http://bactra.org/weblog/algae-2007-12.html#kitty ( )

What would happen if the world found out the supernatural existed? This is one of the first series I read that takes the reader through the revelation and the results of it. ( )

Kitty Goes to Washington
3.5 Stars

As the title implies, Werewolf radio talkshow host, Kitty Norville, travels to the capitol to testify before a Senate committee on the existence of supernatural beings. While there, she becomes involved in the various agendas and machinations of a variety of dangerous groups - vampires, lycanthropes, and politicians.

Despite its potential, this follow-up novel falls short of expectations. The first half of the book is slow with a great deal of exposition, and the second half fails to capitalize on the small amount of tension that does build up.

Kitty's characterization is problematic. Not only does her poor decision-making play into the dumb blond stereotype, but she is too much of a damsel in distress in need of rescue. The woman is a freaking werewolf for crying out loud, yet instead of shifting and tearing into a weaker vampire, she whines about her situation and is rescued by a human with a stake?!

In terms of the plot, there are several threads that ultimately come together, but each is rather anti-climactic and is resolved either too easily or by an almost deus-ex machina element.

Despite these issues, Kitty is a very appealing heroine and the secondary cast is interesting enough to continue with the series. Moreover, Marguerite Gavin's narration of the audiobook is excellent. I could listen to her read the phonebook and enjoy it. ( )

The Kitty Norville series is right up there with Patricia Briggs, Charlaine Harris and maybe even my beloved Jim Butcher for great urban fantasy. The genre is flooded, and a lot of what I've tried out in the last year has been so-so or just bad. The radio show adds a nice element to the plot lines, and the fact that our heroine is often brave in spite of herself is refreshing. She often feels fear, cries when horrible things happen, wants to run away, but doesn't, and none of it comes across as being whiny. The first in the series was good enough that I eventually picked up the second, but this second one has me hooked. I'll read them until Carrie Vaughn stops writing them. ( )

I'm feeling better about Kitty's adventures all the time, although the creepy shit the government pulls gives me the holy heebie jeebies and feels all too real. I hope she continues to kick butt and gather people around her. I am deeply amused by Kitty's complete embrace of tourist opportunities, and strangely, I really like her lawyer. ( )