Yep, another "paranormal" book review.
Stray, by newcomer Rachel Vincent, is the story of Faythe Sanders, a college student and werecat.
I bought this because of the cat theme (I love cats) and because a favorite writer, Kim Harrison, recommended it. I'm not sorry, it was a good story overall but...as Publisher's Weekly put it:
"Vincent's debut, an urban werecat fantasy, is a good story that suffers from about 200 pages of bloat"
and
"Unfortunately, they [Marc and Faythe the lead characters] both have frustrating character tics that are only exacerbated by the novel's length: Faythe is more often too-stubborn-to-live than kick-ass, and all the tears Marc wells up over Faythe don't forgive his insufferable jealousy."
I would recommend catching a copy of this at the library so you can decide for yourself if you want to go further with the series (next up is Rogue and then Pride coming in '09) although Ms. Vincent DOES create a unique and very very interesting world.
I'm looking forward to seeing what Rogue has to offer, but I'm hoping that Marc gets over his "bad" self and Faythe remembers that she does, indeed, have a brain.
3 out of 5 berries because the ending was pretty fast paced and kept me reading far into the night.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Evernight by Claudia Gray
While browsing Amazon.com, looking for something to wash the *blech* out of my brain from reading half of Breaking Dawn (Twilight series), I came across a listing for Evernight.
Billed as a "must read for fans of Stephanie Meyer's Twilight" this is indeed a book about vampire romance. But as you begin the story, you have to wonder...just who is the vampire here?
Bianca is a new gal at Evernight Academy. Her parents took jobs as teachers so that Bianca could "learn more about life than [her] small town friends could show her." All the kids at Evernight seem to be either the "snobby rich" or the "look down upon ya" losers. With Bianca in the middle of both cliques. Having parents at the school...and cool teachers that they are...makes the rich kids grudgingly accept her while the "losers" look at her with unease. Is she just like the "richies" or is she like them?
And then there's Lucas. Also new at Evernight, Lucas is the first person in his family to attend since the family was "blackballed" in the 1700s. Universally disliked by the rich kids and semi feared by the "losers", Lucas becomes enamored by Bianca, who (of course) returns the interest.
What follows is a Romeo and Juliet type "love affair" with waring ancient supernatural societies stepping in for the Capulets and Montegues. The "twist" in the story comes about half way and, if you don't spot it loooong before that, you're just not paying attention.
It was a fast and, for the most part, a fun read. I was a little bored by the first half of the book but pushed on and was rewarded by some good chuckles and a great belly laugh. The ending was pretty typical but, for a first time writer, Ms. Gray has done a good job. I'm looking forward to reading more about Bianca and Lucas.
All in all, I'll give this a 3.5 out of 5 berries. Good enough to read again, but not enough to buy it new for the shelf.
Billed as a "must read for fans of Stephanie Meyer's Twilight" this is indeed a book about vampire romance. But as you begin the story, you have to wonder...just who is the vampire here?
Bianca is a new gal at Evernight Academy. Her parents took jobs as teachers so that Bianca could "learn more about life than [her] small town friends could show her." All the kids at Evernight seem to be either the "snobby rich" or the "look down upon ya" losers. With Bianca in the middle of both cliques. Having parents at the school...and cool teachers that they are...makes the rich kids grudgingly accept her while the "losers" look at her with unease. Is she just like the "richies" or is she like them?
And then there's Lucas. Also new at Evernight, Lucas is the first person in his family to attend since the family was "blackballed" in the 1700s. Universally disliked by the rich kids and semi feared by the "losers", Lucas becomes enamored by Bianca, who (of course) returns the interest.
What follows is a Romeo and Juliet type "love affair" with waring ancient supernatural societies stepping in for the Capulets and Montegues. The "twist" in the story comes about half way and, if you don't spot it loooong before that, you're just not paying attention.
It was a fast and, for the most part, a fun read. I was a little bored by the first half of the book but pushed on and was rewarded by some good chuckles and a great belly laugh. The ending was pretty typical but, for a first time writer, Ms. Gray has done a good job. I'm looking forward to reading more about Bianca and Lucas.
All in all, I'll give this a 3.5 out of 5 berries. Good enough to read again, but not enough to buy it new for the shelf.
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