Vamped by Lucienne Diver

June 29, 2009

Hey, all, it's me… Gina Covello, fashionista of the damned. Yeah, I know, I managed to get almost all the way through high school without cracking a book and now here I am immortalized in one. Well, actually, the immortalization process might have started a bit earlier, like in the broom closet at the after-prom-party, somewhere around the time Bobby-freakin'-Delvecchio started gnawing on my neck. Anyway, this is one book I'd maybe even phone a friend about, since it covers all my adventures going from chic to eek. Because, let me tell you, eternity without a mirror or tanning options—totally uncool. And they don't tell you in, like, Vampirism 101 about crazy conspiracies, psycho-psychics and other hazards of unlife. But I will, so stay tuned...

Well of course I've been dying to read this book since I first saw the cover...seriously, it's like eye candy! And let me just say, it couldn't be a better way to visually represent this fun, campy comedy.

Can you imagine waking up in a coffin? Ewww...I get a little queasy just thinking about it. Well, that's what happens to Gina and here's how SHE handled it:

"I fought down my rising panic-no, too calm a word--hysteria, with great unnecessary breathes...until my inner Cosmo girl witch-slapped me with an order to put on my big girl panties and deal with it. I was Gina Covello, dammit. I'd survive now, panic later."

Now there's a leading lady...and that basically describes her attitude through out the whole book. Whether she's dealing with the reality of becoming a vampire or fighting some goon trying to kidnap her, she's not taking any of it lying down!

Gina's priorities are adjusting to her new "life" (death?), her new boyfriend Bobby Delvecchio (yes, the very same boy who turned her into a vamp) and finding out why vampire vixon Mellisande has taken a sudden interest in Bobby and her other high school classmates. After being kidnapped by a few of Mellisande's goons, Gina discovers that Mellisande has vamped out a good portion of her high school and is preparing them for some sort of personal war. With the rest of them floundering and confused, Gina puts on a cute outfit and some spendy heels to lead her friends out of their current predicament.

This is a really fun and funny book. Think of Buffy the Vampire slayer (the original movie) but with a vamped out "heroine", WAY better clothes and a lot more attitude! There is also a creepiness factor added to the story by characters like the psychic boogeyman Gina faces who has the ability to speak to her telepathically while almost melting her brain in the process. Oh, and the last chapter totally sets up for a sequel!

Sure to be a favorite among the vampire/paranormal crowd and perfectly suited for middle school on up. Read it!

Score: 4 points

For more info go to author Lucienne Diver's website