I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I wanted not to love this. I failed miserably.
Let’s be honest: I’ve been reading about Vampires and their battles since Anne Rice introduced to the world angsty and brooding battles between Louis and Lestat. This YA series starter (I hope) has it all: Enemies to Lovers, Found Family, Vampires, Slayers, Alchemy and Egyptology, while being based in a modern-day Atlanta. The main character is a mouthy, reluctant heroine from Texas with some gaps in her memory and an amazing grandmother.
The world-building gets a little detailed, but I give Harris a pass because well – we’re dealing with centuries of vampire politics. There’s intrigue, mystery, battles as well as some twists and turns, not to mention a slow-burn romance you can’t help but root for.
The cadence and the perspectives of the book reminisce of Charlaine Harris (the True Blood series) and Tracy Wolff (the Crave series) and pays homage to Queen Buffy and others with pop culture references throughout.
Characters 4
Story 4
World-Building 4
Spice 2 (I mean, it’s YA, so …)
Would I buy this book for myself or a friend? Yes
Will I recommend this book to readers? Yes
