Okay, I was a Twilight fan and loved that series. But, as a whole, I tend to be leery of vampire novels because so many twists have been rung out of the myths and legends that I can't help but think that subject has been squeezed dry. And then I picked up this book, and, OMG! It was awesome!!

Annelise Drew is a character that almost any reader could relate to and cheer for. She's had her hard knocks, so to speak, and she's determined to make something of her life instead of being pulled down into the dead end that her father and step-mother represent. She's intelligent, she's sarcastic (but mainly for defensive purposes), and she's such a deep, intriguing character. As she progresses through this story, she discovers things about herself that she never thought existed. It's amazing what a true life or death situation will do to a person. Fortunately, it makes Annelise stronger.

I think the best thing I loved about this book was the fact that it didn't center around vampires. Sure, vampires were part of the story, but this book took the myth from a completely different angle: that of the Watchers that represent the Vampires in the real world. The entire story was about Annelise's survival and determination to stay alive as she went through the rigorous training required to eventually become a Watcher.

This was an incredible first book to the series and I can't wait to see what happens next in Annelise's new world. There are so many unanswered questions and I'm curious to see what's in store for her next and whether she will get any of those many questions answered. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a new twist or unique angle in the supernatural/paranormal genre.