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Monday, March 14, 2011

Review: Evernight by Claudia Gray


Author: Claudia Gray
Pages: 327
Publisher: Harper Teen
Series or Standalone: 1st in series
Genre: Paranormal YA
Reading Level: 13 yrs old+
Dominant Themes: Vampires

Bianca wants to escape.

She's been uprooted from her small hometown and enrolled at Evernight Academy, an eerie Gothic boarding school where the students are somehow too perfect: smart, sleek, and almost predatory. Bianca knows she doesn't fit in.

Then she meets Lucas. He's not the "Evernight type" either, and he likes it that way. Lucas ignores the rules, stands up to the snobs, and warns Bianca to be careful--even when it comes to caring about him.

"I couldn't stand it if they took it out on you," he tells Bianca, "and eventually they would."

But the connection between Bianca and Lucas can't be denied. Bianca will risk anything to be with Lucas, but dark secrets are fated to tear them apart . . . and to make Bianca question everything she's ever believed.
High school sucks… or is it just the students?
For Bianca Olivier, it’s both. She’s been enrolled in Evernight Academy, the eerie, castle-like school her parents teach in. Evernight was not only an elite boarding school for the rich humans, but a safe haven for vampires that have lost touch with the modern world—unbeknownst to the humans. I loved this idea, and even though this isn’t the newest idea on the block, Claudia’s spin on it¾making it a sanctuary for the vampires­¾ added edge and suspense to the story. The school itself is creepy, and I would love to learn more about its history.
Unhappy with the fact that she had to leave everything behind, Bianca attempts to make a break for her old home on the morning of her first school day. She makes it to the woods before she is tackled—literally—by the handsome, mysterious Lucas… and her destiny.
From that day on, Bianca and Lucas’s relationship deepens, until it surpasses friendship and delves into the unknown abyss that is love. But they soon find that their relationship is built on lies and false pretenses, and are catapulted into a battle for life and death…
… and love.
Evernight was a book that surpassed my expectations. I’ve learned to go into YA vampires books with absolutely no expectations, so that way I won’t be let down. But Evernight most certainly did not let me down.
Bianca was a strong-willed female protagonist, which I liked. For some reason, most authors feel the need to make their protagonist the “damsel in distress” who always need a knight in shining armor to come and save them. But not Bianca. She handled herself well, and thought her decisions through, while still following her heart. The amazing part is that the entire is told from her perspective, but there is a massive twist in the middle that completely caught me from surprise, and I remember just sitting there, blinking, and thinking “How did I miss that?” Even though that particular information basically blind sided us, it just made me want to finish the novel that much quicker!
Every good romance deserves it’s mysterious, rebel bad boy. Lucas was seductive and alluring, yet wasn’t pushy or needy and conveyed a sense of sweetness to him. Of course, he was protective of Bianca, but he didn’t know that HE was the one that needed protection. Still, most teenage girls will find themselves infatuated with him. I want to see how Bianca and him progress with their relationship, and how they can overcome the difficult obstacles ahead of them.

Claudia has a fabulous writing style, which flowed and was quick. The story never lagged, built up in the right places, and gave us a sigh of relief at others. I give this novel 5 out of 5 stars.

Evernight on Goodreads, Shelfari and LibraryThing

6 comments:

  1. I actually disliked Evernight but I didn't give up on the series I continued on reading the whole series till Hourglass and liked it. I'm glad you liked the book better than me. Claudia Gray has a great writing style and deserves better love! :D Great Review!

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  2. Great review!

    ****spoilers****
    I'm 50-50 about this book. I got so mad when I learned than Bianca is vampire about half in the book that I put the book down and picked it a few weeks later. I didn't like the aspect of Bianca lying to the readers.... The story is told by her... we should have known.

    I agree on Lucas. He's such a sweet guy!

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  3. I haven't had the chance to pick this up yet. I'm very glad to hear you enjoyed it though! I've heard mixed reactions to it but I'm still looking forward to reading it.

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  4. Great review! I'm glad you enjoyed this one. I bought it a while ago, around when it first came out I think, and stopped reading it about halfway through. I don't really remember why I stopped, to be honest. Your review makes me want to pick it up and start again, though! Thanks for stopping by my blog earlier, by the way. I appreciate your comments so much! I'm following you now, and looking forward to getting to know you and your blog better :o)

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  5. I really liked this book. Glad you loved it! Lucas is sweet but I have a soft spot for Balthazar! (hope I spelled that right!) I'm starting the third one soon and I'm really excited! Great review!

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  6. GREAT review! I am very glad you loved this. It is a very good book. Though STARGAZER isn't as good, sadly. =/ I still need to read HOURGLASS & AFTERLIFE.

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