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A review by jassmine
The Other Half of the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
4.0
What can I say... this was quite good and yet... there were places where I really wanted to feel it and I just didn't.
1. It was surprisingly nice to be in Bones' head. I guess it's because he has no conscience - we have no conscience either - opposite to seeing him from Cat's POV, he's brutal. Also, after reading about Vlad, Bones is a teddy bear.
2. In essence this is still insta-love, but seeing it unfold from Bones' perspective it was much more believable and natural. And is he a piner... (And yet, I didn't really feel it?)
3. Jeaniene fills a lot of blank spaces that were in [b:Halfway to the Grave|1421990|Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress, #1)|Jeaniene Frost|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1373855613l/1421990._SY75_.jpg|1412415][b:Halfway to the Grave|1421990|Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress, #1)|Jeaniene Frost|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1373855613l/1421990._SY75_.jpg|1412415] and explains some behaviours that might seem weird if you read the whole series and know how the whole world expanded. This is sometimes funny, when she stops on totally minor details, but a lot of times it feels completely natural and adds new scenes and facts to already known story.
4. It's hard to pull the "same book from other perspective" thing. And I would say that Jeaniene was mostly successful. I was getting a little bored toward the end, but... I feel like I was a little to blame for that too.
5. I really loved how we got the little Ian glimpses and how we get to see beforehand how damaged their relationship really is. Reading this bits after Ian's books was a little heartbreaking, I have to admit.
6. In the same line, I really liked to see Bones' thoughts on Justina. I was glad to see that I pegged him right. I think it shows that I have a soft spot for damaged relationships, because I just thought it was quite sweet. (Minus him considering killing her... right...)
7. The ending...
8. I almost forgot! I really loved that scene where Bones tells Cat, how he lost his virginity "in stages". I think it's really important to acknowledge that virginity is a cultural construct and our society obsession with penetrative sex is... misplaced. This story framed it quite well.
Overall, this was quite nice read for turning my brain off. It was nice to revisit the beginning of the story, though I have to admit that it wasn't completely satisfying for me.
1. It was surprisingly nice to be in Bones' head. I guess it's because he has no conscience - we have no conscience either - opposite to seeing him from Cat's POV, he's brutal. Also, after reading about Vlad, Bones is a teddy bear.
2. In essence this is still insta-love, but seeing it unfold from Bones' perspective it was much more believable and natural. And is he a piner... (And yet, I didn't really feel it?)
3. Jeaniene fills a lot of blank spaces that were in [b:Halfway to the Grave|1421990|Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress, #1)|Jeaniene Frost|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1373855613l/1421990._SY75_.jpg|1412415][b:Halfway to the Grave|1421990|Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress, #1)|Jeaniene Frost|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1373855613l/1421990._SY75_.jpg|1412415] and explains some behaviours that might seem weird if you read the whole series and know how the whole world expanded. This is sometimes funny, when she stops on totally minor details, but a lot of times it feels completely natural and adds new scenes and facts to already known story.
4. It's hard to pull the "same book from other perspective" thing. And I would say that Jeaniene was mostly successful. I was getting a little bored toward the end, but... I feel like I was a little to blame for that too.
5. I really loved how we got the little Ian glimpses and how we get to see beforehand how damaged their relationship really is. Reading this bits after Ian's books was a little heartbreaking, I have to admit.
6. In the same line, I really liked to see Bones' thoughts on Justina. I was glad to see that I pegged him right. I think it shows that I have a soft spot for damaged relationships, because I just thought it was quite sweet. (Minus him considering killing her... right...)
7. The ending...
Spoiler
I would really love to see some explanation why they called the police, because that one literary makes no sense. Though the absence of an explanation shows me that Jeaniene realizes that it's stupid too. It's clearly there as a plot device to get Cat on the government job and you know what, I forgive her even though, it's just... agh, why?8. I almost forgot! I really loved that scene where Bones tells Cat, how he lost his virginity "in stages". I think it's really important to acknowledge that virginity is a cultural construct and our society obsession with penetrative sex is... misplaced. This story framed it quite well.
Overall, this was quite nice read for turning my brain off. It was nice to revisit the beginning of the story, though I have to admit that it wasn't completely satisfying for me.