The Fallen Blade by Jon Courtenay Grimwood: Review Posted by Tiffany at 8:48 PM

Title: The Fallen Blade
Author: Jon Courtenay Grimwood (site)
Published: January 27, 2011 by Orbit
Pages: 432
Series: Assassini #1 
Buy: Amazon/ Book Depo/ Powell's
Source: NetGalley
Rating: 2.5/5
Synopsis: In the depths of night, customs officers board a galley in a harbor and overpower its guards. In the hold they find oil and silver, and a naked boy chained to the bulkhead. Stunningly beautiful but half-starved, the boy has no name. The officers break the boy’s chains to rescue him, but he escapes. 
Venice is at the height of its power. In theory Duke Marco commands. But Marco is a simpleton so his aunt and uncle rule in his stead. They command the seas, tax the colonies, and, like those in power before them, fear assassins better than their own. 
In a side chapel, Marco’s fifteen-year old cousin prays for deliverance from her forced marriage. It is her bad fortune to be there when Mamluk pirates break in to steal a chalice, but it is the Mamluks’ good luck—they kidnap her. 
In the gardens beside the chapel, Atilo, the Duke’s chief assassin, prepares to kill his latest victim. Having cut the man’s throat, he turns back, having heard a noise, and finds a boy crouched over the dying man, drinking blood from the wound. The speed with which the boy dodges a dagger and scales a wall stuns Atilo. And the assassin knows he has to find the boy. 
Not to kill him, but because he’s finally found what he thought he would never find. Someone fit to be his apprentice.. (Goodreads)


Review: One thing that Grimwood is very good at is setting the scene. I really felt like I was immersed in his alternate Venice. The descriptions ran a bit long sometimes, but they were so well done that I didn't mind. Unfortunately, all of this describing (no doubt the product of extensive research) left little room for character development. I had a good mental image of each character, but no real feel for them. The story was intriguing, I was caught up in all of the political plots and underground goings-on, but at times it dragged. There was some very graphic violence and some scary sexual stuff, but nothing that felt out of place, over the top, or added just for shock value. I'm sure a lot of people were upset by this, but it's not unrealistic for the times. Unfortunately, it felt like the author spent 10 years researching and planning out the plot and setting for the book, but then just threw in some so-so characters. They had so much potential, but the depth just wasn't there. Also, the way thing turned out between Tycho and Giulietta was not very satisfying. You know, just as a side note. Would I read a sequel? Maybe. It might give me a chance to really love the characters. A lot of first books are a bit sparse on character development, especially when they have amazing and detailed plots. However, I'm not sure if there's enough pull there for me to give it another chance. 


PS- The kindle version is only $4.99 right now, check it out.

Sacrifice & Crave by Melinda Metz & Laura J. Burns: Reviews Posted by Michaela at 11:10 PM

Title: Crave
Author: Laura J. Burns (site) & Melinda Metz (site)
Published: September 21st, 2010 by Simon & Schuster
Pages: 278
Buy: Amazon/ Book Depo/ Powell's 
Source: Bought
Rating: 4.5/5
Synopsis: Shay could never do the things her friends could--never try out for sports, never go to parties, never fall in love. Because of the mysterious and incurable blood disorder she was born with, she can barely make it through three days of school a week.
But now, her doctor-turned-stepfather has a brand-new treatment that he thinks will change everything. And it does. As soon as the new blood starts pumping into Shay's veins, she has visions of a different life...Gabriel's life. She sees an orphanage, loss, fangs, blood, and lust that she can't explain.
Is Gabriel real? And if he is, could he really be what she thinks he is?(Goodreads)
Review: This book was really hard to put down! It had been a long time since I had found a book that really drew me in like Crave. The main character is unique, too; she has a blood disease that makes her extremely weak. The other characters were kind of boring, however, and some of the dialogue was annoying. The plot line was more than enough to make up for that. 4.5/5 campers.

Title: Sacrifice
 Published: September 20th, 2011 by Simon & Schuster
Pages: 256
Buy: Amazon/ Book Depo/ Powell's 
Source: GalleyGrab
Rating: 3/5Synopsis: Gabriel and Shay are convinced that they can make their relationship work. Knowing that Shay is half-vampire, Gabriel thinks that his coven will embrace her as one of their own, but instead they view her as an abomination, a thing that doesn’t belong in either world. And they want her dead. Now Gabriel must make the ultimate decision - watch his love be killed by his coven or defy the people closest to him, the people he has spent centuries with to save her. (Goodreads)


Review: I was expecting tons from this book. I had already fallen in love with Crave and was expecting a similar adventure in Sacrifice. I was quite let down. It was a good book, but it wasn't as exciting as the first book. It was a slow read and I found myself easily distracted from the story. There wasn't a lot of action. And the silly characters seemed to stand out more, probably because I wasn't taken in by the plot. I would definitely read the sequel if you're dying to find out what happens (which I was!), but don't go in expecting perfection. 3/5 campers.

Drink, Slay, Love by Sarah Beth Durst Posted by Tiffany at 12:50 PM

Title: Drink, Slay, Love
Author: Sarah Beth Durst (site)
Published: September 13th, 2011 by Margaret K. McElderry
Pages: 320
Buy: Amazon/ Book Depo/ Powell's 
Source: GalleyGrab
Rating: 3.5/5
Synopsis: Pearl is a sixteen-year-old vampire... fond of blood, allergic to sunlight, and mostly evil... until the night a sparkly unicorn stabs her through the heart with his horn. Oops. 

Her family thinks she was attacked by a vampire hunter (because, obviously, unicorns don't exist), and they're shocked she survived. They're even more shocked when Pearl discovers she can now withstand the sun. But they quickly find a way to make use of her new talent. The Vampire King of New England has chosen Pearl's family to host his feast. If Pearl enrolls in high school, she can make lots of human friends and lure them to the King's feast -- as the entrees.

The only problem? Pearl's starting to feel the twinges of a conscience. How can she serve up her new friends—especially the cute guy who makes her fangs ache—to be slaughtered? Then again, she's definitely dead if she lets down her family. What's a sunlight-loving vamp to do? (Goodreads)

Review: I didn't realize until I was looking at the author's site (to see if there was going to be a sequel to DSL) that this is not my first book by Durst. Last year I read a wonderful book called Into the Wild about a girl whose mother is a character who escaped from a fairy tale. This is trouble enough, but as the book begins we learn that the fairy tale wants its characters back. Julie has to try and rescue her mom and save the city while trying to keep from getting sucked into one of the fairy tales around her. I loved this book! I think I read it right before I started blogging and never got around to reviewing it. I would love to go on and on here, but my point is this- already a fan of Durst. 

Drink, Slay, Love was very different from Into the Wild. However, one of my favorite aspects of Julie's tale was present in Pearl's as well- irreverence. This is a very fun story, a strange mix of scary and silly. The vampires are remorseless, murderous, and evil. Pearl's nonchalant attitude toward violence and the whole people are livestock was somehow funny and casual, although her family leaned more toward terrifying. Even after she begins to change, there is a detachment and moral ambiguity that were amusing. The story moves quickly, there aren't really any lulls. Some of the plot twists were just plain absurd, but it fit in well with the odd/crazy/silly vibe of the story. I liked the characters, but I can't say that I really came to love them. It was a fun ride and I'll definitely pick up whatever Durst puts out next, but I won't be up nights wondering what is going to become of Pearl.

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey Posted by Tiffany at 11:27 AM

Title: Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side
Author: Beth Fantaskey (site)
Published: Feb 1st 2009 by Harcourt
Pages: 351
Price: $7.99 Book Depository $8.99 Amazon 

Series: Jessica #1
Source: Bought
Rating: 4/5
Synopsis: Marrying a vampire definitely doesn’t fit into Jessica Packwood’s senior year “get-a-life” plan. But then a bizarre (and incredibly hot) new exchange student named Lucius Vladescu shows up, claiming that Jessica is a Romanian vampire princess by birth—and he’s her long-lost fiancé. Armed with newfound confidence and a copy of Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire’s Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions,  Jess finds herself fighting to win back her wayward prince, stop a global vampire war—and save Lucius’s soul from eternal destruction. (Goodreads)


Initial Thoughts: I've seen this one around the blogosphere and had expected it to be light, fun, fast, and a bit forgettable.


Review: In case you hadn't noticed, I edited the synopsis heavily. After reading the book, I felt a bit cheated by everything that was given away in the synopsis. So, if you go out and get it, try to refrain from reading the back.

Jessica was a great character. A rich, handsome guy shows up claiming that she is a princess who was hidden away after her parents were murdered and that he is her fiance. Does she faint, then wake up excited to throw on a tiara and marry him? Nope. She tells him to get away from her. She then tries to completely ignore him, going on with her life as though he'd never shown up. After all, what does she care about vampire royalty? She's got a perfectly normal life and she's not about to give it up for some guy, no matter how amazing he is. I loved Jessica's attitude toward the whole thing. She wasn't going to change who she was and become his queen first, herself second. However, it's not easy to fight your own feelings. What ensued was a thoroughly engrossing tale about a girl fighting to keep her life as it is, in spite of her growing feelings for the person who wants to turn it upside down. Lucius was a perfect male lead. He didn't gasp at the sight of her, then keep his feelings hidden until he couldn't help but declare his love. He was sullen, writing letters to his uncle about having to live on a dirty farm, trying to persuade some thoroughly common girl to marry him. He doesn't reveal an awful lot to Jessica about what exactly is going on. We get most of our insight from the letters to his uncle that are sprinkled throughout the story. The ending was amazing. Jessica isn't the kind of girl to sit back and wait for things to happen, she goes after what she wants. I can't say much without giving it away, just that it was perfect.

P.S. There is a short story (free!) that takes place after the book and a sequel (preview) coming out soon.


Quick Review: This book was much more than I was expecting. I thought it would be fluffy and fun, but forgettable. Instead, I stayed up all night finishing it. I fell in love with Jessica's moxy and the often antagonistic relationship she had with Lucius. There's not an awful lot of vampire-worship going on here, just a nice love story with two people who happen to be vampires.

Thirsty by M.T. Anderson: Review Posted by Tiffany at 11:34 AM

Title: Thirsty
Author: M.T. Anderson (site)
Published: 1997 by Candlewick
Pages: 256
Price: $8.99 Amazon  (Unavailable from) Book Depository
Series: N/A, but set in same world as story from Gothic!
Source: Bought
Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: All Chris really wants is to be a normal kid, to hang out with his friends, avoid his parents, and get a date with Rebecca Schwartz. Unfortunately, Chris appears to be turning into a vampire. So while his hometown performs an ancient ritual that keeps Tch’muchgar, the Vampire Lord, locked in another world, Chris desperately tries to save himself from his own vampiric fate. He needs help, but whom can he trust? (Anderson's site)


Initial Thoughts: I sought this book out after reading Anderson's amazing short story, "Watch and Wake" in the Gothic! anthology. I was looking for something in the same world, and alternate modern America where old superstitions are still a major part of everyday life, as are the monsters that inspired those superstitions. This appears to be the only one of his books written in the same world, but I'll probably move on to the others after this. I love his writing style.


Review: I usually wait a few days (at least) to start on a review for a book, giving myself some time to stew in my thoughts. However, after I put this book down last night, I was dying to start writing about how good it is. It's the kind of book that makes me want to call my friends immediately, gushing about its awesomeness. I'm not sure that I can put my finger on exactly what I loved, although there are several things, it just left me with such a sense of satisfaction. Without further ado, here are my thoughts on Thirsty.

Christopher is a very normal, believable teenage boy. His friends aren't unwaveringly loyal or understanding, they're just self-absorbed teenage guys who happen to have grown up nearby. I'm not saying that there aren't friends like that, I'm just saying that I get tired of every main character having amazing friends. You have to sort through a lot of fairweather friends before you find someone who would follow you through a magic mirror into Goblin Land to rescue your brother. It annoys me that the main characters in books always seem to have friends like that. It was nice to see someone struggling with friends of convenience. The plot behind this book wasn't really anything overly complicated. A teenage boy thinks that he may be turning into a vampire. What really makes this book amazing is the fantasic writing and the very original, dark world that it's set in. Anderson has a beautiful way with words. His descriptions are sometimes darkly gorgeous, sometimes disturbing and original, and sometimes he's just having a little laugh at his character's expense. You want an example? Here ya go:
      "And then I lift my eyes above the houses, above the comfortable roofs, and see the woods on the hills. And I sense then, in the way the moon drapes itself easily, obscenely over them all, that there is something wicked all around us, something staining the aluminum siding and the four-door sedans." (p. 46)


closely followed by:

      "My father looks at me over his glasses. He chews three times like the Swamp Thing learning how to use crutches." (p. 60)


His writing is such an odd mix of dark humor, off-the-wall jokes and comparisons, and beautiful descriptions that it kept me absorbed the entire time, even when nothing much was happening. This is a slow, agonizing story about a boy who is gradually becoming a monster. In this world, vampires can't just sip here and there, feeding from their girlfriends or random strangers at clubs. Once they start to drink, they have to kill. If they don't drink, they die. Therefore, any vampire found is stakes. After all, if the're still alive, they must have murdered someone. Christopher doesn't know any vampires, his family doesn't know that he might be one. He has no way to get information about his condition, no idea where he contracted the disease. It's a very dark, confusing time for him. I read a few other reviews of this book after I read it, mostly because I couldn't believe that I hadn't heard of it before. I read two things that I would like to comment on. The first is this: one person said that the whole book is a metaphor for a boy who starts to realize that he is gay. I can see where this person would get this idea, but I haven't been able to find any mention of this by the author, so I'm thinking that it may mirror the struggle of someone coming to terms with their sexuality, but I don't think that the book should be taken as only a metaphor. I feel that a book is cheapened by ulterior motives like that. It's kind of like those Sci-Fi movies that end with the main character waking up, the whole thing having been a dream. I enjoyed this book while taking it at face-value, so read what you will into it, but it is (at heart) a great story first, social commentary comes second. The second thing that I kept seeing pop up was, "I love vampire books and this was such a disappointment. Nothing happened!" If by nothing happened you mean that he didn't fall in love with a girl whom he fed off of in a romantic way, expose a tortured poet's soul, or fight off a group or truly evil vampires on principle, then you're right. This was the story of a boy who realizes that he's becoming a monster. Vampires in this book aren't romantic, misunderstood lonly creatures. They kill everyone they feed from. He's having to come to terms with becoming a   murderer, for Pete's sake! It may be a bit slow, but it's not by any means dull!


Quick Review: Okay, I'm done ranting now. Bottom line? Great book; writing that really made me feel a part of the story, a struggle that was agonizing and painful, and a very original world that was only briefly explored. Go out and give this one a chance, I honestly can't believe how deeply it got under my skin. If you just want a taste, to see if the writing is for you, read "Watch and Wake" in the Gothic! anthology.

Infinity:Chronicles of Nick by Sherrilyn Kenyon: Review Posted by Tiffany at 6:16 PM

Title: Infinity
Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon (site)
Published: May 25, 2010 by St. Martin's Griffin
Pages: 480 (Hardcover)
Price: $10.52 Amazon $11.99 Book Depository
Series: Chronicles of Nick #1 (Spin-off of Dark Hunters)
Rating: 2/5
Synopsis: At fourteen, Nick Gautier thinks he knows everything about the world around him. Streetwise, tough and savvy, his quick sarcasm is the stuff of legends. . .until the night when his best friends try to kill him. Saved by a mysterious warrior who has more fighting skills than Chuck Norris, Nick is sucked into the realm of the Dark-Hunters: immortal vampire slayers who risk everything to save humanity. 

Nick quickly learns that the human world is only a veil for a much larger and more dangerous one: a world where the captain of the football team is a werewolf and the girl he has a crush on goes out at night to stake the undead. 

But before he can even learn the rules of this new world, his fellow students are turning into flesh eating zombies. And he’s next on the menu. 

As if starting high school isn't hard enough. . .now Nick has to hide his new friends from his mom, his chainsaw from the principal, and keep the zombies and the demon Simi from eating his brains, all without getting grounded or suspended. How in the world is he supposed to do that? (Goodreads)



Initial Thoughts: I really, really wanted to love this book. I think the cover is amazing. It makes me want to know what he's all about, why he looks so downtrodden. I decided to read one of the Dark Hunters books that Nick is apparently a character in . Unfortunately, I really disliked the book. After reading it, I put off Infinity indefinitely. However, after a while I decided What the heck, I'll read it. The story sounds like a lot of fun: zombies start popping up and he realizes that he goes to school with a bunch of werewolves, demon hunters, etc.


Review: I want to start by saying that this book had a lot of potential. I like the idea of it, a paranormal-heavy community in New Orleans. A main character who has been through a lot, a street-wise kid who has worked hard to get a scholarship to a private school. The problem is the execution. I don't know if she just had too many ideas, too many things she wanted to fit in, or what. The whole thing felt very slap-dash and disjointed. Nick's one-liners were often stupid or cheesy. The whole "meese" bit was particularly stupid. I could see maybe where she was going, but she didn't explain it at all so it just sounded stupid. Nick didn't feel very authentic. His motivations were a bit off, his personality felt muddled. I just couldn't connect with him at all. There were some really great supporting characters. The two redneck zombie hunters were a blast. The plot was a bit crazy as well. The whole parentage thing was a bit too vague and convoluted. There were too many characters introduced too fast. I kept mixing up his "uncle" with his new "friend" from school. I feel that if things had developed more slowly, each character given more of a chance to make an impression on the reader, this could've been a great book. The second I closed it, I thought that I really liked it. However, the more distance I get from it, the more I realize that I just really wanted to like it. I'll probably give the second book a chance, but I won't be recommending that anyone else waste their money on the hardcover version.


Quick Review: Infinity had a lot of potential, but the book felt too rushed, everything thrown together in a jumble. The characters needed some work, Nick was all over the place. I like the idea for the series, but the next book had better be amazing or I'm done.


P.S. This is probably the worst review I've ever written, and I feel a bit guilty, but I just find myself unable to candy-coat this one. I would be mad if I read a nice review about this one and then picked it up to find out that it was a mess. I hope no one takes this personally, as I'm sure that it appealed to some people, but sometimes you just have to tell it like it is.

Intertwined by Gena Showalter: Review Posted by Tiffany at 5:42 PM

Title: Intertwined
Author: Gena Showalter (site)
Published: September 1st, 2009 by Harlequin
Pages: 304 (Paperback)
Price: $8.55 Book Depository $9.99 Amazon
Series: Intertwined #1
Rating: 4/5
Synopsis: There’s something about the new guy at Crossroads High . . . 

Most sixteen-year-olds have friends. Aden Stone has four human souls living inside him: 

One can time-travel. 
One can raise the dead. 
One can tell the future. 
And one can possess another human. 

With no other family and a life spent in and out of institutions, Aden and the souls have become friends. But now, they’re causing him all kinds of trouble. 

Like, he’ll blink and suddenly he’s a younger Aden, reliving the past. One wrong move, and he’ll change the future. Or, he’ll walk past a total stranger and know how and when she’s going to die. 

He’s so over it. All he wants is peace. 

And then he meets a girl who quiets the voices. Well, for as long as he’s with her. Why? Mary Ann Gray is his total opposite. He’s a loner; she has friends. He doesn’t care what anyone thinks; she tries to make everyone happy. And while he attracts the paranormal, she repels it. For her sake, he should stay away. But it’s too late. . . 

Somehow, they share an inexplicable bond of friendship. A bond about to be tested by a werewolf shape-shifter who wants Mary Ann for his own and a vampire princess Aden can’t resist. Two romances, both forbidden. . . doomed. Still, the four will enter a dark underworld of intrigue and danger. . . but not everyone will come out alive. . . (Goodreads)



Initial Thoughts: I was initially attracted to this one because of it's cover, then because of the positive reviews I kept seeing. At first skim, I thought this was just about a boy with schizophrenia. however, once I realized that there really were people trapped inside of him, I was hooked. Why did it take me so long to read it? For one thing, the synopsis does not do it justice. For another, I'm usually a bit leery about reading YA debuts written by romance authors. (Although I'm really starting to rethink that bias.)


Review: First off, whoever thought of this title was a genius. It was absolutely perfect for the story. My only qualm is that the cover didn't really feel very Aden. Showalter did a fantastic job of making her main character feel authentic. I figured that a romance author trying to write from a teenage boy's POV would probably be awkward (especially after reading Infinity-but we'll get to that in the next review.), but she really did a great job. As far as I know, of course, since I'm not a boy. But I was never stopped by an awkward bit of slang or overly touchy-feely thought. That's not to say that he wasn't a bit more sincere and romantic than I tend to picture the teenage boys of today, but it felt realistic. I also loved the main female character. There was definitely a Say Anything vibe there. Slightly nerdy, very pretty, extremely motivated girl falls for a boy she shouldn't. I loved it. The story is split into two for a while in the middle, with smaller storylines for each main character branching, but everything comes together about 2/3 of the way through. I LOVED that there were two love stories here, it almost felt like two novels in one. It would have been even better if the vampire hadn't been such a horrible character. She just felt so one-dimensional. Starts off cold, but really she's just a sweet girl in need of rescue. It felt very....done. However, the other romantic interest more than made up for it. In order to preserve the element of surprise, I won't give many details about who-ends-up-with-who. However, I will say that I LOVED the story about the werewolf bodyguard's brothers. I would love love love to see a spin-off series about their curse. There was so much going on outside of the book, the world felt so much fuller than what we were seeing. I wonder if this story is set in the world that she places her romances in or if she just built all of this up for this series. For instance, we barely scratch the surface of the vampire world and all of its politics.

Why This Book Didn't Get Five Stars: About 2/3 of the way through the book, there is a major revelation that feels like a perfect ending for the book.... and then it goes on for another 50-100 pages. The pace of the story was great, up until this point. Then there's a major climax, followed by a dull period, followed by a completely different Big Event. I don't mind lots of ups and downs in a book, but it felt like this one should have ended after the first big climax. The aftermath just felt really awkward. Also, the second Big Event felt very rushed and surreal. It was a very unexpected twist, which I like, but it also felt a bit cheesy. Afterwards, I just kept thinking, "Really?" I mean, where are they going to go from here? It felt very Anita Blake-and not in a good way. It's really a testament to how amazing the rest of the book was that this one didn't get thrown across the room after this bit.


Quick Review: A very well-written story with plenty of plot twists, very likeable characters, and lots of room to grow. There were a few weak characters and the pace was a bit unsteady towards the end, but otherwise a very strong first (YA) novel.  I would definitely recommend.

Sequel: Unraveled (Came out August 31, 2010)

Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow: Review Posted by Tiffany at 5:48 PM

Title: Strange Angels
Author: Lili St. Crow (site)
Published: May 14, 2009 by Razorbill
Pages: 304 (Paperback)
Price: $4.00 Amazon $8.99 Book Depository
Rating: 4/5
Series: Strange Angels #1 (site)
Synopsis: Dru Anderson has what her grandmother called “the touch.” (Comes in handy when you’re traveling from town to town with your dad, hunting ghosts, suckers, wulfen, and the occasional zombie.)

Then her dad turns up dead—but still walking—and Dru knows she’s next. Even worse, she’s got two guys hungry for her affections, and they’re not about to let the fiercely independent Dru go it alone. Will Dru discover just how special she really is before coming face-to-fang with whatever—or whoever— is hunting her? (Goodreads)

Initial Thoughts: I loved this cover. There's something about this girl that says, "Listen, I may not be a vampire or a werewolf, but I do intend to kick your ass if you mess with me." I didn't (and I still don't) know what the title really has to do with the book, but I liked that as well. Another draw for me; Lili St. Crow (or Lilith Saintcrow) is an established author who has just decided to try out YA. This usually means that you're not going to get a lot of condescending crap, just edgy dialog and realistic characters.


Review: This is a good example of a blurb done right. They don't tell you anything that you don't find out in the very first part of the book. I love that they didn't give away anything about what was really going on. I had my suspicions once I'd gotten into the book a bit, but that's a heck of a lot better than having it spelled out for you before you even open it. I LOVED the characters in this book. Dru was such a realistic heroine. She was a bit of a badass, but in a very believable way. She wasn't always right, sometimes she was shocked into inaction, and she wasn't always sure that she was doing the right thing. I felt a connection to this character from the first chapter. Some of the lingo felt a bit off, but it could be a regional thing. Or maybe St. Crow is just finding her YA voice? In a genre flooded with characters who go from clueless to hardcore suddenly or start out as stone cold badasses, it was refreshing to meet one who felt real. There is also a lot of room for her to grow as a character, especially with what she learns towards the end. The 'two guys hungry for her affections' are not so much hungry as 'nonchalant, but probably interested'. This was so refreshing! There is no instant romance, two-day True Love, or Broodingly Obsessed but staying away For Your Own Good. Instead, there was a nice boy that she was getting to know (who probably had a thing for her) and a badass who could just barely tolerate her. I'm excited to see where these relationships go in the rest of the series. This book focused more on what was happening to her than who she had a crush on, which also felt more realistic than a few series I can think of. Other than Dru, none of the characters were really given much of a chance to develop. However, it felt like this was done by design and not oversight. Dru barely gets to know the characters, so why should we? I liked that the reader didn't get to know anymore than the main character did, it gave it a more immediate feel and kept the story from unfolding too quickly. The other books in the series are definitely going on my TBR list.

Quick Review: An interesting book with refreshingly flawed and realistic characters and an easy, fast pace. Plenty of room for character and plot development.

Other Books In This Series:

Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel: Review Posted by Tiffany at 8:43 PM

Title: Infinite Days
Author: Rebecca Maizel (site)(blog)
Published: August 3, 2010 by St. Martin's Griffin
Pages: 336 (Hardcover)
Price: $7.99 Book Depository $9.99 Amazon 
Rating: 5/5
Series: Vampire Queen #1
Synopsis: Lenah Beaudonte is, in many ways, your average teen: the new girl at Wickham Boarding School, she struggles to fit in enough to survive and stand out enough to catch the eye of the golden-boy lacrosse captain. But Lenah also just happens to be a recovering five-hundred-year-old vampire queen. After centuries of terrorizing Europe, Lenah is able to realize the dream all vampires have -- to be human again. After performing a dangerous ritual to restore her humanity, Lenah entered a century-long hibernation, leaving behind the wicked coven she ruled over and the eternal love who has helped grant her deep-seated wish. 

Until, that is, Lenah draws her first natural breath in centuries at Wickham and rediscovers a human life that bears little resemblance to the one she had known. As if suddenly becoming a teenager weren’t stressful enough, each passing hour brings Lenah closer to the moment when her abandoned coven will open the crypt where she should be sleeping and find her gone. As her borrowed days slip by, Lenah resolves to live her newfound life as fully as she can. But, to do so, she must answer ominous questions: Can an ex-vampire survive in an alien time and place? What can Lenah do to protect her new friends from the bloodthirsty menace about to descend upon them? And how is she ever going to pass her biology midterm? (Goodreads)

Initial Thoughts: This book was so much better than I thought it would be. The synopsis is very misleading. She's not worried about what other people think of her, as long as they don't think she's a vampire. She also has no worries when it comes to Biology. She used to tear people up for fun, she has biology down. I picked this up mostly for the novelty of a vampire going human and trying to go back to High School. One thing that annoys me: the model on the cover looks like a boy, not a girl.

Review: The very best thing about Infinite Days was the way it was written; the beautiful, dreamy tone of the novel. Lenah was very believable as a 500-year-old vampire. At first, before she started getting back her human emotions, she was cold and aloof. Too often the vampires that are supposed to be ancient act like they're twelve years old. I loved that she started out as a cold, heartless, unapologetic vampire who loved to kill. It made the eventual appearance of human emotions and her reaction to them much more interesting. I can't say that there was an awful lot to the story. It wasn't really anything special. I had guessed the Big Surprise by about the fifth page. However, the characters were well-drawn and engaging. I wish we'd seen a bit more depth from the two human boys, but it didn't really take away from the overall feel of the novel. The vampires were much more vicious (old-school) than a lot of YA vampires are these days. It made for a refreshing read, and a much more suspenseful one. You aren't really worried for someone's safety if the monsters have consciences, but when they not only don't mind killing, but relish it, you get a bit more nervous for them. I would love to see  a book about a certain someone's experiences, and I'm hoping the sequel will explore some of that. I'll definitely be picking it up!

Quick Review: Infinite Days is hauntingly beautiful, with engaging characters. There isn't a whole lot of intricate plotting, the author focuses on the emotional development and backstory of the characters (mostly vampires) instead. I couldn't put this book down and, after I finished it, I couldn't stop thinking about the characters. The direction the series will take in the next book (books?) is left up in the air. I can't wait to read the sequel.

On Deck: Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel Posted by Tiffany at 10:30 AM

I've just started this book and so far I LOVE it. The writing is so beautiful. The author did an amazing job of creating the voice for Lenah. It's one of those books that you can enjoy for the prose as much as for the story. (I'm loving the bloodthirstiness as well. It's nice to see a vampire who loves to kill and isn't ashamed to admit it!) I can't wait to see where the story goes.

My Blood Approves by Amanda Hocking (Review) Posted by Michaela at 9:19 PM

My Blood Approves
Author: Amanda Hocking (Amanda's blog)
Publisher: lulu.com
Pages: 444 (eBook)
Price: $13.80 (lulu.com), $15.49 (Amazon)
Rating: 3/5
Other books in the series: Fate (book two), Flutter (book three)
Synopsis: Alice has never met someone as strange as Jack before. She finds herself staying out late just to find out what it is about him that everyone finds so compelling.

When she meets his brother, Peter, he turns her world upside down. She can barely breathe at the sight of him, and even though he can't stand her, Alice wants to get close to him.

But Jack and Peter are vampires, and Alice is caught in a web of love and bloodlust.

Initial Reaction: When I read the synopsis, I though that it might just be another one of those dime-a-dozen vampire love stories (and it sort of was), but I liked the premise of a leading vampire who appears to just be her friend while there's another love interest, even though he's also a vampire, and his brother. The cover drew me in for sure.

Review: This is a good book for a quick read. There wasn't much of a plot, but I feel like the characters were good enough to keep my attention. I liked Jack's off-beat character and the way he reacted to the tension between Alice and Peter. Oh, Peter. I really liked his character, from the crazy anger problems to his unexplained absences. This kind of thinking will probably land me in an abusive relationship someday, but he was definitely my favorite part of the book.

The many grammar mistakes in this book drove me to extra murders, which I assume can be accredited to the fact that this book was self-published. The lack of a plot also dragged on my nerves quite a bit. I think that in the future I'll steer clear of self-published books so that I can finally beat Tiffany's high score on Just Dance instead of being tranquilized and kept in that rehabilitation center again. What a mess.

Anyway, I give this a 3 out of 5 campers saved, which is a pretty good quick read but not fantastic. I am pretty eager to see what happens in the next book. Hopefully a plot will develop.

On Deck: My Blood Approves by Amanda Hocking Posted by Michaela at 10:14 PM

The other day while browsing through the latest teen books, I stumbled upon yet another vampire romance novel, Amanda Hocking's My Blood Approves. While I am getting a little tired of all of the 'girl falls in love with some kind of supernatural being and they try to make it work' books, I read a few pages and really liked Amanda Hocking's writing style, so I'm going to give it a try. Expect a review soon.