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Showing posts with label AmyPlum. Show all posts
Showing posts with label AmyPlum. Show all posts

Saturday, 18 May 2013

UNTIL I DIE by Amy Plum


Book two in the Revenants series
Publication date: May 3rd, 2012
Publisher: Harper Teen
Number of Pages: 368
Date read: May 16th 2013
Genre: Supernatural, Romance, Young Adult, Urban Fantasy
Source: Bought 

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(Description source: Goodreads)

In the City of Lights, two star-crossed lovers battle a fate that is destined to tear them apart again and again for eternity.

Kate and Vincent have overcome the odds and at last they are together in Paris, the city of lights and love.

As their romance deepens there’s one question they can’t ignore: How are they supposed to be together if Vincent can’t resist sacrificing himself to save others? Although Vincent promises that he’ll do whatever it takes to lead a normal life with Kate, will that mean letting innocent people die? When a new and surprising enemy reveals itself, Kate realizes that even more may be at stake—and that Vincent’s immortality is in jeopardy.

In Die for Me, Amy Plum created a captivating paranormal mythology with immortal revenants and a lush Paris setting. Until I Die is poised to thrill readers with more heart-pounding suspense, spellbinding romance, and a cliff-hanger ending that will leave them desperate for the third and final novel in the series
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Until I Die continues to follow the story of Kate Mercier and her boyfriend Vincent Delacroix as they discover how to live together and deal with important issues like how to live a normal life, despite Vincent being a Zombie of sorts, as well as the importance of family and support from those who love you. 
As Kate delves further into Vincents world of Numa (bad zombies), Revenants (good zombies) and the possibility that other fictitious creatures may not be so far from the imagination, she grows as a person and really starts to evolve into herself as she wants to be and begins to live. With the ever charming Vincent by her side she is able to take on everything life challenges her with, until Vincent starts to keep a secret from her, a secret that he says will solve their problems. The trouble is that whatever he is up to is taking its toll on him in a bit way, leaving looking drained and not at all himself.  If that isn't enough, there's the ever present Jules keeping an eye on her when she least of all wants looking after and the icy ancient friends of JB who will do everything to get in her way.
With the Numa quiet after the death of their leader, the revenants suspicions begin to rise. True to form, attacks begins, seemingly random at first but they begin to lead towards one big idea, one important key that could leave the fate of not only themselves, but the human race in their hands.


Until I Die was a lot more action packed and faced paced than Die For Me which I quite liked. I found it to be detailed and very enrapturing to the point that I honestly could not put it down. The way that Amy Plum spun the story was interesting, with twists and turns that I had not even considered. She told the story in such a way that it seemed as though it were really happening and it sprung to life around me. I have always liked the idea of living in Paris and continuing the story here and not taking it back to America, like I thought could have been a possibility, was great. The romantic atmosphere of Paris together with Vincents old fashioned ways was really cute and was the perfect image of what a lot of girls would love their boyfriend to be like. 
Kate kept being quite the stereotypical female protagonist but I think that it actually sort of works in this sort of story, the changes that she has gone through make it seem more worthwhile. Despite her having many of the characteristics similar to those in other books Kate has a personality that I find to be attractive and fun. She is loyal to those she loves and actually has a great bond with her older sister. While her grandparents can be a bit overbearing at times, and she does not always do what they tell her to, she still adores them and this shows through clearly. Above all, her love for Vincent and her acceptance or his 'family' is admirable, the strength that she shows is different and I LOVE that it isn't all about the physical side of her and Vincents relationship. Sure they kiss etc. and the desire is there but there's more to their relationship than that, they build it up and also don't always get along, which I find to be a refreshing twist.

Anyway, I really loved this book and will definitely be reading book 3 in the Revenants series If I Should Die!! 

Here's the blurb for If I Should Die for those of you who are interested!

I will not lose another person I love. I will not let history repeat itself.
Vincent waited lifetimes to find me, but in an instant our future together was shattered. He was betrayed by someone we both called a friend, and I lost him. Now our enemy is determined to rule over France’s immortals, and willing to wage a war to get what they want.
It shouldn’t be possible, none of it should be, but this is my reality. I know Vincent is somewhere out there, I know he’s not completely gone, and I will do anything to save him.
After what we’ve already fought to achieve, a life without Vincent is unimaginable. He once swore to avoid dying—to go against his nature and forsake sacrificing himself for others—so that we could be together. How can I not risk everything to bring my love back to me?

“And I've got THIS," I pulled out the signum and held it up for him to see, "that says I'm kindred. And I've got THIS," I pointed at my head, "that says I'm as smart as you. And I have THIS," I held up my middle finger, "that says go to hell, you immortal bigot."
And with that I spun around and stomped out the door, filing the expression on Arthur's face in a mental folder labeled "Kate's Proudest Moments"."

I rate Until I Die Four out of Five!

Friday, 17 May 2013

DIE FOR ME by Amy Plum

Book One in the Revenants series
Publication date: May 5th, 2011
Publisher: Harper Teen
Number of Pages: 320
Date read: May 14th 2013
Genre: Supernatural, Romance, Young Adult, Urban Fantasy
Source: Bought 
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(Description source: Goodreads)

In the City of Lights, two star-crossed lovers battle a fate that is destined to tear them apart again and again for eternity.

When Kate Mercier's parents die in a tragic car accident, she leaves her life--and memories--behind to live with her grandparents in Paris. For Kate, the only way to survive her pain is escaping into the world of books and Parisian art. Until she meets Vincent.

Mysterious, charming, and devastatingly handsome, Vincent threatens to melt the ice around Kate's guarded heart with just his smile. As she begins to fall in love with Vincent, Kate discovers that he's a revenant--an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save the lives of others. Vincent and those like him are bound in a centuries-old war against a group of evil revenants who exist only to murder and betray. Kate soon realizes that if she follows her heart, she may never be safe again.

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"Still in one piece?” Vincent teased, pulling me close and planting a soft kiss on my lips. “After dirty-dancing with Jules, I’m not sure."


Die for me is the cute, sassy and intriguing first novel in the Revenants series by Amy Plum. Set in the streets of luxurious Paris, it follows Kate Mercier and her older sister Georgia as they try to recover from the tragic accident of their parents and settle into their new, Parisian life along with their doting grandparents. Georgia throws herself into doing what she does best and makes plenty of friends and goes out partying most nights to forget the pain. Kate misses her old friends in America and for a while tries to keep in touch but soon the painful reminders of what she has lost becomes all too much and she stops replying to their messages.  

Kate eventually gets out of the house, either going to look at the art that she loves, but is disastrous at creating, or to one of Paris' many compact cafe's to finish her latest read. It is while absorbed in a book with coffee on hand that Kate looks up to meet a dark, handsome strangers eye, the chemistry between them is undeniable, the moment ends with embarrassment on Kate's part.  The gorgeous stranger does not show his face again at the coffee shop but an equally as gorgeous girl beckons Kate over just before part of the building crashes exactly where Kate was sitting. 

A chance meeting with the gorgeous boy, Vincent, at an art gallery has Kate thinking that there could be more to him than meets the eye. 
As Kate gets closer to Vincent, she discovers a secret, a secret that could change her views of not only the people she has come to love, but also the world around her. A secret that could endanger her life and tear her apart.   

 
 Die For Me, was a lovely, easy read that from the beginning had me enthralled and keen to keep reading. Amy Plum takes a realistic approach with what, at the beginning at least, is a different and enticing plot line, it has great potential to wind up somewhere unexpected, leaving you gasping for breath and having loved every second of the whirlwind adventure.That is until around halfway through the novel, when it disappointingly begins to follow the general style of many other paranormal YA novels. Despite this, Die For Me still felt exciting and fast paced, not necessarily action packed but interesting and something that surely kept me hanging on for more. 

 I found that being set in the luxurious, romantic world city of Paris gave the novel an exciting feeling that engrossed my within the world of the story with even more depth. The sheer history surrounding the Parisian lifestyle that was included in the storyline made Die For Me more detailed, realistic and interesting as a whole. 

Kate is a great, well written character that, especially for avid readers, is individualistic and very relate-able. She is different to other modern, paranormal heroins, she loves art and reading, isn't afraid to be herself, she shows her vulnerable side and seems to almost step out of the pages. Vincent on the other hand seems to be quite calm and collected, his stereotypical character is evident from when we are first introduced to him, his dreamy yet striking physical appearance seems to leave Kate in awe from the moment their eyes meet. Unlike in other teen aimed paranormal novels, Vincent seems to genuinely care about Kate, he is not afraid to show that he cares about, or even loves, her. 

Personally I love this book! The depth, simplicity and addictiveness of Die For Me is wonderful and when coupled with the detail that was put into the characters, even if minor, is commendable, well executed and definitely well worth it. I simply cannot wait to get my hands on the next one, in fact I think I'll pick it up right away!


Well, spit on my empty grave--if it ain't the attack of the Disney princesses!"


I rate Die For Me Four out of Five!