Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Along Came a Spider by Kate SeRine
Series: Transplanted Tales #3
Published by Kensington Books on January 1, 2013
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 264
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
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Along came a spider…
When Trish Muffet is attacked at a grisly crime scene, the last person she expects to come to her rescue is Nicky “Little Boy” Blue. But since walking away from everything two years before, Nicky’s been doling out vigilante justice as “The Spider,” taking on the vicious predators of the night in hopes it’ll lead him to his ultimate target – Vlad Dracula. And he needs Trish’s help.
Although Nicky’s renegade style goes against everything Trish stands for, she’ll do what she must to bring Dracula down. With danger stalking her, Trish knows the only person she can count on is the one man who has the power to leave her breathless. There’s no way she’s letting this spider frighten her away…
The third book of the Transplanted Tales series, Along Came a Spider is brought to us by Little Miss Muffet’s PoV. She goes by Trish in the here in now working for the FMA (Fairytale Management Authority) to solve crimes perpetrated on tales. She has a special talent to see the last moments of the newly deceased to help find their killers. It also works unexpectedly sometimes with the living, to see into their souls, which makes dating a bit hellish.
Trish has been in love with Nicky Blue (Little Boy Blue, a kingpin in the here and how) since that first day she ended up in the here and now but hasn’t been really close to him since that first day coming over. She has seen him here and there and helped save his life in the first book, but for the most part she has pined for him from a far while he dated Red for years and then married Juliette, from Romeo and Juliette. That ended a bit tragically as you know if you read Red, but it is years later now and Nicky is hunting Vlad the man/vampire for the loss of this semi-perfect life, when Vlad set his sights on Trish, Nicky vows to protect her.
There are a few more politics in play in this one as Al Laddin is trying to keep the tales being in the here and now safe, while the Agency is becoming more bold in their efforts to find out what makes tales tick in a cut you apart and see what’s inside kind of way which never goes well for the tale. As Trish and Nick try to figure out why there are ordinary vampires in the city, the Agency is hot on their tales and showing up at the worst times.
Let’s say I love Trish and Nicky; they are great characters and the world in this book is really a lot of fun with all the different Fairytale plopped into the real world. Even Rumpelstiltskin has an interesting story of why he wanted a child of his own and how the stories vilified him. That said there are some areas in this book I thought could have been fleshed out a little better, especially the connection Vlad had to Trish. There was one scene in an Trish’s apartment that didn’t make a ton of sense, later on in the book, other than to throw Trish and Nicky together in the same house. That said though, it is still an entertaining story and I really liked how it all came together in the end.
One of the best parts of the story is getting to see past characters come back into play. Red and Nate as they are expecting their first child and Lavender and Seth in their newly coupled glory made appearances. Gideon also stole the show for a few scenes as well and I look forward to seeing his story eventually.
Overall, this is a fun series and quick reads with some interesting characters in wonderful idea of a world where some of your favorite characters and villains from books are just wandering around.
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Red
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Grimm Consequences
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The Better to See You
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Along Came A Spider
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Ever After
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Better Watch Out (Fall 2022)
Excerpt:
I glanced around, searching frantically for some escape, but it was useless. Unless I suddenly discovered some latent ability to leap tall buildings in a single bound, I was well and truly hosed. I pressed my lips together and squared off. If I was going down, I wasn’t going to make it easy. They’d have to earn my blood.
“Come on, you bitch!” I growled at the blonde. “You want a piece of me? Bring it on!”
She leaped forward like she was on a spring. My eyes went wide, my courageous last stand suddenly not such a brilliant idea. But a split second later, she jerked back with a screech, her hand clawing at a small black arrow lodged in her shoulder. I heard an answering screech from the brunette and swung around in time to see her head snap back as an arrow pierced her eye.
What the hell?
There was a scuffling noise behind me that brought my head around in time to see the blonde struggling with a figure dressed in black fatigues and wearing a black ski mask. As I watched, he swung his fist, catching her jaw with a right hook, then slamming her chin with a left uppercut that knocked her on her ass. In the next instant, he had a knee on her chest and snatched from his ammo belt something that looked like a railroad stake. The blonde didn’t even have time to react as he drove it down into the center of her chest.
I hadn’t even realized I was holding my breath until it burst from me with a gasp. But my relief was short-lived. An arm came around my throat, cutting off my air. I drove my elbow into my attacker’s ribs, but it barely fazed her. I grabbed her arm and tucked my chin down to take some of the pressure from my esophagus, then drove the edge of my snow boot down along her exposed shin, making her howl in pain.
“Get down!”
My eyes darted toward the sound of the man’s voice. He stood over the body of the blonde, a small crossbow aimed at the brunette. I bit down on the vampire’s arm as hard as I could, drawing her tainted blood. When she roared with rage, her grip loosening for a fraction of a second, I dropped, rolling out of the way as the man in black fired the crossbow. The arrow struck the center of the woman’s chest. Her eyes went wide for a fraction of a second before she crumpled into a permanently dead heap.
So this was the infamous Spider…
I totally took back everything I’d said about the guy being no better than the criminals he brought down. He was my new BFF. I was tempted to see if he was a bit parched after the ass kicking he’d just doled out and maybe wanted to join me for a super stiff drink at Ever Afters, but then the mind-numbing pain in my wrist reminded me I probably had other business to tend to first.
Out of breath, I scooted myself back with my good arm until I could lean against one of the dumpsters. My adrenaline left me in a rush, and I was suddenly completely exhausted. I closed my eyes and let my head fall back against the dumpster.
“Are you hurt?”
My eyes snapped open, my stomach clenching painfully. There was something so familiar about that voice. . . . “What?”
My rescuer squatted down in front of me. “Are you all right?”
I blinked at him, suddenly experiencing a serious case of déjà vu. The man’s tone was rough, clipped, and there was no hint of mischief or roguish charm. Still . . .
“My wrist is broken,” I said a little breathlessly. “But it’s already healing. I’ll be fine by tomorrow.”
He gave me a tight nod and started to rise, but then seemed to reconsider and resumed his crouch before me. He studied me for a long moment, giving me a good glimpse of his eyes, but they were in shadow, obscuring the color, and he was completely on his guard. There was no way I was getting in.
“You did good, doll,” he said finally. “Made my job one helluva lot easier.”
I felt my cheeks going warm at the praise. “Thanks.”
His eyes narrowed, crinkling a little behind his ski mask and giving me the impression that he was grinning. “But you know, you shouldn’t be out here alone at night, even if you can kick ass,” he admonished. Then he reached up and twisted one of my ringlets around his gloved index finger and pulled gently before letting it spring back into place. “I’d hate to see harm come to a girl as pretty as you.”
My eyes went wide. Holy shit. “Nicky Blue?” I gasped. “You’re the Spider?” He jumped to his feet and took a few quick steps before I found my voice to cry out, “Wait! Nicky! It’s okay—I know you!”
He halted midstride and shook his head. “No, you don’t,” he said over his shoulder. “No one does. Not anymore.”
I scrambled awkwardly to my feet, my knees still shaky from my encounter with the vampires, but when I looked up again he was gone. I turned a full circle, searching for him in the shadows, but he had slipped away as silently and mysteriously as he’d come. I let out a disappointed sigh.
“You’re wrong, Nicky Blue,” I announced to the darkness. “Nobody knows you better than I do.”
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The cover is pretty.
Yes they have all been really good.
Thanks for hosting!
It has been a fun series to read.
I really want to read this series but I couldn’t fit it in my schedule.
Honestly I wouldn’t have picked it up for myself normally just because there isn’t any audio. But I’m really enjoying it.
I used to really enjoy this series when it was first released
I could see that. 10 year anniversary. I would have totally been into this entire series even 10 years ago. It is holding up well.
I’m glad you’ve enjoyed this read. I read Red and definitely liked it.
Fits a really cool niche
Along Came a Spider is one of my favorite books! Thanks for sharing it with me and have a terrific day!
Little Boy Blue and Little Miss Muffet are easy characters to really fall in love with.
I’m so glad you’re enjoying this series!
It has been pretty fun and I like all the character mash-ups
I’ve seen this series and it looks good, so many good books so little time LOL
Thanks for sharing
Isn’t that the truth. The longer I read the more books I’m behind.
[…] Books of My Heart (review) […]
Huh! Sounds like this is right up my alley! Thanks for sharing.
It totally reminds me a little of the Once Upon a Time show. I loved that the first few seasons.
This does sound like a fun series. I don’t think that I have ever read a story about Little Miss Muffet so that does appeal.
Right. There are some unusual stars to the featured in this series to far.
looks interesting
The cover is beautiful and really makes me want to read this!
Happy 10 Year Anniversary Kate!
Thanks for sharing an excerpt! The series sounds really interesting!