Infinite Days (Vampire Queen #1)
Rebecca Maizel
Paperback, 310 pages
St. Martin's Griffin
August 3, 2010
isbn: 0312649916
isbn13: 9780312649913
Lenah Beaudonte is, in many ways, your average teen: the new girl at Wickham Boarding School, she struggles to fit in enough to survive and stand out enough to catch the eye of the golden-boy lacrosse captain. But Lenah also just happens to be a recovering five-hundred-year-old vampire queen. After centuries of terrorizing Europe, Lenah is able to realize the dream all vampires have -- to be human again. After performing a dangerous ritual to restore her humanity, Lenah entered a century-long hibernation, leaving behind the wicked coven she ruled over and the eternal love who has helped grant her deep-seated wish.
Until, that is, Lenah draws her first natural breath in centuries at Wickham and rediscovers a human life that bears little resemblance to the one she had known. As if suddenly becoming a teenager weren’t stressful enough, each passing hour brings Lenah closer to the moment when her abandoned coven will open the crypt where she should be sleeping and find her gone. As her borrowed days slip by, Lenah resolves to live her newfound life as fully as she can. But, to do so, she must answer ominous questions: Can an ex-vampire survive in an alien time and place? What can Lenah do to protect her new friends from the bloodthirsty menace about to descend upon them? And how is she ever going to pass her biology midterm?
Ahh, back to my wonderful vampire stories! … Sort of. This time around with Infinite Days, it’s a vampire-turned-human story in which we follow the main character, Lenah, as she breathes her first breath as a sixteen-year-old human in the 21st century. After her awakening, Lenah learns that Rhode (her vampire lover/soul mate) had to sacrifice himself in order for her to have her one wish granted - to be human again after 500+ years of reigning terror as a vicious vampire queen. Left on her own, Lenah must learn how to blend into her new school in America, Wickham. Not only does she have to teach herself how to be human again, but she also has to worry about her old coven coming to find her.
I really loved this story. I thought it was a new take on the cliché teen vampire story. I did have to do a double take on how Lenah learned things so quickly - but, it’s not as if her mind has been completely erased, it’s more like learning to adapt from old ways to new ones. The romance between Lenah and Justin was fun to watch from the beginning encounter to the time that they actually ended up getting together. I kind of felt a little stab in my heart for Rhode, though. It just seemed like Lenah never really loved him the way that he loved her. He sacrificed a lot for her, and I don’t feel like he was treated fairly. But, that’s just one girl’s opinion.
My heart also ached for Tony. I thought he was a wonderful best friend, but I don’t think he would have made a good love interest for Lenah - even though he did confess he was in love with her. I’m glad there was a resolution between them soon after the awkwardness, though they didn’t get much time after to explore their friendship more. Even the other characters, particularly the Three-Piece, I didn’t find annoying at all - which was surprising, considering I thought I would at the beginning.
The writing was great - even the parts where it skipped from present to past and back again, it was easy to switch with the story and keep up. I loved all of the character interactions. I think my favorite parts were the flashbacks … and I’m pretty sure I’d be happy with just a book about Lenah as a vampire and her many adventures. I read the book in one sitting and was pretty satisfied with the ending. I did have a OMG-I-knew-something-like-that-was-going-to-happen moment and that moment made me happy.
The preview of the second book at the end of this novel was also the perfect little teaser to keep you longing for more. I can’t wait for the next book!
I really loved this story. I thought it was a new take on the cliché teen vampire story. I did have to do a double take on how Lenah learned things so quickly - but, it’s not as if her mind has been completely erased, it’s more like learning to adapt from old ways to new ones. The romance between Lenah and Justin was fun to watch from the beginning encounter to the time that they actually ended up getting together. I kind of felt a little stab in my heart for Rhode, though. It just seemed like Lenah never really loved him the way that he loved her. He sacrificed a lot for her, and I don’t feel like he was treated fairly. But, that’s just one girl’s opinion.
My heart also ached for Tony. I thought he was a wonderful best friend, but I don’t think he would have made a good love interest for Lenah - even though he did confess he was in love with her. I’m glad there was a resolution between them soon after the awkwardness, though they didn’t get much time after to explore their friendship more. Even the other characters, particularly the Three-Piece, I didn’t find annoying at all - which was surprising, considering I thought I would at the beginning.
The writing was great - even the parts where it skipped from present to past and back again, it was easy to switch with the story and keep up. I loved all of the character interactions. I think my favorite parts were the flashbacks … and I’m pretty sure I’d be happy with just a book about Lenah as a vampire and her many adventures. I read the book in one sitting and was pretty satisfied with the ending. I did have a OMG-I-knew-something-like-that-was-going-to-happen moment and that moment made me happy.
The preview of the second book at the end of this novel was also the perfect little teaser to keep you longing for more. I can’t wait for the next book!
Source: SFBR
Avg Rating: 4.0
4 comments:
I loved this book! What I really like was the sacrifice Rhode did for Lenah. Right then and there I totally fell in love with him. This is a great book and I look forward to the next one. Nice review :)
I got your comment, but my son deleted it!!! I didn't even finished reading it before he put his little fingers on the trash button. Sorry!
LOL! I though the teaser was great. It made me super excited for the next book. I am hoping that Rhode is alive. But I can imagine that if he is, he probably be upset. All that sacrifice for nothing. He told her to stay away, he gave her time. I guess well just have to see.
I've read great things about this book, just like you mentioned. I have it on my bookshelf, so what is taking me so long?
Glad you liked it, too!
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