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Kitty Norville #7
Kitty's House of Horrors
Talk radio host and celebrity werewolf Kitty Norville has agreed to appear on TV's first all-supernatural reality show. What she's expecting is cheesy competitions and manufactured drama starring shapeshifters, vampires, and psychics. But what begins as a publicity stunt is all too quickly turning into a fight for her life.
Kitty and her fellow housemates arrive at the remote mountain lodge where the show is set, but no sooner does filming start when violence erupts. It doesn't take Kitty long to suspect the show is nothing more than a cover for some nefarious plot. Then the cameras stop rolling, cast members start dying, and Kitty learns she and her monster housemates are not battling for a prize: they are, ironically enough, themselves the ultimate prize, in a very different game. Stranded with no power, no phones, and no way to know who can be trusted, she must find a way to defeat the evil closing in...before it kills them all.
From the Publisher (Gollancz)
Kitty and her fellow housemates arrive at the remote mountain lodge where the show is set, but no sooner does filming start when violence erupts. It doesn't take Kitty long to suspect the show is nothing more than a cover for some nefarious plot. Then the cameras stop rolling, cast members start dying, and Kitty learns she and her monster housemates are not battling for a prize: they are, ironically enough, themselves the ultimate prize, in a very different game. Stranded with no power, no phones, and no way to know who can be trusted, she must find a way to defeat the evil closing in...before it kills them all.
From the Publisher (Gollancz)
292 pages, Paperback
First published December 22, 2009
64 people are currently reading
3469 people want to read
About the author
Carrie Vaughn
280 books4,542 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 491 reviews
July 3, 2018
For me, this is a big year for resuming old series. I think I read up to the current installment of the Kitty Norville and then ... completely forgot about it when new books came out.
Oops.
Well, here I am and I'm back to say... it's fun! Not the best UF I've ever read, but for all you folks who like to see your favorite Werewolf Talk Show Host get invited onto a Reality TV show that then becomes an all-out classic horror/mystery with peeps dying off like supernatural fleas, then this is definitely the book for you.
Truly, it's light, fast, and fun. No major entanglements, but there are old bit-players from earlier novels who get some screen time. Some dead time, too. It's a whodoneit! With shapeshifters, psychics, and magicians!
Can everyone get along long enough on or off the camera? :)
Oops.
Well, here I am and I'm back to say... it's fun! Not the best UF I've ever read, but for all you folks who like to see your favorite Werewolf Talk Show Host get invited onto a Reality TV show that then becomes an all-out classic horror/mystery with peeps dying off like supernatural fleas, then this is definitely the book for you.
Truly, it's light, fast, and fun. No major entanglements, but there are old bit-players from earlier novels who get some screen time. Some dead time, too. It's a whodoneit! With shapeshifters, psychics, and magicians!
Can everyone get along long enough on or off the camera? :)
January 12, 2011
I hate to say this, but Kitty's House of Horrors is a bunch of fluff shoved into a fuzzy teddy bear, wrapped in more fluff. In other words, there is absolutely no depth here. I understand that urban fantasy is not the most compelling and deep genre in existence, but I expect more than this. I love urban fantasy for the grit, realism, and character development. The Kitty series has become cheesy and silly. Kitty "tells it like it is" supposedly on her talk show, she is supposed to be a no nonsense type of girl, yet she never really comes off that way. She tries to take control in the reality TV show lodge presented in this book but it's just not believable. Ancient vampires and other powerful supernaturals are ready to take her lead, but to me she doesn't deserve their respect. She still seems like the submissive character from book one, even though she isn't being portrayed that way. I guess that is because I never really saw any progression. One second she is weak, two books later she is married and tough. I also don't think she has any room to talk giving her guests attitude and wanting to tell them to get a life, but I'll save that rant for another time.
Aside from lack of character development, this story is just too simplistic. Supernaturals go to a reality TV show, people start dying, it's obvious who is killing them, then the supernaturals hunt down the bad guys. That is it. Literally, that. is. it. I'm sorry but I'm sick of authors cranking out new books in a series that serve no purpose. I wish for once an author would plan the number of books in a series and plan what is to happen in each instead of going off on random unimportant tangents through 15+ books. This book is a complete waste of time. Nothing new is learned, there is no character progression, and if you read the jacket you've basically read the book. If you like fluff, love triangles, flimsy main characters, and unimportant storylines, then by all means read this.
I liked strong and confident Kitty from the first few books, not love triangle, married, boring Kitty from these last books. I should have stopped reading this series much earlier, so take my review with a grain of salt if you will. If you have enjoyed the more recent books in the series you may like this one, it's more of the same. I haven't liked the past few books, I really haven't liked many of the books since Ben came into the picture. Wedded bliss, a stable career, and urban fantasy don't seem to go well with each other. Adding another love interest just irritates me more if possible. If you are going with the happily married couple angle why add that in there...sigh. I'm sure there will be fighting and a war of supernaturals vs nonsupernaturals to come, but I honestly don't care about it in the slightest.
Aside from lack of character development, this story is just too simplistic. Supernaturals go to a reality TV show, people start dying, it's obvious who is killing them, then the supernaturals hunt down the bad guys. That is it. Literally, that. is. it. I'm sorry but I'm sick of authors cranking out new books in a series that serve no purpose. I wish for once an author would plan the number of books in a series and plan what is to happen in each instead of going off on random unimportant tangents through 15+ books. This book is a complete waste of time. Nothing new is learned, there is no character progression, and if you read the jacket you've basically read the book. If you like fluff, love triangles, flimsy main characters, and unimportant storylines, then by all means read this.
I liked strong and confident Kitty from the first few books, not love triangle, married, boring Kitty from these last books. I should have stopped reading this series much earlier, so take my review with a grain of salt if you will. If you have enjoyed the more recent books in the series you may like this one, it's more of the same. I haven't liked the past few books, I really haven't liked many of the books since Ben came into the picture. Wedded bliss, a stable career, and urban fantasy don't seem to go well with each other. Adding another love interest just irritates me more if possible. If you are going with the happily married couple angle why add that in there...sigh. I'm sure there will be fighting and a war of supernaturals vs nonsupernaturals to come, but I honestly don't care about it in the slightest.
January 14, 2011
Let me start off by saying I really liked this Kitty installment. Kitty's House of Horrors, book 7 in Carrie Vaughn's Kitty Norville series, kicks off with our heroine getting an invitation to appear on a reality show featuring well-known members of the supernatural community. About a dozen participants are shipped off to an unknown location to be filmed together for two weeks. We see a lot of familiar faces: Tina the psychic from
Kitty Raises Hell
; Grant the magician from
Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand
; Jeffrey the psychic from
Kitty Goes to Washington
, and Ariel the radio talk show host we heard about in
Kitty Takes a Holiday
. (Before I get too far into this, I have to say, I love it when old characters come back in play during a series. It's like a bonus for fans who have read all the books from the beginning.) We also have some new faces, with assorted vampires, shifters and one human skeptic that the supernatural folks are tasked with convincing that their gifts are real.
Some weird stuff starts happening and there is immediate tension between Grant and one of the vampires, Anastasia. Each thinks the other may be working with Roman, that really old, nefarious vamp we met in the last book. If you're not familiar with Roman, he is part of a vampire faction working what they call "the Long Game," which is a strategy for world domination. Anyway, the "weird" quickly becomes more serious as people start showing up dead. All the camera and production folks are gone; power is out; there are no phones and no escape.
The "house guests" start getting picked off one at a time as they scramble to figure out who is behind the attacks and how to escape.
It's tough for Kitty to be away from her pack and Ben... who is (at the same time) working to get Cormac released at his parole hearing.
reminded me of the "anything could happen" feel of early Kitty books. I also managed to feel tension, both at what was happening in the house with Kitty and wondering what was happening with Ben & Cormac.
This was classic Kitty Norville. Exciting. Unpredictable. 5 stars.
Some weird stuff starts happening and there is immediate tension between Grant and one of the vampires, Anastasia. Each thinks the other may be working with Roman, that really old, nefarious vamp we met in the last book. If you're not familiar with Roman, he is part of a vampire faction working what they call "the Long Game," which is a strategy for world domination. Anyway, the "weird" quickly becomes more serious as people start showing up dead. All the camera and production folks are gone; power is out; there are no phones and no escape.
The "house guests" start getting picked off one at a time as they scramble to figure out who is behind the attacks and how to escape.
It's tough for Kitty to be away from her pack and Ben... who is (at the same time) working to get Cormac released at his parole hearing.
reminded me of the "anything could happen" feel of early Kitty books. I also managed to feel tension, both at what was happening in the house with Kitty and wondering what was happening with Ben & Cormac.
This was classic Kitty Norville. Exciting. Unpredictable. 5 stars.
August 29, 2024
“This is a symptom. There’s a war coming. And people like us can’t hide from it if we’re exposed, dragged into public. Even five years ago the police never would have considered entertaining the story we told them tonight. But now they must.”After reading the blurb for Kitty’s House of Horrors and finding out our protagonist was going to take part in a version of Celebrity Big Brother: Supernatural Edition, its fair to say my hopes weren’t high. They were probably below sea level.
But House of Horrors proved me wrong. It took its time doing it, but once it got going — I was actually enjoying myself in a way I haven’t reading this series since Silver Bullet.
It’s a pity the story doesn’t play its hand sooner and get to the horrors at a decent pace. There’s a lot of build-up with Kitty meeting with producers for the show, considering it, going to the remote retreat and meeting up with the other housemates. This does give Vaughn an opportunity to bring back one-off characters from the series, but they end up just being fodder for the mounting body count.
Following the horror movie format, the first thirty to forty minutes are usually about getting to know our victims — running the gamut of sympathetic to can’t wait to see them impaled on a pike. Vaughn doesn’t do much with the first hundred pages of set-up and character introductions for even that much of an impression: once the bodies begin to pile up, the emotional punch or visceral satisfaction isn’t there and that does feel like a missed opportunity.
At the same time, this is the most action-heavy book in the entire series. However, I get why after reading the last hundred pages.
The idea of three men armed to the teeth hunting a group of supernaturals sounds rife with possibilities — possibilities Vaughn doesn’t even try to play with. Her lack of imagination most poorly reflects on the supernaturals. Two vampires, two psychics, a magician and three lycanthropes and all it takes is no phone service and a ring of silver surrounding the area to trap them.
Outside of the odd trap and rigged explosive, its just three guys aiming rifles from treetops and our band of supernaturals are perplexingly cowed and cornered at every turn.
With Kitty off in the middle of nowhere, Ben and the rest of Denver and its supernatural element are absent for the majority of the book. Due to that, Cormac’s parole hearing happens off-page. I’m actually not too fussed about that, although I wonder how Vaughn will handle the dynamic between them all now that he isn’t behind bars.
Other than a few references to Roman and some cliché undertones about there being a war coming, House of Horrors, like Dead Man’s Hand and Raises Hell, feels like filler. Entertaining filler, this time, but the story needs to move forward. Hopefully Cormac’s return bodes well for that.
October 23, 2014
Another fun romp. These books are all quick reads that are pure entertainment, nothing to think about. It was kind of fun, definitely engaging, & full of suspense. Vaughn does a great job with what she has, though. It's the perfect escape from a day fighting with computers & idiot users. I'm going to read the next, Kitty Goes to War!
February 10, 2010
Kitty meets Ten Little Indians. (Okay, not really, but it is quite close).
Do you want to read an Anita Blake smack down? Read the early part of chapter two. At least another UF author is willing to make fun of Blake.
Vaughn’s Kitty novels aren’t particularly deep. Her novels are short, quick reads. Fun reads that don’t take very long to finish, like a B movie that knows it is a B movie and embraces it, like Snakes on a Plane.
In this installment, Kitty meets a reality show that bites back, and out misnamed werewolf faces a fight for her life. Some of the plot points raise an eye brow or two. One has to wonder about background checks, for instance, but there are several things to like about this book.
The first good thing is the pacing. The book is under three hundred pages and moves briskly. Even the set-up section of the novel moves along, thanks to the humor.
The second good thing is that Vaughn is not frightened to kill her characters off. Not everyone makes it out alive, and of those who die, not all are walk ons.
The most important likable thing about this book, however, has to do with the women. It is wonderful to see women treating each other as equals, as friends, and talking about something other than men and clothes. Vaughn places such conversations prior to the fight for life, so it isn’t simply a question of timing. My complaint about some of the earlier Kitty novels was that Kitty seemed not have female friends, outside of her family. Vaughn seems to be starting to change that in this novel.
I also like the fact that Kitty is married, though I don’t quite buy the whole Ben romance thing. Very few authors are willing to keep moving the relationship along after marriage, and this makes a nice change. What is even better is the fact that Vaughn doesn’t feel it necessary to explain absolutely everything.
There is one problem, however. What is this obsession with vampire politics in UF? Geez. Every single time I pick an UF series, it always, sooner or later, morphs into vampires as the godfathers of the world.
Still, a fun read.
Do you want to read an Anita Blake smack down? Read the early part of chapter two. At least another UF author is willing to make fun of Blake.
Vaughn’s Kitty novels aren’t particularly deep. Her novels are short, quick reads. Fun reads that don’t take very long to finish, like a B movie that knows it is a B movie and embraces it, like Snakes on a Plane.
In this installment, Kitty meets a reality show that bites back, and out misnamed werewolf faces a fight for her life. Some of the plot points raise an eye brow or two. One has to wonder about background checks, for instance, but there are several things to like about this book.
The first good thing is the pacing. The book is under three hundred pages and moves briskly. Even the set-up section of the novel moves along, thanks to the humor.
The second good thing is that Vaughn is not frightened to kill her characters off. Not everyone makes it out alive, and of those who die, not all are walk ons.
The most important likable thing about this book, however, has to do with the women. It is wonderful to see women treating each other as equals, as friends, and talking about something other than men and clothes. Vaughn places such conversations prior to the fight for life, so it isn’t simply a question of timing. My complaint about some of the earlier Kitty novels was that Kitty seemed not have female friends, outside of her family. Vaughn seems to be starting to change that in this novel.
I also like the fact that Kitty is married, though I don’t quite buy the whole Ben romance thing. Very few authors are willing to keep moving the relationship along after marriage, and this makes a nice change. What is even better is the fact that Vaughn doesn’t feel it necessary to explain absolutely everything.
There is one problem, however. What is this obsession with vampire politics in UF? Geez. Every single time I pick an UF series, it always, sooner or later, morphs into vampires as the godfathers of the world.
Still, a fun read.
July 29, 2010
I really like the direction Carrie Vaughn is taking the Kitty Norville series. She does a really good job of tapping into pop culture and dragging it into her novels. In Kitty's House of Horrors, she uses the phenomenon of reality TV shows that throw celebrities together to live in a house for a few weeks. Things start off pretty well when Kitty and a dozen other members of the paranormal community begin their stint on reality TV. However, things go south quickly and people die. It's a well-done twist on the classic trope established by Agatha Christie in And Then There Were None.
As usual with the Kitty Norville books, Kitty's House of Horrors is a very quick read. That's part of what makes it fun.
As usual with the Kitty Norville books, Kitty's House of Horrors is a very quick read. That's part of what makes it fun.
March 21, 2015
Holy cow was that dark! I think this may be my second favorite book in the series. I mean, almost everyone dies, but it still was so good.
Sadly i'm going to put these down until the last book comes out later in the year. I read half now and I'll read the next half starting the first week in August. I cannot wait! I'm so fucking happy I found an UF series to be obsessed with.
Sadly i'm going to put these down until the last book comes out later in the year. I read half now and I'll read the next half starting the first week in August. I cannot wait! I'm so fucking happy I found an UF series to be obsessed with.
July 13, 2014
This book was a return to form after the last two not-so-great books. The action and tension were amazing. It was like watching the movie Scream for the first time - you didn't know who was going to live and who was going to die a horrible death. There was panic, nobleness, cowardice, heroism and sacrifice. Love, hate, life and death. The isolation was lonely, the horror terrifying.
I felt the first death as much as Kitty, it was shocking and saddening. We were just getting to like his character. I felt the same with the last death, that was almost too much. Another character's happiness died with him.
Kitty kept it together surprisingly well under that kind of pressure and applauded when she lost control of wolf and ripped one of the killers a new one. Grant's self control was superhuman though I'm glad he managed to show some emotion when he very nearly almost saved someone but they died anyway - that was devastating but he managed to carry on.
I'm glad Conrad wasn't one of the murderers, his attitude convinced me he would be a monster-hater, it would have been too obvious. I didn't understand why the humans among them were lured there, I can understand killing them to leave no witnesses but why bring them there in the first place? Was it because they were monster-lovers?
The survivor club that was formed in the aftermath was understandable, it was a terrible thing to go through, they'd need support from one another and know that it really did happen and wasn't just a dream/nightmare.
We have our story arc now with Roman and the Long Game. Grant and Anastasia's suspicion of one another and then becoming allies with Kitty was interesting. I wonder what will happen with that. Kitty isn't a major player but somehow she's managed to get herself involved.
Cormac is back. I love his character. He kept Kitty alive without knowing it, his advice, his way of life kept her going, kept the others alive. No matter how guilty he may or may not feel or how many years he was punished in prison for killing many supernaturals, it's kept others alive in this instance, its karmic. I look forward to seeing what trouble he's managed to get himself into in prison and how much it's changed him, if at all.
Kitty continues to grow and experience the highs and lows that life throws at her and deals with them with surprising strength.
I felt the first death as much as Kitty, it was shocking and saddening. We were just getting to like his character. I felt the same with the last death, that was almost too much. Another character's happiness died with him.
Kitty kept it together surprisingly well under that kind of pressure and applauded when she lost control of wolf and ripped one of the killers a new one. Grant's self control was superhuman though I'm glad he managed to show some emotion when he very nearly almost saved someone but they died anyway - that was devastating but he managed to carry on.
I'm glad Conrad wasn't one of the murderers, his attitude convinced me he would be a monster-hater, it would have been too obvious. I didn't understand why the humans among them were lured there, I can understand killing them to leave no witnesses but why bring them there in the first place? Was it because they were monster-lovers?
The survivor club that was formed in the aftermath was understandable, it was a terrible thing to go through, they'd need support from one another and know that it really did happen and wasn't just a dream/nightmare.
We have our story arc now with Roman and the Long Game. Grant and Anastasia's suspicion of one another and then becoming allies with Kitty was interesting. I wonder what will happen with that. Kitty isn't a major player but somehow she's managed to get herself involved.
Cormac is back. I love his character. He kept Kitty alive without knowing it, his advice, his way of life kept her going, kept the others alive. No matter how guilty he may or may not feel or how many years he was punished in prison for killing many supernaturals, it's kept others alive in this instance, its karmic. I look forward to seeing what trouble he's managed to get himself into in prison and how much it's changed him, if at all.
Kitty continues to grow and experience the highs and lows that life throws at her and deals with them with surprising strength.
June 13, 2012
Once upon a time, when the dinosaurs (and my parents) roamed the earth, series weren't popular. Every once in awhile you'd get a trilogy, like The Lord of the Rings, but most titles were standalone. Now that everybody and their dog write series, certain qualities make authors stand out from the pack. I like Carrie Vaughn because she does things that I don't expect. But what I really respect her for after finishing KITTY'S HOUSE OF HORRORS is her pacing.
The fifth and sixth books of the series (KITTY AND THE DEAD MAN'S HAND, KITTY RAISES HELL) were the first too have a truly interweaving plot. Vaughn has been sowing the seeds of an overarching conspiracy, but first she takes the time for another standalone adventure that appeals to knew readers even as it rewards those who are caught up on Kitty's adventures.
Kitty is invited to participate in a reality show with various other paranormal celebrities. Then the participants begin to die. And boy howdy, does KITTY'S HOUSE OF HORRORS have a body count. Kitty Norville 7 is on level with HP7 for characters death. Some of the people at risk are new characters, and Vaughn does well making them sympathetic quickly. But many at risk are triumphantly returning secondary characters, including two of my favorites: Jeffrey from KITTY GOES TO WASHINGTON and Ariel from KITTY TAKES A HOLIDAY. It both ups the suspense and makes the deaths more meaningful.
In addition, being part of the show separates Kitty from Ben. It's nice to see her on her own again, though I think their relationship is wonderful. It's also a breather from the relationship antics that will be back in full force in Kitty Norvill 8, considering that Cormac is up for parole and he and Kitty have some sexual tension to work out.
KITTY'S HOUSE OF HORRORS was a good breather from the one-two punch of KITTY AND THE DEAD MAN'S HAND and KITTY RAISES HELL. Vaughn put new characters into play and removed some old ones permanently in an exciting, if sometimes heartbreaking, way. I'm eager for the next book, but I feel like KITTY'S HOUSE OF HORRORS was far better than most breather books. (I did miss the radio show. I always love the really weird calls.)
The fifth and sixth books of the series (KITTY AND THE DEAD MAN'S HAND, KITTY RAISES HELL) were the first too have a truly interweaving plot. Vaughn has been sowing the seeds of an overarching conspiracy, but first she takes the time for another standalone adventure that appeals to knew readers even as it rewards those who are caught up on Kitty's adventures.
Kitty is invited to participate in a reality show with various other paranormal celebrities. Then the participants begin to die. And boy howdy, does KITTY'S HOUSE OF HORRORS have a body count. Kitty Norville 7 is on level with HP7 for characters death. Some of the people at risk are new characters, and Vaughn does well making them sympathetic quickly. But many at risk are triumphantly returning secondary characters, including two of my favorites: Jeffrey from KITTY GOES TO WASHINGTON and Ariel from KITTY TAKES A HOLIDAY. It both ups the suspense and makes the deaths more meaningful.
In addition, being part of the show separates Kitty from Ben. It's nice to see her on her own again, though I think their relationship is wonderful. It's also a breather from the relationship antics that will be back in full force in Kitty Norvill 8, considering that Cormac is up for parole and he and Kitty have some sexual tension to work out.
KITTY'S HOUSE OF HORRORS was a good breather from the one-two punch of KITTY AND THE DEAD MAN'S HAND and KITTY RAISES HELL. Vaughn put new characters into play and removed some old ones permanently in an exciting, if sometimes heartbreaking, way. I'm eager for the next book, but I feel like KITTY'S HOUSE OF HORRORS was far better than most breather books. (I did miss the radio show. I always love the really weird calls.)
December 29, 2009
Kitty's House of Horrors is the seventh installment in the Kitty Norville Series by Carrie Vaughn.The Kitty Norville series is one of my favorite werewolf series so far and each book seems to top the next. Saying that Kitty's House of Horrors did NOT disappoint. Actually, I think it's my favorite book in the series yet. I knew I was going to like it, but I wasn't sure what to expect with the reality show theme to it. But it wasn't no ordinary reality show Kitty was involved in. The cast of the show was to contain all supernatural beings, with the exception of one sceptically non supernatural author who they hoped to 'open his mind' more thoroughly. And with them being Supernatural the drama wasn't it's usual relationship and attention seeking type, it was filled with supernatural tention and death. I personally thought it was a brilliant idea. It kind of had the Hunger games feel to it. And being a HUGE fan of the Hunger Games series, I was hooked. When you added Kitty and her friends along with it, it made it super fun and exciting to read. I was happy to have Odysseus Grant a strong role in this book, I find his character mysterious and adds a twist. He's becoming a favorite of mine. Also, having Kitty's ghost hunter friend Tina along was fun! The cast in this book is put together great, and your in some major twists, emotion and surprises throughout the book. I cannot wait for the next book! I'd give this a 6 out of 5 if I could!
January 9, 2010
I was hesitant to read this book because I felt like I was getting Kitty-ied out but I'm glad I did. I don't know if it's because there wasn't much Ben or if the story line just really grabbed me this time but I didn't want to stop reading. Not only was Kitty participating in this reality show but we also saw some of my favorite characters back like Odysseus Grant, Jeffrey-the TV psychic, Ariel-Kitty's fellow radio personality and Tina the paranormal investigator who has her own psychic talents. From reading the book blurb I was dying to know which characters would make it through and which ones would end up being killed. I liked them all so I was really biting my nails. It truly was like watching a horror movie and wondering who would be the next to go.
We also saw a few more moves in the Long Game that the vampires have had going on as Kitty meets another ancient vampire. And the best part and I hope this doesn't ruin anything for anyone but Cormac is finally going to be paroled! I cannot wait to see where this goes. I really would like to see Kitty and Cormac together but unless Ben dies I really don't see how that could happen.
If you want to find out who makes it out of the house of horrors you definitely need to pick this one up!
We also saw a few more moves in the Long Game that the vampires have had going on as Kitty meets another ancient vampire. And the best part and I hope this doesn't ruin anything for anyone but Cormac is finally going to be paroled! I cannot wait to see where this goes. I really would like to see Kitty and Cormac together but unless Ben dies I really don't see how that could happen.
If you want to find out who makes it out of the house of horrors you definitely need to pick this one up!
October 12, 2014
This book was classic Kitty, she manages to get herself in a goofy situation and then has to figure a way out. I loved the idea of a reality show with all supernatural characters, and what I liked even more was a lot of these characters were ones from previous books that now we got to know more in depth.
The first part where they are all settling in for the show was funny because I could totally see Kitty bopping around the cabin talking to everyone as her curiosity gets the better of her. It seemed like for the most part they all were getting along plotting on how to convince the one skeptic in the group to believe. But once the shit hits the fan things changed fast going from a fun time in the woods to the titled house of horrors. With quick thinking and pretending she was Cormac, Kitty was able to keep things together and find a way to fight back. Passing on the ideas she learned the group banded together and did the best they could on their own, with help coming from a trusted source at the end.
Another great book where Kitty continues to step up to the plate, making you wonder what is in store for her next.
The first part where they are all settling in for the show was funny because I could totally see Kitty bopping around the cabin talking to everyone as her curiosity gets the better of her. It seemed like for the most part they all were getting along plotting on how to convince the one skeptic in the group to believe. But once the shit hits the fan things changed fast going from a fun time in the woods to the titled house of horrors. With quick thinking and pretending she was Cormac, Kitty was able to keep things together and find a way to fight back. Passing on the ideas she learned the group banded together and did the best they could on their own, with help coming from a trusted source at the end.
Another great book where Kitty continues to step up to the plate, making you wonder what is in store for her next.
August 24, 2010
When I first looked at the blurb for this one, I cringed. I hate reality shows, especially "Survivor" style reality shows. But this turned out to be much more engagingly that I was expecting. It helped that we got to see the return of a lot of magic/paranormal individuals Kitty has acquainted herself with over the last 6 books.
The "show" itself was a bunch of magical or paranormal individuals trying to convince the consummate skeptic that this is all real. The twist being the producers are gun carrying ultra-conservative Christians out to get rid of the spawns of Satan, along with the atheist skeptic. I can't remember what tv show had the ultimate "hunting man" thing first, but that's what this is, with the paranormal twist.
Have the tissues handy, because the good guys don't escape unscathed. Great addition to the series.
The "show" itself was a bunch of magical or paranormal individuals trying to convince the consummate skeptic that this is all real. The twist being the producers are gun carrying ultra-conservative Christians out to get rid of the spawns of Satan, along with the atheist skeptic. I can't remember what tv show had the ultimate "hunting man" thing first, but that's what this is, with the paranormal twist.
Have the tissues handy, because the good guys don't escape unscathed. Great addition to the series.
February 3, 2010
Do you hear that? That's my giant sigh of relief! This book has restored my faith in the Kitty Norville series. The past two books were rather atrocious, and this one thankfully, has returned the reader to the times when Kitty was bad ass and the plots made sense.
This was sort of reminiscent of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, of course this one had supernatural creatures and a mouthy radio DJ. I was a little sad that Cormac still had no real appearance, but I'm still hopeful to see him in the next installment.
I hope Vaughn continues on this path of fabulousness and has gotten over whatever brought her to create books 5 and 6.
This was sort of reminiscent of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, of course this one had supernatural creatures and a mouthy radio DJ. I was a little sad that Cormac still had no real appearance, but I'm still hopeful to see him in the next installment.
I hope Vaughn continues on this path of fabulousness and has gotten over whatever brought her to create books 5 and 6.
November 23, 2015
Another fun read from Carrie Vaughn. This one could be the best of the series so far. The fantastic reality television idea is what drew me to Carrie's writing in the first place, with her work on the Wild Cards series.
It might have even helped Kitty and company out there in Montana if they'd have had Curveball on their team.
It might have even helped Kitty and company out there in Montana if they'd have had Curveball on their team.
February 7, 2017
This is by far the darkest yet of the Kitty books, but that tension made it read all the faster. Kitty agrees to participate in a reality show about supernaturals being filmed in the deep mountain wilderness. What could possibly go wrong? It's a fast romp as the situation escalates quickly. I needed a easy, escapist read, and this book was just about perfect.
July 4, 2017
Another fun entry in the Kitty Norville urban fantasy series. This time Kitty gets talked into becoming part of a reality TV show where a bunch of supernatural celebrities (werewolves, vampires, etc. and even a were-seal) are put into a house along with a skeptic. In this universe, such supernatural beings have only recently been "out" and there are still plenty of skeptical non-believers out there. It's all filmed, of course, to allow viewers to see how theses strange beings live among each other and react to various planned events.
Naturally, things go bad and the horror of the situation becomes real, forcing Kitty and her new friends to fight to the death in order to survive. Just who's behind it all is a bit of a mystery for a while but makes for a good overall story.
Naturally, things go bad and the horror of the situation becomes real, forcing Kitty and her new friends to fight to the death in order to survive. Just who's behind it all is a bit of a mystery for a while but makes for a good overall story.
December 14, 2021
3.75 All Grant stars
I'm still enjoying this series for the most part, but its more due to the supporting characters in this one. Still feel like Ben is the consolation prize, but I can't help but like him. And once again, Grant stole the show.
I'm still enjoying this series for the most part, but its more due to the supporting characters in this one. Still feel like Ben is the consolation prize, but I can't help but like him. And once again, Grant stole the show.
July 8, 2020
Notes:
Action packed & still ridiculous plot.
Action packed & still ridiculous plot.
November 21, 2012
Seventh in the Kitty Norville urban fantasy series about a radio talkshow host and werewolf in Denver. This particular story takes place in Montana.
My Take
You know the reality show is gonna have a glitch, but it's oh, so much more than I would have expected! It'll make you cry. Especially with all the set-up for this reality show and the games the producers play, the hoops they want the participants to jump through. The ugly truth of why.
All the paranoia at the beginning was rather annoying, although as events progressed, it seemed downright understated!
Vaughn really does this well. It starts out so beautifully that I want to take up residence in that cabin surrounded by nature. When I finished reading this, my first thought was how useful a hate bomb would be. Except I had to figure that I'd be one of the victims since I hate people who can't tolerate others. Hmmm, how intolerant of me!
About the only positive is Garrett. Well, and Cormac. Although, I can certainly see where Vaughn is setting us up for new problems. Ah, well, it wouldn't be a Kitty story without 'em...
The Story
A reality show? It takes a bit to talk Kitty into doing this, but she can understand the value involved. Educating America about supernaturals. It won't hurt her show either.
Besides, it'll give Kitty a chance to visit with friends and make new ones. Until everything goes to hell, literally.
The Characters
Kitty Norville, who hosts a weekly radio show about the supernatural, and her lawyer/husband/fellow werewolf, Ben O'Farrell, are about to take a vacation from each other. Kitty to explore two weeks with another group of high-powered supernaturals and Ben to ensure that Cormac's parole hearing goes well (see Kitty Takes a Holiday ). Ozzie is KNOB's manager and handles the legal stuff while Matt is her engineer.
Kitty's fellow show participants include:
Jerome Macy is a boxer-turned-wrestler when his lycanthropy was exposed. Tina McCannon from Paradox PI (we met her in Kitty Raises Hell ) is a psychic with automatic writing skills. Jeffrey Miles is a TV psychic we met in Kitty Goes to Washington while we met Odysseus Grant, the magician, in Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand . Ariel, Priestess of the Night, hosts a radio show similar to Kitty's. Lee Ponatac is a were-seal and a state legislator from Alaska. Conrad Garrett is an author who has made it his mission in life to debunk supernatural claims. Anastasia and Gemma are vampires while Dorian is their cabana boy.
The show's producers include:
Joey Provost, Ron Valenti, and Eli Cabe are handling the technical work. Skip, Amy, and Gordon are production assistants.
The Cover
The cover is a very textured pinkish purple sky with a vague full moon, Ben as his wolf snarling out at us, and a cocky Kitty posed full-on in her hip-hugging blue jeans and eggplant corset top.
The title is a bit inclusive as Kitty's House of Horrors encompasses more than just Kitty.
My Take
You know the reality show is gonna have a glitch, but it's oh, so much more than I would have expected! It'll make you cry. Especially with all the set-up for this reality show and the games the producers play, the hoops they want the participants to jump through. The ugly truth of why.
All the paranoia at the beginning was rather annoying, although as events progressed, it seemed downright understated!
Vaughn really does this well. It starts out so beautifully that I want to take up residence in that cabin surrounded by nature. When I finished reading this, my first thought was how useful a hate bomb would be. Except I had to figure that I'd be one of the victims since I hate people who can't tolerate others. Hmmm, how intolerant of me!
About the only positive is Garrett. Well, and Cormac. Although, I can certainly see where Vaughn is setting us up for new problems. Ah, well, it wouldn't be a Kitty story without 'em...
The Story
A reality show? It takes a bit to talk Kitty into doing this, but she can understand the value involved. Educating America about supernaturals. It won't hurt her show either.
Besides, it'll give Kitty a chance to visit with friends and make new ones. Until everything goes to hell, literally.
The Characters
Kitty Norville, who hosts a weekly radio show about the supernatural, and her lawyer/husband/fellow werewolf, Ben O'Farrell, are about to take a vacation from each other. Kitty to explore two weeks with another group of high-powered supernaturals and Ben to ensure that Cormac's parole hearing goes well (see Kitty Takes a Holiday ). Ozzie is KNOB's manager and handles the legal stuff while Matt is her engineer.
Kitty's fellow show participants include:
Jerome Macy is a boxer-turned-wrestler when his lycanthropy was exposed. Tina McCannon from Paradox PI (we met her in Kitty Raises Hell ) is a psychic with automatic writing skills. Jeffrey Miles is a TV psychic we met in Kitty Goes to Washington while we met Odysseus Grant, the magician, in Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand . Ariel, Priestess of the Night, hosts a radio show similar to Kitty's. Lee Ponatac is a were-seal and a state legislator from Alaska. Conrad Garrett is an author who has made it his mission in life to debunk supernatural claims. Anastasia and Gemma are vampires while Dorian is their cabana boy.
The show's producers include:
Joey Provost, Ron Valenti, and Eli Cabe are handling the technical work. Skip, Amy, and Gordon are production assistants.
The Cover
The cover is a very textured pinkish purple sky with a vague full moon, Ben as his wolf snarling out at us, and a cocky Kitty posed full-on in her hip-hugging blue jeans and eggplant corset top.
The title is a bit inclusive as Kitty's House of Horrors encompasses more than just Kitty.
April 25, 2010
This review refers to the audio version.
#7 Kitty Norville series, featuring werewolf Kitty who hosts a late-night talk show called The Midnight Hour. Kitty is approached by the producers of a bunch of cheesy reality shows who invite her to join the cast of a new reality show featuring all "Supernatural" guests--lycanthropes, vampires, psychics, magicians and other odd types. Kitty balks until they mention some folks she's met previously and liked who are already on board.
The cast of the show will be whisked away to an isolated lodge in the mountains of Montana, alone but for the production crew who will be filming almost all of their interactions. Of course Kitty realizes they're hoping for something juicy, like an on-camera shapeshift to boost their ratings, so does whatever she can to keep the participants--some of whom aren't all that fond of one another--on an even keel. That is until all hell breaks loose one morning when Kitty finds one of the vampire Anastasia's human minions dead--an apparent accident involving a faulty deck railing until further investigation shows it was tampered with.
The power is out, and there is no cell phone reception, so Kitty and Odysseus Grant head to the small plane that brought them in, only to find the radio smashed with three of the production crew brutally murdered and stuffed inside. Soon it's evident that someone is hunting them, but who? Does the powerful vampire Roman have his finger on the control button, or is it a band of paranormal bounty hunters determined to wipe the supernatural creatures off the face of the earth?
I really enjoy this series, but this is my least favorite so far, for a couple of reasons. First, I like Kitty and the whole idea that she would have anything at all to do with a reality show really ticks me off. I guess I just can't quite imagine her doing such a thing. The story itself wasn't bad once it got going. But secondly, this is the first audio book I've listened to of this series and I really did not care for the reader. The whole tone of the storytelling just didn't seem "right" to me, and her voices were terrible--all the men sounded alike and all the women sounded alike, with minor variations. Just really, not very good at all--I will definitely stick to reading the print versions from here on out, and most of the lowered grade comes from the poor audio performance.
#7 Kitty Norville series, featuring werewolf Kitty who hosts a late-night talk show called The Midnight Hour. Kitty is approached by the producers of a bunch of cheesy reality shows who invite her to join the cast of a new reality show featuring all "Supernatural" guests--lycanthropes, vampires, psychics, magicians and other odd types. Kitty balks until they mention some folks she's met previously and liked who are already on board.
The cast of the show will be whisked away to an isolated lodge in the mountains of Montana, alone but for the production crew who will be filming almost all of their interactions. Of course Kitty realizes they're hoping for something juicy, like an on-camera shapeshift to boost their ratings, so does whatever she can to keep the participants--some of whom aren't all that fond of one another--on an even keel. That is until all hell breaks loose one morning when Kitty finds one of the vampire Anastasia's human minions dead--an apparent accident involving a faulty deck railing until further investigation shows it was tampered with.
The power is out, and there is no cell phone reception, so Kitty and Odysseus Grant head to the small plane that brought them in, only to find the radio smashed with three of the production crew brutally murdered and stuffed inside. Soon it's evident that someone is hunting them, but who? Does the powerful vampire Roman have his finger on the control button, or is it a band of paranormal bounty hunters determined to wipe the supernatural creatures off the face of the earth?
I really enjoy this series, but this is my least favorite so far, for a couple of reasons. First, I like Kitty and the whole idea that she would have anything at all to do with a reality show really ticks me off. I guess I just can't quite imagine her doing such a thing. The story itself wasn't bad once it got going. But secondly, this is the first audio book I've listened to of this series and I really did not care for the reader. The whole tone of the storytelling just didn't seem "right" to me, and her voices were terrible--all the men sounded alike and all the women sounded alike, with minor variations. Just really, not very good at all--I will definitely stick to reading the print versions from here on out, and most of the lowered grade comes from the poor audio performance.
January 6, 2010
Ladies and gentlemen, Carrie Vaughn is back. I must admit I was a bit weary of this book, the last two installments were mediocre at best (if you intend to read the series I advise you skip books 5 & 6), the plot hectic. But Kitty's House of Horrors is nothing like that. There's tension, the pacing is perfect, the dialogues snappy. The premise is simple and something that's been done before, but that's not necessarily a wrong thing. Vaughn takes the standard horror movie formula and works it to the bone. There's not one dull moment. Bodies left and right. And in between you get the famous Kitty smackdowns, you know, where she engages unsuspecting victim interview guest just to pounce on him/her at the very first chance. Overall it was a highly entertaining read. The one weakness: the bad guys weren't scary enough for my taste, but I guess that's more a personal preference than an inherent flaw.
And then there's the epilogue. Make sure you read it, if you like me have been following the series from the very beginning, and are still rooting for Cormack after all this time, then the last few extra pages will really make you look forward to the next book.
And then there's the epilogue. Make sure you read it, if you like me have been following the series from the very beginning, and are still rooting for Cormack after all this time, then the last few extra pages will really make you look forward to the next book.
August 3, 2012
I'd have to say this was one of my favorite Kitty novels. In this one we find ourselves with Kitty on a mountain retreat filming a reality tv show. A host of paranormal advocates and creatures gather to convince on hardened sceptic that they exist. However, we know Kitty so it doesn't surprise any of us that this is more than it seems.
It's a story that reminds me of The Most Dangerous Game in where humans were considered the ultimate prey. Now consider humans with supernatural abilities all gathered in one spot. This book was very much on the edge of the seat kind of reading. You didn't know how it would turn out nor who was in on the conspiracy. Even when all the players are accounted for and sides specifically drawn, you still were wondering who would get out of there alive. Not all make it and it is also heart wrenching to say the least. This is a great addition to this UF series. I give this book 4 1/2 stars. I can't wait for the next.
It's a story that reminds me of The Most Dangerous Game in where humans were considered the ultimate prey. Now consider humans with supernatural abilities all gathered in one spot. This book was very much on the edge of the seat kind of reading. You didn't know how it would turn out nor who was in on the conspiracy. Even when all the players are accounted for and sides specifically drawn, you still were wondering who would get out of there alive. Not all make it and it is also heart wrenching to say the least. This is a great addition to this UF series. I give this book 4 1/2 stars. I can't wait for the next.
January 15, 2010
Carrie Vaughn doesn't disappoint. The latest installment of the Kitty Norville series has our plucky werewolf/late-night DJ on a reality show for monsters. It's fast paced, funny, and scarey all at the same time. It was a bit shocking in that characters we've seen before ended up dead--I wasn't expecting that. I was expecting all the new characters, or at least most of them, to end up dead, with our favorites from prior books surviving. I will be looking forward to the next book in the series. Like Jim Butcher, Ms Vaughn hasn't written a book in the set yet that wasn't worth reading.
January 24, 2010
Kitty isn't your average radio host, she's a werewolf. She's about to appear on the very first supernatural reality show. She thinks it's going to be easy as pie and somewhat scripted. Her and the other contestants arrive at a lodge and soon it becomes clear that the reality show may be a cover for something heinous. Kitty had no idea that she had signed up for something that might end in her death.
Kitty is my hero. She's such a kick-ass character and I never tire of her fighting ability. I look forward to more of this series.
Kitty is my hero. She's such a kick-ass character and I never tire of her fighting ability. I look forward to more of this series.
March 26, 2010
Probably one of the darkest Kitty books to date. Kitty thinks she is going to participate in a reality tv show stunt, only to find herself trapped in a mountain resort with other well-know members of the supernatural community -- and someone is trying to kill them.
I have been impressed with how consistent the quality of the writing in the series has been, even as the author manages to introduce new characters and a significant amount of character development. The Kitty series still remains a good read for those looking for a strong urban fantasy series.
I have been impressed with how consistent the quality of the writing in the series has been, even as the author manages to introduce new characters and a significant amount of character development. The Kitty series still remains a good read for those looking for a strong urban fantasy series.
May 26, 2010
Welcome to Real World Montana..were people start getting hunted and killed.
This is the 7th book in the Kitty Norville series. Kitty is asked to do a show with other paranormal houseguest. Friends from the other 6 books join Kitty with new characters for an experience they will never forget.
I really enjoyed this book. The two before this book were borning, but this brought the fast pace craziness I love in the Kitty series. I was sad to see some of the former and new characters killed. I really loved the idea behind the plot. I can not wait for the next book, one word: Cormac!
This is the 7th book in the Kitty Norville series. Kitty is asked to do a show with other paranormal houseguest. Friends from the other 6 books join Kitty with new characters for an experience they will never forget.
I really enjoyed this book. The two before this book were borning, but this brought the fast pace craziness I love in the Kitty series. I was sad to see some of the former and new characters killed. I really loved the idea behind the plot. I can not wait for the next book, one word: Cormac!
April 12, 2011
Monsters come in all forms, and those that where a "non-monster" form are often the worst.
Kitty somewhat reluctantly agrees to do a reality show that reunites her (and us) with some of the interesting characters from previous installments of her tale. Vaughn provides foreshadowing of the battle to come, and keeps the pace flowing and tension building until the finale. That finale will also make you eager to grab the next story in the series.
The characters are solid, and Kitty has her usual charm and frankness. Overall, a very satisfying read!
Kitty somewhat reluctantly agrees to do a reality show that reunites her (and us) with some of the interesting characters from previous installments of her tale. Vaughn provides foreshadowing of the battle to come, and keeps the pace flowing and tension building until the finale. That finale will also make you eager to grab the next story in the series.
The characters are solid, and Kitty has her usual charm and frankness. Overall, a very satisfying read!
December 30, 2009
Loved. It. I don't even know how to review it, other than to say it was super fast paced, had lots of gore and guts (it was weirdly fun to think not one person was safe, who's next?!), it had sweet Kitty and Ben moments - my FAVORITE parts and would have loved to have had more, but even little bits with them are sweet and perfect and the ending with her "pack" was when I finally took a breath. As usual, can't wait for the next book!
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