Dark Ascension - M.L.Brennan

After a lifetime of avoiding his family, Fort has discovered that working for them isn’t half bad—even if his mother, Madeline, is a terrifying, murderous vampire. His newfound career has given him a purpose and a paycheck and has even helped him get his partner, foxy kitsune Suzume, to agree to be his girlfriend. All in all, things are looking up.

Only, just as Fort is getting comfortable managing a supernatural empire that stretches from New Jersey to Ontario, Madeline’s health starts failing, throwing Fort into the middle of an uncomfortable and dangerous battle for succession. His older sister, Prudence, is determined to take over the territory. But Fort isn’t the only one wary of her sociopathic tendencies, and allies, old and new, are turning to him to keep Prudence from gaining power.

Now, as Fort fights against his impending transition into vampire adulthood, he must also battle to keep Prudence from destroying their mother’s kingdom—before she takes him down with it....

My thoughts:
Is this the last book, is it??? *goes to stalk Brennan's page*
Omg, there is no word! Nooooo! The books are there, but *sadness* It's not the first time a publisher has axed a series. I just felt more could be done in this world...

Because, his mum is dying. His sister is a sociopath, his brother is too nice at times. There is that whole empire to deal with. And he still is not a true vampire.

Story, we meet the bears again. There are a few succubi to be dealt with. His romance with Suzume is going well (she is really cool btw).

And dang, srsl? Why is ROC thinking, they should def publish more. Sure it did not live up to the awesome of book 1, but it was still good. And made me want more.

Cover
nice

Mass Market Paperback, 308 pages
Published August 4th 2015 by Roc
Generation V #4
Urban fantasy
Own

Tainted Blood - M.L.Brennan

Former film student Fortitude Scott is finally gainfully employed. Unfortunately, said employment happens to be with a group of sociopathic vampires—his family. And as much as Fort is loath to get too deep into the family business, when his brother, Chivalry, is temporarily unable to run the territory, it’s up to Fort to keep things under control.

So when the leader of a powerful faction of shifters turns up murdered, Fort finds himself tracking down a killer while navigating dangerous rivalries, longtime grudges, and hidden agendas. Even with the help of his foxy kitsune sidekick, Suzume, he’ll need to pull out all the stops to hunt for the paranormal assassin.

But as he calls on fairies, witches, and ghouls for help, he discovers that the problem is much bigger than a single dead werebear. The supernatural community is preparing for a massive shift in power within the Scott family leadership—and Fort has landed right in the middle of the gathering storm.… 

My thoughts:

It was good...and that is the problem. It was good, while previous books were awesome. I enjoyed it, but it did not grab me as book 1 and 2 did. So while I liked it, it did make me fear for book 4. If book 4 is also good, well sometimes that is a dealbreaker for me. I need an awesome thrown in here and there. Sometimes good is all I need, while other times not. Do not ask me how. I have no idea. I can read an entire series where all the books are "only" good, but not awesome. And then I can read a series and go all eh after one is just good...

Moving on.

So beta Fort grew in book 2. But here, hello! You are a vampire. You know that shit already. And now he was all, I will have to kill peeps? Well not really. I have to drink blood? Get over it you vegetarian idiot. I did feel that weakness that I liked in book 1 and 2 was a bit too much here. Being kind is good, just, being too kind can be too much.

I read the book fast, it was one of those, read in a day kind of books. I liked that there were Finnish bears. I liked this quote about Finns holding grudges (have held one for 15 years, not forgiving that ahole). Suze was fun and weird. His family was bloodthirsty, I really like Prudence now, she is a sociopath.

Conclusion:

And now some will think I did not like the book. It was GOOD! I just expected awesome and exceptions sucks ass. I will read the next and hope for more, I will read the one after that but hopefully it will be back on track by then. When you expect awesome you can not settle for less. 

Cover

That is not really him

Mass Market Paperback, 306 pages
Published November 4th 2014 by Roc
Generation V #3
Urban fantasy
Own

Iron Night - M.L.Brennan

Underachieving film theory graduate and vampire Fortitude Scott may be waiting tables at a snooty restaurant run by a tyrannical chef who hates him, but the other parts of his life finally seem to be stabilizing. He's learning how to rule the Scott family territory, hanging out more with his shapeshifting friend Suzume Hollis, and has actually found a decent roommate for once.

Until he finds his roommate’s dead body.

The Scott family cover-up machine swings into gear, but Fort is the only person trying to figure out who (or what) actually killed his friend. His hunt for a murderer leads to a creature that scares even his sociopathic family, and puts them all in deadly peril. 

Keeping secrets, killing monsters, and still having to make it to work on time? Sometimes being a vampire really sucks. 

My thoughts:

Wow, I really like this series! Yay for a new good series found! Oh no, there is the despair, what if it turns bad? Nooooooo! Happy thoughts, happy thoughts!

Fort is a bit more kick-ass now than in book 1. His brother had been training him. And I liked to see the growing he did. Become more sure of himself, being able to take charge. But he still has a lot of growing to do.

And we found out why he still is human...but I can't say more about that. Back to the story.

A murderer is loose and Fort wants to find that person, thing or whatever. It leads him to something big, so it's good he has his side-kick kitsune with him. And Suze is awesome, so sure of herself, kick-ass and just cool.

I can't say anything about the bad guy..bad guys..bad ones..but cool. I liked it. I really liked. But then I like that..which I can't say.

It was nice to see more of the family dynamics too. I actually like his brother now, and even his insane sister.

Conclusion:

So yes of course I recommend it and I need more.

Cover

Nice

Mass Market Paperback, 305 pages
Published January 7th 2014 by Roc
Generation V #2
Urban fantasy
Own

Generation V - M.L.Brennan

Fortitude Scott’s life is a mess. A degree in film theory has left him with zero marketable skills, his job revolves around pouring coffee, his roommate hasn’t paid rent in four months, and he’s also a vampire. Well, sort of. He’s still mostly human.

But when a new vampire comes into his family’s territory and young girls start going missing, Fort can’t ignore his heritage anymore. His mother and his older, stronger siblings think he’s crazy for wanting to get involved. So it’s up to Fort to take action, with the assistance of Suzume Hollis, a dangerous and sexy shape-shifter. Fort is determined to find a way to outsmart the deadly vamp, even if he isn’t quite sure how.

But without having matured into full vampirehood and with Suzume ready to split if things get too risky, Fort’s rescue mission might just kill him.… 

My thoughts:

I am wavering between a 3 and a 4, and only cos I really did enjoy it, but what if the second book is even better? Oh well then it will be :) So more a 3.75 or something ;)

I liked Fort, he was so not kick-ass. He let his room mate walk all over him, his girlfriend, his boss. But you know what, I do not always need kick-ass. Would I be able to stand up to everyone all the time? No. So it only made him more human. But as the progresses he doe get better, which I liked. Because sometimes you really do need to stand your ground.

Fort is a vamp, but has not really become one yet. And he likes being "human" as long he can. His family is rich and arrogant and all vampire. While he has a shit job, a room mate who does not pay his rent, and a degree that gives him nothing.

The world was interesting. Vamps, we saw kitsunes (I have always liked those), and humans who know nothing (as I like it).

Conclusion:

There was a bit of action, a hunt, and just good times. I enjoyed the book nad I certainly look forward to book 2. *fingers crossed it will be good too*

Cover

ok

Mass Market Paperback, 312 pages
Published May 7th 2013 by Roc
Generation V #1
Urban fantasy
Own