Bite Club: The Morganville Vampires

bookshelves: 10th-in-series, own-kindle, own-pdf, paranormal, paranormal-vampire, paranormal-romance, series-morganville-vampires, young-adult

Recommended for: Adult & Young Adult Reader of Paranormal Romance and Vaampires
Read in April, 2012, read count: 1

Rachel Caine continues to floor me with this amazing series."Bite club" is the tenth installment in the Morganville Vampire Series and true to the rest of the series it does not disappoint. The scenarios that Caine creates for this band of friends, well some are not so friendly, keeps me interested and invested to the very last page. Are their grammar issues? Well some would say "yes" but, who am I to judge when I use spell check. Does it create major issues with the storyline? I say "hell no!" but other would beg to differ. I just say, "Let's all agree to disagree, the series as a whole is fabulous!"

Fans of Shane will be on the edge of their chairs throughout the whole book. Right before our very eyes Shane is morphed from the loving, protective boyfriend to an angry and vengeful-- almost unrecognizable human vampire killing machine. Fans of Claire will be just a little disappointed in her actions in the beginning. However, mid way through the reader is rewarded with Claire getting her groove back on. Yes, I saved the best for last... there is plenty of Myrnin to go around.
I smell spin-off or a trip through Morganville through his eyes. What a fun yet dark read that would be... What that doesn't make me twisted somehow. You know you were thinking the same thing.... Admit it. Lots of fans were put-off by the switch of POV. However, I enjoyed it. It opens up an avenue for Caine to continue The Morganville Vampire Series as she can dive deeper into other characters. Think about it for a minute!!! You never asked yourself what is running through the minds of all the other major players.... I know I have. It's brilliant for Caine to open the series so the well doesn't run dry for the fans.

Final thoughts.... A good book added to a great series. A must read to find out what is taking place in the lives of Claire's circle of friends.

2 likes flag

Title: Bite Club (Morganville Vampires #10)
Author: Rachel Caine
Publisher: NAL
Date of Release: May 3rd, 2011
Number of Pages: 340
Summary From Goodreads:

After discovering that vampires populate her town, college student Claire Danvers knows that the undead just want to live their lives. But someone else wants them to get ready to rumble.

There's a new extreme sport getting picked up on the Internet: bare- knuckle fights pitting captured vampires against each other-or humans. Tracking the remote signal leads Claire- accompanied by her friends and frenemies-to discover that what started as an online brawl will soon threaten everyone in Morganville...

Review: What can one really say to a series that has successfully published ten installments and is still popular among its readers? I'm sure if you go and read my reviews of the other installments you will find that they all have about the same praise. Rachel Cain still manages to hold my attention and make me laugh and fear for my life. The way her writing holds you and then leaves the reader built up for the next novel is a quite brilliant. One might find this to by highly annoying, but a dedicated fan like all readers of the series at this point are will be quick to tell you it is not. How Rachel Cain is able to do this has baffled me for 4 years at least.

Claire Danvers is your normal run of the mill college student, up to the point that she works with a crazy vampire scientist on a computer that has a brain in a jar running it. Creappy pretty much, but insanely sweet. In this installment Claire still manages to grow her confidence and build her on all of her relationships. I really enjoyed Shane for we learn a ton about him in this novel. Caine at the end of every chapter would switch to his perspective and it was insane! While we all knew he had a lot of darkness in his past, you don't know how much until you are shoved into his thoughts.

I have to say the plot pacing was if indeed not perfect pretty darn close. The fighting was intense, the physical and verbal battles equally bloody. Let us not leave out Eve and Michael, can't believe I haven't talked about them yet. Their role as mom and dad in the house is furthermore cemented. The whole Vampire -Human relationship is complicated and we get to see just how much. I really enjoyed reading about Eves outfits, they never fail to amaze me. So dedicated fans will love this installment, don't be scared to pick it up! If your new to the series go on and pick up Glass Houses!

This book does something brand new in the series -- Shane's point of view is alternated with Claire's point of view. It is a very good thing that Rachel Caine decides to do this, as I do not think that Claire could have gotten such a good understanding of the lure of the vampire-themed fight club that Shane gets involved with.
We not only get to see into Shane's head, but we also get a fuller understanding of his anger and hatred towards vampires, as well as his internal battle with accepting his sister's death, followed by his mother's death, and his father's abuse and fanaticism. Honestly, it is amazing that Shane has any sanity left at all, considering the life he has lived up to this point. Claire has been like a bright star in his life, and it would be a real tragedy if he were to ever lose her -- which does not look like it will be happening any time soon.
On the flip side, Shane's drastic change in behavior due to the fight club puts Claire's heart through the ringer several times throughout the book and has her considering and reconsidering just how much she really wants to stay in Morganville -- especially when M.I.T., her dream school, starts calling. Luckily, Claire has always been a force to be reckoned with in Morganville, and her instincts are always right on par. Only she can stand up to Amelie, the Founder of Morganville, and come away unscathed, even if barely.
If a vampire fight club is not bad enough to be worthy of a book, a certain "big bad" comes back from the figurative dead to wreak havoc and death. Of course, my favorite character, Myrnin makes the final battle interesting with a few new toys and unforgettable one-liners. His rivalry with the new brain behind the town security system, Frank Collins, provides some fresh entertainment, too. This series just keeps getting better, and I can't wait for the release of the next book, Last Breath.

(Review contains minor spoilers)

Shane Collins has always been a sexy, bad boy, but ever since he joined a new gym he's become more aggressive and starts turning on his friends.

No matter how many mistakes Shane made, I just kept my faith in him. I knew that something was wrong with him, and it wasn't all his fault. He isn't the kind of person that attacks his best friends and the girl he loves. I was also very happy how he handled himself in the end. He was even able to forgive Claire for the secrets that she kept.

I was happy to see that Claire's faith and love for Shane never wavered, either. She is wise beyond her years, and I kept forgetting how young she is. Not only does she have a brilliant mind, but she is an emotionally strong and caring individual. She had to choose between her life in Morganville and the future that she has always wanted for herself.

Just like in the previous books, the secondary characters shined on their own. It was great to see the personal relationship between Eve and Michael go to the next level, but we'll have to wait to see how it proceeds from here. Merlin, as always, was a laugh riot. He is the biggest comic relief of this emotionally wrenching series. However, I was a little let down by who was in charge of the fight club. I felt that Rachel could have made up a new power to be and no one would know the difference.

I have to say that my absolute favorite part of this audiobook, was getting the chance to peek into Shane Collins' head. Ms. Caine took a real chance taking this story from a single POV to a dual POV, and it paid off in spades! The change gave this series a shiny new look and feel. Some authors can continue a series past it's prime, but this is not the case with this series. With brilliant writing decisions like this, I can see many more great Morganville Vampires books in the future.

Cynthia Holloway's narration of Bite Club was impressive! I just absolutely adore her narration style. She flows easily from one voice to another, while giving each character their very own unique voice for the reader. It's one thing narrating a series that from a single-female POV, but Ms. Holloway pulled off narrating this dual-gendered POV spectacularly! She has an amazing ability to convey this series deep emotions from the characters young passion to their sheer terror.

This books twists and turns kept me listening until the wee hours of the morning! I'm so invested in these characters that cannot wait for the next installment of this series.

Bite Club is the tenth intensely refreshing installment of the Morganville Vampire series by Rachel Caine. After reading the previous installment I had seriously considered abandoning this series because I was getting bored. I'm so glad I stuck it out. I really enjoyed the plot and characters during Bite Club. Shane is angry, Claire is witty, Myrnin is crazy-awesome. I finished this book in a few hours, it is a quick, fun read.

The best part of this series for me is the dialogue. It is fresh and funny, helping move the plot with constant banter and action. This one didn't seem dull or predictable at all, I find that most young adult books don't tend to surprise me. This one did. And all of our favorite characters are back with big roles. We even get to see some of the story develop from Shane's point of view, which is an awesome change from all the previous books in this series. My only qualm with this novel is that Michael doesn't get a lot of show time. I am not a fan of Eve, but I LOVE Michael. I wish that Michael and Claire could work it out, if you know what I mean. (I know this is a long shot. Sigh. Not with everyone remaining friends, anyway.)

This book is fun, plain and simple. I would not recommend reading this as a stand alone- go back and read the first nine! And those that have read and loved previous novels in this series, you're going to adore Bite Club. Luckily enough for us, the next book, Last Breath, comes out in November 2011 so we don't have to wait too long to find out what trouble the gang gets into next. Yay!

****SPOILERS****

I've read all of the Morganville Vampires books, but I was surprised to realize that this was the 10th book. For a story that has 10 books, not much has really advanced from the beginning. It seems like once the basics were established, we're just seeing the same things over & over. There has to be a nasty, crazy human, Monica usually fills this role, this book it's Gina & then Kim (again). There has to be an evil vampire, this book it's Glory & Bishop (again), Claire has to push her luck with Amelie (again), & one of the housemates has to have a problem, this time it's Shane. After 10 books, there should be something else.

Other things that bug me: 1. Amelie keeps talking about how Morganvile is an "experiment" to see if vampires & humans can learn to live together. The hell it is, it's an experiment to see if humans can learn to be slaves for the vampires. Humans have no rights or freedom, they're not living WITH the vampires, they're living FOR the vampires. The human's helplessness always makes me angry. 2. Claire doesn't go to MIT. I know that would change the story, but there wouldn't BE a story if Claire didn't want to go to MIT, is she going to have to spend the rest of her life trapped in Morganville? 3. What's was the whole point of the Miranda/Gina storyline? It had nothing to do with anything else. 4. If vampires have this special glamouring power, why have Morganville? Why not just make people want to give them blood & love them? 5. Myrnin. I'm tired of his crazy & how he always seems to be on the verge of hurting/killing Claire.

I don't know how many more book there will be, but I don't see how this story can have a happy ending. As long as the humans are kept in Morganville against their will, the only people who will be happy are the vampires.

The Morganville Vampire Series has always eluded me. Every time I open up a page to this city, I am in it. Strolling at the University, getting a coffee at the coffee shop and walking along with my best bud, Claire.

One thing that I enjoyed in the book is the drama that is played off in this book. Not only because it made for a great read, but also it can happen in real life. Anger. Real anger that fuels you so much that all you do is fight. I really like how we, the readers get to see into Shane's head and the anger he carries. Sometimes he doesn't even realize who he is. And that, my friends is scary. As I continue down the city of Morganville, I began to see things for what they really are. A old enemy coming back for something more.

The characters in this book, are as always amazing! I loved reading up on Claire, Micheal, Eve, and Shane. I loved the realness that Ms. Caine has created in her characters. So much so that you feel like you are them. I remember back when I first started reading this series and thought, "What amazing characters!" Ms. Caine did a fantastic job on the characters growth. I remember back when before I book blogged how much I loved The Glass House housemates and couldn't wait to see what the series had in store for the future

I am a proud member of The Morganville Society and love this series. If you have not picked up this book, you should get off your butt, go to the store and get them NOW! If you don't I will send my vampire crew to get you. You don't want to mess with them!

In Morganville, Vassily the vampire opens up a new gym offering a class in self-defense to humans. Shane likes the idea of beating the crap out of vampires; that is if they have crap as he detests the undead though ironically his best friend is Michael the vampire.

After a few lessons, over the objection of his girlfriend Claire, Shane joins an underground extreme fight club in which humans and vamps will participate. However, someone tapes the fights and places them on the Internet. Soon afterward Michael and Shane vanish leaving it up to Claire and their fourth housemate Eve to find and rescue them, but from what.

The tenth Morganville Vampire urban fantasy (see Ghost Town) is a brisk fresh entry due to Shane playing a major second fiddle role enabling fans to learn what makes him tick. The story line is fast-paced as underground fighting has come to this unique Texas town. Blood will flow but how much and how deadly is to be read as Rachel Caine provides a wonderful extrapolation of contemporary issues facing teens like joining the Fight Club, to MIT or not to MIT, and a taboo cross-species relationship in this super urban fantasy.

Harriet Klausner

Oh Man, this is definitely the most emotional installment in The Morganville Vampires series. It had me all sorts of stressed out, there were numerous times where Mr. Shane Collins needed a serious beat down, and I was more than ready to deliver. Then there were the moments when all I wanted to do was cry, then Eve would come to my rescue and make me smile. Claire was fantastic as always the girl just has so much spunk you have to love her. She has to make some seriously tough decisions this time around but she made the right ones on all counts.
One little complaint the story really revolved around only a few of the huge cast of characters. Usually everyone manages to get their part in the story but I found myself missing some of them a little. The storyline was great, Rachel Caine always amazes me how she can write her characters out of ANY dilemma. No matter how much crap the Glass House quad gets into she always finds a way to get them out even though it seems completely hopeless to the reader, she's pretty brilliant that way.
Bite Club was totally awesome I highly recommend it, and every other book in the series. 5 out of 5. Only 4 months and 15 days until the next one, Last Breath GAH!!

Rachel Caine continues her Morganville Vampires series just a short time after GHOST TOWN. As usual Rachel brings action, tension and a great storyline that keeps you reading. Some old characters find there way back into the Morganville population to cause havoc. Claire as usual deals with it all with her head held high and her friends by her side, She really has grown and come to accept her place in Morganville. I must say I'm kinda getting angry with Shane, it seems like he is always messing up lately. Granted it isn't always his fault but he seems to put himself in situations that make him hurt his friends and I hope it ends soon. All the characters continue to grow and when you think you know everything about someone, some new information is revealed. BITE CLUB does jump from two different point of views, Claire and Shane. I'm not really a fan of the jumping back and forth but Rachel does a good job with it so it isn't confusing and it is nice to see what Shane is thinking while he is doing stupid things. Since BITE CLUB tied up a loose end I'm interested to see where Rachel will take her characters and the town from here. If you have enjoyed the Morganville books in the past, I would recommend you continue to read them.

I love morganville and Claire is one of my favorite heroines. In this book we get more exploration of Shane and his inner demons. There is a new vamp in town using Shane's past to drive him towrad destruction and he's taking the others with him. Myrnin is great as usual we get to see him at his best in this installment. Miranda is back and I really enjoyed her character and her attempts to connect. But what I like most about Morganville is Claire. She gets the job done without super powers. ALthough Claire is her usual brilliant self, it is true her character does show a little more indecision in this book. This has seemed to be a trend in most of my favorite series this year. Don't know why. However, she is Claire and that means she doesn't give up. If you like like these this series here are a few others you should try: Vampire Academy, the Sookie Stackhouse series, Mercy Thompson Series, Rachel Morgan series and you might also want to try Faith Hunter's Jane Yellowbrock series. Happy reading.

Bare knuckle fights are happening as a new sport. Online shows have got people missing only to be found online in a real live bare knuckle fight. Shane begins acting strange around everyone and eventually loses it. He completely lost his cool and went on a whole new level when yelling at Claire. To fix this they must follow Shane to where he has been going every night. They follow Shane to a gym. At this gym Shane is given a certain drink that give him vampire abilities. The more the watch the faster they realize that Shane is one of those fighters. They must help get the real Shane back, but at what cost? I give this book 5 stars.

Loved this one! Another great installment in the Morganville series. The characters in this series just get better and better. It's amazing to think back on the Claire from the first book to the Claire in this one. Her conversation with Amelie at the end of the book and the way she talks to Myrnin in the book show how much she's grown into herself. It was also fantastic to read some of the book from Shane's perspective since this is very much his story as well. Eve and Michael have some new developments and Amelie, Oliver and Myrnin are all vivid and intense as usual. The plot was really solid and action-packed from start to finish. I don't see this series losing steam at all and can't wait for the next book!

Okay, so anyone whom has read the books knows just how funny my favorite quote is above! Myrnin has turned into one of my favorite characters! He actually made me laugh out loud in this book.

I did enjoy this book a lot and it had started to really worry me there for a bit. I really did not think that Claire and her trio were going to get themselves out of this one safe. Also, I loved getting inside Shane's head and reading what he was thinking. It made the book even more perfect!

I just have to say how surprising this series is for me. I did not expect to enjoy it as much as I have! I am anticipating the arrival of the next book in the series, Last Breath,

As I read Bite Club (and enjoyed it) references were made to an event that happened that I never read about in the previous books of the series. A party where a certain new character (Glory) first makes her appearance. Things between Eve and Michael build and burst in the short story featured in the anthology "Eternal: More Love Stories With Bite." I've never noticed Rachel Caine using story lines from her anthologies like she did in Bite Club. So read the short first. The other new thing was dual perspectives. In Bite Club you went back and forth between Claire and Shane. I liked the switch up.

Another great addition to the Morganville Vampire series. As with the others, this book pulls you in and keeps you turning the pages to find out what will happen next. Fast paced and full of action, you stayed on the edge of your seat hoping Claire would be able to save Shane in the end. I look forward to the next book!

Bite Club was definetly an intresting book. Read it in a day and loved it. Thought it was amazing how Rachel Caine wrote from another characters perspective but i dont want her to do it again. I beleive the series should be from claire, Amelie, or Myrnins point of view. However I still would definetly recommend this book and series to Vampire lovers!! I couldn`t put the book down once I got it and hope thats how its going to be fo Last Breath....

I enjoyed the new confident Claire and the glimpses into Shane's psyche. Myrnin is the "bee's knees" and I was happy he was such a big part of this story. If you've read the rest of this series, this one will not disappoint. Keep an open mind and enjoy the character's growth. They can't remain stagnant.