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Wearing the Cape #1.5
Bite Me: Big Easy Nights
It was supposed to be a working vacation…
For Jacky Bouchard (aka, Artemis: vampire, night-stalking dark avenger, and reluctant superhero), a trip to the Big Easy was a chance to solidify her new Bouchard identity, meet the grandmother she didn’t know she had, and do a favor for the New Orleans Police Department by helping them keep an eye on their local vampires.
Watching a bunch of fashion-obsessed goths with fangs should have been easy, but now she’s dressing in black and sleeping in a coffin even though living the whole Fiend of The Night stereotype makes her want to vomit. And for someone working undercover, she is getting attacked a lot.
When Jacky learns that a master vampire capable of siring progeny with his blood (an urban myth—vampires don’t reproduce that way) may be haunting New Orleans, she decides to go hunting. But the streets of the French Quarter are dangerous when you don’t know who is hunting you, and Jacky finds herself in trouble up to her neck and needing all the help she can get…
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Bite Me: Big Easy Nights is Marion G. Harmon's third novel. Chronologically, the book falls between Wearing the Cape and Villains Inc.
For Jacky Bouchard (aka, Artemis: vampire, night-stalking dark avenger, and reluctant superhero), a trip to the Big Easy was a chance to solidify her new Bouchard identity, meet the grandmother she didn’t know she had, and do a favor for the New Orleans Police Department by helping them keep an eye on their local vampires.
Watching a bunch of fashion-obsessed goths with fangs should have been easy, but now she’s dressing in black and sleeping in a coffin even though living the whole Fiend of The Night stereotype makes her want to vomit. And for someone working undercover, she is getting attacked a lot.
When Jacky learns that a master vampire capable of siring progeny with his blood (an urban myth—vampires don’t reproduce that way) may be haunting New Orleans, she decides to go hunting. But the streets of the French Quarter are dangerous when you don’t know who is hunting you, and Jacky finds herself in trouble up to her neck and needing all the help she can get…
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Bite Me: Big Easy Nights is Marion G. Harmon's third novel. Chronologically, the book falls between Wearing the Cape and Villains Inc.
235 pages, Paperback
First published September 27, 2012
57 people are currently reading
609 people want to read
About the author
Marion G. Harmon
25 books291 followersMarion G. Harmon picked up a Masters of History degree because he likes stories. He resides in Las Vegas, where he dabbles in various aspects of financial planning while trying to get the people in his head onto the page so they’ll stop pestering him.
Addendum: M.G.Harmon still lives in Las Vegas, but has ceased telling other people how to invest their money to become a "professional author," whatever that is. He has written nine books, all about Astra and Company. They still won't leave him alone.
Addendum: M.G.Harmon still lives in Las Vegas, but has ceased telling other people how to invest their money to become a "professional author," whatever that is. He has written nine books, all about Astra and Company. They still won't leave him alone.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
October 20, 2023
Nice Superhero prose book. so far the series is an enjoyable read. Recommended
March 12, 2013
I was going to go straight to Villians Inc, but the author pointed out this book came first.
Incidentally, how awesome is that? The author messaging you to discuss how much you liked his book and giving you suggestions on others in the series. As a reader and a fan, I very much appreciate that touch of personal concern.
Anyway, the book! I loved Artemis as a character in the Wearing The Cape, and I continue to love her here. It makes complete sense for New Orleans to end up the center of 'vampire culture' post-Event. I haven't been there so I have no idea how accurate the author's depiction of it is, but he certainly succeeded in conveying the gothic, quasi-romantic feel the city is known for.
I adored Jacky's 'family'. Her Grams...everything a good ol' deep south Louisiana Grandma should be. I'd love to see more of her (and the Voodoo aspects) in future books.
The vampire culture is really, really interesting. Brilliant seems like high praise, but the tongue-in-cheek way it's done, poking fun at current pop culture and vampire depictions, made me all sorts of happy. The author and main character both quite clearly show their disdain for 'traditional' vampire culture, and it made me all sorts of happy.
This is much more of a detective (almost noir) story than Wearing the Cape. Less superhero, more gritty detective drama. Which is not a bad thing, at all, just different. The author again succeeds here in creating not only a believable story, but a very entertaining one.
The one thing that really bothered me was the firearms. I see it a lot in this sort of book....the ubiquitous Desert Eagle .50. From someone who has a good friend who owns one, has played with it, has seen it shot, has consulted with many who have shot one...it's a piece of crap gun. No one who knows anything about firearms (superhuman strength or not, because it does kick like a horse) would use one over so many better options in a combat situation. It's not accurate. It's heavy and slow, due in part to its sheer size. The round itself isn't all that accurate, either. It has fairly poor ballistics. The use of the Desert Eagle rather ruined the firearm scenes for me, and I'll admit my husband and I laid in bed one night while I described one of the scenes as I read it, and picked it apart simply because it's a pet peeve of both of ours.
I would implore anyone who is going to put a heavy emphasis on firearms to do their research. Otherwise it's really jarring and annoying to those of us who do know what you're talking about, and it makes it obvious that the research was very lacking.
If you absolutely must have characters toting a hand cannon, look into something that's a better firearm. The 500 magnum comes to mind, as do various incarnations of the Taurus Judge.
Incidentally, how awesome is that? The author messaging you to discuss how much you liked his book and giving you suggestions on others in the series. As a reader and a fan, I very much appreciate that touch of personal concern.
Anyway, the book! I loved Artemis as a character in the Wearing The Cape, and I continue to love her here. It makes complete sense for New Orleans to end up the center of 'vampire culture' post-Event. I haven't been there so I have no idea how accurate the author's depiction of it is, but he certainly succeeded in conveying the gothic, quasi-romantic feel the city is known for.
I adored Jacky's 'family'. Her Grams...everything a good ol' deep south Louisiana Grandma should be. I'd love to see more of her (and the Voodoo aspects) in future books.
The vampire culture is really, really interesting. Brilliant seems like high praise, but the tongue-in-cheek way it's done, poking fun at current pop culture and vampire depictions, made me all sorts of happy. The author and main character both quite clearly show their disdain for 'traditional' vampire culture, and it made me all sorts of happy.
This is much more of a detective (almost noir) story than Wearing the Cape. Less superhero, more gritty detective drama. Which is not a bad thing, at all, just different. The author again succeeds here in creating not only a believable story, but a very entertaining one.
The one thing that really bothered me was the firearms. I see it a lot in this sort of book....the ubiquitous Desert Eagle .50. From someone who has a good friend who owns one, has played with it, has seen it shot, has consulted with many who have shot one...it's a piece of crap gun. No one who knows anything about firearms (superhuman strength or not, because it does kick like a horse) would use one over so many better options in a combat situation. It's not accurate. It's heavy and slow, due in part to its sheer size. The round itself isn't all that accurate, either. It has fairly poor ballistics. The use of the Desert Eagle rather ruined the firearm scenes for me, and I'll admit my husband and I laid in bed one night while I described one of the scenes as I read it, and picked it apart simply because it's a pet peeve of both of ours.
I would implore anyone who is going to put a heavy emphasis on firearms to do their research. Otherwise it's really jarring and annoying to those of us who do know what you're talking about, and it makes it obvious that the research was very lacking.
If you absolutely must have characters toting a hand cannon, look into something that's a better firearm. The 500 magnum comes to mind, as do various incarnations of the Taurus Judge.
June 6, 2023
Bite Me is a spinoff novel from Harmon’s Wearing the Cape series. It follows the exploits of Jacky Bouchard, aka Artemis, as she travels to New Orleans to help police identify vampires preying on underaged people while simultaneously giving some credibility to her new identity. Jacky is the victim of a supervillain who transformed into a vampire after the Event. He was one of the very rare vampire transformations that was powerful enough to make his own vampire progeny. Jacky was the result—victim of a really bad stalker. This is important background information because almost all of the other vampires in New Orleans became vampires like other people become superheroes and supervillains—as a result of their strong desires and a crisis situation. Jacky doesn’t like playing Goth girl and Anne Rice afficionado. What she enjoys is being a covert intelligence specialist, and she learns in the course of this novel that she has a lot more to learn about her chosen profession.
One of the things I like best about Harmon novels is his ability to create credible superhuman “cultures” for want of a better word. In most of the U.S. breakthroughs follow the superhero template. In other places, like Japan, other cultural phenomenon influence the transformations. In New Orleans, there is a strong tendency for a supernatural flair to influence the breakthroughs—vampires, witches, werewolves, voodoo queens, etc. It gives the city a flavor very different than the Chicago Harmon has introduced in his other books.
The plot of Bite Me very quickly becomes complicated by the introduction of the possibility that someone has the ability to create new vampires. If this is like Jacky’s stalker, it is conceivably the beginning of an apocalyptic event as vampires sire vampires who can sire more vampires, spreading across the country and eventually the world. So, the stakes are high as Jacky investigates. The action is also quite strong, but again, different in tone from what we see in the Wearing the Cape novels. If you are interested in seeing what vampires would be like in a superhero universe, this is the book for you.
One of the things I like best about Harmon novels is his ability to create credible superhuman “cultures” for want of a better word. In most of the U.S. breakthroughs follow the superhero template. In other places, like Japan, other cultural phenomenon influence the transformations. In New Orleans, there is a strong tendency for a supernatural flair to influence the breakthroughs—vampires, witches, werewolves, voodoo queens, etc. It gives the city a flavor very different than the Chicago Harmon has introduced in his other books.
The plot of Bite Me very quickly becomes complicated by the introduction of the possibility that someone has the ability to create new vampires. If this is like Jacky’s stalker, it is conceivably the beginning of an apocalyptic event as vampires sire vampires who can sire more vampires, spreading across the country and eventually the world. So, the stakes are high as Jacky investigates. The action is also quite strong, but again, different in tone from what we see in the Wearing the Cape novels. If you are interested in seeing what vampires would be like in a superhero universe, this is the book for you.
April 17, 2021
Nice read. It felt more polished and tighter than the other two books. For instance, in the earlier books a lot of the chapters ended with a final sentence that hinted at what happens in next one. Sometimes this worked as a hook that made me more eager to keep reading. But other times, annoyingly, it acted as a spoiler that ruined the surprise. In "Bite Me," every instance acted as a hook to keep me reading instead of as a spoiler.
One difficulty for me is that It took me a while to realize that this book takes place after "Wearing the Cape" but before some of the changes in "Villians, Inc." so I found some of Artemis' behavior puzzling until I noticed that.
This is mostly a vampire novel that takes place in the world of "Wearing the Cape". However, it was very refreshing to find some characters who were not happy to be vampires. Sure, other novels have vampires who aren't happy because they are so old and bored. But I cannot think of another vampire book where the vampire hadn't completely accepted vampire culture as a given no matter how unwillingly they had been turned. Here the main character thinks the posturing and melodrama and cliches are rather silly. A rather practical character.
As with the other books, there are a couple of loose ends that feel more forgotten than intentional. There is an apparent ghost thrown into the story for no obvious purpose, for example. Despite that minor quibble, and it is a quibble since while I don't understand where the author was going with that, it wasn't boring, Maybe the author wanted to show that anything is possible in this world.
I found this self-published book more enjoyable than quite a few that weren't self-published. I'm looking forward to more of these stories in the future.
One difficulty for me is that It took me a while to realize that this book takes place after "Wearing the Cape" but before some of the changes in "Villians, Inc." so I found some of Artemis' behavior puzzling until I noticed that.
This is mostly a vampire novel that takes place in the world of "Wearing the Cape". However, it was very refreshing to find some characters who were not happy to be vampires. Sure, other novels have vampires who aren't happy because they are so old and bored. But I cannot think of another vampire book where the vampire hadn't completely accepted vampire culture as a given no matter how unwillingly they had been turned. Here the main character thinks the posturing and melodrama and cliches are rather silly. A rather practical character.
As with the other books, there are a couple of loose ends that feel more forgotten than intentional. There is an apparent ghost thrown into the story for no obvious purpose, for example. Despite that minor quibble, and it is a quibble since while I don't understand where the author was going with that, it wasn't boring, Maybe the author wanted to show that anything is possible in this world.
I found this self-published book more enjoyable than quite a few that weren't self-published. I'm looking forward to more of these stories in the future.
January 9, 2014
Jacky Bouchard is not your average vampire; She has the snappy wit of a Whedonesque Heroine, the moral compass of the best reluctant heroes, the accessories of Rambo, and the know-how of an MIT post-grad. Her snarky observations about those who are “her own kind” is both refreshing and hilariously accurate to pop culture mythos. In a society inundated with the tragic and overly romanticized vampire mythos it is nice see one that takes those clichés and then rolls up a newspaper to tap them on the nose. Now don’t get me wrong, I do love a good vampire novel on occasion, maybe not as much as I enjoy Superheroes, but I do still like them … some of them, anyhow. If you, like me, are irritated by the oh so tragic and romantically inclined brooders, this is a book for you! If you are not irritated by romantic brooders, this book is still for you. That’s the great thing about it.
I was drawn to “Bite Me” because I had fallen in love with “Wearing The Cape” and the 90lb hero that packed a punch that could take down Lobo. Bite me focuses on Artemis, a secondary character with a messed up past and the cold rage to be something other than what she was created for. The great thing about Artemis, aka Jacky, is that she isn’t some female Angel bent on being some dark avenger (though she does still do that) so much as she’s just a vampire who figured she’d stop bad guys instead of being one. It also helps that the supporting cast is equally as interesting and opens up a whole new section of the world that Harmon has created. I cannot recommend this book strongly enough to anyone who wants a good read.
I was drawn to “Bite Me” because I had fallen in love with “Wearing The Cape” and the 90lb hero that packed a punch that could take down Lobo. Bite me focuses on Artemis, a secondary character with a messed up past and the cold rage to be something other than what she was created for. The great thing about Artemis, aka Jacky, is that she isn’t some female Angel bent on being some dark avenger (though she does still do that) so much as she’s just a vampire who figured she’d stop bad guys instead of being one. It also helps that the supporting cast is equally as interesting and opens up a whole new section of the world that Harmon has created. I cannot recommend this book strongly enough to anyone who wants a good read.
January 2, 2013
Mr. Harmon has made this remarkably detailed and self-consistent world where superheroes became real. And that has made these books wonderful to read as the focus is on solving problems that come up as someone who has randomly become a superhero. (and I usually don't like superhero books). Reading the premise for Bite Me, it did not seem that promising, being a vampire goth book in a setting where various subcultures like goths get to be real instead of just make believe. But this works. Yes, Artemis has powers, and they get used. But most of this book reads like a detective story set in vampire setting, where a detective has to use her social skills to figure out what has happened.
The whole way through the book I found myself liking the character more, flaws and all. She even has to deal with the fact that she has very unimpressed family to deal with, like any other young lady, superpowers or no. And I started to think I knew these characters and wanted to know what would happen to them (Harmon has killed off main characters in the past, so while we knew Artemis would live, noone else had that security)
This was good writing. Action kept pace, and the character interaction was highly entertaining.
The whole way through the book I found myself liking the character more, flaws and all. She even has to deal with the fact that she has very unimpressed family to deal with, like any other young lady, superpowers or no. And I started to think I knew these characters and wanted to know what would happen to them (Harmon has killed off main characters in the past, so while we knew Artemis would live, noone else had that security)
This was good writing. Action kept pace, and the character interaction was highly entertaining.
June 7, 2017
Another Wearing the Cape work. Technically out of the main sequence -- published after but occurring before Villains Inc. -- and it's all about Jacky, alias Artemis, not Hope/Astra. Best after Wearing but it or Villains Inc. can go in either order.
She's doing a little job for DSA. And working with the local (New Orleans) cops to help them work out which locations are letting vampires drink the blood of the underaged. Which she does do, without mentioning that she's also investigating the possibility of master vampires, ones that can create progeny. This was thought to be impossible, a human killed by a vampire would be no more likely than another possible breakout situation, but Jacky herself refutes it.
Helps that she can stay with her grandmother, Mama Marie, who has a lot of voodoo fame.
The resulting story includes someone trying to stake her, a vampire who fences, a priest who works for a special Vatican department, the problems with cemetaries for most vampires, the vampire classification of people into Lucies and Minna -- by hair color, a good lawyer, a surprising discovery about the cop working with her, a discussion of the nature of supernatural breakouts (that is, not classic superhero mold but more folkloric), and much more.
She's doing a little job for DSA. And working with the local (New Orleans) cops to help them work out which locations are letting vampires drink the blood of the underaged. Which she does do, without mentioning that she's also investigating the possibility of master vampires, ones that can create progeny. This was thought to be impossible, a human killed by a vampire would be no more likely than another possible breakout situation, but Jacky herself refutes it.
Helps that she can stay with her grandmother, Mama Marie, who has a lot of voodoo fame.
The resulting story includes someone trying to stake her, a vampire who fences, a priest who works for a special Vatican department, the problems with cemetaries for most vampires, the vampire classification of people into Lucies and Minna -- by hair color, a good lawyer, a surprising discovery about the cop working with her, a discussion of the nature of supernatural breakouts (that is, not classic superhero mold but more folkloric), and much more.
October 12, 2016
A fun spinoff.
Jacky AKA the vampire Superhero/ Vigilante, has left Chicago for New Orleans to be closer to her grandmother and do a 'quick' favour for local police department. Keeping an eye on the local bloodsuchers. As the 'quick' part already indicated things don't go quite as planned. When she discovers that there might be a Vampire Master in town that might actually start the vampire apocalypse.
A fun read and an interesting peek in the supernatural aspect of the Wearing the Cape universe. This novel reads more like a urban fantasy than superhero fiction and at times gently pokes fun at that fact through its sarcasting main character. Overall I must say that the characters were fun, but that the plot relied to heavily on action to propel the plot. A little more mystery or even some breathing room and a few quiet moments would have served the plot wel.
In short a flawed but fun read.
Jacky AKA the vampire Superhero/ Vigilante, has left Chicago for New Orleans to be closer to her grandmother and do a 'quick' favour for local police department. Keeping an eye on the local bloodsuchers. As the 'quick' part already indicated things don't go quite as planned. When she discovers that there might be a Vampire Master in town that might actually start the vampire apocalypse.
A fun read and an interesting peek in the supernatural aspect of the Wearing the Cape universe. This novel reads more like a urban fantasy than superhero fiction and at times gently pokes fun at that fact through its sarcasting main character. Overall I must say that the characters were fun, but that the plot relied to heavily on action to propel the plot. A little more mystery or even some breathing room and a few quiet moments would have served the plot wel.
In short a flawed but fun read.
November 4, 2017
Another solid installment (I actually read it after Villians, Inc.) and truly enjoyed it. Harmon does an excellent job of world building and his characters are doing for super hero fiction what Harry Dresden does for urban fantasy. I'll keep coming back for more over and over!
If you're looking for fiction where the heroes are attending to the business of being heroes then you OWE it to yourself to try this series.
If you're looking for fiction where the heroes are attending to the business of being heroes then you OWE it to yourself to try this series.
February 8, 2019
This is a spinoff story in a superhero series--but this didn't feel like the rest of the series at all. First, the character voice wasn't clear or compelling. Second, it was all about vampires and magic rituals, so it went from action to horror (and I'm not a fan of horror at all). Third, the romance was really, really cliche. Oh well. Back to the main storyline in hopes they are still good.
June 7, 2024
Thank you to the author
This is a really fun vampire story, something i generally avoid. Speaking as one who studied in NOLA, did my medical training there, and worked in the ER in Church Point, i am happy to commend the author for treating these places with thought and compassion and still managed an excellent story.
Sincerely,
W.E. Norton. MD(ret.)
This is a really fun vampire story, something i generally avoid. Speaking as one who studied in NOLA, did my medical training there, and worked in the ER in Church Point, i am happy to commend the author for treating these places with thought and compassion and still managed an excellent story.
Sincerely,
W.E. Norton. MD(ret.)
March 17, 2017
I couldn't get into this one as much as the main series. Maybe it was the different main character's internal voice, maybe it was the change in setting, maybe I just read it too fast. I also couldn't really keep track of some of the characters, although I think that's more my fault than Harmon's.
4/5
4/5
December 27, 2017
Ok read, I didn't quite like the protagonist as much as I did Astra, at least not to begin with. Not sure if my problems with the first half is due to the book or rl distractions at the time, but I read the second half on a day and like it.
Read
December 1, 2021Red
Good vampire good guy story, fits into superheroine series. Not as great as Sunshine, where dangerous vampire sorceror type works with magicly gifted baker to destroy an evil vampire gang. But runner up.
Good vampire good guy story, fits into superheroine series. Not as great as Sunshine, where dangerous vampire sorceror type works with magicly gifted baker to destroy an evil vampire gang. But runner up.
September 2, 2022
Jackie goes to New Orleans and onto an adventure with her effeminate Werewolf boyfriend and witch grandmother... other than the try to garner some ideas from The Originals, the attempt was fairly unspectacular.
September 24, 2023
Pretty good story for the genre
The only thing off in the book is Jacky. This is the first time she has ever been less than confident. The vision of a supernatural Nola was well written. Although I really want to see what grams can do.
The only thing off in the book is Jacky. This is the first time she has ever been less than confident. The vision of a supernatural Nola was well written. Although I really want to see what grams can do.
October 4, 2024
Does not make any sens
In book 2 of the series, Jacky gains the ability to day walk. It doesn’t make sense chronologically. Also, many of the characters other than Paul are entirely forgettable.
In book 2 of the series, Jacky gains the ability to day walk. It doesn’t make sense chronologically. Also, many of the characters other than Paul are entirely forgettable.
August 8, 2017
Interesting
Would have preferred a more fleshed out story. Nice twist to a vampire idea. I would have liked more background.
Would have preferred a more fleshed out story. Nice twist to a vampire idea. I would have liked more background.
April 25, 2020
A bit disjointed in places, but not bad.
June 7, 2021
The Beautiful Bile
Respectful and Respective Envy and delight. In A fantasy world, Anne Rice would have a collaborative series with this Great Tale-weaver.
Respectful and Respective Envy and delight. In A fantasy world, Anne Rice would have a collaborative series with this Great Tale-weaver.
dnf
January 6, 2024DNF @ 9% after the streetcar gets called a trolley.
July 9, 2016
The Wearing the Cape series is one of my favorite new series. It’s very much like a lighter and softer version of George R.R. Martin’s Wild Cards series. People are granted superpowers by a mysterious force and a whole new species starts to inhabit the Earth. Bite Me: Big Easy Nights follows the adventures of Jacky Bouchard a.k.a Artemis. Jacky possesses superpowers that give her abilities identical to those of a vampire.
She’s not alone, either.
Marion G. Harmon takes a break from describing the comic-book flavored universe he created in Wearing the Cape and Villains Inc. to describe the supernatural underbelly of his setting. New Orleans in the Capeverse is a hotbed for super-powered humans who want to pretend they’re vampires, werewolves, or witches—and who’s to say they aren’t if they possess the powers thereof?
I was really excited about this novel because not only was I a fan of the previous entries in the series, Artemis was my favorite character. The prospect of her getting her own spin-off was enticing to say the least. Unfortunately, the end result is a bit disappointing. Marion G. Harmon attempts to bring new life to his world by showing the urban fantasy veneer of New Orleans but this comes off as feeling derivative of a dozen other urban fantasy series.
Bluntly, the reason Wearing the Cape stands out so much is because it’s not about vampires, werewolves, and witches. It’s about superheroes and dealing with them in the same sort of realistic manner that so many other urban fantasy novels do monsters. Unfortunately, given the literally hundreds of other monster novels out there--it's just not all that distinct.
Despite this, I'm going to say I still enjoyed Bite Me. Jacky is a delightful character and it's fun to realize how much she loathes her fellow vampires despite how much she plays into the stereotype. Her snark is ever on the nose and the fact she can't tone it down even when she wants to is an enjoyable character flaw. While I am not feeling the occult undertones of this book, I hope Jackie gets another novel.
The premise of Bite Me is Artemis being called down to her hometown of New Orleans in order to investigate a series of vampire killings. This isn't terribly new since vampires are a major repercussion of the post-superpower world. Once there, she discovers there is a possible "carrier" that can create new vampires--which is something the government is ready to put all vampires in camp for if they discover one.
The idea of vampirism being a disease which could destroy the world is a remarkably unsympathetic take on the subject from a vampire protagonist novel. Indeed, Artemis' hatred of vampirism is contrasted against so many of her fellow citizens who'd love to be in her position. Given superpowers come to those individuals who long for them, this is a nice contrast.
Artemis never wanted to be a vampire and is one of the few "turned" in the world. Still, I wish her contempt was a little less pointed in certain places. It's hard to root for a superpowered vampire who is awesome and sexy when she talks about how awful it is to be one every few pages.
The supporting cast, plot, and twists throughout the novel are all enjoyable. Fans of the Wearing the Cape series will undoubtedly enjoy this novel and so will urban fantasy fans. Sadly, I just think there's not as much as there could be.
8/10
She’s not alone, either.
Marion G. Harmon takes a break from describing the comic-book flavored universe he created in Wearing the Cape and Villains Inc. to describe the supernatural underbelly of his setting. New Orleans in the Capeverse is a hotbed for super-powered humans who want to pretend they’re vampires, werewolves, or witches—and who’s to say they aren’t if they possess the powers thereof?
I was really excited about this novel because not only was I a fan of the previous entries in the series, Artemis was my favorite character. The prospect of her getting her own spin-off was enticing to say the least. Unfortunately, the end result is a bit disappointing. Marion G. Harmon attempts to bring new life to his world by showing the urban fantasy veneer of New Orleans but this comes off as feeling derivative of a dozen other urban fantasy series.
Bluntly, the reason Wearing the Cape stands out so much is because it’s not about vampires, werewolves, and witches. It’s about superheroes and dealing with them in the same sort of realistic manner that so many other urban fantasy novels do monsters. Unfortunately, given the literally hundreds of other monster novels out there--it's just not all that distinct.
Despite this, I'm going to say I still enjoyed Bite Me. Jacky is a delightful character and it's fun to realize how much she loathes her fellow vampires despite how much she plays into the stereotype. Her snark is ever on the nose and the fact she can't tone it down even when she wants to is an enjoyable character flaw. While I am not feeling the occult undertones of this book, I hope Jackie gets another novel.
The premise of Bite Me is Artemis being called down to her hometown of New Orleans in order to investigate a series of vampire killings. This isn't terribly new since vampires are a major repercussion of the post-superpower world. Once there, she discovers there is a possible "carrier" that can create new vampires--which is something the government is ready to put all vampires in camp for if they discover one.
The idea of vampirism being a disease which could destroy the world is a remarkably unsympathetic take on the subject from a vampire protagonist novel. Indeed, Artemis' hatred of vampirism is contrasted against so many of her fellow citizens who'd love to be in her position. Given superpowers come to those individuals who long for them, this is a nice contrast.
Artemis never wanted to be a vampire and is one of the few "turned" in the world. Still, I wish her contempt was a little less pointed in certain places. It's hard to root for a superpowered vampire who is awesome and sexy when she talks about how awful it is to be one every few pages.
The supporting cast, plot, and twists throughout the novel are all enjoyable. Fans of the Wearing the Cape series will undoubtedly enjoy this novel and so will urban fantasy fans. Sadly, I just think there's not as much as there could be.
8/10
September 26, 2014
Really I should rate this 4.5 stars, but GoodReads doesn't allow that, and quite frankly it takes a book that makes me sob and scream in joy to give it five stars.
I'll admit, I'm a huge fan of Artemis. I prefer her to Hope (in the previous novel) ANY day. Her story is much more interesting (Hope is a bit of a walking comic book trope, which is HER POINT, but still). Artemis is a refreshing twist on vampire urban fantasy (thank god!) and I love that she throws shade at Anita Blake et. al.
I absolutely love that Artemis has Creole heritage, that the novel doesn't try to whitewash New Orleans (like far too many novels do), and that the treatment of vaudun/voodoo is actually more respectful than other books I've read. However, I would say that this aspect is a bit skimmed over (people familiar with vaudun would recognize names like Baron Samedi and Legba, and understand what a gris-gris bag is and what it does, and thank god there's no fucking voodoo dolls, but at the same time I wonder how much other people unfamiliar with the practice would recognize?)
Artemis does tend to wax poetical about what a special snowflake she is, but that's understandable, given her circumstances. She's doing her best to separate herself from her rapist and THAT MAKES SENSE, from a rape victim standpoint.
I appreciate that there was a trigger scene for her, because quite frankly I'm tired of authors minimizing this and turning rape victims etc. into Dark Avengers without actually thinking about the psychological triggering and trauma that would have occurred.
I also don't understand why Grams would regard tea as "a foreign" drink. Coffee and beignets is like a New Orleans tradition.
And quite frankly, as a law school grad, I'd like a bit more research into legal proceedings, jurisdiction, and why it's ridiculous for a lawyer to say "objection, asked and answered" during a police interrogation (and also PS the fact that Artemis didn't invoke her right to counsel outright and they still let the lawyer in is a bit much; no self-respecting police force would voluntarily let a suspect's lawyer in without a straight up invocation).
But other than these nitpicky details (and I admit, I'm nitpicking!), I was enthralled. I left watching two of my favorite TV shows for this novel. I wandered the streets of Baltimore with my head buried in my kindle app on my iPhone. I was also SO GRATEFUL that Artemis didn't have any romance with Paul etc. because JESUS CHRIST NO MORE WEREWOLF/VAMPIRE SHIT GOING ON OK?
(and also because I firmly believe that Artemis and Hope are destined to be together forever and ever amen).
But most of all, I appreciate the sheer amount of thought and universe-building that goes on in these novels. People tend to minimize the thought process necessary for urban fantasy, and for superhero fantasy. As a result, a lot of the genre goes a bit homogenous and predictable. These novels are anything but and I'm madly in love with this series and I've got the third book Queued up as I write this review.
Praise Baron Samedi! A vampire novel with a twist, that features a diverse cast, respectful treatment of vaudun and other cultures, and doesn't make you wince with terrible, "passionate" monologues!
I'll admit, I'm a huge fan of Artemis. I prefer her to Hope (in the previous novel) ANY day. Her story is much more interesting (Hope is a bit of a walking comic book trope, which is HER POINT, but still). Artemis is a refreshing twist on vampire urban fantasy (thank god!) and I love that she throws shade at Anita Blake et. al.
I absolutely love that Artemis has Creole heritage, that the novel doesn't try to whitewash New Orleans (like far too many novels do), and that the treatment of vaudun/voodoo is actually more respectful than other books I've read. However, I would say that this aspect is a bit skimmed over (people familiar with vaudun would recognize names like Baron Samedi and Legba, and understand what a gris-gris bag is and what it does, and thank god there's no fucking voodoo dolls, but at the same time I wonder how much other people unfamiliar with the practice would recognize?)
Artemis does tend to wax poetical about what a special snowflake she is, but that's understandable, given her circumstances. She's doing her best to separate herself from her rapist and THAT MAKES SENSE, from a rape victim standpoint.
I appreciate that there was a trigger scene for her, because quite frankly I'm tired of authors minimizing this and turning rape victims etc. into Dark Avengers without actually thinking about the psychological triggering and trauma that would have occurred.
I also don't understand why Grams would regard tea as "a foreign" drink. Coffee and beignets is like a New Orleans tradition.
And quite frankly, as a law school grad, I'd like a bit more research into legal proceedings, jurisdiction, and why it's ridiculous for a lawyer to say "objection, asked and answered" during a police interrogation (and also PS the fact that Artemis didn't invoke her right to counsel outright and they still let the lawyer in is a bit much; no self-respecting police force would voluntarily let a suspect's lawyer in without a straight up invocation).
But other than these nitpicky details (and I admit, I'm nitpicking!), I was enthralled. I left watching two of my favorite TV shows for this novel. I wandered the streets of Baltimore with my head buried in my kindle app on my iPhone. I was also SO GRATEFUL that Artemis didn't have any romance with Paul etc. because JESUS CHRIST NO MORE WEREWOLF/VAMPIRE SHIT GOING ON OK?
(and also because I firmly believe that Artemis and Hope are destined to be together forever and ever amen).
But most of all, I appreciate the sheer amount of thought and universe-building that goes on in these novels. People tend to minimize the thought process necessary for urban fantasy, and for superhero fantasy. As a result, a lot of the genre goes a bit homogenous and predictable. These novels are anything but and I'm madly in love with this series and I've got the third book Queued up as I write this review.
Praise Baron Samedi! A vampire novel with a twist, that features a diverse cast, respectful treatment of vaudun and other cultures, and doesn't make you wince with terrible, "passionate" monologues!
December 20, 2017
Sideways story in the Wearing the Cape series (now up to five books, not including this one), following Artemis (Jacky) instead of Astra (Hope). Located in New Orleans instead of Chicago.
Second read through (so I could write an accurate review - first read through was 3 years ago) actually was more enjoyable than the first. I remember the first time being annoyed at reading a vampire story instead of a superhero story; after all, this is part of the Wearing the Cape series. But after re-reading Wearing the Cape, and then re-reading this, I didn't feel as let down.
This manuscript has a different feel from the Chicago superheroes, much more urban fantasy. But then Chicago has always been windy, and looking up, and the edginess of combining mob-heritage and rebuilding-for-future. New Orleans is history, and jazz, and slow, and spooky. Again Mr. Harmon's worldbuilding is spot-on. Superheroes gather in different places, breakthrough in different means, based on natural tendencies. I hadn't really thought that breakthrough caused by obsession would lead to vampires, werewolves, and witches (oh my). I love how layered this world is.
Jacky, the POV for this story, has a very different moral compass than Astra, a lot driven by being a vampire. When you have to drink blood from living beings, you've can't be all goodness and light.
Another big difference is this book pretty much concentrates on one type of breakthrough (vampires), and doesn't have the teamwork - rock, paper, scissors - of Wearing the Cape, where one person's weaknesses are filled in with another's strength. Several times Artemis gets beat down because she doesn't have the team backup. I miss the team and the superpowers of the main series. Vampire posing really isn't my cup of tea.
I liked this story, but not as much as Wearing the Cape. The uneven mix of being a superhero story combined with supernatural Urban Fantasy elements doesn't quite jive. Like a jazz mix with the drummer only having sticks and no brush. Very good and still worth a sit-through.
One thing I really liked about this story is when you are done with it, you feel like you are done. Most superhero prose (including Wearing the Cape) ends feeling like a comic book - "wait until next month!" This book feels whole. With so many books aimed at being series which drive you to go out and buy the next of the series, it's nice to have a book when you end it you can put it down and go to sleep. (I have downloaded the sample of the next in the series into my Kindle, into a folder I have created of buy the next in the series when you have money because of Mr. Harmon's worldbuilding.)
Second read through (so I could write an accurate review - first read through was 3 years ago) actually was more enjoyable than the first. I remember the first time being annoyed at reading a vampire story instead of a superhero story; after all, this is part of the Wearing the Cape series. But after re-reading Wearing the Cape, and then re-reading this, I didn't feel as let down.
This manuscript has a different feel from the Chicago superheroes, much more urban fantasy. But then Chicago has always been windy, and looking up, and the edginess of combining mob-heritage and rebuilding-for-future. New Orleans is history, and jazz, and slow, and spooky. Again Mr. Harmon's worldbuilding is spot-on. Superheroes gather in different places, breakthrough in different means, based on natural tendencies. I hadn't really thought that breakthrough caused by obsession would lead to vampires, werewolves, and witches (oh my). I love how layered this world is.
Jacky, the POV for this story, has a very different moral compass than Astra, a lot driven by being a vampire. When you have to drink blood from living beings, you've can't be all goodness and light.
Another big difference is this book pretty much concentrates on one type of breakthrough (vampires), and doesn't have the teamwork - rock, paper, scissors - of Wearing the Cape, where one person's weaknesses are filled in with another's strength. Several times Artemis gets beat down because she doesn't have the team backup. I miss the team and the superpowers of the main series. Vampire posing really isn't my cup of tea.
I liked this story, but not as much as Wearing the Cape. The uneven mix of being a superhero story combined with supernatural Urban Fantasy elements doesn't quite jive. Like a jazz mix with the drummer only having sticks and no brush. Very good and still worth a sit-through.
One thing I really liked about this story is when you are done with it, you feel like you are done. Most superhero prose (including Wearing the Cape) ends feeling like a comic book - "wait until next month!" This book feels whole. With so many books aimed at being series which drive you to go out and buy the next of the series, it's nice to have a book when you end it you can put it down and go to sleep. (I have downloaded the sample of the next in the series into my Kindle, into a folder I have created of buy the next in the series when you have money because of Mr. Harmon's worldbuilding.)
December 25, 2014
What I liked: I really liked Artemis’s character in book one, and so I was excited to read about her time in New Orleans, and see what happens to her while also wondering what she was doing in the city. It was a really easy book to get into, and I found myself captivated by the “underworld” Harmon wove into his books that has vampires and werewolves, and presumably many other types of mythical beings come to life because of the “breakthroughs” and the way they were explained in book one. I loved the feel of the city when Jacky goes out and talks about it, and the whole thing about vampires having courts of their own. I loved the culture and problems he set up that vampires would have, and it just all came together to make a really interesting book. Plus the ghost in the story, not really sure about that part since I’m not sure where it was going but it was rather entertaining to see how Jacky handled it. She also didn’t give in to the whole stereotype for vampires and it was entertaining to see her go about doing what she must in stereotypical vampire fashion while at the same time trying to get something done. Also, non-permanent death scenes were sorta entertaining for some reason.
What I didn’t like: The gun Jacky picked out. A Desert Eagle, really? From personal experience and from my friends/family who are former military and/or people who like shooting at gun ranges they aren’t a very good gun choice if you’re trying to shoot people. Not very accurate and kinda heavy and clunky for a gun, so poor quality.
Overall Review: This was a fun read, something that brings the reader closer to Jacky and who she really is while at the same time teaching us more about the world being steadily built. It was a refreshing look about how the breakthroughs truly work and how they can happen to a person, while at the same time we’re introduced to some very interesting side characters who play an important role in the story and the way it unfolds. There are some interesting points that are added to the story and it reads incredibly well, because I couldn’t put this one down either. I can’t wait to read Villains Inc.!
Recommend?: Yes! It’s a very engaging novel and you’ll love Jacky!
What I didn’t like: The gun Jacky picked out. A Desert Eagle, really? From personal experience and from my friends/family who are former military and/or people who like shooting at gun ranges they aren’t a very good gun choice if you’re trying to shoot people. Not very accurate and kinda heavy and clunky for a gun, so poor quality.
Overall Review: This was a fun read, something that brings the reader closer to Jacky and who she really is while at the same time teaching us more about the world being steadily built. It was a refreshing look about how the breakthroughs truly work and how they can happen to a person, while at the same time we’re introduced to some very interesting side characters who play an important role in the story and the way it unfolds. There are some interesting points that are added to the story and it reads incredibly well, because I couldn’t put this one down either. I can’t wait to read Villains Inc.!
Recommend?: Yes! It’s a very engaging novel and you’ll love Jacky!
July 11, 2016
3.5 stars - I enjoyed this book a lot, but not quite as much as the author's debut, Wearing the Cape.
This book is a vehicle for Artemis, an important secondary character in the previous book who happens to be a vampire. Artemis's adventure is set in the same universe but away from the Sentinels Crisis Team - with her doing some under cover work in New Orleans where a small vamp population has gathered. The story is cool, but I don't believe it works quite as well as the previous book because it deals with 'supernaturals' rather than the quite realistic look at the consequences of having gods amongst us featured previously. To me, it's just not covering new and interesting ground. Obviously YMMV.
This book is a vehicle for Artemis, an important secondary character in the previous book who happens to be a vampire. Artemis's adventure is set in the same universe but away from the Sentinels Crisis Team - with her doing some under cover work in New Orleans where a small vamp population has gathered. The story is cool, but I don't believe it works quite as well as the previous book because it deals with 'supernaturals' rather than the quite realistic look at the consequences of having gods amongst us featured previously. To me, it's just not covering new and interesting ground. Obviously YMMV.
December 24, 2014
I was definitely eager to read, Marion G Harmon’s Bite Me since I love a snarky female protagonist. and I was desperate for a strong female character who happened to be a vampire in YA novels. Well Jackey Bouchard is right on the button.
I loved that she had both Creole and Cajun heritage so her ties to New Orleans heralded back for generations upon generations.
I truly appreciated the diversity when usually most YA novels ignore that aspect of things especially in a place as fluid and interweaving as New Orleans. Artemis/Jacky’s got a little Kate Daniels from the Magic Bites series about her and I really dig that.
I love a tough cookie and she overcame such a horrific situation like a champ even though she still suffers the after effects. I appreciated the fact that although she was now a vampire, that didn’t automatically mean she forgot about her humanity and all the advantages and disadvantages that comes with that.
Another great book in the Wearing Cape Series. Everyone should read them!!
I loved that she had both Creole and Cajun heritage so her ties to New Orleans heralded back for generations upon generations.
I truly appreciated the diversity when usually most YA novels ignore that aspect of things especially in a place as fluid and interweaving as New Orleans. Artemis/Jacky’s got a little Kate Daniels from the Magic Bites series about her and I really dig that.
I love a tough cookie and she overcame such a horrific situation like a champ even though she still suffers the after effects. I appreciated the fact that although she was now a vampire, that didn’t automatically mean she forgot about her humanity and all the advantages and disadvantages that comes with that.
Another great book in the Wearing Cape Series. Everyone should read them!!
June 12, 2014
Bite Me: Big Easy Nights is Marion G. Harmon's third book. The story centers around Jacky Bouchard, superhero named Artemis with vampiric powers. Artemis was introduced in Wearing the Cape, Marion's first book. This story follows Artemis' adventures in New Orleans, the center of vampire activity in the post-event world.
This book has a different feel from Wearing the Cape and Villains Inc, Marion's first two books. I think this is partially because of the city change, but there is also a small shift in the genre that is being written, from pure super hero story to a darker vigilante story. Artemis is well handled and we see a deeper view of her characters, but with out the brightness of Astra, there is a much darker feel to these stories. It doesn't help that almost everything happens at night in a city rife with superstition and supposed magic.
You can read the rest of my review at Nerd's Domain
This book has a different feel from Wearing the Cape and Villains Inc, Marion's first two books. I think this is partially because of the city change, but there is also a small shift in the genre that is being written, from pure super hero story to a darker vigilante story. Artemis is well handled and we see a deeper view of her characters, but with out the brightness of Astra, there is a much darker feel to these stories. It doesn't help that almost everything happens at night in a city rife with superstition and supposed magic.
You can read the rest of my review at Nerd's Domain
October 12, 2016
A fun spinoff.
Jacky AKA the vampire Superhero/ Vigilante, has left Chicago for New Orleans to be closer to her grandmother and do a 'quick' favour for local police department. Keeping an eye on the local bloodsuchers. As the 'quick' part already indicated things don't go quite as planned. When she discovers that there might be a Vampire Master in town that might actually start the vampire apocalypse.
A fun read and an interesting peek in the supernatural aspect of the Wearing the Cape universe. This novel reads more like a urban fantasy than superhero fiction and at times gently pokes fun at that fact through its sarcasting main character. Overall I must say that the characters were fun, but that the plot relied to heavily on action to propel the plot. A little more mystery or even some breathing room and a few quiet moments would have served the plot wel.
In short a flawed but fun read.
Jacky AKA the vampire Superhero/ Vigilante, has left Chicago for New Orleans to be closer to her grandmother and do a 'quick' favour for local police department. Keeping an eye on the local bloodsuchers. As the 'quick' part already indicated things don't go quite as planned. When she discovers that there might be a Vampire Master in town that might actually start the vampire apocalypse.
A fun read and an interesting peek in the supernatural aspect of the Wearing the Cape universe. This novel reads more like a urban fantasy than superhero fiction and at times gently pokes fun at that fact through its sarcasting main character. Overall I must say that the characters were fun, but that the plot relied to heavily on action to propel the plot. A little more mystery or even some breathing room and a few quiet moments would have served the plot wel.
In short a flawed but fun read.
November 12, 2012
Another excellent book from the world of Capes, though this one is a bit of a departure. Focusing on our favorite vampiric super hero Jackie, on a trip to the deep south. A trip downright infested with vampires, among other supernatural supers.
It was a very refreshing change to read a book with vampires that wasn't drowning in angst and melodrama. While Jackie has some legitimate grievances with life as a vampire, she never wallows in her troubles, she's got a job to do after all.
While some fans of Astra might miss the superhero themes, I think it's pretty nice to see a world which can host such a wide variety of stories. But then, I'm a fan of supernatural mysteries too.
It was a very refreshing change to read a book with vampires that wasn't drowning in angst and melodrama. While Jackie has some legitimate grievances with life as a vampire, she never wallows in her troubles, she's got a job to do after all.
While some fans of Astra might miss the superhero themes, I think it's pretty nice to see a world which can host such a wide variety of stories. But then, I'm a fan of supernatural mysteries too.
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