Graves of Wrath

by Lina Gardiner

[kimbacaffeinate]

This is the first book in the City of Bones series, but it is also a spinoff or continuation of the Jesse Vandermire, Vampire series. It wasn’t necessary to read the previous books, as I did not. However, the players and romance are already established. I felt I missed out a little on their connections. The story held its own, and I quickly became caught up in the suspense.

While this falls between a paranormal romance and an urban fantasy it will survive without the romance. Therefore, I classified it as urban fantasy. (thank you Ilona Andrews)

Jesse is Captain of the New York City’s NYPD Vampire Hunting team. When her brother Regent, a Catholic priest, is given a secretive assignment by the Vatican, Jess gets a tingle. That turns into a niggle. Unable to ignore the sense of foreboding, she takes a sabbatical and heads to Paris. Her lover and team member, John Brittain accompanies her.

Welcome to the City of Bones. While I felt a little left out regarding relationships and supernatural abilities Gardiner soon brought me up to speed. Jess was right, there is something sinister in Paris.

I found the case, the French police, the underground and the church all to be fascinating. A murky shadow is possessing and killing humans and vampires. The Church’s take was fascinating as were the ideas Jess and her team uncovered. The suspense slowly built until the action exploded.

I enjoyed the pace, developments and side stories, like that of a young vampire.

This was a fresh tale mixing mythology, paranormal creatures and an unlikely crew comprising of an angel, a priest, a vampire and a scientist.

This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer