SBLC: This Side of the Grave Book and Audio Book Review
This Side of the Grave
Written by: Jeaniene Frost
Published by: Avon
Review by: Maria G.
Synopsis: Danger waits on both sides of the grave.
Half-vampire Cat Crawfield and her vampire husband Bones have fought for their lives, as well as for their relationship. But just when they’ve triumphed over the latest battle, Cat’s new and unexpected abilities threaten to upset a long-standing balance…
With the mysterious disappearance of vampires, rumors abound that a species war is brewing. A zealot is inciting tensions between the vampires and ghouls, and if these two powerful groups clash, innocent mortals could become collateral damage. Now Cat and Bones are forced to seek help from a dangerous “ally”–the ghoul queen of New Orleans herself. But the price of her assistance may prove more treacherous than even the threat of a supernatural war. …to say nothing of the repercussions Cat never imagined.
My thoughts on the fifth book of the popular Cat and Bones series:
Firstly, let me say that this is one of the most fun and engaging series out there now. Secondly, the characters that Ms. Frost has created are both memorable and even though they are all basically flawed, are the most lovable characters that have been written in any paranormal romance book.
Before I start, I got my copy via a friend who is an author and does reviews for publishers. She read it, not knowing what it was, and ended up loving it. She then decided that it was right up my alley, sufficed it to say, she was surprised at my reaction as she slid it across the table to me before a meeting. So, I kept it hush, hush…. and now I get to gush.
Of course, I am not going to spoil it for all of you, I just want to entice you into reading it and then buying all the other books and becoming a big a fan as @engarde99 is on Twitter.
As you know, over the last four books, we have been through the ringer with Cat and Bones because their relationship has suffered both internal and external obstacles. But, as it is with any pairing that has lasted as long as this pairing has, they have grown into a unit that will stand the test of time. They even have a discussion that makes you see that they are in it for the long haul. That doesn’t mean they are like your average Anglo/American married couple, no… this is of course a Jeaniene Frost novel and therefore the sex is fab. Also, even with all the mess with the war between the vamps and the ghouls and Cat’s issues with her borrowed powers and what she is…. they are still the wickedly fun couple that we’ve come to love.
Now, one of the nice things about Ms. Frost’s books is that her secondary characters are so fully rounded. Yes, we get to see more of their back stories though the Night Huntress World series, but if that series did not exist, we would still know so much about them through their interactions with Cat and Bones. The ancillary characters’ (Spade, whom I love, Vlad, etc…) dialogue is hilarious.
Favorite line form the book:
Timmie asks Bones the following: “Before we go, I gotta know: If mind reading-abilities are real, there’s something else I wondered if fiction got right about vampires–”
Bones replies: “Ask me if I sparkle and I’ll kill you where you stand!”
My only issue with the book: Well, is that the whole storyline around the use of Marie Laveau is lacking, but that could just be me…
Issues with the book:
It seems like it is building up to something bigger, because of that it feels like it is not a standalone book. It’s more like a book that bridges the last book and book 6. Not that that is a bad thing, just an observation.
Overall, I think you should pick it up. Actually, I think you should download it at 12:01 am on February 22nd and I will bet you that you will finish it in one sitting.
P.S. – I will post my reviews for The Radleys by Matt Haig and A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness this week.
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Gah…..I can’t wait!!!! Although I should really be saving my pennies…I think I can manage to buy this book..little treat from me to me =)
Hey! I resemble that!
Great review. Glad to hear you enjoyed it!
Naomi, I made a deal with my husband last year when we were trying to save cash. I would always try the library first. Then the used book stores, then the ‘new’ bookstores. I did put in a caveat that my special authors (Kresley Cole, Showalter, Moning, Harris, Frost, Ward) were exempt from this rule. It has been painfull, but cost effective. I think I saved about 20 bucks a month. Yeah, I had (have) a small (HUGE) book problem.
Dear God – is that not just the hottest sex scene ever written. Pass the fresh underwear please.
Agreed – the Marie stuff could have been used to much greater depth – could this be an ongoing plot point though.