Each time I read Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost, I love it just as much as the first time and manage to devour it in one sitting. ~ Under the Covers

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. This post contains affiliate links. That means we receive a small commission at no cost to you from any purchases you make through these links.

So… do you want your vampires dangerous, your heroine feral, and your chemistry dialed up to “oops I couldn’t help reading this in one sitting”? Because Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost is exactly that kind of chaos. I recently re-read this and it hit like a nostalgic craving I should’ve ignored, but didn’t, and now I’m fully back in my Cat-and-Bones era.

Listen to the podcast episode

In this episode, we get into first-read vs reread vibes, where the genre lines blur (urban fantasy vs paranormal romance), and why Bones still works.

Some of the highlights:

• “Urban fantasy vs paranormal romance” debate: it lands right in the middle, romance-forward but bigger-arc series energy.
• Favorite moments that made the reread: the cemetery scene, the chained-up cave intro, and the constant tension even when nothing “happens.”
• Cat discourse: younger, sharper edges, more judgmental early on, but the growth is part of the hook.

What is Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost about?

Cat Crawfield is half-vampire, full vengeance, and hunting the undead like it’s a personal hobby. Then Bones, a vampire (and vampire bounty hunter) with lethal charm, captures her and offers a deal: help him, and she gets closer to the monster she’s really chasing. Cue training, danger, and addictive chemistry.

Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost Book Review

This review was originally posted on Under the Covers on September 29, 2013.

Catherine “Cat” Crawfield has one mission in her life to kill the undead, vampires specifically and hopefully one day she will come across the vampire that raped her mother, getting her pregnant…with Cat. But her plans and preconceptions are soon torn asunder when Bones, a vampire bounty hunter captures her and offers her a bargain she just can’t refuse.

It has been a while since I have reread this series and I am so glad I gave into my Cat and Bones craving and cracked open my worn copy of Halfway to the Grave. Each time I read it, I love it just as much as the first time and manage to devour it in one sitting.

I know a lot of people think that Halfway to the Grave is a little rough around the edges. But I like it.

I have found the recent books in this series a little lacklustre, but with this book, even if the writing isn’t as polished as the newer ones the action is vivid, the romance is intense and the emotions are raw and pour right though the pages.

If you haven’t started this series, I highly recommend it, Cat is a fierce but all too relatable heroine and Bones pause for infatuated sigh is just too damn delicious. Together they make a charismatic set of main characters who make this book (and series) captivating.

Here are a couple of my favourite quotes to get you started!

Bones

“There is only one way to fight, and that’s dirty. Clean, gentlemanly fighting will get you nowhere but dead, and fast. Take every cheap shot, every low blow, absolutely kick people when they’re down, and then maybe you’ll be the one who walks away.”

Cat

“I’m saying that I’m a moody, insecure, narrow-minded, jealous, borderline homicidal bitch, and I want you to promise me that you’re okay with that, because it’s who I am, and you’re what I need.”

Want the nostalgia serotonin version? Here’s our 10th anniversary celebration post where we recapped our 5 favorite moments from Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost.

About the Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost

The Night Huntress series follows Cat and Bones across multiple books, and it’s officially meant to start with Halfway to the Grave (Cat’s POV), with optional companion POV reads like The Other Half of the Grave (Bones’s POV).

Final Thoughts

Rereading Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost reminded me why this series got its hooks into so many of us in the first place. It’s not trying to be delicate, it’s trying to be fun, fast, and a little feral, and honestly that’s the whole point. If you’ve read it, tell me your favorite Cat-and-Bones moment. If you haven’t, consider this your nudge. You can join the Night Huntress readalong and we’ll hold your hand through it all.

Next in the series: One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

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