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Stake You #1
Stake You
Devlin O’Mara has spent a long time cultivating her reputation as a scary bitch, and nothing’s going to change that. Not cheating boyfriends, annoying ex-crushes, or even a cheesy new kid who looks like he could have walked straight out of a young adult novel.
But life takes odd turns and eerie events coupled with a stalking classmate threaten to send Dev’s walls crumbling down around her, finally forcing her to face the true horror of her past.
Joining forces with an enemy is the only way to get to the heart of an enigmatic boy’s true intentions and protect everyone in her life from a being who couldn’t possibly exist.
But life takes odd turns and eerie events coupled with a stalking classmate threaten to send Dev’s walls crumbling down around her, finally forcing her to face the true horror of her past.
Joining forces with an enemy is the only way to get to the heart of an enigmatic boy’s true intentions and protect everyone in her life from a being who couldn’t possibly exist.
168 pages, ebook
First published November 28, 2012
95 people are currently reading
715 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
December 12, 2012
4.5 Stars.
So this isn't your normal paranormal romance. The protags are both human, crazy I know. The bad guy is a vampire who feeds off a young girl's pain and her blood of course (you know this in the prologue).
Devlin in the female protag, who has to take care of her emotionally unstable mother. She has shut herself off from everyone because she doesn't want to appear weak. She has had an arch-nemesis that goes by Base but after a turn of event, they end up teaming up to save a friend from the clutches of the Vamp, Sully.
Dev was pretty awesome. She has to work pretty much any time she isn't at school just to support her mother. She has a smart mouth and is very independent. Base was pretty awesome too. I just wanted to hug him for some reason, it was like you couldn't hate him but that was probably due to the fact Dev was kinda torn by her feelings for him.
There was some language, probably because they were pretty much all 18 and in Dublin... plus she worked in a pub, come on. No sex, awww... I know. But over-all it was a really good read, I shouldn't be surprised because Ms. Farrell is a very good author and loved all of her previous work.
So this isn't your normal paranormal romance. The protags are both human, crazy I know. The bad guy is a vampire who feeds off a young girl's pain and her blood of course (you know this in the prologue).
Devlin in the female protag, who has to take care of her emotionally unstable mother. She has shut herself off from everyone because she doesn't want to appear weak. She has had an arch-nemesis that goes by Base but after a turn of event, they end up teaming up to save a friend from the clutches of the Vamp, Sully.
Dev was pretty awesome. She has to work pretty much any time she isn't at school just to support her mother. She has a smart mouth and is very independent. Base was pretty awesome too. I just wanted to hug him for some reason, it was like you couldn't hate him but that was probably due to the fact Dev was kinda torn by her feelings for him.
There was some language, probably because they were pretty much all 18 and in Dublin... plus she worked in a pub, come on. No sex, awww... I know. But over-all it was a really good read, I shouldn't be surprised because Ms. Farrell is a very good author and loved all of her previous work.
January 26, 2014
Actual rating - 2.5
The first half of Stake You was really boring.
I was starting to wonder what would be better - Being staked, or finishing the book.
It did get better in the second half, but i still didn't love it.
Although i didn't really like the book, i did like Devlin.
She was probably the only reason why i kept reading, instead of putting the book down near the start.
She stood up for herself, and was quite brave, but at the same time, she was really vulnerable.
She was quite funny at times, too.
Overall, an okay read, but took ages to get to the action.
The first half of Stake You was really boring.
I was starting to wonder what would be better - Being staked, or finishing the book.
It did get better in the second half, but i still didn't love it.
Although i didn't really like the book, i did like Devlin.
She was probably the only reason why i kept reading, instead of putting the book down near the start.
She stood up for herself, and was quite brave, but at the same time, she was really vulnerable.
She was quite funny at times, too.
Overall, an okay read, but took ages to get to the action.
December 3, 2021
Definitely one of the better YA vampire books out there.
October 8, 2015
I'd have given this book a five star rating except for three major sticking points for me.
First is that the conversations get rather repetitive after a little while, between Dev and Base. I am not sure if it is just me that thought that way, but that is how it came across.
Second, and importantly, Vampires do not walk around in Sunlight. I'm rather old fashioned about my vampire myth ideals, I get it, but they do not walk in sunlight.
Third, there was a scene where Dev really lays into her mother verbally. I actually applauded that part because it was the most healthy reaction Dev had towards her mother's behavior throughout the entire novel. But then, Base decides he's going to ask Dev if she thought she was too harsh on her. It's not Base's family, he doesn't know everything, and Dev was entitled to feel how she felt and to finally stand up for herself and I thought it was horrible that he even attempted to make her feel guilty about it.
First is that the conversations get rather repetitive after a little while, between Dev and Base. I am not sure if it is just me that thought that way, but that is how it came across.
Second, and importantly, Vampires do not walk around in Sunlight. I'm rather old fashioned about my vampire myth ideals, I get it, but they do not walk in sunlight.
Third, there was a scene where Dev really lays into her mother verbally. I actually applauded that part because it was the most healthy reaction Dev had towards her mother's behavior throughout the entire novel. But then, Base decides he's going to ask Dev if she thought she was too harsh on her. It's not Base's family, he doesn't know everything, and Dev was entitled to feel how she felt and to finally stand up for herself and I thought it was horrible that he even attempted to make her feel guilty about it.
October 8, 2019
This book really surprised the hell outta me. It was free on Amazon which is awesome!..... but the story was really really good. I was unsure of Devlin at first, she was such a bitch to everyone but as the book goes on and you find out what shes been through you can understand why she keeps everyone at a distance. I loved Bace. They had cute banter, even thought they hated each other. It was confusing a bit to read some of the parts because I'm not familiar with some of the words used in Dublin. lol. But it was a great read.
Lucky me..... i got the next 2 books in the series for free too! I plan to read them very soon!
Lucky me..... i got the next 2 books in the series for free too! I plan to read them very soon!
August 20, 2022
An okay read, I kinda feel like the storyline was missing some oomph but onto the next in the series
December 2, 2019
I already read the chaos series and ava Delaney #1 from the same author. The ava Delaney series was a mediocre but the chaos series was amazing! Though I will be reading Ava Delaney even if its a mediocre because of lack of good books. Anyway about Stake You. I read it in two days and I think it was a very good book. Not as amazing as the chaos series but definetelly better than Ava Delaney series. I will continue it of course. Another thing : I didn't bought them, they were free!! All three books. Another plus. If you want a book to pass your time pleasantly and a book that wont be a waste of time this is the book for you.
August 22, 2021
I think I'm getting old because though the story was structurally good, it was a struggle for me to read. I couldn't mesh with the main characters and the villain seemed like all the movie vampires blended into one.
But when I walked away for a bit and came back, I realized the villain is villainous but not as cliché as I judged. The main characters were well created and the disconnect was personal not literary.
So I think if you like British High school vampire drama, you'll like this book.
But when I walked away for a bit and came back, I realized the villain is villainous but not as cliché as I judged. The main characters were well created and the disconnect was personal not literary.
So I think if you like British High school vampire drama, you'll like this book.
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October 21, 2025I don't know if its because I went into this with no expectations or if it is because I'm in this stage where my mind isn't looking for anything super crazy or complex to read right now but... I had fun. It wasn't this amazing vampire story or anything, it was repetitive at times (it's not a long book at all so it's not that big of a deal), and a little angsty but I actually finished this saying to myself that I'd want to continue the series. I liked Devlin, she was tough, brave, hard shell but had some softness and built up trauma on the inside and actually really relatable.
March 31, 2018
Fighting Someone That Shouldnt Exist
I gave this book a rating of 5 because I loved it. I loved how the relationships between people changed for the better. There was a lot of twists and turns. For a moment I thought one of them were going die. It made me feel sad. But they never gave up . They were willing to die trying. I recommend this book to anyone that loves vampires.
I gave this book a rating of 5 because I loved it. I loved how the relationships between people changed for the better. There was a lot of twists and turns. For a moment I thought one of them were going die. It made me feel sad. But they never gave up . They were willing to die trying. I recommend this book to anyone that loves vampires.
May 19, 2023
3.5 stars out of 5
This was an okay YA vampire story. Devlin is trying to pay the bills and take care of her mother while doing high school. I liked the coworkers at the pub who always had her back. Despite her emotional problems, Devlin is tough. I wanted a little more back story on the vampire, but maybe that happens in book 2?
This was an okay YA vampire story. Devlin is trying to pay the bills and take care of her mother while doing high school. I liked the coworkers at the pub who always had her back. Despite her emotional problems, Devlin is tough. I wanted a little more back story on the vampire, but maybe that happens in book 2?
March 8, 2018
This was a real page turner! Exciting, mysterious and just plain shocking.
Enjoyed all the characters, even though Devlin was such a bitchy character but a likable one.
Definitely looking forward to reading the next book..
Enjoyed all the characters, even though Devlin was such a bitchy character but a likable one.
Definitely looking forward to reading the next book..
July 17, 2019
I live Claire Farrell. She's one of my faves. That being said, this book doesn't live up to the others. So many unanswered questions. Great Grammer and continuity bit nothing resolved. Nothing to drag me on to the next book but my own stubbornness.
December 14, 2017
Didn’t enjoy this book at all, I thought it was boring, and repetitive, nothing really happening until the end.
I won’t continue reading this series.
I won’t continue reading this series.
January 6, 2018
It is a great book to read
February 10, 2018
Another awesome story from one of my favorite authors hands down! I love the stories that come out of her head! This one is no different! Must read!!
May 19, 2018
I give this book a few stars for basically having a scary vampire.
I take away stars because this book is weird and feels a little all over the place...
I take away stars because this book is weird and feels a little all over the place...
May 3, 2020
Good vampire story
Couldn't put it down, read it in a few hours & ready to start the 2nd book. Well written and enough twists to keep me interested in finishing it.
Couldn't put it down, read it in a few hours & ready to start the 2nd book. Well written and enough twists to keep me interested in finishing it.
July 5, 2020
So now I have to try to sleep..... Fabulous tension, especially in the second half of the book.
September 22, 2024
Ehhh it was ok enough
January 21, 2014
No Beautiful Brooding Vamps Here
I’ve read other books by this author and enjoyed them. Stake You grabbed my attention because of the cool cover and title. The story didn’t grip me at first, but I kept reading and before the halfway mark, I was anxious to find out how it would all pan out for the heroine, Dev.
We guess that the creepy new boy at school is a vampire from the very start. Dev describes him as an Edward Cullen wannabe who wears sunglasses indoors, and pretty soon he has a vulnerable girl under his spell.
Dev (full name Devlin O’ Mara), our protagonist, is a tough girl. She’s had it hard looking after her alcoholic mother for the past number of years and spends most of her time outside of school working long hours at a pub to pay the bills and put food on the table. It’s clear something bad happened in her past with one of her mother’s loser exes, but Dev doesn’t talk about it, or let herself think back too much. She’s closed off, even from her boyfriend, Deco, and close friends.
Her other love interest is Base, a decent, attractive guy with family problems of his own. These two should be together. The reader knows it, Base knows it, and Dev pretends not to know it. Grr, if only I was at that school to sort those kids out. Dev resists her feelings for Base because of a lie her bitchy friend, Shauna, told her years ago. Now the thing I couldn’t understand was that Dev knows exactly what kind of trouble making cow her friend is. She must realise Shauna lied to her about Base… Anyway, I suppose I’m looking at all this high school drama through my grown-up eyes rather than a teenager’s.
Moving on to our villain. Sully is a creep. He scratches at windows, preying on vulnerable girls who’ve had trouble in their life. He seeks out who he calls “broken girls” feeding off their pain, adding a new dimension to vampires. Dev isn’t so easily entranced, however. Sully may be a vampire in this book, but he’s a metaphor for the type of abusive man who controls the woman in his life with fear. Sully is a slimy, repulsive being, the kind of guy who enjoys making his girlfriend feel weak and dependent on him, cutting her off from other people.
Stake You is quite a dark read for a Young Adult book with a vampire. Dev’s homelife is just awful, and Base doesn’t have it much better. They’re both far too responsible and burdened down for people their age. Dev and Base’s investigation of Sully is the most interesting aspect of the novel, for the simple reason that together, these two characters are compelling. I wouldn’t mind spending more time with them. ****
There’s nothing beautiful or sexy about vampires in this book, and as such, it stands out from the crowd.
I’ve read other books by this author and enjoyed them. Stake You grabbed my attention because of the cool cover and title. The story didn’t grip me at first, but I kept reading and before the halfway mark, I was anxious to find out how it would all pan out for the heroine, Dev.
We guess that the creepy new boy at school is a vampire from the very start. Dev describes him as an Edward Cullen wannabe who wears sunglasses indoors, and pretty soon he has a vulnerable girl under his spell.
Dev (full name Devlin O’ Mara), our protagonist, is a tough girl. She’s had it hard looking after her alcoholic mother for the past number of years and spends most of her time outside of school working long hours at a pub to pay the bills and put food on the table. It’s clear something bad happened in her past with one of her mother’s loser exes, but Dev doesn’t talk about it, or let herself think back too much. She’s closed off, even from her boyfriend, Deco, and close friends.
Her other love interest is Base, a decent, attractive guy with family problems of his own. These two should be together. The reader knows it, Base knows it, and Dev pretends not to know it. Grr, if only I was at that school to sort those kids out. Dev resists her feelings for Base because of a lie her bitchy friend, Shauna, told her years ago. Now the thing I couldn’t understand was that Dev knows exactly what kind of trouble making cow her friend is. She must realise Shauna lied to her about Base… Anyway, I suppose I’m looking at all this high school drama through my grown-up eyes rather than a teenager’s.
Moving on to our villain. Sully is a creep. He scratches at windows, preying on vulnerable girls who’ve had trouble in their life. He seeks out who he calls “broken girls” feeding off their pain, adding a new dimension to vampires. Dev isn’t so easily entranced, however. Sully may be a vampire in this book, but he’s a metaphor for the type of abusive man who controls the woman in his life with fear. Sully is a slimy, repulsive being, the kind of guy who enjoys making his girlfriend feel weak and dependent on him, cutting her off from other people.
Stake You is quite a dark read for a Young Adult book with a vampire. Dev’s homelife is just awful, and Base doesn’t have it much better. They’re both far too responsible and burdened down for people their age. Dev and Base’s investigation of Sully is the most interesting aspect of the novel, for the simple reason that together, these two characters are compelling. I wouldn’t mind spending more time with them. ****
There’s nothing beautiful or sexy about vampires in this book, and as such, it stands out from the crowd.
February 22, 2017
It's OK, but she can do better I can’t really decide what to think of this book. I believe the closest I’ll get is ”it’s OK”.Despite what some others have mentioned in their reviews, I actually like the main character, with all her obvious flaws.Devlin O’Mara is called ”the Queen Bitch”, a role she has worked hard to claim and maintain. With her life being the way it is, she needs to be a bitch to survive. Taking care of her alcoholic mother, battling demons from the past, and always keeping people at arms length. That’s what she does. And underneath this all, is a lost girl. A girl longing for normal.One day a new kid arrives at school. A creep, and a weirdo. An Edward Cullen wannabe, wearing sunglasses and a leather jacket indoors, all day. Normal is no longer an opition.The story evolves around Devs closest friends and family, and of course the new guy, which she really can’t stand. So far, so good.And this is where I start having issues with the story. I love the characters and how they are depicted. I love the fact that there is no romanticizing the mythical creatures. And I hate that it takes forever for things to start happening. There are no twists and turns. You don’t have to read for long before you know who is who, and what is going to happen. That in itself isn’t so bad. I can survivet hat, even though I’d like a bit more mystery to the story. The problem is that you have to read two thirds of the book before the protagonists are done talking, and the real action begins. From here on the book is actually quite good. I just wish it didn’t take forever to reach ”the top”.A major fan of the ”Ava Delaney”-series (which I’m about to re-read), I have to say: this was falling short. I know the author can do better! That said: I hate quitting and read the rest of the series. Not a waste of time, but not the best books I’ve read either. It was OK, plain and simple. Oh, and she needs to tell her readers where the story is taking place! Dublin, Ireland. Mentioned in one sentence, quite a few pages into the book..
May 20, 2015
...LOVED the ending! gosh! ^////////△////////^
Honestly,I really did think this story would end up like.. Sully and Dev all lovey-dovey-vampire-human-lovers thing.. but ended the other way round..didn't expect Sully would be the villain..(really wished he's not.But well,hey,no trouble,Brian's there and he's so sweet! and I'm so fine with him) so yeah,turns out Sully's this bad vampire with a strange way of feeding his full..creepy bloodlust who feeds on specifically, innocent and vulnerable girls..the more broken the better his pleasure.Totaly the bad-scary-Vampire,the MONSTER in the story..
Anyways..I like the story...I love Devlin..and Base..and I really think they should end up together..*praying* 'cause you really wouldn't know how ''specifically'' Claire Farrell's story would end like...who the characters really end up with.Or maybe I'm just paranoid after just reading the whole Ava Delaney novel series,yes,I mean the whole 7 books..and Ava ended up with no one by the 7th book..and I so have so many bets for her and the author just decided to dismiss them all..so I really don't know how Dev's fate would end like..but I'm rooting for Base.,and wishing and praying I won't change my mind later...now I'm just babbling..AGAIN ---____---
All in all,I liked it! So..yes,book 2! here I comez!
^ ▽ ^
Honestly,I really did think this story would end up like.. Sully and Dev all lovey-dovey-vampire-human-lovers thing.. but ended the other way round..didn't expect Sully would be the villain..(really wished he's not.But well,hey,no trouble,Brian's there and he's so sweet! and I'm so fine with him) so yeah,turns out Sully's this bad vampire with a strange way of feeding his full..creepy bloodlust who feeds on specifically, innocent and vulnerable girls..the more broken the better his pleasure.Totaly the bad-scary-Vampire,the MONSTER in the story..
Anyways..I like the story...I love Devlin..and Base..and I really think they should end up together..*praying* 'cause you really wouldn't know how ''specifically'' Claire Farrell's story would end like...who the characters really end up with.Or maybe I'm just paranoid after just reading the whole Ava Delaney novel series,yes,I mean the whole 7 books..and Ava ended up with no one by the 7th book..and I so have so many bets for her and the author just decided to dismiss them all..so I really don't know how Dev's fate would end like..but I'm rooting for Base.,and wishing and praying I won't change my mind later...now I'm just babbling..AGAIN ---____---
All in all,I liked it! So..yes,book 2! here I comez!
^ ▽ ^
June 3, 2020
I won a copy of this book in Elle Casey's 2013 Springtime Indie Book Giveaway.
A page turner! This has some really fantastic characters, given depth and personality and realistic, complicated lives. Even the minor characters feel like real people. It was so refreshing to see someone like Devlin, who has hardened herself after having been dealt a fairly crappy hand in life, having to deal with a supernatural threat on top of everything else - especially as opposed to becoming smitten with a supernatural love interest - and interesting to think about precisely what made her seem like a good target.
There is very little humor in this book, but that doesn't mean there isn't any softness or love. There is nothing easy here, and that's partly what makes it so good.
I am looking forward to reading more from this author!
A page turner! This has some really fantastic characters, given depth and personality and realistic, complicated lives. Even the minor characters feel like real people. It was so refreshing to see someone like Devlin, who has hardened herself after having been dealt a fairly crappy hand in life, having to deal with a supernatural threat on top of everything else - especially as opposed to becoming smitten with a supernatural love interest - and interesting to think about precisely what made her seem like a good target.
There is very little humor in this book, but that doesn't mean there isn't any softness or love. There is nothing easy here, and that's partly what makes it so good.
I am looking forward to reading more from this author!
May 9, 2013
For a girl that has already had a life full of torment abuse & neglect, Devlin holds herself at arms length from her classmates by working to be queen bitch & keeping them wary of her.. While working nights & weekend to keep her mom & herself afloat & going to school full time she doesn't have the energy for the new kid who becomes obsessed with her & inflicts his own kind of of mental abuse on her.. She calls him out publicly so he turns his attention to an innocent to torture her even more, to save the girl Devlin teams up with her arch nemesis, former love interest, while in the process putting her life & those she cares about in the hands of a sadistic vampire...
I completely loved this book!
I completely loved this book!
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February 2, 2014Great read!
Stake You was a very enjoyable read. I read it in one sitting, barely moving from my couch. I really loved that this was not a typical vampire romance...there was nothing romantic about a vamp who stalks and preys on people full of despair and emotional problems. The author did a great job with creating her characters and the circumstances they lived in.
I loved both Devlin and Base. They are both such strong, and yet emotionally vunerable, people who are so unselfish in their relationships with their loved ones. While Sully is a demented vampire in the book, he can easily represent the real life monsters that are out there.
I am looking forward to the sequel this year!
Stake You was a very enjoyable read. I read it in one sitting, barely moving from my couch. I really loved that this was not a typical vampire romance...there was nothing romantic about a vamp who stalks and preys on people full of despair and emotional problems. The author did a great job with creating her characters and the circumstances they lived in.
I loved both Devlin and Base. They are both such strong, and yet emotionally vunerable, people who are so unselfish in their relationships with their loved ones. While Sully is a demented vampire in the book, he can easily represent the real life monsters that are out there.
I am looking forward to the sequel this year!
April 16, 2014
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Stake You. It's so different compared to all the other vampire novels out there. The story-line was intriguing, and had me hooked from page two. Aswell as a great vampire story, it had a great romance to it aswell. Saying that however, I felt that there was something missing, not sure what, but something. The author wrote it differently in some way, and I was expecting a little more. I also usually like a POV from both of the main characters, and it would have been nice if Sully had a POV every now and then, but I guess it didn't need it. I also felt like it was a bit on the short side, and I'd read it all within a couple of hours, but a great read nonetheless. Four and a half stars!
January 29, 2016
It took me a little to get into this, but once I did, I really enjoyed it. In the beginning I thought it was too similar to Twilight but after the first few chapters I realised it was completely different. Devlin was a strong character who was scared and wasn't in love with the idea of having a vampire boyfriend.
I cannot believe how bad her mum was, she was never there for her daughter. I cannot believe none of her friends noticed what was going on.
I thought the story progressed nicely and flowed well. The history was explained at a reasonable pace. I am looking forward to reading the next one in the series, although every thing was wrapped up so not sure what will happen.
4 out of 5 stars
I cannot believe how bad her mum was, she was never there for her daughter. I cannot believe none of her friends noticed what was going on.
I thought the story progressed nicely and flowed well. The history was explained at a reasonable pace. I am looking forward to reading the next one in the series, although every thing was wrapped up so not sure what will happen.
4 out of 5 stars
November 20, 2013
First book of 2013 and I enjoyed it all the way through...found it hard to put down just had to keep reading. I wasn't disappointed at all by the ending, it felt complete. Great book Claire Farrell keep up the good work! Even more excited now to return to reading the Ava Delaney series, picking swiftly back up from book two Taunt can't wait.
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