"Companions of the night" by Vivian Vande Velde.
"Companions of the night" by Vivian Vande Velde. (The EBOOK)
Notes: Best vampire book ever. In fact, one of the best books I've ever read. The author is not well-known(and I haven't got any of her other books because the topics are not of my interest. Edit: I have read "Heir Apparent" and it wasn't any good) but I have the e-book if you want a thrilling and realistic vampire story in which everything starts with the lost of a teddy bear.
Synopsis: When Kerry Nowicki goes back to the laundrette for her little brother's forgotten teddy bear she can even begin to imagine that her mom's recent abandonment will soon be the smaller of her problems. Once there Kerry rescues a handsome young man, Ethan, from a group of vigilantes who believe he's a vampire. In retaliation for that her brother and father get kidnapped the next day and Ethan is her only option to get them back safely, even after discovering he's indeed a vampire thanks to the gruesome murder of his friend Regina. What I love about it is that Kerry and Ethan don't really trust each other, although they are undeniable curious about the other's life, especially Kerry. They spend a few days together while they look for Kerry's family and Regina's murderer and Ethan even handcuffs Kerry so she can't escape and betray him during daylight. They are not lovers, nor friends, but companions of the night, accidentally thrown together and needing each other too much to let go, especially Ethan. Ethan is just so real, with his pragmatical view on death and killing combining with his worry about Kerry's welfare. And Kerry herself, even though she's attracted to him from the very beginning, never lets herself forget she's dealing with a monster here but can't help but empathize with him a little bit, because this monster, like all the really scary ones, is very human.
First read: 2006.
Second read: 2007.
Notes: Best vampire book ever. In fact, one of the best books I've ever read. The author is not well-known(and I haven't got any of her other books because the topics are not of my interest. Edit: I have read "Heir Apparent" and it wasn't any good) but I have the e-book if you want a thrilling and realistic vampire story in which everything starts with the lost of a teddy bear.
Synopsis: When Kerry Nowicki goes back to the laundrette for her little brother's forgotten teddy bear she can even begin to imagine that her mom's recent abandonment will soon be the smaller of her problems. Once there Kerry rescues a handsome young man, Ethan, from a group of vigilantes who believe he's a vampire. In retaliation for that her brother and father get kidnapped the next day and Ethan is her only option to get them back safely, even after discovering he's indeed a vampire thanks to the gruesome murder of his friend Regina. What I love about it is that Kerry and Ethan don't really trust each other, although they are undeniable curious about the other's life, especially Kerry. They spend a few days together while they look for Kerry's family and Regina's murderer and Ethan even handcuffs Kerry so she can't escape and betray him during daylight. They are not lovers, nor friends, but companions of the night, accidentally thrown together and needing each other too much to let go, especially Ethan. Ethan is just so real, with his pragmatical view on death and killing combining with his worry about Kerry's welfare. And Kerry herself, even though she's attracted to him from the very beginning, never lets herself forget she's dealing with a monster here but can't help but empathize with him a little bit, because this monster, like all the really scary ones, is very human.
First read: 2006.
Second read: 2007.