Review: A refreshing view on vampires
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 08 19, 2012
Overall:  If you've ever wanted the gritty details of blood lust as a vampire, Fire of Dawn won't disappoint.  The first few chapters really fit the narrative, while the main character, Leah, is overdosing on her new abilities - so are we.  The author doesn't simply tell you the Leah can see better than humans - taste better - hear better - smell better.  She dowses the reader in details making you understand that Leah is definitely a vampire.  I loved how Leah's first human kill is portrayed.  Leah is powerless like an addict to deny herself the blood of a human.  Did I mention that these aren't sparkly vampires?Sunlight doesn't kill them, but it makes them weaker.  They don't sleep in coffins.  They can die from blunt trauma as well as fire.  And several of the characters do die, which is always a plus in my eyes.Characters:  I did have trouble connecting with some of the characters.  I didn't really care if some of them died and I particularly hated the love interest, Max.  I'm not quite sure why, as he was both a good guy to Leah and a blood-thirsty monster to anything with a pulse - so typically my type of guy.  I did enjoy both Adam and Koos, who are part of the Brotherhood. They felt like they had real purpose and personalities.  Adam wants to work with Leah to find a compromise, while Koos thinks that she needs to be destroyed to minimize the threat of the vampires.Plot:  I like how there were no good or evil people, only shades of grey.  The vampires must feed on humans to survive.  The Brotherhood want to protect humans by killing the Vampires.  As Leah is the only child ever born to two vampires, she is more powerful and thus the survival of the vampires is thrusted upon her as soon as her powers are realized.  Things get a little tricky when Elena (one of the vampires) predicts that Leah will destroy the vampires.  Will she?  Well, you'll have to read The Fire of Dawn to find out.Ending:  I'm a little sad by the ending.  I liked the flashback near the end that fleshed out some of the characters, but otherwise it was predictable end to the main plot.  However, I loved that there wasn't some kind of fix-all magic potion or ability that saved a certain character from death.  I adore authors that are willing to sacrifice characters.*I received a copy of this book from a book tour in exchange for my honest review.