Horror Books

I purchased this book at a thrift store for $1. I had read one other of McCammons books "Swan Song" which I thought was excellent so I figured I would try "Boys Life". It seemed like a dumb title but for $1 I figured I could pitch it if the book was no good. I am the type of person if a book does not grip me in the first 50 pages I move on. Was I ever surprised. Right off the bat the story gripped me. I would stay up late at night wanting to see what would happen next. McCammon writes in such a way that you can feel the emotions of Cory the main character in the story. I could see how the boy thinks as I once used to when I was boy many years ago. McCammon makes this story come alive. The pictures he draws of this small town are clear and you are drawn in and can't put the book down. McCammon is an excellent story teller. It is almost like you are there. It takes place in the early 1960's when the world was a different place than it is now. The death of Cory's best friend, his dealing with some bullys, his relationship with his parents, and a host of other odd characters that Cory deals with come alive. There is also an odd mystery he tries to solve that weaves through the entire story. These all come alive in the story and at the end they fit together. Excellent book. Definitely five stars. If his other books are this good, I can't wait to read them.

Boy's Life by Robert McCammon was a pretty good book. It starts out in a little town in AL with a twelve year old boy (the main character) named Cory Mackenson is with his dad at "work" and a mystery begins to unfold right in front of his eyes. It catches the reader's attention. But as the story continues, I think that is gets a little confusing to follow as there a lot of "mini-stories" that make the plot somewhat strange. Some stories were interesting, but some just did not make any sense in my opinion. At the end of the book, grown-up Cory talks about his new life- this is a nice touch at the conclusion of the book. Overall, it was a pretty good book. Not a five-star for me though.

There's nothing I can say about this book that hasn't been said, but let me add to the ovation. Everything you've read is true. This book is brimming w/ magic and heart. I think it's the only book I've ever started to read again right after finishing it. If you haven't read it, do yourself a favor and do so.

This is the first book I have read by the author and what a great introduction. Considering this book was written in the early 90's, the 12-year old Cory M. main character, was a harbinger of the "magical boy"
at the edge of adolescence. Ala Harry Potter, Cory has the sixth sense. Though there are elements of horror, this is mainly a autobiography of kids in the 60's. The feel of the time is right, with boys on bikes looking for adventure and trying to escape the misery of school. And surely one can remember that magic did seem to be in the air at that age. The characters are well-developed and the mystery, who is the drowned man in the lake?, is nicely woven through, but not always the main focus. More importantly, Cory and his friends begin to glimpse the adult world, maybe just as scary as the horror stuff. Dad loses his job, Mom is a worry-wart, and Cory faces love and death. Did not want it to end and felt the post-script of life in the 90's, did not add. A different type of horror/mystery story and great change of pace.

Robert McCammon really did an awsome job writing this book. It expresses everything in a young boy's life. The dissapointments such as: loosing a friend to a bullet, your dog dying, and having your dad layed off from work. On the other hand it also tells about great things such as: getting a new bike, catching a criminal, going to a circus, and many other things. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a book that will keep you reading till the last page.

Wow. I really enjoyed this series of books. Stephen King at his best.

I was hook on the Gunslinger back in 1984, but was only able to find 2 of the series and only in paperback. I have been a fan of Stephen King since I was in the U.S. Army bootcamp. I have been checking every now and then to find the rest. Thanks to Amazon I've order the entire series and in hard bound.

This series is the quite possibly Stephen King's greatest work! I've read the first four books in the last week; drugs are not nearly as addictive as the Dark Tower Series. I've definitely have becom a "TOWER JUNKIE". Do yourself a favor and buy this now; your only disappointment will be having to wait for the release of the next book.

This book ,in my opinion, is the greatest series I have ever read. If you ever wanted to read anything by Stephen King you should read this. The fact that I bothered to write a review (i usualy don't) speaks volumes about how truly amazing this story is.

This series is outstanding!!!! True King fans love it, and I think it's an interesting change for those who may not care for King's normal "horror" genre. Bits and pieces of this masterpiece are hinted at in many of King's other books,a nice "inside joke" for King's Constant Reader. This series grabbed me and would not let go! I've read them all at least twice and like the header says, I'm foaming at the mouth for the "Wolves of Calla" to come out. This is a beautiful set and a series that could be as much of a fantasy classic as the likes of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. HIGHLY ADDICTIVE! Once you read the first page of just one in this series you'll be compelled to read every one of them!

Some of the (relatively few) negative reviews of this series on Amazon feel that the premise--a dark elf who just happens to have human values leaves his bad, bad world behind--is too contrived. However, I don't think an attentive reading of the first book supports that view. It's oversimplifying too much and ignores important details.

First, Drizzt was NOT the first one to question the values of the drow; he was the first to LEAVE drow society because of his refusal to compromise with it. Zaknafein felt nothing but contempt for Menzoberranzan (see his monologue after the battle with House DeVir), and he channeled his contempt for drow society into a love of killing those who reveled in it. Yet Zak ultimately still contributed to the system he hated, while Drizzt chose to leave a world he couldn't fix behind and face the unknown rather than be part of something he considered evil. Pretty heroic, I think. We all could learn something from Drizzt.

Second, while many drow are definitely evil, it isn't true that all of them are or that they are evil innately. Zak clearly cared for Drizzt's welfare--for one obvious reason, but especially because he sees in Drizzt the same disrespect for drow rules as he has. Vierna, Drizzt's older sister who first raises him, has moments of sympathy and even admiration for Drizzt. Of course, her cultural conditioning kicks in and she feels guilty for such tenderness--whipping the boy for inspiring such feelings in her. Yet clearly some drow other than Drizzt were at odds with or at least ambivalent about dark elf society, and that makes Menzoberranzan a more complex place than some readers have assumed it to be.

Yes, Drizzt's values do happen to coincide with our own. But think like an author for a second: if Drizzt didn't have "human" values, would readers be able to relate to him at all? Could we cheer for Drizzt if he showed any hint of the traitorous and sneaky nature of his kindred? For Drizzt to be a hero to us humans reading the book, we have to be able to admire his actions. Sure, there may be some people out there who admire cunning, ruthless people who cut down their enemies with intrigue; but the huge following that Drizzt has seems to suggest that most of us would prefer such conniving people to be cut down with two sharp scimitars.

Here's to 20 years of Drizzt Do'Urden. Thank you, Bob Salvatore.

This book's a poser to review. First of all, the book's goals (and it's rare to find those in a work of fiction): on page 323, R.A. Salvatore says he wanted to

"...go back and tell Drizzt's story and at the same time define the dark elves in the FORGOTTEN REALMS world."

Mostly, he achieved that. "Homeland" is a prequel to the Icewind Dale trilogy that starts out just a tad before Drizzt's birth. It physically explains Drizzt's early existence and does a very good job giving a feel for the society of dark elves (drow). Unfortunately, the explanation for Drizzt, himself, is entirely implausible. For some reason, Drizzt is essentially born good from an evil race (there's no ambiguity or subtlety on this -- the drow are evil). For his first 10 years, he's raised (alone, as far as I can see) by one of his evil sisters (the least evil one, admittedly). He gets no education except in how to be a servile male. His next five or six years, he spends similarly as a servile male to the whole evil clan (again, no education). Following this, he spends five years learning to fight (and nothing else, apparently) from the family Weapons Master (his actual father -- who also appears to be good). Then, he spends the next 10 years in the Academy learning to be a true drow warrior. Yet, thoughout this, constantly exposed to and indoctrinated in his race's evil ways, he remains "good." Not only does he remain good, but he's constantly surprised when the drow around him do evil things. It's just not plausible. If he had been raised by a good society for several years, or if he had been exposed to some kind of philosopher, there might have been some basis for his goodness. But, as it is, he shouldn't even have the vocabulary to come up with the concepts that are the core of his being.

But, I still have to go back to what this book is. It's not literature for the sake of literature. It's a story to give some background to a main figure and race in the world of Dungeons & Dragons. Keeping that in mind, the writing is actually very good. It's fairly fast paced and pretty engrossing. There are still some pretty big logical inconsistencies, and the characters could certainly use more depth. But, for what it is, it's pretty good. If you're a D&D type of person, I highly recommend it. If you're looking for literature, you'll probably be disappointed. So, I rate the book at an OK three stars out of 5.

Salvatore grabbed our attention with the Icewind Dale trilogy, and one of the heroes of that unlikely group of friends was Drizzt Do'Urden, a drow (or dark elf, as they are often called). To our delight, Salvatore's next project, dubbed the Dark Elf trilogy, served as a prequel, to tell us about Drizzt's past, and to introduce us to the world of the drow.

I cannot recall another author who so brilliantly immerses a reader in a wholly foreign world. It is one thing, to describe a world similar to ours, such as Raymond E. Feist's introduction of the Tsurani, yet even that is loosely based on Asian culture. It is quite another to transport the reader into another world so radically different from our own, and do it with a style which keeps us turning the pages at an addictively fast pace.

The book begins on the night Drizzt is born, where he is to be sacriced to Lloth, the drow deity, often referred to as the Spider Queen. Yet, as is normal within this dark and twisted subterranean world, his older brother kills the eldest brother. With a Do'Urden male having been sacrificed, Lloth is appeased, and Drizzt is spared. In an interesting inversion, the world of the drow is matriarchal, and family is everything. The head of the family is female, and the holders of the seats in Council (the leadership of the drow city of Menzoberranzan) are all female. Males are, in that world, secondary to females, and are useful only as cannon fodder in times of war, and as donors in the act of reproduction.

Right from the start, Drizzt is remarked on as being very different, with lavender coloured eyes. Yet his true difference is inside, for he is posessed with morales and compassion - virtues which are practically unheard of in a drow. Fortunately, his father, Zaknafein, is mostly responsible for his weapons training from the age of 16, where Drizzt is somewhat sheltered from the true nature of the evil drow, as Zaknafein is a kindred spirit to Drizzt.

After, Drizzt is sent to the Academy, to further advance his skill at fighting. For 10 years he remains there, learning the true nature of the drow, and battling to hold on to his spirit and morals. If he fails, he risks falling prey to the lies of the Spider Queen, and turning into everything he hates.

I'll say no more, for I encourage you to read this book. I cannot recommend it highly enough. The only thing I'll warn you of, is how very difficult it is to put the book down once you've started! Salvatore does an excellent job in immersing us in the world of the drow, and in better understanding the emotional battles and sacrifices the noble character of Drizzt Do'Urden went through, to mold him into the fighter/ranger he became.

I was never much for reading because most books could not keep my attention. This book however grabbed my attention and held it. Cleverly written, entertaining, with descriptive visuals that bring the story to life, Homeland, along with the other books in this series, is non-stop action. I highly recommend this book!!! I have since read the rest of the trilogy and I am currently reading The Crystal Shard, which is the beginning of the next trilogy.

After reading the Hunter's Blade trilogy I really enjoyed the character and wanted to read more about him. This book was everything I hoped for. I definitely recommend this book for all fans of this genre. Can't wait to read the rest of the series.

So it turns out that the "monster" is actually the protagonist which, while having shades of postmodern antihero angst that wil reverberate strongly with fans of, say, Kafka or Burroughs, really threw me for a loop as a kid.

My two year old, on the other hand, has no problem with this conceit, and wants me to read it to him regularly.

He'll understand how cruel this all is when he get a bit older.

Oh yes.

In the meantime, I'll read it for him over and over and over and over, and never get tired of it.

When I was little this was my favorite book. We would read it over and over, and I would pretend I was struggling to turn the pages that Grover had tied, nailed, and bricked over.
So when we had a daughter, this was one of the first books I bought for her. At 2 years old the book sat on the shelves for a while, but she is 3 now, and I recently took it down again to read for her at bedtime. It is now a favorite, we read it every night. I read the pages, then she turns them to give poor old Grover a hard time.
One recommendation...this review is for the standard Little Golden Books version, which is great, but we also found a board book version in stores, so the hard pages are great when you have toddlers turning the pages for you every night. They can really 'struggle' against Grover's efforts without hurting the book.

The Monster at the End of this Book is a wonderful tale with the infamous Grover at the center. Grover believes that there is a monster at the end of this book and he is begging you, the reader, not to read to the end because he is scared of the monster.

This is a wonderful book for toddlers. When toddlers are defying you at every second, this book gives them a great, fun excuse to be defiant and keep turning pages. The Monster at the End of this Book is very easy to read and is ideal for making loud noices and being dramatic.

I read this book to my two year often and she loves it. I remember reading this book when I was young and I love being able to share this book with my children.

I used to read this book to my own children and bought this copy for my grandchildren. The book is still as much fun for the grandchildren as it was for my children -- and the best part is I get to watch my children enjoy reading it to their children! It means they have fond memories of me reading to them.

I received great service and the book was promptly delivered. This book was read to me as a child and to my children when they were little. I purchased it to read to my grandaughter which I have happily done. It's a great "fun" book for children.

This is an amazing book! Get it- you will love it and want to read more of Mary Downing Hahn's ghost stories!

I first read this book when I was about eight. I had gone to the library and was first captivated by the cover art. I read the book and fell in love with it.
I became so involved with the story and the setting. I grew up always wanting to be an artist who lived in a converted church in the country with a cemetery in my back yard. (I am currently in artist who lives in a small town with a cemetery a block away...so it's close.)
After I read the book, I searched the library for other books by this author and found The Doll in the Garden (which I also quite enjoyed). For about 2-3 years, I checked this book out of the library every other week (alternating with the Doll in the Garden). I probably read it over 100 times. When I was in high school, I saw the book at a bookstore and bought it instantly. It has since become a book that I read at least once every other year.
I don't really know how to explain it, but there is something about the story/writing that just captivates me.

When Molly and Michael's mother remarries, they move to a renovated old church out in the middle of nowhere. Neither is happy about the move, but it is made even worse by their spoiled stepsister, Heather. She doesn't want to share her dad with anyone (her mother was killed in a fire) and does everything she can think of to try to break up the family.

Heather soon begins visiting an old graveyard on the property and Molly overhears Heather's conversations with Helen, a girl who died on the property years ago and was buried in the graveyard. Heather warns Molly and Michael that they'd better be nice to her. "Wait until Helen comes," she taunts. Michael is sceptical, but Molly is convinced that Helen is a ghost who means to harm them all.

The suspense builds into a delightfully creepy tension for most of the book, though I was a bit disappointed in some rapid developments (especially with Heather's character) towards the end. Overall, a creepy read that will appeal to fans of ghost stories.

This is one of my favorite young adult ghost stories. It's very well told and keeps the reader engaged and interested. It's one of the books I never forgot about and I decided to come back and give it another read as an adult. I'm glad I did.

This is an awesome book. I really like it because it is scary, but then has a happy ending. I got it at my school's book fair and read it all that day, it was so good! You should totally get it!!

I have the summer off and I plan on revisiting all the Christopher Pike books I read when I was a teenager (just bought 22 of them today for $20 at a local used bookstore!).
But this is really the one that has stuck with me the longest. The imagery, tone, and mood of this book is really awesome. And I mean by 'awesome' actually awe inducing; it's riveting and haunting. I last read it 14 years ago and I still recall moments from it. Pretty crazy.
Sadly, this isn't one of the 22 I picked up today so I'll be buying it online instead. Oh how I wish I hadn't let my mother get rid of my old Christopher Pike collection... sigh.

I remember starting this book when I was just 14. I didn't finish it, but several years later at the age of 25 I bought it. At first I thought that it would be geared more to teens considering the author is Christopher Pike. Oh how wrong I was! This book is excellent, well written, and proves that an author like Christopher Pike can rise above stereo-types and create a master piece. I have now, almost 2 years later, read this book 3 times. And it never gets old.

Pike wowed me as a pre-teen, some eightenen years ago, with Slumber Party, Weekend, and Chain letter, etc...he continues to wow me in my early thirties; now a wife and mother, who does not have the luxury to read Pike's books all day in her bedroom. Thank you for continuing your creative writing genius in the adult fiction relam. This book was simply captivating. I am looking forward to Pike wowing me through the next several decades!

I have always enjoyed reading Christopher Pike's books, not only for their intriguing storytelling, but for the way the stories are written. Specifically, Pike goes deeper into his stories, as opposed to other young adult horror writers whose books about vampires who drink blood and serial killers who lurk in high schools are meant to be taken at face value, and thus provide shallow tales of blood, gore, and - ah! someone tapped me on the shoulder and I thought it was a murderer so I jumped and screamed at the end of the chapter. But, to my relief, it was actually just my mom telling me to finish my homework. You know...THAT kind of writing.

Pike's stories are not these kinds of stories. His stories often contain a web of mysteries that all come together at the end - making you want to reread them to "catch" things you didn't notice before.

This is definitely one of those stories. I really enjoyed reading this book, and I looked forward to reading more every time I picked it up. This was, I believe, the only story I have ever read that actually creeped me out a bit when I was reading. The part where they head into the cave and find the island...yeah, don't read that at night, when you're by yourself. Or do - it makes it all the more spine-tingling. Thus, the reason I recommend this book.

It's not for those who just want a shallow horror book with zombies and vampires and blood. It's for those who enjoy actual, well-thought-out, original stories. Maybe you'll like it, maybe you won't. Give it a try.

I found a copy of this book at my library and was able to buy it for forty cents a while ago. The only reason I picked it up was because the author's name caught my eye. I have read many of Christopher Pike's young adult books and enjoyed reading most of them, if not all of them, so I decided to get this book.

I'll admit, I wasn't sure if I was going to like this particular book, only because I was somewhat disappointed with one of his other adult books. However, once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down--- everything about it is so good; the characters, the plot. I have read it several times already, and I plan to read it over and over again.

Definitely a worthy read.

This book was fabulous! I couldn't put it down! I finished it in 2 days (stupid work! I'd have finished it in 1 day if I didn't have to go!!). I've always seen books about immortals as vampire, gross, bloody books. This one is not that way at all. It's cleverly written, everthing has an underlying meaning. While you read, keep notes on facts...you will have "aha!" moments later!!

My Soul to Keep grabs you and moves with descriptive style as if you are one of the characters. There are several stories within the story that end up intertwined later. The Jazz musician, the slave , the Ethiopian, the professor, the perfect husband and the immortal all of these characters were David also known as Dawit.There are bumps and bruises along the way with murders to cover up his "immortality", David was loved and was "Mr. Perfect" where did it all go wrong? When he fell in love and wanted to give the gift of life to his wife and child? Or when his wife stumbled on the mysterious death of his daughter Rosalie?

There were hints from "Grandpa" who's always eating a Whopper. When looking back on it I think the author used Grandpa to soften the anticipated, almost expected, blow of Kira's death. This was definitely painful to witness. I was frustrated with the speed of the unfolding. I wanted more time with Kira and to offer advice to the characters on how they could save her. Almost yelling at the book! I lost track of time reading the final chapters and couldn't put it down until I was finished.

The story leaves you hanging with several lose ends. What is Jessica doing sharing the living blood with terminal children in Africa? Was she in mourning over Kira and wanted to help as many kids as she could? Why was she so short with David when he came to visit? Will she go after him soon? I think she will. The new child seems even more powerful and superior then his immortal parents. Knowing that there is a sequel is comforting. B/c there are several more stories to be told.....

Overall it's a very good book. I would put it in the top 10 for sure. I can't wait to start the sequel.

Due is an amazing author and I can't wait to see the film adaptation of this book.

Filled with deep spiritual questions, these Tananrive Due horror novels (The Between, My Soul to Keep, and Living Blood) make my blood run cold and give me real goose bumps. It takes alot to make that happen.

I am an avid African American fiction & non-fiction reader. However, I never could get into sci-fi-type novels. My Soul to Keep changed my mind forever. I was hooked before the end of the first chapter, and read it in one night. I wanted more...and got it later. During that first read, I experienced so many different emotions: happiness, fear, anxiety, etc. That's a rare thing for me.

I think the problem with the other books that others would compare M S to K to was that the basis of the stories were unbelievable to me. Tananarive Due did an excellent job of making the story believable (at least to me) and taking me on a journey that had me addicted. I cannot wait for the third installment to come out in June!

I did not like the first part of remember me but I like part 2 and especially part 3 of remember me.

I couldn't put the book down and as soon as I got done I picked up the second one and so on... I finished all 3 in 2 days... this book had me second guessing every one all of the characters

I've read this book at least 4 times already...and I'm not sick of it at all. I first read it when I was about 14 and now I'm 19 and the book STILL interests me. The character development was good but not GREAT; there were some people who he could've expanded more on, but overall an excellent novel for not only teens, but adults as well.

This was one of the first Christopher Pike books I ever read and it is probably one of his best. The plotline is interesting, the characters are fun to read about, it's everything the back summary promises it to be and more.
First of all, let me say that Pike has a habit of writing about characters who are quite stereotypical. The characters in this book are no exception, though I feel like the stereotypes work better here than they would in other books of his. Shari's view of the world was always somewhat black and white, and, in some ways, it remains that way even after death. I suppose that is the way things are to many teenagers. This book won't enlighten anyone about the complexities of human nature (except in a somewhat cursory way) but it is still quite an interesting read for young teens who are looking for a simple, yet unique, murder mystery that is also quirky and intelligent (well, intelligent compared to many other books of its kind). The concept was somewhat different. I don't really know how original an idea it is but it certainly felt refreshing to a 13 year old me. And then there were the characters. Shari was just bursting with personality and I liked her. Some of the things she said were very witty. She admits that she can be a bit phony, and this makes her seem real in a world that often doesn't feel that way. Maybe this is why I didn't mind the stereotypical characters so much. Sometimes I felt like Shari was mocking the ways in which we can sometimes focus on the things that seem important at the time but really aren't. Anyway, the characters were never boring. They were certainly memorable, in my opinion.
The book also makes its own statement on the after-life and while it may or may not conflict with the reader's own religious views, I have to admit that it's an intriguing look at one of life's greatest mysteries---where we go when we die. Well, it was intriguing to me. I've read/heard of other books that dealt with the afterlife, and I have to say this one had the most interesting perspective, in my opinion. The fact remains that we'll never know exactly what it's like to die until we actually do so, in the meantime, all we can do is question.

Anyway, Remember Me does deal with some mature themes and, for that reason, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone younger than 13.

A great book to start with if you're looking to venture into the world of Christopher Pike. But you don't really have to bother with the rest of the series unless you're interested in the spiritual questions the first one raises and want to read more on that. The other two have weaker storylines. They seem far more into the more complex questions of life and death and, I must admit, much of it went over my head.

First let me say that this book, in my opinion, is a 4 1/2 stars. This is by no means Christopher Pike's best book, which would be "The Last Vampire", no doubt.
Christopher Pike has an incredible talent and precision for details. I love the way he can make the smallest of detail into a major part of the plot, an excellent technique... especially in a murder mystery.
This book had everything in a good mystery, and more, when considering the fact that the main character was a ghost trying to solve her own murder.
As the book progresses, the storyline thickens and one cant help but be enthralled with it. I dont want to give anything away, but the end revelations are shocking, and you wont believe who the killer is. You wont be dissapointed!
The diolouge and characters are more than extraordinary, and all his books hold you captive and dont let go till the end, but I think there could have been some improvements.
During the novel, I felt little danger for the lives of the characters in "Remember Me", until the last 50 pages... where the story really takes off. Since they were ghosts, it wasnt like they could be harmed again.
Also, I was hoping for some more "spooky" interaction. Shari was a spirit, yet she couldnt do any of the cool things mosts ghosts are mythed to do, like fly, travel through doors and walls, and somehow communicate with the living. It was almost as if we were reading about an ordinary girl.
Although the story bagan a little slower than I'm used to with most Pike novels, I still loved it very much, and would reccommend it to people of all ages.

Daughters of Darkness
L.J. Smith
1996

I continue to be surprised by how overally well-written the "Night World" books are, collectively. For young people in particular, they are quality fiction.

Three young female vampires come to tiny Briar Creek, Oregon, to live with their also-vampire elderly aunt, but homicide is the word of the day, and curious neighbors Mark and Mary-Lynette quickly find themselves ensconced in the dangerous waters of the Night World -- and the even more unpredictable currents of love.

I didn't quite like "Daughters" as much as "Secret Vampire", the first book in the series. The tale had a bit less... urgency... than its predecessor, and while I did like the redemption of Ash, bad-boy blonde from the first novel, the character development was again a little underexplored. But the world-building is pleasant and well-done, without info-dumping on young readers with potentially short attention spans.

Again I can't help but wonder what a greater length could have done for the series -- "Daughters' "plot is a bit simplistic. The ending felt... unsatisfying.

But without doubt worth a read, as I will wager the entire series will be.

6.8/10

Mary-Lynnette's wants seem simple enough. She likes her quiet life, stargazes as a hobby, bases her life around becoming an astronomer, and hopes the three new girls moving in next door with the kindly, if eccentric, Mrs. Burdock will help to bring her shy brother, Mark, out of his shell.

Unfortunately, what she ends up with is a murder mystery, romance she doesn't want, and oh, yeah, those three new girls are vampires with a dangerous older brother coming to drag them back home.

There are a LOT of characters to focus on, as per usual with a murder mystery. We have Mary-Lynnette, Mark, the three sisters Rowan, Kestrel, and Jade, their brother Ash, and the local werewolf, Jeremy. And those aren't even the suspects. The endless supply of characters in such a short amount of pages is a little overwhelming, with so many aspects of so many characters not fully explored. But what really gets the reader, even the fans of over ten years, is the star-crossed attraction between Mary-Lynnette and Ash.

It's a bumpy road, to put it lightly. Mary-Lynnette is a simple, if nosy, human girl, while Ash is a dangerous, well-known vampire--and not well-known in the good sense, in Mary-Lynnette's book. Understandable; in Secret Vampire and Daughters of Darkness it's implied he's killed human girls and worse. There are very subtle hints at sexual abuse toward human females that younger readers may miss, but the words are enough to paint a picture that Ash is Very Bad.

Many fans complain at the ending, but it is the ending that keeps them so captivated with these two. Mary-Lynnette wants to finish high school. She can't see herself with Ash as he is now, knowing his past. Ash is sorry and wants to repent, by the end of the novel, but wanting isn't enough. Mary-Lynnette is dealing with a soulmate who is potentially mentally unstable, definitely cruel, and by all human means, a classified felon (if he could be traced, that is).

L.J. Smith did well in ending the story with no conclusion (which she has promised the fans would come at the end of the series for years; ten years later and still nothing). Ash needs room to grow in order to be someone Mary-Lynnette will not regret willingly falling in love with.

This is a good book, by no means the best, but excellent for the series. It was the second book I read (no, Secret Vampire was not the first) and ultimately the one that got me hooked.

Here's to hoping the Mary-Lynnette/Ash fans get closure in the near future. Publishers, don't keep faithful fans in suspense!

This book is probably, in my opinion, one of (if not THE) worst in the Night World Series. It is Ash's story this time, who's soulmate just happens to be a human. (which Ironically was shadowed upon in the first book, 'Secret Vampire'.) Ash's character was cool, charismatic....and totally wasted in this book. Mary Lynnette was too self riteous, too...I don't know. To me, she didn't come off as the strong female lead she was supposed to. Instead, I found myself annoyed at her several times throughout the book. She was presumptuous, she was always assuming things, and she was rather stereotypic if you ask me. I think someone like Maggy from 'Black Dawn', or even someone like Hanna or Gillian from 'Soulmate' and 'Dark Angel' would have been a better match for Ash, not this smart alec, holier than thou woman named Mary Lynnette.

The book itself was lacking as well. We pretty much learn nothing about the nightworld, it doesn't much progress the series except to mention a few characters that appear in future books. All in all, a disappointment. Ash's first appearance in 'Secret Vampire' stole the show, so when this book was released, I was ecstatic. 'Finally', I thought. 'Something that touches on Ash's past and personality. We will finally get to read his story.' Well, as it turned out, he was poorly underwritten. Or perhaps this particular book would have worked better if it had been a little later in the series, if Mary Lynnette wasn't so sharp tongued, if there weren't so many CHARACTERS to concentrate on. This wasn't so much Ash and M.L's story as it was all the sisters. Too many people to concentrate on. The three sisters should have been given their own book for character developement if that was the case. I would suggest this book only to those who wish to further their Night World series collection, or just their L.J Smith collection, in general. As for the enjoyment factor?

...Nadda.

I have read nearly all of the books in the Night-world series, and I have to say that this one is my favourite, without a doubt! It is Ash of course that just makes this book, he is irrestible, I became hooked on him from the very first, I guess it's the whole 'bad-boy' vampyre thing he's got going on that you become addicted to him! I started reading these books years ago, but they went out of print, I would love to get the last few if anyone has any idea how I can get them! I would recommend these books to anyone of any age, I mean I'm 21 now, and I still love them!

It was this book nearly 10 years ago that made me fall in love with L.J. Smith and her writing. I have read nearly everything by her in the years after my first encounter with Daughters of Darkness, yet this book remains dear to my heart. The characters pop out of the pages and you fall in love instantly with Rowan, Jade, and Kestrel...but you will especially fall in love with Ash. Look for Ash again in the 6th book of the series when he makes another appearance. This book is fantastic!

Best vampire story ever. Sure, some might argue that some of our blood-sucking heroine's feats are ridiculously far-fetched, but c'mon, it's fiction. I just like that the plot is really fast-paced, engaging, and has a solid foundation. Pike's interpretation of the vampire makes more sense than some other vampire characters. Plus, she could probably kick their butts. The Last Vampire rules!

Sita, the main character of the book is a 5,000-year-old vampire, who looks 20, and believes she is the last vampire. Sita goes by many names but chooses the name of Alisa Perne as she walks among the humans on Earth. She soon realizes that she is being hunted by someone who knows what she is. She thinks it might be the client of a detective she killed in self-defense. The detective had found out her secret and was a threat.

To figure out who is hunting her, she goes to high school and makes friends with the detective's shy son Ray and then falls in love with him.

She begins to think Ray is actually her old love Rama reincarnated.

Another person from her past, her old enemy Yaksha, is actually following her, trying to kill her to atone for his sins. Yaksha is her creator and the most powerful Vampire ever. Sita was led to believe that she had killed him long ago.

Then there's Seymore. Seymore is a student who wants to become a vampire, after he figures out Sita's secret.

Can Sita and Ray be together and be happy? What will happen when Sita meets up with Yaksha after all these years? Will Seymore become a vampire? Can Sita ever be free of her past? Read The Last Vampire to find out!




I especially liked...

The way Sita was made to be just a regular person with hopes and dreams and feelings just like us. Not All moody and dark like other vamp novels.

I didn't like...

There was nothing that I did not like about this book.

When I finished reading this Book I wanted to...

To write the author and tell him to make some more about this wonderful character

This Book made me feel...

Very upbeat and pumped up with adrenaline.

The author of this Book...

Christopher Pike: is one of my favorites even thought he writes books for teens I have tried to keep up with his books as an adult.

I recommend this Book because...

It is a good read with all the makings of a movie. The romance did not outwiegh the suspense and the action.

Further Comments...

I was so glad to find out that he made 5 more books in this series and the 2nd was just as good if not better than the 1st.

I read The Last Vampire series when i was 13, which i am now 22, and the story still affects me today. I have to say that this series is still a favorite of mine, and I remember that when i finished the last book I felt an emptyness for it being over, so I read it again. Sita goes through things that no vampire in any other story has gone through (I dont want to ruin it), and it is an emotional ride. Read this series and you will never forget it!

This book was really good i could hardly put it down. Sita or Alisa Perne is telling the story of her life. She also explaines her fears. When she falls in love with a boy named, Ray Riley, she finds out that he is in danger.Pat, Ray's girlfriend, is suspicious of Alisa. I could tell that Pat was very upset. I like this book because I love to read about vampires. I think others should read it. It's a good book! So drop what your doing and read it or Sita will get you! Beware of vampires.........

The Last Vampire is a good horror novel, but fails to draw you in completely. The main character, Alisa Perne, or Sita, is a stunning, petite blonde who has lived as a wandering vampire for five thousand years. It gets tiring hearing her talk about how beautiful she is, and how she knows men love to look at her body. It is also tiring as she lists endless super-human traits she owns that make her invincible. Pike seems like he just couldn't stop listing abilities. His writing is flawed in places.

What makes this story interesting is that Pike has removed the setting from Transylvania to a place no one associates with vampires - India. And he works in Krishna as a character. You know - the blue dude with the flute whom Hare Krishas worship.

I will read the rest of the series, but Pike has failed in creating a heroine that readers can relate to and root for. I get tired of all the men eating out of her hand.