If anyone knows me, they'll know that I love a good vampire story. Way back when Buffy the Vampire Slayer was on, I was a huge fan, even, dare I say it, seeing the original 1980something movie sans Sarah Michelle Gellar, which is horribly entertaining. I mean that literally with emphasis on the horrible. Anyway, I figured that the Casts' book series would be fun to read when I got around to it. After taking a hiatus from vampire novels to read anything different from the main stream for a while, I checked this one out of the library a few weeks ago and decided to give it a try.
Now, I'm writing this without having finished the book, so take this with a grain of salt if you will, but I don't think I can stomach much more. First of all, I'm half way through and though this is supposed to be a vampire novel, nothing "vampirey" has happened. See here, I am all for bending the rules when it comes to putting a new twist on things, but this novel seems more interested in making them to be witchy-type creatures than vampires. They study powers and worship goddesses. I'm sorry, but my interest gets cut very short when you bring in goddesses unless you are purposely writing a mythological story.
So far I've discovered that in the Casts' world, vampires have weird tattoos on their faces, get marked (hence the name), worship goddesses, control the elements. Sorry, but I'm an old fashioned, vampires suck blood and have superhuman strength and speed kind of girl. Vampire rules that can be bent in my book are sunlight and crosses. (See Twilight).
There's not much more to say about it since I haven't finished the book, and I will finish. Even when I hate a book, I have to finish it just to see if there is any redemptive value. Maybe I'm just too picky about archetypes, but I just can't get into anything new agey- goddess worshipping- or mediums. When I read something like that, my spirit goes, "Oh no you don't, sister! That's not the way it should be. You're telling it all wrong."
You may disagree, and that's o.k.. But I'll tell you this: I won't be reading any more of this series. that's for sure.
PS. When I say mythological story, I mean referencing the ancient Greek gods and goddesses. (ie, Percy Jackson.)I realize that vampires are mythological creatures, but you get the picture.
ReplyDeleteI finally finished the book last night. It did pick up a bit toward the end, but I still can't get over my aversion toward goddesses. It just doesn't do it for me. At least there was an interesting conflict by 3/4 of the way through, and leaving the novel with a bit of a question will make readers want to continue the series. Well, most readers, except for me. I think I'll move on to something new.
ReplyDeleteI started this book last week. I am only on
ReplyDeleteChapter 5. It's pretty sad. Usually I am done with books within like two days. Yeah not this one. I agree with the whole goddess thingy. I'm not a big fan. I will finish the book, but it's hard for me to be able to pick it up and read it when there is nothing that I really like about it.
My mom read the whole series, and she said that the books get better. I got the series for Christmas and it has taken me three months to be able to pick it up and read it. I agree with you.