Mary-Lynnette lives to look at the night sky. More than anything she wants someone that can be with her and understand what she sees in the constellations and planets. But, she has accepted that for now, things will be as they are. Instead of concentrating on her own lack of companionship Mary-Lynnette is more concerned with bringing her brother, Mark, out of his shell and into the social world. When a neighbor tells Mary-Lynnette that her three nieces are coming to live with her she is hopeful that perhaps Mark will perhaps meet someone he can like. However, when Mary-Lynette meets the three sisters and the brother that has followed them there, she feels there is something more to who and what they are than the surface. Something dark and deadly. Soon things are getting out of control and with each strange occurrence Mary-Lynnette and Mark find themselves drawn deeper and deeper into the Night World.

This book is the second installment of L.J. Smith’s Night World series. If my faulty memory serves I do believe the character of Ash first made an appearance in Secret Vampire and it was nice to see some follow through here. Although I didn’t find the book quite as intriguing as Secret Vampire it still held my interest and moved along fairly quickly. Mary-Lynnette’s first reaction to Ash was odd to say the least, I wasn’t sure if I should laugh or if I should cringe on Ash’s behalf. The sisters were also a bit unusual but all things considered I think this was to be expected. This book did kind of have a non-ending with things a bit up in the air. I will be curious to see if this story thread has a resolution further along in the series. If not, I suppose I can just ponder what happened in my own little mind.

I think any of L.J. Smith’s stories would make great fill-ins for those waiting for Stephenie Meyer’s next installment and highly recommend her Vampire Diaries and these Night World books to lovers of young adult vampire and urban fantasies. ( )

My favorite NW book. Ash and Mary-lynnette, unpredictable ending, and many parts are actually funny. I only wish it was longer! ( )

Second in the Night World series, this book formally introduces Ash Redfern with his own story, after a cameo appearance in book one Secret Vampire. Ash is a playboy vampire, with little conscience and a distate for humans, or vermin as the NWers call them. Enter Mary-Lynette a young woman whose only passions are star gazing and protecting her younger brother. Unsurprisingly enough Mary-Lynette challenges Ash's world view and he finds himself wanting to change.

Sent out to protect his three sisters (also vampires) and bring them back home to the fold of the enclave, Ash is on a deadline not only to return his sisters to a vampie ruled island, but to thwart a vampire hunter who seems out to expose them all.

This is a very light teen read, one of the original teen supernatural reads from an era pre-Buffy, but it stands the test of time surprisingly well. The characters are written with such a deft touch that it's hard to resist its charm. The most satisfying soulmate relationship in the series thus far as Ash doesn't quite get the girl, but instead is sent out on a quest of redemption and atonement before he can prove his worth to Mary-Lynette. ( )