I received this book for free from the library in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: the library
Haunted
by
Jeanne C. Stein
urban fantasy in a paperback edition that was published by Ace Books on August 28, 2012 and has 298 pages.
Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Chicks Kick Butt, Crossroads, Hexed, Chosen
Eighth in the Anna Strong urban fantasy series revolving around Anna, a bounty hunter-turned-vampire in San Diego.
My Take
I loved it and I hated it. Anna is strong and does the right thing on the big, general moral issues. As a fictional character, she gets to be bad on the bad guys. On a more personal level, she does some stupid things that I can’t decide if she’s simply acting without thinking or if Stein figures this is an easy way out.
I also had my worries that this might be the end of the series. Fortunately there are still some big issues in Anna’s life that haven’t been settled…and book 9 is due out in 2013! Whew.
I’ve always loved strong female characters and that is certainly Anna. Yeah, she has her stupid moments, but on the whole she’s a good person. I could wish there were more like her in real life. Vampire and all! I like what Stein does with the vampire genre as a whole. It’s different with a somewhat real set to it. Somewhat, because she does not embrace anything close to a traditional career choice, but Stein includes all sorts of human problems. Celebrating holidays. Having friends. Experiencing human angst about boyfriends, friends, and family.
There are lots of changes with the important men in Anna’s life. Her father’s (and the family’s) decision. Stephen’s new opportunity. Max’s change. Frey’s hope.
Where does Max get off judging what Anna tells Stephen? It’s not like it’s a good idea to tell him she’s off to Mexico to take down a drug dealer…! Although, she should have given him a general idea of what she was doing.
Considering how prevalent bribery is, why does Max simply trust that there won’t be an ambush at the airport?
Stein: Might want to fix that slip at the start of Chapter 52. Since Ramon is dead, I’m assuming you meant to slide Luis’ name in there…
The Story
It’s Christmas Eve and Anna is feeling sorry for herself. Sure, there are parties she could go to, but it’s just too much effort to fake being human. Instead, she heads to the one place where she can be herself. Beso de la Muerte.
It’s a chance encounter in the desert that sets off events in Haunted when Anna rescues Ramon. He’s in trouble and his family is threatened. He needs Culebra’s help. And Culebra owes him.
Seems, though, that Culebra doesn’t owe him what either of them expected. And the side action that Luis Santiago has going simply ensures that Anna will take him down.
But is it worth all the loss that occurs?
The Characters
Anna Strong is a bounty hunter in partnership with David, an ex-football player. She had been with Max, a DEA agent, until she was forcibly turned into a vampire and he dumped her. Now, Stephen Powers, a reporter, is in her life as a result of events in Hexed: “Blood Debt”. Trish is the young girl Anna had thought was her dead brother’s daughter; she now lives with Anna’s parents who still believe she is their granddaughter.
Culebra is a shapeshifter who runs a blood bar for supernaturals, Beso de la Muerte, just over the border. He’s helped Anna out so many times; he’s also helped Max with intel. And we learn a major part of his back history. I think Anna is much too self-righteous in her judgment.
Daniel Frey is a shapeshifter, an English teacher, and entrusted with a tremendous legacy. John-John is Daniel’s young son whom Anna helped in Crossroads even as Sani, the Dine shaman, helped her.
Ramon was one of Culebra’s hermanos from his time with Santiago. Maria, his wife, and Gabriella is their daughter. All that is left of his family. Rójan is a bully at the school where Ramon’s son attended. Pablo Santiago leads this particular drug gang and he’s keeping low while the heat is on. Luis Santiago is El Jefe, Pablo’s brother. He’s keeping the Santiago drug customers satisfied even as he ensures his own satisfaction.
Adelita is one of the young girls Luis has had kidnapped for him to use as he pleases. She is also the one who will be the most satisfied. Esmeralda, Francisca, Peppi, and Dorotea are others.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a range of yellows from the bright yellow sparkle on the waves?? and mellowing into softer yellows in the sky into a hint of orange in Anna’s long blonde hair blowing in the breeze to the more orange tones in the sky just over the mountains on the left. On the right side of the black-clad Anna in her leather tank top and jeans are a brief respite of greens in the mountains and the grassy plain. Anna is serious, begrimed, and in a protective stance holding a rifle.
The title applies to our three main protagonists, each with their own Haunted memories.
