Review "Descended by Blood" by Angeline Kace

Descended by Blood (Vampire Born #1)

Angeline Kace

Publication Date: August 26, 2011

Publisher: Accendo Press

Kindle Edition 263 pgs

Goodreads

Summary:

     Brooke is a teenage girl who has spent the majority of her life moving all over the country. She has a chance to set down some roots in Buena Vista, Virginia. Brooke has a loyal and amazing best friend, Kaitlynn and has finally gotten a chance at the guy she's been drooling over. But when she is attacked by a fanged monster her whole world turns upside down. She learns things about herself that are terrifying but she'll need to embrace what she learns about herself or else she may not survive. 

Review:

     There were so many things that I liked about Descended by Blood. Firstly, the characters were believable and felt real especially the language they used. I have read a few books where I was totally thrown off by the language the characters used. It either felt awkward or as if the author was trying too hard to make the characters sound like teens. Secondly, I liked all the descriptions of places or people. I didn't feel loaded down with details. One issue I had was that there were a ton of words that I had no clue how to say which I tripped over throughout the book. In other words the way I pronounce them and the way they are actually said are probably not even close. 

     The story focuses on Brooke a shy teenager who is not fond of confrontations. She has issues with defending herself but luckily her best friend Kaitlynn does not have those same issues. As the story progresses Brooke realizes that she will have to get stronger in order to protect herself as well as her friends and family. And eventually she does start sticking up for herself which I liked. I am not of fan of characters that constantly need to be rescued even though they are quite strong. I liked that we were able to see Brooke change. It wasn't a drastic change as to make it seem unbelievable but a more subtle change that fit with the story and the character. When the novel starts Brooke only has to deal with typical high school stuff but once she gets attacked by a vampire her life changes drastically. Her life starts to revolve around training and trying to stay alive in a supernatural world. I had one issue with Brooke that annoyed me to no end and it had to do with the two guys in the book, Jaren and Mirko. But saying too much about this will give a lot away.

   Another big part of Brooke's life is her relationship with Kaitlynn. I was really glad to see a supportive best friend who didn't turn her back on Brooke when things got tough. Kaitlynn is loyal and there for Brooke whether she is dealing with boyfriend drama or weird vampire stuff. The relationship felt believable and I was happy to see that Brooke was just as protective of Kaitlynn as Kaitlynn was of Brook. I did feel as though Brooke leaned on Kaitlynn more but it seems as though they have a strong friendship. 

    In Descended by Blood we are also introduced to Jaren. A guy Brooke has had a crush on forever. When he finally notices her and they start hanging out Brooke is overjoyed. Jaren seems nice but I'm not really a huge fan of his. Jaren is too indecisive when it comes to his relationship with Brooke which kind of messes with her emotions. Then there is Mirko. He is a vampire who was made, he really didn't have a say in the matter but has made the best of his situation. I liked him instantly. He's funny, honest, strong and protective. He's been through a lot but seems to be able to open up to Brooke. We learn a little about his past and I'm hoping we get a little more insight into who he is in the next book. 

     All in all I really liked Descended by Blood. There were some things that annoyed me but it wasn't about the writing or the plot it was more about how the characters behaved sometimes. I guess it did make them feel more believable but at times I felt like shouting at them. Maybe I didn't mention it enough but this book is about vampires. Which I don't mind but I know some take issue with them so just a little heads up in case you are unaware. I will definitely be on the lookout for the next book in this trilogy, Enemy Within.

Cover:

     I really like this cover. Brooke is the focus with a creepy red sky in the background. It's not overly done or to busy. I think it portrays nicely what the book is about, Brooke's life. I also think the colors are well done it's not too bright because it wouldn't make sense to have a sunny cover when the character is dealing with trying to survive vampires. 

Review "Bleeding Hearts" by Alyxandra Harvey

Bleeding Hearts (Drake Chronicles #4)

Alyxandra Harvey

Publication Date: December 20, 2011

Publisher: Walker Books

Paperback: 347 pgs

Goodreads

Summary:

     As the Blood Moon gathering approaches the Hel-Blar threat is only getting worse. Lucy's cousin Christabel comes to town, and keeping her from discovering how dangerous Violet Hill really is, is proving to be extremely difficult. Especially since the Hel-Blar seem to be everywhere and they tend to stand out a bit. When Christabel is mistaken for Lucy and kidnapped Conner Drake is determined to find her no matter the cost to him. Why was Christabel taken, and will Conner be able to find her before it's too late?

Review:

     Bleeding Hearts is the fourth book in the Drake Chronicles. In this installment we get three POV's (Lucy, Christabel, and Conner) instead of the usual two like in previous novels. A majority of the book is told from Lucy and Christabel's perspectives. Christabel is the first narrator in this series who does not know that vampires exist. While I enjoyed seeing the Drake's world from an outsiders POV, I wasn't a big fan of the character. Christabel is in love with classic authors and poets, and she quotes them constantly. No matter where she goes she can be found with her head in a book. For some reason I just didn't connect with Christabel. Something about her felt off. At times I found her to be annoying. I had a hard time getting through her sections especially when she said things like: "I read a lot. I love books. If they came in a bottle, I'd be a drunk too. I'd bloat myself on the wine of Wordsworth, the Gin of Charles Dickens, the licorice liqueur of Edgar Allan Poe." (25) She just didn't seem believable to me. 

     Conner Drake is the brother being highlighted in Bleeding Hearts. Conner is the high tech brother in the family. Give him any type of technological device and he knows what to do with it. Unlike his twin, Quinn, Conner is more comfortable with electronics than he is with girls. But he is a Drake so he knows his way around a variety of weapons and like his brothers he definitely knows how to use them. My one issue with him is that I didn't think enough of the book was told from Conner's POV. I didn't feel as though I got to know him as well as the other brothers in previous books. We already knew he was good with electronics but outside of that I'm not sure I got to know that much more about him.

     I was glad to get back into Lucy's head. She's so stubborn, determined and I like seeing this world through her eyes. In this book Lucy, who is used to spending most of her time with the Drake's finds herself drifting further from her best friend. Since Solange's change the relationship between the two has been strained. I kind of feel bad for Lucy. All she wants is to hangout with her best friend but everyone including Nicholas keeps telling her that it's too dangerous to be around the Drakes. It's as though she's supposed to forget everything about the past and move on. Which of course is easier said than done. She's stubborn and refuses to stop hanging out with the Drakes. She has known them practically her whole life and has come to feel like one of the family. But Lucy is getting some training from Hunter (Quinn Drake's girlfriend) a student at the Helios-Ra Academy. Lucy makes a decision that she hopes will help her be better prepared to face the dangers in Violet Hill. It was an interesting twist that I did not see coming and I liked the move. I'm interested to see how this plays out for Lucy. 

     Generally these books have been among my favorites but for me this one fell short. I'm used to a bit of tension between the two leads, which is one of the reasons I like this series so much. The witty, snarky banter thrown around seemed to be lacking. As I stated earlier I wish more of the story would have been told form Conner's POV. Fortunately we do see many of the characters that had starring roles in previous books such as Hunter, Logan, Quinn, Solange, and a few others. 

     It's always fun to learn about the different varieties of vampires. Instead of just good or bad vamps there are many types and each has their own back story. In Bleeding Hearts we are introduced to the Na-Foir, a type of vampire not seen before. I thought these new vamps added a great twist to the story. They shake things up a bit and make readers realize how quickly things can change when new elements are added to the story. I liked learning about them and finding out why they suddenly made their presence known. Overall, I have to say I only liked Bleeding Hearts, I didn't love it nor did I hate it. Plus I was not a fan of the cliff hanger. I'm hoping the next book draws me back in.

Cover:

     I'm a fan of the cover redesign for this series. I haven't really liked previous covers of the Drake Chronicles but this one I like. It's simple and mysterious. The couples pose is dramatic and dangerous making me want to read what their story is all about.

Review "Drink, Slay, Love" Sarah Beth Durst

Drink, Slay, Love

Sarah Beth Durst 

Publication Date: September 13, 2011

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry

Hardcover 385 pgs

Goodreads

Summary:

     Pearl is a vampire and not your average friendly nice to humans type of vampire. She's slightly evil, can't go out in the sun, and has a fondness for blood. One night as Pearl is getting getting a snack from her favorite source, Brad, she is staked through the heart by a unicorn. Yes, I said unicorn. After the unicorn incident. Pearl starts to change. Not only can she go out in the sun but her conscience is slowly developing. Which is a problem. Her parents plan to exploit Pearl's new ability. They have decided she will be the one to get humans for a feast they are planning to honor the Vampire King of New England. Pearl's family is not a group you would want to disappoint. As Pearl's conscience continues to grow she will have some important choices to make. The decisions she makes could not only endanger her but also the new friends that have come into her life.

Review:

     The main character Pearl is a 16 year old who comes from a family of evil vampires and she is no different. Which was something I enjoyed because she was different from other characters I have read about. As her conscience develops Pearl learns to see humans differently. It's a new experience for her one she never thought would happen. I found Pearl to be very enjoyable. I loved all the attitude she threw around even though she was conflicted throughout the novel she kept her sarcastic attitude. Her family on the other hand are cruel and eager to use Pearl's new ability to their advantage. At times I feared for Pearl because it seemed as though her family was capable of anything including killing her if she didn't follow orders. 

     The friends that Pearl makes are not by choice. They start following her around in school and friendships develop as the novel progresses. Evan and Bethany are two humans that Pearl meets while going to school for the first time. Evan is the hot boy next door type of guy who goes out of his way to help Pearl navigate her way through her new school. Bethany is completely adorable. She is the personification of bubbly, and latches  on to Pearl from the second they meet.

     I found this story to be very exciting. The fact that Pearl was a bad girl turned good by way of unicorn stabbing was very original. I wanted to read quickly so I would know what choices Pearl was going to make. I also needed to know what was going on with that unicorn. Drink, Slay, Love was fast paced but is filled with a tension that insists you read on. My overall impression of this novel is that it is a great book filled with amazing characters.

Cover:

     I really really liked this cover. I love the red bottle with the drop of blood sliding down the side. Simplistic but very eye catching.

Review "Dark Seeker" Taryn Browning

Dark Seeker (Seeker #1)

Taryn Browning

Publication Date: October 4, 2011

Paperback 287 pgs

Goodreads

Summary:

     As a Seeker 17 year old Janie Gray has a job to do, take down the undead in Baltimore which includes vampires and daychildren. When Janie is out on a routine hunt she meets Kai, who is not what he appears. Though he seems to be like those she hunts, Kai is different. As Janie goes about her job she realizes that more and more teenagers are being attacked and Janie has to try and figure out why. As Janie tries to unravel the mystery that is Kai, she grows closer to him than she ever could have imagined. What will Janie do when she discovers the secrets that Kai has been hiding?

Review:

     I thought that Dark Seeker was an interesting novel. The idea of a girl out fighting the bad guys was a concept I had read about before. But luckily, Janie was a character all her own. She was witty, sarcastic, passionate about her job, and very likable. At first Kai was a mystery but as the story progresses we learn more about the puzzle that is Kai. I found myself engrossed in the novel, wanting to more know more about Janie and her world. Janie has strong friends and family around her to give her support as she risks her life to fight off the evil in Baltimore.  I was quite entertained as I found out more about the two main types of enemies, vampires and daychildren. Dark Seeker is an action packed novel with twists and turns that will keep you reading til the end.

     I did have a couple issues with Dark Seeker. I felt as though I didn't learn enough about the Seekers or Janie's Cherokee ancestry. I would have liked to know more about the Seekers and how they came to be. In places I was slightly confused because I didn't feel like I had enough background information to understand what was going on. Also I thought that the connection between Janie and Kai's relationship developed too quickly for me. Normally I don't mind the whole instant love, but somehow I just had a problem with this one. 

     Overall, Dark Seeker was a good book and I am interested to see where this series leads. 

Cover:

     I like the image of the girl on the cover. She looks mysterious like she should be out hunting down the bad guys. However, I think that the knife looks odd and out of place. I would have liked the cove better without it.

Review "Lost in Time" Melissa de la Cruz

Lost in Time (Blue Bloods #6)

Melissa de la Cruz

Publication Date: September 27, 2011

Publisher: Hyperion

Hardcover 342 pgs

Goodreads

Summary:

     Lost in Time is the 6th book in the Blue Bloods series. The story continues from the POV's of Schuyler, Mimi, and Allegra. Each character has her own story to tell and we learn what is happening in the world of the Blue Bloods through their eyes. Schuyler and Jack are continuing their mission to find the Gate of Promise. So far they have had no luck but are still following several different leads.The two are in Egypt and we get to see how the Blue Bloods are connected to that part of the world. Mimi is also on a mission as well which is to find the vampire that she loves who was sent to Hell. On her trip through Hell, Mimi takes along Oliver. The two face many obstacles some meant to deter them, others that nearly break them. Meanwhile, Allegra's sections are about her past. We learn more about her past relationships with Charles and Stephen. Throughout it all we are able to see how far these characters have come since they were first introduced in Blue Bloods.

Review:

     I enjoyed this book much more than I did the previous book in the series, Misguided Angel. The last novel seemed as though it was a filler bridging the gap between The Van Alen Legacy and Lost in Time. One issue I had with Lost in Time was that it felt like you had to read Bloody Valentine and The Witches of East End in order to understand some of the plot points. In previous novels my favorite characters used to be Schuyler and Jack but I'm leaning more towards Mimi and Kingston now. Those two just more interesting and I think that Schuyler and Jack have lost a lot of their edge which makes them kind of boring. 

     I really did enjoy this novel. I felt like there was more action, more story, and I liked the twists that came about in this book. The ending definitely left me wanting more. But fans will have to wait awhile to get the last book in this series. 

Cover: 

     I have always enjoyed the covers in this series. They always seem to show exactly what's between the covers. I learned at a signing that Melissa de la Cruz does have some say as to what the cover will look like. Though I'm generally not a fan of people on the cover, this one is just so gorgeous how could I not love it. 

Review "Last Sacrifice" Richelle Mead

Last Sacrifice (Vampire Academy #6)

Richelle Mead

Publication Date: December 7, 2010

Publisher: Razorbill

Hardcover: 594 pgs

Goodreads

Summary:

     Last Sacrifice is the stunning conclusion to the Vampire Academy series. This book is filled with action, love, heartbreak, and of course amazing characters.We are introduced to a few new characters Angeline, and Joshua. The two have grown up in an unconventional environment one that many are unfamiliar with. There are some major changes in this last book. Changes that effect all of the characters. Good or bad? That's up to you to find out. It's hard to write a summary of this book without giving away major plot points, so I left it brief.

Review: 

     At the end of Spirit Bound Rose was charged with treason, her sentence if found guilty...death. I was eagerly awaiting this book since I finished Spirit Bound. I needed to know what would happen to some of my favorite characters. I was not disappointed with the conclusion of this series. Of course I would have wanted the series to continue but if it had to end I'm glad that Richelle Mead ended it the way that she did. I have read some series' and the concluding books have left me with unresolved questions. I enjoyed having been able to immerse myself into the wonderful sometimes tragic world of the dhampir, moroi, strigoi and alchemists. And no I still have no idea how to pronounce dhampir, moroi, or strigoi. I have an idea but I'm probably wrong. Anyway I loved this series and I'm super excited that I will be able to continue to read about  the Vampire Academy world in the Bloodlines series. Richelle Mead has created a brilliant world that I will continue to revisit every now and again.

Cover:

     This series has not had my favorite covers I think at times they aren't dark enough. Rose does not live in a carefree world therefore I think the covers should reflect that. But who am I to judge. Plus it seems as though there are different girls on the different cover. I may not have loved the covers but I sure did enjoy the books and that's the important part.