At Grave's End (Night Huntress, #3)

by Jeaniene Frost

[Berls]

Reread review, 2022
I think this is the first time I've reread a book and given it a higher rating the second time around. And reading my review, my opinion has definitely changed on a couple points!

First of all, I think the reason I though the first 25% dragged my first-time reading was that I had let too much time lapse between books and I was out of synch with the characters. Because I did not feel that AT ALL this time. If I weren't so tired at the end of the day (perils of being a working, student, toddler mom), I would have easily finished this book in 4 days. Instead, I kept falling asleep, despite really wanting to stay up and find out what happened next.

And I mean that in all seriousness, I was anxious to know what happened in a book I've previously read. But I forgot EVERYTHING. I was buddy reading this with Brandee and there are a couple very memorable moments - the scene where I said I "nearly cried" in my first reading and an action sequence towards the end - and I had 0 recollections of them until they were happening. I said to her "I'm starting to question that I actually read these books" because so much was shocking to me. And also, apparently I was heartless in 2015 because not only did I nearly cry - I did cry. TWICE! The action and the emotion in this book - not to mention the plot and continued world development- are top notch.

Another moment in my first review that I have to take issue with. I said "Poor Tate :("! WTF was I thinking? Where was that sympathy coming from? I am so incredibly irritated by him and his blatant disrespect for Cat, disguised as his pinning after her.

Ok, some points I agree with myself on though - Vlad. Gah, what a fantastic character. I am so glad we're reading his books as part of the readalong, because I never did read them when I read this series before. I also agree that I love the way Bones and Cat's relationship has developed - it's a really solid relationship despite how (technically) short a time they've known each other. I love that he's teaching her what it is to be loved. And - who'da thunk it? - Cat's mom Justina is once again growing on me. I really like the explanation we get for why she may have been the way she was - it actually makes it possible to forgive her for the wrongs she's done Cat.

And I'm super excited to read the next book again, because I remember nothing again. LOL! So thankful I've joined in on this readalong!

Original Review, 2015
When I picked up At Grave's End, it took me no time to reconnect with the characters and, even though it's been like a year or more since I read the last one, I quickly remembered what had happened. So high five to Jeaniene Frost, sometimes I either feel like I spend forever in a recap or lost, but neither happened with this one.

I will say, though, that towards the beginning. maybe the first 25% of At Grave's End... I did lots of eye-rolling. I'm not sure exactly why but some of the dialogue and some of the interactions just felt forced gimmicky. *shrugs* it didn't last that long - either I got used to it or it got better... or more likely, it was eclipsed by the awesome story, mystery and action.

Maybe the first bit tried too much to be like a PNR and At Grave's End is so a UF and it just should have embraced that from the get go? Because At Grave's End excels as a UF. I read the last 75% in two sittings because it was so exciting. So much was happening - I love the vampire politics and rituals. I love the magic. I love the characters - even Cat's mom has grown on me! Shocker! And I really really love Cat and Bones - their relationship has grown so much in this one and I just love where they are as a couple. Poor Tate :( And there's some new characters introduced - Vlad anyone? - that I really hope will be around a lot in this series from here on out.

And Jeaniene Frost threw in quite a few twists! I nearly cried at one point - and if the series weren't over and I didn't know a bit more about it than I would have had I been reading it as the books came out, I just might have cried. But the emotion was pretty overwhelming.

So yeah, I'm re-hooked and looking forward to continuing with this series!