(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)

Still in college, Rebecca is the “responsible one.” She keeps her friends from getting too crazy—though Human Curling is kind of out there. She’s a safety valve for Joel, her foster father, and helps out at Halfmoon House, which he runs with his wife, Amanda—Rebecca’s foster mother, who makes sure her children able to protect themselves. To take care of themselves.
Mostly Rebecca takes care of everyone else. She works at the university’s crisis center, doing whatever she can to help the troubled souls who call the hotline. Until the night he calls.
Jess has lost so much: her job, her home…her daughter Natalie, no longer human thanks to the creature who called himself the Whistler. She tried desperately to save Natalie, but in the end, Jess herself pulled the trigger and killed her child.
Deep in mourning, Jess flees, with the remnants of her family: the man she loved, seriously injured; her infant grandson, somehow still innocent and pure. And Sophie.
Natalie’s best friend, Jess’s almost-daughter, and a mother herself, though her son is dead. Sophie’s alive but not alive—half-mad, half vampire, half a person…and Jess’s responsibility.
The Whistler is hunting Jess. She killed his Mother…and Natalie, who was his “destiny.” But he’s not so single-minded that he can’t have a little fun along the way, take what he needs from Rebecca’s friends and family…take Rebecca for his own….
Fates collide in a small town where fear and love are two sides of the same coin and life and death lie far too close together.

*2.5 stars*

This is the second book in the Motherless Children Trilogy. It is absolutely recommended that you read the first book before getting into this one...not that it makes this one any more readable...

I seem to be in a minority when it comes to reviews of this book. Most 3-star reviews didn't read the first book, so they were confused. Others who read the first seemed to give this 4-5 stars.

I read the first but can still only give this a 3 star rating...

Now, don't get me wrong - this book is very good. It is intense, it is freaky, it is full-on...but it just does not cut it for characters for me. They just felt like they had been ignored for the sake of telling a scary story. Like they were expendable, no need for full character growth. And that is disappointing - it is hard to build tension if the characters don't portray it well.

However, I would certainly recommend reading Motherless Children before embarking on this one. It will certainly help bring this story to life.


Paul
ARH