Book Review of A Cold Day in Hell and Book Release Day

I've been fortunate enough to receive an ARC of A Cold Day in Hell for review. I really did enjoy this book.

A Cold Day in Hell is being released today so be sure to get your copies of the book. Preferably all 3 so you can enjoy them back to back.

A while back, few months actually, I reviewed book one in the Hellcat Series, A Cat's Chance in Hell (you can find the review here) and I truly enjoyed it. I also read (and will post the review soon) All Hell Breaks Loose. I will be sharing the review tomorrow.

I'll quit chatting and move on to the reviews. :-)

The City may be calm, but is the Hunter about to become the hunted?

For the first time in months the City is peaceful, so peaceful that Gabi’s suspension from the Societas Malus Venatori doesn’t feel like a punishment.  Her relationship with Julius is stronger than ever and Kyle has finally found his soul mate, even if he seems to need some convincing.  Gabi thinks boredom is her most serious problem.  She couldn’t be more wrong. 

The visitor Julius has been both expecting and dreading arrives, bringing with him dire news.  An old enemy, out to destroy them, has revealed to the Masters of the Vampire race that Gabi is a Dhampir.  The visitor’s presence also answers the question that’s been simmering in Gabi’s head for years; the truth of her origins.  This truth brings with it a deeper understanding of the implications of her very existence, and she doesn’t like what she discovers.  But it’s too late to change what’s been done and Julius must now answer to the Princeps’ Court.  

As Gabi makes plans to leave the City, drawing danger away from friends and family, a dark prophesy by the Magi Oracles forces her to change course.  She will not be leaving the City alone, and she will not be running from the threat.  She, Julius and a handful of others will be heading straight into the mouth of the beast.  They must present themselves at Court before the Princeps travel to the City and inadvertently uncover one of the most closely guarded secrets of the Magi world. 

While the Princeps wear a face of impartiality and civility, what boils beneath the surface is a storm of selfishness, greed, lust and perversion.  Danger lurks in every corner and it soon becomes clear that someone is determined to ensure that Gabi will never get the chance of a fair hearing.

Old friends and old enemies do what they have always done best, while new friends and new enemies emerge at every turn.  Only one thing is sure; it’ll be a cold day in Hell before Hellcat goes down without a fight.

Put the coffee on and warm up your page-turning finger, it’s going to be a long night.

I didn't think that I could like this series anymore than what I already did. Wow! Ms. Hannaford brought out all the stops with this one. The story was fantastic!

While the enemies in books 1 and 2 were under control, there were new enemies to be dealt with. Ones that Gabi has little knowledge of. At almost every turn, Gabi's life is in danger but her resilience, will to live and fight for life keeps here going.

Ms. Hannaford keeps the side stories going as well... ones that were started in book 2. I like that those stories weren't ignored. We get to learn just a little bit more about the fate of those characters.

I also enjoy how every author has a different take on vampires and their worlds. Ms. Hannaford creates a great world where vampires rule in different factions. Ms. Hannaford takes great care in introducing us to the major vampire players in the is story. We get a sense for who these vampires are, how old they are and what their intentions are without drowning out the main theme of the story. All the story are so intricately woven that when you read it, it flows so well. There's no choppiness to the story, no confusion or "wait, what did I miss" feelings that you sometimes find in stories that have many key players that are integral.

There's so much that I want to say about this story that I'm afraid I'll give away some spoilers and I certainly don't want to do that. All I can say is that I messaged Ms. Hannaford asking for book 4. I'll have to wait a bit for it but the sense of urgency is there. I need to know what is going to happen next.

Do I recommend this book? You bet I do. It's a great continuation of the previous two books but a story on its own. You don't get bored reading the same thing over. You still see the same, strong heroine but you also see her grow.