Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey

author’s website: www.thedrakechronicles.com
release date: December 22, 2009
genre: Paranormal (vampires)
length: 256 pages
publisher: Walker & Company


*the back cover*Solange Drake always knew she was destined to become a vampire queen. And as the only female vampire ever born, not made, she is surrounded by danger on all sides – from vampire suitors who want to join with her lineage to bounty hunters who are set on destroying her and her family. When she is kidnapped, it’s up to her older brother Nicholas and her human best friend, Lucy, to save her. But can Lucy save herself from Nicholas, who tempts her with his every look? And what will be Solange’s own fate if she surrenders her heart to the vampire hunter helping her survive the deadly intrigue at the royal court?
Let the Drake family be your guide into a secret vampire society full of epic battles, gothic seduction, undead drama, and wicked humor.

*my thoughts *
I am a sucker for vampire stories, but lately have been burned out on the huge quantity of stories being released, but this book definitely brought me back into the vampire genre! The story is told in alternating chapters by Solange (the vampire princess) and Lucy (her quirky and pretty fabulous – human – best friend). The alternating point of view made for an interesting story because you really get into two different perspectives and can see why different decisions are being made – something that couldn’t be achieved by a single narrator.
With every vampire book out there, the writer has to create his or her own set of rules for those vampires. The “rules” found in the Drake Chronicles combine the traditional vampire lore with some more modern “rules” and form a new version of the vampire world. I especially liked that the vampires in this story tend to dress in the style that was the height of fashion during their lives. It added something by creating a group of people dressed in everything from Victorian finery to jeans and t-shirts.
I flew through this book, looked forward to the second one (which I have already finished), and am awaiting more from Alyxandra Harvey in this fun series!

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephanie Meyer

Spoiler warning: If you haven’t read “Eclipse” (the 3rd book in the Twilight series”), you will want to skip this review

author’s website: Stephanie Meyer
release date: June 5, 2010
appeals to: Young Adult
genre: Vampire Novella
length: 192 pages
overall rating: 4.5 Stars

*the inside flap*
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 blodd . . . 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 nad decide whom to trust. But when everything you know about vampires is based on a lie, how do you find the truth?

*my review*
I need to begin by saying that reading this book was kind of like watching the movie “Titanic” in that you know how it is going to end. (Another spoiler warning - If you are not sure how this story ends or haven’t read Eclipse, STOP NOW!) When I heard that this book was going to be released, I was very excited because I really enjoyed the world that Stephanie Meyer created in the Twilight series (even before all of the movie-mania). I was even more excited to learn that it accompanied Eclipse, which was my favorite book in the series. So of course, this morning I went to buy it!

The book is a novella, so it is on the shorter side (only 173 pages of story), and I read it in one sitting. The story jumps right in to Bree’s life as a newborn vampire – she’s about three months old – and it is definitely different than the lives of the Cullens’ lifestyle! Bree describes the thirst that she feels and the way that she has to pick out her victims. But Bree also exposes us to what has been happening while Riley and Victoria build the army they take to fight the Cullens in Eclipse.

As the story developed, I really grew to like Bree. She has a lot more depth than you see in her very brief role in Eclipse. In fact, after reading this book, I went to Eclipse and reread the section about Bree. It was really interesting to see the story from both Bree’s and Bella’s perspectives! As the end of the book came closer and closer, I knew what would happen, but I kept hoping it would change. I knew that it couldn’t of course, but it made me wonder --- If Stephanie Meyer had written this novella while she was editing Eclipse instead of after, would Eclipse have looked different?

I really enjoyed the story and recommend it for a quick read. It is an excellent extension to the story of Eclipse. My only complaint is that I would have loved to have learned more about Diego and Fred (two characters that interact with Bree the most). But, since the book is from Bree's perspective, the amount we learn about them makes sense. The book is being offered for free online, but if you can afford to buy it, one dollar from the sale of each book is being donated to the American Red Cross.

*short and snappy*
writing: smooth and descriptive in the style I expect from Stephanie Meyer
plot: suspenseful – even with an ending that you know is coming
characters: very well developed for such a short book! I’d love to know more about Diego and Fred though!
judging by the cover: The black, white, and red cover matches the theme of the other books, but the hourglass image is perfect!
miscellaneous: Stephenie Meyer is offering the text for free online beginning June 7th at www.breetanner.com and there is a playlist for the book available here.

A Stephenie Meyer Announcement

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: an Eclipse Novella
by Stephenie Meyer

I was checking Stephenie Meyer's website the other day and saw an announcement that she has a new book coming out! I am pretty excited about it, especially because she is offering something a little different. Not only will the book be coming out, but it will be offered for free online for a period of time. In her post, Meyer wrote:

"There was one thing I asked for: since this story had always been an extra for me, and was meant to be released with the Guide, I wanted to be able to offer it to my fans for free. You all have bought a ton of my books, and I wanted to give you this story as a gift. My publisher was awesome and embraced this idea. We still wanted to also produce a physical book with a cool cover (see below) that you can add to your set if you like, but starting at noon on June 7th until July 5th, it will also be available online at http://www.breetanner.com/."

The entire announcement it available here and ordering information is available here.

Vampire Kisses: The Beginning by Ellen Schreiber

Vampire Kisses: The Beginning by Ellen Schreiber
This book actually contained the first three books in the Vampire Kisses series: (1) Vampire Kisses, (2) Kissing Coffins, and (3) Vampireville

author’s website: Ellen Schreiber
release date: April 21, 2009
appeals to: Young Adult (& Vampire fans)
genre: Fantasy
length: 576 pages (3 books in 1 volume)
overall rating: 3.5 stars

*the back cover*
A new guy in town.
Rumors of vampires.
Dangerous first love.
This is where it all begins. . . .
The mansion on top of Benson Hill has stood empty for years. But one day it seems to be occupied, and its mysterious, handsome inhabitant Alexander Sterling becomes the source of much talk around town. Raven, a vampire-obsessed Goth-girl who has always considered herself an outsider in "Dullsville," is determined to uncover the truth surrounding the secretive Alexander. As she gets to know him, and their spark intensifies, Raven finds herself in some unanticipated situations. Can Alexander make her lifelong dream come true? But love always has its complications—especially when it can only be awakened at nightfall.
The first three books in Ellen Schreiber's bestselling Vampire Kisses series capture the thrill of a most unusual romance. (A short summary of each book is available here.)

*my review*
I began reading this series with no preconceptions. I saw the book, loved the cover, and thought, “Vampire book…excellent!” So far as current vampire books go, this one has the most “traditional” vampires I’ve read. They don’t go out in the sun (or sparkle, or have special rings that protect them), they prefer the night, they turn into bats, and they have fangs. I enjoyed reading about the “traditional” vampire, but I enjoyed even more the “goth” narrator. As a somewhat quirky girl myself, I totally understood Raven’s constant feeling of being on the outside, but being ok with it. She is a strong character and I liked her no-nonsense take on things, especially with her “nemesis,” Trevor.

Overall, this was a clever story and a fun series to read. I actually read all six books, so I’m hesitant to do much more reviewing for fear of being to spoilery. If you pick up the individual books, they are very quick to read. I do think that each book leaves you wanting more, so if you can get more than one at a time, I’d suggest it!

*short and snappy*
writing: down to earth – Schreiber’s writing really captures the teenage emotions, angst, dialogue, and the feelings of first love.
plot: unexpected twists in the plot and connections to prior books keep the series connected & fun to read
characters: even the minor characters are developed! Most characters reappear throughout the series, so you get to feeling like you know them
judging by the cover: the cover of this book (and the vampire genre of course) tempted me to pick it up. I love the image. HOWEVER, I think the individual covers of the first three books are all well done, too, so that is lost in the compilation.
miscellaneous: Books 4 (Dance with a Vampire), 5 (The Coffin Club), and 6 (Royal Blood) in this series are also available. The summaries are available here. And book 7 (Love Bites) is due out May 18th (2010).

Stargazer by Claudia Gray

Stargazer by Claudia Gray
Spoiler warning: Because this book is part of a series, this review may contain spoilers of
earlier books. If you haven’t read the previous books, you may want to skip this review

author: Claudia Gray
release date: March 31, 2009
appeals to: Young Adult
length: 329 pages (hardcover)
overall rating: 4½ stars

*the inside flap*
Evernight Academy: an exclusive boarding school for the most beautiful, dangerous students of all – vampires. Bianca, born of two vampires, has always been told her destiny is to become one of them.
But Bianca fell in love with Lucas – a vampire hunter sworn to destroy her kind. They were torn apart when his true identity was revealed, forcing him to flee the school.
Although they may be separated, Bianca and Lucas will not give each other up. She will risk anything for the chance to see him again, even if it means coming face-to-face with the vampire hunters of Black Cross – or deceiving the powerful vampires of Evernight. Bianca’s secrets will force her to live a life of lies.
Yet Bianca isn’t the only one keeping secrets. When Evernight is attacked by an evil force that seems to target her, she discovers the truth she thought she knew is only the beginning…

*my review*
Wow! I enjoyed Evernight, but I loved Stargazer! From the minute I started reading Stargazer, I couldn’t put it down. In Evernight, you get to know Bianca and Lucas, but in this story, you really start to feel Bianca’s torn emotions – she’s in love with a member of the enemy and it is a constant struggle! Stargazer is the second book in the Evernight series (Hourglass releases in March 2010 and Afterlife is planned for March 2011), and while it may not make sense as a stand-alone novel, it is an incredible addition to the series.
In my review of Evernight, I mentioned that I wanted to know more about Balthazar, and Stargazer met that need! Balthazar, Vic, and Raquel are much more present in this novel, and as Bianca gets to know more about her friends, their characters develop beautifully. In addition to learning more about the minor characters, this book introduces a whole new twist - ghosts! (You learn about the ghosts on page 2, so this isn’t really a spoiler) Now, the Evernight series has vampires, vampire hunters, and ghosts! I’m intrigued to find out what happens in the next installment!
Note: As I mentioned after reading Evernight I am a big fan of Balthazar. So going in to this book, I expected to like his character, but as I was reading, I felt like I really got to know him better. This book shows a lot about him and his character. Now, I am an even bigger fan of Balthazar, and I must admit that I am still rooting for him!)

*short and snappy*
writing: captivating – The way that Gray writes drew me into the story and kept me hooked.
plot: twisty – Just like the first book, as soon as I thought I had the plot figured out, there was another twist.
characters: Bianca is even more detailed, but the minor characters evolve in this book.
judging by the cover: The cover is pretty and I love the title’s font, but there are no hints about content from the cover.
miscellaneous: Claudia Gray has an excerpt from the next book in the series – Hourglass – on her website (or by following this link: http://www.claudiagray.com/dload/hourglass.pdf)

Evernight by Claudia Gray

author: Claudia Gray
release date: May 31, 2008
appeals to: Young Adult
length: paperback – 327 pages
overall rating: 4 stars

*the back cover*
At the eerily Gothic Evernight Academy, the other students are sleek, smart, and almost predatory. Bianca knows she doesn’t fit in.
When she meets handsome, brooding Lucas, he warns her to be careful – even when it comes to caring about him. But the connection between them can’t be denied. Bianca will risk anything to be with Lucas, but dark secrets are fated to tear them apart . . . and to make Bianca question everything she’s ever believed.

*my review*
When I picked up this book, all I knew was that it was a “vampire book,” but who doesn’t love a good vampire story right?! The book grabbed me from the beginning with detailed descriptions of people and places that didn’t read like boring descriptive paragraphs. I felt like I could relate to Bianca and the awkward situations she was encountering. I thought I had the story pretty much figured out until a scene at the end of chapter 7 blew me away! (I won’t spoil it for you, but wow!) At that point, I could barely put the book down wanting to know what would happen next. The book has a solid ending, but I am glad that it is part of a series, because there are still a lot of questions in my mind.
The characters Gray develops are very intriguing. Since the book is written from Bianca’s point of view, I obviously felt like I knew her the best, but the twists and turns made me question even that! Lucas was interesting and it is easy to see how Bianca feels about him, but I’m still not always sure whether I like him or not. While the main characters are interesting and developed, some of the minor characters were my favorites. Balthazar, Vic, Raquel, and even Mrs. Bethany are characters I hope to learn more about in coming books. (And truthfully, I often find myself rooting for Balthazar.)

*short and snappy*
writing: detailed without being over the top – Gray writes descriptions into the plot so that you feel like you can see and hear things without reading a paragraph that just describes without advancing the story.
plot: twisty – I really thought I had the plot figured out, but Gray writes twists into the story when you are least expecting them.
characters: There are a number of major players in the story, and all seem well developed, but I don’t think we know everything about any of them yet.
judging by the cover: The cover doesn’t give any plot away, but the font of the title has some interesting details.
miscellaneous: The second book in the series is “Stargazer” and the third book, “Hourglass,” is due out in March.