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Vampire Kisses #9
Immortal Hearts
Athena "Stormy" Sterling is coming to Dullsville, and Raven is both excited and panicked in anticipation of Alexander's little sister's visit. Alexander tells Raven that she and his sister have a lot in common, but can the mini-Raven be everything she hopes for? Alexander calls her Stormy for a reason.
Stormy's visit stirs up the perfect immortal whirlwind. Raven is forced to take a good look at what it would really mean to be a vampire in the Sterling family, aside from some of the things she already loves, like shunning the sun and sleeping in a coffin with Alexander. When Raven compares her life with Stormy's, she can see that it's not all starry skies and black roses. But Raven knows she's always wanted to be a vampire.
Alexander is as romantic and dreamy as ever, and though he keeps showing Raven how much he loves her, will she ultimately be able to convince him that it's the right thing to turn her?
This final chapter of Vampire Kisses' nocturnal romance will keep all mortal and immortal hearts racing.
Stormy's visit stirs up the perfect immortal whirlwind. Raven is forced to take a good look at what it would really mean to be a vampire in the Sterling family, aside from some of the things she already loves, like shunning the sun and sleeping in a coffin with Alexander. When Raven compares her life with Stormy's, she can see that it's not all starry skies and black roses. But Raven knows she's always wanted to be a vampire.
Alexander is as romantic and dreamy as ever, and though he keeps showing Raven how much he loves her, will she ultimately be able to convince him that it's the right thing to turn her?
This final chapter of Vampire Kisses' nocturnal romance will keep all mortal and immortal hearts racing.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published May 15, 2012
123 people are currently reading
9550 people want to read
About the author
Ellen Schreiber
53 books4,202 followersBefore I took pen to paper, I was an actress. I attended a local university majoring in theatre and spent a summer in London at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts where I learned about the “Old Bard” from amazingly talented teachers.
When I returned from London, I relocated to Chicago where I lived for five years. There, I graduated from the Second City Training Center and performed improv, Shakespeare, comedies and dramas--I even sang and danced on a cruise boat--without falling in Lake Michigan! A classmate of mine from Second City and I created and performed a two woman show for a year before I braved it alone doing stand-up comedy. It was during this time I began to write an adult novel about a rock star--I had always enjoyed writing...
Fast forward a couple of years along with a move home where I was performing “stand-up” at comedy clubs in the area. On a plane to LA to decide my fate-- “to move to LA or not to move to LA” that is the question, my big bro, Mark, coincidentally with the same last name as mine (author of PRINCES IN EXILE, DREAMS OF THE SOLO TRAPEZE and STARCROSSED) handed me a young adult book he found at the library he thought I’d like to read during the flight.
As I read the book, I thought, ‘I can do this!’
I returned from LA, and instead of moving there, I wrote my story about the rock star as a young adult novel and called it JOHNNY LIGHTNING.
Mark, my writing mentor, edited JL for me. He was kind enough to send the manuscript to his publisher in Belgium--Facet--and they published it! In Dutch!
I was now on a new life path!
In 2001 HarperCollins made me an offer I couldn’t refuse! Not only was HarperCollins going to publish TEENAGE MERMAID, but it was in a language I could read and book stores I could walk into! HarperCollins also bought VAMPIRE KISSES and COMEDY GIRL.
It was a dream come true!
Since beginning my new life path, VAMPIRE KISSES, TEENAGE MERMAID, and MY MOTHER, THE CLOWN have been published by Facet in Belgium and JOHNNY LIGHTNING has been published in Germany by Ravensburger.
Then my fabulous editor at HarperCollins asked me for a sequel to VAMPIRE KISSES!
HarperCollins published VAMPIRE KISSES 2--KISSING COFFINS and now the soon to be released VAMPIRE KISSES 3--VAMPIREVILLE. I am currently writing VAMPIRE KISSES 4!
When I'm not writing about the love affair between vampire obsessed, goth girl Raven and my favorite mysterious dark-eyed hottie, Alexander Sterling, I enjoy working on my other novels, shopping for Hello Kitty items, and attempting to gain control of the remote from my boyfriend.
When I returned from London, I relocated to Chicago where I lived for five years. There, I graduated from the Second City Training Center and performed improv, Shakespeare, comedies and dramas--I even sang and danced on a cruise boat--without falling in Lake Michigan! A classmate of mine from Second City and I created and performed a two woman show for a year before I braved it alone doing stand-up comedy. It was during this time I began to write an adult novel about a rock star--I had always enjoyed writing...
Fast forward a couple of years along with a move home where I was performing “stand-up” at comedy clubs in the area. On a plane to LA to decide my fate-- “to move to LA or not to move to LA” that is the question, my big bro, Mark, coincidentally with the same last name as mine (author of PRINCES IN EXILE, DREAMS OF THE SOLO TRAPEZE and STARCROSSED) handed me a young adult book he found at the library he thought I’d like to read during the flight.
As I read the book, I thought, ‘I can do this!’
I returned from LA, and instead of moving there, I wrote my story about the rock star as a young adult novel and called it JOHNNY LIGHTNING.
Mark, my writing mentor, edited JL for me. He was kind enough to send the manuscript to his publisher in Belgium--Facet--and they published it! In Dutch!
I was now on a new life path!
In 2001 HarperCollins made me an offer I couldn’t refuse! Not only was HarperCollins going to publish TEENAGE MERMAID, but it was in a language I could read and book stores I could walk into! HarperCollins also bought VAMPIRE KISSES and COMEDY GIRL.
It was a dream come true!
Since beginning my new life path, VAMPIRE KISSES, TEENAGE MERMAID, and MY MOTHER, THE CLOWN have been published by Facet in Belgium and JOHNNY LIGHTNING has been published in Germany by Ravensburger.
Then my fabulous editor at HarperCollins asked me for a sequel to VAMPIRE KISSES!
HarperCollins published VAMPIRE KISSES 2--KISSING COFFINS and now the soon to be released VAMPIRE KISSES 3--VAMPIREVILLE. I am currently writing VAMPIRE KISSES 4!
When I'm not writing about the love affair between vampire obsessed, goth girl Raven and my favorite mysterious dark-eyed hottie, Alexander Sterling, I enjoy working on my other novels, shopping for Hello Kitty items, and attempting to gain control of the remote from my boyfriend.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 474 reviews
June 3, 2012
I honestly don't know how I feel about this book, much less how to rate it. I am emotionally attached to this series, so, of course, it was sad to see it end and there was a part of me that was somewhat pleased. But still, the book is bad. The writing is bad, the characterization is bad, the plot was bad, and...do I need to go on? Everything about this book is kind of bad. Still, I want to slap myself right now for actually writing that. I feel like I am betraying my pre-teen former self by giving this book 3 stars and calling it bad. But I am sorry to say that during this conclusion, though it ultimately reached the desired outcome, the ride there wasn't fulfilling. I guess I owe it to this series to think about it a bit more, but I don't think the rating or my impressions are going to change. I think I am actually glad it's over. A childhood obsession can only take so many hits before the whole illusion shatters and we are forced to admit that there never was anything truly outstanding about it, so this series definitely needed an ending.
-------------Edit 6/03/2012
If I were to be completely honest and objective, this book would barely make it to two stars. There's barely a plot in there, zero character development and, worst of all, it is really nothing but a forced, half-cooked ending to the series. But the truth is, I am not objective at all with this rating, so I'll try to be with the review.
What bothered me the most about this one is just how misleading the summary in the jacket of the book was. Throughout the whole series, Raven's desire to be a vampire has pretty much been driving force of the story. Would Alexander turn her or not? When, where, why, how? As a fan of the series, I kept expecting for this to happen but I also wanted to see the emotional and psychological development of Raven before the possibility of it. The blurb pretty much states that meeting Alexander's little sister and seeing how being a teenage vampire affects how she grows up would make Raven wonder about what being a vampire would do to her life. That is a lie. Raven's resolve to be turned by Alexander never wavers or weakens. That would be admirable if it wasn't because Raven is just so immature, petty, childish and silly about it. Despite what she constantly says, I never once truly believed Raven wanted to turn into a vampire because of Alexander and because of what that would mean to their relationship. It was all about her and what she wanted and what she needs, and, while at first during the first installments it was charming, now it was just irritating and a demonstration on poor character development. Raven is still set on becoming a vampire, never wondering about the effect this will have in her life and emotional ties with family and friends, but don't worry, the author saved Raven and us from that by never actually having Raven care about it and going right in with the resolution we always knew these series would have.
Mostly nothing is resolved with this finale. Schreiber didn't even try to tie loose strings or put an end to on going side plots like Raven's relationship with Trevor or how more and more people were becoming aware of the existence of vampires in Dullsville. She did try to put an end to the weird connecting between Trevor and Raven, but then it comes back up at the end with one of the most ridiculous scenes in Vampire Kisses history (and that's saying a lot). Schreiber's writing is as terrible as ever (Seriously? He worked as hard as a handsome handyman?) and this novel is nothing but a random string of silly and barely related events leading up to a lack-luster ending that barely ended anything at all.
So, why the 3 stars then if I have nothing good to say about it? Well, I told you I wasn't been objective with this one. I've been loyal to this series for almost a decade and almost every book in the series got me through a lot of things during my angsty teenage years. If I were to honestly rate every book in this series, they'd probably all be 1 star, but back when I first read them, these books triggered a lot of changes in me and helped in my total submersion into the world of YA. I have a lot of love for this series, bad as they are, and I don't think I could give this ending anything lower than 3 stars even if I wanted (and I do). The thing is, it's really sad to see a part of what made you who you are today end.
So, in conclusion, if you are not a loyal, hardcore fan of the series and read it with the totally subjective, rainbow-colored lens of undying love and devotion, the I suggest you stay away from it because chances are you are probably going to see all the flaws I just described and probably more. But if you, like me, see in this book the needed closure for your former teenage selves, then this will probably be a bittersweet goodbye you will begrudgingly enjoy.
-------------Edit 6/03/2012
If I were to be completely honest and objective, this book would barely make it to two stars. There's barely a plot in there, zero character development and, worst of all, it is really nothing but a forced, half-cooked ending to the series. But the truth is, I am not objective at all with this rating, so I'll try to be with the review.
What bothered me the most about this one is just how misleading the summary in the jacket of the book was. Throughout the whole series, Raven's desire to be a vampire has pretty much been driving force of the story. Would Alexander turn her or not? When, where, why, how? As a fan of the series, I kept expecting for this to happen but I also wanted to see the emotional and psychological development of Raven before the possibility of it. The blurb pretty much states that meeting Alexander's little sister and seeing how being a teenage vampire affects how she grows up would make Raven wonder about what being a vampire would do to her life. That is a lie. Raven's resolve to be turned by Alexander never wavers or weakens. That would be admirable if it wasn't because Raven is just so immature, petty, childish and silly about it. Despite what she constantly says, I never once truly believed Raven wanted to turn into a vampire because of Alexander and because of what that would mean to their relationship. It was all about her and what she wanted and what she needs, and, while at first during the first installments it was charming, now it was just irritating and a demonstration on poor character development. Raven is still set on becoming a vampire, never wondering about the effect this will have in her life and emotional ties with family and friends, but don't worry, the author saved Raven and us from that by never actually having Raven care about it and going right in with the resolution we always knew these series would have.
Mostly nothing is resolved with this finale. Schreiber didn't even try to tie loose strings or put an end to on going side plots like Raven's relationship with Trevor or how more and more people were becoming aware of the existence of vampires in Dullsville. She did try to put an end to the weird connecting between Trevor and Raven, but then it comes back up at the end with one of the most ridiculous scenes in Vampire Kisses history (and that's saying a lot). Schreiber's writing is as terrible as ever (Seriously? He worked as hard as a handsome handyman?) and this novel is nothing but a random string of silly and barely related events leading up to a lack-luster ending that barely ended anything at all.
So, why the 3 stars then if I have nothing good to say about it? Well, I told you I wasn't been objective with this one. I've been loyal to this series for almost a decade and almost every book in the series got me through a lot of things during my angsty teenage years. If I were to honestly rate every book in this series, they'd probably all be 1 star, but back when I first read them, these books triggered a lot of changes in me and helped in my total submersion into the world of YA. I have a lot of love for this series, bad as they are, and I don't think I could give this ending anything lower than 3 stars even if I wanted (and I do). The thing is, it's really sad to see a part of what made you who you are today end.
So, in conclusion, if you are not a loyal, hardcore fan of the series and read it with the totally subjective, rainbow-colored lens of undying love and devotion, the I suggest you stay away from it because chances are you are probably going to see all the flaws I just described and probably more. But if you, like me, see in this book the needed closure for your former teenage selves, then this will probably be a bittersweet goodbye you will begrudgingly enjoy.
Want to read
April 21, 2012I want more of Sebastian and Trevor!!!
July 5, 2012
The covor is beautiful! I love it <3
I can't wait to read this :D
*** Do NOT Read Ahead If You Don't Want A Spoiler Thing! ;D ***
I'm just really hoping that in this book, if it's going to be the last and final book in this Amazing series, is that Alexander will finally give Raven what she wants. Or at least there will be a seriously epicly awesome ending :D This is like one of my fav series :)
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After Reading:
Absolutely LOVED IT! Amazing book. I'm extremely sad to see the series end, but it's ending was great. SHE FINALLY BECAME A VAMPIRE!!!!
And then that whole bit with TREVOR! I really thought that was going to get worse. And by the way Raven described him, he sounded pretty hot, haha :P And honestly? A lot of times through the series I thought something was gonna happen that involved Trevor and Raven, I'm not exactly sure how to explain that something. But involved Alexander as well. But I do feel bad for Trevor. He's loved Raven for how long, since probably kindergarden, and he's tried to tell her, in his own way, for years. I just hope he'll find someone to make him happy :)
I can't wait to read this :D
*** Do NOT Read Ahead If You Don't Want A Spoiler Thing! ;D ***
I'm just really hoping that in this book, if it's going to be the last and final book in this Amazing series, is that Alexander will finally give Raven what she wants. Or at least there will be a seriously epicly awesome ending :D This is like one of my fav series :)
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After Reading:
Absolutely LOVED IT! Amazing book. I'm extremely sad to see the series end, but it's ending was great. SHE FINALLY BECAME A VAMPIRE!!!!
And then that whole bit with TREVOR! I really thought that was going to get worse. And by the way Raven described him, he sounded pretty hot, haha :P And honestly? A lot of times through the series I thought something was gonna happen that involved Trevor and Raven, I'm not exactly sure how to explain that something. But involved Alexander as well. But I do feel bad for Trevor. He's loved Raven for how long, since probably kindergarden, and he's tried to tell her, in his own way, for years. I just hope he'll find someone to make him happy :)
July 10, 2012
If the phrase 'Disgrace to literature' ever meant anything, this book revolutionizes its definition. A tween fantasy, 'Immortal Hearts' follows a dull, clutchy, cliche female character who is hopelessly in love with a shadowy male interest who, to no one's surprise, happens to be a vampire. She pines for her love in the morning, afternoon, and evening, and then spends the night with him and his goons at the local nightclub, worrying that one of her polyamorous friends will steal him away. All the while, of course, she dreams of the day that he'll bite her, thereby claiming her as an 'eternal love companion' or something completely ridiculous like that. At any rate, I finished the book, put it down hastily, and told myself never to point this book out on a library shelf and admit to reading it.
On the bright side, as an aspiring author, this novel gives me hope. It lets me know that not only can books written in a primitive style and offer a boring plot be published, but can also be bestsellers. Therefore, should I have difficulty being published, I can merely offer my work to Ellen Schreiber's company and viola, it'd be a clear road.
On the bright side, as an aspiring author, this novel gives me hope. It lets me know that not only can books written in a primitive style and offer a boring plot be published, but can also be bestsellers. Therefore, should I have difficulty being published, I can merely offer my work to Ellen Schreiber's company and viola, it'd be a clear road.
August 10, 2025
This is one of the first book series I read and had to wait for the next one to come out. Alas we made it to book 9 and the last to the series.
I waited a long time for book 9. This book series had me in a chock hold. I read this when I was in like 9th or 10th grade and I'm 31 as I write this so I don't remember most of it now just that I was so in love with the characters, plots, and I had a huge crush on Alexander! I also think I remember it ended how I was hoping! A great slow burn series with no spice for those who like no spice romance.
I waited a long time for book 9. This book series had me in a chock hold. I read this when I was in like 9th or 10th grade and I'm 31 as I write this so I don't remember most of it now just that I was so in love with the characters, plots, and I had a huge crush on Alexander! I also think I remember it ended how I was hoping! A great slow burn series with no spice for those who like no spice romance.
Currently reading
May 21, 2011Vampire Kisses is a young reader book that is intriging in it's own right.
I look forward to each book coming out. I only wish it wouldn't take so long
for the next book.
I look forward to each book coming out. I only wish it wouldn't take so long
for the next book.
January 26, 2013
Trevor. <3
August 10, 2012
To be honest, I mostly just read this book to finish the series. It's a bit of a guilty pleasure, and they're all so easy to read. But, oh dear lord, they are bad. At least the last few. So much swooning, talking for paragraphs about how "dreamy" (yes, the word "dreamy" is used often to describe Alexander) Raven's "love" is. I'm embarrassed to admit I sought out this book to read.
I mean, I know this isn't quality literature, but I expected a bit more effort than what was in Immortal Hearts. It's just disappointing. The ending is very rushed, hardly giving any closure at all.
If you're reading this just because it's something that will take your mind off other things, then more power to you, but don't expect a satisfying ending or anything redeeming. If you're a fan of the series, the ending is probably what you wished for, but you'll probably be wanting another installment. If there ever is one, I know I won't be reading it.
I mean, I know this isn't quality literature, but I expected a bit more effort than what was in Immortal Hearts. It's just disappointing. The ending is very rushed, hardly giving any closure at all.
If you're reading this just because it's something that will take your mind off other things, then more power to you, but don't expect a satisfying ending or anything redeeming. If you're a fan of the series, the ending is probably what you wished for, but you'll probably be wanting another installment. If there ever is one, I know I won't be reading it.
July 23, 2012
*Genre* YA Paranormal
*Rating* 3.0
*First thoughts*
Immortal Hearts is the last book in the Vampire Kisses series. Since we knew going in that this was going to be the last book of the series, we also knew that Raven would be turned into a vampire like she's wanted since she was in kindergarten.
What I didn't know going in, was how awesome Alexander's sister Stormy was going to be. The reason I'm giving this book 3 stars is because of Stormy. I loved her character and the way she didn't act like a 12 year old girl that she is. I loved how she had spunk and she really seemed to care for Raven once they connected.
I even liked Stormy's relationship with Raven's little brother Billy who shocked and surprised me as well. So, because of Stormy and how she stood up for Raven with the Maxwell's, this gets a 3 star rating. Also, it's because the book actually made me cry which is always a plus when it comes to how I rate a book.
Didn't much care for the ending. I don't really care for the fact that Raven is now a 17 year old vampire who is basically married for eternity to Alexander and will only see her best friend Becky when it suits her. I also didn't much care for the fact that she basically left her parents behind without so much as saying goodbye to them. It's not like things will ever be the same again.
I'm really not sad to see this series end. It's been on my last nerve for a few books now. I'm glad that the author and publisher didn't try to force a 10th book on us. At this this series can be extremely churlish. Yes, I realize it was written for the 12 plus genre. At the same time, who can resist Alexander and Sebastian?
*Rating* 3.0
*First thoughts*
Immortal Hearts is the last book in the Vampire Kisses series. Since we knew going in that this was going to be the last book of the series, we also knew that Raven would be turned into a vampire like she's wanted since she was in kindergarten.
What I didn't know going in, was how awesome Alexander's sister Stormy was going to be. The reason I'm giving this book 3 stars is because of Stormy. I loved her character and the way she didn't act like a 12 year old girl that she is. I loved how she had spunk and she really seemed to care for Raven once they connected.
I even liked Stormy's relationship with Raven's little brother Billy who shocked and surprised me as well. So, because of Stormy and how she stood up for Raven with the Maxwell's, this gets a 3 star rating. Also, it's because the book actually made me cry which is always a plus when it comes to how I rate a book.
Didn't much care for the ending. I don't really care for the fact that Raven is now a 17 year old vampire who is basically married for eternity to Alexander and will only see her best friend Becky when it suits her. I also didn't much care for the fact that she basically left her parents behind without so much as saying goodbye to them. It's not like things will ever be the same again.
I'm really not sad to see this series end. It's been on my last nerve for a few books now. I'm glad that the author and publisher didn't try to force a 10th book on us. At this this series can be extremely churlish. Yes, I realize it was written for the 12 plus genre. At the same time, who can resist Alexander and Sebastian?
June 2, 2012
I originally had no intention of finishing this series after the last book. But...
My daughter read the first 8 books in 7 days and wanted to get the last book to finish out the series. After she read it and said she liked it (she also didn't have the same issues with book 8 that I had), I decided to do the same.
The nice thing about these books is how quick and easy they are to read. And for the most part, they are clean stories -- very little swearing and very little mention of sex.
And maybe I'm just too old for this series now or maybe my reading tastes have grown-up since I've read so many other books in the past 2 years, but this book just felt way too young/childish for me to say I really liked it. I hate when I'm reading a book and constantly roll my eyes at the characters. Raven is such an immature 17-year-old, it's laughable. I, too, was 17 when I got engaged; 18 when I got married. Raven wasn't much younger than me, but she acts like a 12-year-old...or younger really. My daughter IS 12 and I think she acts more mature than Raven.
I won't go into all the issues I had with this book (derived mainly from the seriously immature characters and the ridiculous things they get themselves into), but I will say it was a nice wrap-up to the series. The ending was cheesy-predictable, but satisfactory. If you have read the 8 predecessors to this book and survived, you might as well read it and finish the series too.
My daughter read the first 8 books in 7 days and wanted to get the last book to finish out the series. After she read it and said she liked it (she also didn't have the same issues with book 8 that I had), I decided to do the same.
The nice thing about these books is how quick and easy they are to read. And for the most part, they are clean stories -- very little swearing and very little mention of sex.
And maybe I'm just too old for this series now or maybe my reading tastes have grown-up since I've read so many other books in the past 2 years, but this book just felt way too young/childish for me to say I really liked it. I hate when I'm reading a book and constantly roll my eyes at the characters. Raven is such an immature 17-year-old, it's laughable. I, too, was 17 when I got engaged; 18 when I got married. Raven wasn't much younger than me, but she acts like a 12-year-old...or younger really. My daughter IS 12 and I think she acts more mature than Raven.
I won't go into all the issues I had with this book (derived mainly from the seriously immature characters and the ridiculous things they get themselves into), but I will say it was a nice wrap-up to the series. The ending was cheesy-predictable, but satisfactory. If you have read the 8 predecessors to this book and survived, you might as well read it and finish the series too.
August 14, 2018
Yea, this is still my least favorite in the series. As I get older, I realize that these books weren't that great, but I enjoyed them so much during my High School years.
However, I really hated how rushed this book was, and I feel like whatever little character development we got of these characters (particularly Raven and Alexander) were just buried in the graveyard. I feel like all Raven has been, since the beginning, is super selfish and super demanding in what she wanted and for Alexander to just do that turn around and give her what she wanted (after being against it), with a rushed reasoning, just really ruined it for me. The more I reread this book, the more things I find that I just don't like.
However, I really hated how rushed this book was, and I feel like whatever little character development we got of these characters (particularly Raven and Alexander) were just buried in the graveyard. I feel like all Raven has been, since the beginning, is super selfish and super demanding in what she wanted and for Alexander to just do that turn around and give her what she wanted (after being against it), with a rushed reasoning, just really ruined it for me. The more I reread this book, the more things I find that I just don't like.
Currently reading
December 24, 2011I personally expect this book to be the best. the series has made you ponder what is going to happen to Raven and Alexander's complicated love lives.I hope this book brings changes within both of their lives.
January 4, 2015
The following review covers the entire series:
I enjoyed the characters and plot line threading through the series, however, the writing was often tedious and repetitive. While Raven's emotions were explored, and she grew in many ways, she somehow remained very simplistic.
It is a young fantasy series and stands as a fun, easy read, but it could have been stronger and more tightly written and edited. YA can offer more complexity of feelings, choices, growth, and consequences.
Characters often made the same mistakes over and over, or the same assumptions over and over. The reader is, again and again, regularly "told" rather than "shown". Sometimes a paragraph explaining an event or conversation or notion is followed by another paragraph expressing the same thing in a slightly different way, with no evolution, as if it were edited without pulling the weaker writing selection. Whereas there are some sections of writing that jump to different places or times without any indicator of change. These could be helped with a transitional sentence or even a visual rest indicator between paragraphs (like three dots, or a swirly line).
Toward the end of the final book, a part of me hoped that Raven would learn that she didn't want to turn. The only compelling reason for her to do so was that she had been born that way, and known all her life who she was. I appreciated the emphatic (repeated, repeated, repeated) lesson for readers to be true to themselves. Schreiber eloquently described Raven as a vampire in a mortal's body. However, whenever Raven made lists of reasons to be a vampire (as she often did), they usually looked fairly flimsy and overlapped, like, "being a part of the underworld" and sleeping with the other vampires in the Crypt, or, not going to school to learn subjects she didn't care about (wow, great lesson for young readers). She broaches the subject of having ambition for her life/eternity, but avoids truly exploring the consequences of her change, with regard to her birth family especially, as well as plans to fulfill her ambitions after she changes. It comes across as a very "thorough" exploration of surface issues. Though the author tries to introduce tension and urgency to the decision to change, it would have made more sense for her to wait until she were eighteen or older.
People often don't give enough credit to teenagers, but, her argument that she was seventeen and old enough to make such life altering decisions because she was *almost* old enough to vote and join the army, etc... well, that's not very convincing.
The other thread that felt poorly tied was the Trevor subplot. A part of me truly wanted to see them grow closer together. They may not have been right for one another, and yet, I almost wanted to see Alexander and Raven acknowledge their differences and part ways, allowing Raven and Trevor to Come together more. Their chemistry and banter lit up their scenes, and though he's mostly painted as a shallow jock, he's given streaks of thoughtfulness throughout the series that hint at depth. His character grows.
Also, the simplistic classification of "goths" and "jocks" etc was tiresome across 9 books.
I was also curious to read more about how one is born a vampire like the Sterlings, and why sometimes vampire families produce a mortal child. And, how is one a half-vampire, like Jameson the butler? If Raven weren't turned, could she carry a child of Alexander's that was half mortal? These topics are alluded to with regard to Alexander's grandmother, but not explored *nearly* as well as the depth of Raven's feelings for Alexander, or the lack of trustworthy virtues in the Maxwells, etc. And, what about Jameson and Ruby?
Overall the series offered an enjoyable and imaginative read, if somewhat irritating and strangely cut short.
I enjoyed the characters and plot line threading through the series, however, the writing was often tedious and repetitive. While Raven's emotions were explored, and she grew in many ways, she somehow remained very simplistic.
It is a young fantasy series and stands as a fun, easy read, but it could have been stronger and more tightly written and edited. YA can offer more complexity of feelings, choices, growth, and consequences.
Characters often made the same mistakes over and over, or the same assumptions over and over. The reader is, again and again, regularly "told" rather than "shown". Sometimes a paragraph explaining an event or conversation or notion is followed by another paragraph expressing the same thing in a slightly different way, with no evolution, as if it were edited without pulling the weaker writing selection. Whereas there are some sections of writing that jump to different places or times without any indicator of change. These could be helped with a transitional sentence or even a visual rest indicator between paragraphs (like three dots, or a swirly line).
Toward the end of the final book, a part of me hoped that Raven would learn that she didn't want to turn. The only compelling reason for her to do so was that she had been born that way, and known all her life who she was. I appreciated the emphatic (repeated, repeated, repeated) lesson for readers to be true to themselves. Schreiber eloquently described Raven as a vampire in a mortal's body. However, whenever Raven made lists of reasons to be a vampire (as she often did), they usually looked fairly flimsy and overlapped, like, "being a part of the underworld" and sleeping with the other vampires in the Crypt, or, not going to school to learn subjects she didn't care about (wow, great lesson for young readers). She broaches the subject of having ambition for her life/eternity, but avoids truly exploring the consequences of her change, with regard to her birth family especially, as well as plans to fulfill her ambitions after she changes. It comes across as a very "thorough" exploration of surface issues. Though the author tries to introduce tension and urgency to the decision to change, it would have made more sense for her to wait until she were eighteen or older.
People often don't give enough credit to teenagers, but, her argument that she was seventeen and old enough to make such life altering decisions because she was *almost* old enough to vote and join the army, etc... well, that's not very convincing.
The other thread that felt poorly tied was the Trevor subplot. A part of me truly wanted to see them grow closer together. They may not have been right for one another, and yet, I almost wanted to see Alexander and Raven acknowledge their differences and part ways, allowing Raven and Trevor to Come together more. Their chemistry and banter lit up their scenes, and though he's mostly painted as a shallow jock, he's given streaks of thoughtfulness throughout the series that hint at depth. His character grows.
Also, the simplistic classification of "goths" and "jocks" etc was tiresome across 9 books.
I was also curious to read more about how one is born a vampire like the Sterlings, and why sometimes vampire families produce a mortal child. And, how is one a half-vampire, like Jameson the butler? If Raven weren't turned, could she carry a child of Alexander's that was half mortal? These topics are alluded to with regard to Alexander's grandmother, but not explored *nearly* as well as the depth of Raven's feelings for Alexander, or the lack of trustworthy virtues in the Maxwells, etc. And, what about Jameson and Ruby?
Overall the series offered an enjoyable and imaginative read, if somewhat irritating and strangely cut short.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2012
I can not believe this series ended. I am so happy with how it ended though. Immortal Hearts was nothing like I expected. Seriously Alexander just becomes sexier and sexier with every book. I love how Raven always stayed true to her character throughout the entire series, but still grows. I also love that she didn't change her mind in the end and just grew as a character with understanding. Raven is such a strong character. She has never wanted to be popular, just herself, and she always knew who she was. Which seriously made this series even more amazing. Stormy was so bleeping awesome. If I were a vampire I would want to be like her too.
Favorite quote:
"I have had just about enough of other of other guys trying to turn you, Raven. There is only one vampire who will," he said confidently. "The one who you were always meant for-me." So sexy!!!!!!!!
Favorite quote:
"I have had just about enough of other of other guys trying to turn you, Raven. There is only one vampire who will," he said confidently. "The one who you were always meant for-me." So sexy!!!!!!!!
September 5, 2012
I need to get this asap
April 21, 2019
This is the first series I have ever finished and it was amazing. I am glad that Alexander and Raven are able to live in one world but I felt sorry for Trevor. He tried to stop Raven because he loved her and I know that je was a jerk but I still feel bad. This actions didn't stop Raven from being with Alexander. At the end everyone she care about support her. I love this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2013
3.5 stars.
Oh man! I just realized how hard is to grow up and see your favorite characters be the same teen-immature-silly persons. Ok, not that I stopped loving YA, but while reading the last book in the Vampire Kisses series I just had a new “view” to Raven and her gang.
Vampire Kisses was the first book about vampire that I read, I loved Raven and Alexander, I loved Trevor and I hated Becky, I was happy to read all 5 books (back then) one after the others. Then I waited and waited for the next ones. But today, after I finished reading Immortal hearts, the 9th book, I felt something I didn’t expected, after about 200 books read since I’m a reader, I feel bored! I even skipped some lines, I was reading without putting much attention.
I’m not going to say that I didn’t enjoy some parts and felt a little nostalgic, because I did, of course!
I was dying to know if Alexander will finally turn Raven into a vampire, I wanted to know what’s going to happen with the infamous Stormy Sterling. And sadly (at least about the Stormy part) I was disappointed.
The characters are 17 years old like almost every YA character I’ve read about, but they were so-not-real. Raven is childish and selfish, her descriptions are cheesy and… well, not awesomely describing!
Alexander’s still “dreamy” and maybe that’s the reason why I enjoyed this last book. He’s a little more mature, confident, and… hot.
Luna and Jagger… what a shame of villains! Booo!
Stormy? Well, silly girl, so manageable.
Becky and Matt was a really cute couple, but in Becky’s case I still don’t buy her relationship with Raven, even for best friend I didn’t find they had a good... chemistry?
Trevor? Oh, yes! Trevor’s why I loved Vampire Kisses. Still I can’t understand what Raven thinks of him. She’s attracted to him, she accepted the attraction in “that” moment and yet she keeps talking about him like his enemy.
And then, the romance.
Raven loves Alexander, Alexander loves Raven. That’s a cute couple. BUT the descriptions kill all the magic. Except the typical “Alexander kissed me deeply” there wasn’t any real emotion shared through Raven’s words. It was like they love each other, they kiss, and she feels weak of her knees, blah, blah, blah…
Sadly I doubt I will read another Ellen Schreiber book someday. The writing isn’t something I love now, now that I have read really good books.
But after all, after the moment where I realized how much I didn't like the writing, I have to say that I enjoyed this book. Maybe it was the nostalgic part. Maybe it’s because I won’t know about the people in Dullsvile anymore. Maybe because it’s the end of another cycle in my life.
Vampire Kissed will have always a good spot in my heart. Because this series made me love vampires and turned me into a better reader.
Gracias!
Oh man! I just realized how hard is to grow up and see your favorite characters be the same teen-immature-silly persons. Ok, not that I stopped loving YA, but while reading the last book in the Vampire Kisses series I just had a new “view” to Raven and her gang.
Vampire Kisses was the first book about vampire that I read, I loved Raven and Alexander, I loved Trevor and I hated Becky, I was happy to read all 5 books (back then) one after the others. Then I waited and waited for the next ones. But today, after I finished reading Immortal hearts, the 9th book, I felt something I didn’t expected, after about 200 books read since I’m a reader, I feel bored! I even skipped some lines, I was reading without putting much attention.
I’m not going to say that I didn’t enjoy some parts and felt a little nostalgic, because I did, of course!
I was dying to know if Alexander will finally turn Raven into a vampire, I wanted to know what’s going to happen with the infamous Stormy Sterling. And sadly (at least about the Stormy part) I was disappointed.
The characters are 17 years old like almost every YA character I’ve read about, but they were so-not-real. Raven is childish and selfish, her descriptions are cheesy and… well, not awesomely describing!
Alexander’s still “dreamy” and maybe that’s the reason why I enjoyed this last book. He’s a little more mature, confident, and… hot.
Luna and Jagger… what a shame of villains! Booo!
Stormy? Well, silly girl, so manageable.
Becky and Matt was a really cute couple, but in Becky’s case I still don’t buy her relationship with Raven, even for best friend I didn’t find they had a good... chemistry?
Trevor? Oh, yes! Trevor’s why I loved Vampire Kisses. Still I can’t understand what Raven thinks of him. She’s attracted to him, she accepted the attraction in “that” moment and yet she keeps talking about him like his enemy.
And then, the romance.
Raven loves Alexander, Alexander loves Raven. That’s a cute couple. BUT the descriptions kill all the magic. Except the typical “Alexander kissed me deeply” there wasn’t any real emotion shared through Raven’s words. It was like they love each other, they kiss, and she feels weak of her knees, blah, blah, blah…
Sadly I doubt I will read another Ellen Schreiber book someday. The writing isn’t something I love now, now that I have read really good books.
But after all, after the moment where I realized how much I didn't like the writing, I have to say that I enjoyed this book. Maybe it was the nostalgic part. Maybe it’s because I won’t know about the people in Dullsvile anymore. Maybe because it’s the end of another cycle in my life.
Vampire Kissed will have always a good spot in my heart. Because this series made me love vampires and turned me into a better reader.
Gracias!
June 8, 2019
I'm sad to have ended this series. I truly adored and loved the characters introduced into the series, but in this last book some things didn't flow as well. Like, it still could have continued on. I understand why Schreiber ended it the way she did--I just wanted MORE. More details!
I think I'm more upset at the fact that Raven is still a teenager, so that hippocampus isn't developed...and I was once so incredibly impulsive (I still am), but I guess I'd be doing some of this stupid crap in high school. And I have to remember that this is a YA book and I shouldn't judge it so harshly.
It all felt rushed at the end. The climax and everything, everything. Just... I'm really upset right now. The climax and the ending were like every teenager making a dumb decision--so quick and without thinking of any repercussions.
I think I'm more upset at the fact that Raven is still a teenager, so that hippocampus isn't developed...and I was once so incredibly impulsive (I still am), but I guess I'd be doing some of this stupid crap in high school. And I have to remember that this is a YA book and I shouldn't judge it so harshly.
It all felt rushed at the end. The climax and everything, everything. Just... I'm really upset right now. The climax and the ending were like every teenager making a dumb decision--so quick and without thinking of any repercussions.
March 26, 2018
Biten bir seri daha. Daha fazla Raven'in o vampir saplatılı hayatını okuyamayacağım için üzgünüm aslında. Onunla ilk tanışmamız 2010'a dayanıyor. Normalde okuduğum kitaplardan daha şiddetli, dünyaya toz siyahtan bakan bir kızdı Raven.Ve korsenin içinden. Beni eğlendirmeyi ve güldürmeyi 9 kitabında da başardı.
Türkiyede manga ya da çizgi roman tarzı kitaplar şeklinde çıktığını görmüştüm. Ama okumayanlar için kısaca ondan bahsetmek istiyorum.
Raven hayatı boyunca vampir olmak isteyen, içinden geldiği gibi davranan bunun içinde dışlanan gerçek bir gotiktir. Kasabasına yeni birisinin taşınması ve onun vampir olduğu dedikoduları onu harekete geçirir. Gizlice evine girer, bununla da hep istediği dünya ya bilmeden ayak basar. Çünkü Alexander bir vampirdir. Tabii bunu ilk kitabın sonuna kadar öğrenmiyoruz.Bu kitap hakkında sevdiğim yönlerden birisi hiç bir kitabın sonunda ne olacağını bilememeniz. Bu kitapta da ne olacak! Sonu nasıl bitecek! Hay allahım! diye beni deli etmiştir hep.Neyse ki bu kitabıda diğerleri gibi en sonunda yüzümde bir gülümseme ve büyük bir şokla kitabı kapadım.
(Her zaman Trevor ile aralarında kısada olsa bir şeyler geçeceğini ummuştum. Kötü çocuklara karşı zaafım var ne diyeyim ;) )
Bu güne kadar serinin bittiğini bilmiyordum.Aniden aklıma geldi ve kontrol ettim. Haliyle biraz duygusaldım. Ama bu benim kitabı bitirmeme engel olmadı.
Kitaptan çok serinin genelinden bahsetmek istiyorum. Zaten kitapların hepsi kısacık ve birbiriyle çok iç içe geçik. Kitapta vampirlerden başka doğaüstü yaratıklar yok.Vampirlerde o kadar vahşi değil zaten. (Biraz hayal kırıklığı yaratan bir nokta) Ruh eşleri var.Işığa çıkamıyorlar. Hem yapılabiliyor hemde doğabiliyor bu vampirler ve ne yaparsanız yapın sarımsakları uzak tutun.Gelişmiş duyuları var.Ama Raven ikide bir onları gizlice dinlediği, gizlice evlerine, girdiği için çok üstünde değiller hani.
Her kitapta Raven'in durmak bilmez vampir olma isteğine yakından şahit oluyoruz. Aşık oluşuna, ailevi ilişkilerine, okul problemlerine...
Kısacası sevdiğim bir seriydi.Raven'nin cesur yüreği her zaman okunmaya değer olarak kalacak bende.Duygulandım mı nedir.
August 25, 2012
My Review--More at http://rampant-readers.blogspot.com!
Favorite Quote(s):
"I will love you for all of eternity."
Favorite Character: Stormy, because out of all of the characters, she seemed the easiest to relate to. The others had a fake air that surrounded their personas throughout the book.
First Line:
"I was waiting for the other combat boot to drop."
My Musings: Wow...I am quite shocked. I read the previous books in this series a while ago, and just recently picked up the final novel from the library. Let me say, my opinions on good writing have quite obviously changed. How I had gotten through the rest of the series before this is a mystery.
There were a lot of things that struck me as wrong as I read this novel. The beginning was listy, the narration was increasingly simplistic, it was totally predictable, and the language was choppy. I honestly couldn't get myself immersed in the story. Raven's character was overly obsessed on becoming a vampire. It was all that she though of. When would he turn me? Why won't he turn me? I felt like the issue was addressed at least once on every page. Raven's character, unfortunately, stuck me as static and shallow. Alexander's character was slightly disappointing too. The only thing we see of him is this vulnerable artistic type--one that apparently doesn't have many flaws. The world that Schreiber create was just too unrealistic for me. It was so unbelievably corny.
I hate to write a review like this, because the book wasn't all bad. There were some funny moments, and some of the characters, like Stormy, were somewhat relatable. I am not exactly sure what happened, but this last novel was distinctly worse than the previous ones. It pains me to write such a harsh review, but when it all boils down, this books was just not up to par with other YA novels that have been published.
Favorite Quote(s):
"I will love you for all of eternity."
Favorite Character: Stormy, because out of all of the characters, she seemed the easiest to relate to. The others had a fake air that surrounded their personas throughout the book.
First Line:
"I was waiting for the other combat boot to drop."
My Musings: Wow...I am quite shocked. I read the previous books in this series a while ago, and just recently picked up the final novel from the library. Let me say, my opinions on good writing have quite obviously changed. How I had gotten through the rest of the series before this is a mystery.
There were a lot of things that struck me as wrong as I read this novel. The beginning was listy, the narration was increasingly simplistic, it was totally predictable, and the language was choppy. I honestly couldn't get myself immersed in the story. Raven's character was overly obsessed on becoming a vampire. It was all that she though of. When would he turn me? Why won't he turn me? I felt like the issue was addressed at least once on every page. Raven's character, unfortunately, stuck me as static and shallow. Alexander's character was slightly disappointing too. The only thing we see of him is this vulnerable artistic type--one that apparently doesn't have many flaws. The world that Schreiber create was just too unrealistic for me. It was so unbelievably corny.
I hate to write a review like this, because the book wasn't all bad. There were some funny moments, and some of the characters, like Stormy, were somewhat relatable. I am not exactly sure what happened, but this last novel was distinctly worse than the previous ones. It pains me to write such a harsh review, but when it all boils down, this books was just not up to par with other YA novels that have been published.
May 24, 2012
Well I have been following this series since the very beginning, and I have loved every moment. I love the characters, I love the covers and mostly I love the writing. Something in these books takes me back to my high school days, They make me want to get back out my black nail polish and black lipstick. Immortal Hearts is the perfect ending, even though I am so sad to say goodbye to Raven and the gang.
I felt as if I had a lot in common with Raven as I was the same way as her when I was in high school. As this series went by I only wished the best for Raven and Alexander and now that I have reached the end I am so happy with how everything has ended.
I am happy with the ending as, it ended the way that I always wanted it to end. I do hope that in the future we get to see a lot more from these characters as I am not ready to say goodbye yet. I did cry a little bit at the last page because I was not ready yet. But I am so happy with the ending.
This book is one of the best books that I have read so far this year. I am also proud to say that I own the whole series on my personnel book shelf here at my house.
I felt as if I had a lot in common with Raven as I was the same way as her when I was in high school. As this series went by I only wished the best for Raven and Alexander and now that I have reached the end I am so happy with how everything has ended.
I am happy with the ending as, it ended the way that I always wanted it to end. I do hope that in the future we get to see a lot more from these characters as I am not ready to say goodbye yet. I did cry a little bit at the last page because I was not ready yet. But I am so happy with the ending.
This book is one of the best books that I have read so far this year. I am also proud to say that I own the whole series on my personnel book shelf here at my house.
May 21, 2012
I sort of felt like the world was revolving around Raven, in this one, more so than usual. Like everything just went her way and fell perfectly into place like a puzzle. The only thing out of place was Trevor and they swatted him away like a fly. I feel bad for him, really. I wish I knew what happened there... I feel incomplete now. I'm glad everything worked out and all, but I just wish it were more realistic. Less like Raven wrote the book herself to make it a happy ending. Oh well, its over. It was cute while it lasted :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 14, 2013
I thought that her transformation was a little rushed. She didn't really tie up her loose ends, settle how she was going to explain to her parents that she was going to move in with her boyfriend so suddenly. Raven just wasn't very practical.
I liked this series, but I was a little disappointed by the ending.
I liked this series, but I was a little disappointed by the ending.
Currently reading
August 25, 2011loveeeeee book no8 my fav character is onyx type who yours is
May 19, 2012
I'm so sad that the series is over! Great finale though for sure!
June 7, 2020
I started this series at the beginning of the COVID quarantine, and it was exactly what I needed. Though I hadn't read it before, it was strikingly nostalgic for me. Thirteen-year-old me would have been obsessed with this series when it came out, and nearly 30-year-old me still found it appealing and so enjoyable. It's a little funny and interesting to read something that your teen self would have adored it, as an adult. I've enjoyed the ride of these nine books over the last few months.
That being said, the final book was a bit lackluster. I was disappointed that we will never get to hear about the vampire exploits of Raven and crew, or whatever happened to Trevor. I was also disappointed that, throughout the series, as some have mentioned, there wasn't much character growth.
While I respect that Raven wanted to be a vampire and she was set on it, despite being only a teenager, I found it frustrating and a bit gross that her entire universe revolved around Alexander. There were so many points, in this book especially, where despite Raven's seemingly independent posturing, she needed everyone (even a 12-year-old) to defend her. A bit too damsel in distress for my personal taste. That's one thing at the beginning of the series, but I was hoping she'd grow into a more independent and well-rounded character. That maybe she'd question her feelings for Trevor a little more (even though he definitely needed some therapy). We all knew that it was Raven's dream to be a vampire, but my hopes for her fell flat when not once did she ever really have any solid dreams for herself or hell, even things she wanted to do as a vampire besides spending literally every second with her "vampire mate." Snooze. I found myself thinking "god get a life please?" There was literally no pushback from anyone else in her life (I mean really, her parents would just be chill with her turning into a vampire suddenly and going to live with her boyfriend in a coffin? Yeah, I'm sure that would go just as she planned).
I also felt that there were a lot of abstinence undertones (boring, even for YA) and traditional sexuality/relationship notions that went unchallenged and unexplored. These definitely aren't your Anne Rice vampires.
In the end, I'm glad Raven got turned and she got what she wanted (not in the weird pseudo-marriage ceremony, but still).
But she didn't turn out to be the powerful, curious, and independent heroine that I had hoped she would have ended up being.
That being said, the final book was a bit lackluster. I was disappointed that we will never get to hear about the vampire exploits of Raven and crew, or whatever happened to Trevor. I was also disappointed that, throughout the series, as some have mentioned, there wasn't much character growth.
While I respect that Raven wanted to be a vampire and she was set on it, despite being only a teenager, I found it frustrating and a bit gross that her entire universe revolved around Alexander. There were so many points, in this book especially, where despite Raven's seemingly independent posturing, she needed everyone (even a 12-year-old) to defend her. A bit too damsel in distress for my personal taste. That's one thing at the beginning of the series, but I was hoping she'd grow into a more independent and well-rounded character. That maybe she'd question her feelings for Trevor a little more (even though he definitely needed some therapy). We all knew that it was Raven's dream to be a vampire, but my hopes for her fell flat when not once did she ever really have any solid dreams for herself or hell, even things she wanted to do as a vampire besides spending literally every second with her "vampire mate." Snooze. I found myself thinking "god get a life please?" There was literally no pushback from anyone else in her life (I mean really, her parents would just be chill with her turning into a vampire suddenly and going to live with her boyfriend in a coffin? Yeah, I'm sure that would go just as she planned).
I also felt that there were a lot of abstinence undertones (boring, even for YA) and traditional sexuality/relationship notions that went unchallenged and unexplored. These definitely aren't your Anne Rice vampires.
In the end, I'm glad Raven got turned and she got what she wanted (not in the weird pseudo-marriage ceremony, but still).
But she didn't turn out to be the powerful, curious, and independent heroine that I had hoped she would have ended up being.
February 1, 2024
I will have my actual review, after finally reading the book several years later, after my rant.
*Before I read*
This review is going to first be about what could have been. At the end of Cryptic Cravings, Ellen Schreiber gave herself the opportunity to set her series apart from the countless vampire-human YA romances. She decided, however, to squander the plot that would have not only set her series apart, but it would have made it worthwhile. Instead, Immortal Hearts becomes a needless book with Raven getting exactly what she always wanted, without facing any of the consequences for the sacrifices that she had to make (to have what she wanted). In Cryptic Cravings, the immediate resolution of the Stormy character’s affiliation with Alexander infuriated me as a reader and as a writer.
Imagine if this book had taken path less traveled. Let’s say that Raven didn’t ask Alex who Stormy was at the end of Cryptic Cravings and that Raven didn’t know that Stormy was Alex’s sister going into Immortal Hearts. Cheaters don’t usually outright confess when asked or confronted anyway, so that would have been reasonable. Wouldn’t that cause Raven to reevaluate her choices and her desire to become a vampire, and Alex’s bride, despite how it will ruin her life?
Let’s say that Raven really considers staying human. That she distanced herself from Alex to figure out what she really wants to do/be when she graduates high school instead of being a permanently nocturnal high school drop out with few employment prospects do to vampires burning up in the sun when most professionals work 9 to 5 or somewhere from sun-up to sundown. That she realized that being completely dependent on someone else can get her screwed over. That if Alex did leave her for another female, after he turned her, she’d be unable to support herself like most people do.
She’d only be able to work from home or during the night shift. She’d have to go to college either online and/or during the night. Raven could have matured beyond her kindergarten mentality in this book. She could have told Alex that she would be restricted by becoming his bride and that she wants so much more for her life than to be a vampire and his wife. She honestly seemed to only want Alex because he could turn her into a vampire and he had the money to provide for her afterwards; if he hasd been human, she wouldn’t have even talked to him. She could have investigated who Stormy was while reexamining the pros and cons of being with Alex.
After pondering what her life could be without Alex and vampirism, she could have become a dynamic character. It doesn’t matter that Stormy is Alex’s sister. He could still abandon her for someone else. She could eventually become distraught over what she lost with being with him. Plus, an apologetic Trevor could have been an explored alternative option for her, that would allow her to still be successful and be with her family, but live a normal life if she so desired that.
She had her fun with her adventures with Alex and all the other vampires. This book was time for her to grow up and enter adulthood with her head held up high and a legitimate plan for her future. This book should have been about Raven becoming so much more. Now, this series, in whole, is wasted potential; that breaks my heart.
I will post a review about what Ellen Schreiber gave us instead at a later date with spoilers (can you even call anything from this obvious/predictable series that?).
*After I read*
As you can see above, I got ticked off by the author ruining a fantastic cliffhanger in the last book. I was so frustrated by that that I didn't actually read this book until several years later. I believe that it's been at least ten years since I read the penultimate novel of the series.
The good news is that the ending of this series will satisfy long-term fans. It had a predictable ending. However, as a pragmatist, I wanted the series to end in a more practical way. It truly did need an epilogue for the parents' reactions to the final scene. Technically, there were still many unresolved conflicts when the novel faded to black. Maybe the manga will pick up where the novels left off?
Alexander got on my last nerves. I wanted Raven to end up with one of the other suitors. Alexander was being moody and ridiculous. Raven was getting into trouble, as usual, with her schemes. The Maxwells are up to their usual tricks. Trevor is still Trevor. The siblings added some freshness to the series. I honestly forgot most of the relationship dynamics and character history.
Am I glad that I glad this book a chance? Yes. Am I frustrated with the characters? Yes? Do I wish that there was an epilogue or another book to tie up all of the important loose ends? Yes. All in all, I started this series in middle school, and I completed the series in college. I need more from books as a readernow than I did as a tween/teen to feel satisfied.
I'm okay with how things ended. I really would have preferred a lasting plot twist and a complete ending, though. This series was a fun trip down gothic teen fantasy lane, and expecting it to be anything beyond what it is is just a recipe for disappointment. I laughed both with the series and at the series. Now, I can say that I completed this series without giving an expository rant. It's not something different; it's just something black-hearted.
*Before I read*
This review is going to first be about what could have been. At the end of Cryptic Cravings, Ellen Schreiber gave herself the opportunity to set her series apart from the countless vampire-human YA romances. She decided, however, to squander the plot that would have not only set her series apart, but it would have made it worthwhile. Instead, Immortal Hearts becomes a needless book with Raven getting exactly what she always wanted, without facing any of the consequences for the sacrifices that she had to make (to have what she wanted). In Cryptic Cravings, the immediate resolution of the Stormy character’s affiliation with Alexander infuriated me as a reader and as a writer.
Imagine if this book had taken path less traveled. Let’s say that Raven didn’t ask Alex who Stormy was at the end of Cryptic Cravings and that Raven didn’t know that Stormy was Alex’s sister going into Immortal Hearts. Cheaters don’t usually outright confess when asked or confronted anyway, so that would have been reasonable. Wouldn’t that cause Raven to reevaluate her choices and her desire to become a vampire, and Alex’s bride, despite how it will ruin her life?
Let’s say that Raven really considers staying human. That she distanced herself from Alex to figure out what she really wants to do/be when she graduates high school instead of being a permanently nocturnal high school drop out with few employment prospects do to vampires burning up in the sun when most professionals work 9 to 5 or somewhere from sun-up to sundown. That she realized that being completely dependent on someone else can get her screwed over. That if Alex did leave her for another female, after he turned her, she’d be unable to support herself like most people do.
She’d only be able to work from home or during the night shift. She’d have to go to college either online and/or during the night. Raven could have matured beyond her kindergarten mentality in this book. She could have told Alex that she would be restricted by becoming his bride and that she wants so much more for her life than to be a vampire and his wife. She honestly seemed to only want Alex because he could turn her into a vampire and he had the money to provide for her afterwards; if he hasd been human, she wouldn’t have even talked to him. She could have investigated who Stormy was while reexamining the pros and cons of being with Alex.
After pondering what her life could be without Alex and vampirism, she could have become a dynamic character. It doesn’t matter that Stormy is Alex’s sister. He could still abandon her for someone else. She could eventually become distraught over what she lost with being with him. Plus, an apologetic Trevor could have been an explored alternative option for her, that would allow her to still be successful and be with her family, but live a normal life if she so desired that.
She had her fun with her adventures with Alex and all the other vampires. This book was time for her to grow up and enter adulthood with her head held up high and a legitimate plan for her future. This book should have been about Raven becoming so much more. Now, this series, in whole, is wasted potential; that breaks my heart.
I will post a review about what Ellen Schreiber gave us instead at a later date with spoilers (can you even call anything from this obvious/predictable series that?).
*After I read*
As you can see above, I got ticked off by the author ruining a fantastic cliffhanger in the last book. I was so frustrated by that that I didn't actually read this book until several years later. I believe that it's been at least ten years since I read the penultimate novel of the series.
The good news is that the ending of this series will satisfy long-term fans. It had a predictable ending. However, as a pragmatist, I wanted the series to end in a more practical way. It truly did need an epilogue for the parents' reactions to the final scene. Technically, there were still many unresolved conflicts when the novel faded to black. Maybe the manga will pick up where the novels left off?
Alexander got on my last nerves. I wanted Raven to end up with one of the other suitors. Alexander was being moody and ridiculous. Raven was getting into trouble, as usual, with her schemes. The Maxwells are up to their usual tricks. Trevor is still Trevor. The siblings added some freshness to the series. I honestly forgot most of the relationship dynamics and character history.
Am I glad that I glad this book a chance? Yes. Am I frustrated with the characters? Yes? Do I wish that there was an epilogue or another book to tie up all of the important loose ends? Yes. All in all, I started this series in middle school, and I completed the series in college. I need more from books as a readernow than I did as a tween/teen to feel satisfied.
I'm okay with how things ended. I really would have preferred a lasting plot twist and a complete ending, though. This series was a fun trip down gothic teen fantasy lane, and expecting it to be anything beyond what it is is just a recipe for disappointment. I laughed both with the series and at the series. Now, I can say that I completed this series without giving an expository rant. It's not something different; it's just something black-hearted.
March 17, 2024
3.5 stars
Overall, I thought it was a solid ending to the series.
Now I wanna read an enemies-to-lovers romance. I feel bad for Trevor, though.
Overall, I thought it was a solid ending to the series.
Now I wanna read an enemies-to-lovers romance. I feel bad for Trevor, though.
January 7, 2022
This was easily the best book in the series, but I have SERIOUS questions about the logistics of the ending.
May 26, 2017
It read like a fanfic. So choppy and sloppy. The only realistic character is Alexander and that's ironic because he's the vampire. Lol. I'm finally done with this series! Woohoo!
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