This book and Insatiable are reinstating my faith in vampire books!
I'd already been introduced to Julie Kagawa through her Iron Fey series (which I will be reviewing two of very soon) and count her as one of my favourite YA authors. However, I had no idea what to expect with this book as I'd seen some mixed reviews by the time I finally found it in my local books shop (though I still squeeed when I managed to snatch up the only copy).
The first few chapters you start off with the main characters still human, though you know she's going to get turned very soon, and you have a little time to get to know her and the life she's led. It was a bit depressing knowing what was going to happen, but it helped me to understand her decision a bit more.
Then, of course, came the inevitable turning to vampirism. In all honesty, I completely understood her decision and I may have even made the same one in her position, much as I may hate myself for it afterwards. Then came the learning about vampires, getting the backstory and a few hints of what's to come but not too many. And then the struggles of being a bloodsucker alone, the love interest and the reactions of the humans to what she is (because they were always going to find out eventually) and much more. Definitely a lot happens in this book and Julie Kagawa's brilliant descriptions kept me right there in the middle of it. The introduction of the love interest was, perhaps, a bit obvious but it is in most books.
It's also much grittier than the Iron Fey series and there is a lot more blood and gore (then again, what can you expect from a vampire book) and, unlike in Iron Fey, there were plenty of deaths of well-loved or undeserving characters. Even when you think the group is safe something comes along and rips one of them apart. And it shows plenty that being a vampire isn't an easy road to take: Allison is constantly having to struggle against her monster nature not to bite someone, while at the same time she knows she'll become a crazed monster if she holds off.
Then there's the action, and plenty of it; keeping up the excitement and sense of danger and letting Allie be as kick-ass as she wants to be. You definitely see the animal side of her come out when she's fighting. There's also scene with a stake that shows that the author is by no means unwilling to torture the characters when needed.
And finally... NO INSTA-LOVE. You know they definitely like each other and it's clearly confusing for them both, but it's slowish in building and it definitely isn't a boy-gets-girl happy ending.
A very different read to the Iron Fey but that's definitely not a bad thing. Utterly enthralling and I eagerly await the next one.
I'd already been introduced to Julie Kagawa through her Iron Fey series (which I will be reviewing two of very soon) and count her as one of my favourite YA authors. However, I had no idea what to expect with this book as I'd seen some mixed reviews by the time I finally found it in my local books shop (though I still squeeed when I managed to snatch up the only copy).
The first few chapters you start off with the main characters still human, though you know she's going to get turned very soon, and you have a little time to get to know her and the life she's led. It was a bit depressing knowing what was going to happen, but it helped me to understand her decision a bit more.
Then, of course, came the inevitable turning to vampirism. In all honesty, I completely understood her decision and I may have even made the same one in her position, much as I may hate myself for it afterwards. Then came the learning about vampires, getting the backstory and a few hints of what's to come but not too many. And then the struggles of being a bloodsucker alone, the love interest and the reactions of the humans to what she is (because they were always going to find out eventually) and much more. Definitely a lot happens in this book and Julie Kagawa's brilliant descriptions kept me right there in the middle of it. The introduction of the love interest was, perhaps, a bit obvious but it is in most books.
It's also much grittier than the Iron Fey series and there is a lot more blood and gore (then again, what can you expect from a vampire book) and, unlike in Iron Fey, there were plenty of deaths of well-loved or undeserving characters. Even when you think the group is safe something comes along and rips one of them apart. And it shows plenty that being a vampire isn't an easy road to take: Allison is constantly having to struggle against her monster nature not to bite someone, while at the same time she knows she'll become a crazed monster if she holds off.
Then there's the action, and plenty of it; keeping up the excitement and sense of danger and letting Allie be as kick-ass as she wants to be. You definitely see the animal side of her come out when she's fighting. There's also scene with a stake that shows that the author is by no means unwilling to torture the characters when needed.
And finally... NO INSTA-LOVE. You know they definitely like each other and it's clearly confusing for them both, but it's slowish in building and it definitely isn't a boy-gets-girl happy ending.
A very different read to the Iron Fey but that's definitely not a bad thing. Utterly enthralling and I eagerly await the next one.
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