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Mina Byron wants to be just like every other high school senior, but as one of the only half-human, half-vampires in existence, she’s far from normal. After having the first eighteen years of her life dictated by whatever is best for the vampires around her, she wants to embrace her humanity. When her uncle, the vampire King of Appalachia, agrees to send her to a private high school and integrate into the culture of the living and breathing, it’s not without sacrifice on her part. As she attempts to find herself, love, and friendship in the human world, she has to reconcile the future he has planned for her in the vampire one. — Metallic Red is a young adult vampire fiction book with romance, self-discovery, and a bit of blood.

316 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 15, 2020

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About the author

Jennifer Ann Shore

18 books506 followers
Jennifer Ann Shore is an award-winning, bestselling author based in Seattle, Washington.

She writes romance stories that go a little deeper than the standard tropes. Her lineup of more than a dozen books includes standalones, a dystopian series, and a vampire series—with titles such as “Perfect Little Flaws,” “Young at Midnight,” and “Metallic Red.”

Prior to publishing, she led an impressive career in New York, first as a journalist and then as a marketing executive, gaining recognition for her work from companies such as Hearst and SIIA.

Be sure to sign up for her newsletter on her website (https://www.jenniferannshore.com) and follow her on Twitter (@JenniferAShore), Instagram (@shorely), and TikTok (@jenniferannshore).

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5 stars
29 (42%)
4 stars
27 (39%)
3 stars
8 (11%)
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4 (5%)
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1 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
Profile Image for Sayantoni Das.
168 reviews1,640 followers
December 16, 2020
I'm a fan of Jennifer's writing and so when this one transcended my expectations I wasn't surprised.

Metallic Red is a chicklit, fantasy, romance, drama, and everything else that you can hope for. Starting from the title itself, the story line, the characters, and the narrative, all fall in line with perfection.

Reading Metallic Red felt like reading a webtoon where I could literally picture all the slides. It also lowkey reminded me of one of favorite webtoons Orange Marmalade. I don't know how many of you read that, but if you loved that you'd love this one too.

This story is unique because of all the vampire stories I've read, only this one speaks of a heroine who is half vampire and half human. I wasn't sure if that was technically possible 😂 but the author handles it well.

Metallic Red is a stunner, as it glides its way through high school drama, vampires and finally badass and sassy character developments.
Profile Image for N.N. Heaven.
Author 5 books1,889 followers
August 3, 2020
Half-vampire/half-human Mina Byron has lived her life straddling two worlds. Raised in a protected vampire household, she wants to embrace her human half and pleads with her uncle, the Vampire King of the region, to allow her to enroll in high school. He agrees and she's elated. Adjusting to life as a high school senior takes its toll on Mina but soon she's fitting in. She has a bestie and even a blooming romance with Charlie, a popular soccer star. When Mina reads about the discovery of five bodies with bite marks and their blood's been drained, she fears there's a rogue vampire killing innocent humans. Enlisting the help of fellow vampire, Theo, she searches for the truth. The more she's around Theo, the more conflicted she becomes. Romance in the human world as well as the vampire world is never easy, especially when you're the future vampire Queen of Appalachia. Will Mina embrace the role and bring her two worlds together or will she splinter under the pressure?

Metallic Red is a modern young adult vampire romance with plenty of subtext. Mina is a strong heroine and I thoroughly enjoyed reading her inner dialogue. Her gnawing hunger after her first day in school was comical. The world-building Jennifer Ann Shore uses adds a whole new level to vampire lore. It's totally believable and authentic. The romance Mina deals with is technically a love triangle but it is so well done, it doesn't overshadow the rest of the plot. The mystery is one that kept me guessing until the very end. Well done. If you're looking for a fresh approach to paranormal romance, pick up Metallic Red right now. Highly recommend!

Disclaimer: I read this on Kindle Unlimited.

My Rating: 5+ stars

Reviewed by: Mrs. N

This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...
66 reviews
August 17, 2020
A unique take on a high school vampire coming of age story, but filled with missed opportunities, unexplained or underdeveloped ideas, and abrupt and dissatisfied ending.

Well I liked the perspective of a human/vampire half-breed being torn between both sides, wanting to experience the true nature of both of her selves, but unsure how to reconcile them and be comfortable and confident as herself. Having said that, I kept getting confused about where it was going, not in a pleasant surprise, plot twist kind of way, more like the author couldn't decide what the main focus of the story was until the last chapters. I'm sure that's not true, but that's the vibe I got while reading. It was an unexpected ending, but so much so that it felt too abrupt and not fully explained, and I felt like it just switched gears instead of developing into it.

The book jumps right into Mina's life just before she starts going to school, but doesn't explain a lot of important back story until much later, like her family situation, being raised more by her uncle than her parents, and the cause of her isolation and loneliness that drives her resolve to go to high school. The story is told from her perspective, so it seems more important to me to have that knowledge from the beginning and set it up a little better so the reader understands the main character's perspective and motivations right from the start.

I especially did not like the resolution between Mina and Charlie. After how much she claimed he meant to her, she just So atypical of what we've seen from her and how much she values humans and her relationships with them. And when Eloise scolded her for No. Based on what we know of Eloise's personality, she would be calling out Mina big time for the way she handled If they are still friends by the end of the book, we can be sure that this happened and they must have worked through it somehow. So why not stretch an extra chapter to show Mina Such a terrible oversight, and not the only one that detracted from the story for me, unfortunately. I really liked Charlie, and he didn't deserve to be treated that way.

The editing could use a bit more work as well. There were various common typos throughout that pulled me from the story whenever I came across one. There are some instances of swearing, underage drinking, drug references, some mild intimacy and allusions to teen sex, dead victims of apparent vampire attacks, and a lot of blood, though not necessarily gory.
Profile Image for Jennifer Ann Shore.
Author 18 books506 followers
July 17, 2020
I hope everyone enjoys reading this vampire book as much as I loved writing it. :)
Profile Image for Tommi Powell.
Author 3 books8 followers
November 2, 2020
What happens if you mix a little bit of Mean Girls with a bit of Charlaine Harris and a hint of Anne Rice? You *finally* get the YA vampire book that we’ve all deserved. Yeah. I said it, and Metallic Red (2020) by Jennifer Ann Shore is a sweet reminder that traditional publishing doesn’t always get it right. (Don’t sleep on the Indies.)

Mina Byron is a rarity. She is the half-human, half-vampire niece of the vampire King of Appalachia. As his only heir, she’s led a rather isolated existence with little to no involvement with the human world. In an effort to explore the part of her identity that her parents wish didn’t exist, she convinces her uncle to allow her to attend high school. Unlike her parents, he’s encouraged her to embrace her humanness, but that doesn’t mean he’s a push over; he sets his own terms and drives a hard bargain.

Mina does her best to go unnoticed on her first day of high school, but she makes the mistake of not only sitting in Brooklyn Winters seat but in catching the eye of Charlie, Brooklyn’s love interest. Mina’s human-side does very non-vampire-y things when she sees Charlie. Maybe it’s because it was just October 3rd, but the Mean Girls vibes, especially with Charlie’s hair, were an unexpected delight.

Mina being torn between two identities and two men but still remaining a badass (that metallic red pantsuit! Killer!) and never once being whiny was also an unexpected delight. She speaks her mind. She takes risks. She is not driven by her desire for approval by the men in her life. And despite not being raised to comprehend human social norms, she adjusts quickly and learns the value of meaningful relationships. Can we all get an Eloise, please?

Much like Mina has to reconcile her human-side with her vampire side, blend them so as not to deny one over the over, the reader has to reconcile the high school drama with some serious vampire world plotlines. The fact that Mina is concerned about the homecoming dance just after an event that literally shakes the vampire world to its core is so bloody realistic; we all remember high school and those questionable priorities of youth. I think forcing the reader to mirror Mina’s split condition is where the book excels. There are some parts that are a little clunky and some parts that are begging to be fleshed out more, but this novel is a biting success. I was very excited to see there will be more Mina and hopefully more Eloise. And Theo. (A vampire who has just a touch of witch in him? Yes, please.)
Profile Image for Kritika .
152 reviews11 followers
January 7, 2021
Vampire stories are quite common especially when we are talking about the fantasy genre. But what makes each story stands out is the book’s narration and character and plot development. I think Metallic Red, was one such book which I thoroughly enjoyed from the beginning to the end.

Mina Byron the lead portrayal is stuck between two worlds. She wants to be like every other teenager, a high school senior but being a half-human and half-vampire comes with its pros and cons. Her uncle Derrick – the vampire King of Appalachia when agrees to send her to one of the private high schools of the city, Mina is elated but, in her life, everything comes with a cost. The same happens this time, when her uncles make a deal in exchange for sending her to school. But will this deal, cost Mina her love life and friends and can put everything at stake that is dear to her.

In most of the parts of the book, I quite enjoyed the setting and the background story. The character development of Mina was quite evident. Mina trying her best to get settled in a new place and a new environment, the only school which she has ever attended. As she struggles to keep up with this new place, will she be able to cross all the hurdles in her way!!

Metallic Red is a stunner, a modern young adult vampire drama, and romance with the protagonist being a badass character. Mina is a strong heroine with witty dialogues and her inner monologue made the chapters quite enthralling. The mystery is the one that will keep the readers on the edge and will leave you guessing till the very end. Two very charming heroes in the story, made the book all the way more interesting – but whom will Mina pick? Which team are you in team Theo or team Charlie?? To unravel the mysteries of this sassy story, go and order your copies right now!
Profile Image for Jana.
76 reviews
July 29, 2020
I won this book in a goodreads giveaway which was really exciting!

It took me some time to figure out what I wanted to say about this book. First things first, I liked it! I was worried when I started it and I wasn’t connecting with the main character but around chapter 3 I really started enjoying it. I loved watching Mina grow into herself and figure out who she was and who she wanted to be. There is also an interesting group of characters most of whom are quite lovable (special shout out to Eloise who is the absolute best and I wish she was my friend in real life).

Some aspects I didn’t like so much were how the romantic relationship played out as well the side mystery story that was going on in the background. I’ll start with the relationship piece. I loved it so much in the beginning but close to the end things got especially frustrating and even though I understand why certain paths were taken I didn’t like how it turned out. As for the background mystery plot with the missing people, it just felt too rushed within the story. It was only mentioned like twice before the big reveal. And considering the severity of what was going on and how it tied into the central story, it was wrapped up way too easily for my liking. I honestly feel like the whole side plot could have been its book and it would have made more sense, at least to me.

Overall it was good! It was well written and like I mentioned I really enjoyed the journey Mina went on and I was a big fan of many of characters. If a sequel was written I would definitely check it out.
Profile Image for Kimberly.
309 reviews17 followers
August 24, 2020
Jennifer Ann Shore has brightened my love of vampire novels in Metallic Red. The story that Jennifer tells is intriguing. It appeals to my sense of being an adult before you are ready.

Mina is a teenage half-vampire/half-human creature. She is well-versed in her vampire tendencies but wants to know more about her human side.

So, off to a human high school, she goes. She makes a lot of new friends and enemies. My heart grew when she became acquainted with Charlie, though. He is perfect boyfriend material.

Unfortunately, Mina must face reality and go back to her vampire world. She is the only heir to the throne of the Appalachian vampire sect. Her uncle Derrick is quite ill and will not live long, and Mina must make the hard choice to take over her place as Queen.

I enjoyed this story, but I was forlorn when Mina had to make hard choices. The story that Jennifer gave me was not the one I wanted, but the only one that made sense in Mina’s world.

I am thrilled to award Metallic Red a full 5 out of 5 stars. I recommend this book to anyone who loves vampire stories. This one is a bit light, yet has its dark moments too. Everyone will find it delightful.

Many thanks to Jennifer Ann Shore for gifting me a free copy of Metallic Red in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Melody.
312 reviews2 followers
August 7, 2020
Mina is a half-vampire and half-human heir to the vampire throne under her Uncle. While dealing with the expectations that one would expect from being an heir to an entire region of vampires hiding in plain sight from the human population, she decides that she wants to go to high school. There, she finds friendship and love. However, she has to decide whether to indulge in her human side or pick up her responsibilities as a vampire heir.
There is a love triangle, a murder mystery, and a coming-of-age feel to this entire book that will keep you wondering what will happen next.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I knew it was going to be a chick-lit and when I saw "vampire" in the description I knew it was going to be cheesy. However, not once did I feel the cliche so strongly that I rolled my eyes or cringe. In fact, I felt like this book did its best to stray away from the vampire and "new kid in school" tropes. It was unique and that's why I gave it a four star rating. I genuinely enjoyed it.


(I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. My comments are my own and in no way influenced.)
Profile Image for Christine.
469 reviews1 follower
August 11, 2020
Gifted Review Copy | I happily sucked all of the blood out of this modern-day YA vampire novel filled with feminism and entrepreneurialism. A strong world-building coming of age story, laugh over the graham cracker vs cookie debate and Olive Garden pregnancy obsession. Shore is playful, serious, and hilarious all at the same time.

Eloise and Mina are anti-Mean Girl powerhouses filled with independence and smarts. Mina would rather wear a Pant Suit than a gown to homecoming. There is *surprising* and not too sexy romance, friendship, and dysfunctional families.

Better than Twilight and more like a teenage Sookie Stackhouse read, I am Team Charlie. Spoiler (sorta, not really): Somehow 'Eric' wins...

Fall back into the nostalgia of high school with this July 2020 new release. Metallic Red is my favorite of Shore’s books. If you are looking to read more indie authors, Shore is it.

You can see my full review on The Uncorked Librarian here: https://www.theuncorkedlibrarian.com/...

Thank you to Jennifer Ann Shore for providing me with a free day-of-publishing copy in exchange for a fair and honest review. BUY ALL OF HER BOOKS ; )
Profile Image for Vedika Sheth.
574 reviews4 followers
April 13, 2021
Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

This was a different book. I usually don’t read vampire romance though I did read Twilight. (I liked it, don’t judge me.) The story takes a bit of time to take off but the background is worth it. It explains what will be coming up and the whole story will need it to make sense. The ending is a bit sudden and I couldn’t say it was my favourite but it made me go for the second book. I didn’t expect it. It was the element of surprise in the story. It was a greatly written story. It flowed, was fast, and kept my attention throughout. I wish there was more on who Theo is but there is a lot more about him in the second book. I loved the human aspect of this book with Eloise and Charlie. They are such good friends to Mina. Like I said earlier on, I didn’t expect the ending and therefore wasn’t able to expect the villains and the victims. This is a story worth reading.

I received a review copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Pamela Anderson-Bartholet.
Author 3 books3 followers
July 21, 2020
I started reading this book as soon as it arrived and finished it in just a couple of days because I enjoyed it so much and did not want to put it down.

Particularly during this pandemic, I appreciated reading a good story that took me away from daily news. The story--which moved swiftly--primarily deals with a young woman (18 year old "Mina") who is a "misfit" and trying to understand her own world while simultaneously trying to understand a world that is completely different. She wants and strives to bridge the gap, gaining perspective and understanding along the way.

In some ways, Mina's journey reminds me of challenges that we face in our country today. I highly recommend this book.
Profile Image for Sonja.
45 reviews
October 29, 2021
It’s not very often nowadays that I choose to read vampire stories, but I’m so glad I decided to pick this one up! I absolutely fell in love with the main character, Mina, right away. She’s so well written, and following her development and acceptance of her identity was so satisfying. As someone who had to go through a period of exploring and accepting my own identity a few years ago, it’s always fun to see how authors navigate that sort of discovery with their characters! I highly recommend this story to everyone that likes a good vampire story, as well as anyone that enjoys reading someone’s self-discovery! And I so can’t wait to read the sequel as soon as I can! I received a free copy of this story from Hidden Gems and am choosing to leave an honest review of it.
Profile Image for Lauren T..
22 reviews
October 22, 2022
I loved this book! I’m not one to go for vampire stories but I liked the idea behind it (and I love Jennifer Ann Shore lol). The only thing I really didn’t like (SPOILER‼️) was that the explosion was just played off as a human error. I wish there was some kind of threat to Mina like an underground vampire clan that didn’t like Mina being half-human to add more mystery to be uncovered in the sequel. It just disappointed me that there wasn’t something more to it when it was such a big deal when it happened. Otherwise solid book 10/10.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Yasaida Rivera.
35 reviews2 followers
November 1, 2020
I really enjoyed the story. It was good and had a great twist. The only downside was the ending because it didn't end how I expected. I mean I was rooting for Mina to end up with Charlie. Not that I am against her and Theo. But since the story started with her falling for Charlie, I really wanted for them to be together. Even more so when he knew what she was and didn't run away screaming. I hope there is a sequel for this book close in the future!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Annee.
149 reviews16 followers
October 27, 2020
The first third of this book read like a funny Twilight fanfiction (and I wouldn't be surprised if that was what it started out as) but it took a lot of unique directions and built and interesting world that I appreciated. I didn't like some of the characters, and a few of the subplots seemed a bit incomplete, but overall it was a pretty good story.
Profile Image for Nati.
2,187 reviews12 followers
October 30, 2021
Mina has been sheltered in the vampire world since Shen was born. She is unique, half human half vampire and due to greatness in the vampire world. But she wants to experience her human side. Can attend High School be a great experience or will she be conflicted between two worlds, searching for friendship, love and her future?
17 reviews3 followers
November 6, 2021
I would consider this a decent book, but it wasn’t as good as I was hoping it to be. The storyline kind of felt all over the place to me. There are important details that should have been explained prior to when they were actually revealed, some side characters actions were a bit off to me as well. However, if there was a sequel, I would still check it out
3 reviews
July 19, 2020
I love it!!

My first book by this author. I enjoyed it, and was upset when it ended. I enjoyed the mc. And thought I knew who the "bad vampire" would be. But I was surprised. You got me on that one! I would love to read more about the "New Queen."
Profile Image for Danielle Marlowe.
1,865 reviews7 followers
November 1, 2020
Metallica Red was a good story, the plot was strong, so wasn't the characters, the story was written well. Mina and Charlie were made for each other. The connection between them was strong, their chemistry was sexy, they were good together.
I enjoyed this story.
Profile Image for Carrie.
48 reviews1 follower
August 2, 2020
Absolutely loved this book! Read it in less than 2 days because I couldn’t put it down. Please let there be a sequel!! I want more of these characters.
Profile Image for Victoria Rhodes.
16 reviews1 follower
August 20, 2020
I won this book in a goodreads giveaway. Some parts are a little confusing and hard to follow, but I loved all the characters!
Profile Image for Jamie.
60 reviews4 followers
January 30, 2021
This was a fun and super quick read! I'll definitely be checking out the sequel.
Profile Image for Carrie.
178 reviews
June 8, 2022
I'm so glad Jennifer Ann Shore commented on my TikTok of me asking for Vampire Romance recs. I enjoyed this book. It was a fresh feel to the same tropes in the 57,000 Vampire Romance books I've read. I'll definitely be reading more books by Jennifer.
Profile Image for Melody.
312 reviews2 followers
March 4, 2023
I enjoyed this one more than I thought I would! It's a classic vampire story with a more enjoyable plot than some I've read before.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews

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