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Summary
Summary
On Solange's sixteenth birthday, she is going to wake up dead. As if that's not bad enough, she also has to outwit her seven overprotective older brothers, avoid the politics involved with being the only daughter born to an ancient vampire dynasty, and elude Kieran Black--agent of an anti-vampire league who is searching for his father's killer and is intent on staking Solange and her entire family.
Luckily she has her own secret weapon--her human best friend Lucy--who is willing to defend Solange's right to a normal life, whether she's being smothered by her well-intentioned brothers or abducted by a power-hungry queen. Two unlikely alliances are formed in a race to save Solange's eternal life--Lucy and Solange's brother Nicholas, and Solange and Kieran Black--in a dual romance that is guaranteed to jump start any romance-lover's heart.
Even fans of the genre who've seen it all will find a fresh read with kick-butt characters and family dynamics that ring true for all brothers and sisters--vampire or otherwise.
Reviews (5)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 8 Up-There is a touch of classic fairy tale in this action-packed story that's narrated by a teen vampire, Solange, and her best friend, Lucy, a human. It's another book in the slew of novels in which a vampire hunter discovers that not all vamps are evil and forbidden romance flourishes. Solange is the youngest child and only female born in 800 years to a blue-blood clan. As she approaches her 16th birthday, she is pursued by male vamps from all over. An ancient prophecy predicts that she will be queen, thus putting her life in danger from various forces, human and otherwise. Solange's family is trained in martial arts and other types of fighting and her seven older brothers keep close watch over her. When the current queen kidnaps her, Lucy convinces Solange's brother Nicholas to help rescue her, and a frantic search ensues. Kieran, a young Helios-Ra, discovers that his hate for vampires is fueled by lies and helps to save Solange, and a romance develops between the formerly feuding Lucy and Nicholas. This is a coming-of-age story with a tragic heroine and a snarky friend. The two young women try to find some normalcy in a life filled with craziness, resulting in a fun read.-Corinda J. Humphrey, Los Angeles Public Library (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Harvey's debut, launching the Drake Chronicles, is a refreshing take on the familiar teenage vampire drama. Solange Drake, the first girl to be born of vampire parents in 900-odd years, has led a mostly normal life. But as Solange's 16th birthday nears, so does the fulfillment of her genetic destiny: biological transformation into a vampire. And not just any vampire, but a long-prophesized queen. Though Solange is more interested in being a normal teenager with her best friend, Lucy (the girls alternately provide the story's narration), the ruling vampire queen and a human council of vampire hunters feel otherwise. A series of attacks on the Drake family breaks long-established peace treaties and exposes a hidden web of love, hate, and politics. Harvey builds an engaging world of vampire cultures balanced with a smart mix of darkness and humor ("Everyone basically thought of me as a vampire broodmare, meant to give birth to lots of little royal vampire babies," Solange observes). Though the Romeo-esque enemy love interest for Solange is predictable, an emphasis on family and friendship sets this story apart. Ages 12-up. (Jan.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book Review
Solange will need her overprotective family and all of her own considerable abilities to survive the transformation to full-fledged vampire. If the change doesn't kill her, Solange's power-hungry relatives might in order to prevent her from becoming queen as prophesied. Her feisty best friend and an unlikely ally-turned-love-interest round out this kicky vampire coming-of-age adventure. Copyright 2010 of The Horn Book, Inc. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
Solange Drake, a dreamy potter, has more on her plate than the average almost-16-year-old: Intoxicating pheromones waft from her skin, attracting numerous unwanted suitors, and she's dreading a potentially fatal transformation from human to vampire. Her gutsy, weapons-trained best friend Lucy is supportive, but she's increasingly preoccupied with Nicholas, one of Solange's five impossibly handsome brothers. Solange's family is vampire royalty, exiled from court because of Queen Natasha's paranoia about a prophecy that might be about Solange overthrowing Natasha's rule. Solange wants only to be left in peace, but inevitably, dark forces converge against the Drakes: First, the Helios-Raparamilitary vampire hunters whose brash young leader, Kieran, is attracted to Solangeattack, then Queen Natasha's brutal personal guards kidnap Solange. A pitched battle in Natasha's lavish court culminates in a twist that turns the prophecy on its head, making a normal teenage vampire life possible for Solange. This fluffy series opener is fundamentally silly and derivative of everything from Buffy the Vampire Slayer to Twilight to Harry Potter, but its fast-moving plot and refusal to take itself too seriously offer partial redemption. (Paranormal romance/adventure. YA) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Witty, sly, and never disappointing, this riff on vampire romances for teens unfolds in chapters alternately told by best friends Solange and Lucy. The former is the only daughter in a family of seven brothers, a vampire family in which offspring turn from mortal to vampire on their sixteenth birthday. Lucy, totally mortal, has more bravado, an abiding interest in all things vampire, and the baggage of hippie, peace-loving parents. The good-versus-evil plot involves turncoat vampire hunters, power struggles, and Solange's turn, and both girls, as well as several of Solange's brothers, her debonair father, and warrior mother, are delightfully developed. Each girl's love interest proves an initial surprise but is credibly realized. Fun, funny, and a relief from Twilight wannabes, this first installment in the Drake Chronicles has lots to offer for savvy readers and gives vampire addicts a nice twist on their usual fare.--Goldsmith, Francisca Copyright 2009 Booklist