BITE ME by Parker Blue

Paranormal

October 2008 - Bell Bridge Books

Valentine Shapiro may wish that she were like any other teenaged girl, but the truth is she is far from it. Cursed by her father’s part demon nature, she must deal with her own demon, a lust demon she calls Lola. Val hunts and kills vampires to calm her succubus. Fortunately, San Antonio has no shortage of bloodsuckers to help ease her cravings. She has a younger, normal half-sister who worships her, and a supportive family, or so she thought. When her mother kicks her out of the house and the family business on the eve of her eighteenth birthday, Val realizes that she has no idea what to do in the real world. Where will she live? Where can she find a job?

Wandering the streets of San Antonio looking to ease her pain, Val meets up with a terrier named Fang who is part hellhound, and he helps her to take down a vampire. The little guy is just what she needs, and together they will make a great team. If only she could hunt and kill vampires for a living, then she would be set. She remembers that there is indeed a special unit at the police department that is equipped to handle supernatural matters. Val is surprised when they accept her help, and she is given a partner, Dan Sullivan, a completely normal man. They learn about a group of vampires that has banded together, and it is their mission to determine the purpose of this group. When Val’s sister goes missing and becomes involved with this group, Val will do anything to reunite her family whether they want her help or not. Will Val be able to save her sister before it is too late? Will she ever find her true calling to give purpose to her own life?

Parker Blue has laid the foundation for an excellent young adult urban fantasy series. She grabs you immediately, and then reels you in little by little with each new page. I was immediately taken with Val, an outcast, not only in society, but also in her own family, and loved how we were shown the world through her eyes. Valentine Shapiro has all the makings of a great heroine - smart, sassy, and street savvy. Give her a faithful friend, Fang, who adds quite a bit of humor, and the pair is fabulous. Of course, she also needs someone of the human persuasion to cover her back, and Dan Sullivan fills that role. BITE ME is a fun, exciting, action-packed tale that takes us into the dark side of society, but leaves us longing for more. I cannot wait for the next adventure into the demon underground.