Now in paperback, the first book--an instant bestseller--in the sumptuous, sultry, and romantic YA vampire series from New York Times bestselling author Renee Ahdieh.
In 1872, New Orleans is a city ruled by the dead. But to seventeen-year-old Celine Rousseau, New Orleans is a safe haven after she's forced to flee her life as a dressmaker in Paris. Taken in by the sisters of the Ursuline convent, Celine is quickly enraptured by the vibrant city becoming embroiled in the glitzy underworld, known as La Cour des Lions, after catching the eye of the group's enigmatic leader, Sébastien Saint Germain.
When the body of one of the girls from the convent is found in Sébastien's own lair--the second dead girl to turn up in recent weeks--Celine must battle her attraction to Sébastien and suspicions about his guilt along with the shame of her own horrible secret.
Vampires exist, and while they're beautiful - they don't sparkle ;) But they aren't the only creatures that exist in this world, though humans aren't truly aware. In New Orleans, those creatures can thrive. But there is a killer at large, one with a message to a very specific person - and bent on revenge. In the middle of that walks Celine, fresh off the boat (literally) and running from a crime in her homeland. Can the killer be stopped before the ultimate goal is reached?
So, what's not to like about the premise? New Orleans. Vampires. A female character who is fierce. ALL THE AWESOME. Unfortunately, I found the title did not live up to my expectations. So much of it felt like it was dragging...does it *really* take that long to build up the story? I was 2/3 of the way through before the pace really began to pick up and things finally started playing out. Plus, in an uncharacteristic way for me, I was correct in who the killer was (NO SPOILERS). Mind you - I'm the person that NEVER guesses correctly in the movies or the books, but I got it in one here. Having said that, I *did* finish the book - mostly out of curiosity to see if I was right about the killer's identity. And it will definitely make a fun "beach read" for some - quick and without much lasting impact. Some of the characters are great - well thought out and interesting. But overall, the book felt more bland than I would have thought, so I don't plan on reading the next one in the series.
