Kira Graceling, a private investigator, is walking home early one morning when she hears the moans of a man who is obviously in pain. Instead of keeping her feet moving in the sketchy neighborhood, she follows the sound to see if she can help. Turns out she really should have kept on walking, because what she walked in on was way more than she bargained for, a vampire being attacked by ghouls.
Mencheres has been around a while, so long in fact that he’s wondering whether it is worth it anymore or not, what with having his affairs in order and all, but everything he thinks he understands is about to change.
Kira’s fearlessness in helping a stranger leads to her being thrust into a world that she never believed possible. It also put her right in the middle of a fight that’s been going on for thousands of years. But she takes everything in stride, even the last thing she ever expected to happen to her.
My thoughts?
First, I have to say that the covers of these books really just give me the giggles. Vampire book covers are all of two things these days. First, all black (or dark gray, etc.) with some colored or neon object or letters. Or second, tough man, fragile woman, and a bit of blood, or maybe just a big tough guy – with lots of tattoos. (The only exception I can think of is Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse novels.)
On to the good stuff!
The first book in the Night Huntress World series left me very excited for the release of Eternal Kiss of Darkness. So much so that when I got to the store – on the day it was released – they hadn’t even gotten the book out of the back room yet, someone had to go back there and hunt it up for me. I’ll say here that I wasn’t disappointed either, the whole two weeks I waited for this book was well worth it.
Kira is another tough cookie woman character compliments of Jeanine Frost (Thank you Ms. Frost – I can truly say I appreciate a female character capable of forming coherent sentences.) She takes no bullshit and faces everything head on, including finding out that her vampire boyfriend has been around as long as the pyramids.
Mencheres hasn’t always had an easy life himself, but it’s pretty good to watch him come back from his rock bottom to have is undoing be a woman, a woman who is thousands and thousands of years younger than he.
Everyday sarcasm was found throughout this book adding some good humor to otherwise unbelievable situations. Cat and Bones come back in this one as well. But it’s Kira and Mencheres that the book is about, and it’s the two of them that make the story. The couple had great chemistry.
This was another relaxing read that I enjoyed very much. Now I suppose it’s time for me to get through the original Night Huntress series.
Among Stories 