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Mortality Bites #2

Family Matters

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Family matters … but so does breathing.
All I want is to be a normal college student, doing normal human stuff … you know—date the resident hunk, study, date some more. But when you’re once undead mother pops in for a surprise visit, well, that's anything but normal.

I think it’s best to make good ol'mom's visit as short as possible.

But when a deranged stalker from our past, hell-bent on making my mother suffer, interrupts our little dysfunctional family reunion, I’m forced into a perilous fight that could very well get me, my boyfriend and everyone I know killed.

I’m Katrina Darling, a three-hundred-year-old ex-vampire who apparently still has mommy issues.

228 pages, Paperback

Published December 2, 2018

97 people are currently reading
115 people want to read

About the author

Ramy Vance

111 books419 followers
Ramy is the creator of the GoneGod World - a universe dedicated to myth, magic, mischief and mayhem.

He lives in Edinburgh with his wife, demonic toddler, monstrous 8-year old and imaginary dog.

Terrified, he pretty much stays in his office and writes.

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5 stars
117 (27%)
4 stars
150 (35%)
3 stars
142 (33%)
2 stars
10 (2%)
1 star
5 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
Profile Image for Ashley Basile.
397 reviews75 followers
December 10, 2022
I didn't enjoy this one quite as much, I kept zoning out. I am a little interested in the mother-daughter relationship though, so we will see about finishing out the series. Maybe maybe...
Profile Image for Sabrina.
1,617 reviews36 followers
August 19, 2018
After hundreds of years looking after herself, Kat really doesn't need her mother back on the scene. Especially when she's bringing a pile of danger with her. Not to mention that last time they met she was trying to kill her, but as Kat was the one who turned her, you could almost forgive that. A mysterious group is on the search for a magical amulet but Kat's mother is keeping as much information under wraps as possible, which makes Kat's life as difficult as possible. With other blasts from the past appearing, and Kat's friends getting kidnapped left, right and centre, she really needs to get the truth out of her mother so she can get to saving everyone again.
Profile Image for Librarian Jessie (BibliophileRoses).
1,731 reviews87 followers
October 21, 2020
I had higher hopes for this book, as the beginning of it offered little to no "intermissions" . . . and then my heart sank. I suppose I should not have jumped to conclusions that the intermissions would magically disappear in the second book, but nonetheless like Brendon Urie, I had high hopes.

I thought this book shared an odd but unique mother-daughter dynamic. Even though it took me a second to get behind the mother's personality (it made a bit more sense the further you got in). Overall, still fairly good writing, better jokes this time around, and an enjoyable plotline.
Profile Image for David Caldwell.
1,673 reviews35 followers
August 31, 2018
Katrina Darling just wants to lead a quiet, normal life while she attends university. But being a former vampire in a world where the gods all left and took their magic with them means she has a lot of baggage and little "living" experiences that makes it almost impossible to live that quiet, normal life. This is especially true when her mother (that she turned into a vampire and then they spent the last three hundred years trying to destory each other) turns up at her new college job and says she needs help.
Now Kat is having to try to stop a danger from their shared past, dealing with her old and new feelings toward her mother and her own past, and trying to decide what to tell her new boyfriend. Can she manage to keep her friends, mother and herself safe?
We are still learning about Kat and this book answers a lot of questions about her past that we did not know. It also sets up some nice plot lines to be explored in later stories (without being a cliffhanger).
Like all of his books, Ramy Vance adds a lot of humor to his action to make a fast-paced fun read. I enjoyed the fact that the bad guy was a threat but not someone that was breaking the rules established by the series. A great premise for a world with interesting characters continue to make this a series to read.
Profile Image for Angela James.
1,411 reviews14 followers
October 17, 2018
Kat and Charlie

Another epic adventure for Kat and this time her mom has brought chaos to her door. Action packed, thrilling excitement and mystery awaits in this book. I'm really enjoying this series and this author. The books have been highly entertaining and funny thus far and I can't wait to see what shenanigans Kat is up against next!
5 reviews
September 1, 2018
Full of action and mystery, Vance’s Family Matters, the second installment of Katrina Darling’s story, is arguably better than the first. Vance takes you back into Katrina’s dark past and cleverly weaves her emotional scars into her character growth 300 years later. It’s hard enough to be a recovering vampire that’s struggling through freshman year at university. What could possibly make it worse? Oh! How about having your eccentric mother show up on a top-secret mission to find a very powerful, magical artifact with violent and vengeful enemies in tow? And, she’s also an ex-vampire. Perfect!

Family Matters will make you laugh, cringe at bad mom puns, gasp in surprise, and cry. Simply put, it’s a very fun read that is hard to put down. I personally loved reading it out loud to my husband during a road trip. We both eagerly await the next book!
Profile Image for Alicia Scarborough.
Author 12 books93 followers
September 4, 2018
Moms can be surprising...

Another kick@$$ adventure with Kat Darling who is caught up with the tangled web her mother brought down with her.

I loved the overbearing mother and learning more about Kat's past lives (human and early vampire) filled with her rebellious nature.

Of course, Edga, one of my favs continues to climb to the top for most favorite character in my book. His commentary kept me in stitches throughout the story.

Another great story. I can't wait for the next one!
Profile Image for Millie Jordan.
Author 8 books3 followers
September 1, 2018
Wow, did Ramy Vance suck me into this book! I didn't want to put it down. Kat and her mother are like many teen age girls with mom's that like to control their life. Except....most haven't just spent three hundred years trying to kill each other. Many surprise twists and turns as the two work to re-establish an uneasy relationship as mother and daughter. Can't wait to read Kat's next adventure although I'm not sure Kat would agree with calling some of the potentially catastrophic events she gets into adventures.
Profile Image for Mark Wylie.
Author 2 books2 followers
September 1, 2018
Family Matters picks up right where Mortality Bites left off and continues to enthral and excite. If you didn't already love the characters after book one, you definitely will now. Kat's back story is further explored to great effect. She is fast becoming my favourite fantasy character - her and Deirdre of course!
Family Matters continues the adventures of Kat Darling at a great pace, introducing new characters and exciting plot reveals that keep you hooked. I simply couldn't put it down and am now counting the days to book three comes out! Keep 'em coming Mr Vance!
1,514 reviews11 followers
September 4, 2018
Three stars

I liked this series to begin with but now I'm not so sure. I found this one to be a little bland.
288 reviews
September 1, 2018
A love-hate relationship with good ole' mom. Searching for an amulet. Escaping the cherubs. Some "holy guacamole" moments. A must read. Waiting for the next book in the series.
Profile Image for Katy.
1,495 reviews10 followers
August 30, 2025
This second Book inn the Mortality Bites Series, was very hard to put down, as usual with Ramy's stories!

I have great sympathy for. Katy, despite the coldness she shows at times - a habit formed from 300 years of being a Vampire, I guess.

But, now that she is back to being human once more, life is difficult in so many other ways.

After getting to know her Mother once again, with them both now human, Kat is having to face so many things, both about her Mother, and about herself, and her behaviour whilst a Vampire.

But, when a ghost from their past appears, and kidnaps them both, it gives Kat the chance she needs, to face everything that they had done to one another.

In this, they found some answers - but also some more questions - and it will take them having to fight for their lives - as Humans - that will force them to confront each other, too!

This book was an excellent. follow on to the first, and I'm now eager to read. Book Three: Superhero Me!

So, I'm going to finish this review, and begin reading this book, as late - or early - as it is. Then, once. I've. finished , I'll catch you on the flip side, to let you know what I think of Ramy's third book in this excellent series! .
4 reviews2 followers
August 30, 2018
Ends too soon. One of those series where you don't want the books to end. I could happily go on reading if they were three times the length. It's not that chapters always end on cliff hangers per se, nor that you want to get to the end of the book to find out how everything turns out; it's more that the prose, narrative and tempo of the books all work together to make turning each page a pleasure.

Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed catching up with Katrina and co. It's hard not to become very fond of the characters in these books. Reminds me a wee bit of how you come to feel about the characters in Harry Potter! I'm already anxious to get up to speed on the next adventures of not just Kat, but also Egya, Deirdre and the others.
1,269 reviews7 followers
August 31, 2018
Putting the “fun” in dysfunctional

After a few centuries, old habits are hard to break and distrust can run rampant. Kat’s mom Charlotte barges back into her life and disrupts it in major ways. Mistakes from Charlotte’s past catch up, putting many people into life and death situations. Kat’s friends all return and continue to add to the overall story. The story has a strong steady pace, lots of action, sass, awkward moments, and surprises.
Profile Image for Gary.
296 reviews4 followers
June 4, 2021
This is the second book in the Mortality Bites series (in the Gods Gone universe). I really enjoy the characters the author has created, especially the main protagonist, Kat. In this second book we get more backstory from Kat’s past and the introduction of an antagonist that causes a lot of problems for Kat and her mother. The pace of the book is good and the authors humour makes the book a fun read. I very much enjoyed the book and gave it 5 stars.
Profile Image for NB.
200 reviews
August 31, 2018
The second book didn't disappoint. I once again could not put it down. I would be walking to the couch and would find myself already reading the book while heading in that direction. We meet new creatures, learn more about what it is like to be a vampire, and yet still live in a world that we are familiar with.
Profile Image for Dee King.
317 reviews2 followers
October 28, 2019
eh. not amazing. not total crap either. I could do without the "GodGone" word, reminder, reference very other sentences though. but the box set is free. And as I said, not total crap, so I'll continue on with #3
Profile Image for KidReper.
2 reviews1 follower
November 20, 2019
I bought this the first and second books in this series on audible.

I made it through the first book hoping the series would get better, but alas I had to dnf this one around chapter three. The MC just didn't do it for me.
Profile Image for Kitana.
18 reviews
March 10, 2022
It's not often that I rate sequels just as highly as I do the original book, but i have to say, this seems to be a series i "can't put down" in quotes of course because as a busy mom i must put it down, but i always pick it back up. Looking forward to he next book!
Profile Image for Victoria Pring.
1,026 reviews2 followers
November 22, 2022
This book wasnt bad, it just didn't hit as hard as the first book. I found myself waiting to finish rather than wondering what would do next, think it got to the point where there were too many unanswered questions to actually be intrigued by all of them and thats where it lost me.
Profile Image for Carolina Firefly.
467 reviews2 followers
December 16, 2022
Still good, but not quite as good as the first. A little less funny, a little more accepting of her mother than I would have liked, a little too much future-drama building rather than focusing on the present. But still good.
Profile Image for Kara Bayliss.
264 reviews8 followers
July 12, 2024
Another fun read. The characters are just so much fun. The things that happen around them and that they get into always amaze me and I'm always wanting to read just a bit more. Can't wait to start the next book.
Profile Image for Megan Cutter.
388 reviews
May 28, 2025
I didn't like this one as much as the first one. It wasn't bad, just not as clever. And it was super short.

Kat's mom reappears and needs help finding an artifact. That's pretty much all I really remember about it. It needed the cute side characters. I missed them.
12.7k reviews189 followers
January 11, 2019
Another amazing story. Impossible to put down once you’ve started. Definitely ready for more.
Profile Image for Veronica.
1,014 reviews5 followers
January 8, 2021
We learn more about Katrina’s former life and family history, and there’s a lot of secrets abounding. More snark, of course, and certainly more action. This series is definitely holding my interest.
27 reviews
August 19, 2022
Book 2 done and ugh. I think I like Kat even less in this one. She’s even more whiny and judgmental. I still like back ground characters and loved how the mom was able to forgive and grow.
291 reviews2 followers
November 9, 2022
Still enjoying the story. "Family Matters" indeed. Most of this story is just Kat and her mom Charlie, so missed seeing the other characters that I enjoyed so much from the first book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews

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