Review: Blood Feud by Alyxandra Harvey *no spoilers*

Blood Feud

by Alyxandra Harvey

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Release Date: June 22, 2010
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: Library Check-Out
Rating: Sud-Kissed
Related Review(s): Hearts at Stake
Good for 2nds Challenge
About the Book:

(highlight to read)

It's been centuries since Isabeau St. Croix barely survived the French Revolution. Now she's made her way back to the living and she must face the ultimate test by confronting the evil British lord who left her for dead the day she turned into a vampire. That's if she can control her affection for Logan Drake, a vampire whose bite is as sweet as the revenge she seeks.

The clans are gathering for Helena's royal coronation as the next vampire queen, and new alliances are beginning to form now that the old rifts of Lady Natasha's reign have started to heal. But with a new common enemy, Leander Montmarte--a vicious leader who hopes to force Solange to marry him and usurp the power of the throne for himself--the clans must stand together to preserve the peace he threatens to destroy.

This second adventure in the Drake Chronicles--told from both Logan's and Isabeau's perspectives--has all the same butt-kicking action, heart-pounding romances and snarky humor that readers loved in Hearts at Stake, as well as exciting new revelations about the vampire dynasties to keep readers coming back for more.

If Isabeau St. Croix had known it was going to be her last Christmas Eve, she would have had third helping of plum pudding...

Hearts at Stake, the first book in the Drake Chronicles, didn't do as much for me as this book. Even so, somehow the writing and characters of this series is addictive. This time, however, Harvey writes way better in this second book. I think I ended up liking this book way more because it's focused on one of the Drake brothers as opposed to Solange. When I first read about the brothers, Logan was probably my favorite, so it was awesome reading about his romance in this book!

But Logan isn't the only who stole the show for me. Isabeau St. Croix is a kick-ass female protagonist. In Hearts at Stake, readers were given only a glimpse of the Cwn Mamau or the Hounds tribe of vampires, and while I was intrigued by the concept of them, I had no idea what they were like. In Blood Feud there's no need to wonder anymore because Isabeau is one of them and Harvey fed me wonderful insight into these remarkable vampires.

Isabeau's history also kept me firmly entrenched in the happenings of the story. While at times her flashbacks into the past seemed tedious, there were moments where I found myself sickened and horrified. Isabeau lived during the French Revolution and survived, but without escaping some seriously haunting and terrible memories that instantly forged a connection to her character. The injustice against her parents was enough of a motive to cry. I don't think I would've come out anywhere near as strong or whole after the heart-wrenching events of her past. And Harvey does a magnificent job in captivating the time period and unfolds said events beautifully for her readers.

It's been almost a year since I started this series and yet it was incredibly easy to immerse myself into the story. Like I'd just read the first book days ago instead of months ago. With a solid, immersive plot, dual first person POVs (which I LOVED, because I really got inside both Logan and Isabeau's heads), an enamoring heroine, a charming hero, and a slew of other characters new and old that forced me to stay absorbed in the story, Blood Feud is a much better written sequel, and ten times more of a fascinating read!

If Out for Blood is anything like Blood Feud, expect to see another exuberant review tomorrow!

Those delightful moments during your bubble bath, with a book companion in one hand and a glass of chocolate milk in the other, are the best way to describe the luxurious feelings that Sud-Kissed books create. These books can sometimes be even more rereadable than Special Shelf books... (My Rating System In-Depth)

"THE DOGS HAVE NEVER MET A HOUND BEFORE," HE SAID AWKWARDLY. EVEN WITH MY LIMITED KNOWLEDGE OF HIM, I KNEW FOR A FACT THAT HE WASN'T OFTEN AWKWARD. IT WAS ENDEARING, MORE SO THAN HIS CHARMING SMILES.
I CLIMBED THE STAIRS CONFIDENTLY. DOGS DIDN'T HIDE THEIR MOODS, DIDN'T PLAY GAMES OF MANNERS OR INTRIGUE. LOGAN'S HAND WAS ON THE DOORKNOB. "THERE'S NO NEED TO WORRY," I ASSURED HIM.
I FELT BETTER WITH THREE HUGE SHAGGY BOUVIERS CHARGING AT ME. IF BENOIT WERE ALIVE, HE'D HAVE CLICKED HIS TONGUE AT THAT. I DIDN'T SPEAK TO THE DOGS, BARELY FLICKED THEM A GLANCE. I JUST STOOD MY GROUND AND LET THEM SNIFF ME ONCE BEFORE I SNAPPED MY FINGERS AND POINTED TO THE GROUND. THREE FURRY BACKSIDES HIT THE MARBLE FLOOR.
LOGAN GAPED AT ME. "DUDE." (31)

"YOU'RE DIFFERENT THAN YOUR BROTHERS," ISABEAU INSISTED. "THEY DON'T LIVE IT THE WAY YOU DO. I COULD TELL RIGHT AWAY."
"YOU NOTICED ALL THAT IN THE FEW HOURS YOU SAW THEM?" AND I ABSOLUTELY WASN'T GOING TO WONDER WHO SHE'D THOUGHT WAS THE CUTEST. QUINN HAD A WAY AROUND GIRLS, AND IT MADE THEM STUPID. I SUDDENLY WANTED TO PUNCH HIM FOR IT.
"NO, IT'S KIND OF NICE," SHE MURMURED, AND SUDDENLY QUINN'S FACE WAS SAFE FROM MY FIST. "IT'S LIKE THE BOYS i KNEW IN FRANCE."
I WASN'T ENTIRELY THRILLED WITH THE WORD "BOY."
"I DIDN'T KNOW I MISSED IT," SHE CONTINUED, AS IF SURPRISING HERSELF.
I'D NEVER WANTED ANYTHING MORE THAN I WANTED TO KISS HER. I WANTED IT MORE THAN I LUSTED AFTER CHRISTINA RICCI IN SLEEPY HOLLOW. AND I'M ALL ABOUT THE GIRLS IN CORSETS. ISABEAU'S LONG, THICK BLACK HAIR, STRAIGHT AS THE WATERFALL IN THE CAVES UNDERNEATH US, HER GREEN EYES AND SCARRED ARMS AND VICIOUS PARRY WITH A SWORD. HOT. EVERY LAST BIT OF HER.
I DECIDED TO TAKE MY OWN LIFE IN MY HANDS AND I LEANED IN SLOWLY... (150)

Review: Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey

Hearts At Stake (Drake Chronicles, Book 1) 

Author: Alyxandra Harvey (@ LJ/Website) 
Release Date:  12/22/09
Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers
Age Group: Young Adult (14+)
Source: Local Public Library
Go Buy It! Amazon/Barnes&Noble/BookDepository
Overall Feelings:  Pleasing!

"Solange Drake always knew she was destined to become a vampire queen. And as the only female vampire ever born, not made, she is surrounded by danger on all sides--from vampire suitors who want to join with her lineage to bounty hunters who are set on destroying her and her family. When she is kidnapped, it's up to her older brother Nicholas and her human best friend, Lucy, to save her. But can Lucy save herself from Nicholas, who tempts her with his every look? And what will be Solange's own fate if she surrenders her heart to the vampire hunter helping her survive the deadly intrigue at the royal court?

Let the Drake family be your guide into a secret vampire society full of epic battles, gothic seduction, undead drama, and wicked humor."

Plot & Ending: Translation to the above: Solange is a walking human/vampire target, pulling toward her vampires and humans alike from all sides. She hardly gets a moment of peace. Being that she's the first born female vampire, she is special...and wanted dead by anybody who deems her a threat. Talk about danger, huh?

I liked it. This book, I mean. Not enough to make me want to eagerly pursue the series, but there was a pretty good plot behind the whole story. Throughout the entire book, it's assumed that Solange is after the throne, where vampire society's unofficial queen sits. Then, there's the vampire hunters working to kidnap her, as well as kill her family. One particular suitor is after Solange's hand, and it would seem that he refuses to take 'no' for an answer. Not to mention he's a pretty powerful dude, like way up in the vampire hierarchy. 

I really liked learning about the Drake family, all their quirks, and how they are as vampires. The clan is made up of ten immediate family members, and it's funny to watch how overprotective they are of Solange. Each of Solange's brothers are absolutely gorgeous, fairly funny, and somewhat tempramental.

I'm gonna be honest. I really went out of my way to read this book because of Nicholas and Lucy. Lucy is Solange's long-time best friend and Nicholas is one of Solange's brothers. I loved watching them go at each other's throats, while fighting the attraction humming between them. There are some pretty steamy scenes between the two of them, let me tell you. They're my favorite aspect of the book.

I was actually a little (okay, maybe a lot) confused by the ending. I don't get why the person chosen to become the next vampire queen wasn't who I expected. I mean, where could you possibly take the novel with that twist? And I don't get why Kieran, Solange's love interest and vampire hunter, kept away from her for so long, then, out of the blue, he shows up again. On top of that, I got the feeling of being rushed. I very much dislike that. While I don't like a slow ending either, I like it to be thorough so that I can really enjoy the moment. I didn't get that this time. So, that disappointed me.

Other than that, I thought it was a nice, decent read. Not blow-your-brains out awesome, but still good. I recommend reading this one, and who knows you may just turn out to like it better than I did. 

Characters: Like I said, I loved Lucy and Nicholas's characters. Lucy is extremely sassy and witty throughout the novel. Nicholas has a sort of wicked humor and immense sarcasm. The two of them together...you'll be hooked. Solange, the girl the story revolves around, didn't really stand out to me. She didn't intrigue me at all. There was nothing unique about her personality, though I did love reading about her and Kieran and their growing relationship (but, I think that's just the romantic in me). All the of the characters are really well-developed, but nothing about them is exactly memorable or deep.

"'Were you scared during your bloodchange?' [Nicholas] stilled.'Yes...' 'What got you through?' I whispered. 'Do you remember?' He nodded but wouldn't look at me. When he didn't elaborate, I turned to face him. 'What? Is it a secret? Don't I know all the deep dark Drake secrets by now?' He shifted uncomfortably. 'I guess.' 'What then?' 'You.' I swallowed, stunned. 'Me?' 'Yeah.' He stood up and went to the door, where he paused for the barest second. 'You got me through.'" --Lucy and Nicholas (104-105)

"Nicholas rolled toward me, landing at my elbow. His eyes were fierce. He grabbed my chin and kissed me hard. It was over before I had time to react. 'Stay down,' he ordered. 'Duh,' I shot back, and returned the kiss, just as quick and just as hard before he dove away to gather stakes from a sleeping guard. He rose from a crouch and threw them like deadly confetti." --Lucy and Nicholas (236-237)

"I was trying to drag myself over the bier, but Kieran was already slicing a shallow cut across his forearm. He held it to Solange's mouth, urging her to drink, whispering. 'Drink,' he begged her. 'I can't lose you now, not after all this. Drink, damn it.' For some reason, the way he spoke to her, gently and desperately, had tears burning on my cheeks." --Lucy (244-245)

Cover: The cover features Solange, I believe. It's okay. Not my cup of tea. It doesn't scream "Read me!" when I look at it. Though I do like the font of the title, the way it sort of looks like dripping blood. That's pretty neat. And does anybody like the way Harvey spells her first name: Alyxandra? I do.