What Does the Bookworm Say?: The Change-Up - Vampire Academy

Hi and welcome to What Does the Bookworm Say?, a feature that I am doing with my friends The Reader's Antidote, Elegantly Bound Books and The Windy Pages. This week's topic is a recurring one called The Change-Up in which we discuss cover changes. Since the Vampire Academy movie is opening wide this week, we though it would be fun to discuss the recent cover changes. If you want to know what I though of the movie, check out this post. Spoiler - I liked it.

These are the original Vampire Academy series covers.



And these are the new revamped covers.



Let me start this off by saying that I have never really liked the original VA covers. They are really cheesy to me and just scream "I'm an angsty teenage girl!" And I could never tell if the girl on the cover was supposed to be Rose or Lissa. I just knew that she didn't look how I imagined either of them. I was pretty excited when I hear that they were finally going to re-do the covers to coincide with the movie release.

However, when the new covers were revealed, I was less than thrilled. If possible I think the new covers might be even cheesier than the old ones. At least the old covers had a bit of personality. The new ones look super generic with the big VA emblem and then they still use the same random girls on the cover. I really wish they would have take the time to design something new and interesting instead of just another version of the old covers. I mean, they're not terrible, and I kind of like the uniform look to them, but they are very bland. I also find that I am kind of sentimental towards the old covers now. The winner for me in this battle (fake battle) are the original covers. They're old fashioned looking but they have more personality than the new versions.

Bonus: What do you think of the movie tie-in cover for VA?

As movie tie-in covers go, I really like this one. I love the colors and the logo is visible but not crazy huge. If you didn't know that this was made into a movie, you might think it was a regular cover with two cover models on it. Thumbs up from me. I would totally get a copy if I didn't already have a set. 

Those are my thoughts on the new Vampire Academy covers. Let me know what you think below. Love them, hate them, bought them on e-book because they were so bad? And don't forget to visit the other lovely bloggers participating ad well. Have a great weekend!

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Not Really a Movie Review: Vampire Academy

Hi, guys. As you can tell from the title of this post, this is not really a movie review. I wanted to write about the Vampire Academy movie, but I kind of suck at writing movie reviews and it would take forever. I wanted to share with you my feelings while it was still fresh in my mind, so with inspiration from this Buzzfeed list, I am going to list for you the reasons that I recommend seeing the VA movie. I'll preface this by saying that I am a big fan of Richelle Mead and the series, but I really tried to keep my expectations pretty low for the movie since Hollywood has a pretty good track record of producing some really bad YA/MG book to movie adaptations (Percy Jackson, anyone?).  Like many, the marketing for this movie worried me. Glad to say though that I was pleasantly surprised by the film and would definitely watch it again.

Alright, here are my my reasons why you should see the Vampire Academy movie.

1. It is true to the books. 
It's been quite a while since I've read the first Vampire Academy book but I didn't notice any huge omissions or changes. I was a little bit sad that Adrian didn't make an appearance though. Pretty sure he doesn't really show up until book 2 in the series as well, but I would have loved to have had an Adrian cameo.

2. Zoey Deutch as Rose
I was a little skeptical when Deutch was cast as Rose. I think in my head, there was no one who was going to be able to play and be good enough. But Detuch really throws herself into the role (literally at times) and I think she really captured the fierce, badass Rose that we all love and still manages to act like a teenager. I may have a girl crush on Zoey (just a small one).

3. The fight scenes
There were a few instances where the fighting was a bit over the top (my friend could not stop laughing at the head butting scene) but, for the most part, I really enjoyed the fighting choreography. I loved the brief glimpse we got of the training ground with the obstacle course and wish we could have seen more of it. (Note that I would love to see a training montage in the next film, if there is one. There's just something about training montages that are just so entertaining and make you feel like you should go out and run  a mile. Not that I do.) It's also clear that Deutch is doing a lot of the actual fighting herself and I give her props for doing it.

4. The friendship between Lissa and Rose.
I am so glad that the movie got this part right. The friendship is a huge part of the VA books and I am glad that they didn't throw it over for the popular romance angle. Yes, there are boys, but Rose and Lissa's friendship is the main focus here, not romance. They fight, like teenagers girls will do, but in the end their loyalty to each other always wins out.

5. It's funny.
Yes, the trailers made it look like this movie was going to be just a big one-liner. However, I think the film has a nice mix of humor and drama. I loved the pop culture references (like when Rose calls Mason "Ducky") and I definitely laughed out loud a few times.

6. World building that isn't painfully awkward.
I get it. It's hard to set up a world in a 2 hour film. What's done in hundreds of pages in a book has to be done quickly in a movie in order to snare the audience. Movies will often resort to bad voice over or a quickly constructed history lesson at the beginning of the film to get readers up to speed, which always feels slightly pandering to me. I think VA does a pretty good job of laying out the world without being too overt or cheesy. The flash backs were a little choppy at times but overall the film did a good job of explaining the world in a way that wasn't eye-roll inducing.

7. Good looking cast
Yes, I am shallow. I like looking at pretty people. VA boasts an attractive cast, though not unbelievably so. I personally hate it when every person looks like a supermodel in a movie (blasphemy, I know). They also had great chemistry together and were believable as friends on-screen.

8. Rose & Dimitri
YES. One of my favorite couples is finally on the big screen. I think Zoey Deutch and Danila Kozlovsky make a pretty adorable Rose and Dimitri.

9. It's fun.
Yes, I said the F word. Not every movie has to be an Oscar contender. I like that Vampire Academy doesn't take itself too seriously and isn't afraid to poke fun at itself. It's a movie about vampires in high school, for goodness sake. Let's have some fun with it.

There you have it - my reasons for seeing the VA movie. I know it's not going to be everyone's cup of tea but I think it's worth a try and you may be surprised. Personally I had a good time watching it and would love to see a sequel.

Agree, disagree? I'd loved to hear your opinions, so let me know what you thought of the movie in the comments below. :)

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New Trailer: Vampire Academy

The film is just days away and The Weinstein Company has released another trailer for Vampire Academy. I am really excited to see the badass side of Rose and can't wait for Friday. Who else has their tickets ready?

Vampire Academy will be in theaters on Feb 7, 2014.

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TV Spot: Vampire Academy

A new TV spot was just released for the upcoming Vampire Academy movie. It has a darker tone than the previous trailers, which some thought were too cheesy (but I loved them). Dark or campy, I don't care. There's no way I am missing this movie. The release date has also been moved up a week and is now set to release on Feb 7, 2014.

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New Trailer: Vampire Academy

The Weinstein Company just released the full theatrical trailer for the Vampire Academy movie. What do you guys think? It's getting a lot of flack for looking too campy. Though I am still not sure I am sold on the overall tone of the movie, there's no way I am not going to see it. I mean, I have seen way worse adaptations and I love VA, so I will be there opening weekend. Who else is coming with me?

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Vampire Academy - New Trailer

I just posted this on Facebook but thought it warranted a quick post as well. Yahoo Movies has just released the first trailer for Vampire Academy: Blood Sisters.

What do you guys think? It looks campy, vampy, and full of high school angst. Count me in! We only get a brief glimpse of Dmitri but Rose is looking pretty badass. Anyone else excited for this movie?

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Manicure Monday (18): Gameboard of the Gods

Hi and welcome to another installment of Manicure Monday. The idea is easy - show off your current read with your current manicure. You can be creative and match your book to your mani or just show off the newest color on your digits. I love book and nail polish and encourage flaunting both.

It's good to be back this week. I was in Ojai last Monday so I skipped MM last week. But I am glad to be back and I have a fun manicure to show off today.

This week's book is Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead. I am only about 3% into this right now but it's promising so far. Here is the full cover.

And my nails

Since this book had all kinds of swirling action going on, I decided to try my hand at water marbling. There are a ton of tutorials and videos that show you how to do a water marble so I am not going to get into that. I was a little scared to do this since people sometimes say it's super hard. However, it really wasn't that bad. I think I need some practice to get more consistent results. I mean, you can see little smears and air bubbles. But I think I did alright for a first try. I think my favorite finger was my thumb though.

The Indigo Spell - Review

The Indigo Spell (Bloodlines #3) 
by Richelle Mead

Publication date: 26 Feb 2013 by Razorbill

ISBN 10/13: 159514319X | 9781595143198
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Indiebound

Category: Young Adult Paranormal Fiction
Keywords: Young adult, paranormal, vampires
Format: Hardcover, paperback, eBook, audiobook
Source: Bought

Synopsis from Goodreads:

In the aftermath of a forbidden moment that rocked Sydney to her core, she finds herself struggling to draw the line between her Alchemist teachings and what her heart is urging her to do. Then she meets alluring, rebellious Marcus Finch--a former Alchemist who escaped against all odds, and is now on the run. Marcus wants to teach Sydney the secrets he claims the Alchemists are hiding from her. But as he pushes her to rebel against the people who raised her, Sydney finds that breaking free is harder than she thought. There is an old and mysterious magic rooted deeply within her. And as she searches for an evil magic user targeting powerful young witches, she realizes that her only hope is to embrace her magical blood--or else she might be next.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, the Bloodlines series explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive—this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone’s out for blood.

Review:

YES. More Adrian and Sydney! The Bloodlines saga continues in The Indigo Spell, the third book in Richelle Mead's bloodlines series. The Indigo Spell picks up right after The Golden Lily's ending (thank goodness, too, since it was a bit of a cliffhanger). Sydney, in all her stubborn ways, is as determined as ever to avoid any romantic entanglements with Adrian and her innate magical abilities. Unfortunately, ignoring magic becomes impossible once she finds out that a powerful witch is in the area - one who sucks the youth and power from those with magical abilities - and must learn to use magic to protect herself.

It's no big secret that I am a huge fan of this series and The Indigo Spell does not disappoint. There's more intrigue and Sydney starts to find out more about the possible connection between the fanatical Warriors of Light and the Alchemists. This is very much Sydney's book. In the last two books she was still trying to figure out who she is and what she believes in. In The Indigo Spell, her beliefs are put to the test and she makes choices that have real consequences. She shows a lot of guts in this book and takes some big risks. There is also plenty of making out in this book (awesome) and Sydney finally acknowledges her feelings for Adrian (as if she could resist).

Adrian is as charming as ever. He's also especially sweet in this book and I love his method of "loving from afar." Adrian and Sydney are such a great team and complement each other so well. I think Sydney said it best when she said that Adrian was "perfectly imperfect." I think both of them are perfectly imperfect - for each other.

We also finally find out who Marcus Finch is and delve deeper into secrets of the Alchemists and Mead is the master of leaving you wanting more. It's good to see the rest of the gang again, too, though they take a backseat in this story. The only character I still don't understand is Angeline. Seriously - what is the point of her? All she does is cause trouble and is belligerent while doing it. I trust that Mead has a greater plan for her but, right now, I can't figure out what it could possibly be. 

If you're a fan of the Bloodlines series then you'll definitely enjoy The Indigo Spell. More mystery, more action, higher stakes and a great romance. I hope I don't go into Adrian withdrawal while I wait for The Fiery Heart to be released. 

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Visit the author online at www.richellemead.com and follow her on Twitter @RichelleMead


Please note that this post contains affiliate links. For more details, please see our full disclosure policy here. 

A Week of Bookish Events (Fangirl Squeee!)

June is promising to be a good book month for me. There are a ton of really awesome books coming out in June and some really great local book events to go with them. I am going to 3 (yes, 3) events the first week in June and I am super excited about them because they are for some of my all-time favorite authors. Details on the events are below. If you happen to be going, give a shout out. I'd love to say hi.

Leigh Bardugo

Monday June 3, 2013 7PM
Siege & Storm Launch Party

Hemingway's Lounge
6356 Hollywood Blvd
Los Angeles, California 90028
Facebook event page

Nalini Singh

Tuesday June 4, 2013 7:30PM
Heart of Obsidian (Psy-Changeling series)

OMG you guys know how much I love Nalini Singh. I am super excited to see her again and Tues is the release of her newest Psy-Changeling book. It's going to be epic.

Mysterious Galaxy Redondo Beach
2810 Artesia Blvd.
Redondo Beach, CA 90278

Richelle Mead

Wednesday June 5, 2013

Gameboard of the Gods

Another total fangirl event. I LOVE Richelle Mead. 

Barnes and Noble
1201 3rd St Promenade
Santa Monica, CA
310-260-9110

Note from Richelle on the event
*Event will include reading, Q&A, and signing.
*I will sign up to four books per person--one personalized and the others just autographed. We'll do pictures if time permits.
*No tickets required, but if you purchase Gameboard of the Gods in advance or at the event, you'll get a priority spot in line.
*If there any of my books you want to buy and don't have, PLEASE support the store and buy them there! It's a lot of time and expense for them to host me. Thanks!

Mark your calendars and come out to one of these great events. Hope to see you there!

say "twee!"

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The Golden Lily - Review

The Golden Lily (Bloodlines #2) 
by Richelle Mead

Publication date: 12 June 2012 by Razorbill

ISBN 10/13: 1455508306 | 9781455508303
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Indiebound

Category: Young Adult Paranormal Fiction
Keywords: Young adult, paranormal, vampires
Format: Hardcover, paperback, eBook, audiobook
Source: Purchased

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets—and human lives.

Sydney would love to go to college, but instead, she’s been sent into hiding at a posh boarding school in Palm Springs, California–tasked with protecting Moroi princess Jill Dragomir from assassins who want to throw the Moroi court into civil war. Formerly in disgrace, Sydney is now praised for her loyalty and obedience, and held up as the model of an exemplary Alchemist.

But the closer she grows to Jill, Eddie, and especially Adrian, the more she finds herself questioning her age–old Alchemist beliefs, her idea of family, and the sense of what it means to truly belong. Her world becomes even more complicated when magical experiments show Sydney may hold the key to prevent becoming Strigoi—the fiercest vampires, the ones who don’t die. But it’s her fear of being just that—special, magical, powerful—that scares her more than anything. Equally daunting is her new romance with Brayden, a cute, brainy guy who seems to be her match in every way. Yet, as perfect as he seems, Sydney finds herself being drawn to someone else—someone forbidden to her.

When a shocking secret threatens to tear the vampire world apart, Sydney’s loyalties are suddenly tested more than ever before. She wonders how she's supposed to strike a balance between the principles and dogmas she's been taught, and what her instincts are now telling her.

Should she trust the Alchemists—or her heart?

Review:

Sydney and the gang are back in The Golden Lily, the second installment in Richelle Mead's Bloodlines series. Adrian, Jill and Eddie - return with a few friends. Dmitri Belikov (yes, that Dmitri) and Sonya Karp (another former Strigoi) join the "family" in Palm Springs to do research on the possible effects of spirit and how it might be used to eradicate the threat of the Strigoi. There's also a new girl in the mix - Angeline, a dhampir with few social graces.

I am a such a huge fan of Richelle Mead. Her characters feel so real and genuine. They're usually far from perfect but they're likable you really want to root for them.

In The Golden Lily, Mead continues to peel back the layers of both Adrian and Sydney. She shows us where they come from and some of the forces that shaped each of them. I know a lot of people don't like Sydney very much but I can actually relate to her. Her position in the group isn't easy and the Alchemist attitude of fear and prejudice of magic is a hard one to break. But it's clear that she cares about her ragtag family and she takes a lot of risks to protect them. She's also pretty funny when she relaxes a little and is an extremely loyal friend.

Of course we can't forget Adrian. I think I fall for him a little more with each book. In The Golden Lily we get to see a much more vulnerable side to Adrian. He lets Sydney see parts of him that no one else sees. And while he still has self-destructive tendencies at times, he's really coming into his own. He is slowly evolving into the man I think we and Sydney believe he is. And that's someone who is smart, loyal, dependable and who loves to get under Sydney's skin.

I think Adrian and Sydney have great chemistry together, even if Sydney is a bit clueless most of the time. And yes, there is KISSING in this book. Finally! Of course it comes with a killer cliffhanger ending, but I'll take what I can get.

Though Sydney and Adrian were my favorite part of the book, it was also nice to see everyone again, especially Dmitri. Jill, who had tendency to be sort of whiny, wasn't so bad in this one. Of course there's a mystery to solve, one that leaves more questions than answers. Answers which I am hoping that Mead answers in the next two books.

Definitely loved this one. Things are really heating up and I cannot wait to read The Indigo Spell! Speaking of which, I think I shall go read it right now...

 

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Visit the author online at www.richellemead.com and follow her on Twitter @RichelleMead


Please note that this post contains affiliate links. For more details, please see our full disclosure policy here. 

Manicure Monday (15): The Golden Lily

It's Monday which mean it's time to show you what I've been reading and a manicure to go along with it. This week, as you may have guessed, I have The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead. Yes, I started reading the right book and let me say, it's pretty fun. Loving Adrian and Sydney and I think I am a little over halfway through right now. For my Golden Lily manicure, I decided to do a sponged gradient, which I have never done before. Basically I used an eye shadow sponge applicator and lightly dabbled gold onto the tips of a black base. For the base, I used Wet N Wild Black, which is a really great, opaque black. I actually need to buy a new one. And the gold is OPI's Dazzled by Gold. 

This turned out a lot better than I thought it was going to. Having never tried using a sponge for nail polish, I thought I might muck it up but I liked this and it was pretty easy. If you have ever thought about trying something like this, I say go for it. 

Hope you all liked today's manicure. If you decide to participate in Manicure Monday, let me know in the comments or linky below and I will definitely stop by. Thanks and have a great week!

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Manicure Monday (14): The Indigo Spell

There's kind of a funny story about this week's Manicure Monday. If you follow my on Twitter or FB at all you might know a bit about it already. Last weekend when I went home to see my parents, I figured it would be a great chance to finally read the next book in Richelle Mead's Bloodlines series. So I am at the hospital waiting room, waiting for me dad to get out of surgery, and I am reading and it's great. Love Adrian and Sydney and the whole VA world. There are a few things nagging me - characters I don't remember, a few references that don't make sense. About 60 pages in, it dawns on me that I should just double check to see if the book I was reading was indeed book 2 in the series. And guess what - it wasn't. Yes, I was reading The Indigo Spell when I should have been reading The Golden Lily. But I had brought supplies home to do a manicure to match The Indigo Spell and I figured I go through with it anyway.

The Indigo Spell is shown with a funky French manicure. I used American Apparel's Mount Royal as the base with Wet N Wild Black for the black tips. I freehand drew the tips. I normally would have used those French tip stickers but I was too lazy to wait for the base to be really dry in order to use the stickers. I think I did an OK job though it was a little uneven in person. This was a fun look to do and I think the colors matched pretty well. I also liked the idea of having a French manicure since it seems like the type of style that Sydney would wear if she wore polish. It's traditional but also a little unexpected - like Sydney. 

Hope you liked this week's Manicure Monday. Have you ever had a reading brain fart like me? Thank goodness I am back home now and can start The Golden Lily. Have a good week!

 

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Bloodlines - Review

Bloodlines (Bloodlines #1) by Richelle Mead

Publication date: 23 Aug 2011 by Razorbill

ISBN 10/13: 1595143173 | 9781595143174
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Indiebound

Category: Young Adult Paranormal/Mystery
Keywords: Paranormal, romance, Vampire Academy, vampires, alchemy
Format: Hardcover, paperback, eBook
Source: Purchased

Synopsis:

Blood doesn't lie...

Sydney is an alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of human and vampires. They protect vampire secrets - and human lives. When Sydney is torn from her bed in the middle of the night, at first she thinks she's still being punished for her complicated alliance with dhampir Rose Hathaway. But what unfolds is far worse. Jill Dragomir - the sister of Moroi Queen Lissa Dragomir - is in mortal danger, and the Moroi must send her into hiding. To avoid a civil war, Sydney is called upon to act as Jill's guardian and protector, posing as her roommate in the last place anyone would think to look for vampire royalty - a human boarding school in Palm Springs, California. But instead of finding safety at Amberwood Prep, Sydney discovers the drama is only just beginning.

Review:

Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy was one of the first series that I really got into when I started to read YA books. I loved the world of the Moroi and Strigoi and the fact that Mead's characters weren't perfect and were fallible. Since then, Mead has become one of my favorite writers. From YA to urban fantasy to romance - if Richelle Mead writes it, I'll read it. However, I was hesitant to read Bloodlines because I was afraid that it would not be as good as VA. Sydney also wasn't my favorite character, which also added to my reluctance to start this series. But I finally decided to take the plunge and I am so glad I did because Bloodlines is so fun and absolutely addicting.

Bloodlines is told from the point of view of Syndney, the alchemist who aided Rose in Vampire Academy. Her actions have put her in hot water with the alchemists, who believe that she may be getting too friendly with the vampires. Sydney must prove her competence and loyalty on her new mission posing as the sister of Jill Mastrano, sister to Moroi queen Lissa Dragomir. Sydney moves to Palm Springs with Jill along with her guardian Eddie, and VA favorite Adrian Ivashkov.

I was never a huge fan of Sydney. While helpful in Vampire Academy, she always came off as sort of snobby and judgmental. In Bloodlines, we get to understand Sydney a little more and what originally came off as snobbishness is more likely attributed to social awkwardness. Living with the alchemists her entire life, she hasn't had much practice interacting with people her own age. She is also very uncomfortable around the vampires, having been told that they are evil and unnatural her whole life. But she isn't narrow minded and must reconcile what's she has been told with her own experiences with them. In many ways, she is the opposite from Rose. In other ways, she is very similar. She is smart, determined, protective, and every bit as fierce as Rose when it really counts. And I love that she doesn't let Adrian get away with things and calls him on his bullshit.

Now we get to Adrian, the partying playboy. While I felt bad for what happened with him in Vampire Academy, I have to admit that I have always been annoyed by his spoiled and self-indulgent attitude. While he hasn't changed in Bloodlines, there's a definite shift in him. I think we're finally starting to see some of Adrian's true potential come through. He and Sydney also have some great chemistry together. Unfortunately there wasn't a ton of romance in this one, just a lot of banter. And you know what that leads to. :) Mead is a master of drawing out the tension though and I am excited to see where their relationship goes.

The plot moved quickly with plenty of action and intrigue to keep things interesting. Even though I figured out the bad guy pretty early on, I still had fun watching it unfold.

I am so glad that I finally decided to read Bloodlines. I loved jumping back into the VA world and learning more about the alchemists and vampires. Richelle Mead has done it again. I am totally hooked on this series and can't wait to read the next installment. Bring on The Golden Lily!

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Visit the author online at www.richellemead.com and follow her on Twitter @RichelleMead

Succubus Revealed - Review

Succubus Revealed (Georgina Kincaid #6) 
by Richelle Mead

Publication date: 30 August 2011 by Kensington

ISBN 10/13: 0758232012 | 9780758232014
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Indiebound

Category: Adult Urban Fantasy
Keywords: Paranormal, romance, urban fantasy, succubus, demons
Format: Paperback, eBook
Source: Purchased & review copy won from Goodreads

Synopsis:

In Georgina Kincaid, succubus and she-demon, #1 New York Timesbestselling author Richelle Mead has created one of her most enticing characters. But with a shot at love, and maybe even redemption, is the ultimate seductress finally going soft? Like hell she is. . .

Georgina Kincaid has had an eternity to figure out the opposite sex, but sometimes they still surprise her. Take Seth Mortensen. The man has risked his soul to become Georgina's boyfriend. Still, with Lucifer for a boss, Georgina can't just hang up her killer heels and settle down to domestic bliss. In fact, she's being forced to transfer operations. . .to Las Vegas.

The City of Sin is a dream gig for a succubus, but Georgina's allies are suspicious. Why are the powers-that-be so eager to get her away from Seattle—and from Seth? Georgina is one of Hell's most valuable assets, but if there's any way out of the succubus business she plans to take it—no matter how much roadkill she leaves behind. She just hopes the casualties won't include the one man she's risking everything for.

Review:

This might sound weird, but I put off reading this book for a really long time. Why? Because I didn't want to see the series end! After 5 books, Georgina and her friends felt like my friends. Reading the last book meant that the series would be over and that I would have to say goodbye to them. But all good things must come to an end, and I really wanted to find out what happened to Georgina, so I finally broke down and read it.

The book opens with Georgina working in a mall as a Santa's elf of all things. Whenever I think of mall Santas I think of David Sedaris's "Santaland Diaries" and I can't help but laugh. Georgina is back together with Seth, yay! I've always been a fan of Seth and Georgina, imperfect as the relationship is. Seth is dealing with a family illness when Georgina gets a sudden transfer to Las Vegas. The timing and method of the transfer are suspicious though. Georgina starts to do a little investigating and discovers things are not as simple as they appear.

Georgina's friends are back from more crazy antics. Jermone has them participating in a bowling league which, apparently, holds a lot of prestige in the demon world. While not really necessary to the plot, it was pretty funny watching them bowl with their matching t-shirts.

There are no big surprises in this one. If you've read the series, you probably have your suspicions about how the story is going to go. Was the ending predictable? Yes. Did I enjoy it? Yes. Like I said, I have come to really love these characters and it's sad for me to see them go. I think fans of Georgina and Co. will find this to be a fitting and satisfying end to the series. At a signing recently, Mead said that she has considered writing some short stories from Jerome or Carter's point of view. I really hope that happens one day. Until then, I will just have to satisfy myself by reading the series over again. :)

 

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Visit the author online at www.richellemead.com and follow her on Twitter @RichelleMead