Review: First Drop of Crimson by Jeaniene Frost

Spoiler Warning: Do not read this review or this book unless you've read At Grave's End. Or you don't care about having a significant plot point spoiled.

I was a little reluctant to read this book after I finished my Cat and Bones marathon read. I'd read the reviews posted by admitted Frost fangirls and was almost regretting the fact that I'd already purchased the book. Most of the reviews were less than stellar. They spoke of disappointment and annoyance. Of being let down. Of sub-standardness.

Again, it's probably because I haven't been waiting for months on end for this book that I think I might have a different perspective here. This is not and was never meant to be a Cat and Bones book. For one thing, the Night Huntress books are written from Cat's first person POV. This book is written in the 3rd person. So you're not going to get the same connection from it that you do from the NH books--because you're not hearing Cat's snarky one liners.



And, since you're not hearing Cat's voice in your head, this book is nowhere near as funny as the NH books. And I can understand why the lack of that levity would disappoint Frost's fans. They're used to reading a book filled with action and snark. And that is definitely missing here.

But what wasn't missing for me is the romance. I found myself charmed by Charles aka Spade. He's always been the more formal of the vampire group--having come from an aristocratic background. And watching him grow increasingly possessive of and gentle with Denise was charming.

I didn't find Denise at all annoying. I could fully understand her inability to just 'get over' the tragedy that had controlled her life. [huge spoiler ahead] Seeing your spouse dismembered and partially feasted up on by zombies is not something you can shrug off. Especially since Denise loved her husband. And had not only PTSD but survivor's guilt as well. That's some serious psychological damage to overcome. I don't think a year is unreasonable. I don't think a decade would be.

I did find it a bit odd that the whole demon angle seemed a bit unfamiliar to Spade. It strained credulity at times that he wasn't more knowledgeable about something else that was other wordly, but that could just be me.

Overall, I felt this was a good first step into the wider Night Huntress world. And I think it opens up the entire series to bigger and better possibilities.


My Grade: B+