Goldilox and the Three Weres: Release Day Review: Outtakes From The Grave by Jeaniene Frost

Outtakes from the Grave
(Night Huntress #0)
Jeaniene Frost
Release: December 22, 2015
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Cat and Bones fans, sink your teeth into this new outtakes compilation from New York Times bestselling author Jeaniene Frost!

Indulge your love of paranormal super couple Cat and Bones with this ultimate “director’s cut” collection of deleted scenes and alternate versions from the first four novels in the Night Huntress series, complete with author commentary on each selection. Includes: the original beginnings of Halfway to the Grave, One Foot in the Grave, At Grave’s End, and Destined for an Early Grave: a chapter written in Bones’s point of view; alternate versions of sections of Halfway to the Grave, One Foot in the Grave, and Destined for an Early Grave; the “white wedding” scene between Cat and Bones that never made it into the final books…and much more!

Review by Rose Red:

Before we get any further with this review, I want to say that if you haven't read the first four books in the Night Huntress series and the first Night Huntress World book, don't read this anthology. Save it until after you have finished Destined for an Early Grave and First Drop of Crimson. That way you won't be spoiled. You've been warned.

For me, 2015 will forever known as the year I binge read all the series I've been meaning to get to. That included the two series that belong to the Night Huntress World. I was obsessed. I read everything I could get my hands on! And I mean everything. I read all of the Night Huntress books, the two companion Night Huntress World books, and all three available books in the Dark Prince series plus all the novellas in a week. I couldn't get enough of Cat and Bones and Vlad and I was super sad when I ran out of books. So when I read on Jeaniene Frost's blog that she was compiling a collection of cut scenes from the first four books, I was ecstatic! Who wouldn't be? I'll take all of the Cat and Bones she'll give me!

I want to take a moment to thank the author for allowing me to read and review an ARC of this collection early. I spent every spare minute I could reading it around work and various holiday parties and obligations. It was fascinating! Intellectually I know that one small change can affect a whole series but this anthology really drove that point home. Some things could have gone in a very, very different direction in this series. That being said, can I just say how much these outtakes made me appreciate and love even more how the story really played out in the published books? Because it did.

I'm not going to review each outtake separately because... well...

I liked some outtakes way more than others and one outtake, in particular, pissed me off just like Frost said it would in her introduction to it. That outtake is what really made me appreciate Frost's editors and how they helped the story end up playing out they way we all know it did in the print. I will say that once I accepted it (because it did go in a direction that is believable of the characters involved), I fell into how the story could have been. It would have been a much rougher ride and that's saying something for those of you who know what happens in these books.

That being said there were several that I adored! I loved the interactions between everyone! It made me happy seeing everyone again! And that wedding outtake? PERFECT! Also, HOLY SEX SCENES, BATMAN! If you are of the crowd who thinks that there should have been more sex in the books, these outtakes are for you! Holy cow! Is it hot in here? I'm now very curious just HOW MANY sex scenes were cut from this series? I'm not complaining because we get a good share in the series but oh man! We could have had so much more!

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this and it was an eye opening experience. I love the published books even more now! I would recommend picking this up if you're a fan of the series. I'm intrigued to see people's reactions to these outtakes because I foresee a lot of mixed feelings. If you do read this, I would caution you to keep in mind that these scenes were cut for a reason and that we have a series we love because they were.

It was fun to see Cat and Bones and the gang again and it is a little something something that will help us in the wait for Into the Fire coming out next year! I can't wait to hear everyone's thoughts on this.

ARC provided by the author.