Kiss of Death (Morganville Vampires, Book 8) [Mass Market Paperback]

Rachel Caine (Author)

Book Description

Release date: April 27, 2010

A new chapter in the New York Times bestselling Morganville Vampires saga.

Vampire musician Michael Glass has attracted the attention of a big- time producer who wants to cut a demo and play some gigs-which means Michael will have to enter the human world. For this, he's been assigned escorts that include both a dangerous immortal as well as Michael's all-too-human friends. And with that mix of personalities, this is going to be a road trip from hell...

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Dump Stephenie Meyer's Twilight books and replace them with the Morganvilles' SFX Magazine 'Addictive and hypnotic' The Eternal Night

About the Author

Rachel Caine is the author of more than twenty novels, including the "Weather Warden" series. She was born at White Sands Missile Range, which people who know her say explains a lot. She has been an accountant, a professional musician, and an insurance investigator, and still carries on a secret identity in the corporate world. She and her husband, fantasy artist R. Cat Conrad, live in Texas with their iguanas, Popeye and Darwin; a mali uromastyx named (appropriately) O’Malley; and a leopard tortoise named Shelley (for the poet, of course).

Product Details

• Age Range: 12 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Signet; Original edition (April 27, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451229738
• ISBN-13: 978-0451229731
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (83 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #91,895 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Rachel Caine is the #1 internationally bestselling author of more than thirty novels, including the bestselling Morganville Vampires series, the Weather Warden series, the Outcast Season series, and the new upcoming Revivalist series. She was born at White Sands Missile Range, which people who know her say explains a lot. She has been an accountant, a professional musician, and an insurance investigator, and until very recently continued to carry on a secret identity in the corporate world. She and her husband, fantasy artist R. Cat Conrad, live in Texas.

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Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#40 in Books > Teens

#40 in Books > Teens

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars kiss of death April 27, 2010

By Sarah Banks VINE™ VOICE

Format:Mass Market Paperback

"Kiss of Death" is another strong entry into the Morganville Vampire series. Things in Morganville, TX have died down since Bishop was taken care of, but there is still enough drama to go around. Michael gets an offer to record a CD in Dallas, & Amelie grants the gang (plus Oliver) passes to leave Morganville for a few days. Of course, their trip to Dallas pretty much turns into the road trip from hell. After Oliver insists on stopping at a gas station in a backwoods town, things take a turn for the worst. Eve incites some of the locals into a near fight, & Oliver disappears claiming to do Amelie's bidding. He later turns up bloody & beaten at the gang's hotel room.

"Kiss of Death" is a nice departure from being in Morganville, TX the entire book. Poor Eve was so excited to leave Morganville for the first time that I felt kinda sorry for her. Claire & Shane's relationship becomes more serious, while Eve & Michael continue to struggle with his life as a vampire. Oliver figures heavily into this book, which I enjoyed. All in all, another great visit with Claire & friends. I'll be waiting impatiently for the next book.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Kiss of Death April 28, 2010

By Alexandra Cenni VINE™ VOICE

Format:Mass Market Paperback

One of the best things about the Morganville Vampires series is the continuity. Everything Claire and Co. say has a consequence and sometimes that consequence is more than they bargain for. I love it. You can tell, almost immediately, when one of them says or promises something that will come back to bite them in the butt (such as their promise, in Fade Out, to Morley and his motley gang). That is just their luck quite frankly.

The beginning is slower then I expected, but that makes sense given the high octane ride that was Bishop, and the post-high crash that was Ada. I wouldn't say things were exactly perfect for the Glass House Gang, but their only concern was Morley. Michael was getting a deal, they were all getting out of Morganville for a little while (even if Oliver had to tag along, for obvious reasons) and they were almost guaranteed a vampire free weekend...not including Michael or Oliver of course. What could go wrong?

Oh practically everything. Oliver has his own agenda, from Amelie, that lands them group in Boondocks, Texas. They all decide to hit up the local truck stop and wind up in a whole heap of trouble that just keeps escalating from there on out. Once the action begins it doesn't really slow down. However the trademark wit and devilry is still very much in attendance. I laughed everytime one of them would, almost as a positive mantra, chant "We've been in worst situations". The amount of times Claire has to think to herself that Bishop was a worst situation is sad. Coupled with the fact she begins missing crazy Myrnin after a while. Though I missed Myrnin. There wasn't enough of him in this book....

Some of the more mundane things are aired out (issues between Eve and Michael, Claire's parents and even some uncertainties that Michael is feeling about his and Eve's future) in and around the rest of the plot, but a solid chunk is given over to cleaning up one more mess Bishop left behind.

This was a transition book, setting up many of the storylines that the ninth book, Ghost Town (due out in November 2010) will expand upon, as well as bringing to a close some other looser threads that would only get in the way of a larger story arc. Once again I greatly enjoyed this installment of the Morganville Vampires series. This series has, without a doubt, become one of my favorite series to follow and wait for. Read more ›

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great series April 29, 2010

By Brenda

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Another great book in the series. Claire, Shane, Michael and Eve finally get a temporary pass out of Morganville and they do not get far before the trouble begins. I love how Claire's strength and character has developed. On the surface at the beginning of the series, she seemed like such an easy target. She continues to surprise me, and, apparently, her housemates and everyone else. I love the relationships and interactions between Claire, Shane, Michael and Eve ... Some of the dialogue makes me laugh out loud.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Maybe it was just me... September 26, 2010

By Lee VINE™ VOICE

Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Let me start by saying I am a huge fan of the Morganville series. Rachel Caine has written her books incredibly well, but I just wasn't feeling the latest installment Kiss of Death. The gang plus Oliver, whose personality I adore, are on a road trip so Michael can start up his music career, but just a few hours into their trip the fun begins. They make a pit stop thanks to Oliver and wind up staying at a motel where a portion of the residents don't take kindly to strangers. But what's worse is that Claire, Shane, and Eve meet up with Morley and other Morganville residents who are taking their freedom to a whole new level.

Kiss of Death is still a good book, but like I said before, I wasn't really into it. There was a lot of action, adventure, and witty comments from all, but it felt as if the plot was dragging along. It did pick up from when they ventured into no mans land, and came across a dead town, literally, but even that wasn't enough to really hold my interest. Plus it felt very...contrived. Like something had to be done with Morley, and this was all she could think of. It was still a good book, but I would check it out from the library instead of purchasing it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars I miss Myrnin! May 21, 2010

By Julia VINE™ VOICE

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Kiss of Death by Rachel Caine was the 8th fun, action packed installment for the Morganville Vampires. Things are tame in Morganville, no one is on the verge of losing a life- and that's not fun is it? Nope, so it's time for a road trip! Michael has been made an offer from a record label in Dallas, so the group receives permission from Amelie to take a trip... under one condition. Oliver gets to chaperon. And just like a normal day in Morganville- their much anticipated road trip becomes the trip from hell. They stop at a town a couple hours outside of Dallas and everything starts spiraling out of control. Eve angers some locals, Oliver disappears, their car is destroyed and then they're arrested for murder. Talk about it all hitting the fan at once. Do these kids ever get a break?

Kiss of Death took place outside of Morganville for the entirety of the book and I was just as refreshed as Claire and the crew to get out of town. It is a little depressing that they're all so excited to leave town, but end up having one crisis after another. This made me roll my eyes a little, I mean, come ON. I know things are like this in Morganville, but everywhere? Just like in Fade Out, the action didn't start until about 100 pages in. Then it unfolded like a typical (and awesome) horror flick. I can deal with a few slow chapters if the end really kills it for me! Spoiler. Eve gets a new car! A hearse! I loved this, it is about time that girl gets a hearse!

So our little Claire is finally growing up, she's beginning to really look and act like the strong woman she is and Shane notices. As their relationship grows stronger, Michael and Eve struggle to keep theirs together. Eve is increasingly insecure with Michael as a vampire and musician. Eve drives me a little nuts, less Eve more Myrnin!... Yes, I was upset because our eccentric vampire Myrnin did not make much of an appearance in this book. But it was nice to see Oliver as such an involved character- still didn't make up for the void that Myrnin once filled... and Monica too. Did not think I would miss her dreadfully selfish attitude.

Even though this wasn't an incredibly enthusiastic review, this book was great. Not my favorite in the series, but I really enjoyed myself and I can't wait to see what the next installment, Ghost Town, has in store for us! I have so many unanswered questions- Will Myrnin make a move for Claire? Will Claire and Shane's too-perfect-for-words relationship become lackluster?! Why does Claire's scar ache! If you haven't read any Morganville book yet, I suggest starting with the first one and if you have- you will love this book just as much as the first seven. :) Read more ›