Friday, February 27, 2009

Review - Once Bitten by Kalayna Price

Once Bitten
Kalayna Price
Bell Bridge Books
January 9, 2009
ISBN# 978-0-9802453-9-4

Book Blurb:
Kita Nekai, on the run and the smallest of her shifter clan—a calico cat among lions and tigers—is being hunted. She was expected to accept her role as her father’s successor whether or not her cat was up to the task of leading the clan. She disagreed. Now she’s less than a step ahead of the hunters, bone-tired, cold, and living hand-to-mouth in the city of Haven. And that’s the high point of her day. She’s also drugged, "accidently" turned into a vampire, and sentenced to death for recklessly creating a rogue shifter who tortures its human prey. She’s got seventy-two hours to find the rogue, evade a city full of hunters, prove she’s not responsible for the rogue, and keep the vampire council from killing her. All while sorting out an apprentice mage, a married ex-boyfriend shifter-hunter, and the vampire who made her.

My thoughts:
Born the daughter of the clan leader, Kita Nekai is a shapeshifter expected to one day take her father’s place. Her position in the clan prevents her from choosing the man she’s always loved for a mate, and her inability to shift into anything larger than a calico cat leaves Kita to feel inferior. She leaves her home in Firth behind and lives her life on the run among the humans who take her in as a stray.

Hunters have come to Haven for a rogue, and Kita is being blamed for his existence. In the midst of evading the hunters, she finds her situation going from bad to worse when a vampire bites her. Being judged guilty of a crime, and having little time to track down the rogue to prove her innocence, Kita has little choice but to accept help. Without it, she’ll never survive.

Once Bitten unfolds at a quick pace, and provides readers with a well-detailed storyline. Ms. Price pens a tale of fantasy and dangerous adventure, spicing it up with a touch of romance that’s sure to keep readers coming back for more. I’ll be watching for book two in this exciting new series.

To learn more about Once Bitten, please visit Mr. Price’s website: HERE

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

4 comments:

Mishel (P.S. I Love Books) said...

I'm really interested in this book. How unique for the main character to be able to shift to a small cat among the larger ones. But I think calico's are so gorgeous (= I'm curious to know what the vampire bite does to Kita's ability to shapeshift. Great review (=

Kimberly Swan said...

Hi Mishel - The fact that they are from the same clan, but not all the same was definitely an interesting element, and the vampire bite is a great twist! *grin* Hope you get a chance to read it soon. Thanks! :)

Enchanted by Books said...

Sounds good! Didn't know it was going to be a series. I'll have to check it out.

Kimberly Swan said...

I'm sure that I read that it was and it ends with plenty of directions to take it in. :)