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Vampire Beach #1
Bloodlust
THE A-LIST BITES.
Jason Freeman is stoked when his family relocates to exclusive DeVere Heights, Malibu. The in-crowd at his posh new high school is surprisingly friendly -- soon Jason's hitting all the best parties. He even meets the token hot-but-unattainable girl.
Determined to enjoy his almost postcard-perfect new life, Jason tries hard to ignore the many strange things going down in DeVere Heights. But then a girl washes up dead the morning after one off-the-hook party -- and with no explanation but a suspicious-looking bite mark. Now Jason has to admit that what you don't want to know can hurt you.
Jason Freeman is stoked when his family relocates to exclusive DeVere Heights, Malibu. The in-crowd at his posh new high school is surprisingly friendly -- soon Jason's hitting all the best parties. He even meets the token hot-but-unattainable girl.
Determined to enjoy his almost postcard-perfect new life, Jason tries hard to ignore the many strange things going down in DeVere Heights. But then a girl washes up dead the morning after one off-the-hook party -- and with no explanation but a suspicious-looking bite mark. Now Jason has to admit that what you don't want to know can hurt you.
233 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 2006
46 people are currently reading
5086 people want to read
About the author
Alex Duval
21 books210 followersAlex Duval is a pseudonym for two seasoned YA writers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 183 reviews
March 15, 2017
3.5 stars
nice light read about vampires. exactly like beach read types.
nice light read about vampires. exactly like beach read types.
August 9, 2016
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Jason has moved to Malibu and starts attending a new high school where he makes friends quickly and meets Sienna; hot, popular and taken. With a new crush and invitations to parties, things seem to be going fairly well for Jason. That is, until someone turns up dead.
When one of Jason's new friends reveals his crazy theory about the student's death, that she was killed by a vampire, he's skeptical but wary. But as the evidence begins to add up, Jason learns that there's something dangerous in Malibu, and everything is not as it seems.
I think the best way for me to sum up my feelings concerning this book is that it was enjoyable, but it wasn't memorable. It's an easy, quick read, but it's not the kind of book that you'll be recommending to all your friends, rushing out to get the sequels or hoping that it becomes a movie. This is the kind of book that you read after you've read a long novel or you've just finished a series. It's a fill-in book, something to entertain yourself with while taking a break from a regular reading schedule or a big to-read pile.
The characters weren't all that special, they were pretty flat and stereotypical. However, they did make the story move forward effectively, albeit predictably. Jason was a likeable main character because he seemed like a decent guy, but there was nothing really unique about him. He didn't really stand out from the crowd or make an impression like some characters in other books.
The plot overall was really predictable, except for near the end where there was a twist. I thought it was a pretty good ending and a decent twist, however I wish that there had been more evidence or foreshadowing leading up to what happened. I don't really like it when twists seem random, or when clues only appear near the end of the book. I like to be able to guess, and this book didn't really fulfill that for me.
While this doesn't really stand out from the rest of the YA books I've read, I do recommend it for fans of vampires and YA novels. If you're looking for a short read or a break from long, intricate books, you may want to give this one a try.
Jason has moved to Malibu and starts attending a new high school where he makes friends quickly and meets Sienna; hot, popular and taken. With a new crush and invitations to parties, things seem to be going fairly well for Jason. That is, until someone turns up dead.
When one of Jason's new friends reveals his crazy theory about the student's death, that she was killed by a vampire, he's skeptical but wary. But as the evidence begins to add up, Jason learns that there's something dangerous in Malibu, and everything is not as it seems.
I think the best way for me to sum up my feelings concerning this book is that it was enjoyable, but it wasn't memorable. It's an easy, quick read, but it's not the kind of book that you'll be recommending to all your friends, rushing out to get the sequels or hoping that it becomes a movie. This is the kind of book that you read after you've read a long novel or you've just finished a series. It's a fill-in book, something to entertain yourself with while taking a break from a regular reading schedule or a big to-read pile.
The characters weren't all that special, they were pretty flat and stereotypical. However, they did make the story move forward effectively, albeit predictably. Jason was a likeable main character because he seemed like a decent guy, but there was nothing really unique about him. He didn't really stand out from the crowd or make an impression like some characters in other books.
The plot overall was really predictable, except for near the end where there was a twist. I thought it was a pretty good ending and a decent twist, however I wish that there had been more evidence or foreshadowing leading up to what happened. I don't really like it when twists seem random, or when clues only appear near the end of the book. I like to be able to guess, and this book didn't really fulfill that for me.
While this doesn't really stand out from the rest of the YA books I've read, I do recommend it for fans of vampires and YA novels. If you're looking for a short read or a break from long, intricate books, you may want to give this one a try.
October 25, 2025
Time for Book 1 specifics!
Bloodlust did a great job of introing me into the Vampire Beach series and had me hooked. I loved how easy the book is to read, and that the characters feel like high schoolers. Yes, there's some silly 2000s level drama going on, but it's a vampire YA book so what can I expect?
This is a light read, not high stress. Something that you can just escape the world from. I can't say this book stands out as one of my favourite reads, but it just... worked?
Four out of five stars.
Bloodlust did a great job of introing me into the Vampire Beach series and had me hooked. I loved how easy the book is to read, and that the characters feel like high schoolers. Yes, there's some silly 2000s level drama going on, but it's a vampire YA book so what can I expect?
This is a light read, not high stress. Something that you can just escape the world from. I can't say this book stands out as one of my favourite reads, but it just... worked?
Four out of five stars.
March 2, 2015
I'll agree with some of the other reviews I've read. Yes it's simple, yes there's nothing extremely differentiating between this novel and other vampire fiction and nothing really unique about it, but I did enjoy it.
The plot, like I've said, was very simple and expected. It is much like every other vampire novel out there. The greatest difference, however, is that the main character is a male, and making it even more unusual, the girl he is crushing on is the vampire. Usually in vampire novels, I am struck with crazy hormonal teenage girls swooning over a big strong boring male vampire, which usually results in a boring and two dimensional romance. However, I was pleasantly surprised at this change in roles. Getting to experience this point of view was quite nice. I also loved several little features in this novel: the swim team, the things about these particular vampires that make them different from the rest, and the playing-hard-to-get romance. And oh boy, how do I love the main character's best friend who is film-obsessed and always has a camcorder in hand. I love that! Sounds like my kind of guy.
The writing was nice. It was flowing and really grabs your attention. It's very fun and light, and really holds your attention. I know I was addicted to it and couldn't wait to see what happened next. There was several plot twists and turns that I didn't see coming and that only grabbed my attention more.
Overall, I see a lot of promise for this series and I will continue to read it. It's very entertaining so far and I cannot wait to see what happens next.
The plot, like I've said, was very simple and expected. It is much like every other vampire novel out there. The greatest difference, however, is that the main character is a male, and making it even more unusual, the girl he is crushing on is the vampire. Usually in vampire novels, I am struck with crazy hormonal teenage girls swooning over a big strong boring male vampire, which usually results in a boring and two dimensional romance. However, I was pleasantly surprised at this change in roles. Getting to experience this point of view was quite nice. I also loved several little features in this novel: the swim team, the things about these particular vampires that make them different from the rest, and the playing-hard-to-get romance. And oh boy, how do I love the main character's best friend who is film-obsessed and always has a camcorder in hand. I love that! Sounds like my kind of guy.
The writing was nice. It was flowing and really grabs your attention. It's very fun and light, and really holds your attention. I know I was addicted to it and couldn't wait to see what happened next. There was several plot twists and turns that I didn't see coming and that only grabbed my attention more.
Overall, I see a lot of promise for this series and I will continue to read it. It's very entertaining so far and I cannot wait to see what happens next.
Read
December 5, 2008Vampire Beach Bloodlust is a supernatural mystery, set in Malibu, California. Alex Duval makes you feel as if you are there with the main character, Jason, as he tries to begin a new life in Malibu.
Jason Freeman and his family moved, at the end of the summer, to Malibu, California from Fraster, Michigan. Jason was hoping for an adventure, what he got was more than he hoped for.
When Jason goes to school he notices all the kids looked perfect and unreal. He describes them as having: “dermatologists and orthodontists and any other -ontists and -ologists that kept you perfect.”
Adam Turnball becomes one of Jason’s friends. Adam is a director, in some ways. He loves to film and to watch movies. One day at a party, Adam was filming and saw something he should not have seen. He saw a vampire feeding, and without thinking Adam filmed it. The next day, Jason was running along the beach and found a girl’s dead body.
Adam asked Jason for his help and showed him the tape of the vampire feeding. Jason later finds out that there is not one but several vampires, in Malibu. Now Jason and Adam are trying to find the killer. Will they find him or be killed in the process?
Jason Freeman and his family moved, at the end of the summer, to Malibu, California from Fraster, Michigan. Jason was hoping for an adventure, what he got was more than he hoped for.
When Jason goes to school he notices all the kids looked perfect and unreal. He describes them as having: “dermatologists and orthodontists and any other -ontists and -ologists that kept you perfect.”
Adam Turnball becomes one of Jason’s friends. Adam is a director, in some ways. He loves to film and to watch movies. One day at a party, Adam was filming and saw something he should not have seen. He saw a vampire feeding, and without thinking Adam filmed it. The next day, Jason was running along the beach and found a girl’s dead body.
Adam asked Jason for his help and showed him the tape of the vampire feeding. Jason later finds out that there is not one but several vampires, in Malibu. Now Jason and Adam are trying to find the killer. Will they find him or be killed in the process?
November 4, 2011
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POP-CULTURE COMPARISON: The Lost Boys meets Beverly Hills, 90210
WHAT I LIKED: First let me just say that I am totally over the vampire craze, even if my students are not. Last week, I was shelving books in my library and I came across this one. Being in a middle school, I started wondering why I ordered a book titled Bloodlust with a large martini on the front cover. When I looked in Titlewave for reviews and grade level recommendations, there were none. My library is new, and I ordered every single book in there. I am not sure what possessed me to order this one. With no professional reviews to go on, I needed to familiarize myself with the content, so I took it home.
If you mix Beverly Hills, 90210 with 1987 movie The Lost Boys, you'll get something similar to Bloodlust. Of course, as teen in the late 80s and early 90s, I was obsessed with 90210 and have seen The Lost Boys more times than I could possibly count. I even had the movie soundtrack, which was one of my favorite albums in 9th grade. So, for adult readers, Bloodlust will evoke nostalgia for those bygone days of bloodthirsty teen vampires and gorgeous rich kids frolicking on California beaches.
I like that the book is short and simply written, making it a great choice for reluctant readers. Content-wise, middle school librarians should read it first. I am proud of the diversity of my collection, but some librarians might not be comfortable purchasing some of the books I have for my middle schoolers. It's definitely fine for high school, but for middle school, it just depends on the reader. There is language and sexual innuendo (see below). Teens drink and do drugs at a party. To me, the sexual content excessive partying is too mature for middle school, so I have moved it to the high school.
I liked that the story is told from Jason's perspective; it seems most recent vampire books are from a swooning girl's point of view. I like how down-to-earth normal Jason is. He ogles pretty girls, can't wait to start surfing, and doesn't compromise his morals for peer pressure. He is concerned when Dani is not fitting in as well as she would like and agrees to take her to a party to help her meet new people. At the party, he turns down alcohol (he promised his parents) and searches for Dani when he hasn't seen her for awhile. When a fight breaks out at the party, Jason jumps in to defend the weaker boy, getting himself nearly killed in the process. As noble as he is, Jason is still normal, falling for the charms of a beautiful girl and wanting to look the other way when things just don't add up.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: Bloodlust is great for reluctant high school readers who like vampire books and movies. As a very-willing, adult reader who is sick of vampire books, I am just not part of the target audience. For me, the book moves at a snail's pace, the writing is overly-simple, and the plot is supremely predictable. I would never have read Bloodlust were it not for the content check for my library. Thankfully, it was a short, easy read.
The relationships are shallow. I do not understand why Jason falls head-over-heels for Sienna; he barely knows her. She cheats on her boyfriend (and he on her) and seems just fine having superficial relationships. Sienna barely knows Jason when she first kisses him, yet Jason feels bad when he questions her behavior--WHY? Not getting that at all. Give uber-gorgeous Sienna some acne, braces, and about 20 extra pounds, and Jason doesn't give her a second glance. Shallow.
The underdeveloped characters are another problem. Jason is by far the character with the most personality; Dani, Sienna, Adam, Zach, Brad...all of them are fairly one-dimensional. Dani is the sister Jason wants to protect. Sienna is the popular, hot girl with a big secret. Adam is the computer-hacking, insightful best friend. Zach is the mysterious stranger always lurking around. Brad is Sienna's popular jerk boyfriend... Defining all the characters by their "one characteristic" makes for a pretty dull read with few surprises.
CONTENT:
Language: medium; not a ton, but it does include the f-word a couple of times
Sexuality: medium; Jason admires a girl's body many times; girls dress suggestively (short shorts, bikinis), kissing; groups of teens kissing in hot tubs
Violence: mild; Jason is nearly killed after standing up for a weaker boy at a party; a girl is killed and her body washes up on the beach; several vampire bites
Drugs/Alcohol: very high; teens drink (and get quite drunk) at parties, multiple references to teen drug use
STATUS IN MY LIBRARY: We had it, but it was not popular. Only one student checked it out since we acquired it in Sept 2009 as part of our opening collection. I moved both Bloodlust and its sequel, Initiation, to our feeder high school.
August 28, 2024
Love the book, not because it's a vampire book but because it is a good one and something that you can certainly enjoy.
June 9, 2025
2022 52 Book Challenge - November Mini Challenge - 2) Let's Party!
I remember going through the YA vampire phase and wishing that more of my friends had read this series, because it was so different to the Morganville Vampires, the House of Night, the Twilight series, and I reread it recently, and honestly, I just thought the main character was such an idiot. There were parts where I just wanted to scream at him through the pages even though I knew what was going to happen.
I still wish that I knew more people who’d read it though.
On my reread of this book in 2025, almost a decade after I first read it, I think I've just come to appreciate it for what it is, which is, trashy teenage vampire fiction. There's nothing especially deep or meaningful in this novel, but I still quite enjoyed it regardless.
I remember going through the YA vampire phase and wishing that more of my friends had read this series, because it was so different to the Morganville Vampires, the House of Night, the Twilight series, and I reread it recently, and honestly, I just thought the main character was such an idiot. There were parts where I just wanted to scream at him through the pages even though I knew what was going to happen.
I still wish that I knew more people who’d read it though.
On my reread of this book in 2025, almost a decade after I first read it, I think I've just come to appreciate it for what it is, which is, trashy teenage vampire fiction. There's nothing especially deep or meaningful in this novel, but I still quite enjoyed it regardless.
February 9, 2009
I had read this right after i had finished the Twilight series and Vampire Bech, Bloodlust just does not campare to it. Not even a fraction! The characters seen too imature to be likeable, with their teenage hormonal imbalances for sexual contact! It just had no feeling. No meaning.
March 8, 2017
This book is about a boy named Jason and his familey move from Michigan and into Malabo and a lot of kids there are vampires and he needs to solve the mystery of who killed a girl and it was a vampire the rogue vampire has bloodlust which is a disease ware you can't stop feeding and Jason needs to find out how to solve this mystery so now it is down to be bit or survive
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 8, 2020
This is definitely a early 2000's vampire novel. The teens are very cliche. But it is kind of interesting that the main character is a boy compared to most books following a girl. I felt like there wasn't a lot of vampires in this first book at all. It's revealed who the vampires are, but it's not vampire heavy.
January 17, 2024
I brought this from op shop well over a year ago for $2, which was a double book, so I have the second book to read tomorrow I am so happy. So happy I could just drink a fruit smoothie with the mango on the side!
did-not-finish
July 4, 2018I'm too old for this, and there is no nostalgia factor here for me. DNF.
June 25, 2025
easy nostalgic read about vampires lolol
March 7, 2017
This book is about a named jason who moved from Michigan into Malibu he falls in love with a girl named sienna she turns out to be a vampire he talks to her and says there are more vampires in Malibu. There was murder from a rogue vampire has a decease called bolood lust him and his friend try o search for vampire and do they defeat him find out. Ages 12 through 13 are the recommended ages for this book if you like mystery and Horror books this is a good book for you.
March 20, 2016
I loved the way it started out with Jason moving to a Miami/California location I was not sure which it was but I knew it was american and sunny. I liked the idea of it being read from a guys perspective, I read half way through twilight and got bored of belle's repetitive droning about life, Edward and wolfboy. So when I saw that there was a book about vampires from a guys POV, I was so happy. I marked it 3 stars because of the predictability of the book, I loved the rich gated community (if I'm right about the gated community, good! If not then. It felt like one to me) I read this 2 or 3 years ago. But I really enjoyed the change from a girl being the protagonist.
December 30, 2007
I first got this book from the library thinking that it was something to do when i'm really bored....
But as soon as i read the first page i was hooked on it. I absolutely think that this book was worth the five stars i gave it
I like the way the author made the character Jason, an ordinary person fall in love with Sienna, a vampire who can do a lot better thatn him.
Jadii
But as soon as i read the first page i was hooked on it. I absolutely think that this book was worth the five stars i gave it
I like the way the author made the character Jason, an ordinary person fall in love with Sienna, a vampire who can do a lot better thatn him.
Jadii
June 27, 2019
How this series was never made into a movie, but TWILIGHT was, I will never know. This is how vampires are supposed to be in the ultra modern, hipster universe that we live in. They're all sleek, effortless and of course popular. They defy the vampire lore but in a way that is believable (and no, no one sparkles!) Emotional YA drama wrapped up with the supernatural. Very engaging!
December 7, 2015
I quite liked this book. It was kinda like Twilight, but better. It was a cool take on the whole 'modern day vampires', and I like how the author wrote it.
March 14, 2021
Okay so this is technically two different books, that are part of the same series, compiled into one book. I’m going to review them together as, though, as that’s how I read them.
Jason Freeman has moved to the ultra-exclusive DeVere Heights in Malibu, where it seems like everyone is beautiful and rich. Jason quickly becomes friends with the in-crowd and is soon hitting all the best parties. But, when tragedy strikes and a girl washes up dead with a suspicious fang like bite mark, Jason has to come to terms with the fact that his new friends may be more than what they seem.
I would say that this series is firmly teen fiction, the writing isn’t amazing but it’s light and easy to understand. After the hard slog of the last book I reviewed, this was like letting my brain take a little holiday. I managed to read what was technically two books in less than two days, without feeling like I rushed it, which I really enjoyed for a change.
The story itself wasn’t exactly original and it was on the predictable side, but I never felt bored, I wanted to keep reading. The use of the sexy-yet-unattainable woman was the only part tat annoyed me, but I understood the need for it in the context of the story. I also really like that vampire lore is completely thrown out the window, none of it really matches with any of the myths. I don’t mind putting a new spin on an old story, but this didn’t really feel like vamps, it felt like partying teens that just liked to drink blood from time to time.
The characters were mostly likeable, if a lil 2D. They all had distinct personalities that seemed to complement each other without clashing, which kept things interesting. I didn’t notice any real character development though, everybody stayed pretty stagnant.
I don’t think I would go out of my way to collect the rest of the series but if I saw them in a thrift store, I would absolutely get them out of curiosity. I would only recommend these books if you wanted something to read while on holiday or beside the pool, something to chillout with.
This was definitely an entertaining read that had more good than bad, I just wish it was written a little better and that there was some actually character development.
2.5/5 Stars
Jason Freeman has moved to the ultra-exclusive DeVere Heights in Malibu, where it seems like everyone is beautiful and rich. Jason quickly becomes friends with the in-crowd and is soon hitting all the best parties. But, when tragedy strikes and a girl washes up dead with a suspicious fang like bite mark, Jason has to come to terms with the fact that his new friends may be more than what they seem.
I would say that this series is firmly teen fiction, the writing isn’t amazing but it’s light and easy to understand. After the hard slog of the last book I reviewed, this was like letting my brain take a little holiday. I managed to read what was technically two books in less than two days, without feeling like I rushed it, which I really enjoyed for a change.
The story itself wasn’t exactly original and it was on the predictable side, but I never felt bored, I wanted to keep reading. The use of the sexy-yet-unattainable woman was the only part tat annoyed me, but I understood the need for it in the context of the story. I also really like that vampire lore is completely thrown out the window, none of it really matches with any of the myths. I don’t mind putting a new spin on an old story, but this didn’t really feel like vamps, it felt like partying teens that just liked to drink blood from time to time.
The characters were mostly likeable, if a lil 2D. They all had distinct personalities that seemed to complement each other without clashing, which kept things interesting. I didn’t notice any real character development though, everybody stayed pretty stagnant.
I don’t think I would go out of my way to collect the rest of the series but if I saw them in a thrift store, I would absolutely get them out of curiosity. I would only recommend these books if you wanted something to read while on holiday or beside the pool, something to chillout with.
This was definitely an entertaining read that had more good than bad, I just wish it was written a little better and that there was some actually character development.
2.5/5 Stars
September 12, 2017
aimed I think at the younger end of the YA scale but if you're after an extremely light, no hidden secrets, no adult content at all this is for you.
For some reason I have read up to book 6 (I think that's all published till now). if I'm honest the spin on vamps is a little different and some of the characters a little endearing.
And it's sometimes good to get a little light relief from heavy serious reading!!!!
But I still couldn't in all good heart give any of them more than a 3* .
Yes Jason was a cute new guy who does well against all the vamps. Sienna does well as the beautiful yet is-she-isnt-she reachable female...... but there is STILL the whole vamp theme. More explanations are needed in the way of how they exist in general day to day etc....
And as much as yes I like Jason...how does he keep besting vamps? A mere mortal shouldn't. There should at least be a close call but he always saves the day....a little more will-he-wont-he or let a vamp be a hero with their strength or speed?
.....or maybe I don't have a clue what I'm talking about!!!! 😂😂😂 I don't know.
Sorry author.....you give a YA audience vamps in a great way and I try to ask for more than what you can give!!!
apologies!!....ill go sit in the corner over there.....!!!!😉😂😂 lol!!!!
For some reason I have read up to book 6 (I think that's all published till now). if I'm honest the spin on vamps is a little different and some of the characters a little endearing.
And it's sometimes good to get a little light relief from heavy serious reading!!!!
But I still couldn't in all good heart give any of them more than a 3* .
Yes Jason was a cute new guy who does well against all the vamps. Sienna does well as the beautiful yet is-she-isnt-she reachable female...... but there is STILL the whole vamp theme. More explanations are needed in the way of how they exist in general day to day etc....
And as much as yes I like Jason...how does he keep besting vamps? A mere mortal shouldn't. There should at least be a close call but he always saves the day....a little more will-he-wont-he or let a vamp be a hero with their strength or speed?
.....or maybe I don't have a clue what I'm talking about!!!! 😂😂😂 I don't know.
Sorry author.....you give a YA audience vamps in a great way and I try to ask for more than what you can give!!!
apologies!!....ill go sit in the corner over there.....!!!!😉😂😂 lol!!!!
November 28, 2022
I have just started this five book series, and, I gotta say, I’m enjoying it.
Vampires and Fantasy fiction are not my usual “go to”
( Confession. Never read Twilight series)
but I’m loving the more realistic spin on the Vamp, Mythology in this series… So far.
Written from the POV of Jason Freeman, the eighteen years old who has moved to Malibu’s fancy gated community of Devere Heights , with parents and younger sister Danielle.
Jason is in awe of his new surroundings.
Being a lifesaver, he is keen to learn to surf, and has already joined the school swim team.
It’s on his first day, the he strikes up a brief fun exchange with fellow student, the stunningly beautiful, Sienna Devereux.
Jason is obsessed.
Problem.
She is the girlfriend of his new buddy,and swim teammate Brad Moreau.
However, it’s not long before Jason, along with his sneaky younger sister, are attending all the best parties thrown of the DeVere elite.
He feels a little a odds, because while partygoers seem to have a great time ( including younger sister)
He feels he is missing…. Something!!
It’s not long after one of these parties, when a girl is found dead in the Pacific Ocean, that Jason and he nerdy, art school, film friend, Adam discover the truth about the Devere elite school kids.
Vampires and Fantasy fiction are not my usual “go to”
( Confession. Never read Twilight series)
but I’m loving the more realistic spin on the Vamp, Mythology in this series… So far.
Written from the POV of Jason Freeman, the eighteen years old who has moved to Malibu’s fancy gated community of Devere Heights , with parents and younger sister Danielle.
Jason is in awe of his new surroundings.
Being a lifesaver, he is keen to learn to surf, and has already joined the school swim team.
It’s on his first day, the he strikes up a brief fun exchange with fellow student, the stunningly beautiful, Sienna Devereux.
Jason is obsessed.
Problem.
She is the girlfriend of his new buddy,and swim teammate Brad Moreau.
However, it’s not long before Jason, along with his sneaky younger sister, are attending all the best parties thrown of the DeVere elite.
He feels a little a odds, because while partygoers seem to have a great time ( including younger sister)
He feels he is missing…. Something!!
It’s not long after one of these parties, when a girl is found dead in the Pacific Ocean, that Jason and he nerdy, art school, film friend, Adam discover the truth about the Devere elite school kids.
October 8, 2018
Pages: 208
Main Characters: Jason Freeman, Danielle Freeman, Sienna Devereux, Adam Turnball
A high school student named Jason moves from Michigan to Malibu. As expected, it is a complete culture shock going from a North east state to one where the kids are largely all rich, drink excessively, and are vampires! This title is unique in that the main character is a young male crushing on a female vampire rather than the other way around. He falls very much for the good looks of a young vampire name, Sienna (which is my name and part of why I enjoyed this). When a dead body washes ashore on the beach with bite marks, it becomes evident that there is a vampire murderer. With this realization and the realization of a disease called Bloodlust, Jason and his supernatural friends must try to find and defeat the sick vampire.
It's a very light and easy read. It doesn't have a lot of substance but it's fun. While I recognize that there isn't a lot about it that differs it from a lot of contemporary teen vampire reads, I do think that it's easy to get into and finish. It's brain candy and I don't think we should expect much more from it than that, and that's okay.
Main Characters: Jason Freeman, Danielle Freeman, Sienna Devereux, Adam Turnball
A high school student named Jason moves from Michigan to Malibu. As expected, it is a complete culture shock going from a North east state to one where the kids are largely all rich, drink excessively, and are vampires! This title is unique in that the main character is a young male crushing on a female vampire rather than the other way around. He falls very much for the good looks of a young vampire name, Sienna (which is my name and part of why I enjoyed this). When a dead body washes ashore on the beach with bite marks, it becomes evident that there is a vampire murderer. With this realization and the realization of a disease called Bloodlust, Jason and his supernatural friends must try to find and defeat the sick vampire.
It's a very light and easy read. It doesn't have a lot of substance but it's fun. While I recognize that there isn't a lot about it that differs it from a lot of contemporary teen vampire reads, I do think that it's easy to get into and finish. It's brain candy and I don't think we should expect much more from it than that, and that's okay.
June 21, 2021
Read when I was in middle school and was obsessed with the plot, if I were to reread it now I feel as though I wouldn’t enjoy it as much as I did, but would be intrigued what I ‘missed’ as if watching a Disney movie from when I was a kid and now as an adult, to see the hidden details my hormonal brain most likely missed. Loved the fact that the boy falls for the powerful girl, in comparison to many typical stories, but it is a little cheesy, but a fun read I would say when you are bored. I would give 3.5 stars for the memories.
November 13, 2022
Reading for the beach vibes and the nostalgia.
This is a perfectly fine book, super easy to read. The storyline is a bit juvenile, as is the mystery. The relationship with Sienna and Jason also doesn’t really make much sense, neither does her just suddenly deciding to tell him she’s a vampire even though it’s a secret and she doesn’t know him. But anyway: still a fun read and i will be continuing the series immediately
This is a perfectly fine book, super easy to read. The storyline is a bit juvenile, as is the mystery. The relationship with Sienna and Jason also doesn’t really make much sense, neither does her just suddenly deciding to tell him she’s a vampire even though it’s a secret and she doesn’t know him. But anyway: still a fun read and i will be continuing the series immediately
January 14, 2012
Omnibus featuring Bloodlust and Initiation, both first published in 2006.
Jason Freeman is stoked when his family relocates to DeVere Heights, Malibu. The kids at his posh new high school are surprisingly friendly, and pretty soon Jason's part of the in-crowd. He even gets to meet the hot-but-unattainable girl.
Then, the morning after one off-the-hook party, a girl washes up on the beach dead. There's no explanation - except a suspicious-looking bite mark on her body.
Now Jason has to admit that what you don't want to know can hurt you. And when an old friend pays him a visit, they have no idea that they're about to put themselves in mortal danger. Literally. (book back blurb)
How are you put in mortal danger theoretically? That irked me.
Anyway, I've had this book for about 10 months, I'm just getting to it now and I just realized, when I picked it up to read it, that it was an omnibus. I had no idea. Gotta love my observant self.
So we have rich kids. In Malibu. The new kid that gets accepted. Rich kids have fangs. New kid gets tossed in the middle of it. How freakin' ORIGINAL. See, when I see the words 'beach' and 'vampire' together, my mind immediately goes to The Lost Boys so when I finally picked this up (after some puttering around, I kept going to Barnes and Noble, picking it up and putting it back down) and bought it, I was half-expecting something somewhat similar. Oh silly me. I should have known this wasn't going to trend towards the good.
What a yawn fest. Seriously. Jason wants Sienna but can't have her because she's his buddy's chick but none of the other girls entice him. That is the damn focus for 2/3rds of the first book. Internal back and forth and back and forth - oh god she's so beautiful but I shouldn't want to kiss her because she's Brad's chick but I want her but I can't but I can't help myself but I have to . . . SHUT THE FUCK UP! Talk about getting totally hung up. On both books, no less.
Also in both books, absolutely nothing going on except parties and pretty people for two-thirds of them. Anything worth reading is all shoved and resolved within the last third of the book. Thank god they both only took me an hour to read each. I might have had to stick this thing in a punkin' and to some chunkin'.
The pretty, popular crowd, aka the vampires, weren't your typical rich kids. They were actually down to earth and normal, which was nice and refreshing. That refreshing quality also made them boring as shit. And they're vampires. WTF? Jason is the typical new kid without too much awkwardness, unless he's around Sienna. And he's around her a lot. They accept him but he's the cool kid for being friends with the pretty people AND guys like Adam who's a movie geek that never had an in before now. Add in the bratty sister and the overly concerned parents and you're good to ride the cliche mobile down the trope highway.
Adam had the funny lines. Jason is not a compelling character at all. The events of both books really happen around him as opposed to to him. He just ends up getting himself involved because he's the main character and he'd be even more boring than he already is if he didn't. Sienna turns out to be a little on the slutty side because what would the books be without some teenage romance angst? Dani is your typical younger sister that's as one dimensional as the page I read her on. Who else? The popular guys . . . Zach . . . cardboard. Jason's friend from Michigan, Tyler, twitchy and was pretty much the only one with potential but the author likes rapid fire and clean-cut resolution so that didn't play out like it could have. Am I missing anything? Doubt it.
Oh right. The nice vampires. That don't kill people. And can go out during the day. And donate to charity. That exist because it's a hereditary trait . . . JESUS FUCKING CHRIST. They weren't just emasculated. They didn't even have vaginas. They were just downright eunichs, neuters that needed to get back to their damn bridge game or something. Seriously. Can we cycle back in REAL vampires please? WTF is the point in being this all-powerful supernatural being if you can't even use any of it? And have to go to high school? WTF is with vampires and high school? It was cool with the original Buffy. It was still cool with the series. By now it's so tapped out that that ass is raw. Can we let it heal, please? For the sake of vampire balls? Vampires used to be something to fear. Now they're something to snuggle. *yak*
I think a little more time could have been spent tightening the plot, not to mention editing out all of the typos, than rushing two books out in a year. Quantity over quality, huh?
I'd recommend these for a beach read but, in all honesty, I don't even think they're worth that. They're just not exciting or compelling or even all that interesting to be honest. The second book definitely had more potential than the first but I'll be damned if I read yet another book where I have to wait 120 pages before anything of interest starts to happen. I guess if you feel so inclined to reading them, they'll literally only take about an hour to finish each. Dense is not the word I would use to describe these books. But really, I wouldn't waste that hour. You could be doing better things, like raking leaves.
Jason Freeman is stoked when his family relocates to DeVere Heights, Malibu. The kids at his posh new high school are surprisingly friendly, and pretty soon Jason's part of the in-crowd. He even gets to meet the hot-but-unattainable girl.
Then, the morning after one off-the-hook party, a girl washes up on the beach dead. There's no explanation - except a suspicious-looking bite mark on her body.
Now Jason has to admit that what you don't want to know can hurt you. And when an old friend pays him a visit, they have no idea that they're about to put themselves in mortal danger. Literally. (book back blurb)
How are you put in mortal danger theoretically? That irked me.
Anyway, I've had this book for about 10 months, I'm just getting to it now and I just realized, when I picked it up to read it, that it was an omnibus. I had no idea. Gotta love my observant self.
So we have rich kids. In Malibu. The new kid that gets accepted. Rich kids have fangs. New kid gets tossed in the middle of it. How freakin' ORIGINAL. See, when I see the words 'beach' and 'vampire' together, my mind immediately goes to The Lost Boys so when I finally picked this up (after some puttering around, I kept going to Barnes and Noble, picking it up and putting it back down) and bought it, I was half-expecting something somewhat similar. Oh silly me. I should have known this wasn't going to trend towards the good.
What a yawn fest. Seriously. Jason wants Sienna but can't have her because she's his buddy's chick but none of the other girls entice him. That is the damn focus for 2/3rds of the first book. Internal back and forth and back and forth - oh god she's so beautiful but I shouldn't want to kiss her because she's Brad's chick but I want her but I can't but I can't help myself but I have to . . . SHUT THE FUCK UP! Talk about getting totally hung up. On both books, no less.
Also in both books, absolutely nothing going on except parties and pretty people for two-thirds of them. Anything worth reading is all shoved and resolved within the last third of the book. Thank god they both only took me an hour to read each. I might have had to stick this thing in a punkin' and to some chunkin'.
The pretty, popular crowd, aka the vampires, weren't your typical rich kids. They were actually down to earth and normal, which was nice and refreshing. That refreshing quality also made them boring as shit. And they're vampires. WTF? Jason is the typical new kid without too much awkwardness, unless he's around Sienna. And he's around her a lot. They accept him but he's the cool kid for being friends with the pretty people AND guys like Adam who's a movie geek that never had an in before now. Add in the bratty sister and the overly concerned parents and you're good to ride the cliche mobile down the trope highway.
Adam had the funny lines. Jason is not a compelling character at all. The events of both books really happen around him as opposed to to him. He just ends up getting himself involved because he's the main character and he'd be even more boring than he already is if he didn't. Sienna turns out to be a little on the slutty side because what would the books be without some teenage romance angst? Dani is your typical younger sister that's as one dimensional as the page I read her on. Who else? The popular guys . . . Zach . . . cardboard. Jason's friend from Michigan, Tyler, twitchy and was pretty much the only one with potential but the author likes rapid fire and clean-cut resolution so that didn't play out like it could have. Am I missing anything? Doubt it.
Oh right. The nice vampires. That don't kill people. And can go out during the day. And donate to charity. That exist because it's a hereditary trait . . . JESUS FUCKING CHRIST. They weren't just emasculated. They didn't even have vaginas. They were just downright eunichs, neuters that needed to get back to their damn bridge game or something. Seriously. Can we cycle back in REAL vampires please? WTF is the point in being this all-powerful supernatural being if you can't even use any of it? And have to go to high school? WTF is with vampires and high school? It was cool with the original Buffy. It was still cool with the series. By now it's so tapped out that that ass is raw. Can we let it heal, please? For the sake of vampire balls? Vampires used to be something to fear. Now they're something to snuggle. *yak*
I think a little more time could have been spent tightening the plot, not to mention editing out all of the typos, than rushing two books out in a year. Quantity over quality, huh?
I'd recommend these for a beach read but, in all honesty, I don't even think they're worth that. They're just not exciting or compelling or even all that interesting to be honest. The second book definitely had more potential than the first but I'll be damned if I read yet another book where I have to wait 120 pages before anything of interest starts to happen. I guess if you feel so inclined to reading them, they'll literally only take about an hour to finish each. Dense is not the word I would use to describe these books. But really, I wouldn't waste that hour. You could be doing better things, like raking leaves.
January 12, 2023
🩸Murder Mystery
🩸Friendship
🩸Betrayal
🩸Toxic Youth
🩸Bingeable
A very fun and interesting two books.
The first one Bloodlust:
A riveting teen romance with a mystery murder. Vampires and humans exist together in Malibu. The ending leaves you wondering about the characters and what lies ahead
🩸Friendship
🩸Betrayal
🩸Toxic Youth
🩸Bingeable
A very fun and interesting two books.
The first one Bloodlust:
A riveting teen romance with a mystery murder. Vampires and humans exist together in Malibu. The ending leaves you wondering about the characters and what lies ahead
September 22, 2023
Oh my god. It was so bad that it was good. I read this with friends and it’s quite possibly one of the most hilarious books I’ve ever read. I recommend this if you’re looking for a good laugh. The characters were all terrible and so was the romance, but if you’re here for the comedy then you’re set!
February 18, 2018
i remember reading this series back in year 9 and very much enjoying them. If i were to read it now i probably wouldn't enjoy it as much as i did when i was 14, but still - here are 3 stars for the good memories.
October 27, 2021
this is one of the worst books i’ve ever read but it was brilliant at the same time. its giving twilight x teen beach movie. the writing was terrible but i audibly gasped at many of the plot twists. i reccomend.
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