The Hallowed Ones by Laura Bickle

The Hallowed Ones

The Hallowed Ones * The Outside

Publish Date: September 25th, 2012
Format Reviewed: eBook
Series: The Hallowed Ones
Author: Laura Bickle
Author’s Goodreads
My Review on Goodreads

Introduction

Katie is a Plain girl and excited to enjoy her forthcoming Rumspringa with her childhood friend Elijah. Her life carries on and aside from her occasionally not being the most obedient girl and how she's pretty sure she's expected to marry Elijah. Everything is fine. Then, a disaster from the Outside, the English, comes in. It's obvious that major events are happening in the world beyond their gate, but her Elders ignore it. Then, their people go missing. An Outsider, a young man, is injured and left to die, but Katie doesn't listen to the decree that God should decide his fate. During all of this, the evil is coming in, and Katie has to figure something out before the whole community is slaughtered in the night.

Story

Ok, listen. Amish fiction, but with vampires.

YAAAASS!

This would make a great film. Even a B movie would be so much fun.

Tell me you are not intrigued!

The beginning of the story is mostly the day-to-day of Amish life, and I honestly forgot that something (the inciting incident) was going to happen to bring the story into a dystopia. I could have kept reading about Katie and her life uninterrupted and been fascinated. But, things do happen, and it is because Katie is not the perfect Amish daughter that things actually get rolling.  

Truthfully, I don't know how true to the Amish community the book is. I'm very interested in the topic but I lack it in-depth knowledge. I admit that the book could be blatantly lying. In the context of this book, I like how the "behind the doors" interactions of families doesn't always perfectly align with what they preach. It seems that they are bringing in more love and affection, so I enjoyed the family unit that they had.  

Insta-love

Yes but it's the end of the world, basically. It's not another week in high school. In my book, the relationship gets a pass. The woman in question actively goes to this relationship of her own accord and builds it up. 

Setting/Essay Topics

It reminds me of the anime Shiki. Both use the horror of isolation from other towns/people. When the people you know are reanimating and luring you out, how do you fight back? How do you get a town to finally admit that there is something paranormally wrong and you have to do something about it? The technology/science of today vs traditional/religious myths. 

Shiki!

Shiki!

Final Verdict

I greatly enjoyed this book. The Hexenmeister, the two English characters, Elijah, and Katie were great characters. Even Katie's mom and sister occupy the softer parts of my heart. I have no qualms with the way it was written; it is written in first-person POV with a serviceable writing style. So if you're interested in vampires in a slightly different setting, I highly recommend this. I hope I was able to intrigue someone to read this, as I happened to come across this by chance.    

Night Shade Academy by Kelly Carrero

Night Shade Academy #1

Publish Date: August 14th, 2019

Format: Kindle Edition
Series: Night Shade Academy 1
Author: Kelly Carrero
Author’s Goodreads
My Review on Goodreads

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Introduction

If you are born to a supernatural family, before you can live in polite society with regular humans, you have to graduate from Night Shade Academy. Here you will hone your skills and learn to live amongst the other "factions", or beings other than yourself. You have to live with your own people, being werewolves, vampires, light witches, or dark witches. Twins Kayla and Rozalia (Zalia) were born and raised as light witches, the self-proclaimed superior clan. But when they get to school, Zalia cannot enter the dorm of the light witches. She has been detected as a dark witch. Forced to leave her sister, her boyfriend, and all the values she has held, she has to go live and learn with the Darks. To make matters worse, she discovers that she is beyond being a magic prodigy, and her powers have to be reigned in or she risks hurting everyone around her. She is something so different from what she always thought she was, and the truth behind the other factions isn't what she was lead to believe.

Story

I really enjoyed how the book immediately subverted my expectations. I was expecting the twins to go into their dorm and be all happy but BAM, subverted. It didn't deliver in my other expectations, though, which can be both good and bad. The vampires and werewolves weren't really utilized as different characters. I'd like to know how they live, what their powers are, and you get a tiny little bit of werewolf action, and that's it.

Love Story/Relationship

Uh...the obvious relationship isn't exactly something I can root for because of the young man's position. He is a teacher/tutor to her. The ick factor is here and I don't know why people like this, unless you are 15 and still fantasize about your teachers. It's the same problem that I had with The Queen's Rising.

Look, the love interest here isn't bad bad. He seems to have his head on his shoulders - unless you look at their first kiss. Yikes. But, no, wait, seriously, he doesn't pressure her. He has her best interest and well-being in mind. It's difficult. Buuutt....

Good Messages

At the core of this story is generational prejudice against other people. Being switched factions, Zalia is confronted with the reality that what she has taught previously by other Light Witches was...false. She has thought the others -- vampires and werewolves, plus Dark Witches -- were terrible, especially the Darks. Can you imagine how hard it would be to have the truth told to you, and in a room full of people, you're the only one who didn't know? Part of Zalia's task is to learn to get to know the others, and treat them like people...which was hard for her? Those bits were a little hard to read, but she gets over it. I still think she should have learned a little more but hopefully that happens in book 2.  

Main Character

Oh, we're all shocked that ROZALIA is basically the chosen one?! Nooooo waaaaay!

Seriously though. You have two kids. One is Kayla, the other is ROZALIA. Not Rose, ZALIA. 

Final Verdict

Overall, I loved this book. The twist at the end was great, and the red herring was fantastic. I hope to see more done with the vampires, werewolves, familiars, and the other elements that were introduced in this book. I still have some questions, so I'll just have to get my hands on the second book?

An Ignorant Witch by E.M. Graham

Witch Kin Chronicles 

An Ignorant Witch

Publish Date: July 17th, 2019
Publisher: OneEar Press
Format: Kindle Edition
Series: Witch Kin Chronicles
Author: E.M. Graham
Author’s Goodreads
My Review on Goodreads

Introduction

Dara goes to school, has a best friend, and has an average life. She shouldn't. She's a half-witch, untrained, and shunned by her witch father. Magical creatures also reside in her hometown in Newfoundland and she is capable of magic, but forbidden to venture into such territory. Her mother disappeared years ago and she resides with her aunt. Then her best friend's brother disappears and Dara becomes entangled in a magical mess she's not equipped to deal with. 

Audience

I'm not sure who the audience is supposed to be. Dara is 20 but immature, the book occasionally uses curse words, and the writing is straight forward and mostly easy to read. It makes it difficult to recommend because it sounds New YA based on story/ages but it reads like a young YA book. It's the same issue I had with The New Keeper. It really could have been written to strongly suit one specific audience.

Setting

The book has a strong setting on Granby Island, Newfoundland. Graham does a fantastic job describing Newfoundland's landscapes, people, and berry pail quirks. I've never been there so I can't confirm, but Dara lists off the directions she's taking by naming streets and local points-of-interest, along with the names of various hills and describes the terrain. I also enjoyed the juxtaposition of her aunt's cozy kitchen/home and Dara's step-mother's home. I know Dara points it out, but I still enjoy how the sterility of their home is not "witchy" but Edna's home has more of said qualities.   

I don't remember there being Newfoundland
dogs in this, but there should be. They are
good bois.

Writing

The book does a lot of telling rather than showing. The beginning pages of the book goes into her appearance, her house, her family drama - Dara just tells the reader. She legitamitely talks to the reader and that drives me bananas. All this information could have been explored naturally such as: she gets a glimpse of herself in the mirror, brushes her unruly hair, comes home to her aunt's house so she can describe it, a slow dribble her family history to the reader to keep interest and mystery. Dumping it on the reader was jarring, but if you can take the dumps of information and run with the story, I think you can have a fun time.  

Final Verdict 

If you're looking for a new book of witches who aren't instantly over-powered and who make mistakes, and even a book set in Newfoundland, this book may strike your fancy. The core story is what kept me reading. This author has a lot of potential and I sincerely hope they continue writing. As for this book, I hope this is Dara's introduction to the Witch Kin in terms of magic and politics that will follow in book 2. 

Blameless by Gail Carriger

Parasol Protectorate

Soulless * Changeless * Blameless * Heartless * Timeless

Publish Date: September 1st, 2010
Publisher: Orbit
Format: Paperback
Series: Parasol Protectorate
Author: Gail Carriger
Author’s Goodreads
Wikia (has spoilers!)
My Review on Goodreads

Disclaimer

This book is not typically found in the YA section of a library as the characters are older (MC is 26). It has some sexual content. Not as much as Soulless, but it is there. I do contend that teens can enjoy the story and world, but some people may be upset about the sexual content. Totally fair. I usually only review content that is clearly marketed to teens, and this is not. I'm reviewing this because it is in the same universe as the YA Prudence and is the pre-story to that. So...

If you don't like some steamy content, please skip this review/book!

Introduction

Cast out from Woolsey Castle after her husband accuses her of infidelity, Alexia returns to her parents' home. She is desperate for answers to her pregnancy, and when she seeks her friend Lord Akeldama, she discovers that he is missing. Thus she turns to her last remaining allies to seek the truth of her "infant inconvenience" to prove to her husband that he is wrong (and an idiot). Together they travel to new territory with murder constantly on their heels.

Biffy

The best thing this book did was with Biffy. Not with the main characters, the setting, or the explanation of the pregnancy. It's Lord Akeldama's favourite drone. I hated that the book had so many POVs, because I just wanted to know about Biffy and how it would be worked out with Lord Akeldama. Best couple: Biffy and Lord Akeldama.       

Ivy

Alright, so the second-best thing that this novel did was redeeming Ivy. She isn't nearly as annoying. I stand by that this is the life that she was always supposed to have, but she was confined by her station at birth. I'm happy that she's happy. Perhaps the author realized making her absurdly stupid in the second book was a mistake. 

Romance Genre?

No romance here, unless you count the cringy steamy scene at the end. I was hoping someone else would come along to test/hit on/be with Alexia, but it didn't happen. I'll admit though, I don't need romance in every book I read, I just want Alexia to be with ANYONE else (alas, I know what happens because I've read Prudence). She has a beautiful French inventor who is into her, is totally cool with the pregnancy/raising kids, and STANDING RIGHT BESIDE HER. But no, let's be boring.

Final Verdict

I'm extremely impressed that maternal instincts just don't magically spring up on Alexia. She was resigned to never having children, probably before she ever met with Lord Maccon. I don't see this in fiction nearly as often as I ought to. In this one there's tonnes of fighting and fleeing, near escapes, and fantastical gadgetry. It's adventurous (fun) fluff, that's all, and if that's what you're looking for, you may have a good time. 

SPOILER RANT

If you don't want to read any spoilers, please don't read anything beyond this point. Three things in this book really bothered me.

Piping hot, loose-leaf tea.

1. Connal

He just shows up at the end and they...just make up? Making up implies that she did something wrong, which she didn't. And he didn't do much to convince her to take him back, she was just willing to do so. If he could have dashed in during one of the fights that were taking place just minutes before, it would have been a tad bit more convincing.

2. The Little Dog

So why did the little white dog have to die? He was doing what dogs do and that's reason enough to murder it? Ok, psychopaths. How did beta readers/agents/the publisher let that slide?

3. The Vampires

Ok...why are the vampires trying to kill her too? The werewolves don't seem to give a hoot...but the vampires do. Did I miss something? I feel like this wasn't explained.

Changeless by Gail Carriger

Parasol Protectorate

Soulless * Changeless * Blameless * Heartless * Timeless

Publish Date: April 1st, 2010
Format: Paperback
Series: Parasol Protectorate
Author: Gail Carriger
Author’s Goodreads
Wikia (has spoilers!)
My Review on Goodreads

Disclaimer

This book is not typically found in the YA section of a library as the characters are older (MC is 26). It has some sexual content. Not as much as Soulless, but it is there. I do contend that teens can enjoy the story and world, but some people may be upset about the sexual content. Totally fair. I usually only review content that is clearly marketed to teens, and this is not. I'm reviewing this because it is in the same universe as the YA Prudence and is the pre-story to that. So...

If you don't like some steamy content, please skip this review/book!

Introduction

Alexia Maccon, muhjah to the queen and bluestocking extrodinare, takes up nighttime hours to manage werewolf pack dynamics and vampire politics. One morning, her husband wakes Alexia with an angry conversation with a ghost. Then, he up and returns to Scotland, leaving her to navigate the current crisis: the widespread loss of immortality. Along with her own problems, Ivy and Alexia's family also bring their own issues to her that she has to deal with. With an entourage in tow, she travels to Scotland to unravel a few mysteries.

Characters

All I really have to say about this book is regarding the characters. The first book, Soulless, did a fairly good job of creating characteristics for everyone that were simple but concrete. This book tosses it all out. Perhaps this section will only be useful to writers who want to do better. The final verdict is at the end of the post.

Lord Maccon was a fairly simple character before: gruff and not easily swayed by sentiment. Emotions? Ew. Alright. Now, he has been sitting on information that Alexia should have been told, and he's just so flippant about it. He calls Alexia "Wife" all the time, which to me is demeaning. In public he says he married her for her body and to shut her up. Their dynamic is awful. And then the ending is beyond infuriating. Why would he act this way? He's with BUR and is fully aware that bizzaro creatures like WEREWOLVES (which he is one!), vampires, and ghosts exist. I saw the plot twist coming very early on, but the reaction to it was astonishingly stupid. I don't think it was properly written into Maccon's character/the world. IF she had given him cause to worry, it would have made a bit of sense, but she had literally never given him reason to question her loyalty. I officially hate him. Unfortunately, because I have already read Prudence, I know the ultimate outcome. I wish she would run away with anyone, including the lovely lady introduced in this book.

Ivy turned into an absolute dolt and I'm not sure why. Any why would Alexia be friends with someone that ridiculous? I did enjoy her ultimate action at the end of the book, as I think she would find it all romantic and against societal rules that she so stringently abided by. One of my favourite scenes in this book is this:

But the author did Ivy a disservice and I don't know why she was so poorly written. The character became unbearably annoying when Ivy could have filled her purpose in the story without the mind-numbing stupidity. Perhaps some of the ignorant comic relief that she's supposed to be providing could have been shifted to Alexia's sister.

Madame Lefoux and Lady Kingair are two new characters that are actually amazing. Each has their own histories, personalities, and ambitions. I think some things with Madame Lefoux (like Alexia undressing her and commenting on her bust) was cringy. Perhaps Ivy being so stupid was to balance out these two other women? 

Final Verdict

This book loses the romance elements, which is fine by me, because there is much less steam obstructing me from reading the actual story. These books aren't going to win literature awards, but the world is interesting and the characters are fun. This book has more same-sex representation than in the first installation, though Maccon does look down on my favourite vampire for the same reason, and that's a bummer. If you've already read Soulless, I don't see why you wouldn't read this one, and if your library already has Soulless, you'd get Changeless (unless you're my current library, that has all of this universe's books in print except this one). It's steampunk, has vampires, werewolves, lesbians, and women in men's clothing, so there's a little bit of everything here.

Fortuna Sworn by K.J. Sutton

Publish Date: June 23 2019
Format Reviewed: eBook
Series: Fortuna Sworn #1
Author: K.J. Sutton
Author’s Goodreads
My Review on Goodreads

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Introduction

Fortuna is a very special being in the world. Only herself and her missing brother are left of their otherworldly kind. She is dangerous, alluring, and very protective of the people she cares about. When the chance to find her brother is presented, she takes it. But she must trust a faerie and play their twisted games. It goes beyond saving her brother, as it quickly becomes apparent that she must fight for her own survival as well.

World Building and Characters

There are two worlds in this book. The familiar human world is just as we know it, though there are some things we regular humans don't get to see. Then there's the other, unseen world. I won't spoil anything, but this book details this new and exciting place. Fortuna is a fantastic bridge for the reader, because she holds some knowledge, though some of it is flawed and she's still learning. The world of the faerie court is thick with intrigue, indulgence, lust, and violence. They have their own traditions and history and there's so much for Fortuna and the reader to learn. 

Every character is well described and have great character details. What they look like, dress like, and their personality really shines. Fortuna changes throughout the book, reacting to her ordeals and growing. Just when you think you can trust another character, you can't, and she has to change too. I appreciate that there are no wasted characters, with the exception of one girl from the beginning, there are no wasted characters (but I'm hoping we get to see said girl in another book). There is one witch that is mentioned, and I hope we get to see her at some point too. 

Love Interests

There are a few possible love interests here and they are all great. You can't trust faeries but dang, does one really try to get Fortuna to like him. I flipped-flopped between liking him and loathing him. The other option, who I shall not name, is just so amazing as well. However, it's unconventional, and at first, I really wasn't rooting for him because it was so weird. But you know what? The more I read, I was like, no, girl, please be happy with someone because everyone here sucks.  

Age Group

Faerie stories seem to have a heaping spoonful of steamy moments, and this book is no exception. Because some of the scenes get fairly explicit, I recommend this to older teens, the new adult age range, or adults. In case anyone is wondering, these scenes are leagues above Soulless. What I do appreciate about Fortuna Sworn is that intimacy IS hella confusing, especially when you are new to it with new people.

Cover

Can we just take a minute and appreciate this cover? It's gorgeous and it's faithful to the book. Isn't it the worst when the cover has a representation of a character and it doesn't match the description? This absolutely does. It's amazing, please oogle the cover, it's deserving.

Final Verdict

I've read a lot of good books last year and this year, but this seriously this one is in my top 5 (even higher than The Hazel Wood, and I really got into that one). I couldn't put this down. I am so sad that it ended because it needs to go on and I can't wait for the next one. With the last line, I was loosing it. Winter 2019 can't come fast enough. I usually don't like stories that have three trials, but these were engaging and the stakes were high. As long as you are ok with some sexual scenes, I highly recommend this book.

 

This book was a roller coaster for me. The review ends here, but just in case anyone is interested, here how I basically handled it my reading experience.
Outrage came pretty quickly. This is what I wanted Fortuna to do right from the start:

Every time someone stood in her way or was just being so wishy-washy with their feelings/actions, I also put them on my list. Especially by the end. I was basically internally screaming Why isn't she murdering everybody?!

Give me back my brother!

Sometimes I softened a bit and it was confusing. Urgh,feelings!

But then, of course, I got angry again, and decided rampaging was still the best option.

I do, however, realize that if I tried to do anything of this, the outcome would be this:

So that's why I'm not the heroine of this book. I hope in the next book, she gets to kick even more deserving butt.

A New Keeper by J.C. Gilbert

The Secret Library Series

A New Keeper

Publish Date: June 11th, 2019
Format: Ebook
Series: The Secret Library
Author: J.C. Gilbert
Author’s Goodreads
My Review on Goodreads

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Story

Alex is a teenage bookworm who likes reading, drawing, and watching Game of Thrones. When she happens upon a secret library containing every story that she can go into and experience she doesn't know if she can take on the responsibility of being the new Keeper. The lure is irresistible, so despite her anxiety, she sets off to right one of the stories, and becomes entangled. In addition to this new calling, she has to deal with anxiety, family life, school, and her best friend. It's a lot for one girl to handle, but she gives it her best.

 Anxiety

The main character struggles with anxiety in a relatable way. She gets so scared at the prospect of doing her speech and she doesn't confront her teacher about it after because she can't. Walking past people, let alone talking to people, is a challenge. She'd just rather not. I relate. Books are better.

She does give her anxiety a personification - a hedgehog named Hank. I really liked the anxiety described as a prickly hedgehog that burrows, sits heavily, squeezes, etc, her insides. However, I didn't like that it was named Hank. That seemed a little far. The imagery of a prickly ball having so much impact was fantastic, I just couldn't get past the name and talking to it. 

YA?

This is being marketed as young adult fiction and that doesn't quite seem right to me, though middle-grade fiction doesn't work either. The writing was easy and made for quick reading, and for the most part, it felt like a middle-grade book. Yet I can't recommend this to middle-grade readers because of some of the language used. So I would say a younger YA audience is probably the best bet. I think I'd get some side-glances if I catalogued this into a MG section of a library.

Loose Threads

My biggest complaint is that there are loose threads that are just forgotten about. I am certain that these elements will come back up in later books, but it was very unsatisfying to read this book and get zero follow-up/answers to some things. Namely:

The appraiser is gone
Darcy is forgotten
The fairy is dropped
What's up with Elaine in the Library?

Yes, the fairy is getting its own book, but in this book, oh well, there's a fairy loose, too bad. Also, a lot of her problems could have been solved if she had spoken with the librarian. But she doesn't and I have no idea why.

Final Verdict

Overall, it was an enjoyable experience and I recommend it to younger teens. Alex learns that she has to take control of her life, whether she feels the hedgehog sitting heavily on her heart or not, and that was great. Going into books is basically every librarian's dream (including this one!). The library is the hub world where she can then go into other worlds through books, so there is lots of potential for more books (which apparently there are more coming, according to Goodreads).

Soulless by Gail Carriger

Parasol Protectorate

Soulless * Changeless * Blameless * Heartless * Timeless

Publish Date: October 1st, 2009
Format: Paperback
Series: Parasol Protectorate
Author: Gail Carriger
Author’s Goodreads

Wikia (has spoilers!)
My Review on Goodreads

Disclaimer

I originally read this book because I read Prudence but I was lost in the world that was established in Parasol Protectorate. Goodreads claims Prudence is for a YA audience, but Soulless is NOT tagged as YA in Goodreads. I assumed it would be, and I was wrong. This book gets steamy. More steamy than A Bite at the Cherry. It isn't in the YA section at my public library - it's in the regular fiction area. I do contend that teens can enjoy the story and world, but some people may be upset about the sexual content. Totally fair. I usually only review content that is clearly marketed to teens, and this is not. I'm reviewing this because it is in the same universe as the YA Prudence and is the pre-story to that. So...

If you don't like some steamy content, please skip this review/book!

  

Story

Alexia Tarabotti is a spinster, half-Italian, and is soulless. To be soulless means that if she touches a supernatural being, she neutralizes them and turns them mortal. By the way, England has integrated its supernatural folk into society. This includes werewolves, vampires, and ghosts. The Bureau of Unnatural Registry (BUR) keeps tabs on them and everything seems to be in order.

The story is actually remarkably simple; supernatural beings are going missing, and BUR has to find out why. The rest is the love story component with interesting characters. That's it. If you read the back of the book, you got it.

The issues that I had about the world in Prudence are largely answered. Vampires cannot stand any sunlight (as it should be). Older werewolves can stand the sun for a time, otherwise, they are regulated to the nighttime, and they get "full-moon madness". Ghosts did not receive much elaboration, but if the sneak-peek to the second book is to be believed, we will see them more in book two, Changeless. A rove is a supernatural being who does not belong to a larger group. A hive is a vampire group who basically has a ruling queen (queens can make other vampires). Drones are humans who want to be turned into vampires or receive patronage, and they feed the vampires willingly and serve them. Clavigers are the same as drones, but for werewolves.  

Main Character

While I hated Prudence's snobbery, Alexia is bossy but indomitable. She can still be liked. At the age of 15, her mother put her on the shelf and declared her unmarriable because she is tall, tanned, has a prominent nose, and is half-Italian (which her mother had married, did she not know how heritage works?).

I wish she was nicer to/about Ivy, her best friend. So much to say about bad hats, but she's her best friend, why can't she say anything nice?

Vampires

These vampires are more like this:

Which is good.

However, Lord Akeldama is the Sassy Gay Friend trope, which I don't think would fly today.

Werewolves

Less of this:

More like this:

Big wolves, not bipedal.

Final Verdict

Overall, I was highly invested in this book. It's more about how the various characters interact with each other rather than a compelling plot. You'll know who she gets with within the first 30 minutes, if that. Like vampires, werewolves, parasols, grumpy werewolf men with no manners? This might intrigue you. The scenes of intimacy caught me off guard, and honestly, they aren't even that interesting, one time I laughed, so there's that. I thought the ending scene in the carriage was ridiculous and I just wanted it to be over. I recommend this to an older crowd who is alright with some steamy scenes.

Still here? Have some more gifs.

Take that werewolf! Reminds me of What we do in the Shadows

You know he is, too.

Alexia and Ivy

Midnight Secrets by Rita Stradling

The Vampire Legacy #1

Midnight Secrets

Publish Date: June 11th, 2019
Format: Ebook
Series: Blackburn Academy
Author: Rita Stradling
Author’s Goodreads
My Goodreads Review

Introduction

January has some problems: her mother is an addict, food in the house is scant, and their house is run down. But that’s not her most prominent problem – she was killed and woke up as a vampire. Calling the number provided to her when she woke up, she gets hooked up with blood. And a boy, Justin. He’s aloof, secretive, and handsome. He’s in the elite school that January has a chance to attend, if she can pass the tests. Said boy is adamant that she doesn’t go to said school, can’t tell her why, and she is determined to make her own decisions.     

Story

The story and the writing are great for older teens. Yes, it is a book about vampires, but it is also a lot more. January and her mom struggle with the very real problem of addiction and the consequences of it, family, classism, and toxic relationships. She also has more to prove to other people than regular people do.

Cover/Title

The cover is great! It conveys January's demeanour fairly well. She's a vampire but she's not out to murder everyone. She looks like, and is, a girl next door, with some problems she tries to take care of. 
  

While the cover is nice, it’s misleading. She isn’t enrolled at the school yet. This book is her prepping for the trials/tests/living as a vampire. Probably would have been more suitable for book 2. Also, January has blonde hair, but doesn’t dress like that, at all. She’s poor, she can’t get leather corsets. As for the title, I don’t know how to explain it. Sexual, yes, and needlessly so. The book is way more than sexual tension/relationships. If I were to be reading a physical copy of this in public, I’d be a bit embarrassed. It isn’t smut (hey, if you’re reading smut, that’s fine, be proud! But this isn’t smut yet it comes off as smut). My husband had some questions about what I was reading because the title is so sexual.

Ending

I knew it!

Final Verdict

I was very into this book. To say that I thoroughly enjoyed this book would be an injustice. I believe I read almost half in one night, then I couldn’t devote as much time to it. I assumed there’d six books in this series that I could devour at that instant, but alas, the second isn’t out yet (I actually didn't realize how so very new this book is!). It is a very nice change of pace for vampire fiction. There’s a set of three trials which I haaaaaate in books, especially because I’ve never heard of schools doing what this one does, so that gets an eye roll from me. However, I highly recommend this to older readers who want vampires, teens, and high school.

Update

Looks like the title and series title for this has changed. When it read it, it was called A Bite at the Cherry, in the Bite Me series or the Blackburn Academy Series. It now says Midnight Secrets in the Vampire Legacy series. Better titles, and have edited the review accordingly. Below is the original cover:

Prudence by Gail Carriger

The Custard Protocol
Prudence * Imprudence

Publish Date: March 17th, 2015
Publisher: Orbit
Series: The Custard Protocol

Format Reviewed: Book and Audiobook
Author: Gail Carriger
Author’s Website
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Wikia (has spoilers!)

Introduction

Lady Prudence, known as Rue, had an unusual upbringing. Along with her mother and werewolf father, she was also adopted by another father, a vampire. She is a take-charge kind of twenty-something girl, and she is also a metanatural. A gift bestowed by her mother, Rue can touch a supernatural and take their form, strengths, weaknesses, and immortality, if only for a short time. Her vampire father tasks her to take her very own dirigible, The Spotted Custard, to India for a venture in tea. As captain, she gets a crew, brings along her best friend, and two boys to make a love triangle.

Setting

The setting is what brought me in. I've been meaning to read the steampunk genre and I finally took the dive. The conventions are there: industrial, steam-powered machines, but also aristocratic society as well. The paranormal is also integrated into London, as vampires and werewolves dress in fancy attire and attend balls. They own hat shops and live lives similar to humans. 

Love Triangle

I dislike love triangles and there is sort of one here. One is presented here not as an overt who will she choose?! We know both men are excessively handsome and available. It does become pretty obvious that one of the men will not be chosen, which was a shame, because he was arguably the most interesting character. The love story is flimsy and it went into a weird direction.

Gripes 

There's too many. Here are some in point form: 

This is the first book in a series, but not the first book in this established universe. I had seen others ask, can you read this if you haven't read the author's other books? Internet says yes. After reading, I disagree, unless you like being lost. I have too many questions and went unanswered, or they were brought up late in the book. 

Werewolves also can't be in the daylight (do they die like vampires, turn back mortal, no idea). I didn't know werewolves had some concern about daylight at nearly the end of the book.

Hives, drones? What does this all mean? There are different levels of governments and policies and decrees that went right over my head. Apparently, this is all managed somehow, but the book was throwing stuff at me like I just knew. No, I don't live here, please elaborate.  

For perhaps 50 pages or more, not much happens. She's on her dirigible, flying about to India. Alright. But nothing happens. Almost DNF'd, and I don't DNF. 

Rue literally has her nose in the air for most of the book, so I didn't particularly like her. If the author/world acknowledged that she was arrogant and full of flaws, fine, but it doesn't. I'm supposed to like her. 

When you steal someone's supernatural state, they become mortal. Which means they can die. I'd be fairly annoyed if she stole my immortality, and someone took the opportunity to off me. 

Lots of talk about what people are wearing. Oh boy, could I care less about all the details.

EDIT 03/09/2020

After reading the entire Parasol Protectorate series, I revisited this story by listening to the audiobook. I have updated my original rating and have come to the following thoughts:

• This series, along with the Parasol Protectorate, is definitely an adult series by the grace of the characters' ages alone. However, teens can very easily get into the stories. Aside from the steamy bits being too much for some teens (or their parents), there's nothing stopping teens from enjoying the universe (language, themes, pacing, etc.) However, Prudence is listed in the YA genre on Goodreads. In the next book (Imprudence), we learn that Prudence hit the age of majority (21). YA is generally considered 13-18, though I think there's some wiggle-room for that. Based on the age ranges and sexual passages that happen, this puts it in the adult category.  
• So, what does this mean? My library split the universe into two: The Parasol Protectorate in regular fiction, and The Custard Protocol into YA. Whoa. What a huge disservice to the series and the readers! For librarians who may come across is, these really belong together. Just because Goodreads has it listed as YA, keep it wherever you have the Parasol Protectorate series. 
• I did check some other public libraries. For my own privacy, I will not be naming or linking, so please take my word for it. What I found was that both Prudence and Soulless were in regular fiction (not the YA section) or the science fiction section (also not YA exclusive). The call numbers on both of them were FIC CAR. 
• Ok, seriously, I have a point. A lot of my above gripes could be solved by reading The Parasol Protectorate first. I still think you have to do some backtracking for people who don't remember what was explained four books ago. But these books belong together, don't split them up. The author is a marvellous story-weaver with many series set in the same universe, and it also does her a disservice to split her work up across the stacks. 
• Goodreads also isn't the final say on genre, as genres are determined on user-created "shelves", which can be incorrect.               

Final Verdict 

The setting is what brought me in and I am still fairly intrigued! I'm going to pick up Soulless from the library to read about this universe more, and maybe I'll give this series another chance. If you have teens that like steampunk, or if you want to build on that genre, this is alright, though there are probably more gripping stories out there. I say that because for about 50 pages, nothing happened and I was bored to tears. Only objectionable content I say in here is the representation of India. The author could probably have used some sensitivity readers first.  

EDIT 03/08/2020:
I read Soulless and I LOOOOOVED it. Go read that first.