…ew.

We meet a new character in this book that I really took to. Her name is Lilah and she hurt my head. What I mean by that is she is just a perfect match for Fort! I know I said that Suzume was, and I still think she is good for him, but Lilah really is just like him except she’s fae and he’s vampire. I wanted to only feel Suzume was compatible but here Lilah is, all sweet and cute and perfect and strong… I wanted to dislike her because she is ruining my perfect romantic image in my head for this series and yet I also found myself sort of rooting for her to hook up with Fort. How messed up is that?! ML did a fantastic job writing Lilah and, even though I want Suzume and Fort to wake up and hook up someday, I would still like to see Lilah in future books. She really was a sweet character.

I love where the book left off and where it is leading the series. Love the direction it seems to be going in. Of course, this means I can’t wait for the next book, Tainted Blood, which will be released later in 2014.

There are many fantastic scenes in this book but the one I keep going back to is the very last one. In that scene, our little Fort grows balls! And I loved it. I must have re-read that scene alone at least a dozen times. So awesome.

Generation V introduced us to a family of vampires unlike any you’ve ever met and introduced us to its youngest member. It also warmed your heart while keeping you on the edge of your seat. Iron Night expands on the characters in the series and the chemistry between them. It also expands on the world ML has created, showing us even more creatures that lurk within it. Iron Night did a wonderful job continuing Fort’s tale.

If you are looking for an exceptional urban fantasy read, you must check out Generation V and Iron Night. These are some of the best urban fantasy books I’ve read…ever. The style, the pace, the voice, the characters, the world, the story…all outstanding. A MUST for your bookshelves.

5plus stars

[Matt Gilliard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Urban Fantasy has a bit of a mixed reputation. Many folks see it as an excuse to write erotic detective novels with a cast made up of undead, werewolves, and as many other supernatural beasties as possible. I've never really gotten the appeal of that style novels preferring my urban fantasy to be a more action flick than soap opera. Which puts me firmly in the camp of avoiding any novel with a protagonist that seems to fit that mold. Which basically means vampires as a major part of the cast are essentially a deal breaker for me. M.L. Brennan's Generation V was an exception to that rule. With a protagonist is who is still refreshingly human despite his vampire status and an intriguing, original take on the vampire mythos Brennan set the stage for a urban fantasy novel that I could not only enjoy, but I could recommend to friends without fear of anyone casting aspersions on my masculinity. The sequel, Iron Night was one of my most anticipated novels of the year, and Brennan didn't let me down delivering a superior sequel that offers the perfect balance of humor, heart and action that left me hating myself for devouring the novel so quickly.

Since beginning his transition to true vampiric status, Fortitude Scott's life seems to have improved, he's finally free of his toxic ex-girlfriend, found a better job at an upscale restaurant, and he's found a roommate that not only pays the rent on time, but is actually becoming a friend. Sure, he's had to begin taking a larger role in maintaining the family business of keeping the supernatural beings in his mother's territory in line and is spending more time getting his ass kicked as he tries to learn how to fight, but life is looking up. When Fortitude's roommate is murdered, the Scott family immediately sweeps it under the rug and is content to leave it at that, but Fort has other ideas. He calls on Suzume, the kitsune the only person outside of his family who he can trust and sets out for answers. But despite his fledgling new abilities and Suzume's aptitude for detective work, it's quickly obvious that Fort may be over his head again.

Iron Night succeeds based on Brennan's deft hand at crafting characters who the reader can easily relate to despite the other-worldliness of the story line and her original take on tropes that long time genre readers have seen hundreds of times. Fortitude Scott, for all of his developing abilities and ties to a vampiric dynasty that stretches back hundreds of years, is a regular guy. A bit dorky, insecure, and struggling with his finances and navigating this new life as a vampire he's tried to avoid for so long. Fort's not much different than any twenty-something guy I hung out with in college. He is a perfect stand in for the average male genre reader. He's relatable and his motives and reactions resonate perfectly.

The supporting cast is among my favorites in urban fantasy. Suzume, Fort's partner in crime and seeming love interest is a standout once more. Fort's growing friendship with the kitsune is a standout part of the novel and the deepening connection between them has not one iota of the hurry to bed approach that is so lamentable in many urban fantasy novels. Fort's interactions with his family take a more prominent role in this volume and his sociopathic sister Prudence, gets some much needed depth. The family tableau of the Scott family makes for some tense reading and sheds some light on the vast differences between the three siblings and lays the groundwork for some serious fireworks in future novels.

Brennan's refreshingly original take on vampires was well explored in Generation V, so this time she expands and fleshes out another supernatural element only hinted at in the first volume. And once again, the completely unexpected approach that the author takes makes their motivation absolutely repellent and completely understandable at the same time. I guarantee you've never seen elves in this light before. As the supernatural elements of the world expand, I can't wait to see Brennan's take on other iconic creatures and how they will interact in this modern setting.

And I would be completely remiss if I didn't mention the humor. Anyone who follows Brennan's Twitter feed already knows that this is an author with funny to spare and she infuses her dialogue with enough witticisms and pop culture references to keep readers in stitches through out the novel. Rarely, has a novel made me laugh out loud so many times.

The only thing that kept this sequel from being a complete home run was how closely the plot structure mirrored that of the first novel. It's a minor quibble and the formula certainly works, but I couldn't help but notice it. I have a feeling that with the growing scope of the cast, world building, and Fort's role in the family business that this is a problem that will take care of itself with time. Iron Night is surprisingly tight novel, at just over three hundred pages, but Brennan manages to keep things from feeling rushed, and yet the novel flew by for me nonetheless.

If you like fresh takes on old tropes, characters you'd gladly drink a beer with, and laughing your ass off at three in the mornings, you should definitely give both Generation V and Iron Night a try. M.L. Brennan is the best thing to come out in the urban fantasy market in years and you can even carry the book in public without shame.

[Mihir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review over at Fantasy Book Critic

Overall rating= 4.5 stars

OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: After reading the immensely entertaining Generation V, I was impressed by M. L. Brennan and the direction, which she was taking her series. Iron Night is a book from which I had high expectations as also I rated Generation V quite high in my year-end debut lists. In spite of all my high anticipation, Iron Night managed to overcome all of it and gave me a bunch of surprises along the way.

At the end of Generation V, Fortitude had accepted what he was and what he wasn’t. He strengthened his familial bonds and is further along the path on transitioning into a full-fledged vampire. His love life might not be working but he has moved on from his vicious ex-girlfriend Beth. His new roommate, Gage is a good human being who does his best to be on time with the rent as well. Basically Fort’s star is on the rise and relations with his family and Suzume are going on smoothly as well. Things soon take a rather stark horrible turn as Gage is found murdered, and it falls upon to Fortitude and Suzume to figure who or what killed Gage. Along the way they discover more about who resides in Madeline Scot’s territory and what can also kill a vampire.

I happened to enjoy this book a lot and here’s why. Firstly this is an excellent sequel that actually builds up on its predecessor and manages to outshine it in almost every department. Kudos to the author for developing the story in this way and also furthering the characters via their inter-personal relationships. The author also does her best to twist reader perceptions and then surprises them in myriad ways. The author not only develops Fortitude but all the other characters such as Suzume, Chivalry, Prudence, Madeline and Matt as well. With Fortitude we get to see a quite different person than we have met before. He’s more confident and learning more about his innate skills, which are tested as well. The author also shines a strong light on the supernatural aspect of the world, and we get to see and hear a lot about who and what else reside in the Northeastern part of the US besides the vampire and kitsune clans.

What I also enjoyed was the fact that there are major revelations about vampire genealogy, plus Fortitude’s birth and the reason for his difference. I was absolutely thrilled to see the author give out these secrets and set up plot points that most UF authors would take 2-3 more books to set up. This move was what made this book a standout one and basically made me love this series even more. Another plus point of the story was the author’s strange and savage twist on one of fantasy's most beloved non-human races. If you are like me then you will love how effortlessly M. L. Brennan manages to entwine horror and urban fantasy strands smoothly. The author also utilizes an excellent murder mystery plot and then further weaves plot threads about family and lineage around it.

The biggest mystery about Fortitude's parents is revealed and it makes several obscure things clear. I loved how the author is cleverly re-inventing vampire mythology and at the same time further deepening the supernatural mythos of her world. The creatures in this book aren’t the simple fantasy kind and they do add to the horror quotient of the story. Also not to be left out are the Kitsunes and we get another interesting tidbit about Suzume and her family, this I believe will have major ramifications in the future stories. Lastly the author revealed certain juicy tidbits in an interview and based on the events of this book and what was hinted, I certainly can’t wait to read Tainted Blood (which in itself is a fantastic clue about the plot).

CONCLUSION: All in all, this is an exciting volume to a series that mixes horror, mythology and UF tropes to charm the readers and beguile them to wait for the next installment. If you are one of those readers who look down upon urban Fantasy, give this series a shot and see for yourself why I believe M.L. Brennan to be the next best proponent of the UF-Horror genres behind the King household.

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantasy Review Barn

I read Generation V, I reviewed Generation V. And for the first time in a long time I just went ahead and jumped right into the sequel. I actually finished it before I wrote the review for the first book, and looking back, should have just tagged the two reviews together. Sequels can go one of two ways. They can take the series into a completely new direction, or they can build on what they are already doing right and continue to fine tune the story as Iron Night does. (Well, they can go another way, and that is downhill. Luckily we don’t have to worry about this here).

I really can only think of one small complaint about Generation V when musing about how come I liked Iron Night a bit more. At times Fortitude was a mouse in the pocket character; there to narrate the story but with very little impact on what was going on. He was pushed into most the situations, followed others around, and was bullied throughout. By the end he was showing some agency, but it took a while. Not a problem in Iron Night. When his roommate is found brutally murdered it is he who refuses to leave it. He talks Suze into helping him (not that she requires a lot of persuasion, she appears to be fairly attached to the littlest vamp). And it is up to him to come up with plans; even gaining a promise from Prudence to follow his command on this.

Everything else was much as it was in the first book. Still funny, still a quick read with tight plotting. Still more pranks from my favorite trickster fox (oh the fear in Fortitude’s eye when he realized he turned his roommate search over to her was probably something to see). And of course, a new round of supernatural to look out for (hey, some things no Urban Fantasy can get away from, no matter how original). This time we get Skinwalkers and elves. And again we get an original take. Usually elves are the top of the social order in supernatural tales so it is fun to watch them itch from being under the vampire cabal. The skinwalker was an interesting one. Was the fact that European vampires pushed the native skinwalkers out of their territory an intentional allegory or am I overthinking stuff here? In any case, all were intertwined and tied together nicely.

Since I already went full fan boy on this series I may as well just list things I really liked this time around. Prudence. Prudence. Prudence. A dozen or so different elf based insults from Suze. Prudence. We know Prudence is feared all over New England, we know some of what she is capable of from events in the first book. But now we get the chance to hate, love, and fear her all at once. Best enforcer ever? Maybe not, but damn close. She is Chigurh in the form of a middle aged women who can’t go out until dusk. Her bigger role makes this a darker tale; Fortitude is forced to do some things that strip him of his naivety. No longer is he a pure hearted hand of justice, even if his goals are still noble. He puts family first, friends in danger, and sees what is needed to keep his place on the hierarchy.

The author bio at the end of the book says the author is working on the next in the series. Is it out yet?

4 Stars

[Hobbes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, I'm addicted to these characters. Fort is progressing with every experience, his family are complicated to the nth degree, and the newly discovered supernatural elements are exciting.

My favourite character is still Suzume. She's a cunning, strong fox with heart, topped with a potty mouth that elicits smiles or cuts like a blade... Legolas or Santa's little helper, Suzume knows how to call a elf spade a elf spade but with hilarious sci-fi or fantasy references. That Fort and Suzume reference sci-fi or fantasy characters, movies, TV shows or books just tickles my inner geek too. I hope we learn more about kitsume culture in future books... hell, Brennan could write an off-shoot urban fantasy centred around them and I'd be shelling out a few quid.

Enjoyed this as much as the first book. I'll most definitely be reading more of this series soon.

[Blodeuedd Finland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, I really like this series! Yay for a new good series found! Oh no, there is the despair, what if it turns bad? Nooooooo! Happy thoughts, happy thoughts!

Fort is a bit more kick-ass now than in book 1. His brother had been training him. And I liked to see the growing he did. Become more sure of himself, being able to take charge. But he still has a lot of growing to do.

And we found out why he still is human...but I can't say more about that. Back to the story.

A murderer is loose and Fort wants to find that person, thing or whatever. It leads him to something big, so it's good he has his side-kick kitsune with him. And Suze is awesome, so sure of herself, kick-ass and just cool.

I can't say anything about the bad guy..bad guys..bad ones..but cool. I liked it. I really liked. But then I like that..which I can't say.

It was nice to see more of the family dynamics too. I actually like his brother now, and even his insane sister.

So yes of course I recommend it and I need more.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like the first Fortitude Scott novel, Iron Night is a breath of fresh air in an over-saturated genre. This second installment is a bit more enjoyable than the first, mainly because of character growth and a slightly more intriguing plot line. The plot is fast paced and action packed, there is a good dose of humor, and there is a uniqueness to the supernatural's mythos that actually makes me excited to learn more about it. Iron Night also has a good balance of the everyday and the mystical, which is one of the reasons none of the fantasy tropes seem tired or boring. This is definitely one of the best ongoing traditional urban fantasy series, and I definitely plan to keep an eye out for the rest of the series.

[RachelW (BamaGal) · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are some familiar elements to this paranormal world, but the spin taken on the setting is definitely a breath of fresh air. Fort the almost vampire has begun to take on a large role in his vampire family business; and is uncovering messes that need to be investigated. This time around we have elves trying to reestablish their dying race...and willing to use any means necessary to reach that goal. Add in his creepy vampire family and his trusty sidekick Suze the fox shifter, and this is one heck is of an enjoyable book/series.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as fun and engaging as the first book. Can't wait for more!

[Marcela (BookaholicCat) · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good!! I need next book ASAP.

[Nickolas · Rating 5 out of 5]

REVIEW SUMMARY: Amazing sequel that sees a stronger plot and even greater character development.

MY RATING:5 stars

BRIEF SYNOPSIS: Someone or something is killing humans in a particularly gruesome way and it just happened to pick the wrong target - the roommate of Fortitude Scott. Fort, now being brought up to speed on the family business, pursues the killer with vengeance in mind, but he might have stumbled onto something far more dangerous than a common murderer.

MY REVIEW

PROS: Fortitude is really coming into his own, Suzume is as awesome as ever, the family dynamic is developing interestingly, the elves are 50 shades of creepy, and the plot itself is an improvement.

CONS: The final showdown was a little too short.

BOTTOM LINE: I haven't been this excited about a series in a long time. This is urban fantasy at its best, with a strong focus on characters and relationships and an awesome take on established creatures.

M.L. Brennan's debut novel, Generation V, turned out to be a pleasant surprise. Great characters and a unique vampire mythos made for a powerful read. The fact that Brennan was able to sell me on a vegetarian vampire is a testament to her talent. After reading Generation V I was immediately left wanting more of Fortitude Scott and Suzume Hollis. Fortunately I did not have to wait long as a review copy of the sequel, Iron Night, came in the mail a few weeks later. Despite a hectic school schedule I finished the novel in almost no time, staying awake way past my self mandated bedtime in order to get another chapter (or two) in. Generation V was an impressive debut but Iron Night is a standout sophomore effort - dodging the slump in order to deliver an even more compelling story.

Fortitude Scott is the most refreshing urban fantasy protagonist I have read in years (maybe ever to be completely honest). He's not some grizzled, hard boiled badass full of sarcasm and self importance. He's a college graduate from a family of vampires, trying to find his way in the world. I quickly grew attached to Fort in Generation V. He's a decent guy with a useless degree in film theory who fears his very DNA. Reading Iron Night I was continually pleased at the level of character development from Fort. As the book opens he has been learning the ins and outs of the family trade from his brother Chivalry, keeping the supernatural peace and enforcing the laws of his mother, Madeline Scott. It's the same lovable Fort from the first book with an added layer of responsibility - and protest it though he might, it's a duty that fits him like a glove. Over the course of Iron Night Fort is forced to make difficult decisions and it's a treat to watch how he handles each situation. Unlike many urban fantasy protagonists, Fort deploys a variety of tactics for mysteries. He doesn't apply violence often but he also isn't afraid to use it to get the desired results.

The family angle was a big selling point in Generation V, and it looks like it will be a major attraction of the entire series as it is only reinforced in Iron Night. There's the Scott family, comprised of the matriarch Madeline, the sociopath enforcer Prudence, the more diplomatic Chivalry, and of course Fortitude, the runt of the litter. Madeline is a bit of an enigma. She is a serious power broker, the supernatural Godfather (or Godmother for that matter) of the East Coast. Her agenda is not readily apparent, but however cold and calculating she appears she is also a loving mother. Granted, a loving mother of a variety different to normal expectations, but still. Prudence is less of a mystery than her mother. Prudence wants power and she wants to be out from underneath the command of Madeline. She plays a much bigger role in Iron Night, further complicating her already complex relationship with Fortitude. Chivalry gets less screen time this go around in order to make room for Prudence. The trade is worth while, though I did miss Chivalry's presence.

With Madeline Scott's power waning in her old age it appears as though a battle may be brewing for control of the Scott dynasty. I suspect that while Chivalry may be preparing Fortitude to protect the family territory, Madeline has loftier plans for our underemployed hero. This is all speculation of course, but a truly good book will leave you considering possible directions that future entries in the series might take.

Continuing the family theme is of course Suzume's family. Suzume, the kitsune that stole the show in Generation V, is back and devious as ever. Suze's family comes more into the foreground with the introduction of her sister. One of my few issues with the first book was that Suzume tended to overshadow Fortitude with her charged personality. Brennan manages to solve this - not by dialing Suzume back, but by delivering an even more compelling character in Fort. The relationship between the two is even better this time around as unresolved conflicts crop up. Suzume treats Fort a little more gently in Iron Night, due to the loss of his roommate, but never fear as the trickster in her still surfaces from time to time. The inclusion of the half-elf Lilah spices things up. And that of course leads us to the elves.

Brennan's elves are on par with her vampires. The elves of Iron Night are seriously twisted - more the product of Guillermo del Toro's worst nightmare than Tolkien's friendly fair folk. Between the incest and the sociopathy, the elves come across as truly terrifying creatures. It's pretty cool, because I don't think I've ever considered elves scary before but here it is. Despite a super gross family tree, not all of the elf kin are evil and Lilah is a welcome addition to the Fortitude/Suzume dynamic. She sweet and thoughtful halfsie is a wonderful foil to Suzume.

The plot of Iron Night is much stronger than Generation V, complete with really awesome moments (I'm particularly fond of the undercover speed dating). The villain(s) this time around are far better than the big bad in the first book. This can be chalked up to motivation, as villains with good justification for their crimes are the best villains of all. The romantic subplot is played up a bit more in this novel than the previous one, though it still continues to feel wholly organic. None of the characters lack agency, and I'm confident that whatever should develop will be believable and awesome. My only real complaint with Iron Night is that the final showdown is short lived. All the buildup had me looking forward to a monumental knock-down-drag-out, and while it was fierce it was also over too quickly. To be fair, the rest of the book was so good I don't really care, but there it is - my single criticism.

Iron Night is freaking awesome. Brennan has made vampires cool again, elves creepy, and urban fantasy feel fresh. In an over saturated genre this is no small feat. Fortitude Scott is a hero worth cheering for. He's easy to empathize with, yet stands as a role model for justice (vigilante though it might be). This is truly a series with heart and I wish it a long run and Brennan many a success. I won't be happy until this series is picked up for a crime procedural. I've actually given it a lot of thought and I think that the team behind USA Network's Psych is the perfect group to make it happen. It would have the perfect mix of comedy and drama, lots of buddy-cop fun and great scripts. But I'll return to my coffin and dream my sweet dreams of urban fantasy television glory until the sun sets...

Nick Sharps
SF Signal

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted at http://smexybooks.com/2014/01/review-...

Favorite Quote: “I refuse to feed into this formal wear fetish you have.”

Fortitude Scott is attempting to handle his transition to full vampire while maintaining his humanity. He has a new job with a psychotic chef who has made it his personal mission to punish Fort for being a vegetarian. He has been working with his brother; learning the family business and bulking up so when he does get beat up, he heals a little faster. He also has a new room mate who’s nice and pays his rent on time. All in all, life isn’t too bad.

But when Fort’s room mate dies under mysterious circumstances, Fort and Suzume, his kitsune sidekick, find themselves immersed in a paranormal mystery involving elves, treaty disputes, and a serial killer who’s definitely not afraid of the Scott family reputation.

Fort only wants to live his life on his own terms but secrets, siblings, and murder makes being a nice guy suck sometimes.

Iron Night is the second book in M.L. Brennan’s entertaining and eclectic Urban Fantasy series involving a reluctant vampire and his need to retain his humanity in the face of his increasing appetites and his charming but unsympathetic family. Ripe with mystery, suspense, and a cast of richly diverse characters that will have you laughing and rolling your eyes at their antics. A clever mixture of dark humor and earnest sobriety, our hero, Fortitude Scott, walks a very fine line between his vampire nature and his own set of morals.

Often I find sequels to be precarious in that they will either blow you away or completely turn you off the series. Iron Night shows us that Brennan is no one trick pony. Picking up a few months after the events in Generation V, we learn that Fort is being groomed to control his territory and enforce it for his family. He has become more accepting of his need to drink from his mother on a more regular basis and is allowing Chivalry to “bulk” him up so that at least teenagers won’t be as apt to mug him anymore.

Fort continues to be an engaging mixture of sincerity, bravado, and self deprecation. His character is evolving at a comfortable rate; not an instant warrior but no longer apt to be the first one killed anymore. He’s now the second. While he is still not comfortable with transitioning into a vampire, he understands he cannot stop it and has learned it’s better to be prepared. His internal dialogue is still a joy to read and leaves you giggling at his thoughts on his family, friends, and life in general.

“Being a waiter is not a career choice; it is a job-hunt default.”
Still heavily character driven, Brennan continues develop and evolve her main characters while introducing new characters to her world. She explains in detail their origins and place in the story without overloading us with useless filler. The mainstay for me in this series is the relatability of the characters. Though supernatural in make up, each is imbibed with a familiarity that makes it incredibly easy to relate to them. Family is still a strong theme and we not only see this with Fort, but also with other characters and the storyline itself. We sense deep changes coming to the Scott and kitsune household that is slowly resculpting the landscape and adds an undercurrent of grief to the storyline. I expect some serious battles are headed our way.

Chivalry, Fort’s brother, continues to play a large part in Fort’s life. Though hundreds of years older than Fort, Chivalry is his biggest supporter and protector. He genuinely loves Fort even if he doesn’t even pretend to understand Fort’s emotions towards humans.

“…Accidents happen. Your roommate ran afoul of something on his own and was killed. If you could accept that forming these kinds of guilt-ridden attachments to humans you come into tertiary contact with is futile and self destructive, you could step back and release his death had nothing to do with you. Send a wreath to the funeral, hire a cleaning service, and move on. “


We don’t see as much of Chivalry in here as he has a situation of his own to handle, however he’s always only a phone call away. Fort’s mother continues to entertain us as she tries in her own special way to support him.


“… he did tell me you had your own bit of excitement with that renter of yours managing to get himself murdered. Bad luck, my turtledove, but really, what do you expect when you rent in Providence?”


I do like Fort’s sister Prudence is back and heavily involved in his life this time around. We are still unsure of the reasons for her animosity towards him but some interesting clues are given that lead us one step closer to the answer. I suspect her role in Fort’s life will become more intense and complicated as the series progresses.

The conflict and plotlines are stronger and more intricate in this installment. Fort is forced to rely more on his family and sacrifice some of his own strict morals in order to solve his room mate’s death and defeat killer(s) whose own reasons are corrupt, selfish, and in some instances, non existent. Suzume continues to have Fort’s back even as she teases and pranks him with impunity. Fort’s friendship with Suzume is an integral part of the storyline. There is a definite movement towards romance for Fort though I’m not sure if he is ready for everything that will come with it.

The ending is a climactic finale with plenty of action and suspense. Fort has to step up to the plate and he does so brilliantly. I do like that even with the changes Fort is dealing with and the decisions he is reluctantly forced to make, the core of him remains the same. Multiple sub plots once again come together to give us even more background into Fort’s eventual evolution and clues to future storylines.

I wholeheartedly recommend this series to everyone who enjoys a dark humorous urban fantasy and is looking for something new and fresh in an over-saturated genre. Brennan has brought back the dangerous and cruel supernatural creatures of old and integrated them into the modern society with nary a hitch. Word of caution though. As I mentioned in my review of book one, Generation V, this has a NA feel to it due to the age and attitude of hero and his sidekick.

Overall Rating: A

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A few months ago I reviewed the first book in the new(ish) urban fantasy series Generation V. As you can probably surmise from the fact that I’m now reviewing the second entry (and have the third on preorder), I was a huge fan. And this second entry? It’s just as excellent as the first, if not more so.

Things are looking up for Fortitude Scott. He’s made an uneasy peace with his own budding vampirism as well as his family, and has even spent the summer training with his brother Chivalry every morning in between running “errands” for the family. And yes, that sounds suspiciously mafia-like for a reason. He’s traded his minimum wage job at the coffee shop for a slightly better paying (though no more pleasant) job as a waiter at an upscale restaurant, although the head chef loves nothing more than to force him to taste-test the newest meat-based menu items despite his professed vegetarianism. Suzume Hollis, his kitsune friend, is no less mischievous than before, but at least she hasn’t pulled anything too destructive lately. He’s even managed to find himself a decent roommate after a long stream of complete assholes. Unfortunately, this happy state of affairs cannot last, and one night Fort is yanked from a deep slumber by a noise just at the edge of consciousness. When he investigates, he discovers his roommate’s body, hands and genitalia missing and with suspiciously little blood present. For reasons that defy comprehension, someone has ritualistically tortured and killed him before dumping the body back in his own apartment. That someone is going to pay. Fort’s ensuing investigation takes him far deeper into the local otherworldly community than he’d ever hoped to go, from tangling with a skinwalker to learning the ins and outs of the elf community’s attempts to breed themselves back from extinction. These are dangerous forces he’s messing with, and it’s going to take everything he’s got to wrap this up without more friends dying along the way….

One of the things I appreciate about this series is the strides the author takes to distance herself from the conventions of what has become a popular but occasionally-derivative genre. She goes out of her way to showcase the more unusual members of the otherworldly community–the kitsune, for instance, which I’ve only ever heard of elsewhere in the midst of a deranged coworker’s attempt to get me hooked on one anime or another.* If she is going to use a more conventional creature, you’d better forget what you know. Vampires are generally monstrous, true, but most of the other stuff you know is wrong. Crucifixes are worthless. Garlic and sunlight are no issue when you’re young, but as you advance in age and you lose more and more of your humanity they can become deadly. Mirrors work just fine, and shapeshifting just simply isn’t in their repertoire. They’re not immortal, but they are incredibly long-lived, and sorry, but you can’t join them. They’re an entirely separate species, albeit one that looks very human. In fact, one of Fort’s granduncles sponsored the publication of Dracula in order to spread those false notions. The elves are far from the proud-but-good nature spirits that Tolkien wrote, instead being a ruthlessly violent race that nearly exterminated themselves before realizing their danger. Now there are only a handful of pure-blooded elves in the world, all male, along with a slew of half-breeds with more or less magical ability. Now, considering the depths of my disdain for Twilight and it’s changes to the vampire archetype, why do I approve of this? Quite simply, Ms. Brennan changes the details but remains true to the core of what vampires are–apex predators, monsters who (with rare exceptions) will kill you without batting an eyelash. Ms. Meyers just neutered them. There’s a difference. Fort gets more of a chance to shine this time, as he’s on his way to inheriting his full vampire abilities and is forced to rely less on Suzume to do the physical heavy lifting, but don’t worry, she’s still along for the ride in all of her scene-stealing glory. Bottom line: I really can’t wait for the next book to get here.

CONTENT: R-rated language, present but not gratuitous. Some fairly disturbing violence. Quite a bit of flirting and innuendo, along with some mildly-explicit sexual content. Some magic and ritual sacrifice, but it’s more rooted in the elves’ or kitsunes’ natural abilities than it is any occult connection.

*I have no problem with anime, per se, but I’ve yet to find one that catches my interest. And said coworker has forfeited all claims to good taste with some of the titles he’s described as “excellent.” Seriously, one of them was all about a father-son team who are cursed to become attractive coeds whenever something (I don’t remember what it was, I was too busy trying to decide whether to laugh or back away slowly) happens, which of course causes all sorts of comedic mix-ups and misunderstandings. Oh, those wacky Japanese animators…..

[Melliane · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

Mon avis en Français

My English review

I was really curious to find Fortitude again after a very good first volume. I must say that the series is really nice to read and we follow an anti-hero who always manages to be in catastrophic situations, all that is mixed with an exciting plot that always keeps us in suspense throughout the story.

Since the end of the first novel, Fort learned a little more about governing the territory of his mother with his brother and soon realizes that he really knows nothing. But besides that, he tries to learn how to fight to avoid feeling helpless. But even with a different life like that, he has decided to stay away from his family and to live quietly on his side as he has always done, while working for people who hate him. But an event will turn everything upside down when one night he discovers the mutilated body of his roommate in his flat. Ofcourse, he is convinced that this is not a coincidence, even if his family isn’t particularly interested in it. Determined to discover the truth, and helped by Suze, Fort will investigate this murder. However, he certainly didn’t expect to be embedded in a story mixing shepeshifters and elves. And while he gradually discovers a new world he did not know about, he could alienate more people than he previously thought. Moreover, to complicate matters, Matt decides to interfere in his story to discover the truth about Fort and his family. Something that will be very difficult indeed.

I enjoyed reading the ideas of M.L. Brennan in this novel. Fort has evolved considerably since the first novel, but he keeps his hero soul although he does have little skills for that. He always tries to protect those he loves whatever may be the consequences. I was also surprised to see his brother and sister act for his best here. We will see them a little more in the novel, understanding how they ended up like that and I admit that I took a great pleasure in seeing a little more Prudence. This is such a complex character that it is difficult to decide about her and at the same time I’m sure she loves her little brother in her own way. But it is sure that when there is need for action, her presence is enough to upset everyone. Of course, Suze is also there, and it’s true that this is one of my favorite characters in the series. She has quickly befriended Fort and I always love to see her teasing him in all circumstances. I must say she is very good at it and she constantly uses it. Moreover, we feel that something is appearing between them without being able to define it and it’s true that I’m curious to read more to see how everything will evolve. We also learn a little more about her and her family, and I am eager to know all the details of her life.

In terms of the story, I must say that I was completely swept away. I was very curious to know the identity of the culprit and the reasons behind the killings. The author had some pretty ideas this time too. We can not doubt for one second at the beginning of the novel about what is really happening, and with a series of discoveries and investigations we discover the truth little by little. Moreover, we meet like that some new characters that I hope we’ll see again later.

It was a very good novel, Fort accepts increasingly the role he must play while understanding his importance. Of course, his life is just beginning but I’m sure we will discover more soon. If you do not know the series, I can only recommend you to read it. This is a beautiful discovery, a little different from what we can usually read all that with a clumsy hero who has a sense of duty and justice as anyone else. A new great surprise and I’ll eagerly wait for the third volume.

[Qwill / The Qwillery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Iron Night is the second novel in the Generation V / Fortitude Scott series by M. L. Brennan. In the first novel, Generation V, we were introduced to Fortitude Scott, a vampire who had not yet begun to transition from human to vampire, who is trying to avoid being a vampire, is a slacker and initially not a character that I really liked. I did like him very much by the end of the first novel. In Iron Night, Fortitude (Fort) is back along with his mom, siblings Prudence and Chivalry, and Suzume (a shapeshifter). Since the end of the first novel, Fort has been training with his brother and learning the family business from him not only because he's started his vampiric transformation, but because he is tired of being beat up and has family responsibilities that he is beginning to accept. Fort is not your average vampire and M. L. Brennan's vampire mythology is just as fantastic and different as Fort is.

Iron Night is as much about Fort slowing growing into his vampire side and becoming a better person as it is a story about a mystery set off by the gruesome death of Fort's roommate - a roommate that Fort got along with, liked and who actually paid the rent on time. Fort lives in a low rent area of town, works as a waiter and drives a wreck of a Fiesta. Yes, his family has incredible wealth, but Fort is trying to hang on to his human side. This is one of Fort's charms: despite being in the beginnings of his transition to full vampire he still embraces his human side and while accepting what his family is does not fully give in to them. He does however start to understand that his vampire side gives him certain physical advantages (while scaring him at the same time). Fort is also awkward with women which is incredibly charming. His internal narrative about this is particularly amusing. He's not your usual vampire!

Fort is not the only wonderful character in the series. We get to see a lot more of Prudence in Iron Night. Prudence is the oldest of the Scott siblings, is fully vampiric and is a more or less a sociopath. She's also a terrifically written character who is very, very scary especially when she is being nice. Fort's brother Chivalry is also superbly done. He's somewhat nicer than Prudence but also has no qualms about being a vampire. Both siblings care about Fort in their own unique ways. Madeline Scott (their Mom) is back as well. She's the head of the family and in control of a vast territory. Things supernatural ultimately answer to her. She is very, very frightening.

One of my favorite characters is Suzume. She is a kistune or wolf shifter. She is funny, smart, snarky, and a great person to have at your back both in a fight and just generally. She was a great help to Fort in the first novel and continues to help Fort in Iron Night.

Both novels in the Generation V series present mysteries. In Iron Night, the mystery centers around who killed Fort's roommate and why. Brennan takes mythology, makes it her own and creates a great mystery with some very interesting underpinnings. This mystery kept me guessing.

There is humor, some gore, and action. Iron Night is beautifully written, is deeply engaging and features wonderful world building and exceptional characters. This is an Urban Fantasy series that you absolutely must read and should be on your auto-buy list.

[Tiki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Read! I LOVE this series!!
Book 2 picks up 4 months after the last, with Fort trying to adapt to the changes in his life. He's training with his brother, Chivalry, trying to gain strength, speed and generally learn how to defend himself better. He's also learning more of what is and will be expected of him in the future....but damn it, he's not giving up his human life, as poor as it is! He has a new job, maybe slightly better than the last; a new and much better roommate, and his friendship with Suzume continues as she finds more ways to prank him - after all, she is a "trickster".

Early on someone close to Fort dies in a very violent and ritualistic way. The police can't figure it out, and his family seems uninterested in what has happened because the victim is human. Even though he's a smidge more vampire now he still has a conscience, and empathy - maybe it's his soul....and that's something he wonders about a lot. Will he loose his soul when he finally becomes Vampire? But for now he feels deeply and this 'murder' has him scared because it hits close to home & he knows it's related to the supernatural community.

Not getting much support from his family, and not being able to confide in the police about supernatural affairs, he ask Suzume for help. What they discover stirs up his family as well as the Elves, the half-bloods and their secret community. Fort and Suze develop an alliance with Lilah, a half-blood with a surprising amount in common with Fort, including a mutual attraction. As they work together Suze seems to be pushing he and Lilah together and he's a little confused by some her behavior. This murder mystery is way more than it first seems as it leads to more bodies and even nastier supernatural creatures. Fort's family becomes involved by way of Prudence - her specialty is violence. But nothing's ever going to end well where she's concerned...and things go very very bad. Fort finally gets a few answers about himself, and the interesting 'experiment' his Mother is conducting.

I think this series is exciting because there are so many ways for it to go, and to grow. As with the first book, this is so well written, well paced, excellent dialogue, sprinkled with humor, yet there is still something deeper. The level of romance is mild...but interesting. More realistic in it's process - in the way things develop or don't, that keep you wondering where this is leading. This is a book that had me thinking about it when I wasn't reading it and trying to arrange things so I had more time to read. I'd like to compliment and thank M.L.Brennan - no stupid cliffhangers! Her ability to bring a book to a satisfying and perfect ending, while still having me desperate to read the next is flawless!! I can't wait for "Tainted Blood"!! (expected release Nov., 2014)

[Kathy (Kindle-aholic) · Rating 5 out of 5]

M.L. Brennan's Generation V series quickly made my auto-buy list. I adored the magnificently eff'd up the whole world and mythology, as well as the unconventional hero who has shown fantastic character growth through the first two books.

Over at Stellar Four, I did an interview with Brennan and got to talk about all of my favorite parts from the books, but in going over the ol' review backlog, I see that I never actually wrote a review for this one, so fixing that now.

Note: As always, I'll try to avoid spoilers, but this is book 2, so some spoilers for book 1 are inevitable.

At the start of book 2, Fort has made some changes in his life. He has been working out with Chivalry and has started helping his older brother with some of his duties. He's also getting a crash course in the supernatural, a world that he tried to escape for most of his life. All the while, he is still trying to hang on to his humanity.

Then he finds his roommate murdered, and Fort is back in the muck again. Luckily, he still has Suze, his kitsune friend who delights in antagonizing him, but is also there to kick ass. Adding to his problems, he has to work with his older sister, Prudence. Fort is convinced she hates him, and she is responsible for the most traumatic event in his childhood. Theirs is a complicated relationship, though, and their interaction was my absolute favorite part of the book. The last part of the book, just damn.

Excellent action, character and relationship progression, and a wholly interesting world, if you haven't jumped into this UF series yet, I suggest you give it a try.

[Molly Mortensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book as much as the first and the mystery and plot were even better! The growing friendship between Suzume and Fort was great! I was afraid because Suze is a tough character to pull off because she’s so complicated and unpredictable, but she was even more fun in this book!

Chivalry isn’t in the book much, because he’s spending more time with his dying wife, but we got more Prudence instead. She’s a scary character, a true vampire at heart. I enjoyed watching her relationship with Fort. (Is it wrong to like a Sociopath?)

I liked the new characters that were added as well, mostly the potential love interest. She was cute and sweet and perfect for Fort. Even though I liked her I still want Fort and Suzume to get together because I love them both, but oh boy would that be a whirlwind of a romance.

Warning: Violence and gore (mentions torture)

My Rating: 9/10 Stars

My Summary:

Fortitude has a new job and a new roommate, both improvements from last year. Iron Night takes place four months after the end of Generation V and Fort’s been working out with his older brother Chivalry. He’s also gotten to be good friends with the Kitsune Suzume, which comes with its own problems. When someone is murdered and dumped in Fort’s apartment, his family dismisses it as a human matter, but Fort can’t let it go.

[Dr susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered M.L. Brennan and I share an abiding love of War for the Oaks, which may be the oldest urban fantasy on my shelves. Generation V and Iron Night can easily slide into a spot next to Bull's wonderful book.
I did not post status updates because I had a migraine and was too busy reading to bother with funnies.
Iron Night is grimmer than Generation V, as fate seems determined to shove Fort into the vampire niche he has been struggling to avoid. The world building remains enthralling and sometimes horrific. We are introduced to more of the supernatural creatures that inhabit Fort's world, learning about them as he learns his place in the 'family business.' Suzume has problems of her own, but she is still a feral spot of hilarity through the book. The 'ass displacement' is truly hysterical. I am sure both these books will stand up to the 'multiple reads test.'
While Generation V and Iron Night have places on my serendipity shelf, books I found by chance at the library, Tainted Blood is a much anticipated release.

I won an autographed copy of Iron Night!! M.L. Brennan is awesome!!

I am reading a library copy of Iron Night, so I do not mar my beautiful autographed copy. My second read was as good as the first. Now, it's time for Tainted Blood!!

[Django Wexler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Well-crafted characters and great world-building, everything I could ask for in an urban fantasy. I' particularly fond of the take on elves and their mythology, which has echoes of Lords and Ladies. Bring on #3!

[Anne - Books of My Heart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am reading the best stuff lately. I am shocked how much I love this series with little romance and pretty much no sex. But I do! The first words out of my mouth - when will the next book be out? And this one has only been out maybe a week or so. More later,

[Fangs for the Fantasy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having accepted the reality that he is part of the vampire world, Fortitude Scott has made some significant changes to his life. He is now working out seriously several times a week with his older brother, feeding more frequently from his mother, has even found himself a new job and shocker of shockers, a roommate who actually pays his half of the rent on time. Finally, Fortitude has achieved the stability he has longed for but unfortunately for Fort, it's short lived. When he awakes one morning to find his roommate Gage drained of blood, missing body parts and dead, Fort is determined to get justice for him and not allow his powerful mother to sweep Gage's death under the carpet. Fort's investigation brings him closer to crafty kitsune Suzume Hollis, as together they race against time to discover why bodies are starting to pile up. If that were not enough, Matt, the one human Fort has loved since childhood is starting to get suspicious. Can Fort get justice for Gage, while keeping Matt in the dark, in order to save his life?

In Iron Night, Brennan enlarges the world and we learn about the necessity of vampires as apex predators to police their territory. We get a very strong sense of the hierarchy amongst the supernaturals and how delicate the balance of power is with humanity. As Fort's vampire nature continues to mature, he begins to change. Now Fort makes the necessary decisions to accomplish his ends no matter how difficult. He doesn't want to be like his sociopath sister Prudence but at the same time, he is highly aware that he cannot allow people to fun roughshod over him anymore.

American Vampire is one of the few series with a male protagonist but the women in Iron Night play exceptionally strong roles. Suzume continues to delight me with her trickster nature and I love that Fort is continually left off balance by her antics. Though Fort is supposedly in charge of the mission, Suzume is not a side kick who follows blindly; she is an equal partner. Suzume is not only highly intelligent, physically she is clearly more capable than Fortitude. This naturally subverts gender roles and Brennan manages this while allowing Suzume to remain feminine. Madeline, Fort's mother though clearly on the decline, rules with an iron fist. Prudence plays the role of Fort's enforcer and while there is no doubt she is a sociopath, her relationship with Fort is extremely complex.


The only issue I have in terms of gender is the treatment of Beth. In Generation V, Beth was the woman who cheated on Fortitude. In reality, she read more like a polyamorous character than a scarlet woman; however, she was treated like the latter. Beth faced the ultimate punishment and was skinned alive as a lesson to Fortitude. Once Beth was dead, she was suddenly described with reverence and at times even romanticized. It took death to redeem Beth and that is highly problematic, given that women have historically been subjected to violence for supposed sexual misdeeds. This situation is made worse in that Beth then becomes a mission of retribution for Fort.

One of things I continue to enjoy about this series is Brennan's portrayal of class. Fort is at best working class and as such, he continues to have everyday struggles to survive. He takes the bus to save on parking and his beloved car is practically held together by chewing gum. Fort buys the cheapest booze he can afford and when he does want to treat himself to something new, it means cancelling his Netflix account and living on Ramen noodles for months at a time. These privations are worth it to Fort because it means he gets to retain his independence. This line is important because it helps support Fort's character as a young man struggling to survive on his in terms.

Not only is this series magically diverse, it's also racially diverse. Brennan continues to take great care with the character of Suzume. I have come to trust Brennan's writing and no longer fear that this great character will be reduced to the all to common trope of lotus flower or dragon lady, as often happens with Asian women in media. In Iron Night, Brennan built on Suzume's character and took care to include cultural groundings, which not only solidify her as a kitsune but as an Asian woman. Suzume is no card board cut out.


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[Mia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like John McClane, Fortitude Scott is back...with a vengeance. This second installment in M.L. Brennan's American Vampire series levels up exponentially-- in character development, overall plot advancement, and emotional impact.

When Fort's roommate is murdered, Fort is compelled to investigate and bring the murderer to justice. What he uncovers is a much larger conspiracy involving powerful supernatural creatures with a fundamental, long-term agenda.

Fort has come a long way since Book One, much more comfortable in his near-undead skin. Our little vampire boy is growing up! He is living up to the mettle of his given name. While still a vegetarian under self-imposed poverty clinging to his humanity, he is a less reluctant vampire, more sure-footed and proactive, choosing to arm himself with knowledge and skill –and actual weapons-- rather than denial, suppression, denigration and repudiation. He seems to have reconciled himself with the inevitability of his transformation and is decisively and assiduously preparing for it. He is becoming Alpha Dog, the clear protagonist to root for, no longer under any danger of being obscured by the colorful characters he's surrounded with. He is even taking decisive steps in his love life! What I found most interesting is the direct impact of Fort's decisions on his life and his character. Every choice Fort makes in this book holds personal consequences for him. He has a decidedly vested interest in the manner in which the conflict is resolved, is fully aware of such interest, and is no longer content to pass the responsibility to someone else, no matter how difficult or devastating.

The returning characters continue to be compelling, independent agents. Remaining right alongside Fort is Suzume Hollis, his kitsune friend. Interestingly, Suzume seems more guarded and mysterious even as she remains Fort's unwavering ally. Fort's dysfunctional vampire family are painted with increasing levels of complexity. As many revelations as there are, this book promises even more. Like Shrek, Fort's family dynamic is a multi-layered onion and the saga continues, with more intrigue and mystery than Days of Our Lives. As a reader, I am tickled to find my assumptions and expectations upended.

The new additions are no less interesting. While elves made an appearance in the first book, Fort faces the mighty force of the elves elders in this book. These are not Legolas-type elves. They are more sinister, more powerful, more devious. They are motivated by a powerful Darwinian prime directive, equal parts understandable in its objective and deplorable in its methods. I am eager to learn more about the elves in future installments in this series. Other supernatural creatures also make an appearance as Fort is slowly brought into the fold of vampire rule in the New England territory. While a minor character, I wickedly enjoyed Fort's chef boss who is singlehandedly determined to cure Fort of his vegetarianism.

Brennan's series is refreshing urban fantasy. It is the evolution of the age-old vampire lore into a fantastically modern, credible, empathetic story. Brennan is incredibly attuned to contemporary attitude, geography and language. Additionally, the supernatural hierarchy and management that Brennan elucidates upon in this book is certainly novel and cogent. More importantly, even as IRON NIGHT is a more serious, thoughtful offering, it remains humorous and entertaining.

IRON NIGHT is not a transitory, second book in a series. It is a self-contained story that can stand on its own, surpassing the charm, sophistication and delightfulness of the first book-- a tall task yet one M.L. Brennan is obviously more than a match for. Accordingly, I shall greatly rachet up my expectations for book three. Consider yourself warned, Ms. Brennan.

[Candace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book and then I got sick and wasn't up for writing up a review. So I feel like this review might not really get the emotion in it that I like to include in my reviews that stresses how I really felt. I'll tell you this, the first book was on my favorites of 2013 list and this book could easily be on my favorite of 2014 (though I read it in 2013 so it kind of falls in that in-between time).

Fort is awesome. I love male narrators anyway, but Fort is just refreshing. He's normal, he's average. He's broke, he's kind of a geek (though only slightly) and he's real. I feel like I'm repeating myself here. The thing is, he's not this super perfect guy. He's trying to make it on his own without his rich vampire family's help. He doesn't want to be like them and wants to distance himself as much as he's able. But Fort is a vampire that is maturing and he has to rely on his family at least somewhat. The thing with his family is that they can be a little unpredictable. Luckily they care enough about him to have his back, and they care about their territory to protect it. Which can also be a problem since Fort doesn't want anyone killed who may accidentally stumble upon the fact there are vampires and other paranormal creatures. Fort is all about the non-violence but when it comes down to protecting himself and those he loves he'll step up to the plate. In this book we really see how he's starting to learn to pull it off, though he might not be as scary as his brother and sister, he's no weakling either.

I'm pretty much in adoration of Suzume. Suzume is a kitsune we meet in the first book and I adored her then, but I adore her even more now. She has become Fort's best friend but through the book we get this sense of something that they could want more. It's clear that Fort is attracted to her, we know that from the beginning of the first book so that's not a spoiler. But he doesn't really know where she stands on this and if she might like him back. This is something approached more at the end and I won't even tell you how I felt because that will give it away. But every minute these two are together I just wanted to sigh in contentment. Their banter was just great. Suzume is definitely up there with my favorite characters.

I have to say that I also really enjoyed the other secondary characters. From the new ones introduced, to those in the previous book. It's easy to remember who is who and keep it all straight. We don't always know who is good and who is bad, because that can change pretty quickly, but their personalities are easy to keep straight.

I'm also a big fan of this world. The vampire aspect is very unique and I haven't read anything like it before. I appreciate that. The paranormal creatures are introduced slowly as they are relevant without any info dumps or a huge pile of creatures to keep straight. Right now it's fairly straightforward and I can see as the series continues we'll meet more and more.

Although I'm not a fan of violence and gore, I was able to get past that since it's kind of required for this kind of book. It couldn't be avoided. But I have to say, it was at times a bit hard to read because I could picture it all far too well. It was hard for Fort too though, and so it was easy to relate to how it made him feel (scared, upset, sad, all the appropriate emotions).

I'm definitely a HUGE fan of this series and I'm liking the direction it seems to be taking. I'm curious to see how it plays out and I NEED more Fort and Suzume!

You can find this review, and others like it, on my blog at http://www.candacesbookblog.com

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5-4

*My Thoughts*

Fledgling vampire Fortitude Scott is back in the second installment of M.L. Brennan's Generation V series, and this time, his responsibilities are greater, his relationship with his family is put to the test while working with a sister who hasn't exactly been helpful, and romance may, or may not be in the horizon. Oh, I can't wait until the next installment comes out to find out what happens next!

If you are reading this review, it is because you are wondering what this series is about, and whether or not I would recommend this series to you. The answer to both questions is, HELL YES! Generation V takes a different look into the whole vampire creation ideology, and it is something that I don't think readers have seen in the past. Vampire's in this world are created using an interesting technique that I won't spoil, except to say that I hope Fort's own transition won't linger over numerous books.

With Chivalry's human wife lie dying, Fort is given more responsibilities to ensure that the Scott family territory is protected at all costs. As a representative of the Scott family, Fort is charged with ensuring that other supernaturals in Madeline's territory straighten up and fly right. When they don't, Fort must step in and put an end to the threat before it spins out of control.

It has been 4 months since Fort accepted his transition path to vampire, but he still retains most of human contacts, including his ties to private detective Matt McMahon who has been searching for 17 years for Fort's parents murderer. I adore Fort. I love the fact that is like other scrubs in that he works hard for a living, while attempting to keep his humanity from being left in the background. I love the fact that he gets through life with an off cut humor that some will call snarky. He is also slovenly, drives a piece of junk Ford Fiesta, and can barely pay his bills, let alone buy new clothes.

His love life hasn't exactly been stellar having been cheated on by his ex, while his relationship with his family, especially his sister Prudence, has come with some obvious questions as to when Fort will finally transition fully into a vampire. His brother Chivalry has become Fort's protector and supporter, while Prudence is still the question mark after gleefully hoping that Fort would have been killed in the previous installment. I love Fort's connection with Suzume Hollis. I love the fact that when he gets into deep water, she is the first person he calls, and she doesn't hesitate to offer her own brand of snark, and opinions. I found myself grinning from ear to ear after Brennan's ending.

Sequels, often times than not, don't necessarily live up to the original release. Iron Night does. The story focuses on Fort, Suze, newcomer Fae Lilah Dwyer, and Prudence Scott. Even after the events that happened in Iron Night, I have many questions Prudence and whether or not she really hates Fort, or if she is trying to push him hard so that he isn't a complete failure. I did like the fact that the two were able to temporarily put their hostilities and differences aside enough to uncover who killed Fort's roommate and others.

Tainted Blood (Generation V #3) releases November 4th 2014 by Roc

Published: January 7th 2014 by Roc

[Kristin (MyBookishWays Reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re like me and read Generation V, the first of ML Brennan’s fresh new urban fantasy series starring Fortitude Scott and his vampire family, then you were, and are, eagerly awaiting Iron Night. I’m here to tell you that not only is the wait almost over (it’s out Jan. 7th), but Iron Night is just as good as Generation V., and indeed offers up some new surprises. When Iron Night opens, Fort has actually achieved a kind of balance in his life as of late. He’s got a job as a waiter, that while a bit stressful (can you say insane head chef?), is, after all, a steady paycheck, and he actually likes his new roommate, Gage. His brother, Chivalry, has also been showing him the ropes of the family business (collecting tithes from the supernatural residents of their mom’s territory and keeping them in line), and has even been upping the ante on his physical training, that, along with his newfound vamp prowess, is making Fort into something quite formidable, indeed.

All of that tenuous stability comes to a screeching halt when he finds Gage brutally murdered in their apartment. Fort would love to believe that it was just a coincidence, that it had nothing to do with Fort’s vamp status, but his family can’t take the chance, and Madeline’s cover-up machine is soon running at full force. Unfortunately, Fort’s old friend, former cop and PI, Matt McMahon is on the case too, and keeping Matt safe and off of his mother’s radar is one of Fort’s top priorities. With Suzume’s help, Fort should be able to track down Gage’s killer and neutralize the problem before it gets out of control, right? Well…maybe…if it didn’t involve some very old, very powerful beings with a load of power at their fingertips.

Fort is back in all of his rather sweet, slightly bumbling, reluctant vampire glory, and I say “slightly” bumbling because there’s an edge to Fort in Iron Night that wasn’t there in Generation V. Because of his training with Chivalry, he’s got quite a bit more self confidence in addition to his new strength and speed, but his self-effacing humor and intrinsic gentleness is still there, and those things are what make Fort a standout in this genre and brings this series quite a bit above the usual vampy fare. Well, that and the unique, and uniquely creepy, vamp mythos that ML Brennan has introduced. My favorite kitsune, Suzume is always a delight, and for all that fell for her in Generation V (including me), you won’t be disappointed, because she’s front and center here, along with Fort. The introduction of a lovely shopkeeper named Lilah brings the always present sexual tension between Fort and Suze into the spotlight, and if you’ve been hoping for a match, well, stay tuned… Fort flies in the face of just about everything a vampire should be, and continues to do so, willingly, but there’s only so much he can fight when it comes to his very nature, and it’s becoming increasingly possible that he may not be able to fight indefinitely. But he’ll try, and it’s what makes Fort so damn lovable. There’s plenty of action and supernatural baddies to round out Fort’s narrative, but it’s Fort’s journey, within himself, and with his family (sister Prudence takes a much larger part in this installment), that really makes this shamelessly addictive series sing.

[Kristin Taggart]

I don't use star ratings, so please read my review!

(Description nicked from B&N.com.)

“Underachieving film theory graduate and vampire Fortitude Scott may be waiting tables at a snooty restaurant run by a tyrannical chef who hates him, but the other parts of his life finally seem to be stabilizing. He's learning how to rule the Scott family territory, hanging out more with his shapeshifting friend Suzume Hollis, and has actually found a decent roommate for once.

Until he finds his roommate’s dead body.

The Scott family cover-up machine swings into gear, but Fort is the only person trying to figure out who (or what) actually killed his friend. His hunt for a murderer leads to a creature that scares even his sociopathic family, and puts them all in deadly peril.

Keeping secrets, killing monsters, and still having to make it to work on time? Sometimes being a vampire really sucks.”

This is one of those books that really keep the urban fantasy genre alive. The vampire mythos is unique and doesn’t wander into the tired old tropes that so many novels use. There’s less about that aspect of vampires in Iron Night, but it does come into play a little bit concerning Fort’s long-delayed transformation. It also plays out subtly not only in his sister’s inbred bloodlust, but also in the compassion his brother has for his dying wife.

Speaking of Fort and his new powers, this book takes place several months after the first in the series, and Fort is dealing with the effects of his vampiric side coming more to the fore. It’s something that he’s not quite used to, and he’s not sure if he likes it. It’s good for us readers, though, because it means that Fort spends more time working with his family instead of avoiding them, and I find those characters fascinating. I think that a lot of Brennan’s strength lies in creating these characters that are fully fleshed out and easy to get involved with.

By far the best of the secondary characters is Suzume. While Japanese fox-shifters aren’t that uncommon in fantasy literature, they’re just rare enough to be refreshing when they do turn up. And Suzume is just plain fun to read. She has a fox’s traditional sense of mischief and loves to play pranks on Fort, but she’s quite fearsome when need be. The budding relationship between her and Fort feels a little more natural than some that I’ve seen in the genre, so although I sometimes roll my eyes at the “obligatory romance”, I kind of liked this one.

The author walks the fine line between humor and seriousness with great skill. There are plenty of funny moments—many of them revolving around Suzume—that got a chuckle out of me, and lots of clever turns of phrase. And while the humor is definitely dominant, Brennan does a great job at playing out the tension as Fort tries to keep his dad’s former partner from seeing something that will get him killed.

This novel is so fun to read that I had trouble putting it down. It has lots of humor, good characters, a solid plot and just enough deep character interaction to give the tale some teeth. Iron Night is better than its predecessor, and since the first book was really good, that should tell you how much I liked this one.

This review originally appeared on Owlcat Mountain on January 28, 2014.