Synopsis from Goodreads.com
In a world where being of mixed-blood is a major liability, Sabina Kane has the only profession fit for an outcast: assassin. But, her latest mission threatens the fragile peace between the vampire and mage races and Sabina must scramble to figure out which side she's on. She's never brought her work home with her---until now.
This time, it's personal.
My review:
I read this book for the second time as I wanted to read the rest of this trilogy and have to admit that I didn't remember much of it until I actually read it. Does that mean I didn't especially enjoy it the first time round? I dunno, but I really enjoyed it this time! I did remember bits and bobs, like Giguhl and Maisie and Adam, but not really what happened.
So anyways...Sabina Kane is a half vampire, half mage, raised by her vampire grandmother to distrust anything or anyone who is not a vampire. Therefore, she has no idea of who her mage family are and has no mage training at all, even though she should have some magical abilities. She is an assassin by trade. Despite being the granddaughter of the alpha female vampire, the Domina of the Dominae, her mixed race does not allow her to hold any position higher than that of an assassin. Her mixed heritage is something Sabina has been constantly reminded of her whole life, made it feel like she would never quite be the vampire she should be because of her mage blood.
The starting line of the book made me giggle - "Digging graves is hell on a manicure..." Only a female vampire could come out with a statement like that! LMAO And you know immediately that she is not your prim and proper type of vampire if she's out killing people who need to be buried. At the beginning of the book Sabina has to kill her friend David, whom she is led to believe has turned into a traitor, told so by her grandmother, the alpha vampire. You can tell that Sabina doesn't really want to do it, but her loyalties lie with her vampire family and therefore she carries out the job as necessary.
Later on Sabina is told by her grandmother that she has to infiltrate a cult of sorts run by a half vampire, half demon, Clovis, who wants to take control of the vampire and mage races. Sabina seems to be making a headway start despite her instincts to not trust this demon vamp. He appears to trust and believe what she is saying and at times, she starts to believe some of the things he tells her as well, even though they go against things she has been told by her grandmother.
She is also being followed by a mage, Adam, who tells Sabina that her mage family has sent him to watch her, train her and eventually get her to meet them. She doesn't believe him at all to start with as she has always been told that her mage family disowned her at birth. Lots of contradictory evidence comes to light through out the book and many secrets are eventually revealed, some of which turn Sabina's world upside down.
Adam did send a demon to kill Sabina and he stabs her through the heart with an applewood stake, the only wood known to kill a vampire. However, it doesn't kill her; it hurts her like mad but she doesn't burst into flames like she should. Is this part of her mixed heritage? She tries to get rid of the demon before he racks up massive bills on her credit card from watching too many info-mercials and QVC type programmes, but only the summoner can return him. He takes cat form so as to blend in better with her new roommate and when Sabina tries to cast a spell on him, it turns him into a permanent hairless cat. He can no longer change forms. Sabina now has to ask the mage Adam for help in sending Gighul back to the demon realm.
A big fight ensues between the vampires of the Dominae and Clovis' cult with lots of back stabbing and double crossing going on. Sabina and Adam manage to get out alive and Sabina finally admits that she's kind of ready to leave her vampire family completely behind and make the next step forward to meeting her mage family, in the lead up to the inevitable upcoming war between the mages and the vampires.
I really enjoyed this book and loved Sabina's attitude and sarcasm. Her grandmother was a total control freak, but what do you expect from the leader of the vampires. I just don't understand why Sabina didn't wake up sooner to the way she was being treated by Lavinia, but then I guess when you've been brainwashed from birth, you just don't question other people's behaviour. I am glad she did realise what was going on in the end though.
I totally LOVED Gighul's character - he was funny as a demon and even funnier as a hairless cat. I can just picture him walking round in a fluffy sweater and little booties chasing catnip toys around. I hope he makes another appearance in the next book.
There's definitely some attraction between Sabina and Adam and I would like to hope that it develops into something more in the next book as well.
Right on to the next book in the series then!
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