Hearts At Stake Book Review

Hearts At Stake by Alyxandra Harvey
Publisher-Bloomsbury 2009
Pages- 256
Read- April
Genres- Young Adult, Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Romance
Reviewed by Kate

First Line of book- Lucy- Normally I wouldn't have been caught dead at a field party.
Solange-"I can't believe you were actually going to just leave her there," I grumbled again as Logan pulled into our lane, which was overgrown with hedges.

Review: This book revolves around two best friends, Lucy and Solange. There friendship is almost like any other except that Solange is a vampire destined to become the queen. She was the only female vampire ever born and therefore there are many trying to marry her and also kill her and her family of seven older brothers, parents, and any other family related to her. When Solange is kidnapped her best friend and older brother Logan must save her together, but it's not going to be easy.

I think this book is amazing! It reminds me of City of Bones because these books both balance humor and more serious parts very well. I really liked how it alternated between points of view but it could get a little boring on Solange's side sometimes. It was probably just because Lucy was more fun and funny while Solange was more laid back. Another thing about this story that I really liked was the whole vampire aspect. It was really cool and different from the normal vampires. There were different types of vampires and courts and stuff. It reminds me a little of Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy Vampires but not exactly. I really liked the difference from the usual vampires. This book will also be good for people who like the original vampires, no sun, when they die they turn to dust, that sort of thing.

Now for the story, I loved the story. Yes, there were a lot of little subplots but for me they fit together really good. From the very beginning of the book it held my attention. The plot is really good and keeps you reading and not wanting to put the book down at all. You just always need to figure out something that's going on all the time. Another thing that was amazing about this book was the characters. I loved all the characters, especially Lucy, Solange, and all Solange's family. Every one of them brought something different to the table, including lots of humor. This is a book that I wish I was in the book and could be with the characters, they were all so great, even the bad guys.

I can't say enough about this book but I also can't say too much without giving things away. I just loved the whole story and I think it will be another of my favorite series. One last great things about this book it that it just came out this year but has 2 sequels coming out this year. The second just came out in June, it's called Blood Feud. The next comes out November 1st and is called Out For Blood. I think it's really great that these books are coming out so quickly after the other. In most series you'd have to wait for a long time, maybe even more than a year for books in a series to come out but with this series the wait isn't too bad. While that's great the next books in the series seem to be going through her family meaning the first was about Solange and her, youngest but older than her, brother Nicholas. The next book will be about the next oldest brother Logan but there is promise of more about the problems with Solange. I just hope that the main characters in the first one continue in the other books. I just ordered Blood Feud and am really excited to continue the story. This was a great debut novel by Harvey!

Rating: I personally give this book 5 kisses!


Quotes:

"Solange Rosamund Drake."
I winced. Behind me, both my brothers did the same.
"Ouch-middle name." Logan shot me a sympathetic smile before easing into the living room and out of the crossfire.
"Snitch." I pinched Nicholas. He only raised an eyebrow.

"I'm sorry I almost left you behind," Nicholas whispered tightly to Lucy. "I really thought they'd follow us and you'd be safer at the party.
What?"he asked when she didn't immediatley respond.
"You've never apologized to me before."
"I said I was sorry the time I used your doll for target practice with the pellet gun."
"Because your mom had you by the ear."

"Embroidery?" I sucked at embroidery. Aunt Hyacinth had tried to teach me, but we'd both given it up as a lost cause.Lucy, strangely, had picked it up really quickly and
embroidered a tapestry of Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow for my last birthday."

I kissed his cheek, wrinkling my nose. "Why don't you go up and take a shower. If you stop bitching, I'll even wait for you before I figure out what to do next."
He pushed to his feet, groaning like an old man. "I don't think I like you anymore."
I patted his head. "Don't be silly, you love me."
"Try and stay out of trouble in the ten minutes it's going to take me to get clean."
"I can't make any promises," I replied primly.
He shot Nicholas a smirk. "Good luck, little brother."
I scowled at his retreting back.
"What's that supposed to mean?"