Book 49 of 52

There were several times that I began reading this book but never managed to read it completely. Unfortunately, every time I picked it up, another book I was waiting for would be released and I would end up putting it back down. I never got much further into it than the first chapter. And of course I started to read this on Monday and on Tuesday a book I have been waiting for came out. But this time I had gotten much farther into it and I couldn't bear to push it aside so I finished it before I started the new book.
In a world that has seen a very large number of young adult vampire novels in the past 10 years, somehow Rachel Caine actually managed to do something very different. I don't feel influences from any other vampire novels, movies or shows. She has her own mind and was able to create a whole new vampire world.
The Morganville Vampires is a unique series with very like-able, distinct characters. None of the characters gets lost in the story, or seems to hide behind the others. Each one has it's own personality and it's own story and you end up wanting to know more about each of them. It's very nice to find myself afraid of vampires again. I have been seduced by the idea of vampires ever since I was young but a big part of the seduction is the fear and forbidding feeling you get from loving them. This series brings you back to that fear. The Morganville vampires are not falling in love with humans and they are certainly not sparkling. (Don't get me wrong, I love Twilight, but its refreshing to read a "scary" book again).
One thing Caine has managed to do is bring me back to being 16. In fact, her writing reminds me greatly of many events I have lived. When the romantic scenes come up I feel the crazy fluttery-ness I felt when I was young and just experiencing these things for the first time. She brings you back to that first kiss with someone you really really liked and maybe even loved. She reminds you of a time when you were naive and thought that nothing else in life would matter but this one moment... the things that don't matter much anymore but that seemed perfect at that time. (the funny thing is... I started to write this last night, and in bed over night I had a high school dream).
I really can't wait to continue with the next book in the series. I want to follow these people through to the end and stand by them every time they need to battle the bad guys, I want to go back to Common Grounds with Eve and have some hot chocolate, I want to go to class with Claire, stay up late with Michael and flirt with Shane. Caine really knows how to bring fictional characters to life so that you fully invest yourself in their day to day lives.