Jul 14, 2011

Review--Kitty's Big Trouble by Carrie Vaughn

Kitty Norville is back and in more trouble than ever. Her recent run-in with werewolves traumatized by the horrors of war has made her start wondering how long the United States government may have been covertly using werewolves in combat. Have any famous names in our own history have actually been supernatural? She's got suspicions about William Tecumseh Sherman. Then...an interview with the right vampire puts her on the trail of Wyatt Earp, vampire hunter.

But her investigations lead her to a clue about the enigmatic vampire Roman and the mysterious Long Game played by vampires through the millennia. That clue, plus a call for help from a powerful vampire ally in San Francisco, suddenly puts Kitty and her friends on the supernatural chessboard, turning them into pieces in dangerously active play. And Kitty Norville is never content to be a pawn. . . .

Carrie Vaughn's Kitty Norville series is still running, but I'm not so certain it's running strong. The last few books have been kind of "meh" and unfortunately Kitty's Big Trouble is also "meh".

I don't know what the problem is anymore. I loved the first few books, there was a good amount of action, tons of suspense, secrets building and something that needed to be resolved. There's still some of those factors in the books, it's just their intensity isn't as intense as it used to be. And there still enough plot threads left unfinished that will lead to other books. I'm not entirely sure where the series is heading, there may not be a definitive ending like other series have and that's fine. Just sometimes I like to know where the characters are headed. Where's the end? Do they finally get some R&R in a HEA-ending?

If you've read the last few Kitty books then you kind of know what to expect with plot building and whatnot. First Kitty is out to prove that General Sherman was a werewolf and then that also leads to wondering and trying to prove that Wyatt Earp was a vampire hunter--sounded fun, but then that plot thread kind of drops as soon as Kitty gets a call from Anastasia, who asks for Kitty's help in a sensitive matter.

So Kitty, Ben, and Cormac head to San Francisco to help out. Which is where Kitty's "big trouble" takes place. What should have been a somewhat simple case takes a dangerous spin and Kitty and her pack end up lost in a secret underground.

There were other intense moments as Roman is after the same artifact as Anastasia. And if Roman gets to it first that just means even more trouble.

Cormac is still one of my fave characters and we do get to see a little more of him. Of course I'm still one of the fans wishing he and Kitty would've worked out. But definitely like seeing him back in the picture at least! His new "condition" is still something strange, if there are going to be more books I hope some plot lines will center around that. Being possessed by a spirit from the prison who's an ancient sorceress is still strange, but in a mystifying way.

Kudos to Carrie mentioning St. Louis in the book! Kind of like seeing my [dull] city being in books I read. Yes, I know the city's in other books, particularly Laurell K. Hamilton's books, but I don't read those, so those don't count for me.

By the end things are wrapped up with this case and we get a hint as to where Kitty will be heading next. Question will be though, will trouble be waiting for her or will she bring it with her? (Cue dramatic music) [Ha. Sorry! Couldn't resist a corny pun]

Overall rating 3/5 stars

5 comments:

  1. Nice review!
    It disapointing to hear that. I have the previous noel sitting on my shelf waiting to be read and I don't know what's stopping me. I love the series. I loved Kitty's House of Horror's, but I read the first few pages of Kitty Goes to War and got side tracked with something important then never went back. I will though, asap. I just hope I don't find it too lacking, considering I really enjoy this series.
    I also agree with wanting to know where this series is going and where the characters will lead themselves. When a series is great like Kim Harrison's Hollow series, I never want it to end, but I really hope the next few novels step up, because I want to get excited for them like I used to.

    I noticed I'm rambling and taling up all your comment space... I'm done now. LOL
    Thanks for your thoughts!!

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  2. Thanks for an interesting review as usual :) I can't wait to read this book as I am a die hard Kittie's fan. And yeah, I do like Cormac more than Ben :))

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  4. Carrie Vaughn has created a wonderful character with the ever curious Kitty. I look forward to each of her "episodes". I have to say, this would make a great television series.

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