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Book List: It’s Teen Read Week! Revisiting Amelia Atwater-Rhodes’ Original Den of Shadows Quartet

The Den of Shadows Quartet: In the Forests of the Night (#1), Demon in My View (#2), Shattered Mirror (#3), Midnight Predator (#4) by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

Ember, 2009

ISBN-13: 978-0385738941

Available: Paperback, Kindle edition

 

In the days before Twilight and Harry Potter, and the explosion of paranormal creatures and vampires in YA fiction, fictional vampires were still mostly terrifying, although once Buffy came along, there was also a little romance. Thirteen-year-old Amelia Atwater-Rhodes entered this remarkably different publishing market with something new: even Amazon’s review suggests that teen readers of adult authors like Anne Rice might want to check this out. While L.J. Smith and Annette Curtis Klause had also written YA vampire novels, there’s nothing quite like being a teen reading a good book written by someone your own age, and the Den of Shadows books are very different from either The Vampire Diaries or The Silver Kiss. 

Atwater-Rhodes’ first book, In the Forests of the Night, was followed by three others: Demon in my View, Shattered Mirror, and Midnight Predator,  published in 2002. Monster Librarian reviewed these four books, which were extremely popular at the time, and were all written while she was still in her teens. After these four books, she changed to writing about shapeshifters (the Kiesha’ra series), and, honestly, I lost track of her books. She returned to writing books in the Den of Shadows world in 2008, completing four more: Persistence of Memory, Token of Darkness, All Just Glass, Poison Tree, and Promises to Keep, published in 2013.  She is still writing, has since moved on to write an additional fantasy trilogy (the Maeve’ra series), and has a contract to write for the adult market.

While I haven’t kept up on Atwater-Rhodes’ writing since her first Den of Shadows quartet, it’s pretty cool that she’s kept writing and her books have kept selling! So, for teenage writers everywhere, take heart. It is possible to achieve that dream.

 

Editor’s note: Reviews date from 2005.

 


In the Forests of the Night by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

Laurel Leaf, 2000

ISBN: 0440228166

Available: New and Used

 

In the Forests of the Night is the first in a series of books by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes. She introduces us to Risika, a 300 year old vampire who finds herself in the territory of a rival vampire, Aubrey, who is responsible for killing her family. The book is divided up between the past, when Risika was first turned into a vampire 300 years ago; and the present day, where she must fight Aubrey. When I first started to review young adult horror, author Amelia Atwater-Rhodes’s name came up as a must-read author for teens. Much has been made of the fact that she was 14 when In the Forests of the Night was published. I can see why her books appeal to teen readers, especially reluctant readers. The action moves quickly and the writing style is easy to follow. Adult readers may also enjoy Amelia Atwater-Rhodes’ books. They are quick and addictive little reads, leaving you ready for more. In The Forests of the Night is a core title for young adult collections. Sequels include Demon in My View, Shattered Mirror, and Midnight Predator.

Contains: vampire violence, bloodletting.

 

Demon In My View by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

Delacorte Press, 2000

ISBN: 038532720X

Available: New and Used.

 

Demon in My View is set in a world developed by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes where vampires exist, prey upon humans, and are hunted by witches. In this installment we are introduced to Jessica, a teen who is a social outcast, who has written a popular book about vampires and witches under a pen name. After the book is published two new students appear at her school: Caryn, who seems to go out of her way to befriend Jessica, and Alex, a teen who resembles the villainous vampire in her book. Demon In My View is a well-written book that will appeal to those who like the Buffy the Vampire Slayer books. It could have just as easily ended up in the paranormal romance category, but the vampires in this series are more predatory creature. I would recommend this book for those looking for additional vampire fiction. A core book in young adult vampire horror.

Contains: Violent fight sequence, blood sucking.

 

Shattered Mirror by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

Laurel Leaf, 2003

ISBN: 0440229405

Available: New and Used.

 

Shattered Mirror  is the third book in Atwater-Rhodes’ world of vampires and witches. This time around the story is about teen vampire hunter Sarah Vida, who starts off believing all vampires should be destroyed. However, when two vampires, Nissa and Christopher, arrive at her school, she finds herself befriending them. She discovers that vampires are more than the simple killing machines her in which her mother has raised her to believe. An underlying story involves Sarah’s hunt for one of the most notorious vampires around, Nikolas. Another solid entry for the readers of vampire fiction. Atwater-Rhodes is a gifted story teller and doesn’t disappoint with this book. Another core book for the vampire collection.

Contains: Violence and blood sucking and letting,

Midnight Predator by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

Delacorte Books, May, 2002

ISBN: 0385327943.

Available: New and Used

 

The fourth installment in Atwater-Rhodes’ series introduces two vampire hunters from a group called Crimson. Turquoise Drakaour and her rival, Raven, are hired to assassinate Jeshikah, a vampiress who has created a place called Midnight, where human beings are enslaved and broken for the use of vampires. Once a young girl captured by the vampires, Turquoise must deal with her tormented past and face her old vampire master in order to complete her mission.

Although this book follows the general formula that Atwater-Rhodes has used in her other books, its descriptions of abusive behavior toward the main character give it a darker tone. This difference makes it hard to reconcile the story with the universe she has created, so it is more difficult to escape into the world of the book. Fans of Atwater-Rhodes will probably enjoy this title, but it is not recommended as an introduction to her books. Other books in the series include  In the Forests of the Night, Demon in My View and Shattered Mirror.

Contains: descriptions of physical and psychological abus

 

Reviewed by Dylan Kowalewski

 

Book Review: Buffy: The High School Years: Parental Parasite by Kel McDonald, art by Yishan Li

Buffy: The High School Years: Parental Parasite by Kel McDonald, art by Yishan Li

Dark Horse Comics, 2017

ISBN: 9781506703046

Available: print, Kindle, and comiXology ebook

Into every generation, a slayer is born: one girl in all the world, a chosen one.

So begins the story of Buffy, Angel, Giles, Willow, and Xander chasing down a demon who possesses adults, driving them to only take care of it. The demon takes the form of an adorable young child, but it as we all know with demons in the Buffy-verse, it is anything but. At the same time, Buffy and her mother are struggling with their own mother-daughter relationship. Joyce wants to spend more time with Buffy, but the Slayer heeds the never-ending call to protect Sunnydale. However, when Joyce becomes hypnotized by the child demon, Buffy faces a new kind of battle—one to save her mother from the clutches of evil. Can Buffy and Scoobies defeat the demon before it kills Joyce?

This book is set during season 1 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and is the third installment of the Buffy the High School Years series. The artwork is great and very manga-ish. This is definitely a good supplemental YA title if you’re introducing your kids to the Buffy-verse. The relationship between Buffy and Joyce is depicted as strained, but they clearly love each other. Buffy’s devotion to her Slayer responsibilities is obsessive, which I seem to remember her desire to protect overrode her need for education or familial duties to her mother in the television series. Frankly, it made me want to revisit the series. Admittedly it has been quite some time since I’ve seen it. Pick this one up if you want to explore content set in the early years of the Slayer! You won’t be disappointed. Highly recommended for die-hard Buffy fans and newbies alike.

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker

 

Book List: Doubles and Doppelgangers

Our shadows may seem insubstantial, but their reach is long, and they are always with us (except for the one in Andersen’s “The Shadow“. Our reflections may not reveal what we hope for: sometimes, as with the hobgoblin’s mirror in Andersen’s “The Snow Queen”, beauty is distorted into ugliness. It’s no wonder that it is unsettling to discover a shadow self– either a nearly perfect double, or a dark half (or sometimes both).  They’re everywhere in literature, from Shakespeare to Shelley. The next time you’re feeling lonely, try one of these out.

 

Weep No More, My Lady by Mary Higgins Clark

This suspenseful mystery centers on Elizabeth Lange, whose sister, the famous actress Leila LaSalle, was recently murdered. Leila’s fiance, wealthy businessman Ted Winters, is on trial for her murder, and Elizabeth will soon testify at his trial. Despite this, Elizabeth accepts an invitation from Ted to spend several days at a luxury spa in California, where she discovers that Ted is not the only one with a motive for murder. While there’s no physical double for either of the main characters, an unexpected similarity is key to the mystery.

 

An Artificial Night by Seanan McGuire

This is the third book in Seanan McGuire’s October Daye urban fantasy series, which presents a world where Faerie and contemporary human society intersect. October is a changeling, with a background as a private detective, and she does a great job at getting herself into deadly situations. In this book, her Fetch, an exact double named May Daye, appears. Typically, a Fetch is an omen of death,and naturally, it’s disconcerting to have an omen of death following you around,  but May becomes an entertaining and well-developed character. Since there are additional books, I don’t think it’s much of a spoiler to say that October survives the book and May follows her into the next one. McGuire also does a fabulous job writing about doubles and reflections in the two books Indexing and Indexing: Reflections.

 


The Second Lady by Irving Wallace

I first read this political thriller in middle school in the 1980s, and it was slightly more plausible then. It’s a little dated now, but still holds up well, so long as you remember that it does, in fact, take place in the early 1980’s (the most recent president mentioned is Carter) and has absolutely no connection to reality. The premise is that a Soviet intelligence agent discovers an actress, Vera Vavilova, who is almost a perfect physical double of the American First Lady, Billie Bradford. He trains Vera to be a perfect double in every way, good enough to step right into Billie’s shoes at a sensitive time in negotiations between America and the U.S.S.R.  The plot is clunky, but the idea is pretty awesome, and the conclusion is chilling to think about.

 

Stranger With My Face by Lois Duncan

In this YA title, Laurie, who has morphed into a lovely teenage girl over the summer, discovers she is adopted and has a twin who she can reach through astral projection. Of course, no good can come from this. It is creepy as all get out, and if you ever wished for a twin, you won’t do it again after you finish this book.

 


Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Our nameless narrator describes how wealthy widower Maximilian de Winter swept her away from her cares, married her, and took her to his estate, Manderley, leaving her to the tender mercies of the hostile housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers. Mrs. Danvers clearly worshipped Maxim’s first wife, Rebecca, and there is great mystique about her, and mystery about her untimely demise. As her insecurities about her marriage grow, the second Mrs. de Winter becomes increasingly obsessed with Rebecca.

 

The Dark Half by Stephen King

The Dark Half is almost semi-autobiographical. Just about the time it was published, King announced he was retiring his pseudonym, Richard Bachman. In the book, writer Thad Beaumont has been successfully writing gory thrillers under the pseudonym George Stark. When Beaumont decides to kill off George Stark, he does not go gently. Instead, he comes fully to life, and goes on a murderous rampage. This isn’t King’s best book, but it is memorable, and a heck of a story.

 

Dopplegangster by Laura Resnick

This is the second book in the Esther Diamond urban fantasy series (I recommend starting with Disappearing Nightly, the first one). Esther is a different kind of urban fantasy protagonist: she’s an aspiring actress who waitresses part-time at a mob-owned restaurant, hangs out with an ancient magician named Max and a retired wiseguy named Lucky, and she might be involved with the policeman in charge of the Organized Crime Unit. More of an entertainer than a badass, somehow she always ends up entangled in supernatural events. In Doppelgangster, Esther witnesses the murder of a mobster just after an exact double appears in the restaurant she is working in. As more doubles pop up, followed by murders of the originals, Esther and her friends search for the solution to the crimes, ending up in absurd situations along the way. For humor, mystery, and the paranormal, with a touch of romance, you can’t go wrong.

 


The Willow Files, vol. 2 by Yvonne Navarro

This out-of-print book focuses on episodes from the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer that put an emphasis on the character of Willow, and includes the novelization of Doppelgangland, where Willow meets her doppelganger, identical in appearance, but from an alternate dimension in which she is a bored, charismatic, and very evil vampire.

 

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

You can’t go wrong with a classic. Dr. Henry Jekyll experiments on himself with a potion that is supposed to divide him into “good” and “evil” individuals temporarily. Unsurprisingly, Mr. Hyde, his dark and unexpectedly violent alter ego, has no intention of reintegrating with Dr. Jekyll.

 

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Don’t write this off because it has achieved the status of a classic: it is absolutely chilling. Dorian Gray is a young man, angelic in appearance, with an excess of charisma. He’s also selfish and manipulative. An artist in love with Dorian paints an extraordinary portrait of him, which turns out to possess an unsettling quality: it takes on the evidence of age and the ugliness that would otherwise appear in his face, leaving him looking forever young and handsome as he commits more and more unspeakable acts. The portrait, however, becomes a hideous reflection of his true self.

 


Coraline by Neil Gaiman

In this extremely creepy children’s book, Coraline has just moved into a new house with parents that more or less ignore her, and bizarre neighbors nearby. As she explores the house, she finds a door in the wall that leads her to the family of her dreams. They’re almost like her parents, except they’re attentive and loving, and oh yes, they have buttons for eyes. Obviously, no good can come from this. I’m just going to say that the Other Mother, with her button eyes, has always creeped me out– so much so that I had to hide my daughter’s Lalaloopsy doll.