This Side of the Grave by Jeaniene Frost Series: Night Huntress #7
Published by Avon on February 22, 2011
Genres: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Pages: 388
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased
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Amazon,Ā Audible,Ā Libro.fm,Ā Barnes & Noble,Ā Apple
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"āthe 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.
While This Side of the Grave wasn’t quite as action-packed as its predecessors, it didn’t suffer for it. The decrease in action allowed for some much needed emotional growth for Cat. The rest of the series will benefit from that growth.
The story continues on the plot of a ghoul causing problems for Cat & Bones, as well as the Vampire Nation, due to Cat’s biological anomalies. Trying to locate Apollyon, the ghoul in question, is problematic so Cat and Bones resort to attempting an alliance with an unlikely person.
This alliance, if it can be called that, brings about some crazy consequences. This particular plot thread kept me guessing until the end, which is even more surprising considering I’d read this installment previously. LOL I enjoyed it all immensely though, especially considering it involved Marie Laveau.
Besides dealing with the Apollyon situation, Cat and Bones also deal with some family issues involving Cat’s uncle, Don, and her mom. Experiencing the emotional turmoil caused by her family, as well as being the target of bigotry – STILL, – are the elements that bring about that emotional growth I was so happy to see. Not only did Cat grow as a person, accepting herself for who she is, but I felt like the revelations she had tore down that final wall between her and Bones. And it was awe-inspiring.
I’ve come to look forward to seeing Vlad in each book so I was thrilled he made an appearance. Mencheres & Kira and Spade & Denise rounded out the supernatural cast of couples. Seeing cameos from others and having Marie play a role only added to the fun. I appreciate the secondary cast all the more now since they’ve starred in their own books. It serves all the storylines well, adding depth and complexity to the characters.
So even though in some ways This Side of the Grave felt like a filler, a lot actually happened. The things that happened – specifically the character growth in Cat – was so important that I forgive the slight lack in action. I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next for Cat & Bones and their gang.
Games:
Who said (enter the answer in the Rafflecopter, don’t put in the comments)
Who saidĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āThat does make you the world’s freakiest bloodsucker, but there’s no law against a vampire feeding from other vampires. ā
There are other options in the rafflecopter for you to enter discussion questions and quotes to share.
The quote forĀ Who saidĀ āVampires like you piss me off, leaving a trail of bodies for humans to be suspicious over when thereās no need to kill to feed. Ever had a mob of villagers armed with torches and pitchforks burn your house down while screaming ādeath to the wampyre!ā? I have, and itās irritating beyond belief.āĀ Ā in Eternal Kiss of Darkness is Vlad.
The villain was Radje .
Share your review/ thoughts onĀ This Side of the Grave:
I thought it might be fun to link up reviews so we can find them all easily.Ā It can be a link to Goodreads or a blog, or wherever you have a review (short or long).
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Observations and questions you shared from Eternal Kiss of Darkness:
(Thank youĀ so much for sharing!)Ā If you can answer any of these numbered questions, you can do so in a comment.
- It’s interesting to go back to these earlier books and see the development of Veritas’ character.
- How does power sharing work?Ā Does the original person lose power when they share?
Quotes you readers shared fromĀ Eternal Kiss of Darkness:
“Please don’t misunderstand, I’m more than relieved that you’re not intending to eat me, but I can’t just disappear for several days. If you let me go, I’ll go home, and I won’t breathe a word to anyone about this.”
“Bath toys are reserved only for the oldest, more lethal vampires.”
“I can’t believe I’ll be spending up to a week with vampires, but…all right”
Kira allowed a tight smile to cross her face. “Years of dieting make lots of women tough when it comes to controlling our appetites. Who knew that saying no to desserts would turn out to be boot camp for becoming a vampire?”ā
“Bubbles. On a scale of one to ten, a bubble bath has to rank a zero as far as things I’d expect an older-than dirt, bad-ass vampire to indulge in. The only thing that would surprise me more was if you pulled out a rubber ducky.”
“Bloody hell, grandsire. You’ve left behind a wreckage of burned bodies, dead vampires, missing persons, threatened Guardians, and video evidence of our race’s existence. Then you go on holiday. You really do have a death wish.ā
“First bubble baths, now Disney parks. You’re shattering every creepy vampire myth I’ve ever heard..”
“You don’t have to echo my feelings, Mencheres, but you can’t talk me out of them, either. I love you” Her smile was wry. “Deal with it.”
“No you don’t feel too ancient, her voice husky, “or too different. You feel like mine. Whoever you were, whoever you are…you’re mine.”
Mencheres smiled, his fangs stretching to their full length. “So you have spoken, so it shall be decreed for all eternity. ā
āA vampire with a sense of humor. I really didn’t know that existed,” she quipped with equal dryness.ā
āhe’d be grinding your bones to make his fucking bread,” Baldy joked, to more laughter.ā
āHe smiled, so sensual and beautiful, it was another form of bliss just looking at him.ā
āCat cleared her throat in the tense silence that followed. “Uh, before this goes any further, let’s at least introduce ourselves to your friend. I’m Cat, and this is my husband, Bones. We’re part of Mencheres’s twisted little fang family.”
COYER FB Chat – Sunday June 12
Challenge is adopting our Read-along.Ā You can read about COYER and join that challenge Ā HERE. Ā On the Sunday after the review posts, they will host a FB room (like we do for COYER book club) at 12 PT, 2 CT, 3 ET and 9pm Europe, for a one hour chat.Ā You do not have to join the COYER challenge to participate, only the Facebook group.
If you canāt attend, there is also a Facebook messenger chat which has been fun and active, set up following the live chat.
Here’s your to-do list:
- Find your copies of these books, borrow them from a friend, get them at the library or buy them.
- Read Book 8, One Grave at a Time, by July 8.
- Make note of a favorite quote or two as you read the book.
- If you haven’t read the books before, make a list of questions you have for the discussion. If you have read them, please don’t spoil new readers.
- Think of some great questions for Jeaniene Frost for the Q & A post!
- Link up your review on Goodreads, FB or other site to the post.
- Join the COYER book chat on the Sunday following the post.
- Enter the giveaways!
Schedule:Ā Ā
We are doing one book every 3-4 weeks, posting on Fridays. We will have a review for the books with the team here at Books of My Heart plus some of our friends.Ā We are following the author recommended reading order.
Jun 10:Ā Ā This Side of the GraveĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā – Brandee @Unconventional Bookworms
Jul 8:Ā Ā Ā Ā One Grave at a TimeĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā –Ā LornaĀ
Aug 5:Ā Ā Ā Once BurnedĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā –Ā Lexxie @Unconventional Bookworms
Sep 9:Ā Ā Ā Twice TemptedĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā –Ā Angela @ Angel’s Guilty Pleasures
Oct 7:Ā Ā Ā Up from the GraveĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā –Ā Melanie
Nov 4:Ā Ā Ā Bound by FlamesĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā –Ā Sophia
Dec 2:Ā Ā Into the FireĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā – Berls @ Because Reading
Q & A with Jeaniene Frost
Miss a post?
Jan 14:Ā Ā Halfway to the GraveĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā – Melissa @ Tea & Books
Feb 11:Ā Ā One Foot in the GraveĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā –Ā Victoria @ First of All
Mar 11:Ā Ā At Grave’s EndĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā –Ā Kimberly @Caffeinated Reviewer
AprĀ 1:Ā Ā Ā Destined for an Early GraveĀ Ā –Ā Stephanie @ Once Upon a ChapterĀ Ā
Apr 29:Ā Ā First Drop of CrimsonĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā – Kai @ Fiction State of Mind
May 20:Ā Eternal Kiss of DarknessĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā – Jen @ That’s What I’m Talkin About
Jeaniene Frost has also been kind enough to commit to a Q & A post.Ā Ā I will collect questions for her through September 19th.Ā I will send your questions to her and she will pick 3-5 questions and send me the response.Ā I will post her answers in the December 2 post.Ā So think up some great questions for her!
Bonus round – Read a Series in a MonthĀ January 2023:
Jan 8:Ā Ā Ā Shades of WickedĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā –Ā Carole @ Carol’s Random Life in Books
Jan 22:Ā Ā Wicked BiteĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā –Ā Robin
Feb 5:Ā Ā Ā Ā Wicked All NightĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā –Ā Ā Anne
These are Sunday posts.Ā Ā Ā There will be one COYER FB Chat at the end of the series on Feb 5th.
Be sure to enter the giveaways!!!
Giveaway:
For a US winner, this will be one digital copy ( your choice of her books) generously provided by Jeaniene FrostĀ (US only) but they can be from Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Kobo. For Intl, a print copy of Twice TemptedĀ from Book depository.
Grand-Prize Giveaway:
For a US winner, this will be 12 digital copies ( your choice of her books) generously provided by Jeaniene FrostĀ (US only) but they can be from Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Kobo.
For an Intl winner,Ā it will be $50 at Book Depository.
About Jeaniene Frost
Jeaniene Frost is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of paranormal romance and urban fantasy. Her works include the Night Huntress series, the Night Prince series, the Broken Destiny series, and the new Night Rebel series. Jeanieneās novels have also appeared on the Publishers Weekly, Wall Street Journal, ABA Indiebound, and international bestseller lists. Foreign rights for Jeanieneās novels have sold to twenty different countries.
Jeaniene lives in Maryland with her husband Matthew, who long ago accepted that she rarely cooks and always sleeps in on the weekends. In addition to being a writer, Jeaniene also enjoys reading, writing, poetry, watching movies, exploring old cemeteries, spelunking and traveling ā by car. Airplanes, children, and cook books frighten her.
About Brandee at (Un)conventional Bookworms
Brandee is a wife and mom of 3. She’s also an avid reader, a genre omnivore, and a recovering one-click addict. On the list of things that keep her busy, she hikes, knits, and writes. She plans to publish her first book later this year.
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
Friend or follow me at Goodreads.
- A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett @robertjbennett.bsky.social @robertjbennett #Ballantine @DelReyBooks - April 1, 2025
- Sunday Series: Joe Pickett by CJ Box @cjboxauthor #DavidChandler @recordedbooks.bsky.social #SundaySeries #LoveAudiobooks #LibraryLove @RecordedBooks - March 30, 2025
- Sunday Post – 30 March 2025 @caffeinatedreviewer.com @readingreality.bsky.social @kimbacaffeinate @readingreality - March 30, 2025
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 22-COYER
Not seeing a way to link to reviewsā¦
Ugh and I checked it yesterday. Lots of moving parts to these posts. Thanks for letting me know. I’ve been enjoying your link-ups.
Vlad – I know, I’m delicious. Nummy, nummy.” lol
Its only a couple months until we are reading Vlad’s books.
I really enjoyed the story. I forgot how gut-wrenching one part was that had me crying! But overall I thought it was funny and entertaining.
It was all that plus Cat developing a lot more maturity in many ways. Thanks for sharing your review!
Great event(s) looking forward to seeing all the reviews for this blast from the past
It’s a real mix of old and new with the new Bones POV and the later series like Ian aren’t so old.
Never heard of this series before! It sounds really good. Thanks for sharing.
It’s one of my original favorites when I started reading UF. I haven’t read the Vlad or Ian books and I’d forgotten too much of how great these were. I’m really enjoying the Read-along. You’re always welcome to join us. We are on the 7th book now about halfway through though.
Loved getting your thoughts on this one, Brandee. Good insight about Cat’s personal development being a table setter for what is to come after.
It’s a thoughtful review. We all enjoy the entertaining banter, sex and adventure in the books but there is a lot there in character development and plot as well.
Thanks, Sophia. I really did love that Cat had several personal epiphanies in this one. š
Brandee thanks so much for sharing your review and joining us in the Read-along.
You’re so welcome, Anne! I’m really enjoying the read-along!
This Side of the Grave was awesome, it was so great to read it again and I really got a kick out of the river scene with Cat & Bones!
It was a joy. Thanks for sharing your review Eva.
Hi, yep, I agree with you about the excitement factor being a little bit less in this book. Love Vlad, as always. I also liked that Denise got to play a part, even though we didn’t get to experience it with her. And I really don’t like Marie.
Good points Role. Marie is clever and not for many except herself.
I’m giggling over you not liking Marie. š I’m happy you enjoyed the book as well.
Terrific review, I like that the excitement dies down a bit and allows for some character growth.
Thanks, Wendy! I’ve always been a Cat fan but I could understand how others had issues with her so this installment was important for her character. š
yes I’m glad to have a book with the character growth and also seeing many of the supporting characters.
I loved this story, actually I love this whole series, but each new couple makes me love it more! And Cat and Bones interactions in the stories makes them a lot better because of what they bring to the story.
Thank you for joining us. I’ve been enjoying it so much too.
I was not familiar with the series but got drawn to it instantly.
The earlier books came out 10 years ago and I read them at that time. I’m surprised how much I forgot and am enjoying them again. The latter half of the connected series I have not read and look forward to them.