Book Review: Sacrifice

Title: Sacrifice by Melinda Metz and Laura J. Burns

Release Date: Sept. 20, 2011
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing
Pages: 256 pages
Genre: Paranormal
Rating: 4 stars
Source: Publisher through S&S Galley Grab

SPOILER WARNING: The summary and review contain spoilers to the first book in the series, Crave.

Goodreads Summary: Gabriel and Shay are convinced that they can make their relationship work. Knowing that Shay is half-vampire, Gabriel thinks that his coven will embrace her as one of their own, but instead they view her as an abomination, a thing that doesn’t belong in either world. And they want her dead. Now Gabriel must make the ultimate decision - watch his love be killed by his coven or defy the people closest to him, the people he has spent centuries with to save her.

I had some issues with Crave, mostly the main character’s bratty behavior and the speed at which their relationship progressed into undying love. You can read my review here. Crave ended with a huge cliffhanger so when I saw Sacrifice on Galley Grab, I really wanted to know how the story ends. I’m happy I did because I like Sacrifice more than I liked Crave.

Sacrifice begins exactly where Crave ended with Gabriel taking Shay to his coven believing that they will help and protect her because she is half-vampire. Turns out Gabriel could not have been more wrong and his family hates her. The tables are turned in this book so instead of Gabriel being held captive by Shay’s family, Shay is now the prisoner.

Shay’s character is significantly matured in Sacrifice, it’s almost like she is a different, much more likable girl. If you can look past the idea that they have know each other for about two weeks, you will appreciate the level of commitment that Gabriel and Shay make to each other. To be together, the couple has to fight against the horrible prejudices and the intense level of anger and bitterness that their families feel toward each other. I really wanted these two to be together and that’s not something I thought I would say after reading Crave.

I enjoyed Sacrifice, it makes the series worth reading. It’s a quick read, fast paced and I think anyone who likes YA vampire romance will also enjoy this. 

Content: Kissing, mild profanity and violence

Review of Crave by Melinda Metz & Laura J. Burns

Release Date: Sept. 21, 2010
Publisher: Simon & Shuster
Pages: 256 pages
Genre: Vampire, Paranormal Romance
Rating: 3 stars
Source: Library

Goodreads Summary: Shay has had a rare blood disorder since she was born. In fact, her mother married one of Shay’s doctors, Martin, who left his world-renowned leukemia research to try and figure out exactly what the disorder is and how to cure it. When she turns seventeen, Martin begins to give her new blood transfusions that make her feel the strongest she has ever felt. But she also has odd visions where she sees through the eyes of a vampire.

Review: This book is interesting. In some ways, it is original and different from other vampire books out there, and in other ways, it’s very similar.

Shay has been sick since birth and unable to do things that other girls her age can do and it has made her resentful and bitter. She thinks that her mom and her best friend Olivia are overbearing even though it's clear that they care about her well being. When she starts getting the new blood and the temporary health and strength (and visions) that comes with it, she wants to live life to the fullest which is understandable; her bratty behavior to her friend and her mom is not. Shay’s conduct in the first part of the book is beyond annoying. In her defense, she does mature by the end of the book.

I think how Shay and Gabriel meet, his back story and his family's history is orignal. Shay and Gabriel as a couple is less so. A lot of what Shay does seems like she is crossing things off a bucket list and unfortunately, that includes her relationship with Gabriel. Their romance, both the emotional and physical aspects of it, did not feel very romantic at all.

I still don’t get why Gabriel, a 400 year-old vampire, fell in love with a 17 year-old human girl so quickly. He did find her scent extremely appealing (sound familiar?) but their insta-relationship went against everything he was taught for hundreds of years and yet he was head over heels after a few days.

The book ends with a cliffhanger and a lot of unresolved issues but those issues aside, I will probably read the sequel as I am curious to see what will happen next.

Content: Sex, language (including the f-bomb), teenage drinking and drug use.