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Dangerous Girls #1
Dangerous Girls
Destiny Weller and her twin sister, Livvy, return from their summer vacation with an overpowering thirst –– an inhuman desire to drink blood.
Have they turned into vampires?
How will they keep their horrifying secret from their family and friends?
And can they find a way to become human again ... before it's too late?
324 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 1998
122 people are currently reading
3419 people want to read
About the author
R.L. Stine
1,679 books18.6k followersRobert Lawrence Stine known as R. L. Stine and Jovial Bob Stine, is an American novelist and writer, well known for targeting younger audiences. Stine, who is often called the Stephen King of children's literature, is the author of dozens of popular horror fiction novellas, including the books in the Goosebumps, Rotten School, Mostly Ghostly, The Nightmare Room and Fear Street series.
R. L. Stine began his writing career when he was nine years old, and today he has achieved the position of the bestselling children's author in history. In the early 1990s, Stine was catapulted to fame when he wrote the unprecedented, bestselling Goosebumps® series, which sold more than 250 million copies and became a worldwide multimedia phenomenon. His other major series, Fear Street, has over 80 million copies sold.
Stine has received numerous awards of recognition, including several Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards and Disney Adventures Kids' Choice Awards, and he has been selected by kids as one of their favorite authors in the NEA's Read Across America program. He lives in New York, NY.
http://us.macmillan.com/itsthefirstda...
R. L. Stine began his writing career when he was nine years old, and today he has achieved the position of the bestselling children's author in history. In the early 1990s, Stine was catapulted to fame when he wrote the unprecedented, bestselling Goosebumps® series, which sold more than 250 million copies and became a worldwide multimedia phenomenon. His other major series, Fear Street, has over 80 million copies sold.
Stine has received numerous awards of recognition, including several Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards and Disney Adventures Kids' Choice Awards, and he has been selected by kids as one of their favorite authors in the NEA's Read Across America program. He lives in New York, NY.
http://us.macmillan.com/itsthefirstda...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 223 reviews
February 26, 2019
Un libro que por años busqué y una vez que lo conseguí lo devoré enseguida.
Es poco lo que tengo que decir de él.
Es la historia que menos me ha gustado del autor. :/
Se me hizo una copia de muchas de sus obras y no me quedaron ganas de saber le final.
Estas chicas no tienen mucho que contar y sus vivencias en el campamento fuera de los amoríos, nada tienen que ver con algo más.
Sad.
Es poco lo que tengo que decir de él.
Es la historia que menos me ha gustado del autor. :/
Se me hizo una copia de muchas de sus obras y no me quedaron ganas de saber le final.
Estas chicas no tienen mucho que contar y sus vivencias en el campamento fuera de los amoríos, nada tienen que ver con algo más.
Sad.
March 5, 2022
Adorato da ragazzina. È sempre piacevole rileggere Stine :’)
June 11, 2009
Destiny and Livvy Weller, are twin sisters who go to camp over the summer. They both fall in love with a boy over the summer. They come back home and they feel strange. They find out that they are hungry for blood. Destiny and Livvy have to try and figure out there powers and how they became vampires. They find out that they are alone in life because they cant tell anyone that they are vampires, especially their dad who is depressed because his wife and their mom died. Whats worse is that later one they find out their dad is a vampire hunter. During an overnight trip her dad tells Livvy that he knows she is a vampire and he gives her a cure. They go to give Destiny a cure, but they find out that she is a full Vampire and she could never be cure on top of that she made Ross, the boy Livvy liked into a full Vampire and she took off. Livvy and her dad hadn't seen Livvy and Ross ever since.
From this book I learned that who have to be careful in life because you never know what kind of tragedy can strike you.
I would Recommend this book to anyone who likes Books about vampires.
From this book I learned that who have to be careful in life because you never know what kind of tragedy can strike you.
I would Recommend this book to anyone who likes Books about vampires.
June 20, 2015
3.5 stars
This is a pretty good book. I haven't read many of R L Stine's YA books, but I think his kid's books are better (like the goosebumps series)
This is a pretty good book. I haven't read many of R L Stine's YA books, but I think his kid's books are better (like the goosebumps series)
August 16, 2024
An early 2000s book about teenage vampires written by R.L. Stine but not set in Shadyside as part of the Fear Street series?
I passed on reading Dangerous Girls for awhile because I didn't think it would be any good but I am quite surprised at how good it really was! I'll try not to spoil too much but since there is another book following this one...some things could slip out.
Livvy and Destiny Weller are fraternal twins who have spent the last summer before senior year in high school being junior counselors at a summer camp. They are very different from each other as Destiny is more reserved and quiet with her blonde hair short while Livvy is frivolous with boys and wears her hair long.
The way Livvy acts is a change due to having trauma most likely from the fact that their mother recently died and in the tragic way of suicide. Their father, a veterinarian, has thrown himself into his work and their eight year old brother, Mikey, was the baby of the family closest to his mother with his own changes.
This was meant to be a time of healing and making new friends and maybe starting a long-distance relationship with a cute boy. One of the older counselors, Lorenzo or "Renz", had the heart of every female camper and counselor a flutter at that last night of camp with the kids gone...Destiny was sure he finally noticed her.
Renz had always seen Destiny...how could he forget that face with those green eyes and blonde hair? They were the very same features of his lost love, Laura, and now she was back in a new body for the two of them to have a second chance at eternal life.
Oh yeah...Lorenzo is a two-hundred year old vampire.
He takes Destiny into the woods and is able to drink her blood but is stopped from having Destiny feed on his own blood to make the change. Now he must wait again for the next full moon to finish what he has started but until then he puts a mind whammy on Destiny so she will not remember until the next time they meet.
Once back at home, Destiny feels different even though she is surrounded by the friends she and Livvy share in their circle...kids they have known since elementary school. Later at night, Destiny awakens and finds that she must go out into the night and find fresh blood.
What she also discovers is that Livvy...has the same hunger. They both have the same marks on their necks of the vampire's bite and the sisters proceed to drain and feed on a rabbit in horror.
Their friend Ari is obsessed with sci-fi and horror so Destiny and Livvy are shocked to find he doesn't seem so weird now that they are back home. Their other friends ignore Ari when he says that there is a vampire going around and killing the local wildlife, the local paper claiming it is some "blood-evaporating" virus.
Others in town are supposedly becoming vampire hunters to stop the threat and Ari is geeking out to locate them and join in. Livvy doesn't take it too serious but Destiny isn't too thrilled with the idea of people she has known all her life finding out she is a vampire and staking her to death.
Destiny needs to find a way to stop her and her sister from becoming vampires but it won't be easy when the next victims to turn up dead...are no longer animals.
How can one sister trust the other when it is their friends that start dying...and neither Destiny nor Livvy can remember the source of where the blood on their lips and hands came from?
Compared to Stine's other vampire stories...this one is very dark and depressing yet in a good way?
The stakes and situations are amped up to 11 in terms of tone and subject matter with really creepy scenes. You aren't dealing with bickering vampires making bets on scoring blood and body counts but two sisters channeling trauma from a devastating loss to an even more terrifying one of their own souls.
They even bring up a family friend in the high school football coach having just lost his own wife and going through the motion to cope alongside their father. Destiny can see both men changing in their own ways before her eyes even as she struggles to try and save herself and Livvy.
It's not easy to convey emotion alongside horror but Stine really upped his game with Dangerous Girls and I can not wait to see if The Taste of Night continues to a triumphant conclusion or stakes my hopes into ash...
I passed on reading Dangerous Girls for awhile because I didn't think it would be any good but I am quite surprised at how good it really was! I'll try not to spoil too much but since there is another book following this one...some things could slip out.
Livvy and Destiny Weller are fraternal twins who have spent the last summer before senior year in high school being junior counselors at a summer camp. They are very different from each other as Destiny is more reserved and quiet with her blonde hair short while Livvy is frivolous with boys and wears her hair long.
The way Livvy acts is a change due to having trauma most likely from the fact that their mother recently died and in the tragic way of suicide. Their father, a veterinarian, has thrown himself into his work and their eight year old brother, Mikey, was the baby of the family closest to his mother with his own changes.
This was meant to be a time of healing and making new friends and maybe starting a long-distance relationship with a cute boy. One of the older counselors, Lorenzo or "Renz", had the heart of every female camper and counselor a flutter at that last night of camp with the kids gone...Destiny was sure he finally noticed her.
Renz had always seen Destiny...how could he forget that face with those green eyes and blonde hair? They were the very same features of his lost love, Laura, and now she was back in a new body for the two of them to have a second chance at eternal life.
Oh yeah...Lorenzo is a two-hundred year old vampire.
He takes Destiny into the woods and is able to drink her blood but is stopped from having Destiny feed on his own blood to make the change. Now he must wait again for the next full moon to finish what he has started but until then he puts a mind whammy on Destiny so she will not remember until the next time they meet.
Once back at home, Destiny feels different even though she is surrounded by the friends she and Livvy share in their circle...kids they have known since elementary school. Later at night, Destiny awakens and finds that she must go out into the night and find fresh blood.
What she also discovers is that Livvy...has the same hunger. They both have the same marks on their necks of the vampire's bite and the sisters proceed to drain and feed on a rabbit in horror.
Their friend Ari is obsessed with sci-fi and horror so Destiny and Livvy are shocked to find he doesn't seem so weird now that they are back home. Their other friends ignore Ari when he says that there is a vampire going around and killing the local wildlife, the local paper claiming it is some "blood-evaporating" virus.
Others in town are supposedly becoming vampire hunters to stop the threat and Ari is geeking out to locate them and join in. Livvy doesn't take it too serious but Destiny isn't too thrilled with the idea of people she has known all her life finding out she is a vampire and staking her to death.
Destiny needs to find a way to stop her and her sister from becoming vampires but it won't be easy when the next victims to turn up dead...are no longer animals.
How can one sister trust the other when it is their friends that start dying...and neither Destiny nor Livvy can remember the source of where the blood on their lips and hands came from?
Compared to Stine's other vampire stories...this one is very dark and depressing yet in a good way?
The stakes and situations are amped up to 11 in terms of tone and subject matter with really creepy scenes. You aren't dealing with bickering vampires making bets on scoring blood and body counts but two sisters channeling trauma from a devastating loss to an even more terrifying one of their own souls.
They even bring up a family friend in the high school football coach having just lost his own wife and going through the motion to cope alongside their father. Destiny can see both men changing in their own ways before her eyes even as she struggles to try and save herself and Livvy.
It's not easy to convey emotion alongside horror but Stine really upped his game with Dangerous Girls and I can not wait to see if The Taste of Night continues to a triumphant conclusion or stakes my hopes into ash...
January 31, 2025
Twin sisters Destiny and Livvy go to summer camp as counselors to escape the tragic year they had. With their mom’s suicide, a workaholic dad, and preparing for senior year, the girls look at summer camp to be an escape from it all. But as the girls are packing up to leave summer camp, something strange happens, and the girls have been bitten by a vampire, leaving them confused, half human half vampire, and hungry for blood. As they return back home, they have to figure out how to deal with being half vampire while looking for a cure, navigating senior year, and keeping it hidden from the hunters in town who want to kill vampires.
I didn’t really like the flow of the book. Like it’s broken up into all these parts (which don’t really make a difference). It kind of just felt choppy and poorly written. Like “a little of this” and “a little of that” okay done next part. Everything just scratches the surface. Plus a trigger warning, there is mention of suicide. And it does get a little graphic when it describes it (by hanging), which I think it could have been left to just saying the mom dies by suicide and to describe it and what she looked like, I didn’t like that. And things would be added to the plot and then never really discussed further. Like there was never a real ending to that scene. Which isn’t a big deal but nothing ever saw through to the end multiple times. Like for example they have a friend come visit from camp, they hardly dive into her time there but there’s never a part of when she leaves.
This book just wasn’t for me. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend reading it. Especially because I don’t think that this is a good reflection of R.L. Stines writing.
I didn’t really like the flow of the book. Like it’s broken up into all these parts (which don’t really make a difference). It kind of just felt choppy and poorly written. Like “a little of this” and “a little of that” okay done next part. Everything just scratches the surface. Plus a trigger warning, there is mention of suicide. And it does get a little graphic when it describes it (by hanging), which I think it could have been left to just saying the mom dies by suicide and to describe it and what she looked like, I didn’t like that. And things would be added to the plot and then never really discussed further. Like there was never a real ending to that scene. Which isn’t a big deal but nothing ever saw through to the end multiple times. Like for example they have a friend come visit from camp, they hardly dive into her time there but there’s never a part of when she leaves.
This book just wasn’t for me. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend reading it. Especially because I don’t think that this is a good reflection of R.L. Stines writing.
February 28, 2021
People who gave five stars? How 😩... I love some of Stines’ books, but this wasn’t it!
The dialogue is so poorly written, and although it was a a fast read and had one plot twist (Which could’ve been easily guessed...) this book is not the best. No on talks the way the characters talk, and I heard that a lot find the sequel even worse.
The dialogue is so poorly written, and although it was a a fast read and had one plot twist (Which could’ve been easily guessed...) this book is not the best. No on talks the way the characters talk, and I heard that a lot find the sequel even worse.
October 22, 2017
Digamos que fue uno de esos libros que me acercó a la literatura vampiros y también porque me gustaban mucho los episodios de Escalofríos. Tengo una vaga noción de lo que trataba este libro y ahora me acabo de enterar que tiene continuación. Me parece que voy a tener que darle una buena relectura.
September 15, 2024
3.8 surprisingly good
December 31, 2016
I'm done with booktubeathon!!!
This book was a really great, fast paced read.
I loved the take that Stine had on vampires and I loved how easy it was to read the book.
Basically, my only problem is that characters are SO dumb and native.I wanted to slap them countless times throughout this book.
Our main protagonist I actually liked was Destiny. She's so fierce and kick-butt, even though she's quite whiny sometimes.
Without giving anything away, this book is filled with so many twists. I thought I new what was going to happen, but I was totally wrong. I'd definitely reccomend this one by Stine if you're looking for a fast paced read.
4 stars
This book was a really great, fast paced read.
I loved the take that Stine had on vampires and I loved how easy it was to read the book.
Basically, my only problem is that characters are SO dumb and native.I wanted to slap them countless times throughout this book.
Our main protagonist I actually liked was Destiny. She's so fierce and kick-butt, even though she's quite whiny sometimes.
Without giving anything away, this book is filled with so many twists. I thought I new what was going to happen, but I was totally wrong. I'd definitely reccomend this one by Stine if you're looking for a fast paced read.
4 stars
May 22, 2020
This was my first Stine book, and I'm fairly certain it'll be my last. I wasn't much of a reader as a kid, but I always kind of figured his books must be good because they were so popular. But I guess kids aren't known for great taste in literature.
The plot was actually decent. Had it been fleshed out better (much better), and, you know, had actual good writing, it might have been pretty good.
I didn't get Renz. Was he just crazy? There didn't seem to be any real logic to his decisions. Why does he believe in reincarnation? I'm not aware of that being a big thing in Italy even in present day. It definitely wasn't a common idea a few centuries ago. What reasons, besides looks, does he have for pegging certain girls as Laura? There didn't seem to be any. Which, alright, sure, he's a vampire, and maybe in this world, that's enough of an explanation - that he's psychotic, but there should have been some kind of explanation. Otherwise, why go back and show us glimpses of his life in the past? They were kind of interesting, but didn't really tell us anything we couldn't have gotten from a few lines of dialogue.
Why did he pick Destiny and Livvy and their mom? He's obsessed with Laura, but it seems anyone with the right eye color and certain facial features will do as her substitute. And why is he so inept that he can't seem to get the process down? With the exception of Livvy, who didn't want him (which he's apparently fine with...???), every single time he tries to make his 'Laura' a vampire, he's interrupted and has to wait a month, which causes him to lose her completely. It never occurs to him to go about it another way where that can't happen?
As mentioned earlier, the writing was not stellar. The dialogue was laughable at some points -and like nothing kids would say- and it all felt very abrupt. Words were just sort of thrown out there, with no regard for how they flowed or even if they completely made sense. Moments that should have been exciting or horrifying were comical or weird. The comparison that kept coming to mind was (for those of you who are Gilmore Girls fans) Kirk's movie.
And of course after that, I couldn't take the book seriously at all.
Honestly, it just had the feel of a story written in a hurry to make money because of the name on the cover.
The one bright spot was when Destiny kills Renz. I didn't see it coming and I didn't think she was that smart. Of course everything after that was pretty goofy...
The plot was actually decent. Had it been fleshed out better (much better), and, you know, had actual good writing, it might have been pretty good.
I didn't get Renz. Was he just crazy? There didn't seem to be any real logic to his decisions. Why does he believe in reincarnation? I'm not aware of that being a big thing in Italy even in present day. It definitely wasn't a common idea a few centuries ago. What reasons, besides looks, does he have for pegging certain girls as Laura? There didn't seem to be any. Which, alright, sure, he's a vampire, and maybe in this world, that's enough of an explanation - that he's psychotic, but there should have been some kind of explanation. Otherwise, why go back and show us glimpses of his life in the past? They were kind of interesting, but didn't really tell us anything we couldn't have gotten from a few lines of dialogue.
Why did he pick Destiny and Livvy and their mom? He's obsessed with Laura, but it seems anyone with the right eye color and certain facial features will do as her substitute. And why is he so inept that he can't seem to get the process down? With the exception of Livvy, who didn't want him (which he's apparently fine with...???), every single time he tries to make his 'Laura' a vampire, he's interrupted and has to wait a month, which causes him to lose her completely. It never occurs to him to go about it another way where that can't happen?
As mentioned earlier, the writing was not stellar. The dialogue was laughable at some points -and like nothing kids would say- and it all felt very abrupt. Words were just sort of thrown out there, with no regard for how they flowed or even if they completely made sense. Moments that should have been exciting or horrifying were comical or weird. The comparison that kept coming to mind was (for those of you who are Gilmore Girls fans) Kirk's movie.
And of course after that, I couldn't take the book seriously at all.
Honestly, it just had the feel of a story written in a hurry to make money because of the name on the cover.
The one bright spot was when Destiny kills Renz. I didn't see it coming and I didn't think she was that smart. Of course everything after that was pretty goofy...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 10, 2024
Maybe 3.5 stars
January 18, 2010
Wow I really loved this book.Renz sucked destiny's blood and
so shes half vampire.Renz thought that Destiny was Laura becuase she looked just like her. But Laura's dad dont won't Renz to marry her. So one night Renz went over to Laura's house so she could suck his blood. If both of them suck eachother blood they will live forever. But when Renz got there Laura's dad had killed her. And so Renz had ran away. At the camp Renz and Destiny were like friends. But one night he thought she was Laura so he sucked her blood. But she didnt and she went away. She didnt remember anything that happened that night. Destiny's sister Livvy was sucked by her boyfriend Ross. So Destiny and Livvy are vampires and they have to find a restorer who could save there lives. Destiny thought that Renz is the restorer becuase now she remembered that his a vampire too. But instead she killed him. Her dad saw her killed Renz and so he told Destiny the truth. Actually her dad was the restorer. Her mom was bitten by a vampire and she killed Mrs.Bauer so she killed herself. Thats when her father became a restorer and a hunter he hunt down vampires and kill them. He had found a way to cure vampires and be back to human. Destiny's father cured her but her sister had sucked Ross blood so they both are vampires. They found out everything and Destiny have her human life back but what about Livvy. If her dad finds her he have to kill her because he's a hunter! He doesnt have a choice or does he? I can't wait till i read the next book "the taste of night." I loved this book and will recommend to evrybody to read it. IF U LOVE VAMPIRES READ THIS BOOK!!!!!!! IT TOTALLY OUTRAGEOUS AND REALLY VAMPIRISM!!!!!!!
so shes half vampire.Renz thought that Destiny was Laura becuase she looked just like her. But Laura's dad dont won't Renz to marry her. So one night Renz went over to Laura's house so she could suck his blood. If both of them suck eachother blood they will live forever. But when Renz got there Laura's dad had killed her. And so Renz had ran away. At the camp Renz and Destiny were like friends. But one night he thought she was Laura so he sucked her blood. But she didnt and she went away. She didnt remember anything that happened that night. Destiny's sister Livvy was sucked by her boyfriend Ross. So Destiny and Livvy are vampires and they have to find a restorer who could save there lives. Destiny thought that Renz is the restorer becuase now she remembered that his a vampire too. But instead she killed him. Her dad saw her killed Renz and so he told Destiny the truth. Actually her dad was the restorer. Her mom was bitten by a vampire and she killed Mrs.Bauer so she killed herself. Thats when her father became a restorer and a hunter he hunt down vampires and kill them. He had found a way to cure vampires and be back to human. Destiny's father cured her but her sister had sucked Ross blood so they both are vampires. They found out everything and Destiny have her human life back but what about Livvy. If her dad finds her he have to kill her because he's a hunter! He doesnt have a choice or does he? I can't wait till i read the next book "the taste of night." I loved this book and will recommend to evrybody to read it. IF U LOVE VAMPIRES READ THIS BOOK!!!!!!! IT TOTALLY OUTRAGEOUS AND REALLY VAMPIRISM!!!!!!!
July 6, 2013
Whoah! This was everything a good vampire thriller should be exciting, fascinating and disturbing!
This is probably the first teen vampire book I've ever read and it certainly gave the genre a good reputation! I've always been a fan of the Goosebumps series (and I still am), but then I found this and was totally blown away! The Goosebumps series are totally tame compared to this and I'd definitely say this book would give younger kids real nightmares!
The twins' situation felt real throughout with their struggles to control their new blood lust. Destiny's emotions were very real when she was on more than one occasion sucked blood in public, but her sister Livvy had been hiding a secret all along...
I would genuinely say this is a work of pure talent and I really hope R.L. Stine writes more books especially for teenagers.
This is probably the first teen vampire book I've ever read and it certainly gave the genre a good reputation! I've always been a fan of the Goosebumps series (and I still am), but then I found this and was totally blown away! The Goosebumps series are totally tame compared to this and I'd definitely say this book would give younger kids real nightmares!
The twins' situation felt real throughout with their struggles to control their new blood lust. Destiny's emotions were very real when she was on more than one occasion sucked blood in public, but her sister Livvy had been hiding a secret all along...
I would genuinely say this is a work of pure talent and I really hope R.L. Stine writes more books especially for teenagers.
April 16, 2008
If I read one more insipid story about girls, vampires, and rampant weeping, I may go mad. There's near-infinite potential in a story about a pair of twins, one of whom is a vampire and one of whom is not. Somehow, Stine manages to erase all of that potential with a cardboard villain with ridiculous voice, girls who are boo-hooing their way through life, and characterization that is flogged to the point of obscurity. The ONLY reason it rates two stars is that the plot hangs together. Pretty much everything else is flat.
All right, all right, so you adore vampires. You like the cheerleader mentality, and you want a book without any big words. Give this book a try! You'll love it!
All right, all right, so you adore vampires. You like the cheerleader mentality, and you want a book without any big words. Give this book a try! You'll love it!
June 24, 2021
This used to be one of my favourite books by RL Stine. I remember being so blown away by the plot and writing style. Reading it now, though, is a little too child-like for me. But it was still a pretty good, engrossing book. It took me longer than necessary to finish it but it's still a good read. It was gripping, mysterious, and very life-like. Would totally recommend for people who wants to start reading about vampires.
And what a coincidence that I finished reading it on the night of a full moon 🌕🧛🦇🩸
And what a coincidence that I finished reading it on the night of a full moon 🌕🧛🦇🩸
April 15, 2011
The book is a pretty good book.There are no dislikes about the book,I think that anyone would like this book.I'm still excited to read this book cause it a really good and interesting book.Well The book is about these two sisters who return from their summer vacation with an overpowering thirst for blood.so i hope who ever reads this book enjoys it too :D
February 5, 2016
Es leer R.L. Stine y pensar en Goosebumps, así que cuando encontre este libro obviamente quise leerlo.
No defraudó las expectativas que tenía. Una historia corta, entretenida y... me teletransportó a mi infancia cuando veía Le temes a la oscuridad, Escalofríos, Cuentos de la cripta, etc etc
No defraudó las expectativas que tenía. Una historia corta, entretenida y... me teletransportó a mi infancia cuando veía Le temes a la oscuridad, Escalofríos, Cuentos de la cripta, etc etc
February 22, 2017
I personally loved this book. I never thought that i would be sitting on the edge of my seat just from reading! I read this entire book in one sitting. i just couldn't put it down. I don't want to give anything away But the ending was completely unexpected!
December 18, 2007
just when you think everyone in your family is trustworthy, someone will turn and stab you in the back. you gotta be careful in alot of situations.
May 16, 2008
It's R.L. Stine, it's not like amazing or anything, but it's ok . . . it brought me back to middle school.
October 28, 2025
***Spoilers included***
I wanted something easy and Halloweeny after finishing the abysmal Daisy Darker earlier this month as well as something fast-paced since I wanted to finish at least two books in October (that’s a sad statement for me, but I have two little kids and little time to read since I’m also a professor and a semester is in session). I knew Stine’s books were quick, easy reads and I loved the Fear Street series when I was younger, so it’s fun to revisit it sometimes (although I noticed this book didn’t take place in Shadyside and I wonder why that choice was made).
This book was entertaining enough for YA. Destiny and Livvy are fraternal twins who lost their mom and spend the summer at a camp to escape their grief. They work with a guy named Renz who is actually a vampire looking for a replacement for his love, Laura, who was killed by her father when he turned her into a vampire centuries ago. He bites Destiny, but she doesn’t drink his blood before they are interrupted and then she goes back home and starts having symptoms, like craving blood and turning into a bat. Livvy also says she has symptoms and they look for ways to break the curse, but they find out that there are vampire hunters looking for them, Renz shows up working as a guidance counselor (which is never explained, maybe he used mind control to get the job?) to get a chance for Destiny to drink his blood, and they see their father is a hunter. In the end, Destiny surprisingly steaks Renz, realizes her father somehow found a cure, finds out Livvy chose to be a vampire and turned her boyfriend who Destiny also liked, and then turns back, while Livvy flies off with said boyfriend (because they can turn into birds?).
Nothing is explained in this book well and you just have to go with it. Vampires can be out in the sun? Sure! A veterinarian can find a cure for fledgling vampirism? Ok! And the book gets oddly dark randomly with finding out the mother hanged herself to avoid becoming a vampire completely.
Stine also stereotypes women a lot in his books. Livvy likes bold makeup, revealing clothes, and hooking up with guys, so of course she’s the “evil” twin who wants to be a vampire and takes the guy Destiny likes. I suppose this book is a product of its time, though. When I was younger, I would have totally gone along with the “Livvy is a skank” perception. But I also read a review that said this book did well including some real moments of grief and I felt badly for her when she said she became a vampire because she could not stand dying one day like her mom.
Renz was weird and I never got his appeal. He was just constantly moaning about Laura all the time.
But some parts of this book were memorable, like Livvy and Destiny telling the kids you have to suck on a wound to stop the bleeding. (And no one mentioned AIDS?!) The coach’s wife being alive was interesting and I liked when Destiny steaked Renz out of nowhere. There was also a memorable scuffle around a deer carcass, which was creative!
I saw some reviewer wrote that teenagers don’t talk like this and aside from the token dark-skinned friend from camp (I forgot her name’s) dialogue, it didn’t strike me as odd, especially Ari. He was such the stereotypical beta male trying to girlfriend zone Destiny and I thought it was incredibly accurate based on my own high school experience. I also wish he had died!
Anyway, I’ll read the sequel because I’m mildly interested and my book came with both of them together, which I got for like $3 at a used bookstore.
Final thought: What kind of camp has yearbooks?!
I wanted something easy and Halloweeny after finishing the abysmal Daisy Darker earlier this month as well as something fast-paced since I wanted to finish at least two books in October (that’s a sad statement for me, but I have two little kids and little time to read since I’m also a professor and a semester is in session). I knew Stine’s books were quick, easy reads and I loved the Fear Street series when I was younger, so it’s fun to revisit it sometimes (although I noticed this book didn’t take place in Shadyside and I wonder why that choice was made).
This book was entertaining enough for YA. Destiny and Livvy are fraternal twins who lost their mom and spend the summer at a camp to escape their grief. They work with a guy named Renz who is actually a vampire looking for a replacement for his love, Laura, who was killed by her father when he turned her into a vampire centuries ago. He bites Destiny, but she doesn’t drink his blood before they are interrupted and then she goes back home and starts having symptoms, like craving blood and turning into a bat. Livvy also says she has symptoms and they look for ways to break the curse, but they find out that there are vampire hunters looking for them, Renz shows up working as a guidance counselor (which is never explained, maybe he used mind control to get the job?) to get a chance for Destiny to drink his blood, and they see their father is a hunter. In the end, Destiny surprisingly steaks Renz, realizes her father somehow found a cure, finds out Livvy chose to be a vampire and turned her boyfriend who Destiny also liked, and then turns back, while Livvy flies off with said boyfriend (because they can turn into birds?).
Nothing is explained in this book well and you just have to go with it. Vampires can be out in the sun? Sure! A veterinarian can find a cure for fledgling vampirism? Ok! And the book gets oddly dark randomly with finding out the mother hanged herself to avoid becoming a vampire completely.
Stine also stereotypes women a lot in his books. Livvy likes bold makeup, revealing clothes, and hooking up with guys, so of course she’s the “evil” twin who wants to be a vampire and takes the guy Destiny likes. I suppose this book is a product of its time, though. When I was younger, I would have totally gone along with the “Livvy is a skank” perception. But I also read a review that said this book did well including some real moments of grief and I felt badly for her when she said she became a vampire because she could not stand dying one day like her mom.
Renz was weird and I never got his appeal. He was just constantly moaning about Laura all the time.
But some parts of this book were memorable, like Livvy and Destiny telling the kids you have to suck on a wound to stop the bleeding. (And no one mentioned AIDS?!) The coach’s wife being alive was interesting and I liked when Destiny steaked Renz out of nowhere. There was also a memorable scuffle around a deer carcass, which was creative!
I saw some reviewer wrote that teenagers don’t talk like this and aside from the token dark-skinned friend from camp (I forgot her name’s) dialogue, it didn’t strike me as odd, especially Ari. He was such the stereotypical beta male trying to girlfriend zone Destiny and I thought it was incredibly accurate based on my own high school experience. I also wish he had died!
Anyway, I’ll read the sequel because I’m mildly interested and my book came with both of them together, which I got for like $3 at a used bookstore.
Final thought: What kind of camp has yearbooks?!
February 3, 2020
I remember borrowing this book from the school library and reading it for my book report years ago. I also remember really liking it at the time but I could only remember the grocery store scene and animal victims. Why that scene in particular? I don’t know. I was excited to find this book second hand months ago because I’ve been wanting to find it and reread it for a minute. I’d say it was pretty good, nothing to write home about. I will say, however, that the writing and overall storytelling is fairly decent compared to the poor writing I’ve seen in a few R.L. Stine books. The characters are ok, pretty bland. I would’ve like Ari and Destiny to of officially ended up together too, it seems she just forgets about her crush on Ross half way through the book. Usually R.L. Stine books end on either a happy note or his trademark ominous twists. I thought the ending to be pretty bittersweet and different from what I’m used to from him, but that’s a good thing, I liked it. Overall, it was decent. A quick read, one you could power through in one day if you really wanted to.
November 27, 2019
Dangerous Girls is a book that is quick to read , interesting enough to keep you entertained to the end — but lacks a really good resolution . In fact it really takes away from the books enjoyability to me . The ending is plastic - the villain is killed too quickly, everyone could see the “her dad is the Restorer” as he’s one of the few characters that we are introduced to it that qualified .
No one should be surprised by her dad being the restorer / main slayer as he was rarely home at work- a motive too convenient to not ignore , and we weren’t really introduced to any one else who could be them.
Overall - a fun read , fast paced - but don’t get your hopes up for the ending .
No one should be surprised by her dad being the restorer / main slayer as he was rarely home at work- a motive too convenient to not ignore , and we weren’t really introduced to any one else who could be them.
Overall - a fun read , fast paced - but don’t get your hopes up for the ending .
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 30, 2024
This was one of my fav book as a teenager. You know, good old twilight days, vampires were it. I liked that even though this was young teen book, it had elements of being adult and mature which I appreciated at that age. It follows twins, they essentially go off to summer camp, meet a boy and then come back feeling all weird, turns out they are turning into vampires. You kind of get wrapped up in the fantasy of the romance but then at the end you come to realize that no, vampires are dangerous and it’s not that simple, it leaves off kind of on a cliffhanger. Did not know until today that there’s a sequel haha, maybe I need to come back to this series.
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January 31, 2025[YA book, Adult Reviewer]
Silly and unrealistic (conversations, reactions, etc.), and often over-the-top.
But possibly OK if you enjoy reading anything involving teens & vampires.
There were some funny parts -- perhaps unintentionally so. And a twist of sorts.
Ends on a bit of a cliffhanger; cue Book # 2: The Taste of Night
YA rating: ~ 2.4 skulls. Not great, but mildly entertaining at times.
Adult rating: Avoid.
Silly and unrealistic (conversations, reactions, etc.), and often over-the-top.
But possibly OK if you enjoy reading anything involving teens & vampires.
There were some funny parts -- perhaps unintentionally so. And a twist of sorts.
Ends on a bit of a cliffhanger; cue Book # 2: The Taste of Night
YA rating: ~ 2.4 skulls. Not great, but mildly entertaining at times.
Adult rating: Avoid.
July 6, 2022
The story of this book is what held my interest the most. The mystery behind if Destiny really was Laura in another life who had been reincarnated. The beginning of the story held my attention and was such a good start! The only problem I had was that I really didn't care for any of the characters. There wasn't much about them that made me feel much of anything for them. I know they were caught up in all of the vampire mysteries and such. They also didn't really all like each other that much. A lot of the relationships were so strained and dramatic.
July 7, 2021
I read this book in either middle or high school and have thought about it over the years. Something called me to revisit it and now as an adult who loves campy, cheesy 80s horror, I still think this is a lot of fun. It ticks all of my boxes, it's tense but still a little goofy, has some aged elements (dial up internet, video rentals!) So it's nostalgic to me in so many ways. I'm glad I picked it up again.
March 10, 2022
This is Stine's sweet spot. He wrote at least one adult novel that I wasn't a fan of when I read it as a kid and he wrote kind-centric stuff with Goosebumps and it felt too young. But this is that Goldilocks level of perfection where his writing fits with the characters and there's an edge to it.
There are cigarettes, talk of sex, and even two curse words - nothing too crazy but a far cry from Goosebumps books.
There are cigarettes, talk of sex, and even two curse words - nothing too crazy but a far cry from Goosebumps books.
October 30, 2018
My first R.L. Stine read! I recall seeing a good friend of mine read this back in high school - in fact, I believe she had the duology titled as Bitten - and had been interested in this ever since.
While I was expecting it to be more fun, I understood as I read on that this was meant to be horror, and enjoyed all the twists and turns towards the end. I was left excited to read the sequel!
While I was expecting it to be more fun, I understood as I read on that this was meant to be horror, and enjoyed all the twists and turns towards the end. I was left excited to read the sequel!
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