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What Kills Me (What Kills Me #1)

by Wynne Channing (Goodreads Author)

4.25 of 5 stars 4.25 · rating details · 566 ratings · 182 reviews

The fight for survival begins.

An ancient prophecy warns of a girl destined to cause the extinction of the vampire race.

So when 17-year-old Axelia falls into a sacred well filled with blood and emerges a vampire, the immortal empire believes she is this legendary destroyer. Hunted by soldiers and mercenaries, Axelia and her reluctant ally, the vampire bladesmith Lucas, must...more

Kindle Edition, 308 pages

Published June 6th 2012 by Jet & Jack Press

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Nov 08, 2012 Jeann rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: vampires, paranormal-uf

I really enjoyed What Kills Me, it's just so refreshing and fun to read! With the vampire genre being overdone so many times, the author still managed to breathe some life into the book to make it unique.

Axelia is just a normal girl living abroad when she bumps into a handsome man named Paolo. Looking for a bit of adventure, she decides to meet him for a late night date and unexpectedly gets turned into a vampire. But not just any vampire, it turns out she's the destined one in a prophecy that w...more

9 likes · like · see review

Aug 17, 2012 Sheri rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, mc, reviewed

What Kills Me is not just another vampire story…I promise. The story is unique, fast paced, action packed, suspenseful in all the right places, and laugh out loud funny.

Axelia (Zee) is a 17-year-old girl studying abroad for a few months. She takes a chance on a guy who she figures she'll probably never see again, and it ends badly. Now thrown into the world of the paranormal, Zee must figure out how to survive as a vampire; not an easy task when just about everyone you meet is trying to kill you...more

8 likes · like · see review

Dec 19, 2012 Jill rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: vampire lovers

Recommended to Jill by: Lex

Shelves: pnr, vampires, paperback-wishlist, favorites, sci-fi, ebook, urban-fantasy

Gaaaah! This is one AWESOME book! I knew from the summary plot that I would like it. :))

Okay, before anything else, Thank you so much for recommending this book to me Lexie! I O U for it. :D

Alright, here we go.

From the very beginning to the very end, it's exciting! All of it was well created, character building, plot, twists and everything! And I love Zee, very adorable girl! She kind of reminds me of Anna from Sweet Evil and sometimes Vere from Unmaking Hunter Kennedy, their all naive in their...more

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Jul 31, 2012 Raizza rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

07-06-12

The author was very kind for letting me have a free ebook copy of this for review, and I'm very grateful! Thank you Ms. Channing!

I'm still on chapter three, but this book immediately made me laugh! That is very rare for a book to make me do. I usually don't have many reactions while reading. And this book just made me laugh! A very, very rare reaction!

For now, I LOVE What Kills Me!

UPDATE: 07-06-12

This kicks Twilight's hideous ass hard! One of the best vampire books I've ever read!

Oh! I...more

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Sep 18, 2012 Shraddha rated it 5 of 5 stars

Whooo hooo!

This book was awesome! It was like an exhilarating roller coaster ride! Something always happened in every page, and I finished it in less than 24 hours! Now this is what I call 'Different'!

Zee, (view spoiler) was an incredible heroine. While reading the first chapters, I had my doubts about her, thinking she maybe one of those female protagonists suffering from TSTL syndrome, but after that, she was just...mindblowing. Of course, Lucas is a...more

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Sep 09, 2012 Aa'Ishah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: supernatural-paranormal, reviewed

Isn’t it weird how you can read two books completely different and yet award them the same rating? This was something I was thinking about earlier when I finished this book. Thinking about my five star books, some of them I knew from the beginning that it was going to be an awesome read. With What Kills Me, this wasn’t the case. But after a bit of trouble with the opening, this book did a 180 and took me completely by surprise.

Axelia, otherwise known as Zee, is on a two month stay in Rome studyi...more

6 likes · like · see review

Jul 17, 2012 Laurice rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, all-time-beloved-books, paranormal-romance, will-definitely-read-it-again, arcs-netgalley

Book-iography

Title: What Kills Me
Author: Wynne Channing
Published:June 6, 2012
Publisher: Jet & Jack Press
Format:Ebook
Pages:254
Type:Stand-alone
Bookshelves:YA Books, Paranormal Romance
Read: July 16-17, 2012
Links:Goodreads
Amazon| Smashwords
Rating:

...more Book-iography

Title: What Kills Me
Author: Wynne Channing
Published: June 6, 2012
Publisher: Jet & Jack Press
Format: Ebook
Pages: 254
Type: Stand-alone
Bookshelves: YA Books, Paranormal Romance
Read: July 16-17, 2012
Links: Goodreads
Amazon | Smashwords
Rating:

----------------------------------------------

What can I say?

Brilliant! Thrilling! Breathtaking!

Honestly, these are understatements. They don't at all give justice to this noteworthy piece of literature! Let's use them nonetheless, for lack of a better term.

When I was reading through its first chapters, I was surprised that it was Twilight-ish. To tell you frankly, I was disappointed--not that I didn't like Twilight (I actually did), but c'mon, we're looking for originality here.

As with Twilight vampires, vampires here also drink blood (What was I thinking? Of course they do); their senses are intensified; they are completely destroyed through decapitation; and they are also affected by the sunlight, but that's where all the similarities end. It turns out Wynne Channing has a whole lot of BOLD, BRILLIANT, and BREATHTAKING ideas for us!

One is Axelia (a.k.a. Zee). She's a seventeen-year-old Canadian who went to study in Rome only to never return home again. Poor Zee. The first time she violates a command she encounters death. She falls into a deep sacred well filled with the Ancients' blood--the first and the most powerful vampires--and dies. But Zee's existence doesn't stop there. When she wakes up, she's a beautiful, flawless, and powerful VAMPIRE. She's probably even more powerful than expected because the Ancients' blood runs through her veins. Her rebirth is unacceptable and unwanted, causing the Empress to summon the best of her army to go after her and all those who try to help her. They believe that she's the one in the prophecy: a vampire, born from unconventional means, will restore order by killing the entire vampire race. The Monarchy fears this and wants Zee dead before she causes harm to the vampire race. Those who loved The Faeriewalker Series will love this just as much because it'll remind you of the Seelie and Unseelie Queens.

Zee escapes the Monarchy and finds refuge in the family of Noel, Lucas, and Jerome. Noel is such a lovely father, rich with love and virtue. The same virtues are passed on to his son, Lucas, who'll do everything he can to protect Zee. Others like Samira, Kinman, Nuwa, Uther, Lettie, and other more will also try to protect her against the wrath of the Monarchy, but they all have to pay the price. Will they stand against the strength and skill of the Monarchy's army? Will they survive? If the prophecy is true, will Zee exterminate the entire vampire race?

This slashing-beheading-burning-action-filled fiction will keep your hands and eyes gripped on your e-readers because you'll never want to miss what'll happen next! :) Is there a sequel? No news so far, but there should definitely be one! :]

Major Lessons Learned:

1. Don't let apathy destroy a country.
Have you noticed that nowadays people become more and more apathetic towards the surroundings? A lady's picking up her fallen groceries and other people will simply pass through her as if she doesn't need help. There are times when an old lady or a pregnant woman enters a train, but no one stands and offer their sit. Other people tend to be blind about the crime they see. There are also instances that people throw their garbage on the streets because it's not their street. In every circumstance, people grow more and more apathetic and it's scary.

I learned this from Zee and Noel. They risk their lives for people they hardly know not because they'll get any benefit from it, but they know that it is right and it is good. Remember that as long as we're able to help, let's go out and make a difference! :)

2. "Courage, my child, is not the absence of fear. It’s the triumph over fear. It’s how you handle yourself in these times, and these times are not for the weak of heart." -Nuwa
The quotation is self-explanatory. Whenever you face a mountain of problems, take heart. Muster all the courage and strength that you have and believe that God makes everything beautiful in His time. The world won't offer "sugar, spice, and everything nice." You have to be brave to face the world, but you can't do it alone. Surrender your fears to God and He will lead you every step of your journey in life. :)

3. You don't have to be dead (or a vampire) in order to see the beauty of God's Creation. God has given us the senses and intellect to behold the beauty before us. Appreciate everything around you before it's too late.

"I wished I had my camera; there was so much life to capture. I wanted to touch everything."
-Zee
"At least I had a life. I had a family. I was going to go to university and get married."
-Zee

When Zee becomes a vampire, she admires everything she sees--people, nature, life--and hopes that she might experience them again. Don't wait until it's too late. Love your family. Love your friends. Love yourself. That's right. God has given us 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to marvel upon the beauty of God's Creation. Have you thank God for your life? your family? your friends? Thank God for every little or big blessing you have right now. Cherish them. Treasure them.

Enjoy reading! :) God bless you! ;)

View this review on my blog:
lauricewithlove: What Kills Me

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Apr 10, 2013 Nina Rose rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, urban-fantasy, vampires

I... this book evoke so many feelings in me. It was such a great and satisfying read.

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This book truly does compare to Julie Kagawa's The Immortal Rules that I raved about when I got my hands on it. I was sceptical about it because vampire are such an overdone genre and they are SO many clichés. But this one book not only struck me as well written, but also the concept of it was well executed and I felt that the whole story flowed effortlessly.

I must admit to having bei...more

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Sep 04, 2012 Kilikina rated it 2 of 5 stars

Ugh. I was really hoping this book was going to awesome...but I feel like it didn't bring anything new to the table as far as Vampire's go. :/

Axelia, while her name is still badass, fell short as a heroine for me. Not until the last 80% of the story did she start to take semi-advantage of her powers.
I really did not care for the romance in this story either. Lucas was way too distant and just flat out rude to Axelia. I'd hardly even consider them friends for the first half of the story based o...more

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Jul 11, 2012 Kim (Sliced Open Reviews) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012, requested-review, books-reviewed, 2012-release

Update (later in the day on 7/11/2012): after posting I received an email from Wynne Channing...stating the following...brace yourself cause I did the happy dance in the middle of my office at work...

"Yes, definitely, it's a series...There will be more Zee and Lucas, more about the Monarchy, more about Lucas's brother..."
- from the author, Wynne Channing 7/11/2012

Review Posted 7/11/2012

Wow – I love coming across awesome indie reads like this one! I didn’t have the “insta-connect” that I usually...more Update (later in the day on 7/11/2012): after posting I received an email from Wynne Channing...stating the following...brace yourself cause I did the happy dance in the middle of my office at work...

"Yes, definitely, it's a series...There will be more Zee and Lucas, more about the Monarchy, more about Lucas's brother..."
- from the author, Wynne Channing 7/11/2012

Review Posted 7/11/2012

Wow – I love coming across awesome indie reads like this one! I didn’t have the “insta-connect” that I usually do when I enjoy a book. Wait, I take that back, the opening scene is pretty freaking amazing but after that it took me a couple of chapters to get into it. Everything starts with Axelia or “Zee” for short (you try saying her name, I’m sure I mangle it every time), she’s studying abroad, staying with a host family and this beginning “getting to know you” part was a little rushed for me. I felt like maybe we could have gotten a bit more out of this section, but it was still enjoyable. The juicy stuff comes when Zee accepts a date with the hot mysterious guy she meets in afore-mentioned opening scene. Well, said date starts and ends with peril (oh and some excellently written intensity!) after that, the real story begins.

WHAT KILLS ME gave me a definite moment of being a “cover lust” – it’s freaking excellent – dark, beautiful and intense! So, does the writing, story and characters live up to its pretty packaging? SURE DOES! This is Wynne Channing’s debut novel, but she is a reporter/journalist so she is no stranger to putting words to paper and that shows! I was entrapped in scenes, fell in love with the flow and didn’t want to leave the world she built around me with her words. I also loved the uniqueness of the plot, far from any vampire read I’ve come across so far. I loved each character (though I wanted a little more). Zee to me was definitely an interesting character. She had a little bit of everything brains, power and blatant disregard for female safety (aka a heaping helping of “innocent girl”). Lucas, dear Sweet Jesus, Lucas. I’ve got two words for you ladies and if you know me you know I got it bad for him during this read. Bad. Boy. THANK YOU. Not only is Lucas my ideal male character, but also has a good character background that so much could be built off of (another reason I need more *hint hint* *Cough*SERIES PLEASE*Cough*).

Unfortunately there were some things that just didn’t quite spark for me:

Again, the beginning “getting to know you” was a little rushed. Not that I wanted to see it drawn out, but a little more background on Zee and who she is before being thrust into the main plot would have helped. (not a game killer for me)

Zee was a little naive for me. I get that we sometimes like our female leads to be innocent. But, I’m going to tell all my female YA readers this; If you are ever studying abroad and you meet someone like Zee did – Group Date! Yes, be smart...never run off with someone you don’t know. This one wasn’t a game killer for me either, just really rubbed me wrong.

Oh how I wish this will be written to be a series (I looked around for deets on that with no luck). I fell in love with the plot and characters and as I said before it was unique and intense. As the story goes on there was so much going on and people to grow and develop as characters, that by the end it was a bit hurried to wrap up. Leaving me feel that not everything got pulled together.

Overall, I’m not disappointed I read – at all – it will having me looking out for new Wynne Channing books and maybe just maybe she will pick Zee back up in the future…

Review by Sliced Open Reviews
Source: From Author in exchange for an honest review(less)

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Sep 14, 2012 Jude rated it 3 of 5 stars

I Loved the tragic aspect of the book, no, not in a sad way. But how Alexia became a vampire, and what she had to face afterwards was pretty much brutal. I really felt for her from the moment she woke up as a vampire. She had such a short time to grieve what she's lost before she's given a death sentence. Lucky her, she's special. The unlucky part is that she has to learn the hard way.

Speaking of unlucky characters: Meet Lucas. Hot and strong and protective. Did I miss anything? He also had to...more

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Jul 17, 2012 Josheka rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: alot-of-action-in-it, e-book, fantasy, go-girl, interesting-and-funny, liked-the-characters, loved-it, perfect-ya-fiction, something-new, supernatural, strong-not-so-whiny-heroine, teen, ya-romance

More of my reviews @ Reading 24x7

After reading so many vampire themed books, I was a little unsure whether I would like this one or not. But fortunately, What Kills Me didn't disappoint me. The story was action-packed, funny, intriguing and most importantly, had oh-so-awesome characters.

When I first read the summary of this book, I was like, "OMG, the girl emerges as a vampire from a blood well!" and expected the scene to be something like this,

description

So imagine my surprise when it was nothing that dr...more

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Apr 24, 2013 Lolita rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-books, books-that-i-own, already-released, got-a-copy-for-review-reviewed

I got a copy for review in exchange for an honest review.

When I got the mail from the author who asked if I wanted to review this I almost instantly decided I would review this. The book sounded original and interesting and the cover looked beautiful. Well I wasn’t disappointed

I want to start with the story, normally I don’t care about the story that much when the characters and the world building are good. But in this case the story was so good that I didn’t mind it too much that there was almo...more I got a copy for review in exchange for an honest review.

When I got the mail from the author who asked if I wanted to review this I almost instantly decided I would review this. The book sounded original and interesting and the cover looked beautiful. Well I wasn’t disappointed

I want to start with the story, normally I don’t care about the story that much when the characters and the world building are good. But in this case the story was so good that I didn’t mind it too much that there was almost no character development and world building. The story starts off very fast paced and even felt a bit rushed at times. Constantly there is something happening. The events follow each other quickly, but due to the fast paced I also was intrigued and wanted to keep reading. There was no good point to stop reading and this book really had that keep reading feel. All in all I think the story is great and it really forms the foundation of this book. The story is original, fast paced and interesting.

On the other hand I couldn’t really connect with the characters, especially at the beginning. We just get to know Zee, the main character, but so much happens that I didn’t really got a feel for who she was. In the rest of the book I did get a better feel of her, but I still think that I would’ve liked this book better if there was more character depth. I just couldn’t get a feel for the characters until the last 25% of the book. I did think the characters where interesting and that’s why I wanted to know more about them.

Well the world building also lacked, but if I didn’t always put it in my review I wouldn’t have noticed it. Okay so there is little world building, but we get to know most of the things we need to know. It never got confusing or annoying. So the main point why I would’ve liked more world building is because I love world building, not because the book really needed it. There were a few times where I would’ve liked more explanation, but those were few. Most of the times all the relevant information was given.

Another thing I want to mention is that I think the story is a bit too short. I think it could’ve easily been 100 pages more and it would’ve been an even better book. Now there were some times the book felt a bit rushed and it seemed like there just wasn’t time to get to understand the characters.

And at least I want to say that the ending was really good, it was really original. I kept guessing how it would end and totally guessed wrong every time. I like it when a story surprises me and this one certainly did.

To conclude: I love the story, it’s great. I would’ve preferred to have more information about the characters, because I had difficulties getting a feel of who they were. Also I would’ve liked a bit more world building, but this certainly isn’t necessary. Also the pace was a bit too fast and the book a bit too short. The story surprised me a few times and I really like that.(less)

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Sep 09, 2012 Cathy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Oh my gosh! I couldn't put this book down! It's been a while since I have read a book on less than 24 hours.

It was so visual, and the characters were so amazing! Constant action that kept me enthralled. I loved Zee's character, so real with a fun sense of humor. And kicked butt too!

Can't wait to read more from this author!

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May 07, 2013 Greta rated it 4 of 5 stars

3.5 stars
Brief summary: Axelia falls into a sacred vampire well, drinks the blood of the Ancients, and becomes a vampire. Vampire prophecy says she will destroy all of her kind. She's on the run for her life from the vampire monarchy who want her annihilated.

Review: Overall, I liked it. Despite some of the plot being predictable, it was a fast read. Elements of the story reminded me of the Vampire Diaries t.v. series' storyline. I liked the evolution of Axelia's character from naive school gir...more

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Feb 05, 2013 Laila rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: female-protagonist-that-rocks, gripping-thrilling-exciting, i-did-not-see-that-coming, kickass-baddass-awesome, swoon-worthy, a-z-challenge-2013

This was entertaining to read. At first I was quite annoyed w/ Axelia's character, she behaved irresponsibly like really going out w/ practically a stranger no matter how cute at night and not informing anyone in a foreign country. Which of course leads her to be turned into a vampire after falling into a well of ancient blood it seems, trying to escape her deadly date. But since she is an extra special kind of vampire she doesn't get burn from the sun, doesn't get hurt even by extreme means, ge...more

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Nov 23, 2012 Allizabeth Collins rated it 4 of 5 stars

Review:

I used to be quite obsessed with the young adult vampire genre, devouring several paranormal reads per week, but the popularity of the Twilight series spurned my attention. Suddenly, everyone was writing, (and reading), vampire-based novels; most of which were bloodless in comparison to their predecessors. About 60% of the teen vampire books that I attempted to read after 2008 paralleled Twilight - or tried to - Girl meets sexy vampire. Girl wants to be a vampire too. Brooding vampire te...more Review:

I used to be quite obsessed with the young adult vampire genre, devouring several paranormal reads per week, but the popularity of the Twilight series spurned my attention. Suddenly, everyone was writing, (and reading), vampire-based novels; most of which were bloodless in comparison to their predecessors. About 60% of the teen vampire books that I attempted to read after 2008 paralleled Twilight - or tried to - Girl meets sexy vampire. Girl wants to be a vampire too. Brooding vampire tells girl to stay away because he's dangerous. Girl ignores vampire, etc... I could only take so much of this "originality" before I was entirely burnt out on the genre. Until recently, I wouldn't even accept vampire fiction review requests, but a couple of interesting blurbs managed to make it into my inbox, and What Kills Me by Wynne Channing was one of them. First-off, I'll admit I was lured in by the cover art - loved the color palate and the ethereal detail. Usually, I try not to be swayed by the cover's literary agenda, (thus, "Don't judge a book by its cover"), however, It spiked my interest enough for perusal.

After the first chapter, I was worried. I loved Wynne Channing's way with words - evocative and well-balanced - but I was not a fan of Axelia (Zee). She seemed like she was going to be another immature, limp-wristed heroine with a penchant for trouble. I was rather annoyed with her, unable to get into her personality, but when push-came-to-shove, she not only transformed from human to vampire, but also from sad-ass to bad-ass! As soon as the action kicked in, I was hooked; the pace just quick enough to propel me from cover to cover in a single night! Zee's will to survive against all odds resonated with me. Sure, she needed protection - cue Lucas - but she was not a weakling by any means; her lite sarcastic streak a notable indication. Speaking of Lucas, I enjoyed his character as well. He was not the typical "handsome hero", he had a realistic and well-crafted back-story, as well as a great set of family/relationship dynamics. I will admit, he too took getting used to, but in reality, how long does it take to really get to know someone? I was surprised how well-developed the characters were for a YA novel, especially since this is the first in a series, (and the first book by this author!). The interactions and dialogue were believable, although Zee tended to talk too much, but the build-up of the action, romance, and overall tension towards the novel's zenith was my favorite part! The entire story-line leading up to the pulse-pounding climax (No Spoilers!) was thought out and executed smoothly. I was glad to see such a refreshingly original take on vampire mythology, only noting the slightest trace of the Twilight-esque. I will definitely be on the lookout for Wynne's next novel, and recommend What Kills Me for teens and adults ready for a new take on the vampire genre!

Rating: On the Run (4/5)

*** I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.(less)

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Oct 22, 2012 Nancy rated it 4 of 5 stars

A period of study in Rome at 17. What could go wrong? If you’ve ever been or raised a 17 yr-old girl you needn’t ask. Axelia only wants to find a “romance in Rome”. What she finds instead is a new life – one filled with terror, blood and loneliness.
When she sneaks out of her sponsors’ home to meet a good-looking guy she has o clue she will never return. He knows because it’s all part of his plan. Gelato, sweet mutterings in her ear and then – well, then she dies. It goes according to plan up to...more

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Sep 23, 2012 Maghon Thomas rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, paranormal, review-4-author, young-adult

So, I normally shy away from Vampire stories. Yeah, I know, WTF is wrong with me! Not loving vampires. Lol BUT I LOVE THE COVER!!! But the schedule was already full, so I was a lil sad to miss it! AND THEN… My lovely ladies from Dark Mind Book Tours sent me a rush email saying a spot had opened last minute-for whatever reason, and I said HELL TO THE YEAH!!! And my quote of this book…

“Oh boy! Oh boy! Oh boy!!!” I mean, I was SOLD when the blurb said a girl would become a vampire and destroy all t...more

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Sep 09, 2012 Sadie Forsythe rated it 5 of 5 stars

What Kills Me was a pleasure to read. The very beginning left me wondering if 'Zee' was going to be one of those ultra goody-two shoes that are simply too pure to stomach, but she wasn't. I liked her immensely. She was strong, without being cold; sarcastic, without being irreverent; and vulnerable without being a snivelling weakling in constant need of protection. Don't get me wrong, she needed protecting, but she wasn't one of those useless female leads who just flails about waiting for the her...more

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Aug 31, 2012 rose catcherpie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Who doesn’t love a good vampire story?! Luckily for those burned out on Twilight, Wynne’s novel veers towards a unique take on those pointy toothed blood suckers we so love. Meet Axelia or better known as Zee: she’s a seventeen year old Canadian (whoa right? didn’t see that one coming!) visiting Italy for two months to learn the language first hand. Zee is quirky and tends to mumble to herself a lot – something I can relate to. She’s in a new country, absorbed in culture and cannolis. Unfortunat...more

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Aug 25, 2012 Paranormal Reads rated it 4 of 5 stars

Axelia or Zee is in another country to study when she meets a guy and sneaks out to see him. He takes her to a church where she falls in a well filled with blood and is transformed into a vampire. Now she is on the run because because the head vamps want her dead because she isn't supposed to exist and there is a prophecy of doom on the vampires if she stays alive. She finds help in the reluctant form of Lucas a blacksmith vampire. On the run with very little help will they get her to safety?

Ze...more

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Aug 09, 2012 Brianna Lee Book Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arr, paranormal, reviewed, romance, ya

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

I will give this book 4 STARS! I really liked this book and I will read more of Wynne Channing’s work. I read this book extremely fast. It was a quick read, but I thought it was a good read. I think it would be cool if she had a sequel (or epilogue type short story) to “What Kills Me” so that we could see what happens in the next chapter of Zee’s life. I would recommend this book to anyone whom enjoys Young Adult, Paranormal R...more I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

I will give this book 4 STARS! I really liked this book and I will read more of Wynne Channing’s work. I read this book extremely fast. It was a quick read, but I thought it was a good read. I think it would be cool if she had a sequel (or epilogue type short story) to “What Kills Me” so that we could see what happens in the next chapter of Zee’s life. I would recommend this book to anyone whom enjoys Young Adult, Paranormal Romance.

Zee is a very untraditional vampire and that scares the rest of the vampire empire. All vampires have a creator, except Zee. When she fell in to a well of Ancient Vampire blood, she emerged a vampire. A long ago prophecy predicted Zee’s arrival, but also said that Zee would be the destroyer of the entire vampire race. Zee knows she is really strong but she doesn’t feel like a danger to anyone. The vampire empire can’t take that risk so Zee has been ordered to die. Could the prophecy possibly be true? Can Zee survive when the entire vampire race wants her dead? Find out in “What Kills Me” by Wynne Channing!

I loved the characters and everything they did. I found myself laughing out loud a few times with things that Axelia (Zee) would do. I mean come on! A super strong vampire screaming out of fear of bugs? That’s funny! Zee didn’t really consider herself a dangerous vampire though, she thought of herself the same way she always did. She was just a shy 17 year old girl that preferred playing scrabble with her parents than partying with kids her age. One trait she definitely held onto through her transition into a vampire was her motor-mouth. Whenever Zee got nervous she would talk so much and just ramble on and on.

I liked the relationship between Zee and Lucas. It was clear in the beginning Lucas couldn’t stand Zee, and Zee thought Lucas was a jerk. With everything that they experienced together though, they developed a strong bond. They began caring for each other. I found myself routing for their love, wanting them to kiss, wanting someone to confess their feelings for the other! I couldn’t help but smile whenever I saw progress in their relationship. Lucas was always so serious, so whenever he would crack a smile, I found myself smiling too.

Overall, I think that this was a fun and exciting read. The only downside was that it was pretty short. BUT! That is only because I liked it so much I didn’t want it to end, though I wanted to see what happened next. I also thought that the cover was really beautiful – this book was just the total package! I think that everyone should go out and read “What Kills Me” by Wynne Channing. I know that I am definitely going to check out more of her work and add it to my ‘to be read’ list.

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Jul 13, 2012 Julie Ramsey rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: done

What Kills Me

Zee, is studying abroad. Italy, the place of romance and lovers. She is staying with a host family and studying Italian. On the way home, she gets lost. A gorgeous guy approaches her. At first she thinks he is going to rob her. After introducing himself he helps her home and asks her out on a date. Zee is thrilled, like any teenager would be. When she gets inside the host family puts a 9pm curfew on her. How is she going to go out with the cute boy? When he shows up at her place the...more What Kills Me

Zee, is studying abroad. Italy, the place of romance and lovers. She is staying with a host family and studying Italian. On the way home, she gets lost. A gorgeous guy approaches her. At first she thinks he is going to rob her. After introducing himself he helps her home and asks her out on a date. Zee is thrilled, like any teenager would be. When she gets inside the host family puts a 9pm curfew on her. How is she going to go out with the cute boy? When he shows up at her place the next night, she sneaks out. Like any teenagers, she has to see this cute boy again. He takes her for gelato, buys her flowers, a necklace and treats her like a princess. Any girls dream. He then takes he to a church that has been abandoned. Just as she starts to get nervous, the boy admits he is going to kill her. He says he is going to drain her dry. He chases her threw the church. They reach a spot where there is a massive hole, it looks like there is no bottom. A robed man approaches and tries to stop the boy from hurting Zee, not before she falls in the hole. When Zee awakens, she slowly climbs out of the hole and the robed man helps her out. She finds out the robed man and his helper Lexi are vampires and the boy who tried to kill her was one as well. She is horrified to find out she is one too. Guards show up and Zee doesn't understand what is going on. When finally in front of the vampire Empress, she learns that she is a vampire with no sire or an abomination. They charge the boy who chased her and Zee to death. As the sun rises, Zee has no other option than to watch the boy burn from the sun and know what is coming next for herself. But as the sun rises, she doesn't burn. After climbing out and getting away she washes up on a shore line. Noel a vampire, helps her to his cabin where he and his family lives. Zee doesn't know it yet but the Empress has not forgotten her. After telling her story to Noel and his family, Noel knows Zee is not safe and he must protect her. When the soldiers show up, Lucas (Noels son) and Zee have to run. The chase begins! Why does the Empress what her killed so badly and why is Zee the vampire so different than everyone else around her? Is she what everyone fears the monster of monsters? Zee and Lucas are chased across the globe in the hopes to finding answers and someone to help them, will they find the answers they seek?

What kills me, is a action packed, thrill ride. Starts off with a teenager with a crush and continues on non-stop. One action scene to another with a few touching moments in between. You feel Lucas and Zee grow closer to one another and you can sympathize with Zee. Her fear and wonder of her new environment. By then end you know that this is just the start of a very cool series (I hope). I would love to find out what happens to Zee, Lucas and the vampire world. I would consider this a young adult book, but it has some violence and gore in it. So ages 15 and up is my recommendation. But worth the read for any adult as well! (less)

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Jul 13, 2012 ~Tina~ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to ~Tina~ by: From the author

Shelves: read-2012, bite-me, young-adult, e-book

What Kills Me is a heart pounding story about a girl named Axelia (Zee) who is studying in Rome and meets a kind boy who helps her find her way home. Charmed by his good manners and good looks, Axelia agrees to go out with him, but soon learns that he's not what he seems. Paolo is a Vampire. Running from her life, Axelia falls into a sacred well only to wake up dead and the girl who has been fated to end all vampires.

To be honest, I wasn't sure about this book at first, it was a little to fast i...more What Kills Me is a heart pounding story about a girl named Axelia (Zee) who is studying in Rome and meets a kind boy who helps her find her way home. Charmed by his good manners and good looks, Axelia agrees to go out with him, but soon learns that he's not what he seems. Paolo is a Vampire. Running from her life, Axelia falls into a sacred well only to wake up dead and the girl who has been fated to end all vampires.

To be honest, I wasn't sure about this book at first, it was a little to fast in the beginning and I had a hard time connecting with Axelia, but as the story moves on and she meets Noel, Jerome and Lucas I started to get more invested and by the time the book was done I can honestly say that I ended up enjoying this more then I thought I would.

I love my vampire books, always was one of my favorite genres, so it's nice to still be able to sink into this story and be surprised. This was a fresh take on this lore, giving the readers something different then other vampire stories.
I have to hand to Wynne Channing, she really knows how to write a helluva kick-ass fighting scenes. It's heart pounding crazy and a complete rush every time Zee or Lucas would fight to survive. But what impressed me the most was the clever way Channing twisted-up this prophecy. Did not see that coming. At all, and I absolutely loved it. Smart smart cookie!

I really loved Lucas and Zee. Although these two characters had a shaky start, they have some really great chemistry. I loved being on the run with them and watching there connection grow from annoyance to devotion. Lucas comes off harsh and rude and even a jerk, but he's loyal and protective and a fighter. Zee was easy to love the minute we meet her. Human or vampire, she has such a sweet and kind nature. So it was pretty comical to think of her as the one to kill the existence of vampires. She feels guilty when ever they stole a car and is even afraid of bugs for crying out loud. While there is very little romance in this story, what we did get was some really adorable banter, moments that made me smile and sparks of affection, which pleased the sap in me.

Bottom line, What Kills Me turned out to be a really great read. The plot is exciting and fascinating, the characters were well written and brave and the story line was unique and fun.

Well done!

Special thanks to Wynne Channing for providing us a copy in exchange for a honest review.

This review and more can also be seen at;

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Jul 04, 2012 Felicia Chien rated it 4 of 5 stars

E-book: What Kills Me by Wynne Channing
Pages: 295
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
Source: Sent from author

Short Synopsis: Axelia, otherwise known as "Zee" sneaks out of the house one night, to meet up with a mysterious boy. Little did Zee know, it would be a night that changed her life forever.

My Thoughts: An intriguing story about a young girl who gets involved in the world of vampires, and ancient prophecies.

Zee is just an average teen, studying abroad. Zee gets lost one day coming home from a sh...more E-book: What Kills Me by Wynne Channing
Pages: 295
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
Source: Sent from author

Short Synopsis: Axelia, otherwise known as "Zee" sneaks out of the house one night, to meet up with a mysterious boy. Little did Zee know, it would be a night that changed her life forever.

My Thoughts: An intriguing story about a young girl who gets involved in the world of vampires, and ancient prophecies.

Zee is just an average teen, studying abroad. Zee gets lost one day coming home from a shop, and is met by a handsome boy named, who helps her home. The boy persuades Zee to meet him again the next night, and Zee reluctantly agrees.
As the boy leads Zee astray, Zee discovers that he is a monster. A vampire, that only wanted to feed on her blood. Frantic, Zee falls into a sacred well filled with blood, and emerges as a vampire. Zee struggles to make sense of the issue as she is hunted by soldiers, and the vampire monarchy.
She is met by the queen who sentences her to death. Trapped in a cell with the boy, Zee, has no choice as she awaits for the sun.
When Zee finds out that the sun does not harm her, she escapes, and is rescued by a family of vampires. As the monarchy is on constant search for Zee, Zee discovers an ancient prophecy, that a vampire will be born with no sire, will come to destroy the vampire race forever. Now, Zee and Lucas, her only friend and a fellow vampire that helped save her, is on the run from the monarchy, and must do everything they can to survive.

It took me a bit to get into this novel, but once I got going, I couldn't put this book down. Zee is a fierce loyal character, who will do just about anything for her friends. I loved reading about the crazy adventures that Zee gets mixed up in. It was interesting to read who Zee could trust and who would turn their back on her to help their own agendas.
I also enjoyed reading the family of vampires and how they were involved with Zee's life. It was curious reading about how the monarchy worked, and regardless of other people's reasoning and what it could mean, the monarchy was only set on thinking what is best for them.
I loved reading about Lucas and Zee. They had great chemistry, and it was infuriating to read that even though the two had obvious strong feelings for each other, neither did much about it. I was also a bit disappointed when a lot of the characters were killed off. I get that they were fighting for Zee's safety, but I had kind of wished that they had survived. There were a lot of surprising twists in this novel, that I couldn't wait to find out what happens next. The ending was very shocking, and I look forward to reading more of Zee's adventures.

Would I recommend this book: Yes

Rating: I give this book a 4/5.
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Sep 05, 2012 Nereid rated it 3 of 5 stars

I do read a lot of vampire books and sometimes they do sound the same but this book is different. No love triangle, no instant love romance thank God and no human counterpart as they are both vampires. Axelia or Zee to her friends starts out as a human girl but while in Italy she meets a cute Italian boy and he asks her for a date. He showed up at her place, she climbed out the window looking for adventure and got more than she bargained for. Paolo was a vampire, a hungry vampire who was all for...more

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Aug 27, 2012 Angie ~aka Reading Machine~ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads-review-books

Book exchange for review~Per se Goodreads rules

Axelia or Zee as she's called is in Rome to study abroad and is a native of Canada. She loves to take pictures and often loses track of time when she's exploring. She finds herself lost in the city and doesn't have her host family's address or telephone number with her. When an attractive young man asks if she's lost and she honestly admits that yes she is lost. Paolo is very interested in Zee but not for the reasons anyone would expect. Zee agrees...more Book exchange for review~Per se Goodreads rules

Axelia or Zee as she's called is in Rome to study abroad and is a native of Canada. She loves to take pictures and often loses track of time when she's exploring. She finds herself lost in the city and doesn't have her host family's address or telephone number with her. When an attractive young man asks if she's lost and she honestly admits that yes she is lost. Paolo is very interested in Zee but not for the reasons anyone would expect. Zee agrees to meet with Paolo for the next night but her plans are thwarted by her host family instituting a curfew. Zee's best friend Ryka tells Zee to take a chance to do something risky. Zee decides to take a risk with meeting Paolo yet her world is shattered by what he reveals. Vampires are not myth like Zee has been led to believe and Paolo happens to be one of them. Zee runs from Paolo and ends up falling into a well filled with blood. When Zee climbs out of the well nothing makes any sense to her. The well's guardian Uther tells Zee that she can never she her family again. Zee cries that this isn't fair and why can't she go because you're now a vampire says Uther. Zee is taken before The Monarchy where she is condemned to death right along with Paolo. She escapes with her life and stumbles upon a family. Noel, Jerome, and Lucas are swordsmiths for the Aramatta. Lucas wants nothing to do with Zee. Noel wants to protect Zee from The Monarchy. Can Zee really escape The Monarchy? What is so different about Zee? Can Noel and family protect Zee? What does The Monarchy really fear? Your answers await you in What Kills Me.

This book from the get go hooks you in and doesn't let go. The action in the plot moves the story along nicely as well as making you want more of it. I thought the characters both major and minor were well thought out leaving no gaps in the plot. Each character had it's significance and blended well in the ebb and flow of the story. This is why I rated the book four stars out of five stars.(less)

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Feb 19, 2013 Maggie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

I'd say hands down the strongest part of this book is Channing's effortless dialogue. Zee's voice in this is real and believable. I can hear myself saying the same things to my friends or my male friends whom I cannot help but tease every chance I get. It's written in Zee's voice, but she doesn't get too immersed in her own woes - which can be an issue with this kind of character. I'll admit that the 'chosen one' story has been played a lot especially in the paranormal field, however this is ref...more I'd say hands down the strongest part of this book is Channing's effortless dialogue. Zee's voice in this is real and believable. I can hear myself saying the same things to my friends or my male friends whom I cannot help but tease every chance I get. It's written in Zee's voice, but she doesn't get too immersed in her own woes - which can be an issue with this kind of character. I'll admit that the 'chosen one' story has been played a lot especially in the paranormal field, however this is refreshing. I love witty banter and self deprecating heroines. She's a little scared of herself, but not taking herself too seriously (her love interest does that plenty all on his own). And yes, a swoon worthy love interest. I'm a little bit wary of love interests that are hundreds of years old while she's still 17 - I mean really, lets be honest, what can they have in common? The author smooths this over well - not by stating any sudden love for one another with no basis, but with a gradual slow realization that comes upon the reader slightly before it sneaks up on the heroine. You see it coming, but you like how it comes and you want it to keep on coming until finally you just want to see them kiss already! Which... SPOILER ALERT ... May or may not happen, but I hope that gets rectified in the sequel. Assuredly, I have my own preconceived notions on what will happen in the next book: History repeats itself, the world against Zee, 'Over my dead body!' Lucas proclaims, sword in hand (get it? - he's dead already), etc. I'm pretty sure we will be surprised and intrigued. I like the depth as well in the added betrayal by Lucas' obaia and her sad love story. Great fight scenes. They're graphic and have an anime quality. Very good.
Zee's growth from unsuspecting child to who she becomes in the end - that transition in itself is amazeballs. I don't want to spoil it too much.
I enjoyed it to say the least and think teens and adults would enjoy it as well. It's a breeze. I personally like some romance in my paranormal books but I think what was lacking in steamy scenes were made up for with humor and violence. Oh and I devoured this book in half a day - with breaks. Read it for laughs. Or read it because you just want to be engrossed. I assure you - you shall from start to finish.(less)

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Aug 29, 2012 Liz at Fictional Candy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, vampire

This book caught me entirely by surprise, and in a terrific way. If you like Hostel (without the gore) or Kill Bill… heck, if you like Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday, add some vampires and a whole lot more, and you will like this book. There is so much that happens within this story that I am shocked that the author fit it all in there. And furthermore, it doesn’t feel like anything is glossed over. At just over 200 pages, you get a whole story – with room for a sequel, I believe. From the very...more This book caught me entirely by surprise, and in a terrific way. If you like Hostel (without the gore) or Kill Bill… heck, if you like Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday, add some vampires and a whole lot more, and you will like this book. There is so much that happens within this story that I am shocked that the author fit it all in there. And furthermore, it doesn’t feel like anything is glossed over. At just over 200 pages, you get a whole story – with room for a sequel, I believe. From the very first page to the very last page I was enthralled and could barely put it down.

The beginning has all the makings of a classic girl meets boy and falls in love story, but of course there is a twist. And the twists just keep on coming. This is the life of Axelia, Zee for short. And her life has just gotten flipped and turned upside down, nothing will ever be the same. Ever. And she will probably never eat a fishball again. Ha, I bet you want to see what the heck I am talking about there, don’t ya??

People are dying left and right, and Zee is suddenly on the run, and with someone who seemingly can’t stand her - Lucas. Just great. Of all the blessed luck in the world! When you are a new vampire and you are being hunted down, you don’t exactly get to choose your running mate. There is so much going on underneath the top layer, that you can’t help but sit and watch. First, Zee – she is awesome. If I was a newly turned abomination to the vampire race, I would certainly want to be her. She is witty and intelligent, clumsy and awkward. She is just fabulous. And then her accomplice on the run, Lucas. There is so much more to Lucas than meets the eye, I found myself under his spell right away. I wanted to yell at Zee, “kiss him!!!”. Sigh. The struggles we go through as a reader when we can’t get our favorite characters to listen to us.

On top of an action and drama packed storyline you also get some of the most beautiful and descriptive imagery. At times it is dreamy and swoon worthy, while at others it is rough and edgey, and even more, you get serenity, fear, and pleasure. And I’m only talking about the landscape. This book reads fast, there is a steady rhythm to events, and they keep you moving. I am an instant fan of Wynne Channing’s, and I am on pins and needles waiting for the next book in this series.
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About Wynne Channing

Wynne Channing is an award-winning national newspaper reporter and young adult novelist.

She started writing horror/fantasy tales as a girl. She still has the first novel that she wrote when she was 10. It’s (unintentionally) hilarious.

Wynne loves telling stories and as a journalist, she has interviewed everyone from Daniel Radcliffe and Hugh Jackman to the president of the Maldives and Duchess Sar...more

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Quotes from What Kills Me

“I just thought vampires would look, you know, vicious while drinking blood," I said. "You look like you're in kindergarten with your juice pack.” — 13 people liked it

“You talk too much."
"Maybe you talk too little."
"You're going to live forever. Pace yourself.” — 11 people liked it

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