Review: This Side of the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

Title: This Side of the Grave
Author: Jeaniene Frost
Series: Night Huntress, #5
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: February 22, 2010
Pages: 357
Rating:

Danger waits on both sides of the grave. 

Half-vampire Cat Crawfield and her vampire husband Bones have fought for their lives, as well as for their relationship. But just when they've triumphed over the latest battle, Cat's new and unexpected abilities threaten to upset a long-standing balance . . .

With the mysterious disappearance of vampires, rumors abound that a species war is brewing. A zealot is inciting tensions between the vampires and ghouls, and if these two powerful groups clash, innocent mortals could become collateral damage. Now Cat and Bones are forced to seek help from a dangerous "ally"—the ghoul queen of New Orleans herself. But the price of her assistance may prove more treacherous than even the threat of a supernatural war . . . to say nothing of the repercussions Cat never imagined.

I honestly feel like I have been waiting years and years and years for the fifth Cat and Bones book to come out. I mean they are one of the most talked about couples in the Urban Fantasy Genre, but THIS SIDE OF THE GRAVE was not as exciting as I thought it would be.

There are quite a few mixed reviews out there for this book. I have been waiting forever to see what will happen next for Cat and Bones only to find the book not as entertaining as the other ones, don't get me wrong it was still good, but not as good as the other ones. I felt like this book could have been better. And one thing preventing me from giving THIS SIDE OF THE GRAVE 4 stars was that I didn't see that spark/sexual tension between Cat and Bones. It was like one of those book when the couple gets together and the book continues on about their relationship and it is boring to read about that couple. NO! I am not suppose to feel that way!

I am mad that I feel that way. I don't know if maybe I hadn't read the other book in so long that I just could not feel for this book. Maybe that's it. Part of me thinks that maybe it's because Cat and Bones didn't really have a big obstacle to their love. Like in the previous book it was Cat's insecurity and the whole Bones eventually turning Cat into a vampire/has to protect him from Don/Tate's jealousy/Cat's father/Ian stuff in book 2/Gregor. We had all that and now we didn't really have an obstacle for this couple in this book. I never felt like Cat was in any real danger in this book also. Also the rumored Chapter 21 in this book to me doesn't even compare to One Foot in the Grave's Chapter 32, my opinion anyway.

Even though there were some things I didn't like, come on how could I not like some things in a Cat and Bones book. This book still had the humor from the previous books. Oh, Vlad. I love you. I am so glad to see some of my favorite characters back. We also got Spade and Menchere's lovers in this book which was awesome. So read First Drop of Crimson (Spade) and Eternal Kiss of Darkness (Mencheres) books. Although we did get some Cat and Bones moments I didn't feel like I had one that I really liked like in the other books. And we get to hear about the first half vampire, total shocker.

Timmie gave Bones and me a speculative glance. “Before we go, I gotta know: If mind-reading abilities are real, there’s something else I wondered if fiction got right about vampires–” “Ask me if I sparkle and I’ll kill you where you stand,” Bones cut him off with utmost seriousness."

OMG. Tate and Justine redeem themselves. Okay. Justine I understand, but Tate. I think he gave into the Cat's never going to want me thing way too soon. Maybe recent events caused him to have a change of heart. I really actually loved Tate always going after Cat. If there was no Bones, he would be perfect for her. We do have a moment in this book where a character we may have come to love dies. And yes, it made me tear up quite a bit. I love like all of the Night Huntress characters and have a place in my heart for each of them so I couldn't help tearing up.

All in all this was my least favorite book of the series and it actually really tears my apart to give a Cat and Bones book 3 stars. I hope this doesn't happen again though. I am nervous about the next book, One Grave at a Time. I am curious about how the sixth book will play out, what will happen and all of that. I have theories after this book that I would love to share if we feel like chatting.