by Lina Gardiner
Series: City of Bones #1
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Source: Author
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
Heat Level:
DEATH DEFINES HER . . .
When Jess Vandermire, Captain of New York City’s Vampire Hunting team, learns that her brother, Regent, has been sent to Paris for three months by the Vatican, she’s devastated. Regent’s been too involved with vampires as a priest to go to Paris without fearing vampire retribution. He’ll need backup. Lucky for him, Jess and her partner, John Brittain, have some vacation time coming.
Once Jess and Britt arrive, they know something’s not right in the city. Women are being murdered, and the vampire population is on the edge of revolt. But worst of all, the City of Lights is home to a lot of shadows, ones that move—and kill—of their own accord. But Jess’s existence is rocked to the core when Regent comes across a life-changing, long lost family secret.
It’s starting to look like there’ll be no rest for the wicked.
City of Bones—some secrets don’t stay buried . .
Graves of Wrath, the first book in the City of Bones urban fantasy series by Lina Gardiner took us to Paris where a dark shadow is hunting humans and vampires alike.
This is the first book in the City of Bones series, but it is also a spinoff or continuation of the Jesse Vandermire, Vampire series. It wasn’t necessary to read the previous books, as I did not. However, the players and romance are already established. I felt I missed out a little on their connections. The story held its own, and I quickly became caught up in the suspense.
While this falls between a paranormal romance and an urban fantasy it will survive without the romance. Therefore, I classified it as urban fantasy. (thank you Ilona Andrews)
Jesse is Captain of the New York City’s NYPD Vampire Hunting team. When her brother Regent, a Catholic priest, is given a secretive assignment by the Vatican, Jess gets a tingle. That turns into a niggle. Unable to ignore the sense of foreboding, she takes a sabbatical and heads to Paris. Her lover and team member, John Brittain accompanies her.
Welcome to the City of Bones. While I felt a little left out regarding relationships and supernatural abilities Gardiner soon brought me up to speed. Jess was right, there is something sinister in Paris.
I found the case, the French police, the underground and the church all to be fascinating. A murky shadow is possessing and killing humans and vampires. The Church’s take was fascinating as were the ideas Jess and her team uncovered. The suspense slowly built until the action exploded.
I enjoyed the pace, developments and side stories, like that of a young vampire.
This was a fresh tale mixing mythology, paranormal creatures and an unlikely crew comprising of an angel, a priest, a vampire and a scientist.
The next book, Silence by the Grave is available and I will share my review in late June. For those using Kindle Unlimited the series is available.
A vampire, an angel and a priest travel to the city of love in Graves of Wrath by Lina Gardiner #ParanormalRomance #vampires #JesseVandermire Share on X
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
Mary @StackingMyBookShelves!
A vampire, an angel, and a priest – sounds like the start of something epic. I will have to add this one too!
Mary
Suzanne @ The Bookish Libra
This sounds really good and I love the Paris setting. Glad to hear it’s on Kindle Unlimited too.
Flora
Thanks Kimberley, this sounds like just my cup of tea.
Olivia Roach
That is such a clever way to deduce whether a book is an urban fantasy or a paranormal romance and I might steal that method for future reviews! So glad you could enjoy this beginning to the series and I hope you’ll enjoy the rest of them too.
Stefanie
I miss vampires. They are second in to line to my favorite, witches.
Lindy@ A Bookish Escape
This sounds like a fascinating story! I love mythology and paranormal romance. A vampire hunting team, Paris, The Vatican, all sound like they came together to create an interesting spinoff series!. Wonderful Review Kim!
Anne - Books of My Heart
Great review! I’ll have to add this to my overflowing KU list. I think I might want to start with the other series though. Just because that’s my preference.
sjhigbee
Thank you for highlighting this one – I like the fact it’s available on KU. Great review as ever, Kimberly:)
Tanya @ Rantings of a Reading Addict
I think I will add the series before this spin off to my TBR. There have been so many spin-offs that I’ve jumped into that I feel like I’m missing stuff and I’d hate to start another one. I’m excited because this author is from my home province! That means I have to read her!
Debbie Haupt
Great review as always Kim. Do you think you’ll read the series it was spin off from?
Kimberly
Probably, it sounds good and I love the setting.
Dani @ Perspective of a Writer
Awww I love Paris. As a book setting for vampires its really neat. Sounds like a great spinoff. ❤️
Mary Kirkland
That definitely sounds like my kind of story. Thanks for putting it on my radar.
Sophia Rose
The suspense and paranormal action sounds great. Glad you were able to get up to speed on the relationships and character development from earlier. The setting and world sound pretty good.
Angela @ Simply Angela
This sounds like a book that I would easily get sucked into. Once again, I’m off to Amazon to order! Great review.
Heidi
Good to know I can get this on my Kindle and that you could read it without being lost. I will have to check it out as I always want more UF.
Lily B
I only heard about this recently and thought it sounded good, will have to check it out. Not sure if the romance will connect with me, i HOPE it does
Angela - Angel's Guilty Pleasures
Sounds interesting. Glad you enjoyed. Thank’s for the review!
Melliane
As it is a spin off maybe I’ll take a look at the other series
Tracy Terry
You had me with the phrase ‘vampires as a priest’. Probably not a book that screams ‘read me’ though I admit I find the whole Church/Catholic priest/Vatican thing interesting if not surprising.
Kimberly
Vampire and a priest who are siblings..lol
Cynthia
This sounds so good and thanks for introducing me to this book and series. Great review!
Nadene
I do like the sound of this.one. This should be an interesting read. Great review.
Nick
I have not read any books with vampires in so long! The set up for this one is intriguing. I’m glad you enjoyed it overall!
Ailyn Koay
Like your intro there, what’s a vampire, an angel and a priest can do in City of Love anyway? Chaos must be fun to watch
Jackie
Great review! Interesting enough I am Catholic 🙂 I mean, I liked Dan Brown’s book The DaVinci Code.