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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
I really liked this. There's something enthralling and atmospheric about it. All of the characters felt real. I really wish the movie was better.
I read this book several times in middle school, so there must have been something that drew me back to it, but I also recall it as being kind of trashy? Like you would expect from a YA novel about sexy werewolves, I suppose. But I really enjoyed it! I'd revisit it!
I'm rounding up from 2.5. I thought the storyline was interesting and the writing was decent, but the characters were either unlikeable or flat.
I love this book! It is so much better than the movie! Wish they would have gotten it right.
Blood and Chocolate
by Annette Curtis Klause
I read this years ago then saw the movie and did a quick re-read. The blurb sort of gives the basic story. Vivian Gandillion is a sixteen year old werewolf who doesn’t want her destiny. She wants love with a human boy Aiden but apparently she is destined to be the mate of the Gabriel, the werewolf alpha. There is much infighting and back stabbing along the way as every female except Vivian wants Gabriel.
Reading the other reviews it is obvious that this is a controversial book - I can see why. It is not for the faint of heart and though the heroine is only sixteen, it doesn’t seem appropriate as YA, I agree with some of the other reviewers on that.
Though the material is disturbing on many levels (the sexism, the age difference, anti-mixed marriage message, etc.), I have to applaud the originality. They are not your fluffy good werewolves you see today - they are more like mobsters or a gang and they are sometimes vicious. And this isn’t the urban fantasy that is so prevalent today either. There are just werewolves and humans.
The one thing I appreciated the most is the thing they changed the most in the movie version (which honestly wasn’t a very good movie). In the book, the author skipped the trite love conquers all human/werewolf happy ending. The world is more complicated than that and what sixteen year old boy can handle the fact that his girlfriend is a werewolf? Also, that sort first love is glorified far too much already.
I noticed that several reviewers thought that the 24/16 relationship between Gabriel and Vivian was a little creepy because the age different…never mind that the entire genre is full of ancient vampires/demons/angels who are in love with teenage girls. That didn’t start or end with Twilight.
by Annette Curtis Klause
I read this years ago then saw the movie and did a quick re-read. The blurb sort of gives the basic story. Vivian Gandillion is a sixteen year old werewolf who doesn’t want her destiny. She wants love with a human boy Aiden but apparently she is destined to be the mate of the Gabriel, the werewolf alpha. There is much infighting and back stabbing along the way as every female except Vivian wants Gabriel.
Reading the other reviews it is obvious that this is a controversial book - I can see why. It is not for the faint of heart and though the heroine is only sixteen, it doesn’t seem appropriate as YA, I agree with some of the other reviewers on that.
Though the material is disturbing on many levels (the sexism, the age difference, anti-mixed marriage message, etc.), I have to applaud the originality. They are not your fluffy good werewolves you see today - they are more like mobsters or a gang and they are sometimes vicious. And this isn’t the urban fantasy that is so prevalent today either. There are just werewolves and humans.
The one thing I appreciated the most is the thing they changed the most in the movie version (which honestly wasn’t a very good movie). In the book, the author skipped the trite love conquers all human/werewolf happy ending. The world is more complicated than that and what sixteen year old boy can handle the fact that his girlfriend is a werewolf? Also, that sort first love is glorified far too much already.
I noticed that several reviewers thought that the 24/16 relationship between Gabriel and Vivian was a little creepy because the age different…never mind that the entire genre is full of ancient vampires/demons/angels who are in love with teenage girls. That didn’t start or end with Twilight.
Thinly veiled furry porn with a dash of satanic panic
I read this book in middle school which was a LONG time ago. This is the book that started my love for reading. I will always remember it. I used to read it at least once every year, I've lost count how many times I've read it.
Yikes! This does not hold up.
I read this in middle school when ~*I’m not like other girls*~ was a way of life, and I when it was en vogue to hate other women. Then again, this was written in the late 90’s so, it’s almost as old as I am. So much does not age well, such as our heroine being a Hugh schooler (16? 17? 18? We never find out despite her having a birthday on page! Though, I’m 90% sure she’s supposed to be 16) and our hero ultimately being 24. Yikes! Boys being men at 21, but girls being women at 16? Yikes! Gabriel killing his first love in a rage? Yikes! So many yikes! But this imprinted into my lizard brain, so, alas, I don’t hate it. I just would never recommend or let my niece read this when she’s of an impressionable age.
I read this in middle school when ~*I’m not like other girls*~ was a way of life, and I when it was en vogue to hate other women. Then again, this was written in the late 90’s so, it’s almost as old as I am. So much does not age well, such as our heroine being a Hugh schooler (16? 17? 18? We never find out despite her having a birthday on page! Though, I’m 90% sure she’s supposed to be 16) and our hero ultimately being 24. Yikes! Boys being men at 21, but girls being women at 16? Yikes! Gabriel killing his first love in a rage? Yikes! So many yikes! But this imprinted into my lizard brain, so, alas, I don’t hate it. I just would never recommend or let my niece read this when she’s of an impressionable age.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship