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Companions of the Night
When sixteen-year-old Kerry journeys into the night to retrieve her baby brother's stuffed bear at an all-night laundromat, she finds herself in the midst of a gang war, a kidnapping, a murder, and vampires. Reprint.
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 18, 1995
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5162 people want to read
About the author
Vivian Vande Velde
51 books994 followersVivian Vande Velde (born 1951, currently residing in Rochester, New York) is an American author who writes books primarily aimed at young adults.
Her novels and short story collections usually have some element of horror or fantasy, but are primarily humorous. Her book Never Trust a Dead Man (1999) received the 2000 Edgar Award for Best Young Adult Novel. She says that she really likes to write for children. She likes to do school talks to children. She does many book conventions and also gives writing classes.
Her novels and short story collections usually have some element of horror or fantasy, but are primarily humorous. Her book Never Trust a Dead Man (1999) received the 2000 Edgar Award for Best Young Adult Novel. She says that she really likes to write for children. She likes to do school talks to children. She does many book conventions and also gives writing classes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 486 reviews
June 13, 2023
The first thing you must know is that this book was written before the 'Twilight' vampire hype swept YA novels and turned them into a predictable and boring genre. Companions of the Night is blissfully original.
Each page kept me so absorbed in the story, eager to finish it and find out the ending. When I'd finished the book, I was disappointed that it didn't go on for longer. I would love to see a sequel, though I think all hopes of that are basically dust by now.
The ending was bittersweet, but necessary to keep it from being too cliche. Vivian Vande Velde proves herself to be a great author for young adults; being able to string a fast-paced story together in a way that will keep everyone turning pages until the end.
March 2, 2018
Vivian Vande Velde is basically my hero. She is a master at taking traditional fairy-tale-like themes and making them fresh and totally unique. Companions of the Night (1995) does that for the vampire story.
Kerry’s little brother, Ian, had a simple request: drive to the laundromat to retrieve Ian’s stuffed bear. Kerry knew all the reasons she should tell Ian no (she had a big test to study for, it was the middle of the night, she only had a driver’s permit and shouldn’t be in a car without a licensed driver), but then Ian started to cry and Kerry knew she couldn’t say no–not if Ian was going to cry. It was late, there would be no traffic. Getting the bear would be simple.
And it was simple. Until Kerry got to the laundromat and stepped into what looked like a gang shootout. Or a kidnapping. Or a vampire hunt.
Unfortunately, the hunters think that Kerry is a vampire too. So she and the other supposed vampire, Ethan, have to escape. Adventure ensues.
Vande Velde, as is her way, also throws a romantic element into the plot. Happily, she does so without falling into the typical “Dracula seduction” style so common in vampire stories.
Every author has a different take on how vampires function in “real life.” I am quite fond of how Vande Velde explains their immortality. The explanation just makes so much sense, it’s great. In a way Vande Velde takes the mystique out of the whole vampire thing, trying to create realistic explanations for things like immortality and how a vampire can exist inconspicuously in the modern world. Overall Ethan is an exceedingly likable character even if he is, basically, dead.
Technically speaking the narrative is nicely written. This novel is very much like Vande Velde’s other works. In particular, parallels can be drawn between this novel and A Well-Timed Enchantment. Both have a similar plot formula and the narrations style is very modern in both.
Vande Velde also develops the characters of Ethan and Kerry nicely. The book is short, so readers are never bogged down with background information or “back stories” for the characters. Nonetheless, Vande Velde creates very dimensional and, dare I say, very real characters.
Companions of the Night is definitely an action story. The narrative is tightly wound, keeping readers ready for excitement and action.
This book is probably for an older audience than some of Vande Velde’s other books, mainly because it features more violence (fights, threats of death) than younger readers (or their parents) might be able to deal with. So, basically, more of a tween and up book than a children/YA one. But also a must-read for any vampire fans out there.
You can find this review and more on my blog Miss Print
Kerry’s little brother, Ian, had a simple request: drive to the laundromat to retrieve Ian’s stuffed bear. Kerry knew all the reasons she should tell Ian no (she had a big test to study for, it was the middle of the night, she only had a driver’s permit and shouldn’t be in a car without a licensed driver), but then Ian started to cry and Kerry knew she couldn’t say no–not if Ian was going to cry. It was late, there would be no traffic. Getting the bear would be simple.
And it was simple. Until Kerry got to the laundromat and stepped into what looked like a gang shootout. Or a kidnapping. Or a vampire hunt.
Unfortunately, the hunters think that Kerry is a vampire too. So she and the other supposed vampire, Ethan, have to escape. Adventure ensues.
Vande Velde, as is her way, also throws a romantic element into the plot. Happily, she does so without falling into the typical “Dracula seduction” style so common in vampire stories.
Every author has a different take on how vampires function in “real life.” I am quite fond of how Vande Velde explains their immortality. The explanation just makes so much sense, it’s great. In a way Vande Velde takes the mystique out of the whole vampire thing, trying to create realistic explanations for things like immortality and how a vampire can exist inconspicuously in the modern world. Overall Ethan is an exceedingly likable character even if he is, basically, dead.
Technically speaking the narrative is nicely written. This novel is very much like Vande Velde’s other works. In particular, parallels can be drawn between this novel and A Well-Timed Enchantment. Both have a similar plot formula and the narrations style is very modern in both.
Vande Velde also develops the characters of Ethan and Kerry nicely. The book is short, so readers are never bogged down with background information or “back stories” for the characters. Nonetheless, Vande Velde creates very dimensional and, dare I say, very real characters.
Companions of the Night is definitely an action story. The narrative is tightly wound, keeping readers ready for excitement and action.
This book is probably for an older audience than some of Vande Velde’s other books, mainly because it features more violence (fights, threats of death) than younger readers (or their parents) might be able to deal with. So, basically, more of a tween and up book than a children/YA one. But also a must-read for any vampire fans out there.
You can find this review and more on my blog Miss Print
August 30, 2008
You want to read a GREAT teen vampire story? Forget Twilight. Well, try to, anyway. This is the one you should be reading. It's got a smart heroine who isn't particularly klutsy, vampires, danger, AND (bonus!) you get the whole story in ONE book!
It's late at night, but does Kerry get to climb into her comfy bed? Noooo, she's in charge of her little brother Ian for the evening, and HE left his teddy bear at the laundromat and can't sleep without it. She trudges back to the laundromat, and is searching for the bear when in come three men dragging a bound and gagged teenager!
Thinking fast, Kerry helps the young man escape. Hey, he's cute! Hey, maybe rescuing hime was a bad idea. He's waaaay more dangerous than they ever could be!
She helped him, maybe he won't hurt her. But the men she saved him from might, since now they think SHE's with HIM.
It's late at night, but does Kerry get to climb into her comfy bed? Noooo, she's in charge of her little brother Ian for the evening, and HE left his teddy bear at the laundromat and can't sleep without it. She trudges back to the laundromat, and is searching for the bear when in come three men dragging a bound and gagged teenager!
Thinking fast, Kerry helps the young man escape. Hey, he's cute! Hey, maybe rescuing hime was a bad idea. He's waaaay more dangerous than they ever could be!
She helped him, maybe he won't hurt her. But the men she saved him from might, since now they think SHE's with HIM.
December 20, 2016
what a original vampire book it is. kerry saves a vampire thinking he is human. in turn her family gets kidnapped for helping a vampire out. a simple trip to the laundry turns out to be, her start of the adventures with a vampire.
the best part was that the vampires are portrayed as they are supposed to be, blood sucking killers. it did not sugar coat the fact nor did it try to make them honorable or something as seen in most of the vampire books.
the annoying part was most of the book was kind of like useless road trip. going from here to there & there to here. at the end it was annoying that kerry claimed she loved the vampire inspite of the fact that he was selfish, manipulative, & made no secret that he would kill her once his work was done.
the best part was that the vampires are portrayed as they are supposed to be, blood sucking killers. it did not sugar coat the fact nor did it try to make them honorable or something as seen in most of the vampire books.
the annoying part was most of the book was kind of like useless road trip. going from here to there & there to here. at the end it was annoying that kerry claimed she loved the vampire inspite of the fact that he was selfish, manipulative, & made no secret that he would kill her once his work was done.
July 18, 2023
Omigosh I wanted this to be good. I wanted this to be good so badly. I wanted something creepy. Look at that cover! It sure looks like a creepy book. Creepy YA Romance. YA Romance generally sucks, I know, but look at the cover! How can’t that be awesome?!
Companions of the Night is a pretty decent YA Paranormal Romance about a girl doing the right thing and getting in trouble because of it. More or less.
Is it like Twilight, you ask? No, rest assured, it’s not. It has character depth, no cheesiness (at least not too much cheesiness), and a pretty decent story. And think about it, the book is a bit over 200 pages long and yet offers so much more than the YA books I usually read. The advantage is that it doesn’t have enough time to overstay its welcome. I’m always a fan of that.
Another thing that I really liked is the author’s take on vampires. Here comes the metaphor I was talking about, the dark shadow. Kerry, the MC, rescues a vampire in distress. So far so corny. The dude is a teenager (meh) and pretty much kisses her ass for saving him.
"Wait! You mean that a vampire (super strength and all that) gets rescued by a mere teenage girl?! What the hell is this crap??!"
Well yeah. Duh, right? Super strength should have gotten the dude out of trouble.
"NOT IF IT WAS TWILIGHT!!"
And you are right again. But this is not Twilight. Vampires are evil and selfish. They only care about their well-being. They might be faking it.
"Oh."
And they might threaten to kill you. Abduct you. Force you to work for them and threaten to kill your family if you don’t comply.
"OH NO!"
Oh yes. This is how things go in Companions of the Night. And I love it. It makes sense. Ethan’s (the vamp) personality matched my image of vampires. I absolutely hate the usual meh vamps in Paranormal books. No, these are not nice people that happened to grow a fang or two. No, they don’t sparkle or eat animals because they are too “kind” to kill people. No, they don’t stay virgins for 100 years nor want to have a relationship with the Mary Sue next door. They are vile cruel disgusting creatures that belong in your nightmares, not your sexual fantasies.
Unless.. you’re into that sorta thing. Which is fine by me. Whatever rocks your boat, stranger.
Anyways, I have two main things that I disliked about Companions of the Night.
One, the story was not creepy. I was expecting something else and I didn’t get it. Disappoint.
Two, the romance. I think I would have given it four stars if it wasn’t for the romance. It didn’t bother me since it took an incredibly small part of the book, say 20 pages or so, but I think the story would have been better without it.
If you ever have the possibility of reading this book, then take it. It’s a very fast and fun read. Should you buy it? Maybe if it has a discount, yes. Else try borrowing from someone.
In the future, be careful whom you rescue.
Companions of the Night is a pretty decent YA Paranormal Romance about a girl doing the right thing and getting in trouble because of it. More or less.
Is it like Twilight, you ask? No, rest assured, it’s not. It has character depth, no cheesiness (at least not too much cheesiness), and a pretty decent story. And think about it, the book is a bit over 200 pages long and yet offers so much more than the YA books I usually read. The advantage is that it doesn’t have enough time to overstay its welcome. I’m always a fan of that.
Another thing that I really liked is the author’s take on vampires. Here comes the metaphor I was talking about, the dark shadow. Kerry, the MC, rescues a vampire in distress. So far so corny. The dude is a teenager (meh) and pretty much kisses her ass for saving him.
"Wait! You mean that a vampire (super strength and all that) gets rescued by a mere teenage girl?! What the hell is this crap??!"
Well yeah. Duh, right? Super strength should have gotten the dude out of trouble.
"NOT IF IT WAS TWILIGHT!!"
And you are right again. But this is not Twilight. Vampires are evil and selfish. They only care about their well-being. They might be faking it.
"Oh."
And they might threaten to kill you. Abduct you. Force you to work for them and threaten to kill your family if you don’t comply.
"OH NO!"
Oh yes. This is how things go in Companions of the Night. And I love it. It makes sense. Ethan’s (the vamp) personality matched my image of vampires. I absolutely hate the usual meh vamps in Paranormal books. No, these are not nice people that happened to grow a fang or two. No, they don’t sparkle or eat animals because they are too “kind” to kill people. No, they don’t stay virgins for 100 years nor want to have a relationship with the Mary Sue next door. They are vile cruel disgusting creatures that belong in your nightmares, not your sexual fantasies.
Unless.. you’re into that sorta thing. Which is fine by me. Whatever rocks your boat, stranger.
Anyways, I have two main things that I disliked about Companions of the Night.
One, the story was not creepy. I was expecting something else and I didn’t get it. Disappoint.
Two, the romance. I think I would have given it four stars if it wasn’t for the romance. It didn’t bother me since it took an incredibly small part of the book, say 20 pages or so, but I think the story would have been better without it.
If you ever have the possibility of reading this book, then take it. It’s a very fast and fun read. Should you buy it? Maybe if it has a discount, yes. Else try borrowing from someone.
August 10, 2016
I don't love vampire books, for the most part. The ones that I've read tend to be a little mindless, full of hot, leather-clad vampires and the humans who happily get sucked into their glamorous world of the night.
And that's why Companions of the Night is my favorite vampire book. It takes the typical elements of YA vampire fiction and examines them, then turns them on their heads. The usual components are there: teenage girl gets caught up in vampire world and develops an attraction to one of them. But then the book questions these characters. Those reviewers who found the plot and romance slow or uncompelling missed the point of it, I think; it's not so much a vampire novel as it is a character study wherein one of the characters is a vampire. If you've ever seen the movie Red Eye, it's a little like that: a thriller in which the whole middle act involves the heroine and the bad guy stuck together in a quiet, cramped space.
Vande Velde, as some other reviewers have said, grounds her vampires in reality, examining realistically how they would have to live and hide and feed, something that many vampire books ignore. In many vampire books the focus is on the seductive aspect of the vampires, often with little comment on the idea that they are, in fact, the blood-sucking undead. But Vande Velde puts a new spin on this, portraying a world of vampires that is much more realistic: they spend much of their time hiding and have to move often, and the book gently hints that it's a life that could sometimes be hard and lonely. And the author doesn't shy away from pointing out that as vampires, they must frequently suck blood and occasionally kill people (no deer-hunting vegetarian vampires here). It's a take on vampires that I found rather refreshing.
And our heroine, strong and resourceful but still flawed and very human Kerry, is torn; she can see the good and the bad in the vampires, as well as the good and the bad in the vampire hunters. She's attracted to Ethan, the vampire who is helping her find her family, but she knows she can't trust him, remembering all too well that earlier in the book he tried to kill her. And that's what leads to that fascinating middle act, with Ethan and Kerry in a car driving through rural New York in the dark, talking about life and death and vampirism and wondering how much they can trust each other.
And most of all, it's a story about choices, looking at the choices Kerry made that led to her enlisting Ethan's aid, the choices that Ethan made that led to him being a vampire, the choices that the vampire hunter (and the vampire hunter's son) made that led him to kidnapping a child and feeling perfectly justified in the act. And then it all comes down to what choices Kerry will make in the end.
If you're looking for a story with brooding, sympathetic vampires, read Twilight. If you're looking for a story with glamorous, exciting vampires, read one of the scores of YA vampire books that fill the shelves. But if you want to read a different sort of vampire novel, one that makes you think, read Companions of the Night.
And that's why Companions of the Night is my favorite vampire book. It takes the typical elements of YA vampire fiction and examines them, then turns them on their heads. The usual components are there: teenage girl gets caught up in vampire world and develops an attraction to one of them. But then the book questions these characters. Those reviewers who found the plot and romance slow or uncompelling missed the point of it, I think; it's not so much a vampire novel as it is a character study wherein one of the characters is a vampire. If you've ever seen the movie Red Eye, it's a little like that: a thriller in which the whole middle act involves the heroine and the bad guy stuck together in a quiet, cramped space.
Vande Velde, as some other reviewers have said, grounds her vampires in reality, examining realistically how they would have to live and hide and feed, something that many vampire books ignore. In many vampire books the focus is on the seductive aspect of the vampires, often with little comment on the idea that they are, in fact, the blood-sucking undead. But Vande Velde puts a new spin on this, portraying a world of vampires that is much more realistic: they spend much of their time hiding and have to move often, and the book gently hints that it's a life that could sometimes be hard and lonely. And the author doesn't shy away from pointing out that as vampires, they must frequently suck blood and occasionally kill people (no deer-hunting vegetarian vampires here). It's a take on vampires that I found rather refreshing.
And our heroine, strong and resourceful but still flawed and very human Kerry, is torn; she can see the good and the bad in the vampires, as well as the good and the bad in the vampire hunters. She's attracted to Ethan, the vampire who is helping her find her family, but she knows she can't trust him, remembering all too well that earlier in the book he tried to kill her. And that's what leads to that fascinating middle act, with Ethan and Kerry in a car driving through rural New York in the dark, talking about life and death and vampirism and wondering how much they can trust each other.
And most of all, it's a story about choices, looking at the choices Kerry made that led to her enlisting Ethan's aid, the choices that Ethan made that led to him being a vampire, the choices that the vampire hunter (and the vampire hunter's son) made that led him to kidnapping a child and feeling perfectly justified in the act. And then it all comes down to what choices Kerry will make in the end.
If you're looking for a story with brooding, sympathetic vampires, read Twilight. If you're looking for a story with glamorous, exciting vampires, read one of the scores of YA vampire books that fill the shelves. But if you want to read a different sort of vampire novel, one that makes you think, read Companions of the Night.
December 3, 2008
Not a great book, but I will say that I found the human/vampire relationship much more "realistic" (as if there is such a thing), than certain other teen vamp books published as of late.
By realistic, I mean, the vampires in this story were vampires. They had to drink blood and it had to be human blood and raiding the local blood bank wasn't going to cut it. That fact alone made the love story much more difficult to create.
I also appreciated the fact that the vampire was manipulative. And that the human girl, though in love with him, could never trust him. In fact, this might be what I enjoyed the most about the story; at no point could I tell who was telling the truth to the protagonist, human or vampire. And that kept me guessing up until the end, because the protagonist never quite knew who to believe and so never quite knew what she was going to do.
At the end of the night, I wasn't very impressed. There seemed to be a lot of aimless driving around in the middle that, while apparently necessary for the plot progression, didn't do much for me as a reader.
The end was okay and I was happy with the way things turned out, but I never fully felt the connection between the girl and the vampire so the intensity of the end was diminished.
It's not that I didn't enjoy the book, but I was never fully engaged by it. Perhaps that's a fault of mine, perhaps not.
Sidenote: The outer appeal of the book was certainly not helped by the lame cover art and the stupid chapter pictures. I had a problem with the cover art on another one of her books too. Somebody needs to kick this publisher in the butt.
By realistic, I mean, the vampires in this story were vampires. They had to drink blood and it had to be human blood and raiding the local blood bank wasn't going to cut it. That fact alone made the love story much more difficult to create.
I also appreciated the fact that the vampire was manipulative. And that the human girl, though in love with him, could never trust him. In fact, this might be what I enjoyed the most about the story; at no point could I tell who was telling the truth to the protagonist, human or vampire. And that kept me guessing up until the end, because the protagonist never quite knew who to believe and so never quite knew what she was going to do.
At the end of the night, I wasn't very impressed. There seemed to be a lot of aimless driving around in the middle that, while apparently necessary for the plot progression, didn't do much for me as a reader.
The end was okay and I was happy with the way things turned out, but I never fully felt the connection between the girl and the vampire so the intensity of the end was diminished.
It's not that I didn't enjoy the book, but I was never fully engaged by it. Perhaps that's a fault of mine, perhaps not.
Sidenote: The outer appeal of the book was certainly not helped by the lame cover art and the stupid chapter pictures. I had a problem with the cover art on another one of her books too. Somebody needs to kick this publisher in the butt.
October 4, 2019
Read #4
Started on January 31, 2019
Finished on February 20, 2019
2019 Update: Back on my bullshit, starring Ethan the asshole vampire.
"As in: Tag, you're it." That part about did me in this time.
And yep, it's 2019 and I'm still bitter over that mothertrucking ending.
The sequel hoe inside me says I want more, but I also think that's what makes this book so good. It's a perfect little snippet of a story.
But for real, VVV *slides you a $100 for a sequel*
Read #3
Started on June 10, 2013
Finished on June 12, 2013
2013 Update: I just have to add that Companions of the Night truly stands the test of time for me. It seems like I re-read it almost every year now, and I never finish the book with that bittersweet "oh, teenager Shannon... you loved some cheesy stuff in your time" revelation that always seems to occur when you try to read something you enjoyed when you were younger. (Hopefully that makes sense...) I find it remarkable that I still love this book as much as I did when I first picked it up.
(I will say, however, this time, I found myself calling Ethan a jackass more than usual, lol.)
--
Original Review:
I probably love this book more than any other vampire-related book I've ever read. Of course, this might be because it was one of the first books I read that involved vampires, but all the same... I love this book!
It's one of the few where I believe the author writes the vampires so convincingly. Out of all the vampire-related literature I've come across (and believe me, I've read a lot), Ethan is still honestly up there as one of my favorite vampire characters -- he's so devious, completely charming, and very off-putting all simultaneously (it's quite amazing). You literally have no idea if you should trust him up until the very end. Ethan is almost like a rogue spy, just because he never really reveals the extent of his vampire nature, or his past for that matter. He's very mysterious. And then he has the ability to get rid of dead bodies, lol.
The end... of course... is disappointing because it's so abrupt. You don't see Ethan and Kerry's relationship play out, and then there's the fact that Vivian has yet to write a sequel (something I'm still a tiny bit bitter about). I'm certainly hopeful, but I checked out her website and she explains:
Definitely read it if you're a fan of paranormal YA.
Started on January 31, 2019
Finished on February 20, 2019
2019 Update: Back on my bullshit, starring Ethan the asshole vampire.
"As in: Tag, you're it." That part about did me in this time.
And yep, it's 2019 and I'm still bitter over that mothertrucking ending.
The sequel hoe inside me says I want more, but I also think that's what makes this book so good. It's a perfect little snippet of a story.
But for real, VVV *slides you a $100 for a sequel*
Read #3
Started on June 10, 2013
Finished on June 12, 2013
2013 Update: I just have to add that Companions of the Night truly stands the test of time for me. It seems like I re-read it almost every year now, and I never finish the book with that bittersweet "oh, teenager Shannon... you loved some cheesy stuff in your time" revelation that always seems to occur when you try to read something you enjoyed when you were younger. (Hopefully that makes sense...) I find it remarkable that I still love this book as much as I did when I first picked it up.
(I will say, however, this time, I found myself calling Ethan a jackass more than usual, lol.)
--
Original Review:
I probably love this book more than any other vampire-related book I've ever read. Of course, this might be because it was one of the first books I read that involved vampires, but all the same... I love this book!
It's one of the few where I believe the author writes the vampires so convincingly. Out of all the vampire-related literature I've come across (and believe me, I've read a lot), Ethan is still honestly up there as one of my favorite vampire characters -- he's so devious, completely charming, and very off-putting all simultaneously (it's quite amazing). You literally have no idea if you should trust him up until the very end. Ethan is almost like a rogue spy, just because he never really reveals the extent of his vampire nature, or his past for that matter. He's very mysterious. And then he has the ability to get rid of dead bodies, lol.
The end... of course... is disappointing because it's so abrupt. You don't see Ethan and Kerry's relationship play out, and then there's the fact that Vivian has yet to write a sequel (something I'm still a tiny bit bitter about). I'm certainly hopeful, but I checked out her website and she explains:
As much as I enjoy all (well, most of) my characters, once I finish a story, I want to move on to other people in other situations. Once a book has been published and out for a while, with readers deciding for themselves what happens after the end of the story, it hardly seems fair for the author to come back and say, Nope, you're all wrong--THIS is what happened next.
Besides that, one of the reasons I became a writer was because I enjoyed mentally writing sequels to books I didn't want to end. (Or I made up new endings for stories I felt ended the wrong way.)
Definitely read it if you're a fan of paranormal YA.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 13, 2012
People talk like we're living in an unprecedented age of vampire novels. But really, the vampire novel never went out of style after it was invented. The vampire young adult novel, however, is more popular than ever. Back when I was in junior high those of us who liked vampires had fewer options. And one of the most popular options was COMPANIONS OF THE NIGHT by Vivian Vande Velde.
I was already familiar with Velde when someone recommended COMPANIONS OF THE NIGHT to me. I liked her books, ever since I read A WELL-TIMED ENCHANTMENT, since she wrote comedic and clever novels about teens and children in extraordinary situations. There was also a nice thread of feminism running through her works. As for COMPANIONS OF THE NIGHT, I know of know better way to sell it than to tell the premise:
COMPANIONS OF THE NIGHT begins with Kerry's late-night quest to retrieve her much younger brother's stuffed bear. (Anyone who has spent much time with a little kid knows that favored stuffed animals are necessary to get the kid to sleep.) Thus, Kerry drives herself down to the laundromat, pretty sure it will be closed, but willing to try anyway. Strangely, it is open but no one is there.
Then the owner and two of his friends return with a bound young man. They claim that Ethan is a vampire. Kerry, thoroughly assured that the local laundromat owner is out of his mind, helps Ethan escape.
The next day someone kidnaps Kerry's father and brother, causing her to go to Ethan for help. Ethan is, of course, a vampire. And Kerry's about to have the adventure of a lifetime.
Kerry is a terrific heroine. She's resourceful and brave, and she doesn't put up with vampires mocking her dad's old car. Ethan is charming bad news and secretive motives. (Together, they fight crime! Not really. But close.) COMPANIONS OF THE NIGHT is structured like an action movie. Two very different characters meet, then have to work together for one crazy night. There's suspense, romance, comedy, and piano.
COMPANIONS OF THE NIGHT is not a complex book and there is no deep mythology. That might put some vampire fans off. But it's a shame to miss out on this one. If only because it's about a girl who repeatedly rescues dudes in distress.
I was already familiar with Velde when someone recommended COMPANIONS OF THE NIGHT to me. I liked her books, ever since I read A WELL-TIMED ENCHANTMENT, since she wrote comedic and clever novels about teens and children in extraordinary situations. There was also a nice thread of feminism running through her works. As for COMPANIONS OF THE NIGHT, I know of know better way to sell it than to tell the premise:
COMPANIONS OF THE NIGHT begins with Kerry's late-night quest to retrieve her much younger brother's stuffed bear. (Anyone who has spent much time with a little kid knows that favored stuffed animals are necessary to get the kid to sleep.) Thus, Kerry drives herself down to the laundromat, pretty sure it will be closed, but willing to try anyway. Strangely, it is open but no one is there.
Then the owner and two of his friends return with a bound young man. They claim that Ethan is a vampire. Kerry, thoroughly assured that the local laundromat owner is out of his mind, helps Ethan escape.
The next day someone kidnaps Kerry's father and brother, causing her to go to Ethan for help. Ethan is, of course, a vampire. And Kerry's about to have the adventure of a lifetime.
Kerry is a terrific heroine. She's resourceful and brave, and she doesn't put up with vampires mocking her dad's old car. Ethan is charming bad news and secretive motives. (Together, they fight crime! Not really. But close.) COMPANIONS OF THE NIGHT is structured like an action movie. Two very different characters meet, then have to work together for one crazy night. There's suspense, romance, comedy, and piano.
COMPANIONS OF THE NIGHT is not a complex book and there is no deep mythology. That might put some vampire fans off. But it's a shame to miss out on this one. If only because it's about a girl who repeatedly rescues dudes in distress.
September 6, 2007
One of the few really excellent vampire novels out there. The entire plot has so much common-sense and believability working for it, and the characters are so likeable, that I wish it was hundreds of pages longer.
July 11, 2016
Some spoilers.
This vampire story was definitely unusual. The beginning was a little intense. I felt bad for Marsala. I'm not sure if he was good or bad. Maybe he was crazy, but if what happened to his son was true, then that explained it, but didn't excuse it. To sum it up, it left me feeling confused. There was a little romance between the main characters, but at the end it felt ambiguous, as it was intended to be. Would I recommend this story. Maybe. Give it a try if your looking for an unconventional vampire story.
This vampire story was definitely unusual. The beginning was a little intense. I felt bad for Marsala. I'm not sure if he was good or bad. Maybe he was crazy, but if what happened to his son was true, then that explained it, but didn't excuse it. To sum it up, it left me feeling confused. There was a little romance between the main characters, but at the end it felt ambiguous, as it was intended to be. Would I recommend this story. Maybe. Give it a try if your looking for an unconventional vampire story.
Read
June 8, 2016This short, tight YA story about vampires has long been one of my favorites.
December 24, 2019
It wasn’t good, per se, but I can’t say I wasn’t entertained.
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August 21, 2024
I saw Nenia Campbell read this and her review sent me down memory lane.
Back in the day, years before Twilight rocketed through the teen landscape like Elvis' hip thrusts, there existed books that were proto-YA books. Usually with a hard page or word limit that was dreadfully low. Generally with a message. Some of them, particularly those that dealt with the supernatural, were humming off the torrid success of the mass market paperback horror scene.
These teen vampire books were edgy. They were kinda sexy. They had...dare I say it, bite.
What they generally lacked was a whole lot else, and that's not to knock them. Teen vampire books were often overshadowed by adult horror-lite authors like Ann Rice, because there really was no true YA section back in the day. Once you read through the children's section, you went straight to adult books.
Anywho, we have Vivian Vande Velde. Who was a known name among the kids who read and looked for teen vampire books—along with Annette Curtis Klause and Amelia Atwater-Rhodes (the latter being famous because she published a lot of her work when she was in her teens).
For me, VVV is mostly miss. There's a level of craft and plot and resolution that's missing.
Companions of the Night is like taking a bite of mystery food and realizing that you've gotten a 1970s Powerbar. It'll fill you up, kinda, but it won't taste good and it'll stick in your mouth.
The book starts right away with Kerry Nowicki having to go do the laundromat to grab her four-year-old brother's stuffed koala. She doesn't tell their dad, who is asleep. And she feels bad because her mom left the family to run away with a dude to live in Florida and get her private investigator's license. Oh, and mom took the washer and dryer, which are totally also at the top of my list to grab whenever I bail on my family.
At the laundromat, Kerry finds a razor blade and also the koala. Just as she's about to leave, three men enter dragging and injured fourth they claim is a vampire. They're kicking him and beating him and Kerry is like "no stop!" So she's a prisoner now too, and then she helps Ethan escape and he brings her to his house and kisses this much older sexy lady in front of her (but they're not together, absolutely not), and he drives her home and doesn't kiss Kerry because she's sixteen. But Kerry believes him that he's a vampire.
Kerry is like, whew thank goodness that's all over now I can focus on my English test.
Except the next night after she closes at the supermarket she runs into Ethan again, and he's like "Come with me if you want to live" except not really—her dad was supposed to pick her up at 8 and it's 8:30 and when they go home her house is ransacked and there's red writing (in paint not blood) that says, "We have your family, vampire." And a Bible verse.
So Kerry and Ethan run to his "uncle's" house and find the sexy vampire lady has been murdered—burnt to a crisp. So they bundle up the body, burn the house down, go to a sex shop to get handcuffs, go to the New York swamp to bury the body in quicksand (ever the popular boogeyman of the 90s), and then sleep in an abandoned subway tunnel in Rochester. Btw, to prevent her from escaping, Ethan handcuffs her to a pipe. But he leaves her flashlights, batteries, coca cola and chips, so he's a keeper.
And I'd love to say that the plot resolves from there, except there's this random professor who was after the sexy vampire lady and became convinced that Kerry was a vampire too, so he somehow knows what schoolbus she takes home and sideswipes it with her dad's car in broad daylight and then vanishes.
Kerry and Ethan are like, we have to find him. Ethan lies to her about her family, and Kerry finds the professor and talks to him.
What follows is just ridiculous, and after the big showdown Ethan is like "I can change you into a vampire if you want" and Kerry is like "I love you," and he's like "so uh, wanna be a vampire?" and she's like "oh well I have to get...back home now." And then she leaves on foot to her house because her family is back at home safe and sound with no need for her to rescue them, and that is literally the book and apparently Ethan is French.
Like I said, ridiculous.
Anywho, like most VVV books, there's a romance (?) that forms with zero chemistry due to proximity, and like all VVV books, it ends with no resolution. Like, the scene is over, end the book, donesies.
But, I cannot with the attempt at edgy vibes.
What I like about Companions of the Night is that it builds upon and obliquely critiques the issue books of teen-lit yesteryear. This is not an issue book, thankyouverymuch, this book says. This book has bad people and grey morals and vampires don't lead a kid to do marijuana and booze and dropping their grades—that's literally college and trying new things. The vampires were just there, man.
And instead of dying because she's bad and done bad things (gone into a sex shop, stolen a car, drove on a learner's permit, went out after curfew, didn't study for an English test), she gets to go home to her family like none of this happened. Even Ethan, the baddie and love interest/manipulator gets to go on doing his bloodsucking thing, because he didn't take advantage of a sixteen year old girl. The five people he murdered? Whatever. They were trying to kill him.
I'm happy I revisited this one. It reminded me of Holly Black's early books from around the same period. Cigarettes. Underages girls in places they really shouldn't be but had to for ~plot purposes~ and because they're not like other girls. They have edge. They find older men and bowl them over with their...personality.* And you, sweet preteen reading up past bedtime, most certainly do not.
It wasn't good, but it was entertaining.
*When I think of all the book banning currently happening because parents of today are heated about YA and MG books featuring very tame age-appropriate LGBTQ+ characters, I look back at the teen books of the 90s and early 00s and I just laugh. And laugh. And laugh. Because these parents might have forgotten the books of their youth, but Pepperidge Farms hasn't. And neither have I.
Back in the day, years before Twilight rocketed through the teen landscape like Elvis' hip thrusts, there existed books that were proto-YA books. Usually with a hard page or word limit that was dreadfully low. Generally with a message. Some of them, particularly those that dealt with the supernatural, were humming off the torrid success of the mass market paperback horror scene.
These teen vampire books were edgy. They were kinda sexy. They had...dare I say it, bite.
What they generally lacked was a whole lot else, and that's not to knock them. Teen vampire books were often overshadowed by adult horror-lite authors like Ann Rice, because there really was no true YA section back in the day. Once you read through the children's section, you went straight to adult books.
Anywho, we have Vivian Vande Velde. Who was a known name among the kids who read and looked for teen vampire books—along with Annette Curtis Klause and Amelia Atwater-Rhodes (the latter being famous because she published a lot of her work when she was in her teens).
For me, VVV is mostly miss. There's a level of craft and plot and resolution that's missing.
Companions of the Night is like taking a bite of mystery food and realizing that you've gotten a 1970s Powerbar. It'll fill you up, kinda, but it won't taste good and it'll stick in your mouth.
The book starts right away with Kerry Nowicki having to go do the laundromat to grab her four-year-old brother's stuffed koala. She doesn't tell their dad, who is asleep. And she feels bad because her mom left the family to run away with a dude to live in Florida and get her private investigator's license. Oh, and mom took the washer and dryer, which are totally also at the top of my list to grab whenever I bail on my family.
At the laundromat, Kerry finds a razor blade and also the koala. Just as she's about to leave, three men enter dragging and injured fourth they claim is a vampire. They're kicking him and beating him and Kerry is like "no stop!" So she's a prisoner now too, and then she helps Ethan escape and he brings her to his house and kisses this much older sexy lady in front of her (but they're not together, absolutely not), and he drives her home and doesn't kiss Kerry because she's sixteen. But Kerry believes him that he's a vampire.
Kerry is like, whew thank goodness that's all over now I can focus on my English test.
Except the next night after she closes at the supermarket she runs into Ethan again, and he's like "Come with me if you want to live" except not really—her dad was supposed to pick her up at 8 and it's 8:30 and when they go home her house is ransacked and there's red writing (in paint not blood) that says, "We have your family, vampire." And a Bible verse.
So Kerry and Ethan run to his "uncle's" house and find the sexy vampire lady has been murdered—burnt to a crisp. So they bundle up the body, burn the house down, go to a sex shop to get handcuffs, go to the New York swamp to bury the body in quicksand (ever the popular boogeyman of the 90s), and then sleep in an abandoned subway tunnel in Rochester. Btw, to prevent her from escaping, Ethan handcuffs her to a pipe. But he leaves her flashlights, batteries, coca cola and chips, so he's a keeper.
And I'd love to say that the plot resolves from there, except there's this random professor who was after the sexy vampire lady and became convinced that Kerry was a vampire too, so he somehow knows what schoolbus she takes home and sideswipes it with her dad's car in broad daylight and then vanishes.
Kerry and Ethan are like, we have to find him. Ethan lies to her about her family, and Kerry finds the professor and talks to him.
What follows is just ridiculous, and after the big showdown Ethan is like "I can change you into a vampire if you want" and Kerry is like "I love you," and he's like "so uh, wanna be a vampire?" and she's like "oh well I have to get...back home now." And then she leaves on foot to her house because her family is back at home safe and sound with no need for her to rescue them, and that is literally the book and apparently Ethan is French.
Like I said, ridiculous.
Anywho, like most VVV books, there's a romance (?) that forms with zero chemistry due to proximity, and like all VVV books, it ends with no resolution. Like, the scene is over, end the book, donesies.
But, I cannot with the attempt at edgy vibes.
What I like about Companions of the Night is that it builds upon and obliquely critiques the issue books of teen-lit yesteryear. This is not an issue book, thankyouverymuch, this book says. This book has bad people and grey morals and vampires don't lead a kid to do marijuana and booze and dropping their grades—that's literally college and trying new things. The vampires were just there, man.
And instead of dying because she's bad and done bad things (gone into a sex shop, stolen a car, drove on a learner's permit, went out after curfew, didn't study for an English test), she gets to go home to her family like none of this happened. Even Ethan, the baddie and love interest/manipulator gets to go on doing his bloodsucking thing, because he didn't take advantage of a sixteen year old girl. The five people he murdered? Whatever. They were trying to kill him.
I'm happy I revisited this one. It reminded me of Holly Black's early books from around the same period. Cigarettes. Underages girls in places they really shouldn't be but had to for ~plot purposes~ and because they're not like other girls. They have edge. They find older men and bowl them over with their...personality.* And you, sweet preteen reading up past bedtime, most certainly do not.
It wasn't good, but it was entertaining.
*When I think of all the book banning currently happening because parents of today are heated about YA and MG books featuring very tame age-appropriate LGBTQ+ characters, I look back at the teen books of the 90s and early 00s and I just laugh. And laugh. And laugh. Because these parents might have forgotten the books of their youth, but Pepperidge Farms hasn't. And neither have I.
May 9, 2022
3 out of 5 stars!
I was a little concerned with the way this one started with the author constantly referencing the only black character's ethnicity. But thankfully that character's name was finally given and they were ID'd by that name going forward.
So, other than that I enjoyed this quick read. As a child of the 80's & 90's it was nostalgic for me. Short chapters and most ended on cliffhangers to keep me flipping the pages.
There weren't many vampire elements on the page so I'd characterize this as more of a mystery/thriller, but still enjoyable as a fast-paced read. And I mostly enjoyed the tension between Kerry and Ethan (though Ethan had some abusive tendencies), giving me just enough to be frustrated with in a good way. I was also worried about the romance elements but thankfully that wasn't as big of a plot point either.
It was a nice solid read.
Detailed review: https://youtu.be/TsMNA8Vwlmc
I was a little concerned with the way this one started with the author constantly referencing the only black character's ethnicity. But thankfully that character's name was finally given and they were ID'd by that name going forward.
So, other than that I enjoyed this quick read. As a child of the 80's & 90's it was nostalgic for me. Short chapters and most ended on cliffhangers to keep me flipping the pages.
There weren't many vampire elements on the page so I'd characterize this as more of a mystery/thriller, but still enjoyable as a fast-paced read. And I mostly enjoyed the tension between Kerry and Ethan (though Ethan had some abusive tendencies), giving me just enough to be frustrated with in a good way. I was also worried about the romance elements but thankfully that wasn't as big of a plot point either.
It was a nice solid read.
Detailed review: https://youtu.be/TsMNA8Vwlmc
December 21, 2009
I ran across Vivian Vande Velde's (great) name in a list of popular teen vampire novelists and picked up Companions of the Night on a whim. I read it in about a day and really enjoyed it. The plot moves along at a quick clip, and while the characters do have a strong rapport, the romance element is not given much attention until the very last chapters. (Side note: I wasn't overwhelmed by these characters—they are certainly serviceable, but I didn't completely connect with them. Some of this is just because we learn a limited amount about them in the confines of the story. Kerry is given a nice backstory, but in attempting to maintain Ethan's mysteriousness, we learn very little about him, which ultimately, was unfortunate. It leaves room for lots of speculation, but honestly, one of the things I enjoy most about vampire novels is finding out about well, the vampires...)
Overall, however, what I enjoyed most about this novel is the fact that the vampires--particularly anti-hero/romantic interest Ethan--actually remain vampiric. They kill people without remorse and even admit to enjoying it. Even more interesting is the almost off-hand way in which Vande Velde embraces the sexual undertones of the vampire story—casually integrating a short conversation between Ethan and Kerry:
With 'de-fanged,' conscience-laden, human-obsessed vampire lovers becoming more of the rule than the exception, I was actually delighted to read a novel that didn't try to bridge the mortal-vampire gap. She doesn't want to be a vampire, and he doesn't want to repent of his evil ways.
Also, enjoyable is the fact that Vande Velde is an affirmed one-off novel writer. No sequels (see: http://www.vivianvandevelde.com/seque...). So while the ending of Companions leaves the story open for continuation, it's unlikely that we'll see an overwrought second and third novel of undead romance. And it's nice to see a story stand on its own once in awhile.
Overall, however, what I enjoyed most about this novel is the fact that the vampires--particularly anti-hero/romantic interest Ethan--actually remain vampiric. They kill people without remorse and even admit to enjoying it. Even more interesting is the almost off-hand way in which Vande Velde embraces the sexual undertones of the vampire story—casually integrating a short conversation between Ethan and Kerry:
Ethan was speaking hesitantly, having a hard time putting this into words. “It's not just the nourishment from the blood itself...There's a physical and mental bond, a sharing of the spirit for lack of a better word...”
Kerry took in a deep breath. “I think I've heard this line from the boy who took me to the Harvest Dance.”
Ethan laughed with what sounded like genuine amusement, which was disconcerting because she hadn't meant to be funny. “There is a similarity.” He looked at her appraisingly, as though trying to gauge how experienced she was.
She folded her arms in front of her chest, determined to keep him wondering, before she realized that her gesture had probably told all.
Ethan said, “Sometimes, not always—but with the right partner—vampires mix the two acts: sex and the drinking of blood. Either of itself is...very pleasurable, but the combination...”
Parked on the side of a dark road, Kerry didn't like the direction this was taking, even though Ethan was showing no inclination to demonstrate. She said, “I'm sure praying mantises and black widow spiders feel the same.”
With 'de-fanged,' conscience-laden, human-obsessed vampire lovers becoming more of the rule than the exception, I was actually delighted to read a novel that didn't try to bridge the mortal-vampire gap. She doesn't want to be a vampire, and he doesn't want to repent of his evil ways.
Also, enjoyable is the fact that Vande Velde is an affirmed one-off novel writer. No sequels (see: http://www.vivianvandevelde.com/seque...). So while the ending of Companions leaves the story open for continuation, it's unlikely that we'll see an overwrought second and third novel of undead romance. And it's nice to see a story stand on its own once in awhile.
January 6, 2011
This book was suggested to me after I posted my review of Silver Kiss. I wanted another take on the human girl, vampire boy love story and this did not disappoint. I had to take away one star though for a couple of reasons. Towards the middle, the story lost steam in figuring out what happened to the girl's family. There were parts that seemed contrived; too much effort in inducing some emotions. It could also be that in the effort of the author to make it mysterious (which it was), it got to the point where she dragged on too much in withholding information that the reader becomes apathetic. I have to say though that this book was much scarier than Silver Kiss. It never sympathizes with the human girl and her feelings. This book is almost all about the vampire--his selfishness was what made this book compelling and appalling at the same time. I can only wish that all Twilight fans read this book so they can truly understand why vampires don't make good boyfriends.
July 11, 2013
So, I don't know exactly how I feel about this book. I wanted to read it as study for my genre, so I got a sample. The sample was less than satisfying, with pretty simple writing (which is not bad in and of itself, unless you focus too closely on all the unnecessary wordage--I know about this better than anyone!--and the juvenile tone, but then again it's 3rd person on the shoulder of a 16 year old), but I wanted to see where it was going. I bought the kindle edition for $4.99 and read it in 3 days, not necessarily because I was so addicted to it, but I kept WAITING for something to happen--some explanation as to why the main male character, Ethan, kept changing his personality, some explanation as to why the reader was being dragged along on this lonely, mystery/detective-ish journey. Mostly, I was waiting for romance. And while the main character, Kerry's, reactions to things were pretty believable (gotta give Vande Velde her props on thinking of appropriate reactions to varying situations and executing them with confidence), I did not like how there was little to no reference to one particular event that unfolds at the end of the novel like a train wreck. While I was left wanting more when I finished, in that I felt like 'why did I just follow these characters on this journey, as I am coming away with no spiritual awakening (like I usually do--or at least feel I do--after a really good novel)', I also did not see how it could end any other way. It was alright, but it could have been better. It felt unfinished, but not necessarily with regards to adding more on the end, but more throughout. All in all, I laughed out loud three times, pretty hard, and had one moment of almost totally giving myself over to these characters. Almost.
April 3, 2015
This is one of those books that tries to skate by on mediocrity because it's written for teenagers. The main female character is flat and just a bit too cool and logical for a sixteen year old girl. I just didn't believe her. The main male lead, aka the vampire, is neither mysterious nor particularly engaging. There's so much more that it would have been interesting to learn about his life, his change, etc, but these things are glossed over in favor of the two characters driving around town and having mind-numbingly vague and uninteresting conversations.
I'm certainly not going to say I hated it, but it adds nothing to the vampire genre as a whole. It could have fit in any of the vampire worlds I've read due to its overall vagueness.
Oh yes, AND...
I'm certainly not going to say I hated it, but it adds nothing to the vampire genre as a whole. It could have fit in any of the vampire worlds I've read due to its overall vagueness.
Oh yes, AND...
November 5, 2012
3 1/2
A very good YA with an original plot (this has been published in 1995), a smart heroine, a lying vampire out for blood, and monsters with human skin.
Each page kept me absorbed in the story, eager to finish the book, and find out what happened next. How refreshing that the book has an "open" ending: it's up to you imagining what happens after you turn the last page. This story has ended, but you may dream the rest of her life, if you wish to.
As I have often said I'm not a fan of YA, but I admit liking Companions of the Night, even if I couldn't really connect with the 16 yo heroine. (Age does matter outside YA vamp books :D)
A very good YA with an original plot (this has been published in 1995), a smart heroine, a lying vampire out for blood, and monsters with human skin.
Each page kept me absorbed in the story, eager to finish the book, and find out what happened next. How refreshing that the book has an "open" ending: it's up to you imagining what happens after you turn the last page. This story has ended, but you may dream the rest of her life, if you wish to.
As I have often said I'm not a fan of YA, but I admit liking Companions of the Night, even if I couldn't really connect with the 16 yo heroine. (Age does matter outside YA vamp books :D)
July 30, 2012
THE best YA vampire book ever!!
Long before Stephanie Meyer came along and ruined vampire lore, before Vampire Academy, Diaries, and a host of others, Vivian Vande Velde wrote the perfect YA vampire novel.
COTN has a believable storyline and realistic characters. The vampire Ethan is charming, but he is devious and not to be trusted. 15 yr old Kerry has to help him hunt down a vampire hunter so she can find and save her father and little brother.
Like most of Vande Velde's books, this is a short read. And like most of them, I wish this was much longer.
Long before Stephanie Meyer came along and ruined vampire lore, before Vampire Academy, Diaries, and a host of others, Vivian Vande Velde wrote the perfect YA vampire novel.
COTN has a believable storyline and realistic characters. The vampire Ethan is charming, but he is devious and not to be trusted. 15 yr old Kerry has to help him hunt down a vampire hunter so she can find and save her father and little brother.
Like most of Vande Velde's books, this is a short read. And like most of them, I wish this was much longer.
Read
December 28, 2021A fun quick bit of candy to read on vacation.
December 30, 2023
wow, this was fantastic. i need more vampire novels to be like this.
March 1, 2009
This vampire romance has a distinct undertone of violence and pulls you in from page one. Kerri is a 15 year old girl whose mother has left her, her brother, and her father for another man and another life. Their family is still trying to cope with the pain that brought and one of the main reasons that Kerri gives in to her brother's tears and goes to fetch his koala from the 24 hour laundry.
On her arrival she finds three men have beaten and tied up another man and are holding him hostage. They are convinced he is a vampire. Kerri helps him escape. She acts rather ingeniously and illustrates inner strength and quick thinking.
Ethan, the man who she helped rescue, drives her home and her father is none the wiser of her sneaking out to fetch a bear. Her life goes on until she runs into Ethan again in the supermarket. He offers to drive her home since her father has forgotten to pick her up. She enters her home to find that it has been ransacked and her father and brother are missing. This is where the story quickly picks up it's already fast pace.
Kerri is forced to stay with Ethan and help him throughout the rest of the book in order to get her family back. She learns that Ethan is a vampire and rightly fears him, but is fascinated at the same time, developing a crush. There are attacks, killings, and scheming that carry the plot to the end for a final revelation of who is behind it. Why they are trying to kill Ethan and Kerri has fallen in love with Ethan. Kerri's family is also safe and sound.
The main characters that we meet are Kerri a 15 year old girl, Ethan a vampire whose isn't very old at all, his vampire friend and possible lover Regina, and the vampire hunter. Kerri has a good heart and is smarter that she gives herself credit for. You feel sorry for her since her mother left and immediately fear for her safety when Ethan is revealed to be a vampire. However, you also feel sorry for Ethan who is being hunted for nothing that he actually did and because he loses his friend and creator.
Regina and Ethan are very different. Ethan is still very human, while Regina embraces being a vampire and all of the seductive danger that comes with it. Ethan is also very conniving, which is evident in how he treats Kerri.
The overall plot keeps you interested and the ending does have an interesting twist. However, the main Kerri announcing that she loves Ethan didn't make a lot of sense to me. There were hints at a crush through the book and she recognized that he was too old for her. I just felt that her reaction to him in that sense was out of character,but it didn't detract from the ending. One thing you should know is that it doesn't end with her and Ethan together, which I think is a good thing.
On her arrival she finds three men have beaten and tied up another man and are holding him hostage. They are convinced he is a vampire. Kerri helps him escape. She acts rather ingeniously and illustrates inner strength and quick thinking.
Ethan, the man who she helped rescue, drives her home and her father is none the wiser of her sneaking out to fetch a bear. Her life goes on until she runs into Ethan again in the supermarket. He offers to drive her home since her father has forgotten to pick her up. She enters her home to find that it has been ransacked and her father and brother are missing. This is where the story quickly picks up it's already fast pace.
Kerri is forced to stay with Ethan and help him throughout the rest of the book in order to get her family back. She learns that Ethan is a vampire and rightly fears him, but is fascinated at the same time, developing a crush. There are attacks, killings, and scheming that carry the plot to the end for a final revelation of who is behind it. Why they are trying to kill Ethan and Kerri has fallen in love with Ethan. Kerri's family is also safe and sound.
The main characters that we meet are Kerri a 15 year old girl, Ethan a vampire whose isn't very old at all, his vampire friend and possible lover Regina, and the vampire hunter. Kerri has a good heart and is smarter that she gives herself credit for. You feel sorry for her since her mother left and immediately fear for her safety when Ethan is revealed to be a vampire. However, you also feel sorry for Ethan who is being hunted for nothing that he actually did and because he loses his friend and creator.
Regina and Ethan are very different. Ethan is still very human, while Regina embraces being a vampire and all of the seductive danger that comes with it. Ethan is also very conniving, which is evident in how he treats Kerri.
The overall plot keeps you interested and the ending does have an interesting twist. However, the main Kerri announcing that she loves Ethan didn't make a lot of sense to me. There were hints at a crush through the book and she recognized that he was too old for her. I just felt that her reaction to him in that sense was out of character,but it didn't detract from the ending. One thing you should know is that it doesn't end with her and Ethan together, which I think is a good thing.
January 26, 2019
Well this was unexpectedly fantastic.
I don't actively seek out the vampire genre-- I think I got enough of it in the Twilight craze. But this year I've lucked out by stumbling upon two new favorites: Sunshine by Robin Mckinley, and this little gem.
Companions of the Night is a fast read-- I read it in two and a half hours. It only spans the length of a few days, but since it mainly consists of interactions between Kerry and her new vampire companion, we get to know our two leads pretty well. And both are just great.
Kerry, in an unfortunate case of terrible timing, stumbles onto the scene of vampire hunters and their prey-- a boy who's tied up, covered in blood. Not realizing that they are telling the truth about what he is, she helps save the poor victim, who, after their escape, acts the perfect, wounded gentleman and they part ways. That should be that.
Except the vampire hunters think she's with him. Possibly even a vampire also. And they come after her-- by way of her family. Now, she's stuck with Ethan-- who she discovers really is a vampire, and not as gentlemanly as he'd once seemed-- in order to get her family back along with his revenge.
Ethan may not be a gentleman, but he is hilarious. Once he showed his true colors, I settled down for the ride because I was here for it. No swoony, broody Twilight crap here. Ethan isn't what we'd call good. In fact, in the middle I was second-guessing my predictions of romance because he is decidedly not. Good, that is. But he's witty and snarky and his verbal sparring with Kerry made me laugh out loud more than once.
Kerry starts off in shock, naturally, and then scared and timid... but she holds her own against Ethan's snark and condescension. And in the end-- bittersweet and perfect-- she's strong enough to make her own choices.
I don't remember how I found this one but I'm so glad I did. I'm tempted to wish there was a sequel... but I'm going to embrace the bittersweetness of the ending. Guess I'll just have to read it again.
I don't actively seek out the vampire genre-- I think I got enough of it in the Twilight craze. But this year I've lucked out by stumbling upon two new favorites: Sunshine by Robin Mckinley, and this little gem.
Companions of the Night is a fast read-- I read it in two and a half hours. It only spans the length of a few days, but since it mainly consists of interactions between Kerry and her new vampire companion, we get to know our two leads pretty well. And both are just great.
Kerry, in an unfortunate case of terrible timing, stumbles onto the scene of vampire hunters and their prey-- a boy who's tied up, covered in blood. Not realizing that they are telling the truth about what he is, she helps save the poor victim, who, after their escape, acts the perfect, wounded gentleman and they part ways. That should be that.
Except the vampire hunters think she's with him. Possibly even a vampire also. And they come after her-- by way of her family. Now, she's stuck with Ethan-- who she discovers really is a vampire, and not as gentlemanly as he'd once seemed-- in order to get her family back along with his revenge.
Ethan may not be a gentleman, but he is hilarious. Once he showed his true colors, I settled down for the ride because I was here for it. No swoony, broody Twilight crap here. Ethan isn't what we'd call good. In fact, in the middle I was second-guessing my predictions of romance because he is decidedly not. Good, that is. But he's witty and snarky and his verbal sparring with Kerry made me laugh out loud more than once.
Kerry starts off in shock, naturally, and then scared and timid... but she holds her own against Ethan's snark and condescension. And in the end-- bittersweet and perfect-- she's strong enough to make her own choices.
I don't remember how I found this one but I'm so glad I did. I'm tempted to wish there was a sequel... but I'm going to embrace the bittersweetness of the ending. Guess I'll just have to read it again.
May 3, 2011
Vivian Vande Velde, produced an excellent Vampire story without the usual clichés found in many YA books. Kerry is a likeable character who is willing to go through great lengths to save her family, with the help of Ethan. Ethan isn't the nice friendly vampire (found in certain YA Vampire series), he's cunning, ruthless and untrustworthy, but shades of humanity peek out when you least expect it.
Perhaps what I like most about Companions of the Night is the fact that Ethan doesn't reveal all, which means that all questions aren't answered, though at times annoying, that's also the way that life works. Not all questions are answered. Therefore, he remains a mystery throughout the book. It would have been great if Velde would have made Companion of the Night into a series, so that readers could further explore the world of Brockport, New York, however that’s not the case.
I recommend this book to all fans of the Vampire genre. Companions of the Night is a journey worth taking, if only for one night.
Perhaps what I like most about Companions of the Night is the fact that Ethan doesn't reveal all, which means that all questions aren't answered, though at times annoying, that's also the way that life works. Not all questions are answered. Therefore, he remains a mystery throughout the book. It would have been great if Velde would have made Companion of the Night into a series, so that readers could further explore the world of Brockport, New York, however that’s not the case.
I recommend this book to all fans of the Vampire genre. Companions of the Night is a journey worth taking, if only for one night.
December 26, 2020
Just finished it and wished for a couple of pages more but that's partially what makes it so good. The ending alludes to further plot possibilities left to the reader's imagination.
I would classify this book as a cross-over between young-adult and urban fantasy with romantic elements (very low-key). I don't feel this is horror however but there's an overall mysterious mood. Also the characters were quite unpredictable sometimes which kept me on the edge. It's a fast read with likable characters and enough action to keep you entertained.
This is the second book I've read by Vande Velde and I enjoyed both with maybe a slight preference for this one over Dragon's Bait.
So glad I discovered this author by coincidence on goodreads just because her Dutch sounding name caught my attention.
I would classify this book as a cross-over between young-adult and urban fantasy with romantic elements (very low-key). I don't feel this is horror however but there's an overall mysterious mood. Also the characters were quite unpredictable sometimes which kept me on the edge. It's a fast read with likable characters and enough action to keep you entertained.
This is the second book I've read by Vande Velde and I enjoyed both with maybe a slight preference for this one over Dragon's Bait.
So glad I discovered this author by coincidence on goodreads just because her Dutch sounding name caught my attention.
April 24, 2010
I don't read a lot of YA fiction, but I liked this vampire novel aimed at pre-teens and young teenagers. (The cover art is admittedly terrible.) I'm not sure my son would care for it, but if I had a daughter I'd pass it on. It's just the sort of vampire story I like, where the vampire hovers somewhere between a good guy and a bad guy, and is attractive but not to be completely trusted. The heroine adopts a mostly practical approach to the vampire, and there's actually a bit of romance as opposed to Twilight-ish obsession. This is a standalone novel (apparently this author doesn't write any sequels) and I wish it had been twice as long.
July 28, 2007
I really loved the vampires in this book; they actually feel like they've lived for quite some time, as opposed to psychologically being a high school student for centuries. I particularly loved the moral ambiguity of the book, that the threat to Kerry felt real and immediate, and the lack of romanticization. This is what a vampire-human relationship might work out if vampires were real.
Full review: http://oyceter.livejournal.com/628159...
Full review: http://oyceter.livejournal.com/628159...
January 30, 2017
I read this book when I was in High school before that twilight crap came out. What I liked about this book is that the vampires aren't nice. The vampire must drink blood and can't submerge into the light but must wait until nightfall. The vampire in this book is a bit merciless and psychopathic, nothing like the little pussies in twilight.
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