Since I’ve been struggling to get through books (again – ugh, I know. I crack under pressure, apparently), and I recently discovered this is an option, I’ve decided to tell you about the sneak peek I just read!
This is really cool, because I didn’t realize that this was something you could find on Net Galley. It seemed like a blessing for this, a vampire YA novel since I have a baaaaad track record with YA vampires (thanks, Twilight). I usually hate them, but this one seemed like it had potential based on the setting in historical New Orleans. And so, I snuck a peek.
Disclaimer:
I received this sneak peek from Net Galley and the publisher.
That trailer looks pretty rad, right?
Synopsis:
New York Times bestselling author Renée Ahdieh returns with a sumptuous, sultry and romantic new series set in 19th century New Orleans where vampires hide in plain sight.
In 1872, New Orleans is a city ruled by the dead. But to seventeen-year-old Celine Rousseau, New Orleans is a safe haven after she’s forced to flee her life as a dressmaker in Paris. Taken in by the sisters of the Ursuline convent in the middle of the carnival season, Celine is quickly enraptured by the vibrant city, from its music to its fancy soirées and even its danger. She becomes embroiled in the city’s glitzy underworld, known as La Cour des Lions, after catching the eye of the group’s enigmatic leader, Sébastien Saint Germain.
When the body of one of the girls from the convent is found in Sébastien’s own lair–the second dead girl to turn up in recent weeks–Celine battles her attraction to Sébastien and suspicions about his guilt along with the shame of her own horrible secret.
After a third murder, New Orleans becomes gripped by the terror of a serial killer on the loose–one who has now set Celine in his sights. As the murderer stalks her, Celine finally takes matters into her own hands, only to find herself caught in the midst of an age-old feud between the darkest creatures of the night, where the price of forbidden love is her life.
At once a sultry romance and a decadent, thrilling mystery, master storyteller Renée Ahdieh embarks on her most potent fantasy series yet.
My Thoughts:
So, we all know my feelings on YA. Although I keep saying this, and yet – I keep finding myself reading YA stuff. Maybe I should just acknowledge that I do like some YA stuff already. Fuck it – I like YA.
I have to get one thing out in the open right now though – I’m conflicted on the cover. I kinda hate it, but I’m hard pressed to say why. It’s not a bad cover, it just feels…so generic. Like, I miss the covers of 80s vamp fare. Those amazing painted covers – like Paperbacks From Hell stuff.
As sneak peeks go, this one was pretty good. I don’t know that I’d buy the book on its own merits. But if I found it sitting in front of me, and didn’t have other books to read I’d totally read it.
I think what saves it is the historical setting. 19th century teens are much less yawn-inducing than contemporary teens. The younguns these days are a fucking snooze-fest. Except the politically active and compassionate ones – they’re beautiful, fascinating humans that I am in complete awe of.
I like my vamps futuristic or old-timey. Not modern.
I also want to know what Celine’s deep, dark secret (that she has, naturally) is. What caused her to do the (possibly spoilery) thing that she did that led to her traveling to America to escape it? And how will Baddy McVampireTeeth use it against her? Will she learn to love him? I don’t want her to (when did vampires start being so fucking nice?!), but I suspect she probably will!
Anyway, do you like vampires? How about YA? History? New Orleans?
DO YOU LIKE BOOKS?
This is a book, and it contains those things, so maybe you’ll like this one!
