Review: Imaginative and captivating - a must for vampire fans
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 04 5, 2014
As part of Alina Popescu’s Blog Tour for celebrating the release of her new novel "The Edge of Hope", I had the chance to read the book – and am I ever glad that I did!I am a huge fan of vampires, at least when it comes to books that are well written. As such, I know that the topic can get repetitive. I have to admit that I started reading TEOF with mixed feelings, but I quickly cast all doubts aside and let the story carry me away. The author has managed the difficult mix between keeping some of the traditional framework intact and adding nice little twists. Vampire folklore isn’t exactly re-invented, but Anthony, Louis, Hesrah and the rest aren’t your every-day bloodsuckers either. Without revealing too many spoilers, let me just tell you three things: These vampires have a hierarchy and heritage all of their own. These vampires might seem like humans some of the time, but they prove to have special abilities, too. These vampires are freaking attractive, so beware of some major fangirling. Oh, and did I mention that these vampires don’t sparkle in the sunlight?All that aside, I found more to like about Popescu’s debut novel that is the first instalment of the "Bad Blood Series". Take Alexa, the heroine, for example. She came alive right from the first few sentences and she’s somebody a lot of people could identify with. As a strong-willed woman who has been tossed around by life—and men—and falls into depression sometimes, but hasn’t given up on life, she can teach us a thing or two about how to fight for what we believe in and what we want. Being a writer myself, I found it fascinating that the main character is a writer and that the story circles around another story, namely, her own vampire novel. Clever trick!We get treated to the obligatory bad guy and to the one and only Mr. Right—or should I say, Vampire Right?—for Alexa and there’s quite some chemistry and steam to be enjoyed. As paranormal romance goes, this is a wonderful read. The witty dialogs, the fast-paced action after some introductory chapters and the cliff-hanger ending all work together to create a tight, interesting story that isn’t just any other vampire fiction, but has the potential to stand out. I can’t help it, I keep imaging the book as a TV series or a movie because it is so promising. What an awesome debut that leaves you wanting more—preferably the sequel, right now!P.S.: If you’re a fan of Anne Rice’s "Vampire Chronicles", like me, then there’s a nice surprise waiting for you in "The Edge of Hope".