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6
6.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
As far as young adult novels go, this one lacked all the teenage drama and angst that most do. Very little action happened while Sunny, our narrator, was pumping us information about her, her family and life, and what she learned over the course of the novel. I liked that the plot was so simple. There was no world that needed to be saved except for Sunny’s (own little high school world). Although I found it awkward at BEST that a hundreds (maybe thousands) of years old vampire fell in love with a teenage girl in a matter of day.

Other than that, it was an overall enjoyable story. It was nothing spectacular and groundbreaking, and I am no hurry to read the rest of the series. But I am interested enough to read it eventually. I actually really enjoyed Sunny as a narrator. She was funny and sounded like a teenager, with a multitude of asides that actually didn’t take away from the story itself, regardless of how long winded they were.

At the same time, I wanted to punch her sister Rayne. Rayne was so stereotypical and cliche, but I could imagine her perfectly and have people exactly like it, making my dislike of her all that more real. I don’t think it helped that everyone but Magnus seemed to be bemoaning their situation (whiny ungrateful children).

The best part about the novel? The detail that Mancusi put into her vampire race and culture. I thought it was well thought out and unique. I wish there could have been vampire interaction that just Magnus and Lucifent, but I suppose that will have to wait for the other novels in the series.
  
I received this novel free in exchange for an honest review.

You can tell that Bella Forrest is a new author. The writing is not perfect, nor is story. This novel is filled with the typical "Twilight" feel. It is filled with vampire angst, and all of the other vampire cliches ("I was a lamb - a lamb ready for slaughter" etc.). I do have to say that there is some potential that I saw in the author and in the story line.

I felt that the characters needed more depth to them. I really wish that this novel was longer because I would have loved to see what the author would have done if she added depth to the characters. When reading this novel, I kept wanting to get invested in the characters but they just lacked that certain something. They lacked depth, and in all honesty... they kind of lacked emotion. It could also be that i lacked investment and thus I didn't feel any of the emotions.

The plot line was interesting, a young girl is kidnapped and made to be the vampire king's slave. It's something that has been done over and over but I did enjoy the quick read. I do wish that we would have gotten more. I wanted more emotions, I wanted more depth to the characters, and I wanted more to the story.

When reading, I kept hoping that there would be something that would make this novel stand out above other Kidnapped humans in a world of vampires novels but it didn't really make the cut.

All in all, this was an Okay novel. Nothing spectacular but it filled my time and was a very quick read.
  
Sirius The Jaeger
Sirius The Jaeger
2018 | Action, Animation, Thriller
8
7.3 (3 Ratings)
TV Show Rating
Good Vampire Anime, fluid animation and beautiful fight scenes, unique characters and interesting group dynamic (0 more)
Hard to say if some themes are viewed as classic or cliche (0 more)
Search For The Ark - 8/10
Sirius The Jaeger is a supernatural action thriller anime written by Keigo Koyanagi and directed by Masahiro Ando and produced by P.A. Works. Original character designs by Kinu Nishimura, with Mai Matsuura and Souichirou Sako adapting the designs for animation and music by Masaru Yokoyama.


Under the guise of the "V Shipping Company", a group of vampire hunters called "Jaegers", follow a group of vampires from China to Japan in 1930. Among the Jaegers, is a werewolf named Yuliy, whose home village was destroyed by vampires. Both sides battle over possession of holy relic known only as, "The Ark of Sirius". Which if acquired could have the potential to give power of a God.


This series was great. As some of the more pickier critics point out, it's hard to say if something is "classic" or cliche, but I for one really liked and enjoyed this show. The characters were pretty unique and I was very interested in both the group dynamic and the overall story arc and where it was going. The animation was very fluid, lots of energy in the fight scenes and good choreography. I really liked the progression of the main character and feel it makes up for him being kind of sad and mopey, especially in the beginning. Things do change towards the end when it becomes less about the group but it had a pretty satisfying ending and was more emotional than I thought it would be. I give it a 8/10 and recommend it for anyone who likes vampires or vampire anime.
  
Lifeforce (1985)
Lifeforce (1985)
1985 | Horror, Sci-Fi
Fun fact - this is the second film I've seen where a female character uses Patrick Stewart's body to communicate with someone. Maybe this is some kind of niche sub-genre I'm just discovering...

Lifeforce is a film of three parts - it's one part sci-fi, one part British thriller, and one part ridiculous end-of-the-world horror, in that precise order.
The sci-fi part is decent enough, where a space crew discovers a strange object near Halley's comet, and further inspection reveals giant bats and sleeping naked humans in crystal coffins that turn out to weird space vampires (so on board with this ridiculous plot). It has a great aesthetic and some good special effects (keeping in mind this movie came out in 1985). The puppetry when some of the space-vampire victims come back to life is awesome.
Then the film shifts to Colonels Caine (Peter Firth) and Carlsen (Steve Railsback) as they track down one of the escaped aliens through London, whilst it kills and shapeshifts to it's hearts content.
This portion is slower, but Lifeforce has an engaging screenplay, and boasts a cast good enough to keep things entertaing. Patrick Stewart, Frank Finlay, Mathilda May, and John Hallam amongst others provide a solid ensemble that ensures the film doesn't fall into silly territory.

Everything leads up to the absurd finale however. London is completely aflame, hordes of vampire zombie things flood the street, there are bodies everywhere, shit is blowing up, vampire aliens are being vanquished with giant swords, people are being thrown out of helicopters - Tobe Hooper doesn't fuck about with this kind of stuff, and Lifeforce has a final sequence that puts a lot of other horror films to shame, and looks fantastic. It's glorious - This sci-fi-horror gem is well worth checking out.
  
Heartbeat Girl
Heartbeat Girl
Michelle Gross | 2021 | Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Fabulous vampire read!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarain, I was gifted my copy of this book.

When Jayne's boss disappears, the band she was working with hires her as their PA. But something is off about The Oppressors and Jayne can't figure it out. She also can't keep her attraction to one of them hidden if she's sharing their bus.

It's been a while since I had a good vampire read, and I have to say, this proper hit the spot!

I loved that there was history between Jayne and Liam, but we don't get the full story till much later in the story. And indeed, that it was well past half way before they give into their desires for each other. Loved the sire aspect of this vampire lore.

Liam knew all that time ago, that Jayne was special to him, but it wasn't til he fully opened his soul to her, that he realised just HOW special she was.

I loved all the guys, but now I think Pete has a place in my heart. He does something here that was incredibly brave, and could have cost him his life, but his love for Jayne, even if she wasn't his, pulled him through. Steve too, but to a lesser extent. I want them both to have a story, they need one!

There's a bit on the blurb that says this can be read as a standalone, but that characters from Soul Food are mentioned. And it can, it is totally stand alone, BUT now I WANT to go back and read that book, I really do. Ruth is Jayne's boss and where she ends up? I need to know what happened to her.

First I've read of this author too, I need more!

A very, very enjoyable 4 star read

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Don’t get in the way of me and my sai. At least, not if you’re a vampire. That’s a quick way to end up dead.
My name is Ashryn Barker, and I’m a vampire hunter. One of the best in fact.
I also have a secret. One I can never tell anyone else. When I look someone in the eyes, I can see their deepest secret, the one hidden behind the illusion they show the world.
My name is Ashryn Barker, and I’m here to shatter your illusions.
Shattered Illusions is a paranormal reverse harem filled with vampires, hunters, and some very wrong assumptions.

Shattered Illusions is the first book in the Ashryn Barker series, and is a novella.
This a very action packed novella and a good start to a series.
We have betrayal, deceit and all is definitely not what it seems when dealing with everyone.
I liked the character of Ashryn; strong, determined and knows her own mind.
I'm interested to see where the story leads through the rest of the books.
Highly recommend reading.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
  
Guilty Pleasures
Guilty Pleasures
Laurell K. Hamilton | 1993 | Fiction & Poetry
9
8.9 (12 Ratings)
Book Rating
Plot, characters (0 more)
Incredible
I cannot recommend this book enough! I read it when I was around 14 years old and it was one of the first books I've read where the characters and lives are so realistic (obviously the setting is slightly fantastical with supernatural creatures), it was so refreshing to see characters getting injured and that injury lasting more than a couple of pages, for there to be a need to eat and sleep which some stories don't seem to deem necessary, and for the character to struggle with issues more than just a bad guy. It was amazing that the main character wasn't some meek female that grew into someone strong in the space of a story but that she worked her butt off before the setting of the story and was just introduced as this hard as nails vampire executioner that loves penguins.

This was the perfect start to an amazing series that blew the Charlaine Harris books completely out of the water! A must read for any vampire/supernatural fan but do be warned that the later books do get more graphic and sexual so probably not suitable for younger readers.