Review: Grave Illusions

Grave mistake to miss this book @LinaGardiner #bookreview
Grave Illusions by Lina Gardiner

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


Where has this author been? How have I missed her books? Ms. Gardiner is a new to me author and she has been around for a while. Thankfully, I have found her now and I'm keeping an eye out for her books. Jess Vandermire is a cop turned against her will into becoming a vampire. She is putting together a task force to take down vampires. This is all covert and one of the men she wants on her team is ex-cop John Brittain. John is persona non grata because he is a cop killer. Even worse, he kills his own partner. When Jess and John's paths cross, it is the catalyst which brings dramatically changes both their worlds.

The world building is similar to a few other vampire heroine books. There are good and bad vampires. The bad vampires want to rule over the humans and treat them as blood slave. For those who enjoy the movie Blade with Wesley Snipes, think of Jess as a female Blade. She is a female who will not take crap from anyone. John is a man who is spiraling down in his life. He is an antihero who finds a new purpose in life. This second chance can be his redemption. His close encounters with the supernatural world makes him re-examine his beliefs. The way this book is written, this world is dark, gritty and a gives a Sin City vibe. I like it. The places in the book come to life in a black and white movie style. Whilst the dialogue isn't film noir, it isn't fluffy.

The budding relationship between Jessie and John follows a predictable path. Nothing about their hot then cold interactions is a surprise. Learning about their pasts builds a better picture of their motivations and gives them a depth which makes me want to learn more about them. I like both characters because they have lived a life with ups and downs. Even when they are down, they do not fully give up. This book nicely sets up for the next one. The tale does not end as a cliffhanger. After reading this first book, it hooks and reels me in. I rushed to read the next two books. Recommended for urban fantasy readers who like female vampires fighting against evil.

*provided by NetGalley



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