Just finished reading Iron Night the second in the Generation V series by M L Brennan.  This is a great new series that I’m really enjoying so far and I have to confess that this is a great No.2 book.  It takes all the ingredients of the first and as with all good series cooks them all up into something really delicious.

If you’re not aware this is urban fantasy set in our world but with creatures that are hidden from most regular everyday citizens.  During Generation V we were introduced to Fortitude and his family.  Fortitude being the youngest member of the family and a very young and not yet grown into his teeth vampire.

At the start of the story Fortitude seems to be getting on very well.  He’s learning the family business from his brother Chivalry – and when I say the family business I must confess that their business seems to be something akin to that run by Tony in Sopranos!  He has a new job waiting in tables in a fancy pants restaurant and he has a new flatmate who actually seems to be a genuinely good guy!

Clearly things can’t continue in this happy go lucky fashion because that wouldn’t make good reading!!  Let’s face it, if I wanted to read about a person going to work, coming home, eating tea and watching the latest episode of whatever is the ‘must watch tv’ – well I could pretty much go and read my own diary – other than that I don’t have one!  Plus we wouldn’t get to see more of Suzume – the kitsune – if we carry on in this happy humdrum fashion!  So Ms Brennan writes up a storm of trouble for Fort!  In a nutshell, don’t get too attached to the new roommate – and no, that isn’t really a spoiler to be honest!  Now, if you’ve read the first you’ll already be aware that Fort won’t be simply content to let his family strongarm the situation until it goes away.  He’s going to want answers and he needs his trusty friend Suzume to help him in his endeavours.

So why do I recommend this series.  Yes, there’s a whole bushel of vampire books floating around and I can’t deny that fact, or that you could be forgiven for thinking we’ve heard and read it all by now, however, with Generation V the author is actually bringing something new to the legend and I like it.  It’s all about the discovery and the nice enticing slow reveal!  We learn a little bit more about Fort in this addition to the series and as well as bringing his character development on apace, plus showing us a little more of the family dynamic, we find out why Fort has much more human empathy than his siblings.  Basically, some of what you’ve read about vampires still stands true here – to an extent – but not all of it and I would say there has been a lot of modernisation to the myth.

The other characters are also beginning to intrigue.  Suzume is a great character who I just love for her fun and attitude but Fort’s brother is beginning to reveal a little more of his character and Prudence – what was going on with her!!

Basically this is a really solid addition to the series.  There is a sense of fun, just enough to prevent the murdering becoming too sombre.  There’s the usual thrill of the chase and discovery of what the hell is actually going on and it really is a most excellent plot!

I loved the way we get a few more supernaturals introduced – starting from the very beginning of the story and continuing on as the elves come aboard.  I can’t say too much because I don’t want to spoil the element of surprise – plus there is a really nasty baddie!  And the ending – I was  like ‘noooo’ and then I was like ‘yessss’ – very sneaky of me to put that but there it is!

On the whole this is a great series and one that I will continue to enjoy!