VAMPS: FRESH BLOOD - Nicole Arend

Tucked into the Swiss Alps is an elite boarding school catering to the world's wealthiest and most powerful vampire families. So it is a surprise to Dillon, who, son of a human man who has raised his son alone, didn't even know he had vampire blood in his veins until recently.  But as only half vampire, half human, Dillon is a Dhampire - hardly the trueblood that the wealthy are expecting to be joining their children in the school.

Dillon has a lot to learn about being a vampire, but his blood shows that he is extraordinary, despite being human half. So extraordinary, in fact, that the smallest taste sends other vampires into a tizzy and, according to their ancient school customs, without knowing whose blood they were drinking, everyone voted for Dillon to be the leader for their year's students. This doesn't sit well with Bram - the spoiled, privileged student who's been groomed for this role since birth. Now Bram must serve as Dillon's second.  Maybe Bram's daddy, a powerful vamp, can get Dillon thrown out.

Dillon's only supporter is the headmistress, who believes Dillon is destined for Big things and she does everything she can to fend off the rich and powerful families who aren't happy to have a Dhampire staying with, and leading, their children.

Every class, every lesson, every event, is new to Dillon who must be taught, by his fellow students, how to do things that are almost instinctual for the others (ie how to extend and retract fangs; how to drink blood; how to fly). Fortunately, not all students are opposed to his 'leadership'. Some, in fact, like him a lot. But the one Dillon likes the most, Cora, is in a relationship with Bram. ... oooooh, conflict!

I have to say ... I loved this read.  This was seriously good, escapist, YA fun. And yet, when I break it down and look at all the parts, I'm not sure why. Some books are like that.

First: we have to address the fact that the similarities to the Harry Potter franchise are too strong to ignore. Since HP took the world by storm some 20 years ago we've certainly had a lot of YA fantasy trying to capitalize on readers' interest, but this feels so much as if author Nicole Arend took the HP blueprint, made just a few modifications, then released this book. Instead of wizards and witches we have vampires, but the elite school, understanding headmaster/mistress, boy who didn't even know he was a wizard/vampire, boy who is destined to be special, students who are friends and students who are enemies, parents who try to get the boy expelled ... should I go on?  Almost every page I connected Dillon and his experiences with something in Harry Potter.

And still I had fun.

Arend manages to keep our interest with swiftly moving action and plenty of CTPP (Cool Things Per Page). Anyone who's read a fair amount of fantasy is certainly familiar with various vampire novels, but seeing young vampires, learning how to control their skills, is fun. 

The relationships are absolutely spot on for the target YA reader (maybe we didn't need the actual sex scene, but at least it's a key part of the plot). Dillon can't seem to understand that Cora isn't going to leave the powerful Bram for him, no matter how much he pines and he (Dillon) is clueless to someone else's affections for him.  Sounds like middle school/high school to me!

I shouldn't have liked this. The carbon copy of HP alone should have put me off (and it did, for about two chapters), and the rapid scene to scene discovery of something new that Dillon doesn't know about, got a little tedious. And there's a little bit of ... "Really? Someone who knows NOTHING is taking the lead?" but again, a lot of YA readers might feel precisely this way ("Why am I captain for this in PE class?").

But the writing is engaging and it does move along quickly. The conflict/climax is definitely page-turning and the reveal at the end most definitely makes me want to read the next volume.

Looking for a good book? Vamps: Fresh Blood by Nicole Arend follows the proven-successful blueprint of another YA fantasy to create an exciting, fast-paced story of young vampires in love at school.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.

4-1/2 stars

* * * * * *

Vamps: Fresh Blood

author: Nicole Arend

publisher: Atria Books

ISBN: 9781668013786

hardcover, 336 pages

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