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Book Reviews of First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World, Bk 1)

First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World, Bk 1)
First Drop of Crimson - Night Huntress World, Bk 1
Author: Jeaniene Frost
ISBN-13: 9780061583223
ISBN-10: 0061583227
Publication Date: 2/1/2010
Pages: 384
Rating:
  • Currently 4.1/5 Stars.
 346

4.1 stars, based on 346 ratings
Publisher: Avon
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

25 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

reviewed First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World, Bk 1) on + 44 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
As usual Jeaniene Frost comes through with another great paranormal romance. Her heroins are multilayered and easy to like. Her heros, sexy and strong. This wasn't as great as her Cat and Bones series but it is nice to see some other characters experience a little bit of happiness! Can't wait for the next one!! Definitely one of my favorite authors!!
LaurieS avatar reviewed First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World, Bk 1) on + 504 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
I read this right on the heels of the first Cat & Bones book which I loved. I was expecting more of the same fast paced fun combined with a sexy larger than life smart-ass hero. My mistake.

This book was a bit of a bore in comparison. Spade, the vampire hero, was meh. Denise, the demon marked heroine, was meh. The plot consisting of we have to get rid of these marks & make her a vampire or shell die, oh my! was meh and very bleh. THERE WAS NO HUMOR (grrrrr). The two had some sexy times and fell in love without any connection I could feel. Made me sad, it did. Ah well, on to the next one. Hopefully the love story will move me more than this one did and the review wont have to be so lame.
robinmy avatar reviewed First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World, Bk 1) on + 2046 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
Denise MacGregor has distanced herself from her half-vampire friend, Cat Crawfield, and the world she lives in since the murder of her husband, Randy. Now a demon shapeshifter has branded Denise MacGregor has his prey. To protect her family and herself, she turns to Spade, a powerful vampire who feels duty-bound to protect Denise. Even though she has sworn never again to get involved with a human, Spade finds himself drawn to Denise while they fight the demon who wants to kill her.

This was an interesting continuation of the Night Huntress World. Denise starts out as a scared woman with nowhere to turn. As they story advances and the brands on her skin start to bring out demon qualities, Denise becomes stronger, no longer sitting back and waiting for someone to save her. Spade is also an interesting character. He doesn't want to get involved with Denise, because humans tend to have a short lifespan compared to vampires and he doesn't want to lose another loved one. I also loved seeing Cat & Bones again, along with other characters from the series. My rating: 4.5 Stars.
ginamig avatar reviewed First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World, Bk 1) on + 76 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
I've seen some of the other scathing reviews of this novel and the first thing people are commenting on is it feels like a different author and it's not the same as the original Night Huntress series featuring Cat & Bones. Simply put, it's because it's not. If you're expecting Cat & Bones drama & dialogue you will be sorely lacking but if you want a fresh persective on a storyline featuring background characters than this is for you.

I've only read the first two of the Night Huntress series so some things mentioned in this novel were somewhat of a spoiler for me but I enjoyed it nonetheless. It definetly made me want to read the others in the series as well.
shandi avatar reviewed First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World, Bk 1) on + 5 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
I really enjoyed this book! It grabbed my attention from the beginning and I didn't want to put it down. The characters are great and I really felt invested in what was happening in the story. I'm eagerly awaiting the next in this series!
ra7 avatar reviewed First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World, Bk 1) on + 1006 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I liked Denise and Spade, but they are no Cat and Bones. It was cool "the gang" all made appearances and (I thought) made the book more enjoyable. I liked Denise's decision towards the end of the book. She saved herself and realized she didn't need Spade to do it all for her. Yay!
KellitaJ avatar reviewed First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World, Bk 1) on + 550 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Denise is a baby, didn't like her story or this book.
donkeycheese avatar reviewed First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World, Bk 1) on + 1255 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
It's hard to remember you despise vampires when only he can save your life.

Denise knows about vampires and other supernatural beings. Her best friend, Cat Crawfield is half-vampire, and Cat's husband is a vampire. Also, her husband was killed a year ago in a supernatural event. Denise still has nightmares of the blood and gore, but they don't occur as often since she removed herself from paranormal society.

Then, Denise's extended family starts dying suddenly. Heart problems in their early twenties seems unlikely, although that is the cause of death. When Denise is next, she panics and begs for her life. It's the demon called Raum who is killing her family, and she will be next unless she can bring him want he wants. For insurance, he puts his essence in Denise and his brand on her arms. Now, he can find her whenever he wants, and if she doesn't uphold her part of the bargain in time, her human life will be forfeit.

Denise needs help if she is to find Nathaniel. He backed out of a bargain with Raum, and now Raum wants payment. Rarum isn't allowed in the vampire world, which is where he assumes Nathaniel is hiding, but he knows Denise has connections. Denise doesn't want to involve Cat or Bones, so she calls Spade, Bone's best friend.

Spade has always craved Denise, but swore to Bone's he wouldn't touch her. Besides, she is too human for him. But, he agrees to help Denise find Nathaniel, and their journey takes them into many dangerous situations. The longer they are together, the more Denise lets down her guard and the closer Spade gets. He doesn't want to break his vow to Bones, but Denise has him feeling things he hasn't felt in many centuries.

Filled with sizzling passion, dangerous interludes, and supernatural tendencies, FIRST DROP OF CRIMSON is a phenomenal work from a master of paranormal romance. Denise and Spade finally get their own story after playing second characters in Ms. Frost's NIGHT HUNTRESS series, and she does it with elegant flair. Another sure-fire winner!!
sharalsbooks avatar reviewed First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World, Bk 1) on + 259 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I was very happy to see Spade getting his own story but reading this book came with some confusion. WARNING to the reader: do not read this book unless you have read the first four books in the Night Huntress series. Ive only read the first two and experienced a lot of confusion as there are events that have already occurred when this story begins that I have not read about yet and characters that appear in this book that I havent met yet but are known in the story. For example, the last time I saw Denise, she was marrying Randy, but here she is hooking up with Spade. Not that I mind, but the question what happened to Randy? kept going through my mind. The confusion is all on me because I jumped the gun and didnt get caught up with the Cat & Bones series first.

Overall, I really loved this story. Denise and Spade are an amazing couple and I really enjoyed learning more about Spades past and getting to know Denise better. When this story begins, Denise is not the vibrant, carefree, happy woman I last remember. A lot has happened to her and none of it is good. She is really just a shell of her former self. Shes existing, but definitely not living. Shes losing members of her family faster than she can comprehend and that puts her further into the pit of despair she is barely keeping herself afloat in.

And if that werent bad enough, she gets branded by a demon who tells her that unless she tracks down one of her ancestors who betrayed him and brings the ancestor to him, he will murder every member of her family and then he will come after her. Unfortunately, Denise doesnt know this ancestor or anything about the deal he had with the demon. She doesnt know where to turn so she goes to Spade. Helping a human is the last thing Spade wants to do and he makes his displeasure very well known. Going to a vampire is the last thing Denise wants to do. For her, associating with vampires has brought her nothing but misery. She has even cut Cat out of her life.

This is a very interesting partnership. Spade has been hurt because of humans and Denise has been hurt because of vampires. On the surface, it doesnt seem possible that these two can trust each other much less be partners, but the author does an amazing job of showing the reader that underneath the outer layers is so much more that gives the reader a better understanding of these two tortured souls.

I really enjoyed following their journey to track down Denises ancestor while trying to avoid and outsmart the demon, who is able to track Denises whereabouts through her brands. Adding to the mix are the familiar characters of Cat, Bones, Ian and Mencheres, Spades sire. Mencheres will be getting his story in the next installment of this series, but I really hope there will be a story for Ian. His presence really lightened the atmosphere and brought great moments of comic relief. I am going to hold off reading the next installment of this series until I get caught up with Cat and Bones.

Overall, this was an awesome story filled with vampires, demons, ghosts and shape shifters as well as some really hot and passionate scenes between Denise and Spade that left my face red. Excellent fight scenes round out the story to make this one a book not to be missed.
reviewed First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World, Bk 1) on + 929 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
It doesn't have as much humor as the Cat/Bones books but the plot was interesting enough to keep my attention. I was somewhat disappointed in Denise and Spade. In the other books, I got the impression that Spade wasn't so uptight and serious. Denise didn't seem to be so insecure. I thought their expanded characters were a little flat. I did like their back story.

The best parts of the book were the interactions with Bones, Cat, and Ian. In fact, I think Ian kind of steals the show in this book. I wish there were more of those scenes in this book.

Overall, the book was decent. It's worth the read if you are a fan of the series but I don't think I would read it as a lone book. It probably would be too confusing to figure out who everyone is and the significance.
ashleyhoffenberg avatar reviewed First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World, Bk 1) on + 25 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
** spoiler alert **

Dear Spade:

Darling, how did you slip past me previously? I do remember your chivalrous personality and your incredible loyalty and honor towards those you care for. But "big deal", I said, "he's just part of Bones' history". Well, J.F. thought differently, now didn't she? She let us into your personal life in this book: hot shower scenes, brutal loyalty, ravishing sex, seeing a glimpse of your lasting humanity. Your commitment to a human woman, who desperately needed some assistance with a pesky Demon, opened you up to new love, and a new beginning. Through your journey, you and Denise healed the holes in your hearts, and learned how to love again.

I will admit, I wasn't completely sold on a spin-off series, because let's face it - it is hard to stand up to your best mate and his woman. BUT - move over Bones, there's a new man in town! I do wish there would be more books involving you and Denise, now that she has grown a pair and isn't afraid of the boogieman.
ophelia99 avatar reviewed First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World, Bk 1) on + 2527 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
After reading all of the Night Huntress books I was dying to read Denise and Shade's story. This was a great story. I listened to it on audiobook and the narrator does a spectacular job of capturing the characters' voice and their emotions. I love listening to these books even more than I love reading them.

Denise is trying to recover from loosing her husband when another of her family is brutally killed by something. The something is a demon who one of her ancestors made a deal with and then broke. Now the demon is out for vengence, but he is willing to strike a deal with Denise. If Denise finds her family member who broke his deal with the demon then the demon will stop hunting her and remove his demonic bindings on her. Now Denise is stuck trying to hunt down a mysterious ancestor who has most likely taken shelter among vampires; with Cat and Bones out of the country she has no one to turn to. Except for Spade. Denise and Spade find themselves drawn to one another despite the danger they face and Spade's aversion to being involved with humans.

This book takes place during the period of time where Cat and Bones are off dealing with that vampare that can kidnap people in their sleep; so they are out of the country for most of the book. This was definitely more of a paranormal romace than the Cat and Bones books; there is some action but not nearly as much. Still the story was very engaging, making it hard to stop reading. You do get some awesome action when Cat and Bones join the story towards the end of the book.

I loved the inclusion of demons and thought that Denise's powers were very interesting. It was a creative way to pull Denise back into the paranormal world and make her tough enough to survive all the dangerous encounters her friends have. Denise is a very different character from Cat; she is reluctant to be involved in the paranormal world and is still suffering post traumatic stress disorder from the events that happened back when Randy, he husband, was killed. She is tough in her own way but it is more an emotional toughness than a physical toughness like Cat.

Spade is a wonderful character; he is very different from Bones and much more reserved. We learn a ton about his past and learn about why he is reluctant to be involved with humans. The romance between him and Denise is absolutely wonderful. They are some very steamy scenes in here and at points the tension between the two is so thick that it drives you crazy.

The book is well written and ends well. If you enjoy Frost's Night Huntress series I think you will enjoy this book. Just be aware that it is more of a paranormal romance than a straight urban fantasy. It was wonderful to find out so much more about two great side characters in this series (Spade and Denise).

Overall I really enjoyed this book. It was well-written, these are characters we know and love and finally get to learn more background on. Spade and Denise make a wonderful couple; they have some big obstacles to overcome and they do it wonderfully. I loved the inclusion of demonic lore and demons and am excited to see where Denise's new demonic powers take her. I am also excited to read the next Night Huntress World book, Eternal Kiss of Darkness, which tells us Mencheres' story.
reviewed First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World, Bk 1) on + 2 more book reviews
I love the Cat & Bones series, so I got this book knowing it was a "world" book. It started off a little hokey and slow for me, but it gets better and is worth reading. I think the heroine in this one is less than believable since she has moments of really great strength of will, but that gets confused by her low self esteem. Her abilities in this story get dropped most of the time, until they are needed for the plot, so while I love J. Frost, I don't think this is one of her best...
reviewed First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World, Bk 1) on + 28 more book reviews
I loved this book. I love Slade and Denise as a couple. I love Denise as a Demon that is almost impossible to kill. I really enjoyed having characters from the Night Huntress series make an appearance.

It's a great book and if you love the Night Huntress series you will totally enjoy First Drop of Crimson.
reviewed First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World, Bk 1) on + 4 more book reviews
Absolutley loved it, Jeaniene Frost is one of my favorite authors.
reviewed First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World, Bk 1) on + 3 more book reviews
This was an alright book, as Jeanine Frost goes. I love her work, yet this one lacked a touch of her normal charm, humor perhaps. The next one in the series is MUCH better. I think it may be that Denise and Spade are not very strong characters by themselves, they are good as supporting characters, but lack the "lead" in leader. But worth a read, anyway. Just don't expect her very best.
Bookfanatic avatar reviewed First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World, Bk 1) on
The male model on the cover of this book doesn't do justice to Spade. This fellow looks like he has Hepatitis. He looks sickly not sexy!

First Drop reads more like a bodice ripper romance novel rather than a paranormal story like those in the Night Huntress series. I was pleasantly surprised by Spade's character. His character descriptions are vivid and his tragic past is explained well. He's a very likable character here and in the Night Huntress books starring Cat and Bones. I've always been bothered a bit by Bones's gigolo past. Spade is no virgin, but he is quite refreshing in how gallant and courteous he is with women. Denise didn't have to constantly put up with women he had slept with the way Cat had to with Bones.

Unfortunately, Denise's character is very flat and boring. There are so many references to her 401k which she hopes to use to repay Spade for his help, but no real background information on what her job is or where that 401k from work comes from. She whined constantly. I didn't know what Spade saw in her given he could have just about any woman he wanted. She doesn't follow his intructions even though she asks him for help. She's constantly trying to pay him back financially even though it's very clear he doesn't need or want repayment. To make constant offers to pay him back made her appear silly. It was so clear that Spade was a multimillionaire many times over.

This isn't as good as the Night Huntress books with Cat and Bones. Spade is a gentleman. He's not Bones. He doesn't have Bones's wit and humor. Denise is no Cat. She doesn't have Cat's backbone or fire. If you read this book expecting what you've come to read in Halfway to the Grave, One Foot in the Grave and all the books in Frost's other series, you'll be disappointed. If you read this as a vampire romance novel, you'll have a good time. You get more background information on Spade and Bones. That in itself is a good reason to pick up First Drop of Crimson.
ads265a avatar reviewed First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World, Bk 1) on + 7 more book reviews
A great read. You get another side of both Spade and Denise's story. You also get to see Cat and Bones in a different light. Spectacular writing as usual. Wonderful characters, great sarcastic banter, and a great love story!!
reviewed First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World, Bk 1) on
Really good, if you like Cat and Bones, this is sure to please! Quick read, hard for me to resist skipping ahead to the juicy parts!
NonExistence avatar reviewed First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World, Bk 1) on + 239 more book reviews
I feeling as though, perhaps, I had missed out on something, by not reading the original Night Huntress series prior to this. First Drop of Crimson is the first book in Ms. Frost's spinoff series, the Night Huntress World. We will meet secondary characters of the Cat & Bones books again in this series. This is more Romance than Urban Fantasy story.

I was entertained while reading the book, but something was just missing. I'm having a hard time putting my finger on it....just missing. Denise wasn't one of favorite characters she never reached my heart as the other characters did in the story. Still, Liked that the villain(s) were actually full of ruthlessness and cruelty. So many in other books, aren't.

I look forward to reading about the most powerful vampire in existence - Mencheres.
reviewed First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World, Bk 1) on
Again, a great read!
reviewed First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World, Bk 1) on + 276 more book reviews
Nice spin off of the Night Huntrss series. I had been intrigued with Bones best friend Spade. Bringing him and Denise, Cat's best friend, together was a brilliant idea.
Very enjoyable book.
asausy74 avatar reviewed First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World, Bk 1) on + 80 more book reviews
I love this series. Keepers!
renegadespiritcat avatar reviewed First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World, Bk 1) on + 198 more book reviews
Fast paced book of vampire and human adventures keeps one on the edge of your seat and captivates the most romantic of the supernatural among us.
bratz54 avatar reviewed First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World, Bk 1) on + 1024 more book reviews
Loved it