What happened to Buffy the Vampire Slayer when she grew up? I never watched the series, so I'm not sure how it ended. But can you imagine Buffy with a husband, minivan, teenage daughter, toddler son, and a last-minute dinner party to host?Julie Kenner did. When this book first caught my eye, my eyeballs rolled in their sockets at least thirty degrees or so. I've read many books about mothers, mothers who aren't demon hunters, and they just never get across to me. The families are either too perfect, with babies that sleep through the night at two weeks and mothers that weep with joy at every smile, or they're too distant, constantly handing the baby off to any available adult just to keep the plot moving without all that cumbersome parenting stuff. I always have to check the author's bio to see if she really has kids, as she's clearly out of touch with reality.
Kenner got it right. Kate Connor is a mother, a good mother, but not one who's above plopping her son in front of Elmo so she can get something done. A mother who has to figure out how to fight a town full of demons when she's out of shape and has a high schooler's extracurricular activities to juggle, an overworked husband with "needs," and a toddler clinging to her leg.
The story itself is a good, interesting, often humorous read, with plenty of twists and turns and surprises. I had a very hard time putting it down. But the thing I liked best about it is the recognition that a woman who has married and given birth has not died. She is an active, intelligent person whose life has continued beyond the happily ever after. She's not shut away in a kitchen or nursery, she's kicking ass, on a variety of levels.
I highly recommend this book for a fun, mildly scary read. There is some swearing, so be warned, but its all within context. I will definitely be looking for and greedily devouring the rest of the series.
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Thanks for the review. I will keep my eyes open for this book.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the review, and I'm so glad you enjoyed meeting Kate! I hope you check out her further adventures, too! (The fourth in the series will be out this summer ...)
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