The Emerald Talisman

by Brenda Pandos

[Briana @ Pages Unbound]

The word that first comes to mind when I think of this book is “generic.” I am not in the habit of reading many paranormal or vampire books (The first ones that come to mind that I have are Twilight, Sunshine, and Low Red Moon), but I cannot help feeling that I have seen this plot 500 times before, sometimes on stories published free online. A girl in high school meets a mysterious and powerful stranger and falls instantly and uncontrollably in love with him. At first, there are differences and secrets that keep them apart, but then they get together anyway. They will figure out how to deal with these differences in the sequels. There is absolutely nothing imaginative, new, or realistic about this book.

I give Pandos points for having a solid writing style and creating a protagonist who is not completely helpless (she has to be a little pathetic because the main point of her love interest is for her and readers to swoon over his protectiveness), but she just loses more points by making everything so dramatic. Allow me to quote some sentences from the opening scene:

“In the dead of night, I hung precariously from a tree root that slowly unraveled out of the cliff face, hands bloody and raw. Above me, an animal waited to rip me to shreds. Below, the jagged rocks of the riverbed threatened to smash my body to pieces. I was trapped in between with aching arms, waiting for a miracle as dirt continued to rain down on my head. My lifeline was slipping further down the rock face, taking me closer toward my doom. My pleas for help echoed throughout the ravine, but were greeted with silence.”

It only gets worse as the book progresses. Everything is a tragedy, the end of the world, etc. I suppose that makes this a good read if you’re looking for humor. If you are not in the mood to laugh over ridiculous descriptions or if you are not someone who absolutely loves vampire stories of any quality, pass on this book.

This review was also posted at Pages Unbound Book Reviews