Bound by Flames: A Night Prince Novel by Jeaniene Frost

 

4 Stars

This is the third book in this series.  I can’t quite remember.  The previous book was so long ago that I actually had a hard time remembering all the components of the storyline and who everyone is.

This book starts off with a dinner party at Vlad’s castle.  They are looking for connections to the bad guy whose last name I can’t remember how to spell…Szilyagi or something like that (just pretend that I spelled it right).  The bad guy is still out there and gunning for Vlad.  He used Leila once to get to Vlad, which worked so Vlad is extra protective now that Leila is his wife and he has been forced to admit that he cares.  This however does not prevent Szilyagi’s treachery from reaching Leila.  She is a magnet for trouble.  This doesn’t feel like she is stupid or helpful and always needs rescuing like in some books.  She ends up in trouble because there is a lot of trouble out there.  There was a point in the book where Vlad wanted her to stay in one place and she refused and went to help others.  If she had stayed there it would have meant her death.  It was refreshing that Leila was strong and could take care of herself.  She didn’t always make the same decision I would have, but I could usually understand where she was coming from. 

There is some resolution, but more problems come around by the end of the book.  Problems I did not see coming! 

 

Eternal Kiss of Darkness by Jeaniene Frost

3 Stars

I am going to admit up front that I am probably being harder on this book than I normally am.  Three stars = a good book, but not great (4 stars) and not holy-moly-how-did-I-live-my-life-without-you (5 stars).  I enjoyed the first 15% and the last 15% but the middle was a bunch of blah.  I actually put it down many times and wasn’t excited about picking it back up.  The reason why I think I am being hard on it is that I just read the first two books in the Night Prince series by this same author and they were fantastical! 

This book is a spin off book from the Night Huntress series about Menchares and his lady fair, Kira.  Menchares has lost his visions and believes that he is not long for this world.  This is how Kira finds/meets Menchares.  He is being attacked by 4 ghouls and she walks in on this to try to save him.  After that fiasco, Menchares finds he can’t stop thinking about Kira.  Kira learns that Menchares is a vampire, but instead of being repulsed she tries to find him after he takes her back to her life.  Of course, she lands herself into some more trouble that he must extricate her from and this time she has some consequences she must deal with afterwards.  Radjedef, Menchares enemy, is plotting to acquire Menchares powers and sets into motion some nasty frame jobs to turn everyone against Menchares.

What I loved about this book was that we got to see Menchares flex his vampire superpowers a lot more than in the other books.  We got to see Bones and Vlad again which is always nice. 

Favorite quote:

“Bath toys are reserved only for the oldest, most lethal vampires.  I have a full century to age and another thousand men to kill before I reach that hallowed landmark.”  -Menchares 

Twice Tempted: A Night Prince Novel by Jeaniene Frost (Night Prince #2)

4.5 Stars

There is soooo much that happens in this book and I think most of it would be spoilers.  I’m not even sure I can put my favorite quote in because that might have spoilers too!  This book takes up right where the last one left off.  We get the impression at the end of the first book that Vlad is being a bit distant and he continues this way into the second book.  Blah, blah, blah, I can’t even say what happens, but Leila ends up back with Marty, but then something happens and Leila is looking for a killer with Maximus who is supposed to protect her.  We all remember how Maximus feels about her…trouble!  Anyway, just like the last book we can trace all this trouble back to Vlad, the little rascal!  I think that is all I can say…

As I mentioned in the review for “Once Burned,” I forgot how much I enjoy this author’s writing!  I read so many Indie authors (and I still love you guys) that I forget what a good editor and an experienced author can add to the story line.  I think my one complaint is that soo much happened in this novel.  It definitely wasn’t boring, and I am not even convinced it is a complaint.  I didn’t expect it so maybe it’s a good thing!

I’ve decided to put one of my favorite quotes out there, but I am not going to say who is saying it to whom…

“No one feels like you do, so every brush of your skin is a cruel reminder of what I’ve lost.  I can barely stand the sight of you because you’re more beautiful than I’ve allowed myself to remember…”

Once Burned: A Night Prince Novel by Jeaniene Frost (Night Prince #1)

5 Big ‘Ole Fat Stars

This is another instance of having a book from one of my favorite authors that I just let sit and molder on my kindle.   Can someone please tell me what I am thinking?!  Ugh!  I have made a pact with my kindle that I will read all of my favorite authors that I have stock piled and stop this nonsense.  Of course after I read this, I noticed that the second one just came out so I carried my fingers over to Amazon and snatched the second one up quick and am already hotfooting it through that book. 

I already loved Vlad from the Cat and Bones series so I knew I would love for him to have his own series.  Vlad is thrown together with a human with some special abilities.  Not only can she absorb and release electricity through her body, but she can also get images from the past, present and future from touching someone or something that person touched.  Because of this, she is pursued by some bad guys intent upon bringing Vlad to his knees.  Vlad, of course, has many options for who his enemy could be but can’t figure out who it is.  With so many options he uses Leila’s skills to attempt to figure out who the puppet master is.  There is some intense attraction between Vlad and Leila, but Vlad states that he can never offer her love.  And Leila is ok with this.  She has never been able to have a relationship with a normal guy because of the electricity thing and the psychic thing.  But Vlad is fireproof so perhaps this is perfect for Leila.  Vlad wants to keep her safe and on the side lines and Leila wants in on the fight. 

The end of the book leaves the reader wondering what will happen between Leila and Vlad now that the immediate danger to them both seems to be over.  Jeaniene Frost writes to excellent heart rending books and I can’t wait to find out what happens in the second book.  I loved everything about this book.  Neither the hero nor the heroine did things to annoy me which is always a plus!  I liked Marty and Maximus a lot too. 

Favorite quote:

“I’m not getting anywhere with him,” I said to Vlad.  “Do you have something you want me to relay before I go?”

“Yes.”  Vlad’s voice was pleasant.  “Tell him the next time I see him, I’ll rip off his head and make a new toilet out of it.” 

“He hates you a lot,” I summarized to Szilagyi.