Book Review: Bite The Dust (Blood And Moonlight) by Cynthia Eden

Bite The Dust is the first book in the new Blood And Moonlight series by Cynthia Eden. When New Orleans Detective Jane Hart investigates her first official homicide case, she never expects to have her world ripped apart. The murder she’s investigating is part of a deadly war between vampires and werewolves, and now Jane is caught in the middle of the eternal battle, one that cannot end well. Werewolf Aidan Locke has been running New Orleans for years. It’s his job to keep the vamps out of the city. But when a Master Vampire comes to town Aidan knows it’s time to fight with all the fury of his pack. Beast versus vamp, until the last breath. Aidan knows that Jane is far more than she seems. Far more than she even knows herself to be. She’s important in the paranormal war, not a pawn to be used, but a queen to be won. And if he can’t keep her at his side, if he can’t stop the darkness from descending on the town, then Jane Hart will become not just a fierce cop, not some guardian, but something deadlier. Darker. Aidan will fight heaven and hell to change her fate. To change their fate because he is more than just a predator. 

Bite The Dust has a solid start and some unique takes on the now more common aspects of the werewolf and vampire lore. I liked Jane's character, and generally liked Aidan, even though the pair occasionally frustrated me with stubbornness or assumptions that they would be obeyed. I liked the level of action and suspense, even though some of the twist I caught on to fairly quickly, and suspected some of the rest. I think this is the start of a very interesting series, and I think it is set to hold its own in the talent rich genre or urban fantasy. Strong characters, rich plot with plenty of action and twists, as well as a solid world in which the story can bring the readers in a number of different directions.

My only problem with the whole book is that it seemed very familiar. Not in a plagiarism way, or even in a I have seen these situations used too many times kind of way. It was more like when you read too many books of the same author or series in a row, but I cannot remember having read any other books by this author- at least I have none listed in my Goodreads book list. I still cannot place what was familiar, perhaps Eden's voice is just similar to another author's. I just do not know, and that is not necessarily as bad thing.


Bite The Dust is a solid urban fantasy. While there was a familiar feel to parts of the story, it did not feel like it was covering old ground, rather more like making a new friend that offers conversations on favorite topics. 

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