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brotacel94's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Animal death
Moderate: Blood, Bullying, and Classism
brittnie's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Self harm, Sexism, and Suicide
Wish there was more of a content warning. For this being a YA very important to know these topics are involved prior.mia1909's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Animal death, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Blood, Self harm, and Death
elskabee's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Anything over a 3.5 for this would be generous despite my nostalgia.
This is my first time rereading this book in over ten years and I liked it more than I was worried. I can't say it has aged amazingly, but most of the difficult topics (self-harm and depression, age gap crushes) are dealt with in a way that never glamourises or romanticises and even has some good healthy takeaways by the end. I do however wish that conversations around slut-shaming and bullying were handled a bit better. The former simply had a messy message and seemed to contradict itself, the latter not seriously acknowledged despite how prominent the bullying/school drama plotlines are throughout.
The writing style is very simple and easy to read which is fine, but older readers might find it a bit lacking. I found the multiple plot elements enough to hold interest. The school politics wore on me a bit, whereas the journey Rose goes on to learn to be more responsible and trust people around her was well done imo. I also really enjoyed the worldbuilding of the vampire society and how the school is run. I think the author put a lot of thought into the position each character in the book has in society and how that affects their choices and how they treat others. Most of the time they treat each other poorly! but societal pressure and petty teenage angst create a pressure cooker environment in the school that is palpable. Rose in particular is mean to almost everyone except Lissa, which is acknowledged in the book and honestly just made me like Rose more. Give me petty teenage characters that get angry and mess up (Not perfect and bland protags that have no room for growth)
Anyway, this book despite its length has a lot going on and although it is very much a vampire YA book published in 2007, I did enjoy my time reading it!
This is my first time rereading this book in over ten years and I liked it more than I was worried. I can't say it has aged amazingly, but most of the difficult topics (self-harm and depression, age gap crushes) are dealt with in a way that never glamourises or romanticises and even has some good healthy takeaways by the end. I do however wish that conversations around slut-shaming and bullying were handled a bit better. The former simply had a messy message and seemed to contradict itself, the latter not seriously acknowledged despite how prominent the bullying/school drama plotlines are throughout.
The writing style is very simple and easy to read which is fine, but older readers might find it a bit lacking. I found the multiple plot elements enough to hold interest. The school politics wore on me a bit, whereas the journey Rose goes on to learn to be more responsible and trust people around her was well done imo. I also really enjoyed the worldbuilding of the vampire society and how the school is run. I think the author put a lot of thought into the position each character in the book has in society and how that affects their choices and how they treat others. Most of the time they treat each other poorly! but societal pressure and petty teenage angst create a pressure cooker environment in the school that is palpable. Rose in particular is mean to almost everyone except Lissa, which is acknowledged in the book and honestly just made me like Rose more. Give me petty teenage characters that get angry and mess up (Not perfect and bland protags that have no room for growth)
Anyway, this book despite its length has a lot going on and although it is very much a vampire YA book published in 2007, I did enjoy my time reading it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Self harm
Moderate: Blood, Adult/minor relationship, Mental illness, and Kidnapping
Minor: Death of parent, Alcohol, and Terminal illness
The adult/minor relationship is between a 17 year old and a 25 year old. He is her mentor and never pressures her and in fact actively avoids pursuing her. The minor doesn't spend much time pursuing him but does think about her attraction to him and internally acknowledges that the relationship probably shouldn't happen due to the age gap between them. Near the end of the bookhoffmann's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
If you liked Twilight, but wished it wasn’t problematic garbage- this might be for you!! it’s sexy, stupid teens, who are also vampires. What could go wrong?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Blood, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death of parent, Death, and Animal death
Minor: Mental illness, Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Terminal illness, and Murder
the_escapist's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Classism, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Self harm, Car accident, and Blood
Minor: Abandonment, Addiction, Sexual assault, Animal death, Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Torture, Terminal illness, Death, Death of parent, Violence, Gore, and Animal cruelty
amandasbooks1's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
These were the books that made me love reading 10 years ago and since the show just aired I decided to re-read them just for fun to see if they hold up in an adults eye.
I do love Rose and she is the perfect exemple of what I think most YA/NA fantasy MC's lack; confidence. I love that Rose knows she is a bad b*tch and hot enough to get anyone she wants. For young girls to read more of women like her, who arent afraid to love themselves no matter their flaws can change the way the see themselves.
For the story, these is a good amount of suspense to drive it forward and the writing is ok, not too bad but not the most amazing either.
One thing that did bother me was that Rose always seemed to figure things out in the right second it was happening or she had figured things out wayyyyy before Lissa or the heavy plotline arrived. That kind of foreshadowing isnt foreshadowing but just a hope the reader wont remember that Rose had already "spoiled" an important twist. But this could also be my eye being on the look out for certain things since I knew it was coming.
Thoughts on the love relationship between you know who I didnt see anything wrong with Dimitris and Rose's flirting/relationship when I was 12-14 and reading these books. I thought it was steamy.
But now that I have been 17 myself the age gap from 17-25 is seriously messed up. Like... very much so!!
I understand its appeal, because in our heads we dont think of Rose as 17, she acts like she is in her early 20's but she isnt and that just kinda gives me the ick over their relationship.
AND the reason why Dimitri had a problem with dating A CHILD and his STUDENT was not due to the fact that she is *gasp* A CHILD but for the fact that he might be a sucky guardian if they fell in love.
Hey I get it, I would throw myself in front of my love too instead of someone I didnt care for, but that could have been angled to the real issue instead of made romantic.
In the end, a fast entertaining read with surprising turns and I would recommend it. Tho do look up warnings and triggering topics beforehand bc some of them could be triggering for some people.
I do love Rose and she is the perfect exemple of what I think most YA/NA fantasy MC's lack; confidence. I love that Rose knows she is a bad b*tch and hot enough to get anyone she wants. For young girls to read more of women like her, who arent afraid to love themselves no matter their flaws can change the way the see themselves.
For the story, these is a good amount of suspense to drive it forward and the writing is ok, not too bad but not the most amazing either.
One thing that did bother me was that Rose always seemed to figure things out in the right second it was happening or she had figured things out wayyyyy before Lissa or the heavy plotline arrived. That kind of foreshadowing isnt foreshadowing but just a hope the reader wont remember that Rose had already "spoiled" an important twist. But this could also be my eye being on the look out for certain things since I knew it was coming.
Thoughts on the love relationship between you know who
But now that I have been 17 myself the age gap from 17-25 is seriously messed up. Like... very much so!!
I understand its appeal, because in our heads we dont think of Rose as 17, she acts like she is in her early 20's but she isnt and that just kinda gives me the ick over their relationship.
AND the reason why Dimitri had a problem with dating A CHILD and his STUDENT was not due to the fact that she is *gasp* A CHILD but for the fact that he might be a sucky guardian if they fell in love.
Hey I get it, I would throw myself in front of my love too instead of someone I didnt care for, but that could have been angled to the real issue instead of made romantic.
In the end, a fast entertaining read with surprising turns and I would recommend it. Tho do look up warnings and triggering topics beforehand bc some of them could be triggering for some people.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Bullying, Blood, and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Sexual content and Sexual assault
nicolewhopickedthisbook's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
3.0
I probably would’ve loved this if I was younger and the narrator makes everyone voice like a baby’s. Like they’re teens not infants, thanks. Now I can watch the show and maybe the movie too
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Self harm, and Bullying
lmcknight's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
It’s not for me
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Blood, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Drug use, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Violence, Animal death, Car accident, Misogyny, Pedophilia, and Suicidal thoughts
sarahsbookss's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Infidelity, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Bullying, Car accident, Death of parent, Grief, Self harm, Death, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders