Nocturnal Book Reviews

I'm obsessed with this book, peeps. I'm bullying my fellow bloggers to read it and I keep talking about it.

Thing is there are plenty of faults with the plot and writing in general, but it's just such a compelling, powerful and magical read, that I haven't noticed much of that while I was blazing through The Dark Heroine *grinning*

First of all, it's a gritty, violent, sexy and pretty raw read. The main character, 17 year-old Violet is not a damsel in distress, she is a daughter of a powerful man who just happened to be in a wrong place in the wrong time. She sees a massacre of vampire hunters by a bunch of young arrogant vampires, who sweep her away to their manor in the countryside. The rule is: humans who know of their existence are killed or turned. However, when vamps find out who Violet's father is, either choice will bring both societies on a brink of war.

So, snarky, stubborn and get even Violet stays in the manor as a hostage, gets embroiled in complicated vampire politics and develops hate/love/weird friendship relationships with a young, vicious vampire prince, Kaspar Varn.

I did not move, still rubbing my chest. “My name is not ‘Girly’! It’s Violet!”
Like a shot he was just inches away from me, forcing me against the wall as his hand wrapped around my neck. A single finger was pressed against my vein, stroking it.
“And I’m the fucking Prince!” he snarled, grip tightening. My eyes widened and I struggled under him but his grip just tightened. I closed my eyes, not wanting to see his face, so close to mine and reeking of blood. A single image flooded my mind behind myclosed eyes: the lifeless body of Claude Pierre, crumpled and bleeding on the stone flag.
“I could snap that pretty neck of yours in two with less effort than it would take for you to squeal,” he whispered in my ear. “So I suggest that you do what we say, because you can’t outrun us and the police won’t stop us.”

Kaspar *sigh*, he is a a dreamy, dreamy monster. He is a proper anti-hero, and by all means I should have hated him for being a jerk and all. He kills, he maims, he is being cruel and cold, and yet at the same time, there are certain reasons for his behaviour, and the more he connects with Violet the more they are both changing. She acquires some of his ruthlessness and he softens up.

According to urban dictionary, kaspary is a level of awesomeness so high it kicks you in the ass and leaves you breathless and bewildered. So here you go, Abigail Gibbs created a new word for us to use :D

There is a complicated plot of vampire mannerisms and rituals, an ancient prophecy and even different dimensions, so I wouldn't call this book your average vampire YA. Oh, and the vampire balls are alien and magical!

There is also plenty of violence and some sex involved, the latter shows how blatantly screwed modern teenager's views on women and how a girl should perceive herself. I don't blame Abigail for that because she writes what she knows, however it is sad that young girls feel that they deserve so little respect.

The world Abigail Gibbs built is an ambitious one. It's also very flexible, so I wouldn't really know what to expect from the book two. It just reads like a twisted, dark fairy-tale. I only know that book #2 is on my autobuy list and that this 18 year old British author has a wonderful potential for growth, if she can write like that at her age.

Very much recommended. I...uhm... even made a playlist for this book on YouTube. Embarrassing, I know...