Kitty Takes a Holiday

Kitty Norville, Book 3

By: Carrie Vaughn

Narrated by: Marguerite Gavin

Length: 8 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's Summary

After getting caught turning wolf on national television, Kitty retreats to a mountain cabin to recover and write her memoirs. But this is Kitty, so trouble is never far behind, and instead of Walden Pond, she gets Evil Dead.

When werewolf hunter Cormac shows up with an injured Ben O'Farrell, Kitty's lawyer, slung over his shoulder, and a wolf-like creature with glowing red eyes starts sniffing around the cabin, Kitty wonders if any of them will get out of these woods alive.

©2007 Carrie Vaughn, LLC (P)2009 Tantor

Critic Reviews

"Strong on characterization, Vaughn creates characters worth visiting time after time in this compelling world." ( Booklist)

A great escape...Kitty takes a holiday!

The title of the book makes it sound less serious than the book actually is...but Vaughn does a imaginative and thorough job describing the fictious werewolf culture and other paranormal subjects. Characters are well developed, and Kitty is really likeable. The mystery in the story is captivating. It is another great escape for readers in the Kitty series. Recommend reading in order to see the development of each character. Narrator is great.

Kitty holiday goes from cursed to worse

I love the Kitty Norville books but I HATE the covers. They are everything the books aren’t: clichéd, wannabe-glamorous, vapidly sexual and totally unoriginal. If I wasn’t reading the audiobook version, I’d have to add a “Don’t judge me by my cover” sticker to the front. Why do the publishers do this?

Sigh.

Underneath the cover is another good read in the Kitty Norville series about the werewolf host of “The Midnight Hour – the talk show that isn’t afraid of the dark or the people who live there.”

Except, in this novel, Kitty is taking a break from her show so she can write an autobiography, hence the “Kitty Takes A Holiday” title.

I like the way Carrie Vaughn adapts move titles for her books, it’s inclusive some how, inviting the reader to a peer-to-peer relationship based on a common culture. Or that could be nonsense that I make up when my over-used brain takes time off to write book reviews.

Don’t be mislead, this isn’t a jolly jaunt to the seaside. Kitty’s holiday starts off feeling like a self-imposed exile that isolates her from her fans and the energy and focus her show gives her.

Kitty is so bored by the countryside and so blocked in her writing that she ends up calling in to a newly established rival to “The Midnight Hour” and pretending to have a problem to discuss.

Then things get worse: curses, corpses, and a creature with glowing red eyes and very evil intentions.

“Kitty Takes A Holiday” is darker than it’s predecessors. Humour is only an accent colour here, the main palette of the book is much more sombre: power and what you or who you are prepared to sacrifice to get it; hate and fear and how they blind you, and twist you and lessen you; Irredeemable, insatiable, life-destroying evil and the strength needed to confront it and the power of belief to change not just what we see but who we become.

There is more violence and death and this book and the consequences for everyone involved are more severe. Kitty learns more about why Cormac hunts and kills werewolves and has to consider whether she can endorse the violence he brings with him everywhere. Kitty also starts to understand that her public status as a werewolf makes her a target for those who fear her power or abhor her unnatural status.

I think Carrie Vaughn took a risk by having Kitty so depressed, disempowered and unsure of herself for large parts of this book but it more than paid off in terms of making Kitty into a more rounded person who understands her own nature and is finally able to choose her path rather than just react to the actions of others.

Best combination of story teller I have ever hear

Carrie Vaughn's writing combined with Marguerite Gavin's reading have created the best combination of erotic love story I have heard in a long time.
Marguerite Gavin's voice made me fall in love with Carrie Vaughn's character Kitty. This is the one of the best love story thus far in the series.
There are time when the tension just drove me crazy. I developed a real antagonism toward the sherif and prosecutor. McCormick really seemed like a real person in this novel. I was glad to see his character develop. Ben added the sizzle.
If you have read this book it is still a good buy just to here Marguerite Gavin read it. What a joy to listen to.
Let us hope the fountain of inspiration continues to deliver copious amounts of the height standard of literature Carrie Vaughn has been producing. The stories are the best.

A Solid Series

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I would recommend this series because the characters are engaging. The premise of a werewolf talk show host is brilliant.

Which character – as performed by Marguerite Gavin – was your favorite?

This book really revolves around the 3 main characters which are Kitty, Ben, and Cormac, and I have no problem with the way they are performed. Maybe it is just me but the mispronunciations in this series drive me nuts. In a book about a werewolf, it seems to me that a narrator should know how to pronounce lycanthropy. To pronounce 'lolling' as 'lowling' and 'yucca' as 'you-ka' is beyond irritating and is a sure way to yank someone out of the story..

Any additional comments?

There are a couple of big plot twists. I appreciate it when an author can keep someone guessing what will happen next. I thought that when Kitty and Ben went to New Mexico the story bogged down a bit, but overall I have no real complaints.

Back west we go...

My rating: Teen (violence)
Favorite character: Tony

Okay, so Kitty is taking a break from the limelight, and after what happened to her in DC, who could blame her. She feels violated, and the first half of the book deals with her complacency and insecurities, but it also deals with the growing idea that someone doesn't like her much.

Cormack and Ben play a bigger part in this book, and honestly, it's hard to say which character has the more exciting role. Between the changes in Ben and the changes in the life of Cormack, both guys add spice to the sauce, so to speak. There is some romance in this book, and I'm happy to say that it doesn't take over. Carrie Vaughn has a very tasteful way of writing about sex; it doesn't get graphic, and it doesn't go on and on (which is easier to deal with on paper than audio).

We get a little local color and some Navajo heritage mixed in during this episode, and that's where my favorite character (for this book) comes in. Tony is a curandero,, and he shows up to offer his advice on some town issues.

Marguerite Gavin is still offering a good narration in this book as well. She may not have the absolute most talented voice out there, but her natural voice is so easy to listen to, and her voice for Kitty is wonderful. She differentiates between characters well, and I really liked her voice for Tony. I'll be looking for her more often.

This book is obviously buiding up to something more.... You can see that there are other storylines, other plots unfolding on the horizon. Looking forward to more.

Best Book In The Series!

Kitty is hiding from her own life when she is forced to save the life of one her friends. This is one of the best books of the series!

Kitty Takes a Holiday is my favorite book in the Kitty Norville series, and not just because of the romantic relationship between Kitty and Ben. The story arc in the first four books is about Kitty taking control of her life. She’s growing up, but not in a YA “coming-of-age” way. It’s more about whether, as an adult, you can overcome adversity and thrive, not just survive.

In Holiday, Kitty has run away from dealing with life as a werewolf, from being exposed to the world, even from the fame her radio show has brought. She’s full of self-doubt and uncertainty about the future. There’s sort of a cocooning period you have to go through when you reinvent yourself, time to be introspective and really examine who you are and what you want. This is what Kitty’s holiday is about.

Who knows how she would have emerged from that cocoon if Cormac and Ben hadn’t shown up. On a mission to hunt a rogue werewolf, Ben was bit. Cormac brought him to Kitty–the only other friendly werewolf he knows–for help. Kitty has to show Ben that being a werewolf is preferable to death before he makes Cormac shoot him.

So she takes on the role of Alpha in her pack of two. Though she doubts her own ability to play the Alpha, she’s the only one who can, and Ben is depending on her. This, more than anything, is the push Kitty needs to see herself as a strong, independent person who is capable of dealing with adversity. Sometimes, we are willing to do more for others than we are for ourselves.

The other great growth moment for Kitty is when she calls into a competing radio show to give some advice to another caller. Kitty has been hating “Ariel, Priestess of the Night” for quite some time, seeing her as a threat. She calls her “the sleezebag,” makes prank calls to the show, and tries to find a way to sue her. What Kitty really hates, of course, is that Ariel is doing the show while Kitty is hiding in the woods, but she isn’t willing to admit that. When Kitty makes a genuine call to Ariel and is recognized, she doesn’t get the response she expected. Ariel is a big Kitty fan, one who is trying to carry on Kitty’s work and add strength to the “voice” of the supernatural. The big difference between what Kitty believes about Ariel and what she discovers is true is a major reality check; one that shines light on her own self-pity and pettiness.

Kitty Takes a Holiday is a pretty great study of the psychology of adapting to adversity. Kitty’s positive growth is contrasted by the actions of the antagonist, of course. And, as in most things in adult life, the ending is always perfectly happy. But it’s real, and the perfect launching pad for what Kitty has to face in the next book.

Purchased. Review courtesy of onebooktwo | one book, two reviews.

Very good addition to the series :)

4 stars

**warning, I'm letting something slip in this review that would be considered a spoiler**

This was a very good story and addition to the series. I'm still loving Kitty as the heroine. After what happened to her in the previous book, Kitty decides to take some time off from the show and write a book. She rented a cabin in a small town so she could focus on her work but instead she just found herself drifting and doubting her ability to get back what she had lost. Ben had come to the area to meet with her and mentioned that he was meeting Cormic to help him with a werewolf hunt not too far away. A couple days later, Kitty gets a visit from a freaked out Cormic who is bringing Ben to her for help. The werewolf they were hunting bit Ben and he's turning wolf. Cormic and Ben had always agreed that if one of them got bit the other would take them out but when it came time, Cormic couldn't do it. He knew Kitty was a good werewolf and so he figured she was the right person to help Ben recover and live with his changes.

While Cormic and Ben are staying with Kitty, some issues arise. First someone starts leaving dead animals around Kitty's cabin and then something else shows up that starts killing cattle and has glowing red eyes. However, before dealing with this, the trio has to concentrate on getting Ben through his first full moon and Kitty's determined to show him how life doesn't have to be bad as a werewolf. There's another instance or two of attraction between Kitty and Cormic and I thought something would finally happen there but it doesn't work out. Instead something starts to develop between Kitty and Ben...they kind of fell into it but like each other enough that they're willing to explore it. The other issues do get resolved but Cormic ends the story in jail for saving Kitty's life. Despite this sadness, Kitty and Ben end the story doing alright and what I'd probably term as a HFN.

I enjoyed this story very much. There's one thing I both hate and love about this series, there's always some bad with the good. It both makes the story more realistic and yet a bit frustrating at times. Regardless of that, I still love Kitty and think the series is worth the read. This story was very interesting and kept me engaged from beginning til end. I'd recommend it and the series. :D

Best one yet!!!!

What made the experience of listening to Kitty Takes a Holiday the most enjoyable?

It was wonderful, and MG makes Kitty such a great character...warm and loving...strong and caring....Kitty is one of my new fave heroines!

What did you like best about this story?

I love that Kitty had finally found someone to care about and care for her....

Which scene was your favorite?

After her and Ben's first shift together...how she held him, and comforted him...and there first true kiss....In was sooo happy for her....

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Beware of what lurks in the woods...small towns can be hell!!!!!!!!!!!

Any additional comments?

I love this series....I am starting #4 now...anyone who doesn't like these books is cheating themselves....Kitty is awesome!!!!! Highly Recommend!!!!!!!

Wasn’t what I was expecting

Not realizing that I started this series on book three and will be ending it on this book for awhile. It was hard for me to get into at first but I found myself pleasantly surprised as I continued on. I found myself getting more and more attached to the characters and the story was something i wasn’t expecting. I thought I had it all figured out halfway through “the climax already happened” how can there still be a few more hours. I was completely and happily blown away. Unfortunately this is the only book in the series on my audible package. I look forward to buying the book copies soon and binge reading them.

Excellent book

I highly recommend this series it's been out for a while and it stands up against all the new stuff coming out today.