Book Review: Halfway to the Grave (Jeaniene Frost)

Flirting with the grave...

Half-vampire Catherine Crawfield is going after the undead with a vengeance, hoping that one of these deadbeats is her father--the one responsible for ruining her mother's life. Then she's captured by Bones, a vampire bounty hunter, and is forced into an unholy partnership.

In exchange for finding her father, Cat agrees to train with the sexy night stalker until her battle reflexes are as sharp as his fangs. She's amazed she doesn't end up as his dinner--are there actually good vampires? Pretty soon Bones will have her convinced that being half-dead doesn't have to be all bad. But before she can enjoy her new found status as kick-ass demon hunter, Cat and Bones are pursued by a group of killers. Now Cat will have to choose a side . . . and Bones is turning out to be as tempting as any man with a heartbeat.

Oh my word. Cat and Bones! I don't think I have been as crazy about any Ubran Fantasy books as I have been with the Night Huntress Series - I have not been obsessed about any book characters in a while but within a few pages of Halfway to the Grave the fire was immediately brought back to life. To say Cat and Bones are the perfect pair does not seem right at all - they are THE pair!

I am mostly indifferent to modern retellings of the traditional vampire legends, so to the Night Huntress World's version of vampires all I can say is that it is a joy to read and while it can only be so original, it is nevertheless solid, interesting and a heck of a good read. It follows certain conventions including that vampires are sensual and attractive, but what really strikes me most about this book is not its twists on vampire mythology but the richness of its characters, both primary and secondary.

I did not say Cat and Bones are the pair for nothing. They are in fact, one of the best characters I have ever read - singularly and as a pair. Cat is the epitome of strength and determination, and yet maintains a very cynical outlook in life. She is sarcastic, stubborn and very kick-ass. As the book is in her narration, this results in some hilariously apt descriptions, which accounted for a whole lot of fun while following Cat's adventures. Bones, on the other hand is HOT HOT HOT. Oh, and is a devious, cunning vampire. He is outrageous, formidable and at times overwhelming in both his power and sensuality - he really does transcend the pages of the book. One would think a two hundred fifty year old vampire to be full of wisdom - and Bones is - but not so much humour. Bones proves that wrong as this master vampire extraordinaire, whose weakness just so happens to be Cat, is in a class of his own. He's incorrigible at times but as loyal and as romantic as can be. VILF anyone?

Though Cat and Bones' relationship emerges from the worst possible beginnings, it blossoms into something so strong it is undeniable how right they are for each other. Their equally shocking pasts flavours their relationship with flare and humour. They share such an interesting bond - and romance - it all makes me sigh. Together, they are formidable, envy-worthy pair. Hot, explosive and addicted - so much so I still cannot get enough of them! You will love them - it's a guarantee!

They battle against numerous villains continually and consistently, so there are a lot of actions in the book, as well as personality clashes, humour and the occasional tears. It has a brilliant ending too, though it might as well have killed me - it sets the scene just right for readers to demand the sequel right away. Trust me - I did!

Halfway to the Grave is a fantastic book - a truly amazing start to what I expect to be a hugely addictive series. Have I mentioned sexy as hell? I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book!

Five Stars!