Dinner with a Vampire (The Dark Heroine, #1)

by Abigail Gibbs

[Risa Nichols]

This has easily become one of my favorite novels I have ever read. With that having been said--this book is DEFINITELY not for everyone. There are some rather disturbing elements to this book, such as Kaspar initially kidnapping Violet and threatening to kill her; Violet finding herself nearly raped and killed by a terrifying vampire in the hierarchy; Kaspar's obvious bloodlust and inability to keep cheap sluts out of his bedroom (this really drove me up a wall, but sexuality is a huge part of the vampire world, so really, what can I expect?) and the way her "friends" do a complete 180 and change their opinions and attitude toward her, which had me shaking the book in frustration and wanting to kick Lyla in her all-too-perfect butt!

I had fallen hard for Fabian at the beginning--he just seemed so sweet and full of love for her, it was enigmatic and I was just so drawn to him, wishing that HE would be the one she was going to fall for. My heart twisted painfully as she rejected him multiple times, but unfortunately, you can't always choose who you fall in love with, and that was made painfully obvious as Kaspar really treated her like crap at first. And then, suddenly--so quickly, it gave me whiplash--Fabian and Kaspar change their personalities toward her and I found myself vying for it to work between the two "star-crossed lovers," though it just seemed doomed from the start. And then my heart rejoiced when I read that long before they were even born or thought of, fate had tied them to each other, sealing their fate before they could even choose. Fortunately, they do choose one another, and the way they come together is beautiful.

Anyway, enough gushing. There were some things that seemed a bit too clinical and at times, slightly confusing and a bit like she was trying a bit too hard to make Violet the cheeky, stubborn teenager, but I chalk that up to inexperience. I still can't believe the author is only eighteen, and I truly commend her work and can't wait for the next installment in this series and to watch her grow as an artist. I will definitely be reading this book again and I will be anxiously awaiting her future writings!