Review: Eve, Anna Carey

Publisher: Harper Collins
Pages: 336
Genre: Dystopian, YA
Release: October 2011
Source: ARC from Book Ecpo America
Nice to know: Eve is Anna Carey's debutnovel, and the first book in a planned trilogy. There are currently plans about making the books into a TV - Series by the people who make the Vampire Diaries come to life on screen.

The year is 2032, sixteen years after a deadly virus—and the vaccine intended to protect against it—wiped out most of the earth’s population. The night before eighteen-year-old Eve’s graduation from her all-girls school she discovers what really happens to new graduates, and the horrifying fate that awaits her.  Fleeing the only home she’s ever known, Eve sets off on a long, treacherous journey, searching for a place she can survive. Along the way she encounters Caleb, a rough, rebellious boy living in the wild. Separated from men her whole life, Eve has been taught to fear them, but Caleb slowly wins her trust...and her heart. He promises to protect her, but when soldiers begin hunting them, Eve must choose between true love and her life.

A disappointing dystopian

Eve was one of the YA - books I was mostly looking forward to this year. The premise for the novel sounded interesting, even though there are a lot of dystopian books being published these days. Sadly the book didn't live up to my expectations.

A virus have killed a lot of people, and the remaing population are trying to build a new society behind the walls of a new town founded in the desert. Boys and girls are kept separate, and attend separate boarding schools. Eve is 16 years old, and was taken away from her mother when her mother got infected with the virus. Eve has lived most of her life inside the walls of her school, and she is looking forward to her graduation and to utilize some of the talents she has been tought over the years. The girls have been taught that life outside the school's walls are dangerous, and that boys and men are not to be trusted. They will only take advantage of a girl.

a relationship between two people can be judged by the list of things unspoken between them.

The day before her graduation, Eve makes a discovery that makes her question everyting she has been told. She understands that a horrible fate awaits her, and escapes from the school and out into a world where she does not know who she can trust.

for days in the wild, only the birds spoke to me. The stream was the only hand that touched me, the wind the only breath tht blew the dust from my eyes. I learned the strange art of loneliness, the weathered yearning that swells and passes, swells and passes, when you walk a trail alone.

Eve comes off to a good start. The author sets the atmosphere, and I am instantly interested in finding out more about Eve and her world. The suspense continues until Eve meets Caleb, from that point I lost interest in the story. Considering the things Eve have been taught at school, I find it hard to believe that Caleb and his friends gain Eve's trust so fast. The pace of the story also changed, and made me think of Lord of the Flies.

I also had a hard time sympatizing with Eve, my sympathies was with another female character. She had all the qualities I look for in a YA - heroine. Eve was to weak in my opinion, and I did not understand her motivations, for example I was puzzled that she chose to flee from school and leave her best friend in the arms of a terrible, terrible fate. Eve also has a hard time surviving by herself, she needs help from other characters.

Happiness is a moment.

Later in the book, when Eve meets Marjorie Cross, I thought that the author was inspired by the Stand by Stephen King.

On the back of the ARC Eve is compared to the Hunger Games. That is not a good comparison. Eve does not come close to Katniss, and the book lacks a lot of the depth one can find in the Hunger Games.

Eve is a light read, that will entertain you in the moment. But it is not a book I wil remember for long, and that makes me sad because the story had so much potensial. Anne Carey is a good writer, she knows her way around words, but Eve was not my favorite dystopian read.


Other reviews:
I Swim for Oceans
Reading Teen
Chick Loves Lit

Anna Carey's website can be found here, and you can visit the author on Goodreads here.

Review: The House at Riverton

Publisher: Schibsted (Norwegian Publisher)
Pages: 511
Release: In Norway in 2008
Source: Bought
Good to know: This is Kate Morton's debutnovel






Summer 1924: On the night of a glittering Society party, by the lake of a grand English country house, a young poet takes his life. The only witnesses, sisters Hannah and Emmeline Hartford, will never speak to each other again.

Winter 1999: Grace Bradley, 98, onetime housemaid of Riverton Manor,is visited by a young director making a film about the poet’s suicide. Ghosts awaken and memories, long-consigned to the dark reaches of Grace’s mind, begin to sneak back through the cracks. A shocking secret threatens to emerge; something history has forgotten but Grace never could.

Set as the war-shattered Edwardian summer surrenders to the decadent twenties, The House at Riverton is a thrilling mystery and a compelling love story.

Evocative, historical read

The House at Riverton will appeal to readers who love great, British epics with stories from a bygone time.

A great tragedy unfolds at the mansion Riverton an evening in 1924. The two sisters, Emmeline and Hannah witness the tragic event. As the years go by, the event gets shrouded in mystery. 75 years later, a female director is eager to make a movie about the tragedy. She meets up with the housemaid Grace, who worked at Riverton at the time. Grace is the only one who knows the whole story, and when she starts talking about the past, old memories resurfaces.

I had heard so many great things about this book, and it is not difficult to understand why it has become so popular. The book has everything you would want from a great epic novel: secrets and mysteries, love and tragedies, betrayal and loyalty, all wrapped together in a historical blanket. Kate Mortom appears to have done a lot of research on the periods she writes about. It is almost as if one can hear the rustling of the gowns and smell Chanel no five.

Morton's language suits the novel, and the dialoges are written in a way that makes them seem appropriate for the time they were spoken.

The book is quite entertaining at times, but unfortunatey I didn't find myself fully immersed in the story before it was almost over. The book is too long, and a lot of the secrets revealed did not come as a surprise for me.

But if you enjoy historical novels from Britain, you may want to check this one out.

Other reviews:

Book Bliss

Tiny Little Reading Room

Playing Librarian

Kate Morton's website

Kate Morton at Goodreads

Review: Long Lankin, Lindsey Barraclough

Publisher: Bodley Head Children's Books
Pages: 448
Release: April 2011
Source: E - book bought by me

















A chilling, beautiful debut novel inspired by a haunting folk song about murder, witchcraft and revenge. Beware of Long Lankin, that lives in the moss ...When Cora and her little sister Mimi are sent to stay with their elderly aunt in the isolated village of Bryers Guerdon, they receive a less than warm welcome, and are desperate to go back to London. But Auntie Ida's life was devastated the last time two young girls were at Guerdon Hall, and now her nieces' arrival has reawoken an evil that has lain waiting for years. A haunting voice in an empty room ...A strange, scarred man lurking in the graveyard ...A mysterious warning, scrawled on the walls of the abandoned church ...Along with Roger and Peter, two young village boys, Cora must uncover the horrifying truth that has held Bryers Guerdon in its dark grip for centuries - before it is too late for Mimi. Intensely atmospheric and truly compelling, this is a stunning debut.

Unused potensial

I like the idea of basing a novel upon a scary folk song, but this novel is unfortunatly not that scary.

The year is 1959. Cora and Mimi are sisters, and are spending the summer at their aunts place in an old village. They soon discover that they are not welcome here, and their aunts wants them to leave. Her house is not that friendly either. The stairs creak at night, there are chilling paintings on the walls, and the house appears to be haunted. Cora and Mimi get to know two local boys, Roger and Peter, and together they discover something scary on the cemetery. They discover that the village is home to something very special...

I first heard of Long Lankin when I was at the London Book Fair in April this year. The publishers said that it was one of their best titles this spring, and it was supposed to be very, very scary. That triggered my curiosity, and back at my hotelroom I bought the kindle version of the book.

The book starts with the old folk song Barraclough based her story on. A scary song, that is not sutable for the youngest kids:

So he pricked him, he pricked him all over with a pin,
And the nurse held the basin for the blood to flow in

Then th story continues with Cora and Mimi, who are on their way to their aunt. We are told, through Cora's eyes, that they are poor.

The perspective in the book changes between the main characters. Sometimes I liked this, because it made the story progress more rapidly. Other times I found it tiresome. But my main objection about this book is that I didn't find it scary. There is too much time passing before anything thrilling happens, the first 200 pages were a bit slow. I was constantly waiting for something to happen. And when the story really takes off, there is too much going on at once.

There is no question that Barraclough knows how to write a scary story, when we eventually gets to the scarier parts. Those pages would have scared me when I was a child. Maybe the book would have been better if it had been shorter.

I am going to read the next book from this author, but Long Lankin didn't quite do it for me.

Other reviews:
Cively Loves Books
Book Chick City
Writing from the tub

Lindsey Barraclough on Goodreads

The Booktrailer:

Review: The Iron Witch

Publisher: Flux
Pages: 290
Format: Paperback
Released: January 2011



















When the darkest outcasts of Faerie—the vicious wood elves—abduct Navin, Donna finally has to accept her role in the centuries old war between the humans and the fey. Assisted by Xan, a gorgeous half-fey dropout with secrets of his own, Donna races to save her friend—even if it means betraying everything her parents and the alchemist community fought to the death to protect.Freak. That's what her classmates call seventeen-year-old Donna Underwood. When she was seven, a horrific fey attack killed her father and drove her mother mad. Donna's own nearly fatal injuries from the assault were fixed by magic—the iron tattoos branding her hands and arms. The child of alchemists, Donna feels cursed by the magical heritage that destroyed her parents and any chance she had for a normal life. The only thing that keeps her sane and grounded is her relationship with her best friend, Navin Sharma.

An easy read

Not original, an easy read - but holds promise for the next installment.

Donna Underwood has been through tragedy. Her father was killed by a vicious fey when she was a little girl, and her mom went mad. She now lives with her aunt and spends her time with her best friend Navin. He is the only one that likes her - at school she is labeled as a freak. But soon, Donna's life is about to go in a whole new direction. She meets Xan at a party and soon dramatic events unfolds.

The Iron Witch was an easy book to get in to, at first. The writing flows easily and you are a bit curious about Donna and her past. But, there is a but: It takes too much time before there is actually anything happening. You read about Donna's life, her interaction with Navin and her past - but that's just about it. There is nothing here to compel me to go on reading.

I didn't get under Donna's skin and I felt that Navin became to vague. When he is kidnapped, I didn't feel Donna's anxiety for him. It was more like: Ok, so now that he is gone can we please get down to real business and get to know Xan a little bit more pleae? I never really got emotionally involved in the story. It was more like: an easy read - easily forgotten.

I also felt that the book was not that original, but my main problem with this was that it reminded by too much of The Iron King. Here are some examples:

* The first sentence in both books are very much alike:
Ten years ago, on my sixth birthday, my father disappeard.
(Quote from the Iron King)
My father died saving my life when I was seven years old.
(Quote from the Iron Witch)

* In the Iron King, Meghan must enter the fairy world to save her brother Ethan. In order to get to this world, she gets help from Robbie. In the Iron Witch, Donna must enter the realm of the Woodelves to save her best friend Navin. In order to get to this world, she gets help from Xan.

* Both of the covers have ornaments on them. Like this:































And I will not mention the obvious part about the titles of both books being almost a match.

That said, the book also had it's qualities. The language worked well, and when things really started to happen - in the last part of the book - I got more intrigued. I really like the dark world the author has created for the woodelves and I am really looking forward to reading more about that.

So all in all I think this was a book that could have been a little more original. But I will also go on reading the next installment in this series because I believe the author is talented enough to give us something more unique in the next book.

Other reviews:
Wondrous Reads
Book Chick City
Tales of the Ravenous Reader
All Things Urban Fantasy

Karen Mahoney's webpage
Goodreads

Review; XVI, Julia Karr

Publisher: Speak
Pages: 272
Format: Paperback
Release: Januar 2011






Nina Oberon's life is pretty normal: she hangs out with her best friend, Sandy, and their crew, goes to school, plays with her little sister, Dee. But Nina is 15. And like all girls she'll receive a Governing Council-ordered tattoo on her 16th birthday. XVI. Those three letters will be branded on her wrist, announcing to all the world—even the most predatory of men—that she is ready for sex. Considered easy prey by some, portrayed by the Media as sluts who ask for attacks, becoming a "sex-teen" is Nina's worst fear. That is, until right before her birthday, when Nina's mom is brutally attacked. With her dying breaths, she reveals to Nina a shocking truth about her past—one that destroys everything Nina thought she knew. Now, alone but for her sister, Nina must try to discover who she really is, all the while staying one step ahead of her mother's killer.

Interesting, but not engaging

Imagine a future where every girl age sixteen or older has a tattoo on her wrist, signaling that she is ready to have sex. This is the world Nina Oberon lives in. The year is 2150, and Nina is soon going to turn sixteen and become a "sex-teen". Nina's best friend Sandy is looking forward to be what the government has labeled sexually mature, Nina is not.

This is a society where the government runs everyhing and there is a gap between citizens. People on welfare, for example, are feed non-healthy food to keep them overweight. The NonCons are trying to act against the goverment, and anyone being a NonCon can be arrested.

This book is a dystopian kind of fiction, and the main theme is sexuality and the sexual pressure teens must face. And that makes it an important and an interesting read. Unfortunately the book did not succeed in holding my interest and keeping me engage in the story. I constantly felt my thoughts straining whilst reading. The author has too much information on the future society pouring through the pages in the beginning, that I felt it hard to be engage in Nina and her story. We get a lot of descriptions about the world around her, but hardly anything about what she is feeling inside. That changes during the progress of the book, and we get a more complex picture of Nina. But sadly that was not enough for me.

I also had a hard time understanding some of the slang in this book. Maybe that is because I am Norwegian, but I would have prefered a list over unusual words and words made up for this book in the back.

I think this is a book that will be an interesting read in a class where the students may discuss the text afterwards. But I think the novel goes to too many lenghts to deem sex an evil thing that must be avoided at all costs, and some of the characters were a bit one dimensional. I mean, just being a guy does not meea your are about to have sex with every girl you see.


Other reviews:

Ya Librarian Tales
Phoebe North
Bloggers Heart Books

Review: Wildthorn ( Possible spoiler)

Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books
Pages: 368
Format: Paperback
Source: Bought
Release date: February 6th 2009















" Seventeen-year-old Louisa Cosgrove longs to break free from her respectable life as a Victorian doctor's daughter. But her dreams become a nightmare when Louisa is sent to Wildthorn Hall: labeled a lunatic, deprived of her liberty and even her real name. As she unravels the betrayals that led to her incarceration, she realizes there are many kinds of prison. She must be honest with herself - and others - in order to be set free. And love may be the key... "

Background:
"Wildthorn is written by Jane Eagland, a former English teacher who quit her job to take her writing seriously. Eagland had her debut in 2005 with the book "Second best", an illustrated children's book. "Wildthorn" came out in 2009, and in 2010 Eagland published "Whisper my name". "Wildthorn" is inspired by a true story.

The story:
Louisa Cosgrove thinks she is on her way to a family called the Woodvilles, to be a companion to their eldest daughter, when she instead is taken to an asyluk: Wildthorn. The people working here insists that her name is not Louise Cosgrove, but Lucy Childs. There is no explanation as to why she has been brought to Wildthorn and not to the estate of the Woodvilles. The story is set in the Victorian era.

Main Character:
Louisa Cosgrove is not a typical Victorian girl. Almost every Victorian girl dreamed about marrying, that was their ambition in life: be married to a wealthy man. Louisa on the other hand dreams about being a doctor and her father, who is a doctor, starts to educate her. Louisa is curious, has a great mind and is often misunderstood by her mother. Her brother Tom is jealous of her, I think it is because she is a daddy's child.

The Book:
I picked up this book mainly because of two reasons:
1) The cover is gorgeous'
2) The novel is set in the Victorian era

I was instantly brought into the story. The book is an easy read, and there is always something happening. You can easily finish it in one of two sittings ( I did)

The book is written in present tense. I must admit that I am not particulary fond of that, but lucky it didn't ruin the story this time. There is a lot of mystery going on: why has Louisa been brought to Wildthorn? Is there some kind om mistake? I had to keep on reading.

The way the people were treated in the asylums of the day, are horrendous. They were subjected to all kinds of brutality and Louisa gets to experience this first hand.

As the story unfolds, we are offered glimps into Louisa's past that may shed a light on the mystery in this book and why she has been brought to "Wildthorn". I had not read a lot about this book before, so a lot of the things that are revealed came as a big surprise to me. The book reminded me of Sarah Water's books, if you like her stories you will love Wildthorn.

All in all this was a great read, which I highly recommend. I would love to read more from this author.


Visit the author's website here!

Other reviews for this book:
Escape in a Book
A Trillian Books
Smexy Books

Review; Sweet Little Lies, Lauren Conrad

Publisher: HarperCollinsChildren'sBooks
Pages: 320
Format: Paperback
Source: Review copy















" In TV star Lauren Conrad's delicious, entertaining novel about young Hollywood, the lies are only as sweet as the people telling them. Jane Roberts was the average girl next door until she and her best friend Scarlett Harp landed their own reality show, L.A. Candy. Suddenly they found themselves thrown into the public eye with VIP tickets to everything. But the starlets quickly discover that fame goes hand in hand with scandal when Jane finds herself the centre of attention for all the wrong reasons. Even her relationship with Scarlett is threatened. Things go from bad to worse when Scarlett falls for a guy who is strictly off limits… In reality TV nothing stays secret for long and with all this drama L.A Candy's ratings rocket. The show is a bona fide hit - but can the girls stand another season in the spotlight?"

Background:
"Sweet Little Lies" is the second book in the series L.A. Candy. The first book, L.A. Candy, was released in juni 2009 and went straight on to the NYT bestsellerlist. The author, Lauren Conrad, has become famous for her role in the tv - series "The Hills", but she has stated that the events in the bookseries is pure fiction.

Story:
Jane Roberts has escaped from Hollywood, and has gone into hiding with her friend Madison. The press is all over Jane, after pictures where Jane is with another guy who is not her boyfriend, have been leaked to them. Little does Jane know that Madison is behind the whole thing. And with Jane missing, Scarlett is now the star of the TV - show. But one cannot hide forever, and soon Jane must go back and confront the unfortunate events and the press. And she must do so in full view of the TV - cameras. Unbeknowst to Jane, Madison is doing her best to destroy her image, but will she succeed?

Main character:
Jane Roberts is 19 years old were excited when she got her own reality show, but she is soon to find out what the drawbacks of success are. Sometimes I think she is a bit naive, and I also thought she rubbed Scarlett of way to fast when Scarlett tried to tell her who was behind leaking the photos to the press. I would have listened to my best friend in a case like that, and not trusted a girl I had just started hanging with. But I liked that Jane had the couraged to confront Jesse about what she had done, and tell him that she was sorry. But I actually liked Scarlett way better than Jane. She was much more sensitive and likeable.

The book:
I must confess that I was a bit biased towards this book, before I started reading it. I have never watched "The Hills" and I am not a typical girly girl. But I was in for a surprise. This book consumed me. Once I started reading, I could not put it down. And it amazed me just how addictive the book was. A bit like chocolate really, sweet, easy to consume and you can't seem to stop once you have started eating.

"Sweet Little Lies" is not a craftly written book, but the writing flows easily and there is always something happening that makes you turn page after page. I was eager to learn more about Jane, and how the problems in her life was going to be solved. I cheered for Scarlett, and cursed Madison ( what a bitch).

"Sweet Little Lies" is a light read, perfect for the beach or for snuggling up in the sofa when you just want to relax. This is not nobel prize - material, and the book is not something that you will be thinking about a long time after you have read it. In a sense the book is like a reality show: very enganging once your are in it, and easily forgotten when you are through. But we need books of that kind too, and I am actually looking forward to reading "Sugar & Spice".

Visit Lauren Conrad's website here.

Other reviews for this book:
We Adore A Happy Ending
Late Bloomer Online
Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf

Review: Feast of Fools, Rachel Caine

Publisher: Allison & Busby
Pages: 325
Format: Paperback
Source: Bought











" In the town of Morganville, vampires and humans live in relative peace but Claire Danvers has never been convinced - especially with the arrival of Mr Bishop, an ancient, old-school vampire who cares nothing about harmony. What he wants from the town's living and its dead is unthinkably sinister."

Background:
"Feast of Fools" is the fourth book in Rachel Caine's series about the Morganville Vampires. The book came out in the uk in february 2009.

The Story:
A new, sinister vampire has arrived in Morganville. Mr Bishop is Amelie's father, and he is not fond of the humans. Claire, together with a doctor in town, has found a cure that may make Myrnin sane, at least that is what she thinks. And her parents have arrived, and gets to see for themselves what Morganville really can offer. Mr Bishop is arranging a Feast of Fools, and almost everyone in town is invited. Tensions rise between Eve and Michael, when he decides to invite Monica, instead of Eve, to the party.

Main character:
Claire Danvers has had a great progress and development since the first book in this series. She is not so shy anymore and stands up for herself. Monica and her gang of girls does not frighten her, the way they used to. I like the new Claire, she grows from book to book.

The book:
This is the weakest book in this series. It takes too much time before there is any action and dramatic events. The book was kinda slow and I was waiting for something more interesting to happen. The cliffhanger in the end was ok, but I am not rushing to read the next installment ( which I off course will).

I actually enjoyed most reading about Amelie in this book. She is a facinating character and I think Helen Mirren would have done a great job playing her in a movie. He hear Mirren's voice, when I read Amelie's words.


Other reviews:
YaVampireBooks
The Bokette
Chrissie's Corner

Review: Reckless, Cornelia Funke

Publisher: CappelenDamm ( Norwegian Publisher)
Pages: 352
Source: Review copy sent as part of a Norwegian blog tour















" For years, Jacob Reckless has been secretly disappearing to another world, a world behind a mirror, a world for which his father abandoned his family. The mirror world is Jacob's escape from reality. It's a place for treasure hunts and magnificent quests. A world where witches haunt the forests and giants and dwarfs roam. A world locked in a deadly war. Jacob's secret seems safe, until one day his younger brother Will follows him, with disastrous consequence. Faced with a curse that is quickly turning Will to stone, the Reckless brothers are thrust into a race against time to find a cure before Will is lost forever. Inspired by the Brothers Grimm, master storyteller Cornelia Funke introduces a lush, enchanting world where fantasy meets reality. Reckless is a thrilling adventure, a tale of heroism and loyalty, filled with danger, mystery, and magic--with fairy tales and legends re-imagined as never before."

Background:
Cornelia Funke is a German author, and is currently residing in Los Angeles, USA. She has been writing for children since the 1980s. Her best known series in the Inkheart Trilogy. Funke has received many awards for her work and was named one of th most influential people of 2005 by Time Magazine. "Reckless" is her newest novel, and the book is inspired by the fairytales of the Brothers Grimm. It is the first book in a planned series.

The Story:
For many years, Jacob Reckless have been visiting the Mirrorworld. He has travelled a lot, met many dangers and found artifacts we have read about in the old fairytales. Now he is about to make another journey, and this time it is personal. Will, his younger brother, is about to be turned into a Goyl - a human being with a skin of stone. Jacob must try to reverse this process, before it is to late. Clara, Will's girlfriend, and Fox is accompanying them on their journey.

Main Character:
Jacob Reckless is the main character in this book. He is daring, seeks adventure and is something of a rebel. He cannot stay at a place for to long, but is always in need of experiencing new stuff. And he likes the taste of fear, because when he is scared he is able to forget other feelings. He is deeply affected by the loss of his father. His father disappeared when Jacob was a young boy and Jacob misses him a lot.

It seems to me that Funke has spent most of her time creating the details of the Mirrorworld, instead of developing the characters in this book. Jacob is not described very well, we never get to the core of who he really is and what he actually is feeling inside. He also lacks a bit of motivation.

The Book:
"Reckless" is a marvellous book that is hard to put down. It reminds me of the Chronicles of Narnia, where the main characters also visit another world. The Mirrorworld is home to a lot of strange creatures. You have a man that seems like a copy of Freddy Krûger, you have witches and fairies and off course Goyls, to name a few.

There is a lot of references to wellknown fairytales in the story. You will recognize Hansel & Grethel, Sleeping Beauty and many more.

"Reckless" is an ambitious novel, and Funke is not able to land the story properly. Some of the scenes are a bit hastily written: we read about a dramatic event, but before we get the chance to dwell on what has actually happened, we are thrust into another dramatic scene. The book has a too rapid progression and it only scrapes the surface.

That said: "Reckless" was a good read. I enjoyed the book, and when I started reading, it was hard to put it down. I finished ii in one sitting. I think the book will appeal mostly to teens, boys and girls, aged 12 - 18.

I also liked the use of illustrations in the book.

Other reviews for this book:
Chicklish
Reading Teen
The Book Bind

Read more about "Reckless" here.

And here is the book trailer:

The Vampire Diaries by L.J. Smith

Publisher: Hachette Children's Book
Pages: 400
Format: Paperback
Source: Bought from Play.com
















"Vampire Diaries centres on Elena (Dobrev), a tragic heroine who is the object of passion of two vampire brothers. In The Awakening, Elena Gilbert is used to getting what she wants and she wants mysterious new boy, Stefan. But Stefan is hiding a deadly secret - a secret that will change Elena's life for ever ... In The Struggle, Elena is torn between her boyfriend, Stefan, and his brother, Damon. But these brothers hide dark secrets and a tragic past that threatens them all. Damon wants to lead Elena astray - and he'd rather kill Stefan than let him possess her..."
(From Play.com)

Background:
"The Vampire Diaries" were originally published as a trilogy in 1991. The readers were not content with only three books, so L.J. Smith wrote a fourth, The Dark Reunion, which was published in 1992. I 1998, a spin-off of the series: The Vampire Diaries, the Return was released. The books re-entered the bestsellerlists after the sucess of Twilight. L.J. Smith is currently writing a new vampire trilogy, the first book will be named "Phantom".

Story:
In "The Awakening" and "The Struggle" we are introduced to Elena Gilbert, who lives at Fell's Church. Her parents are dead, so she lives with her aunt. Elena is popular at school, everybody wants to be her friend, and the boys dream about her. But Elena's life is turned upside down when a new boy, Stefan Salvatore. begins at her school.

Main character:
I had a hard time getting into the first book in this series, and the reason for this is Elena Gilbert. I thought she was spoiled, shallow and could not empathise with her. I almost started rooting for her enemies. One of Elena's friends Bonnie, on the other hand, is described as much more likeable. My impression of Elena changed during book 2, "The Struggle". As the story unfolds, Elena becomes more modest and humble. It almost felt like the author needed to write the first book, just to get under Elena's skin.

The book:
I thought book 1 was quite average, book 2 on the other hand was way better. I did not find any of them particularily thrilling or suspenseful, but perhaps that is due to the fact that I used quite some time before I liked Elena.

One thing I am curious about though: Why is is that so many of the main characters in these paranormal series have parents that for some reason are not around? In Elena's case, they are dead. Ever's parents in "The Immortals" are also dead. Luce from "Fallen" lives at a boarding school, away from her parents. Bella's parents in Twilight are divorced and Zoey in "The House of Night - series" has a troubled relationship with her parents. Ethan Wate's mother in "Beautiful Creatures" are also dead and Ethan has a hard time getting through to his dad.

Is it easier for the authors to establish a relationship between the main character and the paranormal when the parents are not around to watch out for their little one? Or is it simply because every teenager wants to distance themselves from their parents, and it is therefore easier for them to get lost in these books if the main character's parents are not around?

L.J. Smith's website is here.

Other reviews:
Love Vampires (Book 1)
Love Vampires ( Book 2)
The Story Siren