Enchanting Review: Fade Out

FADE OUT (Morganville Vampires Book Seven)
RACHEL CAINE
Paranormal YA
NAL
ISBN# 978-0-451-22866-6
237 Pages
$6.99
Paperback—Available Now

Rating: 4.5 Enchantments

With Bishop gone and Eve in the local production of 'A Streetcar Named Desire', things around Glass House are about as normal as they've been in a long time. But normal is short lived in Morganville, especially for Claire. She thinks there's something a little odd about Eve's sudden new BFF Kim and it's not just the fact that she hooked up with Shane in the past either, no there's something there that Claire just can't put her finger on. When Kim suddenly goes missing before a rehearsal of the play, Claire and friends can't believe what they uncover about Eve's supposed new friend.

Ms. Caine does a great job with FADE OUT, the seventh installment in this entertaining paranormal series. With Bishop gone in the last book, I wasn't quite sure what would happen next in Morganville with Amelie seemingly back in charge, but things just keep on escalating. When the truth about Kim is found out, suddenly Claire, Eve, Michael and Shane are forced to save her from the Vamps punishment, even if she may actually deserve what she could get. Even with that going on, Ada is still out for blood—namely Claire's—and she really will do anything to get rid of her, making things between the two reach a climatic and chilling head in FADE OUT, where Myrnin gets caught in the middle of deadly game Ada's playing. I never imagined a character who's usually nothing more than a computer generated image of her former self can be so evil and devious. I love how we see Myrnin evolving from his crazed character in the earlier books in the series, even if he still retains a bit of his dark side, which shows up here and there. What I like best about the Morganville series is what I love best about this book, things just keep getting more complicated and the unexpected keeps popping up around every corner. I can't wait to see what's in store for Claire in the next book!

Rachel Caine is the internationally bestselling author of thirty novels, including the New York Times and USA Today bestselling Morganville Vampires young adult series: Glass Houses, The Dead Girls’ Dance, Midnight Alley, Feast of Fools, Lord of Misrule, Carpe Corpus, and Fade Out, with five more to follow in 2009-2011. Visit her online at www.rachelcaine.com

Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
November 2009

Enchanting Review: Midnight Alley (Morganville Vampires Book 3)

MIDNIGHT ALLEY (Morganville Vampires Book 3)

RACHEL CAINE

Paranormal YA

NAL Jam

ISBN# 978-0451222381

256 Pages

$6.99

Paperback--Available Now

Rating: 3.5 Enchantments

Claire Danvers has made a deal with Amelie for protection for her and her friends and in exchange, she has to do whatever the powerful female vampire demands. But she’d never imagined it would involve an apprenticeship of sorts, learning from the unusual Myrnin, a scientist vampire whose moods can switch on a whim and put Claire in danger in the blink of an eye. That’s not the only problem for Claire and co. when it seems Shane is being framed for the murders happening around town, the trail leading literally to their back door. Can they find out who the real killer is before things get out of hand?

As the third book in one of my favorite young adult series, I did have high hopes for MIDNIGHT ALLEY, but I honestly found it hard to get through at times, especially during the first half. I’m not sure if it was the action or the pace, but looking back this one felt more like a set up book for the next in the series. There were several enjoyable moments however--the addition of Myrnin, who I really came to like as the story went on--when he was in his good mood--as well as the scenes between Claire and her friends. The relationship between Claire and Shane deepens as well, which was nice to see as I love the way Ms. Caine has created the couples in this series, Claire and Shane, and Eve and Michael, the four of which make some of my favorite YA characters.

Rachel Caine is the author of the popular Weather Warden series, the Morganville Vampires series as well as many other books. You can visit her online at www.rachelcaine.com

Lisa

Enchanting Reviews

March 2009

Enchanting Review: The Dead Girls' Dance

THE DEAD GIRLS' DANCE (THE MORGANVILLE VAMPIRES BOOK 2)
RACHEL CAINE
Paranormal YA
NAL Jam
ISBN# 978-0-451-22089-9
238 Pages
$5.99
Paperback--Available Now

Rating: 4.5 Enchantments

Picking up mere moments after the shocking ending of 'Glass Houses', THE DEAD GIRLS' DANCE takes Claire and readers deeper into Morganville, deeper into its secrets--and those of the inhabitants of the Glass House---and consequently into more danger. With the appearance of Shane's father, who's hellbent on killing the vampires, Claire, Shane, Eve and Michael find themselves in a whole new kind of danger. One that will put one of their very lives on the line.

Wow, Rachel Caine crafts an amazing sequel with THE DEAD GIRLS' DANCE. My only criticism is the title is a bit misleading, since the actual DEAD GIRLS' DANCE didn't feature in until much later in the book, but still played a very pivotal part of the story. Just when you think you understand Morganville, things change. When a vampire is found murdered, Oliver goes after Shane, using him as bait to get to his father. But with time winding down and Shane's life hanging in the balance, its up to Claire and Eve to find the evidence to prove their friend's innocence. Amelie, the founder plays a bigger role in this one but still doesn't let Claire--or the reader--in on much. The power struggle between Amelie and Oliver continues, with Claire and co. sometimes right in the crosshairs, as a tug of war continues, foreshadowing Claire's future at the end of the book.

There wasn't a boring part to the story and that's what I love best about this series. The story moves at an incredible pace that keeps you turning the pages, especially once the story reaches the boiling point where Claire and Eve end up at THE DEAD GIRLS' DANCE. I have to say I really like the new addition to the series, Sam, the last made vampire, especially his surprising tie to one of the inhabitants of the Glass House.

You can visit Ms. Caine online to learn more and check out excerpts from this fabulous series at www.rachelcaine.com

Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
February 2009

Enchanting Review: Glass Houses

GLASS HOUSES (THE MORGANVILLE VAMPIRES BOOK 1)

RACHEL CAINE

Paranormal YA

NAL Jam

ISBN# 978-0451219947

256 Pages

$5.99

Paperback—Available Now

Rating: 5 Enchantments

I honestly can’t believe I’ve waited this long to read this fabulous series. Morganville, Texas is truly a creepy place. With vampires running the show, the population of Morganville is all under protection of one of them—or at least most of them are, except for the unaware university students, such as Claire Danvers. She had no idea vampires even existed until she finds herself on the wrong side of Monica and ends up at the Glass House desperate for a room or having to face the wrath of Monica who promises ‘she’ll get what she deserves’.

GLASS HOUSES is an amazing paranormal read that had me hooked from the start. When Claire finds herself on the bad side of Monica, she couldn’t have imagined just how bad things would get. Or that her odd new friends and roommates, Eve, Shane and Michael would end up being the only people she can truly trust. I really loved the characters, Eve and Michael especially and how Claire was willing to do almost anything to save herself and her newfound friends. The lengths that Monica and co. were willing to go to get Claire were actually surprising. I think the one scene that sticks out in my mind is when Claire decided she was going back to school and Shane went with, playing the role of bodyguard. In the midst of her chemistry lab, one of Monica’s little friends takes the chance to get her revenge on Claire.

A fast paced read with a startling climax and an even more jaw dropping ending, paranormal fans won’t go wrong picking this one up. However, it is seriously recommended to pick book two, THE DEAD GIRLS DANCE up with it, because when you finish this one, you will definitely want to see what happens next.

Rachel Caine is the author of the popular Weather Warden series, the Morganville Vampires series as well as many other books. You can visit her online at www.rachelcaine.com And read a sample from Glass Houses at http://www.rachelcaine.com/Samples/Entries/2006/10/3_Glass_Houses.html

Lisa

Enchanting Reviews

January 2009