Vampire's Kiss

The Watchers #2

by Veronica Wolff

As someone who has survived her first year as an Acari recruit, Drew's ultimate goal is to become a Watcher and be paired up with a Vampire agent. Except nothing is as it seems. The vampire Alcántara is as sinister as he is sexy, Ronan is more distant than ever, and it turns out there are other vampires out there. Bad ones. They've captured one of the Watcher vamps and are torturing him for information-and Drew is going undercover to rescue him.But when their vampire prisoner turns out to be a gorgeous bad boy, Drew's first mission quickly turns into more than she bargained for...

Genres: Vampires, Young Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance

304 pages, Paperback

First published March 6, 2012

About the author

Veronica Wolff is an award-winning, bestselling author who likes monsters, fight scenes, and first kisses. Sometimes all at the same time. She lived everywhere from Texas to Hawaii to India before settling in Northern California, where she shares a home with her husband and her black cat familiar, Josie.

She writes across genres, including Scottish historical romance, time travel, contemporary romance, and young adult fiction. She may or may not have a top-secret alter ego named Ron Wolff, who writes gonzo sci-fi thrillers.

Reviews

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vampire's Kiss did not disappoint but it didn't surpass any of my expectations either. It kind of just met them but didn't take my view of the series up or down. I actually liked Isle of Night better in terms of plot/action.

In Vampire's Kiss, Drew continues her training both as an Acari and target for the crueller Initiates. She also spends 85% of the book preparing for her mission with Alcantara. And I mean 85% (I checked). Needless to say, there isn't that much action. You have to wait until the last 15% of the book for some very lacklustre ass-kicking. Though I think Carden McCloud kind of made up for the lack of action if you get my drift ;)

The other thing which the book kept me holding my breath and waiting for, but which turned out to be a page or two of what felt like a journal entry, was the great dance (vampire prom). Drew spend so much time learning to dance, and being courted for the dance by Alcantara and then it was just a non-event?

So yeah, a bit disappointed. And the other thing I didn't like but can't blame Veronica Wolff for was Drew's emo, hormonally-charged thoughts. She thought about kissing and boys a LOT and god, I just wanted her to grab a boy, any boy (I mean she has a choice of Ronan, Alcantara, Carden and Josh so just pick one I don't care), kiss him and get over it. Then when she does get her first kiss she can't stop thinking about it! FML!! BUT this is a YA novel, and having been a teenager not so long ago, I very embarrassingly remember having the same thoughts so please put my criticism in context.

The good thing about this book was the romance. As you can see, I've upgraded this book to my pnr shelf cos we are finally getting some action, i mean romance. Like I said, Drew has 4 love interests with varying degrees of interest in her, and they each (some more than others) get to play a little role in this book. In Book 3, I expect Ronan to stop sending mixed signals, Alcantara to back his freaky ass off, McCloud to get steammyyyy, and Josh to make a move. Even better, I want a fight between Ronan and McCloud and for Drew to get together with Josh. Who said you can't have your cake and eat it too? Acari have short lifespans; may as well enjoy yourself while you still can!

[Jena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't like the sound of this title! I <3 RONAN!

[Maida (Medley of Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

UPDATE!!! FINALLY GOT THE REVIEW DONE!! YAY! ;p


The Watchers Book 2


Okay..here’s my thoughts.....I loved the first book, Isle of Night, but to say that the second installment was amazing would be an understatement I don’t even know what to say about Vampire’s Kiss...I LOVE LOVE LOVVVEEEDDD IT!!!!

There was so many new things we learn in this book...it’s mind boggling!! I mean there’s that thing with Ronan, and then that thing with Alcántara, then that thing with the new guy, then the thing with Josh, then Yas...then that mission thing....SEEE WHAT I MEAN!!! SO MANY AWESOME THINGS!!!

I just loved the story and all the mystery and the anticipation in this book! It made everything so much more interesting and I was completely hooked right from the beginning! As we know, Drew is trying her hardest to become a Watcher and to do that she has to train a lot..but it seems that Alcántara has other plans for. The mission that she was granted after winning the fighting tournament is in play. Now, Drew is in deep with learning German etiquette and dancing and fighting her attraction to Alcántara all the while staying alive from the mean Guidons and her confusing feelings for Ronan! WHEW! That should be enough to keep any girl busy right? NO...NOT EVEN CLOSE.....despite her “busy” schedule Drew learns that the mission she is going on involves vampires..but not just any vampires evil...really bad vampires AND oh yeah...the vampire she is going to be rescuing just happens to be a very important vampire in all of vampire community! So she can’t screw up...but knowing Drew...things don’t always go as planned! LOL ;p

NOW THE MOMENT YOU HAVE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR....THE BOYS THE BOYS AND THE FREAKIN DELICIOUS BOYS....well some of them!!!




Ronan: I just love him!!! He is sooooo hot! I think I fell in love with him from the very first time he was mentioned in the books! LOL =) However, I don’t know what’s going on with him!?? You definitely have tension between him and Drew in this book...but no sexual tension! SAD...I KNOW!!! But you do get some really amazing moments with the two soooo....YIPPEE!! I have a feeling things are going to get really exciting in the future between him and Drew, especially because of the new guy in the picture!!! OH OH OH OH.....and did I mention that he was totally jealous when he found out Drew was thinking of Alcántara and that almost kiss that happened!!!! *GASP* I don’t think Drew seemed to notice but....like I said...its going to get really exciting from here!

Alcántara: Okay, to be honest in the first book my reaction to him was, “WOW, he is totally mysterious and sexy...I really hope something happens between him and Drew!” But after reading this book, you get to see a completely different side to Alcántara...and let me tell you I HATED IT!! I swear you’d think he’s Bipolar or something! He’s nice one moment then he’s an ass in the blink of an eye....and he is completely one of those guys that controls and keeps his girlfriends on a leash!! He is creepy and evil! STUPID STUPID STUPID....yes I was disappointed but I am glad I know who the real Alcántara is! STUPID EVIL ASSHOLE!!!! I only have one thing to say to you....




Carden McCloud: OH BOY OH BOY OH BOY!!!!! *swoon* The new guy has totally stolen my heart and ran away with it!!!!! He is the ultimate bad boy....and the ultimate example of what sexiness is!! I don’t know if I love him or if I lust him.....or BOTH!!!??? All I can say is I am head over heels for him!!! But I really hope he doesn’t turn out to be a disappointment like Alcántara. I mean we don’t learn a lot about him since he only comes near the end but you get some information and...TEASER ALERT.....there has already been a HOT scene with him and Drew...WOOT WOOT!!!! I am really really looking forward to reading more about him! =) *swooning and possibly drooling*

Finally, we have Josh and Yas! Josh was such a sweet heart to Drew in this book. I really liked him. He was cute with his Aussie accent and fun and flirty! It was really refreshing to have someone like that in a serious plot! And when he came to Drew’s rescue...my heart melted especially when he started cracking jokes to lighten the mood! And then Yas....I WAS SO DISAPPOINTED IN HIM!!! During the Guidon fight with Drew, He didn’t stand up for Drew and he is her best friend! I do like Yas I really do...but I was so shocked that he wouldn’t stand up for her..! :( I really hope that changes and he realizes that he makes the choices and friends stick together no matter what!

Overall, Ms. Wolff you are amazing and your books are amazing!!!! Vampire’s Kiss was very engaging, thrilling, full of action, mystery, adventure, romance and loads of unanswered questions! LMFAO..XD But that’s a good thing...because it means we get more books! YAY! All I know is that I am confused as hell now as to who should end up with Drew; Ronan or Carden? and that I loved the cute moments in the book and all the unlikely people looking after Drew, case in point Josh!

Then the ending..WOW that was surprising and shocking!! I mean a total shocker! And I sooooo cannot wait to see where the next book takes us! There were so many twists and turns and cliffhangers in this book....my mind is spinning and I might actually die of waiting for the next book to come out!!! And what happened with Drew’s dorm manager..Amanda....WOW OH WOW!!! I am just soooo excited to get answers and see what happens next! These twists were so edgy and they just make you yearn for more!! I loved them!!

Vampire's Kiss was pure awesomeness with gumdrops on top! It was endearing and very thrilling and A DEFINITE MUST READ!!!! I absolutely cannot wait for Blood Fever to come out! A very captivating, addicting and alluring series! For all of you who haven’t read it....GO NOW!!! Missing out on an amazing series! =) A very kick ass book!!

FAVE QUOTE!!: "Josh? Former Lilac-flirt buddy Josh? As in the guy who looked like a blond Aussie surfer boy but really was a Harvard smarty-pants and winner of my Most Likely to Be an Evil Supergenious Award?" XD

[Once · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vampire’s Kiss is the second Installment of The Watcher’s Series and although it’s the second book it can be a stand alone. However, I am definitely picking up the first installment Isle of Night because I want to know how the second book came about.

The cover of the book is mesmerizing. I absolutely love book covers with the main character’s faces on them so that I can visualize who it is that I am reading about. I loved the colors on the book as Blue happens to be one of my favorite colors. However, I am confused as to who the man might be on the cover. Ronan? Alcantara? or McCloud? Hmmm.. that’s a question I would have to ask the author.

The characters in this novel are greatly developed, and highly likable. I was intrigued with the world that Veronica Wolff has created and couldn’t stop reading to reveal all of it’s details. We begin with Acari Drew. She’s a in her second year at the Isle of Night as an Acari and is in training to become a watcher. When her schedule gets slightly changed from fighting to dancing, serving and perfecting her German language, she perplexed. That’s until she learns that she’s about to embark in her first mission. Acari Drew’s emotions are going wild and she’s confused as ever since her mentor Ronan has distanced himself, Master Alcantara is as evil as they come but has been paying more attention to her (something she’s never experienced) and when on her mission she discovers that something she did while on her mission is the most dangerous thing she’s ever done!
Ronan is a vampire recruiter and also Acari Drew’s mentor. Drew instantly becomes attracted to Ronan because of his charming looks, but not only that. He listens to her, gives her advice and actually cares about her. Not that he’s mentioned it but just by his actions alone gives her the assumption that he truly cares about her. Although, she wished he cared about her in a different way. I liked Ronan’s character he’s reserved, honest and trustworthy.
Master Alcantara. I liked his character even though it seemed as though he’s evil. He has this sexy bad boy aura about him that makes me melt every time he’s around Acari Drew. And I wasn’t the only one. Acari Drew also felt something around this vampire. I loved the way he spoke to Acari Drew in Spanish, that sent chills up my spine. Imagine a sexy bad boy vampire and you are picturing Alcantara.

The story takes place on an Island where vampire recruiters travel around to world to get the “bad kids” and bring them to this Island. These bad kids are anywhere from kids that are or have been in Juve, abused by their parents or anything in that category. They are taken to this Island to train hard to become fierce and deadly. The boys are considered to convert into Vampires once their training is complete. The girls on the other hand are trained to become what’s known as the “Watchers”. It’s a unique story that captures your interest from the very first page. I read the book cover to cover in two days and while I wasn’t reading I was thinking about the story. I highly recommend this book.

review link: http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/2012...

[Stormy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vampire's Kiss was just as bad ass to me as Isle of Night.

I'm more than a little confused but I am okay with it...I think. I mean, how can I be mad? I love this series and as long as more keep coming, it's alright with me.

The first book...there was just a touch of maybe romance with Ronan and now in Vampire's Kiss we have...

Ronan: I like him. Not much progress on his and Drew's relationship. You didn't get much of him in this book but there of course is going to be more of him in the future because we have yet to see their breakthrough with some sort of swap of feelings or spit or something exciting. Dammit! I want to know what's going on in his head!

Josh: He's nice and sweet and helpful. He came to her rescue like a gentleman knowing that he would have to pay for it later. I like him.

Alcántara: I don't like him. He's sweet at first but in the end...he's someone you just want to stay far far away from. He's a bad bad vampire. I don't care what he says. I hope he gets what's coming for him.

Then there is the new guy: Carden. I really, really, like him.

Goodness, my brain is working so hard to come up with some things that might happen in the next book. I'm so excited. I wish I didn't have to wait so long.

[Bailey (IB Book Blogging) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of adventure, vampires, kick-butt girls, and hot guys galore, VAMPIRE'S KISS is the perfect follow-up to ISLE OF NIGHT. Seriously, if you haven't yet read this series, you are missing out on some good stuff! Wolff pulls you in right away and doesn't let you go until the very last sentence.

Drew rocks my socks off. Seriously, I love her so much. Full of spunk and sass, she doesn't let anyone step on her, no matter the punishment she may have to endure. And the guys that follow in her wake only make her more enviable. Seriously, by the end of the novel, Drew has four guys possibly pining for her, each of whom she has a bit of a thing for. I would willingly take any one of them off her hands!

The story line is just as entertaining as Drew's love life. Wolff's vampires aren't your average vampire--sure they are technically dead and drink blood, but there is more to them than that which makes them oh-so compelling. What I really want to know more about is the vampire Trainees. How do they become vampires? What is the process like? I am definitely in for the next novel, if only to have answers to my questions!

Wolff has created an enthralling vampire YA series that has me completely hooked. I can't wait for the next novel, BLOOD FEVER!

[Katrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This just might be the next YA vampire series that will follow in the footsteps of Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy. I like that it captures the "vampires are dangerous" vibe to it. Drew is also a great character, she's strong and spunky. I would have liked to see more of her supposed genius mind side though.. But still, up to this point, the story is still developing, we only see potential love interests who may or may not be the one for Drew and we are left with some unanswered questions about the world Drew finds herself in. Lots of intriguing plots, action and a semi-cliffhanger at the end which makes me yearn for the next book of the series. I'd recommend fans of Vampire Academy to read the first book in the series Isle of Night.

[Kelli W · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 I still enjoyed this like the first book, however I wasn't able to tell which direction the story was headed. Is the rest to be off the island fighting the "bad" vampires, where is the love story going and with whom, abrupt ending that lead me no further to answering my above questions than before. I've started the third book and its better direction. but I'm worried these books could go 6-10 books if it progresses as slowly as it has been. not that it isn't entertaining or that it's boring. it's great, but I just am starting to feel the plot could drag the readers through many more books unnecessarily.

[Mockingjay]

OMG! Can't wait! i loved the first book!

[Kayla Silverss · Rating 4 out of 5]

This sequel follows Drew as she continues training on the isle of night. Ronan is distant and she feels that she can no longer talk to him. She is continuing her training and things get a lot more interesting.

CHARACATERS-
So I don't hate drew but I don't love her, she isn't my favrouite heroine and I like doing her in the first book but in this book she made me kinda question how I feel about her.
I don't like Ronan as much as I did at the start of the first book, he kinda bores me now and I don't think of him as one of the main characters because he is never present in the book.
Caden was introduced in this book and oh my god I love him so much already, he kinda reminded me of Klaus out of The Vampire Diaries, Volumes 1-4 .

ROMANCE-
So I already love Caden and Drew, they are my favrouite together out of all the other possible love interests that she has. I do also like her and Josh together. The romance isn't really written nicely when it comes to ronan and Drew because I just don't feel the love between them.

PLOT-
This is such a cool concept. It's like Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone because of the boarding school meets Twilight because of the vampires.

ENDING-
I'm so ready for the next book and more Caden.

Characters-8/10
Romance-8/10
Plot-8/10
Speed-9/10
Ending-8/10

[Patricia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pre: I wasn't that impressed when I read the first novel, but I'd like to know what happens next. The title implies some pedophilia/underage, too. :/ Well, we'll just have to wait and see, right?

Wait, is this guy.. does he.. is this.. could this be lipstick?

* * * *

I read Isle of Night last year after someone recommended it to me. It wasn't my cuppa, but obviously I was hooked enough to read Vampire's Kiss. (Despite it's title..) It's rather unfair of me to review a title I know I won't like as much, given my dislike of Drew, but Veronica Wolff's writing is actually rather nice.

Like many Young Adult novels this one is narrated by the heroine, Drew. I find her annoying and incredibly unaware of her own personality. Which is a problem, because the whole series is about her, the wunderkind with long blonde hair and big eyes, who has just sort of finished High School and wanted to study, to get as far away from home and her father (and step-mother) as possible.

But when she arrived things didn't work out and Ronan, a Tracer, finds her and brings her to the Isle of Night, where girls with special abilities and no one who'd miss them, are taught to serve vampires. Together with them a few boys are trained to become vampires on the Isle as well.

I'll just quote myself from the first review - This is what we've got here:

Vampires. They can walk in the sunlight, but their eyes are sensitive to it. They need blood as far as I can tell, can hypnotize/compell people and are immortal. Their blood is addictive.. They can be killed, though

Watchers. The female counterparts, except that it doesn't look like they're in any way immortal. Each potential Watcher has a gift/ability. For example fire. They drink vampire's blood and it seems it makes them more obedient and drawn to the vampires, but it also makes them stronger and gives them certain advantages

Tracers. They can find girls with the gifts I've mentioned above, drink vampires' blood and have some abilities.

This academy teaches the girls how to fight and dance, how to behave properly (because vampires are old and stuff), but also stuff like how to open doors without keys, or algebra. They are told that only 5 out of all of them (100+) are going to survive and that they should basically not make friends, because who knows who's going to backstab you, right?

After what's happened in The Isle of Night, Drew is still planning to somehow escape and after winning the tournament in the first novel, she might even be able to: She and a creepy vampire are supposed to go to a special assignment off the Isle. Her opportunity, right? Except that nothing really works out.

There are several things that bothered me, two of them being that the author misspelled the name Adolf Hitler (or she did it on purpose, which would confuse me even more. oô), and that no one noticed that it's supposed to say "Mein kleines Gummibärchen" and not "Meine kleine Gummibärchen". I know that German isn't that easy to learn, all the "Der, die, das" instead of just a "The" and all, but couldn't she have asked someone on Twitter or something like that?

Heh, sorry. I'll try to be unbiased about the rest of the novel, but come on. ._. It was very readable and I sooooo want to read an Adult novel written by Veronica Roth, but Drew is just.. annoying. She is the typical YA heroine. I haven't decided yet whether I want to bitchslap her or just cry. And that made this book not very enjoyable.

It's like.. Everything was great. I liked the other characters and the fact that they weren't too flat, but I felt like Drew was TSTL most of the times. It's rather hard to explain, but the books would probably be my favorites if it wasn't for the horrible heroine. Just look at this:

1. Her best friend is a quiet, stoic girl, but neither is she even more annoying than Drew or overweight (Yes, Fitzpatrick, it's you I am looking at) nor is she secretly hating Drew or plotting against her (Meyer, why?)
2. The Asian guy she is friends with is a realistic guy.. As far as that is possible with YA novels and actually likeable. He also isn't secretly in love with her, which is nice.
3. The vampires are creepy, but hot. Especially you-know-who. (The one who'd make this review a big fat spoiler if you'd mention anything.. Oops?) And I think it is great that as a reader I never thought "Yeah, let me do him!" They were so "other" and them being attractive made them even more creepy.
4. The thing with Amanda, and also the other older potential Watchers. I like the caste system, and also always wanted to know more about these characters!

Alas, it's a shame I hate Drew so much. I actually wonder if this is some sort of typical internalised sexism-thing going on, but nah. I think she really just is that annoying. *sigh*

[Michelle Greathouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vampire’s Kiss is the second book in The Watchers series by Veronica Wolff and a YA Paranormal from NAL.

Book Blurb:

IF YOU’RE GOING TO BE PARTNERED WITH A VAMPIRE, YOU HAVE TO WORK THE NIGHT SHIFT.

By her wits, blood, and sacrifice, so far Drew has survived the intensive training on the Isle of Night. As a second-year Acari, her ultimate goal is to become a Watcher, and now she has a shot at her first mission. Except nothing is as it seems. The vampire Alcántara is as sinister as he is sexy, Ronan is more distant than ever, and it turns out there are other vampires out there. Bad ones.

Ancient, bloodthirsty, and powerful, these undead are really old school. They’ve captured one of the Watcher vamps and are torturing him for information. The only chance to save him is to infiltrate a major summit the baddies are holding on their own island. There will be mortals there, serving as butlers, maids, and various hired help. Drew had better brush up on her skills as a serving girl, because she’s about to go undercover…

But, when their vampire prisoner turns out to be a gorgeous bad boy, Drew’s first mission quickly turns into more than she bargained for…

My thoughts:

Annelise Drew survived the Challenge, winning because she was the last one standing, winning because she killed Lilac. She still carries the bruises, even though the vampire blood she ingests has quickened the healing.

Winning has earned Drew a chance to leave the Isle of Night, to participate in a mission with Master Alcantara. Drew is hoping to use this mission as a means of escape.

But Drew gets caught up in the preparation for the mission - and whether she will admit it or not, gets caught up in the attention she’s receiving from Master Alcantara.

Ronan is MIA, supposedly out recruiting more girls for training. The Guidon girls have it in for Drew now more than ever and Yas is getting fangs. Things on the Island are changing.

Drew thought winning the Challenge would bring her a modicum of peace. Instead, it seems to have painted an even bigger target on her back.
I absolutely love this series.

The whole concept of an island full of girls training to protect vampires is awesome. That those girls are more than willing to kill each other to become an elite Watcher is bloodthirsty to say the least.

I give Vampire’s Kiss 5 out of 5 stars.


Product Details
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: NAL Trade (3-6-12)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 045123572X
ISBN-13: 978-0451235725

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Posted in Dark Faerie Tales.

Veronica Wolff intrigued me so much that I had to pick up Vampire’s Kiss. There was something absolutely captivating about this series that I couldn’t stop reading about it. I was lucky that I was late to the game and that the following books were already released.

Drew’s first year as an Acari recruit wasn’t an easy one. After many tears, apprehensive nights, physical labor, she survived, but without sacrifices. Now Drew is determined to become a Watcher. But if she learned one thing after her first year, it is that nothing is what it seems. Vampires are sinister, recruits and deathly competitive, and she can only find solace in a select handful. Set to go on her first mission, Drew quickly learns that she is in much deeper than she can stand.
Drew has grown on me. Her tenacity has calmed down, but still lingers on the surface. She is still determined to do what she wants, but now she is a little weary. Her questions are slowly being answered, but not on purpose. It is sad how closed off she has become, but within reason. Drew’s life on the island has taken a turn for the worse, in more ways than one. And there is a creepy thing going on with the vampire Alcantara that really weirds me out. I mean, really, really weird.

The characters have evolved so much from Isle of Night to Vampire’s Kiss. Usually, I see characters evolve after the end of book two, but not for Wolff. She has placed each character into the perfect position to love or hate, depending on the scene. I began to understand each character and their thoughts, allowing for a perfect development and progression of growth.

Wolff’s world was built solely on an island. In Vampire’s Kiss, she is extending that world for the sake of the mission. I was a little hesitant to love the changes, but once I read the story, those changes were inevitable.

There are a lot of intriguing plots in Vampire’s Kiss, some action anxiety-causing scenes, as well as a cliffhanger that almost made me angry. The intensity of the plot is entertaining to read, and looking back I appreciate it a lot more now. There’s a good build-up in the story that will please fans of Wolff and The Watcher’s series.

The Watcher’s series by Veronica Wolff is highly addictive and I urge you to read it.

[All Things Urban Fantasy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy

VAMPIRE’S KISS is a cross between Richelle Mead’s Vampire Academy series and La Femme Nikita. Translation: It’s scary good! Even better than ISLE OF NIGHT.

There is something so refreshingly sinister about this book. The bullies in VAMPIRE’S KISS aren’t going to spread rumors or say hateful things, no, they are going to try and gut you in the cafeteria, set your hair on fire, or strip you naked and tied to a tree to freeze to death. No exaggeration. And that’s not including the vampire instructors who dispense corporal punishment the way other teachers hand out detention slips. It’s intense, it’s scary, but it’s so exhilarating to watch Drew fight back. She smart enough to know when to keep her mouth shut, and she’s stubborn enough to deal with the consequences when she slips up.

And if the title didn’t clue you in, there is plenty of romance to balance out all the terror. Whether it’s the ancient super sexy/super scary vampire that takes a special interest in Drew, the stoic Tracer who deceived Drew initially but now seems to be protecting her, the vampire-in-training whose playful flirtations may be more than playful, or the enigmatic angry vampire that Drew is sent to rescue. Any one of these guys could be the lead in their own story, but Veronica Wolff packs them all into one book. Be still my heart.

Overall, ISLE OF NIGHT was an amazing debut, but VAMPIRE’S KISS takes all the dangerous and romantic aspects from the debut and makes them even better. I don’t ever want to end up on the Isle of Night, but I can’t wait to read more about how Drew survives in the next Watcher book, BLOOD FEVER, due out in August 2012.

Sexual Content:
Kissing. References to sex

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by Julia at RexRobotReviews.com

Vampire's Kiss is packed to the brim with action, adventure, and kick ass girls- Wolff has hit another home run! The second installment after Isle of Night, Vampire's Kiss did NOT let me down. It is dark and breathtaking, a vividly told story. PLEASE check this series out! In each novel, Wolff has me engrossed almost immediately, she's a superb story teller.

Once again, Drew is our extremely likeable, three dimensional protagonist and I love her. She is smart, lethal, and sticks up for herself. She is full of so much personality that it literally pops off the pages. The secondary characters are just as wonderful as Drew. They are these delicious men that are all craving her attention. Though we don't know all of their motivations, it doesn't matter at this point, they're all swoon worthy. Well, with the exception of Alcantara. He unveils an evil, creepy side in Vampire's Kiss... I'm not into him. BUT, my heart is torn between Ronan, Josh and McCloud. Ah, McCloud is dangerous and hunky. By the end of Vampire's Kiss, I am head over heels for McCloud. Though I must admit that Ronan and Josh also gave me butterflies.

Now that I'm done raving about the characters... The plot is extremely intense and entertaining. There is nothing that feels trite or overdone about Vampire's Kiss. It is a fresh, new, action-packed story and I can't get enough. Seriously my favorite Young Adult Paranormal out right there right now. Veronica Wolff has created a wonderfully addictive, dangerous series that has me captivated. Keep them coming!! Can not wait for the next release, Blood Fever, out August 2012!

[Tati · Rating 4 out of 5]

After surviving her first term in the Isle of Night, Drew has to prepare for her mission. While trying to acquire the necessary skills, she also has to deal with the enmity of the older girls and with Alcántara, the vampire that's taking her on the mission. Not to mention that, she also has plans to escape the island. However, the mission does not go according to plan, which may have disastrous consequences.

It was a good read, well-paced and with tension in the right places. Drew comes across as a strong, fierce girl, but she can be whiny at times (perfectly normal, as she is a teenager thrown into a hard situation). She does make some stupid decisions (seriously, who confronts a girl with a whip, for crying out loud?), but it does not make her a bad character. I did think that the mission itself was a bit rushed after three quarters of the book building to it. Ronan was way too distant for my liking, with no good explanation being given, leaving Drew open to Alcántara advances. It's interesting to see how many characters are sort of vying for Drew's heart: Ronan, Alcántara, Josh... And then she ends snapped up by someone else, though that might not be definite. I also fear for Emma and Yas. Given what happens to Amanda, they probably won't get a Happy Ever After.

The next book is already on my TBR shelf, but I don't think I'm in a rush to read it (I'm not one to read books in a series in a row).

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the kinda book that you sitting on the edge of your seat and bracing yourself what was to come.

Although at first I wasn't completely into it. I kinda found it dragging and my interest dwindling however when I was about to give up there was a turn of events and I was back to the adrenaline rush of the whole mission thing and it became more spontaneous and surprising with every page-turn.

At the end it kept getting better and better and I was satisfied up to the last page where I wanted more.

This was a good book and it took me by surprise at how 'into it' I had become by the end.

It's a wholly different retelling of vampirism. And that whole concept alone made it a worthwhile read.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good sequel to Isle of Night, i'm liking where things went, not enough Ronan but some nice developments happening and a new vamp to be intrigued by :)

[Cyp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted at A Bookalicious Story.

VAMPIRE'S KISS just about blew my mind away. I am utterly and irrevocably in love with this series. All over again. This is the romance that Hunger Games sorely lacked - any proper ones, anyway. And I loved it. Loved it, loved it, loved it!! Seriously, there's no other girl out there right now as happy or as depressed as me right now. Happy to have read such a miraculously, insanely intense and awesome book, and depressed because the next book in the series, BLOOD FEVER, will only be released in August.

My Brief Summary

VAMPIRE'S KISS begins where ISLE OF NIGHT ended, at the beach where our heroine, Annelise "Ann" Drew, and her other Acari classmates are undergoing physical training when Master Alcantara shows up. Sexy, dangerous and mysterious, he singles out Drew and pulls her out of the class and into another - dancing. And after those mortifying lessons? German etiquette and protocols. And after that? Dining etiquette.

Seriously? Not only that, Alcantara's been seeing her more often lately, and his manners has become more...direct and, could it be? Flirtatious. Drew doesn't know what to think. She knows she's playing with fire, but she can't help it when Ronan seems to be distancing himself, and having private, meaningful gestures with another Proctor. And on top of all the emotional conplications she has to sort out, she has to keep her wits about her, cause the moment she lets her guards down, her peers are coming in and playing for keeps. Fighting to win. Fighting to survive. And she'd best not forget that.

Also with the upcoming off-island mission with Alcantara looming ahead, she'll have to double up her efforts in training. Cause she's going to learn that not all vampires in this world are good. Or at least more inhumane, if you count kidnapping girls to fight to the death, and eviscerating someone to instill fear in the rest good.

My Thoughts

I don't know how, but Wolff has managed to contain everything that I've ever wanted in a book in VAMPIRE'S KISS - that stunning love-triangle or love-square which wasn't overly done, that blood-pounding action, suspense, and thrill in all those fatal encounters and plotting and scheming, and just trying to survive on that island, the emotions that roiled within me was constantly on the all-high, and I loved every single, minuscule moment of being captivated by her words.

*Prepare yourself for some epic fangirl gushing*

One thing that strikes as the most outstanding feature of this book was the added romance. There were just subtle hints in ISLE OF NIGHT between Tracer Ronan, Master Alcantara and Drew, keeping you wondering if Ronan and Alcantara were actually hinting at something more. But in VP, there were many times when Alcantara is clearly flirting with our pretty, smart, sassy, and strong Drew, but then as you hear Drew doubt, speculate and try to give reasons to Alcantara's more-than-friendly behavior, you start to doubt too. But the way he carresses her cheek, almost-kisses her, and became furious when she appears in front of him with a new bruise or cut, or that time when Drew almost fell trying to keep pace with him in a rocky terrain and he stops and cares for her feet, could it mean more? You have to take into account that he is a very old vampire who has no qualms whatsoever of eviscerating a human being, so no, still not sure on the whole romance front.

Then there is Ronan. Drew is starting to realise that Ronan and this other Proctor are sharing secret glances and letters, and that doesn't sit well with her. I mean, she thought that Ronan and her had a "thing-thing" (direct quote), but after all these private gestures and such, she's sure it's all just in her head. But Ronan still cares for her, and he stiffens and tenses whenever Alcantara approaches/meets up with Drew. That has to count for something. And it's terribly cute when they're teasing each other and not cold and indifferent.

And then there is that special someone at the end of the book!!!!!! If you think Alcantara or Ronan is sexy, wait till you meet that guy - or more accurately, man - at the end!!!!!! Omg, I think I've just found another fiction hottie to root for!!:D:D Trust me, this guy is so worth your money and time and effort to buy and read the book.

But even with so many love interests, the romance wasn't overly done, even though it was significantly more...I wouldn't say emphasized, just more talked-about. But no worries, it's the type that gives you butterflies in your stomach, not the type that will make you roll your eyes. *ahemtwilightahem* It's the type that makes you feel all warm and smile whenever the guys make a teasing, friendly pass at Drew. I mean, except for Ronan. He's too brooding and proper to do that kind of stuff.

Ok, I've got to stop harping on the romance and move onto other stellar aspects of this book. Stellar cause seriously, there were no flaws that I could spot. That's what you get when you find the perfect book for you. This book is perfect, with a pop at the P.

Don't get me wrong, this book is not all about the chummy and daisies, it's also about the ruthlessness and heartlessness of vampires and humans alike. Because on the Isle of Night, no one is your ally, and everyone is for themselves. You let down your guard for a minute and you're a goner for sure. That's what Drew still has to do - she's got to keep her wits up from being eaten up by the other she-wolves that she's got to compete with. Cause you've got to use whatever means you can to survive, and they fully embrace the Darwinian way of doing things: Survival of the fittest.

As always, it is wonderful to listen to Drew be the narrator of VP. She's strong, she's smart, she's beautiful, she's modest, she's sassy, she's funny, she's loyal, and even with that more-than-tough exterior, it's her innate good heart that's the nicest to listen to. She, Emma and Yasuo becomes closer in VP, and it's heartwarming to see Emma start to stand up for Drew when Drew stood up for Emma and both of them were facing something equivalent to a not-so-pretty death sentence. Ok, it was just a face-off with approximately more than 10 Initiates, Guidons, whatever mean girls there were plus Masha and Trinity heading them. And if you'd remember, Masha's the one with the signature whip as her weapon of choice, able to flay and stuff. But still, it was a rather fatal face-off, and they were there, standing together.

The plot. Was. AMAZING. There was so many things going on in VP, but mainly it was on Drew training for her upcoming mission off the Isle of Night with Master Alcantara. Oh, and of course dodging all the (fatal) run-ins with the two Guidons who hate Drew and Emma, who is Drew's best friend, to their bone marrows, Masha and Trinity. And after that the mission that we've all been waiting for. The mission that led Drew to that hubba-hubba guy I was talking about. The one worth our money. B) Haha, but aside from that, I thought that the mission was a little short, considering how much was put into preparing for it. But it was still very suspenseful, and I was so utterly engrossed within its pages. Everything was so vivid I could feel the walls of the dungeon (yes, there will be a dungeon), see what Drew was seeing, and best of all, feel what she was feeling at that point in time - the nerves, the cold-sweat, the anticipation, and then the, ahem, desire. (Again, it is that aforementioned worth-our-money man that will incite such an emotion within our dear, courageous, strong-willed Drew) I was so focused on the book I didn't realise the time passing until it was dark outside the house!

I loved Wolff's writing style! As I've said, the descriptions were vivid, but that didn't mean it was draggy. On the contrary, it was anything but. I don't know how she does it, but there was humor too, and lots and lots and lots and lots of suspense. Especially when Drew engages in a fight. EPIC.

All in all, VAMPIRE'S KISS is undoubtedly one of the best books I've read so far, better yet than THE HUNGER GAMES and all. I wouldn't go on much further, cause I think I've said my fill, and if up till now you're still not convinced to read VP, then it's probably not for you. But seriously, this book is all kinds of goodness you don't want to miss out on. I'd recommend this to fans of the Hunger Games (cause inherently, they are very similar), and those that like a little romance to go along with their action. Actually, I'd just about recommend this to every-freaking-person who reads fiction novels.

P.S. I just finished the book, and I'm such an emotional wreck now...So much emotions churning in me!! Lol. Ok, calm down, CYP. Calm down.

P.P.S. And just in case you've forgotten, I am practically dying to get my hands on BLOOD FEVER. Dying....dying.... I'd probably be thinking about this one for quite some time..:/

[Lena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inhalt
Drew ist im zweiten Schuljahr der Vampirakademie Isle of Night angekommen. Dort wird sie als Vampirwächterin, eine Acari, ausgebildet. Bereits in den letzten Monaten sah sich Anneliese Drew allerlei Gefahren ausgesetzt, doch ihr Vampirlehrer Alcantara hat nicht vor, seine junge Schülerin nun zu schonen. Er möchte gemeinsam mit Anneliese auf eine Reise gehen, die unter der Mission, einen entführten Vampir des Clans zu befreien, steht.

Meinung
Nachdem der erste Band der Reihe ein solches Überraschungserlebnis für mich war, konnte ich es kaum erwarten, den zweiten Band in die Hand zu nehmen. Vielleicht war meine Vorfreude dieses Mal ein wenig zu hoch, sodass er mich nicht in dem Maße überzeugen konnte, wie der erste Teil.

Während ich die Sprache im ersten Band zum Teil als sehr vulgär empfunden habe, so hat mir der Schreibstil in ‘Vampire’s Kiss’ unheimlich gut gefallen. Zwar ist die Sprache auch hier immer noch sehr jugendlich, doch ist er definitiv angenehm zu lesen. Ich hatte beinahe das Gefühl, als würde ich mich mit der Protagonistin unterhalten. So ist es beispielsweise eine besonders ansprechende Idee, die Protagonistin Drew noch vor dem ersten Kapitel die wichtigsten Informationen aus dem ersten Band in Form einer Liste erzählen zu lassen. Anneliese Drew spricht den Leser direkt an, bringt ihn auf den neusten Stand, bevor die eigentliche Handlung beginnt.

Der gesamte Sprachstil passt wie die Faust aufs Auge zur Protagonistin Anneliese. Acari Drew ist das perfekte Beispiel für eine ausgelassene und lebensfrohe Protagonistin und so mag sie eigentlich so gar nicht zu diesem düsteren Ort, der Isle of Night, passen. Anneliese ist dafür verantwortlich, dass die Geschichte so wunderbar kurzweilig ist und man sie in einem Rutsch herunterlesen kann. Sie versteht sich darauf, Nebensächlichkeiten, die vielleicht von Natur aus gar nicht so fesselnd sind, zu etwas Besonderem zu machen.

Leider strotzt auch der zweite Band der Reihe nicht mit einer Handlung, die mich ununterbrochen den Atem hat anhalten lassen. Während der erste Teil ab der Hälfte die Kurve bekommen hat, mich schließlich doch überraschen konnte und mich hat über die Schwächen hinwegsehen lassen, so fällt in ‘Vampire’s Kiss – Die Wächter’ leider negativ auf, dass die Autorin ihre Grundidee nicht vollständig ausschöpft.

Obwohl Anneliese sich an einer sehr angsteinflößenden Vampirakademie befindet, so gibt es für den Leser doch nur eine Handvoll Momente, die zu fesseln vermögen. Leider lässt Veronica Wollf ihre Protagonistin immer wieder in nervige Teenieschwärmerein verfallen, die auch im Laufe der Handlung nicht abnehmen wollen und an denen ich mich daher schnell sattgelesen hatte. Wer von Schülern und Lehrern der Isle of Night nicht bei drei auf den Bäumen ist, gerät in Gefahr, Teil von Annelieses stürmischen Gedankengängen zu werden. Es vergeht kein Kapitel, in dem der Leser nicht miterleben darf, wie Anneliese das Aussehen ihrer männlichen Mitmenschen bewertet, sich vorstellt ihnen näherzukommen oder aber sich wünscht, endlich ihren ersten Kuss zu bekommen. Gegen jugendliche Schwärmereien ist absolut nichts auszusetzen. Doch sollten sie nicht im Fokus der Handlung stehen, gerade dann nicht, wenn eine Grundidee so viel Raum für weitaus fesselndere und abwechslungsreichere Momente bietet.

Wenn die Autorin sich darauf besinnt, dass in ihrer Geschichte doch eigentlich sehr gefährliche Vampire vorkommen, erhält die Handlung nach und nach mehr Schwung. So manövriert Veronica Wollf ihre Protagonistin in sehr rasante und für den Leser spannende Abenteuer, die aber leider viel zu schnell erzählt sind.
Bereits am Anfang der Geschichte macht Veronica Wollf dem Leser eine Reise schmackhaft, die Anneliese mit ihrem Lehrer Alcantara, einem angsteinflößendem Vampir, unternehmen soll. Obwohl Anneliese noch eine sehr junge und unerfahrene Acari ist, wird ihr die Ehre zu Teil, eine geheime Mission zu unterstützen. Auf den nächsten 250 Seiten wird der Leser aber dann immer wieder vertröstet und muss auf die angekündigte Reise warten. Bis knapp 70 Seiten vor Schluss habe ich schon gar nicht mehr damit gerechnet, dass die Mission überhaupt noch in diesem Band thematisiert wird. Für meinen Geschmack hätte Veronica Wolff diesem Handlungsstrang viel mehr Aufmerksamkeit schenken müssen, denn schließlich ist die Reise doch das Element, das den zweiten Teil von seinem Vorgängerband abheben soll.

Blick in die Zukunft
‘Vampire’s Kiss’ ist der zweite Band einer Reihe. Der dritte Band ist im August 2012 unter dem Namen ‘Blood Fever‘ auf Englisch erschienen, Teil vier, ‘The Keep‘, folgt im Juni. Deutsche Erscheinungstermine sind noch nicht bekannt.

Fazit
Leider konnte der zweite Band der Wächter Reihe mich nicht mehr in dem Maße überzeugen, wie es der Vorgängerband geschafft hat. ‘Vampire’s Kiss – Die Wächter’ ist nicht so spannend und rasant, wie es die Inhaltsangabe vermuten lässt. Denn dafür verfällt die Protagonistin Anneliese viel zu sehr in jugendliche Schwärmereien, die die Überhand in der Handlung gewinnen. Dafür ist aber der Schreibstil wunderbar leicht und kann bis zum Schluss unterhalten und fesseln.

[Abby Tackett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual Rating: 3.5

[D · Rating 4 out of 5]

How did we end up here

Penguin sent me pretty much this entire series and I’m just working my way through it now. I don’t know why I waited so long. These books are great!

Okay, book. You've got 50 pages. Go!

The shock value introduction to violence has been traded in for intrigue and big fat questions marks being held up by a rather slimy yet alluring vampire that Drew is equal parts drawn to and repelled by. She’s in preparation mode for her mission. She still doesn’t know what it is; all she knows is it involves ballroom dancing and she’s none too pleased.

Drew is also noticeably moodier in this second book of the series and it’s being chalked up to her doses of vampire blood for healing purposes but she has her issues too. Mostly it’s jealousy as she watches people get paired off, including the one person that she would even consider being with, and it makes her testy. And more willing to get closer to a particular Spanish slime ball with fangs.

What worked . . .

Pretty much everything.

I like watching Drew grow into a bad ass but she still has a lot of hang-ups centered around self-confidence in the romance department and her attitude toward people. She’s damn smart but she gets herself into tricky situations that her brain has a hard time getting her out of. And sometimes it’s her mouth that gets her into those situations and no matter how hard her brain works it can’t save her. She’s an endearing character that’s constantly on edge and I couldn’t help but getting a little twitchy with her.

The violence was scaled back a bit in VAMPIRE’S KISS and replaced with manners training and ballroom dancing in preparation for Drew’s mission, however it wasn’t eked out entirely. Drew gets her ass handed to her by a rival group of girls, not only from a physical standpoint but a mental one too. And Wolff proves that she’s not afraid to indiscriminately kill her characters. And then play around with their bodies a little. It makes my black little heart happy when she does that.

Alcantara. Despite how much of a sexual slime ball he is he is rather sadistic and I got to see a side of him in this book that he hasn’t yet shown. It’s Wolff’s constant reminder that her vampires are not fluffy little poodles looking for love. They torture and kill and the second you become a threat or otherwise useless to them you’re done. I like it.

What didn't work . . .

I would have liked to have seen the “gorgeous bad boy” a little more. The blurb and the cover does a lot of set-up for him but his role is limited to the last couple of chapters of the book. Granted a mile marker in Drew’s life happens with him, something she didn’t intend to do, but it made my view of the book a little slanted. You’d expect someone with that much preview space to have a larger impact in this book’s story and he really doesn’t. It appears he plays heavier in the third book but this is the second. And he’s relegated to the end.

And in the end . . .

Wolff’s writing reminds me a lot of Mari Mancusi’s in that the approach to the story is rather light-hearted but her vampires are VAMPIRES that will kill you dead in a heartbeat and the stakes in the protagonists’ lives are very real (both pointed and otherwise). People get hurt and die despite the teenage language and angst and puppy dog-eyed jealousy. It just makes me like these books even more. They’re definitely less satire than Mari’s books but they’re equally as engrossing and I’m devouring them all the same.

Drew’s is a great growth story, Wolff’s vampires remind me what vampires are really like and the plot keeps sucking me from one book to the next. I don’t know who’s going to survive, I don’t know how whole someone’s going to come out of a situation and I don’t know when Drew’s going to get over her jealousy. Looks like I’ll just have to keep reading to find out. VAMPIRE’S KISS is a great lighter read when you’re looking to have fun with your book. You just might get some red on you by the end of it, though. Fair warning.

[Jessica (a GREAT read) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Veronica Wolff's Vampire's Kiss was just as awesome as the first book! I honestly cannot decide which is better of the two! They are both so wonderfully written it is hard to choose just one, as you may know I can rarely ever choose just 1 fave book!

It's summer time, really this takes place before Annelise starts her second year there, but this is going to be one helluva summer! She passed the final test not that long ago, Lilac is gone. So all should be well. There's just the other girls there now, and her friend Emma. But Annelise has a new set of enemies now. And it's the upper class. Lilac was bad enough on her own, but when all the older girls, like Masha.

But angry girls is only one of Annelise's problems. She seems to have a lot on her mind as she gears up for the mission Alcantara keeps mentioning to her. In fact the first 3/4 of the book is Annelise preparing and dealing with her student body enemies. I was wondering when, if ever, she would go on this mission. For she planned to make her grand escape during this trip as well. Which I found odd. She is enjoying excelling at this school, yet she still yearns to escape. And maybe join the CIA or some other such company and use her super cool skills. It was just a little odd since she does seem to enjoy her time at the school despite the bullies.

And then there are the boys! Yes, she still secretly pines for Ronan, maybe not "pine", but the crush is still there.Yet Ronan isn't as much. He's distant, and her Proctor Amanda seems to be as well. She can't help but notice the looks the two share when they think no one is looking.



Another interest is actually the vampire Alcantara, which I can't figure out. It might just be the whole vampires are sexy thing, but I can't get a bead on it. He is a teacher, but there only seems to be tension brewing and there may be an ulterior motive that we aren't aware of yet.

Then there's Josh! I like Josh! He's an Aussie and I love his accent! He's flirty and fun! And he proves himself to be a great friend in this book. I can't tell yet if he's a contender for Annelise's heart yet. So there's quite the shape of love going on here! There's no telling which direction Annelise might go in!

When Annelise finally does go on her mission things end up going haywire! The end results are shocking and a bit frightening. We're left with more puzzles and questions than answers. Like who exactly this mysterious prisoner that Annelise helped escape is. And why Alcantara wasn't exactly pleased with the results of said rescue mission.

The ending was surprising as well. I mean total shocker! And I sooooo cannot wait to see where the next book takes us! What I really enjoy about this series is the characters! Annelise is still one of my most fave YA heroines! I feel a connection to her, maybe because we're both short--although she's still an inch taller than me!--and have that kind of outcast thing from high school as I wasn't really in any kind of crowd back then! But I find her refreshing, yet sometimes she is a bit naive with certain things, but that makes her more real. I wouldn't want to have a main character who was without flaws!

There are still a few unresolved mysteries left in this one. One's a spoiler, so I won't go there, another is about the island itself. Annelise makes a kind of discovery but before we can dwell too much into it, she goes on her mission. These few cliffhangers aren't too dreadful, they just make you yearn to know more, but it doesn't make the wait all that killer like with other cliffhangers that shall not be named!

Vampire's Kiss was pure awesomeness! Filled with moments both terrifying and endearing, this series is a roller coaster of a ride and once again I highly recommend reading it!

Overall rating 5/5 stars

[Irina Villacis · Rating 4 out of 5]

el primer libro me encantó mucho aunque parece algo ligerito como un asunto misterioso y de sobrevivir. lo mejor es los personajes , aunque para alguien como yo que leo muchos libros me suena parecidos a otros libros tiene esa personalidad que me gusta.

el problema que le quité una estrella es que en este libro nadie le quiere contar a la protagonista sus secretos. algo se esta gestando y nadie quiere aflojar prenda. nos quedaremos con la duda.

[Tammi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Annelise Drew aka Acari Drew has won the Directorate Award competition and things return to “normal” on Eyja næturinnar or the Isle of Night after the competition. Annelise’s prize for winning is that she gets to accompany the vampire Alcántara on a mission off the island. She had been looking forward to this because she is planning on escaping the Isle of Night. That is her main focus. Alcántara shows greater interest in her and Annelise is sure that he has interfered with things in the past. She has to take these strange classes, including ballroom dancing, in order to prepare for their mission, which she has no details of. The one thing that makes her happy on the Isle of Night is Ronan. After her victory in the Directorate Award competition, he seems more distant than ever. Annelise, being a genius, likes to think things through. She wonders why Alcántara is showing favoritism toward her and what is going on with her and Ronan?

When Annelise finally finds out the details of the mission, she is happy that it is finally coming near and understands the reasoning for some of the classes she was forced to take. She learns that there are good and bad vampires and they are going to try to save one of the good ones. She is going undercover as a serving girl to ascertain the location of the vampire that they are rescuing. She plans to escape after helping rescue this vampire. Things don’t always go as planned. After this mission, the lines between good and bad guy are very hazy. The vampire she was saving, Carden McCloud, isn’t what she expected.

I thought this was a great sophomore book in the Watcher series. It was interesting to read. Wolff really draws you into the story. There was a few times where I would gasp because of what happened. A lot of my questions were answered from Isle of Night, but so many more were raised with this book. I am really looking forward to Blood Fever coming out in August 2012!

Cover:

On the cover is a male, who I’m presuming to be Carden McCloud and Annelise. There is also a monestary, and I’m presuming this to be where the mission will take placed. Again, I like the colors and found myself looking at the cover quite a few times while reading the book. I especially like that you can see their eyes so well.

I Liked:

•Annelise Drew. I like her attitude. She is a fighter. Has been through an abusive relationship with her father and ended up at the Isle of Night because of her IQ. She questions why she has to learn all the stuff that they make her do, but she does it because she wants out of there. She makes friends in Yasuo and Emma and that is unexpected for her. She doesn’t know how to be a friend.

•Yasuo and Emma. Annelise’s friends. Even though she is new at friendship and doesn’t always say or do the right thing, they are loyal to her.

•Josh. I wanted to talk about Josh in the Isle of Night review, but I thought I would save it for Vampire’s Kiss. He is Annelise’s German Etiquette tutor. He is from Australia and is training to become a vampire. He has good standards and is a gentleman. He helps Annelise in more ways than one. I am interested to see what happens to Josh further on in the Watchers series.

•Carden McCloud. He is the vampire that they are rescuing from the bad vampires. He makes snarky comments.

I Did Not Like:

• Alcántara. He is a vampire and is just creepy. Every time I would read about him, it would give me the chills.

•The Isle of Night. I do not like the things that happen there.

•The Bad Vampires. They are “bad.”

[Kt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally posted on my blog: A Book Obsession..

After giving everything she had to win the challenge at the end of last school year, Drew has been preparing for her upcoming reward mission, but she may not even survive that long. Still an Acari at the bottom rung, she'll need to keep her wits about her as the attacks keep coming from all sides. Still, she stays strong and fights her battles as they come. The worst is yet to come as her mission involves infiltrating a group of vampires even more deadly than the ones on the island. She must get information from the bloodthirsty vamps to find one of the Watcher's own before his torturers succeed in getting the information they want out of him. Yet once again nothing is as it seems, and this time Drew may just have bitten off more than she can chew.

Vampire's Kiss seemed like a book for starting relationships. My head is spinning from all the potential love interests, so you can only imagine what Drew is going through. You have Ronan, who has been there from the very start. He is quite mysterious, and seems to care for Drew, or as he calls her, Annelise. However, that is a very dangerous possibility as a relationship would be forbidden. And on the island, breaking the rules means death. Then there is Josh who seems to be a pretty good guy, but there is definitely more going on than meets the eye. He still is forbidden, but I think there is a possibility that could change when/if he becomes a vampire. Then we go to Alcantara, the mysterious and very powerful vamp that seems to have his sights set on Drew. I'm not really sure how I feel about him as his interest in Drew has kept her mostly safe so far, but I don't think encouraging him would be a smart move. I don't think she could survive very long with his full attention. I doubt anyone could. Finally there is one more love interest that is yet again, forbidden, but this one seems to have more of an impact on Drew. He'll be introduced in Vampire's Kiss, so I'll leave it at that.

I'm really having a hard time figuring out what the vampire's angle is in this series. I get that they want the best of the best to be their Watchers, but why do they even need them? Aren't they powerful enough on their own? I'm especially unsure of Alcantara's motivations. One minute he seems to enjoy Drew's wit and sarcasm, and the next he is all super scary when he feels she has overstepped. Yet he says he wants her to be comfortable around him. Really? Then there also is the question of why in the world he would want Drew for his super secret mission. She has so little training that it really doesn't make sense unless he had another angle going on that isn't clear. There is a whole lot more going on here just beyond the surface, and I wish I could figure it out.

I'm having some mixed feelings about this series as a whole. We are two books in, and each one knocked my socks off, and yet I don't really feel like we are getting anywhere. There are so many questions that just keep multiplying to the point of frustration. Granted, I was thoroughly entertained and sucked into the stories, however I can see the lack of answers could quickly start to lesson my enjoyment of the books. Which would really be a shame, as I could easily see this series moving to the top of my YA favorites list. So hopefully the next installment will feel a little more gratifying in the answers department. As far as Vampire's Kiss, well to sum it up, it rocked.

[Dark Faerie Tales · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.

Quick & Dirty: A more engaging sequel, the heroine’s eyes are open to the truth of the vampires’ intentions.

Opening Sentence: I looked around my room for the last time.

The Review:

Veronica Wolff intrigued me so much that I had to pick up Vampire’s Kiss. There was something absolutely captivating about this series that I couldn’t stop reading about it. I was lucky that I was late to the game and that the following books were already released.

Drew’s first year as an Acari recruit wasn’t an easy one. After many tears, apprehensive nights, physical labor, she survived, but without sacrifices. Now Drew is determined to become a Watcher. But if she learned one thing after her first year, it is that nothing is what it seems. Vampires are sinister, recruits and deathly competitive, and she can only find solace in a select handful. Set to go on her first mission, Drew quickly learns that she is in much deeper than she can stand.

Drew has grown on me. Her tenacity has calmed down, but still lingers on the surface. She is still determined to do what she wants, but now she is a little weary. Her questions are slowly being answered, but not on purpose. It is sad how closed off she has become, but within reason. Drew’s life on the island has taken a turn for the worse, in more ways than one. And there is a creepy thing going on with the vampire Alcantara that really weirds me out. I mean, really, really weird.

The characters have evolved so much from Isle of Night to Vampire’s Kiss. Usually, I see characters evolve after the end of book two, but not for Wolff. She has placed each character into the perfect position to love or hate, depending on the scene. I began to understand each character and their thoughts, allowing for a perfect development and progression of growth.

Wolff’s world was built solely on an island. In Vampire’s Kiss, she is extending that world for the sake of the mission. I was a little hesitant to love the changes, but once I read the story, those changes were inevitable.

There are a lot of intriguing plots in Vampire’s Kiss, some action anxiety-causing scenes, as well as a cliffhanger that almost made me angry. The intensity of the plot is entertaining to read, and looking back I appreciate it a lot more now. There’s a good build-up in the story that will please fans of Wolff and The Watcher’s series.

Vampire’s Kiss and The Watcher’s series by Veronica Wolff is highly addictive and I urge you to read it.

Notable Scene:

I blinked the water out of my eyes. The gray sky was a fraction darker than before. How long had I been floating there? With a shake of my head, I righted myself and grabbed onto the side of the dory.

He gave me a knowing smile. Once again, he’d known I could do something, and once again he’d been right.

I glared, reluctant to give him another victory.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“You’re smiling.”

His eyes wrinkled, making him look perplexed. “And that’s bad?”

“It makes you look like a pirate.”

He laughed. “Just get in the boat.”

I wanted to coax one more laugh from him. I wanted to erase the discomfort of our earlier conversations. I wanted to make it all okay. “Does that mean you forgive me?”

His eyes rested on me for a long moment. “It means I knew you could do it.”

I took that as a yes.

FTC Advisory: NAL Trade/Penguin provided me with a copy of Vampire’s Kiss. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

[Wendy Lohr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plot:

Annelise Drew is back in this second installment and she's as snarky and spirited as ever! It's summertime on the Isle of Night and she's taking every course imaginable related to decorum and etiquette to prepare herself for her upcoming mission with Master Alcántara. As she struggles to learn business German, place settings, and complicated ballroom dancing, things begin to heat up between her and the dangerous vampire. Then, throw into the mix the jealousies of the older girls in training, secrets being shared between Ronan and Amanda that Annelise wants to uncover, and the dangerous uneasiness that is everyday life on the secluded and dreary island, and soon Annelise is in way over her head...again.

Characters:

Annelise Drew is as strong-willed and snarky as ever, which makes her all the more loveable in her leading role. She still has many insecurities, especially where needing to feel loved and have a place where she feels she belongs is concerned. She finds herself in unfamiliar territory when it comes to flirtations and romance, both of which seem to come from the one person she doesn't want (or does she?)...Master Alcántara.

World-Building:

Most of the book takes place on the Isle of Night, which is creepy in and of itself. It's summertime and what the vampires call The Dimming is taking place, where it is constantly light out, alternating between light grey and dark grey. Lessons are progressing, people still end up injured or dead, and everyone is tense as they keep a wary eye on their peers. Throw in some intrigue and jealousy and power struggles and the entire atmosphere is an explosion waiting to happen.

Overall Impression:

This was an incredibly good book, one that I didn't want to put down until I was done with the last page! I love Annelise's strength and impulsiveness as well as her pension for wanting to satisfy her constant curiosity. She lands herself in trouble quite a bit but uses her brains as well as her strength to get herself out of most sticky situations. The chemistry between her and Ronan was a bit dull in this book and her interactions with Alcántara were at times amusing and sweet and other times just a bit creepy. But, the vampire that she goes on the mission to rescue in the end is the one that really stole the show for me! I won't mention much about him as I don't want to spoil anything...but I was definitely intrigued by him and look forward to hopefully reading more about him in the next book!

With all of that said, the one "complaint" I have is that even though the synopsis talked up the mission a lot, that mission took up very little space in the book. I would have loved to have seen the plot more centered around the mission itself. And I'm probably being a little selfish by saying this because if it had centered more around the mission, there would have been more interactions with above-mentioned yummy vampire guy! Just my opinion, though.

Vampire's Kiss was an incredible read and I want to thank Veronica Wolff for the opportunity to win an ARC copy as I have been dying to read this since I finished Isle of Night back in October 2011. This review is based on that ARC and I am in no way compensated for my review of this book.

Okay, now that I've got all of that out......Hurry up August 2012 because I am now dying to read the next book in this incredible series, Blood Fever!!!

[Jennifer Monzon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vampire’s Kiss is the second Installment of The Watcher’s Series and although it’s the second book it can be a stand alone. However, I am definitely picking up the first installment Isle of Night because I want to know how the second book came about.

The cover of the book is mesmerizing. I absolutely love book covers with the main character’s faces on them so that I can visualize who it is that I am reading about. I loved the colors on the book as Blue happens to be one of my favorite colors. However, I am confused as to who the man might be on the cover. Ronan? Alcantara? or McCloud? Hmmm.. that’s a question I would have to ask the author.

The characters in this novel are greatly developed, and highly likable. I was intrigued with the world that Veronica Wolff has created and couldn’t stop reading to reveal all of it’s details. We begin with Acari Drew. She’s a in her second year at the Isle of Night as an Acari and is in training to become a watcher. When her schedule gets slightly changed from fighting to dancing, serving and perfecting her German language, she perplexed. That’s until she learns that she’s about to embark in her first mission. Acari Drew’s emotions are going wild and she’s confused as ever since her mentor Ronan has distanced himself, Master Alcantara is as evil as they come but has been paying more attention to her (something she’s never experienced) and when on her mission she discovers that something she did while on her mission is the most dangerous thing she’s ever done!
Ronan is a vampire recruiter and also Acari Drew’s mentor. Drew instantly becomes attracted to Ronan because of his charming looks, but not only that. He listens to her, gives her advice and actually cares about her. Not that he’s mentioned it but just by his actions alone gives her the assumption that he truly cares about her. Although, she wished he cared about her in a different way. I liked Ronan’s character he’s reserved, honest and trustworthy.
Master Alcantara. I liked his character even though it seemed as though he’s evil. He has this sexy bad boy aura about him that makes me melt every time he’s around Acari Drew. And I wasn’t the only one. Acari Drew also felt something around this vampire. I loved the way he spoke to Acari Drew in Spanish, that sent chills up my spine. Imagine a sexy bad boy vampire and you are picturing Alcantara.

The story takes place on an Island where vampire recruiters travel around to world to get the “bad kids” and bring them to this Island. These bad kids are anywhere from kids that are or have been in Juve, abused by their parents or anything in that category. They are taken to this Island to train hard to become fierce and deadly. The boys are considered to convert into Vampires once their training is complete. The girls on the other hand are trained to become what’s known as the “Watchers”. It’s a unique story that captures your interest from the very first page. I read the book cover to cover in two days and while I wasn’t reading I was thinking about the story. I highly recommend this book.

[Eunice S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vampire's Kiss was AMAZING!!! It did not disappoint.

I just basically read the whole book in 9 hours. Yes, you heard me right, 9 hours and I even took breaks. I couldn't even be bothered to put it on my currently reading list. That's how much I enjoyed this book. Just like the first book Isle Of Night, it was fast paced, witty, exciting, action packed and just purely compelling. I seriously could not put it down!!!

Annelise Drew was still our same old spunky, sarcastic protagonist but in this book I think she's tougher and braver. Annelise was never described as one of the pretty ones and only stands at 5'2 but would you believe she has about three guys pining for her? See, that's why I love her so much, she's not like your usual female protagonist in series that are always described as pretty or hot or sexy. I really love her cause she's smart, brave, witty, sarcastic, doesn't let anyone bring her down but at the same time she could also be sensitive and a loving friend to Yasuo, Emma, and Ronan. And above all that, I really felt like she's just a normal teenager and real. Wolff has done a graceful job at writing Annelise.

Now with the boys in Annelise's life:

Ronan - Oh Ronan. He's just so dreamy! I always seem to get butterflies when he's around. I have always wanted Annelise and him to be together but in this book he's a little distant with her and often times they would have little fights which I thought was cute.

Hugo Alcantara - I still found him creepy but in this book just like Annelise, I found him sexy and he actually made me swoon. Yes, creepy Alcantara made me SWOON! I love when speaks Spanish and calls Annelise, querida, very swoon worthy moments. I actually like him more in this book than in Isle Of Night.

Carden Mcloud - hmmm, I'm actually not sure what I feel about him. He's still a mystery but I'm excited to learn more about him in Blood Fever.

Yasuo - Seriously why can't I have a guy bestfriend like him? I always seem to laugh every time him and Annelise interact.

Wolff is a genius when it came to her male characters. Seriously, how do you make creepy, centuries old vampires swoon worthy? Even Claude Fournier, the Headmaster who would kill you without moment's hesitation made me swoon and FIY he only had a little scene but damn it, the way Wolff described his appearance made me swoon!

Vampire's kiss also had a lot of "OH MY GOD" moments that made me scream while reading. This book is really unpredictable cause there were some parts that really caught me off guard and the little twist at the end really surprised me.

Just like Isle of Night, this book gave me all the FEELS! You should really give this series a try!!! I know some of you guys no longer want to read vampire novels but The Watchers Series is worth giving a try.

Blood Fever (The Watchers #3) comes out in August!