Midnight Alley by Rachel Caine

Title: Midnight Alley
Author: Rachel Caine
Publisher: Allison & Busby
ISBN: 978-0-7490-7922-2
Pages: 365
Series: The Morganville Vampires #3
Type: Young Adult Paranormal
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


When Claire Danvers realised that vampires run her college town, she tried to transfer out. Leaving Morganville is no longer an option for her so she's trying her best to get along. Claire has traded her freedom for protection for herself and her friends from Amelie, the most powerful vampire in town. Amelie sends Claire to take private lessons from the ancient Myrnin, but that isn't the only danger she faces. Girls are turning up dead all over Morganville, killed by a human, and Claire and Eve find themselves being stalked.

This is the third book in the awesome Morganville Vampires series (after Glass Houses and The Dead Girls' Dance) and I was really looking forward to reading it. Things have changed for Claire and her friends. In order to save Shane, Michael had to become a vampire so now there is a source of conflict in the Glass house as everyone adjusts to this newest change. Shane is having the hardest time adjusting to the idea that his best friend is now a vampire and his anti-vamp issues cause a lot of friction, especially in his relationship with Claire.

As usual the plot is really well thought out and the book well written, revealing even more about Morganville and its vampire residents. The introduction of Myrnin as Claire's tutor means that the scientific side of Morganville can be explored and Claire stumbles across some surprising vampire secrets.

As in the previous book it is the humans who behave worse than the vampires, with school bully Monica trying to use Claire to improve her own standing with the vampires and the reappearance of Eve's psychotic serial killing brother Jason. Jason is deeply creepy and the whole storyline with him is rather disturbing, especially his past. The events of the previous books have also not been forgotten and the vampires of the town are still distrustful of Shane.

I was a little disappointed that the end of the book wraps up very quickly with a slight cliffhanger. The cliffhanger I don't mind, but the book built to a great conclusion that never fully played out. Lots of story threads were tied up quickly and without any real emotional resolution. I really hope that these characters have their storylines continued in future books, especially Myrnin as he was a great addition to Morganville.

All in all, this was a great read and I'm looking forward to Feast of Fools.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 8/10
Enjoyment: 9/10
Cover: 10/10

Overall: 47/50