First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World, Book 1) [Mass Market Paperback]

Jeaniene Frost (Author)

Book Description

Release date: February 9, 2010

“First Drop of Crimson is a passionate and tantalizing tale, filled with dark sensuality and fast-paced action. The lead couple is irresistible—a gutsy heroine to cheer for and a smoldering hero to die for. An unforgettable story!”
—Kresley Cole, New York Times bestselling author

 

Jeaniene Frost is back with First Drop of Crimson—the first book of a sexy spinoff from her USA Today and New York Times bestselling Night Huntress series. In First Drop of Crimson, the spotlight shines on her popular characters Bones’ and Cat’s closest confidantes, who must deal with new dangers, demons, and a heart-stopping lust and love of their own. The winner of multiple awards—including a Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best Urban Fantasy and a Romance Reviewers Today Best Paranormal Award—Jeaniene has received the Romantic Times Top Pick rating four times in a row…not to mention unqualified raves from critics, peers, and discriminating fans of paranormal romance.

Editorial Reviews

Review

First Drop of Crimson is a passionate and tantalizing tale, filled with dark sensuality and fast-paced action. The lead couple is irresistible -- a gutsy heroine to cheer for and a smoldering hero to die for. An unforgettable story! --Kresley Cole, New York Times bestselling author

[Frost's] gift for vivid plotting is enhanced by the confident strokes of a writer at the top of her game. --Fresh Fiction

Book by book, Frost builds her reputation as an author who delivers only the best. --Romantic Times --This text refers to the MP3 CD edition.

From the Back Cover

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Night Huntress series comes a breathtaking new journey to the dark side of desire.

The night is not safe for mortals. Denise MacGregor knows all too well what lurks in the shadows—her best friend is half-vampire Cat Crawfield—and she has already lost more than the average human could bear. But her family's past is wrapped in secrets and shrouded in darkness—and a demon shapeshifter has marked Denise as prey. Now her survival depends on an immortal who lusts for a taste of her.

He is Spade, a powerful, mysterious vampire who has walked the earth for centuries and is now duty-bound to protect this endangered, alluring human—even if it means destroying his own kind. Denise may arouse his deepest hungers, but Spade knows he must fight his urge to have her as they face the nightmare together . . .

Because once the first crimson drop falls, they will both be lost.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Avon; Original edition (February 9, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061583227
• ISBN-13: 978-0061583223
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 3.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (199 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #35,938 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jeaniene Frost is the New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author of the Night Huntress series and the Night Huntress World novels. To date, foreign rights for her novels have sold to nineteen different countries. Jeaniene lives in North Carolina with her husband Matthew, who long ago accepted that she rarely cooks and always sleeps in on the weekends. Aside from writing, Jeaniene enjoys reading, poetry, watching movies with her husband, exploring old cemeteries, spelunking and traveling - by car. Airplanes, children, and cook books frighten her.

For more information on Jeaniene's books, including reading the first 20% of her novels, deleted scenes, creature mythology, and more, go to: http://www.jeanienefrost.com/

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#8 in Books > Romance > Fantasy & Futuristic

#30 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy

#59 in Books > Romance

#69 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy

#71 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Fantasy

#8 in Books > Romance > Fantasy & Futuristic

#30 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy

#59 in Books > Romance

#69 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy

#71 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Fantasy

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

107 of 109 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars First Drop, But Not The Last...Thank Goodness February 14, 2010

By Tracy TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

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)

44 of 47 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining but lacking February 15, 2010

By akb--bookworm VINE™ VOICE

Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

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.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Spade was robbed October 9, 2010

By Vorax

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Denise is a hypocritical bore. One of those women who condemn others for taking care of the violence into which she has dragged them. Plus, enough with the pity party and meaningless 'I'll pay you back.' I'm so tired of her repetitive internal dialogue, jumping to conclusions and getting mad at others who stop her from doing idiotic things. Could we maybe hear a "thank you, I really appreciate what you are doing for me?" The scene with Bones after the first time she sleeps with Spade has finally done it. I'm not finishing. She is childish and ridiculous. I'm so bummed this is what Spade got. And from the other reviews it sounds like his supposed HEA is someone from whom he can't even drink? He was robbed.

Plus, I didn't feel any chemistry between these two.

I do like the interactions between Spade, Bones and Ian.