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jpeirce's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I finished this one, but it’s not worth reading the rest of the series. Development of the protagonist’s character is fairly shallow and based in stereotypical trauma. It’s possible that people (not me) who like radio talk shows would find this more compelling, because that played a larger role in the plot than I had expected.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Blood
Moderate: Sexual violence
starfleeting's review against another edition
3.0
(Partial spoilers in this review but I felt it was necessary to warn for them since I had no warning going in.)
I've had this book on the shelf for a long time. I remember getting it because people told me the worldbuilding was really good. And, ultimately, I thought it was okay. A decent enough start for a series but not something that has me wanting to rush to the next one.
The writing was fine, the characters were pretty interesting, but the sexism and abuse in the pack dynamics made it really hard to get into it initially. Then we have the backstory for the main character and the traumatic night she was changed and it just felt a Bit Much for me. Like her being attacked and turned into a werewolf was already bad enough and adding in her being raped the same night she was changed (and rape that took her virginity, too) just felt way too much for me in trying to make it #tragic when her being randomly attacked by some over-eager wolf was already bad enough for anyone to go through.
I'm not really a fan of people just tossing in rape as part of character's backstories. If you talk to most people, even just casual readers, they will say the same thing. It just comes off feeling manipulative and trying to make you feel bad for a character. It doesn't add much to a character that was already doing fine in the development department with dealing with being a newly made wolf in a pack where she was considered lowest in rank.
All in all, I didn't mind the book aside from the things I mentioned above. Pretty decent overall and maybe I'll get to the rest of the series at a later time since I did like the characters and wouldn't mind seeing what happens with them.
I've had this book on the shelf for a long time. I remember getting it because people told me the worldbuilding was really good. And, ultimately, I thought it was okay. A decent enough start for a series but not something that has me wanting to rush to the next one.
The writing was fine, the characters were pretty interesting, but the sexism and abuse in the pack dynamics made it really hard to get into it initially. Then we have the backstory for the main character and the traumatic night she was changed and it just felt a Bit Much for me. Like her being attacked and turned into a werewolf was already bad enough and adding in her being raped the same night she was changed (and rape that took her virginity, too) just felt way too much for me in trying to make it #tragic when her being randomly attacked by some over-eager wolf was already bad enough for anyone to go through.
I'm not really a fan of people just tossing in rape as part of character's backstories. If you talk to most people, even just casual readers, they will say the same thing. It just comes off feeling manipulative and trying to make you feel bad for a character. It doesn't add much to a character that was already doing fine in the development department with dealing with being a newly made wolf in a pack where she was considered lowest in rank.
All in all, I didn't mind the book aside from the things I mentioned above. Pretty decent overall and maybe I'll get to the rest of the series at a later time since I did like the characters and wouldn't mind seeing what happens with them.
badseedgirl's review against another edition
4.0
Kitty and The Midnight Hour took me on a rollercoaster of emotions, first I hated it, then I just adored it. I was drawn to the book originally because I read a short story from www.tor.com free short story “Kitty’s Zombie New Year.” I found the story so appealing and the character of Kitty to be incredibly intriguing.
The same could not be said for the Kitty the authors introduces the reader to at the beginning of the book. She is a weak and ineffective character. But I stuck with the novel, because I remembered the Kitty I read in that short story. I’m so glad I did. This first novel is the birth of the strong and wonderful character she becomes.
This novel can only be called a “lite and fluffy” novel. Think Charlaine Harris. Sometimes that’s all you need; good characters, a light and easy to follow plot, and something that only takes a couple days to finish.
I’m really looking forward to a long and interesting series of books from Carrie Vaughn, and more adventures for Kitty.
The same could not be said for the Kitty the authors introduces the reader to at the beginning of the book. She is a weak and ineffective character. But I stuck with the novel, because I remembered the Kitty I read in that short story. I’m so glad I did. This first novel is the birth of the strong and wonderful character she becomes.
This novel can only be called a “lite and fluffy” novel. Think Charlaine Harris. Sometimes that’s all you need; good characters, a light and easy to follow plot, and something that only takes a couple days to finish.
I’m really looking forward to a long and interesting series of books from Carrie Vaughn, and more adventures for Kitty.
vendea's review against another edition
4.0
This wasn't deep or thought provoking but it was fun to read.
beautifuldissonance's review against another edition
3.0
I wasn't a huge fan of Kitty at the beginning of the book, but she became tolerable as the book progressed. Most of the characters, including Kitty, could have used a lot more fleshing out, they weren't very realistic or engaging. However it was very readable and worth finishing. I liked it but I didn't love it.
waltzingme's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I love this series. I see the criticism a lot of people have with Kitty's character in book 1, but honestly it feels very realistic to me based on what she's been through and the environment she's living in, and it sets up amazing character growth for her and plot development as the story continues. I love Carrie Vaughn's conceptualization of the various folklore elements explored in the books.
This book is probably the most different from the series as a whole, but it sets everything up that goes on throughout the series. Kitty is a great, strong, complex character - a creative and very satisfying portrayal of the reluctant hero - and the cast of characters we meet along the way are varied, interesting, and complex in their own ways.
I love the pacing, plot lines, twists and turns, and the way Kitty thinks about and experiences and reacts to what is happening around her.
I will recognize my own nostalgia bias, as I read these first as a teenager and fell in love with them, however I return to them consistently and have read this series many times over. Still love it as much now as on first read, if not even more.
This book is probably the most different from the series as a whole, but it sets everything up that goes on throughout the series. Kitty is a great, strong, complex character - a creative and very satisfying portrayal of the reluctant hero - and the cast of characters we meet along the way are varied, interesting, and complex in their own ways.
I love the pacing, plot lines, twists and turns, and the way Kitty thinks about and experiences and reacts to what is happening around her.
I will recognize my own nostalgia bias, as I read these first as a teenager and fell in love with them, however I return to them consistently and have read this series many times over. Still love it as much now as on first read, if not even more.
redentrapy's review against another edition
2.0
This book was ok. The plot was choppy and there were parts that made no sense. The only part that was truly interesting was the radio shows she did and any part with Cormac in it. Not only that but the character development was shallow and superficial. The plot had holes in it. The whole thing was poorly written and I almost put the book down it so boring. Kitty's character was the only one with depth. The gorey crime scenes were well written though. The villain's were just plain weak and shallow. So for the most part I do not recommend this book.
birdloveranne's review against another edition
4.0
Wow! I liked this way more than I thought I would. It was off to a bit of a slow start, but then it really took off and I read it in one day!
jgintrovertedreader's review against another edition
3.0
Kitty Norville is a late-night DJ who stumbles upon a popular idea for a talk show--"The Midnight Hour" in which she and her listeners discuss any and all thing supernatural. And the girl knows what she's talking about. She's a werewolf. Unfortunately, her new-found success brings her some unwanted attention. Her Alpha and the master of the local vampire family want her off the air. Someone hires a werewolf hunter to take her out. And Kitty has just found out that there's a rogue wolf in town making everyone else look bad.
This was good. It was. My issues with it were purely my own and don't even necessarily make sense. I admit it.
First, I personally didn't care too much for the narration by Marguerite Gavin. It was very consciously cadenced and very staccato, even when that style didn't feel appropriate for what she was reading. It just felt like she was trying too hard. I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to stick with this at first, but I did and it bothered me less as time went on.
Now for the big thing, and the thing that makes the least sense. I didn't like the pack dynamics. My head knows that a pack of werewolves would interact in exactly this manner. There would be an alpha and his female, and they would punish and reward as they chose. Strength would be a big factor in status. There would be power struggles. My heart just doesn't like reading about any man slamming a woman around and then having sex with her as a reward. I just can't get past it. That part definitely improved as Kitty grew more confident, and that was one of the points of the book, but it really did push my buttons.
That stuff out of the way, I did mostly manage to get caught up in the story. I would find myself speeding a little faster in my car when there was a fight scene or a confrontation. I wanted to know who the rogue was and what the pack was going to do about him. I wanted to know what was going on with Cormac (because there has got to be a juicy back story there). I honestly wanted to see Kitty kick some ass. There were some people--beings?--that were just begging for it. And what is up with the creepy faith healer?
I thought Vaughn did a really good job in exploring what would happen if supernaturals ever did "come out of the closet," so to speak. Would our laws apply to them? How would you give a vamp life in prison? Would it be murder to kill one? She grounded the whole idea pretty firmly in reality by including the NIH and CDC and classifying these conditions as diseases. I found myself actually pondering some of these questions!
Despite an ending that I was very unhappy about, I'm not sure if I'll continue the series. I've added it to my wishlist on my library's small audio website, so I might get to it someday, but I'm in no rush.
If you're less squeamish than I am about what I can only (unfairly) call violence toward women, and you do like paranormals, I think you'll like this one.
This was good. It was. My issues with it were purely my own and don't even necessarily make sense. I admit it.
First, I personally didn't care too much for the narration by Marguerite Gavin. It was very consciously cadenced and very staccato, even when that style didn't feel appropriate for what she was reading. It just felt like she was trying too hard. I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to stick with this at first, but I did and it bothered me less as time went on.
Now for the big thing, and the thing that makes the least sense. I didn't like the pack dynamics. My head knows that a pack of werewolves would interact in exactly this manner. There would be an alpha and his female, and they would punish and reward as they chose. Strength would be a big factor in status. There would be power struggles. My heart just doesn't like reading about any man slamming a woman around and then having sex with her as a reward. I just can't get past it. That part definitely improved as Kitty grew more confident, and that was one of the points of the book, but it really did push my buttons.
That stuff out of the way, I did mostly manage to get caught up in the story. I would find myself speeding a little faster in my car when there was a fight scene or a confrontation. I wanted to know who the rogue was and what the pack was going to do about him. I wanted to know what was going on with Cormac (because there has got to be a juicy back story there). I honestly wanted to see Kitty kick some ass. There were some people--beings?--that were just begging for it. And what is up with the creepy faith healer?
I thought Vaughn did a really good job in exploring what would happen if supernaturals ever did "come out of the closet," so to speak. Would our laws apply to them? How would you give a vamp life in prison? Would it be murder to kill one? She grounded the whole idea pretty firmly in reality by including the NIH and CDC and classifying these conditions as diseases. I found myself actually pondering some of these questions!
Despite an ending that I was very unhappy about, I'm not sure if I'll continue the series. I've added it to my wishlist on my library's small audio website, so I might get to it someday, but I'm in no rush.
If you're less squeamish than I am about what I can only (unfairly) call violence toward women, and you do like paranormals, I think you'll like this one.