Bishop may have control of Morganville, but his days are numbered in Carpe Corpus, the sixth installment in Rachel Caine’s The Morganville Vampires series. All seems lost at the beginning of the novel, as Claire and Michael are under Bishop’s control, Shane and his father are in jail, Myrnin has buddied up to the dark side, and Amelie is nowhere to be found.
However, not everything is as it seems in Morganville these days, especially when it comes to loyalty. As turns out, Myrnin and Michael are merely talented actors secretly working for Amelie in an effort to overthrow Bishop. Unfortunately, Bishop’s temper tends to flare when he suspects betrayal, leaving Claire, Shane, Michael, and Eve to rely on each other in order to fight, win, and survive.
The most significant aspect of this novel, I think, is the monumental change in Claire. Since the first novel, Claire has gradually developed a thicker skin, but in Carpe Corpus, she is downright tough and fearless when it comes to protecting her family and friends. She is no longer the scared runt of a girl that showed up at the Glass house covered in blood and bruises, having morphed into a brave young woman willing to stake a vampire or two in order to save the people she loves.
What else did I love about this novel? Well, of course, the romance between Claire and Shane. I refuse to give away the details, but lets just say that things finally heat up between the two of them in a scene that will get your blood boiling in this sexier, more mature sixth book. In addition, I developed a better liking for Myrnin. Since book three, I’ve been very skeptical and irritated with Myrnin, not just because he can snap and turn at any moment, but also because his motives can’t fully be trusted. However, in book six, he earned my trust, and I have grown to love this quirky, yet morbidly ferocious character.
What did I dislike? Ava. Let’s just say that it’s hard to shock me when reading about a place like Morganville. However, Ava threw me for a loop (pardon the cliche). It’s just that I was devouring this novel, and I was so into it, that I actually forgot where I was. But when Myrnin reveals the secret of a vampire super-computer that controls all the magic of Morganville, I just kind of stopped for a minute, and said…What? So that one was a bit far-fetched for me, but hey. It’s Morganville, it’s fiction, and it’s fun. So after the initial eye-roll, I relaxed, went with it, and thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the novel.
While I loved Carpe Corpus, it wasn’t my absolute favorite in the series. I still love Glass Houses and The Dead Girls’ Dance best, but Carpe Corpus is definitely worth the read to see things further develop between Shane and Claire, and of course, to see what crazy actions Myrnin will take next. This series is at the top of my favorites list due to its non-stop action, unforgettable characters, memorable setting, and clever dialogue. Not many series have everything I’m looking for in a good book, but The Morganville Vampires certainly does, and I commend Caine for her great imagination! I must say that I am stoked for the next installment in the series, Fade Out, set to debut in November.
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