I don’t write book reviews very often as I find it hard knowing what to write and I definitely don’t usually read young adult books. Reading about whining teenagers is not my thing but after all the hype I’ve heard about this book I decided to finally take the plunge and read it.
Here’s the synopsis:
On the evening of Sofia Claremont’s 17th birthday, she is sucked into a nightmare from which she cannot wake.
A quiet evening walk along a beach brings her face to face with a dangerous pale creature that craves much more than her blood.
She is kidnapped to an island where the sun is eternally forbidden to shine.
An island uncharted by any map and ruled by the most powerful vampire coven on the planet. She wakes here as a slave, a captive in chains.
Sofia’s life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn when she is the one selected out of hundreds of girls to join the harem of Derek Novak, the dark royal Prince.
Despite his addiction to power and obsessive thirst for her blood, Sofia soon realizes that the safest place on the island is within his quarters, and she must do all within her power to win him over if she is to survive even one more night.
Will she succeed? …or is she destined to the same fate that all other girls have met at the hands of the Novaks?
A Shade of Vampire is the first book I’ve read by Bella Forrest so I wasn’t sure what to expect. After reading a lot of vampire books and disliking the Twilight books I didn’t really hold out much hope for this one.
The book started off slow, typical teenage aged girl with teenage insecurities but after she’s kidnapped and taken to a mysterious island by a clan of vampires. This is where things start getting interesting.
Then Derek Novak the other main character in the story is introduced. Finally! A young adult book where vampires don’t sparkle.
What I liked about the book is it shows vampires as what they really are, dark and dangerous. It seems much more realistic than some of the other vampire series I’ve read. I liked the world building where the island is cut off from the rest of the world where vampire rule and humans are treated as slaves. There is also the threat of the mysterious vampire hunters which I’ll be interested in learning more about in later books. I also liked the way magic is weaved into the story with the witch, Corrine.
My favourite character has to be Derek’s sister Vivienne. Although she doesn’t feature much. The love story between Bella and Derek was interesting but spoiled at times by Bella’s whininess.
What I didn’t like was how Bella seemed a bit whiny at times but hopefully, that will change in book 2 as she seems to be standing up for herself more. Bella also seems a bit too perfect at times. I definitely dislike how all the boys seem to lust after her. I didn’t like the possible love triangle between her, Derek and Bella’s best friend, Ben. It felt too forced.
Also found the book a bit too short, it would have been nice if it had been longer so the story could have developed more but it was a quick and easy read.
But I’m still interested in learning what happens next and give it 3 stars.
