Book Review: Girls That Growl

Rayne McDonald thought getting into the Blood Coven was the hard part. But now there’s a new breed of trouble in town…and the former slayer and her vampire boyfriend may be the only ones who can stop it.

Now that she’s an official vampire and full-fledged member of The Blood Coven, Rayne assumes her vampire slaying days are over. Sure, she doesn’t have any vampire powers, thanks to a mutated blood virus, but she and Jareth can go out in the sun, which is a pretty good trade-off.

But just when Rayne’s starting to enjoy her afterlife, she’s contacted by Slayer Inc once again. It seems that a member of her high school’s football team has disappeared—and the powers-that-be think the cheerleaders had something to do with it. Now Rayne has to infiltrate the squad before the cheerleaders have a chance to sink their teeth into someone else…

–From Goodreads

Cover Inspection:
Although this cover is truly gorgeous, I miss the old one! The old cover was so much more Rayne.

First Thoughts:
Rayne, oh Rayne. How I adore thee.

***

My Review:
As with the other books in the Blood Coven Vampire series, this one starts out with a recap of the previous book. Yes my friends, that means that even if you happened to pick this book up out of sequence, you’d still know what is going on. Isn’t that fabulous? I thought so! Of course you’d then want to go and pick up the other two books before this. I’m sure you’d be craving more Magnus, more Rayne and much much more Jareth. Sexy vampires anyone?

This installment of Rayne and Sunny’s misadventures focused on a new addition to their vampire world, the Lycan. I really enjoyed Mari Mancusi’s close attention to the details that surround this lore, and was laughing out loud at the characters she crafted to fit this bill. Also enclosed in this gem of a book is a whole new Rayne. Oh no, I don’t mean that she has lost her deliciously acerbic wit. Heaven forbid! Instead this book shows us a Rayne who is evolving, who is learning more about who she is and how she treats those around her. It was amazing to see her keep her same personality, while still being able to evolve. I now love Rayne even more!

What made this book a little difficult for me to read, and kept it from being my favorite in the series, was the extremely quick wrap-up of the overall storyline. I enjoyed the fact that the focus was on Rayne and her growth, but I missed the adventure part of it all. What made Stake That!, the book before this one, my favorite in the series was the rip-roaring storyline that it followed. I love following the twins on their crazy adventures, wrought with peril. Girls That Growl just felt like it ended too soon and I wondered where my butt-kicking, sassy Rayne had gone.

Overall I still completely enjoyed the book, and of course the ending once again totally roped me back in! Luckily I had the next book in the series right next to my bed and ready to go. Mari Mancusi definitely has a flair for the cliff hanger ending. I’m still in love. I’m still bitten and smitten!

For those of you who are already involved in this series, you’ll find a lot to love in this book! For those of you who aren’t….excuse me. Where have you been? Under a rock! Go out and get Boys That Bite right this minute! I’ll wait.

Other books in the series:
Stake That!
Boys That Bite

Book Details
Title: Girls That Growl
Author: Mari Mancusi
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Pages: Paperback; 256
Source: Library

Final Rating: 4 Keys to My Heart
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