Harper Teen, 2008
ISBN: 0061349178
Available: New and Used
VAMPS is book one in a series about the vampire teens of Bathory Academy, a prestigious night school for the richest and most powerful members of the vampire race. The first book introduces the characters and sets up the overall plot arc but doesn’t have much of a resolution.
Lilith Todd is the “mean popular girl” at Bathory. Unfortunately, she’s also the primary point of view character in most of this book. Snobbish beyond belief, paranoid and utterly unlikeable, she has her whole life planned out, fairy princess style. She even already has her Prince Charming, betrothed to her in a vampiric contract
VAMPS really picked up when the point of view switched to Cally Monture, a half-blood from a much lower tax bracket, and a much more sympathetic character. Cally’s first meeting with Lilith ends in the death of Lilth’s best friend at the hands of vampire hunters. When Cally’s vampire father insists she transfer to Bathory, the rivalry between the two girls flares in classic teen novel style.
Collins delivers the concepts that are most loved in books aimed at teen girls, but with a skill that prevents the characters or story from sputtering into the territory of cliché or “more specialer than thou” syndrome. VAMPS is a solid addition to teen vampire collections, and has the potential to out-dazzle more popular titles like Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series.
Contains: Language, violence
Review by Michele Lee