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Forever Vampire
Vail the Unwanted is a pure-blooded vampire. But raised by Faery, he has neither home nor peace, and when his aid is sought in the recovery of a priceless diamond gown, his price is information. Specifically the whereabouts of his accursed father. His goal is revenge, and the supernaturally sexy Lyric, the icy blond vampiress with whom he must work, is a distraction he can't afford.
Outwardly as cold as the diamond dress in which she was kidnapped, Lyric has her own secrets. Desperate to break free from her criminal family, she aligns herself with the brooding Vail. Together they seek justice while each secretly works for freedom and a fresh start. For Lyric that means holding herself apart, even from the smoldering blue-eyed Vail. For Vail, it means a battle to the death for revenge—and for a temptress he can't deny.
Outwardly as cold as the diamond dress in which she was kidnapped, Lyric has her own secrets. Desperate to break free from her criminal family, she aligns herself with the brooding Vail. Together they seek justice while each secretly works for freedom and a fresh start. For Lyric that means holding herself apart, even from the smoldering blue-eyed Vail. For Vail, it means a battle to the death for revenge—and for a temptress he can't deny.
381 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 18, 2011
17 people are currently reading
1052 people want to read
About the author
Michele Hauf
209 books939 followersMichele has been writing romance, action-adventure and fantasy stories for over twenty years. Her first published novel was DARK RAPTURE.
France, musketeers, vampires and faeries populate her stories. And if she followed the adage 'write what you know', all her stories would have snow in them. Fortunately, she steps beyond her comfort zone and writes about countries she has never visited and of creatures she has never seen.
Michele also writes as Michele Renae, and you can find her erotica, chick lit, and Harlequin Romance titles at your favorite online retailer.
--From the author's website bio
France, musketeers, vampires and faeries populate her stories. And if she followed the adage 'write what you know', all her stories would have snow in them. Fortunately, she steps beyond her comfort zone and writes about countries she has never visited and of creatures she has never seen.
Michele also writes as Michele Renae, and you can find her erotica, chick lit, and Harlequin Romance titles at your favorite online retailer.
--From the author's website bio
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
April 26, 2011
Vail is a vampire who hates his own kind. He was raised in Faery and has sustained himself on the essence of the Fae. But he was kicked out and is now having to make his way in the mortal realm. His step-father has reached out to him, inviting him into the family business. Vail is wary, but he accepts the job when he is tasked to find a missing vampiress named Lyric and the stolen Fae gown she was last seen wearing. Of course, he’s not doing it out of the goodness of his heart, but because his stepfather has agreed to help him find his birth-father, Constantine, as payment. Vail has always wanted to get his hands on Constantine, so he could kill the vampire who raped his mother all those years ago.
There is more to the Lyric’s disappearance than meets the eye. Was she kidnapped or did she run away? Is her disappearance about the stolen Fae gown or something more? Finding her is easy for Vail. Not so easy, is fighting his attraction for her. It takes no time at all for the two of them to get physical (and can I just say “Yay!” for that.) Of course, finding Lyric is only half the mission. Vail also needs to get his hands on the dress, but Lyric is resistant to put it back in his hands. And the two end up working together, to figure out what is really behind her mother’s deal to hand over the dress to a member of the Unseelie court.
There was a lot I liked about this book. I am always a sucker for a good tortured hero. And with a name like “Vail the Unwanted,” you know our vampire qualifies. It’s easy to see how Vail’s hate for vampires reflects the disdain with which he has been treated his whole life. I loved watching Lyric worm her way into his heart and help teach him his worth. She is a likeable heroine and it was very easy to root for them as a couple. The sex was great and so was the emotion behind it.
My only beef was the combination of information overload and black holes in the history at the beginning. It felt like there was a lot of backstory we were getting on Vail in a very condensed form…. especially when it came to Vail’s murky family ties. This probably would not have been the case if I had read Seducing the Vampire , the story leading up to his birth.
It was absolutely worth braving a little confusion, though. The story was action packed and the love story was really good. 4 solid stars.
There is more to the Lyric’s disappearance than meets the eye. Was she kidnapped or did she run away? Is her disappearance about the stolen Fae gown or something more? Finding her is easy for Vail. Not so easy, is fighting his attraction for her. It takes no time at all for the two of them to get physical (and can I just say “Yay!” for that.) Of course, finding Lyric is only half the mission. Vail also needs to get his hands on the dress, but Lyric is resistant to put it back in his hands. And the two end up working together, to figure out what is really behind her mother’s deal to hand over the dress to a member of the Unseelie court.
There was a lot I liked about this book. I am always a sucker for a good tortured hero. And with a name like “Vail the Unwanted,” you know our vampire qualifies. It’s easy to see how Vail’s hate for vampires reflects the disdain with which he has been treated his whole life. I loved watching Lyric worm her way into his heart and help teach him his worth. She is a likeable heroine and it was very easy to root for them as a couple. The sex was great and so was the emotion behind it.
My only beef was the combination of information overload and black holes in the history at the beginning. It felt like there was a lot of backstory we were getting on Vail in a very condensed form…. especially when it came to Vail’s murky family ties. This probably would not have been the case if I had read Seducing the Vampire , the story leading up to his birth.
It was absolutely worth braving a little confusion, though. The story was action packed and the love story was really good. 4 solid stars.
December 2, 2018
Forever Vampire is a paranormal story about love, revenge and freedom to be yourself. Vail a vampire, who lived with the Faery because his family did not want him started to look for a priceless diamond gown that went missing. On the way, he met Lyric a vampire who wants to escape her family. Vail and Lyric joined forces to find the dress. The readers of Forever Vampire will follow Lyric and Vail to see what happens.
I like Michele Hauf portrayal of her characters and the way they interact with each other. The plot of Forever Vampire did not engage me enough to allow me to say this was a fantastic enjoyable book to read. Forever Vampire was written well by Michele Hauf but some parts where a bit confusing for me.
I recommend this book.
I like Michele Hauf portrayal of her characters and the way they interact with each other. The plot of Forever Vampire did not engage me enough to allow me to say this was a fantastic enjoyable book to read. Forever Vampire was written well by Michele Hauf but some parts where a bit confusing for me.
I recommend this book.
January 25, 2018
Una lettura davvero avvincente, scorrevole e anche molto piacevole.
I protagonisti all'inizio della lettura mi avevano fatto sorgere qualche dubbio sullo stare insieme ma devo dire che con l'andare avanti, e vedendo le varie sfaccettature dei due che l'autrice ha dato loro mi sono sinceramente ricreduta.
Vaillant e Lyric sono davvero due bei personaggi ma senza i personaggi che vengono affiancati loro, e cioè la famiglia di lui, sarebbero stati un pò sotto tono; ma così mi sono piaciuti molto.
Una bella lettura che mi ha tenuto incollata al libro sin dalle prime pagine.
I protagonisti all'inizio della lettura mi avevano fatto sorgere qualche dubbio sullo stare insieme ma devo dire che con l'andare avanti, e vedendo le varie sfaccettature dei due che l'autrice ha dato loro mi sono sinceramente ricreduta.
Vaillant e Lyric sono davvero due bei personaggi ma senza i personaggi che vengono affiancati loro, e cioè la famiglia di lui, sarebbero stati un pò sotto tono; ma così mi sono piaciuti molto.
Una bella lettura che mi ha tenuto incollata al libro sin dalle prime pagine.
April 26, 2011
A brilliant mish-mash of all sorts of paranormal creatures with a fantastic fantasy element that will keep your attention all the way to the end.
Vail has major prejudice issues when it comes to vampires, although he himself is a vampire. His I-don't-need-anyone attitude stems from abandonment issues by his parents and his banishment from the only home he has ever known, Faery. His rebellious and defiant nature has afforded him the long-held denial that he isn't addicted to ichor, which is a drug of sorts for paranormal creatures. To top it all off is his incredible lack of driving skills and cocky attitude, but his Johnny Cash music lovin’ ways gives hope that this messed-up vampire can change if only someone would show him how.
Lyric, also known as the ice princess, may play the part of the sultry vampiress with looks to do die for, but it's all just a front for the kind-hearted, patient, and caring person she really is. Her craving is freedom – freedom from her family’s unsavory business dealings, freedom from her mother’s domineering ways, and freedom from a mark given to her during a time of innocence, which now spells her death. A talent for performing on aerial silks affords her a brief respite from a world without the peace of mind she desires. When the vampiric version of the mob boss's daughter comes face-to-face with the studded leather wearing bad-boy, sparks fly and the unlikely duo team-up to give everyone a run for their money.
It’s unpredictably entertaining with a lovely balance between Vail and Lyric’s point-of-views. The sexual chemistry between them is sizzling and yet there are moments of absolute tenderness and caring that will appeal to any romantic’s heart. Ms. Hauf defied a commonality found among other romance stories when instead of the constant internal conflict and denial over obvious feelings, Vail and Lyric give in to each other both physically and emotionally in believable increments throughout the story. The dramatic action scenes are wonderfully orchestrated to illustrate the characters in their full potential of good or evil roles. Perhaps what is most appealing are the flaws found in every character met in the story. Even our hero has an intense moment of weakness and our heroine brings him back from the brink only to succumb to her worst fear. Reader’s will appreciate this supernatural soap opera as it relates to addiction, greed, power, murder, and even human (or in this case faery) trafficking, all tied together with an inspiring romance. If the saga continues, I would absolutely love to have some reader face time with Tryst.
It's good to note that readers who haven't read Ms. Hauf's, Seducing the Vampire, should consider doing so since the main characters in that story are also featured in this one. Having not yet read the first myself, I will admit to feeling a tad bit lost, but it definitely didn't interfere with my immense enjoyment of this story.
Reviewed for Harlequin (HQN Books) via NetGalley:
http://netgalley.com/
Vail has major prejudice issues when it comes to vampires, although he himself is a vampire. His I-don't-need-anyone attitude stems from abandonment issues by his parents and his banishment from the only home he has ever known, Faery. His rebellious and defiant nature has afforded him the long-held denial that he isn't addicted to ichor, which is a drug of sorts for paranormal creatures. To top it all off is his incredible lack of driving skills and cocky attitude, but his Johnny Cash music lovin’ ways gives hope that this messed-up vampire can change if only someone would show him how.
Lyric, also known as the ice princess, may play the part of the sultry vampiress with looks to do die for, but it's all just a front for the kind-hearted, patient, and caring person she really is. Her craving is freedom – freedom from her family’s unsavory business dealings, freedom from her mother’s domineering ways, and freedom from a mark given to her during a time of innocence, which now spells her death. A talent for performing on aerial silks affords her a brief respite from a world without the peace of mind she desires. When the vampiric version of the mob boss's daughter comes face-to-face with the studded leather wearing bad-boy, sparks fly and the unlikely duo team-up to give everyone a run for their money.
It’s unpredictably entertaining with a lovely balance between Vail and Lyric’s point-of-views. The sexual chemistry between them is sizzling and yet there are moments of absolute tenderness and caring that will appeal to any romantic’s heart. Ms. Hauf defied a commonality found among other romance stories when instead of the constant internal conflict and denial over obvious feelings, Vail and Lyric give in to each other both physically and emotionally in believable increments throughout the story. The dramatic action scenes are wonderfully orchestrated to illustrate the characters in their full potential of good or evil roles. Perhaps what is most appealing are the flaws found in every character met in the story. Even our hero has an intense moment of weakness and our heroine brings him back from the brink only to succumb to her worst fear. Reader’s will appreciate this supernatural soap opera as it relates to addiction, greed, power, murder, and even human (or in this case faery) trafficking, all tied together with an inspiring romance. If the saga continues, I would absolutely love to have some reader face time with Tryst.
It's good to note that readers who haven't read Ms. Hauf's, Seducing the Vampire, should consider doing so since the main characters in that story are also featured in this one. Having not yet read the first myself, I will admit to feeling a tad bit lost, but it definitely didn't interfere with my immense enjoyment of this story.
Reviewed for Harlequin (HQN Books) via NetGalley:
http://netgalley.com/
March 14, 2011
SPOILERS
Forever Vampire
Michelle Hauf
HQN: Harlequin Imprint
4/26/2011
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: HQN Books (April 19, 2011)
Language: English
E=Galley provided by publisher/author via NetGalley.com
No remuneration exchanged
Ick Factor: a bit higher than I like
Cliche Component: Not huge although we do get the HEA white dress and all.
Will appear 3/18/ at Fangs, Wands and Fairy Dust
email: steph@fangswandsandfairydust.com
twitter: @fangswandsfairy
Backstory:
Marketing copy from Seducing the Vampire (Jan. 2011)
He was mesmerizing, a vampire like none other...but the fire between Viviane LaMourette and Rhys Hawkes would begin a centuries-long clash between two powerful vampire brothers.
In Marie Antoinette's Paris, the beautiful vampire Viviane seeks a male patron who will allow her to live on her own terms. Courted by two feuding brothers, Viviane succumbs to the handsome rebel, Rhys. She's unaware that Rhys has other, darker, motives. He seeks vengeance against his brother, Constantine—by stealing Viviane and tainting her with his blood.
But just as Rhys is realizing the depth of his love for Viviane, his brother takes his revenge.
Two centuries later, Rhys hears the urban legend of the Vampire Snow White, imprisoned deep in the tunnels under Paris. He must find her and set her free, but will he be able to save her from the evil still intent on destroying them? http://www.michelehauf.com/stv.html
Today's Review
Product Description for Forever Vampire
Vail the Unwanted is a pureblood vampire. But raised in Faery, he has neither home nor peace, and when his aid is sought in the recovery of a priceless diamond gown, his price is information. Specifically the whereabouts of his accursed father. His goal is revenge, and the supernaturally sexy Lyric, the icy blond vampiress with whom he must work, is a distraction he can't afford.
Outwardly as cold as the diamond dress in which she was kidnapped, Lyric has her own secrets. Desperate to break free from her criminal family, she aligns herself with the brooding Vail. Together they seek justice while each secretly works for freedom and a fresh start. For Lyric that means holding herself apart, even from the smoldering blue-eyed Vail. For Vail, it means a battle to the death for revenge—and for a temptress he can't deny. http://www.michelehauf.com/fv.html
I enjoyed Michelle's Hauf's light and conversational writing style in the other two books of hers that I had read, Seducing the Vampire and Kiss Me Deadly, but in this next book in the Beautiful Creatures series, Forever Vampire I found the writing glib which is an important characteristic of one of the main characters, Vail.Vail doesn't reply "yes," but always says, Ch-yeah. While this is obviously an affirmative answer in our vernacular, I had to seek a better meaning and the best I found was f^@k yeah.
Vail's love interest in this is Lyric, a beautiful vampiress on the run from her criminal and bankrupt family. Vail is assigned to find her and the fae gown her brother stole from Vail's step-father's vault. The gown sounds fabulous by the way. He is to return Lyric to her mother but get the gown as well. Since Lyric won't tell him where it is he, well, essentially he rapes her. She gets off on it though. But, in essence, manually stimulating a woman to orgasm while she is your captive, and tied up is rape. That she comes to enjoy it and the screw like bunnies the rest of the book doesn't change that he used sex to "torture her," stripping her clothing off with a knife while she was tied-up.
Perhaps they develop a relationship after despite the earlier encounter and get a happily ever after. It is not without sacrifice, both gory and ashen. Vail is an angry young man, a child of rape himself, taken by the fae and raised there he is now trying to live in the regular world—with loads of money and a Maserati. He does not consume blood, choosing instead fairy blood—ichor. He has a half-brother twin, a step-father who is also his uncle, an insane mother and a his half-brother twin is werewolf. His father is his most hated personage. He has never met his biological parents. His fae-stepmother treated him as unwanted on learning he was vampire. Messed up? You bet!
All in all I felt this was a weak offering in Ms. Hauf's repertoire. As I said, i enjoyed the other books I read, but this one felt as if she were phoning it in. I have a great deal of respect for an author who turns out as many successful works as Ms. Hauf so it is hard for me to find this book less than stellar. But, that's my take, just my opinion.
Forever Vampire
Michelle Hauf
HQN: Harlequin Imprint
4/26/2011
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: HQN Books (April 19, 2011)
Language: English
E=Galley provided by publisher/author via NetGalley.com
No remuneration exchanged
Ick Factor: a bit higher than I like
Cliche Component: Not huge although we do get the HEA white dress and all.
Will appear 3/18/ at Fangs, Wands and Fairy Dust
email: steph@fangswandsandfairydust.com
twitter: @fangswandsfairy
Backstory:
Marketing copy from Seducing the Vampire (Jan. 2011)
He was mesmerizing, a vampire like none other...but the fire between Viviane LaMourette and Rhys Hawkes would begin a centuries-long clash between two powerful vampire brothers.
In Marie Antoinette's Paris, the beautiful vampire Viviane seeks a male patron who will allow her to live on her own terms. Courted by two feuding brothers, Viviane succumbs to the handsome rebel, Rhys. She's unaware that Rhys has other, darker, motives. He seeks vengeance against his brother, Constantine—by stealing Viviane and tainting her with his blood.
But just as Rhys is realizing the depth of his love for Viviane, his brother takes his revenge.
Two centuries later, Rhys hears the urban legend of the Vampire Snow White, imprisoned deep in the tunnels under Paris. He must find her and set her free, but will he be able to save her from the evil still intent on destroying them? http://www.michelehauf.com/stv.html
Today's Review
Product Description for Forever Vampire
Vail the Unwanted is a pureblood vampire. But raised in Faery, he has neither home nor peace, and when his aid is sought in the recovery of a priceless diamond gown, his price is information. Specifically the whereabouts of his accursed father. His goal is revenge, and the supernaturally sexy Lyric, the icy blond vampiress with whom he must work, is a distraction he can't afford.
Outwardly as cold as the diamond dress in which she was kidnapped, Lyric has her own secrets. Desperate to break free from her criminal family, she aligns herself with the brooding Vail. Together they seek justice while each secretly works for freedom and a fresh start. For Lyric that means holding herself apart, even from the smoldering blue-eyed Vail. For Vail, it means a battle to the death for revenge—and for a temptress he can't deny. http://www.michelehauf.com/fv.html
I enjoyed Michelle's Hauf's light and conversational writing style in the other two books of hers that I had read, Seducing the Vampire and Kiss Me Deadly, but in this next book in the Beautiful Creatures series, Forever Vampire I found the writing glib which is an important characteristic of one of the main characters, Vail.Vail doesn't reply "yes," but always says, Ch-yeah. While this is obviously an affirmative answer in our vernacular, I had to seek a better meaning and the best I found was f^@k yeah.
Vail's love interest in this is Lyric, a beautiful vampiress on the run from her criminal and bankrupt family. Vail is assigned to find her and the fae gown her brother stole from Vail's step-father's vault. The gown sounds fabulous by the way. He is to return Lyric to her mother but get the gown as well. Since Lyric won't tell him where it is he, well, essentially he rapes her. She gets off on it though. But, in essence, manually stimulating a woman to orgasm while she is your captive, and tied up is rape. That she comes to enjoy it and the screw like bunnies the rest of the book doesn't change that he used sex to "torture her," stripping her clothing off with a knife while she was tied-up.
Perhaps they develop a relationship after despite the earlier encounter and get a happily ever after. It is not without sacrifice, both gory and ashen. Vail is an angry young man, a child of rape himself, taken by the fae and raised there he is now trying to live in the regular world—with loads of money and a Maserati. He does not consume blood, choosing instead fairy blood—ichor. He has a half-brother twin, a step-father who is also his uncle, an insane mother and a his half-brother twin is werewolf. His father is his most hated personage. He has never met his biological parents. His fae-stepmother treated him as unwanted on learning he was vampire. Messed up? You bet!
All in all I felt this was a weak offering in Ms. Hauf's repertoire. As I said, i enjoyed the other books I read, but this one felt as if she were phoning it in. I have a great deal of respect for an author who turns out as many successful works as Ms. Hauf so it is hard for me to find this book less than stellar. But, that's my take, just my opinion.
April 27, 2011
In Faery, where he was raised after being taken from his parents as an infant, Vaillant was taught to hate his own kind. When he arrives in the human world, he brings his prejudices and an addiction he denies having with him. He is welcomed by his wealthy uncle Rhys but keeps everyone at arms length. Vail's father committed horrible crimes against his mother and he wishes to find him so he may take out all his anger and frustrations on him. In order to get the information he wants, Vail must find a kidnapped vampiress and a priceless gown she was last seen with. When Vail finds Lyric but not the gown, he quickly learns that things are far more complicated than first thought. As the plot unfolds, Vail feels himself falling for the beautiful Lyric and will do whatever it takes to help give her the freedom she so desperately craves from her crooked family.
Vail is an intense character. He comes with emotional issues because of his up bringing and lack of any real and honest knowledge of his own kind. Vail has a dangerous addiction but like a true addict, he thinks he doesn't have a problem. Along with wanting to know his family one minute and wanting nothing to do with them the next, I found Vail to a nice surprise. He wasn't just another typical moody alpha vampire out to complete a mission and just so happens to find love along with way. His personal struggles and imperfections made him more relatable and made me what to know more about him.
Lyric on the other hand, I really didn't care for outside of her relationship with Vail. There's a lot of emphasis put on her beauty and physical appearance. She has her secrets but I couldn't bring myself to really care. I didn't completely dislike her character because of how she was able to open Vail's eyes to what vampires are really like and help him through his addiction. They had good sexual and emotional chemistry but as a stand alone character, Lyric just didn't appeal to me.
As you can imagine, Forever Vampire is not simply about finding a stolen gown. There are several surprise plot twists involving the Seelie and Unseelie courts as well as corrupt vampires. I liked that a lot of moments were unpredictable but the book was a bit heavy on Fae for my tastes and I found myself skimming scenes involving them. Instead, I was focused on Vail's relationships with both his family members and Lyric as well as his personal struggles. Vail is an exceptionally well written character and he really was what kept me reading. Overall, I thought this book was good but I've read other titles by Michele Hauf that I enjoyed much more.
-Stephanie
Vail is an intense character. He comes with emotional issues because of his up bringing and lack of any real and honest knowledge of his own kind. Vail has a dangerous addiction but like a true addict, he thinks he doesn't have a problem. Along with wanting to know his family one minute and wanting nothing to do with them the next, I found Vail to a nice surprise. He wasn't just another typical moody alpha vampire out to complete a mission and just so happens to find love along with way. His personal struggles and imperfections made him more relatable and made me what to know more about him.
Lyric on the other hand, I really didn't care for outside of her relationship with Vail. There's a lot of emphasis put on her beauty and physical appearance. She has her secrets but I couldn't bring myself to really care. I didn't completely dislike her character because of how she was able to open Vail's eyes to what vampires are really like and help him through his addiction. They had good sexual and emotional chemistry but as a stand alone character, Lyric just didn't appeal to me.
As you can imagine, Forever Vampire is not simply about finding a stolen gown. There are several surprise plot twists involving the Seelie and Unseelie courts as well as corrupt vampires. I liked that a lot of moments were unpredictable but the book was a bit heavy on Fae for my tastes and I found myself skimming scenes involving them. Instead, I was focused on Vail's relationships with both his family members and Lyric as well as his personal struggles. Vail is an exceptionally well written character and he really was what kept me reading. Overall, I thought this book was good but I've read other titles by Michele Hauf that I enjoyed much more.
-Stephanie
July 17, 2011
3.5 Stars
Vail is a vampire raised in Faery all his life, taught to hate the very thing he is. After being banished he is thrown into the mortal realm and must accept the generosity of his step-father to survive. Despising vampires and snubbing the family that abandoned him he keeps to himself. When Rhys offers him information on the father who brought his mother to the brink of insanity and whom Vails seeks revenge on though he cannot refuse. Vail agrees to take on a job for him, recovering a priceless faery gown and the missing vampiress who had it. But when Vail finds Lyric he quickly realizes that there is more going on here than a simple theft. As they face danger on all sides, passion blooms, and Vail will do whatever it takes to free Lyric from the threat of a faery Lord and her corrupt family.
This took a while for me to get into but I did enjoy the characters, especially the self hating vampire who thought he was a faery, Vail. His bad boy persona had me falling for him immediately; angst ridden and tortured, seeking love and acceptance from a family who doesn’t know how to handle him. Not to mention his penchant for wearing black, leather and guy liner while listening to Johnny Cash, driving fast and living dangerously - sex-ay! He also just happens to have a deadly addiction which he is in denial about but his imperfections added real and believable dimensions to his character, and was endearing. There is much more to his dark, spiky exterior. Vail has an instant connection with Lyric which disturbs them both but they don’t fight it. I thought that she made a great heroine in this story and their chemistry sizzled. Lyric has some secrets that she is hiding from Vail but finds out that her family hides an even darker secret. Their relationship was hot, intense and deeply emotional. Together they undercover what her family is up to while Vail grows to love and accept who and what he is with Lyric’s help.
The story itself what dark & gritty with several surprising twists & turns but I just could not get into the world that Michele Hauf has built of vampires, faeries, werewolves and half-breeds. There was a lot of focus on the Fae and sometimes writing in that world can be difficult and the plot was dragged down by this IMO. I found myself focused more on the romance and dynamics of the relationship Vail had with his family and skimming over the rest. Saying all that, I thought that Forever Vampire was still a good read and I’d be interesting in reading more from this author.
http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub...
Vail is a vampire raised in Faery all his life, taught to hate the very thing he is. After being banished he is thrown into the mortal realm and must accept the generosity of his step-father to survive. Despising vampires and snubbing the family that abandoned him he keeps to himself. When Rhys offers him information on the father who brought his mother to the brink of insanity and whom Vails seeks revenge on though he cannot refuse. Vail agrees to take on a job for him, recovering a priceless faery gown and the missing vampiress who had it. But when Vail finds Lyric he quickly realizes that there is more going on here than a simple theft. As they face danger on all sides, passion blooms, and Vail will do whatever it takes to free Lyric from the threat of a faery Lord and her corrupt family.
This took a while for me to get into but I did enjoy the characters, especially the self hating vampire who thought he was a faery, Vail. His bad boy persona had me falling for him immediately; angst ridden and tortured, seeking love and acceptance from a family who doesn’t know how to handle him. Not to mention his penchant for wearing black, leather and guy liner while listening to Johnny Cash, driving fast and living dangerously - sex-ay! He also just happens to have a deadly addiction which he is in denial about but his imperfections added real and believable dimensions to his character, and was endearing. There is much more to his dark, spiky exterior. Vail has an instant connection with Lyric which disturbs them both but they don’t fight it. I thought that she made a great heroine in this story and their chemistry sizzled. Lyric has some secrets that she is hiding from Vail but finds out that her family hides an even darker secret. Their relationship was hot, intense and deeply emotional. Together they undercover what her family is up to while Vail grows to love and accept who and what he is with Lyric’s help.
The story itself what dark & gritty with several surprising twists & turns but I just could not get into the world that Michele Hauf has built of vampires, faeries, werewolves and half-breeds. There was a lot of focus on the Fae and sometimes writing in that world can be difficult and the plot was dragged down by this IMO. I found myself focused more on the romance and dynamics of the relationship Vail had with his family and skimming over the rest. Saying all that, I thought that Forever Vampire was still a good read and I’d be interesting in reading more from this author.
http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub...
July 12, 2011
Lyric Santiago is a Vampire from the Santiago Clan. This clan is known for stealing and recently they have been close to bankruptcy. Her brother Leo has recently stole a gown made by the Seelie Court. It was stored in a security safe by Hawkes Associates, a firm that represents the paranormal nations. Lyric is to turn over the gown to the Unseelie Prince, Zett . Her mother has arrange the exchange. Before this happens, Lyric and the gown disappear. Charish, Lyric's mother, believes she has been kidnapped and she hires Hawkes Associates to retrieve the gown and to find Lyric.
The company sends Vaillant the Unwanted to find her. He has been residing in Faery until three months ago when he was banned from it. Her uncle, Rhys Hawkes owns the company. His mother,Viviane LaMourette was tortured by his father, Constantine de Salignac. He buried her alive for two centuries under the city of Paris (this story is told in Seducing the Vampire).This made her insane. She was trapped while pregnant with Vail and his half brother Tryst, a werewolf. After being unfrozen she was able to deliver them.
Due to a prior pact with Cressida, mistress of Winter's Edge, Rhys had to give one of his sons to her. He believes Vail to be his own son and he sent him to Faery where he is raised. When Vail goes into the blood lust he is despise by the Fae. He learns to dislike vampires, despite him being one of them. He is also addicted to Faery dust but he won't admit it. He has not become full vampire since he resists to drink blood instead he sustains on ichor.
Vail finds Lyric soon enough and he discovers she had escaped with the gown, faking a kidnapping. She is running from Zett, the Unseelie Prince who wants to kill her. Soon they discover they are attracted to each other but don't know if the prejudices against vampires or the addiction to fairy dust will let them become a couple.
There was a lot of action in this novel, I like how the story flows most of the time although some parts felt rushed. Unfortunately, I did not read Seducing the Vampire first so I felt lost at certain times. I liked Lyric's patience with Vail although some times I just wanted to shake him out of his addiction.
I also liked Tryst and Leo and I will like to read more about them.
3/5 Fangs
cross posted at my blog http://mrsleifs.blogspot.com
The company sends Vaillant the Unwanted to find her. He has been residing in Faery until three months ago when he was banned from it. Her uncle, Rhys Hawkes owns the company. His mother,Viviane LaMourette was tortured by his father, Constantine de Salignac. He buried her alive for two centuries under the city of Paris (this story is told in Seducing the Vampire).This made her insane. She was trapped while pregnant with Vail and his half brother Tryst, a werewolf. After being unfrozen she was able to deliver them.
Due to a prior pact with Cressida, mistress of Winter's Edge, Rhys had to give one of his sons to her. He believes Vail to be his own son and he sent him to Faery where he is raised. When Vail goes into the blood lust he is despise by the Fae. He learns to dislike vampires, despite him being one of them. He is also addicted to Faery dust but he won't admit it. He has not become full vampire since he resists to drink blood instead he sustains on ichor.
Vail finds Lyric soon enough and he discovers she had escaped with the gown, faking a kidnapping. She is running from Zett, the Unseelie Prince who wants to kill her. Soon they discover they are attracted to each other but don't know if the prejudices against vampires or the addiction to fairy dust will let them become a couple.
There was a lot of action in this novel, I like how the story flows most of the time although some parts felt rushed. Unfortunately, I did not read Seducing the Vampire first so I felt lost at certain times. I liked Lyric's patience with Vail although some times I just wanted to shake him out of his addiction.
I also liked Tryst and Leo and I will like to read more about them.
3/5 Fangs
cross posted at my blog http://mrsleifs.blogspot.com
June 25, 2011
My thoughts:
I love the secrets! This is a whole new take on the vampire/faerie relationships.
Vail the Unwanted - a fantastic character! Vaillant - the dark prince...has so many issues. He is a pureblood vampire raised in Faerie to hate his own kind, then banished to the mortal world and given back to his "family" - his stepfather is 1/2 werewolf 1/2 vampire, his brother is full werewolf, his mother is a vampire who is insane - made that way by his real father who is evil, mysterious and missing. Vail's goal is to find his real father, confront and kill him. He portrays himself as the ultimate bad guy, but the reality is he is searching for so much more. He wants a family and acceptance more than anything else, he simply isn't willing to admit it to anyone - not even himself.
Lyric is wonderful! She, like Vail, is a pureblood vampire whose family is almost as screwed up as Vail's. Her father is dead, her brother is a thief (which is basically the family business), her mother is overwhelmed, somewhat oblivious, and in love with a man who is trying to control their family and is also making their family fortune disappear remarkably fast. It's this financial difficulty that ends up throwing these two characters together, and truly where their journey to themselves and each other begins.
Michele Hauf characters are well designed. I loved them all. Each of the characters has a depth that you don't see right away. The belief structure that she gives them is fascinating. It was so easy to get caught up in all the relationships between the various characters.
The one main theme running throughout the story is the importance of family, and what family means.
Back to the secrets - everyone in this story has a secret - some characters have many. I don't want to include any spoilers so I won't elaborate on this part - but it is the secrets and who shares them with whom and when that makes this story intriguing.
The plot twists and turns - leaves the reader wondering who's who and what's what! Who really is the "bad guy" and who really is honest and good. Will Vail find what he is so desperately searching for? Will Lyric?
It's a page turner! Couldn't wait for the answers, but didn't want the story to end!
I love the secrets! This is a whole new take on the vampire/faerie relationships.
Vail the Unwanted - a fantastic character! Vaillant - the dark prince...has so many issues. He is a pureblood vampire raised in Faerie to hate his own kind, then banished to the mortal world and given back to his "family" - his stepfather is 1/2 werewolf 1/2 vampire, his brother is full werewolf, his mother is a vampire who is insane - made that way by his real father who is evil, mysterious and missing. Vail's goal is to find his real father, confront and kill him. He portrays himself as the ultimate bad guy, but the reality is he is searching for so much more. He wants a family and acceptance more than anything else, he simply isn't willing to admit it to anyone - not even himself.
Lyric is wonderful! She, like Vail, is a pureblood vampire whose family is almost as screwed up as Vail's. Her father is dead, her brother is a thief (which is basically the family business), her mother is overwhelmed, somewhat oblivious, and in love with a man who is trying to control their family and is also making their family fortune disappear remarkably fast. It's this financial difficulty that ends up throwing these two characters together, and truly where their journey to themselves and each other begins.
Michele Hauf characters are well designed. I loved them all. Each of the characters has a depth that you don't see right away. The belief structure that she gives them is fascinating. It was so easy to get caught up in all the relationships between the various characters.
The one main theme running throughout the story is the importance of family, and what family means.
Back to the secrets - everyone in this story has a secret - some characters have many. I don't want to include any spoilers so I won't elaborate on this part - but it is the secrets and who shares them with whom and when that makes this story intriguing.
The plot twists and turns - leaves the reader wondering who's who and what's what! Who really is the "bad guy" and who really is honest and good. Will Vail find what he is so desperately searching for? Will Lyric?
It's a page turner! Couldn't wait for the answers, but didn't want the story to end!
May 3, 2011
I had no idea how much I would enjoy this story! Hauf’s voice is a breath of fresh air for me. I would describe this book as an enchanting dark fairy tale (with real faeries ). The author has built an Urban Fantasy world that is unique and vivid consisting of Vampires, Werewolves and Faeries. She does a great job of introducing you to this world without making you feel like you are being spoon fed information. There is great pacing to the story and a twist at the end.
I was totally enchanted by our lovers, Valliant and Lyric, even their names are fairy tale like . Vail (swoon) is a vampire that grew up in Faery, but recently got thrown out. Now this is where is gets complicated . He wants to kill his birth father, has never met his birth mother Viviane (she is insane from being raped by Vail’s birth father) who is married to a Were/Vampire hybrid, Rhys (and they have a son, his half brother, Trystan), and his faery step mother made him believe vampires were filth. He has issues .
Lyric, is a member of a lying...
read the rest of the review:
http://www.loveromancepassion.com/rev...
I was totally enchanted by our lovers, Valliant and Lyric, even their names are fairy tale like . Vail (swoon) is a vampire that grew up in Faery, but recently got thrown out. Now this is where is gets complicated . He wants to kill his birth father, has never met his birth mother Viviane (she is insane from being raped by Vail’s birth father) who is married to a Were/Vampire hybrid, Rhys (and they have a son, his half brother, Trystan), and his faery step mother made him believe vampires were filth. He has issues .
Lyric, is a member of a lying...
read the rest of the review:
http://www.loveromancepassion.com/rev...
April 12, 2011
Micheles Hauf has come up with another wonderful paranormal fantasy romance in Forever Vampire. The novel has got it all - interesting characters, a great story, action and hot romance. A great read for romance lovers.
On top of a stolen gown and a supposed kidnap victim that Vail has to find, we have a vampire (Lyric) marked as a wife-to-be by a Faery who didn’t realise at the time that she was a vampire (being blood-born and not come into her blood lust at the time). Now he wants to find her and kill her to hide the fact that marking her was a terrible mistake. Hence, we have battles between Vampires and raging faeries as well as the inner conflicts and developments of the two main characters. All in all this makes a great mix.
The rest of the review is here http://tahlianewland.com/2011/04/12/f...
On top of a stolen gown and a supposed kidnap victim that Vail has to find, we have a vampire (Lyric) marked as a wife-to-be by a Faery who didn’t realise at the time that she was a vampire (being blood-born and not come into her blood lust at the time). Now he wants to find her and kill her to hide the fact that marking her was a terrible mistake. Hence, we have battles between Vampires and raging faeries as well as the inner conflicts and developments of the two main characters. All in all this makes a great mix.
The rest of the review is here http://tahlianewland.com/2011/04/12/f...
September 6, 2016
He might sparkle but he's no Edward Cullen!
What I love most in the book is the instant connection between the two main characters. They might have been surprised by their attraction but had no qualms about giving into their feelings, which works really well for the story. Their relationship is not only hot because of their intense chemistry, but the emotion that Lyric and Vail have for each other. These two characters not only fall in love, together they overcome the inner conflicts holding them back from having a chance at true happiness.
Forever Vampire will keep you enthralled from beginning to end!
Read my full review here:
http://romancingthedarkside.com/2011/...
What I love most in the book is the instant connection between the two main characters. They might have been surprised by their attraction but had no qualms about giving into their feelings, which works really well for the story. Their relationship is not only hot because of their intense chemistry, but the emotion that Lyric and Vail have for each other. These two characters not only fall in love, together they overcome the inner conflicts holding them back from having a chance at true happiness.
Forever Vampire will keep you enthralled from beginning to end!
Read my full review here:
http://romancingthedarkside.com/2011/...
April 2, 2011
Vail is an amazing character. Bad boy with a desire to good, a misguided upbringing and a willingness to accomplish his own desires no matter the cost make Vail fabulous vampire with an identity crisis. Throw in the tantalizing Lyric and you get two vampire with similar familial challenges and identity problems. Lyric is lovely, a hopeless romantic known as the "Ice Queen" and a vampire who dreams of one day joining the circus. Everything about this book was enthralling and enjoyable. The plot moved with a rhythm that is uniquely Michelle Hauf. Forever Vampire releases April 21st and can be preordered through Amazon.
January 13, 2014
Carino..ma niente di più.
Forse ho letto troppe storie di vampiri. Questa non era male, c'erano di mezzo anche le fate...solo che..non so. Sarà anche il fatto che la trilogia non è stata pubblicata con ordine e quindi ricapitolare tutto è stata un po' dura anche perché tra un libro e l'altro è passato un un po' di tempo..
Peccato gli altri due mie erano piaciuti.
Forse ho letto troppe storie di vampiri. Questa non era male, c'erano di mezzo anche le fate...solo che..non so. Sarà anche il fatto che la trilogia non è stata pubblicata con ordine e quindi ricapitolare tutto è stata un po' dura anche perché tra un libro e l'altro è passato un un po' di tempo..
Peccato gli altri due mie erano piaciuti.
January 2, 2020
This book flowed better than the previous in the series “Seducing the Vampire”.
I liked Vail- despite his style and sometimes annoying arrogance. I think Lyric was a good match for him.
I wish we got to see Viviane and Rhys more. I’m a bit confused at the fact that Rhys is getting old while Viviane is still young and beautiful. This book reaffirms that they need each other to survive- but what happens if Rhys dies? I think we needed more of the Hawkes family. I miss them.
I’m not the biggest fan of the ending. Seemed almost anti-climatic.
There is “Forever Werewolf” next in the series, but I’m not sure whether I would read it.
I liked Vail- despite his style and sometimes annoying arrogance. I think Lyric was a good match for him.
I wish we got to see Viviane and Rhys more. I’m a bit confused at the fact that Rhys is getting old while Viviane is still young and beautiful. This book reaffirms that they need each other to survive- but what happens if Rhys dies? I think we needed more of the Hawkes family. I miss them.
I’m not the biggest fan of the ending. Seemed almost anti-climatic.
There is “Forever Werewolf” next in the series, but I’m not sure whether I would read it.
May 30, 2017
OMG what an amazing book! I loved this one...and the last few pages were just.....perfect!!! And I am NOT saying another word 'cuz I don't do spoilers!
This book had me hooked from the onset...it is just a very cool story. I guess you don't really need to read Seducing the Vampire first, but I would highly recommend you do, because it is connected in a major way. This was an awesome story from start to finish for me, and I don't hesitate to encourage anyone who loves sexy, suspenseful Paranormal romance to read this series! One left to read.....!
This book had me hooked from the onset...it is just a very cool story. I guess you don't really need to read Seducing the Vampire first, but I would highly recommend you do, because it is connected in a major way. This was an awesome story from start to finish for me, and I don't hesitate to encourage anyone who loves sexy, suspenseful Paranormal romance to read this series! One left to read.....!
January 22, 2025
2.5 stars.
From the first page it feels like the author drops you in world with a lot of characters and too much information that you struggle to keep up! I had to go and check again that this book wasn't part of a saga cause it felt like I was in a middle of a story not the beginning.
Anyway once I finally made some sense of what was going on, the story was fast paced so easy reading.
From the first page it feels like the author drops you in world with a lot of characters and too much information that you struggle to keep up! I had to go and check again that this book wasn't part of a saga cause it felt like I was in a middle of a story not the beginning.
Anyway once I finally made some sense of what was going on, the story was fast paced so easy reading.
August 26, 2017
I loved reading about Lyric and Vaillant. I had read a glimpse in another of Michele' s books and was curious about their stories. This was another fantastic chapter in the huge world the author has created .
October 21, 2018
1.5 Stars
Read
October 19, 2012Setting:
Lyric’s family home including the room with silks; Hawkes’ office; skuzzy rented room; Leo’s penthouse (with a bank of arrows to shoot anyone coming off the elevator); Faery Town; all in Paris
Theme:
Trust, safety, dreams of youth translated to adults, addiction
Characters:
Lyric Santiago – blood born vampire into a vampire ‘mafia’ family; at 13 (before menstruation) marked by a faery lord to be his future bride; dreams of love and acceptance; finds peace and a work out in the silks – circus like acrobatics on silk fabrics hung from the ceiling and dreams of running away to join the circus; when mother tells her she is to bring the faery dress to Zett – and Lyric knows Zett is out to kill her (as he can’t have a vampire bride), so she makes plans to be kidnapped, fence the dress, and escape her fate and her life;
Charish Santiago – Lyric’s mother, reluctant head of the Santiago thieving family after her husband died and Leo doesn’t want to be head; in love with Connie, who seems to be siphoning money without Charish knowing; bargaining with Zett, trading the dress for access to faeries to be drained of their ichor to sell to vampires… yuckkk
Leo Santiago - Lyric’s brother – master thief – Lyric’s confidant – left the family business to go on his own – doing what he can to help Lyric
Vaillant aka Vaillant the Dark aka Vaillant the Unwanted – blood born vampire; raised in faery, but in the human world for 3 months – and would prefer faery – and raised to dislike vampires; doesn’t need human blood, but regularly takes ichor (generally from a vial) – faery blood that is addictive to vampires; takes a job from his stepfather to locate kidnapped Lyric and the faery gown they stole from Hawke’s safe.
Cressida – faery queen; Viviane owned her a boon – her first born, to raise as her own; she loved Vail in her own way, though when she found out he was full vampire, she had less use for him.
Rhys Hawkes- werewolf; loves Viviane; eager to include Vail in their family; gifts Vail what he needs to meet his needs in the human world (car, apartment, money);
Trystan Hawkes – gestated and born with Vail; they are brothers; he paternal father is Rhys so he is half vampire and half werewolf; giving Vail a hard time, but is there when push comes to shove; wants to protect his mother… should have been the one given to Cressida.
Viviane LaMourette – blood born vampire – loved by brothers – became pregnant with Rhys’ child, then raped by his brother a few days later and became pregnant with his child too. The evil brother had her bespelled (if she couldn’t love him, his brother could not have him) her and put her in an awareness statis, a glass coffin, and buried her… 200 years later Rhys found out she was still alive, and unburied her, bringing her back. The fetus’ were in stasis, but once she recovered they started to grow and 9 months later she gave birth to them; She is crazed, needs blood daily, carrying a lot of anger…
Constantine de Salignac – Rhys’ evil brother… forgot about Viviane, didn’t know about his son; romancing and taking advantage of Charise. At end when confronted by son (whom he did not recognize as his son, but with whom he has a lot of pride in… and when confronted by Viviane, he only remembers her vaguely.
Zett, Lord of Midsummer Dark - Vail’s nemesis – they regularly had words and fights in faery; he needs to erase the mistake made by marking Lyric.
Summary:
Vail tracks Lyric easily, in trying to torture the location of the dress from her, he ends up making fabulous love to her… and bit by bit they share bits of themselves, of their past, of the future hopes… and they fall in love. He protects her, she eases him out of his ichor addition and in confronting her mother and then her father, her mother is killed by Zett, the dress is returned to the proper faery queen,
Memorable scenes:
Faery gown of power, stored at Hawkes Associates, stolen by Leo to be used by Charish in her bargain with Zett – ‘ Fashioned from thousands of faery-mined diamonds, each of them no lager than an ant’s head, it had been sewn together with spider wilk. The silk was almost invisible, andit looked as though the diamonds that lay upon her skin were droplets of water under the sun, until the skirt swung gracefully about her ankles creating swishy waves of blinding brilliance. It was rumored to give the wearer unimaginable magic should a faery don the down.”
Lyric’s family home including the room with silks; Hawkes’ office; skuzzy rented room; Leo’s penthouse (with a bank of arrows to shoot anyone coming off the elevator); Faery Town; all in Paris
Theme:
Trust, safety, dreams of youth translated to adults, addiction
Characters:
Lyric Santiago – blood born vampire into a vampire ‘mafia’ family; at 13 (before menstruation) marked by a faery lord to be his future bride; dreams of love and acceptance; finds peace and a work out in the silks – circus like acrobatics on silk fabrics hung from the ceiling and dreams of running away to join the circus; when mother tells her she is to bring the faery dress to Zett – and Lyric knows Zett is out to kill her (as he can’t have a vampire bride), so she makes plans to be kidnapped, fence the dress, and escape her fate and her life;
Charish Santiago – Lyric’s mother, reluctant head of the Santiago thieving family after her husband died and Leo doesn’t want to be head; in love with Connie, who seems to be siphoning money without Charish knowing; bargaining with Zett, trading the dress for access to faeries to be drained of their ichor to sell to vampires… yuckkk
Leo Santiago - Lyric’s brother – master thief – Lyric’s confidant – left the family business to go on his own – doing what he can to help Lyric
Vaillant aka Vaillant the Dark aka Vaillant the Unwanted – blood born vampire; raised in faery, but in the human world for 3 months – and would prefer faery – and raised to dislike vampires; doesn’t need human blood, but regularly takes ichor (generally from a vial) – faery blood that is addictive to vampires; takes a job from his stepfather to locate kidnapped Lyric and the faery gown they stole from Hawke’s safe.
Cressida – faery queen; Viviane owned her a boon – her first born, to raise as her own; she loved Vail in her own way, though when she found out he was full vampire, she had less use for him.
Rhys Hawkes- werewolf; loves Viviane; eager to include Vail in their family; gifts Vail what he needs to meet his needs in the human world (car, apartment, money);
Trystan Hawkes – gestated and born with Vail; they are brothers; he paternal father is Rhys so he is half vampire and half werewolf; giving Vail a hard time, but is there when push comes to shove; wants to protect his mother… should have been the one given to Cressida.
Viviane LaMourette – blood born vampire – loved by brothers – became pregnant with Rhys’ child, then raped by his brother a few days later and became pregnant with his child too. The evil brother had her bespelled (if she couldn’t love him, his brother could not have him) her and put her in an awareness statis, a glass coffin, and buried her… 200 years later Rhys found out she was still alive, and unburied her, bringing her back. The fetus’ were in stasis, but once she recovered they started to grow and 9 months later she gave birth to them; She is crazed, needs blood daily, carrying a lot of anger…
Constantine de Salignac – Rhys’ evil brother… forgot about Viviane, didn’t know about his son; romancing and taking advantage of Charise. At end when confronted by son (whom he did not recognize as his son, but with whom he has a lot of pride in… and when confronted by Viviane, he only remembers her vaguely.
Zett, Lord of Midsummer Dark - Vail’s nemesis – they regularly had words and fights in faery; he needs to erase the mistake made by marking Lyric.
Summary:
Vail tracks Lyric easily, in trying to torture the location of the dress from her, he ends up making fabulous love to her… and bit by bit they share bits of themselves, of their past, of the future hopes… and they fall in love. He protects her, she eases him out of his ichor addition and in confronting her mother and then her father, her mother is killed by Zett, the dress is returned to the proper faery queen,
Memorable scenes:
Faery gown of power, stored at Hawkes Associates, stolen by Leo to be used by Charish in her bargain with Zett – ‘ Fashioned from thousands of faery-mined diamonds, each of them no lager than an ant’s head, it had been sewn together with spider wilk. The silk was almost invisible, andit looked as though the diamonds that lay upon her skin were droplets of water under the sun, until the skirt swung gracefully about her ankles creating swishy waves of blinding brilliance. It was rumored to give the wearer unimaginable magic should a faery don the down.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 18, 2011
A good Solid 4 stars
Plot: My initial thoughts being what made the plot good and not-so-good was the fast-paced nature of it. I barley found out one thing when another crazy piece of information was thrown my way. It was certainly exciting. it is, in a way, hard for me to say whether I liked the plot or not because I am still trying to grasp it. the part that makes me like it a whole lot more is the information on Faery politics (too little information on it though). I enjoyed the too few snippets we learned about Lyric's past, especially the camp, though again, I found it too brief. It would have been nice to have a moment at the camp for a couple of pages, the same goes for Vail and Kit, I would have loved to have been introduced to her, if only in memory. Also Lyric insisting to Vail she did not know where the dress--whoops, gown was annoyed me, she wouldn't even admit it to herself, though if she did (I am getting some vague impression) it was not concise and!!! she did not explain her reason for not telling Vail. Nice to see Viviane and Rhys again (Seducing the Vampire), I am intrigued by Trystan, I really want to read his book (book date to be released, called Forever Wild http://www.michelehauf.com/books.html), though Lyric and Vail's description left much to be desired.
Characters: I love Lyric's personality quirks--the silks, wanting to join the circus, also her connection to her brother, Leo. Wish there would have been a couple more just-talking moments with Vail to get more clues about her personality, near the middle of the book that was the case and as a result I liked and empathised with her a lot more. I did not like her connection to her mother (Charsih) and I do not get it. The mention of Blu and Creed from Her Vampire Husband was nice, though sad there was no interaction.
Vail is a great character, though I do wish another character gave another description of him (only Lyric's). There was about a page of Rhys' POV - wished he would have described Vail. I actually liked that he was a bad driver, usually authors don't mention the little faults--just the big ones that are plot or character defining. Nice to have H with distinctly different clothing style without trying to be different.
I am a little P-O'd about Viviane's representation in the book, I hope she is seen a little differently in Trystan's book, if she is in it. At some points her mental state was represented as so fragile, that I got the impression she wouldn't know whether to drool on a visitor or kill them because she was a crazy loon. I just love Viviane so much and felt that she could have been shown in a better light.
I did not get the whole Charish Santiago and Conner (Constantine) thing, they both are a little after though-ish. I am extremely happy that I had read Seducing the Vampire before I read this book, because I felt like at some points Hauf wanted me to be empathetic towards Constantine, if I hadn't read it I would have felt confused about his whole situation.
I actually hope in the future Hauf does a book on Leo(nardo) Santiago, I liked what I read of his character.
Moment(s): When Vial met Viviane for the first time -- cried. I enjoyed being in Rhys and Viviane's house--err...well mansion???...and being in the car with Lyric and Trystan.
World: Not a lot of world-building in this book. Hauf gave only details pertaining to characters - even less. Really relied on previous knowledge from STV and HVH for information about the different races/species, though it does the experience of the book, I just liked knowing a little more, that is all. Part that was built on on was Faery, I enjoyed learning about some of the marriage customs in the world.
Further Comments: It was nice that if you had read STV and/or HVH there were snippets of details like Viviane and the hummingbird piece in her hair and the mention of Blu and Creed staying in Paris for summer.
What definitely tips the scales for me in terms of rating is the reminiscence of STV and HVH and thoughts of what is to come with Forever Wild.
Plot: My initial thoughts being what made the plot good and not-so-good was the fast-paced nature of it. I barley found out one thing when another crazy piece of information was thrown my way. It was certainly exciting. it is, in a way, hard for me to say whether I liked the plot or not because I am still trying to grasp it. the part that makes me like it a whole lot more is the information on Faery politics (too little information on it though). I enjoyed the too few snippets we learned about Lyric's past, especially the camp, though again, I found it too brief. It would have been nice to have a moment at the camp for a couple of pages, the same goes for Vail and Kit, I would have loved to have been introduced to her, if only in memory. Also Lyric insisting to Vail she did not know where the dress--whoops, gown was annoyed me, she wouldn't even admit it to herself, though if she did (I am getting some vague impression) it was not concise and!!! she did not explain her reason for not telling Vail. Nice to see Viviane and Rhys again (Seducing the Vampire), I am intrigued by Trystan, I really want to read his book (book date to be released, called Forever Wild http://www.michelehauf.com/books.html), though Lyric and Vail's description left much to be desired.
Characters: I love Lyric's personality quirks--the silks, wanting to join the circus, also her connection to her brother, Leo. Wish there would have been a couple more just-talking moments with Vail to get more clues about her personality, near the middle of the book that was the case and as a result I liked and empathised with her a lot more. I did not like her connection to her mother (Charsih) and I do not get it. The mention of Blu and Creed from Her Vampire Husband was nice, though sad there was no interaction.
Vail is a great character, though I do wish another character gave another description of him (only Lyric's). There was about a page of Rhys' POV - wished he would have described Vail. I actually liked that he was a bad driver, usually authors don't mention the little faults--just the big ones that are plot or character defining. Nice to have H with distinctly different clothing style without trying to be different.
I am a little P-O'd about Viviane's representation in the book, I hope she is seen a little differently in Trystan's book, if she is in it. At some points her mental state was represented as so fragile, that I got the impression she wouldn't know whether to drool on a visitor or kill them because she was a crazy loon. I just love Viviane so much and felt that she could have been shown in a better light.
I did not get the whole Charish Santiago and Conner (Constantine) thing, they both are a little after though-ish. I am extremely happy that I had read Seducing the Vampire before I read this book, because I felt like at some points Hauf wanted me to be empathetic towards Constantine, if I hadn't read it I would have felt confused about his whole situation.
I actually hope in the future Hauf does a book on Leo(nardo) Santiago, I liked what I read of his character.
Moment(s): When Vial met Viviane for the first time -- cried. I enjoyed being in Rhys and Viviane's house--err...well mansion???...and being in the car with Lyric and Trystan.
World: Not a lot of world-building in this book. Hauf gave only details pertaining to characters - even less. Really relied on previous knowledge from STV and HVH for information about the different races/species, though it does the experience of the book, I just liked knowing a little more, that is all. Part that was built on on was Faery, I enjoyed learning about some of the marriage customs in the world.
Further Comments: It was nice that if you had read STV and/or HVH there were snippets of details like Viviane and the hummingbird piece in her hair and the mention of Blu and Creed staying in Paris for summer.
What definitely tips the scales for me in terms of rating is the reminiscence of STV and HVH and thoughts of what is to come with Forever Wild.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 25, 2011
Take one vampire who grew up in a world of fairies and refuses to drink blood, add another vampire who’s on the lam from a powerful fairy who wants her dead, and you get a bloody good story (pun intended!) that’s chock full of adventure and enough romance to make you swoon.
Vaillant, who prefers to be called Vail, is one messed up dude, to say the least. He’s been raised by an unloving fairy stepmother in a world apart from his own kind. When he’s cast from the only home he’s known, he has to figure out how to live in the mortal realm. Having been raised by fairies, he’s been taught to despise vampires (despite being one) and that drinking human blood is dirty. Luckily for him, there are plenty of fairies in Paris who are more than willing to share their ichor (blood).
Lyric just wants to start a new life. Maybe even join the circus. She loves working out on silks and thinks she’d make a pretty good addition to a traveling show. Unfortunately, the Lord of Midsummer Dark, known as Zett, wants her dead to prevent knowledge of a mistake he made with her several years ago from being known. She’s also got this persistent, albeit gorgeous, junkie-vampire on her tail (in more ways than one) who’s determined to make her reveal where she’s hidden her only bargaining tool (a dress that belongs to the fairies) and take her back to her mother, kicking and screaming if need be.
Can Vail, who’s never known the love of family and despises his own kind, learn to change his errant ideas about vampires and give Lyric a chance to give him what he’s always desired? Can Lyric let go of her Ice Princess persona and let this bad-boy vampire who’s got a few deep issues to contend with breach her reserve and fill her heart with an emotion she thought she’d never feel another? It will take a lot of give and take on both ends to conquer their deepest fears, learn to trust, and protect the real prize they’re about to discover.
Forever Vampire is one of those stories that steadily grows on you. Ms. Hauf does an excellent job with character development. She doesn’t blatantly tell all about Vail and Lyric in the beginning, but rather reveals bits and pieces of their personalities—good and bad—as the story unfolds. She has an impeccable knack for giving little details along that way that keeps you engrossed and interested in what’s coming next. Even though there were a lot of players in the story, she provided enough information about the secondary characters so you weren’t overwhelmed, but knew and understood what part they played. I really liked that she didn’t introduce people who were merely fillers with very little effect to the story as a whole. I tend to get lost in the names when authors do that.
As for grammar usage and punctuation, I don’t recall any flaws in editing. Almost every story has a mistake or two. If there were any, I was too engrossed to notice. I’m a stickler when it comes to point-of-view violations and I can honestly say Ms. Hauf handled this expertly. I never felt jumbled around or confused about whose “head” I was in. Her transitions were clean and clearly marked with an extra space between paragraphs. I can’t think of anything that would have made this story any better. Thank you Ms. Hauf, for giving this reader a tale that fulfilled everything I like to see in a book—great characters, an interesting plot, just enough sex to keep me turned on, and no loose ends. I’d sure love to see some more of these characters, particularly Trystan. Perhaps the author will see fit to give him a story of his own.
If you love complex characters, great sex, an interesting plot, and a whole lot of excitement, run, don’t walk, to your computer, your book store, or wherever you purchase your romances. This one is not to miss. I definitely consider it a keeper.
originally posted at http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.c...
Vaillant, who prefers to be called Vail, is one messed up dude, to say the least. He’s been raised by an unloving fairy stepmother in a world apart from his own kind. When he’s cast from the only home he’s known, he has to figure out how to live in the mortal realm. Having been raised by fairies, he’s been taught to despise vampires (despite being one) and that drinking human blood is dirty. Luckily for him, there are plenty of fairies in Paris who are more than willing to share their ichor (blood).
Lyric just wants to start a new life. Maybe even join the circus. She loves working out on silks and thinks she’d make a pretty good addition to a traveling show. Unfortunately, the Lord of Midsummer Dark, known as Zett, wants her dead to prevent knowledge of a mistake he made with her several years ago from being known. She’s also got this persistent, albeit gorgeous, junkie-vampire on her tail (in more ways than one) who’s determined to make her reveal where she’s hidden her only bargaining tool (a dress that belongs to the fairies) and take her back to her mother, kicking and screaming if need be.
Can Vail, who’s never known the love of family and despises his own kind, learn to change his errant ideas about vampires and give Lyric a chance to give him what he’s always desired? Can Lyric let go of her Ice Princess persona and let this bad-boy vampire who’s got a few deep issues to contend with breach her reserve and fill her heart with an emotion she thought she’d never feel another? It will take a lot of give and take on both ends to conquer their deepest fears, learn to trust, and protect the real prize they’re about to discover.
Forever Vampire is one of those stories that steadily grows on you. Ms. Hauf does an excellent job with character development. She doesn’t blatantly tell all about Vail and Lyric in the beginning, but rather reveals bits and pieces of their personalities—good and bad—as the story unfolds. She has an impeccable knack for giving little details along that way that keeps you engrossed and interested in what’s coming next. Even though there were a lot of players in the story, she provided enough information about the secondary characters so you weren’t overwhelmed, but knew and understood what part they played. I really liked that she didn’t introduce people who were merely fillers with very little effect to the story as a whole. I tend to get lost in the names when authors do that.
As for grammar usage and punctuation, I don’t recall any flaws in editing. Almost every story has a mistake or two. If there were any, I was too engrossed to notice. I’m a stickler when it comes to point-of-view violations and I can honestly say Ms. Hauf handled this expertly. I never felt jumbled around or confused about whose “head” I was in. Her transitions were clean and clearly marked with an extra space between paragraphs. I can’t think of anything that would have made this story any better. Thank you Ms. Hauf, for giving this reader a tale that fulfilled everything I like to see in a book—great characters, an interesting plot, just enough sex to keep me turned on, and no loose ends. I’d sure love to see some more of these characters, particularly Trystan. Perhaps the author will see fit to give him a story of his own.
If you love complex characters, great sex, an interesting plot, and a whole lot of excitement, run, don’t walk, to your computer, your book store, or wherever you purchase your romances. This one is not to miss. I definitely consider it a keeper.
originally posted at http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.c...
April 18, 2011
This review is also published at http://thebookaholiccat.com
It took me some time to get into this book. Vail is a character difficult to like. He doesn’t know who he really is. He is a vampire who was raised in Fairy; there the fairies taught him to hate vampires. So he is a vampire who hates vampires. After being banished from Fairy he is back to the real world where he has never live before and doesn’t know how to “live” in it. Still he dresses and behaves as the typical stereotypical vampire. He drives an expensive car, a gift from Rhys Hawkes who is his uncle/stepfather (yes, you read that right) and crashes it everywhere he goes because he doesn’t know how to drive. He doesn’t know anything about the value of things and spends (gives away) money left and right, money given by Rhys too.
He doesn’t want anything to do with his family but he takes freely what Rhys gives him.
When Rhys offers him a job in which he has to find Lyric Santiago and the fairy diamond gown she was wearing, when she disappeared a couple of nights ago; he is relentless to accept the job offer, but ended up acceding in exchange for information of his father’s whereabouts. His father Constantine (Rhys’ brother) raped his mother, and Vail is the fruit of that rape. Vail now wants to finds him to kill him for what he did to his mother.
Soon after he starts to look for Lyric he locates her, and follows her to her hiding place. There he tied her up to the bed and “tortures” her to get answers, but his torture is more rape than anything else. Ok, Lyric allegedly gets off of what he does to her. But in my opinion, when a man takes a woman captive, tied her up, cuts her clothes open with a knife and then starts to sexually molests her… even if your body reacts to it, that is not torture, that is rape. After that scene and Lyric reaction and acceptance of the situation, I was a little bit put off with the book.
After this event they hit it off and start to help each other deciphering the mystery that surrounds the dress and a deal Lyric’s mother had made with Zett, Lord of Midsummer Dark. At the same time they are helping each other fight their own demons.
Vail and Lyric’s union felt a little bit rushed. They got too closed too fast with no real deepness in their relationship.
Vail was supposed to look not just for Lyric but the fairy gown she disappeared with, too. There is even a limited time to find the gown and return it. If the gown is not returned by certain date, Rhys is going to get in big trouble with the Seelie Court. But after getting together with Lyric is like he forgets all about this little detail. Apart from the moment when he meets her and “tortures” her to get information from her, he doesn’t question Lyric again about the location of the gown. Also the events at the end, with his mother and father felt a little bit forced.
My final thought: Forever Vampire has some faults, but in the end it was an entertaining read. This was my first book by Michele Hauf, and even though I wasn’t very pleased with it, and just found it OK; I might give this author another chance and read something else by her in the future.
It took me some time to get into this book. Vail is a character difficult to like. He doesn’t know who he really is. He is a vampire who was raised in Fairy; there the fairies taught him to hate vampires. So he is a vampire who hates vampires. After being banished from Fairy he is back to the real world where he has never live before and doesn’t know how to “live” in it. Still he dresses and behaves as the typical stereotypical vampire. He drives an expensive car, a gift from Rhys Hawkes who is his uncle/stepfather (yes, you read that right) and crashes it everywhere he goes because he doesn’t know how to drive. He doesn’t know anything about the value of things and spends (gives away) money left and right, money given by Rhys too.
He doesn’t want anything to do with his family but he takes freely what Rhys gives him.
When Rhys offers him a job in which he has to find Lyric Santiago and the fairy diamond gown she was wearing, when she disappeared a couple of nights ago; he is relentless to accept the job offer, but ended up acceding in exchange for information of his father’s whereabouts. His father Constantine (Rhys’ brother) raped his mother, and Vail is the fruit of that rape. Vail now wants to finds him to kill him for what he did to his mother.
Soon after he starts to look for Lyric he locates her, and follows her to her hiding place. There he tied her up to the bed and “tortures” her to get answers, but his torture is more rape than anything else. Ok, Lyric allegedly gets off of what he does to her. But in my opinion, when a man takes a woman captive, tied her up, cuts her clothes open with a knife and then starts to sexually molests her… even if your body reacts to it, that is not torture, that is rape. After that scene and Lyric reaction and acceptance of the situation, I was a little bit put off with the book.
After this event they hit it off and start to help each other deciphering the mystery that surrounds the dress and a deal Lyric’s mother had made with Zett, Lord of Midsummer Dark. At the same time they are helping each other fight their own demons.
Vail and Lyric’s union felt a little bit rushed. They got too closed too fast with no real deepness in their relationship.
Vail was supposed to look not just for Lyric but the fairy gown she disappeared with, too. There is even a limited time to find the gown and return it. If the gown is not returned by certain date, Rhys is going to get in big trouble with the Seelie Court. But after getting together with Lyric is like he forgets all about this little detail. Apart from the moment when he meets her and “tortures” her to get information from her, he doesn’t question Lyric again about the location of the gown. Also the events at the end, with his mother and father felt a little bit forced.
My final thought: Forever Vampire has some faults, but in the end it was an entertaining read. This was my first book by Michele Hauf, and even though I wasn’t very pleased with it, and just found it OK; I might give this author another chance and read something else by her in the future.
April 20, 2011
In this follow up to her book Seducing the Vampire, we are transported nearly 25 mortal years into the future and Rhys and Viviane’s children are all grown up. Trystan, who is full blooded werewolf, has been raised in the mortal realm. Vaillant, who is full-blooded vampire, has been raised in Faery. Vail was taken as Rhys’ boon to Cressida, Mistress of Winter’s Edge, for taming his werewolf (Rhys is half vampire, half werewolf). When Vail grew up, Cressida was disappointed that he was full-blooded vampire. She was hoping he would be a half-breed like his father and so he was raised to feel unwanted.
Vail is now living in the mortal realm after being banished from Faery for insubordination to Zett, Lord of Midsummer Dark. There is no love lost between him and his brother, Trystan, and they usually rub each other the wrong way. Rhys just wants them to get along (since he and his brother Constantine never did) and for Vail to accept his vampire side. He also wants him to see his mother who has still been dealing with her insanity from being imprisoned in a tomb. Because he has lived in Faery for his entire life, he has lived on faery ichor instead of blood. So let’s just say he is a drug addict who is now trying to “maintain” in the real world. Vail wants to know where to find his father, Constantine de Salignac, and for that information he must find Lyric Santiago who has been supposedly kidnapped. Rhys wants him to find her and return her to her mother and the dress returned to him and he will then give him the information he wants.
Lyric is the daughter of Charish Santiago, matriarch to an old-school vampire mafia made up of thieves, cutthroats and murderers. Charish had her son Leo steal a Faery gown from Hawkes Associates that is coveted by the Faery Seelie court and she is going to hand it over to Zett, who has asked Lyric to personally hand it over. Lyric knows why he wants her to and she is not going to do it so she fakes her own kidnapping. When she first meets Vail they have a stand-off where of course Vail wins and they are instantly attracted to each other. Lyric likes the bad boys and Vail feels he is able to share his secrets with her.
There was a lot that could have been better in this book. I was a little disappointed but still thought that it was an okay read. I felt that Vail and Lyric’s relationship was forced. I think the main problem I had was the beginning. I jumps right to nearly 25 years after the first book and I was slightly confused until a ways in where it explains what happened and that set up for what the rest of the book was like, explanation after explanation. Mostly it was between Vail and Lyric explaining their lives to each other in great detail. It just didn’t have enough now action for me.
With that being said, I still like Michele Hauf and will most likely read her next book. This one just fell flat for me.
Vail is now living in the mortal realm after being banished from Faery for insubordination to Zett, Lord of Midsummer Dark. There is no love lost between him and his brother, Trystan, and they usually rub each other the wrong way. Rhys just wants them to get along (since he and his brother Constantine never did) and for Vail to accept his vampire side. He also wants him to see his mother who has still been dealing with her insanity from being imprisoned in a tomb. Because he has lived in Faery for his entire life, he has lived on faery ichor instead of blood. So let’s just say he is a drug addict who is now trying to “maintain” in the real world. Vail wants to know where to find his father, Constantine de Salignac, and for that information he must find Lyric Santiago who has been supposedly kidnapped. Rhys wants him to find her and return her to her mother and the dress returned to him and he will then give him the information he wants.
Lyric is the daughter of Charish Santiago, matriarch to an old-school vampire mafia made up of thieves, cutthroats and murderers. Charish had her son Leo steal a Faery gown from Hawkes Associates that is coveted by the Faery Seelie court and she is going to hand it over to Zett, who has asked Lyric to personally hand it over. Lyric knows why he wants her to and she is not going to do it so she fakes her own kidnapping. When she first meets Vail they have a stand-off where of course Vail wins and they are instantly attracted to each other. Lyric likes the bad boys and Vail feels he is able to share his secrets with her.
There was a lot that could have been better in this book. I was a little disappointed but still thought that it was an okay read. I felt that Vail and Lyric’s relationship was forced. I think the main problem I had was the beginning. I jumps right to nearly 25 years after the first book and I was slightly confused until a ways in where it explains what happened and that set up for what the rest of the book was like, explanation after explanation. Mostly it was between Vail and Lyric explaining their lives to each other in great detail. It just didn’t have enough now action for me.
With that being said, I still like Michele Hauf and will most likely read her next book. This one just fell flat for me.
April 25, 2011
There is only one word to describe this book, delicious.
Reading it was a pleasure, and NOT just because I got it for free through Goodreads. No.
This book offers an entirely different picture to the supernatural world of mythical creature. If you're in for a new, unusual, sexy and hot way to look at and read about vampires, faeries and werewolves- then this is your book.
Our two main characters, Vail and Lyric make an excellent couple and are very complex. Vail, specially, just throws me off and draws me in. He's a vampire who was raised by Faeries, who HATE vampires, and so he grew up with a vampire complex while at the same time being hated by Faeries for being a full blood vampire. In special, a Faery called Zett- who adds an interesting spin on the whole story. Getting inside Vail's head was probably the most entertaining and peculiar thing about this book. This vampire/vampire hater is a sexy, bad boy/bad ass, funny, intelligent man- who knows how to dress and listens to awesome music. However, I love how he isn't depicted as this perfect vampire we all just have to swoon for because he is so dreamy! No. You start to like Vail because he's the real thing- with feelings and conflicts just like any of us.
The way Vail and Lyric meet (they eventually fall for each other- as is expected) is fantastic. So erotic, teasing, and unexpected! It's a true battle at first between these two characters and like Vail, Lyric is entertaining to learn about. She's not you're typical princess- she is bad ass. However, I won't give more details as it's best to read it. I'll say one thing though, I love how Hauf didn't delay our couple's meeting and how quick they got down to do the hot and dirty. At first I was afraid- thinking "oh no, this is going to take a while"
However, that was not the case and it is so interesting to see these two character develop feelings for each other after seriously being at each other's throats. None of the typical arguing- no they take it up a notch and it's hilarious to read. Overall, they undergo an amazing character development. Both of them are not the vampires that they were at the beginning and everything really does fall into place and explain itself.
The other characters are just as interesting- but I don't want to give anything away!
Still- It is such a new and refreshing story and plot- I really enjoyed it. Plus, I discovered that like Lyric, I have a bad boy fetish.
Reading it was a pleasure, and NOT just because I got it for free through Goodreads. No.
This book offers an entirely different picture to the supernatural world of mythical creature. If you're in for a new, unusual, sexy and hot way to look at and read about vampires, faeries and werewolves- then this is your book.
Our two main characters, Vail and Lyric make an excellent couple and are very complex. Vail, specially, just throws me off and draws me in. He's a vampire who was raised by Faeries, who HATE vampires, and so he grew up with a vampire complex while at the same time being hated by Faeries for being a full blood vampire. In special, a Faery called Zett- who adds an interesting spin on the whole story. Getting inside Vail's head was probably the most entertaining and peculiar thing about this book. This vampire/vampire hater is a sexy, bad boy/bad ass, funny, intelligent man- who knows how to dress and listens to awesome music. However, I love how he isn't depicted as this perfect vampire we all just have to swoon for because he is so dreamy! No. You start to like Vail because he's the real thing- with feelings and conflicts just like any of us.
The way Vail and Lyric meet (they eventually fall for each other- as is expected) is fantastic. So erotic, teasing, and unexpected! It's a true battle at first between these two characters and like Vail, Lyric is entertaining to learn about. She's not you're typical princess- she is bad ass. However, I won't give more details as it's best to read it. I'll say one thing though, I love how Hauf didn't delay our couple's meeting and how quick they got down to do the hot and dirty. At first I was afraid- thinking "oh no, this is going to take a while"
However, that was not the case and it is so interesting to see these two character develop feelings for each other after seriously being at each other's throats. None of the typical arguing- no they take it up a notch and it's hilarious to read. Overall, they undergo an amazing character development. Both of them are not the vampires that they were at the beginning and everything really does fall into place and explain itself.
The other characters are just as interesting- but I don't want to give anything away!
Still- It is such a new and refreshing story and plot- I really enjoyed it. Plus, I discovered that like Lyric, I have a bad boy fetish.
May 5, 2011
I really like vampire stories and more recently became quite fond of faery stories as well so this book was right up my alley. Although I enjoyed the book, I must say that it fell a bit short of my expectations. Still… you could pass a rainy day with this book as company.
SUMMARY
The summary is from Goodreads: Vail the Unwanted is a pure-blooded vampire. But raised by Faery, he has neither home nor peace, and when his aid is sought in the recovery of a priceless diamond gown, his price is information. Specifically the whereabouts of his accursed father. His goal is revenge, and the supernaturally sexy Lyric, the icy blond vampiress with whom he must work, is a distraction he can't afford. Outwardly as cold as the diamond dress in which she was kidnapped, Lyric has her own secrets. Desperate to break free from her criminal family, she aligns herself with the brooding Vail. Together they seek justice while each secretly works for freedom and a fresh start. For Lyric that means holding herself apart, even from the smoldering blue-eyed Vail. For Vail, it means a battle to the death for revenge—and for a temptress he can't deny.
WHAT I LIKED
It was an easy read which I finished rather quickly and there are some interesting characters to be found in the book. The story is mostly entertaining and had some action which was nice. I liked the fact that I could for the most part not predict the outcome of the story.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
I feel there could have been a lot of improvement in the writing and the exploration of characters. There were a lot of words and terms used which are not common and which made the book difficult to read. During same parts of the story, it felt very flat to me. The story jumps to different scenes and times without any real flow and scenes are not placed into context which means that you often read about something the characters referred to which you know absolutely nothing about. It would have been helpful for the writer to give some form of a background to many of the things she wrote about. It was quite a challenge to finish the story. I did not like the ending at all.
SO WHAT’S THE VERDICT?
A easy and quick read with some unexpected likes. One thumbs up.
Thank you to HQN Books (imprint of Harlequin) for providing a copy of Forever Vampire for review through Netgalley.
SUMMARY
The summary is from Goodreads: Vail the Unwanted is a pure-blooded vampire. But raised by Faery, he has neither home nor peace, and when his aid is sought in the recovery of a priceless diamond gown, his price is information. Specifically the whereabouts of his accursed father. His goal is revenge, and the supernaturally sexy Lyric, the icy blond vampiress with whom he must work, is a distraction he can't afford. Outwardly as cold as the diamond dress in which she was kidnapped, Lyric has her own secrets. Desperate to break free from her criminal family, she aligns herself with the brooding Vail. Together they seek justice while each secretly works for freedom and a fresh start. For Lyric that means holding herself apart, even from the smoldering blue-eyed Vail. For Vail, it means a battle to the death for revenge—and for a temptress he can't deny.
WHAT I LIKED
It was an easy read which I finished rather quickly and there are some interesting characters to be found in the book. The story is mostly entertaining and had some action which was nice. I liked the fact that I could for the most part not predict the outcome of the story.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
I feel there could have been a lot of improvement in the writing and the exploration of characters. There were a lot of words and terms used which are not common and which made the book difficult to read. During same parts of the story, it felt very flat to me. The story jumps to different scenes and times without any real flow and scenes are not placed into context which means that you often read about something the characters referred to which you know absolutely nothing about. It would have been helpful for the writer to give some form of a background to many of the things she wrote about. It was quite a challenge to finish the story. I did not like the ending at all.
SO WHAT’S THE VERDICT?
A easy and quick read with some unexpected likes. One thumbs up.
Thank you to HQN Books (imprint of Harlequin) for providing a copy of Forever Vampire for review through Netgalley.
April 2, 2012
It took me awhile to get into this story. At first the main characters of Lyric and Vaillant (both vampires) weren't very like able. It took more than 7 chapters for me to finally connect with the story, and it might be due to feeling like I needed to read the previous book (which I just looked up it's called Seducing the Vampire) about Vaill's family and how he ended up growing up in Faery away from his own kind.
His prejudice against his own kind was ingrained in him by his step-mother, the Faery Cressida, and he feeds off Faery blood instead of human or vampire blood. Lyric is kidnapped at the beginning of the story while wearing a special Faery gown of diamonds and silk stolen by her brother for a deal their mother made with an Unseelie Prince. Vaill's is sent by his Uncle Rhys to find the girl and gown, as the gown was in his Securty vaults for safe keeping for the Seelie court. His price for working for his uncle: his father's whereabouts.. So he can have his revenge against the father he never met for causing his mother's insanity.. And he is afraid to meet her as he doesn't want to be rejected by her if he looks too much like his father.
Vaill's finds Lyric but there is no gown in her possession... The 2 make a bargain, and in the meantime try to stay one step ahead of the Unseelie as there is a price on Lyric's head. Getting to know more about these two is how I was finally able to get into the story and finally find some sympathy in relating to what either is going through. Lyric is trying to start her life away from her vampire clan and she suspects her mother's lover has something to do with why her family is so broke!
Vaill's was banned from Faery 3 months before, so now he is known as Vaill's the Unwanted. He needs to learn his way around the mortal world, and though he holds himself aloof, it's for fear of rejection from the only family he knows. So I did finally start enjoying the story. The beginning is only getting 2 stars from me, but the build up and conclusion get 4 stars... So, the average is 3 stars. ;-)
His prejudice against his own kind was ingrained in him by his step-mother, the Faery Cressida, and he feeds off Faery blood instead of human or vampire blood. Lyric is kidnapped at the beginning of the story while wearing a special Faery gown of diamonds and silk stolen by her brother for a deal their mother made with an Unseelie Prince. Vaill's is sent by his Uncle Rhys to find the girl and gown, as the gown was in his Securty vaults for safe keeping for the Seelie court. His price for working for his uncle: his father's whereabouts.. So he can have his revenge against the father he never met for causing his mother's insanity.. And he is afraid to meet her as he doesn't want to be rejected by her if he looks too much like his father.
Vaill's finds Lyric but there is no gown in her possession... The 2 make a bargain, and in the meantime try to stay one step ahead of the Unseelie as there is a price on Lyric's head. Getting to know more about these two is how I was finally able to get into the story and finally find some sympathy in relating to what either is going through. Lyric is trying to start her life away from her vampire clan and she suspects her mother's lover has something to do with why her family is so broke!
Vaill's was banned from Faery 3 months before, so now he is known as Vaill's the Unwanted. He needs to learn his way around the mortal world, and though he holds himself aloof, it's for fear of rejection from the only family he knows. So I did finally start enjoying the story. The beginning is only getting 2 stars from me, but the build up and conclusion get 4 stars... So, the average is 3 stars. ;-)
August 15, 2025
Vail has always lived up to his title of the UnWanted. The product of rape, his mother birthed him and his brother from another father while imprisoned in her tomb for over 2 hundred years. A tomb his father put him in. Upon his birth, the fairies, whom his step father was indebted to, came to collect. And they collected him. So, he was raised by fairies, unwanted by them because of his vampiric nature and not knowing his mother or father. Of course, Vail has turned out to be a selfish and bitter and addicted to fairy dust. He denies his vampire self, never drinking blood or loving a vampire woman… until Lyric.
Lyric was marked by the fairy lord for mating but unfortunately a fairy will never mate a vampire so therefore, Lyric is marked for death. On the run from her family who wish to use her for nefarious purposes and a fairy who wants her dead, her only ally is a very troubled vampire who seemingly has more issues than she does. Addicted to dust, serious mommy and daddy issues and living in delusion over what he truly is, Vail and Lyric become companions despite their rough start.
What I appreciate about this series is the very mature subject matter. Vail’s mother and step father had their own story and that was a rough… Rape, imprisonment and other bad stuff, in which the residual waves carry over to this installment. Vail never knew his mother because of the circumstances of his birth and at first, you think he’s trying to find his father because he wants the father figure. That’s the way Vail is portrayed, as a carefree playboy. But in actuality, he’s struggling with not knowing his mother and wanting to kill his father. Lyric was a lesser character but she was not bad. I think they just found each other and realized they found a companion in each other; I didn’t really feel the intense love they apparently had for one another. I grew board with the lack of real plot other then running from killer fairies but I didn’t much mind because I appreciated the dark subject matter
Lyric was marked by the fairy lord for mating but unfortunately a fairy will never mate a vampire so therefore, Lyric is marked for death. On the run from her family who wish to use her for nefarious purposes and a fairy who wants her dead, her only ally is a very troubled vampire who seemingly has more issues than she does. Addicted to dust, serious mommy and daddy issues and living in delusion over what he truly is, Vail and Lyric become companions despite their rough start.
What I appreciate about this series is the very mature subject matter. Vail’s mother and step father had their own story and that was a rough… Rape, imprisonment and other bad stuff, in which the residual waves carry over to this installment. Vail never knew his mother because of the circumstances of his birth and at first, you think he’s trying to find his father because he wants the father figure. That’s the way Vail is portrayed, as a carefree playboy. But in actuality, he’s struggling with not knowing his mother and wanting to kill his father. Lyric was a lesser character but she was not bad. I think they just found each other and realized they found a companion in each other; I didn’t really feel the intense love they apparently had for one another. I grew board with the lack of real plot other then running from killer fairies but I didn’t much mind because I appreciated the dark subject matter
March 26, 2011
Forever Vampire by Michelle Hauf is a story of two tortured individuals who are trying to escape their difficult pasts. Vail the Unwanted is a tortured pureblood vampire who was raised in Faery by his Fae stepmother and the product of rape who has been exiled to the human world by his nemesis. He must learn to embrace his vampire heritage in order to find true happiness and exist the new world he now finds himself. Lyric, Vail’s love interest, is an emotionally frigid but extremely beautiful pureblood vampire who past is equally as murky as Vail’s with the added problem of having a dark secret she has concealed from everyone but her brother. Both of them have major trust and familial issues they must overcome.
Vail is dragged in to the mystery of finding a missing diamond Faery gown which was stolen from under his stepfather’s place of business where the gown was being housed in a vault for the Seelie Court. The last person who saw the gown was Lyric. But like the gown, she is missing, too. The bargain Vail makes with his stepfather is that he wants information on the whereabouts of his father in exchange for the return of Lyric to her mom and the gown to the Faeries.
On the hunt for the gown and vampiress, Vail is able to locate Lyric quickly. However, the location of the gown remains elusive; however, he has a strong feeling Lyric is well aware of the gown’s location. As the plot unravels, Lyric and Vail find their attraction to each other undeniable and endeavor to work together. Soon they are both caught up attraction, intrigue, and setting aside their personal issues to allow trust to become obtainable. Very real life issues are dealt with by both characters as they grow and mature through their shared adventure. The path Michelle Hauf takes her readers on in this story is fraught with action, sexy love scenes, and closure on personal issues. A very entertaining read for paranormal romance lovers.
Happy Reading from Bona Fide Reflections!
Vail is dragged in to the mystery of finding a missing diamond Faery gown which was stolen from under his stepfather’s place of business where the gown was being housed in a vault for the Seelie Court. The last person who saw the gown was Lyric. But like the gown, she is missing, too. The bargain Vail makes with his stepfather is that he wants information on the whereabouts of his father in exchange for the return of Lyric to her mom and the gown to the Faeries.
On the hunt for the gown and vampiress, Vail is able to locate Lyric quickly. However, the location of the gown remains elusive; however, he has a strong feeling Lyric is well aware of the gown’s location. As the plot unravels, Lyric and Vail find their attraction to each other undeniable and endeavor to work together. Soon they are both caught up attraction, intrigue, and setting aside their personal issues to allow trust to become obtainable. Very real life issues are dealt with by both characters as they grow and mature through their shared adventure. The path Michelle Hauf takes her readers on in this story is fraught with action, sexy love scenes, and closure on personal issues. A very entertaining read for paranormal romance lovers.
Happy Reading from Bona Fide Reflections!
April 14, 2011
I admit i looked at a few reviews for this book before cracking it open and wasn't sure what I'd find. Everyone seems to say something different. I found that 25 pages in i was really liking it. It was a totally different story than other vampire themed paranormals I've read before. I'm going to say there is some violence in this book but nothing to out of the norm for what you find in paranormal books sometimes. It's actually to me a paranormal romantic suspense. This book is about Valliant or Vail as he is referred to the most. He is a blood born vampire who was raised in Faery until 3 months ago when he was banished to the mortal world. His uncle Rhys Hawke tried to take him under his wing and help him adjust but he doesn't really want to adjust. His mother is reportedly insane and his brother who is a werewolf seems to hate him.No one seems to want him. He takes a job for his uncle locating a vampiress Lyric Santiago. Seems she was kidnapped along with a priceless and stolen power filled diamond gown. He finds Lyric easy enough but getting the dress is a harder thing to do. His goal was to find Lyric the dress and then turn them over to get info on his father which he hates and wants to kill. Lyric proves hard to resist. She and Vail are drawn together. Even though he vows he'll never take blood from another vampire or human there is something about Lyric that draws him. Unfortunately Vail has enemies and suddenly so does Lyric who want the dress and to kill them. Will Vail work out all his parental issues and get the gown and Lryic back where they belong and will Lyric be the one who finally helps Vail see who he really is and where he belongs. There is such a great story going on in this book. I really enjoyed it. It was was full of action, romance and hot monkey sex. I wasn't sure how this book was going to end. Some books you can kind of guess but not with this one. There is one part at the end i wish had been more dramatic but the rest was good.
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