bluemaiden's review against another edition
dark
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death
dereadergal's review against another edition
3.0
A bit of a different twist to the "regular" vampire character and story plot that are normally depicted in recent vampire books, in that these vampires aren't strong blood-sucking killers, but are "reformed" and a bunch of weaklings. I had a bit of a hard time keeping up with who each character was, since thee wee lots of econdary characters, and at times it was a bit of a long winded section of the story that I ended up skimming to get through. However, it did manage to keep my interest 'til the end, and it was mostly entertaining, but I wouldnt encourage anyone to dash out to get the book and read it. Instead maybe if you're a vampy fan like I am, and get the urge one day to read a different take, go ahead and try it.
kandicez's review against another edition
4.0
This book was fun. It wasn't a smashing good time, but absolutely fun. Jinks has a new take on Vampires. Not only are they not indestructibly beautiful, sexy and dangerous, they are positively pitiably weak and the absolute opposite of dangerous.
Jinks' vamps are infected with the vamp virus. This results in their literally puking up their guts and becoming unable to digest anything but blood. They bleed from their bodily orifices if exposed to too bright an artificial light, and many other weakly "issues". These vamps are reformed so don't ingest human blood. Instead they take "supplements" so that the blood if guinea pigs is enough to sustain them. As a result they often feel nauseated, are pretty weak, and all in all a fairly unsatisfied bunch. They meet on Tuesday nights to "support each other" much in the way drunks meet at AA. Sorry, reformed drunks, or alcoholics.
The story is told from the POV of Nina. Nina was 15 when she was given the virus in 1971 and has been living under her mother's protection ever since. Included in the group is a ex-nun, an old biddy, a seedy old guy, a vamp who relishes his disease and so dresses and acts the part, and Dave. Dave is another "teen" who also happens to have been a rocker. There's a bit of a "love" angle there, but it very much takes the back seat to the plot.
The vamps are protected and helped by Father Ramon. He is not a vamp and so, like Nina's mother, can watch over them during the day when they become, literally, dead. These vamps don't just rest, sleep or hide from daylight. They are completely out of commission from dawn until dusk.
The story really begins with the slaying of one of the group and the other members searching for the slayer. Along the way they discover weres and other "bad guys", some of whom become good guys. Like I said, fun stuff!
Jinks' vamps are infected with the vamp virus. This results in their literally puking up their guts and becoming unable to digest anything but blood. They bleed from their bodily orifices if exposed to too bright an artificial light, and many other weakly "issues". These vamps are reformed so don't ingest human blood. Instead they take "supplements" so that the blood if guinea pigs is enough to sustain them. As a result they often feel nauseated, are pretty weak, and all in all a fairly unsatisfied bunch. They meet on Tuesday nights to "support each other" much in the way drunks meet at AA. Sorry, reformed drunks, or alcoholics.
The story is told from the POV of Nina. Nina was 15 when she was given the virus in 1971 and has been living under her mother's protection ever since. Included in the group is a ex-nun, an old biddy, a seedy old guy, a vamp who relishes his disease and so dresses and acts the part, and Dave. Dave is another "teen" who also happens to have been a rocker. There's a bit of a "love" angle there, but it very much takes the back seat to the plot.
The vamps are protected and helped by Father Ramon. He is not a vamp and so, like Nina's mother, can watch over them during the day when they become, literally, dead. These vamps don't just rest, sleep or hide from daylight. They are completely out of commission from dawn until dusk.
The story really begins with the slaying of one of the group and the other members searching for the slayer. Along the way they discover weres and other "bad guys", some of whom become good guys. Like I said, fun stuff!
hoosgracie's review against another edition
3.0
Quite a different take on vampires. In this one 51 year old Nina (she was turned in the early 70s) tells her and her group's story. Vampires in the support group are sickly and not at all the powerful, beautiful vampires elsewhere. Cute concept, but could have used some heavy editing.
sam_riccio's review against another edition
4.0
I think the idea that Jinks has for vampires is very unique, we all see the same narrative for them whenever we read our favorite fiction books and thats part of the appeal, but having them be mostly human like with the addition of vampirism being a disease that's passed around is fun.
If I had to point out what I didn't like about this it would be that they all talked about the same thing way too much, which is something that older people do in my experience, and it happened to feel like a rushed ending but if you're telling the story though someone whose already lived it I suppose that it would all feel very clustered.
It was worth the read, i wouldn't put this in a Young Adults section and more a New Adult book because it contains cursing, and the topics are easy to follow but at my time of reading this I'm 23, I don't think anyone younger than 16 would find the chitchat in this very entertaining.
If I had to point out what I didn't like about this it would be that they all talked about the same thing way too much, which is something that older people do in my experience, and it happened to feel like a rushed ending but if you're telling the story though someone whose already lived it I suppose that it would all feel very clustered.
It was worth the read, i wouldn't put this in a Young Adults section and more a New Adult book because it contains cursing, and the topics are easy to follow but at my time of reading this I'm 23, I don't think anyone younger than 16 would find the chitchat in this very entertaining.
kimble73's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
peapod_boston's review against another edition
3.0
I've always said that I wouldn't try to write a vampire book unless I had an original take. I think Catherine Jinks has found the last one.
Her vampires are sad, pathetic creatures. Living on guinea pig blood and herbal supplements to keep from feeding on humans, they are shriveled, wrinkled, weak, sickly--frankly malnourished--specimens. They meet every week for a support group to keep from giving in to the desire for blood, and Nina, the protagonist, makes money writing books that are (1) a total fantasy trip for her and (2) pointed parodies of paranormal romance.
Then real-life danger comes around when one of their number is staked. Now, Nina and her friends must rise above their sad little lives and figure out what it means to be a vampire.
Besides the malnourished part, Jinks has a few interesting takes on how vampirism works. But most of all, she has a host of amusing, eccentric characters thrown into a situation that takes a turn for the worse (or at least more complicated) every 5 pages. The last third of the books rolls forward in a "how are they going to get out of this ... oh, wait, it just got worse" rhythym that keeps it fun and sparking. I would love to see Pixar take a crack at this one, as the cover art perfectly fits their style and the tone of the book.
The style is workaday, but doesn't detract from the story--about what I would expect from a young adult book. An enjoyable, short ride for anyone who has been hearing too much about TWILIGHT these days.
Her vampires are sad, pathetic creatures. Living on guinea pig blood and herbal supplements to keep from feeding on humans, they are shriveled, wrinkled, weak, sickly--frankly malnourished--specimens. They meet every week for a support group to keep from giving in to the desire for blood, and Nina, the protagonist, makes money writing books that are (1) a total fantasy trip for her and (2) pointed parodies of paranormal romance.
Then real-life danger comes around when one of their number is staked. Now, Nina and her friends must rise above their sad little lives and figure out what it means to be a vampire.
Besides the malnourished part, Jinks has a few interesting takes on how vampirism works. But most of all, she has a host of amusing, eccentric characters thrown into a situation that takes a turn for the worse (or at least more complicated) every 5 pages. The last third of the books rolls forward in a "how are they going to get out of this ... oh, wait, it just got worse" rhythym that keeps it fun and sparking. I would love to see Pixar take a crack at this one, as the cover art perfectly fits their style and the tone of the book.
The style is workaday, but doesn't detract from the story--about what I would expect from a young adult book. An enjoyable, short ride for anyone who has been hearing too much about TWILIGHT these days.
catladylover94's review against another edition
3.0
though I liked the characters, it was really boring, but it was funny in some places, so I read it all the way through