Review: A Sweet Love Story
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 12, 2014
This is a really sweet tale of what can happen when two people let their guards down and take help offered by others.  Arthur is a vampire who has been in Torpor, a deep coma-like sleep, for a thousand years.  He is not just any vampire, however.  He’s one of the Initials – part of the first vampire family, and he hates the fact that he is a vampire.  He awakens to a world he doesn’t understand, and in which almost no one speaks his ancient language.Annalise is fighting leukemia.  During one hospitalization, while getting treatment she couldn’t afford, a doctor who happens to also be a vampire offered to hire her to keep his family up-to-date with current trends and society.  He offered to pay for her cancer treatment and give her a place to live.  She was perfect for his family because her “tainted” blood would not appeal to them.  After getting over the initial shock that vampires actually do exist, she took them up on their offer and settled into a nice life.  Her one stipulation was that she would not agree to be turned vampire when it was her time to die.Gregory, Arthur’s brother, decides he wants Annalise to become Author’s culture teacher.  Because Gregory is an Initial, Annalise’s adopted family cannot refuse (as much as they would like to).  Their only concession was that Annalise would be returned to her family if her health required the care of her doctor/adoptive father.  So, Annalise is whisked off to parts unfamiliar to a house with four powerful vampire brothers, and the one she is supposed to help cannot communicate with her.  After 3 weeks of Arthur having a language teacher, Annalise is left on her own to teach him about modern society.  Good thing he picked up on English quickly!  Things begin slowly, but eventually they begin to enjoy each other’s company.  Unfortunately Annalise’s health is failing, so she is on borrowed time.The growth of Annalise and Arthur’s relationship is a slow progression from wariness to trust, from strangers to friends and perhaps something more.  Arthur is confused by her refusal to heal herself by becoming a vampire, though, and worries that she’ll be gone from his life much too soon.  The complicated relationship between Annalise and one of the vampires in her adopted family adds an interesting twist, as well.  I really enjoyed this story.  Arthur’s confusion about modern society felt genuine, and his reactions to situations aren’t always appropriate because he just doesn’t understand.  Annalise’s enjoyment of his discomfort is good-natured and fun.  My only complaint is that the ending seemed really abrupt.  Things were wrapped up really quickly, with help coming from an unexpected source.  I liked the rest of the story enough that this didn’t deter much from it and I definitely recommend it.