Guest Review: In the company of Vampires - Katie MacAlister + 'Gator Battle Award'

Dark Ones, 8
Genre: Paranormal romance
Pages: 343
Published: 2010
Review by Lis

When Francesca arrives at GothFaire to save her mother from the trickster god, Loki, things go from bad to worse. Her immortal ex, Benedikt, is there, full of secrets-and with a new girlfriend. Now Fran must battle a power-hungry group who wishes to dominate both the immortal and mortal worlds-and the woman who claimed Ben's heart. It's a good thing Fran's no ordinary mortal...

Before I start this review…
I must tell you that Katie MacAlister is among my all time favorite authors. Her books perfected my English and introduced me to Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy. There is really hard not to like any of the books Katie MacAlister writes. In the Company of Vampires is the very very long awaited continuation of Ben and Fran(cesca)’s story that started over five years ago in the Goth Faire series. Can you say SQUEE? That is why I asked B. for this review (yes, seriously. I asked her!) so I can share the SQUEE that is In the Company of Vampires with you!

So In the Company of Vampires ey?
Yes, ja and da! The story most definitely did not disappoint and started of with a bang when Fran’s roommate is kidnapped and that is just the start. Trouble starts brewing with a capital B. Make that furiously boiling. Fran soon discovers her mum is missing and sets out to find her, but not before the return of everyone’s favorite Viking trio. Did I mention Vikings? Yes I did. I really shouldn’t mention what they do with the ‘weasel’ Gold/card (i.e. visa card) they got from the Goddess Freya to blend in. If you want to know what clothes they buy, you have to pick this book up, but let me tell you, it’s Viking approved and it’s outrageous.

Fran left the Goth Faire five years ago to go to college and also got a job. In all that time she didn’t see Ben, her Dark One (that would be soul mate). Fran fights the whole system. She wants her and Ben to be together because they belong together and can make it work together, not because of some destiny. In effect they are practically broken up. So it shouldn’t hurt to find out Ben has a girlfriend….right?

So with romance trouble, mystery mayhem, pillaging and rutting (their own words) Vikings, a bitchy friend, liches, demons and carnivals, Fran has enough to deal with right? Well there is also the little problem of her arch enemy…Loki.

That makes that is book is full of plot and then some. It makes for a highly entertaining story that moves at a fast pace. The Vikings are constantly entertaining us with their comic relief and annoying Fran to no end. At points I thought it was a little too much, but they were too cute to be a bother.

What I liked
The above is not enough? Well, yes, but here’s an in depth view of the book. With Katie MacAlister, no character is alike. Well except that the Dark One’s have the overprotective macho man thing going on. The same goes for Ben. But Fran is no woman to mess with. She is not so accepting of the whole Beloved thing. She wants Ben to love her because of love’s sake, not because she’s his Beloved. That cause some bumps in the road and Fran to overlook some vital issue.

Ben for his part is very accepting. Of course he doesn’t really have a choice. MacAlister made him a perfect blend of caring, seductive, romantic, protective and accepting. Ben let’s Fran work out her issues on her own, though he does wait awfully long.

Katie knows how to spin a story and to use the right words so they make not only a unique story, but also unique characters.

So was there anything I didn’t like?
Actually yes. I mentioned that his story is action packed and fast moving. There are several plots coming up in the story and while the book is awesome (yes, you’re going to hear that several more times) I did think that she wanted too much for the book and should have toned it down a bit in order to work the other sides out. In the end something happens that isn’t quite resolved. While minor, I didn’t like it. Though I have a funny feeling that this will be resolved in another book.

There is also quite a lot of comic relief. While funny and appropriate, it could have been a little less so that there would be more focus on the plot.

All in all…
In the Company of Vampires is an amazing book and it was well worth the five year wait. I do hope to see more of Fran and Ben, be in a sequel or as a subplot in another Dark One novel. To me it was quite a fulfilling story and I hope you like it too. It can be picked up as a stand alone book, but it is recommended that you read Confessions of a Vampire’s Girlfriend that combines the Goth Faire stories. 

Thank you Lis for this :)

And here is where I take over with some info from Sourcebooks about free e-books this weekend :D

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The following three eBooks will be free from today until Sunday:

Lydia Bennet’s Story by Jane Odiwe

Her new release Mr. Darcy’s Secret just came out on February 1^st

Love at First Flight by Marie Force

            Her new release Everyone Loves a Hero just came out on February 1^st

The Greatest Knight by Elizabeth Chadwick

            Her highly anticipated release, To Defy a King will be released March 1^st

Click here to get all the information.

You can also sign up for our eBook Deal Newsletter so you can know about all of our promotions going on (to sign up, fill out your name and email on the upper right hand corner of that web page). 

Thanks! 

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And one more, oh hang in there, I know the post is long, and since I am stealing Lis' spotlight she will be honoured too :)

Thanks VVb32 !

Congratulations, you’ve won the honor of being Worth Your Weight in a ‘Gator Battle!

The award was created in honor of (at least according to them) the real stars from “Alien Tango”. No, not Katherine “Kitty” Katt or Jeff Martini. Alliflash and Gigantagator, Alligators Extraordinaire!

The “Worth Your Weight in a ‘Gator Battle Award” is only given to the wily, the brave, and the cheeky, so get down with your bad self, you’re deemed worthy to run with the A-C’s!

Now you get to spread the awesome by nominating other bloggers who would also be worth their weight in a ‘gator battle. Battling ‘gators is not for sissies or wimps -- only the strong survive -- so choose wisely!

Your mission details:

1. Slap the graphic on your blog post.

2. Give link props to the person who gave you the award (don’t rile a ‘gator fighter -- it’s dangerous).

3. Spread the awesome and nominate five (5) other bloggers who you think will be worth their weight in a ‘gator battle.

4. Let the recipients know they’ve won this honor on their blogs.

5. Last but not least, shoot Gini Koch an email at gini@ginikoch.com and let her know you’re worthy of running with the A-C’s (put “Worth My Weight” in the subject line!) by sharing that you’ve been nominated and telling her which other bloggers you nominated, and she’ll enter you into the “Worth Your Weight” Contest. Keep reading to find out more details and what the loot is below.

Of course, you can choose to ignore your awesomeness, but then you’ll never have a chance to nab your own A-C or win the loot. And you know you want both.

Contest runs from Wednesday, February 1, 2011 through Monday, February 28, 2011.

Contest prize and details here.

1 Lis -. Lis on Books (yes she has created a new blog)

2. Melissa - Books and things

3. Lea - Closetreader

4. Michelle - Michelle's Book Blog

5. Ana - Books as portable pieces of thoughts

I would love to nominate the lot of you, cos I'd fight gators with you all any day