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kathydavie's review against another edition
5.0
Third in the Joe Pitt urban fantasy set in contemporary New York City.
The Story
Joe's been cruising. Doing the security gig for Terry. Taking down the competition. Then, I dunno, Terry gets ambitious, sees war coming and wants alliances. Ya can't trust Terry. He'll use up anyone to further his aims. Don't let his laid-back hippie style fool ya.
Terry wants backup and he's not willing for a potential ally to cross over to the Coalition but the real story starts when he sends Joe and Lydia over to meet with the Brooklyn Clans. That initial meeting sure does make ya appreciate a circus…a normal circus that is. Then there's the unexpected betrayal! Yeah, all betrayals are unexpected…this one more than most! Our Lydia's in for a real nasty surprise as well when the rebbe kidnaps her for her Jewish genes…and Joe walks off without her because, hey, the Jewish vampires have taken over Brooklyn and it's only by the grace of God that Joe gets to walk away. With a guilty conscience.
Just to set us up for the future, Huston lets us know that Amanda and Sela have a plan to start their own clan…family style. Not like the other clans around New York with their attitude of everyone out for him/herself. Amanda is almost 18 and she plans to carry on where her father left off…research-wise that is.
Amazingly, the Count is still alive after No Dominion. Okay, maybe not so amazing as Terry is siphoning off the Count's trust fund for the Society. But this little visit Joe pays has a twist I never expected. I have to wonder if it was the trigger for Daniel's fatal actions. It certainly didn't end up doing Joe any good when he brought the dying Evie to the Enclave hoping that the Count's pre-med background could help her. It certainly ends any ties with the Society. No more money from Count Chocula and Joe had the nerve to try and save his girl. Try I say because the Count finally gets his own back on Joe and we, along with Joe, get a wholly unexpected tour of NYC.
The Characters
Oh yeah, they're characters all right. Count Chocula with his delusions of grandeur. Sociopathic little… Then Terri. What a political animal he is. A Dexter Predo in beads and hemp jeans. Lydia cracks me up with her holier than thou organic approach of "you will tolerate everything I do and say" and like it! The rebbe and his group certainly gave me a whole new perspective on the tribe of Benjamin…whoa…
My Take
Joe has certainly been burning his bridges. He's pissed off Terry and Lydia. Dexter already thinks he's a loser and not worth anything. Then he's taken Evie to the Enclave and we don't, definitively, know if she's still alive or… How will Evie feel about Joe once she is turned? Will she be in thrall to the Count? Even biker boy, Christian, very nicely told Joe to get lost. The only reason Enclave welcomed Joe was because of Daniel and with him gone…Joe thought it was hard being a rogue when he was tolerated, liked.
I am so looking forward to Every Last Drop.
The Cover
Oh yeah! That trademark split cover with the thug aiming a gun and two fangs over his lower lip and the night-lit Brooklyn Bridge in the background is just so Joe Pitt.
The Story
Joe's been cruising. Doing the security gig for Terry. Taking down the competition. Then, I dunno, Terry gets ambitious, sees war coming and wants alliances. Ya can't trust Terry. He'll use up anyone to further his aims. Don't let his laid-back hippie style fool ya.
Terry wants backup and he's not willing for a potential ally to cross over to the Coalition but the real story starts when he sends Joe and Lydia over to meet with the Brooklyn Clans. That initial meeting sure does make ya appreciate a circus…a normal circus that is. Then there's the unexpected betrayal! Yeah, all betrayals are unexpected…this one more than most! Our Lydia's in for a real nasty surprise as well when the rebbe kidnaps her for her Jewish genes…and Joe walks off without her because, hey, the Jewish vampires have taken over Brooklyn and it's only by the grace of God that Joe gets to walk away. With a guilty conscience.
Just to set us up for the future, Huston lets us know that Amanda and Sela have a plan to start their own clan…family style. Not like the other clans around New York with their attitude of everyone out for him/herself. Amanda is almost 18 and she plans to carry on where her father left off…research-wise that is.
Amazingly, the Count is still alive after No Dominion. Okay, maybe not so amazing as Terry is siphoning off the Count's trust fund for the Society. But this little visit Joe pays has a twist I never expected. I have to wonder if it was the trigger for Daniel's fatal actions. It certainly didn't end up doing Joe any good when he brought the dying Evie to the Enclave hoping that the Count's pre-med background could help her. It certainly ends any ties with the Society. No more money from Count Chocula and Joe had the nerve to try and save his girl. Try I say because the Count finally gets his own back on Joe and we, along with Joe, get a wholly unexpected tour of NYC.
The Characters
Oh yeah, they're characters all right. Count Chocula with his delusions of grandeur. Sociopathic little… Then Terri. What a political animal he is. A Dexter Predo in beads and hemp jeans. Lydia cracks me up with her holier than thou organic approach of "you will tolerate everything I do and say" and like it! The rebbe and his group certainly gave me a whole new perspective on the tribe of Benjamin…whoa…
My Take
Joe has certainly been burning his bridges. He's pissed off Terry and Lydia. Dexter already thinks he's a loser and not worth anything. Then he's taken Evie to the Enclave and we don't, definitively, know if she's still alive or… How will Evie feel about Joe once she is turned? Will she be in thrall to the Count? Even biker boy, Christian, very nicely told Joe to get lost. The only reason Enclave welcomed Joe was because of Daniel and with him gone…Joe thought it was hard being a rogue when he was tolerated, liked.
I am so looking forward to Every Last Drop.
The Cover
Oh yeah! That trademark split cover with the thug aiming a gun and two fangs over his lower lip and the night-lit Brooklyn Bridge in the background is just so Joe Pitt.
troublesometailor's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
The 'mystery' of this novel was not really central to the plot. Rather than being focussed on solving a case, Joe seems to just get dragged through a string of violent events. This book leans further into the pulpy noir style than the first two books, which does fit the trajectory that the earlier books established, but wasn't really to my taste.
I found a lot of the depiction of religion in this book pretty distasteful. While that was clearly the point, I'm not sure this was the place to discuss some of the issues that were being raised.
I found a lot of the depiction of religion in this book pretty distasteful. While that was clearly the point, I'm not sure this was the place to discuss some of the issues that were being raised.
woody1881's review against another edition
4.0
The Joe Pitt Series does not fail!!! Great fast paced action and likable characters. There were some big changes in the Joe Pitt's life in this book. Can't wait until I get the next one!
mdstepp1998's review against another edition
3.0
Given how brutal, fast paced, and exciting the two previous Joe Pitt adventures, [b:Already Dead|21277|Already Dead (Joe Pitt Casebooks, #1)|Charlie Huston|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1167321241s/21277.jpg|1154196] and [b:No Dominion|7263|No Dominion (Joe Pitt Casebooks, #2)|Charlie Huston|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1165609939s/7263.jpg|10393], were Half the Blood of Brooklyn was a bit of a disappointment.
The pieces are still there. The main character, independently minded and often times violent Joe Pitt is still gritty, vulgar, and seemingly without regard for anyone. The plotting and politicking of the numerous rival vampyre clans are still unfolding and providing nice plot twists. Also, the surrounding cast of characters provide good comedy and a welcome alternative to Pitt's low life attitude.
The story was a drag for me though because it was like Pitt was picked up and thrust outside of the intriguing environment of the first two books for what seems no reason. The new characters are very much a flash in the pan (though it would have been great to flesh out The Freaks more). Never once do I really care about exploring the new areas outside of Manhattan because it seems to not matter in the grand scheme of Pitt's existence within the Clans or his relationship with Evie.
In fact, the result of Pitt's expedition to Brooklyn could have occurred as a result of situations not related to the story of the book. The story became even less intriguing upon reading the final two books because Pitt's actions in Brooklyn have no consequence on their plot.
In the end, it was still fun seeing what mess Pitt would get himself in and how bad he would come out in the end (there really are no happy endings it seems). The overall story arc, though, seemed pointless.
The pieces are still there. The main character, independently minded and often times violent Joe Pitt is still gritty, vulgar, and seemingly without regard for anyone. The plotting and politicking of the numerous rival vampyre clans are still unfolding and providing nice plot twists. Also, the surrounding cast of characters provide good comedy and a welcome alternative to Pitt's low life attitude.
The story was a drag for me though because it was like Pitt was picked up and thrust outside of the intriguing environment of the first two books for what seems no reason. The new characters are very much a flash in the pan (though it would have been great to flesh out The Freaks more). Never once do I really care about exploring the new areas outside of Manhattan because it seems to not matter in the grand scheme of Pitt's existence within the Clans or his relationship with Evie.
In fact, the result of Pitt's expedition to Brooklyn could have occurred as a result of situations not related to the story of the book. The story became even less intriguing upon reading the final two books because Pitt's actions in Brooklyn have no consequence on their plot.
In the end, it was still fun seeing what mess Pitt would get himself in and how bad he would come out in the end (there really are no happy endings it seems). The overall story arc, though, seemed pointless.
pizzasteve's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
creolelitbelle's review against another edition
3.0
Great story. Had a slow section that delayed me in finishing as fast as I did with the first two Joe Pitt casebooks. .
litwrite's review against another edition
3.0
2.75 stars. This time, Joe Pitt has to track down a particularly deadly 'Van Helsing', a human that has found out about the existence of Vampires and has taken on the task of destroying them, while simultaneously acting as Terry Bird's new enforcer. He and Lydia take meetings with important Clans in Brooklyn in an effort to expand Society territory. Unfortunately their foray into Brooklyn ends up a deadly mess.
Okay, Huston has been watching way too much Santa Sangre. This book really is stretching the edges of the 'noir' tone that the first book in this series did so well. I really wanted to like this book more than I did. I mean come on. Midget freakshow vampires and undead Orthodox Jews? Sounds awesome right?
Unfortunately I think that the awesome was actually strained by the writing style. Noir just did not suit the subject matter here. You have something so patently absurd, but the exposition is replayed in such a downtrodden, no frills style that it's hard to get excited about it.
As far as expanding the larger plot that Huston has been building regarding turf wars in the New York area, this felt a bit like an unecessary road trip. I didn't really get where this was going.
There is also one very important sentence in this book - a sentence that I felt really invalidated the entire last novel of this whole series. I'll mention it in my review of number 5.
Okay, Huston has been watching way too much Santa Sangre. This book really is stretching the edges of the 'noir' tone that the first book in this series did so well. I really wanted to like this book more than I did. I mean come on. Midget freakshow vampires and undead Orthodox Jews? Sounds awesome right?
Unfortunately I think that the awesome was actually strained by the writing style. Noir just did not suit the subject matter here. You have something so patently absurd, but the exposition is replayed in such a downtrodden, no frills style that it's hard to get excited about it.
As far as expanding the larger plot that Huston has been building regarding turf wars in the New York area, this felt a bit like an unecessary road trip. I didn't really get where this was going.
There is also one very important sentence in this book - a sentence that I felt really invalidated the entire last novel of this whole series. I'll mention it in my review of number 5.