GIVEAWAY on my blog for a signed copy of TSOTG going on right now! 
 Oh my God! My little Kitten is all grown up! 
 You think I jest, but I am COMPLETELY serious. TSOTG presents us with a Cat that has matured considerably from the Cat whom we've seen in the past four books. She's still tough as hell and won't hesitate to liquidate any threats to her and her loved ones, but this Cat seems to weigh her possible decisions and their consequences a lot more thoroughly than she did previously did. You would think that becoming a full-on vamp would free her from such pesky mortal concerns; on the contrary, now that she is armed with the knowledge that she could live thousands of years, she seems to be more conscientious with her actions and how they could affect those she cares for. After all, one wrong move. . . well, she's got a long time to live with guilt. 
 The maturity extends to her relationship with Bones, who, as always, is still ***NomNomNom*** and delivers the best lines that melt this SqueeGirl's heart. Observe: 
 "No matter what happens, you will never lose me," he whispered. "I am forever yours, Kitten, in this life or the next." 
 -page 245 
 I don't how to explain it other than Cat really becomes brave and honest about her love for Bones in this one. . . in some ways, it makes their passion for each other seem a little quieter than in the previous books, but it's a beautiful sort of quiet that only comes from true intimacy and acceptance of the other. Rest assured that this quiet does not extend to the bedroom scenes ***blushes***. I totally would elaborate on that, but since my blog typically focuses more on the YA side of things, I'll be a bit demure on the subject. . . let's just say the that Cat really compensates for an anticipated prolonged absence ;) 
 Now, you can get the jist of what happens from the synopsis, but here are SOME things you can count on: 
 ***We knew Marie/Majestic was crazy like a fox from DFAEG, but we really get a true grasp of how far her deviousness and ruthlessness can go in this one. That girl is not a chess player - she owns the freaking board! 
 ***Um, if you thought that Cat's acquiring and handling of Mencheres' and Vlad's powers was something to see, you ain't seen nothing yet. 
 ***Vlad is back and awesome as always. IMO, he has the best one-liners in the book. 
 ***A certain someone is back from HTTG. 
 ***No Annette and little Ian, but he makes the most out of his fabulous line. 
 ***More Mencheres and Kira, and Denise and Spade! And I just love how Mencheres is showing different parts of his personality! I actually liked him better in this one than Spade! 
 ***Justina does her level best to give Cat heart failure with her new career choice. Unfortunately, Cat's heart breaks due to another family member. . . 
 ***We learn a little more personal information about Tate that I found very revealing. . made me have some real sympathy for him. 
 ***Jeaniene is wonderful and gave a preview of Book #6, One Grave at a Time, at the end of this one (expected publication in September 2011). 
 I really enjoyed TSOTG. There was action and intrigue, as always, but somehow this book seemed a little quieter in tone than the first four, and there was certainly less drama between Bones and Cat. This book, out of all them, really felt like it was Cat's book, too, and not so much the story of Cat & Bones' relationship. Maybe it's due to the growth and maturity that Cat and Bones have found in each other, but I also felt that this book may be a bridge of sorts to things that are coming - a quiet before the storm, if you will. Cat did some real introspection in this one, particularly about her feelings towards Bones - it felt like foreshadowing to me, and it made me so incredibly anxious for book #6.