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

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

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

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 11, 2015 Nancy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal, romance, on-kindle

I loved it. That's almost all that I need to say really. Right from the first page of this book I loved it. Cat was brilliant, and even her hangups were realistic. And Bones was probably my favourite vampire character that I have come across in my reading so far. I think I loved the fact that he was British (or sort of 'Australian', having been turned when he was a convict. Although his British accent and mannerisms didn't always ring completely true (being British Australian myself), they were ...more

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Feb 04, 2015 Denise rated it liked it

Shelves: hufflepuff-mmp, wheel-a-thon, quidditch

3.5 stars

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Jan 25, 2024 Catsalive rated it liked it

Shelves: 2024

An OK read, amusing in parts, irritating in others. Would have been much improved by a more mature heroine: Cat Crawfield seems to be 22-going-on-14 & is too much the coy teenager to be really believable as a sexy woman out to vamp vampires. A bit of maturity might overcome those TSTL moments that make me grind my teeth. Generally, the characterisation & plotting is fairly superficial, but there is a bit of humour on occasion which helps. It was reasonably entertaining, although not enough to co ...more

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Mar 02, 2019 Heather rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-romance, suspense-thriller, paranormal, smart-heroine

It's been a looooong time since I first read this. Bones' POV is coming out in April, so I figured it was time for a re-read. ...more

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May 20, 2010 Not Now...Mommy's Reading rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, urban-fantasy, night-huntress-series, 2010-reads, nookbooks, vampires, i-love-him

I finished this book a little after 1 a.m. this morning and I absolutely LOVED IT!

Bones.

Bones.

Bones.

I have to admit that when I first read the description of my new fav hero - I was a bit turned off as I've never been a fan of blonde heroes (or heroines for that matter). But after the first interaction between he and Cat - I was HOOKED! He was sooo...just wow! Like total alpha male! I loved his snarkiness and wit but when he declared his feelings for Cat...he just stole my heart. *le sigh And t ...more

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