Review: Fade Out by Rachel Caine
December 20th, 2009 | Author: Tiffany
Title: Fade Out (Morganville Vampires, Book 7)
Author: Rachel Caine
Release: February 17, 2009
Buy Kindle version: here
Goodreads Entry: here
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Now Claire can actually concentrate on her studies, and her friend Eve joins the local theatre company. But when one of Eve’s castmates goes missing after starting work on a short documentary, Eve suspects the worst. Claire and Eve soon realize that this film project, whose subject is the vampires themselves, is a whole lot bigger-and way more dangerous-than anyone suspected.
As I first sat down to write this review I had a hard time writing my own quick synopsis of the story, without giving away spoilers. I can’t explain why, other than I don’t really think there was much story for the first half of the book. I enjoyed the book, as I always enjoy Rachel Caine’s writing, but this one fell short compared to previous Morganville books.
With the demise of Bishop and his clan, Morganville is a much more relaxed place. I think the entire first half of the story focused around the daily activities of the kids, there was very little action or suspense in it. It wasn’t until the second half that a new character, Kim goes missing and we get into the real plot of book 7.
As I said above, I always enjoy Rachel Caine’s writing. She is good at what she does – she somehow managed to bring me into Morganville again without skipping a beat. I didn’t have to sit and try to remember what happened in the last book, as soon I started reading it all came back. The strength of her writing is the only thing that really kept me interested in the book enough for me to get past the middle point.
The first half of Fade Out deals with the kids and their daily life. They have jobs, Claire is working on her studies and with Myrnin. We also meet Kim. Claire sees Kim as a threat to her friendship with Eve and her relationship with Shane and she immediately despises her. Claire’s reactions seemed far too immature for the person she has proven to be in past novels, but maybe teenage love will do that to you? I admit it has been a while 
There is also some signs the problems with Amelie, who appears to be lost in grief for Sam still. It looks like Oliver is going to plan a takeover and that will be the major plot line of the book, but then it is dropped. I admit that Oliver is in this book fairly briefly and all of it felt like it was filler, but I imagine it is setting up the next book in some way.
When we finally did get to the big bad and the sinister plot, I have to say I was disappointed. I expected more oopfff and was left feeling…. underwhelmed. The writing is good, so definitely not a wasted read, but without having the next book in hand it felt like this one didn’t do much to move the series forward at all. There were some developments in the relationship between Michael and Eve, but I didn’t feel they needed this particular story line to create them. I think significant move in the overall storyline of the Morganville Vamps centers around what happens with Ada in this book. I do think that situation is worthy of its own novel, I just think the plot line that was created around it was weaker than Ada deserved. I wish I could be more detailed, but I don’t want to spoil it for anyone!
All in all, a decent read, just not as action packed as I am used to from Rachel Caine.
FTC Disclaimer: This book was purchased by me.
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Tags: 3.5 stars, Morganville Vampires, rachel caine, Review
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[...] Morganville Vampires, #5) Caine, Rachel Carpe Corpus (The Morganville Vampires, #6) Caine, Rachel Fade Out (The Morganville Vampires, #7) Caine, Rachel Ill Wind (Weather Warden, #1) Caine, Rachel Heat Stroke (Weather Warden, #2) Caine, Rachel Chill [...]
Sandman Slim (Sandman Slim, #1) by Richard Kadrey
May 25, 2010
June 29, 2010
My name is Tiffany and I am enamored with all things Kindle. When I am not cuddled up with my Kindle I am raising 2 stubborn little girls while attending college full time. I enjoy reading paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and dark urban fantasy. I have recently branched out to include some sci-fi and romance (both m/m and contemporary). I love a good alpha male, no matter what genre he is from.
This is one of the series I want to start in 2010. I loved Vampire but thought the House of Night series was only okay, so I’m a bit leery of trying another vampire teen story but heard this series is pretty good.
@Patti, it is a really good series! I have loved almost all of them. I was leery of it being YA before I started it and I think this series was my first YA read!
KV you can spoil me, I don’t mind
I’ve been kind of hesitant to start another Vamps series, once I read about Bones how can another series live up to that?
P.S. Your ratings stars are boo-tiful!
Thank you! I love my stars!
Yeah, its hard to live up to Bones! This series can’t compete with Frost…. but its young adult so there isn’t any steamy sex LOL Her adult series, Weather Wardens, is even better than this one!
I did like this installment, but you’re right – the storyline wasn’t anything to write home about. After concluding the Bishop storyline so superbly, ‘Fade Out’ just felt a little flat in comparison. But I got the feeling this was a sort of in-between novel, a little lull in the action until the next Big Bad story Arc comes along in ‘Kiss of Death’.
For instance, I am concerned about how Amelie and Myrninn seem to respond to the idea of Claire becoming the new Ada super computer. And I am interested in this little semi-love-triangle going on between Myrninn, Shane and Claire (Myrninn totally watched the tape!)
Plus i want to see how Claire does in the stage play of ‘Streetcar’. Maybe Shane will get jealous that she has to have a stage kiss. Definitely looking forward to book #8.
Book 7? Wow-I’ve never heard of this series. I’m off to goodreads to check it out! I think reviewing books in a series is hard, b/c the books themselves are spoilers to previous ones without meaning to be. (Did that make sense?) I write that b/c I had a hard time reviewing the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning without giving anything away.
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