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My Review:Title: What Kills Me
Author: Wynne Channing
Series: What Kills Me #1
Published by: Indie
Release Date: June 6, 2012
Format: Kindle Book
Pages: 323
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult, Paranormal Romance
Reading Challenges: Lenoreo's 2019 Diversity Reading Challenge, Lenoreo's 2019 Monthly Motif Challenge
Find it: Goodreads ✩ Amazon ✩ B&N ✩ Kobo ✩ iBooks ✩ IndieBound ✩ Book Depository
My rating:
Blurb:The fight for survival begins.
An ancient prophecy warns of a girl destined to cause the extinction of the vampire race.
So when 17-year-old Axelia falls into a sacred well filled with blood and emerges a vampire, the immortal empire believes she is this legendary destroyer. Hunted by soldiers and mercenaries, Axelia and her reluctant ally, the vampire bladesmith Lucas, must battle to survive.
How will she convince the empire that she is just an innocent teenager-turned bloodsucker and not a creature of destruction? And if she cannot, can a vampire who is afraid of bugs summon the courage to fight a nation of immortals?
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
4.5 stars — well I just went through a very bizarre set of emotions. First, I finished the book and I was like “THAT’S IT???”, I couldn’t believe that while I was getting tired of reading serieses, that the one time I want more it’s not a series. I needed an EPILOGUE or something. Just a kiss. Just that one kiss goddammit. Then I looked online before writing this review and found out — YAY!!! It *is* a series!! And it was published 2013!! And then my hope crumbled when I eventually found out that it’s *NOT* published yet, but still coming. *sigh* I’m really happy for independent authors who get picked up (for *their* sake), but I’m not happy for me, b/c publishing houses delay everything and crank up prices….*sigh* End rant.
OK, so how bout I actually talk about the book?? OK, best thing about it was Axelia BY FAR. She was frickin hilarious, and I just loved her voice. I could see being friends with her. She was just the perfect heroine, such an unlikely character to become this supposed prophecy. And as a fellow Canadian, can I get a “hell yeah” for her coming from Winnipeg?? Yeah, that was all shades of fun. Second best thing was the confusing Lucas. I really liked the way his character changed and grew around Zee. The book had lots of action, great descriptions that made me actually feel like I could know what it would be like to hear and see and smell things differently…and this is coming from a reader who’s not usually big on descriptions, but it worked in this book. And while I have no idea how the series is going to continue, I just want more of Zee’s voice, and obviously more Zee and Lucas….:) So yeah. Now I wait.
ON REREAD:
4 stars — OK, I started my reread and I was like, uh-oh…is this going to be another one of those times where I was more tolerant 6 years ago? Because it started kind of slow, and the writing felt a little stilted. Even Axelia herself was kind of flat as a character, and OMG she made the stupidest decisions! I mean, I guess it fits with a 17 year old, but still…I rolled my eyes hard at her.
BUT!! Luckily, the book totally settles into its pace once she becomes a vampire. Everything ramps up — the emotions, the action, Zee’s character. PHEW! I find it rare that I still feel the same way about some of these early Indie books, but I was sucked right in until the ending, just like my first readthrough.
Zee was still my ABSOLUTE favourite part. She was both snarky and naive, and it really worked for her. I just loved her voice (once she settled into it), and the way she just kept pushing through with a fairly good attitude. She was the heroine I wanted, because she was just so unlikely. I loved watching her get used to her new powers, and how daunting that could be. Especially when she was so strong, but she was not internally a violent person.
And Lucas still moves from jerk to friend to more in perfectly reasonable time. He goes through a lot himself, and yet he keeps pushing Zee on. I can’t wait to see if we get a bit more in the romance department in the next book, it was super light here.
The fight scenes were CRAZY!! I really could imagine it all and it was nuts. And I totally agree with past Lenore, the descriptions of her enhanced senses were awesome.
I’m bummed knowing that this author seems to have disappeared and that there will likely be no more books in this series. I sincerely hope the next one ends on a satisfying note.
I didn’t realize this was a re-read at first and your enthusiasm for the book and happiness about the series made me smile. I’m glad that it stood the test of time for the most part!
ROFL, yup, I haven’t changed too much in 6 years, but I was a bit more squeetastic. 😉