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themarina's review against another edition
4.0
Having picked this up with no knowledge of either the author or the fact that this was a series, I was a bit concerned once I'd started and discovered that it's not simply part of a series but book two.
Subtitled "An Ethical Vampire Novel," vampires are not at the centre of this story which follows Ari, a very mature 14 year old as she deals with friendship, relationships and not fitting in. It's also a bit a mystery and it's this secondary plot of disappearances that brings in some of the vampire lore that Hubbard has created.
I didn't care too much for the story but Hubbard's writing in spectacular. Simple but rich and flowing beautifully and it's the writing and savouring of the words that kept me reading. The jacked claims that fans of Stephenie Meyer will love this novel; I don't agree with the sentiment but would love to see teens move into Hubbard's much more literary approach which actually challenges the reader.
Subtitled "An Ethical Vampire Novel," vampires are not at the centre of this story which follows Ari, a very mature 14 year old as she deals with friendship, relationships and not fitting in. It's also a bit a mystery and it's this secondary plot of disappearances that brings in some of the vampire lore that Hubbard has created.
I didn't care too much for the story but Hubbard's writing in spectacular. Simple but rich and flowing beautifully and it's the writing and savouring of the words that kept me reading. The jacked claims that fans of Stephenie Meyer will love this novel; I don't agree with the sentiment but would love to see teens move into Hubbard's much more literary approach which actually challenges the reader.
lizzicrystal's review against another edition
4.0
Finally, intellectual vampire fiction! The writing style captured me from the first page: clean, vivid writing that moves from scene to scene flawlessly, while making you want to linger and savor. Here we have vampires with such a wealth of knowledge they make the Twilight vampires look like small children. There is not the angsty action and romance of Twilight; it has a slower pace with memorable atmosphere and building suspense. It's the Jane Eyre of vampire fiction, and I loved it, up until the last ten pages.
I was so surprised that this book has received so little attention and no one knows about it, until I came to the end where it was made clear. If this is truly the second book in a three-part series it's excusable, but if the series ends with this book it fails entirely. The ending is sloppy; the mystery we've spent two books reading about is not solved and threads of the entire story are left hanging. As of yet I've found no announcement for a third book except a vague "there may be" on a video on the author's website, but I'm still hopeful, because I would love to read another in this series, and if there is someday a satisfying end, this will be one of my favorite series of all time.
I was so surprised that this book has received so little attention and no one knows about it, until I came to the end where it was made clear. If this is truly the second book in a three-part series it's excusable, but if the series ends with this book it fails entirely. The ending is sloppy; the mystery we've spent two books reading about is not solved and threads of the entire story are left hanging. As of yet I've found no announcement for a third book except a vague "there may be" on a video on the author's website, but I'm still hopeful, because I would love to read another in this series, and if there is someday a satisfying end, this will be one of my favorite series of all time.
seemeghanread's review against another edition
3.0
A good sequel to The Society of S. Once again, this book follows Ari. A really neat look at vampires, different from other books available these days.
lucillemeeps's review against another edition
4.0
A strange but interesting book. I think that the development of Ari was good, but I fell somewhat sketched out by the fact that she is indeed only fourteen years old, and is pretending to be so much older, and enters into a relationship with a boy at her college, as well as the fact that she becomes attracted to a MUCH older man....
I also enjoyed the new perspective on old vampire lore.
I also enjoyed the new perspective on old vampire lore.
taschima's review against another edition
4.0
The Year of Disappearances was a true sequel to the first book, containing most of the elements I loved and captivated me of The Society of S, but at the same time giving me more to hold on to.
This novel was much like the first novel. It didn't improve much in things like plot, but I saw character development. The novel is like, at first sight it doesn't have much to give, but as you keep reading you will notice you can't take your eyes off the page.
Don't misunderstand me, there IS a some sort of plot, but it's bleak, the plot is the background and the characters are the colors, what brings the book life. There appears to be some secret going on in the vampire society. It involves drugs, clans, dominance, and survival. People who have disappear begin to appear, but is it for the better? It only leaves us with more questions as to where the series is going.
For the rest of the review, yes there is more, visit us @ Bloody Bookaholic: The year of Disappearances Complete Review
This novel was much like the first novel. It didn't improve much in things like plot, but I saw character development. The novel is like, at first sight it doesn't have much to give, but as you keep reading you will notice you can't take your eyes off the page.
Don't misunderstand me, there IS a some sort of plot, but it's bleak, the plot is the background and the characters are the colors, what brings the book life. There appears to be some secret going on in the vampire society. It involves drugs, clans, dominance, and survival. People who have disappear begin to appear, but is it for the better? It only leaves us with more questions as to where the series is going.
For the rest of the review, yes there is more, visit us @ Bloody Bookaholic: The year of Disappearances Complete Review
vick_reads's review
4.0
This vampire series has a very interesting twist. Quite an original vampire story that keeps you guessing. Can't wait for the third one!
mscalls's review
4.0
This was also decent. Very quick, just like its prequel. Seems that this series and the Twilight books have much in common......... yet I liked these much better because the protagonist was much more relatable and it was enjoyable to think as she does. Quick but good.
eleneariel's review
3.0
I would describe this book as vague: vague writing, vague plotting, vague characters. There's a lot left unexplained, little character development, and a plot that drifts about without reaching any real resolution. The thing that annoyed me most was the vampires-are-better-than-thou tone, liberally sprinkled with environmentalism. The last paragraph rather sums things up:
"Meanwhile, I dedicate this book to mortals, and I leave them these questions: Are you comfortable with the values your society holds dear? When's the last time you looked deep into your own eyes? Do you know the limitations of your vision?"
Poor book. It's trying to hard to be intelligent, Serious Literature, and just ... isn't quite there.
"Meanwhile, I dedicate this book to mortals, and I leave them these questions: Are you comfortable with the values your society holds dear? When's the last time you looked deep into your own eyes? Do you know the limitations of your vision?"
Poor book. It's trying to hard to be intelligent, Serious Literature, and just ... isn't quite there.
inlibrisveritas's review against another edition
4.0
I just want to think a friend of mine for letting me borrow this book, because I don’t think I’d have been able to read it otherwise…I could never find it. Anyway to the review.
I adore this series, and it’s mainly because it’s so different then the other young adult vampire novels. I mean it’s almost completely different. There is no stupid immature love triangle, there is no childish whining, and there is no set bad guy. The main character, Ari, is wonderful. She’s a true thinker and very smart, and she’s not out to save the world single-handily. She and the other characters are wonderful and there is a fair amount of character development over the course of the book. You can tell a fair amount of research goes into this series and Hubbard practically paints a world in a classical kind of way. It’s refreshing to see something that’s actually plausible and well thought out, not to mention the author has the ability to truly write. Being the second in the series it has the same feel as the first and even though it took me a good amount of time to find this book it wasn’t hard at all to get back into it. I’ll admit the plot is odd because it doesn’t flow like so many other books out there of this nature, and at times it can seem “plot-less” but despite that it was still intriguing and there was enough going on that I wanted to see how it turned out. I also enjoy having a “bad-guy” that’s hard to figure out and isn’t extremely frustrating.
I really wish that more people knew about this series and that it would get more attention. It’s beautifully written and it’s a refreshing change to all the “boy-problem” books. (There are boy problems, but it’s not like the rest where it takes the absolute for-front to her life and it’s quite a different problem). Overall these are mature books, not in the R rated sense but in the sense that it has a mature attitude. I definitely recommend this book and it’s predecessor The Society of S.
I adore this series, and it’s mainly because it’s so different then the other young adult vampire novels. I mean it’s almost completely different. There is no stupid immature love triangle, there is no childish whining, and there is no set bad guy. The main character, Ari, is wonderful. She’s a true thinker and very smart, and she’s not out to save the world single-handily. She and the other characters are wonderful and there is a fair amount of character development over the course of the book. You can tell a fair amount of research goes into this series and Hubbard practically paints a world in a classical kind of way. It’s refreshing to see something that’s actually plausible and well thought out, not to mention the author has the ability to truly write. Being the second in the series it has the same feel as the first and even though it took me a good amount of time to find this book it wasn’t hard at all to get back into it. I’ll admit the plot is odd because it doesn’t flow like so many other books out there of this nature, and at times it can seem “plot-less” but despite that it was still intriguing and there was enough going on that I wanted to see how it turned out. I also enjoy having a “bad-guy” that’s hard to figure out and isn’t extremely frustrating.
I really wish that more people knew about this series and that it would get more attention. It’s beautifully written and it’s a refreshing change to all the “boy-problem” books. (There are boy problems, but it’s not like the rest where it takes the absolute for-front to her life and it’s quite a different problem). Overall these are mature books, not in the R rated sense but in the sense that it has a mature attitude. I definitely recommend this book and it’s predecessor The Society of S.
behindthepages's review against another edition
Not as good as the first but still good. lol. It was a little weird when they introduced vampires giving humans drugs to make them sterile so we stop polluting the planet, not a twist I really thought was something needed in the book. The storyline was left open and I hope another is in the works!
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