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naerwen17's review against another edition
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
audreychamaine's review against another edition
3.0
Anastasija is a witch. Her mother is a witch, her best friend is a witch. However, Ana has never been able to do magic, which is going to be a problem when she has her coven's initiation. Right before the ceremony, a man shows up at her door. Not really a man, but a vampire--who claims to be Ana's father. Plus, he also says she is a vampire princess. Since vampires and witches are mortal enemies, this is a bit of a problem. What ensues is one heck of a strange custody battle, and a very confusing 16th birthday for Ana.
Overall, I found Almost to Die For to be an entertaining read. Both love interests were portrayed as equally attractive, and appealed to Ana's dual nature. Hallaway built an interesting world and mythology for her story. In this setting, everybody knows about witches. The other kids at Ana's school know that she's a witch, and make fun of her like they would for any other outsider. There's a great climactic scene at the end that sets up the direction the series will take. I recommend this for people who are tired of vampires v. werewolves and want to go vampires v. witch instead.
Overall, I found Almost to Die For to be an entertaining read. Both love interests were portrayed as equally attractive, and appealed to Ana's dual nature. Hallaway built an interesting world and mythology for her story. In this setting, everybody knows about witches. The other kids at Ana's school know that she's a witch, and make fun of her like they would for any other outsider. There's a great climactic scene at the end that sets up the direction the series will take. I recommend this for people who are tired of vampires v. werewolves and want to go vampires v. witch instead.
kaitrosereads's review against another edition
4.0
Almost To Die For is not your typical vamp story. And it is definitely nothing like I expected but only in the best possible way.
Ana Parker's sixteenth birthday is not going the way she planned. It's bad enough that her Inititation is that night and she can't do magic. It gets worse when her father shows up on the doorstep of her house and her mother flips out. Turns out her dad is the prince of the vampires. No wonder her mom never told her about him. Things only get worse as the night goes on. Everybody keeps telling her that the vampires are the bad guys but it sure doesn't seem that way. Who can she trust, her witch mom or her vamp dad? And what happens when she gets caught in the middle?
Ana was smart. That was probably the best part about her. She found out that she was half vampire and instead of assuming the worst, she did research. She didn't just listen to all the bad stuff she was being told about vampires, she listened to the good stuff too. She had to make her own decision about who she was and she didn't let anybody, not even her parents, decide who she really was. She was fierce, determined, and kind of bad ass. She was also really funny in a sarcastic, make fun of yourself kind of way. She only confused me with her relationships. She had something with Nikolai and Elias but she didn't seem to know what she wanted from either. Nikolai was a little too fierce for me to like but he had his good moments. Elias was the perfect gentleman and I found myself liking him best. Who knows who I will choose as the series goes on?
Overall, Almost To Die For is a good start to the Vampire Princess series. I can't wait for more of the witches and vamps and of course, Nikolai and Elias. I have no idea where this series might go but I can't wait to find out.
Ana Parker's sixteenth birthday is not going the way she planned. It's bad enough that her Inititation is that night and she can't do magic. It gets worse when her father shows up on the doorstep of her house and her mother flips out. Turns out her dad is the prince of the vampires. No wonder her mom never told her about him. Things only get worse as the night goes on. Everybody keeps telling her that the vampires are the bad guys but it sure doesn't seem that way. Who can she trust, her witch mom or her vamp dad? And what happens when she gets caught in the middle?
Ana was smart. That was probably the best part about her. She found out that she was half vampire and instead of assuming the worst, she did research. She didn't just listen to all the bad stuff she was being told about vampires, she listened to the good stuff too. She had to make her own decision about who she was and she didn't let anybody, not even her parents, decide who she really was. She was fierce, determined, and kind of bad ass. She was also really funny in a sarcastic, make fun of yourself kind of way. She only confused me with her relationships. She had something with Nikolai and Elias but she didn't seem to know what she wanted from either. Nikolai was a little too fierce for me to like but he had his good moments. Elias was the perfect gentleman and I found myself liking him best. Who knows who I will choose as the series goes on?
Overall, Almost To Die For is a good start to the Vampire Princess series. I can't wait for more of the witches and vamps and of course, Nikolai and Elias. I have no idea where this series might go but I can't wait to find out.
megz88's review against another edition
I've read it before...but I love it. Now off to the 2nd one...and after that the 3rd and final one I believe. Haven't been able to find the 3rd one in any library...so I had to order it.
yazzy101's review against another edition
2.0
the book started ok and in the middle it was good but the end wasn't great i didn't like the face that she was engaged to Elias and dating Nikolia or whatever, she should have chosen one and stuck with them, maybe one guy gets jealous but not ending with her engaged to the guy you want her to be with and dating the dude you'd like to see 6 feet under!
So although it was ok the ending was crap.
Oh i give this 1.5 stars
So although it was ok the ending was crap.
Oh i give this 1.5 stars
traecrochet's review
3.0
Not a bad young adult book. Its well written, the plot is well hashed out, and Ana isn't annoying! However, I don't like it enough to continue on with the series.
tartbarbie's review against another edition
5.0
I decided to read Almost to Die For as this week’s challenge book. Ana short for Anastasija has been raised by only her mother trained to be a witch. However unlike her friends and fellow witches she exhibits very limited powers. She fears that at her Wiccaning she won’t have the power to join the true witches letting her mother down. It’s on her sixteenth birthday she learns that her father is the king of the vampires making her a princess. Suddenly Ana is in the middle of a powerful power struggle between her parents who are mortal enemies.
It’s while trying to call the East at her Wiccaning that everything turns upside down, the group is attacked by vampires revealing that Ana doesn't know everything and her mother has been keeping secrets. After running into the woods she meets her father’s royal guard Elias who starts to explain it’s not all black and white. That maybe the vampires aren't the bad guys her mother and fellow witches have made them out to be. As Ana is drawn into a new world that she knows little about she starts to learn that there are two sides to every story and maybe the vampires aren't the bad guys after all.
Ana is a great character she’s half witch and half vampire giving her abilities from both sides. She’s stubborn, independent, and fun to read about. She’s torn between to guy who happen to be on either side of the line. She has Nik who’s a vampire slayer also a true witch who would make her mother proud. Then there is Elias who is a super old vampire and her father’s royal guard. I tend to avoid love triangles but I have to admit this one has me intrigued.
Almost to Die For is a unique concept for me I like the idea that Ana is half witch and half vampire. By being from both worlds she’s tied to both but not inhibited by just one. She was created to bring peace between the witches and vampires who have been at war forever. Ana has some big shoes to fill but she deals with the truth better than I expected. Though she did lick the guy she doesn’t like in schools bloody nose. The book is action packed right from the start it was easy to lose all track of time till the end. The book is well written it flows along smoothly creating an exciting story, capturing the imagination I felt like I was there with Ana. I also like as the book progresses Ana grows as a character making it easy to connect with her, even if she is torn between two guys. At the moment I can’t say if I’m team vampire or witch so we will have to wait till I start the second one. So far love the story can’t wait to see what happens next.
randomly_kait's review against another edition
3.0
*3 3/4 stars*
Almost To Die For was a pretty quick read, although it ended in a rush. I'm definitely looking forward to the next book in the series
Almost To Die For was a pretty quick read, although it ended in a rush. I'm definitely looking forward to the next book in the series
lavendermarch's review against another edition
3.0
It was okay. It could've been better. It was short. I disliked the ending.