All page numbers are taken from this UK edition

THIS REVIEW HAS MAJOR SPOILERS - I suggest you read the book before the review because I do not want to ruin anything. Don't say I didn't warn you.

There are a number of things in life I look forward to: 

1. When someone buys cake. I really, really, really like cake.
2.  When the new series of my favourite television show begins.
3.  The new Morganville Vampire book.

If you came here to read about my love of cake or the fact I am eagerly awaiting the return of Doctor Who and Sherlock, then I am afraid you are going to be very disappointed. If you came here to read my review of Black Dawn, then you are in the right place.

Black Dawn picks up where Last Breath finished. (For those who have not read Last Breath,  the draug, whom are the baddies, sort of move into Morganville and eventually end up biting the town’s head honcho Amelie – award for the quickest synopsis ever). In a world without Claire, Michael, Eve and Shane, you’d be pretty screwed, but this is Morganville and the four once again have to save the day. The draug travel via the water, so the first logical step to take is cutting off the water supply.  

Then something happens to Shane making me really, really sad. He is my favourite character, arguably in any current book series, and I really want one for myself. Alas, he is fictional. Fortunately he is rescued but not after experiencing a dream state where he has a perfect life with Claire. The whole time I’m sitting there like a pile of goo because it’s so darn CUTE and adorable and I want it to be real for him SO badly as I feel after everything he’s been through in life, he deserves it. When he returns, he needs convincing Claire is real. He keeps asking what their dream baby was called and when Claire tells him what she would name their daughter (pg. 403), I am literally dead from fangirling. 

Zoom forward a bit and we have a character death. I won’t reveal who but I felt it was rather undeserving for the person because they weren’t too bad a character considering their circumstance in Morganville. In fact, we have two character deaths. Both unfortunate.

Funniest character perspective is either Shane or Eve, Shane because he is well, Shane and Eve because, in the words of my American friend, is so sassy even though she is hurt from the events of the last book when Michael went all vampire on her. I don’t even have to check whose perspective the chapter will be in; as soon as I start reading, I just know. This is either because Caine has captured each voice differently or I am completely fan girl for these books.

Here is the section where I explain my love for Myrnin. He is funny, especially the line he gives about Bob the Spider (pg. 409) and he is kick butt because he is a vampire. Also, the unspoken chemistry between him and Claire is rather delicious. Don’t get me wrong, I ship Claire and Shane harder than I’ve shipped anyone in my life, but I never once question the mutual respect between him and Claire even though he makes a few misjudgements in the book.

My mother likes to read the books too and every time she finishes, she says to me ‘I wish I knew more about the vampire’s past lives’. We have come to some sort of conclusion that Oliver is Oliver Cromwell even though the warts have never been mention. Page 422 and he is described as being ‘the warrior of God’. Also, page 434, ‘I had brought down kings, laid low monarchs.’ So now I’m just like, who is this man who shares the name with the historical figure who was a Puritan and brought down Charles I?

The ending is a bit of a shocker. It is a sort-of happy one. Morganville is changing that much is sure and I’m not sure what place or what role the four of them will now have. So here I am, having finished book twelve, not quite sure what I’m going to do with my life until the thirteenth is out. 

(I am hopefully meeting Rachel Caine on the 21st May - I'm rather excited!)

NEXT REVIEW: ELIZABETH CHANDLER'S EVERLASTING