Review: A Refreshing Take on Vampires!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 30, 2012
It's needless to say that it definitely wasn't what I expected, otherwise I wouldn't have gave it a rating of 4. Although the vampires are quite stunning (and maybe sparkly), they definitely weren't passive. They were vicious, had lots of emotions, and were definitely fighters.Let's start off with the heroine, Leah. By all means, she should have been a character I hated. She was pretty stubborn, let her desires overwhelm her, and, let's face it, didn't do much during the first half of the book but make out and lust for Max. But again, I didn't hate her. She's definitely a flawed and confused character. On one hand, she's controlled by the unreconcilable desire to attack humans in order to satisfy her hunger. On the other hand, she doesn't want to kill them or be seen as a monster. Of course, she's already realized she's a monster, and there's nothing she can do to stop it. It's kind of like reading a book about a drug addict. They definitely want to stop, but they aren't capable of doing so. Nevertheless, they have to try, and sometimes, their efforts are utterly heartbreaking.This wasn't exactly Leah's scenario, but it definitely held some similarities. She shows remorse whenever she drinks, sometimes even breaking down and running away from the coven. Her emotion was very strong, and definitely seemed real. The author was able to show many sides of her throughout the story, and I was definitely able to connect to her. Eventually, she does grow stronger, and I liked seeing her journey in order to become a better person.I also liked the author's portrayal on vampires. As I mentioned before, based on the past vampire books I've read (which, I admit, is limited to three novels, all of which I didn't enjoy), my picture of vampires is less than perfect. By portraying them as less-than-perfect, even as criminals, I definitely had a wake-up call. This filled the plot with suspense, some intense romance, and a lot of intrigue on my part. Moreover, I liked how the author also featured the Brotherhood's POV, which gave me an insight to the supposed antagonists, as well as another perspective on the immortals. This eventually tangles itself into the plot line in an interesting way, but also developing the characters in an original way!My only complaint is regarding Leah & Max's relationship, which definitely shows signs of insta-love. I get that Leah had a lust filled, intense desire for passion and warmth, but it seems a little unrealistic that Max would go from a die-hard, loyal family member of the coven, to willing to do anything for Leah, even if it means betraying the coven, in a couple of weeks. However, Max is still another interesting character that's willing to make a lot of sacrifices, so I would say that The Fire of Dawn is still worth the read!Overall, The Fire of Dawn is a refreshing read with a more original take on vampires, and definitely worth your time! I would recommend this to people who may have given up on the vampire sub-genre of PNR / UF - The Fire of Dawn definitely presents a new take and a realm of possibilities for those previously extra-sparkly creatures.