This is the fifth book in the Morganville Vampires series - Lord of Misrule - simply put, an action-packed read that once again does not disappoint. Claire Danvers takes starring role, supported by her friends and roommates, Michael - recently turned vampire, Eve - goth chick extraordinaire, and Shane - love interest with a passionate dislike for all things fanged. These four are inevitably in the thick of any Morganville drama, and in this installment, we have front row seats to the brewing war between the town's founding vampire, Amelie, and her sadistic father, Bishop. Humans are no longer protected by their vampire sponsors as everyone is fighting to survive under the threat of Bishop's immense power and seemingly unquenchable blood-lust. Throw in a manic storm with a raging tornado, and burning buildings and crazy vampires seem to be the least of everyone's problems. Once again, I found myself drawn into this little world of constant tumultuous activity. There's never a dull moment as the author even finds time to spot us just a little bit of romance. I can't say that the writing is filled with brilliant imagery or that the words read like poetry in motion, but I can say that my interest in the story never wanes. My heart sets a rhythmic beat of excitement paired with a simple enjoyment for this fast-paced series that's filled with endless plot arcs and surprises. Another four out of five fangs novel. Synopsis:
In the college town of Morganville, vampires and humans coexist in (relatively) bloodless harmony. Then comes Bishop, a master vampire who threatens to abolish all order, revive the forces of the evil dead, and let chaos rule. But Bishop isn’t the only threat. Violent black clouds promise a storm of devastating proportions. As student Claire Danvers and her friends prepare to defend Morganville against the elements—both natural and unnatural—the unexpected happens: Morganville’s vampires begin to vanish one by one. Discovering why leads Claire to one last choice: swear allegiance to Bishop... or die.
Feast of Fools is the fourth book in the Morganville Vampires series by Rachel Caine, and yes, I will be reading all of them. Why? They are just that good. I'm not going to lie, it's not Shakespearean text, and you won't learn anything particularly new or exciting about vampires, but what it does have in spades is mystery, scenes of action-packed drama, and just a trickle of romance to stop those throbbing pulse points from icing over. Feast of Fools starts relatively slow. We are introduced to a couple of new characters, and as always, they are out for blood. Bishop is the founding vampire's father, a sadistic bastard covered in the stain of past indiscretions. He cares for no one, and he certainly has an agenda. Those who get in his path are mere fodder - vampire and human alike. Bishop will stop at nothing to retrieve what he's searched Morganville up and down to find, even if that means destroying his own daughter and the town she's built in the process. The last third of the novel is where the action and intrigue really comes to a head. As always, protagonist Claire Danvers is sticking her nose in where it's not wanted, a quest to save her family and friends. With the very best of intentions, Claire pairs up with a vampire not quite in his right mind, and attends a feast in honor of Bishop's arrival. Claire soon realises this feast is an offering ceremony, every vampire in Morganville either swearing allegiance to this rebel outsider, or their human companion to become part of the feast. As the action unfolds and blood is spilt, we see little Claire resolute and brave - a real fire starter and defender of the weak. What I love about these stories is the never-ending drama paired with the equally vicious vampires and passionate drive to succeed. There's never a moment when Claire wonders if she'll fail, merely pushes ahead despite her fears, knowing she must to protect those that she loves. With witty dialogue, amply described action and great narrative imagery - I'm hooked and again rate this novel four out of five fangs. Synopsis:
In the town of Morganville, vampires and humans have learnt to live in relative peace. Still, Claire Danvers knows that after dark, her homework can take a backseat to staying alive. But this tenuous harmony is turned on its head with the arrival of Mr Bishop. Bad to the bone, the ancient old-school vampire cares nothing about keeping the peace; staying at the top of the food chain is enough. What he wants from the town’s living and dead is unthinkably sinister. It’s only at a formal ball attended by vampires and their human dates that Claire realises Bishop’s plan—and the elaborately evil trap he’s set for the warm-blooded souls of Morganville…
So it might be obvious that I'm planning to read and review the entire series in Rachel Caine's Morganville Vampires. Midnight Alley is book number three and I don't see any signs of this fast paced supernatural fiction from slowing. With an ever-thickening plot, enriched characters and a whole host of unfurling action that never seems to get tiresome, I can honestly say that I'm hooked. Just when you think you can't be exposed to any more two-faced vampires, raping college students and the sick and twisted minds of the humans spewing vampire hate, I'm thrown into the washer of a thrilling wordsmith. Morganville is a town run and dominated by vampires, the humans that co-habit are either fodder or chess pieces easily manipulated for nefarious intent. Those who choose survival often find themselves faced with soul damaging choices and almost always wind up hurting or killing someone they love. Claire Danvers is no exception. Recently making a deal with the founding vampire known as Amelie for protection, Claire is once again out of her depth. Teamed with a crazed vampire with a brilliant mind, she is tasked with absorbing his knowledge, unlocking the secrets of Morganville's extraordinary powers of concealment as well as finding a cure for a damaging vampire virus. Yes, the vampires are slowly going out of their minds. And if crazy fangers wasn't enough to have you hiding under the bed sheets, then perhaps an ex-con who enjoys the slow torture and mutilation of the local college girls will do it for you. Rachel Caine has once again produced a effortlessly spun plot of intrigue, suspense and action. With character consistency and well constructed imagery, I'm always tagging along on unfolding events. Once again, this novel rates highly at four and half fangs, though I do wonder how long this high-paced conflict can continue without numbing the reader to expectation. Synopsis:
When Claire Danvers learnt that her college town was run by vampires, she did what any intelligent, self-preserving student would do: she applied for a transfer and stocked up on garlic. The transfer is no longer an option, but that garlic may come in handy. Now Claire has pledged herself to Amelie, the most powerful vampire in town. The protection her contract secures does little to reassure her friends. All of a sudden, people are turning up dead, a stalker resurfaces from Claire’s past, and an ancient bloodsucker extends a chilling invitation for private lessons in his secluded home.
Well, here I am back lickety-split for round two in this supernatural series. The Dead Girl's Dance is the second book in Rachel Caine's cleverly crafted Morganville Vampires series, and once again, I was not disappointed. Claire and her roommates at the Glass house; Michael, Shane and Eve, are faced with a whole new round of challenges - family being the ultimate problem in a town ruled by vampires. With fanged miscreants and a whole lot of past emotional turmoil, resentment is sure to brew between all involved. But from that resentment a plan is formed, one more dangerous and life threatening than those involved could have ever imagined. Not only is Claire still bullied by the college sorority clique, she also now has to deal with Eve's jailbird, psychopathic brother intent on raping and strangling the town's young girls. Teamed with Shane's biker dad and his gang of vampire-hunter cronies, and poor Claire is torn between dragging Shane (her romantic interest) from his father's fallible plans and deciding whether or not to form alliances with any vampire that will listen. With endless nights filled with torment and sticky situations, Claire appears constantly in the thick of it. Once so small and mousy, she now stands strong, beaten but not broken by the twisted ways of this blood-run town. Once again Rachel Caine has crafted a novel that keeps you guessing how her protagonist can possibly succeed against stacked odds. With a healthy dose of action and an endless stream of possibilities introduced to keep the side plots moving forward, it's almost impossible to lay this series to rest. Characterisation is ever evolving and dialogue is believable when paired with the detailed imagery. The fact that I devoured this book in one sitting suggests I should be rating it five out of five fangs. Synopsis: Claire has her share of challenges. Like being a genius in a school that favours beauty over brains; homicidal girls in her dorm, and finding out that her college town is overrun with the living dead. On the up side, she has a new boyfriend with a vampire-hunting dad. But when a local fraternity throws the Dead Girls' Dance, hell is really going to break loose. Kristy :)
Glass Houses is the first book in the Morganville Vampires series, a fabulous introduction to this intriguing town filled with rabid vampires and bullying teens. The town of Morganville is the black-hole of chilling alliances and underhanded deals. Regular blood donations act as town taxes and the local college students are fodder for the blue collar fang-bearers. Anyone who tries to leave finds their memories replaced by a fog of uncertainty and anyone who may remember even a hint of their existence in this shady town often find themselves, or their family, six feet under. When Claire Danvers comes to Morganville it's for advanced placement in the local college. Smart and seemingly persecuted for this quality, Claire finds herself the victim of brutal and unwarranted attacks. Pushed down stairs, beaten bloody and hosed down with acidic chemicals, it's understandable why she moves out of the dormitory and into the Glass House. Claire doesn't realise that certain humans in the town are under vampiric protection, others offering their duplicitous services in exchange for immunity. No one in the Glass house is anything but genuine and honest. Though reluctant to aide a minor, they understand the dangers this town presents and are not nearly as surprised as they should have been when Claire draws unending trouble their way. With endless bouts of bullying, vampiric intrigue and the final chapters dripping with enough mystery to sink a ship, I simply could not put the book down. Hesitant in my initial approach, I'm almost sorry I waited so long to read the start of this dynamite little series. With gently erupting romance, intense and gritty action teamed with a real, evolving story, and this well written novel is a winner. I happily rate Glass Houses four and half fangs out of five. I will definitely be back for seconds!
Synopsis: It’s a small college town filled with quirky characters. But when the sun goes down, the bad comes out. Because in Morganville, there is an evil that lurks in the darkest shadows—one that will spill out into the bright light of day.
Claire Danvers has had enough of her nightmarish dorm situation. The popular girls never let her forget just where she ranks on the school’s social scene: somewhere less than zero. And Claire really doesn’t have the right connections—to the undead who run the town.
When Claire heads off campus, the imposing old house where she finds a room may not be much better. Hew new roommates don’t show many signs of life. But they’ll have Claire’s back when the town’s deepest secrets come crawling out, hungry for fresh blood...
