Into the Vampire City by Phil Tucker ★★★☆☆

Kept me guessing!

Fiction – YA – Dystopian/Urban Fantasy

224 pages

Publication Date:  2012

Other Name: Vampire Miami

The Human Revolt #1

Selah Brown chooses to go to the only family she has left in the vampire controlled city of Miami when her father disappears.  Originally on the hunt for her father Selah’s course changes when she unexpectedly gets tangled up with the vampires and a unique gift she possesses reveals itself, putting her family and new friends in danger and even possibly starting a new Vampire War.

Right from the beginning the well-designed book-world and finely crafted characters shine through.  Selah is very dynamic and I found the examination of how people react in survival mode, either holding onto the humanity harder or going no holds bar, fascinating.  Also, having the story take place after things had settled in an uncomfortable holding pattern after the vampire wars was an interesting time to choose and gave the story a unique perspective.  The writing was not to my taste - I found it rough, raw and a bit crowded – but my love for the premise and plot overcame the writing and led to another late night trying fight off my obsessive need to continue the story.  Not only does this plot drip with potential for growth, but I never knew what to expect next during the whole story.  There was one very gross part that bothered me, but luckily it was short and the only one of its kind.  Thanks to www.bookbub.com I was introduced to another book I probably wouldn’t have found otherwise.

The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan ★★★☆☆

New twist on the old formula

Fiction - Juvenile - Urban Fantasy/ Adventure

Age Level: 10 and up  Grade Level: 5 and up

516 pages

Publication Date: August 16, 2011

The Kane Chronicles Book 1

Literary awards:  School Library Journal Best Book of the Year (2010), Goodreads Choice Nominee for Favorite Book, Young Adult Fantasy (2010)

Since the death of their mother, under strange circumstances six years before, siblings Carter and Sadie Kane have been raised apart.  Carter spends his time in constant travel with their Egyptologist father, Dr. Julius Kane, while Sadie lives in England with their Grandparents.  Only, allowed to see Sadie two days a year Dr. Kane uses one of his visits to take the siblings to the British Museum where he plans to “right a wrong”.  Unleashing forces beyond his control Dr. Kane is taken prisoner.  In order to save him Carter and Sadie must learn about their Egyptian heritage which includes magic, the blood of Pharaohs and communing with Egyptian gods.  Using the newly acquired knowledge they must quickly learn to master their new skills and challenge the god Set, to save not only their father, but all of Northern America.

Told by both Carter and Sadie this story is a tale similar to Percy Jackson’s with an Egyptian twist.  This, however, doesn’t hurt it.  Riordan found a good formula with Percy Jackson and I can’t fault him for applying it in another series.  He has fairly developed main characters in the Kane Chronicles and nicely incorporates Egyptian mythology into real life to create an interesting story. 

On the other hand, the format took a bit to get used to and this book was far less funny than Percy Jackson.   I did not care for Sadie’s constant and unnecessary derogatory use of the term “God”, nor did Riordan quite pull off her Britishness (calling some “thick” and eating “bangers and mash” does not make a Brit).  I also, while appreciating the glossary, would have liked it more in depth.

Overall it was okay.  I don’t regret the time reading it, but I do hope in the next one Riordan can find a better rhythm.

ISBN13: 9781423113454