First of all, the cover for Twice Dead by Kalayna Price is hot, hot, hot! The model looks like a sultry Maggie Gyllenhaal wearing the leather outfit Tatius picked out for Kita during the foreign dignitary’s visit. It perfectly sets the scene for the novel—the darkness, the sensuality, the sense that there is more going on than meets the eye.

Second of all, I could not put this book down. Er, I mean, tear my eyes from the computer screen. Kita is stepping into her role as Nathaniel’s companion with surprising ease. Yes, her trademark sarcastic wit is in full-force, but she understands the consequences of her actions and truly tries to do the right thing, even when Tatius tries to claim her for his own and she is set up for murdering a whole slew of people.

That is right. Tatius tries to claim her. I will let that sink in…

Bobby is relatively absent from the novel, which I honestly do not mind. He is not good for Kita. Sure, they have history, but that is it. Kita’s future lies elsewhere, hopefully with a certain dark-haired vampire with a protective streak a mile wide. Speaking of Nathaniel, he is as delicious as ever. He goes against convention once again to protect Kita, and finally reveals his true feelings for her. For most of the novel the reader watches him react to the turmoil in his life, praying he finds a way to overcome all the obstacles. Finally, he acts, but the consequences may be worse than the original situation.

Gil, the flighty scholar bent on turning Kita into a test animal, is in quite a bit of the book. She is still trying to help Kita find any other humans who may have been tagged, or infected, because of an attack that took place in the first novel. It would not do Gil any good if Kita were killed — who would she observe without the shapeshifter-turned-vampire around? The scholar equally helps and hurts Kita in Twice Dead. Without her, Kita would never have been able to save the day and uncover certain mysteries, but she also would not have risked her own and Nathaniel’s lives repeatedly.

Kalayna Price is one of the most under-rated authors in the urban fantasy genre. Her characters are solid and three-dimensional, her plot is complex and well-developed, and her voice is strong and engaging. Kita is one of those heroines you instantly bond with. She is young, naive, and has a lot to learn, but learn she does. With each page, you watch her mature and develop into a leader, a lover, and a woman willing to sacrifice for her friends.

Book Stats:

• Paperback: 266 pages
• Publisher: Bell Bridge Books (February 12, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0984325670
• ISBN-13: 978-0984325672

To purchase a print copy of Twice Dead from Amazon click here.

To purchase a print copy of Twice Dead from Barnes & Noble click here.

Books in the Haven series in the order they should be read:
Once Bitten
Twice Dead