Out For Blood by Alyxandra Harvey

Published: November 2010

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Pages: 292

Copy borrowed from library

Summary: Goodreads

Hunter Wild is the youngest in a long line of elite vampire hunters, a legacy that is both a blessing and a curse at the secret Helios-Ra Academy, where she excels at just about everything. Thanks to her friendship with Kieran Black, Hunter receives a special invitation to attend the coronation of Helena Drake, and for the first time, she sees the difference between vampires that must be hunted and vampires that can become friends—or even more. When students at the academy fall victim to a mysterious illness, Hunter suspects they are under attack from within. She will need someone she can trust to help her save the future of Helios-Ra . . . help that shockingly comes in the form of Quinn Drake, a drop-dead gorgeous vampire. Who said senior year would be easy?

Oh, don't you just love a book that captures you so quickly you finish it in 24 hours? That's what happened with 'Out for Blood', the third installment in Alyxandra Harvey's 'Drake Chronicles'. I loved the first two in the series, and this one was no exception. One of the factors I particularly enjoy about this series is the fact that each volume is about a different couple. The old favourites keep coming back as minor characters, and at least one of the main characters has been a minor character in previous books. I've already made a guess at who the fourth book will be about and I so hope I'm right!

'Out for Blood' highlights Quinn Drake and Hunter Wild. Quinn is such a romeo. You just can't help but love him, and Hunter is a beautifully strong character, who is comfortable in her skin. You could easily read each of these books as stand-alones, but certain facts will make more sense if you read them in order.

As I was reading this time it struck me that the series strongly reminds me of the adult series 'The Black Dagger Brotherhood' - minus the explicit sex - definitely not a series for those under 18! The similarities lie in the multilayered vampire societies that have been created. With so much more going on than just blood-sucking, these stories pull you in and leave you wanting more. Each is complete on it's own with no cliff-hanger endings - just lots of potential for more good tales to come. There are seven Drake Brothers and a sister - I'm seriously hoping we get at least 8 of these wonderful volumes.

My advice, make a cup of coffee, find a comfortable seat and tune out the world for a few hours. You'll end with a smile and a feeling of having finished a great book.

Slayed by Amanda Marrone

Published: October 2010

Publisher: Simon Pulse

# pages: 240

Copy provided by: Library

Summary: Goodreads

The Van Helsing family has been hunting vampires for over one hundred years, but sixteen-year-old Daphne wishes her parents would take up an occupation that doesn’t involve decapitating vamps for cash. All Daphne wants is to settle down in one place, attend an actual school, and finally find a BFF to go to the mall with. Instead, Daphne has resigned herself to a life of fast food, cheap motels and buying garlic in bulk. But when the Van Helsings are called to a coastal town in Maine, Daphne’s world is turned upside down. Not only do the Van Helsings find themselves hunting a terrifying new kind of vampire (one without fangs but with a taste for kindergarten cuisine), Daphne meets her first potential BF! The hitch? Her new crush is none other than Tyler Harker, AKA, the son of the rival slayer family. What's a teen vampire slayer to do?

'Slayed' is the newest title by Amanda Marrone and it pokes delicious fun at vampire slayers. Our main protagonist is Daphne Van Helsing - a name most readers will recognise as being synonymous with vampire killers - and no, they don't all look like Hugh Jackman! Daphne's love interest is Tyler Harper, who is the crushworthy son of her parents old and estranged friend. Anyone read Bram Stoker's 'Dracula' - remember the character Mina Harper? Yep, it's the same Harker family. I loved this nod to literature (and graphic novels).

The story itself read like an episode of 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' and as an avid fan and dvd owner, I really enjoyed this. The action was bloody and tongue-in-cheek, and the vampires were a wonderful mish-mash of popular stereotypes - or not!

'She bites on the pen cap. "So you're telling me I'm not going to get any hot wolf action from the alpah male who battled his pack to win me as his mate?" I laugh. "Sorry." '

Kiki, Daphne's new BFF is hilarious as the spoilt little rich b.... with attitude, and my initial impression of her was all wrong. Yet another of those stereotypes blown to smithereens. There's violence, lots of it, underage drinking and casual sex, so this isn't a book for the younger teens, but it was lots of fun and a fairly quick read. I have to mention that I wasn't too keen on the cover of this one - you know what cover snobs Christinabean and I are - but there is an interesting scene in the book which completely explains the cover, and after that I didn't mind it so much. I know, it makes no sense. Enjoy.

Crave by Laura J Burns and Melinda Metz

Published:Sept 21, 2010

Publisher: Simon and Shuster

# Pages: 278

Copy provided by: Library

Summary: Goodreads

Shay has had a rare blood disorder since she was born. In fact, her mother married one of Shay’s doctors, Martin, who left his world-renowned leukemia research to try and figure out exactly what the disorder is and how to cure it. When she turns seventeen, Martin begins to give her new blood transfusions that make her feel the strongest she has ever felt. But she also has odd visions where she sees through the eyes of a vampire. At first, she thinks she must be imagining the visions, but when she begins to see Martin’s office in them, she knows she has to check it out. That’s when she finds Gabriel, a sexy, teenaged vampire, imprisoned in Martin’s office. The connection she has built with Gabriel compels her to set him free. But when he kidnaps her in an attempt at revenge on Martin, their lives become deeply intertwined. She doesn’t know the half of it.


I have been reading lately that several bloggers have been on a bit of a reading slump, and I have to be honest, I think I'm there too. Normally, Christinabean and I have several reviews written and ready to go - some even wait for weeks before we post them. So imagine my surprise when I checked this morning and realised I didn't have a review to post. Aaargh!

Now I know that we could just miss a day, and I'm sure we would be forgiven, but we sort of set ourselves a goal when we started that we would post something every day. Despite both working and having families, we have succeeded so far, and I didn't want to let the side down.

So we come to my review of Crave and the whole slump idea. I realised that I have started and put down about 6 books in the last few weeks - not worth mentioning names, some not published yet. They just were not holding my interest enough to keeep going past the first few chapters. Crave, by Laura Burns and Melinda Metz has managed to keep my attention, but, I haven't finished it yet. Do I post about it with the last 70 pages still to read? Why not? I'm enjoying it so far and I think it is worth telling you about.

Crave is a vampire story with a difference - no, not sparkles, sorry. I love that Gabriel didn't take part in the story 'real time' until half-way through the book. As it says in the summary, Shay, our main protaganist, has visions as a result of transfusions, but we don't actually 'meet' Gabriel in the flesh until well into the book. And when we do - nicely done Ms. Burns and Ms Metz - definitely no sparkles!

Shay has been sick her entire life and has been cosseted by everyone. It's no wonder she acts out a bit when she finally feels 'normal'. Basically Shay is high on drugs, but her drug of choice is blood! Note: there is mention in the book of some casual drug use, so if you're not into that, beware. The sad thing is, it didn't seem awkward or out of place. Shay and Gabriel slowly get to know each other in the second half of the book, and I like the fact that it wasn't instant lust, semi-instant perhaps, but not immediate!

Anyway, I've read enough to feel that something major is about to happen, and while I think I know what it is, I'm not entirely sure. So I'm going to leave you with this not quite normal post and just ask your forgiveness. On the strength of what I've read so far, 'Crave' is worth reading. Give it a try - it certainly brought me out of my slump. So I'm off now to read all week-end and may'be I'll throw a load of laundry or two while I'm waiting for the kettle to boil. Have a great weekend.

Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel

Published: August 2010

Publisher: St Martins Griffin

# pages: 310

Copy provided by: Library

Summary: Goodreads

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?

How to describe what I felt about this book? The first word that comes to mind is 'contradictory', but I think that 'conflicted' actually fits better. I'm really not sure at all whether I liked it or not.

I think I liked the story, I certainly finished it, and as readers of this blog are aware, I have no compunction in dropping a book if I'm not enjoying it. But, and it is a fairly big but, at the same time I didn't. See what I mean about conflicted? If I thought of Lenah as just a sheltered teen, the story was fairly believable. But as an almost 600 yr old vampire - forget it. There is no way that anyone with that much life experience - good or bad - would react the way Lenah did. The relationship between Lenah, the girl, and Justin, was quite enjoyable, but then something would be said that reminded me she was a vampire, and the whole thing fell apart. At least for me it did.

My favourite character was Tony - he was just perfect as the art geek who falls for Lenah and doesn't stand a chance - forever the best friend. Unfortunately, as soon as Lenah finds out Justin wants her, Tony takes a back seat. Justin was ok as the romantic male lead, but his easy acceptance of Lenah's declaration about being a serial killing vampire just didn't ring true - not for me anyway.

I really can't decide what it was that didn't work for me. I think it was a combination of things, but all in all the best I can say is, that for me, it was just OK. If anyone out there liked it, let me know. I'm curious to hear other opinions.

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Published: August 2010
Publisher: McElderry Books
# Pages: 478
Copy Provided by: Bought
Summary: Goodreads

Magic is dangerous—but love is more dangerous still.

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by—and torn between—two best friends: Jem, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa.

As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

Ok, before I say anything at all about the book, isn't that summary just wonderful. Ooh, it gave me shivers!

Anyway, this new book by Cassandra Clare is the 1st in a second trilogy about Shadowhunters and Downworlders. It is in fact a prequel to the Mortal Instruments trilogy, which I am sure everyone in the bookish world already knows, but it had to be said.

Well, you do not start this book by wading slowly into the shallow end and getting used to the temperature of the water. Oh no! You dive head first into the deep end and get completely wet, right from the beginning. There's murder, demon slaying, magic, kidnapping and rescue - and that's just in the first 2 chapters! Ms Clare captures your attention right from the get-go and never lets up until the end.

The four younger main characters are all orphans and are all different

Tessa: who is a bit naive, but has amazing potential - 'Clenching her right hand into a fist, she slammed it against the wall behind her, hard, sending a shockwave of pain up her arm. That cleared the tears, and her head.' (p281)

Will: resident bad boy with an attitude - 'Will's eyes were slivers of blue glass. "All you've ever cared about is finding your brother. And now you've found him. Good for you. But that was never our goal. You do realize that, don't you? We don't usually go quite this far out of our way for the sake of one delinquent mundane." (p304)

Jem: quiet, good looking, frail, man of mystery with a secret - 'He wore a light loose-fitting set of trousers and a collarless shirt, with a black silk drssing gown tied loosely over them. She had been right. He was young, probably the same age as Will, and the impression of youth was heightened by his slightness. He was tall but very slender, and disappearing below the collar of his shirt, she could see the curling edges of the black designs that she had seen earlier ....' (p101)

Jessamine: Spoilt little rich bitch, on the surface at least - 'Slowly Jessamine lowered her hand from her mouth, her face still very pale. "Goodness, my nose is enormous," she exclaimed. "Why didn't anyone tell me?" ' (p74)

There are a host of supporting characters, each one intriguingl in their own right and too many to mention. A wonderful Victorian setting with lamplight and clockwork monsters, old houses, dark alleys, gorgeous costumes and nasty vampires. There's romance and heartbreak, friendship and betrayal, and excitement by the bucketful. At almost 500 pages it is a pretty long book, but it isn't a long read. The story skips along at a clipping rate and never seemed to get bogged down in too much detail, although the detail is there. I could go on forever about the story, but I don't want to give anything away, you'll have to read it for yourself to find out what happens. I'm sure most of the people who fell in love with The Mortal Instruments will love this one. The historical setting does give a completely different feel to the story, but personally I loved it. Thank you Ms Clare, you didn't disappoint. Now, can you just hurry up with number 2?


On a sad, personal note I have to confess that I spilt water on my lovely, new, hardcover copy and as it dries it is puffing up to twice it's normal size. I want to cry!

Blood Feud

Author: Alyxandra Harvey

Released: June 22/2010

Publisher: Walker Books for Young People

# pages: 272

Copy provided by: Library

Summary: Goodreads

It’s been centuries since Isabeau St. Croix barely survived the French Revolution. Now she’s made her way back to the living and she must face the ultimate test by confronting the evil British lord who left her for dead the day she turned into a vampire. That’s if she can control her affection for Logan Drake, a vampire whose bite is as sweet as the revenge she seeks.
The clans are gathering for Helena’s royal coronation as the next vampire queen, and new alliances are beginning to form now that the old rifts of Lady Natasha’s reign have started to heal. But with a new common enemy, Leander Montmarte—a vicious leader who hopes to force Solange to marry him and usurp the power of the throne for himself—the clans must stand together to preserve the peace he threatens to destroy.
This second adventure in the Drake Chronicles—told from both Logan’s and Isabeau’s perspectives—has all the same butt-kicking action, heart-pounding romances and snarky humor that readers loved in Hearts at Stake, as well as exciting new revelations about the vampire dynasties to keep readers coming back for more.

This story is the sequel to 'Hearts at Stake', which was about Solange and Kieran, and Lucy and Nicholas. While all those characters are in this book, they take a back seat to Logan and Isabeau, who were introduced briefly in Hearts at Stake.

I liked Logan, he's my kind of guy. Not afraid to be different - who else wears frock coats and carries a sword - yet still very likeable. The love element of the story happens fairly quickly, but it didn't seem forced or unbelievable. I think I fell for Logan myself, in fact. I just love the world building and the layers of society with rules and regulations, and I found it intriguing that vampires are not only made, but can be born and that they experience regular life for their first 16 years. The story is full of strong purposeful women and Isabeau is no exception, but she was nicely flawed, not too perfect. Her need for revenge on her maker almost overshadowing her duty. Although I have to admit that my favourite is still Lucy - she is a hoot.

My note to myself after finishing Hearts at Stake was 'very funny teen vampire story with a twist', and I would have to say that is exactly how I feel about Blood Feud. Lets face it, what's not to love about a story that has 7 handsome brothers who just happen to be vampires. All in all I just loved this one and I'm already looking forward to #3 'Out for Blood' which is due out on Dec 22nd, 2010

The Short Second life of Bree Tanner

Author: Stephanie Meyer
Released: June 5th, 2010
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
# pages: 178
Copy provided by: Library
Summary: Goodreads

Fans of The Twilight Saga will be enthralled by this riveting story of Bree Tanner, a character first introduced in Eclipse, and the darker side of the newborn vampire world she inhabits. In another irresistible combination of danger, mystery, and romance, Stephenie Meyer tells the devastating story of Bree and the newborn army as they prepare to close in on Bella Swan and the Cullens, following their encounter to its unforgettable conclusion.
Bree Tanner can barely remember life before she had uncannily powerful senses, superhuman reflexes and unstoppable physical strength. Life before she had a relentless thirst for blood... life before she became a vampire. All Bree knows is that living with her fellow newborns has few certainties and even fewer rules: watch your back, don't draw attention to yourself and, above all, make it home by sunrise or die. What she doesn't know: her time as an immortal is quickly running out.
Then Bree finds an unexpected friend in Diego, a newborn just as curious as Bree about their mysterious creator, whom they know only as "her". As they come to realize that the newborns are pawns in a game larger than anything they could have imagined, Bree and Diego must choose sides and decide whom to trust. But when everything you know about vampires is based on a lie, how do you find the truth

The story was interesting as it gave a glimpse into the life of a newborn. For me it helped to explain the 2nd storyline in the movie version of Eclipse. I'm sure there isn't a twilight fan out there who hasn't already read this one, but just in case ... it won't mean an awful lot to you if you don't already know the Twilight saga, but it might give you a taste for it.

To be honest I quite liked Bree. She was clever and questioning. Wasn't happy with just accepting things - in fact I liked her more than Bella. I found myself wishing that she hadn't been killed off at the end of Eclipse. I find Ms Meyer's style of writing fascinating. Bella is, for me, one of the most irritating and annoying heroines I've ever read about. I get angry and frustrated at her single-minded devotion to Edward and I'd like to slap her and tell her to get a back bone.

But - I never once considered not finishing the books. In fact I own all 4 of them. I guess that just shows what a clever writer Ms Meyer is. I had to finish the books to see what would happen. Same thing happened with Bree Tanner. I've read the books, seen the movies, know what happens to her - but I just had to keep on reading.

Well done, Ms. Meyer!