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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
You know, I called it from the end of the last book. That his dad was bad, but holy cow, r*ping his mother?! What the actual fuck, and then they kind of just... let that go. I mean, yeah, eventually he kills his dad, but OF COURSE it takes another adult female mother figure death to push him to do the right thing.
Honestly, I'm just... disappointed mostly. Overall, fine. I'd never read them again, and it's sad to know my kid self was drawn in because of covers. "Never judge a book by it's cover." I learn again and again as I read the books I bought from when I was a child.
Honestly, I'm just... disappointed mostly. Overall, fine. I'd never read them again, and it's sad to know my kid self was drawn in because of covers. "Never judge a book by it's cover." I learn again and again as I read the books I bought from when I was a child.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Death of parent
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Rape
By far, the best of the series, with unexpected twists and a great closing to VT's story.
I’m glad to be finished with the series, I liked some aspects of the ending, like snow turning into a vampire and glad still having all of his friends. I did not like that they still had a funeral for Thomas. He did not deserve one. And I wish Nelly hadn’t died, Otis deserves to be happy.
The book was overall obviously for children, the characters were stupid a lot of the time and the plot was easy to guess. But still enjoyable.
The book was overall obviously for children, the characters were stupid a lot of the time and the plot was easy to guess. But still enjoyable.
Fun series! Love that it's from a male perspective. No sappy, sparkly vampires or love-sick melodrama here! Just normal teenage angst, happiness, heartbreak, friends, and family.
So, I've read all the Chronicles of Vladimir Tod-- [b:Eighth Grade Bites|530848|Eighth Grade Bites (The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod, #1)|Heather Brewer|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1433470335s/530848.jpg|518471] to [b:Twelfth Grade Kills|7818881|Twelfth Grade Kills (The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod, #5)|Heather Brewer|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1268256304s/7818881.jpg|10800440]. I didn't read them all the way through, but when they occurred to me. Now that the series is "done" (it appears as through Heather Brewer is continuing on with a parallel series of Slayer Chronicles), I can honestly say the things that drew me in about Vlad's 8th grade story are the same things that turned me off by the time that I hit 12th grade with him--particularly the crying and lack of decision making-- and that overall, I was pretty disappointed with the series.
When Vlad was a kid, I kind of found his emotional honesty refreshing and true to a 13 year old state of mind. And the fact that weird stuff was just happening to him made a kind of sense-- it helped explain and build the world the series occupies, and it gives us a sense of how Vlad feels about all of it, without him causing too much stir quite yet.
But in this installment, Vlad STILL doesn't cause much stir. He's STILL on the receiving end of all the other characters' actions (specifically the machinations of his long-absent father, the Elysian council of vampires, and the Slayer society). Five books later, and he still only reacts to stuff-- he doesn't plan, he doesn't take action until forced, and he doesn't realize or enforce any limits. But hey, guess what, THOSE ARE THE THINGS YOU START TO LEARN AS YOU GROW UP. Think about the very real character transformations that took place in Harry Potter over the course of seven books-- the characters are believable eleven year-olds, making eleven-year-old decisions and understanding things on an eleven-year-old level when we meet them, but by the time we get to their seventh year, they have seen and participated in some very serious events, and they have grown into true adults.
Vlad just didn't grow up here, and it's a real shame. This series could have been a fantastic, campy romp with a realistic growing-up narrative hidden in there, but it isn't. It's just one damn thing after another, and at the end the kid I liked as an eighth grader is a cardboard cut-out of a character without any real emotional maturity or volition, and I didn't really care anymore.
Interestingly, the series is going through a re-imagination as a graphic novel, and in a lot of ways, I think that is a better format for the story. Perhaps some of the missing narrative elements in the series (which by the end read like blocking for a script rather than a legit novel) will be better communicated with color and ink.
When Vlad was a kid, I kind of found his emotional honesty refreshing and true to a 13 year old state of mind. And the fact that weird stuff was just happening to him made a kind of sense-- it helped explain and build the world the series occupies, and it gives us a sense of how Vlad feels about all of it, without him causing too much stir quite yet.
But in this installment, Vlad STILL doesn't cause much stir. He's STILL on the receiving end of all the other characters' actions (specifically the machinations of his long-absent father, the Elysian council of vampires, and the Slayer society). Five books later, and he still only reacts to stuff-- he doesn't plan, he doesn't take action until forced, and he doesn't realize or enforce any limits. But hey, guess what, THOSE ARE THE THINGS YOU START TO LEARN AS YOU GROW UP. Think about the very real character transformations that took place in Harry Potter over the course of seven books-- the characters are believable eleven year-olds, making eleven-year-old decisions and understanding things on an eleven-year-old level when we meet them, but by the time we get to their seventh year, they have seen and participated in some very serious events, and they have grown into true adults.
Vlad just didn't grow up here, and it's a real shame. This series could have been a fantastic, campy romp with a realistic growing-up narrative hidden in there, but it isn't. It's just one damn thing after another, and at the end the kid I liked as an eighth grader is a cardboard cut-out of a character without any real emotional maturity or volition, and I didn't really care anymore.
Interestingly, the series is going through a re-imagination as a graphic novel, and in a lot of ways, I think that is a better format for the story. Perhaps some of the missing narrative elements in the series (which by the end read like blocking for a script rather than a legit novel) will be better communicated with color and ink.
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It’s cute! Def some appropriate teenage readings that I think young weirdos would appreciate. I finally finished this after reading the first three in the series in middle school. I read the first and last two books once again as a 25 year old and boy is it cheesy.. it’s cute tho and I recommend it to early teens.
The book was good. Half way through I knew his dad was the bay guy. But Vikas caught me, When Nelly died that was just sad. At least he has Snow. Over all the book was worth reading, If it had a little cuzing and little sex it would've been better.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Yes, I thought this was a good conclusion to the series: everything ends up explained and many things are a surprise. I wouldn't have minded a little more description of what happened in the battle, but the way it was written did give me snapshots, with the idea that these are just single moments within a similar background.
My favorite thing about this series is how she captures the feelings and thoughts of a teenager. In this one, Vlad (who is now nearly an adult) has to make a decision when two people, both very important to him, disagree. Feeling suspicious about people you love... that's tough to feel and very well-handled in this book.
And I can see who she chose to write a related series about Joss. He is a very interesting character. I will have to go read that series next... oh, well I guess only the first book, since the rest aren't written yet.
My favorite thing about this series is how she captures the feelings and thoughts of a teenager. In this one, Vlad (who is now nearly an adult) has to make a decision when two people, both very important to him, disagree. Feeling suspicious about people you love... that's tough to feel and very well-handled in this book.
And I can see who she chose to write a related series about Joss. He is a very interesting character. I will have to go read that series next... oh, well I guess only the first book, since the rest aren't written yet.