Review: These Vamps Don't Sparkle, they Bite
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 10 8, 2012
Oh my gosh, this was an amazing book. I cycle through so many different genres, and while I do like the YA "Sparkly" vampires I was getting bored with that and really wanted something different. And wow, does Beck ever deliver. The synopsis had me ready to have the terror begin immediately, but it doesn't which causes the suspense to build. I'm one of those people who love suspenseful movies and books way more than horror, because the suspense captures me in a way that blood and guts doesn't. Not that this doesn't have its gory scenes!!Emma is finishing up her last year in college before starting on her Master's degree. As she's frantically racing across campus to turn in her final paper she, and we the readers, notice that things aren't quite right but nothing is jumping out at her. Her roommate tells a tale about being at a nightclub the night before and noticing people that didn't fit it, and suddenly she feels an overwhelming sense of terror. However, still nothing gory or horrific is revealed. It takes about 1/4 of the book until Emma encounters vampires; and these vamps definitely don't sparkle in the sun or feed off of animals unless humans are now counted as animals. By this point, I was so creeped out from the mounting tension that Beck artfully weaves that I actually closed my bedroom window!!  This is coming from a girl who doesn't get freaked out by much, but the suspension had built to the point where the hairs on my neck were standing up.  Emma still doesn't realize what's truly going on until she meets up with a band of survivors after arriving in LA. Then the truth comes out, and life as she knows it ceases to exist.The survivors band together trying to take out as many vampires as they can while staying alive. Beck does a great job with all of his characters. I loved Emma, but found that I could relate to most all of them in various ways. I loved Schizo, he was a great addition to the book-not to mention the Jesus "chew toy"!  The twists and turns this book takes are amazing. I loved the conspiracy plot (it's amazing how arrogant and stupid mankind can be), and for those of you who don't know what I'm referencing you're going to have to buy the book!!! Trust me, it's well worth the time and money.Beck has a true talent for telling a great story, developing his characters, and weaving the suspense and horror together so that it takes all of your willpower to simply sit back and enjoy the book instead of rushing to the end to see what happens. I was given a free copy of this book for an honest review. Also, I'm not one to give lots of 5 star reviews so when I say this is a 4.5 it was truly that good, and yes I did round up to 5 stars!I hope he continues to write these types of book, and maybe even has a 2nd one coming along on the heels of this winner.