Book Review – One Grave at a Time by Jeaniene Frost

One Grave at a Time: A Night Huntress Novel
What more is there to say, since my last “pre-review” post. *sigh* It wasn’t bad. I mean, Jeaniene’s story building, characters and “paranormal world” are solid enough to make good books (even out of this boring one). Usually her books bypass “good” altogether, though, and are simply amazing! The dilemmas that present themselves in each installment are usually exciting, and the tension between the characters (whether they are in love or in hate) will turn your reading-world upside down.

But for some reason, I was absolutely bored for three quarters of this book. Dare I say, I came close to putting it down and considering it a DNF (did not finish). *GASP* That would have simply broken my heart, because Cat and Bones are a part of my paranormal reading history.

But many of you were right. The end was exciting. Well at least exciting for this book. In the past, I’ve been terrified, stupefied, and awe-i-fied ( 🙄 I know… I know… ) with six of her Night Huntress related books. Yup! Even her spinoffs wow’d me. Oh how I still heart Mencheres. The PERFECT vampire. But I digress. The last two in the main part of the series have left me shrugging with indifference, and this one most of all.

Sage, sage, on every page. I swear by the end of the book, I think I was wheezing from all the sage smoke. Basically the entire book, was about protecting themselves from an evil ghost, learning about how ghosts operate, and searching for that very ghost, planning and devising ways to trap (or maybe even kill) him. Kill a ghost? Sure, why not…

Why was this ghost so important? He was the German Inquisitor responsible for the witch hunts, and mass murders of women that he so ruthlessly tortured and killed. He may be dead now, but his witch hunt is not over. He is powerful, and seemingly not a typical “ghost”. Occasionally he is able to become solid, with his power and age, causing direct harm to those around him. But his “ghostly energy” is just as dangerous. Wielding knives, toilet seats, even cars to destroy those in his way.

Every Halloween he becomes physical for a full 24 hours, while three female victims that he has terrorized over the course of weeks (via creepy “Paranormal Activity “tactics) are tortured and sacrificed for his witch-hate.

“The irony that Kramer is strengthened by an evening dedicted to what he once considered heretic worship is lost on him. He still believes himself to be acting on God’s side, as if the Almighty hadn’t made it clear that He wants nothing to do with Kramer.”

“And what does he do on Halloween?” I’d bet every drop of blood in my body that Kramer didn’t spend it trick-or-treating.

“He extracts ‘confessions’ of witchcraft from three women whom he’s coerced a human accomplice into kidnapping and the he burns them alive,” Elisabeth replied, a spasm of pain crossing her features.

It was official. I now wanted to murder a ghost, a notion I’d discarded as unlikely only twenty minutes before. Problem was, killing vampires and ghouls was my specialty. Not people who were already dead dead.

So that’s it. They have to find the next three girls he will be targeting, and they have to get rid of him. He’s just too evil.

Oh, and there’s something going on at the government agency Cat used to work at. Some new guy who has taken over Don’s position, and has something up his sleeve. Speaking of her dead uncle Don… nahhhh I’ll let you guys figure that part out 😉

Okay. So that’s really it. A few mysteries to solve,  a few new good-guys added to this Cat and Bones “superhero” crew (including a human medium reminiscent of True Blood’s “Lafayette”) and a bad guy or two to figure out. Oh, and an exciting-ish ending!

How are Cat and Bones? Good. Really good. So good that the story is not about them anymore, other than the occasional sweet moments that they (momentarily) share.

“The last thing you need to fret about is my feeling emasculated, Kitten; but talk is cheap, so I’ll be sure to show you later.

His voice was rich with so many undercurrents, I grew warmer just listening to him. Then Bones’s expression became serious, and he leaned forward to brush my hand.

“I’ve watched you barely escape death several times, and each instance killed me a little inside. They may be dormant now, but we have enemies both cunning and cruel. Knowing you possess the power to defeat most of them doesn’t threaten me, luv. It relieves me to my very core.”

*sigh* Bones… you still rock!

But as I was saying, “momentarily” is the key word, when it comes to their time together, because they are just so darned busy trying to save the world. But they (as in Cat and Bones, the lovers) are barely there in this installment. You may as well resign yourself to that fact.

But… if you like a bit of action and mystery without all that pesky tension, heartache, or scary stuff (cause this one’s not very scary) then this should be an easy read for you. No defibrillators needed for this one 😉

I, on the other hand, love to read a book that puts my heart and my adrenaline on overdrive.

And can we hurry with Ian’s book? I have a feeling that bad-boy vampire is going to be my next serious crush!! Whoa, he is just soooooo…. okay. I’m saying it. HOT!

Ian appeared to have recovered from his surprise. He gave Spade an almost accusatory look.

“You’re shagging a woman who can turn into a dragon? Blast you, Charles, I am sick with envy!”

Tee hee!!!

3 stars

Interested in the series? —> Jeaniene Frost – Night Huntress Series Reading Order