Pages: 452
Intended Audience: Mature Teens
Genre: Supernatural Science Fiction
Notes for parents: There is strong language, violence, and other mature themes.
The Back Cover
GLASS HOUSES
Morganville is a small college town in the heart of Texas that has its share of quirky characters—and some evil ones too. When student Claire Danvers moves off campus into one of Morganville’s oldest houses, she finds that her roommates don’t show many signs of life. But they’ll have Claire’s back when the town’s deepest secrets come crawling out, hungry for fresh blood.
THE DEAD GIRLS’ DANCE
Claire Danvers has her share of challenges—like living among creatures of the night. On the upside, she has a great roommate (who tends to disappear at sunup) and a new boyfriend. Now a fraternity is throwing its annual Dead Girls’ Dance and—surprise!—Claire and her equally outcast friend have been invited. When they find out why, all hell breaks loose, because this time both the living and the dead are ready to tear up the night.
What the Back Cover doesn’t tell you:
GLASS HOUSES
This volume covers the first two books in the series, originally published in 2006 and 2007. Sixteen-year-old Claire is super smart and starting university. Her parents don’t want her to go too far, so they send her to a state college in the small town of Morganville to get a little experience being away from home before going off to a bigger school. It turns out Morganville is populated by bullies, crooked cops, and a lot of vampires.
THE DEAD GIRLS’ DANCE
The description of this second story leaves out pretty much everything! The dance is a blip in the story. The real story is about Shane’s father coming to town looking to avenge the deaths of his daughter and wife. Shane struggles with his part in his father’s plans.
What’s good?
GLASS HOUSES
Caine’s characterization is fantastic. She does a great job of establishing Claire as a sympathetic heroine right from the start. Her roommates at the Glass House are vivid and very likeable, and Monica and the rest of the bad people are wonderfully believable, despite the fairly stereotyped personalities. The story’s pacing barely affords a moment to breathe, and the capacity for violence adds suspense and a considerable shock value. Besides the violence, there is a fair amount of other mature content, but it’s never gratuitous and complements the story well.
THE DEAD GIRLS’ DANCE
The tireless pace continues in The Dead Girls’ Dance. Several new characters are introduced and well done. The city of Morganville becomes a character of its own as the characters explore it.
Best part: Michael
What’s not so good?
GLASS HOUSES
The setup for the premise is pretty lame. Basically Eve tells Claire that Morganville is full of vampires, Claire laughs, spends half a day wondering if Eve is crazy, and then just seems to accept it all without asking too many questions. Luckily once that’s out of the way, the story gets good.
THE DEAD GIRLS’ DANCE
Why title this book The Dead Girls’ Dance? There’s nothing paranormal about the dance and they’re only there for a chapter. Besides that, my only other complaint is some inconsistency with the characters: Claire flashes between mousey and courageous; Monica flips from heartless to weepy; Shane is good, then bad, then good… It was a bit tedious.
Worst part: GLASS HOUSES – The beginning. THE DEAD GIRLS’ DANCE – the title and description.
Recommendations þþþoo
Vampire lovers will enjoy this series. Vampire likers will like this unique approach to the classic vampire tale. Vampire fence-sitters may appreciate the fast pace. Vampire haters should skip it.
Caine, Rachel. The Morganville Vampires: Volume 1. New York: New American Library, 2009.
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