Kitty Takes a Holiday (Kitty Norville 3) [Import] [Paperback]

Carrie Vaughn (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Gollancz; paperback / softback edition (June 12, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0575082666
• ISBN-13: 978-0575082663
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (78 customer reviews)

More About the Author

I was born in California, but grew up all over the country, a bona fide Air Force Brat. I currently live in Colorado, with my miniature American Eskimo dog, Lily. I have a Masters in English Lit, love to travel, love movies, plays, music, just about anything, and am known to occasionally pick up a rapier.

I've never been a DJ, but I love writing about one.

Here's my website: www.carrievaughn.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Sanity Saver and a Plain-Old Good Read, July 1, 2007

By 

K. Montgomery (Columbus, GA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kitty Takes a Holiday (Kitty Norville, Book 3) (Mass Market Paperback)

Let me start off by prefacing that in an airport, where one is the required two hours early for departure and inherits an additional rascally three-hour delay in said departure, one desperately needs an escape. Five hours literally flew by when I cracked the pages of this book. That, in a nutshell, made it a spectacular read. Engrossing, witty and packed with characters a reader can sink their literary teeth into is the slightly longer version, but gives one an even better idea of all this book has to offer.

Kitty Norville needs a break. Going national about her furry side isn't the only reason. She's got a writing gig now too and a secluded mountain cabin seems the ideal retreat. Having a severe case of writer's block though, Kitty is distracted to say the least...especially when dead animals keep showing up to decorate her front porch. The locals are nice enough, though not particularly keen to have the nation's first werewolf at their doorsteps. Naturally, it seems someone wants her gone. When Cormac, werewolf hunter extraordinaire, shows up with an injured Ben (her lawyer) in tow, it's all Kitty can do to hold down the fort, much less write about it. Witchcraft and evil skin walkers compound the situation and Kitty begins to wonder if any of them will get out of this alive, much less walk the right side of the law.

Having never read the series before, I was prepared to be a little lost. Surprisingly, and pleasantly enough, I was glad to read a book that made sense from its own perspective while still gleaning enough information about the past two books (Kitty and the Midnight hour first, then Kitty Goes to Washington) to want to double back. Kitty is an interesting character, and her special twist, that of the first werewolf to exit the closet, puts a whole new perspective on the werewolf story. Being that the story takes place mainly at the cabin, I was also prepared for the story to get a little stale, but not so. There's plenty of action to keep readers turning the pages. There's a slight romantic edge, and I suspect a carryover from past books with one of the characters, though it's not the main focus of this primarily fantasy minded novel. I'm glad I had this book with me during my stay at the airport. Not only did it save my sanity, but it made me laugh, made me chew my lips in suspense and made me an all out fan of Vaughn's first person writing. Looking forward to the others in the series now.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars And Now for a Brief Interlude. . ., July 8, 2007

By 

themistwalking (NJ, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kitty Takes a Holiday (Kitty Norville, Book 3) (Mass Market Paperback)

In the third novel featuring Kitty Norville, radio personality and werewolf, Kitty takes a break from her job to write her memoirs (and possibly hide out from the world for a while). She rents a small cabin out in the woods in CO, where she expects to find some peace and quiet, but her tranquility is soon shattered. Someone starts leaving gruesome gifts on her property, hoping to drive "the werewolf" out of town. Also, in a surprising little plot twist, a friend appears on her doorstep, seeking Kitty's expert assistance.

This book is more low-key than the first two in the series. No one's been hired to kill Kitty or kidnap her this time around, and she's not battling her pack or facing a trial before Congress. The novel isn't devoid of action, though. There are evil spells to be dealt with, a rogue werewolf on the loose, plus the public and personal fallout from each. For the most part, though, the novel has a more introspective feel to it than the previous two. Kitty, on leave from work and thrust into the role of caregiver, takes stock of herself and her life. At times, the novel almost felt like a 3-person play, and it contained some emotionally-charged and revealing conversations.

I liked this book a lot. The author presents the reader with several realistic consequences to `playing with the monsters,' which is a refreshing change from the norm (where the hero generally rushes in, saves the day without much collateral damage, and keeps the local law enforcement completely in the dark). I like Kitty as a heroine because she's atypical, too. She's not always strong - her wolf isn't exactly an alpha one - but she doesn't overcompensate by pretending to be tough, nor does she pretend to have all of the answers. I like the fact that she's honest with herself. She falters from time to time, but she's ultimately a survivor, and, little by little, she's learning to be strong.

My one quibble with the series would be the lack of well-developed, recurring secondary characters (probably a consequence of Kitty's nomadic lifestyle). After this book, however, that might be changing a bit. And hopefully, some day, Kitty will find a home.

If you're a fan of the paranormal adventure/mystery, urban fantasy/horror (with a dollop of romance) genre mix, you should give these books a try. They're a fun ride.

(4.5 Stars)

23 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Additional angst - 3.5, March 23, 2007

By 

lwd (California) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Kitty Takes a Holiday (Kitty Norville, Book 3) (Mass Market Paperback)

If you enjoyed the first two books in the series, you will probably enjoy Ms. Vaughn's newest effort. She writes a great story, but is not always comfortable to read. Real life, if you will, in a fantasy world of were animals, vampires and magic.

I do appreciate Kitty's personal werewolf journey, it is fascinating, but to be honest, I'm burning out. Every step forward that Kitty takes, she falls two steps backward in getting a handle on her changing life. In the first book, Kitty and the Midnight Hour, she gained recognition for a brilliant radio persona, then lost her home, the security of her pack and her best friend and mentor. In the second book, Kitty Goes to Washington, Kitty saved a vampire queen, found love and support in the were community, did a great job in testifying before congress, then was violently outed on television, losing her security and anonymity. Without giving away spoilers, this novel follows the same pattern. Win a bit, lose more than she gains. A slap in the face, undeserved and now expected.

Kitty Takes a Holiday is well-crafted, well written, well researched in the new magic she introduces, and an interesting read. I predict great success for the continuing books in this series. Regardless of all that going for it, and with my greatest respect toward Ms. Vaughn and Kitty, three slaps and I'm done.