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Blog Tour: Blood Born by Jamie Manning Review and Giveaway
I’m thrilled to be part of the Blood Born blog tour, hosted by Once Upon a Twilight. Today I will share my review of Blood Born, Jamie Manning’s paranormal debut. You also can enter for your chance to win an eBook of Blood Born and some exclusive swag.
Book: Blood Born by Jamie Manning (Blood Prophecy Trilogy, #1), Pendrell Publishing, YA Paranormal. eBook available now, hardcover available April 24th.
Blood Born Summary from Goodreads:
Waking up in a coffin hungry for blood is only the beginning for sixteen-year-old Ava Blue. When Chance Caldon, the hottie who dug her up, tells her that she’s half vampire, Ava’s world really turns upside down.
Half vamp? Ava can’t believe it… she doesn’t even know what that means! Not until Aldric, a thousand-year-old vampire, shows up and tells her it’s true–and that he’s the one who turned her. Then Ava truly begins to believe what she is. Now she has to deal with a sudden and powerful bloodlust, the desire to see Aldric dead, and her growing crush for Chance. Ava knows she’s a monster now, she can feel it; and her life is over.
But redemption isn’t lost. Aldric is giving her a chance to regain her humanity. The price? Kill a hundred vampires, or remain a bloodsucker forever.
So Ava sets out to get her life back. But killing vampires begins a battle that could destroy everything she is working toward. In the end, Ava’s decisions will forever change her life and the lives of those she loves.
Review:
I daresay vampires are back, though did they ever really go away? I for one am glad to see more vampire books popping up again, especially with the scary blood-thirsty kind of vampires found in Jamie Manning’s Blood Born. Blood Born is the first book in the Blood Prophecy Trilogy and is about a girl named Ava who wakes up in a coffin underground to find she’s been reborn a vampire. Good thing she has Chance, the boy who dug her out of the grave, to help her. But a new vampire is not the safest person to be around if you know what I mean. All Ava has to do to get out of her dire predicament is kill 100 vampires and she’ll be human again. Part Vampire Diaries and Buffy the Vampire Slayer; Blood Born is scary and fun.
There’s a lot of mystery and secrets surrounding Ava’s new vampire existence. She has no memory about her past life at all. Since this is the first book in a series, there are hints about Ava and the other vampire players to whet your appetite, but we are in the dark along with Ava for the most part. Ava seems like a normal high school student, but when the fangs come out—watch out. Ava has a great sense of humor though, and I was rooting for her to be strong and hold on to her humanity.
The romance is really well done, and Ava and Chance have a lot of potential. And it doesn’t seem like there’s a love triangle, so thank goodness for that. Chance is a great guy, but he has secrets of his own to keep things interesting. I am very curious to see where their relationship goes in the sequel.
Ava has her own Scooby gang of vampire hunters to help her in her quest. It is a different twist to have a vampire bond with vampire hunters but Ava can use all the help she can get. The fighting and action are exciting and Manning is fearless in putting his characters in danger. There is death and mayhem, and when it’s all over you will be craving the sequel like a newborn vampire craves blood.
Blood Born is witty, action packed, fun, surprising and romantic. And it’s not too scary to read only during during the day, though there is definitely some bloodshed. Recommended for YA paranormal romance fans, this is an enjoyable quick read sure to please those looking for a fresh vampire tale. Bring on the sequel.
Check out the Book Trailer:
Buy the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Connect with Jamie Manning here: Blog | Blood Prophecy FB | Twitter | Goodreads
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GIVEAWAY has ended – Congrats to Amber who has won an ebook copy of BLOOD BORN & book swag!
Thanks again to Once Upon A Twilight for hosting the tour. Be sure to click here to see all the tour stop information and enter all the great giveaways. And, to be entered in the Grand Prize giveaway be sure to leave a comment at every stop.
Follow the next stop on the tour tomorrow at A Book Lover’s Review.
Bloodlines by Richelle Mead
Book: Bloodlines by Richelle Mead, Razorbill, August 23, 2011
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
Format/pages: Hardcover 432 pages
Format read/Source: Won a copy of the ARC, finished August 2 2011
Series: Book #1 in the Bloodlines series, a Vampire Academy spin-off
Rating: 4 / 5 Stars
Pre-order: Amazon | Indiebound | The Book Depository | Barnes & Noble
Teaser chapter: Read the first chapter of Bloodlines here
The new Vampire Academy spin-off kicks off in a promising way with a blend of familiar and new characters and fresh mysteries to solve. Bloodlines has a similar feel and rush to it as Vampire Academy but with a new setting and a new protagonist to get to know. Favorite side characters from Vampire Academy get a chance in the spotlight this time around and we get a better glimpse into the world of the alchemists. The cast of characters blends very well, and the first book in the series sets the stage for another thrilling journey.
Disgraced alchemist Sydney Sage has a lot to prove on her next mission. She has fallen out of the alchemists’ good graces because of her role in hiding the fugitive dhampir Rose Hathaway. She is suspected of getting too friendly with the vampires, so now she has to ace this new job of protecting moroi Jill Mastrano, the half sister of Queen Vasilisa Dragomir, or she faces a dreaded re-education. She is sent to a boarding school in Palm Springs, CA to pose as Jill’s sister and help protect her from the rebels who want her dead so that the Queen will have to rescind her throne. The idea is that vampires would not come looking for Jill in such a sunny climate. Sydney has help on her mission in the form of guardian Eddie and everyone’s favorite Spirit-using moroi Adrian.
It’s hard not to compare the new main character Sydney to that of Vampire Academy heroine Rose. Sydney is more restrained and by the book. She’s intelligent and inquisitive but is still very uncomfortable with magic and being around vampires, which makes this an awkward situation. She is somewhat clueless in matters of the heart and still getting her feet wet in her leadership role. However, she does show potential for growth, and I’m curious to see how things progress with her character in future installments.
The secondary characters from Vampire Academy take on bigger roles in the spin-off. Adrian is back to help protect Jill and try to figure out how to move on with his life. His humor helps to lighten the mood of the story. Eddie is the lead guardian who feels he has something to prove, and Jill is trying to adjust to this new life on the run. I found myself somewhat losing interest with Jill’s issues and found her a bit lackluster. Sydney is a more compelling character overall, though she also has her quirks. It will be interesting to see how the characters evolve over time.
Besides protecting Jill, there are other mysteries occurring in Palm Springs that keep the team plenty busy. Some of the mysteries get resolved, and others will keep you waiting for the next book. The alchemist role is interesting, and we learn more about their tattoos and their purpose. Looking forward to finding out more about the alchemists in future books.
Overall this book is an intriguing beginning to a new series. It was easy to get involved with the story because so many of the characters are familiar, and there are even surprise guest appearances to help the transition along. There is plenty of action and mystery, and the characters show some promising chemistry. There is not much in the way of romance in this book, but judging from the Vampire Academy series it’s only a matter of time. The conclusion of Bloodlines definitely left me wanting more, and I’ll be anxiously awaiting the next installment The Golden Lily due out in May 2012.
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Afterlife by Claudia Gray
Book: Afterlife (Evernight #4) by Claudia Gray
Published by: HarperTeen, March 8, 2011
Genre: Young Adult
Format/pages: Hardcover 368 pages
Format read/Source: ARC courtesy of NetGalley
Date read: October 11 2010
Rating: 4 / 5 Stars
Synopsis from the author’s website (includes spoilers for books 1-3)
Bianca and Lucas have always believed they could endure anything to be together. When a twist of fate not only transforms Bianca into a ghostly wraith, but also turns Lucas into a vampire—the very creature he spent his life hunting—they are left reeling.
Haunted by his powerful need to kill, Lucas can turn to only one place for help… Evernight Academy. Bianca is determined to remain with him. But with the vampire leader of Evernight waging a war against wraiths, her former home has become the most dangerous place she could be, despite the new powers her transformation has given her.
A battle between wraiths and vampires looms, and Bianca and Lucas face a terrifying new reality. They’ve overcome every obstacle life has thrown at them, but is their love strong enough to survive the challenges after life?
My Thoughts:
The Evernight series has always set itself apart in the world of YA vampire books. From the first book on there have been many surprises in this series that have kept it interesting. Keeping the series at four books feels right for the story. I don’t feel short-changed or that the series has been dragged out for too long. The author certainly does not shy away from controversial plot twists and has kept the suspense going strong. The last book HOURGLASS was a rollercoaster ride for her characters, as Bianca and Lucas found themselves becoming their own worst nightmare. AFTERLIFE is an exciting finale to the series, with the usual twists and turns. The conclusion provides answers and ties up all the loose ends. The ending is satisfying overall and in keeping with the series.
Appropriately the final book returns back to the series’ roots and back to Evernight Academy. Lucas needs some help adjusting to being a vampire and Evernight is just the place for him. In addition to supporting Lucas, Bianca also has her own path to follow. Bianca is adjusting to her new existence and her new wraith superpowers that make her the hope and envy of all the wraiths. She is also trying to maintain her relationship with Lucas now that he is a vampire. She hopes her parents will welcome her back even though she is now a wraith. Old favorites such as Balthazar, Vic and Ranulf are also at Evernight to provide their usual support and humor. Mrs. Bethany is up to her old tricks, and we find out some of her history that provides some insight into her behavior.
This book is evenly paced and kept my interest throughout. It builds nicely on the tension from the last book and kept me on the edge of my seat trying to guess the outcome for our favorite characters. The action builds to an exciting, yet bittersweet conclusion. I recommend this series for fans of YA paranormal series set in boarding schools. It is a fast-paced series full of surprises with plenty of action and romance. You can read the first book, EVERNIGHT, for free for a limited time here courtesy of HarperTeen.
It softens the blow to know that a spin-off book will follow featuring none other than Balthazar. BALTHAZAR is due to be released in March 2012. While you are waiting for Balthazar, the author also has a standalone book coming out about werewolves on the Titanic titled FATEFUL, due in September 2011.
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Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel
Description from the Publisher (St. Martin’s Griffin):
“Throughout all my histories, I found no one I loved more than you…no one.”
Those were some of Rhode’s last words to me. The last time he would pronounce his love. The last time I would see his face.
It was the first time in 592 years I could take a breath. Lay in the sun. Taste.
Rhode sacrificed himself so I, Lenah Beaudonte, could be human again. So I could stop the blood lust.
I never expected to be sixteen again…then again, I never expected my past to come back and haunt me…”
Book: Paperback 336 pages
Published: August 2010
Date Read: July 7 2010
Book Source: ARC
My Thoughts:
Infinite Days is the first book in a new paranormal YA trilogy by debut author Rebecca Maizel.
Infinite Days is a fresh take on the vampire genre. Like many vampires, the centuries old vampire Lenah Beaudonte would like to become human again. Her vampire maker and lover Rhode suffers the ultimate sacrifice to make Lenah’s dream a reality. Now, sixteen year old human Lenah attends high school and learns how to be a regular teenage girl in modern times. Lenah also is on the run from her former vampire coven who want their queen to return. We learn more about Lenah’s violent vampire past through flashbacks. Can Lenah escape her past and live out a normal human life?
Infinite Days is a gripping and emotional read that has stayed with me since I finished it weeks ago. The beginning of the story has a languid pace while we get to learn Lenah’s history and as she gets acclimated to her new life. Most of the book takes place at a boarding school where Lenah stands out due to her outdated manner of dress and lack of knowledge of technology of the last 100 years. She is uncomfortable hanging around humans, but she manages to make a friend, Tony, who helps to show her the ropes. Tony is not supportive of Lenah’s attraction to Justin Enos, and her getting mixed in with the popular crowd.
I liked the mix of the dark vampire flashbacks mixed in with the light boarding school days, but felt more interested in the vampire story. I hope to read more of the vampire history in the next book, and especially more about Rhode.
The sequel, Stolen Nights , is due out in March 2011.
Recommended for readers of YA and vampire fans, even if you are sick of the genre – give this one a try.
4 Stars
Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris
Cover via Amazon
Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I was so happy to receive my Amazon preorder a day before the release date, so I got to finish this one a little early.
Dead in the Family is book 10 in the Sookie Stackhouse series. I was not too sure what to expect with this one, but I really enjoyed getting reacquainted with this series! Since it has been a year since the last book, it was hard for me to remember some of the details of where we left off. Luckily it was easy to pick up the story again.
I was quickly caught up in this book, and impatient to read to the end. As the title suggests, the theme of family is front and center for many of the main characters. Sookie spends some time with her fae relatives including Claude, as well as getting to know her cousin Hunter a little better.
Sookie is adjusting to her new vampire marriage with Eric, and mending her relationship with Jason, which is nice to see. We meet some new vampires and weres as well. Since there are so many characters in this series now, it is hard to spend very much time with any of them. For instance, I hope there is some mention of Arlene in the next book. I was excited to get more of the vampires’ back stories though.
The pace is a little slower than in previous books, not as much action. However, the pace did feel right for this story. There was a lot of set up and transition for what’s to come.
I liked that there is a little nod to True Blood the tv series in the book.
There is a lot of change in the air for many of the characters, and I can’t wait to read what happens next!
Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey
Cover via Amazon
Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was a very amusing book for me to read while I was home with a cold. It’s a cute funny story about a high school girl Jessica Packwood whose world is turned upside down when Lucius Vladescu shows up to say Jessica is a Romanian vampire princess and he is her vampire fiancee!
Lucius moves in with the Packwoods and starts attending high school with Jessica. It is really funny to see Lucius adapt to life in Jessica’s small town. The story is told by Jessica’s perspective, but we also get a glimpse into Lucius’ mind through hilarious and sarcastic status letters he writes to his uncle. He writes about his progress with convincing Jessica to go back with him to Romania, and about his boring classes, and the vegan food the Packwoods serve. As a vegan that was a treat to see a vegan family represented, however stereotypically. 
Lucius helps Jessica with her confidence, and body image issues, and also with dealing with her vampire heritage by giving her a copy of Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire’s Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions.
There are twists and turns along the way, and it kept me guessing on how the story was going to end. An enjoyable read all around! I look forward to reading more from this author.
Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Sophie Mercer is a teen witch. She has been experimenting with her new powers by casting love spells, etc. But her spells are starting to attract attention (prom night love spell gone very wrong), and her human mother & absentee warlock father thinks it’s time that she learn to control her powers at a special school.
At Hecate Hall Sophie rooms with a vampire, and attends classes with other witches and warlocks, faeries and shape shifters. There is also a mysterious string of deaths occurring at the school that surround Sophie.
Sophie still feels like an outsider at school. She is not as advanced at her powers as her classmates. Her peers and instructors also judge her due to her warlock father’s position in their society. She does not know who she can trust.
There is also a potential love interest with Archer, a popular warlock at Hecate Hall.
The premise is something we have seen before with Evernight, and perhaps Vampire Academy and Harry Potter (with a sprinkling of Mean Girls), but I think Hex Hall really shines with it’s humor. Sophie has a great sense of humor, and the dialogue is fresh and very funny at times.
The ending sets up the sequel very well, and I will be picking up: Demonglass
