ninamariak's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
tarrareads's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
๐ซ๐๐ ๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ณ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฑ๐๐๐๐๐๐
โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ
๐ถ๐ถ
๐ ๐ฉ๐ถ๐ฎ๐ข๐ฏ ๐จ๐ช๐ณ๐ญ ๐ด๐ฆ๐ข๐ณ๐ค๐ฉ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ ๐ด๐ช๐ด๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ, ๐ข ๐จ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐บ ๐ท๐ข๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ช๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ฃ๐ฐ๐ฅ๐บ๐จ๐ถ๐ข๐ณ๐ฅ ๐ช๐ฏ ๐ค๐ฉ๐ข๐ณ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ฌ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฑ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ ๐ข๐ญ๐ช๐ท๐ฆ, ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ข ๐ฎ๐ข๐ญ๐ช๐ค๐ช๐ฐ๐ถ๐ด ๐ค๐ณ๐ฆ๐ข๐ต๐ถ๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ฉ๐ถ๐ฏ๐ต๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ฎ ๐ฅ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฏ. ๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ต ๐ค๐ฐ๐ถ๐ญ๐ฅ ๐จ๐ฐ ๐ธ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐จ?
โโโโโโ
"๐ฝ๐ช๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ... ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ๐ ๐ข๐ค๐๐ฃ๐จ... ๐จ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐ก๐๐ ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ... ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ ๐๐จ ๐ค๐ฃ๐ก๐ฎ ๐๐ค๐ง ๐ข๐."
It was a fun read but I did find it completely predictable and it didn't hold my attention as much as I thought it would. There were no surprises for me, unfortunately. Definitely saw everything coming. If you want Twilight / Vampire Diaries with some spice, then this is for you. My expectations were definitely higher going in but overall I give it 3 stars.
โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ
๐ถ๐ถ
๐ ๐ฉ๐ถ๐ฎ๐ข๐ฏ ๐จ๐ช๐ณ๐ญ ๐ด๐ฆ๐ข๐ณ๐ค๐ฉ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ ๐ด๐ช๐ด๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ, ๐ข ๐จ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐บ ๐ท๐ข๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ช๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ฃ๐ฐ๐ฅ๐บ๐จ๐ถ๐ข๐ณ๐ฅ ๐ช๐ฏ ๐ค๐ฉ๐ข๐ณ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ฌ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฑ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ ๐ข๐ญ๐ช๐ท๐ฆ, ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ข ๐ฎ๐ข๐ญ๐ช๐ค๐ช๐ฐ๐ถ๐ด ๐ค๐ณ๐ฆ๐ข๐ต๐ถ๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ฉ๐ถ๐ฏ๐ต๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ฎ ๐ฅ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฏ. ๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ต ๐ค๐ฐ๐ถ๐ญ๐ฅ ๐จ๐ฐ ๐ธ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐จ?
โโโโโโ
"๐ฝ๐ช๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ... ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ๐ ๐ข๐ค๐๐ฃ๐จ... ๐จ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐ก๐๐ ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ... ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ ๐๐จ ๐ค๐ฃ๐ก๐ฎ ๐๐ค๐ง ๐ข๐."
It was a fun read but I did find it completely predictable and it didn't hold my attention as much as I thought it would. There were no surprises for me, unfortunately. Definitely saw everything coming. If you want Twilight / Vampire Diaries with some spice, then this is for you. My expectations were definitely higher going in but overall I give it 3 stars.
kmaller01's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
nushkyreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
douglas_doesnt_read's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Vampires in Australia, yes please. FMC drinking a flat white, priceless.ย
The story is fast moving and itโs a fun read. My only reason for a 4 is that some of the characters decision making or changes of heart felt extremely fast paced. Which forced me out of the story telling a little. But, Iโve been reading some chunky, fantasy sagas recently and this was a welcome change. All the tropes and themes I love to read about but easily digestible. Couldnโt put it down!ย
Really want to read more from Lauren.ย
The story is fast moving and itโs a fun read. My only reason for a 4 is that some of the characters decision making or changes of heart felt extremely fast paced. Which forced me out of the story telling a little. But, Iโve been reading some chunky, fantasy sagas recently and this was a welcome change. All the tropes and themes I love to read about but easily digestible. Couldnโt put it down!ย
Really want to read more from Lauren.ย
tilly_wizard's review
adventurous
fast-paced
1.5
ย This was kind of a wild ride and not necessarily in a good way, but the author did make a couple of unexpected choices and it's always a novelty to be taken by surprise while reading contemporary genre trash.
I will get my worst indictment out of the way first, which is to say that this book includes multiple of those loathsome conversations which have become ubiquitous in contemporary/urban fantasy/romance, where, upon being introduced to some aspect of the supernatural world, the characters exclaim over how this (fairly bog-standard) fantasy setting isn't at all like the silly fantasy books they've read (or films they've watched, etc). This always comes off as the author protesting too much in defense of their own originality, and it's particularly egregious in the case of this book, which is being explicitly marketed as a combination of two other hugely famous vampire stories that have so far defined early 21st century vampire fiction.
Unfortunately, as a pastiche of The Vampire Diaries (TV version) and Twilight (which is the big selling point proclaimed on the back of the book), it isn't very good.
Most notably, the vampires aren't hundreds of years old, which isn't exactly a hate-crime against vampire fiction as a subgenre, but it does feel a bit like missing the point and consequently I think this will miss the mark for a lot of readers (e.g. me) who are fascinated by vampires/demons/gods/wizards etc etc because of the fact that they've experienced so much of the histories of their worlds in a way that can never be truly comprehended by us mere mortal readers. From a wish-fulfillment angle, this guy (Hunter) has the supernatural handsomeness and thuggish SJM-style slavering "protectiveness" over his "mate" which obviously a lot of people are into, and he speaks Italian which I think is supposed to give him some classic European aristo appeal (lmao), but I wouldn't be able to pester him to tell me about (say, for example) his personal philosophical debates about the nature of damnation with Dante Aligheri in the 13th century, so he wouldn't do anything for me even if I wasn't super gay.
The best aspects of TVD are the complex of relationships between the sprawling cast of characters, all of whom reflect various facets of one another (e.g. the initial conflict between the Salvatore brothers contrasts Elijah's touching but self-destructive loyalty to Klaus; the initial portrayal of Stefan as the friendly, self-loathing vampire and Damon as the hedonistic monster is upended by the reveals of Stefan's past identity as 'the Ripper' and Damon's tragic idealism; Elena's genuine friendship with Bonnie is contrasted with Katherine's dubious alliance with Emily; and so on), and the sense of place and time (both present and past) which is imbued into the town of Mystic Falls, which greatly increases the emotional stakes for both the characters and the audience, in this series of constant battles to save not just the people they love, but also this beloved home. Admittedly, by modern expectations the show did a fucking awful job of approaching the town's Confederate history with anywhere near the appropriate level of sensitivity, but the point is that a great deal of effort was put into developing the setting.
This book doesn't have the benefit of either of those creative choices - the handful of characters are quite shallow and it's a short book so we don't see much of most of them, and even scenes that should be "easy wins" for character-building aren't made use of because everything (other than the sex scenes of course) is so vaguely sketched (e.g. the characters watch movies but we are never even told what the movie is about, let alone how the characters feel about it); the romance leans very heavily on the overpowering attraction of magical vampire mating bond and the physical sexiness of the characters in lieu of emotional depth. Notably, quite a lot of pages are spent on developing the various relationships of the one character who dies at the end; on the one hand, this is a good thing because as a result he does feel like an actual main character who is part of the core cast group and not just a prop (even though he is blatantly death-flagged), but on the other hand, all those pages were spent on relationships which almost inevitably aren't going to matter much in the sequel, except as a memory.
The setting which gives its name to the series is the town (and vampire haven) of Red Thorne, but Raya is a stranger in town, and half the story (including the climactic showdown) takes place out of town anyway, so there's no exploration of the local quirks or history of the place.
The POV rotates amongst Raya and Hunter and an unnamed third character called "The Predator" (strangely, he remains unnamed in the chapter titles even after his identity has been revealed), who is stalking our heroes with some kind of violent intent, leading one to naturally assume that "The Predator" must be Hunter's evil brother Kian, but in the climactic battle, it turns out "The Predator" is actually a hitherto unknown vampire seeking to avenge his murdered family.
Definitely the most surprising aspect of this story was that it doesn't appear to be working towards a love triangle, and that Kian is regarded purely as a 'psychopathic' villain, seemingly without any sympathetic hidden depths. There is a suggestion that he has Daddy Issues but it was throwaway enough that I don't expect we're going to get a second book full of psychoanalysis about it.
I am so torn about this because generally I fucking hate love triangles but considering the inspirational source material for this book it feels like such a waste of a character. I consider TVD to be one of the only good love triangle (or square) premises ever ("premise", not necessarily "execution") because the story is just as much about the reconciliation of the brothers as it is about which one Elena will end up with, with the romantic drama between Stefan, Damon, Elena, and Katherine being the catalyst for that.
All that being said, the first Vampire Diaries book wasn't anything particularly special either, and arguably neither was the first Twilight book, so where there's sequels there's hope.ย
I will get my worst indictment out of the way first, which is to say that this book includes multiple of those loathsome conversations which have become ubiquitous in contemporary/urban fantasy/romance, where, upon being introduced to some aspect of the supernatural world, the characters exclaim over how this (fairly bog-standard) fantasy setting isn't at all like the silly fantasy books they've read (or films they've watched, etc). This always comes off as the author protesting too much in defense of their own originality, and it's particularly egregious in the case of this book, which is being explicitly marketed as a combination of two other hugely famous vampire stories that have so far defined early 21st century vampire fiction.
Unfortunately, as a pastiche of The Vampire Diaries (TV version) and Twilight (which is the big selling point proclaimed on the back of the book), it isn't very good.
Most notably, the vampires aren't hundreds of years old, which isn't exactly a hate-crime against vampire fiction as a subgenre, but it does feel a bit like missing the point and consequently I think this will miss the mark for a lot of readers (e.g. me) who are fascinated by vampires/demons/gods/wizards etc etc because of the fact that they've experienced so much of the histories of their worlds in a way that can never be truly comprehended by us mere mortal readers. From a wish-fulfillment angle, this guy (Hunter) has the supernatural handsomeness and thuggish SJM-style slavering "protectiveness" over his "mate" which obviously a lot of people are into, and he speaks Italian which I think is supposed to give him some classic European aristo appeal (lmao), but I wouldn't be able to pester him to tell me about (say, for example) his personal philosophical debates about the nature of damnation with Dante Aligheri in the 13th century, so he wouldn't do anything for me even if I wasn't super gay.
The best aspects of TVD are the complex of relationships between the sprawling cast of characters, all of whom reflect various facets of one another (e.g. the initial conflict between the Salvatore brothers contrasts Elijah's touching but self-destructive loyalty to Klaus; the initial portrayal of Stefan as the friendly, self-loathing vampire and Damon as the hedonistic monster is upended by the reveals of Stefan's past identity as 'the Ripper' and Damon's tragic idealism; Elena's genuine friendship with Bonnie is contrasted with Katherine's dubious alliance with Emily; and so on), and the sense of place and time (both present and past) which is imbued into the town of Mystic Falls, which greatly increases the emotional stakes for both the characters and the audience, in this series of constant battles to save not just the people they love, but also this beloved home. Admittedly, by modern expectations the show did a fucking awful job of approaching the town's Confederate history with anywhere near the appropriate level of sensitivity, but the point is that a great deal of effort was put into developing the setting.
This book doesn't have the benefit of either of those creative choices - the handful of characters are quite shallow and it's a short book so we don't see much of most of them, and even scenes that should be "easy wins" for character-building aren't made use of because everything (other than the sex scenes of course) is so vaguely sketched (e.g. the characters watch movies but we are never even told what the movie is about, let alone how the characters feel about it); the romance leans very heavily on the overpowering attraction of magical vampire mating bond and the physical sexiness of the characters in lieu of emotional depth. Notably, quite a lot of pages are spent on developing the various relationships of the one character who dies at the end; on the one hand, this is a good thing because as a result he does feel like an actual main character who is part of the core cast group and not just a prop (even though he is blatantly death-flagged), but on the other hand, all those pages were spent on relationships which almost inevitably aren't going to matter much in the sequel, except as a memory.
The setting which gives its name to the series is the town (and vampire haven) of Red Thorne, but Raya is a stranger in town, and half the story (including the climactic showdown) takes place out of town anyway, so there's no exploration of the local quirks or history of the place.
The POV rotates amongst Raya and Hunter and an unnamed third character called "The Predator" (strangely, he remains unnamed in the chapter titles even after his identity has been revealed), who is stalking our heroes with some kind of violent intent, leading one to naturally assume that "The Predator" must be Hunter's evil brother Kian,
Definitely the most surprising aspect of this story was that
I am so torn about this because generally I fucking hate love triangles but considering the inspirational source material for this book it feels like such a waste of a character. I consider TVD to be one of the only good love triangle (or square) premises ever ("premise", not necessarily "execution") because the story is just as much about the reconciliation of the brothers as it is about which one Elena will end up with, with the romantic drama between Stefan, Damon, Elena, and Katherine being the catalyst for that.
All that being said, the first Vampire Diaries book wasn't anything particularly special either, and arguably neither was the first Twilight book, so where there's sequels there's hope.ย
wyvness's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
4.0
**๐ช Review:**
"Die for You" by Lauren Jackson invites readers into a world of vampires, suspense, and a brewing romance that's impossible to resist. As a debut work, Jackson shows her prowess in crafting a tale that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
The story opens with Raya, the sole survivor of a tragic accident that supposedly claimed her sister, Cora. But things are not what they seem, as a chance encounter with a blood-thirsty vampire named Hunter unravels a web of deception. Raya, determined to uncover the truth about her sister, finds herself bound to Hunter in an unbreakable bond.ย
One of the book's standout features is the captivating chemistry between Raya and Hunter. It's a slow-burning attraction, steeped in tension, and punctuated by witty banter. Hunter, the grumpy vampire with a mysterious past, is the epitome of a brooding hero, while Raya, with her strength, resilience, and determination, is a relatable protagonist. Her journey of self-discovery and empowerment is one of the narrative's central themes.
The plot is woven with threads of suspense, adventure, and supernatural intrigue. The introduction of a menacing predator adds a layer of danger that propels the story forward.ย
However, the pacing of the narrative could use some fine-tuning. Some events unfold a bit too quickly, leaving readers craving more depth and detail in certain areas. While the story's setting in Australia is a refreshing change, more vivid scene descriptions could enhance the reader's immersion in the story's unique environment.
"Die for You" is a promising start to a series that's set to explore more supernatural adventures. If you're a fan of "Twilight" or "Vampire Diaries," you'll find this book captivating. Lauren Jackson's storytelling has a magnetic quality that keeps you engaged from the first page to the last.
As the debut instalment, this book leaves you with a sense of anticipation. It teases that the story has just begun, hinting at even more twists, mysteries, and a romance that will continue to blossom in the upcoming novels.
With "Die for You," Lauren Jackson introduces readers to a world of supernatural allure, suspense, and an unbreakable connection between Raya and Hunter that's impossible to ignore. It's a book that will have you eagerly awaiting the next in the series. So, settle in for a tale of twists, mysteries, and the irresistible allure of a grumpy yet utterly charming vampire protector. "Die for You" will have you turning pages late into the night.
๐๐ #BookReview #DieForYou #VampireTales #Supernatural #DebutNovel
"Die for You" by Lauren Jackson invites readers into a world of vampires, suspense, and a brewing romance that's impossible to resist. As a debut work, Jackson shows her prowess in crafting a tale that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
The story opens with Raya, the sole survivor of a tragic accident that supposedly claimed her sister, Cora. But things are not what they seem, as a chance encounter with a blood-thirsty vampire named Hunter unravels a web of deception. Raya, determined to uncover the truth about her sister, finds herself bound to Hunter in an unbreakable bond.ย
One of the book's standout features is the captivating chemistry between Raya and Hunter. It's a slow-burning attraction, steeped in tension, and punctuated by witty banter. Hunter, the grumpy vampire with a mysterious past, is the epitome of a brooding hero, while Raya, with her strength, resilience, and determination, is a relatable protagonist. Her journey of self-discovery and empowerment is one of the narrative's central themes.
The plot is woven with threads of suspense, adventure, and supernatural intrigue. The introduction of a menacing predator adds a layer of danger that propels the story forward.ย
However, the pacing of the narrative could use some fine-tuning. Some events unfold a bit too quickly, leaving readers craving more depth and detail in certain areas. While the story's setting in Australia is a refreshing change, more vivid scene descriptions could enhance the reader's immersion in the story's unique environment.
"Die for You" is a promising start to a series that's set to explore more supernatural adventures. If you're a fan of "Twilight" or "Vampire Diaries," you'll find this book captivating. Lauren Jackson's storytelling has a magnetic quality that keeps you engaged from the first page to the last.
As the debut instalment, this book leaves you with a sense of anticipation. It teases that the story has just begun, hinting at even more twists, mysteries, and a romance that will continue to blossom in the upcoming novels.
With "Die for You," Lauren Jackson introduces readers to a world of supernatural allure, suspense, and an unbreakable connection between Raya and Hunter that's impossible to ignore. It's a book that will have you eagerly awaiting the next in the series. So, settle in for a tale of twists, mysteries, and the irresistible allure of a grumpy yet utterly charming vampire protector. "Die for You" will have you turning pages late into the night.
๐๐ #BookReview #DieForYou #VampireTales #Supernatural #DebutNovel
karlis_library's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I had no idea what to expect from this book. Apart from Twilight when I was in my early teen, I haven't read a vampire book before.ย
I loved this book, from the get go. It was fast paced and easy to follow. The world building wasn't complicated, but was just enough to give us a clear view of the world we were diving into. It have off some Twilight vibes for me, but better (I still love twilight).ย
There were twists and turns along the way and I was kept guessing along the way. There was a good amount of spice and romance along with wit and banter. I pretty much read it in one sitting, I just couldn't put it down.ย
I loved this book, from the get go. It was fast paced and easy to follow. The world building wasn't complicated, but was just enough to give us a clear view of the world we were diving into. It have off some Twilight vibes for me, but better (I still love twilight).ย
There were twists and turns along the way and I was kept guessing along the way. There was a good amount of spice and romance along with wit and banter. I pretty much read it in one sitting, I just couldn't put it down.ย
ashlynldavis1's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5