Feast of Fools, Mogranville

Feast of Fools
Rachel Caine
June
NAL Jam
ISBN 0451224639
YA Paranormal
*****



Claire is rapidly coming to learn that in Morganville, it's always darkest, and there's no dawn that the darkest is just before, and furthermore, when it's dark, that's when the vampires come out to play with humans. It need not be said that the games are not nice or fun for the humans. Though she might feel like Amelie is on the side of the angels and can harbor both fear and an odd affection for Myrnin, and even be friends with Michael Glass, for the most part, she fears the vampires, with reason. The newest one in town, Bishop, makes even Oliver, Amelie's nemesis, seem friendly. With the deadliest, most ruthless of the undead in Morganville, determined to take over, and with her parents and friends in danger from him and his minions, the risks Claire is forced to take are not just increased, but cubed. Strange alliances are made as former enemies realize that they share a common foe. As Claire struggles with all this, she still has to race against time to try and save the lives of all the local vampires from a microscopic opponent, a disease that could make the threat of Biship moot. And somewhere in all the madness, she'd love to be able to sort out her own life as well.



Even when she's not writing about the weather, Ms. Caine blows me away. Through Claire's eyes and heart, we are pulled into an intense, kinetic, and highly emotional story that with wider exposure could topple a certain wizard from his broomstick. Words can barely describe the impact of books like this, that are so filled with feeling that you almost become the characters. It is not a stand alone novel, but if you have missed the first volumes, you just need to go back and read them. Though labeled young adult book, I'd say that just means there is nothing vulgar in it. The swear words are those of low level and everyone keeps their clothes on around other people. That does not make this any less of a mature book. In fact, it is more so than some adult books.

Midnight Alley Morganville III

Midnight Alley
Morganville Vampires 3
Rachel Caine
Oct
Jam
ISBN 0803715358
YA paranormal
****1/2



One thing about Morganville you need to know before moving there is that the solutions to problems have new problems inherent inside them. Becoming Amelie, the founder of the vampire line's, protectee was supposed to make things better for Claire and those she loves. So far, it's just added to her burdens. Her "patron" has ordered the girl to study with an insane vampire alchemist, working on a top secret project to what end she does not know. The meanest girl in town, the one who set the chain of events into motion that put Claire into the Glass House, Monica, now wants to be her best friend. There must be an ulterior motive. Two of her housemates are at each others' throats, which is only natural since Shane is the son of a vampire hunter and Michael is now a vampire. Claire finds herself the focus of too much attention and not knowing who to trust in the vampyric political games that turn human lives into chess pieces.



If you love complex stories in well built worlds, then it's time to take a trip to Morganville. Each new entry into the series fits neatly after the last and ends in such a way as to make you hunger for the next one to resolve the questions opened at its conclusion. Whatever your age, it will be impossible not to be fascinated by this edgy, unfolding drama.