Feast of Fools

$11.82

Product Description

In Rachel Caine’s fourth Morganville Vampires novel, the arrival of an old-school vampire to Claire Danvers’s college town threatens the relative harmony that exists between the living and the dead.

Recent Comments

1. 

   The Huntress of Gotham @ 3:36 pm

   In the town of Morganville, vampires and humans live in relative peace. Student Claire Danvers has never been convinced, though–especially with the arrival of Mr. Bishop, an ancient, old-school vampire who cares nothing about harmony. What he wants from the town’s living and its dead is unthinkably sinister. It’s only at a formal ball, attended by vampires and their human dates, that Claire realizes the elaborately evil trap he’s set for Morganville.

   For any of you who were frustrated or disappointed with Midnight Alley, Book Three, you’re in for a treat with Feast of Fools. Feast of Fools takes all that we learned or thought we learned from Midnight Alley and puts it all together in a very entertaining package. I could not put Feast of Fools down, and there aren’t a lot of books that I’ve read lately that I can say that about.

   There is a level of tension in the Morganville books that keeps you on the edge of your seat, even in the background scenes you’re waiting for the other shoe to drop. And it always does. Rachel Caine abuses her characters like a pro, and she doesn’t shirk because these are YA books. Claire and her friends go through hell just trying to survive in Morganville.

   Her characters are young, Claire is about to turn seventeen, but she is no Mary Sue. She’s smarter than the average bear, but it’s not rubbed into the readers face. Claire’s roommates make up the rest of the main characters in the series, and they are pretty normal, or as normal as they can be after growing up in a town run by vampires. But above it all, each book stresses how important friendship is to these characters. You know without a doubt that they are willing to die for each other.

   My only complaint is the cliffhanger endings in the series. I need to remind myself that Morganville reads like a TV series not like a movie. There really is no self contained storyline in each book, just a long arc that is being told throughout them all. In other words you cannot pick up Feast of Fools without reading the three books that preceded it.

   
2. 

   Aurie @ 4:23 pm

   “What will you sacrifice, Claire?” she asked. “To win?”
   
   “It’s not a game,” Claire said.
   
   Amelie inclined her head. “True. It is war. And now we have to fight for all of our lives.” -Claire and Amelie, “Feast of Fools”

   Rachel Caine’s “Morganville Vampires” is probably the only teen series I’ve been excited about in years. Her approach to teen literature is different from any author I’ve ever encountered, and clearly caters to the importance of character growth and plot rather than cliche and overdone teen melodrama. Feast of Fools is no exception, and after 3 equally amazing books before it(Glass Houses, The Dead Girls’ Dance, Midnight Alley), it’s clear that the “Morganville Vampires” series hit its stride and just kept going, and I’ll be along for the ride until it’s done.

   As one of the most powerful vampires Claire has ever encountered, Mr. Bishop is a threat not only to the Glass House, but to the entire town of Morganville. When it becomes clear that even Amelie, the founder of Morganville, and the power hungry Oliver are afraid of Mr. Bishop, Claire knows she’s in trouble. It doesn’t help any that her parents have bought a house in Morganville, completely unaware that the town is owned and operated by vampires who view the human inhabitants as nothing more than food. A war has begun, and the road to the end is bound to be filled with heartache and sacrifice. And sixteen-year-old Claire will be forced to put aside her fears of vampires and fight alongside them to help save the town and her friends from Mr. Bishop and his followers.

   Ah, god, what can I say about Rachel Caine’s wonderful writing that doesn’t include five exclamation points after every sentence and incoherent fan girl moments? I’ll try. Caine writes the hell out of her books, and I failed miserably at finding anything I didn’t like about them. The “Morganville Vampires” books, despite their short page count (“Feast of Fools” came in at under 300 pages) manage a balance between development, plot, action, and dialogue that is rarely accomplished well even in books twice the page count. I remember a time when I feared that Claire’s point of view might become tedious, that her bookishness and logical internalization might interfere with the direction of the books. Boy was I wrong, and “Feast of Fools” shows just how far young Claire has come: from a shy, reserved teenager to a genuine heroine who is smart, loyal, stands by her convictions, and yet a part of her dreads the role she’s been given and wishes she could be a normal teenager. Even Eve, Michael, and Shane have grown to understand that their experiences in the town of Morganville have to be pushed aside to defeat Mr. Bishop. The best thing about “Feast of Fools” is that the interactions between Claire, Eve, Michael and Shane have evolved into such a tangible, intricate understanding and their relationship and care for one another shows. Michael, still dealing with his vampirism, is fighting to stay true to himself and hiding the parts of him that crave blood and put his friends in danger. Eve is forced to deal with her family when tragedy strikes, and is still unsure how to handle her deadly brother. And Shane is visibly trying to accept what Michael has become, and his relationship with Claire becomes conflicted when one of Mr. Bishop’s vampires tries to control him, body and soul.

   If any teen is looking for a series that discusses teen angst with a paranormal twist, the “Morganville Vampires” is probably not the best series to turn to. This series does not seek to resemble other teen books that discuss the conflicts of teenhood, peppered with cute vampire romance. The “Morganville Vampire” series, in many ways, is more adult than teen. It’s fairly clean, as far as language and sex go, but all of the characters have been forced to grow up because of the conflicts they go through. I remembered once thinking that Rachel Caine’s novels are mentally exhausting, because they hit you like a ton of bricks and the action is so nonstop that there is little time to rest. What separates Rachel Caine’s books from other writers in the same genre is that she is unafraid of making her characters go through hell despite their ages, and seeks to strip their personalities down to their very core. She is intricate in her development, meticulous at showing each and every beautiful and horrible facet of every individual, and each is character has their own distinct voices, their own personalities, and every one–even small, supporting characters–are unique. Rachel Caine’s attention to detail and ability to weave and craft a story line that stays consistent after this many books is only a small reason why these books are worth reading. The rest is simply indescribable. Her writing works and flows in ways that many other writers could only seek to master. The “Morganville Vampires”, once over, will probably stay on my shelf where they will be read and re-read until the pages are falling out and I’m forced to buy new ones. Such is the mark of a truly fantastic writer.

   
3. 

   Jessie Potts @ 6:59 pm

   Rachel Caine is a magnificent adult writer and now a young adult writer.

   Her Morganville vampire series is amazing and the plot twists keep the storyline and characters fresh.

   After Claire had to battle with the popular `protected’ girls (Glass House) Shane’s psycho dad (Dead Girls Dance) and then Amelia and the crazy, old, brilliant `spider alley’ vampire (Midnight Alley) she now has to contend with Amelia’s even crazier father; who believes that humans are nothing more than food and worms.

   Rachel Caine is brilliant and this series is a must read for adults and teens who like smart strong female leads and of course vampires.
   

   
4. 

   The Compulsive Reader @ 8:04 pm

   It would seem that Claire Danvers’s life couldn’t get any worse, what with living in a college town that is also inhabited by vampires who wouldn’t think twice about killing her, and having her parents pressuring her to move back in with them when she already lives with her three best friends. But when Mr. Bishop arrives, things turn positively deadly.

   No one’s really sure what Mr. Bishop wants exactly–all they know is that he’s more powerful than anyone–possibly even Amelie, and he lacks any good intentions. Everyone is on their guard. Soon everyone is buzzing about the upcoming formal ball, and all the humans are clamoring for invites, even Claire and Eve. But this is one party that the breathing might want to pass up.

   Feast of Fools is an exciting, fast paced and chilling thriller. Caine has a real knack for combining a headstrong heroine, nicely creepy happenings, and a dash of romance and intrigue to bring about a knock out of a novel that’ll stun, spellbind, and utterly captivate readers. There’s a twist around every corner, and a cliff hanger that will leave readers desperate for more in this wonderful series that’s reminiscent of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. A word of caution: once you start into the Morganville Vampires series, it’s impossible to let go.
   

   
5. 

   J. Good @ 8:17 pm

   I really am enjoying this series. It is fresh and hot without going too far into romantising vampires OR having them pure monsters. BUT in this book I have been driven crazy over the wrong story facts over and over. Shot, not stabbed. Dark hair, not blond. Different story line details at least four times. It does not change the plot but it does distract me something awful! I really hope her other books have a different fact checker…or at least one that is awake!