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starryorbit12's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
aphelia88's review against another edition
4.0
#5. "Lords of Misrule" ⭐⭐⭐
#6. "Carpe Corpus" ⭐⭐⭐⭐
~~~~Review of Series, books 1-6 (Volumes 1-3)~~~~
I love Rachel Caine's adult UF Weather Wardens series and its spin-off, Outcast Season. Her writing is snappy, thrilling fast-moving and completely compelling. So I was expecting a bad-ass lioness like WW's Joanne Baldwin, but the heroine of The Morganville Vampires, Claire Danvers, is a mouse who doesn't realize she's actually a kitten. Thankfully, by the end of book 6, she finally wises up to the fact that she is really a feline with claws and takes a few swipes with them. If the rest of the books continue to improve her character, she might end up, at best, a housecat. Hopefully an outdoor one who isn't scared of her own shadow 🙄
Like Jo, Claire does have a protective personality and will go to any lengths to save her friends, her loved ones, and the odd town in which she lives. But unlike Jo, she's essentially helpless in the usual way, lacking physical prowess or any magical talents. Although super book smart, she's not at all street smart and she continually makes well meaning but stupid decisions, often trusting the wrong people and not following her own instincts or asking enough questions.
I don't usually read YA, but picked this up because I love Rachel Caine's writing and because it was set on a college campus, not in a high school. But it might as well be. Claire is so smart that she's two years younger than everybody else; 16 going on 17 for the first five books, and only turning 17 in the 6th. She is also petite and fragile looking and gets bullied by the popular clique, led by nemesis Monica Morrell and her minions, and is constantly underestimated by everyone around her, especially the ancient vampires that run the town, as Patrons to the humans.
If I were 15 years younger reading this 10 years ago when it was first published and Twilight was all the rage, I'm sure I would have connected with it better. My major problem is that although Caine's writing is competent and compelling, the story is very slow to move along. It's a mindless read that I kept picking up and putting down but at the end of it all there seemed little substance.
Six books in and there's still no clear explanation of why Morganville is the way it is or where the vampires came from, and I expect that these revelations are being saved for the dramatic, multi-character perspective ending but it is hard to stay interested or feel invested in the power dynamics in the meantime, not knowing any of the background between the vampires.
The highlights of this series so far:
1. The strong friendships between the four residents of the Glass House: Michael Glass, Eve Rosser, Shane Collins and Claire Danvers, and the protective house itself;
2. The sweet, believable relationship between Claire and Shane, and the way that their feelings grow steadily stronger amid the chaos of Morganville, and
3. The vampire Myrnin. Introduced in book 3, Midnight Alley, it is no spoiler to say that his character is the best thing in Morganville and he steals nearly every scene he's in. If I keep reading this story, it will mostly be to discover who Myrnin truly is and how he fares.
Unfortunately, I have not warmed to Claire. She is too passive. While it is refreshing to follow a truly nice girl who finds herself unexpectedly in a supernatural world, there is a difference between being a good girl and being a doormat. Her interactions with Monica are especially problematic. Since book 6, Carpe Corpus appears to be a turning point in the series, I find Claire's new sass and confidence appealing and I hope that she continues to turn into the woman she wants to be, which will have to include finally standing up to her ridiculously overprotective parents.
Also, the other characters are lacking in depth as well. Eve, Claire's insta-best-friend, is a Goth pixie with a tragic past that is not discussed. Michael is a handsome, musically gifted enigma. And Shane, who has enough Daddy issues to keep him in therapy for life, is sitting on a deep (but merited) rage that constantly threatens to erupt. Claire loves science. And Shane. That's about it.
And the vampires? The vampires are more annoying than scary.
Overall, I am disappointed that this was not the snappy, fast-paced story that I was expecting. But I may try to find the rest of the series to see how it all ends, and if all these wild goose chases that mire the characters deeper in bizarre vamp politics and history they don't understand actually leads somewhere meaningful.
Overall rating so far, books 1-6: ⭐⭐⭐
#6. "Carpe Corpus" ⭐⭐⭐⭐
~~~~Review of Series, books 1-6 (Volumes 1-3)~~~~
I love Rachel Caine's adult UF Weather Wardens series and its spin-off, Outcast Season. Her writing is snappy, thrilling fast-moving and completely compelling. So I was expecting a bad-ass lioness like WW's Joanne Baldwin, but the heroine of The Morganville Vampires, Claire Danvers, is a mouse who doesn't realize she's actually a kitten. Thankfully, by the end of book 6, she finally wises up to the fact that she is really a feline with claws and takes a few swipes with them. If the rest of the books continue to improve her character, she might end up, at best, a housecat. Hopefully an outdoor one who isn't scared of her own shadow 🙄
Like Jo, Claire does have a protective personality and will go to any lengths to save her friends, her loved ones, and the odd town in which she lives. But unlike Jo, she's essentially helpless in the usual way, lacking physical prowess or any magical talents. Although super book smart, she's not at all street smart and she continually makes well meaning but stupid decisions, often trusting the wrong people and not following her own instincts or asking enough questions.
I don't usually read YA, but picked this up because I love Rachel Caine's writing and because it was set on a college campus, not in a high school. But it might as well be. Claire is so smart that she's two years younger than everybody else; 16 going on 17 for the first five books, and only turning 17 in the 6th. She is also petite and fragile looking and gets bullied by the popular clique, led by nemesis Monica Morrell and her minions, and is constantly underestimated by everyone around her, especially the ancient vampires that run the town, as Patrons to the humans.
If I were 15 years younger reading this 10 years ago when it was first published and Twilight was all the rage, I'm sure I would have connected with it better. My major problem is that although Caine's writing is competent and compelling, the story is very slow to move along. It's a mindless read that I kept picking up and putting down but at the end of it all there seemed little substance.
Six books in and there's still no clear explanation of why Morganville is the way it is or where the vampires came from, and I expect that these revelations are being saved for the dramatic, multi-character perspective ending but it is hard to stay interested or feel invested in the power dynamics in the meantime, not knowing any of the background between the vampires.
The highlights of this series so far:
1. The strong friendships between the four residents of the Glass House: Michael Glass, Eve Rosser, Shane Collins and Claire Danvers, and the protective house itself;
2. The sweet, believable relationship between Claire and Shane, and the way that their feelings grow steadily stronger amid the chaos of Morganville, and
3. The vampire Myrnin. Introduced in book 3, Midnight Alley, it is no spoiler to say that his character is the best thing in Morganville and he steals nearly every scene he's in. If I keep reading this story, it will mostly be to discover who Myrnin truly is and how he fares.
Unfortunately, I have not warmed to Claire. She is too passive. While it is refreshing to follow a truly nice girl who finds herself unexpectedly in a supernatural world, there is a difference between being a good girl and being a doormat. Her interactions with Monica are especially problematic. Since book 6, Carpe Corpus appears to be a turning point in the series, I find Claire's new sass and confidence appealing and I hope that she continues to turn into the woman she wants to be, which will have to include finally standing up to her ridiculously overprotective parents.
Also, the other characters are lacking in depth as well. Eve, Claire's insta-best-friend, is a Goth pixie with a tragic past that is not discussed. Michael is a handsome, musically gifted enigma. And Shane, who has enough Daddy issues to keep him in therapy for life, is sitting on a deep (but merited) rage that constantly threatens to erupt. Claire loves science. And Shane. That's about it.
And the vampires? The vampires are more annoying than scary.
Overall, I am disappointed that this was not the snappy, fast-paced story that I was expecting. But I may try to find the rest of the series to see how it all ends, and if all these wild goose chases that mire the characters deeper in bizarre vamp politics and history they don't understand actually leads somewhere meaningful.
Overall rating so far, books 1-6: ⭐⭐⭐
diaryofabookahloic's review against another edition
4.0
review on my blog link below:
http://thedairyofabookholic.blogspot.com/2014/03/book-review-morganville-vol-3-part-2.html
http://thedairyofabookholic.blogspot.com/2014/03/book-review-morganville-vol-3-part-2.html
wellreadrebel's review against another edition
4.0
The plotline stays strong as the series continues on, and it introduces new elements and people with a gradual smoothness, not shoving a bunch of new stuff at your face.
si0bhan's review against another edition
4.0
Ah, Morganville. Probably one of the best young adult vampire series out there.
Don’t get me wrong, it isn’t perfect. There are many things I disliked about this series, yet when I compare it to other books in this category it ranks rather high. Throughout the series, we have a continuous story and individual book stories to keep you engaged, without things growing repetitive.
If you’re into young adult vampire stories then I suggest you give this series a go.
Don’t get me wrong, it isn’t perfect. There are many things I disliked about this series, yet when I compare it to other books in this category it ranks rather high. Throughout the series, we have a continuous story and individual book stories to keep you engaged, without things growing repetitive.
If you’re into young adult vampire stories then I suggest you give this series a go.
amb3reads's review against another edition
5.0
5 out of 5 Stars
Lord of Misrule and Carpe Corpus were both rereads for me. I am glad that I reread them because I forgot a lot of the stuff that happened in both books. I loved both of them so much!
Lord of Misrule and Carpe Corpus were both rereads for me. I am glad that I reread them because I forgot a lot of the stuff that happened in both books. I loved both of them so much!
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