erin_oriordan_is_reading_again's review
4.0
'The Loss' is an appropriate title for this book, which centers on Klaus Mikaelson's oh-so-very ill-fated marriage.
I didn't read the first book in this trilogy, so I don't know if Vivianne Lescheres was an important character in that book. If she was, I'm guessing the plot of that one centered on the 1722 battle between the Mikaelsons (the Original vampires) and the witches over who would rule New Orleans. We learn from 'The Loss' that the battle culminated in witch-induced hurricane and an explosion, and that Vivianne died.
Now it's 1766. The Mikaelsons rule New Orleans with a firm hand, keeping the witch clans at bay in the surrounding swamplands. The werewolves, too, have fled the city for fear of Klaus. And Klaus still mourns Vivianne. She's the great love of his long, long, unnatural life.
...Which leads to a terrible decision. Pining for his lost love, Klaus goes to the leader of the witches, Lily Leroux, with an opal pendant from his witch mother. The pendant has magical properties, and Lily uses it to bring Vivianne back from the land of the dead.
This is a lesson literature has tried to teach us before. Bringing someone back from the dead worked out very poorly in Stephen King's [b:Pet Sematary|10583|Pet Sematary|Stephen King|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1308894674s/10583.jpg|150017], in Douglas Clegg's [b:Isis|6535079|Isis|Douglas Clegg|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1436066794s/6535079.jpg|24787], and in J.K. Rowling's "Tale of the Three Brothers" in [b:The Tales of Beedle the Bard|3950967|The Tales of Beedle the Bard|J.K. Rowling|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1373467575s/3950967.jpg|3007490]. Klaus is many centuries old by the 18th century and should have known better.
The side effect of the spell creates an evil not yet seen in the Vampire Diaries world: zombies. In fact, Vivianna herself is slowing becoming more and more like the walking undead, who have a penchant for eating the hearts out of living things. Their first victim is Elijah's lover, Ava.
Don't worry about Elijah, though - he's learned not to get too attached to other vamps who aren't his siblings. By the end of the book, he's moved on to the lovely gray-eyed vamp Lisette.
Is Lisette a character on the show? I haven't watched very much of 'The Originals,' although I'm familiar with Elijah, Rebekah, and Klaus from the TV version of 'The Vampire Diaries.'
Some of the most delicious bits of this book are Klaus's love scene with Vivianne and Elijah's love scene with Lisette. Rebekah doesn't get a love scene in this one, unfortunately. The great love of her life, Eric Moquet, lost his life in the hurricane.
Klaus is a difficult character to love because of his destructive tendencies, but I find Rebekah quite sympathetic. She causes her fair share of destruction as well, but she's also been epicly mistreated by her older half-brother.
"By" Julie Plec is a bit of a misnomer; this was ghostwritten, with Plec credited as creatrix of the 'Vampire Diaries' spin-off. She gets a lot of fandom hate, but I like her a whole lot more now that I know her horror film credits include 'Cursed,' the stupidest werewolf movie I ever loved.
I received this book through the Amazon Vine program in exchange for an honest review.
I didn't read the first book in this trilogy, so I don't know if Vivianne Lescheres was an important character in that book. If she was, I'm guessing the plot of that one centered on the 1722 battle between the Mikaelsons (the Original vampires) and the witches over who would rule New Orleans. We learn from 'The Loss' that the battle culminated in witch-induced hurricane and an explosion, and that Vivianne died.
Now it's 1766. The Mikaelsons rule New Orleans with a firm hand, keeping the witch clans at bay in the surrounding swamplands. The werewolves, too, have fled the city for fear of Klaus. And Klaus still mourns Vivianne. She's the great love of his long, long, unnatural life.
...Which leads to a terrible decision. Pining for his lost love, Klaus goes to the leader of the witches, Lily Leroux, with an opal pendant from his witch mother. The pendant has magical properties, and Lily uses it to bring Vivianne back from the land of the dead.
This is a lesson literature has tried to teach us before. Bringing someone back from the dead worked out very poorly in Stephen King's [b:Pet Sematary|10583|Pet Sematary|Stephen King|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1308894674s/10583.jpg|150017], in Douglas Clegg's [b:Isis|6535079|Isis|Douglas Clegg|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1436066794s/6535079.jpg|24787], and in J.K. Rowling's "Tale of the Three Brothers" in [b:The Tales of Beedle the Bard|3950967|The Tales of Beedle the Bard|J.K. Rowling|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1373467575s/3950967.jpg|3007490]. Klaus is many centuries old by the 18th century and should have known better.
The side effect of the spell creates an evil not yet seen in the Vampire Diaries world: zombies. In fact, Vivianna herself is slowing becoming more and more like the walking undead, who have a penchant for eating the hearts out of living things. Their first victim is Elijah's lover, Ava.
Don't worry about Elijah, though - he's learned not to get too attached to other vamps who aren't his siblings. By the end of the book, he's moved on to the lovely gray-eyed vamp Lisette.
Is Lisette a character on the show? I haven't watched very much of 'The Originals,' although I'm familiar with Elijah, Rebekah, and Klaus from the TV version of 'The Vampire Diaries.'
Some of the most delicious bits of this book are Klaus's love scene with Vivianne and Elijah's love scene with Lisette. Rebekah doesn't get a love scene in this one, unfortunately. The great love of her life, Eric Moquet, lost his life in the hurricane.
Klaus is a difficult character to love because of his destructive tendencies, but I find Rebekah quite sympathetic. She causes her fair share of destruction as well, but she's also been epicly mistreated by her older half-brother.
"By" Julie Plec is a bit of a misnomer; this was ghostwritten, with Plec credited as creatrix of the 'Vampire Diaries' spin-off. She gets a lot of fandom hate, but I like her a whole lot more now that I know her horror film credits include 'Cursed,' the stupidest werewolf movie I ever loved.
I received this book through the Amazon Vine program in exchange for an honest review.
poojha2's review
5.0
There are some parts when I wished to slap klaus for his distrust for his siblings. How can he think that his siblings hate him?? When everything they did was to protect him. A quality I adored about the originals.. Klaus - His love for viv. Though he's selfish, he loved her with whole heart. Elijah - His passion to keep his siblings together. Rebekah - Though she hated klaus, she never intended to let him get hurt. It was fascinating to read. The way originals ripped the heart out of undead witches astonished me. I was awestruck.. I know it's kinda weird to feel like this. I can't help it, because I am die hard fan of klaus.
Lisette is a new turned vampire by none other than klaus. She had no fear for the originals. She planned strategies and helped the originals during the war. I am feeling epic while reading it. It was a awesome journey with the originals. Now I am eager to read the next book in this trilogy.
Lisette is a new turned vampire by none other than klaus. She had no fear for the originals. She planned strategies and helped the originals during the war. I am feeling epic while reading it. It was a awesome journey with the originals. Now I am eager to read the next book in this trilogy.
amylouise96's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
abstract18's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
jasmyn9's review
4.0
Things don't look so good in the Mikaelson family at the end of book one, but they are looking a tad bit better at the beginning of The Loss. Rebekah has moved on from the loss of her love and is enjoying her "life" again. But Klaus - always the brooding type - refuses to accept the fact that his love is gone.
In typical Klaus fashion, that I've grown to love to hate, he takes off on his own path and finds a way to get what he wants. But, as always, it comes with a price that he doesn't realize. Soon the family finds themselves under attack by strange undead zombie like creatures. And every night there are more of them. Instead of banding together the siblings really fragment and go in three different directions here. While I expected Klaus to do his own thing and not really give a crap, I was surprised to see it from the other two, especially the oh so mature Elijah.
Over all this was a very exciting addition to their history. I really enjoyed seeing just how all the witch/werewolf/vampire rivalries got started and their affect on the lives of the people of New Orleans.
*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*
In typical Klaus fashion, that I've grown to love to hate, he takes off on his own path and finds a way to get what he wants. But, as always, it comes with a price that he doesn't realize. Soon the family finds themselves under attack by strange undead zombie like creatures. And every night there are more of them. Instead of banding together the siblings really fragment and go in three different directions here. While I expected Klaus to do his own thing and not really give a crap, I was surprised to see it from the other two, especially the oh so mature Elijah.
Over all this was a very exciting addition to their history. I really enjoyed seeing just how all the witch/werewolf/vampire rivalries got started and their affect on the lives of the people of New Orleans.
*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*
lmmiller93's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
klaudiakoczi's review
3.0
Just message to the author
Pls read some fanfics just to practice writing better erotic/sexual scenes
Pls read some fanfics just to practice writing better erotic/sexual scenes
m3l89's review
4.0
The Loss is set 40 years after The Rise and it seems that not much has changed. Klaus is still angry over the death of Vivienne and plans to have her resurrected once he can find a compliant witch. The main change is that the Mikaelsons are no longer forbidden from creating new vampires, they now run the city.
I really enjoyed this, the Vivienne element was a nice plot. I did get a little bored towards the end, but will definitely read the last in the trilogy.
I really enjoyed this, the Vivienne element was a nice plot. I did get a little bored towards the end, but will definitely read the last in the trilogy.
christy82984's review
2.0
Spoilers, y'all!
What in the world was this book? Klaus, married? Rebekah plays a prank at the wedding? That makes zero sense, what is she, seven? Zombie things eating hearts, everywhere?
What a hot mess. And Klaus will never be able to love that way again? How stupid to put that in the book, knowing about Camille and Caroline? I can't, y'all.
What in the world was this book? Klaus, married? Rebekah plays a prank at the wedding? That makes zero sense, what is she, seven? Zombie things eating hearts, everywhere?
What a hot mess. And Klaus will never be able to love that way again? How stupid to put that in the book, knowing about Camille and Caroline? I can't, y'all.
sabitrikkhatri's review
dnf @2%
love the television adaptation
niklaus has my whole heart, don't know what that says about me (love a broken, bad boy)
love elijah too, see above about my superior tastes
kol grew on me
that is to say, barely made it through the first book, absolutely could not get through this at all
hard pass, just felt like a whole other thing come out of left field
felt it had no connected to the tv adaptation stoyline
love the television adaptation
niklaus has my whole heart, don't know what that says about me (love a broken, bad boy)
love elijah too, see above about my superior tastes
kol grew on me
that is to say, barely made it through the first book, absolutely could not get through this at all
hard pass, just felt like a whole other thing come out of left field
felt it had no connected to the tv adaptation stoyline