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denizgokturk's review
5.0
The ARC of this novel was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
First of all, I gotta say this. I'm a sucker for books that show us male character's POV! I've read Night Huntress universe for sooo long, it became a tradition for me to read them all once in a year. But this time Jeaniene Frost came with Bones' POV, of course I needed to read!
The Other Half of the Grave is telling us first book's story from Bones' view. My man was so gone when he saw Cat, and he fell in love with her at the first sight. Honestly I'm not a big fan of insta-love but when it comes to Bones and Cat, it felt right to me.
It was such a great journey to be inside Bones' head, getting to know his feelings and thoughts about Cat. When we were reading Halfway to the Grave, we saw Cat's struggle about being half human and half vampire. Bones was a monster to her and realizing that she loves him was a bumpy road. In this book I read Bones' patience, love and lust (of course!) and seeing Cat through his eyes was great. One of my favorite scenes was when Bones take her on a date without Cat knowing about it. To me it was the breaking point of the entire series.
Also, can we talk the smut?? Hello? Where can I get a British, two hundred plus years old Master vampire who calls me luv? I wanted to do this when I read smut scenes on the subway but I couldn't:
Also I wanted to sob to the scene where Cat had to leave him because she thought he was gonna get killed :(((((
Long story short, it was everything I need from a Jeaniene Frost book: My Bones, my Cat, pining, love, smut, aaaand a little of Charles. Please please go read it when it's published.
I want to thank Netgalley and publisher for sending me this ARC.
First of all, I gotta say this. I'm a sucker for books that show us male character's POV! I've read Night Huntress universe for sooo long, it became a tradition for me to read them all once in a year. But this time Jeaniene Frost came with Bones' POV, of course I needed to read!
The Other Half of the Grave is telling us first book's story from Bones' view. My man was so gone when he saw Cat, and he fell in love with her at the first sight. Honestly I'm not a big fan of insta-love but when it comes to Bones and Cat, it felt right to me.
It was such a great journey to be inside Bones' head, getting to know his feelings and thoughts about Cat. When we were reading Halfway to the Grave, we saw Cat's struggle about being half human and half vampire. Bones was a monster to her and realizing that she loves him was a bumpy road. In this book I read Bones' patience, love and lust (of course!) and seeing Cat through his eyes was great. One of my favorite scenes was when Bones take her on a date without Cat knowing about it. To me it was the breaking point of the entire series.
Also, can we talk the smut?? Hello? Where can I get a British, two hundred plus years old Master vampire who calls me luv? I wanted to do this when I read smut scenes on the subway but I couldn't:
Also I wanted to sob to the scene where Cat had to leave him because she thought he was gonna get killed :(((((
Long story short, it was everything I need from a Jeaniene Frost book: My Bones, my Cat, pining, love, smut, aaaand a little of Charles. Please please go read it when it's published.
I want to thank Netgalley and publisher for sending me this ARC.
bibblanmadde's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
booksandbedtime's review
4.0
CAT AND BONES ARE BACK!!!
The Night Huntress series is about half-vampire/half-human Catherine (Cat) Crawfield. She hates her vampire lineage and has made it her personal mission to kill all the vampires. That is until she meets Bones and she can’t get the edge on him. Bones then trains Cat and the two of them are unstoppable vampire hunters.
This newest installment is a retelling of the first book in the series - but this time from Bone’s perspective and all his glorious accent and pure love and adoration for Cat.
This is clearly a case of don’t judge a book by its cover. I’m not a fan of having half-naked people on covers. But I am a fan of this book and series.
Thank you Jeaniene Frost for sending me a copy of your newest book. I’m so excited for Cat and Bones to return out into the world.
The Night Huntress series is about half-vampire/half-human Catherine (Cat) Crawfield. She hates her vampire lineage and has made it her personal mission to kill all the vampires. That is until she meets Bones and she can’t get the edge on him. Bones then trains Cat and the two of them are unstoppable vampire hunters.
This newest installment is a retelling of the first book in the series - but this time from Bone’s perspective and all his glorious accent and pure love and adoration for Cat.
This is clearly a case of don’t judge a book by its cover. I’m not a fan of having half-naked people on covers. But I am a fan of this book and series.
Thank you Jeaniene Frost for sending me a copy of your newest book. I’m so excited for Cat and Bones to return out into the world.
booksplantsandtea's review
5.0
I read Halfway to the Grave when I was 16-17 years old and I remember it as the moment I really became a reader. For the first time, I experienced being so completely enthralled by a book I couldn't put it down, laughing out loud, feeling my heart race during action scenes, rooting for the couple, having my first book boyfriend... I cannot put into words how much this series has meant to me. I re-read certain quotes and scenes countless times during tough times in my life, making Cat and Bones my ultimate comfort couple.
So when Jeaniene Frost announced the free chapters of Bones' pov on her website, I was nervous, sceptic even. Would it ruin Bones' character for me? I wasn't sure. However, I quite liked the idea of getting to know one of my all time favorite stories from a different perspective. So, when I saw the book on Netgalley, I was quick to request it and was over the moon excited when I got accepted, but there was still this little voice in my head that kept whispering about the what if's... What if I don't like it? What if the instalove trope (which I normally hate) ruins it for me? What if I'm bored reading it because I know the story? What if, what if...
Well, I'm glad to report that reading The Other Half of the Grave felt more like coming home after a long trip and rediscovering the comfort of your home from a new perspective. You settle in with a newfound love because you rediscover why your home feels so much like home to you and then love it all the more for it. That's what reading this book was like. I loved experiencing things through Bones' eyes. His admiration of and unconditional love for Cat, warmed my heart. Whereas I was afraid of not liking it beforehand because Bones fell almost instantly for Cat, never once did it bother me while reading. If anything, it touched me that he instantly saw her courage, braveness, fierceness, kindness and all of her other qualities from the get go and loved her all the more for it. Getting to read how he cared for her, believed in her from the start, and tried helping her sort through her own negative self image in often times very subtle ways that worked for her... All of this while, as he put it, being cut by her predisposed hatred of vampires and therefore him, made my heart bleed and put it back together at the same time. It made me love him even more that he kept showing up for her, even though she kept hurting him without really realizing most of the time. Him seeing her true nature and loving her all the more for it, in a way even knowing her better than she knows herself, seeing through her defense mechanisms and helping her getting through them slowly while always being a gentleman and respecting her pace, never pushing her past what she could handle at that particular moment in time. I was worried about not liking Bones anymore after reading this book. Well, I should've been worried about how much more I'd fall in love with him instead! Through Bones, I also began to see Cat in an entirely different light and loved her all the more for it. I finally started to get what people mean when they say others see more good in you than you do in yourself sometimes.
Honestly, Bones is a class act. Except when it comes to cover hogs. He will not, and I repeat, he will NOT let that one go! I giggled every time he subtly hinted at Cat's cover hog abilities. Then again, I laughed out loud at so much more. One of the reasons why I love Jeaniene Frost's books so much is the way her writing style is infused by humor. The sarcasm makes me laugh out loud multiple times when reading any of her books, and this one delivered just as much on that front.
Of course, the world she build, we all already knew and loved, but I especially enjoyed reading the things we didn't already know before because Cat didn't know them. I loved that The Other Half of the Grave not only showed us Bones' POV but also added onto the story by giving us extra tidbits of information.
Being back in this world, seeing it through Bones' eyes was a treat like no other. So I want to thank Jeaniene Frost for writing this book in the first place and also for granting me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. You have made me one happy lady these past few days! Thank you!
So when Jeaniene Frost announced the free chapters of Bones' pov on her website, I was nervous, sceptic even. Would it ruin Bones' character for me? I wasn't sure. However, I quite liked the idea of getting to know one of my all time favorite stories from a different perspective. So, when I saw the book on Netgalley, I was quick to request it and was over the moon excited when I got accepted, but there was still this little voice in my head that kept whispering about the what if's... What if I don't like it? What if the instalove trope (which I normally hate) ruins it for me? What if I'm bored reading it because I know the story? What if, what if...
Well, I'm glad to report that reading The Other Half of the Grave felt more like coming home after a long trip and rediscovering the comfort of your home from a new perspective. You settle in with a newfound love because you rediscover why your home feels so much like home to you and then love it all the more for it. That's what reading this book was like. I loved experiencing things through Bones' eyes. His admiration of and unconditional love for Cat, warmed my heart. Whereas I was afraid of not liking it beforehand because Bones fell almost instantly for Cat, never once did it bother me while reading. If anything, it touched me that he instantly saw her courage, braveness, fierceness, kindness and all of her other qualities from the get go and loved her all the more for it. Getting to read how he cared for her, believed in her from the start, and tried helping her sort through her own negative self image in often times very subtle ways that worked for her... All of this while, as he put it, being cut by her predisposed hatred of vampires and therefore him, made my heart bleed and put it back together at the same time. It made me love him even more that he kept showing up for her, even though she kept hurting him without really realizing most of the time. Him seeing her true nature and loving her all the more for it, in a way even knowing her better than she knows herself, seeing through her defense mechanisms and helping her getting through them slowly while always being a gentleman and respecting her pace, never pushing her past what she could handle at that particular moment in time. I was worried about not liking Bones anymore after reading this book. Well, I should've been worried about how much more I'd fall in love with him instead! Through Bones, I also began to see Cat in an entirely different light and loved her all the more for it. I finally started to get what people mean when they say others see more good in you than you do in yourself sometimes.
Honestly, Bones is a class act. Except when it comes to cover hogs. He will not, and I repeat, he will NOT let that one go! I giggled every time he subtly hinted at Cat's cover hog abilities. Then again, I laughed out loud at so much more. One of the reasons why I love Jeaniene Frost's books so much is the way her writing style is infused by humor. The sarcasm makes me laugh out loud multiple times when reading any of her books, and this one delivered just as much on that front.
Of course, the world she build, we all already knew and loved, but I especially enjoyed reading the things we didn't already know before because Cat didn't know them. I loved that The Other Half of the Grave not only showed us Bones' POV but also added onto the story by giving us extra tidbits of information.
Being back in this world, seeing it through Bones' eyes was a treat like no other. So I want to thank Jeaniene Frost for writing this book in the first place and also for granting me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. You have made me one happy lady these past few days! Thank you!
anasatticbookblog's review
5.0
The Other Half of The Grave: A Night Huntress Novel by Jeaniene Frost
A Retelling of Halfway to the Grave in the male POV. I *think* you can read this first, but you will want to continue the series, as this does not stand alone. Paranormal Romance.
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Back in 2008/2009, I was reading all the paranormal romance I could get my hands on, but The Night Huntress Series by Jeaniene Frost stood out as my favorite, and it is the only paranormal series that I have continued since then. Though I’ve kept up with Cat and Bones through their friends' stories, it had been a long while since I re-read the first book in the series, Halfway to the Grave.
I had intended to do a re-read before The Other Half of the Grave released, but I decided to enjoy it like a new story instead of picking it apart with comparisons. I am SO GLAD I did it that way. There was a lot I didn’t remember, and since it’s the same story from Bones’s POV there were plenty of scenes that were the same events, but we get to hear them from Bones’s mind.
There were also plenty of scenes that were completely new, and it was cool getting to see what Bones was up to when he was away from Cat. Since we can’t see how much Cat actually likes Bones in this, her stubbornness and vampire hatred sometimes got a little frustrating to read about, I just wanted to shake her, because I knew how amazing Bones is now.
“Yes, she was fantasizing about ripping both of her weapons through his heart while he was feeling things he’d only heard of before, but who said romance was perfect?”
I can’t tell you how much fun I had coming back to this world. As soon as I finished I wanted to jump right to One Foot In The Grave (Night Huntress Book 2) to find out what happens, but I also now wanted to listen to the original from the OG POV, Cat’s. So in the end, I bought Halfway to the Grave on audio then jumped right into One Foot In The Grave.
Now I am re-listening to the whole series, and let me tell you, its spot at the top of my favorites list is well-deserved. If I was reading it for the first time today the series would still jump right to the top of my favorites list with everything I love: Action/adventure, romance, characters I want to be friends with, amazing banter, funny moments, and hot sex.
“I love you, Bones.” Light exploded through him. He’d never known joy could detonate like a bomb, but it did, and it filled his whole soul.”
I usually do Likes and Dislikes here, but I literally loved every word. I admit it, I am completely biased because I will take any scraps of Bones and Cat that I can get, and I’m thrilled to say that they did not disappoint. I am so happy to start the series again and be back in the Night Huntress world, that I may just have to get the whole series and all its spinoffs on audio and re-listen to it all. The *only* thing I would have liked more is if it was first-person in Bones's head.
One note: Jeaniene Frost updated some elements of the story. Beepers were replaced by cell phones and some more current references were added (like comparing Rodney to Ted Lasso).
The Down & Dirty:
The Other Half of the Grave by Jeaniene Frost was everything I could have dreamed of. I was nervous, because I've read a few other books that totally changed my opinion of the hero after reading their pov (and not in a good way). I was glad I went into this without a recent re-read of Halfway to the Grave (until after) because I wasn't comparing the two, and The Other Half of the Grave felt fresh and new. I loved reading this almost as much as I loved reading the first book so many years ago, and that's saying a lot, because I have read thousands of books since, and it still remains a favorite. If you are a fan of Cat and Bones, or you just want to start a new series, I 100% recommend The Other Half of the Grave.
Rating: 5 Stars, 4.5 heat
Purchase The Other Half of the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
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There are spin-off series about other characters that intersect with the main series. Personally, I would recommend reading the first two in the original Night Huntress Series before reading The Other Half of the Grave because there is a book 2 spoiler at the end.
The Base Night Huntress Series is listed here. But the entire Night Huntress World reading order is HERE.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
kaylynritke's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I did enjoy this read, but I read it back to back with the original and I would have liked to see more original content in this retelling!
booksumed's review against another edition
4.0
4 Stars: published completed version
Like the rest of the series, I listened to this one on audio and really enjoyed it! It was amazing to go back to this story and see the events from Bones’ perspective
Like the rest of the series, I listened to this one on audio and really enjoyed it! It was amazing to go back to this story and see the events from Bones’ perspective
l3vi0sa's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
inmyhumbleopinion's review
5.0
As a longtime fan of this series I should have expected that the author would make this fresh and exciting. But the thrill ride that was this story still took me by surprise. It was humbling to see Cat the way that Bones did from the very start.
This is a fast paced tale that will enthrall you from the first page to the last.
This is a fast paced tale that will enthrall you from the first page to the last.
hookedbythatbook's review
4.0
It completed the epic story of how Cat and Bones got together and fell in love.
We met Cat and Bones in Halfway to the Grave, the first book in Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress series. In that book the story is told exclusively through Cat’s eyes. The Other Half of the Grave tells the same story, but from Bones’ perspective. We get important information about the vampire world and about Bones’ feelings right from the start, which are all more slowly revealed through the rest of the series, all from Cat’s point of view.
It was a treat to see how Bones experienced their initial meeting and how he saw Cat. Bones and Cat are each amazing in their own way, but together they are spectacular.
If you’re not familiar with the series, I would start with Halfway to the Grave and then read Bones’ perspective. Now I wish we could see some of the events from the rest of the series through Bones’ eyes as well. And that epilogue was the best.
I can recommend this entire series if you like paranormal romance with lots of steamy romance and head-strong characters. It’s best to read them in order. There are also some spin-off books, in case you want more.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.