Review: Good stuff
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 09 11, 2013
I twiddled between four and five stars because there are some themes I didn't particularly mesh with--like the whole acting thing.  Yeah, I get that people are willing to give up a lot to get a part and the struggle of the main with this issue is done well, but not being the least interested in acting kept me from empathizing with the character right away.  The plot is pretty intense in places and there's some rather graphic violence (there are vamps, after all, and they are a bloodthirsty lot)!  The characters really are drawn well.  I enjoyed a number of the side characters and relationships. The analogies are top-notch: Would you give up your very soul for your dream?  And what if you did?  Who are you without your soul?  Is your soul your dream?These are things I got out of the novel, not stated themes or preached themes.  The author does an amazing job of touching on themes without preaching.  There are some good action scenes, especially for such an ordinary main character.  She's waitressing two jobs, trying to get parts in plays and picking up side jobs to survive.  This is not one of those "She's secretly the chosen one" who will suddenly find her birthright.  She's just an ordinary gal trying to make it and wondering if cheating will make it easier or harder--and if she cheats and makes it, does it still count.The plot flowed, the mystery was decent and the characters were fun.