My Blood Approves (My Blood Approves, #1)

by Amanda Hocking

[Kim Deister]

Vampire fiction is such an enormously popular genre right now and it can be hard to find a story that truly grabs you in a fresh and unique way. There were definately some plot points that echoed some of that popular fiction, but the story that they were woven into kept them from being too predictable. The meat of most stories is the "big secret" around which everything in the story revolves. Even though the "big secret" of the novel was easily guessed almost from the beginning, it didn't take away from the story in any way. Instead, what kept it fresh and engaging were the details that were revealed over the course of the story. It was the stories of the individual characters that blended together with twists and turns that made the story so "grabbing".

The chemistry between the characters absolutely made the book. Whether a main character or a supporting one, they were all so well-developed that you felt as if you knew each of them as real people. They were entirely believable, regardless of how the story made you feel about them. They all had entirely different personalities and their own thoughts and issues. They were not at all "cookie cutter" characters, which definately added to the interest of the story. Alice was a typical teenager, a little self-absorbed and passive in her own life, but she clearly had a good heart and was very relatable as a person. Milo, her younger brother, was definately the grounding force in her life and the sub-plot concerning his own struggles added an interesting twist to the plot. Jack and Peter were such different people in the story, but they were both equally interesting as people. I liked Hocking's way with dialogue and humor, and her ability to bring the characters to life. You can have the most well-developed characters in your head, but if the writing doesn't support them, they fall flat. There was nothing flat about this novel! I felt for the characters, all of them, and that drew me in as much as anything else. I definately had unanswered questions at the end, but I wasn't left wanting. It wasn't at all abrupt, appropriate as a lead-in for the next in the series, which I can't wait to start!

Just a note, the cover art is simply stunning. I am a sucker for a great cover!