"Hunted" by Bella Higgin

Hunted (Apr. 16, 2024) by Bella Higgin.

<This is the third novel in a tetralogy.>

The battle for Belle Morte has been fought and won, but at a steep price. Deaths amongst vampires, staff and donors have occurred, and the fight isn’t over. Vampirekind is facing a tenuous future with enemy vampires on the run. Ludovic de Vauban volunteers to go beyond the mansion’s walls to track down the Five, but he can’t go it alone. Reclusive and without any idea of the modern world, he needs a street-savvy human. Enter donor Roux Hayes. With makeup, she’ll not only make him look human, she’ll help him navigate a world that’s long since left him stuck in the past. Together with Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) Ray Walsh, who loathes vampires, finding the Five becomes graver still when it turns out the missing children in the area are linked to a vampire using another name. Roux is determined to preserve the future for her vampire and human friends, and she’ll also admit (at least to herself) that she’d enjoy seeing Ludovic ... without clothes. Ludovic will find that Roux awakens a passion in him that he thought long diffused. If the renegades can’t be neutralized, not only will the vampires of Belle Morte be affected, but vampirekind worldwide, and their newfound love will be snuffed out.

These vampires don’t sparkle, but they are gorgeous, as are their human donors (most of whom have been sent home since what transpired in the second installment). I can see that Higgin added in the missing children plot to up the ante and make the search all the more urgent, but I also thought it added too much. With one rogue vampire abducting children, two more trying to leave, two clueless as to the vampire they’re really standing by, a human group who hates vampires, and then, of all things, four other vampires totally unaccounted for, the storylines are sometimes all over the place. I read this novel because I’ve read the first two, and I’m sure I’ll read the final one, but honestly, it’s a vampire story in a vampire series. Unless you’re a vampire super fan, I wouldn’t recommend it. Additionally, there are intimate scenes, so to the parents out there, no young/younger teenagers should be reading this, no matter how worldly they are (or think they are).

            Book 1: Belle Morte

            Book 2: Revelations

Rutabaga's Reads 2024: Part 8

Here I finally am with my first YA compilation of 2024. I’ve published more solo YA posts, which is why I didn’t create a second compilation post this year, as I originally thought I would. 

The Headmaster’s List (Feb. 28, 2023) by Melissa de la Cruz.

<This is a standalone novel.>

Her ex-boyfriend, 18-year-old Ethan Amoroso, is known as a reckless driver, so when 15-year-old Chris Moore is killed in a high-speed car crash with a tree, it’s easy for the public to skip over ‘innocent until proven guilty’ and proclaim him guilty, since he said he was at the wheel, but Spencer Sandoval, also 18, knows he wouldn’t be careless with the lives of others. His own? Sure, but not others’. Spencer dives into her own investigation into the crash, trying to find the memories of that night that she can’t recall. Was she drugged? Is it the trauma of the night? A brain injury? Why can’t she remember? And why is the picture of Ethan in her memory screaming her name “all wrong?” She has an ally in Jackson Chen, Ethan’s soccer teammate and best friend, and her new, loyal sidekick, Ripley, a service dog for her PTSD. She’s asking lots of questions, becoming obsessed (and dependent on her Vicodin Rx), and someone clearly feels threatened. Spencer receives a threatening note and someone tries to run her off the road one night as she’s biking home after work. Is it someone she knows? Or someone who’s heard her name through Peyton Salt’s popular, true crime podcast? What kind of truth is she getting close to that someone else doesn’t want to see the light?

            Like ripping off a bandage, I’ll state right off that I struggled with this book. I’ve enjoyed so many of de la Cruz’s stories, but this one drug on, and it began with guessing something [correctly] early on. It’s atypical of me to quit a story, so I read the novel in its entirety. Ripley is definitely a win for the story, her training a good balance to Spencer’s increasing obsession, likely related to her Vicodin dependence. Just because this story wasn’t a victory to me doesn’t mean it’s without merit. Indeed, it does have fascinating facets, venturing in a place ruled by pedigree and privilege. In an elite LA private school, race still stands out (Spencer occasionally refers to herself as the “brown kid”). This thriller has plenty of cute boys, a range of diversity and teen snark. Where it glitters, it’s also sinister, and the humanness can be razor-sharp. It’s a likeable YA thriller, just not one that resonated with me.

Revelations (May 9, 2023) by Bella Higgin.

<This is the second novel in a series.>

<Casual spoiler if you haven’t read the first story.>

When Renie Mayfield first entered Belle Morte, one of the vampire houses in the U.K., where vampires are A-list celebrities, living a life of luxury in their top-brand attire, she was a human selected as a donor to try to find her Vladdict (obsessed with vampires) sister, June. Now Renie is a new vampire, and the vampire responsible, the love of her life, Edmond Dantès, is confined to the secret cells of Belle Morte in cuffs of painful silver. June appears to have escaped and her whereabouts are unknown. June is beyond any help, but Renie continues to love the sister she once was. Renie’s desperate to free Edmond, locate June and punish the one who killed her sister. That someone isn’t working alone, and the betrayal runs deeper than the secret passageways of Belle Morte. The other U.K. houses are likely also compromised, as becomes apparent after they flee. It isn’t only the smell of blood that lingers within Belle Morte’s walls, but corruption, too.

            I’ll be frank. This is a vampire novel, so it’s not a story that I read expecting to be deeply complex. Indeed, the plot never wades into the deep end, but it depicts a lush setting, the allure of a glitzy lifestyle, the glamour associated with vampire novels and a fresh take on the genre. The world-building is detailed, especially if you like fashion. Renie is 18, making this a YA novel, but the intimacy in the story and the many adult supporting characters in the book make this a better choice for older readers. I don’t have children, but if I did, I wouldn’t want my 14- or 15-year-old reading it. There’s a centuries-wide age gap between Renie and Edmond, so maybe there’s a book club discussion in there about power dynamics if one wants to make this story into something deeper. If you like brooding vampires who are tall, dark-haired and handsome, this has got that. I’d recommend this for vampire aficionados and those who haven’t read any vampire novels since Twilight.

These Deadly Prophecies (Jan. 30, 2024) by Andrea Tang.

<This is a standalone novel, as far as I can tell.>

“I will die at the hands of my best beloved. So shall it be.” Chinese American teen Tabatha Zeng is the daughter of a lawyer mom and an engineer dad, and she’s chosen to pursue sorcery, much to the disappointment of her parents. At least she’s an apprentice to one of the world’s most famous sorcerers. It’s too bad that he predicts his own brutal death, and it comes true. Detective Elena Chang is the one-woman show of the occult crimes unit with the local police department. She’s very anti-magic. Callum is Sorcerer Julian Aurelius Solomon’s youngest son, and the only one of his children who’s a fortune teller (prophecy sorcery) like Tabatha is and his dad was. The twins and Callum’s half-siblings are Felix (the eldest, who excels at kinetic sorcery) and Circe (who casts illusions, which are often seen as fluff sorcery). Felix is believed to be the favorite child, but it’s Callum who has the gift of prophecy, the most coveted of the magics. Who is Sorcerer Solomon’s best beloved, and who will be bequeathed the Solomon Family legacy? There’s a murder to investigate, and with Tabatha and Callum being the last two to see him alive, they’re the prime suspects.

My first story from Tang is a YA murder mystery thriller with paranormal elements. While I didn’t love it, it’s sharp and clever with witty banter to boot, and it reads quickly. It’s a magical madcap mystery with the narrator (Tabatha) sometimes in reflection mode. For those who are drawn to YA novels with dark and light elements, this is an intriguing choice if they only decide to pick it up. Callum might’ve dubbed her the “squishy wizard,” but Tabatha is serious about her prophecies. She might be reciting one out to the world right now. Please handle with care. So shall it be.

Helpful note: “Not all spell casting is the same, but the three classes of sorcery – illusion, kinetic, and prophecy – can be broken down in broad strokes like so: wishing, willing, and wondering. Illusionists create their mirages by wishing them real, the same way you might wish to be married to your middle school crush by writing their name over and over again in your notebooks. Kinetics, meanwhile, take it a step further. Instead of simply wishing, they will their desires into true existence: the crack in the ground that starts an earthquake, the whirlpool curving the center of a calm sea, or, well, a fireball flung at a spoiled teenager’s Lexus.” (p. 83)

Rutabaga's Reads 2014: Part 3

As if the world didn’t have enough vampire books, here’s another … and another … and another … and … well, you get the idea. More vampire books, though this time for the middle-grade set. This compilation revolves around the first six books in the My Sister the Vampire series by Sienna Mercer (Scholastic cover editions). Many thanks to Kristi W. for lending me the books!

Switched (July 24, 2007).

A new girl has started at Franklin Grove Middle School just five weeks into the new school year, and Ivy Vega has the eeriest feeling that she’s met her before. The new girl is Olivia Abbott, and the two couldn’t be more different. Ivy is at home in her black attire and her clunky black boots, absently twirling the dark emerald ring on her necklace. And Olivia is, well, she’s so utterly pink. She’s also a cheerleader, but she wears a ring identical to Ivy’s. Ivy has also noticed that, underneath her pale Goth-ness and all of Olivia’s pink-ness, they look exactly alike! As if being an eighth grader wasn’t enough – SURPRISE! – you suddenly have an identical twin!

            This story is the first in a series of advanced chapter books, so while they may be unexciting for a reader who enjoys young adult literature, it may be just right for someone who’s not yet ready for, say, Twilight or The Vampire Diaries. I think the series is a fun concept. Both sisters are very likable, and the stories read quickly. They are not tough reads at all; this vamp lit is vamp-light even with all the vampires hanging out in Franklin Grove.

Fangtastic! (Aug. 21, 2007).

Olivia’s knowledge of her sister’s vampire nature is top secret. She’s been sworn to secrecy by Ivy, not that she would ever betray the twin she never knew she had, nor Ivy’s boyfriend, Brendan Daniels, or Ivy’s best friend, Sophia Hewitt. Unfortunately, well-known tabloid reporter Serena Star is nosing around. She doesn’t necessarily think there are vampires around town, but she thinks it’s highly unusual the number of Goths roaming around Franklin Grove. In their town’s case, Goth attire is synonymous to vampire, but that’s not common knowledge. Will it be as Serena Star edges closer and closer to the truth?

            While these books are meant for younger readers, they still make me chuckle. After all, how can someone not be amused by (or disgusted with) the idea that Ivy’s favorite cereal is called Marshmallow Platelets? Maroon bits and little marshmallows doused in milk – dare I call it the breakfast of [vampire] champions? Ha. Light and fun, these stories do entertain, and you don’t have to be eight years old to find the humor in them.

Re-Vamped! (Nov. 20, 2007).

The secret is out! Bunnies are humans and vampires are, well, just vampires. Actually, no, that secret is not out. But the fact that cheerleader Olivia and Goth Ivy are twins is. It’s the scoop of the year, not just for their school reporter classmate Toby Decker, but especially for Olivia and Ivy. Because now they have to tell their parents. Gulp! But perhaps that’s the easy thing to do. The town is excited about the twin-ness of the girls. At one point, Ivy spots a bunny wearing a tee that says, “I WANNA GOTH TWIN” and declares inwardly that she’s a fad. Oh, the horror!

            But now that that secret is out, the vampire officials are suspicious that Olivia knows the truth, and vampires should never tell a bunny about the First Law of the Night – that vampires exist. She’ll have to go through three tests to determine if she’s trustworthy enough to carry the Blood Secret. Surely she will pass, because what do you think happens to someone deemed unworthy of carrying the Secret?

            This third book in the series is another cute tale to add to the collection. While Olivia and Ivy are interested in finding clues that lead them to their birth parents, other family dynamics are interesting, too. We get to meet Brendan’s family, and his parents are so much more open than Ivy’s dad. Brendan’s little sister is a hoot, too. She may be seven, but she declares to Olivia, “… I’m utterly mature.” Not sure that’s the case when readers see that vampire tykes have growing up issues like anyone else, which is an element I appreciated in the book. In one scene, Bethany doesn’t want to take her VitaVamp because, “It tastes worse than broccoli!” Does that mean, if you like broccoli, that it would taste really yummy? Guess we’ll never actually know …

Vampalicious! (Feb. 26. 2008).

How much would it rock to have an identical twin to exchange places with? Even if that twin’s a vampire? And you aren’t just any bunny, but a vegetarian bunny, and suddenly your vampire twin tells you that your new favorite food is Marshmallow Platelets?! Maybe that’s a moot point if it means switching places so your twin can experience something she’s only dreamed of or to save your twin some emotional anxiety. Perhaps it’s their last hurrah before Ivy moves, not just across town or even a different state, but to Europe. They just met a few months ago, and suddenly Ivy’s dad has declared they’re making a move. He’s even found an all-girls vampire academy in Luxembourg for Ivy to attend. Hooray. (So not.) Ivy, Olivia and their friends conspire to find a way to convince Mr. Vega to stay. But what way is that?

             I wouldn’t say these books amaze me, but I continue to enjoy how cute they are. The little nuances Mercer puts in are fun. It’s not the most ingenious, and others might say there are too many clichés, but so what? They’re fun. In this fourth story, the timeline is scooting ever closer to Christmas. Do vampires believe in Santa Claus? No. They have the HB -- a.k.a. the Holiday Bat. See? Like I said, cute.

Take Two (Jan. 3, 2011).

If you’ve ever had a celebrity crush, nod knowingly to yourself at this time. Now, how many of you have actually met your celebrity crush? If you’ve accomplished this, feel free to do a happy dance of success in the presence of at least one other person (who also happens to be recording you). In “Take Two,” Olivia gets to meet her longtime crush, teen actor Jackson Caulfield. Amazingly, he’s in Franklin Grove to shoot scenes for his newest film The Groves. The movie cast and crew have taken over the local eatery, the Meat and Greet. Olivia doesn’t mind, as Jackson has been paying attention to her. They really seem to mesh well, but Ivy is worried. Not because of Jackson’s status (famous); she’s concerned that he has vampire tendencies.

            So Book 5 of the series is extra fantastical. It’s already obvious that vampires are involved in the series, and on top of that this story added a famous teen sensation who just happened to be filming a movie scene in their little town and he also happened to develop a crush on one of the main characters. But it keeps the tone of Mercer’s other books in the series: light, fun, cute. Also: pink, happy cheerleader and dark, Goth vampire. Go team!

Love Bites (Mar. 7, 2011).

The twins have packed their bags and are off to Transylvania to meet their birth dad’s side of the family. It turns out this part of the family is vampire royalty. While that sounds pretty cool, both Olivia and Ivy are missing their boyfriends. Olivia isn’t even sure where she stands with hers. She’d tried to visit him right before she left, but the surprise visit was far less than she’d hoped it would be. On top of it all, she was expecting she wouldn’t fit in with her vampire side of the family, but with the fancy clothes, mannerly meals and royal etiquette, she fits in better than Ivy. Ivy feels like she has all the grace of a bull in a ballroom. And on their arrival day, they meet the Crown Prince of Transylvania, Prince Alex, who seems very down-to-earth and is welcoming of the both of them. He is not biased in his views regarding vampires and humans. In fact, he seems to find Olivia quite intriguing, reciting poetry to her on lone walks and inviting her ice skating. Is he being genuinely friendly or does he have an ulterior motive?

            I liked that Mercer told a story in a totally different setting. She really took both of them out of their elements of comfort: away from home, friends and family they know. I appreciated the direction she took with Olivia and Ivy as well. Instead of Olivia being stereotypically out of place as the only human, she made her comfortable amongst vampires and created discomfort for Ivy, the one we’d think would fit right in with her fellow vampire kind.

Overall Impression:

As far as advanced chapter books go, the first six books in this series are good. They’re light, easy reads. However, they’re probably too frothy for diehard vampire lovers and also for mature readers that would prefer something more (whether that be darker or more romantic, etc.).