This Side of the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
Danger waits on both sides of the grave.
Half-vampire Cat Crawfield and her vampire husband Bones have fought for their lives, as well as for their relationship. But just when they’ve triumphed over the latest battle, Cat’s new and unexpected abilities threaten to upset a long-standing balance…
With the mysterious disappearance of vampires, rumors abound that a species war is brewing. A zealot is inciting tensions between the vampires and ghouls, and if these two powerful groups clash, innocent mortals could become collateral damage. Now Cat and Bones are forced to seek help from a dangerous “ally”: the ghoul queen of New Orleans herself. But the price of her assistance may prove more treacherous than even the threat of a supernatural war… to say nothing of the repercussions Cat never imagined.
The Bite Breakdown:
Quick Verdict
This Side of the Grave by Jeaniene Frost is a turning point novel that deepens the Night Huntress series emotionally while pushing its mythology into darker, more consequential territory. I found it satisfying, tense, and confident in the long game it is playing with Cat and Bones.
At a Glance
- Genre: Urban Fantasy
- Subgenre: Paranormal Romance, Supernatural Politics
- Trope: Power Awakening
- Series: Night Huntress series book 5; Night Universe book 13
- POV: First Person
- Romance Focus: Medium to High
- Tone: Dark, tense, emotionally charged
The Premise (No Spoilers)
In This Side of the Grave by Jeaniene Frost, Cat Crawfield returns from a traumatic supernatural ordeal fundamentally changed, even if she does not fully understand how. Reuniting with Bones brings relief, tension, and an unsettling realization that her new abilities may have consequences far beyond her personal survival. Old enemies sense weakness. New threats emerge. Nothing about Cat’s place in the supernatural hierarchy remains stable.
The story balances action heavy plot movement with emotional fallout. Cat grapples with the loss of control over her own body and power while trying to maintain her partnership with Bones as an equal. Their enemies exploit uncertainty, pushing Cat into confrontations that test her judgment and force her to act without full information. I felt the pressure mounting throughout the book, not just from external danger but from the growing realization that Cat’s existence now affects far more than her own life.
This novel sits squarely at the midpoint of the larger arc. As Night Huntress series book 5 and Night Universe book 13, it bridges earlier character driven conflicts with the broader political and supernatural stakes that define the later books. It works as a payoff for long term readers while clearly setting up consequences that will not resolve quickly or cleanly.
What Worked
Cat’s evolving power is handled with restraint rather than spectacle. I appreciated that new abilities come with confusion, cost, and fear instead of instant mastery. The narrative never lets power feel like a reward. It feels like a burden that demands adaptation and responsibility.
The pacing remains tight despite the emotional weight. Action scenes arrive at the right moments, but they never overshadow character decisions. Conversations matter here. Trust is tested. Promises carry weight. I felt invested not because of constant danger but because choices clearly mattered.
Bones continues to function as a partner rather than a savior. His support does not erase Cat’s agency, and his frustration does not undermine her autonomy. Their dynamic feels earned at this stage of the series, grounded in shared history and mutual respect rather than romantic shorthand.
What Didn’t Work (or Might Not)
Readers who prefer clean resolutions may find this book frustrating. Several conflicts deliberately remain unresolved, and emotional closure takes a back seat to momentum. I was comfortable with that choice, but it will not suit everyone.
The growing scope of the Night Universe means side characters and political threads occasionally crowd the narrative. While I enjoy the expanded world, newer readers or those focused purely on Cat and Bones may feel briefly pulled away from the core relationship.
Romance and Relationship Dynamics
The romance here is built on trust under pressure. Cat and Bones operate as a unit, but not without strain. Power imbalance fears, secrecy, and external manipulation test their bond without resorting to contrived misunderstandings. I liked that intimacy reinforces partnership rather than replacing communication. The relationship feels lived in, not performative.
- Violence
- Trauma references
- Loss of bodily autonomy
Who Should Read This
This book is ideal for readers already invested in the Night Huntress series who enjoy long arc storytelling and character driven power evolution. If you like urban fantasy where romance exists alongside danger rather than overriding it, this will land well. Readers looking for a standalone or a light paranormal romance entry point should start earlier in the series.
Final Verdict
This Side of the Grave by Jeaniene Frost marks the moment where the Night Huntress series stops playing small. I finished it with a sense of forward momentum and emotional unease in the best way, fully aware that Cat’s journey is becoming more dangerous and more meaningful at the same time.
Overall Rating: 4 Stars
This book delivers strong character growth and escalating stakes while accepting that not every question needs immediate answers.
Heroine Strength: 4 Crowns
Cat remains firmly in control of her story even when her own power unsettles her, and she continues to make active, sometimes costly choices.
Spice Level: 2 Flames
Moderate heat with on page intimacy that supports the relationship arc and can be skimmed without losing plot clarity.
The War Ignites
In This Side of the Grave by Jeaniene Frost, Cat is blindsided by the revelation that her Uncle Don is dying, a loss that hits harder than she expects and exposes how deeply her human ties still shape her. That emotional blow collides with the reappearance of Timmie, the obsessive conspiracy theorist from the first book whose fixation on proving vampires exist has made him a long running thorn in Don’s side. His presence underscores how fragile secrecy has become and how close the supernatural world is to exposure.
The narrative widens as Jeanne d’Arc enters the story not as a resurrected player, but as historical proof that Cat is not unique. Jeanne is revealed to have been the only other known human/vampire hybrid, and her existence becomes the ideological spark for a brewing war. The same ghoul who once led the conflict surrounding Jeanne now resurfaces, using her legacy as justification for a new uprising that threatens the fragile balance between species.
By the end, Cat and Bones realize they have been thoroughly outmaneuvered. Marie Laveau, the voodoo queen of New Orleans, has quietly orchestrated events to remove the existing leadership of the ghoul nation and position herself as the true power behind it. The realization reframes much of what came before and signals that the coming conflicts will be political as much as violent, with Cat caught at the center whether she wants that role or not.
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