Infinite Days {ARC review} * * * * 1/2

Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel

08.03.10

- paranormal, YA -

reviewed by Tara SG

received for review via Book It Forward ARC Tours

Book Order (Vampire Queen)

1. Infinite Days * * * * 1/2 (Aug 3, 2010)
2. Stolen Nights (TBA)
3. (TBA)

Links

Author’s Website : www.rebeccamaizel.com

Amazon : pre- order paperback

Add To Your GoodReads TBR List

This book in 6 words:

breath of fresh air in genre

Why did I read this? And am I glad I did?

I’m actually not sure where I first heard of this one. For some reason it wasn’t in my TBR spreadsheet. I did, however, jump at the chance to review the book and am VERY glad I did! Lately it seems that YA vampires are whiny EMO kids… not in this book. The author did not create nice vampires and it worked beautifully. While this didn’t have a ton of action, it did have fabulous character development. I loved this book and cannot wait for the next in the series!

Brief Summary

“Throughout all my histories, I found no one I loved more than you…no one.”

Those were some of Rhode’s last words to me. The last time he would pronounce his love. The last time I would see his face.

It was the first time in 592 years I could take a breath. Lay in the sun. Taste.

Rhode sacrificed himself so I, Lenah Beaudonte, could be human again. So I could stop the blood lust.

I never expected to fall in love with someone else that wasn’t Rhode.

But Justin was…daring. Exciting. More beautiful than I could dream.

I never expected to be sixteen again…then again, I never expected my past to come back and haunt me…

- via Amazon.com

Plot/Pacing/Writing Style

Lenah was not a nice vampire. In fact, she was the evil queen who had done things that would make Edward cry. Her best friend and sometimes lover sacrifices his life so that she could have the chance to live the human life he deprived her of. After being asleep for 100 years, Lenah not only has to learn to be human, but she most learn to fit in with a new world as well. As if that wasn’t enough, her coven will soon be searching for her… I found this plot to be highly unique and intriguing!

The author’s vampire mythology really worked for me. They were black magic based and were constantly overcome with depression and agony. They have no sense of touch and can only smell or taste blood. However, they can still love each other and that leads to both release and added pain.

I thought the pacing was perfect. This wasn’t a fast-paced book, but it did not in any way drag. I LOVED the flashbacks! While a few things were predictable, I did not see the ending coming and am still at odds with the cliff-hanger…

Characters

I think my biggest complaint about this book is that I wish the characters were older. I think if they were even one year older (17 or 18), it would have fit so much better. Lenah is extremely mature which is understandable considering she’s actually over 500 years old. Maybe I’m just too old to want to see 16 year-olds having sex, drinking, and fighting for their lives…

I LOVED Lenah! She is highly intelligent, confident, slightly evil, caring, and complicated. She realizes that the terrible things she did in the past are not part of who she is now and doesn’t mope about them. I really enjoyed watching her learn to enjoy life and hope that since the series is titled “Vampire Queen” it means we’ll see more of her the next books.

Justin was OK. I wanted to care more about him than I did. I can see why Lenah was drawn to him, I just wish he had a little more depth. I think we were starting to see more of it at the end of the book and hope this carries over into the rest of the trilogy.

There were some great supporting characters! Tony, Rhode, Vicken… They were all very well developed and I wonder if part of why Justin never quite touched me is because I was in love with Rhode

Favorite Quotes

EVIL BE HE WHO THINKETH EVIL

Recommendations

If you like YA romance with a paranormal touch, PLEASE read this! I don’t care if you’re sick of vampires, this book will impress you!

Going Deeper – Slight SPOILERS!

I’m still going over the end of this book in my head. I wasn’t shocked that Lenah would do what she did, only that the author had her do it. I really want to talk to someone else who has finished this book about what they think it means for the rest of the series!