5 Stars
Watch out, Bones! Spade is
heeeerrre! <3 <3
First Drop of Crimson is the first book in the Night Huntress World (NHW)
series. Although it is technically a different series, these books are meant to
be read in order of the publication date, meaning there is some back and forth
between this series and the Night Huntress (NH) series. This is supposed to be
read after NH #4. The focus is on two secondary characters from the NH series,
Spade, Bones’ best friend & Denise, Cat’s best friend. Before reading this,
all I knew is it was “Spade’s book,” which is what I affectionately refer to it
as! :) I didn’t know (for sure at least) that Denise was the other main
character in this though.
So, this book is centered around
the problem of Denise being threatened and blackmailed with the lives of her
family members by a demon. Denise doesn’t know what to do or who to turn to, so
in trying to get in touch with Cat and/or Bones, she ends up speaking with
Spade. Spade being the gentlemen that he is, offers to help Denise even though
she adamantly refuses.
“A vampire private investigator?”
he repeated. “You’re putting me on, right?” “I know you have vampire hit men,
so why wouldn’t you have vampire private investigators, too?” she flared back.
“I can’t just run an ad with Nathanial’s description on it titled ‘Have you
seen this soul welsher?’”
The funny thing about this
particular partnership is that Denise wants nothing to do with vampires and
Spade feels the same way about humans.
“Humans. Aside from tasting
delicious, they were usually more trouble than they were worth.”
Even though they both have an
aversion to the others species, they have this odd chemistry. What we didn’t
know in the Night Huntress series was that Spade and Denise both noticed each
other immediately upon their first meetings, not necessarily in a lustful way, but
more in a curious, bewildering way. As Spade and Denise spend more time
together, their attraction grows.
“Denise was more than a situational
fancy. She was special. When he was with her, she stirred things in him that he
hadn’t felt in a century and a half, and it had started from the first moment
he laid eyes on her.”
I had always loved Spade, but
didn’t really have feelings for Denise one way or another from the NH series,
but I REALLY LOVED them both in this book! It is told in third person, so we
get to see what both Denise and Spade are thinking and feeling throughout the
book. It was so awesome to see another side to Denise. In NH, she seems so
sweet, innocent, and unassuming. Here, we get to see that she is a more dynamic
character, she’s strong, brave, and actually really funny. And of course, SPADE!
He is AMAZING! Starting this book, I never thought I would fall for him the way
I did. He is such a mess of contradictions and I LOVE IT! He is a gentleman,
but so intense and fierce (sometimes to the point I wanted to smack him, but
hey...). Denise says it perfectly, “[Spade] was attentive and charming. Add
that to his odd combination of gallantry, ruthlessness, and loyalty.” He is
just a big bundle of hot, swoony, perfection! I love how him and Denise
interact. They are both trying to keep the other at arms length, it was pretty
entertaining and I enjoyed Spade’s dry humor SO MUCH!
“First she’d manipulated him, now
she insulted him. “No.” She blinked. “No?” “I understand your confusion,” Spade
said smoothly, “since it seems you don’t hear that word often, but allow me to
explain.”
Even though this is primarily Spade
and Denise’s book, Cat, Bones, and Mencheres make some appearances. But, who
really made an impression and shined throughout was Ian. He is so effing
hilarious! The perfect combination of asshole-ness and humor to make him a
character I can’t help but love! It was also fun to see Denise give him shit
for his crazy antics.
“You look like a Dracula porn movie
reject.”
…
“Before you go, mate, turn on the
telly. Something raunchy too. Think I'll rub off one before I go to sleep.”
The progression of the relationship
between Denise and Spade was fun and interesting and there were such amazing
moments that gave me chills!
“And at no time have I ever touched
you where it’s been anything but real.”
It was witty, entertaining, still
with the action typical of NH, and the steaminess! The perve in me was very
satisfied by this one! ;) This book was just so much AWESOME! I can’t properly
articulate WHY it worked for me, but it just did. I ate it up, every word.
There is just something about the way I felt during this that just makes it
stand out for me. I LOVED IT, the epilogue was PERFECTION and had me
slightly tearing up as I read it. I feel like having read it will add so much
when I get back to the NH series to read book 5 (after NHW #2). I highly,
highly recommend this book!
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