Vampire’s KissAuthor: Veronica Wolff
Release Date: March 6, 2012
Publisher: NAL Trade
Watchers #2
ISBN: #978-0451235725
Genre: Young Adult (Paranormal)
Format(s): Paperback (# pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
IF YOU’RE GOING TO BE PARTNERED WITH A VAMPIRE, YOU HAVE TO WORK THE NIGHT SHIFT.
By her wits, blood, and sacrifice, so far Drew has survived the intensive training on the Isle of Night. As a second-year Acari, her ultimate goal is to become a Watcher, and now she has a shot at her first mission. Except nothing is as it seems. The vampire Alcántara is as sinister as he is sexy, Ronan is more distant than ever, and it turns out there are other vampires out there. Bad ones.
Ancient, bloodthirsty, and powerful, these undead are really old school. They’ve captured one of the Watcher vamps and are torturing him for information. The only chance to save him is to infiltrate a major summit the baddies are holding on their own island. There will be mortals there, serving as butlers, maids, and various hired help. Drew had better brush up on her skills as a serving girl, because she’s about to go undercover…
But, when their vampire prisoner turns out to be a gorgeous bad boy, Drew’s first mission quickly turns into more than she bargained for…
What G & U are talking about:
Vampire’s Kiss is the second novel in the young adult series, Watchers. After the amazing cliffhanger ending to the first novel, this second installment was not quite what we expected, but Gikany and Una were not disappointed.
The Watchers series continues to be a very interesting young adult series. Drew is a complex character who struggles with both the situation she finds herself in and to try to retain her sense of self while doing what she needs to do to survive her environment. She is both a young lady maturing into a reluctant champion and an insecure girl struggling to grow up. The inner battle that Drew wages with herself struck a chord with us. We related to her being intellectually mature and yet having much to learn about life, social situations, and the opposite sex.
Vampire’s Kiss ramps up the tension of living on the Isle of Night as more information is gleaned about the vampires and life on the island. The preparations for Drew’s first mission are brutal as are the lessons she learns about the consequences of being not only the teacher’s pet, but also a vampire’s pet. Her world expands as she finds out that there are other groups of vampires out there…and they aren’t as friendly as the vampires she is currently trying to survive.
Drew truly is the center of the novel and yet, the way Ms. Wolf weaves some of the other supporting characters into the novel, you find them in your heart as well. A character we truly loved is gone and the implications of her death give Drew a wakening slap. No one, unless you are vampire, is safe on the island.
The only disappointment (though that is too strong a word) we had was that, the book blurb implies that the book will be mostly about the mission. However, the majority of the novel is the preparation for the mission. But so much happens during the preparations, it makes sense. Then the mission, the whirlwind that it is, explodes with consequences and implications for the next novel, Blood Fever (due out in August 2012). Ms. Wolfe continues to enchant you with a gripping storyline. Vampire’s Kiss is a fast read simply because you cannot put it down. Gikany and Una look forward to Blood Fever to see if the connection between Drew and the new vampire she meets on her mission will be her saving grace or her downfall.
Their Rating:
Loved it – enthusiastically recommend (A)
Series Purchase Info:
Wow, makes me wonder what all could go on in preparation for a mission. Sounds like a wonderful series thus far. Thanks for the review.
@Angela Brown – it is a great series. I would put it on par with The Hunger Games…
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