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Night Huntress series-book one (2007)

Night Huntress series-book one (2007)

The Night Huntress series also called the Cat and Bones series. It is written by Jeaniene Frost.  The Night Huntress series is part of a larger universe of books that includes several companion books and a companion series—Night Prince series—called the Night Huntress World.

Genres and Sub-Genres[]

Romantic Urban Fantasy / Romantic Urban Fantasy / Paranormal Romance (side books)

NOTE: This series can be found on the Romance (PNR) side of the bookstore aisle but can easily belong in the UF section since the plots and the action throughout are dominant. Each book has the same protagonist, same love interest and same cast with new additions throughout the series—another way it is different from the usual PNR format. 

Series Description or Overview[]

Catherine (“Cat”) is a twenty-two-year-old Ohio farm girl who is the product of her human mother’s rape by a newly turned vampire. To avenge her mother, Cat spends her teen years seeking out and killing predatory vampires in local bars. One night she meets Bones, a master vampire who defeats her and tricks her into assisting him on his own vampire-killing hunts. Fang-tastic Fiction

Night Huntress (Cat and Bones) — (2007-2014) Publisher: Half-vampire Catherine Crawfield is going after the undead with a vengeance, hoping that one of these deadbeats is her father—the one responsible for ruining her mother’s life. Then she’s captured by Bones, a vampire bounty hunter, and is forced into an unholy partnership. In exchange for finding her father, Cat agrees to train with the sexy night stalker until her battle reflexes are as sharp as his fangs. She’s amazed she doesn’t end up as his dinner—are there actually good vampires? Pretty soon Bones will have her convinced that being half-dead doesn’t have to be all bad. But before she can enjoy her newfound status as kick-ass demon hunter, Cat and Bones are pursued by a group of killers. Now Cat will have to choose a side… and Bones is turning out to be as tempting as any man with a heartbeat. ~ SFF | Fantasy Literature and Goodreads

Night Huntress World — (2010-2011) These are spin-off novels featuring supporting characters in the Night Huntress universe. Publisher: The night is not safe for mortals. Denise MacGregor knows all too well what lurks in the shadows—her best friend is half-vampire Cat Crawfield—and she has already lost more than the average human could bear. But her family’s past is wrapped in secrets and shrouded in darkness—and a demon shapeshifter has marked Denise as prey. Now her survival depends on an immortal who lusts for a taste of her. He is Spade, a powerful, mysterious vampire who has walked the earth for centuries and is now duty-bound to protect this endangered, alluring human— even if it means destroying his own kind. Denise may arouse his deepest hungers, but Spade knows he must fight his urge to have her as they face the nightmare together… Because once the first crimson drop falls, they will both be lost. ~ SFF | Fantasy Literature

✥ The already fuzzy lines between urban fantasy and paranormal romance blurred with Jeaniene Frost’s 2007 Halfway to the Grave, first in her Night Huntress series. Cat and Bones became another urban fantasy super-couple, but unlike previous urban fantasies, their relationship holds almost equal weight with the external drama. Not quite, or it would be paranormal romance. But close. It might be a groundbreaker for a future in which less distinction is made between UF and PNR. ~ Heroes and Heartbreakers

Lead's Species[]

  • Half Vampire / Half Human, Para-cop

Primary Supe[]

  • Vampires

What Sets it Apart[]

  • Single Romantic couple leads carry whole series.

Narrative Type and Narrators[]

  • First person narrative told from Cat's perspective.

Books in Series[]

Night Huntress/Cat & Bones series:

  1. Halfway to the Grave (2007)
  2. One Foot in the Grave (2008)
  3. At Grave's End (2008)
  4. Destined for an Early Grave (2009)
  5. This Side of the Grave (2011) 
  6. One Grave at a Time (2011)
  7. Up From the Grave (Feb 26, 2014) ~ Final

The series ends at book #7: The grave stops here

Shorts, Anthologies and Guides[]

Reading Order
Night Huntress - Complete World series

Night Huntress Universe: Companion Series & Books[]

Night Prince series / Vlad and Leila Series:

  1. Once Burned (2012)
  2. Twice Tempted (Mar 26, 2013)
  3. Bound by Flames (January 26, 2015) ~ Final (NEWS)
  4. Into The Fire (February 28th, 2017)

Night Huntress World

  1. First Drop of Crimson (2010)
  2. Eternal Kiss of Darkness (2010)

Night Rebel Series:

  1. Shades of Wicked (October 30, 2018)
  2. Wicked Bite (January 28, 2020)
  3. Wicked All Night (February 23, 2021)

~ Deleted ScenesDeleted Scenes

Trailers[]

Book Trailers ~ Frost

Other Series by Author onsite[]

Themes[]

World Building[]

Setting[]

  • Licking Falls, Ohio — initial setting 

✥ Ohio at first and repeatedly throughout the series. Plus various locations around the USA, Canada, Romania, England, France and various others. 

Other Places

  • New Orleans
  • Paris: Gregor's homebase
  • England
  • Canada
  • Romania
  • Richmond, Virginia;
  • Memphis, TN;
  • Los Angeles, CA.
  • Easton Mall: in Ohio
  • Memphis, Tennessee: Possible sting location
  • Bite: Undead nightclub in Ohio
  • Chicago
  • New Orleans: Home to Majestic. Most haunted town
  • Ritz-Carlton Hotel: in the French Quarter of New Orleans
  • Saint Louis Cemetery Number One: in New Orleans
  • Saint Louis Cathedral: at Jackson Square in New Orleans
  • Monaco
  • West Virginia
  • Falcon Drive-In: in Memphis
  • Blue Ridge Mountains: Location of Cat & Bones' home
  • Lasting Peace Cemetery: Cemetery & funeral home in Garland
  • Garland, Texas
  • Washington, D.C.
  • Helen of Troy's Garden: Tyler's flower shop in Washington, D.C.
  • Sioux City, Iowa
  • Waverly Hills Sanatorium: in Louisville, Kentucky
  • Louisville, Kentucky
  • St. Louis, Missouri
  • Cathedral of the Epiphany
  • Southern Hills Mall
  • War Eagle Park
  • Missouri River
  • Ottumwa
  • Des Moines River
  • Grandview Park
  • Richmond, Virginia

Supernatural Elements[]

✥ Vampires, ghouls, ghosts, demons, remnants, supe drug. shapechanger (not-Were), poltergeist, variance on christian creationism, black magic, voodoo, zombies, pyrokinesis, telepathy and telekinesis.

Glossary:[]

  • Brams: Wonder drug developed from undead blood, named after Bram Stoker
  • Half-Breed: Half Vampire / Half Human
  • Law Guardian: Vampire police
  • Enforcer: Vampiric version of a cop
  • Samhain: (SAM-en), summer’s end (Celtic festival)
  • Hure: Whore in German
  • Hexe: Witch in German
  • Drache: Dragon in German
  • Guten Tag: Good day in German
  • Cain: Vampires believe that Cain was the original vampire and father of them all. 

Groups & Organizations:[]

  • Homeland Security: Cat work for a very secret branch of it hunting vampires;
  • N.I.P.D.: "Northeastern Investigative Paranormal Division" - Ghost Hunters
  • Sioux City Police Department: * Guardian Council of Vampires: Ruling authority for vampire race
  • Guardian Council of Vampires: Ruling authority for vampire race

World[]

Vampires believe that Cain was the first vampire.

Protagonists[]

Catherine Kathleen Crawfield: Her mother, Justina was date-raped by a newly changed vampire, Max; Cat had to hide all her oddities from other people. At age 16, her mother told her the truth about what she was. She started hunting vampires after a boy used and abused her taking her virginity and then cheating on her. She hunts vampires to 'atone' for her heritage. Cat crosses paths with Bones who captures her, then trains her and eventually they fall in love. He helps her to reconcile herself with her heritage and allows her to see not all vampires are evil. Soon after Cat is forced to let go of Bones and to work for a secret government agency that hunts rogue vampires, after they blackmail her. Bones hunts her down and after some turmoil they start dating again, much to the dismay of one of her teammates Tate. She and Bones become married according to vampire tradition, although it is later revealed that she had previously been married to a manipulative psycopathic vampire called Gregor. She and Bones face face various obstacles, including a sexist rapist ghost, the homicidal daughter of Cleopatra and a hoard of zombies, but ultimately triumph by working together.

Crispin Russell was born in England in 1766. His mother was fifteen and he was raise by her in a whorehouse. After she died, he was caught stealing and sentenced to an Australian penal colony. He became friends with Spade and Ian. Ian escaped, returned as a vampire, freed Bones and Spade and changed him against his will that night. He awoke in a native graveyard where he took the name Bones. Over the following centuries, he became a formidable vampire bounty hunter. He met Cat while tracking a killer vampire who owned a food delivery service, selling humans as prostitutes and meals to wealthy vampires. Thinking she was hired by him, he captured and 'tortured' her. He determined she was telling the truth that she was a half-vampire and decided to train her with the agreement that she will only kill vampires who killed humans. He falls deeply in love with Cat and eventually she admits to loving him to. They are forced apart for four years by Don and his Paranormal Division of homeland security until he finds her by fluke at a friends wedding. They get back together and he starts helping her out on missions. After his mate Ian develops an obsession with Cat, Bones marries her so he has an undisputed claim on her. Which turns out to be incorrect as Cat was previously married to a vampire called Gregor who Bones fights but Cat subsequently kills. From that point on Cat and Bones have a fairly stable relationship.

Sidekick[]

Fabian du Brac — What: Ghost — Sidekick-to: Cat & Bones (mostly Cat) — About: helpful in many ways — Book First Seen In: Destined for an Early Grave #4

Characters Chart[]

~ Characters & Mythos Frost Cemetery

Characters What About
Cat Crawfield, "Kitten" Half Vampire, Full Vampire Catherine Kathleen Crawfield; Her mother, Justina was date-raped by a newly changed vampire, Max; her mom teaches to hate vampires and pushes her into hunting and killing them.
Bones / Crispin Russell  Vampire vampire bounty hunter; falls deeply in love with Cat.
Mencheres, Menkure Vampire / Sire: Tenoch Born 2553 BC, over 4500 years old. Pharaoh of the Fourth dynasty; can read minds, telekinetic; was married to a homicidal vampire Patra (killed by Bones with his help); was about to commit suicide when he met Kira, they fall in love, he turns her into a vampire and wins out over his enemy;
Kira Graceling Human / Private investigator Kira meets Mencheres when she tries to rescue him from a bunch of ghouls. Mencheres is, forced to turn her into a vampire by his arch-nemesis; they get married; Kira trains to become an enforcer for the vampire council; 
Spade, Baron Charles De Mortimer Vampire over an 200 year-old vampire and Bones' best friend; met as humans prisoners sentenced to an Australian penal colony in 1788; their mate, Ian, had escaped, returned as a vampire and is responsible for having him changed into a vampire by Mencheres in 1907; His vampire name is the name of the tool he used in the penal colony and his reminder to himself of tougher times. Spade later fell in love with Denise and made her as his wife;
Denise McGregor Human / Shape-shifting Demon Cat's best friend; one of the few people Cat never had to hide from. Her husband was sadly killed in a 'zombie' attack and she suffered from PTSD for a number of years disconnecting herself from all things supernatural; becomes a shape-shifting demon that could change into any shape at will—people, animals, even a dragon. She and Spade team-up, fall in love and she becomes his wife. 
Vlad Tepesh Vampire Born 1431, 600 years old; last to be sired by Tenoch. Vlad’s wife committed suicide when she thought he was killed which has haunted him for centuries. He saved Cat from doing the same thing. Vlad feels a non-romantic connection with Cat but he and Bones rub each other wrong constantly. Abilities: Vlad is a master vampire, can fly and is pyrokinetic. His and Leila's story is told in: Night Prince series.
Ian Flannery Vampire Ian met Bones and Spade in an Australian penal colony—he escaped, returned and changed Bones that night against his will believing that he'd thank him later. Bones resented him for two centuries. He takes great pride in his many faults, is extremely narcissistic.
Annette De Witt Vampire  She was 36 in human years when Bones changed her around 1807 as thanks for what she did for him. She was responsible for Bones getting sent to a penal colony rather then hung after he was caught stealing. They maintained a friends with benefits relationship until he met Cat, after which she reluctantly resigned herself to just being friends. She loves Bones. 
Justina Crawfield Cat's Mom, human later becomes a vampire After being raped by a newly turned vampire, Justina hates all vampires and taught Cat to hate them which also taught Cat to hate herself. She turns Cat out as a vampire killer at age 16.
Don Williams Division Head, human, later becomes a ghost FBI agent, Head of Paranormal Behavior Division. Don forced Cat to let go of Bones and come work for him. Cat resents him for a long time and over time their relationship evolves into one of deep fondness. He has a strong prejudice against vampires which evolves through knowing Cat. It is revealed that Don is Cat's uncle and has known about her existence since her birth.
Tate Bradley Paranormal Behavior Div; Cat's friend later becomes a vampire

Form sergeant of Special Forces team. Team captain. Tate is dedicated and always puts himself in harms way to protect his people. He is in love with Cat but she does not return the feelings and this causes friction with Bones; volunteers to become a vampire as part of Bone's agreement with Don, Bone's turns him and he becomes one of his line. 

Dave Paranormal Behavior Div, turned Ghoul Team Captain; Former fireman. Dave is later turned into a ghoul by Bones and Rodney.
Cooper Paranormal Behavior Div Former narcotics officer; antagonistic but does not dislike Cat or vampires in general; calls her 'freak' as his own form of endearment and is one of the first to accept Bones into their fold at the paranormal division.
Juan Vampire, Paranormal Behavior Div Convicted felon; for automobile theft, chopping cars and reselling parts on black market; second in division to be turned into a vampire; promiscuous and shamelessly hits on Cat;
Max Vampire Max is a sadistic vampire who raped Justina and fathered Cat. In the third book he manages to capture and torture Cat but is then caught by Bones. He now has a long life of cruel and unusual torue in an undiscloded location to look forward to.
Rodney Ghoul Rodney is a friend of Bones. Later, his love interest is Justina. Bones often praises him as something akin to a dragon slayer. He is killed saving Justina from Gregor, which devastates her but encourages her to continue living in hopes of avenging him.
Fabian du Brac ghost Born 1877, died 1922; Cat wanted to give him a home, Bones mad an accord with hm to: 1- no info to anyone about them, 2- novoyerism, 3- no bragging to other ghosts so they'll come from all over. He becomes part of their family, is loyal beyond words, and very helpful.

To expand the table, in Edit–Visual mode, right-press on a Row of the table (Control-press on a Mac)—choose add Row or Column. Or, in Source Mode: copy-paste rows.

Jeaniene Frost

Jeaniene Frost

Author[]

Jeaniene Frost

Bio: Jeaniene Frost is the New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author of the Night Huntress series, the Night Prince series, and the upcoming Broken Destiny series. To date, foreign rights for her novels have sold to twenty different countries. Jeaniene lives in North Carolina with her husband Matthew, who long ago accepted that she rarely cooks and always sleeps in on the weekends. Aside from writing, Jeaniene enjoys reading, poetry, watching movies with her husband, exploring old cemeteries, spelunking and traveling – by car. Airplanes, children, and cook books frighten her. Jeaniene is represented by Nancy Yost at Nancy Yost Literary Agency. ~ About

Cover Artist[]

Artist: Larry Rostant

Publishing Information[]

  • Published: Avon
  • Author Page: Jeaniene Frost | Avon Romance | avonromance.com
  • Bk-1: Paperback, 358 pages, Pub: October 30th 2007—ISBN: 0061245089 (Link)
  • Bk-2: Paperback, ,357 pages Pub: April 29th 2008—ISBN: 0061245097 (Link)
  • Bk-3: Paperback, 342 pages, Pub: Jan 1, 2009—ISBN: 0061583073 (Link)
  • Bk-4: Paperback, 355 pages, Pub: July 28, 2009—ISBN: (Link)
  • Bk-5: Paperback, 357 pages, Pub: February 22nd 201—ISBN: 0061783188 (Link)
  • Bk-6: Paperback, 358 pages,Pub: August 30th 2011—ISBN: 0061783196 (Link)
  • Bk-7: Paperback, 343 pages, Pub: January 28th 2014—ISBN: 0062076116 ([ Link])

Night Huntress Universe Reading Order[]

Night Huntress/Cat & Bones series:

NOTE: unnumbered books are part of the greater Night Huntress Universe and were left unnumbered to maintain the integrity of the known, commonly used numbers of the series-proper. These novels are placed in the correct reading order as some portions of their content are relevant to the over-all story arc.

~ Reading Order links:

Book Cover Blurbs[]

BOOK ONE BLURB—Halfway to the Grave: Half-vampire Catherine Crawfield is going after the undead with a vengeance, hoping that one of these deadbeats is her father - the one responsible for ruining her mother's life. Then she's captured by Bones, a vampire bounty hunter, and is forced into an unholy partnership. In exchange for finding her father, Cat agrees to train with the sexy night stalker until her battle reflexes are as sharp as his fangs. She's amazed she doesn't end up as his dinner - are there actually good vampires? Pretty soon Bones will have her convinced that being half-dead doesn't have to be all bad. But before she can enjoy her newfound status as kick-ass demon hunter, Cat and Bones are pursued by a group of killers. Now Cat will have to choose a side . . . and Bones is turning out to be as tempting as any man with a heartbeat. ~ Goodreads | Halfway to the Grave

BOOK TWO BLURB—One Foot in the Grave: Half-vampire Cat Crawfield is now Special Agent Cat Crawfield, working for the government to rid the world of the rogue undead. She’s still using everything Bones, her sexy and dangerous ex, taught her, but when Cat is targeted for assassination, the only man who can help her is the vampire she left behind. Being around Bones awakens all her emotions, from the adrenaline rush of slaying vamps side by side to the reckless passion that consumed them. But a price on her head—wanted: dead or half-alive—means her survival depends on teaming up with Bones. And no matter how hard Cat tries to keep things professional between them, she’ll find that desire lasts forever…and Bones won’t let her get away again. Original. ~ Goodreads | One Foot in the Grave, #2

BOOK THREE BLURB—At Grave's End: It should be the best time of half-vampire Cat Crawfield’s life. With her undead lover Bones at her side, she’s successfully protected mortals from the rogue undead. But though Cat’s worn disguise after disguise to keep her true identity a secret from the brazen bloodsuckers, her cover’s finally been blown, placing her in terrible danger. As if that wasn’t enough, a woman from Bones’s past is determined to bury him once and for all. Caught in the crosshairs of a vengeful vamp, yet determined to help Bones stop a lethal magic from being unleashed, Cat’s about to learn the true meaning of bad blood. And the tricks she’s learned as a special agent won’t help her. She will need to fully embrace her vampire instincts in order to save herself—and Bones—from a fate worse than the grave. ~ Goodreads | At Grave's End, #3

BOOK FOUR BLURB—Destined for an Early Grave: Her deadly dreams leave her in grave danger. Since half-vampire Cat Crawfield and her undead lover Bones met six years ago, they've fought against the rogue undead, battled a vengeful Master vampire, and pledged their devotion with a blood bond. Now it's time for a vacation. But their hopes for a perfect Paris holiday are dashed when Cat awakes one night in terror. She's having visions of a vampire named Gregor who's more powerful than Bones and has ties to her past that even Cat herself didn't know about.

Gregor believes Cat is his and he won't stop until he has her. As the battle begins between the vamp who haunts her nightmares and the one who holds her heart, only Cat can break Gregor's hold over her. She'll need all the power she can summon in order to bring down the baddest bloodsucker she's ever faced . . . even if getting that power will result in an early grave. ~ Goodreads | Destined for an Early Grave, #4

BOOK FIVE BLURB—This Side of the Grave: Half-vampire Cat Crawfield and her vampire husband Bones have fought for their lives, as well as for their relationship. But just when they've triumphed over the latest battle, Cat's new and unexpected abilities threaten to upset a long-standing balance . . . With the mysterious disappearance of vampires, rumors abound that a species war is brewing. A zealot is inciting tensions between the vampires and ghouls, and if these two powerful groups clash, innocent mortals could become collateral damage. Now Cat and Bones are forced to seek help from a dangerous "ally"; the ghoul queen of New Orleans herself. But the price of her assistance may prove more treacherous than even the threat of a supernatural war . . . to say nothing of the repercussions Cat never imagined. ~ Goodreads | This Side of the Grave, #5

BOOK SIX BLURB—One Grave at a TimeHow Do You Send A Killer to the Grave When He's Already Dead? Having narrowly averted an (under)World War, Cat Crawfield wants nothing more than a little downtime with her vampire husband, Bones. Unfortunately, her gift from New Orleans's voodoo queen just keeps on giving—leading to a personal favor that sends them into battle once again, this time against a villainous spirit. Centuries ago, Heinrich Kramer was a witch hunter. Now, every All Hallows Eve, he take physical form to torture innocent women before burning them alive. This year, however, a determined Cat and Bones must risk all to send him back to the other side of eternity - forever. But one wrong step and they'll be digging their own graves. ~ Goodreads | One Grave at a Time, #6

BOOK SEVEN BLURB—Up From the Grave: There’s always one more grave to dig. Lately, life has been unnaturally calm for vampires Cat Crawfield and her husband Bones. They should have known better than to relax their guard, because a shocking revelation sends them back into action to stop an all-out war… A rogue CIA agent is involved in horrifying secret activities that threaten to raise tensions between humans and the undead to dangerous heights. Now Cat and Bones are in a race against time to save their friends from a fate worse than death…because the more secrets they unravel, the deadlier the consequences. And if they fail, their lives—and those of everyone they hold dear— will be hovering on the edge of the grave. ~ Goodreads | Up From the Grave, #7

First Sentences[]

  1. Halfway to the Grave (2007) — I stiffened at the red and blue lights flashing behind me, because there was no way I could explain what was in the back of my truck.
  2. One Foot in the Grave (2008) — I waited outside the large, four-story home in Manhasset that was owned by a Mr. Liam Flannery.
  3. At Grave's End (2008) — The man smiled and I let my gaze linger over his face.
  4. Destined for an Early Grave (2009) — If he catches me, I'm dead.
  5. This Side of the Grave (2011) —  The vampire pulled on the chains restraining him to the cave wall.
  6. One Grave at a Time (2011) — "Donald Bartholomew Williams, get your ass back here now!"
  7. Up From the Grave (Feb 26, 2014) — Crunch.

Quotes[]

Trivia[]

~ ranked #5 on Best Urban Fantasy SERIES (358 books)

Book Lists:

Extras and Fun[]

Awards[]

One Foot in the Grave (2008) won an honorable mention P.E.A.R.L. Award (2008) in the best overall paranormal romance. category Destined for an Early Grave won an honorable mention P.E.A.R.L. Award (2009) in the urban fantasy category. If you enjoy romantic urban fantasy, check out this series, but be sure to start at the very beginning so that you can watch the relationships develop. ~ Fang-tastic

Read Alikes (similar elements)[]

See Category links at bottom of page

Notes[]

See Also[]

Category links at bottom of page

External References[]

Night Huntress series—Books:

Reading Order

Read-Along

Summaries

Night Huntress World:

World-building, Characters, etc:

Trailers & Deleted Scenes

Interviews

Series Reviews (each & all books):

Book Reviews:

Artist:

Author:

Community:

Fan Links

Foreign language linka: 

See Also[]

Gallery of Book Covers: Night Huntress series[]


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