YA Reviews: Fade Out + Kiss of Death

WARNING: These reviews, even the summaries, WILL having spoilers for later books in the series. There ain't a whole lot I can do about that so either skip them or read at your own spoiling risk if you haven't read them. I'm doing my best to avoid spoiling. I take no responsibility if you read past this having not read the books. It's not my fault. I don't know any other way to say HERE BE SPOILERS, guys. :P

So how are these going for you guys? Are you liking these posts? This is the last one!

Fade Out by Rachel Caine - The Morganville Vampires Book Seven

Published: 2009 by Signet (And my copy says Signet on the cover!)
Genre: YA Fantasy / Thriller / Paranormal / Urban Fantasy
Page Count: 237 in my paperback copy
Part of a series? Yessirreebob.
Amazon link.

Summary (from goodreads): Without the evil vampire Bishop ruling over the town of Morganville, life has changed - dramatically. The resident vampires have made major concessions to the human population. With their newfound freedoms, Claire Danvers and her friends are almost starting to feel comfortable again - almost.

Now Claire can actually concentrate on her studies, and her friend Eve joins the local theatre company. Yet when one of Eve's castmates goes missing after starting work on a short documentary, Eve suspects the worst. As she and Claire investigate, they soon realize that not is only the subject of the film the vampires themselves, but that this project is a whole lot bigger - and way more dangerous - than anyone suspected.

Review: You'd think after the big dramatic happenings in the last book, this one might... flounder a little. You'd be wrong. This one is slower in a way, with no huge "DANGER SCARY" plot right away, but there's still tension and it builds up to a new "DANGER SCARY" plot. There's also no huge cliffhanger on this one, just a general "more to come" feeling that works really well.

My favourite character? Still Shane :P I love him. But Myrnin is really, really good in this book too. He's still nuts, but I think that's more him than anything. The man wears bunny slippers with fangs. How can you not like a character like that?

I don't get Claire sometimes, as much as I like her. The girl doesn't like English Lit! But, no, that's just her science brain. I do love her. :) And it's cute how she gets jealous over Shane in this one. (With reason... I didn't like the chick she was jealous about either.)

I *gasp* don't have a favourite Shane quote, but I do have a Michael quote.

pg. 22

The tips of his ears got a little pink, which (even in a vampire) was adorable.

Gosh, but the boys in these books are hot... Ahem. Anyways.

Cons, complaints, bad stuff, etc.: I still wish that there was more about when people get bit... but I'm just weird that way.

PG-13 stuff: Actually, this one is a little lighter than others. A little less tense...

Cover comments: This series has like my favourite covers ever. They're so dark and yet full of life at the same time. I love this one especially because black, red, and white are my favourite colours together. And I think this is either Eve or Kim on the cover, but I can't decide. I think I'll go with Eve because I don't choose to believe Kim deserves a cover. :P

Conclusion: I really, really liked this one and it's great to see a series that doesn't jump the shark and flop after a big event. Um... oh, gosh, I'm sorry that this is so short. Let's just call it a mini-review, okay? Anyways, four and a half roses.



Other notes:

- I love the playlists she has at the ends of her books. One day when I have good internet and time, I'll go through them and listen to all of the songs.

Kiss of Death by Rachel Caine - The Morganville Vampires Book Eight

Published: 2010 by Signet
Genre: YA Fantasy / Thriller / Paranormal / Urban Fantasy Binding: Paperback. Page Count: 241 in my copy.
Part of a series? Si.
Amazon link.

Summary (from the back of the book because I didn't like the goodreads one): Vampire Michael Glass has just received the call he's been waiting for all his life. His music has attracted the attention of a heavily connected music producer who wants him to cut a demo and play some dates - which means Michael will have to enter the human world.

But he won't be alone. He's been assigned an undead escort, which includes immortal enforcer Oliver, as well as Michael's human friends: rebellious Eve, oft-misunderstood Claire, and courageous Shane. And with that mix of personalities, this is going to be a road trip from hell.

But what waits for them proves more perilous than they thought. Caught between humans who hate them and a savage party of traveling vampires out to create a blood-soaked feast for themselves, Michael and his friends may not make it to the show on time... or ever.

Review: Kiss of Death opens with Claire Danvers turning the white laundry of all the residents of Glass House pink. Don't you guys think Shane would be real cute in pink undies? Then, for the first time in eight books, Claire and company leave Morganville. For people who regularly face danger, death and other drama, they can be really, really big wimps outside of Morganville, which I find hilarious.

When they inevitably find trouble wherever they go, Claire KICKS BUTT!! I think this is my favourite Claire book because she is freaking AWESOME in this one.

But of course, Shane's still my favourite, and I have a Shane quote. Also an Eve quote - she's the one speaking at the beginning:

pg.80

"Damn. That was stupid, wasn't it? We nearly got killed over ice cream."

"Another thing I don't want on my tombstone," Shane said.

"You have others?" Claire asked.

He held up one finger. "I thought it wasn't loaded," Shane said. Second finger. "Hand me a match so I can check the gas tank." Third finger. "Killed over ice cream. Basically, any death that requires me to be stupid first."

Cons, compaints, bad stuff, etc.: I got nothing. There wasn't even a cliffhanger. I just wish that it was longer or that I had Ghost Town now!!

PG-13 stuff: Oh, totally. But it's also really well balanced with humour and always handled really, really well.

Cover comments: It took me forever to figure out who was on the cover and when I could kind of guess, I wasn't sure if that's quite how I pictured that person... but that's just my opinion.

Conclusion: Definitely one of my favourite books of the series and I can't wait for Ghost Town Seriously, I need it NAO. A-plus, melikey, four and a half roses.



Okay, so that's the last of my Morganville posts! What did you guys think?

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Oh!! Don't forget that I'm posting over at The YA Lit Six on Saturdays!