Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress, #1) in Nothing But Reading Challenges

Jun 23, 2012 Kelly (Maybedog) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: where-grr-mine, what-modern-fantasy, what-vampires

I don't have a lot to say about this because there isn't anything to pick apart; this will be half a review. I was initially hesitant to even pick up the book because I am so tired of vampire stories. I heard good things about this one, but at one point I had it home from the library and it didn't look that interesting. I had too many books so I sent it back. It was only after seeing even more good things about it that I went back and looked at it again. I am so glad I did as the book was so goo I don't have a lot to say about this because there isn't anything to pick apart; this will be half a review. I was initially hesitant to even pick up the book because I am so tired of vampire stories. I heard good things about this one, but at one point I had it home from the library and it didn't look that interesting. I had too many books so I sent it back. It was only after seeing even more good things about it that I went back and looked at it again. I am so glad I did as the book was so good I couldn't put it down.

It has everything I look for in an urban fantasy: lots of action, lots of peril, a strong heroine who saves the day a lot, a gorgeous and kind leading man who is wonderful. He is dangerous to bad guys but not at all scary around her. He's protective, but she puts him in his place when he is being too much so. She doesn't allow him to baby her. He's not dark and brooding, he's easy going and in good humor most if the time! It's a believable world and the vampire mythos is interesting in that there is one. There's even a creation story versus an evolutionary one about how vampires came into existence.

The heroine is hot, but she dresses like a normal person most of the time and isn't lusting after spiked heels as she's running for her life. She is untrained to begin with, but before she is really taken seriously as a vampire hunter, she trains and trains and trains. That is so refreshing. She is believably capable of going after them. More than once I thought of Buffy. The vampires don't just fall into her lap either--there is a lot of sleuthing and trial and error before she and the hero get their vamp.

I like that the mom is neither good nor bad, that she is both. I also love that the heroine is blind to the bad in her mother as is sadly realistic for a daughter. I love that vampires aren't all black and white either. Relationships in general are great in the book, and the love story is perfect. I really like that although she's young and does stupid things, he is mature and doesn't play mind games back. And best of all, I can actually understand why an old vampire would fall in love with her.

So the story was perfect for me, and I am already requesting the next one from the library. I highly recommend this book even if you are sick of Twilight-esque vampire stories. It's that good.

Hunh. I did have a lot to say after all. ...more

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Oct 10, 2009 Gaijinmama rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction, favorites

This book should come with a warning label: do not read while driving, operating heavy machinery, or on a ten minute break at work! Seriously. When our heroine and her gorgeous vampire beau finally have their big consummation, I was between classes and practically needed a defibrillator before I could face my second-period students.

In fact, that was a problem. Cat and Bones are very endearing, and their passion for each other is contagious. To be blunt (and I usually am!) I wanted a few more Goo ...more

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Apr 28, 2010 Lauren⁷ 💜 rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, fantasy-sci-fi-romance-romantasy, romance, best-books-read-in-2010, hot-hunky-hero, sexy-sexy-sexy, shelfari-favorites, book-boyfriends

After reading the second book in this series first and utterly loving it, I just had to read the others. So I bought this, and it did not disappoint at all. This book is the perfect mix of Humor, Romance and Action. There's not too much of one or the other. I'll start with the humor. Cat has some of the best one liners and comebacks I've ever come across. I mean, Worm Food? Telling a creep that accosts her that she hopes worms crap on his corpse. Van Helsing wannabe? I laughed so hard when I was After reading the second book in this series first and utterly loving it, I just had to read the others. So I bought this, and it did not disappoint at all. This book is the perfect mix of Humor, Romance and Action. There's not too much of one or the other. I'll start with the humor. Cat has some of the best one liners and comebacks I've ever come across. I mean, Worm Food? Telling a creep that accosts her that she hopes worms crap on his corpse. Van Helsing wannabe? I laughed so hard when I was reading this I had tears coming out of my eyes. The humor is just some of the best in the genre. Onto the romance. The romance was my hands down favorite part of the book. When it comes to heroes in an Urban Fantasy book, Bones is a refreshing change. I have read quite a bit of Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance and one thing that all heroes tend to have in common is that they show no emotion. Basically little short of a nuclear bomb going off in front of their face will make them betray any emotion. Usually because they're really damaged/tortured in some way or other. And while Bones does have some issues, he's not all broody and miserable. And it was refreshing to see him admit his love for Cat fairly early in the book, and keep telling her that he loved her and accepted her no matter what. Usually the hero will admit to himself that he may love the heroine somewhere around the middle of the book, and then spend a good deal of the remainder of the book denying it, until he finally tells her within the last few pages of the book. So I loved that not only did he admit his feelings for her fairly early in the book, but further told her that he'd basically loved her since he first captured her and she was so defiant and brave to him. And he also opened up to her about a pretty painful part of his past, yet another thing that heroes in Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance aren't so inclined to do. Basically they have this whole show-no-weakness-or-pain or she won't love/accept me thing going on or if I admit said weakness or pain, she'll see me as less of a man. And yet another thing that was refreshing is the fact that Bones is romantic, he does sweet little things for Cat and has a really sweet and tender side, that again a lot of Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance heroes either don't really seem to have or it's buried pretty deep. Bones was just all around refreshing as an Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance hero, and goes down as one of my most favorite vampires ever. And when Cat finally tells Bones that she loves him, it just made me sigh, it was so sweet. As for the action, that was just great too. Bones tells you about strengths vamps have (many) and it is just so cool all the things they can do. Jeaniene really brings the action scenes to life, in a way it's like watching a movie, she writes them so vividly. And Cat kicks some serious butt, I love how tough and smart she is. The plot for the action itself was superb, although a little on the creepy side. My sole and only complaint is the ending, but having read book two already, i of course know that Cat and Bones end up back together and all's well. So it's not that much of a complaint, and she doesn't do it to hurt Bones or because she's scared of loving him. She's doing it to keep him safe. In conclusion, this is very well worth reading and if you haven't read this, you're missing out. ...more

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May 08, 2012 Carrie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: vampire, humor, urban-fantasy, part-of-a-series, favorites, ghost, 1st-in-a-series, supernatural, undercover, you-want-me-to-read-what

I can't not even begin to say about much I love this book. Amazing, fantastic. Bones and Cat are now one of my new favorite pairings. Sexy, kick ass duo. Love it. ...more

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Jan 28, 2010 Christina T rated it it was amazing

Shelves: urban-fantasy, 5-stars, 1-in-the-series, 2009

Originally posted on my blog in 2009.....

I loved this book. I have no idea why it took me so long to pick it up. Thankfully I have the next one in the series sitting waiting for me to dive into it.

What I enjoyed so much about this book was the two main characters Cat and Bones. Cat is a 22 year old half vampire/half human. She is one of a kind. No one has ever heard of someone who is technically half dead. When at age 16 she finds out how she came about she takes matters in her own hands and dec ...more

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Dec 11, 2013 Shanyn rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorite-characters, read-in-2014

Love, love, loved this book!

It took a little while to really kick into gear, but once it did, I could not put it down!

I love Cat and Bones' characters and their interactions are wonderful - Frost takes Cat right up to the point where I wanted to scream at her before bringing her back in the best possible direction. The story is action packed right from the beginning and I loved how she wove the story together both in its smaller elements and the bigger story arcs.

I cannot wait to pick up the nex ...more

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Mar 11, 2013 Jen Ifer's Inklings rated it really liked it

Shelves: audio-books, library, read-in-2013

I read book #1 and #2 of the Night Huntress World series, which is a spin off of sorts, to this series without realizing that it was not the first two books in this series. So, it is interesting to hear how Bones and Kat met and got started.

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Oct 28, 2011 Hasien rated it really liked it

Shelves: vampire

This book was so fun. I love a strong female heroine, though I will admit on a few occassions I thought her ramblings were overkill. Can't wait to start book 2! ...more

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