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The Farm #3
The Vault
In a world where vampires rule and teenaged humans are quarantined as a food source, there is only one choice—resist or die. But fighting the vampires comes at a terrible cost to twin sisters Mel and Lily and their best friend Carter . . .
With Lily exposed to the vampire virus and lying in a coma, it’s up to Mel and Carter to search for the cure. Time is not on their side. With every passing heartbeat, Mel is becoming more and more purely vampire.
Desperate, Carter and Mel decide to split up. Carter will recruit human rebels from the Farm in San Angelo to infiltrate the guarded kingdom of the vampire Sabrina and steal the cure. Mel will go back to her mentor, her friend, her betrayer, Sebastian, who is the only one who can access an underground vault that may house the secret to the cure.
That is, if he’s still alive after she staked him to the ground. Now her worst enemy may be their best hope for curing Lily—and saving the human race.
With Lily exposed to the vampire virus and lying in a coma, it’s up to Mel and Carter to search for the cure. Time is not on their side. With every passing heartbeat, Mel is becoming more and more purely vampire.
Desperate, Carter and Mel decide to split up. Carter will recruit human rebels from the Farm in San Angelo to infiltrate the guarded kingdom of the vampire Sabrina and steal the cure. Mel will go back to her mentor, her friend, her betrayer, Sebastian, who is the only one who can access an underground vault that may house the secret to the cure.
That is, if he’s still alive after she staked him to the ground. Now her worst enemy may be their best hope for curing Lily—and saving the human race.
383 pages, Paperback
First published November 6, 2014
26 people are currently reading
997 people want to read
About the author
Emily McKay
194 books624 followersI write the kinds of books I want to read. Fast-paced books with lots of world-building, snarky heroines, and swoony heroes. I love story, pop culture, gossip, and baked goods. I’m a modern-day hippy and certified LEGO nerd.
I live in the Austin, Texas hill country, with my geeky husband and two extremely geeky kids. We have dogs, chickens, cats, and more LEGOs than should be allowed by law. Oh, and I stress bake. So if my characters talk about food a lot, that’s why.
I live in the Austin, Texas hill country, with my geeky husband and two extremely geeky kids. We have dogs, chickens, cats, and more LEGOs than should be allowed by law. Oh, and I stress bake. So if my characters talk about food a lot, that’s why.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
December 26, 2014
Spoilers
Meh, hated the Mel/Sebastian rubbish, they didn't even have a proper arc, all they did was angst and swoon over each other. I did quite like the Carter storyline, it was on the slow side but it was far more interesting than the silly Mel nonsense, Carter actually did things and had a goal unlike pathetic Mel.
-Carter's POV was fairly enjoyable, he wasn't insufferable and dull like he was in the last book, I liked his determination and drive to find a cure so he could save Lily and protect his friends. The only thing I didn't enjoy was that Carter's POV was slow, it took him so long to save Lily, I was waiting for them to reunite so they could both get on with saving everyone around them but that didn't really happen.
There wasn't really any resolution at all because so much page time was spent on Carter's quest - what happened to Dawn and Darren? Did Carter contact their family? Did the cure get distributed? Were the ticks cured? Did the cured ticks manage to live normal lives after all they'd done? What happened to the rest of the vampires? Did society recover?
There didn't need to be loads of answers but some would have been appreciated - I didn't care about Mel/Sebastian's sappy romance, I would have rather known more about how the world recovered.
-Liked that Carter finally stopped being so arrogant, in the previous book all he did was bitch about Lily using her powers to force him to love her when she didn't actually have those powers. When he found out it was actually him who had the power to manipulate emotions he never once considered that he might have unconsciously forced Lily to have feelings for him. He obviously thought he was awesome enough that Lily could love him without him forcing her to, yet when he believed Lily had those powers he thought so poorly of her that he believed he couldn't love her without her using her powers.
Ugh, he was such a prick. I'm glad in this one he stopped thinking so highly of himself and realised that he might have used his powers to make Lily love him.
-Didn't like Mel's POV, she was so selfish and uncaring. The cow wasn't bothered about Lily at all, her twin sister was going through hell but she barely had one single thought about her, she didn't worry about her and she wasn't afraid for her in the slightest. Lily looked out for Mel all her life and was her only remaining family but did the twit care about about Lily's fate? Nope, she literally didn't give a fuck about her, all she cared about was Sebastian. After all Lily had done to protect her, Mel should have made Lily her first priority instead she spent all her time fantasizing and worrying about Sebastian, a guy she'd known all of two months. Never mind that her sister was dying, she barely even thought about her, Mel was the crappiest sister ever.
Also, Mel turned from a caring, sensible and interesting character into a typical YA heroine who didn't give a toss about anything or anyone except for some guy she'd just met. Ugh, she was such a disappointment.
-Hated Sebastian and Mel's romance, it was predictable, cheesy, and creepy. He was over 2000 years old, and even though he had abused, threatened, lied, and manipulated Mel she still fell for him. Mel saying she shouldn't love him because of all he'd done didn't make her feelings any less pathetic. It was super pathetic and fucked up when she actually stated that she shouldn't romanticize his behaviour or make excuses for his past and then ended up doing exactly that. It was so frustrating to read.
The fact that a two thousand year old man was horny for a barely eighteen year old who acted more like a thirteen year old schoolgirl was disgusting, they had nothing in common apart from both being vampires. Yet both of them ended up together despite Sebastian's age and all the fucked up things he'd done. Them living happily ever after was a load of rubbish. Not every YA heroine has to settle down with the first guy they like and then stay with them forever, there's nothing wrong with them dating around and falling in love multiple times until they're old enough to actually settle down.
Also, Sebastian only loved Mel because the love of his life, Sabrina, cruelly rejected him years ago. He wouldn't have looked twice at Mel if she hadn't. He only ended up with Mel because he couldn't have Sabrina.
-I rolled my eyes at Sebastian's tortured past with his dead wife and children, and him supposedly being a good guy under all that vileness. He was such a caricature.
The only good thing about the series was Carter and Lily's growth, they started off dull and insufferable and actually became likeable and easy to root for. Whereas the writing, the world, the other characters, and the general plot were predictable and uninspired.
Meh, hated the Mel/Sebastian rubbish, they didn't even have a proper arc, all they did was angst and swoon over each other. I did quite like the Carter storyline, it was on the slow side but it was far more interesting than the silly Mel nonsense, Carter actually did things and had a goal unlike pathetic Mel.
-Carter's POV was fairly enjoyable, he wasn't insufferable and dull like he was in the last book, I liked his determination and drive to find a cure so he could save Lily and protect his friends. The only thing I didn't enjoy was that Carter's POV was slow, it took him so long to save Lily, I was waiting for them to reunite so they could both get on with saving everyone around them but that didn't really happen.
There wasn't really any resolution at all because so much page time was spent on Carter's quest - what happened to Dawn and Darren? Did Carter contact their family? Did the cure get distributed? Were the ticks cured? Did the cured ticks manage to live normal lives after all they'd done? What happened to the rest of the vampires? Did society recover?
There didn't need to be loads of answers but some would have been appreciated - I didn't care about Mel/Sebastian's sappy romance, I would have rather known more about how the world recovered.
-Liked that Carter finally stopped being so arrogant, in the previous book all he did was bitch about Lily using her powers to force him to love her when she didn't actually have those powers. When he found out it was actually him who had the power to manipulate emotions he never once considered that he might have unconsciously forced Lily to have feelings for him. He obviously thought he was awesome enough that Lily could love him without him forcing her to, yet when he believed Lily had those powers he thought so poorly of her that he believed he couldn't love her without her using her powers.
Ugh, he was such a prick. I'm glad in this one he stopped thinking so highly of himself and realised that he might have used his powers to make Lily love him.
-Didn't like Mel's POV, she was so selfish and uncaring. The cow wasn't bothered about Lily at all, her twin sister was going through hell but she barely had one single thought about her, she didn't worry about her and she wasn't afraid for her in the slightest. Lily looked out for Mel all her life and was her only remaining family but did the twit care about about Lily's fate? Nope, she literally didn't give a fuck about her, all she cared about was Sebastian. After all Lily had done to protect her, Mel should have made Lily her first priority instead she spent all her time fantasizing and worrying about Sebastian, a guy she'd known all of two months. Never mind that her sister was dying, she barely even thought about her, Mel was the crappiest sister ever.
Also, Mel turned from a caring, sensible and interesting character into a typical YA heroine who didn't give a toss about anything or anyone except for some guy she'd just met. Ugh, she was such a disappointment.
-Hated Sebastian and Mel's romance, it was predictable, cheesy, and creepy. He was over 2000 years old, and even though he had abused, threatened, lied, and manipulated Mel she still fell for him. Mel saying she shouldn't love him because of all he'd done didn't make her feelings any less pathetic. It was super pathetic and fucked up when she actually stated that she shouldn't romanticize his behaviour or make excuses for his past and then ended up doing exactly that. It was so frustrating to read.
The fact that a two thousand year old man was horny for a barely eighteen year old who acted more like a thirteen year old schoolgirl was disgusting, they had nothing in common apart from both being vampires. Yet both of them ended up together despite Sebastian's age and all the fucked up things he'd done. Them living happily ever after was a load of rubbish. Not every YA heroine has to settle down with the first guy they like and then stay with them forever, there's nothing wrong with them dating around and falling in love multiple times until they're old enough to actually settle down.
Also, Sebastian only loved Mel because the love of his life, Sabrina, cruelly rejected him years ago. He wouldn't have looked twice at Mel if she hadn't. He only ended up with Mel because he couldn't have Sabrina.
-I rolled my eyes at Sebastian's tortured past with his dead wife and children, and him supposedly being a good guy under all that vileness. He was such a caricature.
The only good thing about the series was Carter and Lily's growth, they started off dull and insufferable and actually became likeable and easy to root for. Whereas the writing, the world, the other characters, and the general plot were predictable and uninspired.
June 30, 2017
Guess in the end, the author was an abductura all along.
;)
(Don't want to spoil too much. Read it for yourself).
•I loved how that the end of each chapter, there was a tiny cliffhanger! That meant more action and I do so enjoy the suspense!
•I love how the author incorporated EVERY character into her novel. It isn't like many stories where some sub-characters are introduced then forgotten and left behind whenever the plot doesn't need them because it always remembers them! Each character that's been used in this story has been used more than once and they all had a role. WONDERFULLY DONE!
•The romance for Mel made my (own) heart sing! I shipped it and enjoyed reading her action parts where she kicked butt too!
•Everyone, even the antagonists, seems intriguing and fun! I love things that stab, but I love things that think and feel more! This trilogy slowly, but surely, developed their motives, plot, and character in each person (though mainly the main ones, of course).
•The ending for Mel though. It's bittersweet and breaks a piece of my heart.3<3
•Thank you for writing the people as their same persons! Sometimes whenever one moves from book 1 to book 2 or 2 to 2 or etc, it feels clunkier because some characters feel off. This was a smooth ride that had me squealing along with the ticks (though I am human.I think.
Bravo! Looking forward to our next adventure. Be it an apocalypse, or something new. Cook it up and I will definitely try it!
;)
(Don't want to spoil too much. Read it for yourself).
•I loved how that the end of each chapter, there was a tiny cliffhanger! That meant more action and I do so enjoy the suspense!
•I love how the author incorporated EVERY character into her novel. It isn't like many stories where some sub-characters are introduced then forgotten and left behind whenever the plot doesn't need them because it always remembers them! Each character that's been used in this story has been used more than once and they all had a role. WONDERFULLY DONE!
•The romance for Mel made my (own) heart sing! I shipped it and enjoyed reading her action parts where she kicked butt too!
•Everyone, even the antagonists, seems intriguing and fun! I love things that stab, but I love things that think and feel more! This trilogy slowly, but surely, developed their motives, plot, and character in each person (though mainly the main ones, of course).
•The ending for Mel though. It's bittersweet and breaks a piece of my heart.3<3
•Thank you for writing the people as their same persons! Sometimes whenever one moves from book 1 to book 2 or 2 to 2 or etc, it feels clunkier because some characters feel off. This was a smooth ride that had me squealing along with the ticks (though I am human.
Bravo! Looking forward to our next adventure. Be it an apocalypse, or something new. Cook it up and I will definitely try it!
November 26, 2014
Three Stars: If this is the end, there are too many loose ends.
Carter and Mel are desperately trying to find the cure to save Lily before she turns into a Tick. Unfortunately, the one person who could help them is currently staked through the heart, pinned to the ground. Time is running short, so Mel decides to go free Sebastian and get his help, even if he did betray them all, while Carter makes a risky decision to visit the vampire Sabrina and see if she has a sample of the cure. Carter and Mel in order to save Lily and hopefully humanity, find that they must trust those who betrayed them. Will they be able to find the cure and save the world?
What I Liked:
*After the explosive developments in The Lair, I was eager to dive back into this world. I liked that this was action packed, and that there were some interesting twists. I also enjoyed the strange, fledging romance.
*The four main characters, Mel, Carter, Sebastian and Lily continue to impress me with their layers and depth. Mel as a newly transformed vampire is far removed from the quiet, strange autistic girl I knew in the first two books. I enjoyed seeing her explore her new emotions, especially when it comes to her feelings toward Sebastian. Carter, as always, is constant and true. He continues to fight for humanity and those he loves. He never backs down, he is courageous and determined. I love his indomitable spirit. Sebastian, the vampire, is all kinds of complicated. He has many shades of gray, but in my heart of heart, I know he is a good guy. Even if he made some drastic mistakes, I think he redeemed himself in this one. Lily was fascinating in this time around since she is fighting to keep herself from transforming into a Tick. It was creepy and interesting to get in her head. There aren't as many secondary characters in this one, but I did like seeing Ely make amends for his transgressions.
*I did like some of the original ideas offered up when it comes to vampires. The vampire romance was one of the more interesting concepts. I also liked the whole thing about territory rights and such. You can't forget the whole Tick thing either. It is always refreshing to pick up a vampire book and get something new.
*The Ticks weren't as prominent in this installment, but for me, the most interesting part of the book was following Lily as she battled with the virus. I won't get into too many details, but I thought her part was exciting and engrossing.
*The climax is fast, thrilling and filled with some unexpected twists. I liked how quickly the action and danger ratcheted up and the big reveals that seemed to come one after another. Things resolve nicely at the end, but I didn't feel like the story was done. Is there more?
And The Not So Much:
*I was left scratching my head at the end of this one because after all the hassle of finding the cure, not much comes of it. I wanted to see the whole story line with the cure play out. Not to mention, I was left wondering over the fate of two of the characters who disappeared and no one knew if they were dead or alive. What happened to them? I searched to see if there was another book in the works, but the author's website hasn't been updated in over a year and there is nothing on Goodreads. Frustrating!
*Compared to the last two books, the pace in this one is slow. The Ticks take a backseat and they aren't as prevalent. Having swarming Ticks at every turn waiting to rip hearts of chests always kept me on the edge of my seat, but there weren't as many encounters. Furthermore, after all the jaw dropping reveals in book two regarding the birth of the virus, the vampire showdown, and Lily and Mel's father, I was expecting more shock and awe, that doesn't happen. Those storylines are set aside and instead the whole book focuses on the cure. This book just didn't impress me like the other two.
*At this point, I am not sure whether I will continue the series if there are more or not since this book was lackluster in comparison to the brilliance of the other two. There isn't much to the plot and the pacing was slow and I didn't like all the unanswered questions at the end. Not to mention, I am frustrated that there is no indication as to whether or not this is the final book or not.
The Vault was a bit of a disappointment in comparison to its two predecessors. This is a book without a lot driving the plot and not much branching out in the story line. I enjoyed the first two installments of the series but this one fell a bit flat. I was hoping for more shocking reveals and big twists after the last book, but unfortunately, there aren't any huge jaw dropping surprises. If you are a big fan of the series, this is worth reading for the character growth and a somewhat resolution. I personally was hoping for a bit more.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
Carter and Mel are desperately trying to find the cure to save Lily before she turns into a Tick. Unfortunately, the one person who could help them is currently staked through the heart, pinned to the ground. Time is running short, so Mel decides to go free Sebastian and get his help, even if he did betray them all, while Carter makes a risky decision to visit the vampire Sabrina and see if she has a sample of the cure. Carter and Mel in order to save Lily and hopefully humanity, find that they must trust those who betrayed them. Will they be able to find the cure and save the world?
What I Liked:
*After the explosive developments in The Lair, I was eager to dive back into this world. I liked that this was action packed, and that there were some interesting twists. I also enjoyed the strange, fledging romance.
*The four main characters, Mel, Carter, Sebastian and Lily continue to impress me with their layers and depth. Mel as a newly transformed vampire is far removed from the quiet, strange autistic girl I knew in the first two books. I enjoyed seeing her explore her new emotions, especially when it comes to her feelings toward Sebastian. Carter, as always, is constant and true. He continues to fight for humanity and those he loves. He never backs down, he is courageous and determined. I love his indomitable spirit. Sebastian, the vampire, is all kinds of complicated. He has many shades of gray, but in my heart of heart, I know he is a good guy. Even if he made some drastic mistakes, I think he redeemed himself in this one. Lily was fascinating in this time around since she is fighting to keep herself from transforming into a Tick. It was creepy and interesting to get in her head. There aren't as many secondary characters in this one, but I did like seeing Ely make amends for his transgressions.
*I did like some of the original ideas offered up when it comes to vampires. The vampire romance was one of the more interesting concepts. I also liked the whole thing about territory rights and such. You can't forget the whole Tick thing either. It is always refreshing to pick up a vampire book and get something new.
*The Ticks weren't as prominent in this installment, but for me, the most interesting part of the book was following Lily as she battled with the virus. I won't get into too many details, but I thought her part was exciting and engrossing.
*The climax is fast, thrilling and filled with some unexpected twists. I liked how quickly the action and danger ratcheted up and the big reveals that seemed to come one after another. Things resolve nicely at the end, but I didn't feel like the story was done. Is there more?
And The Not So Much:
*I was left scratching my head at the end of this one because after all the hassle of finding the cure, not much comes of it. I wanted to see the whole story line with the cure play out. Not to mention, I was left wondering over the fate of two of the characters who disappeared and no one knew if they were dead or alive. What happened to them? I searched to see if there was another book in the works, but the author's website hasn't been updated in over a year and there is nothing on Goodreads. Frustrating!
*Compared to the last two books, the pace in this one is slow. The Ticks take a backseat and they aren't as prevalent. Having swarming Ticks at every turn waiting to rip hearts of chests always kept me on the edge of my seat, but there weren't as many encounters. Furthermore, after all the jaw dropping reveals in book two regarding the birth of the virus, the vampire showdown, and Lily and Mel's father, I was expecting more shock and awe, that doesn't happen. Those storylines are set aside and instead the whole book focuses on the cure. This book just didn't impress me like the other two.
*At this point, I am not sure whether I will continue the series if there are more or not since this book was lackluster in comparison to the brilliance of the other two. There isn't much to the plot and the pacing was slow and I didn't like all the unanswered questions at the end. Not to mention, I am frustrated that there is no indication as to whether or not this is the final book or not.
The Vault was a bit of a disappointment in comparison to its two predecessors. This is a book without a lot driving the plot and not much branching out in the story line. I enjoyed the first two installments of the series but this one fell a bit flat. I was hoping for more shocking reveals and big twists after the last book, but unfortunately, there aren't any huge jaw dropping surprises. If you are a big fan of the series, this is worth reading for the character growth and a somewhat resolution. I personally was hoping for a bit more.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
February 24, 2015
*Genre* Young Adult, Dystopian
*Rating* 3.5-4
~My Thoughts~
The Vault, according to author Emily McKay, is the final installment in The Farm trilogy. The Vault is one again told in 3 separate narratives; Sisters Mel and Lily Price, and Carter Olson. The story picks up right where The Lair left off. Mel and Carter face risky choices and decisions to save Lily, including going in separate directions to order to find a cure before they lose Lily completely to the Tick virus.
As a summary, thanks to the En371 virus being released in Texas, people turned into vampire-like mutants called Ticks and quickly decimated the Southwest, Midwest and later the entire country. But, to know what truly happened and why, you need to read these books in order as they were released. In order to save and protect the remaining young people who survived, Farms were built. This is where we were first introduced to Melanie and Lily and where Carter found them, and rescued them. This is where Lily protected her autistic sister by holing themselves up in a closet and trading for goods and services necessary to escape the Farm.
*Full Review Posting @ TalkSupeBlog
http://www.talksupeblog.com/2015/02/s...
Published: December 2nd 2014 by Berkley Trade (first published November 4th 2014)
*Rating* 3.5-4
~My Thoughts~
The Vault, according to author Emily McKay, is the final installment in The Farm trilogy. The Vault is one again told in 3 separate narratives; Sisters Mel and Lily Price, and Carter Olson. The story picks up right where The Lair left off. Mel and Carter face risky choices and decisions to save Lily, including going in separate directions to order to find a cure before they lose Lily completely to the Tick virus.
As a summary, thanks to the En371 virus being released in Texas, people turned into vampire-like mutants called Ticks and quickly decimated the Southwest, Midwest and later the entire country. But, to know what truly happened and why, you need to read these books in order as they were released. In order to save and protect the remaining young people who survived, Farms were built. This is where we were first introduced to Melanie and Lily and where Carter found them, and rescued them. This is where Lily protected her autistic sister by holing themselves up in a closet and trading for goods and services necessary to escape the Farm.
*Full Review Posting @ TalkSupeBlog
http://www.talksupeblog.com/2015/02/s...
Published: December 2nd 2014 by Berkley Trade (first published November 4th 2014)
June 22, 2018
This series is so good I didn’t want it to end! I’m hoping there’s a fourth one coming!
February 23, 2019
I enjoyed this book however I was really annoyed with the ending, it didn't really tell you anything about what happened after and what happened to some of the other characters!
April 2, 2015
Ok I've just finished this book and where to even begin??
The past two books have been good.. However I have always been left wanting for more and in this final one, I got quite a few answers that I've been hungering for (no pun intended) but then got left dangling at the end of the book??! What happened McKay?! Where's the rest of it gone?! But I don't want to start off on a bad note so let's start with the good.
Front Cover: The cover is ace. It's intimate, it's up close and personal. Which sister are we supposed to be looking at? No one knows, hidden in the blades of green grass...Who is she hiding from? What's she doing?? Almost makes me want to be there with her.
Storyline: Ok so with this last book I really wanted to get some of the answers that I'd been after since the first. Yet frustratingly some of the answers (or in part the lack of the of them!), came only partly answered which left me as a reader thinking what the heck?!? Where's the rest of the answers?
The story continued to be told once again from the perspectives of Carter, Lilly and Mel which allowed us to see what happened to them individually as they were all pretty much apart from one another until right towards the end. Before you even go any further into reading my review I'm not going to bother hiding any of the following...so if you don't want to read any potential spoilers then leave this now...read the book and then come back and read my review if you wish to do so.
So... carrying on...the trio were pretty much doing their own thing throughout the book...trying to save the world...trying to protect their loved ones...partially trying to kill themselves in the process... (understandable)..I get why she wanted to do it or thought it would be the better thing to do. But I wanted more but AGAIN I only got that in little snippets through Mel and Sebastian. *mini swoon* Damn!! *fans face* The chemistry between those two, I so wanted more!! So what if he's a bit fucked up, Mel is his perfect redemption which only makes it more twistingly beautiful if you can overlook the fact that he did somewhat destroy the world in the attempt of getting revenge?? If destroying the world wasn't a big deal then it would be a whole deal easier to fall in love with Sebastian, but of course the world is a big deal! And therefore this is why Mel is perfect in sorting that man out! Not only that but also it was quite admirable to see the amount of courage Mel had throughout this. To go through being autistic, becoming a new-born vampire after saving your twin, learning to survive in a whole new world that is just as equally harsh if not more than her last one, to sacrificing herself all over again in order to save her sister/potential lover and the world but meaning you would lose all your powers, not only that but also your being? Having to go back to being austustic...to a place that can be scary and uncertain and not having others fully understand you! That young woman deserves a medal to say the least, or at least get her happy ending! A happy ending that you never fully get to see! WHYY?? AGHH, so frustrated. I really wanted to know more about this. I would love to see a whole different book dedicated to Sebastian, to know more of his history...what made him do what he did and follow his relationship with Mel further.
The ending of the trilogy has only gone and left me feeling disappointed to say the least. It felt rushed towards the end and that the story needed to be quickly wrapped up. A lot of answers went unanswered...what happened to Joe and baby Josie?? What about all the other young people at the farms? Does Sebastian stay with Mel?? What happened to Lilly whilst being a Tick??! So many questions unanswered.
Rating of stars: I desperately wanted to give this a 4/5 because I felt it was seriously on the verge of being there, it really was. The reason why I feel it's 3.5/5 is because after reading my review you can tell I wasn't fully satisfied with the ending...it was wrapped far too quickly for my liking. However, the story was intense, fast paced, heart stopping and I love it when a good book can do that do me. McKay.. It's safe to say I've been the mill with emotions with this book to say the least.
The past two books have been good.. However I have always been left wanting for more and in this final one, I got quite a few answers that I've been hungering for (no pun intended) but then got left dangling at the end of the book??! What happened McKay?! Where's the rest of it gone?! But I don't want to start off on a bad note so let's start with the good.
Front Cover: The cover is ace. It's intimate, it's up close and personal. Which sister are we supposed to be looking at? No one knows, hidden in the blades of green grass...Who is she hiding from? What's she doing?? Almost makes me want to be there with her.
Storyline: Ok so with this last book I really wanted to get some of the answers that I'd been after since the first. Yet frustratingly some of the answers (or in part the lack of the of them!), came only partly answered which left me as a reader thinking what the heck?!? Where's the rest of the answers?
The story continued to be told once again from the perspectives of Carter, Lilly and Mel which allowed us to see what happened to them individually as they were all pretty much apart from one another until right towards the end. Before you even go any further into reading my review I'm not going to bother hiding any of the following...so if you don't want to read any potential spoilers then leave this now...read the book and then come back and read my review if you wish to do so.
So... carrying on...the trio were pretty much doing their own thing throughout the book...trying to save the world...trying to protect their loved ones...partially trying to kill themselves in the process... (understandable)..I get why she wanted to do it or thought it would be the better thing to do. But I wanted more but AGAIN I only got that in little snippets through Mel and Sebastian. *mini swoon* Damn!! *fans face* The chemistry between those two, I so wanted more!! So what if he's a bit fucked up, Mel is his perfect redemption which only makes it more twistingly beautiful if you can overlook the fact that he did somewhat destroy the world in the attempt of getting revenge?? If destroying the world wasn't a big deal then it would be a whole deal easier to fall in love with Sebastian, but of course the world is a big deal! And therefore this is why Mel is perfect in sorting that man out! Not only that but also it was quite admirable to see the amount of courage Mel had throughout this. To go through being autistic, becoming a new-born vampire after saving your twin, learning to survive in a whole new world that is just as equally harsh if not more than her last one, to sacrificing herself all over again in order to save her sister/potential lover and the world but meaning you would lose all your powers, not only that but also your being? Having to go back to being austustic...to a place that can be scary and uncertain and not having others fully understand you! That young woman deserves a medal to say the least, or at least get her happy ending! A happy ending that you never fully get to see! WHYY?? AGHH, so frustrated. I really wanted to know more about this. I would love to see a whole different book dedicated to Sebastian, to know more of his history...what made him do what he did and follow his relationship with Mel further.
The ending of the trilogy has only gone and left me feeling disappointed to say the least. It felt rushed towards the end and that the story needed to be quickly wrapped up. A lot of answers went unanswered...what happened to Joe and baby Josie?? What about all the other young people at the farms? Does Sebastian stay with Mel?? What happened to Lilly whilst being a Tick??! So many questions unanswered.
Rating of stars: I desperately wanted to give this a 4/5 because I felt it was seriously on the verge of being there, it really was. The reason why I feel it's 3.5/5 is because after reading my review you can tell I wasn't fully satisfied with the ending...it was wrapped far too quickly for my liking. However, the story was intense, fast paced, heart stopping and I love it when a good book can do that do me. McKay.. It's safe to say I've been the mill with emotions with this book to say the least.
January 1, 2015
**This review may contain spoilers from the first two books of this series.**
Carter and Mel went to find a cure for Lily at Sebastian’s company. Unfortunately they can’t get in. The two decide to split up. Mel goes to find out if Sebastian is alive, and can let them in to obtain the cure. Carter decides to gather some friends before discovering if Sabrina, the other vampire, has a cure. While Carter is getting his friends he discovers that the helicopter that Lily was in crashed, which means she’s no longer sedated and the possibility of her becoming a full blown tick is well at hand.
This is book three in Emily McKay’s The Farm series. There is some speculation if The Vault is the last book in the series. While the first two books end in cliff hangers, The Vault wraps up a couple of issues and raises new problems. The story shifts between Mel, Lily, and Carter’s POV. I would call The Vault Carter’s book but Mel is where it’s at!
The most impressive part of The Vault was the fact that McKay didn’t seem to shy away from the science(y) parts of this series. While the first novel sets up what seems like a dark dystopian involving zombie like creatures alongside vampires, the third novel proves this very wrong. In essence what makes McKay’s world so interesting is that it isn’t just dark fantasy and near future but all of that! Yay! On top of that the series is written in a thrilling style making it easy to read.
Unfortunately the thrilling aspects don’t always work for me. The danger feels a little flat in comparison the previous novels in the series. There is a glossed over scene that seemed it would carry more weight if it had actually been in the novel. On top of that Carter’s character felt flat to the point of boring. The flat feeling seems boiled down because of the amount of telling.
I was upset with this series before. Mel’s character starts out disabled until she is turned into a vampire which gives her an instant cure. I hated the instant cure to the point I was unsure if I’d continue. I did, and I’m glad I did because I liked what was done with Mel by the end. On the other hand I have conflicting feelings about Mel in the overall series.
I don’t know if this is the end of the series or not but some big parts of the story are wrapped up. There are some great moments in The Vault. The emotional moments are good but not hard hitting as many other YA novels I’ve read this year. What it does do is not shy away from the science and fantastical elements in the story. I hope this isn’t the only dip into genre McKay will take.
- Elizabeth
Carter and Mel went to find a cure for Lily at Sebastian’s company. Unfortunately they can’t get in. The two decide to split up. Mel goes to find out if Sebastian is alive, and can let them in to obtain the cure. Carter decides to gather some friends before discovering if Sabrina, the other vampire, has a cure. While Carter is getting his friends he discovers that the helicopter that Lily was in crashed, which means she’s no longer sedated and the possibility of her becoming a full blown tick is well at hand.
This is book three in Emily McKay’s The Farm series. There is some speculation if The Vault is the last book in the series. While the first two books end in cliff hangers, The Vault wraps up a couple of issues and raises new problems. The story shifts between Mel, Lily, and Carter’s POV. I would call The Vault Carter’s book but Mel is where it’s at!
The most impressive part of The Vault was the fact that McKay didn’t seem to shy away from the science(y) parts of this series. While the first novel sets up what seems like a dark dystopian involving zombie like creatures alongside vampires, the third novel proves this very wrong. In essence what makes McKay’s world so interesting is that it isn’t just dark fantasy and near future but all of that! Yay! On top of that the series is written in a thrilling style making it easy to read.
Unfortunately the thrilling aspects don’t always work for me. The danger feels a little flat in comparison the previous novels in the series. There is a glossed over scene that seemed it would carry more weight if it had actually been in the novel. On top of that Carter’s character felt flat to the point of boring. The flat feeling seems boiled down because of the amount of telling.
I was upset with this series before. Mel’s character starts out disabled until she is turned into a vampire which gives her an instant cure. I hated the instant cure to the point I was unsure if I’d continue. I did, and I’m glad I did because I liked what was done with Mel by the end. On the other hand I have conflicting feelings about Mel in the overall series.
I don’t know if this is the end of the series or not but some big parts of the story are wrapped up. There are some great moments in The Vault. The emotional moments are good but not hard hitting as many other YA novels I’ve read this year. What it does do is not shy away from the science and fantastical elements in the story. I hope this isn’t the only dip into genre McKay will take.
- Elizabeth
February 22, 2015
Review originally posted on my blog: A Book Obsession..
Typically I'm not the biggest fan of rotating narrator perspectives, but in this case, it really worked well for me. I said the opposite about the previous installment as the rotations were a bit much for me, but this time around. I felt more attached to the characters than I would have otherwise. It really kept me sucked well into the story, and considering how intense things were, it made for a heck of a ride. I also really enjoyed how it upped the emotional aspects as it allowed to see multiple angles and sides, and gave me more than plenty characters to really root for. And honestly, aside from the romance that's the biggest thing I really ask for in a book, to be sucked into the story, and attached to the characters. And this one had it in spades.
Speaking of the romance. I loved how Lily and Carter's romance was still incredibly strong despite the almost insurmountable odds the book starts off with. There's just a really strong and believable connection between the two and I enjoyed it immensely. That being said, there's another budding romance that I won't go into specifics on to avoid spoilers, but suffice it to say that it stole the show for me this time around. My only complaint is that as this may be the final book, I won't get to see more of how it plays out, but I'm still largely satisfied with how it all played out.
This was one heck of a whirlwind ending to the series. I enjoyed the previous two installments, and THE VAULT gave me just the ending I hoped for. Don't get me wrong it's not all roses and happiness at the end, but a more realistic outcome considering the world. And considering there were several points throughout the book that things were so bleak that I honestly wasn't sure how things would turn out, the ending has me more than pleased. Well worth the read for fans of the series, this one is not to be missed!
Typically I'm not the biggest fan of rotating narrator perspectives, but in this case, it really worked well for me. I said the opposite about the previous installment as the rotations were a bit much for me, but this time around. I felt more attached to the characters than I would have otherwise. It really kept me sucked well into the story, and considering how intense things were, it made for a heck of a ride. I also really enjoyed how it upped the emotional aspects as it allowed to see multiple angles and sides, and gave me more than plenty characters to really root for. And honestly, aside from the romance that's the biggest thing I really ask for in a book, to be sucked into the story, and attached to the characters. And this one had it in spades.
Speaking of the romance. I loved how Lily and Carter's romance was still incredibly strong despite the almost insurmountable odds the book starts off with. There's just a really strong and believable connection between the two and I enjoyed it immensely. That being said, there's another budding romance that I won't go into specifics on to avoid spoilers, but suffice it to say that it stole the show for me this time around. My only complaint is that as this may be the final book, I won't get to see more of how it plays out, but I'm still largely satisfied with how it all played out.
This was one heck of a whirlwind ending to the series. I enjoyed the previous two installments, and THE VAULT gave me just the ending I hoped for. Don't get me wrong it's not all roses and happiness at the end, but a more realistic outcome considering the world. And considering there were several points throughout the book that things were so bleak that I honestly wasn't sure how things would turn out, the ending has me more than pleased. Well worth the read for fans of the series, this one is not to be missed!
June 28, 2020
First, I have to note that I never would have read this book if I hadn't bought the trilogy all at once--the first book was just horrendous, and although the second book was a bit better, it didn't make suffering through the first book worthwhile. That said... continuing the trend, book 3 was better than book 2 or book 1, in large part because the whiny protagonist of book 1 wasn't so front-and-center. That said, I'm still largely unimpressed with this author. The story, characters, and pacing desperately needed more serious editing and revision--with overdramatic characters, obvious plot issues, and tons of plot threads which were never tied up, this book made it clearer than ever that the writer was interested in pursuing teenage drama and romance on a backdrop of vampirism, vs. telling a complete and finished story. With all of the overblown drama, overwriting, and repetition, I can honestly say this book would have been a hundred times better if it were about a hundred pages shorter, which again points to either a lack of editing or, at least, a lack of willingness on the author's part when it came to doing the hard work of revision.
I think, at heart, there was a great concept to set up this series, and great characters, as well. Unfortunately, the execution of the trilogy and the lack of editing failed both story and characters pretty completely. There is, I'm afraid, zero chance that I'll pick up another book by this author or ever find cause to recommend this series. It sounds great, and I thought I'd love it, but I have to say: Do yourself a favor and bypass it.
I think, at heart, there was a great concept to set up this series, and great characters, as well. Unfortunately, the execution of the trilogy and the lack of editing failed both story and characters pretty completely. There is, I'm afraid, zero chance that I'll pick up another book by this author or ever find cause to recommend this series. It sounds great, and I thought I'd love it, but I have to say: Do yourself a favor and bypass it.
June 12, 2017
The Vault just had a great pace to it....
The characters didn't let petty little shiit hold them back or made a bigger deal out of them.
Omg but I do gotta say that there were a couple of things that just weren't resolved:
First of all what the bloody hell happen to Darren and Dawn??????? Who killed Mel && Lily's father???
and last but not least I rlly want to know what it was like for Lily to become a tick!?!?!
Like those things just have to be resolved some time in the future because I simply gots to know.
So I recommend for Emily McKay to start drafting a fourth book...real soon.
Other than that, the action was good enough to have me in suspense and wanting more. The characters were fab except to the point where Mel became her old self. Like I have no problem with her being autistic BUT when she became an extraordinary vamp welp I didn't specifically want her going back to just being an abductura.
I guess I'm glad that her and Sebastian finally have a chance of being together.
Oh and Carter was honestly less annoying than ever. Wasn't complaining as much, he was just worried and nervous just like any other person in his situation would be.
Other than that....it was a great read. And I is glad to have read this series.
The characters didn't let petty little shiit hold them back or made a bigger deal out of them.
Omg but I do gotta say that there were a couple of things that just weren't resolved:
First of all what the bloody hell happen to Darren and Dawn??????? Who killed Mel && Lily's father???
and last but not least I rlly want to know what it was like for Lily to become a tick!?!?!
Like those things just have to be resolved some time in the future because I simply gots to know.
So I recommend for Emily McKay to start drafting a fourth book...real soon.
Other than that, the action was good enough to have me in suspense and wanting more. The characters were fab except to the point where Mel became her old self. Like I have no problem with her being autistic BUT when she became an extraordinary vamp welp I didn't specifically want her going back to just being an abductura.
I guess I'm glad that her and Sebastian finally have a chance of being together.
Oh and Carter was honestly less annoying than ever. Wasn't complaining as much, he was just worried and nervous just like any other person in his situation would be.
Other than that....it was a great read. And I is glad to have read this series.
December 4, 2014
The Farm blew me away. The Lair had me on the edge of my seat and ended with a big cliffhanger. Now it all comes down to The Vault. At the end of the Lair we learn that Lily has been infected by the tick virus. We learn that Lily and Mel's father is alive and he's been working behind the scenes with vampires. We also learn there may be a cure for the very thing that is destroying humanity.
The Vault is a fast-paced thrill ride. The clock is ticking in this book as Carter is in a race to track down the cure to save Lily before she turns. Mel is dealing with her new vampire nature. And the people on the trust-worthy list are dwindling down to by the minute.
This is one of the most exciting series I've read in a long time. From the first book I was completely engaged in the story and invested in the characters. And I stayed that way until the very end. This is a series I would definitely recommend to people. If you haven't read it, then you're missing out!
Read more at http://www.toreadornottoread.net/2014...
The Vault is a fast-paced thrill ride. The clock is ticking in this book as Carter is in a race to track down the cure to save Lily before she turns. Mel is dealing with her new vampire nature. And the people on the trust-worthy list are dwindling down to by the minute.
This is one of the most exciting series I've read in a long time. From the first book I was completely engaged in the story and invested in the characters. And I stayed that way until the very end. This is a series I would definitely recommend to people. If you haven't read it, then you're missing out!
Read more at http://www.toreadornottoread.net/2014...
November 1, 2016
I really enjoyed this series and just wasn't ready for it to end. My favorite book would probably be the middle book. It was really good. The problem I had that stopped me from favoring this book was the ending. It wasn't conclusive enough for me. Everything else was great. This story makes me want to read more apocalyptic books. Also, I'm now okay with vampires being in this story.
3.5 Stars ;D
3.5 Stars ;D
March 29, 2016
Emily McKay did not disappoint us in this book!!! Again, well written and kept the story going. I especially liked the short chapters and print size of her books. She kept me guessing to the very end. I hope she does a book #4 as the story could continue ....
July 26, 2016
Not as good as the last book, but it is still really really good! I'm hoping there is another book because things are all good, but I wanna know more!
February 20, 2015
Review coming soon
January 6, 2015
I absolutely adored this entire series! I am so sad to have finished it. I highly recommend all three books! This last book was a wonderful story and conclusion!
June 25, 2015
so many unanswered questions for the last book in a series :(
September 8, 2015
The second half was the best for me. I loved the romance between Sebastian and Mel
July 15, 2018
3/5 stars
As the last title in the trilogy, I was disappointed to say the least. I expected a bit more as I felt The Lair was a step in the right direction from The Farm, but The Vault seemed to just take a step back. There was nothing special to it in my opinion. It seemed like events and characters were added in because the author changed their mind in the middle of it. Some scenes were either too rushed or too long, and the end fight was extremely anticlimactic. I felt absolutely nothing during that scene, not for a single character. I feel like that last few chapters needed to be reworked because it just doesn't fit right. Some dialogue was perfect, but most of it felt odd. It felt like it was leading up to another sequel that would never come. If you've read the other 2 books, might as well read this one too. If you're debating on starting the trilogy, I'd say skip it.
As the last title in the trilogy, I was disappointed to say the least. I expected a bit more as I felt The Lair was a step in the right direction from The Farm, but The Vault seemed to just take a step back. There was nothing special to it in my opinion. It seemed like events and characters were added in because the author changed their mind in the middle of it. Some scenes were either too rushed or too long, and the end fight was extremely anticlimactic. I felt absolutely nothing during that scene, not for a single character. I feel like that last few chapters needed to be reworked because it just doesn't fit right. Some dialogue was perfect, but most of it felt odd. It felt like it was leading up to another sequel that would never come. If you've read the other 2 books, might as well read this one too. If you're debating on starting the trilogy, I'd say skip it.
June 5, 2017
The Vault...The end of the Farm series
I was amazed at each book in this series. After reading the first book, I couldn't wait to read the other three. I was mesmerized by the twin girls from the first book, and the characterization of all the people was excellent. There were many twists and turns that kept me interested all the way through, and I wished for the fifth book when the series was over. I believe anybody would like these books if they are interested at all in the paranormal. I am 63 and a voracious reader. I have recommended them to my 15 year old granddaughter and to my reading friends. I love Emily McKay's writing style and will make the effort to read all her books based on the enjoyment of this series.
I was amazed at each book in this series. After reading the first book, I couldn't wait to read the other three. I was mesmerized by the twin girls from the first book, and the characterization of all the people was excellent. There were many twists and turns that kept me interested all the way through, and I wished for the fifth book when the series was over. I believe anybody would like these books if they are interested at all in the paranormal. I am 63 and a voracious reader. I have recommended them to my 15 year old granddaughter and to my reading friends. I love Emily McKay's writing style and will make the effort to read all her books based on the enjoyment of this series.
May 28, 2019
This was the third book and I have to admit it was very slow getting into it. I finally pushed through yesterday and got it done. A lot happens at the end. Lily becomes a Tick and Carter must give her the cure. The cure works and she becomes herself again but still remembers what she did as a Tick. Sebastian and Mel realize they are in love with each other but as vampires, they can never fight their killer urge. Sabrina shows up to fight them and Mel realizes Sebastian can win if he is strong so Mel takes the cure. She becomes human again and her autism is back but she struggles to adjust. Sebastian admits he still loves her and defeats Sabrina with Lily and Mel's help.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 27, 2025
I jumped in straight with book 3, it’s not hard to figure out, just google a bunch of keywords and I was on my way. However, it read quite teenager, like a high school kid love story vibe. For me, everything just seems too coincidental and too easy. I wish it had more character building. Everyone is in love with everyone. Things work out so easy. Also a lot of unnecessary doubt and overthinking to fill the word count. Not for me.
December 25, 2022
Read it a long time ago in my school library and haven't even read the first two books. It was fun, was a simple zombie adventure but nothing mind-blowing, a few pop culture references, search for a cure and some pretty unnecessary romance which gladly didn't take any time or influenced the story .
I will be re-reading this trilogy some day because I'm curious about the villian.
7/10
I will be re-reading this trilogy some day because I'm curious about the villian.
7/10
December 26, 2023
I enjoyed this series though this last book not so much. The pacing wasn't consistent and yo-yoed between slow and quick with an absolute gallop at the end. There were several questions left at the end of the book and it would have been more satisfying if the epilogue had answered some of them instead of no answers at all.
September 7, 2018
Good book 😊
November 9, 2020
I hate what happened to Lily and I do blame Carter and Sebastian. Dare I say Sabrina gave them a run for their money. I love it.
June 7, 2022
I deeply love this book. I have so much appreciation for the detailed world building and characters. Some chapters are intense, and some aren't which works well for the book.
April 22, 2023
Well, this series went downhill fast. The Farm was, if not a great book, at least enjoyable; the author took a few jabs at Twilight and seemed able to spin an entertaining yarn. The Lair stumbled badly but redeemed itself somewhat with Mel's arc. The Vault, I'm sad to say, has nothing redeeming about it. The editing was marginally better, and I did like that one chapter where Lily turned into a Tick; the vaguely poetic flow of her thoughts were reminiscent of Mel's from The Farm. Other than that, I hated everything about this book.
Let's start with the pacing. This book was shorter than the other two by about 40 or 60 pages, but it felt much longer. Carter's chapters in particular were incredibly boring. So much time was wasted with people just standing around talking about who was assigned what tasks, or whole paragraphs would be used to describe what a room looked like when it absolutely didn't matter. We don't need to know every detail of a room. We don't need to know if there's a fridge in it or not. Let your readers fill in the blanks!
Speaking of Carter, he still drove me bonkers in this book. I am so over the "bad boy with mommy and daddy issues who can't open up to anyone until this one girl comes along and fixes him" cliché. I hated how he still only cared about himself and Lily and was willing to let the rest of humanity hang. He was a boring and annoying stereotype of a character who set my teeth on edge. I went into this book expecting to dislike Carter; I was not expecting to dislike Mel as much as I did.
I mentioned in my review of The Lair that Mel was the one character I was looking forward to seeing again in the final book, which is funny because she ended up being my least favorite character in the entire trilogy. She went from being an interesting, atypical autistic human character to a self-absorbed obnoxious vampire who checked off just about every box on the "female YA protagonist" checklist. Her entire character became wrapped up in Sebastian to the point that she cared about literally nothing and nobody else. God forbid she spare even a thought for Lily, the sister who's always taken care of her. From Chapter 26 on, it was all about Sebastian (who we're supposed to feel sorry for because he killed his wife and children in a fit of vampiric rage, but it really just came off as another instance of "man with tortured past just needs love to save him", which is one of my least favorite tropes ever).
Sebastian and Mel's romance was disgustingly reminiscent of Twilight and 50 Shades of Grey. You know the kind: "Older man seduces younger, innocent girl into a toxic borderline abusive romance that the audience is meant to view as true love". Sebastian was nothing but cruel to Mel, and Mel spent the entire book angsting over him. I don't understand this trope of women who are in love with men who generally treat them like dirt, but it's all worth it because he's occasionally compassionate and good in bed. I read the rest of Mel's chapters in a haze of anger, sometimes having to put the book down and groan because of how stupid it was.
I could have made a drinking game over how many times characters: A.) Launched themselves at something or someone; B.) Vomited; and C.) "Bumped up their chins", which I guess is supposed to be a variation on lifting your chin up, but just sounds dumber the more you read it. The fact that the Tick virus came to be because Genoxome was trying to create a cure for autism made me shake with rage. Can we stop acting like autism (and other learning disabilities) need to be "cured"? Why do we want everyone to be the same? Why is neurotypical considered "normal", something to strive for? These are such outdated, offensive ideas.
The ending of the book was riddled with plot holes. Would society ever recover? Where were Dawn and Darren? How would a bunch of kids ever find someone able to replicate the vaccine? But no, none of that matters. All that matters is that Lily and Carter have their happily ever after, and Mel and Sebastian love each other. Who cares about the rest of the world, right?
This trilogy amazes me with how quickly it became the very thing it sought to destroy. I feel like the author set out to write a better version of Twilight, but halfway through the second book just kind of forgot about that and took a full nosedive into Tropesville. Don't waste your time with this trilogy.
Let's start with the pacing. This book was shorter than the other two by about 40 or 60 pages, but it felt much longer. Carter's chapters in particular were incredibly boring. So much time was wasted with people just standing around talking about who was assigned what tasks, or whole paragraphs would be used to describe what a room looked like when it absolutely didn't matter. We don't need to know every detail of a room. We don't need to know if there's a fridge in it or not. Let your readers fill in the blanks!
Speaking of Carter, he still drove me bonkers in this book. I am so over the "bad boy with mommy and daddy issues who can't open up to anyone until this one girl comes along and fixes him" cliché. I hated how he still only cared about himself and Lily and was willing to let the rest of humanity hang. He was a boring and annoying stereotype of a character who set my teeth on edge. I went into this book expecting to dislike Carter; I was not expecting to dislike Mel as much as I did.
I mentioned in my review of The Lair that Mel was the one character I was looking forward to seeing again in the final book, which is funny because she ended up being my least favorite character in the entire trilogy. She went from being an interesting, atypical autistic human character to a self-absorbed obnoxious vampire who checked off just about every box on the "female YA protagonist" checklist. Her entire character became wrapped up in Sebastian to the point that she cared about literally nothing and nobody else. God forbid she spare even a thought for Lily, the sister who's always taken care of her. From Chapter 26 on, it was all about Sebastian (who we're supposed to feel sorry for because he killed his wife and children in a fit of vampiric rage, but it really just came off as another instance of "man with tortured past just needs love to save him", which is one of my least favorite tropes ever).
Sebastian and Mel's romance was disgustingly reminiscent of Twilight and 50 Shades of Grey. You know the kind: "Older man seduces younger, innocent girl into a toxic borderline abusive romance that the audience is meant to view as true love". Sebastian was nothing but cruel to Mel, and Mel spent the entire book angsting over him. I don't understand this trope of women who are in love with men who generally treat them like dirt, but it's all worth it because he's occasionally compassionate and good in bed. I read the rest of Mel's chapters in a haze of anger, sometimes having to put the book down and groan because of how stupid it was.
I could have made a drinking game over how many times characters: A.) Launched themselves at something or someone; B.) Vomited; and C.) "Bumped up their chins", which I guess is supposed to be a variation on lifting your chin up, but just sounds dumber the more you read it. The fact that the Tick virus came to be because Genoxome was trying to create a cure for autism made me shake with rage. Can we stop acting like autism (and other learning disabilities) need to be "cured"? Why do we want everyone to be the same? Why is neurotypical considered "normal", something to strive for? These are such outdated, offensive ideas.
The ending of the book was riddled with plot holes. Would society ever recover? Where were Dawn and Darren? How would a bunch of kids ever find someone able to replicate the vaccine? But no, none of that matters. All that matters is that Lily and Carter have their happily ever after, and Mel and Sebastian love each other. Who cares about the rest of the world, right?
This trilogy amazes me with how quickly it became the very thing it sought to destroy. I feel like the author set out to write a better version of Twilight, but halfway through the second book just kind of forgot about that and took a full nosedive into Tropesville. Don't waste your time with this trilogy.
March 25, 2015
After the veritable disaster that was The Lair, The Vault manages to rekindle some of the warmth I felt for this series when I read The Farm. The irritating prose style I so despise is very much still there - my God, why does every sentence have to be dramatized to the point of being laughable? - but perhaps because I managed to wade through the first two, I didn't find it as much of an obstacle this time around. There was also the bonus that Lily-chapters featured rarely in this installment (funny - she used to be my favourite character, and now she's one of my worst), and Carter-chapters were made more enjoyable by the fact that he finally finds his goddamn spine! Er... somewhat.
Mel's chapters are where the book really shines though. Somehow, she and Sebastian have managed to form a romantic attachment, and while I have no idea how that works considering his actions from the last book, I'll admit it was sweeter and more entertaining than anything Lily and Carter have had in a long time. The impossibility of their relationship is probably what draws me in - I've always liked the star-crossed lovers angle. That and the obvious clashing of their personalities are what made this couple work for me. Happy and harmonious couples are nice, but if you're making romance a key aspect in your story I want complications. Otherwise, it's just not worth reading.
That said... I really don't think Mel takes Sebastian's previous actions in a serious enough light. He used her as bait to lure Roberto out. He essentially sent her to die. The fact that Mel never mentions this to him, never demands answers or an apology, doesn't even seem to be angered by it, really disturbs me. Personally, in her position I'd have been a teensy bit pissed over someone press-ganging me into the role of 'meat shield'. And yes, she staked him to the ground for it, but she then went back for him! I mean really! And that's not even getting started on the fact that he's the reason the world is infested with monesters in the first place.
I have to say, deciding to turn Mel human again in the end after having her fall in love with Sebastian was a creative decision I'll never understand. I know the 'vampire rage' stops her from being able to be with Sebastian as a vampire. But along with becoming human again, Mel regains her autism - which would be fine except that realistically speaking, it would mean she couldn't be with him anyway. Mel clearly had severe autism, and I can't see her symptoms (such as aversion to touch) being very conducive to maintaining a relationship. This is one instance where I'll happily exercise my suspension of disbelief though - the ending would be just too depressing otherwise.
And speaking of baffling choices, Sabrina - Sebastian's vampire ex - struck me as an odd last minute addition to the story. I feel like she ended up a villain just for the sake of having one. Yeah, I know she was in the last book (briefly) but her turning out to be evil was just... so unnecessary. And so clumsy too. I mean if she was planning on keeping the world the way it was, why did she bother working on the cure in the first place? Why not just destroy it? You could say it was for the good of her own people, but why bother? If she just thinks of them as cattle, why not just keep them inside the fence like good little kine, and then there wouldn't be a problem.
It might be a moot point now, since Sabrina turned out to be an evil cow, but I thought Carter's refusal of Sabrina's offer was a bit rash too. If she had been telling the truth, he'd held the key to humanity's redemption in the palm of his hand. And he threw it away, based on the (totally ignorant) belief that no human would want saving by a monster like Sabrina. I'm sorry - did you not see the legions of dead during your travels up and down the country? Surely owing thanks to a vampire for saving your ass is better than having it chewed by the ticks? He said at one point he was prepared to do anything to get the cure... Well, clearly he didn't quite mean anything.
The Vault was a definite improvement on The Lair, but it wasn't as good as the first book and it certainly isn't something I'll bother to read again.
Mel's chapters are where the book really shines though. Somehow, she and Sebastian have managed to form a romantic attachment, and while I have no idea how that works considering his actions from the last book, I'll admit it was sweeter and more entertaining than anything Lily and Carter have had in a long time. The impossibility of their relationship is probably what draws me in - I've always liked the star-crossed lovers angle. That and the obvious clashing of their personalities are what made this couple work for me. Happy and harmonious couples are nice, but if you're making romance a key aspect in your story I want complications. Otherwise, it's just not worth reading.
That said... I really don't think Mel takes Sebastian's previous actions in a serious enough light. He used her as bait to lure Roberto out. He essentially sent her to die. The fact that Mel never mentions this to him, never demands answers or an apology, doesn't even seem to be angered by it, really disturbs me. Personally, in her position I'd have been a teensy bit pissed over someone press-ganging me into the role of 'meat shield'. And yes, she staked him to the ground for it, but she then went back for him! I mean really! And that's not even getting started on the fact that he's the reason the world is infested with monesters in the first place.
I have to say, deciding to turn Mel human again in the end after having her fall in love with Sebastian was a creative decision I'll never understand. I know the 'vampire rage' stops her from being able to be with Sebastian as a vampire. But along with becoming human again, Mel regains her autism - which would be fine except that realistically speaking, it would mean she couldn't be with him anyway. Mel clearly had severe autism, and I can't see her symptoms (such as aversion to touch) being very conducive to maintaining a relationship. This is one instance where I'll happily exercise my suspension of disbelief though - the ending would be just too depressing otherwise.
And speaking of baffling choices, Sabrina - Sebastian's vampire ex - struck me as an odd last minute addition to the story. I feel like she ended up a villain just for the sake of having one. Yeah, I know she was in the last book (briefly) but her turning out to be evil was just... so unnecessary. And so clumsy too. I mean if she was planning on keeping the world the way it was, why did she bother working on the cure in the first place? Why not just destroy it? You could say it was for the good of her own people, but why bother? If she just thinks of them as cattle, why not just keep them inside the fence like good little kine, and then there wouldn't be a problem.
It might be a moot point now, since Sabrina turned out to be an evil cow, but I thought Carter's refusal of Sabrina's offer was a bit rash too. If she had been telling the truth, he'd held the key to humanity's redemption in the palm of his hand. And he threw it away, based on the (totally ignorant) belief that no human would want saving by a monster like Sabrina. I'm sorry - did you not see the legions of dead during your travels up and down the country? Surely owing thanks to a vampire for saving your ass is better than having it chewed by the ticks? He said at one point he was prepared to do anything to get the cure... Well, clearly he didn't quite mean anything.
The Vault was a definite improvement on The Lair, but it wasn't as good as the first book and it certainly isn't something I'll bother to read again.
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