Monday, July 9, 2012

Until I Die by Amy Plum

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: ATOM

Pages: 320pgs

The Story

Kate may have defeated her boyfriend's nemesis, showing off her sword skills in the process, but Vincent is sure taht she will be at risk as long as they stay together. What's more, it's becoming clear that their relationship might prevent him from fulfilling his true purpose: saving the lives of others.

They might have the romance of the century, but will that be enough?

The Review

A big thanks to HarperCollins Australia for sending me a review copy of this book!

UNTIL I DIE is the next much anticipated book of the Revenants series and it is the sequel to last year's book Die for Me. In this second installment, readers will return back to Paris where Kate and Vincent are so ever desperately trying to find a way in making their relationship work for a change, despite all of the dangers that constantly surround them. But like with any other paranormal couple, there are challenges ahead and just when reality starts to kick in and when the bad revenants called Numa have a new leader, Kate and Vincent's relationship will be put through the ultimate test. But the question is: Will they survive this new danger or will it end their relationship . . . possibly forever?

I'd immensely enjoyed Amy Plum's debut novel, Die for Me, last year as the entire storyline was built around a very interesting and refreshing mythology of revenants, whilst putting this myth behind a modern day and beautiful city of Paris. Now because of that cool factor, I was really looking forward to seeing what else would evolve from that mythology in its upcoming sequel and while I liked this book for what it is, but for me it was lacking something important . . . such as moving forward and progression for the series. Aside from the further backstories being added to the plot and some further character development that is simply there to satisfy readers in the romance department, however I found UNTIL I DIE suffered from the middle-book syndrome, putting its readers in their place so they can slowly gear up for the final installment of the YA trilogy. It wasn't necessarily a bad book, it was just disappointing. There was hardly anything solved in this book - at least for me - and there was more talk than action. But . . . I still have faith in the final book.

For the character side of things, I thought the secondary characters were absolutely spot on, but the struggle for me was the whole relationship between Kate and Vincent. On one hand, I loved the cutesy scenes they'd shared now and then, but on the other hand, sadly . . . I found this couple just didn't have that same old spark that they had as witnessed in the previous book. They lost the spark I'm afraid. It fizzled out as the book went along. I mean, I love Kate for her positivity and strength for the group of friends and I also love Vincent for his complete devotion and dedication to Kate and his friends. But honestly . . . what happened to them? They were so busy trying to make things work, though with Kate she was doing most of the work in this book and Vincent was just off doing God-knows-what. I love them but . . . I don't know . . . I just couldn't see how this pair was going to make everything work between them. It seemed impossible and it IS.

Overall, while using the clever trick of a very shocking cliffhanger at the end, UNTIL I DIE will certainly please many of its readers and will leave you wanting more! Both entertaining and having a few unanswered questions answered like one would expect from its sequel, while I may not have enjoyed this book as much as the first, but if you loved Die For Me then you're going to enjoy this sequel as well! Just be aware . . . there's lot's of teen angst.

The Rating

3 1/2 / 5 stars

19 comments:

  1. I loved the first book in this series. Sad to hear this suffers the second book syndrome. I still would like to pick it up, as I'm interested to see what happens but maybe I won't rush on it. Great review Erin. :)

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    1. Thanks Rachel! It's still a nice little sequel, but it just didn't work out the way I wanted it to. Though other readers loved it, so I hope you do too.

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  2. I wasn't a huge, huge fan of the first book - I did like it, but I didn't really see the spark in Vincent and Kate's relationship there, so for that to carry on in this book is a little disappointing. Not sure if I'll be reading this soon, but I probably will carry on the series at some point. Thanks for the review :).

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    1. Thanks Liz! This series isn't for everyone but still . . . I didn't mind it.

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  3. I loved this one - then ending just killed me and I can't wait to find out what happens next! :)

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    1. The end was a killer, wasn't it? Can't wait for the third book now!

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  4. I totally agree. I loved the first book and this one lacked a spark in the plot and romance =/ Hopefully book 3 will wow us again :) Epic cliffhanger!! Great review!

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    1. I hope so too. The cliffhanger was epic . . . and so cruel.

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  5. Awesome review, Erin! I started reading this a while back and while I loved the first book, the characters and the mythology, I was just not feeling it this time aroun. I don't think I was really in the whole 'paranormal romance' mood, I wanted something different at the time and this just felt the same as other books I'd read =\ I likely will give it another go at some point because even though you had a few issues, it still sounds like a great installment!

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    1. Thanks, Brodie! Yeah I wasn't feeling it either but yeah . . . I get what you mean. I too wanted something a bit different but it was still a nice little sequel so definitely give it another go.

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  6. I really enjoyed Until I Die although I might have enjoyed the first book more! And the ending was such a cliffhanger! I need If I Should Die so badly!

    Anyway, awesome review Erin! ♥ Glad you enjoyed it! :)

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    1. I need the final book too! Thanks Celine! :)

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  7. It's always a shame when the second book in a series suffers but it does sound like you managed to enjoy it as well. It's great that the secondary characters were there to keep you interested!

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    1. It's a shame but I'm glad I still enjoyed. Gotta hand it to those secondary characters . . . they kept be fairly entertained.

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  8. First, can I cry about that ending with you??? I was so upset when it happened that I'm pretty sure I re-read that last chapter over and over again before it seriously sank in! :( But anyways LOL... I actually kinda liked this one better than book one because it didn't feel as insta-lovey to me hehe! x) But I agree about the impossibility of their relationship -- I wonder that so many times with YA couples nowadays!

    Amazing honest review, Erin! Hopefully book three brings that spark back to you :) <3

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    1. *cries together* It really sucked the ending . . . but I'm pretty excited to read the final book and see what happens.

      Anyway thanks, Mimi! I hope book three blows me away!

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  9. Hmmmm. I kinda just bought this eevn though I don't own the first, nor have I read it, but it was $10 in hardback at a second hand bookstore in perfect condition and I've really been wanting to read this series. I'm kinda disspointed you you don't see the spark between Kate and Vincent. In these types of books, the "spark" has to really be there or so much falls flat. Looks like it's doing a Crescendo with the whole second book syndrome thing :/

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    1. That's pretty cheap for a hardback. Anyway the second book syndrome kind of sucks . . . but this book was an okay read nonetheless.

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  10. I'm with you on this one. I loved the first book. So much that I've read it twice now. Until I Die was good, but not nearly as good. I can't wait to read the next one though.

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