Feast of Fools (Morganville Vampires, #4)

Author: Rachel Caine


Series: Morganville Vampires, #4


Pages: 242


Published: June 4, 2008


My Rating: * * * * *

In the college town of Morganville, vampires and humans have learned to live in relative peace. Still, students like Claire Danvers know that after dark, studying can take a back-seat to staying alive. But the tenuous good-neighbor policy is really turned on its head with the arrival of Mr. Bishop.


Bad to the bone, the ancient old-school vampire cares nothing about harmony. Staying at the top of the food chain is enough. What he wants from the town's living and dead is unthinkably sinister. It's only at a formal ball attended by vampires and their human dates that Claire realizes Bishop's plan--and the elaborately evil trap he's set for the warm-blooded souls of Morganville....

Opinions & Thoughts
Wow... Rachel Caine really blew me away this time. After beginning this book, everything was so fast-paced that I just couldn't put it down.  Luckily, it's not that big a book, or I would have been up all night.


First of all, Bishop's(what kind of a name is that?) arrival in Morganville upset the town. He was just like a hurricane. Surprisingly, even Amelie was tense. Every single moment, I was on the edge of my seat(actually, it was a bed), just waiting to see how things could become worse.


I still really like Shane, but he is beginning to feel like a shell. He is always worried about Claire, but he doesn't do anything(when he does do something, it's usually really stupid). Especially with the issue about Ysandre. But, since you can't do much in Morganville, with the vampires and all, I forgive him. At least he was really sweet when Claire was crying and having her jealous fit.


After all that has happened, Claire has really toughened up. I was clearly impressed, but ecstatic, when I saw her stand up to the bad vampires, and defend the good ones(semi-good actually, because vampires are never completely good). When I began the series, I was not expecting Claire to turn out like this. A nice surprise.


That's all I have to say for Feast of Fools. It was a change of pace, and so far, it's the best book of the series. Lucky for me, this is only the fourth book(I still have six to go, and I think Rachel Caine is still writing more), because I am not ready to leave this delightful, haunting story and the intriguing characters behind.


About the Author
In addition to the Morganville Vampire series, Rachel Caine is the author of the popular Weather Warden series which includes Ill Wind, Heat Stroke, Chill Factor, Windfall, Firestorm, and Thin Air.... Rachel 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).
Click here to visit Rachel Caine's website.
Click here to view her on myspace.

Midnight Alley (Morganville Vampires, #3)

Author: Rachel Caine


Series: Morganville Vampires, #3


Pages: 245


Published: October 2, 2007


My Rating: ****


Click here for Rachel Caine's website.




Click Feast of Fools for the review of Morganville, book #4.




Summary
MORGANVILLE IS SUCH A NICE PLACE TO LIVE...
When Claire Danvers learned that her college town was run by vampires, she did what any intelligent, self-preserving freshman would do: She applied for a transfer and stocked up on garlic.  The tranfer is no longer an option, but that garlic may come in handy.
...AND DIE, IF YOU DON'T MIND THAT SORT OF THING.
Now Claire has pledged herself to Amelie, the most powerful vampire in town.  The protection her contract secures does little to reassure those closest to Claire.  All of a sudden, people are turning up dead, a stalker resurfaces from her past, and an ancient bloodsucker extends a chilling invitation for private lessons in his secluded home.  To what end, Claire will soon discover--and it will give a terrifying new meaning to night school.
Opinions & Thoughts
The pills that Claire took were mysterious and had pretty cool effects.  I wish they exsisted in real life, since they would definitely help out with school(but does it count as a drug?). Oh well.
I do have to say, I loved Myrning in this book.  Whenever Claire returned to his lair, I was eagerly anticipating Myrnin's next act of insanity(that and his humor).  In his own vampire way, Myrnin really cared about Claire, and I really had to respect him for all he did for her.
I was confused on how Claire became all buddy buddy with Monica and her cronies.  I mean, wasn't Claire thrown down the stairs by these very same girls.  After all they did to her, Claire even goes and gives one of them a tutoring session(who cares if she fails her class, doesn't she deserve it).  Anyways, make up your mind Claire. Do you hate the Monikettes or like them?
Well, Shane kind of rubbed my nerves the wrong way in this book.  One minute, he is this chivalarous guy who doesn't want to go the "whole" way with Claire(because of a promise he made to her parents), and the next he is beating up people.  But, even after all this, I stil love Shane!(and no one had better take him from me, or I will have to stab you with a stake in your sleep)
As for the vampires, for some reason, I really like Oliver(even though he is a bad guy). He is pretty entertaining and I love his jokes.  Amelie is tolerable(I like how she "pampers" Claire).
In some parts, I became so frustrated because the characters couldn't do anything and were so helpless.  Are humans really this weak?  No matter, Rachel Caine has me hooked on the plot, and I will certainly be reading the next book, just to find out what happens to the Glass House members(especially Shane).  The ending was very cryptic.(and a total cliffhanger)

The Dead Girls' Dance (Morganville Vampires, #2)

Author: Rachel Caine


Series: Morganville Vampires, #2


Page Number: 248


Published: April 3, 2007


My Rating: * * *


"Neat, stylish, and very witty." ~SF Crownsnest


Click here to visit Rachel Caine's website.


Click Midnight Alley for review of Morganville Vampires, book #3.
Summary
Claire Danvers has her share of challenges-like being a genius in a school that favors beauty over brains, dealing with the homicidal girls in her dorm, and above all, finding out that her college town is overrun with vampires.  On the upside, she has a great roommate(who tends to disappear at sunup) and a new boyfriend named Shane...whose vampire-hunting dad has called in backup: cycle punks who like the idea of killing just about anything.
Now a fraternity is throwing its annual Dead Girls' Dance and-surprise!-Claire and her equally outcast best friend, Eve, have been invited.  When they find out why, all hell is going to break loose. Because this time both the living and the dead are coming out-and everybody's hungry for blood.(borrowed from the description on the back cover)
Opinions & Thoughts
Shane is still sweet(and hot) as ever! Although I hated what happened to him(I won't say), I enjoyed the pleasant beginning(before things went downhill).  Shane cares so deeply about Claire, and nowadays I doubt any guy would be so careful about the age difference(Shane-18, Claire-16). To me, he is just the perfect guy that doesn't exist in real life(I may be wrong).  Shane receives a five star rating.
Back to Claire.  Claire may be the main protagonist, but she is not winning me over.  She seemed even more whiny in this book.  Twice I heard her say how this wasn't fair, and why was this happening to them(blah, blah, blah). At least Amelie returned her back to earth by telling Claire the overused saying that life isn't fair. I did love the part where Michael and Eve were debating over who was going to go to Common Grounds and find Sam. Calmly, Claire went to the phone, dialed the coffee place, and asked for Sam. Maybe I'm the only one, but I found that section hilarious. In some parts, Claire wised up, but overall, she was not fitting into the role of smart-16-year-old-who-skipped-two-years-and-is-now-in-college.
I'm still not sure how I feel about Amelie. One minute she seems like someone I could learn to respect and like, and the next I despise her.  Finally, I came to the conclusion that she is bipolar.  But seriously, is she supposed to be like that?
As for the vampires, I don't really have much to say about them.  They are just jerks with fangs(excluding Sam, he is a sweetie).
Fitting right in with the vampires, Shane's dad is the same as them in his own way(well, except for the fangs).  I mean, he and his biker buddies are just big bullies(but with stakes and fire).  If I could, I would jump into the book and give him a piece of my mind for what he did to Shane. No one, and I mean no one, hurts my guy and gets away with it.  Hopefully, he and his biker dudes will receive their just desserts(or I just may have to actually jump into the book and give it to them).
Lastly, I'll discuss the writing style.  While reading, I saw a Paris Hilton and Johnny Depp reference.  I do not know why, but it always frustrates me when an author inserts either some famous clothes brand or artist's name.  Rachel Caine is no exception, but I forgave her, since it did not ruin the story.  What I had a harder time forgiving Caine for, was the foul language sprinkled throughout the book.  This immediately degrades a book for me.  For some reason, I was not able to warm up to the characters(with a few exceptions).  Although bad things happened to them, I did not feel that much sadness nor did I want to cry.  I wonder if this feeling will change later on in the other book, as Caine gains more experience with her characters?
In the end, I found The Dead Girls' Dance less entertaining than the first book, but I will keep reading the series, if not to find out what happens to Claire and Shane's budding romance.

Glass Houses (Morganville Vampires, #1)

Damn, Claire. Warn a guy before you do a face-plant on the floor next time.  I could have looked all heroic and caught you or something. Shane's chivalry never ceases to amaze me, but you gotta love the guy.

Summary
College freshman Claire Danvers has had enough of her nightmarish dorm situation. When Claire heads off-campus, the imposing old house where she finds a room may not be much better. Her new roommates don't show many signs of life, but they'll have Claire's back when the town's deepest secrets come crawling out, hungry for fresh blood. (borrowed from Goodreads)

]Opinion

Like most first books, Glass Houses was mostly stating the setting and plot.  After the middle of the book, it paced up a bit, and I really ended up enjoying it(not that I didn't beforehand).

Claire annoyed me at times, especially since she is supposed to be really smart, yet she acts very childish at times.  Also, Claire is always trying to prove she is an adult, and that does not match up with her juvenile behavior.  Oh well, it did not ruin the book.  But, I do have to say, Claire had an abnormal obsession with Shane's feet.  Although tiny in stature, Claire was fierce at times, and for a few minor objections, she was an average protagonist.
Now, it's time for me to turn fangirlish.  I ADORED Shane! Personally, I think he was hot, kind, sarcastic, and so many more things that it would take forever to list.  Shane is amazing, and one of the main reasons that I am going to keep reading the series.  I want to know what happens to him, and I do hope its nothing too bad or bad at all.
The last thing I will talk about, are the Monickettes, and it will be brief.  They were harsher and crueler than any other mean girls that I have ever read of before.  I know I'm supposed to hate them, but I DESPISED them.  I mean, who pours acid down someones back? That is just EVIL. Anyways, I just wanted to get that out of my system.

Overall Book Rating

"Fun reading...more engaging than most TV."  ~Booklist

Click here to visit Rachel Caine's website.
Click The Dead Girls' Dance to read the review of the Morganville Vampires, Book #2.

Morganville Vampire Series

In Morganville, Texas, it is prohibited to go outside after dark.  If you disobey, it is at your own risk.  What lurks in the shadows? One word that is notoriously famous. VAMPIRES. Once you enter this forsaken town, you never leave, and if you do, you lose all your memories, which is how the vampires have been able to survive this long.  How have humans lasted in this town? By protection, which is given by vampires in the form of bracelets(if the bracelet is red it's expired).  In return, a human is a slave to these blood-thirsty fiends.  These creatures of the night satisfy their thirst from the humans, who are required to donate blood at the hospital, thus quenching the vampire's hunger.  Gone are the sparkly vegetarian vampires who refuse to drink from humans.  In this series, vampires are bloodthirsty, evil beings.