Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Both Feet in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost Series: Night Huntress #8
Published by NYLA on April 18, 2023
Genres: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Pages: 358
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
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Cat disappeared from Bones’ life to protect him, but this Master vampire will keep his promise to find her.
Two hundred years of bounty hunting made Bones the best at what he does, yet it's still taken him four long years to find Cat, the half vampire now known as the "Red Reaper." There's a price on Cat's head, and not even her job as a secret government agent can save her. Only Bones can. But has time hardened Bones too much to love again? Or will his passion for Cat burn through every obstacle—alive, undead, or otherwise—between them?
In my review of The Other Half of the Grave last year, I said many things which are true here. Since the original Cat & Bones books in the Night Huntress series are all told in Cat’s point of view, we didn’t know as much about supernaturals or Bones in the originals. It was also the first time we got Bones’ point of view and learned his overwhelming love and support for Cat. He does everything he can to protect and support and educate her, while letting her make her own decisions in her own time. Almost everything is a spoiler here, especially since it is the same time period as One Foot in the Grave.
In Both Feet in the Grave, Bones is less patient in some ways and wants her to admit her feelings and the truth. He pushes her more after their separation but he still lets her make her own choices, no matter how hard it is for him. He is furious with Ian and Annette who try to spoil things with her. I feel a little bad for Ian, understanding more about vampire customs now where I hated him in Cat’s viewpoint. Bones could have asked him for help but if it went wrong, he couldn’t bear it.
Bones’ point of view is darker and less humorous. His focus is all on trying to protect Cat from Ian and her father, while making their life together. He feels a bit emotionally wrought. I do like how with her team and then later with the vampire marriage she validates Bones and their feelings.
One of the things I most desired, was the story about Bones’ time during the four years they were separated. We do get some of that information, but I really wanted more. What did he do to search for her? Mostly, there is his emotional state during this time. Of course, four years is a blip in his long life, so the quick coverage makes more sense here than in Cat’s version.
Both Feet in the Grave tells a story from a different perspective but is more the same as One Foot in the Grave. With The Other Half of the Grave, I felt we got more story than in Halfway to the Grave. I enjoyed having the whole picture, but the Bones’ point of view books would have felt a bit scattered without the original versions and their humor. So you can read the originals without these, but I wouldn’t read Bones’ point of view books without the originals.
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. Jeaniene’s novels have also appeared on the Publishers Weekly, Wall Street Journal, ABA Indiebound, and international bestseller lists. Foreign rights for Jeaniene’s 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 – by car. Airplanes, children, and cook books frighten her.
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.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 23-COYER
Interesting! I am curious about this series now.
We read this series last year for the Read-along. I’ve enjoyed it for many years.
Some day I am going to finish this series…lol Great review Anne.
Thank you Kimberly. I have enjoyed the series and was happy to reread half and finish the rest last year. It helped me be up to date for reading this one.
I’m holding off on reading this one just because of mood, but I’m looking forward to it.
I hope you enjoy it too. I liked it a lot.
Glad to hear this was another satisfying installment in the series and that you got some of what you were hoping for with respect to Bones’ story.
It gave me more of what I wanted to know and it was great to revisit this time period.
I need to get back into this series at some point. I love her books.
I’ve really enjoyed the Read-along last year and the new titles.
Sounds like it was good to get Bones’ POV for those four years of separation. Someday I’ll finish this series.
I enjoyed it and both the reread and catchup with the Read-along last year.
It does sound like more could’ve been achieved with this POV but wasn’t. Glad it was still a success in the end. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Thank you! I have enjoyed this series and related ones very much.
It’s been so long since I read the original, that I forgot about the separation. I would have wanted more too, since it is his POV. I’m glad you are enjoying these stories and that they are different enough than the original to make for good reading.
yes I am very happy to have more in this world.
Sounds good! I can’t wait to read this one.
I hope you love it too.
Another author and series I need to check out! Thanks for sharing!
This is the series where I did the Read-along last year. I’ve enjoyed them for years.