Kick The Candle by Genevieve Jack

3.5 stars

The second book in the Knight Games series is heavier on the Supernatural elements and much less focused on the amorous life of Grateful and there are far less toe-curling passages to endure this time around.  We do get to meet a few new supes - including a Werewolf detective and a fairy bordello owner.  We also get to find out more about the burgeoning Vampire community set up close to the Hellmouth that it is Grateful's task to guard.

I was disappointed to note that one of the themes of the book (Grateful losing the graveyard house) was also repeated here.  We've already done this one and there was never any actual fear that the mysterious Mr Nekomata would succeed in ousting Grateful from her attic.  It just felt a bit like a lazy plot point to try and dredge up more tension - not really necessary when you factor kidnapping and torture.

On the whole Grateful is a lot easier of a person to like in this book, maybe because she is away from Rick for big parts of it and she seems to think more with her head than other, less salubrious organs.  The plotting is generally tighter and conversations seem to have a point to them, even if it doesn't seem terribly important at the time.  The fictional world the characters inhabit is fleshed out a lot more and is starting to feel solid and to have a good sense of it's own mythology.

All this gives me hope for the third installment of the series.  I can't honestly say that I am waiting for it with bated breath but I am much less trepidacious than I was after the first book.