theragereader's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to like this series, I really did, but Raven and other characters read like they’re straight out of My Immortal—complete with everything being gothic.
Let’s start with the characters.
Raven: a spoiled, over-privileged, entitled, self-centered, holier than thou, too-snarky brat who needs to be taught a lesson. I blame her parents for never correcting her behavior. She never once thinks about anyone other than herself and for someone who claims she doesn’t care what others think, she sure gets jealous of Luna and Stormy’s closeness. That’s a bother thing. Everyone just falls all over themselves for her! And she throws a hissy fit when they don't all while at the same time reminding us that she totally DOESN'T care about what others think. Everything—and I do mean everything—had to be gothic and macabre just because.
Alexander: sweet, far too lenient with Raven's childish behavior, your basic “i'm a monster, woe is me” angsty Twilight vampire. He doesn't do much other than smolder at Raven the entire series and angsts.
Trevor: Typical rich douchebag. Ridiculously over the top nasty and mean and spiteful but he's hot so it's okay.
Becky and Matt: No personalities outside of Trevor or Raven. Could've been cardboard cut outs, for all I knew about them. Still their little romance was cute.
Raven's family: Boring, average.
Dullsville students: Why are they all the same cardboard cut-outs of mean girls and mean boys? They're all fake like this is a cartoon.
Vamps (Onyx, Luna, Stormy, Valentine, Jagger, Scarlett, etc): Imagine stock photos of emo kids but with fangs. Everything they wear is super gothic, because god forbid there's a non-gothic vampire. And they're all obsessed with Raven as much as she'd obsessed with Alexander and being a vampire.
Plot: There is none. It's all contrived angst, miscommunication, or emotional diarrhea.
Overall, I still hold a fondness for this series. The writing made me want to punch someone (Raven reads more like a middle-grader than a sixteen-year-old teenager) and I really despised the whole Trevor-Raven situation. Why would she harp on how hot he is if she hates him? And leads him on several times. If there'd been an actual love triangle, maybe, but it's just Trevor awkwardly being way too into her and her lapping up the attention honestly. I'd have preferred it if Trevor and Raven became a thing, since they've got waaaay more chemistry than Mr. Bland Nice Guy and McGoth.
Let’s start with the characters.
Raven: a spoiled, over-privileged, entitled, self-centered, holier than thou, too-snarky brat who needs to be taught a lesson. I blame her parents for never correcting her behavior. She never once thinks about anyone other than herself and for someone who claims she doesn’t care what others think, she sure gets jealous of Luna and Stormy’s closeness. That’s a bother thing. Everyone just falls all over themselves for her! And she throws a hissy fit when they don't all while at the same time reminding us that she totally DOESN'T care about what others think. Everything—and I do mean everything—had to be gothic and macabre just because.
Alexander: sweet, far too lenient with Raven's childish behavior, your basic “i'm a monster, woe is me” angsty Twilight vampire. He doesn't do much other than smolder at Raven the entire series and angsts.
Trevor: Typical rich douchebag. Ridiculously over the top nasty and mean and spiteful but he's hot so it's okay.
Becky and Matt: No personalities outside of Trevor or Raven. Could've been cardboard cut outs, for all I knew about them. Still their little romance was cute.
Raven's family: Boring, average.
Dullsville students: Why are they all the same cardboard cut-outs of mean girls and mean boys? They're all fake like this is a cartoon.
Vamps (Onyx, Luna, Stormy, Valentine, Jagger, Scarlett, etc): Imagine stock photos of emo kids but with fangs. Everything they wear is super gothic, because god forbid there's a non-gothic vampire. And they're all obsessed with Raven as much as she'd obsessed with Alexander and being a vampire.
Plot: There is none. It's all contrived angst, miscommunication, or emotional diarrhea.
Overall, I still hold a fondness for this series. The writing made me want to punch someone (Raven reads more like a middle-grader than a sixteen-year-old teenager) and I really despised the whole Trevor-Raven situation. Why would she harp on how hot he is if she hates him? And leads him on several times. If there'd been an actual love triangle, maybe, but it's just Trevor awkwardly being way too into her and her lapping up the attention honestly. I'd have preferred it if Trevor and Raven became a thing, since they've got waaaay more chemistry than Mr. Bland Nice Guy and McGoth.
bookwolfash_13's review against another edition
5.0
Re-read
My rating system
5- Gush/Absolutely Loved
4- Low Love/High Like
3- Like
2- Meh
1- Dislike/Hate
If it is a .5 star I round up
5 Stars
Athena "Stormy" Sterling, Alexander's younger sister makes a visit to Dullsville. Stormy is still upset that Alexander left Luna at the altar. Luna is like Stormy's older sister, she would always play with her and babysit her. Stormy opens up to Raven after spending girl time with her. Raven asks Alexander about turning her into a vampire. Will she finally get her wish or will she remain human?
My rating system
5- Gush/Absolutely Loved
4- Low Love/High Like
3- Like
2- Meh
1- Dislike/Hate
If it is a .5 star I round up
5 Stars
Athena "Stormy" Sterling, Alexander's younger sister makes a visit to Dullsville. Stormy is still upset that Alexander left Luna at the altar. Luna is like Stormy's older sister, she would always play with her and babysit her. Stormy opens up to Raven after spending girl time with her. Raven asks Alexander about turning her into a vampire. Will she finally get her wish or will she remain human?
taliac36's review against another edition
5.0
omg. this book was the best out of the whole series!!:)
mardr216's review against another edition
3.0
This was book number 9 in the Vampire Kisses series making it the final installment. I must admit I was a bit disappointed with the book. It felt as though everything was rushed to an end. First Jagger and Luna, the never ending rivalry with Alexander and Raven just ended in a blink of an eye all because of Athena "Stormy" Sterling getting mad at them. Seriously after all they have been through it seems like not much thought was put into ending the rivalry. There was other issues that also weren't either taken into consideration or ended. It was nice getting to know another character, in this case Stormy, Alexanders sister. It's nice to see the relationship building between her and Raven. Yet again it left issues unresolved some involving Stormy, Billy and Henry. Don't get me wrong you still have your does of mystery, action and romance but maybe this time it wasn't enough. I don't want to give to much info about the book but it was nice to finally see Raven get what she's always longed for which puts an end to the series. The series was great overall and recommend it I just wish the end had a little something more.
beesandbooks's review against another edition
3.0
I have to say that was not how I saw the series ending! Of course, it makes sense in retrospect, but I really did think the whole thing would be drawn on a little longer. Of course, I'm sure that everyone could see Trevor being in love with Raven and trying to eventually interfere with her and Alexander coming. For a few books I actually thought maybe Raven and Alexander would break up and she'd have to pursue Trevor. There was even a moment in this book where I thought that might still be on the table.
SPOILERS FOLLOWING
I think the conclusion with Raven being turned was built up to and an expected end to the series but...all of those genuine concerns she and Alexander had about her being turned weren't resolved! Is she just going to go home and be like "hey mom and dad I'm a vampire now can't go to school tomorrow!" they won't believe her! They'll think it's a stunt to get out of school! It's going to take so much convincing for them to allow her to move to the Mansion (since her home isn't suitable for a vampire's sunlight protection needs), drop out of high school to be home schooled for a year by someone who's qualifications they don't know, and also deal with the fact that vampires exist and their daughter is now one! Waiting until college was just...the only way that turning Raven was going to make sense logistically. It almost feels like the author decided too late in an outlined plan of novels to cut the series down in length but knew that the series couldn't end without Raven becoming a vampire.
SPOILERS FOLLOWING
I think the conclusion with Raven being turned was built up to and an expected end to the series but...all of those genuine concerns she and Alexander had about her being turned weren't resolved! Is she just going to go home and be like "hey mom and dad I'm a vampire now can't go to school tomorrow!" they won't believe her! They'll think it's a stunt to get out of school! It's going to take so much convincing for them to allow her to move to the Mansion (since her home isn't suitable for a vampire's sunlight protection needs), drop out of high school to be home schooled for a year by someone who's qualifications they don't know, and also deal with the fact that vampires exist and their daughter is now one! Waiting until college was just...the only way that turning Raven was going to make sense logistically. It almost feels like the author decided too late in an outlined plan of novels to cut the series down in length but knew that the series couldn't end without Raven becoming a vampire.
roseofphantom's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Spoiler
I liked it, and I thought it was a *mostly* satisfying end to the series. But there were things that upset me a little bit.I'm upset that Raven's parents were never told. Are they ever going to find out? How will they react? Raven talks about going to night school, but night school isn't really an option for high school? And at the time this was written, online schooling was just starting to take off so I don't find that terribly believable either. And Raven thinks all of this will just be figured out over a weekend, before she goes back to school on Monday?
She also is essentially married to Alexander, and will have to sleep in a coffin, and therefore move in with him. They are seventeen years old, I find it very hard to believe her parents would just be okay with all of this!
I wish the book had ended right after high school, when they then could have had their ceremony, and she could have been changed, and they could be married and everything would be fine.
I really did like it, and it was a satisfying end. But I really wish the parents had been informed and that her change waited til after high school. That's all. Then again, I feel like this is written for a little bit younger crowd than I am now, maybe middle school, so maybe it wouldn't have bothered me as much then.
Schrieber I just ask for one more book, maybe a novella even, to answer these questions and I will be satisfied.
bella_lettore's review against another edition
3.0
Immortal Hears is the last book in the Vampire Kisses series, and while I am emotionally attached to the series I don't really know how I felt about the conclusion of Raven and Alexander's love story. While I could have predicted the ending from the beginning of the series, there was nothing that really happened in the book to really propel me to read. When all was said and done I could not help be feel like I was missing something. In the end I am sad to see this series end, but at least I had fun reading them. Thank you Ellen.
theboywithallthekeys's review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
tar92's review against another edition
1.0
I...have so many issues with this. But let's start with TREVOR on Wikipedia it mentions that "he confesses his love" for her. No no no. That kiddies, IS ASSAULT. This boy from book one has pushed himself on her, threatened her friends, blackmailed her, verbal assault and even tried to buy her technically! (When he became part owner of the Crypt. He only agreed if he could dance with her. Which is just fucked.)
Even though she has a boyfriend and he's aware that they plan to be together, he tries to sabotage it by pretending to be a vampire and "change" her so she won't be Alexander
to Quote big mouth: That is some toxic masculinity.
I don't get why trevor was this big factor in their relationship and for most of the books and the realization that he loves her, is so important. She has nightmares about him but it never goes anywhere, we don't see trevor be better, he's not trying to show how he can be less of a jerk. HE JUST KEEPS BEING A JERK. WHY WAS HE IMPORTANT!!?
Even though she has a boyfriend and he's aware that they plan to be together, he tries to sabotage it by pretending to be a vampire and "change" her so she won't be Alexander
to Quote big mouth: That is some toxic masculinity.
I don't get why trevor was this big factor in their relationship and for most of the books and the realization that he loves her, is so important. She has nightmares about him but it never goes anywhere, we don't see trevor be better, he's not trying to show how he can be less of a jerk. HE JUST KEEPS BEING A JERK. WHY WAS HE IMPORTANT!!?
allisoncawthon's review against another edition
3.0
This was a really cute, fun series!! Easy to read, not much plot, but a good series!!! The first book is called Vampire Kisses and there are 9 books (don't be scared by that, the books are only about 200 pages each!)