Review: Vapid
Rating: 1 out of 5
Date: 09 28, 2013
This is a comic paranormal written in the first person, with a kick-ass female main character.  So far pretty standard, right?  But the author goes badly wrong almost from the get-go, giving us only the sketchiest characterizations: Astrid is "very intelligent" has a "150 IQ" and is obsessed with Prada.  And how does she demonstrate those fascinating character traits?  By failing to ask important questions; by stumbling into wrong assumptions and dangerous situations over and over; by being an emotionally-wrecked puppet for her mother, despite the fact that her mother has emotionally abused her for her entire life; and by describing outfits ad nauseum.  Other characters are just foils for the oh-so-complex Astrid.Then there's the "uproariously witty" part:  a swearing angel -- because the word 'f-ing' is just so funny -- and a hyper-masculine fairy who loves to run around nude.  I totally get the wit there, don't you?Finally there's the writing.  While it's both grammatical and correctly spelled (sadly this is a definite positive in today's world of editor-less books), it lacks any logic.  Astrid is turned into a vampyre (sic) for reasons that are unexplained, is mentored by an angel and a fairy for reasons that are unexplained, has a lifelong best friend who is suddenly revealed to be "more than mortal" for reasons that are unexplained, is trained to join a vampyre house in ways that are unexplained, is constantly trying to get love from her mother for reasons that are unexplained, and on and on.If you want a good comic paranormal try Darynda Jones (whose "uproariously witty" comment is surely a lie) or Debra Dunbar.  This book isn't worth your time.