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Darkride (Darkride Chronicles #1)

by Laura Bradley Rede (Goodreads Author)

4.09 of 5 stars 4.09 · rating details · 327 ratings · 100 reviews

Ander McNair used to be the favorite son of a great monster-hunting family – until he was bitten by a werewolf and the hunter became the hunted. Now anything that makes his pulse race, even a kiss from his girlfriend Cicely, is enough to turn him into a monster. When he finally gets a chance to earn his cure by killing a vampire prince, he finds he has to choose between hi...more

ebook, 288 pages

Published December 20th 2011 (first published December 9th 2011)

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Feb 24, 2012 Fred rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Vicki Van Helsing fans, Twilighters

Recommended to Fred by: Laura Bradley Rede

Wow, I honestly did not expect to love this book so much! I am a bit of a recovering horror/thriller fan, and for me the Twilight books were sort of the culmination or apogee of my fascination with vampires, werewolves and their penumbra, rather than the beginning of it. I've become sort of a "quiet contemporary" fan, a devotee of Dessen, an acolyte of Ockler, a worshipper of Webber (Tammara, that is!), and thought I'd put my wild and woolly neck chomping days behind me. But then I encountered L...more Wow, I honestly did not expect to love this book so much! I am a bit of a recovering horror/thriller fan, and for me the Twilight books were sort of the culmination or apogee of my fascination with vampires, werewolves and their penumbra, rather than the beginning of it. I've become sort of a "quiet contemporary" fan, a devotee of Dessen, an acolyte of Ockler, a worshipper of Webber (Tammara, that is!), and thought I'd put my wild and woolly neck chomping days behind me. But then I encountered Laura Bradley Rede, courtesy of some clever and thoughtful posts on a friend's fb page, and was intrigued. When I learned she was an author - an indie YA author, no less, my favorite! - I had to check out her book, albeit (please forgive me, Laura, I didn't know!) with some trepidation vis-a-vis the whole paranormal thing, which is not really my thing. So, I started in. The Goodreads summary does a good job of conveying the basics of the story, so I won't try to repeat that. It's told in rotating POV's of the three MC's: Ander, the werewolf; Cicely, the "normal" girl (she doesn't know she's a witch yet!); and Luke, the vampire prince. This works really well to draw you into the story and the characters, since they all have secrets they are keeping (or think they are keeping!) from each other (gosh I love secrets in a story!), but which you, dear reader, are made privy to via said narrative device. It also really draws you in to the motivations, the personalities and the drama of each of these MC's, who are individually and collectively an irresistably charming bunch. Side note - the supporting characters are great too, all of them (although I had a particular soft sport for Emmie) and some who seem rather peripheral come to have fairly big roles in the plot. They also do a great job at filling you in on the author's inventive and interesting vampire mythology. Anyway, when the two male MC's were introduced as a vampire and a werewolf, and Cicely seemed to be a rather typical lovestruck teen, bemused and bothered by their bizarre behavior, I thought I had a handle on what was going to happen. Boy was I wrong! These characters never cease to surprise you with their depth and resourcefulness, and man, they are going to need every bit of it to handle all the plot that Laura throws at them! The twists just keep coming, and they not only propel the story like the "darkride" of the title, they keep you absorbed and frantically turning the pages to see what happens next. I love it when authors use literary works to shed light on characters and to move the plot forward, and the use of Romeo and Juliet and a suite of fairy tale images seem fresh and fun, which isn't that easy with these familiar works. But that is the beauty (and the beast? sorry!) of this book, it takes tropes, characters and themes that you might think have been played out, and combines and reworks them in inventive, gripping and imaginative fashion. For some reason this reminded me a little of the The Princess Bride in the way it plays upon and reinvents a classic genre to great effect. It's also not without its touching and lyrical moments of cinematic and poetic description, and genuine emotion between not only the MC's but some of the supporting cast as well. This really was a pleasure to read from beginning to end, and although there is a literal cliff-hanger at one point, the author is kind enough to end the story with some closure, but also at a great launching point for the much-anticipated sequel! Even if you think you prefer contemporary to paranormal, this is an enjoyable, relatable and fun take on a seemingly familiar, but still fresh, scenario.(less)

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Feb 01, 2013 Sue rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, young-adult, read-twice, romance, middle-school

Updated review 1/31/13: When Crossfire, the second book in this series came out, I realized that I had forgotten too much of the first book to give the second book a fair shake. So I reread and enjoyed Darkride even more the second time. I read it slower this time and reacquainted myself with the characters and what had happened to them, the choices they made and the results of those choices. I love that the second read of a good book is much more zen. Instead of focusing on what happens next, I...more Updated review 1/31/13: When Crossfire, the second book in this series came out, I realized that I had forgotten too much of the first book to give the second book a fair shake. So I reread and enjoyed Darkride even more the second time. I read it slower this time and reacquainted myself with the characters and what had happened to them, the choices they made and the results of those choices. I love that the second read of a good book is much more zen. Instead of focusing on what happens next, I get to focus on what is happening now.

I have been reading far more young adult lit since my first reading of Darkride than I had read prior, and by comparison, Darkride ranks above and beyond the average. It has a very solid structure, clear distinct characters, color, action and romance, not to mention minimal typos and great grammar. It is deliciously long but not as guilty of stretching the story with filler as I find Stephenie Meyer's works to be, much as I love the Twilight series. Speaking of Twilight, having just finished re-reading the first two books from the Twilight Saga, I find Darkride lighter, sweeter, more feminist and more appropriate for preteens. I have no qualms about my 12 year old daughter reading Darkride and am relieved that I don't feel the need to have any critical thinking "talks" with her after she reads it. Oh and she is really into Darkride right now!

One of the things Meyer does well in Twilight is what I referred to once derisively, now with respect, as Teddy Bear Porn. In sum, Darkride is appropriately and sweetly erotic for readers who are too young to be thinking about sex below the waist.

This book is very much focused on world building: showing us the internal logic to a parallel universe of magic into which our protagonist Cicily stumbles through her first romance and then - drumroll please - the love triangle. Love triangles in young adult paranormal get a bad rap from some YA reviewers as overdone, or as cliched Twilight wannabes. However, I feel the triangle in this story is absolutely essential to the storyline. There is no Edward or Jacob in this story. Ander and Luke are quite unique. Neither is repressed and noncommunicative. Each has his dark side and his charms. Cicily can not go wrong here. I cannot imagine the story without either of them and each is well-developed and quite appealing to your average young straight girl, including the young straight girl who still lives inside me. I cannot even decide which one I would choose!

First review 1/1/12: Reading this book was like having the perfect love affair. It starts out slow and steady, much like the friendship between the first two protagonists the reader meets.

Ander is a young werewolf who has been ostracized from his werewolf hunting family and lives with two male vampires who have taken him into their home and fostered him. Edit: correction after second read: one of the "foster dads" is a vampire, the other is a "thrall", a human who loves to be bitten. (Are the vampire men gay? Or just "bonded", a phenomenon in vampire lore that I had not previously encountered. Bonded vampires must remain together or they cannot survive. I love this and other creative additions to vampire lore.)

Cicily is a brainy girl who is more attractive to the opposite sex (and species) than she thinks but she just wants Ander, whose werewolf identity is a secret to her. Enter the romantic rival, Luke: a hot, old-school romantic vampire with suspicious motives. What's a girl to do when the boy she loves withdraws while she is being wooed by a slightly dangerous hottie? It's just a great romantic set up.

The character development is detailed, the story flows beautifully with both an internal logic and lots of surprises. Eventually the narrative climaxes with a spectacular high stakes contest/chase scene in the Mall of America, the 8th Wonder of the World. I don't even like the Mall of America, myself, but the description gave me a new appreciation for its dazzling behemothic awesomeness. I think the author succeeded in giving me a teen's eye view of that place.

Freshly minted vampires and werewolves make the perfect metaphorical teenager. Driven by impulses they don't fully understand and have no idea how to control, they may start with simple motives--get the guy, kill the girl . . . but their feelings and discoveries always complicate things. Everything could go in one direction or another, at any given moment and a small decision could change one's life permanently. There are times of great despair when it seems like death is the only answer, and yet around the corner there is always another answer. Typical teen angst is beautifully, cleverly imagined in this tale.

And the end which is also a beginning . . . well let's just say I WANNA KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!

(This review originally appeared on my Amazon reviews.)(less)

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Feb 02, 2012 Delphina rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: never-too-old, favorites

When I first saw this book on a friend's blog, I was immediately drawn to it. It looked like it would be something a bit different. Plus, let's face it, the cover is made of awesome. During the first couple of chapters, I have to be honest, I thought this was going to be one of those YA books with a "canned" story arc. I was so wrong. The story took me all sorts of places I never expect to be and I enjoyed every minute of it. I also enjoyed that it was told from three very different points of vi...more

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Mar 30, 2012 Monaliz rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook, read-2012, speculative-romance-challenge-2012, wishlist, favorites

My rating: 4.5/5 stars
Read the review in my blog!

May contain some spoilers
I know, it took me ages to write this review. But you know what? I've noticed that if the book is really good, it's hard to write a review. Because I can't just make a list about the good things. Or I don't want to. But I'll try to write something that makes sense.

I think my first thought might have been "vampire and werewolf fighting over a girl, where I've heard that before?". If you thought of that, don't let that st...more

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Jan 21, 2013 Super Book rated it 4 of 5 stars

From My Blog http://mysuperbookblog.wordpress.com/

This is the first book in the Darkride series. I received a copy of the second book in the series to review, but obviously I needed to read the first one before I could read the second. Going into it I thought, here we go, another teen werewolf/vampire story, which it is, but it's also a very good one.

Cicely is the leading girl of the story. You know the type, a beautiful odd girl who doesn't know she's beautiful and the supernatural boys all see...more From My Blog http://mysuperbookblog.wordpress.com/

This is the first book in the Darkride series. I received a copy of the second book in the series to review, but obviously I needed to read the first one before I could read the second. Going into it I thought, here we go, another teen werewolf/vampire story, which it is, but it's also a very good one.

Cicely is the leading girl of the story. You know the type, a beautiful odd girl who doesn't know she's beautiful and the supernatural boys all seem to love her, kind of girl. She isn't some damsel in distress, which I love about her. She's quick witted, smart, tough, and strong minded. She's the type of girl who will do anything for someone she loves. Speaking of those she loves, Ander is on the top of that list. Unfortunately for Cicely, he's secretive and distant even though they are best "friends". Truthfully, she's in love with him and he's in love with her, but given the fact that he's a werewolf who can't control himself, he keeps her at arms length. Ander is very likeable. He's a good guy, kind, caring, smart, strong.....he's just what any girl would want, other than the fact he'll rip you to shreds if he turns.

Then there's Luke. Oh my, Luke. Where to even start. He's arrogant. He's rich. He's beautiful. He's a vampire. Of course he is, all the good ones are, aren't they? At least, it seems that way to me. No matter how unlikable they are, I tend to always pull for the vampires. I guess they're my monster of choice. Anyway, back to Luke. Luke's timing couldn't have been more perfect. He shows up just as Cicely has had about enough of Ander's hiding. Luke has an agenda, a cruel one really, but is derailed by his love for Cicely.

This book is full of energy. It's never dull. You have a strange alliance formed, with sworn enemies, over a common goal and a mutual love. These characters form an eclectic pack that you can't help but get attached to. I'm very much looking forward to jumping into the next book to see what happens.

Did I like the book? Yes

Did I love the book? Yes

Would I recommend the book? Yes

Overall rating? Good

Favorite Quote: "Kill you? No. And in the future I would say, if you suspect someone wants to kill you, you shouldn't follow him into the woods." Luke(less)

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Jan 17, 2013 Reading is my Time Out rated it 5 of 5 stars

Oh my goodness!!! I just finished reading Darkride the first book in the Darkride Chronicles. It was fabulous!! A different take of the girl-werewolf-vampire love triangle. There was angst of who do I root for to win the girl. At times I found myself rooting for Ander, the werewolf. Then I flipped and would root for Luke, the vampire. All the while, Cicely, the heroine of the book, had her own battles to overcome. From the typical teenage bullying and mean girls, to the battle with the vampire q...more

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Nov 10, 2012 Angela ReadingCave rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Sep 01, 2012 Andrea Randall rated it 4 of 5 stars

Stop what you're doing and read this book. I'm a huge vamp-read fan, and this book kept my pulse racing and opened up previously unexplored doors within the vampire-werewolf world.

First and foremost, be prepared for the awesome style. We are treated to the first-person present tense of THREE main characters. Laura lets us climb into three unique heads; one human, one vampire, and one werewolf. Each character has their own feel, their own personal language, and grabs a different heart string.

What...more

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Jun 20, 2012 Jen Meegan rated it 5 of 5 stars

**Full Disclosure Ahead** I edited a near-final manuscript of this book. After my read-through, I told Ms. Rede I'd like to write a review once it was published. I typically don't do this for authors I've worked with/for (conflict of interest) but I enjoyed this story so much, I decided to throw caution to the winds.

So let's see...here we have yet another YA book about vampires, werewolves, and the girl who loves them....a girl who may be harboring some special powers of her own. And a love tria...more **Full Disclosure Ahead** I edited a near-final manuscript of this book. After my read-through, I told Ms. Rede I'd like to write a review once it was published. I typically don't do this for authors I've worked with/for (conflict of interest) but I enjoyed this story so much, I decided to throw caution to the winds.

So let's see...here we have yet another YA book about vampires, werewolves, and the girl who loves them....a girl who may be harboring some special powers of her own. And a love triangle. Ho-hum, right? Thankfully, no. Let's discuss.

Main characters. Cicely, Ander, and Luke are deep, complex, compelling individuals. This is a multi-point of view novel that alternates between the three leads. I usually avoid multi-POV books because I find the change in speaker/perspective distracting and rarely done well (as in all the characters sound like each other). But each had their own distinctive voices, quirks, and motivations which helped me dive into their respective chapters without a hitch. Cicely is strong without being over-the-top about it. How refreshing to come across a female lead who has a spine and a brain but doesn't suddenly turn into a martial arts expert or a pile of mush around the male leads. Ander and Luke seem to be headed for the "rival supernatural guys" category a la Twilight but the similarities are surface only, especially as we get detailed glimpses into their backstories. Luke slowly becomes more sympathetic without losing his hard edge, and Ander's boy-next-door vibe gets turned on its ear as his story unfolds.

Supporting characters. Generally speaking, this is where many books go from great to good. Authors often get so caught up in the main characters that the supporting cast comes off as two-dimensional and only seem to be there to push the plot along. Not so here. The parents (or parent figures) are believable and don't simply fade into the background when needed. The friends (and frenemies) break out of the stereotypical molds with some interesting (and often surprising) backstories of their own. Many of them show unexpected depth and complexities not often found in secondary characters.

Plot. This book reads like a film. It's action packed with smooth transitions from chapter to chapter, tons of clever humor, tragedy (but no melodrama), some truly harrowing suspense scenes (I'll never look at the Mall of America in the same light again), and elaborate world building without any huge, gaping inconsistencies. It's hard to imagine someone could possibly come up with a fresh, new take on werewolves and vampires without making them aliens from outer space (and I think this may already have been done somewhere), but Ms. Rede takes things in some new directions without losing the tried and true elements many of us have come to expect from these supernaturals. And the ending? Well, prepare yourselves. All I can say is I can't wait to read the next book.

Chemistry. Yes, it's there. In spades. The whole love triangle thing is an overused plot device...but I enjoyed it here. I never felt like one character was the obvious throw-away (like Jacob was to Edward) and I'm genuinely having a tough time choosing between the two of them. But I imagine each will garner his own fans. I also was pleased to see that Cicely didn't just toss her common sense out the window when the boys expressed interest in her...certainly, her judgement is lacking in some areas but nothing beyond what I'd expect to see in a teen. And she works hard to stay loyal to those who have earned her trust...the "big misunderstanding" plot device is rarely employed in this book because Cicely is too honest and direct a character to go for any of that nonsense.

If vampires and werewolves are your thing (or were your thing but you can't imagine there's anything left to say about them), give this book a try. You'll likely be surprised, as I was, that this is Ms. Rede's first full-length novel.(less)

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Apr 01, 2012 Alexa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Alexa by: Liz Reinhardt

Shelves: fantasy-sci-fi, new-adult

Here's how I was introduced to this book: My friend posted a recommendation on FB and said, "I know what you're thinking. Vampires, werewolves, love triangle? Been there, done that, no thanks. But this one is like nothing you've read. Get it! You will devour it."

So I did, even though I was sure I had no interest in vampires, werewolves, and love triangles. But she was right. When I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. I don't want to say too much, because there isn't much I can say that w...more Here's how I was introduced to this book: My friend posted a recommendation on FB and said, "I know what you're thinking. Vampires, werewolves, love triangle? Been there, done that, no thanks. But this one is like nothing you've read. Get it! You will devour it."

So I did, even though I was sure I had no interest in vampires, werewolves, and love triangles. But she was right. When I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. I don't want to say too much, because there isn't much I can say that wouldn't be a spoiler on some level. I cried at one point. The end made me... angry. I didn't want it to end that way. I didn't want it to end at all! That's how immersed I was in the lives of these characters. It's scarier, sexier, more well-written, and far, far less vapid than that *other* vampire/werewolf/love triangle you've heard tell about.

The plot twists are intense. It's hard to pull off this much action without feeling forced or silly, but nothing in this book felt forced or silly to me. I loved it. This particular vamp world is a lot different from other stories I've read or seen on TV lately, and the background info is delivered beautifully. The world-building is great.

There are *some* elements that might have... flowed more smoothly (?) if this were a traditionally pubbed book instead of a self-pub. Some of the "edges" are just a tiny, tiny bit rough. For me, this was a bonus, not a detractor. I'm tired of overly predictable, cookie-cutter, safe YA. Again, I can't go into details without adding spoilers, but suffice it to say that some of the plot twists would probably not have survived an editor's red pen. Especially toward the end. But, as I said, these are bonuses for me. In the YA genre especially, the best I've read lately has been self-pubbed.

For those who fear self-pubbed books, don't. Especially in this case. The editing is near-perfection. Honestly, there are fewer typos here than in many traditionally pubbed ebooks.

Now I just have to wait for the sequel.

(There is going to be a sequel, right? RIGHT???)(less)

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Feb 09, 2012 Ally rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: wv-reviews

(Review by Stephanie Nagle for Word Vagabond: Supporting Independent and Small Press Authors.)

As if high school isn’t hard enough, Cicely Watson finds herself in the middle of the supernatural world with her life in danger. She figures out her best friend/secret crush, Ander, has a life-altering secret and there is a hidden world she never even noticed. Add in Luke, the new boy at school, and suddenly she’s in a supernatural love triangle. This story takes her through high school angst and into...more

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Dec 22, 2011 Miranda Wheeler rated it 5 of 5 stars

"Some days all you can ask is that you stay human." (Page 65).

Darkride is one of those books that you sit down to read, and find yourself physically incapable of stopping until it's done - and when it is, you still are burning to read more. From the beginning of the story, it immediately structures dynamics that leave the reader marveling at the world rising up all around them, exploding from each page in hand. The push-and-pull of the "no questions" and "I won't say it, but I love you" relatio...more

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Nov 16, 2011 Sarah (Head Stuck In A Book) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-book, review-copy, owned-and-read, paranormal-romance, young-adult

Cicely has been in love with her friend Ander for years but everytime she brings it up he changes the subject, and whenever Cicely and he have plans a lot of the time he never shows up that's because Ander is a werewolve and every full moon he shifts and also whenever his emotions get heightened.
Ander is also in love with Cicely but doesn't want to hurt her so he says nothing, he trys to keep his shifts under control with a potion made by his vampire guardian but it doesn't always work.
Then one...more

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Feb 19, 2012 Kathy Martin rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was a very enjoyable young adult paranormal with lots of romance including a very realistically done love triangle. The story is told by three narrators: 1) Cicely is your normal teenage girl except for the part she doesn't know - that she is the descendant of witches and is the subject of a prophecy whose death will allow some vampires to regain their immortality; 2) Ander is Cicely's best friend and secret crush who is keeping the secret that he is a werewolf who loses himself at the full...more

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Jan 20, 2013 Karese ~Kindred Souls Book Blog rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review for is everyone, but especially those who may be skeptics when it comes to the paranormal/supernatural romance genre. Apprehension, is a one word description of the way I once felt about this genre. Being that in my day to day life vampires, werewolves, witches, and the living dead are not necessarily beings that I believe in or that I relate to. I wasn't sure that I would be able to connect with the characters and believe their story and I need that from the stories I read in order...more

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Feb 11, 2012 Crystal rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: series-i-may-not-finish, good-ideas-but-funky-follow-through, series

Ok...until the end. (possible spoilers here)

First let me say that I loved this book up until the last 15% of it. The writing was descriptive, action exploding on each page, characters well fleshed out...and then I hit Chapter 44... WTH???? I don't get it. Really I don't. The author spends 85% of the book doing the whole "save the cheerleader (in this case witch), save the world" thing and then, well... you have to read it and decide for yourself was it worth it? I loved Ander and Luke both chara...more

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Feb 21, 2013 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-reads, ya, flights-of-fantasy

In a way, this book feel like a quilt. A patchwork quilt, taken from all the other stories of vampires, werewolves and their paranormal trappings. I kept thinking, I've read this, I've seen this. In Twilight, Buffy, True Blood, Vampire Diaries, everything reminds me of something else.

Yet. But yet. There was something different in this book. I'm going to list some quotes, that I liked, which I think will give you a sense of the writing, that brings this patchwork book together.

This is the voice o...more

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Feb 06, 2013 Alanna (The Flashlight Reader) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: review-requests, ya

Calling all paranormal romance fans. (in my taunting sing songy voice) I found a new series for you. I bet even you die-hard Twilight fans would enjoy this one. There is a mortal girl, a swoon worthy vampire, a hot werewolf, and a pack of evil blood thirsty vampires ready to captivate you in Darkride.

But don't think I just described Twilight all over again, because I didn't I can assure you if I had that vibe from Darkride, I would have stopped reading instantly. I am very tired of Twilight kno...more Calling all paranormal romance fans. (in my taunting sing songy voice) I found a new series for you. I bet even you die-hard Twilight fans would enjoy this one. There is a mortal girl, a swoon worthy vampire, a hot werewolf, and a pack of evil blood thirsty vampires ready to captivate you in Darkride.

But don't think I just described Twilight all over again, because I didn't I can assure you if I had that vibe from Darkride, I would have stopped reading instantly. I am very tired of Twilight knockoffs.

While Darkride had the same human-vampire-werewolf love triangle going on, it was very different. For instant, our human girl was not a whiny baby like Bella. She was pretty hard core. Cicely was conflicted, but she was also very determined. She always had a plan; even if that plan often backfired. The boy toys were also a bit different. They each had different reasons for loving Cicely, and they play very different roles in the outcome of the plot.

What I found a little unfortunate about the book was it's predictability. I don't think that would be a problem for the average reader, but anyone that has read a large number of books will probably be finely tuned to the plot twists long before they occur. With all the hinting about 'change' and the bonds of love, it was easy to guess the direction our characters would take. I really didn't have any surprises, which was a bummer.

I can say, however, that the ending left me intrigued. I am very curious to see what will happen in the next book. I also want to know the role of the new addition to the motley crew of paranormals that are traveling to Maine.

The writing is easy on the eyes and quick. It's very easy to get sucked into the story. Darkride was told in alternating points of view between Cicely, Luke, and Ander. Each chapter offers a fresh insight into the characters telling the tale. I think it's extremely challenging to write alternating points of view and maintaining a sense of uniquess for each character. It could very easily end up sounding like the same story being told by a different "voice." Darkride does not dissapoint. It retains its unique quality and keeps the reader moving on a fast paced paranormal romance rollercoaster. (less)

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Jan 19, 2012 Samantha **ParaNormal Romance Party** rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 4-4-5-stars, love-triangle, pnr-romance, vampire-lover, werewolf-lover, witches, ya, reviewed

** 4 STARS***

Review:

1st line in the book---> The boy is a mystery to me.

There is no lie in the title of this book! Darkride keeps you guessing from the moment you read page one. Author Laura Bradley Rede does a great job of keeping you hooked till the very end.

This story is Dark & Intense filled with teenage Angst, Love and value of friendships. There is a major love triangle between Luke the vampire, Ander the werewolf & Cicely the human, but this is no Twilight romance. That's as cl...more ** 4 STARS***

Review:

1st line in the book---> The boy is a mystery to me.

There is no lie in the title of this book! Darkride keeps you guessing from the moment you read page one. Author Laura Bradley Rede does a great job of keeping you hooked till the very end.

This story is Dark & Intense filled with teenage Angst, Love and value of friendships. There is a major love triangle between Luke the vampire, Ander the werewolf & Cicely the human, but this is no Twilight romance. That's as close as it come when comparing, instead Cicely is mature enough to know what she feels and fights to keep her boys and friends safe from the evil that comes after her.

I really enjoyed the characters!! They each keep surprising you throughout the book. Of course I love both Luke and Ander because they are so different and in their own way win over the reader. I will say that for me the story hooked me in the beginning but it took a while to finally get to the part where the action kicked in. There were times where I would get annoyed with Cicely in the beginning because she would give up real easily, or make assumptions but I had to remember that she's a loner and a teenager...it wasn't until halfway through the book where she becomes the strong heroine and I cheered!! LOL

OMG!!! The side-characters were I think my favorite! They are wonderful and you get to know them and their history. Just when I was getting slightly tired of all the love triangle drama, they brought a breath of fresh air to the plot. I was totally blind sided when there was a shocking revelation near the end of the book!! I really couldn't believe it at first, I don't want to spoil anything so I will just say it left me heartbroken...

Overall I really loved this book! We are left with a climax, hanging on to every last word. I can't wait to see what comes next.

Fave Quote:
Yes, I am addicted to the girl. I am finally immortal again but I feel more vulnerable than ever, as if I carry my heart outside my chest. I would die for her, if dying were still an option. But since I cannot give my life, I must live it, and I will not live it anywhere but with her(less)

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Apr 20, 2012 Lisa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Darkride was an impressive mix of YA Romance, mythological humans, and fairy tales. The book evoked so many emotions from me throughout the book; I felt anxiety, excitement, anger and sadness. Would Ander and Cicely ever be allowed to be together? Would Cicely end up with Luke or Ander? Would Cicely be bitten and become a mythological human? Will the vampires get their revenge and become immortal once again?

Cicely is a smart teenage girl who does not waste her time on hair, makeup, dresses and h...more Darkride was an impressive mix of YA Romance, mythological humans, and fairy tales. The book evoked so many emotions from me throughout the book; I felt anxiety, excitement, anger and sadness. Would Ander and Cicely ever be allowed to be together? Would Cicely end up with Luke or Ander? Would Cicely be bitten and become a mythological human? Will the vampires get their revenge and become immortal once again?

Cicely is a smart teenage girl who does not waste her time on hair, makeup, dresses and high heels. She is rather poor, living in a trailer with her adopted mother and keeps a low profile at school. She is completely unaware that her ancestors were witches who caused some havoc for vampires, making them mortal. She soon finds herself being targeted by vampires as a sacrifice for the betrayal of her ancestors.

In Cicely's mind, Ander kept letting her down, especially when he didn't show up on her birthday. If this had been just a regular romance novel, I would have been a little upset with Ander but in this case he was being very unselfish. He had strong feelings for Cicely and did not want to do anything to hurt her physically, even if that meant hurting her emotionally. It is this hurt that sends her in Luke's direction. She accepts his invitation to the dance and it is an action packed night where she learns of vampires and werewolves.

While I didn't really like Luke in the beginning, he grew on me. He eventually realized that Cicely was not Deidre and I felt my heart warm to him. I kept imagining that he looked like a young Frank Sinatra for some reason because of the car he drove, music he loved and the way he talked and dressed.

I am Team Ander all the way. The boy may be a werewolf but he was so sweet I couldn't help but swoon! It wasn't that I didn't like Luke, but if you backed me against a wall and made me pick, I would choose Ander. Ander had only ever loved Cicely for Cicely.

The book was told from various points of view (a different character per chapter) and that kept me in tune with all the characters because I knew what they were thinking, what the were doing and what they may be planning next. I could listen to what one character thought about a situation and then the next chapter, I heard it from a completely different angle.

There were portions that felt like part of a fairytale. When Cicely was at the mall looking for a dress for the formal, I had a flash of Cinderella. Her snobby classmates being the wicked step sisters who stole her clothes and Luke the prince who brought her back her missing boot. And yes, it fit:)

The book is full of suspense. I had to keep reading and reading to make sure that nothing happened to my Ander and Cicely and then I had to keep reading to make sure nothing happened to my Ander, Cicely and Luke.

While not all my questions from the first paragraph were answered, there will be a sequel to Darkride titled Crossfire which may fill in the gaps:)
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Jul 14, 2012 Cassandra rated it 4 of 5 stars

I like Dark Ride up until the ending. I really didn’t like the ending and I think it’s mostly because that isn’t how I wanted it to end. I do want to know where the story will go I hope Laura has a sequel in the mix as I am not happy with this ending and need some closure (that will make me happy  )
I totally love Ander, he is amazing! I love Cicely and his friendship – it is one of those friendships that you wish you had growing up. I’m not a fan of Luke I dislike him and don’t trust him as far...more

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Aug 05, 2012 Deana rated it 5 of 5 stars

I love this book. Love it. As a matter of fact I enjoyed it so much that I am making it my very first “Must Read” here on The Indie Bookshelf, because if paranormal literature is your thing, I think you will love it too. Normally I don’t read a lot of YA stuff but I had heard about Darkride and it kind of piqued my interest.

When I first read the synopsis I totally thought it was going to be another Twilight, but it isn’t. It’s so much better. There are vampires, werewolves and a strong female c...more

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Feb 20, 2012 Cheri rated it 4 of 5 stars

4.5

Wow! I really enjoyed this story. So many twists and turns that kept me completely entertained. I loved all of the characters, except Luke. Something about him got on my nerves. I felt the passion and the longing between Ander and Cicely. Luke seemed like a manipulator while Ander was willing to sacrifice everything, his life and family for Cicely to be safe. So you guys should know whose side I'm on. Ander all the way baby! Micheal and Danny broke my heart. Their scene made my eyes tear up....more

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Jan 18, 2012 Sandra (Rather Barefoot than Bookless) rated it 4 of 5 stars

I must say that this is not a book that I would have picked up myself given that I did not like the cover of this one in the beginning. But as Cicely Watson thinks, people change and so did my opinion about the cover once i´ve read the book. It´s a really appropriate cover when you know the story. This is a book that I instantly fell into and could not tear myself away from it because it was that good. Laura keeps you on your toes and you really don´t know what might happen or who Cicely will fa...more

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Dec 18, 2011 Mandy (I read Indie) Anderson rated it 5 of 5 stars

So we have Cicely who has been in love with Ander, her best friend for 4 years. Ander has made in clear to her he wants nothing more than friendship from her though. Then there is Luke, the sexy vampire who comes to town to make Cicely fall in love with him, then betray her like her ancestor did to him long ago. And Ander who is secretly in love with Cicely, but cannot do anything about it because he is a monster that could hurt her; he is a werewolf. Yep, that about sums it up. Or does it??

What...more

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Dec 14, 2011 Jelanimom rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book is fantastic!
The characters in Darkride are well developed and believable. They have a depth and accessability that makes you want to like them and get to know them. There is a pretty intense love triangle that is very authentic, steamy chemistry that is not cliche and some pretty serious get your hands dirty not what you expect style adventure. Even the "supporting roles" are well played.
I don't have any literature background (science nerd) so I don't know how to talk the talk, but...more

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Mar 08, 2012 Tammara added it

Cicely has been pining for her elusive friend, Ander, for years. He's given hints that he, too, would like to take their friendship deeper, but then he pulls back. Finally, on her sixteenth birthday, she musters the courage to ask him out. A miracle occurs - he says yes. This is it - they're going to have a real date - he's going to see everything about her he's always been seemingly blind to (cue my favorite Taylor Swift song, You Belong With Me)... and then... he doesn't show up.

To make matter...more

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Dec 13, 2011 Ob1knowen rated it 5 of 5 stars

I really liked Darkride. I gobbled it up almost in one sitting and I think I will go back and read it again more slowly. I'm still pondering the ending. At least it was unexpected and not some damsel in distress b.s. Cicely actually uses some serious brains for craftiness, a lot of guts for butt kicking, a great amount of compassion for believable interesting relationships, and she doesn't use victim status to get super hotness with bad boys. Don't get me wrong, there is hotness with bad boys, I...more

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Apr 23, 2012 Paula Phillips rated it 4 of 5 stars

Are you a fan of Werewolves or Vampires , what about witches ? When I first saw Darkride, I thought it was going to be just another Vampire/Human Love story but as I started reading it and getting into it , I noticed it had a twist to the story. We are introduced at the beginning to Cicely and Ander. Ander is hiding a dark secret - he is in fact a Werewolf and he is in love with Cicely, though he knows deep down that it is too dangerous to be with her as the prophecy known as Five keeps remindin...more

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Jun 09, 2012 Becky rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I loved this novel. It was so mysterious and hard to figure out what was going to happen next. There is no way that you will be able to guess what will happen next, especially if you read the first few chapters and then try and guess the ending. A lot of novels are easy to guess after a few chapters what will happen, but not with Darkride. The characters will all formed amazingly and i fell in love with all of Ander and Cicely's friends. I loved the amazing families that supported and loved both...more

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Romance

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Paranormal > Shapeshifters

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About Laura Bradley Rede

Laura Bradley Rede grew up the oldest of nine kids in a small town in Maine. She now lives in a little hippie-punk neighborhood of Minneapolis with her wonderful partner, their three amazing children, one Great Dane, one dachshund, and four city chickens. She is a winner of the Writers of the Future Award for fantasy and science fiction and the author of the YA paranormal romance DARKRIDE, and its...more

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Quotes from Darkride

“I had to make you love me." His dark eyes meet mine. "What I didn't count on is falling in love with you.” — 5 people liked it

“I press my lips to the curve of her neck, just to prove I am strong, just to prove I can do it. But I can't. I'm going to bite.” — 2 people liked it

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Darkride (Darkride Chronicles #1)

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