Ever since high school student Anastasija Parker discovered she was vampire royalty, her life has been sort of crazy. The half-vampire- half-witch just wants some normalcy, and trying out for the spring musical seems like the perfect fix.
But when the ancient talisman that stands between vampire freedom and slavery to witches is stolen, Ana has to skip rehersal and track down the dangerous artifact before someone uses it to make this year's curtain call her last...
A Scorpio with a Leo Rising, Tate Hallaway is an amateur astrologer and practicing Witch. Tate has been a fan of vampire fiction since she first read Poppy Z. Brite in high school. Her first short fiction acceptance was to a vampire ‘zine called Nocturnal Ecstasy Vampire Coven. Tate lives in Saint Paul, Minnesota with three black cats.
This author also writes science fiction under the name Lyda Morehouse.
Now that I've actually read the book, I liked it and it was short and moved with a quick pace. I'm happy that there's more Elias in this book I thought he and Ana had some good chemistry and it seemed that she reacted differently to him than to Nik who is still a tool. I feel like Ana was only interested in Nik because he is hot and he represents that normalcy she used to have before she discovered she is a vampire. I really didn't feel reading this book that she was into Nik that much because she always had more important things than him to worry about. I wish he were completely out of the way but I guess I'll just have to wait a bit longer. Also Bea is like the wost friend ever, why Ana puts up with her, I'll never know and really her parents aren't that much better. But overall, okay book. It's nothing earth shattering but it's a good way to pass the time.
I have high hopes for this book. I hope Ana can see what a great guy Elias is and not be so blinded by Nik just because he's hot and finally started paying attention to her. Because to me Nik totally sounded like a tool with the things he said and his frilly pirate shirts and leather pants...ugh. I personally don't trust his motives, but whatevs, just have to read and see:)
I think it's more of a 2.75 stars. This second book of The Vampire Princess Of St. Paul trilogy continues to provide sassy characters, humorous dialogues and light-hearted situations and believable details of school life for us. However, the love triangle is getting a bit too much-- I don't really understand why and how a 15 years old girl can maintain a romantic relationship with a thousand years old vampire knight, I really don't understand; plus somehow the heroine earns herself yet another love interest! I don't think I can handle this for much longer.
I will still read the third book when I can get it for free.
This is the second book in the Vampire Princess of St. Paul trilogy. Ana is trying to find her own path and still be an ordinary high school kid. She is having some issues with her trainee vampire slayer/rock star boyfriend that places them on a break which is just fine with her BFF who is more than eager to lend him a shoulder to cry on. It is hard to be on a break though when he is working with the theater director to update the music for the Spring musical - My Fair Lady. Tryouts are coming and Ana is up for the female lead. Of course, once the school finds out that Nik is doing the music, everyone wants to tryout including Thompson who has been Ana's nemesis at school. Turns out he's not such a bad guy and has a great voice.
Beyond the school drama is something bigger. The magical talisman that allowed the witches to bring the vampires from another dimension and make them slaves has made a reappearance. It was thought to be lost but now both witches and vampires want to find it and control it. When it goes missing again, neither side knows who took it. Elias even defied the vampire king in his quest to locate the talisman and has been exiled. Now Ana has a vampire living in her basement.
This was another fun episode in an entertaining urban fantasy series. I like Ana's desire to be her own person despite being pulled by each parent to choose their side. I also liked that Ana is still dealing with all the usual high school activities and schoolwork around trying to save her vampire subjects. Urban fantasy fans will enjoy this one.
Almost Final Curtain by Tate Hallaway is the second book in the Vampire Princess of St. Paul, Minnesota story. I’m not sure why, but I really disliked this story. After thinking the concept was pretty interesting after reading the first book, I am actually quite bitter at the outcome of this release. Normally, the first book of the series has it's faults and the second is better. Not this time around.
The only person I even cared one iota for was the vampire knight Elias Constantine. The whole thing with Ana and Nikolai has been done over and over and I’m literally getting sick of it. Then, of course, a third boy gets involved with Ana, and one can only hope that he doesn’t end up in a three-way relationship with Nikolai and Elias as the other players.
So, in summary, Anatasija Ramses Parker is a vampire princess and also half witch which makes her a dhampyre. Her mother Amelia is the Queen of the Witches, while her asshat father is Ramses the local vampire ruler and not really a nice guy. She previously failed her Witches Initiate and thus was banned from the coven, but later stopped a war between the witches and the vampires that would have torn St. Paul apart. She later learned that she was part vampire, and that is the reason that her magic doesn't work like other witches.
Her sometimes best friend Bea, and who is totally obsessed with Nikolai, passed the test, and is a member of the witches’ council. Ana, however, is an honors student as well as an actress who can sing as well as act. She has mismatched eyes which is actually a condition called heterochromia iridium; which the writer turns around and says it’s because of her dual heritage. Please, facts people.
Other pertinent characters:
Nikolai Kirov is a vampire hunter in training. All he needs to do in order to graduate is to kill a vampire. He is also lead singer of a rock band called Ingress that will soon be playing at a high school near you. Nikolai hates vampire, but since Ana is half, he finds that his is conflicted. Nikolai really ticked me off to no end to the point of nearly abandoning this book for the first time this year. Thankfully, the next character saved me from doing so. Nikolai did nothing more than brood and be secretive throughout the story. Can I say that I hope that the Ana-Nikolai experiment is over and done with?
Elias Constantine is Ana’s betrothed after she bit him in the first novel. He is also a vampire knight who took the body he currently inhabits during the reign of Constantine. He is charming, loyal, doesn’t get all nasty and jealous when anyone else is around, and he stands by Ana when things get testy in finding an artifact that can once again put the vampires under the witches’ control. He goes as far as to get himself banished from his coven. Elias and Ana’s romantic night out which consisted of dancing, was truly the best part of the story next to the whole destroying the artifact part.
Years ago, the vampires were able to retrieve the artifact created by the First Witch that made the vampires, and also made them slaves. Elias was the one who stole it away, but lost it in a betrayal that he didn’t see coming. He now wants the honor of stealing it away from the museum at the risk of being banished from his own coven.
With the artifact now missing, after having somehow turned up in a museum in Minnesota, both witches and vampires are rushing around trying to be the first to one’s to retrieve it. The vampires want a way back to the Veil (or Hell where they came from) and a way to keep them from becoming slaves once again to the witches’. The witches wish to remove the vampire threat once and for-all by enslaving them. A few desire that the artifact actually be destroyed to save the peace between the races.
This is another book that I am happy to say, I did not spend any money on. Thank you library! Now, I can turn around and return it tomorrow without feeling bad about my dislike for the story. One can only hope that the third book in the series, Almost Everything (2012), will be better, or the last book in the series.
Almost Final Curtain was not as intriguing as the first book in the series. It was like suddenly I didn't really care for these characters anymore. It was a bit surprising.
In Almost Final Curtain, Ana just seemed too dull to me. And I didn't really enjoy watching her going out with Nikolai while being engaged to Elias due to the last book. It is very obvious throughout this book that she likes Elias. And she and Nikolai are having problems with their relationship due to Ana being between the vampires and the witches.
I think I was hoping for too much in Almost Final Curtain and Tate Hallaway didn't seem to deliver that. When I read the first installment of the series I was intrigued with the half vampire-witch princess concept and was hoping that it would expand but it didn't.
While I thought book 1 of this series was a fun witty read and I enjoyed the characters, book 2 felt completely opposite. I found Ana very annoying and very immature throughout the book. Storyline was OK. I will probably still read book 3 just to see what happens.
Don't think I'll be continuing with this series. If I do, they'll be library pick ups. Really wanted to like this book, but I'm just not connecting with the characters.
This book is a little wild, and it's kinda crazy that all the reviews just talk about the romance because that is easily the least interesting part of this book. The book was very entertaining and readable, it was very frustrating at times, so that landed it a ranking in the middle. I was just looking for a random vampire book to read for spooky season, and my library only had this book not the first or third (so funny!), so I read this as a stand alone. I was pretty excited because it contains both supernatural shenanigans AND theater kid drama! Little did I know that both those elements would drive me absolutely crazy. So this review will be a little long because I have two mini rants to go on. The first rant is a little more serious than the other, because I must talk about the horrible, dated slavery metaphor - you can really tell this was written by a white woman (I am also a white woman, just for clarity's sake). Then I'll end on a lighter note, airing my frustrations about the author's clear misunderstanding of My Fair Lady.
So the witches brought the vampires over from another realm to be their slaves, in a clear analogy to American slavery and the Atlantic slave trade. Throughout the book the narrative is trying to both sides the issue because our main character is half-witch, half-vampire. The witches are clearly in the wrong, as any modern reader with a lick of sense can see, and it's frustrating to read the white feminist slavery apologia. Crossing over with the theater drama, Ana's concerns over getting the part center around the fact that she has two different colored eyes, and she compares this physical trait to her dark-skinned hijab-wearing friend, Taylor. Obviously Taylor would have a harder time getting the part,, even daring to make the comparison is embarrassing. I wanted to scream. It's giving Addison in Zombies whining about her white hair, while literal segregation is occurring in her town. So yeah, the whole book is kind of a struggle racially. As a disabled white woman it was more aggravating than triggering, but other readers would have a much harder time dealing with this.
Onto lighter topics I spent the whole book waiting for Ana to realize she was wrong about the characters, themes, and story of My Fair Lady - because she's a high schooler. Then I realized that wasn't going to happen because the author doesn't understand the musical either. First of all, she had Ana whine about the lack of female parts only to leave out two female roles: Freddy's mom (understandable), and Mrs. Higgins (unforgivable, possibly the best female character in the play). She also calls Higgins' head maid a nanny, which is ridiculous because she doesn't nanny Henry or Eliza (as much as Henry might act like a child). She focuses on the love triangle (?) and entirely leaves out Colonel Pickering's character who is pivotal to the understanding of the play because he always treated Eliza like a lady - because she always was one. All of this would make sense if it was just Ana misunderstanding the play because she's a teenager, but it's all played completely straight. In some ways the drama kid vibes are so relatable it hurts: Ihop after rehearsal and shows, and being judgy to newcomers and jocks (terrible and cruel, but true). Unfortunately, Ana claims to be an avid drama geek but whines about the play, auditions, practice, memorizing lines, performing, and literally everything about theater. It was super annoying. Oh - and during the read through, Ana sings her first song after Get Me to the Church on Time, which is stupid and wrong because Wouldn't It Be Loverly is right near the beginning of the musical and GMTTCOT isn't until halfway through. Basic knowledge of the musical that the author couldn't get right!
So, all in all it was an extremely frustrating read that was also fast-paced and interesting. Also, I never got lost or confused by jumping into the middle of the trilogy - so kudos for that, I guess. I suppose this was a pretty fun read despite the headaches.
As with the first book I had a hard time getting into the book again. About half way through I finally got into reading it. I found the chapters to be excessively long. I want to read the third book in the series just to see where this storyline goes yet again. I just hope that in the third book it will pick up so I don't feel like I am making myself finish the book.
Picked it up and then made sure I finished it in the same day. It has a nice explanation about witches and vampires that is different from most and nobody sparkled! I do like it when the unrealistic is real.
Okay so this book made me feel like Matthew Thompson, The Jerk with Surprising Depth, would make a better love interest than Boring Nik The Vampire Hunter. And Elias was cutie as always.
Plot: 4 Stars This is one of the few novels I've read that has included a vampire-biting scene that was truly scary and definitely not sexual in any way. That scene reinforced my love for this series because the vampires are evil and scary, and I love that. As the title suggests, Shia is taken (or kidnapped) by some of the others in New York. While kidnapping is normally a plot point that I find a bit boring, the author definitely made it interesting and necessary to the plot. All in all, Shia's crazy adventure back into the world of the others was a roller coaster of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. I just wish there could've been a bit more private investigating. Her job was such an important part of Shia's character in book one, so I expected more than just a couple passing comment to her job.
Pace: 4.5 Stars This novel flew by. I just couldn't put it down at times. And it read even smoother than book one. Every scene had a purpose, even if that purpose wasn't totally explained until the end of the book. But I love when a book wraps up so nicely. There wasn't a cliffhanger, but there was just enough at the end to leave me jumping up and down for the next novel. I can't wait to see what's in store for Shia on her next adventure.
Characters: 4 Stars Shia has definitely grown since the last novel, and grew quite a bit in this one as well. I have really enjoyed watching the evolution of her character. Although Royce didn't seem to be around quite as much as the last book, we also learned more about him (and I like him a bit more now). He was still manipulative at times, but he also seemed to have Shia's best interest in mind, even if it didn't seem like it at first. Max was a great villian because he was truly frightening and his moves were unexpected throughout the whole book. I wish we could've seen more of Sarah, Arnold, and Chaz. I really missed Arnold's humor and mage powers that helped Shia so much in book one. But I loved Mouse! She was such a strong little vampire, and a very interesting character. I really, really, really hope she's in the next book. It was also nice to see a few more of the White Hats and learn more about them.
Cover: 3 Stars This cover's model was all sorts of wrong. The cover model looked like she had aged at least five years from the last novel, although barely a year had gone by. Plus, I'm not even sure if they used the same model. And her outfit was just wrong. She should've been wearing the trench coat from the first cover again, since Shia once again wears it to hide her crazy stash of weapons. Plus, she shouldn't have so much skin showing because she does not want the vampires to bite. Cover model aside, the it wasn't that bad of a cover. Purple is a color that doesn't seem as widely used in the genre as blues/greens and reds/oranges are, but it works very well against the model's red hair. And I really enjoyed the large moon in the background, especially considering most of the novel took place at night.
Overall: 4 Stars
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book for review from the author.
Outstanding, Amazing, Superb is “Almost Final Curtain” by Tate Hallaway. I could not put this book down, and I could not turn the pages fast enough. I read the first book in this wonderful series, and just loved it. The second book is even better!
The day that Anastasija Parker found out that she is a vampire princess was pretty crazy for her. Vampires keep treating poor Anastasija like she is some fragile porcelain doll. Anastasija always has vampires guarding her where ever she goes, and it's really starting to creep her out. If that is not driving her crazy enough, Anastasija's vampire hunter boyfriend is having difficulty dealing with the fact that Anastasija is half-vampire and half-witch.
Anastasija's school is going to be putting on a big school musical. Anastasija is hoping that she can take her mind off of all the crazy drama in her life, and looses herself in trying to capture the main part in the musical. To bad she won't be able to concentrate on the high school musical. Word is spreading through the vampire council that there is a magical talisman that has resurfaced and that the witches are tying to steal the talisman, and possibly use it against vampires. If the witches should acquire this talisman, and use is on the vampires, it would either kill all the vampires or enslave vampires as the slaves of witches. Anastasija Parker must now try and find this talisman and try and save the vampires. Will this put Anastasija's friendship with her best friend Bea, who is a witch, and her boyfriend Nickolia, who is a vampire hunter, in jeopardy?
Anastasija Parker is in a real pickle now, and she must find the talisman and save the vampires, who are also her people, but she must also try and stop the witches, who are also her people as well, from using the talisman on the vampires. Will Anastasija find the talisman in time before she and the vampires are enslaved by the witches? Will Anastasija also still have her boyfriend and best friend in her life, or will she lose both of them and possibly her own freedom? Find out what happens in this exciting page turning novel by Tate Hallaway, and be prepared to be reading all night, because I know I sure was! Reviewed by: ParanormalRomance.ca
The humor that I loved in Almost to Die for was toned down in Almost Final Curtain. The story became darker as Ana faced the reality of her being a half-witch, half-vampire and her struggles with her lovelife. She could no longer be with the witches after failing her initiation, aside from her mom and her bestfriend, Bea. After refusing to join the vampires, Ana’s dad didn’t bother her anymore. She felt that she was stuck in the middle, neither vampire nor witch but possessed the strengths and weaknesses of both. It was a problematic situation that she will be stuck in forever.
Being betrothed to the vampire knight, Elias, has complicated Ana’s lovelife. He became one of the constants in her life – the guy who gave her time and listened to her ramble and whine. I found Elias to be endearing and a perfect gentleman. Despite harassment, danger and sarcasm, he kept on minding his manners, unruffled. In this novel, Ana spent more time with Elias. But Ana has a boyfriend in Nikolai, Elias’ rival. Nikolai was in a band and every girl wanted him. Most importantly, he was a vampire hunter.
I liked the background in the vampire world. Their origin, nature and customs fascinated me. The ancient talisman’s role in the lives of vampires and how it changed their fates was a nice touch, coupled with the history woven into it. Their music and revelry, surprisingly, were like the music and revelry of the fey. I was able to see another side to their wildness.
Some of the characters changed while the others stayed the same. Thompson, the jock at Ana’s school who hated her, started to be more civil and he even began to show his friendly side. I had my hunch about Thompson in book one. It was starting to show, floating to the surface but it hasn’t fully surfaced yet. Bea was still pining for Nik, taking every chance to be with him and to get one step closer to being his girlfriend. The big changes were in Ana’s parents, caused by the Nile goddess talisman. Throughout the novel, there were scenes planted that aroused my curiosity. The ending was the bomb of all secrets and twists. One twist in particular took me off guard. I never expected it.
Witty and humorous, with a darkness that lurks over the characters, Almost Final Curtain was an intriguing read. I recommend this to readers of vampire and witch novels and paranormal romance readers.
I loved the sequel to Almost to Die For as much as the first book. In Almost Final Curtain, Ana has to worry about dealing with her archenemy high school jock Matthew Thompson, getting a part in the rock opera that My Fair Lady has been turned into (thanks to the songs being written and played by Nik’s band, Ingress) and trying to save the vampire race from the newly discovered talisman that was responsible for enslaving the vampires thousands of years ago and could either destroy them or create new vamps.
As with the first book, there’s a ton of action, humor, a bit of romance, buy problems and high school angst and more than one surprise. I can’t really discuss too much of the plot without including spoilers in my review so I’ll just leave it at that.
I continue to love the choices Ana makes and I really like her as a character. Bea is pretty much the same as she was in the first book, but bitchier about the vampires and more predatory regarding Nik, but not to the point of breaking up their friendship. And, as in the first one, when Ana really needs her, she’s there to help.
I don’t know what to think about Nik and Elias. I can’t really talk about them too much without throwing in some spoilers, so I’ll just say I loved both of them in this book and I still don’t know who I want Ana to be with (not Thompson, NOT THOMPSON!!!), and I’m not sure she does either. Taylor was in it more and, again, I really like her.
We keep finding out things about how the witches and vampires have treated each other over the millennia and why they desire witches’ blood and in my opinion, the witches are losing. That having been said, the vampires definitely do some stuff in this book that make you hope the talisman ends up in the witches’ hands.
This was a quick, fun read, and I can’t wait until February for the third book Almost Everything, to come out!
My Thoughts: We are back with Ana and her weird world. Remember from Almost To Die For her mom's a witch and her dad's a vampire king. She's also still dating Nik (kind of) and is still promised to Elias. Ana still has deep feelings for Nik but I just didn't find him as charming in this novel. At times, he kind of acted like a stuck up snob. He knows he can get any girl he wants and he flat out admits it a few times. He also must complete killing a vampire to win his dad's approval. At times he insults Ana's species. Than there is Elias, sweet Elias. I still love Elias. He really cares about Ana and would do anything for her.
Almost Final Curtain focuses on the rivalry between witches and vampires. There is a talisman that could enslave all vampires again and if it ends up in the wrong hands it could be deadly.
There is also a play that is taking place that Ana tries out for. The girl can really sing. We are also reacquainted with all of her friends and a few new friends.
Most of all, I really loved how much we saw of Elias throughout Almost Final Curtain. I loved all the moments spent with him.
Overall: I liked Almost Final Curtain enough but I didn't love it. This is what happens sometimes with the second book in a series. It kind of felt like a filler book. Thats ok sometimes, it just makes me long for more in the next book. I can't wait to see what happens between Ana and Nik. And Ana and Elias. I also can't wait to see what happens where both of her parents are concerned.
Cover: I like the cover. I like how dark her hair looks, like she's mysterious. I also like the red!
What I'd Give It: 3/5 Cupcakes ________________________________________ Review Based On Softcover Edition
Almost the Final Curtain is the second book in the St. Paul Vampire Princess series. I enjoyed the first book which introduced Ana as a half witch/half vampire who walks between two warring factions of paranormal society. In this story, Ana is identifying with her vampire side more. In this particular story, Vampires were brought over across the veil between worlds by witches who enslaved them with a talisman of sorts. This special artifact was stolen and the spell was undone thus freeing the vampires. However, vampires can only live on witch blood so the witches want to enslave them because they are blood suckers and sometime killers and the vampires want to be free but must drink witches blood to live.
At the beginning, Ana has a hot true witch rocker boyfriend, Nik who happens to be from a long line of Vampire hunters. But Nik is love with Ana and doesn't see her as a vampire. Ana is afraid of what will happen if Nik passes his last rite to being a full fledged hunter and what will happen if the talisman resurfaces and the enslavement of the vampires will do to her. Ana is also accidently engaged to Elias her father's vampire knight who regularly visits her to court. Ana's father is trying to keep his kingdom free and his power. Ana's Mom is revealed to have more power than first thought and the power struggle between her and Ana's father is causing Ana to be torn apart.
This story is very complex in the struggle presented for Ana. At times, my heart really was torn but I really love Nik and was frustrated with the story between the two young lovers but like the way it ends. The end of this book feels a little like a wrap up so I am wondering where or if it will continue.
I dislike the overall tone, the way she narrates this novel. It’s annoying to have Ana talk like one of those girls whose always acting like: OMG! I have a date to prom. And guess what? I have two boyfriends, one I’m supposed to marry (maybe?) and one who’s trained to kill me. Life is sucky and awesome. I get so tired of reading this stuff. I also get tired of reading about twisted love triangles in young adult novels.
Elias looks like the perfect match for her. I wish he had some real flaw about him that would really unsettle her. I also don’t understand how biting him (I think this was in the first book, but I’m not sure) gets her betrothed to him.
The novel is interesting. The vampires have strange customs, but so do the witches. Her father is a very flat character in this book. For the few times he actually has a speaking role, he is a complete jerk. He even banishes his daughter from the vampire kingdom that he controls. Before banishing her, he ordered her to spy on her mother. He doesn’t seem to remember this while banishing her, so I think this is another downfall in the book. It also seems a little too focused on her drama class and club.
It is very quick and easy to read. I’m torn between whether the story should have been longer or shorter. There are places where the author could have gone into more detail. There is one place where the author didn’t need to go into detail. Just to note: I figured out who stole the talisman over one hundred pages before Ana did. If you want an easy read, go for it. If you want to read this because it’s a vampire novel, you might like it. If you want to read it because of the witches, you’re mostly going to get the vibe that the witches are the evil ones. It’s okay, but it’s not a book I recommend.
Ever heard of an anticlimactic finish? Because I feel that that's what this book was giving me. From what I gathered from Ms. Hallaway's last book is that she is better at writing minor details to things as well as building up anticipation for the climax, yet she has problems delivering the climax in itself, as well as the romance scenes.
One chapter in this book was over 70 pages long! Honestly, what does that say? To me, it says that this author clearly wasn't thinking too well when writing this book.
I will admit that it has more suspense than the previous book, true, however it does not deliver as well on the excitement half. Throughout the book, I knew who had the talisman without Ana having to find out near the end. More so, I knew the outcome of the rehearsals and just about everything else that was going on. The only thing I have yet to guess is which guy she ends up with, but by now I have a pretty good idea.
Only the third book will clarify my suspicions I suppose.
All I can say is that Tate Hallaway did not deliver as well on her second book as on her first. The whole "witch-vampire" thing was downplayed a bit by Ana's constant panic about the talisman. During some parts, I literally felt as if I was reading something that had been copied and pasted.
Don't get me wrong; the book was fine. Just not what I'd expected to a book which I expected to like more.
Will be reading the third book for the conclusion to the series. Hopefully I won't be in for another minor disappointment.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I love this series because I actually know all the places that Ana goes, so cool! I have to admit that actually knowing most of the places Ana goes makes me love this series. I also think it is intriguing that Ana is half witch and half vampire. It seems really odd to me, but makes for a fun read. Poor girl she is constantly being thrown around on both sides and she doesn't really fit anywhere. I love finding out more about each world and I love the mythology that Hallaway uses. The theater stuff is fun too if just to give a more lighthearted side to all the issues plaguing Ana.
I really like Ana and think she is relatable. She has all this crap thrown at her and she is doing the best she can. It is also fun to see when her powers come out. I do feel for her though because the love triangle is interesting! I mean I like Elias, but there is a somewhat creepy factor with him because of his age. But I love his gentlemanly ways and the way he is with Ana is very sweet. Their scenes together are always great to read. As for Nik, he has his moments but at times I wonder why he is so dumb. Of course he is still young, but I feel like he can't make up his mind and it drives me crazy. I definitely envy Ana her position, lol!
Overall this was a great installment and there were some really awesome scenes. Can't wait to see what happens next.
warning: If you do not think you can stand anything more complicated than a love triangle, DO NOT READ THIS BOOK. seriously, isn't being torn between two boys enough? do you REALLY have to throw in a third? the polls are in and the answer is a resounding yes. the problem that arises when there are three guys is that makes it harder to pick teams. fortunately, I have a ranking system. so here's my Teams list: 1. Elias, 2. Thompson, 3. Nikolai. so, obviously, Thompson becomes more of a character in this book, as he and Ana both try out for the school's Spring Musical. Catch: her boyfriend/vampire hunter/rock star/witch Nikolai is doing the music for the play. More catch: still drama with her Elias. more Catch: the point of this book centers around the subject of vampire slavery. as in, vampires used to be witches slaves. this happened cuz the First Witch used this talisman and other magic stuff and stuff. Vampires broke there slavery when the talisman was stolen and lost. guess what happens in this book? no, seriously, I dare you. guess. if you guessed the talisman is found and causes big drama for Ana, well, gosh darnit, you were right! yep. and so then Ana pulls out some big bad-ass magic and saves the day. yay!
I did not like this one as much as the first one. I think that Ana should be with Elias and I was beyond belief happy that there was more of him in this story. I do not and have not like Nik and I think he's a huge jerk. Bea to put it simply is a jealous child and I cannot stand her. Nik and Bea would be perfect for each other because they just do not think of how Ana feels during this whole situation. Recently finding out she's not only a witch (who failed initiation) but also part vampire. Nik being a hunter has no consideration with his powers when it comes to Ana even though he knows it hurts her he still acts without thinking. Bea is just jealous because she wants to be center stage and acts really childish towards Ana through the whole book.
If the story would lose Bea it would be really good. I would recommend reading because it is fast paced and attention grabbing. It sucks for the length, but I'll be waiting for the third book. Hint: Make it longer please!!!
Ok enough of my rant. I was seriously intrigued by the previous book but this second one seemed like a serious flop hot/cold friends... Weird parents....
The only reason for finishing the book and a slight interest to read the next one is that I like the characters and the writing and editing is good. But the story... Yesh.... Hope it gets better. :/
Anastaisja is half vampire/ half witch but doesn't want to have to chose sides. She just wants to act in her school play, hang out with her friend Bea (a witch), and spend time with her two boyfriends. But that is where the problem arises - one of her boyfriends is a vampire that she is supposedly engaged to, and the other is a vampire hunter who is on the side of the witches. However, Anastasija must chose sides when her parents, the head vampire and the head witch, on opposing sides decide to battle each other for ownership of a talisman that has the power to enslave all the vampires under the witches' control. She must ask for help from both her boyfriends if she is to survive this threat.
I really can’t review this one properly so I’ll keep it short. It was nice... I mean, I just read for the fun of it. And honestly, this is a kind of book that you don’t need to devote too much of your attention, no offense or whatsoever. I like the first book, this one is ok – for the lack of better description. It was a vampire comedy turned to high school musical plot, (like the sporty guy have a hidden singing talent - that's Troy Bolton in the making, lol) the comparison made me laugh; well… that’s just me. It was ok, still have the wit and cynicism present in the fisrt book, and I still enjoy it… regardless. Bottom-line it was ok.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
After reading the book, I was really disappointed. I guess I expected so much from this book. I got all excited to read what would Ana do with Elias and Nik.
I was glad that there had been a progress between Elias and Ana, and while this book, I am really thinking that Ana likes Elias. But then, I think, she's just leading him on. I mean, come on! She totally loves Nik. Though I like Elias better than Nik.. really
all in all, it was.. a good read? though really disappointing. hopefully, the third book would tell us more about what would happen between the three of them.. i really hope and wish that Ana ends up with Elias. she deserved Elias than Nik!
A 3 and a half. The overall plot of this book was pretty intriguing, but I felt maybe it could have been written more in depth. The solution seemed a little too easy, but it wasn't a deal breaker. It took me a while to finish this book, by I'm glad I did. A quick read once I got into it. Once interesting point in this book though are the relationships. Some are confusing and way too complicated while others are realistic and spot on. And how many guys has Ana got fawning all over her?! Four now? Or maybe not, it's hard to tell which ones are hating and which ones are crushing. Overall, not bad. May check out the next one.
Wow, I am still so amazed by this author's work. I mean she is just dead on with it all. I loved this book with everything in me. This book is full of yes teenage stuff, but when you add all the magic, and vampires, well let's just say you get a real page turner. I love Ana, and all of he chemistry with her love triangle. I love both Nick, and Elias so much, that I don't know who I want Ana to end up with in the end. This book had a major kickbut magical ending that I found amazing. I have to say this book really took me in, and when I say that I mean, I feel as if I became part of the book. That is a signal of a good book! Keep up the awesome work Tate!