Reviews with content warning for Trafficking - Halfway to the Grave

This is one of my favorite PNRs of all time and I’ve reread this book multiple times since I first read this in 2015. This book kickstarted my love for paranormal romance!

I’ve reviewed this book before so I am focusing my review on the Graphic Audio format.

I absolutely LOVE this format! The different voices and additional sound effects were perfect! Since I’ve already read this book, the sound effects were not distracting at all! I found myself smiling and laughing along as the plot unfolded. This type of format is immersive and 1000 times more enjoyable! Yasmin Tuazon and Chris Davenport brought Cat and Bones to life! This format reminds me of the very first audiobook I listened to that hooked me to audiobooks years ago.

The Graphic Audio has additional sound effects and music in between scenes and during the actual scene, which adds to the listening experience. This Graphic audio is very similar to radio shows or old. I grew up in the Philippines so we had afternoon radio shows featuring stories – sort of like a Telenovela – with dual voices and background sounds.

One of the changes that I am on the fence about in this narration is Bones’ accent. In my review of Tavia Gilbert’s narration, I loved the Cockney accent she used for Bones’ voice. In the Graphic Audio/Dramatized Narration, Bones is read by Chris Davenport and he uses the standard British accent.

I honestly miss Bones’ Cockney accent, but Suzanne of The Fangover Podcast has said that she’s never heard of Tavia’s Cockney accent in real life before. As someone who hasn’t been to England, and one who has only heard British accents on TV, I enjoyed Tavia’s accent! Maybe because I don’t know any better! I feel like it made Bones more endearing. With that said, I also love Chris Davenport’s Bones accent. This one is more decadent and sensual and also perfect for Bones!

One negative to the graphic audio is that some of the effects – like the club music effect – are a little bit loud. However, I also feel that this was intentional to immerse you into the story. It just bothered me a bit.

Abridged or Unabridged?

I’m not entirely sure if this is an abridged version since the original audiobook is 11 hours and 18 minutes in length while the Graphic Audio is 9 hours and 30 minutes in length. Since I have reread this book multiple times, I did get a feeling that there were a few minor parts that were missing but I can’t say that this has been abridged for sure.

Overall, this did not alter the plot or my total enjoyment of the audiobook.

I am stoked to find out that they are releasing On Foot in the Grave, book 2 in the Night Huntress Novels o January 27, 2023! I am so excited to listen to it! Book 2 is one of the spiciest books in this series!

Content Warnings

booklovinmamas's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I read Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost for the first time in 2020 for a Reading Challenge. I never got around to reading the rest of the series, but in 2024, I’m determined to finish it, especially since I’m in a PNR/UF mood.

Storyline: Cat is killing vampires to help rid the world of evil creatures, and she feels she’s doing it for her mother. Her mother despises vampires, especially after being SA’d by one twenty-two years ago. Cat is hoping to come across her vampire father when she’s killing them. She ends up meeting Bones, who is a vampire bounty hunter, and they end up working together after a deal not to kill each other. Bones thought that Cat was hired to kill him at first. Their connection with each other, once Bones starts training Cat, is sizzling. There is tension between the two characters, primarily when they work together on missions. Bones is determined to find out who is behind the killing of young women in Ohio. These women do not have police looking for them. The antagonists in the stories end up being some horrible people/creatures.

Single/Dual POV: Single POV (Female Protagonist)

Female Protagonist: Catherine Crawford (aka Cat or Kitten, which is what Bones calls her) is a half-vampire, and she’s had a rough life because of it. She’s been a loner her whole life and never has had any friends. Cat is one kick-butt heroine, and I adored her character. She put herself in danger a few times, but she handled herself very well in each situation. She also knows how to handle Bones. I can’t wait to read more about her character in the next book(s) in the series.

Male Protagonist: Bones is a vampire bounty hunter who hunts down evil vampires and other supernatural beings for a living. He’s one sexy vampire bounty hunter who has a British accent. He’s over 200+ years old, and he knows how to woo women, too. I know some readers have already claimed him as their book-boyfriend, but he has been added to mine also.

I’m glad I decided to reread (or, in this case, relisten via GraphicAudio) this book. I loved this book the first time around, and I loved it the second time around. The story reminded me that I will always love reading Vampire stories, and I loved that Jeaniene Frost made me revisit my favorite paranormal creatures and made me fall head over heels for both characters for different reasons.

I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

Steam/Spicy: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Cliffhanger: Yes. At least there is to me since I need to read the next book to find out what happens to Bones and Cat.

Standalone or Series? This is a series, so I recommend reading in order.

Do I recommend this book? Yes, definitely. If you are a fan of Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance with Vampires and Ghouls, then this book is for you. If you loved watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer (movie and TV show), then you’ll enjoy this series, too.

GraphicAudio Review: I listened to the Dramatization Adaptation by GraphicAudio of this book and definitely enjoyed every second of it. The narrators did a fantastic job of bringing the characters to life in my ears while I did chores around the house. The sound effects and music were amazing and I felt like I was there in the story with the characters. I highly recommend listening to the GraphicAudio version of this book/series.

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nieva098's review against another edition

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adventurous funny mysterious tense medium-paced

4.0

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leazzz's review against another edition

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dark funny medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

Pro's: I liked the use of vampire lore, not my favourite iteration but solid
Con's: From page one it felt like rough Spike and Buffy fanfic.
The plot and the characters all felt underdeveloped
The romance didn't build believably, and the dialogue was painful at times, especially the awful British slang from Bones
Catherine irritated me so much with her hypocritical slut shaming, and the relationship with her mother was just infuriating

The plot had potential, but I really don't like the incorporation of the government and working for the FBI, with so much weird American frothing for the military thrown in. Then the choice to leave Bones to protect him, it felt like the first 75% of the book was going in one direction, then a 180.

I won't be continuing, disappointing since I wanted to like this

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