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blove0312's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
michalice's review
4.0
Midnight Bites is a collection of short stories from the Morganville Vampires series. Some of these stories were added with permission form the Kickstarter backers for Red Hot Rain, some of them have been previously released in anthologies or other Morganville books. Midnight Bites is the first time these stories have all been collected into one book.
Midnight Bites was a book I wanted to take my time with, enjoying each story rather than racing through the pages, hence why my review is much later than publication date. Below are small reviews for some of my favourite books out of the series.
Nothing Like and Angel
We start with Myrnin locked in a dungeon. He is rescued by Lady Grey, who brings him back to health, and stays when he leaves. Myrnin has several adventures and ends up finding himself trapped again. Nothing Like an Angel gives us a glimpse into their relationship that has stood the test of time, and explains why Myrnin likes her so much.
Sam's Story
This is an introduction to Sam. It tells us about his marriage and his child, the death of his wife, and how he ended up with the Glass House. We see the beginnings of his relationship with Amelie and how it played a part in his death.
Grudge
This is the story of Shane's sister, Alyssa. The story of how she died and is from Shane's point of view. We see what happened and why he feels so guilty and angry about it all.
New Blood
This is told from Eve and Michael's point of view of the events before and after the fire. We also see what happens after it's all over, and learn more about the blood drive.
The First Day of the Rest of Your Life
It's Eve's 18th birthday and she has an important choice to make. Whether to sign for protection or not. We see her troubled relationship with her family, and what her choice means to them. We also see how she ended up at the Glass House.
Wrong Place, Wrong Time
This is a very quick story told by Richard Morrell. An attempted robbery has gone awry with Monica involved. Justice is quick and deadly to the offenders.
Drama Queens Last Dance
This is another story from Eve. There is a new visitor in town, Gloriana, and she is an old friend of Oliver, and by old I mean DEAD old. She has her eyes set on Michael and tries to get him in her clutches, but she doesn't count on Eves feisty attitude to get in the way.
Final Verdict
Midnight Bites was a great read, and I really enjoyed getting to revisit this series and read some new stories from the characters. This is a must have addition to fans of the series.
Midnight Bites was a book I wanted to take my time with, enjoying each story rather than racing through the pages, hence why my review is much later than publication date. Below are small reviews for some of my favourite books out of the series.
Nothing Like and Angel
We start with Myrnin locked in a dungeon. He is rescued by Lady Grey, who brings him back to health, and stays when he leaves. Myrnin has several adventures and ends up finding himself trapped again. Nothing Like an Angel gives us a glimpse into their relationship that has stood the test of time, and explains why Myrnin likes her so much.
Sam's Story
This is an introduction to Sam. It tells us about his marriage and his child, the death of his wife, and how he ended up with the Glass House. We see the beginnings of his relationship with Amelie and how it played a part in his death.
Grudge
This is the story of Shane's sister, Alyssa. The story of how she died and is from Shane's point of view. We see what happened and why he feels so guilty and angry about it all.
New Blood
This is told from Eve and Michael's point of view of the events before and after the fire. We also see what happens after it's all over, and learn more about the blood drive.
The First Day of the Rest of Your Life
It's Eve's 18th birthday and she has an important choice to make. Whether to sign for protection or not. We see her troubled relationship with her family, and what her choice means to them. We also see how she ended up at the Glass House.
Wrong Place, Wrong Time
This is a very quick story told by Richard Morrell. An attempted robbery has gone awry with Monica involved. Justice is quick and deadly to the offenders.
Drama Queens Last Dance
This is another story from Eve. There is a new visitor in town, Gloriana, and she is an old friend of Oliver, and by old I mean DEAD old. She has her eyes set on Michael and tries to get him in her clutches, but she doesn't count on Eves feisty attitude to get in the way.
Final Verdict
Midnight Bites was a great read, and I really enjoyed getting to revisit this series and read some new stories from the characters. This is a must have addition to fans of the series.
minimoefoe's review
4.0
I was most looking forward to the myrnin stories, and they defo didn't disappoint, but there's a lot of other great ones in there too
lisandre's review against another edition
4.0
Ahh the nostalgia. I remember blazing through all 15 books in the Morganville vampire series as a teen, and it was such a trip down memory lane revisiting these characters and learning more about their backstories. RIP Rachel Caine, you were adored.
kerry2046's review against another edition
5.0
Great for my desire of Bitesize Morganville... Enjoyed all the various short stories in previous novels. Loved the Myrnin ones, my favourite fellow! One of my top fictional Beau!
I love Morganville!
I love Morganville!
vikingwolf's review against another edition
4.0
Myrnin's Tale: A woman sells her son to be apprentice to an alchemist vampire as she fears he may be mentally ill like his father (3 star)
Nothing like an angel-Lady Grey, beheaded and returned as a vampire rescues Myrnin from his prison cell and nurses him back to health. (3 star)
Sam's Story-Sam loses his wife Melinda and has to bring up his son Steven alone and falls in love with the vampire Amelie, allowing her to turn his grandson Michael. (3 star)
Grudge-When Shane rejects the advances of Queen Bitch Monica he has no idea of what horrors are going to be in store for his family. (4 star)
New Blood-Eve and Michael try to find out why Monica is involved in a blood drive through the school as they witness what she does to destroy Shane. (4 star)
First Day of the Rest of your Life-Eve is about to turn 18 and she is determined to reject Brandon as her vampire Protector...if she survives the night before. (4 star)
Amelie's Story-Oliver reports that Shane's father is back in town at the Glass House and she wonders if she was wrong to protect those who live there. (3 star)
Wrong Place Wrong Time- A gang of bank robbers think that the all night bank in Morganville is going to be an easy target but Richard has other plans. (4 star)
Dead Man Stalking-Shane and Michael are both kidnapped by Frank but the fates of both are to be very different. (3 star)
Lunch Date-Claire is alarmed at the thought that someone else is in the house with her one lunchtime. (2 star)
All Hallows-Michael is abducted near the Blood Bank because Miranda decides that she wants to be turned. (4 star)
Murdered Out-When Claire's spained ankle almost leaves them stranded outside at night, Shane decides he needs to buy a car. (3 star)
Worth Living For-Bishop has escaped captivity and Shane is following Michael to see if he is helping his former master. (4 star)
Drama Queen's Last Dance-Gloriana is the new vampire in town and is a master seductress. When she sets her sights on Michael, Eve won't take that lying down. (4 star)
Vexed-Myrnin and Oliver are forced to team up to bring a dangerous vampire back after he escapes but a haunted house will be more of a test. (3 star)
Signs and Miracles-Hannah is trying to find out who attacked a young woman and left her for dead, and why none of the vampires went near her to feed. (4 star)
Anger Management-Shane goes into therapy with Theo and is challenged to get through 24 hours without getting into a fight. (4 star)
Automatic-A new blood vending machine is installed to feed vampires when the Blood Bank is closed. Michael is to be the first to try it. (4 star)
Dark Rides-Eve and Michael are looking for a vampire prisoner in a dark and dangerous theme park (3 star)
Pitch Dark Blues-Myrnin pays Shane to be his bodyguard in a time travel adventure to get hold of an important book (4 star)
A Whisper in the Dark-An ancient Russian vampire asks Eve for help but his motives are not what they first seem to be (4 star)
And One For The Devil-Claire and Eve have to save Myrnin when he goes missing in a haunted hotel (4 star)
Overall, this was a very enjoyable anthology and I'm always happy for more Myrnin in my life! It fills in the history gaps, explains why Monica hates Shane so much, how Eve became estranged from her family and turned goth, and revisits Morganville after the book series has ended. If you love the series, you should enjoy this.
My only niggle is that the author hasn't given an indication of exactly where each story fits into the book series timeline.
Nothing like an angel-Lady Grey, beheaded and returned as a vampire rescues Myrnin from his prison cell and nurses him back to health. (3 star)
Sam's Story-Sam loses his wife Melinda and has to bring up his son Steven alone and falls in love with the vampire Amelie, allowing her to turn his grandson Michael. (3 star)
Grudge-When Shane rejects the advances of Queen Bitch Monica he has no idea of what horrors are going to be in store for his family. (4 star)
New Blood-Eve and Michael try to find out why Monica is involved in a blood drive through the school as they witness what she does to destroy Shane. (4 star)
First Day of the Rest of your Life-Eve is about to turn 18 and she is determined to reject Brandon as her vampire Protector...if she survives the night before. (4 star)
Amelie's Story-Oliver reports that Shane's father is back in town at the Glass House and she wonders if she was wrong to protect those who live there. (3 star)
Wrong Place Wrong Time- A gang of bank robbers think that the all night bank in Morganville is going to be an easy target but Richard has other plans. (4 star)
Dead Man Stalking-Shane and Michael are both kidnapped by Frank but the fates of both are to be very different. (3 star)
Lunch Date-Claire is alarmed at the thought that someone else is in the house with her one lunchtime. (2 star)
All Hallows-Michael is abducted near the Blood Bank because Miranda decides that she wants to be turned. (4 star)
Murdered Out-When Claire's spained ankle almost leaves them stranded outside at night, Shane decides he needs to buy a car. (3 star)
Worth Living For-Bishop has escaped captivity and Shane is following Michael to see if he is helping his former master. (4 star)
Drama Queen's Last Dance-Gloriana is the new vampire in town and is a master seductress. When she sets her sights on Michael, Eve won't take that lying down. (4 star)
Vexed-Myrnin and Oliver are forced to team up to bring a dangerous vampire back after he escapes but a haunted house will be more of a test. (3 star)
Signs and Miracles-Hannah is trying to find out who attacked a young woman and left her for dead, and why none of the vampires went near her to feed. (4 star)
Anger Management-Shane goes into therapy with Theo and is challenged to get through 24 hours without getting into a fight. (4 star)
Automatic-A new blood vending machine is installed to feed vampires when the Blood Bank is closed. Michael is to be the first to try it. (4 star)
Dark Rides-Eve and Michael are looking for a vampire prisoner in a dark and dangerous theme park (3 star)
Pitch Dark Blues-Myrnin pays Shane to be his bodyguard in a time travel adventure to get hold of an important book (4 star)
A Whisper in the Dark-An ancient Russian vampire asks Eve for help but his motives are not what they first seem to be (4 star)
And One For The Devil-Claire and Eve have to save Myrnin when he goes missing in a haunted hotel (4 star)
Overall, this was a very enjoyable anthology and I'm always happy for more Myrnin in my life! It fills in the history gaps, explains why Monica hates Shane so much, how Eve became estranged from her family and turned goth, and revisits Morganville after the book series has ended. If you love the series, you should enjoy this.
My only niggle is that the author hasn't given an indication of exactly where each story fits into the book series timeline.
toriedawn1's review against another edition
4.0
The stories about Myrnins earlier days are heartbreaking, is it any wonder he has issues. He went through so much that I'm not sure what is nature and what was nurture, these two stories made me love him even more. Both (a possibly biassed) 5 stars.
Sams story is really sweet too, I don't know what I expected but this wasn't it, a nice read but didn't change much in the story. 4 stars
Grudge is the story of the fire at his house, it is so sad but you still really don't get to see much of Alyssa, it would have been more heart wrenching if we had gotten to know her first. 4 stars
New blood was the story above from Eve's point of view, she was obsessed with Micheal, thats all you really need to take from this. 2 stars.
The first day of the rest of your life, an excessivly long title for a short story, it was a good story though. the story of how Eve ended up in the Glass house and without protection. It also explains why Eve has a bond with Miranda. 4 stars.
Amelie's story, this really wasnt my thing, I guess it showed a little of Her and Olivers relationship but it just felt pointless got no enjoyment reading this one. 1 star.
Wrong place, Wrong time. Very messed up, VERY short story. It really doesn't show Richard Morrell in the best light. 1 star.
Dead Man Stalking is a.... different feel entirely, this story does not fit in with the main stories at all however it was nice to have another story where Shane stands up to his dad. It wasn't a bad story to read and as a story seperate from the series it earned 3 stars.
Luch Date. Short, sweet but could have easily been a few pages in the actual series that we would have barely remembered as its just standard Claire and Shane. 3 stars.
All Hallows. This one kind of fitted in with the story but also didn't, Shanes reactions to things didn't match up with that point in the story at all. I liked Mr Randsom, he reminded me of Myrnin so it was nice to get to meet him. Assume when this was written the author hadnt yet decided on the ending as Mirandas predictions usually arent wrong. Overall not a bad story. 4 stars.
Murdered out was an okay story, not really much more to say. Get to see a little more of the Glass house couples and see the humans starting to stand up to the vamps a little. 3 stars.
Worth Living for, not really worth reading, its an alternative Bishop ending, the real one was better, this story felt like it dragged, it did show a little of the micheal and ahane bromance though. 2 stars.
Drama Queens Last Dance was a story I really enjoyed, it gave a little more detail on the Michael+Gloriana front as it is told from Eves perspective, right from when Gloriana comes to town until after her welcome party. It explains a few things that are glossed over in the main series. 5 stars
Vexed, its Myrnin again so naturally I loved it, this story did also speak to my love of the macabre. 5 stars.
Signs and Miracleswas a short sweet story. No impact to the main storyline but a good short story, bit of a detective/mystery story. Hannah is a great character, it was nice to see more of her. 4 stars.
Anger Management really describes a turning point for Shane. After bite club Shane needed help with his anger management and it turns out that is exactly what he got. Shane's character growth from scrappy child to a strong man was gradual throughout the series but this story hammers home the fact that a lot of that change happened in that time just after bite club. 4 stars.
Automatic is a good little story, it shows off micheals control and a little of Olivers Humanity. 4 Stars.
Dark rides, I kind of enjoyed this one. I liked Jeremy, he was honest about what he was, I appreciated that. I do not however think that Eve should have at any point been left alone with the psychopathic little vampire, what was michael thinking? I don't believe he would. It also felt like an old point horror book. 3 star.
Pitch Black Blues, I would give this one more than 5 stars if I could, I loved this story. I always loved Myrnin and this story was everything I could have hoped for, I will read this one again! 5 Stars.
A Whisper in the Dark was an interesting story, there really isn't much more I can say without spoilers but it's an okay short story. 3 Stars.
One for the Devil was interesting, it had Myrnin, magic and mystery, a perfect combination. it was missing that little something that could have taken it to 5 stars but it was still a good short read. 4 Stars.
So overall on average the book scored 3.95 stars. I would reccomend this to any fan of the morganville series.
Sams story is really sweet too, I don't know what I expected but this wasn't it, a nice read but didn't change much in the story. 4 stars
Grudge is the story of the fire at his house, it is so sad but you still really don't get to see much of Alyssa, it would have been more heart wrenching if we had gotten to know her first. 4 stars
New blood was the story above from Eve's point of view, she was obsessed with Micheal, thats all you really need to take from this. 2 stars.
The first day of the rest of your life, an excessivly long title for a short story, it was a good story though. the story of how Eve ended up in the Glass house and without protection. It also explains why Eve has a bond with Miranda. 4 stars.
Amelie's story, this really wasnt my thing, I guess it showed a little of Her and Olivers relationship but it just felt pointless got no enjoyment reading this one. 1 star.
Wrong place, Wrong time. Very messed up, VERY short story. It really doesn't show Richard Morrell in the best light. 1 star.
Dead Man Stalking is a.... different feel entirely, this story does not fit in with the main stories at all however it was nice to have another story where Shane stands up to his dad. It wasn't a bad story to read and as a story seperate from the series it earned 3 stars.
Luch Date. Short, sweet but could have easily been a few pages in the actual series that we would have barely remembered as its just standard Claire and Shane. 3 stars.
All Hallows. This one kind of fitted in with the story but also didn't, Shanes reactions to things didn't match up with that point in the story at all. I liked Mr Randsom, he reminded me of Myrnin so it was nice to get to meet him. Assume when this was written the author hadnt yet decided on the ending as Mirandas predictions usually arent wrong. Overall not a bad story. 4 stars.
Murdered out was an okay story, not really much more to say. Get to see a little more of the Glass house couples and see the humans starting to stand up to the vamps a little. 3 stars.
Worth Living for, not really worth reading, its an alternative Bishop ending, the real one was better, this story felt like it dragged, it did show a little of the micheal and ahane bromance though. 2 stars.
Drama Queens Last Dance was a story I really enjoyed, it gave a little more detail on the Michael+Gloriana front as it is told from Eves perspective, right from when Gloriana comes to town until after her welcome party. It explains a few things that are glossed over in the main series. 5 stars
Vexed, its Myrnin again so naturally I loved it, this story did also speak to my love of the macabre. 5 stars.
Signs and Miracleswas a short sweet story. No impact to the main storyline but a good short story, bit of a detective/mystery story. Hannah is a great character, it was nice to see more of her. 4 stars.
Anger Management really describes a turning point for Shane. After bite club Shane needed help with his anger management and it turns out that is exactly what he got. Shane's character growth from scrappy child to a strong man was gradual throughout the series but this story hammers home the fact that a lot of that change happened in that time just after bite club. 4 stars.
Automatic is a good little story, it shows off micheals control and a little of Olivers Humanity. 4 Stars.
Dark rides, I kind of enjoyed this one. I liked Jeremy, he was honest about what he was, I appreciated that. I do not however think that Eve should have at any point been left alone with the psychopathic little vampire, what was michael thinking? I don't believe he would. It also felt like an old point horror book. 3 star.
Pitch Black Blues, I would give this one more than 5 stars if I could, I loved this story. I always loved Myrnin and this story was everything I could have hoped for, I will read this one again! 5 Stars.
A Whisper in the Dark was an interesting story, there really isn't much more I can say without spoilers but it's an okay short story. 3 Stars.
One for the Devil was interesting, it had Myrnin, magic and mystery, a perfect combination. it was missing that little something that could have taken it to 5 stars but it was still a good short read. 4 Stars.
So overall on average the book scored 3.95 stars. I would reccomend this to any fan of the morganville series.
kdandthepiggys's review against another edition
5.0
Love to getting to hear what happened to them after the last morganville book as well as what happened in the past I can't get enough of Claire and Shane Michael Eve