Proceed With Caution:
This book contains blood, gore, death, murder, mind control, discussions of rape and torture.
The Basics:
First Drop of Crimson follows Denise and Spade, side characters from the Night Huntress series. It picks up several months after Destined for an Early Grave, so I would recommend reading that one first as there are spoilers. It’s not 100% necessary to follow the plot here, although I would definitely say read One Grave at a Time at least, to get the background. Denise is still in mourning over her husband, but she’s trying to go on to live a normal human life. Unfortunately, a demon shows up at her door, brands her, and demands that she bring him an older family member that skipped out on a deal. Denise doesn’t know what to do, so she calls the one vampire who may be able to help her.
My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed First Drop of Crimson the first time I read it, but I liked it less this time. I still liked it, but a few things were nagging at me. It’s a fake relationship turned real, which is my all-time favorite trope. Well, it kind of is. Spade agrees to help Denise track down Nathaniel, but to avoid suspicion she must pose as his property as everyone knows that he doesn’t date humans. However, that plan quickly fails and they have to pretend to be a real couple, despite Denise’s repulsion by all things supernatural. Obviously, both of them have to get over their prejudices and fall madly in love, because duh! I loved watching that happen.
The plot was also pretty good, but that's where it kind of lost me this time around. I never got bored with it and really liked learning about more supernatural beings that inhabit this world. It was also fun to see Cat and Bones as support characters rather than the stars. Of course, the outcome of First Drop of Crimson was quite predictable. There’s only one way that Denise and Spade could have stayed together forever, but I was okay with that. It fit the narrative. And it provides some really awesome moments later in the series.
However, I kept wondering why Raum was coming after Nathaniel and the rest of Denise's family now. Obviously, we needed a reason for Denise to have her own book and get back into contact with Spade. I did like how she wound up having an unknown connection to the supernatural world. But it's not explained very well. Nathaniel made his deal with the devil 150 years ago! Why is it suddenly time to collect? Was there a time frame placed on when he was suppose to pay up? How and when did Raum get back to the mortal realm? None of this is ever answered. It made the plot feel convenient and like it existed as an after-fact just to get Denise and Spade together.
First Drop of Crimson was still a fun read. I read it almost straight through over a few hours. I just wish the plot had been stronger to make me really believe Denise and Spade's predicament. Their romance was a great match, with both of them dealing with grief and struggling to move on, but supporting each other through it.