Scan barcode
kathydavie's review against another edition
5.0
Second in the Night Huntress World, a spin-off from Night Huntress (fifth I guess I'd have to slot it in as though it were a novella as the initial Night Huntress series is continuing and the .5 helps it fit chronologically). The focus is on Mencheres and Kira.
My Take
Fascinating backstory on Mencheres and Radjedef with a different perspective on the pharaohs.
What I like best about this story---well, besides Mencheres' getting his own back on Redjedef---is how true to life Kira's actions are. Her transition is realistic with the issues involved in all the changes. She absorbs the information, but doesn't trust any of 'em. Her disgust with the idea of how she's expected to feed. Her reactions are more naturalistic than are usually found in urban fantasy or paranormal romances. I also like that she stands up for herself and her sense of honor.
I like too that Mencheres is so reluctantly interested and yet is not embarrassed by his interest. That scene where he ogles her clothed breasts and is astounded that he reacts to that after all these millennia was cute.
The chase is quite interesting. Certainly not the usual. There is twist upon twist upon twist in this story. I was feeling furious toward Kira for her stupidity until the reveal at the end. It's just all sorts of clever in this story.
Crack me up! Kira is determined not to ask Dracula for feeding tips---although I don't really get why not.. When Kira gets all stiff about feeding from Lewis, Vlad cracks up himself and tells her that "If [she] tells him wolves are the children of the night next, I might hurt myself laughing."
This is definitely a buy for me.
The Story
Walking home from a stakeout, Kira hears cries of pain and rushes to help. Only to find that her aid really wasn't required. And it's too bad she didn't simply close her eyes and/or walk on by. She has seen too much and Mencheres takes her prisoner.
She's an intriguing woman. Willing to help a stranger. Not enthralled by his power or wealth. And beautiful.
She's almost enough to entice him to stay, but Mencheres has planned it all out. Bones is "strong enough to lead their combined lines, Cat…[is]...the rarest type of vampire, and [his] visions are gone". It's a good time for Mencheres to leave. To protect his people from Radjedef.
However his plans for Kira are not panning out. He is unable to affect her mind, and the longer she stays resistant, the more they are attracted to each other. An attraction Radje is quick to use for his own ends.
The Characters
Kira Graceling works for a private detective since her dreams of being a cop got sidelined. Tina Graceling is a beloved younger sister, who is dying. Rick is her no-good, lying brother whom she enables. Lily is a friend and co-worker at the agency. Frank is her jerky boss. Mack Davis was a cop from Internal Affairs who helped Kira; his credo was to "save one life, every chance he got". Pete was her controlling, possessive ex-husband. A cop.
Mencheres, a.k.a., Menkaure, has lost his ability to see the future, in fact, he's lost his interest in life at all. Patra was a young Egyptian queen he had wed two thousand years ago. A mistake. (Read just how big a mistake in At Grave's End, Night Huntress 3.) Gorgon is a vampire loyal to Mencheres. Sam, Selene, and Kurt are humans who belong to Mencheres.
Bones is another vampire and Mencheres' co-ruler. He's rather furious with Mencheres right now. Cat is his very special wife (from the Night Huntress series). Vlad Tepesh is another friend of Mencheres' who provides them refuge and backup.
The Law Guardians are the ruling body for the vampires. The Enforcers are their police. Veritas is a Law Guardian and not necessarily Mencheres' friend. Josephus is an Enforcer who was killed.
Radjedef, a.k.a., Djedefre, is Mencheres' uncle and power-mad. He's furious that their original Maker gave Mencheres his power and not him; he's even more furious that Mencheres gave Bones what power he did. He's currently a Law Guardian and abuses his position horribly.
Jennifer Jackson is a missing person whom Kira finds in hideous circumstances. Flare is the vampire who owns the strip bar, Around the World. He makes a big, big mistake. Patches and Wraith are his minions and fellow vampires.
Aken is the ferryman Mencheres summons with a dangerous blood rite.
The Cover
The cover is blues and a vibrant pink in the title and author's name. I'm guessing that the male model in the cover is supposed to be Mencheres. Too bad they didn't consider getting someone who looked more Egyptian than like an older version of Brad Pitt appearing to have just bitten a squeamish-seeming Kira in a skimpy black camisole, her head averted.
And what's with the dorky "blood drips"?
The title refers to Mencheres having to bring Kira over with the Eternal Kiss of Darkness.
My Take
Fascinating backstory on Mencheres and Radjedef with a different perspective on the pharaohs.
What I like best about this story---well, besides Mencheres' getting his own back on Redjedef---is how true to life Kira's actions are. Her transition is realistic with the issues involved in all the changes. She absorbs the information, but doesn't trust any of 'em. Her disgust with the idea of how she's expected to feed. Her reactions are more naturalistic than are usually found in urban fantasy or paranormal romances. I also like that she stands up for herself and her sense of honor.
I like too that Mencheres is so reluctantly interested and yet is not embarrassed by his interest. That scene where he ogles her clothed breasts and is astounded that he reacts to that after all these millennia was cute.
The chase is quite interesting. Certainly not the usual. There is twist upon twist upon twist in this story. I was feeling furious toward Kira for her stupidity until the reveal at the end. It's just all sorts of clever in this story.
Crack me up! Kira is determined not to ask Dracula for feeding tips---although I don't really get why not.. When Kira gets all stiff about feeding from Lewis, Vlad cracks up himself and tells her that "If [she] tells him wolves are the children of the night next, I might hurt myself laughing."
This is definitely a buy for me.
The Story
Walking home from a stakeout, Kira hears cries of pain and rushes to help. Only to find that her aid really wasn't required. And it's too bad she didn't simply close her eyes and/or walk on by. She has seen too much and Mencheres takes her prisoner.
She's an intriguing woman. Willing to help a stranger. Not enthralled by his power or wealth. And beautiful.
She's almost enough to entice him to stay, but Mencheres has planned it all out. Bones is "strong enough to lead their combined lines, Cat…[is]...the rarest type of vampire, and [his] visions are gone". It's a good time for Mencheres to leave. To protect his people from Radjedef.
However his plans for Kira are not panning out. He is unable to affect her mind, and the longer she stays resistant, the more they are attracted to each other. An attraction Radje is quick to use for his own ends.
The Characters
Kira Graceling works for a private detective since her dreams of being a cop got sidelined. Tina Graceling is a beloved younger sister, who is dying. Rick is her no-good, lying brother whom she enables. Lily is a friend and co-worker at the agency. Frank is her jerky boss. Mack Davis was a cop from Internal Affairs who helped Kira; his credo was to "save one life, every chance he got". Pete was her controlling, possessive ex-husband. A cop.
Mencheres, a.k.a., Menkaure, has lost his ability to see the future, in fact, he's lost his interest in life at all. Patra was a young Egyptian queen he had wed two thousand years ago. A mistake. (Read just how big a mistake in At Grave's End, Night Huntress 3.) Gorgon is a vampire loyal to Mencheres. Sam, Selene, and Kurt are humans who belong to Mencheres.
Bones is another vampire and Mencheres' co-ruler. He's rather furious with Mencheres right now. Cat is his very special wife (from the Night Huntress series). Vlad Tepesh is another friend of Mencheres' who provides them refuge and backup.
The Law Guardians are the ruling body for the vampires. The Enforcers are their police. Veritas is a Law Guardian and not necessarily Mencheres' friend. Josephus is an Enforcer who was killed.
Radjedef, a.k.a., Djedefre, is Mencheres' uncle and power-mad. He's furious that their original Maker gave Mencheres his power and not him; he's even more furious that Mencheres gave Bones what power he did. He's currently a Law Guardian and abuses his position horribly.
Jennifer Jackson is a missing person whom Kira finds in hideous circumstances. Flare is the vampire who owns the strip bar, Around the World. He makes a big, big mistake. Patches and Wraith are his minions and fellow vampires.
Aken is the ferryman Mencheres summons with a dangerous blood rite.
The Cover
The cover is blues and a vibrant pink in the title and author's name. I'm guessing that the male model in the cover is supposed to be Mencheres. Too bad they didn't consider getting someone who looked more Egyptian than like an older version of Brad Pitt appearing to have just bitten a squeamish-seeming Kira in a skimpy black camisole, her head averted.
And what's with the dorky "blood drips"?
The title refers to Mencheres having to bring Kira over with the Eternal Kiss of Darkness.
yodamom's review against another edition
4.0
Mencheres. Bones' grandsire and co-ruler is old "older than dirt" he says. Radjedef, a law guardian and Mencheres Uncle, is the evil vampire. Both men are steeped in Egyptian history, Royalty. He is tired, his had lived long, too long alone, too long of a fight, till.. Kira appears and puts herself in harms way to save him, a beautiful fragile human, except she is brave fearless and for the first time in hundreds of years he feels something...and so it begins !
There was a lot more sex in this book than in JF's others, but not too much. Vlad makes and appearance and is too funny in a scene with Kira when she is trying to learn something. I love Vlad.
There was a lot more sex in this book than in JF's others, but not too much. Vlad makes and appearance and is too funny in a scene with Kira when she is trying to learn something. I love Vlad.
erikajay's review against another edition
4.0
I loved reading Mencheres’s story! He’s one of my favorites. I also really liked Kira. She’s direct. She’s brave. And she can hold her own against a 4,000 year old vampire!
Also Vlad!! Every scene with Vlad is amazing and perfect. He’s my favorite from this world.
Also Vlad!! Every scene with Vlad is amazing and perfect. He’s my favorite from this world.
alli_thebookgiraffe's review against another edition
2.0
I am a huge fan of the Night Huntress series but, i just wasn't interested in reading about Mencheres. I didn't really care for his character.
bear_ridge_tarot's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Kira Graceling is in possession of a sense of duty too strong to ignore the things she knows she should walk away from. Walking home from the private investigator office she works at, just before dawn, Kira hears the sounds of pain and violence coming from a warehouse. She rushes headlong into the building to discover Mencheres. A Master vampire of deep magic and mystery has decided to let himself die after his power to see the future shows him only a vast blackness. Kira "rescues" Mencheres and falls into a hidden world of corruption, power, and danger.
This is the second spin-off novel set in the Night Hunter world. This one was much better than the previous, though both novels can be read as stand-alones. The story made sense, flowed well and fit into the overall world's story arches in a way that I found pleasing. I particularly liked that Kira was not the fainting-rescue-me type and could hold her own beside a vampire with the depth and breadth of power that Mencheres possesses.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Trafficking, Violence, Blood, and Gore
skysreads28's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
3.5
trudyd's review against another edition
5.0
I have read this book a couple if times. It has always been a thriller, full of suspense and a couple of twists. Who knew a little darkness could save a person. I just listened to the audio. Freaking AMAZING!!!!!
aliceboule's review against another edition
3.0
Mencheres. His Egyptian background and the fact that he is actually an old Pharaoh made this book for me.
Unlike all the other Night Huntress novels, this one foccused greatly on the building of Kira and Mencheres's relationship. It was nice to see their devotion to each other grow. I still have a hard time with the instant attraction but.. i think I am getting used to it!
Eternal Kiss of Darkness was almost exactly like the others. I supposed this series was not meant to be read one after the other, and instead should be read with month long pauses in between, because.. it gets tiresome. Always the same story. Same sex. Same love.
I think it is about time that l take a break from all this vampire shit and read something with backbone and thought and meaning.
Unlike all the other Night Huntress novels, this one foccused greatly on the building of Kira and Mencheres's relationship. It was nice to see their devotion to each other grow. I still have a hard time with the instant attraction but.. i think I am getting used to it!
Eternal Kiss of Darkness was almost exactly like the others. I supposed this series was not meant to be read one after the other, and instead should be read with month long pauses in between, because.. it gets tiresome. Always the same story. Same sex. Same love.
I think it is about time that l take a break from all this vampire shit and read something with backbone and thought and meaning.
mamabears_fabulous_book_finds's review against another edition
4.0
Sigh...i got on a kick, and just had to read this again. I just adore Mencheres. I've always loved Ancient Egypt, and to read about one of the great pharoahs in this twist, its even more delicious.
jessicaalexander95's review against another edition
3.0
A fun little side story. I like the new female character and getting to see everything from her perspective and how she affects the master vampire. It was good