elenajohansen's review
3.0
This was fun but not amazing. I'm a fan of Jenny Trout's later works, and finding one of her early novels in a pile at a used book sale was a nice treat, but for someone used to the cleaner, more polished The Boss series, this really can't compare. It made me laugh and I'm glad I read it, but I'm not keeping it to reread.
crimsonraven712's review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
bethestage's review against another edition
4.0
I kind of forgot that I didn't post an actual written review of this yet. My bad. :)
So this was my first book by Armintrout that I read that wasn't part of the Blood Ties series. I knew I'd probably enjoy it because I've enjoyed her vampire goodness in the past. And to be completely honest, I totally judge books by their covers and this one is damn sexy... as soon as I saw it I knew I had to read the book.
I really enjoyed this book. I'm a sucker for series, so it's hard for me sometimes to read a book knowing that it's a stand alone. But Armintrout, as usual, pulled me in and right away I was caught up in the world of these characters. I simply ADORED the main character! He was funny and sexy all rolled into one. I get so sick of the tortured vampire that everyone seems to write lately where the vamp is all "woe is me" about having to drink blood to live. Graf totally wasn't like that and I loved it. His inner dialogue about how soon he might eat someone always made me giggle.
Great stuff and totally worth reading. :)
So this was my first book by Armintrout that I read that wasn't part of the Blood Ties series. I knew I'd probably enjoy it because I've enjoyed her vampire goodness in the past. And to be completely honest, I totally judge books by their covers and this one is damn sexy... as soon as I saw it I knew I had to read the book.
I really enjoyed this book. I'm a sucker for series, so it's hard for me sometimes to read a book knowing that it's a stand alone. But Armintrout, as usual, pulled me in and right away I was caught up in the world of these characters. I simply ADORED the main character! He was funny and sexy all rolled into one. I get so sick of the tortured vampire that everyone seems to write lately where the vamp is all "woe is me" about having to drink blood to live. Graf totally wasn't like that and I loved it. His inner dialogue about how soon he might eat someone always made me giggle.
Great stuff and totally worth reading. :)
bookwormerica's review against another edition
5.0
What a funny and quick read. I really enjoyed it.
I just want to know why Derrick didn't kill Jessa I also those 5 years......5 years
I just want to know why Derrick didn't kill Jessa I also those 5 years......5 years
lalabristow's review against another edition
4.0
Previously Published on my blog: Welcome to Larissa's Bookish Life
Rating: 3.5 Stars
*SPOILER FREE
Graf is a Vampire on the way to an awesome party at his sire’s house, when he gets lost in the middle of nowhere. He sees an abandoned gas station and thinks that he can find a map to help him out. However, by stopping at this run down place, he gets trapped inside Penance and finds out that the town has been magically off the map for 5 years.
He meets Jessa, when both of them are attacked by a monster. He finds her hot but is not really interested in getting in bed with a hillbilly, but he will definitely not mind having her for dinner, specially if he can’t find a way out of Penance.
I have to say, that I really wanted to LOVE American Vampire, but for me it felt short. Graf is an egocentric, selfish and rude Vampire, he picked the most stupid fights with Jessa, he was obnoxious and a jerk for a good part of the novel. He did get better in my eyes and I did feel like he had grown by the end of the book, but I never got the point of really liking him, though I didn’t dislike him anymore.
Jessa was a very interesting character. A real life warrior, surviving a very hard situation the best way she knew how while dealing with a town that had no problem labeling and bad-mouthing her. Yes, she has her faults and she has made tons of mistakes, but I feel like overall she was an awesome heroine!
I did enjoy the romance between Jessa and Graf by the end of the book, but it felt rushed for me. I feel like the book needed to be a bit longer so I could believe the transition between unfriendly and in love, between Graf and Jessa.
I did really enjoy the Paranormal aspect of American Vampire. The Monster, simply called It, didn’t scare me much, but the small town mob mentally was truly frightening for me. Jennifer did make a great job in creating those characters and the situation that made them so so scary.
All in all, American Vampire is a good read. It just falls short of being Awesome but it has a lot of potential! I do recommend it to UF/PNR lovers =)
Rating: 3.5 Stars
*SPOILER FREE
Graf is a Vampire on the way to an awesome party at his sire’s house, when he gets lost in the middle of nowhere. He sees an abandoned gas station and thinks that he can find a map to help him out. However, by stopping at this run down place, he gets trapped inside Penance and finds out that the town has been magically off the map for 5 years.
He meets Jessa, when both of them are attacked by a monster. He finds her hot but is not really interested in getting in bed with a hillbilly, but he will definitely not mind having her for dinner, specially if he can’t find a way out of Penance.
I have to say, that I really wanted to LOVE American Vampire, but for me it felt short. Graf is an egocentric, selfish and rude Vampire, he picked the most stupid fights with Jessa, he was obnoxious and a jerk for a good part of the novel. He did get better in my eyes and I did feel like he had grown by the end of the book, but I never got the point of really liking him, though I didn’t dislike him anymore.
Jessa was a very interesting character. A real life warrior, surviving a very hard situation the best way she knew how while dealing with a town that had no problem labeling and bad-mouthing her. Yes, she has her faults and she has made tons of mistakes, but I feel like overall she was an awesome heroine!
I did enjoy the romance between Jessa and Graf by the end of the book, but it felt rushed for me. I feel like the book needed to be a bit longer so I could believe the transition between unfriendly and in love, between Graf and Jessa.
I did really enjoy the Paranormal aspect of American Vampire. The Monster, simply called It, didn’t scare me much, but the small town mob mentally was truly frightening for me. Jennifer did make a great job in creating those characters and the situation that made them so so scary.
All in all, American Vampire is a good read. It just falls short of being Awesome but it has a lot of potential! I do recommend it to UF/PNR lovers =)
leapfeetfirst's review against another edition
4.0
I fell in love with Jennifer Armintrout's sense of humor after reading her hilarious chapter by chapter review of the horrendous 50 Shades of Grey. I really liked this book and look forward to reading more!
musicangel585's review against another edition
2.0
I usually love a good vampire thriller but I thought that this one was just okay and didn't enjoy it that much. Graf was likeable enough but the storyline just wasn't that good.
ellisgoldstein's review
2.0
Nothing about this book was “good” but I liked it enough to read it a few times and continue to reach for it when I’m in the mood for cheap vampire entertainment.
I might be a sucker for small town supernatural settings
I might be a sucker for small town supernatural settings
shelleyrae's review
3.0
American Vampire is the first book I have read by Jennifer Armintrout who is known for two successful series (Blood Ties and Lightworld/Darkworld).
This stand alone novel fits snugly into the horror genre and can be compared loosely to Stephen King’s* traditional plot technique of isolating a small town of small minded personalities to be terrorised by a nameless monster. Armintrout adds her own spin by drawing a vampire in to the mix as its saviour.
Graf unwittingly finds himself trapped in Penance, Ohio when he saves Jessa from a monster whose rampage has kept the small town residents trapped within its borders for five years. Despite his general disdain for humanity, when Graf finds he can’t escape, he unwillingly becomes involved in protecting Jessa from not only the demon, but her fellow townspeople.
While I like the premise, it is a familiar one from my early obsession with horror novels so I found it a touch predictable however Armintrout does add unique touches that deliver a surprise or two.
The pace is good, the author maintains an atmospheric sense of unease and the tension is built to the climax with skill. There is evidence of Armintrouts dry and dark humor that adds an element of fun and her style of writing is very accessible.
Both Graf and Jessa are unusual characters, almost anti-heroes, they have a moral vagueness that is unsettling yet a charm that encourages your support of both their escape and romantic relationship. I am impressed with Armintrouts ability to walk this very narrow line.
The conclusion is violently satisfying even though there are small questions that remain unanswered. There is the potential for these characters to surface in a future book by Armintrout, though I am not sure where she would take the story.
American Vampire is tailor made to appeal to the currently insatiable vampire loving readership who may be looking for something a little left of mainstream in paranormal romance.
*not to be confused with Stephen Kings DC Comic book American Vampire, Vol. 1 and not helped by the monster being referred to as “It“
This stand alone novel fits snugly into the horror genre and can be compared loosely to Stephen King’s* traditional plot technique of isolating a small town of small minded personalities to be terrorised by a nameless monster. Armintrout adds her own spin by drawing a vampire in to the mix as its saviour.
Graf unwittingly finds himself trapped in Penance, Ohio when he saves Jessa from a monster whose rampage has kept the small town residents trapped within its borders for five years. Despite his general disdain for humanity, when Graf finds he can’t escape, he unwillingly becomes involved in protecting Jessa from not only the demon, but her fellow townspeople.
While I like the premise, it is a familiar one from my early obsession with horror novels so I found it a touch predictable however Armintrout does add unique touches that deliver a surprise or two.
The pace is good, the author maintains an atmospheric sense of unease and the tension is built to the climax with skill. There is evidence of Armintrouts dry and dark humor that adds an element of fun and her style of writing is very accessible.
Both Graf and Jessa are unusual characters, almost anti-heroes, they have a moral vagueness that is unsettling yet a charm that encourages your support of both their escape and romantic relationship. I am impressed with Armintrouts ability to walk this very narrow line.
The conclusion is violently satisfying even though there are small questions that remain unanswered. There is the potential for these characters to surface in a future book by Armintrout, though I am not sure where she would take the story.
American Vampire is tailor made to appeal to the currently insatiable vampire loving readership who may be looking for something a little left of mainstream in paranormal romance.
*not to be confused with Stephen Kings DC Comic book American Vampire, Vol. 1 and not helped by the monster being referred to as “It“
gems_31's review
4.0
I just finished American Vampire and overall it was a really good read.
The book starts off with a rather good punch, with Garf heading across America in order to attend his makers party, which promises to be everything dark and twisted we all assume Vampires are involved in (And as the character says, not like the sparkly vampires seen in modern fiction.)
However his plans are de-railed when he stops off for a "snack" and gas (see using americanisims here when I could say petrol!) at quiet gas station.
Its here his plans go up in smoke as he accidently gets caught up in a towns misfortune through saving a local woman named Jessa from the beast that is plaguing the town and stopping everyone from leaving.
Now I picked this book up in the Dark Fantasy section of my bookstore (read paranormal romance) but there is very little of that in this book. Garf tries his best to hide his true nature, knowing that he is trapped. Needless to say it doesn't stop him trying to get out of the town, but he is effectivly cut off from the outside world.
The beast that is stalking the towns people only really appears a handful of times and though it is a threat it isn't THE threat. The author turns the town in on itself and shows how paranio, distrust and limited resources pits neighbour against neighbour to the point were it pretty much is survival of the fittest.
The fact that Jessa is regarded as an outside and a woman with a repuation due to the fact she has been seeing her childhood sweetheart, while he is married to another woman (who was her friend) already puts Garfs postion on shaky ground. She tells him as much, but doesn't look for him to be her knight in shining armour after facing quite a few hardships in her time.
Its the human dynamics that drive the story and the beast and the circumstance are just the vehicle to contain it.
I really enjoyed the book and would consider reading some of the authors other stuff.
My only gripe is the ending, which seemed a bit mushy. Its a minor gripe and it doesn't really detract from the story.
The final showdown is excellent and to be honest I wasn't sure where it would go.
I would like to follow the characters a bit more after this story especially with the ending, but if the author decided that this was a one shot story, I'd be perfectly happy.
The book starts off with a rather good punch, with Garf heading across America in order to attend his makers party, which promises to be everything dark and twisted we all assume Vampires are involved in (And as the character says, not like the sparkly vampires seen in modern fiction.)
However his plans are de-railed when he stops off for a "snack" and gas (see using americanisims here when I could say petrol!) at quiet gas station.
Its here his plans go up in smoke as he accidently gets caught up in a towns misfortune through saving a local woman named Jessa from the beast that is plaguing the town and stopping everyone from leaving.
Now I picked this book up in the Dark Fantasy section of my bookstore (read paranormal romance) but there is very little of that in this book. Garf tries his best to hide his true nature, knowing that he is trapped. Needless to say it doesn't stop him trying to get out of the town, but he is effectivly cut off from the outside world.
The beast that is stalking the towns people only really appears a handful of times and though it is a threat it isn't THE threat. The author turns the town in on itself and shows how paranio, distrust and limited resources pits neighbour against neighbour to the point were it pretty much is survival of the fittest.
The fact that Jessa is regarded as an outside and a woman with a repuation due to the fact she has been seeing her childhood sweetheart, while he is married to another woman (who was her friend) already puts Garfs postion on shaky ground. She tells him as much, but doesn't look for him to be her knight in shining armour after facing quite a few hardships in her time.
Its the human dynamics that drive the story and the beast and the circumstance are just the vehicle to contain it.
I really enjoyed the book and would consider reading some of the authors other stuff.
My only gripe is the ending, which seemed a bit mushy. Its a minor gripe and it doesn't really detract from the story.
The final showdown is excellent and to be honest I wasn't sure where it would go.
I would like to follow the characters a bit more after this story especially with the ending, but if the author decided that this was a one shot story, I'd be perfectly happy.