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    Halfway to the Grave: A Night Huntress Novel
    Unavailable
    Halfway to the Grave: A Night Huntress Novel
    Unavailable
    Halfway to the Grave: A Night Huntress Novel
    Ebook497 pages8 hours

    Halfway to the Grave: A Night Huntress Novel

    By Jeaniene Frost

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    Half-vampire Catherine Crawfield is going after the undead with a vengeance, hoping that one of these deadbeats is her father—the one responsible for ruining her mother's life. Then she's captured by Bones, a vampire bounty hunter, and is forced into an unholy partnership.

    In exchange for finding her father, Cat agrees to train with the sexy night stalker until her battle reflexes are as sharp as his fangs. She's amazed she doesn't end up as his dinner—are there actually good vampires? Pretty soon Bones will have her convinced that being half-dead doesn't have to be all bad. But before she can enjoy her newfound status as kick-ass demon hunter, Cat and Bones are pursued by a group of killers. Now Cat will have to choose a side . . . and Bones is turning out to be as tempting as any man with a heartbeat.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateOct 13, 2009
    ISBN9780061744822
    Unavailable
    Halfway to the Grave: A Night Huntress Novel
    Author

    Jeaniene Frost

    Jeaniene Frost is the New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author of the Night Huntress series and the Night Huntress World novels. To date, foreign rights for her novels have sold to nineteen different countries. Jeaniene lives in North Carolina with her husband Matthew, who long ago accepted that she rarely cooks and always sleeps in on the weekends. Aside from writing, Jeaniene enjoys reading, poetry, watching movies with her husband, exploring old cemeteries, spelunking and traveling—by car. Airplanes, children, and cookbooks frighten her.

    Read more from Jeaniene Frost

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    Reviews for Halfway to the Grave

    4/5

    1,580 ratings112 reviews

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    • 1/5
      Worst piece of drivel since Twilight. The narrator and main character is supposed to be both a bad girl who curses and a loner doesn't care what anyone thinks (and kills vampires, because #yesallvampires), and a good girl little white girl who doesn't sleep around. She's half vampire, half human, because her vampire father, who was newly-turned and therefore still had functioning pipes, raped her mother. Her mother is a two-dimensional paragon of a non-functioning rape victim who never recovers, hates the vampiric part of her daughter, and encourages her daughter to go out to clubs by herself, dangle herself as bait for horny, rapey vampires, and then kill them.

      All this, while maintaining that she's not a slut. (The word is thrown around like confetti, and implies as much judgement as possible each time it is.)

      There are only a few female characters, and none by the narrator are portrayed in a good light. There's the narrator's mother, her judgey grandmother, a girl who pretends to be the narrator's friend before trying to sell her into "white slavery" to the bad vampires, and a drop-dead gorgeous vampire turncoat (pun intended) who wears no underwear. The last, of course, inspires the narrator to ridiculous heights of petty jealousy.

      Finally, the romantic lead employs textbook manipulation tactics on the narrator, both in order to get her into bed with him and while they're there. Neither the narrator nor the author seem aware of how creepy his behavior is.

      Overall, I cannot believe I spent three full dollars on this. What a waste.
    • 2/5
      I didn't get on with this book, which surprised me as I love the genre and had read so many good reviews. The level of writing is inconsistent with the target audience: many things are over-explained as if for a young audience, yet there are quite explicit sex scenes. A lot of aspects of the story didn't gel for me or were glossed over, and the supposed chemistry between the two main characters just wasn't there. I will not be reading any further with this series.
    • 3/5
      So these types of books are what I would call my guilty pleasure. I have read the first four Kim Harrison books in the Hollows Series and wanted to try another one. The Frost books have seriously high ratings on Goodreads, so I decided to give it a shot.

      I would rate this book a 2.5 out of 5 stars. I usually am the person who makes fun of those reviewers who like to downgrade books that are raved about by 99% of the world. I feel that they just like to be contrarian and prove their intellectual and cultural superiority over the rest of us. However, I have to say that this book was a big let down based on its popularity. I found some parts to be funny and some of the world building to be interesting, but as a story I thought it was weak. I felt the character development was rather thin, and the plot was too simple. The ending sets up the idea for the rest of the series, and it seems to have potential, but I worry that if the writing remains as simple as this first story, I may not enjoy it any more than I did this first book.
    • 4/5
      4.5 stars

      Update: 5/10/11: My previous review stands. This was just as good the second time around. I love Cat and Bones.

      Original review-8/15/09: I was pleasantly surprised by Halfway to the Grave. I had no expectations when I started it, but when I was halfway through (no pun intended), I realized how much I was really enjoying it. I thought Cat and Bones were wonderful together. They made a great couple, both on and off the field. I felt that their feelings for each other were genuine. Cat annoyed me with her whole "all vampires are evil" spiel (thanks to her mom being raped by a vampire, thus resulting in Cat), though she started to see the light because of her relationship with Bones. There were some moments of extreme violence, but I thought it worked well with the situation at the time. I have to say that I was slightly disappointed with the turn of events in the end. I look forward to see how the author plays with it in the next book.
    • 3/5
      Vampire fluff without much substance and too much sex/romance. I won't be continuing this series.
    • 4/5
      I loved this book! This was a re-read for me but I have to admit that I didn't remember a whole lot of the book. I originally read this series around 5 years ago or so and fell in love with it. I remember reading the books in the series that were available back to back and barely coming up for air. I do recall the basics of the series but the details are gone so I thought it would be a good time to brush off the audiobook I purchased back in 2011 for a listen. I may have even liked it more the second time around.This is the first book in the Night Huntress series so everything is new. Cat and Bones meet in this book and what a meeting it is. Cat is half vampire and rather unique because of it. She has spent her time going to college by day and hunting vampires by night. Bones is a charismatic vampire that proves to be a challenge for Cat. These two were so much fun together and I really enjoyed watching them meet again for the first time with this re-read.Tavia Gilbert does an amazing job bringing this story to life. I am honestly rather mad at myself for not listening to this one before now. She does such a wonderful job with all of the characters in this story. I was especially impressed by her voice for both Cat and Bones. They are the focus of this story and their voices were so different from each other and I have to say I loved Bone's accent. I thought that the narration of this story really took things up a notch with exciting scenes suddenly feeling even more exciting.I really enjoyed how the story was laid out. The world building in this book happened without stalling any of the action of the story. The story just seemed to flow from the very first page without ever slowing down. I thought that this book had a little bit of everything. It was exciting with a lot of action, sexy, romantic, funny, and even a bit heart wrenching at times.I would recommend this series to others. It is a series that really does need to be read in order so this book would be the right place to start. I am really looking forward to continuing with my audio re-read of this excellent series very soon.
    • 5/5
      A fun kick-ass read!!!
    • 5/5
      I listened to this in one day and loved it. Yes, it's a bit over-the-top, but come on. It's about sexy vampires and alcoholic ghosts and ghouls who like to cook, so considering the subject matter alone you've got to know it's going to be a bit outre. Anyway, I've read a lot of vampire fiction over the years, starting with Stoker's Dracula ad Anne Rice's series and including Feenan, Veihl, Hamilton, Ward, Harris and others too numerous to mention. Even *shudder* Stephanie Meyer's first novel. I'd more or less moved on from vampire fiction, though, because it's been, well, kind of overdone. But I really like this series (I finished Halfway to the Grave and, in the next five days, finished the next three in the Night Huntress series and the first two in the Night Hunters World series). So, yeah, I really like it. I even like the readers' voice for Bones. It makes him sound like a London guttersnipe, which is what others have called him, and he is snarky enough to want to keep it if only to annoy others, so I get it. It works for me, anyway.
    • 4/5
      I loved the adventure. This was a big surprise, because it not my typical read. Loved it
    • 4/5
      This was cute and funny and had me laughing. It was both plot and relationship driving but after reading it, I would classify it as PNR not UF. I think of UF as mainly plot driven and not centered around the 2 main characters and their relationship. Although most romances have a Happily Ever After (HEA) and this one doesn't, it is obviously going to continue.

      The reason I didn't give this 5 stars is that it didn't quite get their for me. The relation between the 2 main characters is great, but the "background" story kinda lost cohesiveness in the end and seemed sloppily done. Still it was a good story but seems incomplete, probably because it is continued in the next book.

      Very easy read. Read in one sitting.
    • 5/5
      After Catherine Crawford learns that her father was a vampire who raped her human mother, her life has new meaning. She is on a mission to destroy all vampires with the hopes of someday catching the vampire that ruined her mother's life. All this changes when she meets Bones, a vampire who kills other vampires for money, and they form an uneasy partnership.

      My expectations for this audiobook were not that high. I thought it would be a quick distraction and an easy read. Instead, I found myself glued to my ear buds. The plot is gripping and fast paced from the start to the finish. The characters were multi-dimensional and the added romance made this a perfect audio experience. Narrator Tavia Gilbert was spectacular and did some wonderful foreign accents (since vampires are pretty much a global species).

      One caution though - the book has some pretty explicit sex scenes - not recommended for young adult.
    • 3/5
      I got my period and revisited/chainsmoked this series. I still don't love it, largely because Bones is James Marsters's Spike (except that Marsters is 5'9" and Bones is 6'2", LOLz). After this first book he even stops bleaching his hair blond, going back to his (Marsters's) natural dark curls, and then his hair turns white naturally, and then he goes back to brown and curly again. It's all very weird.

      There also aren't really any good female characters besides Cat, which always annoys me, and--holy pet peeve, Batman!--these monsters (the good guys) use torture as a means to an end A LOT. Like, constantly. No bueno.

      And the author does a really bad job of conveying scale--it all feels the same, whether they're in a crowded city or an empty field.

      There are some spin-off novels throughout this series that you'd think were to be read separately, but they actually need to be consumed in a very specific order, or all will be spoiled and confusing. Here's the order:

      Halfway to the Grave
      One Foot in the Grave
      At Grave's End
      Destined for an Early Grave
      First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World)
      Eternal Kiss of Darkness (Night Huntress World)
      This Side of the Grave
      One Grave at a Time
      Once Burned (Night Prince)
      Twice Tempted (Night Prince)

      I read the two Night Prince novels (which are FANTASTIC) first, and it didn't bother me, but the "Night Huntress World" spin-offs need to be read in order.


      ------Update Above-----

      This is basically Buffy/Spike fanfic. And, I mean, don't get me wrong--I am PRO-Buffy/Spike. 100%. That was my ship back in the day. Especially after she went to college and dated that boring blond army guy. That guy was the worst.

      But it feels forced here. I'm sure the later novels grow, and the characters come into their own or whatever, but I couldn't even finish the sample I downloaded to my kindle. So.
    • 5/5
      I have read this series before and just LOVED it! I have just found it to be sound thrilling and full of adventure, passion and danger. Cat and Bones are just classic characters-deeply woven in the story in such a way that takes your breath away. I love both of them. Cat is a bit insecure about who she is, but Bones is NOT! LOL He is fully aware of who he is and his capabilities. He has a alpha side, but he also is the kind that will stand by his woman. I love how protective he can be, and other times be sensitive (but in a good manly and alpha fashion). I love the pace of this story, never ending thrill one after another. I always find myself so entertained when I read this. There is also a complexity to their relationship that I always find so provoking at times. There is never a dull moment in this one, and I always am cracking up. I love the dry yet witty humor that definitely has me hooked and reeled in the story. Just a sexy adventure with a hero to die for and a story that will draw you into a adventure you will never forget. One that no one should miss out on!!!
    • 4/5
      Let me start out by saying, "I NEED MORE BONES!!" This is one seriously sexy vamp. He's tough, but can be compassionate. He's kind of like Eric in season 4 of TB. (Although he still does not replace Mr. Northman as the hottest vampire ever.) Some of the things he says made me blush and giggle like a school girl. While, we're talking characters I'll discuss Cat. She's a strong female character. She believes she can handle things on her own and finds it hard to rely on a vampire of all things. She makes rash decisions that end up screwing her over. Overall she's a great character, and the banter between her and Bones is easy and natural. There isn't anything that feels awkward between the two. Well, besides that fact that he's a vampire and she thinks all vampires are the most evil creatures on the earth.

      The plot was action packed. It kept me intrigued, and it was a battle to put my book down to go to bed. I loved seeing Bones & Cat work together to solve whatever their immediate problem was. They have different approaches to how they handle situations, but together they kick ass.

      I highly recommend this book, and I can't wait to read the next book. I'm sure more problems will arise.
    • 4/5
      Good plot, good characters, a little sexy, but not at the cost of the story.
    • 3/5
      To be a half vampire, half human creature - to hunt down the one who sired you because of what he had done to his mother - to fall in love with someone who at first seemed to be impossible and arrogant - to fight for what you believe in; this book is so much fun! Also, how can you resist an English vampire?
    • 4/5
      Good story and action ... I always like it when the hero knows what he wants and goes after it but wish I would have read description of each book in series first to see direction of relationship.
    • 5/5
      I love the last line. "If you run from me ..."

      Awesome read filled with humor, action, and love. More coming soon.
    • 3/5
      Not bad for a first novel. The characters were funny, and the action was pretty evenly paced. I am glad I just found this series, I would have been irritated having to wait for the second book.
    • 4/5
      This book felt like a total guilty pleasure. There was nothing new or original about the story line, and I knew what was mostly going to happen from about half way through. But that didn't really matter because I loved it anyway. Yes, it was a little cheesy in places, but the characters were fun and likeable, there was some wonderful dialog between the two main characters, the action was faced paced and the sex was hot. The were a few nice little plot twists at the end I didn't actually see coming and a nice set up to lead into the next book in the series. I will definitely be picking up the next one,
    • 5/5
      I adored this book. I haven't been this drawn to a paranormal romance since I started being a BDB addict. I went right out today and got the last three books in this series. I can't wait to start them. I adore Cat, she is a strong women who knows what she wants. I am completely in love with Bones, who is just drop dead sexy, hehehe, did you get my joke? ;) The sensuality and heat in this book was off the charts and the action was sweet...I could read Cat kicking butt through the whole book, oh wait, I did, and it was awesome. You have to read this series if you haven't already.
    • 4/5
      Synopsis: Cat's mother was raped by a vampire, leaving her pregnant with a half-breed daughter. To please her mother and assuage her guilt, Cat hunts vampires and kills them, believing that the only good vampire is a dead one, at least until she meets Bones. Review: This is an interesting, well written book that appears to be evolving into a vampire romance series. I'm hoping that the following stories rely on a story line rather than 'will the boy and girl get together'.
    • 3/5
      Interesting series. Cat and Bones (I really think all of the nicknames in all the books are eye roll worthy) make for adventurous fun. They are entertaining enough that I have read the whole series in just under 2 weeks. (it was a really cold and snowy January). Some of the plot direction was really obvious and you really need to read the companion stories to understand what is going on as Frost makes references to things that happen in them and does not recap.
    • 4/5
      Yet another entry in the paranormal romance genre I seem to be gravitating towards lately. I could do without some of the romance, but I like hanging out in the world of vampires and other mythical creatures.

      I do like the heroine's gradual journey towards self confidence, and in general I find her a likeable character, but I can't excuse killing the human governor, no matter how "evil" he was.

      I'm also a little puzzled about whether Bones is meant to be a tribute to Spike from Buffy or simply a copy. I had a lot of trouble with the narrator's voice for Bones at first, as she really can't do British accents that well, but I got used to it.

      I liked the book well enough to listen to the second one in the series, which I already bought b/c it was on sale at Audible.
    • 5/5
      God, I love this book. so worth the re-read
    • 3/5
      Halfway to the Grave is the first book in the Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost. I found the premise of this story very interesting, a half-vampire that hunts and kills vampires. Freud would have a ball with her psyche!For me, the story started out slow and didn't really pick up until after Cat and Bones start hunting together. There was too much time spent on her training with Bones and it got boring, even though their relationship started heating up during the time. This book is definitely not for younger audiences or anyone who is offended by explicit sexual scenes, as there are many. I definitely wasn't expecting the ending to the book, but I'm not sure I liked it. Still, the book was entertaining overall and I'm intrigued enough to keep going in the series.
    • 4/5
      3.5 stars
      This book was an overall fun read. It didn't move me much on an emotional level, or explore character growth, relationships, or anything deeper. But it had your supernatural hunk, your tough heroine, lots of "action" of various types, and humorous dialogue. Great escapist reading!
    • 5/5
      What is the book about? Cat is a half vampire half human bad ass, who uses her body and her sexuality to hunt down bad and evil vampires, and has been for the past six years. Her mother has taught her to hate the side of her that is vampire so she is determined to kill them all and will stop at nothing until she has hunted down as many vampires as she can. That is until, she is found by a Master Vampire named Bones, formally known as Crispin, who is so intrigued by her that he offers to train and help her. He is unlike any other vampire she's ever met, and is giving him a chance by not killing him. Assuming she could in the first place. It's her second nature to hate vampires, since it's been drilled into her from her mother of so many years. She doesn't warm up to Bones very quickly, but they eventually they become a cozy duo which of course leads to much much more. He helps her dip into her vampire abilities and pushes her to be the hunter she's striving to be. They go through many problems and find themselves in quite some sticky situations.What did I think of the book? Jeaniene Frost does an amazing job at putting a new twist to the other vampire books that are out there. I was instantly hooked from the second I opened the book and the end was such a cliff hanger, I immediately started book two, One Foot In The Grave at four in the morning. Cat is such a lovable character, you can't help but like her. Not only is she innocent and unknowing about her sexual endeavors but she's a total bad-ass when it comes to capturing vampires and outing them for who they really are. I couldn't decide if I liked Bones or not since in the beginning he seems like such a jerk with ulterior motives that weren't all that clear at first. Once you get to see his character, and you learn he has Cat's best interest at heart, you can't help but melt at what an amazing character he is. I soon fell in love, and I expected Cat to as well. I was surprised when she seemed to dislike him so much when he was trying his best to show he wasn't like all the other vampires she has hunted in the past. On the other hand, I can see why she didn't warm up to him instantly since he's cryptic in his intentions and seems to hold a lot of secrets. Plus Cat is so blinded by her hatred towards vampires, which is so engraved into her she almost can't help it.
    • 4/5
      Well, I read this book in under twenty-four hours easily, and that is with two toddlers to keep me on my toes. With all of the positive reviews out there, I'm surprised it took me this long to get to this book, even despite the over-abundance of vampires in fiction literature.
      Cat is like a Midwestern version of Buffy, with a healthy dose of vampire genetics to add to her coolness. Bones' style, looks, and British accent remind me of Spike, so he quickly became my favorite character in the book. These factors alone are enough to get me hooked on the series, but Frost's ability to write hot sex scenes without any of the cheesiness that is prevalent in the romance genre just adds to the appeal.
      There were a few small things I did not like, such as the death of certain characters, but I can see how these events served to move the plot along. There were many unpredictable twists and turns in the plot that constantly had me guessing as to what would happen next - and reading to find out. The humor was very entertaining without becoming center-stage in the plot, and I especially loved the dynamics between Cat and Bones. I would have loved to read all two hours of dirty talk that Bones dished out to Cat as part of her training, his forthrightness with her regarding his feelings was intoxicating.
      The ending was noble, but not what I would have preferred. Still, it sets up wonderfully for the next book, because I just know that Bones will be hunting Cat down like he promised. Plus, there is lots of untapped potential in Cat's abilities, and I have to wonder if she does not have the same abilities as other vamps with her green eyes. On to One Foot in the Grave (Night Huntress, Book 2)!
    • 4/5
      This book was great!! I loved it.