Customer Reviews

Grave Sins (Cin Craven, Book 2)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Thirteen years have passed since Cin joined Michael, Justine and Devlin and became one of the Righteous. Cin's yearly visit with her family at Ravenworth is interrupted when the Dark Council of the Righteous sends their right-hand man, Drake to gather up Cin and her mates. They have all been selected to investigate a powerful queen who is being suspected of going insane and killing humans. The case against the queen seems open and shut, until Cin senses that someone is using dark magic against the queen. This investigation takes a frightening turn and threatens to expose the dark secret Cin has been keeping from her mates. Cin's relationship with Michael is put to the test when Drake makes tempting advances towards her. This story was captivating. It was exciting from to start to finish. There was a good amount of sex, action and mystery. I did find some parts of the book too reminiscent and wordy. Beyond that, this book was enjoyable and I highly recommend it. I am also looking forward to the next book in the series Bound by Sin.

I also recommend:
Blood Engines (Marla Mason, Book 1)
Beyond the Grave
Magic to the Bone (Allie Beckstrom)
Wicked Game
Witch Fire (Elemental Witches, Book 1)

Plot Summary: The year is 1828. Cin has been a vampire for 13 years, and she's joined her consort, Michael, as a member of the Righteous, which is a small group of warriors who function as judge, jury and executioner amongst their vampire brethren. Their annual visit to Cin's relatives is cut short by an order from the High King - they must travel to Edinburgh and determine if the resident queen, Marrakech, has been slaughtering humans. Unfortunately Michael becomes mad with jealousy when another vampire makes a play for Cin, and it drives them apart.

I like the direction this series is headed, and the big reason why is because it focuses on one couple, Cin and Michael. More and more I prefer stories that follow the same couple over multiple installments. Relationships always feel more realistic when they mimic a roller-coaster ride, and I groove on the ups and downs that Jenna Maclaine has written for her lovebirds. There were a few misunderstandings between Cin and Michael that were spot on accurate, because sometimes all it takes is one misdirected look by a man to throw his woman into the seven stages of grief. With a woman like Cin, it's dangerous to be around when the anger hits.

When I read the first novel, "Wages of Sin (A Cin Craven Novel)," I worried that Cin was too powerful after she became a vampire combined with her witchy woman powers. Omnipotence is fun for a while, but in the end I can't root for a heroine who has no weaknesses. However, this installment put my fears to rest. Cin is no longer a white witch only, and she's battling some seriously dark magic that wants to bubble up whenever she gets mad. In a weird way, she has to fight herself, or risk becoming an alien in the eyes of her lover and her friends. Cin can call upon the powers of the darkness, but when she does, she becomes evil incarnate herself.

The sex scenes are too good for a straight-up fantasy novel, so I'm labeling this as a historical paranormal romance. There was a nice mystery running through the plot, but I spotted the guilty party right away, so I'm hoping to stay in the dark a lot longer next time. The third book in the Cin Craven series, "Bound By Sin (A Cin Craven Novel)," will be released in December 2009. According to Jenna Maclaine's website, this installment will be set in 1862, during the Civil War. I'll be very curious to see what has happened in the 34 years between books two and three.

I'm so happy I picked up the whole series at the used bookstore. I'm always worried when I try a new author and so far I have not been disappointed. It has been thirteen years since the first book, Wages of Sin started and it's important to the story to be sure and read the short story in Strange Brew edited by P.N. Elrod as it give some important information to this book. Jenna Maclaine has created another excellent book that I enjoyed sinking my teeth into. While there were a lot of sex scenes in the first book (and I'm not complaining one bit!), this one focuses more on the mystery aspect but never fear! There is a very steamy sex scene between Cin and Michael.

I'm waiting on Huntress for the short story that goes between this one and the last book Bound By Sin. Please, please, please Jennna! Write some more books for us! I know when I'm finished with the series I will be going through Cin and Michael withdrawals.

This book we are 10 or 15 years after the first book. Cin is more comfortable with who she is, we also get flashback of what she's been up to during those year. The plot was OK but I'd guess who was the "bad guy". One thing that bother me is that she seem to be Mrs. know it all, I understand she's the main character but it doesn't make sense to me that she makes the decisions and even order Devlin, Justine and Micheal around.

have recently fallen in love with a new heroine.

Cin Craven is such a great heroine, and my favorite thing about this series is that she and her consort Michael stay faithful to each other. You don't get that too often in a UF series.

It's 1828, it's been about 14 yrs since the first book, since Cin died/became a vampire. In the beginning we see Cin taking her yearly 2 week long vacation back in her home to visit her family. What we see (that is usually touched upon but never utilized) Cin keeping ties to her human life. She has kept her ancestral home, and is still involved with her best friend and almost sister Fiona. I'm sure we all have a girl in our lives who we'd call sister, but we aren't actually related by blood...that's Cin and Fiona-they grew up together and when Cin "died" she left her estate to Fiona. Well, by now Fiona has her own children, but Cin stays in their lives. what we see is how in keeping the ties to her old life, Cin feels she can hold on to her humanity as well. Throughout this series we see Cin watching her family grow older, and in some cases die.

Now, while Cin is on vacation, a vampire named Drake shows up and tells them that they (the Righteous) must go see if the queen of the Western Lands is truly mad and slaughtering humans, or if something else is going on. The problem? The king and queen are incredibly powerful. so off to Edinburgh, Scotland to see if Marrakesh is indeed mad.

Well, their problems are much more than just a mad queen. I can't say without spoiling it big time, so I'll just say that things are NEVER what they seem.

A big thing I like here, is that Cin and Michael have real relationship issues. They are along the lines of jealousy and possessiveness. I love seeing that incorporated into the series without actually ruining the relationship.

I liked how the ending was a bit of a surprise to me as far as HOW it was done...I think I'd figured out WHO early on. Not enough to spoil it for me, but it kept me guessing, and I just hoped it was who I thought it was (this is hard to not put names, so I'm sorry if it's confusing).

So the pages turned as quickly as I could without missing anything, and Cin's wit and snark were there in spades:

This is about grave robbers, ...the man had offended my sense of decency. I was a vampire and I respected the sanctity of holy ground. Was that too much to ask of humans as well?

There are a few important parts that refer to a time spent in Venice. Now I know there's another Cin Craven short story in Strange Brew, and I think that's the "time" and the recap I keep getting in this one. It talks about a wizard who captured Cin and tried to force her to the Dark Side. I mention this for 2 reasons: 1-so you'll know there is another short out there, and 2-so you see that her "dark side" is VERY important to this story.

I suggest this series to anyone and everyone. I mainly suggest that you read them in order!
Each story starts with the year, so go by that, not the publication date. Next up is Bound By Sin, and then the short story in the anthology Huntress-it's called "Sin Slayer."

After reading the first book, I couldn't wait to start on Book 2, which takes place 13 years later. I like that the author is skipping years between books as we get a ride through history. There were references to past adventures regarding Cin absorbing some dark magic and an encounter with the witch goddess which effects the storyline in Book 2. This confused me because I thought I had skipped a book, but found out that's a short story from the anthology Strange Brew, so I would recommend reading this before starting this book.

I do love the relationship between Cin and Michael and also Devlin and Justine -- they are such a great team. I have to agree with a few other reviewers, I did spot the villain immediately also, so no surprise there, however the book was still a page turner and can't wait to read more in this series. I hope it continues, although I haven't seen a 4th yet.

Liked this story featuring The Righteous, vampire enforcers for the High King. Cin Craven is the youngest member of the team, a powerful vampire witch. Loved her relationship with her consort, the sexy Michael. The other two members of the team are also a couple, Devlin and Justine. Enjoyed the interactions between Cin and the rest of The Righteous, as they seemed like real friends who worked well together.

This wasn't your typical romance, as Cin and Michael are already a committed couple. Didn't think it was your usual urban fantasy either, so guess it's more of a mystery. Only trouble was, the mystery was only a mystery to The Righteous. I'm usually not very good at mysteries and hardly ever guess whodunit, so imagine my surprise when my guess turned out to be right! Got a little frustrated that this so-called crack team of enforcers were a little naive and took so long to discover what was what.

Gave this a 3/5 as while I did enjoy it, it was a little frustrating. Seemed to bounce between being a mystery and a romance, but couldn't make up it's mind on what genre it wanted to be. Just as the romance was heating up, it switched to the mystery aspect, then suddenly we're talking vampire history. I've read other books that can include several different aspects in the same story, but this one didn't really work for me. Still, it was an enjoyable story and I would definitely read more in the Cin Craven series.

What is wrong with Grave Sins? The villain is completely obvious almost immediately!!! Practically from the first moment the villain makes an entrance, it's clear who it is. And for the rest of the book you are frustrated that the Righteous are so oblivious that they can't figure it out, much less even consider it! AAGH! For the entire book I kept thinking, "Please have it be someone else. Please do not use the obvious choice." and "C'mon Cin, figure it out!!!" But to no avail. That was incredibly frustrating. There was really no excuse for the willful blindness of the heroine and her colleagues. Book 1 worked because it was more about paranormal action, than mystery. I suggest that this series stay with that genre. On the other hand, I enjoyed the interactions between the usual cast of characters and the underlying premise of the novel. I am still planning on continuing with the series.

I just found a new author and a new series. I enjoyed the characters and their humor. The story line was good and kept me interested.The sex was very good and didn't over-power the story. I have read both books and can't wait for the third.

I have really gotten into reading vampire books about a year ago. So I am always on the hunt for a good one. I really like this authur. After reading one of her short storys I thought I would give her a try, and she really did meet my expectations.