Format: E-Galley, 308 pages
Release Date: August 4, 2015
Publisher: ROC
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Genre: Urban Fantasy
As the “wickedly clever” (Publishers Weekly) series continues, reluctant, slacker vampire Fortitude Scott learns that nothing is more important than family—or more deadly....
After a lifetime of avoiding his family, Fort has discovered that working for them isn’t half bad—even if his mother, Madeline, is a terrifying, murderous vampire. His newfound career has given him a purpose and a paycheck and has even helped him get his partner, foxy kitsune Suzume, to agree to be his girlfriend. All in all, things are looking up.
Only, just as Fort is getting comfortable managing a supernatural empire that stretches from New Jersey to Ontario, Madeline’s health starts failing, throwing Fort into the middle of an uncomfortable and dangerous battle for succession. His older sister, Prudence, is determined to take over the territory. But Fort isn’t the only one wary of her sociopathic tendencies, and allies, old and new, are turning to him to keep Prudence from gaining power.
Now, as Fort fights against his impending transition into vampire adulthood, he must also battle to keep Prudence from destroying their mother’s kingdom—before she takes him down with it...
Dark Ascension is the fourth installment in the Generation V series by author M.L. Brennan. Protagonist Fortitude (Fort) Scott faces a transitionary period in his life that will either break him into pieces, or make him a powerful entity to deal with. As the supernatural community in Madeline's territory holds their breath to see what happens upon her passing, Fort's previous alliances and promises he's made finally come home to roost in a major way. Let's just put our cards on the table.
Fort has been a character who has been shy about getting involved in his families business and hasn't been exactly jumping for joy about becoming a full blooded vampire. He's dragged himself to and from numerous part time jobs to try to keep his so called dignity in check. He continues to remain steadfast about being a vegetarian vampire even after his former girlfriend cut the rug out from under his feet. I still don't understand this particular point, and I never will. Vegetarian vampires just don't make any sense to me. Now that Fort has "transitioned," it will be very interesting to see if Brennan keeps up this charade.
I believe Fort's saving grace just happens to be a certain trickster kitsune named Suzume Hollis. Suze is a badass. She is hilarious. She absolutely makes this series fun to read, and to continue to see what she'll do next. She has put all her cards in with Fort and her relationship to the point where she feels absolutely comfortable sleeping in fox form. I like the fact that Fort and Suze have moved their relationship along from must partners who face difficult challenges again and again but still have room for minor hiccups and romance.
There is a major challenge faced by Fort and Suze in this story, but that is pretty minor in nature to what happens overall. I dare say that this story is once again on the repetitive side. Readers who have made it this far into the series, already know all there is about the Scott family territory, the fact that Chivalry is marrying his 20th wife, and that Prudence is the sickest vampire around, and doesn't take crap from anyone, not even her family. We know that Fort has made some highly risky moves and alliance that could blow up in his face, and rather quickly at that.
Dark Ascension is definitely a bridge novel to the next story arc which I am waiting to see where this series goes from here. There are a whole lot of nuisances involved in Dark Ascension. Fort makes some decisions that goes against everything the Scott family stands for and what his mother wished for when she dies, and he really feels good about them. That is until Prudence makes one of her own, and things really rush to a major crescendo.
Overall, Dark Ascension can be looked at in several ways. It is the book that Fort grabs his big boy undies and stands up for his alliances, and to his sister who is just plain evil. It can also be looked at by saying that the shit has definitely hit the fan, and I am EAGER to see what Prudence does from here on out and whether or not Chivalry will come back to earth where he belongs.
**I received this book for free from (Publisher) via (NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**
