Review: Red-Headed Stepchild by Jaye Wells

Title:  Red-Headed Stepchild
Author:  Jaye Wells
Series:  Sabina Kane, #1
Publisher:  Orbit
Release Date:  April 1, 2009
Pages:  325
Rating:  ★★★★★

In a world where being of mixed-blood is a major liability, Sabina Kane has the only profession fit for an outcast: assassin. But, her latest mission threatens the fragile peace between the vampire and mage races and Sabina must scramble to figure out which side she's on. She's never brought her work home with her---until now.

This time, it's personal.

So we have a half-vampire, half mage assassin named Sabina who is trying to gain acceptance from her vampire grandmother who shows no love or adoration to Sabina. Sabina gets herself in some shit and finds out more about herself in the process from hunky and sexy mage named Adam who looked ultimately delicious in nothing but a towel. And now she has to choose sides, the Mages or the Vampires. No one said life was easy.

Sabina was one tough cookie. I don't think she really stood out like other of my favorite heroines but I still really enjoyed reading from her POV. It was a great frustration where us the readers just wish she would abandon her her vampire family, because they obviously don't give a shit about her. Especially her grandmother and all she does in the book is trying to get their approval/praise.

By the end of the book, she finally does accept that she is nothing to her grandmother and to does want to find out more about her mage side and meet some of her other family.

Giguhl is my all time favorite character in this book. He is the sidekick who claims is running this operation. And he is the cutest ugly looking cat ever. I swear I was laughing a lot in this book due to him. And I think he is a huge reason why I really liked this book a lot.

"what up, peeps?"
I looked at my hairless cat for a moment. "What up, peeps? You've been watching MTV again, haven't you?"
"Word."

Adam was not in the book a lot and he is the "supposed" love interest. He didn't really pop into Sabina's life until halfway through the book. I don't really have a big opinion of him yet, but he is sexy and charming. Sabina and him argue quite a bit in the book and I enjoyed their scenes together quite a bit. I look forward to seeing him charm me more in the next book.

"Sabina." Vinca said interrupting my maudlin thoughts.
"Hmmm..." She rolled her eyes. "I said, don't you think Adam looks nice tonight." I shook myself. "I guess so," I said with a shrug.
"Oh, stop," he said. "You're going to make me blush."

All in all this was a fast and fun read. This was a great first book into a series and I do look forward to reading more.