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81 of 83 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
First Drop, But Not The Last...Thank Goodness, February 14, 2010
This review is from: First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)
If you're not already familiar with Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress series, go no further than to your nearest bookstore or online connection and look them up, because First Drop of Crimson is a spinoff novel in an already well developed world. Frost doesn't waste a lot of time explaining that world to new readers here. It was done in a rather cursory (and if you're unfamiliar with the characters and world, confusing) manner. That's not a complaint, as I am very wonderfully familiar with the world and the characters, but it's something I believe a new reader should know. Also, if you're familiar with the series, but haven't read all four published to date, I don't recommend you read First Drop of Crimson (yet), as there are things and characters mentioned in this book that WILL be spoilers unless you've read them all.
Okay, now that the Public Service Announcement (PSA) is out of the way, let's talk about First Drop of Crimson. I was very excited when I learned of this spinoff, and like many other readers, thought it would be great to spend more time with Spade, as he's been a favored secondary character throughout the Night Huntress series. In First Drop of Crimson, Spade is called to the aid of Denise Macgregor (Cat's best friend from the Night Huntress series) when Denise gets stuck with a demon problem courtesy of a distant and deceitful relative. While Spade starts out as a slightly reluctant assist, he quickly changes his tune when the spark from their initial meeting (in the Night Huntress Series) turns into a conflagration. Even Denise's humanity (and Spade doesn't do lasting relationships with humans...anymore) isn't enough to keep Spade from giving up his heart when he lends a hand. What's an autocratic, former landed gentry in regency England, to do?
With a cast of characters that is pleasantly familiar, this novel is evenly and quickly paced, and after the abrupt start (Denise loses a cousin, finds a demon, and gets help from a vampire all within the first twenty-five to thirty Kindle clicks) the ride smoothes out and the story takes off in a pleasing direction.
That's not to say I didn't have any issues with First Drop of Crimson. I did. I wasn't as enamored of Denise for a main character as I was of Spade (who I just adore). I didn't dislike her, really, she just didn't make the sort of impact that I'm used to Frost making with her characters. The romantic aspects between the two of them developed in a relatively realistic time frame, but by the third or forth time Denise tried to control her wayward heart by assuring herself that Spade's behavior was an act (that'll make sense when you read the story), or that her feelings were too soon after the death of her spouse, I was bored with reading that as an excuse. Also, without including any spoilers, there were a few aspects of the denouement of the conflict between demon and vampire/human-ish that seemed a bit too pat to be ultimately satisfying.
On a brighter note, I was pleased that Frost was able to bring beloved (or fondly bemoaned, as in Ian's case) characters from the Night Huntress series into a new and expanded venue and still keep them recognizable. That's a big stumbling block for a lot of authors even book-to-book, let alone jumping series' and genres like Frost did here. And that's another PSA I should've mentioned - admittedly, I didn't do any research on it other than knowing that Frost was releasing an expanded-world novel in a spin off, but I was surprised (not unpleasantly, as I like the sub-genre) to find out that unlike the Night Huntress series, which is more a paranormal urban fantasy series, Night Huntress World series seems to be set to be more of a traditional paranormal romance series, in that each book features a different character finding an HEA (as much "ever-after" Frost allows, anyway - and she does tend to get a bit deadly to her secondary and ancillary characters, so who knows). I say "seem" only because the next book in the spinoff series (Eternal Kiss of Darkness, set to be out July 27th, 2010) features the mighty Mencheres - master vamp to the nth degree - and a new female lead, but I don't know for sure if that trend will continue with other secondary characters from the NH/NHW series.
I'd definitely recommend First Drop of Crimson, but I'd do it a bit more forcefully for those fans of paranormal romance series than urban fantasy junkies. And for newbies to the world, here are the books I'd recommend you read first:
Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress, Book 1)
One Foot in the Grave (Night Huntress, Book 2)
At Grave's End (Night Huntress, Book 3)
Destined for an Early Grave (Night Huntress, Book 4)
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38 of 40 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Entertaining but lacking, February 15, 2010
This review is from: First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)
I was entertained while reading the book, but something was just missing. I'm having a hard time putting my finger on it....just missing. I recently discovered Jeaniene Frost and really loved her Night Huntress Series. I was always intrigued by the character Spade, so was happy to hear he'd get his own book. I won't go into the book summery like others already have. The book jacket pretty well sums up the plot.
What I liked:
1. Spade--We finally learn details about Spade's past including how he ended up at the Penal Colony and who his Sire is. His personality is well done. Oh, and he's hot.
2. Story--The plot was well thought out and was completely different than anything Cat & Bones ever had to go through.
3. Romance--it was hot. I mean, this is Spade. He's not going to romance a woman like Bones does, he's doing it his own way. He's got a seduction plan and not afraid to use it....and it's hot.
What I haven't liked:
1. Denise--She was just flat. She didn't really mean anything to me until the last 15 pages or so. It seemed as if Denise's character was created in the Night Huntress series just to round out Cat, but no life was given to her. It seemed like now Denise's role was just to have someone for Spade to pursue romantically.
2. Repetitive--Denise & Spade repeated themselves in their inner-dialogue a lot.
3. Convoluted reasoning--Somehow Denise "blackmails" or "guilt-trips" Spade into helping her. I couldn't follow the logic. It all seemed a bit "made up" just to throw the 2 characters together. Also, in order for Spade to help her she must pose as his lover, which requires them to touch each other in public, sleep in the same room, etc etc. So how is a girl to know if it's real or not when they are faking for everyone to see?
4. More Romance than Urban Fantasy--This book kept switching POV between Spade & Denise. It was a constant rehashing of what the character was feeling based on what the other one just did. I like romance...as a subplot. Here, the romance was the majority of the plot.
5. Friendships? What friendships?--So Cat and Denise are supposedly best friends. Denise slowly pulls away as she grieves over her loss. When Cat finally does show up....they never have any conversation other than "oh, you didn't know this?" and "I'm so sorry I never called you back." They never have any girlfriend talk or show them catching up. When Denise and Spade have a fight, it's Bones who comes to her to talk to her about her relationship with his friend....not her best friend. It also seemed out of character for Cat to all the sudden let Bones talk her out of "storming the castle" to talk to Denise. It was just weird. I think it could have helped with Denise's character development.
All in all, I'm glad I have read the book since I love the Night Huntress series. Just know that it's not her best work, but it's still fun and a good read.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not Up to Par with the "Grave" Series, October 14, 2010
This review is from: First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)
Oh, how I hate to write a lukewarm review about First Drop of Crimson. I am a huge fan of Ms. Frost's other books. Fortunately, I read them first, or I would have been very wary of reading another of her books.
After finishing up with the "Grave" series to date, I had fallen in love with Spade. I was stoked that he had his own book and couldn't wait to read it. First Drop of Crimson wasn't up to par with the "Grave" series. It was written in such a different style from the other books that it caused me to wonder if FDC might not be one of the author's earlier manuscripts before hitting her stride with Cat and Bones.
Other readers have commented that they couldn't quite put their fingers on what was wrong with First Drop of Crimson. I think I can. It's written in a passive voice without the use of exciting action words and without much complex language. The mediocre plot passed as a thin excuse to throw the two main characters together. Denise had little substance and less courage. It was implausible that Spade could fall for someone like that. Combined with spending way too much time in the characters' heads going over the same things time and time again (I'd say at least half the book), it was a difficult book to get through. However, as soon as Bones and Ian showed up, things livened up. That's what saved it from a 1-star rating.
Such a shame . . . because I adored Spade.
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