Haunted is the fifth book in Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld series. The woman at the center of this story is Eve. She was briefly introduced in Stolen (book 2 in the series) as Savannah's mother before she was killed. More about Eve's past and character were revealed about her in Dime Store Magic (book 3). Now Eve is a ghost. Armstrong has a different spin on the afterlife than most. For most of the dead the afterlife is pretty much like this life, except for those that are very bad. There is a special kind of hell for those who were exceptionally evil during the time when they were human and earthbound. Eve is having trouble adjusting to life as a ghost, even with her old lover Kristof there to play house with her. The problem is that Eve can't stop thinking about the daughter she left behind. Savannah is in good hands, Eve knows that, but she can't help but watch from afar. Just when she needs it fate, or rather the three Fates, step in and give Eve a job to do: catch and kill an escaped demon that has been wreaking havoc in the human world. The distraction is just what Eve needs to get her to start really living her life again, sort of.
Other entries in this series have centered around werewolves and witches with bits and pieces about other supernaturals. The werewolves are still my favorite and I can't wait till this series get backs to them. Eve was an okay lead character but since she's a ghost, she has limited interaction with the series's other characters which I found to be a drawback. And strangely, although this book centers around Eve, her character doesn't develop much. More about her is revealed in previous books than in this one. This isn't to say I didn't enjoy Haunted. I liked it okay but it is not my favorite book in the series.
Last Sacrifice marks the end of the Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy series. The fact that I read all six books in the series says a lot. Unlike a couple other young adult paranormal series, I didn't get bored after a book or two and quit the series. Part of that was probably because the series managed to bring together several different genres. In addition to the paranormal elements, there was romance, action, and a bit of mystery. This wasn't to say it was a perfect series. There were a few things that bothered me: in some ways Rose never matures and continues to act without thinking, and then there is the whole "blood whore" thing. However, overall this was a fun series with several strong female characters. There was Rose of course, who repeatedly stands up for herself and for others, willingly sacrificing her own happiness and safety to protect others. Her best friend Lissa is thoughtful and intelligent. Both are born leaders. The leader of the vampire and dhampir society of which Rose and Lissa are apart is a woman. In fact, now that I think about it, most of the main characters, good and bad, are women. I would guess that young adult women would particularly enjoy this series for this reason, that and the romance between Rose and Dimitri.
There is a spin off series called Bloodlines. Not sure I will read it anytime soon. A friend has recommended it but there are too many books in my to be read pile I need to get to first.