Scan barcode
kyrakaw's review against another edition
1.0
I didn't like it. The plot was good but it's how the writer wrote it. The scenes were too fast.
kristick's review against another edition
3.0
Didn't read R. L. Stine when I was in the right age group, but listening to the Teen Creeps podcasts inspired me to try one. Okay, but probably won't be reading more.
scottyreadsstuff's review against another edition
3.0
I hated 90% of the characters but at least it was an entertaining read...
krissyallacher's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book in either middle or high school and have thought about it over the years. Something called me to revisit it and now as an adult who loves campy, cheesy 80s horror, I still think this is a lot of fun. It ticks all of my boxes, it's tense but still a little goofy, has some aged elements (dial up internet, video rentals!) So it's nostalgic to me in so many ways. I'm glad I picked it up again.
kadyjak's review against another edition
1.0
This was my first Stine book, and I'm fairly certain it'll be my last. I wasn't much of a reader as a kid, but I always kind of figured his books must be good because they were so popular. But I guess kids aren't known for great taste in literature.
The plot was actually decent. Had it been fleshed out better (much better), and, you know, had actual good writing, it might have been pretty good.
I didn't get Renz. Was he just crazy? There didn't seem to be any real logic to his decisions. Why does he believe in reincarnation? I'm not aware of that being a big thing in Italy even in present day. It definitely wasn't a common idea a few centuries ago. What reasons, besides looks, does he have for pegging certain girls as Laura? There didn't seem to be any. Which, alright, sure, he's a vampire, and maybe in this world, that's enough of an explanation - that he's psychotic, but there should have been some kind of explanation. Otherwise, why go back and show us glimpses of his life in the past? They were kind of interesting, but didn't really tell us anything we couldn't have gotten from a few lines of dialogue.
Why did he pick Destiny and Livvy and their mom? He's obsessed with Laura, but it seems anyone with the right eye color and certain facial features will do as her substitute. And why is he so inept that he can't seem to get the process down? With the exception of Livvy, who didn't want him (which he's apparently fine with...???), every single time he tries to make his 'Laura' a vampire, he's interrupted and has to wait a month, which causes him to lose her completely. It never occurs to him to go about it another way where that can't happen?
As mentioned earlier, the writing was not stellar. The dialogue was laughable at some points -and like nothing kids would say- and it all felt very abrupt. Words were just sort of thrown out there, with no regard for how they flowed or even if they completely made sense. Moments that should have been exciting or horrifying were comical or weird. The comparison that kept coming to mind was (for those of you who are Gilmore Girls fans) Kirk's movie.
And of course after that, I couldn't take the book seriously at all.
Honestly, it just had the feel of a story written in a hurry to make money because of the name on the cover.
The one bright spot was when Destiny kills Renz. I didn't see it coming and I didn't think she was that smart. Of course everything after that was pretty goofy...
The plot was actually decent. Had it been fleshed out better (much better), and, you know, had actual good writing, it might have been pretty good.
I didn't get Renz. Was he just crazy? There didn't seem to be any real logic to his decisions. Why does he believe in reincarnation? I'm not aware of that being a big thing in Italy even in present day. It definitely wasn't a common idea a few centuries ago. What reasons, besides looks, does he have for pegging certain girls as Laura? There didn't seem to be any. Which, alright, sure, he's a vampire, and maybe in this world, that's enough of an explanation - that he's psychotic, but there should have been some kind of explanation. Otherwise, why go back and show us glimpses of his life in the past? They were kind of interesting, but didn't really tell us anything we couldn't have gotten from a few lines of dialogue.
Why did he pick Destiny and Livvy and their mom? He's obsessed with Laura, but it seems anyone with the right eye color and certain facial features will do as her substitute. And why is he so inept that he can't seem to get the process down? With the exception of Livvy, who didn't want him (which he's apparently fine with...???), every single time he tries to make his 'Laura' a vampire, he's interrupted and has to wait a month, which causes him to lose her completely. It never occurs to him to go about it another way where that can't happen?
As mentioned earlier, the writing was not stellar. The dialogue was laughable at some points -and like nothing kids would say- and it all felt very abrupt. Words were just sort of thrown out there, with no regard for how they flowed or even if they completely made sense. Moments that should have been exciting or horrifying were comical or weird. The comparison that kept coming to mind was (for those of you who are Gilmore Girls fans) Kirk's movie.
And of course after that, I couldn't take the book seriously at all.
Honestly, it just had the feel of a story written in a hurry to make money because of the name on the cover.
The one bright spot was when Destiny kills Renz. I didn't see it coming and I didn't think she was that smart. Of course everything after that was pretty goofy...
ceruleanjen's review against another edition
3.0
I've been a fan of R.L. Stine and his work since I was nine years old. I've been a vampire fan even longer. I finally got around to reading this one.
I liked this, but I didn't love it. The characters themselves are okay, but a little two-dimensional. The writing was definitely Stine's, but there were also some problems with it. Mostly with the dialogue. It seemed that the characters said one another's names way too much, enough that it felt unrealistic.
The story itself was interesting, though I would have liked to know even more about Renz. I did like the twin aspect as well as the twists at the end. It was also neat (and at the same time, strange) to see Stine giving the book a more modern feel with the teens--I don't ever recall him using curse words or mentioning drugs, sex, and alcohol.
Overall, I enjoyed this. There are plenty of faults, but for a vampire story, I liked it. I may even check out the sequel now.
I liked this, but I didn't love it. The characters themselves are okay, but a little two-dimensional. The writing was definitely Stine's, but there were also some problems with it. Mostly with the dialogue. It seemed that the characters said one another's names way too much, enough that it felt unrealistic.
The story itself was interesting, though I would have liked to know even more about Renz. I did like the twin aspect as well as the twists at the end. It was also neat (and at the same time, strange) to see Stine giving the book a more modern feel with the teens--I don't ever recall him using curse words or mentioning drugs, sex, and alcohol.
Overall, I enjoyed this. There are plenty of faults, but for a vampire story, I liked it. I may even check out the sequel now.
linwearcamenel's review against another edition
5.0
Good reimagining of the vampire legend, keeps to tenets of vampirism while remaining in contemporary times.
dylanisreviewing's review against another edition
4.0
I'm done with booktubeathon!!!
This book was a really great, fast paced read.
I loved the take that Stine had on vampires and I loved how easy it was to read the book.
Basically, my only problem is that characters are SO dumb and native.I wanted to slap them countless times throughout this book.
Our main protagonist I actually liked was Destiny. She's so fierce and kick-butt, even though she's quite whiny sometimes.
Without giving anything away, this book is filled with so many twists. I thought I new what was going to happen, but I was totally wrong. I'd definitely reccomend this one by Stine if you're looking for a fast paced read.
4 stars
This book was a really great, fast paced read.
I loved the take that Stine had on vampires and I loved how easy it was to read the book.
Basically, my only problem is that characters are SO dumb and native.I wanted to slap them countless times throughout this book.
Our main protagonist I actually liked was Destiny. She's so fierce and kick-butt, even though she's quite whiny sometimes.
Without giving anything away, this book is filled with so many twists. I thought I new what was going to happen, but I was totally wrong. I'd definitely reccomend this one by Stine if you're looking for a fast paced read.
4 stars
More...