Christmas Challenge: Companions of the Night

Author: Vivian Vande Velde 

Release Date:  September 1st, 2002

Publisher: Magic Carpet Books

Genre(s): YA Paranormal

Pages: 212

*Stand alone ;(* 

~SPOILERS ARE HIDDEN! :)HIGHLIGHT THE PAGE TO SEE THEM!~

Summary(Goodreads):

When Kerry’s little brother forgets his stuffed bear at the laundry, Kerry ventures out at 11:00 p.m. to retrieve it for him. The laundry is deserted and kind of spooky, and while she’s there three men burst in, dragging a bound and bloodied young man they insist is a vampire. Kerry helps him escape, only to be caught up in a desperate game between vampire hunters and their prey.  

Review:

All of Vivian Vande Velde’s books NEED A SEQUEL!

PleaseJ

So far I’ve read Dragon’s Bait and this one, and I need to know what happens to ALL OF THEM! DO THEY STAY TOGETHER? ARE THEY IN LOVE (well, in the case of Alys and Selendrile, there was a teensy weensy hint that they liked each other)?? I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS AFTER!!

But I digress.

There will be another time to rant about the lack of sequels… another time…

So.

Everything (the world, the vampires, etc) is all explained in bits (no info dumping, and maybe a little skimping, but not so much that I didn’t know what was going on). There is an equal amount of telling and showing, which I appreciated a lot! It’s like I was Kerry, discovering this whole other world that had been under her feet all along.  The vampires in this book are nothing new (as in the stereotypical blood thirsty, manipulative, shrivel up under sun kind of deal), but I guess they are new to YA. (Insert rant about YA vampires here.) I just wish we found out more about Ethan’s past; except for the fact that he’s French, we really don’t know much about him.  (THAT’S WHY WE NEED A SEQUEL. Please J) Even though the important bits about the vampires are covered in this story, I want more details!  I want to get to know other vampires! But alas, it’s not so…

The plot, the writing- everything is so well done!  This book is really fun- not as in light and fluffy fun, but intense, keep-you-on-your-toes, great plot fun.    I esp. love the dynamic between Ethan and Kerry.  You could almost feel those subtle shifts in their relationship throughout the novel. Not necessarily romantic shifts (that was at the end; more on that later), but shifts in trust on both parties. They're both dancing a delicate waltz on the line between trust and mistrust.  There never is a time when there's 100% trust on both sides- and the really cool part is is that you could feel it. There's always this wary anticipation underlying everything, and this anticipation just sucks (no pun intended) you into the novel.

Kerry and Ethan's relationship really shows the idea of trust being earned, not given (esp. with that scene where Kerry starts to doubt Ethan).  So, instead of face palming when Kerry suddenly changed sides (although, inwardly I was groaning because I wanted them to end up together, and that was a damper on those dreams), I understood why she did it.   

Kerry's inquisitive nature and the romance between her and Ethan are really what kept this book from getting a higher rating.   My biggest complaint about the romance was that there wasn't more of it.  (Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you a YOUNG ADULT book that needs more ROMANCE. *gasp*) There were small hints here and there that they liked each other, and just when we were  FINALLY getting somewhere (A love confession! A few kisses!), the book ends in a vague way. L   

And Kerry?  She was getting a little annoying. More than half her dialogue in the book was just questions, questions, and more questions- and it was starting to get redundant. I feel like she could have asked those same questions (have I used this word enough? lol) in a more concise manner. I don't know. Maybe it was just me. 

But otherwise, I really like this book.  The plot and the dynamic between the characters are pretty intense.  It's a good story overall.

Happy readings!:D

Rating: 3 out of 5