Author: Carrie Vaughn
Series: Kitty Norville (Book 10)
Publication: Tor Books; Original edition (July 31, 2012)
Description: Kitty has been tapped as the keynote speaker for the First International Conference on Paranatural Studies, taking place in London. The conference brings together scientists, activists, protestors, and supernatural beings from all over the world--and Kitty, Ben, and Cormac are right in the middle of it.
Master vampires from dozens of cities have also gathered in London for a conference of their own. With the help of the Master of London, Kitty gets more of a glimpse into the Long Game--a power struggle among vampires that has been going on for centuries--than she ever has before. In her search for answers, Kitty has the help of some old allies, and meets some new ones, such as Caleb, the alpha werewolf of the British Isles. The conference has also attracted some old enemies, who've set their sights on her and her friends.
All the world's a stage, and Kitty's just stepped into the spotlight.
My Thoughts: Kitty has been invited to London to give the keynote speech at a conference about paranormals. She is excited to learn and excited to line up interviews for her radio show. But no conference can go smoothly when protesters both favoring and hating paranormals are a constant presence. Also Roman is still agitating in the background in his quest for war.
Kitty, Ben and Cormac have been invited to stay with the master vampire of the city. Ned was a famous Shakespearean actor and knew Shakespeare and other literary lights of the day. Kitty is awed and fascinated by him. But as a vampire, Ben and Cormac don't trust him. Ned arranges for Kitty to meet other vampires who have gathered out of concern for the conference where Kitty sees things a modern American werewolf has trouble handling.
Kitty also meets the werewolf who is the alpha of the British werewolves. And Kitty meets faeries. Kitty is gathering allies for the upcoming war and foments rebellion among the werewolves who are held as property by some of the vampires. She is also trying to find out which vampires are allied with Roman.
When her friend Tyler is kidnapped, Kitty calls on all her allies to help find him including the werewolf alpha, the vampire Ned, and her new human contact who is a descendent of Amelia, the spirit who is sharing headspace with her friend Cormac.
This was an exciting and entertaining addition to the long running Kitty Norville series. I liked the way Kitty firmed up her belief that communication can solve many problems and that conspiracies exposed to the light lose some of their power.
Favorite Quote:
"The screaming hordes of teenage girls we've all seen in the concert footage."I bought this book on July 31, 2012. You can buy your copy here.
"The Beatles started an epidemic of that sort of thing," Martin said with obvious awe. "Almost had to be supernatural, don't you think?"
I rather thought it may have had something to do with the widespread availability of television ushering in an era of hyped-up pop culture and mass consumerism. But I was willing to humor him.
I have only read a couple of this series but they were fun. I need to remember to pick more up.
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