5 comments about Bloodlust (Vampire Beach).

1. This book was alright. I have read better but who hasn't? I think the writing was a little shallow but the overall effect was better than you would expect.



2. What kind of vampire book takes over half the novel to introduce vampires?!? Bloodlust, the first in the Vampire Beach series, by Alex Duval, is a rambling, contrived story of rich kids in Malibu with only a hint of the action and mystery promised on the back of the book. Overall, I found the story relatively boring, difficult to follow, and overly frustrating.
   
   The story focuses around Jason Freeman who has recently moved from Michigan to the super-elite neighborhood of DeVere Heights in Malibu. Jason is quickly accepted into the inner clique of his school because he is cute and a great swimmer. He even makes great friends with the hottest and most powerful girl in school--Sienna. Oddly, Jason also befriends an outsider named Adam, who, in contrast to any high school I have ever heard of, is accepted by the cool kids without a hint of disagreement. (Where's the teenage angst? Where's the Breakfast Club-style clique wars? In short, where's the conflict?) Jason gets invited to raging parties, dragging along his sister (who seems like a total throwaway character, by the way), and flirting with random girls. Eventually a dead girl washes up on the shore with, you guessed it, bite marks. Now Jason and Adam are on the case trying to track down the mysterious vampires in the perfect Malibu community.
   
   To begin my critique, I'd like to start by saying that I am a great fan of YA Lit and I was really looking forward to this book. However, the problems I encountered really drained the life from me (pun intended). First, it takes forever to get to the vampires. I mean, FOREVER! Duval wastes so much time describing the parties that he seems to forget to build the narrative to support his plot. Second, while the backdrop setting is a standard locale for many current YA novels and CW television shows, the author seems to be trying too hard to reference current trends to make connections with most kids. For example, Duval writes that Alex tried to "eye-TIVO" every detail of his new surroundings. Later, one of the girls calls Alex and "Absolut cutie," referencing alcohol ads that were so five years ago. Third, once we finally get to the vampires, Duval does little to build suspense. Caution to the reader, here. What follows may contain mild SPOILERS: The girl who dies is such a bit character, I felt zero empathy for her. It may as well have been an anonymous dummy washing up on the beach. I thought it was going to be Jason's sister or something that would make me care. The same can be said about the various characters who are accused of being vampires. They are not well-constructed early in the book; therefore, there is no reason to really care at the end. Even Jason himself is such a stock character I cared little if he lived or died at the end.
   
   I bought this book as a special edition that included the first two books of the series. I was excited to introduce my students to a book that combined the seductiveness of the OC with the haunting feeling of vampires. I was sorely disappointed. The characters are poorly conceived, the story is boring, and the quality of the writing is contrived and, well, poor. If only a pack of werewolves would pounce on DeVere Heights before people are stuck having to read another adventure in Malibu. Let's hope for a full moon.



3. I like vampire stories. If you've read any of my other reviews, you might already know that. Because of my prejudice, I dove into the first in the series of VAMPIRE BEACH books with high expectations. And I did enjoy it. Yes, it has some problems in execution, but more about that later. First the good stuff.
   
   As BLOODLUST begins, high school senior, Jason Freeman, has just moved into an exclusive Malibu subdivision with his sister and their nouveau rich parents. He experiences the typical teenage angst: the girl he likes is taken, he can't have a good time at parties because he's always watching out for his younger sister, one of his new friends isn't exactly riding the top rung of the social ladder, etc. The usual stuff. But something seems a little odd in Malibu. Then a girl turns up dead, and Jason discovers that the popular crowd at his high school is made up of vampires.
   
   This book put a fun spin on both the traditional vampire story and the "high school popular crowd" story. I stayed up late, turning pages to see what would happen. That's a good sign. When I was done with BLOODLUST, I was grateful that there was another VAMPIRE BEACH book on hand and I tore right into it.
   
   Unfortunately, BLOODLUST did have some problems that detracted from my enjoyment. First, it was too short. There was clearly a lot of stuff going on in Jason's high school, but relatively little of it was explored. When he discovered the vampires and began learning about them, I ended up with more questions than answers. And by the time the real mystery began, the author seemed in a hurry to resolve it. Seemingly, no sooner did Jason realize there was a problem than it was solved. That was a letdown. I wanted more investigation, more conflict, more story.
   
   Another thing that bothered me was the use of slang. The author was eager to portray authentic-sounding teen dialogue, but it seemed forced and, at times, outdated. That is often the problem with trying to write the way modern teens speak. By the time the book is published, the dialogue already sounds like it was written about two centuries ago. And be warned that this one is for older readers. It contains frequent references to alcohol use and some sexual activity.
   
   I found VAMPIRE BEACH: BLOODLUST to be an enjoyable, light read. No deep human truths will be revealed, but there is plenty of good, old-fashioned, escapist fantasy. This slender volume is the perfect companion for your next plane trip. It should keep you entertained all the way from check-in to baggage claim.
   
   Reviewed by: K. Osborn Sullivan



4. Jason Freeman's Family has just moved from Michigan to an exclusive neighborhood in Malibu. Jason is thrilled even if his younger sister has her doubts. Things go well at first as Jason quickly makes friend, makes the swim team, and falls in lust with a beautiful rich girl. But then he notices some odd things. For instance, everyone raves about a party he thought was mediocre. But then after a party on a boat, one of the guest turns up dead on the beach.
   
   The death is tragic enough but one of Jason's new friends shows Jason evidence that he thinks a vampire is involved. And not just one. He suspects there is a whole clan of bloodsuckers in Malibu. Jason does not believe at first until he comes face to face with the truth. There are vampires in the area but they don't kill. Now there is a rogue suffering from bloodlust who cannot keep control. While the rogue is about, no one is safe. Can Jason find out who is the villain and save the day?
   
   This is a fast and fun books. The vampires and stuff do not appear for the first half as Jason acclimates himself to the new life but it really sets things up for how everything works. There is a pretty good-sized cast in this one so you have to pay attention. Although the bad vampire does kill a victim, this is not really a horror story. Jason and most of the characters are quite likeable. I don't know how many books are going to be in this series, but this is a very good start.



5. This book is different that other books that i have read. When i bought this book i didn't know if i would like it or not, but as it turns out i really really like this book. I shows how sometimes moving away from what you know and what you think you know can be a good experance until you find out their secrets. One event in this book makes everthing come together as it should. Alex Duval is a marvellous author and i can't wait until i read Book Two of Vampire Beach: INITIATION. It sounds just as good as this one. I hope to see more of Duvals work on Vampire Beach...

5 comments about Gateway to the Gods (Everworld, 7).

1. This books finds the four making it out of Hetwan country and getting to Olympus. There they are pampered with wonderfully soft beds, all the food they can eat and being waited on hand and foot. What more could they possibly want?!? Deep down they know they need to still stop Ka Anor or there will be no more Olympus. But when they meet these gods and find out how arrogant and self-centered they are, it turns out to be harder to get there help than they thought. Then on top of that, they find out that the Coo Hatch are making weapons with there special metal for the Hetwan's. How will they be able to overcome these obsticles? Read to find out!



2. Parents should be aware of the suggestive comments in chapter one and the crude comments in the last chapter before buying this book for their kids. It is disapointing that the author had to rely on this stuff instead of being really creative. It's going into the trash at our house.



3. Everyone says that I shouldn't read Ever World because I am 10. But I love Ever world and if you read this book you'll feel like your there whith them !



4. Can you imagine a beautiful land where magic rules with nymphs, fairies, and leprechauns? Looks can be deceiving. This wonderful place is ruled by evil gods, ugly Cyclops, death, and destruction. This destruction may become worse or it may cease when seven kids from New York appear there. The name of the novel as you probably already know is Gateway to the Gods which is part of a series called Everworld written by K.A. Applegate. This particular story takes place in the Greek part of Everworld, where it's always temperate, always light, and always summer. It takes place in 2000 but the technology dates way back to the 1800's. There's no need for technology when there's magic. The protagonist is Christopher Hitchcock, he's funny at the wrong times but brave and outgoing at the right times. He's about seventeen, it doesn't say in the book but he can drive, and also goes to high school. The main conflict for Chris was to hold off enemy troops at Mt. Olympus which becomes impossible.
   

   I think all together it's a great series and although this book was not the best book in the series it wasn't bad either. Applegate twists history and fantasy into a great book for readers from ages 13 to 21. There is some vulgar language but is still a great book. There is lots of action and a main character dies I'll let you guess who that is. I like how Applegate portrayed the gods; it fits them and history even though it is kind of funny. One minute it's a nice controlled dinner party on Mt. Olympus the next it's a rolling thunderstorm literally, with yelling, drinking and more yelling. Without knowing it they kill every mortal servant in the room and kick out one of their primary war leaders. One of the things I didn't like about this title is that it starts with one conflict then doesn't finish that conflict and ends with another. If you read it I hope you enjoy it.




5. I gave K.A. Applegate's Everworld: Gateway to the Gods four stars because it is an excellent book for anyone into the whole Greek mythology. I am personally not into that stuff, but I still really enjoyed this book very much because it had great action, great details on all the people and it had a good conflict. I think if I had read the previous books in the series I would have understood this book better. So if you haven't read the previous books, I suggest you read those first, but if you don't this will still be a great book for you.

5 comments about Tales of the Slayer, Volume 2 (Buffy the Vampire Slayer).

1. An improvement on the last book, this set of stories is bookended by two Buffy tales. Here we have a pirate slayer, a samurai slayer, a slayer that encounters both Springheeled Jack and Dracula, and works with a group of friends.
   
   A little bit more of the fun here, as some of the slayers are more successful, especially one that is a union soldier with the support of a general and his armaments.
   
   Tales of the Slayer 2 : 01 All That You Do Comes Back Unto Thee Sunnydale California 2000 - Todd A. McIntosh
   Tales of the Slayer 2 : 02 Lady Shobu Sagami Province Japan 980 - Kara Dalkey
   Tales of the Slayer 2 : 03 Abomination Beauport Brittany France 1320 - Laura J. Burns and Melinda Metz
   Tales of the Slayer 2 : 04 Blood and Brine The Caribbean 1661 - Greg Cox
   Tales of the Slayer 2 : 05 The Ghosts of Slayers Past London England 1843 - Scott Allie
   Tales of the Slayer 2 : 06 The New Watcher Atlanta Georgia 1864 - Kristine Kathryn Rusch
   Tales of the Slayer 2 : 07 House of the Vampire London England 1897 - Michael Reaves
   Tales of the Slayer 2 : 08 The War Between the States New York Ciry New York 1922 - Rebecca Rand Kirshner
   Tales of the Slayer 2 : 09 Stakeout on Rush Street Chicago Illinois 1943 - Max Allan Collins and Matthew V. Clemens
   Tales of the Slayer 2 : 10 Again Sunnydale California 1999 - Jane Esperson
   
   
   Magic boy's mummy mistake.
   
   3.5 out of 5
   
   
   Bored Japanodemonslayer.
   
   3.5 out of 5
   
   
   Domestic decision dooms slayer.
   
   3 out of 5
   
   
   Pirate captain slayer crossdresses, lacks parrot, then hand. Captain Krakenhook?
   
   4 out of 5
   
   
   Snob Watcher.
   
   2.5 out of 5
   
   
   Union general supports his non-regular soldier.
   
   4 out of 5
   
   
   Dracula and Van Helsing leads to Scooby gang shutdown, Springheeled Jack still on the loose.
   
   4 out of 5
   
   
   Sally seeks showbusiness, finds Slayer instead.
   
   3 out of 5
   
   
   Slayer spells it out for Nitti.
   
   3.5 out of 5
   
   
   Scooby gang retro.
   
   2.5 out of 5



2. This is the type of book I get a little sad when I get near the end. Must read!



3. This is 1 of my favorite books ever, 1 f my favorite story lines was Blood and Brine I loved the pirate slayer. My favorite story in this book was the last 1 where Buffy, Willow, and Xander go back in time I loved the fact that Buffy got to see her mom again and that she wasn't stuck with Dawn for once. I think that when the show brought Dawn on the show and killed Buffy's mom is when they ruint Buffy, from the 5th season on the show slowly went downhill. I HIGHLY recommend this book it is definitely the best Buffy book in the series.



4. I've always love BTVS because of the Mythology of the Slayer line and how she's Chosen and all of that, I also love the characters and how they're written so well.....But i've often wondered about Past Slayers, what they were like, and what their life was like because as we've always known, Buffy is just one of many Slayers throughout the Years. I loved this Book and how it told about Different Slayers from Different Era's and how that particular Era effected their Duty as the Slayer.
   I've seen other Reviews where people ask what good a 'Pirate' Slayer would be and if you really think about it, all of the Vampires that Migrate from country too country more than likely use Ships too Travel in because of the Dark Rooms beneath the Surface, she could stop that from happening.
   My Favorite story in this book was probably "Stake out on Rush Street", among a few other's....I also liked the one about the Civil War Slayer and the one about the Slayer who fought Dracula........
   I thought it was a very good book and I recommend it to other fans of Buffy and especially Fans of the Buffy Books.



5. It felt like it took me forever to finish this book. The stories were not as well written as the first book and it wasn't as interesting. The only highslight stories were Again written by Jane Espenson and Abonmination by Laura J. Burns and Melinda Mertz.

5 comments about The Sunnydale High Yearbook Buffy The Vampire Slayer.

1. This is one of my favorite pieces of Buffy memorabilia. It is a cute Yearbook that has many inside jokes from the first 3 seasons of Buffy. It is not an episode guide. I love the passages and the signatures that the cast leaves for Buffy. I actually store this with all my high school yearbooks - It's part of my life now! I highly recommend this for the Buffy fan that simply can't deal with the fact that it is no longer on the air. It has funny inside jokes, cute pictures that were taken at prom and other events, as well as references to all the characters.
   
   Enjoy xoxo



2. This is a must have for the true slayer fans. There are several groups pictures of the gang, including Angel, Cordelia & Giles. There are even "autographs" by some of the quirky regulars such as Jonathan, Larry etc., which I thought was really cool. There are even several color photos & many fun facts. A very nice edition to any Buffy collection! Eat Stake!



3. I was thrilled to find this at a thrift shop for 75 cents. For that price, I'm completely satisfied, of course! It's well-produced, has some funny text (Cordelia's poem is great), and is an amusing coffee-table item. However, I was disappointed with the number of pages that were obviously there just to fulfill the "typical yearbook" role (sports teams, clubs, etc.) that had nothing to do with any of the central characters of the series, and weren't even funny. Those wastes of pages could have been filled with just about anything related to the show and I'd have been happy. The senior "quotes" were pretty worthless... what a wasted opportunity for some hilarity! But the signatures from the characters, Buffy's mom's note on behalf of MOO, etc. are certainly in the spirit of the show and will amuse fans. In short, I wouldn't pay full price for this, but I'm still glad I read it.



4. Okay, I'm outing myself right now: I'm a huge fan of Buffy! (Especially the musical episode, which I could happily watch every day for the rest of my life.) But this yearbook just didn't cut it for me.
   
   Now, don't get me wrong, I didn't hate this. The concept was brilliant, the presentation was striking and the pictures were very nice. But the text just didn't thrill me. I thought it would be funnier. But as I waded through all the endless pages of stuff about how the various school sports teams and clubs went during the school year, looking for references to the characters featured in the Buffy series, or at least looking for punchlines, I was sadly disappointed. This book was basically just a set of boring stats and commentary about people I don't know or give a damn about. There were no cool 'in jokes' or anecdotes or anything I didn't already know about the show. This added nothing to my Buffy experience. A few of the comments in the margins of the pages were alright, but not laugh out loud funny. Oz's comments were really the only saving grace, but they were few and far between.
   
   Buffy was a very well written show--hard-hitting and poignant and funny, offering wonderful social commentary. Therefore, I naturally expected any books about the show to be the same. But this just wasn't up to that standard.
   
   Look, if you're a diehard Buffy fan, then you might want to pick this up--if you can still get hold of it, that is--and take a look at it just for curiosity's sake. But if not, don't be too disappointed that it's no longer in print. It's just better that way.



5. Really funny and witty with a lot of "inside" jokes for BtVS fans. The inside is just like a regular high school yearbook for any school...that was built on a hell mouth and had a mortality rate nearly matching its graduation rate. Great color pictures (HS Cordy, need I say more?) and quotes from the 3 best seasons (IMHO) of the late great BtVS. Thank God it lives on in FX reruns about 16 times a day and the DVDs are very reasonably priced.

3 comments about Ritual (Vampire Beach).

1. when i pick up this book i can not put it down! it is just breath taking good and phenomenal. i usually don't write review for books, but for vampire beach i will write a review for it anyday!



2. Jason Freeman has mostly adjusted to living in vampire-infested Southern California. Jason loves a vampire, has vampire friends, and even some in his family tree. He's pretty accepting of it all. But then he finds himself with a crossbow bolt sticking out of his chest and in the hospital. He is luck to be alive. But there are others who are not as lucky as him. There is another attack and the victim does not survive. Suddenly the community finds itself in a bit of a panic. Special investigators arrive to try and catch the new serial menace.
   
   Jason's non-vampire friend is convinced that there is a modern-day vampire hunter in the are. Jason becomes convinced but the local vampires claim the Hunters died out centuries ago. There are some more attacks and theories are all over the place. The investigators don't seem to be getting any closer. Jason is convinced the vampires are not taking the threat seriously enough. But eventually events unfold and the killer is revealed. To find out who and how you will have to read the book.
   
   This is working out to be a pretty good series. Surfer vampires is a nice twist and the author handles it well. With each book we learn more of the characters and the society. This one has a good mystery and is well paced. Readers with a good memory for the earlier books might piece the story together a little faster. If you liked the first two volumes then you are sure to enjoy this one. Check it out.



3. Jason's in a world of danger, at least according to the psychic at the fair his sister forced him to attend. Jason scoffs at the idea, but after an afternoon at the beach filled with surfing and volleyball, he takes her warning more seriously. Alone on the beach, he's attacked, shot with an arrow from a crossbow.
   
   At first, he believes it to be just an accident, but when vampires start dying around him, Jason decides to uncover the truth behind the murders. Who is attacking vampires in town and why did they go after him? His buddy, Adam, believes a vampire hunter is responsible for these attacks.
   
   Jason must not only suffer through the recovery of his wound, but also personal rumors floating around about him and newly single Sienna. Can he handle all the stress in his life?
   
   VAMPIRE BEACH is an addicting series that will leave readers wishing for the next installment. RITUAL is the third book of this vampire series (following Bloodlust (Vampire Beach) and Initiation (Vampire Beach)) that takes a bite out of the "Gossip Girl" lifestyle.
   
   Reviewed by: Jennifer Rummel

5 comments about The Lost Slayer (Buffy the Vampire Slayer).

1. The Lost Slayer is actually an omnibus (God I love that word) of four books written by Christopher Golden which follow the same character arc. It's a meaty read, and I suspect it is vastly improved by compiling all four books together. The basic premise is this: Buffy makes a mistake that sees her propelled 5 years into the future into the body of 24 year old Buffy who has spent the past 5 years locked in a holding cell while the King of the Vampires takes over Sunnydale and LA (almost).
   
   *SPOLIERS*
   
   When Buffy breaks out, everything has changed - Willow is heading up the military-esque organisation that is trying to stop the vampires from taking over LA, Buffy's Mom is dead, and so is Anya (killed by Spike), Oz is still around but he and Willow aren't what they once were and Xander. Poor Xander. He is bitter and scarred and doesn't smile anymore. Oh, and the King of the Vampires is...GILES! I almost dropped the book when that was revealed, but vampire Giles makes a great villain.
   
   I really enjoyed my visit to the Buffyverse. I used to read all of the Buffy books (give me a break...I was 20-something. I'm almost 32 now, so obviously I can appreciate the books on more levels and with deeper wisdom and great insight etc. etc.) and Christopher Golden was the best Buffy book writer - he really had the dialogue rhythm down and understood the characters. Good times!



2. The Lost Slayer
   By Christopher Golden (Omnibus Edition, 2003)
   
   RATING: 4/5 Stakes
   
   SETTING: Season Four
   
   T.V. CHARACTER APPEARANCES: Buffy, Willow, Xander, Anya, Oz, Giles, Olivia
   
   MAJOR ORIGINAL CHARACTERS: Camazotz (bat demon), Lucy Hanover (ghostly Slayer), Clownface & Bulldog (vampires), Zotziloha (Camazotz's wife)
   
   BACK-OF-THE-BOOK SUMMARY: "Buffy Summers's adjustment to life at U.C. Sunnydale has not gone smoothly. She feels awkward, insecure, and jealous that Willow's all over the college life. So when she is visited by a prophecy of impending danger, the timing couldn't be worse. There's plenty of evil afoot as it is: a unified troop of vampires has descended upon Sunnydale, and tension between Buffy and Willow gets in the way of demon hunting. Before long, a single moment of bad judgment catapults Buffy into an alternate future dimension where vampires reign supreme. Imprisoned in the body of her 24-year-old-self--and confronting friends and foes the likes of which she'd never imagined--the Slayer must uncover her past misstep and correct it, or risk facing a terrifying monster that she herself has created. . . ."
   
   REVIEW
   
   The Lost Slayer is an interesting and ambitious book, that takes place in two major time periods: the "real world" of Buffy Season Four and an alternate future five years later, where Giles has been turned into a Vampire King and Sunnydale and much of Southern California has fallen under his evil sway. Through some magics gone awry, Season Four Buffy inhabits the body of future Buffy, while the mind of future Buffy inhabits the mind of Season Four Buffy, leading to some interesting scenarios.
   
   The alternate future is an interesting one, and includes much darker versions of Xander and Willow, along with some characters not otherwise present in the book like Parker, Harmony, Wesley, Spike, and Drusilla. The Season Four material is fairly well done, though it involves Buffy learning her usual lesson that it's okay for her to rely on her friends. The main bad guy--a bat demon/god of some type, and his hyped-up vampire cronies--are about average for a Buffy book. The overall tone of the novel is dark with some brutal, well-done action scenes (a scene where future Buffy kills another Slayer is nothing short of ghastly) and believable dialogue.
   
   All in all, this is one of the better Buffy novels that contains some nice surprises and tense scenes. It's definitely one worth picking up. [Note that this was originally released as a "serial novel" in four separate books; the version reviewed here is the "omnibus" one.]



3. great book even for ppl who arent buffy fans. golden creates an alternate reality from what weve seen in the series. action packed all the way thru and feels like your watching it on tv



4. I read this book so many times i had to buy a new copy. Seeing buffy as a 24 year old in this book to how she actually acted makes me think. then i realize what she went through. i love the book, but i can't get through it without crying (no spoilers) if u have a spare two hours, sit and read this book. if u're a true buffy fan, you'll be glad u did!



5. This was such a unique and enjoyable story because of the "what if" idea. I loved the evil Giles in the story and the way that Buffy dealt with the "hell" of the other reality. This is a fun and worthwhile read. I definately recommend it for all Buffy fans.

5 comments about Switched (Fear Street, No. 31).

1. This book was very good I so recomened it for people that love to have goosebumps and shivers down there back. Im 11 years old the daughter of the audolts acount I am a fan of R.L. stine, but I have to admit it was a bit gory but awesome. The way he discribed how the people got killed was unbelievilble I couldnt believe that his mind acutiolly works that way. Every time I read the part were someone got killed I could see everything Nicole could see. When I was reading the book I thought that Lucy was a Jerk for all the things she had done but the end tells everything. Read this book and find out what Lucy did and find what actually was hidden be hind the curtons!
   
   P.S. discover a bunch of to ways to kill!!! ha ha ha



2. This one great book with one twisted ending- in a good way! Lots of twists and turns! Great read; great adition to anyone's collection!



3. Its sad that Nicole thought that her best friend , Lucy , was still alive.The reason why I am writing this is because when I started reading this book I felt sorry for Nicole for having a depressed life, then Lucy asked Nicole if she wanted to switch bodies. Then when I read the ending, I was shocked when Nicole found out what really happend to Lucy. The ending was so sad that I cried for hours. I give this book 5 stars.



4. This is the one of the many books of the Fear Street series, and it's really not one of the better ones. Fear Street is a series about scary and/or supernatural events that happen to teenagers in a ficitional town called Shadyside. In this book, a confusing, unlikable character is convinced that she has somehow switched bodies with a friend who's actually a killer.This has a pretty lame twist ending and gives a bad taste of future books in the series. Please don't make this your first Stine book, and even if you are a Fear Street fan, I feel you can skip this and feel good about it.



5. I got this book for my daughter. She said i was a great one.

5 comments about The Last Vampire: Collector's Edition, Vol. 1 (The Last Vampire 1/ The Last Vampire 2: Black Blood/ The Last Vampire 3: Red Dice).

1. A long-time master of mystery, murder and mayhem, Christopher Pike has been publishing what most people think of as "teen thrillers" since 1985. However, to label Pike's haunting, ingenious stories as "teen thrillers" is to miss what makes his work so unusual, for his stories occupy a strange liminal space between adolescence and adulthood. It is, perhaps, more accurate to say, as Pike himself admits, that he tends to write about teens, not to teens. Either way, he was decades ahead of his time, anticipating the subject matter and themes of today's best-selling young adult writers, albeit with one crucial difference: He is not afraid of copious amounts of blood and gore, and he is not afraid to kill off his creations. Indeed, in Pike's twisted world the only thing rarer than a happy ending in is a middle-age narrator.
   
   Luckily for me, Pike began publishing his famous vampire series about the time I graduated from high school in the mid nineties. During that gloomy, pre-Amazon technological Dark Age, I was already an avid Pike fan, weekly checking the local drugstore for my next literary fix. What made me spend my hard-earned waitressing tips on his slim volumes? Pike was unlike any other writer I'd encountered, perhaps because his stories of teens facing down vampires, demons, serial killers, bloodthirsty aliens, and horrific, supernatural creatures touched a deep psychological nerve. I have forgotten many books over the years, but I have never forgotten Pike's exhilarating, fiercely unsettling stories.
   
   This is especially true of his "Last Vampire" series (there are six books in all), which tell the tale of Sita (aka Alisa Perne) who is the last vampire on earth, or so she believes when we first meet her. An extraordinary being with the experience and wisdom of five thousand years, Sita is neither entirely evil nor entirely good, and as such she sometimes recalls the haunted, melancholy Louis (from Rice's 1976 Interview with the Vampire). She also prefigures such creations as Angel (from Buffy The Vampire Slayer), although she has no problem killing innocents when she is threatened, and Buffy, in that she is appears to be a petite, young, gorgeous blond, but is actually a killing machine of enormous strength.
   
   Pike is a terrific storyteller and his "Last Vampire" series is a page-turner full of bloody chases, gruesome killings, big explosions and elaborate fight sequences. People die. A lot of people. I especially like how unpredictable Pike's plot twists are; Sita's tale starts off at a dead run and doesn't let up until the last sentence. Good luck trying to figure out where it's going; I certainly couldn't when I was re-reading it last week.
   
   However, I also like how he often weaves myth, science, and religion into his stories, and "The Last Vampire" is no exception. One of the best parts about this series are Sita's flashbacks as she remembers key moments from her amazingly long life, especially the day she met God, or, as he was known at that time, Krishna. The Hindu beliefs, legends, stories and myths anchor Sita's tale and make a nice contrast with her experiences in the modern world. In addition, they allow Pike to speculate on spiritual matters, such as the nature of good and evil.
   
   As an adult reader, though, I must admit that some aspects of his writing leave much to be desired. It's true that he does do a good job quickly developing protagonists you care about. Sita is a well-rounded, complex character capable of generosity, compassion, and love, but also cruelty, torture and murder. She is, in the words of Pike, "A lover who hates, a saint who sins and an angel who kills." However, sometimes minor characters are incredibly stereotypical and he tends to rely on types: "the school nerd," "the FBI agent," "the donut-eating cop," "the snuff-film, frozen-corpse-loving homicidal maniac," etc.
   
   After a while such stereotypes just get old.
   
   Also, Pike's prose is, well, unsophisticated at best, and, at times, downright bad. (This is the reason I reluctantly gave him four stars instead of five). For example, his series is full of vile descriptions, such as the following sketch of a serial killer from the second vampire book: "But it is his eyes that are the scariest. The green centers look like cheap emeralds that have been dipped in sulfuric acid and left out to dry in a radioactive dust storm."
   
   Um, what?
   
   But there are worse sins a writer can commit then an over-reliance on clichés, mixed metaphors and over-the-top descriptions. In the end, Pike's imagination makes up for his prose, and most of the time I can ignore his flawed writing because I am so caught up in his exciting tales. Certainly, "The Last Vampire" is a wildly original, breathtakingly suspenseful ride that will appeal to sci-fi, fantasy, horror and thriller fans alike.
   
   Last week I was going through an old box of books and I found my carefully preserved Pike stash. Sitting there in the dusty attic I began to re-read Sita's tale and, although it was early in the morning, I found myself reading into the wee hours of the night. I just couldn't put her story down until I had read the last page. If that's not a testament to Pike's power, then I don't know what is.



2. This is a phenomenal series. I have read itat least 3 times. If you have any interest in vampires, as well as thrillers, read this series. You will not be disappointed. It is most certainly for mature readers, as it is very graphic on all accounts. However, Pike's writing style is phenomenal. When I read this series for the first time, I couldn't put it down and I'm looking forward to reading it again soon. The characters are strong, the descriptions are amazing and it is simply fantastic.
   
   Now, if only they would turn it into a movie or television series. It has incredibly high potential to be done very, very well...



3. I read this book as a child and it has always been my favorite. I figured... now 22, I might find the books childish in some regard, yet afetr re-reading the series almost 10 years later, I still feel they are the best books I have ever read.
   They are filled as much as can be expected with action, adventure, mystery, horror, and some moments of sadness. Rarely do you come across a book that fulfills all qualifications of perfection... but this series does.
   Sita is the most amazing character I have ever encountered in fiction. There is nothing she cant do, and the problems that she faces are extrordinary.
   Thank you Mr. Pike for the best books in all of existence.



4. I've read several vampire series, but these 6 books were my favorite. I've read the series several times. It's sad books like these go out-of-print. I bet people would still buy them...I would recommend these books to anyone. It doesn't matter what age you are, you will enjoy these books.



5. I truly think that this is the best vampire book ever made.
   This book is a must have for any vampire story lover! I read this book when I was in 6th grade and omg it literally changed my life. I was a very bad reader as a child but this book opened a door and introduced me to the wonderful stories books could actually tell. Don't think this is just a kid's book because it isn't, its so much more! Everyone no matter what age can enjoy this book and I hope it brings you as much joy as it did to me.

5 comments about Missing Since Monday (Point).

1. You know, I read this book for the first time when I was probably ten years old. I read it quite a few times. Now at age 27 I have a child of my own. I'm not sure I could stomach reading the book now. It is a really, really good book, and I have read one or two reviews where people thought it was boring and what not. That scares me a little because these things really DO happen, and there is nothing boring, and everything SCARY about them happening.Granted, this is just a book but it's quite accurate. It's very sad because more and more these days, as with the Adam Walsh case, you do not hear about a happy ending. Alot of cops have been known to say that if a child is not found within the first few hours of a kidnapping, the odds go down that he or she will be found alive.
   
   As child, I just thought the book was good. I didn't think much of how the step-mom (mother to the little girl)was feeling, as I had no children and was only child myself and identified more with the teenage charactors. As a mother I now understand what the mother was going through and can only imagine that I would be in hysterics and insane if my child was abducted.



2. Teens Maggie and Mike are responsible for their four-year-old half sister Courtenay while their parents take a long-postponed vacation. Since they enjoy their time with the active little girl, they figure a few days alone won't be a problem.
   
   The first morning their parents are away, Maggie and Mike put Courtie on the bus...only to learn she never arrived at school. They are forced to cut their father and stepmother's trip short as the family entreats friends and neighbors to hang posters and canvass the area.
   
   Throughout the nightmare, 15-year-old Maggie keeps getting harassing phone calls from an anonymous male. She isn't sure if the person has anything to do with her little sister's disappearance, but she's rattled nonetheless.
   
   Although geared for the YA level, the story is very real. Martin does a good job depicting how easily a child can be snatched - even a smart one, who has been warned of all the world's dangers by her loving family. She also shows how it takes but a moment to turn a family's mundane everyday life into a relentless nightmare. Nothing else really seems to matter when a loved one is missing.



3. 
   This book is called "Missing Since Monday" by: Ann M. Martin
   The book is about a girl named Maggie, her brother Mike, and her little sister named Courtney. Maggie's parents are divorced and her dad got remarried.
   One day Maggie's dad and her step mom went on their honeymoon. Now Maggie and Mike have to take care of Courtney. The next day Maggie puts Courtney on the school bus and she never came back home that day. Now she is getting mystery phone calls, and she doesn't know what to do.
   Find out what will happen next.
   I recommend this book to people who like mystery books.



4. I guess this wasnt the type of book for me... it was boring, not surprising, and it felt like 3 months had gone by since i started the book (took me 2 weeks to read)! If i hadn't had to read this for school I would've never finished it!



5. This story takes place in different place's cause two siblings (Mike and Maggie) go around and get shocked and scared a few times. It's a big city, and lot's of witnesses.
   
   This book is about Courtnay Louis Ellis (4) gets kidnapped while going into school, and Maggie (14) is trying to get her mom out of the frame to prove she didn't do it. Maggie is also getting disturbing calls. But no ransom note or call shows up yet and the parents are on vacation.
   
   In my opinion this story is fantastic and it puts you in suspense!
   It will consume you. I could not stop reading it for nothing.
   
   I would recommend this book because its suspenseful, entertaining, dramatic, and realistic.

5 comments about Vampire Diaries #1: The Awakening.

1. The premise of The Awakening is pretty basic and not very original. Elena Gilbert sees Stefan Salvatore--a vampire haunted by his past--at school and decides that she must have him. That last line is actually not made up, as later quotes will show.
   
   Of course, Stefan avoids her, deeming the relationship too dangerous to pursue, and Elena becomes offended and does whatever possible to be noticed. Now, where have I heard this storyline before? Might Stephenie Meyer have read this before writing Twilight and gotten a few ideas? This series was published well before that one (1991), although the premise itself has been used countless times. I'm not saying anything, though it is an interesting thought. Stephenie Meyer's story is different in many ways but also similar in many ways...but so are a lot of other vampire stories out there. Things are just so unoriginal these days.
   
   The main problem I have with this book is not due to the recycled storyline but with the main character, Elena. Have I said she's unlikable? Within the first twenty pages this is quite evident.
   The author gives evidence before the reader even becomes well acquainted with her:
   ..."Elena Gilbert, cool and blond and slender, the fashion trendsetter, the high school senior, the girl every boy wanted and every girl wanted to be" (3). Now, I have always had an aversion to characters who are so described, but if their personalities prove greater than their first introduction, I can get past it. In this case, Elena proves that she fully backs the description. She has a crowd of people waiting for her when she gets to school, refers to herself as the "queen of Robert E. Lee" (57) high school, and even seriously argues with one jealous former friend about scepters and thrones.
   
   Upon seeing Stefan for the first time she becomes obsessed, and within minutes of seeing him, forces a girl to get his class schedule. This is just how nicely she asks:
   "Well, I want his class schedule. Get it from the office if you can, or copy it from him if you have to. But do it" (21-22)! I don't like name-calling, but what a little snob...If I were to describe the character of Elena Gilbert, the choicest words would be selfish, snob, brat, rude, and conceited.
   
   When Stefan thwarts her first attempt to meet him (it isn't very nice, but, well, neither is she) Elena, egotistical maniac who thinks everyone loves her, is absolutely shocked and mortified. Like a child, she cries and hides from family and friends because of some imagined, horrible shame. But what shame? So, the guy didn't feel like being escorted around the school by a liar...big deal. Following his rejection, the author writes that Elena will "have him, even if it killed her. Even if it killed them both, she'd have him" (31). Okay...getting a hint of psycho here. God forbid if someone should become angry with Elena, then there would be a massacre, but personal rejection, oh no! How unspeakable!
   
   Her view of boys also fails to endear her character to me.
   "After all, what was more important than boys? They were the mark of how popular you were, of how beautiful you were" (20). Oh, so beauty doesn't come from the inside and popularity really IS important? Along with this little admission, there is also a part where she recalls being told by former boyfriends' friends and sisters how she made them feel, and the reaction?--"Elena had always found such stories amusing" (50). Well, I find Elena to be quite cold.
   
   There are a few passages when her character seems almost normal, but these are quickly swept away. Of course, once she finally gets with Stefan, (and her ego is sufficiently stroked) she spends the rest of the book with her thoughts set solely on him and not on her own perfect self.
   
   I also found their relationship preposterous. What would a 600 year old vampire want with a selfish teenage girl? Elena has no admirable qualities. The one time I felt sorry for her was when I found out she had lost both parents. Sorrow and death hardly excuse her attitude and behavior. So the idea that a vampire, six centuries old and while attending a high school (and probably knowing more history than his teachers), falls in love with Elena Gilbert is unbelievable. I think the author attempts to form a correlation between Elena and his past love in a semblance of credibility. She looks like the girl he once loved, so I should buy it, right? It does not work.
   
   Interspersed between these things are the introductions of Stefan and a mysterious dark presence, whose induction into the story is as follows:
   Elena sees a crow watching her from a tree and the author writes that it's "Looking the way boys looked at her when she wore a bathing suit or a sheer blouse" (6). While I knew what was coming later, I found this funny. And how does one beady-eyed crow leer at a teenage girl?
   
   Stefan, surprisingly, is not a bad character. He stands up for several badgered, minor characters. The reason I gave this a two-star rating instead of one is potential. There is potential in Stefan's past (when he becomes a vampire), which remains the most interesting part of this story. Were the author to have written this about six centuries back in time, moving forward, dropping Elena entirely, and just going from there, well, it might have been something. The idea itself is intriguing. Too bad this is the way the story turned out. Stefan is too good a character for Elena, and the plot stays weak.
   
   I have noticed a strange thing with L. J. Smith. For the most part, her main female leads are usually rude snobs and the guys are gentlemen. Why can't there be a balance in leading roles, say two likable protagonists? It would make her stories so much more enjoyable.
   
   Elena might go through a character transformation (not the vampire kind...) in the next book(s). Will I be there to find out, though?--No. Judging from past experience and a few reviews I've read, Elena will remain just so, and the rest of her tale, and ultimate fate, will remain a mystery to me, because I don't really care. I loved L. J. Smith's Forbidden Game trilogy, although the lead in that is also unlikable. I am very frustrated with bad main characters. For me, they really ruin a story.



2. There are such good ratings for this book, so I had high expectations. But reading the book, I quickly noticed the author's average style of writing. While I love cheesy romance and vampires, the romance in this book was not realistic enough to be believable. As someone said, it was too "lovey-dovey." The main character was somehow annoying. For one, her "friends" are more 1-dimensional side-kicks than actual people of free will. It was very dramatic for a slow paced book.
   
   Overall, I gave it 2 stars b/c the storyline was at least acceptable.



3. This whole series is one of the best that I have ever read. Her writing brings you right there into the heart of the book and you find your self lost in the pages. My main purpose in writing this review is to beg the author to PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE give us more of these characters. It has been many long years. Readers, this is probably her best series so i recommend the purchase. You will fall in love with the characters. I read an extreme amount of literature, and I am very picky as to what I call a good book. I rate her right up there with Robert Jordan (the wheel of time series) and he is one of the best fantasy writers of all time. Read this book, you will not be sorry. Author: please give us more



4. I had so much fun reading this book that by the time I got to the end I was tearing my whole house apart looking for the next, I stole the first from my older sister and I never found the next :( so now I'm waiting for them to come in the mail, its really hard just sitting here typing about the first. I was so into the first that I read the whole intire thing in only three days. This book like all L.J Smith book is a must read. So far I've only read it two times in the last month, trust me thats good for my nirotic brain to function on any other books (but they happen to be by L.J Smith of course). So just take my word for it and read it. You'll never regret it!



5. It had a verry slow start and a lot of rmabling. I did fall in love with the mail charector even though I could not relate to the main charector it is kind of buffyesk. I identified the main character as cordila form the buffy serisbut still liked it. I was up set to find out the third book in the seris is out of print and hard to find. Good seris but don't start reading till you can get all the books.