Prom Nights from Hell

Book Description

In this exciting collection, bestselling authors Meg Cabot (How to Be Popular), Kim Harrison (A Fistful of Charms), Michele Jaffe (Bad Kitty), Stephenie Meyer (Twilight), and Lauren Myracle (ttyl) take bad prom nights to a whole new level—a paranormally bad level. Wardrobe malfunctions and two left feet don't hold a candle to discovering your date is the Grim Reaper—and he isn't here to tell you how hot you look.

From angels fighting demons to a creepy take on getting what you wish for, these five stories will entertain better than any DJ in a bad tux. No corsage or limo rental necessary. Just good, scary fun.

Customer Reviews:

Big Disappointment.......2007-10-03

Being a BIG fan of the Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer, I bought this to scratch the Twilight itch. (4th Twilight comes out in 2008 :( )

I was greatly disappointed. The stories were very "young" not "young adult". I'm in my 20's and found the stories very boring.

Short Stories by Some of the Greats..........2007-06-14

Prom Nights From Hell encompasses short stories by Stephanie Meyer (Twilight), Meg Cabot (Mediator), Kim Harrison, Michele Jaffe (Bad Kitty), and Lauren Myracle (TTFN). I enjoyed the stories on varying degrees.

As a Twilight fan, I went to Meyer's tale first and was caught slightly off guard about the abrupt ending to her story about Angels and Demons. Next, I read Meg Cabot's take on vampire slaying. It was enjoyable and written in the typical Meg Cabot style. Kim Harrisons' story about Angels of Death surprised me. Having never seen a YA novel from her, I wasn't sure what to expect, but I found her story to be the most enjoyable tale in the book. The other two stories weren't my favorites, but should entertain those who have read books by the authors before.

The common theme amongst the stories is not only that they take place at proms and have a paranormal feel, but also that they are all very open ended. All could be continued and some, like Kim Harrisons' short, should be extended into a YA book. I wouldn't be surprised if we see a few of these spun off into their own books and series.

If you like YA books about supernatural relationships, try Prom Nights out. There should be at least one story you will want to sink your teeth into more than once.

Prom Nights.......2007-06-02

I'm a huge stephenie meyer fan, so when I found out she had a story in prom nights from hell I knew I had to get it. I really liked the story's some were hard to follow. One of the best ones was Meg Cabot's story and Stephenie Meyer's.

What does having a prom night from hell mean to you?.......2007-06-01

What does having a prom night from hell mean to you? Maybe you tear your dress on the way out of the limo so everyone sees your underwear. Or you spend the entire evening smiling for your friends' cameras with lipstick on your teeth. Perhaps you even get dumped on what is supposed to be one of the most important nights of your life. All of these things surely can add up to a prom night from hell, but at least you didn't have the prom night from Hell.

Five of your favorite teen authors have teamed up to produce a set of short stories about proms gone supernaturally, horribly wrong. While you're concerned about shoes matching your purse, the girls in these stories are worried about crossbows and vampires, zombie dates who've been dead for weeks, and a devil in a red dress who causes chaos by snapping high heels and breaking up couples.

Michele Jaffe (BAD KITTY) gives scary a twist of humor in her story "Kiss and Tell," in which Miranda, blessed (or maybe cursed) with superpowers, takes it upon herself to protect a 14-year-old chauffering charge named Sibby. Sarcasm and a roller derby outfit, however, might not be enough for Miranda to keep Sibby safe from a potential murder.

If you're a fan of Stephenie Meyer's TWILIGHT, then you'll love "Hell on Earth." What looks like your normal prom becomes a jumbled mess of broken jewelry, ripped dresses and destroyed romances thanks to the new girl, Sheba, who's really a 186-year-old demon in disguise. But will Sheba's meddling older sister keep the prom from being anything less than perfectly hellish?

If you love the classic horror stories, then flip straight to "The Corsage" by Lauren Myracle (RHYMES WITH WITCHES), a retelling of W.W. Jacobs's "The Monkey's Paw." Frankie wishes for Will to ask her to the prom while holding a corsage she bought from a Juicy Couture-clad fortune teller. You know how the saying goes, though: Be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it. Frankie's wish comes true, and now Will is just dying to ask her to the prom.

For a twist on the Grim Reaper tale, look at "Madison Avery and the Dim Reaper" by Kim Harrison (A FISTFUL OF CHARMS). It's bad enough that Madison's date only takes her to the prom out of pity, but then the guy she leaves with kills her and completely botches her death. Now she's somewhere between human and ghost, relying on a stolen amulet to keep her solid.

And for those of you who are diehard vampire fans, open to page one and start reading "The Exterminator's Daughter" by Meg Cabot (AVALON HIGH). Vampires are alive, well, living in New York and taking Mary's best friend Lila to the prom. Mary, a vampire exterminator with her very own crossbow, is determined to save Lila. With Dracula in disguise at her high school, will Mary's prom completely suck?

Enter a world where Death and demons meet sequins and tuxedos. Whether you prefer a slow, detailed story or a tale that's funny and fast-paced, you'll find something here to enjoy. Your prom may not be as exciting as some of the ones in this book, but at least you won't have to worry about the new boy wielding a scythe.

--- Reviewed by Carlie Webber

Courtesy of Teens Read Too.......2007-06-01

What do you get when five great authors come together to create a paranormal prom anthology? In a word - greatness!

Meg Cabot starts off the collection with THE EXTERMINATOR'S DAUGHTER. When Mary shows up at Swig, an exclusive VIP club in Manhattan, it's not to socialize. No, she's on a mission to take out Sebastian Drake -- and by take out, I mean kill him with a crossbow. But when Adam, a fellow student at Saint Eligius, takes his own potshots at the dreaded Sebastian, things get a lot more interesting.

Lauren Myracle, the author of THE CORSAGE, has written what is probably the saddest, and creepiest, story of the bunch. All Frankie wants is for her best guy friend, Will, to realize that it's his destiny to ask her to the prom. To accomplish that goal, she drags Will and her other best friend, Yun Sun, to visit Madame Zanzibar, a fortune-teller. She's sure that Madame Z will proclaim that Will is her one true love, and that will be that. But the psychic is short on information, but does end up grudgingly handing over to Frankie a dried up old corsage, which she says will grant her three wishes. Over the next couple of days, however, Frankie will come to realize that she'll have to make some requests that she never in her wildest dreams would have thought of making.

MADISON AVERY AND THE DIM REAPER by Kim Harrison is the longest story in the group, and the most involved. When Madison ends up at the costume prom with a dud date, she's surprised to find one guy who can pick up the slack. Seth isn't like anyone she's ever met before. Unfortunately, before too long she'll find out why that is, and the picture it paints isn't pretty. There are deaths, white reapers, black reapers, grim reapers, and odd amulets. I really liked this story, and would be happy to see more of these characters in the future.

Michele Jaffe's story, KISS AND TELL, was by far my favorite. Miranda has a secret. Not only is she a student and a part-time driver/chaeffeur, but she also fights crime in her spare time. It turns out Miranda has special abilities that allow her to do things most regular teens can't do -- like, say, knock over a lamppost just by leaning on it. This particular day turns out to be stranger than the norm, though, when she picks up young Sibby Cumean, a strange girl who has an even stranger habit of kissing every boy she can find. When weird things start happening, Miranda's day turns into an action-adventure movie beyond anything she could have expected. I LOVED this story, and I HAVE to read more about Miranda and Sibby in the future! Yes, Ms. Jaffe, that's me begging!!

Last but not least is HELL ON EARTH by Stephenie Meyer. This is the story of Sheba, a demon on earth who loves bringing misery to others. Her plan is working pretty well, too, because nearly everyone at the prom is having a downright horrible time. Everyone, that is, except for Gabe, who seems not just happy but serene. By the time Sheba can figure out what's happening, it's too late, and prom just might end up having a happy ending after all.

PROM NIGHTS FROM HELL is a great paranormal anthology that teens and adults alike will enjoy. I highly recommend picking up a copy today!

Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"

Average customer rating:

I loved it.
Interesting...and depressing
Terrible!
Dated
A Refreshing Story!

Companions of the Night
Vivian Vande Velde
Manufacturer: Magic Carpet Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0152166696

Amazon.com

The romantic horror genre reaches a new level of complexity in this novel, which manages to be simultaneously thought-provoking and blood-curdling. Kerry becomes the unwitting accomplice of an attractive, mysterious boy on the run, only to discover that he is a vampire. Can she trust her feelings for someone so alien to her? Or has she been "seduced by the glamour of evil"? An ALA Best Book for Young Adults, this was called "a tingly thriller" by Horn Book

Book Description

Kerry's got a tough night ahead of her.
What begins as a simple lost-and-found trip to the Laundromat turns into a nightmarish odyssey of murder, vampires, and--quite possibly--true love. Vivian Vande Velde puts a terrifying spin on what should be a typical night in a small town.

Customer Reviews:

I loved it........2007-09-30

I'd have to say this is either a love it or hate it book.
Some people find it dull, and the charatures one dimensional but I, and many would have to disagree.
When I fist rented this book from the library I sat it down on my dresser, deciding to read it if I got bored enough. So, desion made I picked up the book and failed to put it down until I was finished ever last word- literally!
A day later I picked up the book again, and even though I knew everything that was going on and how it would end, the second time reading it I was still intrigued, and the third time.
The book I found was fast paced and a real page turner.
Sometime in the book you long to travel with Ethan as Kerry had.

I've been wanting to buy the book ever since those three times reading it.
I think the author did a great job with this one and as a vampire fiction fan, I would have to say two thumbs up!
=)

Interesting...and depressing.......2007-09-04

When I saw this book for the first time on Amazon.com I was like "Wow! I MUST read this!" but my enthusiasm was wasted because this book, while good, was not what I would call jumping-up-and-down worthy. The story was interesting enough, but not developted as much as it could, or should, have been. Ethan (or whatever his real name was)seemed much less mysterious to me, and much more like an annoying pathological liar. Reviewers said he reminded them of Edward Cullen from Twilight, but I saw almost no similarities other than the fact that they both were great looking vampires. His personality wasn't just flawed, it was broken and obnoxious at times. Granted, I still loved him, but I can't deny that he is a horrible leading man.
The leading lady, I found dull and flat. The author obviously tried to catch the teenage mind on paper, but I think she failed. It was a nice attempt and all, but still Kerry seemed flat and one demensional even though she was constantly pondering, worrying, and fawning. Even with her mixed emotions, there was truly no depth to her personality.
I thought her decision in the end was the only thing that showed her true character, and still, STILL, she seemed to be a cliched piece of teenage literature. Maybe I felt this way because I think she made the wrong decision, or maybe it's because I know that I would have made a very differnt decision. I don't know.
The story was fun to read, and mildly entertaining, and of course it was fun to try and decipher Ethan, but it's not what I would call great. I was disappointed with it, but that doesn't mean anyone else should be. It was a decent story, with some interesting characters, and an interesting twist at the end. I've reread it, told my freinds to try it, and recomended it to my local library because it has the potential to be wonderful for someone. Read it, it could make you smile. :)

Terrible!.......2007-08-07

This is by far the worst book I have ever experienced. The characters were flat, the plot was almost nonexistent, and overall, there was nothing to recommend this book to a reader. The book had no element or romance, action, or fantasy. It was just 175 pages of nothing. Again, this book has no redeeming qualities. I strongly recommend no one reads it.

Dated.......2007-07-07

Unfortunately, in the light of recent series and publications about relationships with vampires--not the least of which is TWILIGHT by Stephanie Meyer--this novel by Vivian Vande Velde comes up lacking. First published in 1995, the book's plotline takes nearly a hundred pages to really get moving as the main character tries to wrestle with what the readers have known before opening the book: Ethan is a vampire.

Though the narration is believable and easy to read, the plot takes too long to get going, ensuring some readers will never finish. The author clearly has talent; perhaps in the 1990's, her Kerry Nowicki stories were engaging. In the 2000's, they have too much competition.

A Refreshing Story!.......2007-03-20

Companions of the Night by Vivan Vande Velde is a refreshing vampire story from the typical vampire genre today. Although it still is, of course, a romance, and the two protagonists (sort of) end up liking the other one very much, the vampire character Ethan seems much more mysterious than regular vampire characters and you can never really guess who he is and what he's going to do, which only adds to the suspense and excitement.

The love interest also isn't typical as well, as you can see strength from her. In the end, she does something very hard but courageous which leaves Ethan quiet, and she honestly deserves enough respect as any other human girl should ever deserve.

Also, the storyline is something different. It begins when Kerry, the girl, ends up in the laundry place all tied up with a strange group of men holding a handsome boy hostage. As they escape, she learns he's a vampire but her involvement in his escape leads the group to kidnap her family and put them in danger, and thus, they band up for unknown reasons (until the end) to find her missing father and brother. Throughout the story, motives of Ethan's helpful nature is questionable and Kerry is constantly left in the dark about him and what he really knows about this whole kidnapping issue.

This time, though you're honestly confused whose the good guy and whose the bad guy. Should Ethan be trusted? Why does he act this way? Who should our main character side with, the vampire or this other character whose sworn to kill all vampires? Additionally, the paragraph size and simple vocabulary makes this book a breeze to read.

Honestly, buy it. You'd be doing yourself a creepily good favor.

Cirque Du Freak #8: Allies of the Night: Book 8 in the Saga of Darren Shan (Cirque Du Freak: the Saga of Darren Shan)

Average customer rating:

I got lucky
Just ok
One graet book
Cirque Du Freak:Allies of the night
Allies of the Night

Cirque Du Freak #8: Allies of the Night: Book 8 in the Saga of Darren Shan (Cirque Du Freak: the Saga of Darren Shan)
Darren Shan
Manufacturer: Little, Brown Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0316155705

Book Description

Darren Shan, Vampire Prince and vampaneze killer, is obliged to attend school! But homework is the least of Darren's problems. Bodies are piling up. Time is running out. And the past is catching up with the hunters fast!

Customer Reviews:

I got lucky.......2007-08-22

I got lucky when I stumbled upon a Darren Shan book last year. This is good quick fun and just enough scariness and situations to pull it out of the teen series genre in my eyes but neverthess thats where you will find it.

I started and read all 1-12 back to back with only a pause waiting on 12 to come out. GREAT STUFF HERE!

Just ok.......2007-04-16

Once again the Cirque Du Freak series has left me somewhat disappointed. As I began reading the series I thought that the storyline was interesting and even enjoyable to read, but now that I am to the eighth book in the series I feel that the storyline has become drawn out and extremely predictable. That said some aspects of the story I enjoyed were the characters brought back from earier books in the series and the occasional creepy moment delivered by Shan. Overall I feel that the story wasnt awful and I would recommend it to those who liked the previous installments of the saga.

One graet book.......2007-03-01

Darren knew knew for the rest of has life he would have to kill vampenezein the book Allies of the Night in the series of Cirque Du Freak. Darren travels to a town and a unexpected thing happens to him. he meets aperson from the past that he thought he would never see again. Darren is saved in an attackby a person a met along time ago. Darren has to go therw obseclesto do want he wants to do. Darrenhas to protect a person that he really cares about.
I think Darren Shan wrote this book because it was a good mysterey book and intense. Darren said "I really don't want you to come" to the girl he really cares about. I recommed this book to somebody who likes mystery.

Cirque Du Freak:Allies of the night.......2006-11-06

This book is the 8th of a series, "Cirque Du Freak", it is also one of the best. In this book four people are sent on a journey to kill the Lord of Vampaneize. The characters are Darren, Mr.Crepsley, Vancha, and Harket, and this is their destiny. All of the madness starts when Darren has to go back to school:by force, when he goes into his english class his teacher is his ex-girlfriend Debbie. The vampaneize try to kill him and Debbie, but do not succeed. Their savior is Darren's old best friend, Steve, but later finds out he is working with the vampaneize. My favorite part is when the four guys are trapped because the vampaneize are everywhere.

Allies of the Night.......2006-11-06

In this book, half vampire, Darren Shan, full vampire Mr. Crepsley and Vancha March, and little person, Harket Moulds return to this city when they heard of killings which they think are the vampaneze. While they're at the city they find out that Darren was set up to go to school. When Darren was at school he relizes that his English teacher is his old ex-girlfriend. Also in the city Darren encounters with an old friend, R.V, who now was a half-vampaneze. As Darren , Mr.Crepsley, Vancha, and Harket are in search for the vampeneze they join up with Darren's old best friend Steve Leopard. As they are encountered with their enemys, they found themselves betraid by Steve. The group of vampires and little person, runs into a delima whether to save his old girlfriend or to kill the Lord of Vampaneze.
If you love thrilling and action packed books then you will not beable to put this book down.

Average customer rating:

Not Free SF Reader
A riveting read!
LOTS of medical terms but a wonderful all-in-one adventure & romance **READ Summer Of Night FIRST**
I'm not a psychologist...
One of Simmons best books!!!

Children of the Night
Dan Simmons
Manufacturer: Grand Central Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0446364754

Customer Reviews:

Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

More of a standard vampire tale than Carrion Comfort, a scientist working on AIDS adopts a Romanian child. She finds out that its blood has unusual properties, not realising that the baby is a vampire child.

This gets a few people killed, and with some help from the usual sort of vampire book allies she sets out to find out what is going on, and perhaps cure a disease.

A riveting read!.......2007-01-14

I was drawn to this novel as I've always been fascinated by the legend of the historical Vlad Dracul, and I wasn't diasppointed. Dan Simmons has obviously done lots of research on the subject matter, and it shows in his writing and how he pieces the story together. The main characters are also well-drawn and interesting, especially the priest Father O'Rourke and the female protagonist doctor. Post-Ceausescu Romania is well-depicted with its sense of bleakness and lingering corruption [the plight of the orphans are particularly heartbreaking]...my only grouse is that Simmons went overboard in using medical terminology to the extent that it interfered with my reading...I could have finished this book much sooner had it not been for the dense use of medical terms [I actually skipped through the more confusing & unpronounceable terms!]. But overall, it was an entertaining and interesting read!

LOTS of medical terms but a wonderful all-in-one adventure & romance **READ Summer Of Night FIRST**.......2006-11-04

Mike O'Rourke is in both Summer of Night and The Children Of The Night. Summer of Night tells the story of 12-year-old boys, of which a small part of the young life is repeated in The Children Of The Night. They are totally separate stories but I just personally prefer reading in chronological order is all.

The novel opens up with the depressing reality of post-dictatorship and third-world orphan life. Starving & sick babies, neglectful caretakers, government murders, blackmarket babies, etc. I read the first chapter while getting a large tattoo and was near tears, NOT the piercing buzz of the tattoo gun, but from the reality the life style.

There have been many stories (not to mention movies) that try to explain vampires in a medical light but this one was great! There were many medical terms that were important & interesting. You start to wonder whether or not it is true.

This novel, for me, wasn't neccessarily scary. It was very adventurous and even emotional. The deaths of a few characters were rather surprising. The passion/romance were beautiful. Yeah - beautiful. Now THAT'S rare. You don't usually find a good romance/love scene unless you read a "romance novel" (but those are usually so corny!!!) but ones in here were passionate & realistic. Maybe because it's written from a man's point of view??? Who knows - the romance novels I've read in the past were full of falling in love w/in days & un-manly men & fake women. Anyway - I just wasn't expecting to read any of it in this story and was pleasantly surprised.

There are also many Vlad Dracula 15th century flashbacks. Graphic & ruthless stories that draw you back in a time where there was a harsh reality of living in fear of your ruler. Some flashbacks were lengthy but just built to the story of the tyrant's evil.

Wonderful book! I'm reading Summer of Night now - yeah, I'm reading backwards but I can't wait to find out what suspense Dan Simmons holds in this book!

I'm not a psychologist..........2005-03-13

...but I'd imagine it would be fun to psychoanalyze Simmons via his writing. The guy really likes to do in his characters in some pretty gruesome ways. Unfortunately, I haven't cared about a Simmons character in at least the last five novels of his that I read, so I was kind of hoping he's finish off the priest and the doctor in this one.
I first read Simmons' HYPERION based on a review written by a local (Austin, Tx) critic, Patrick Beach. I was not disappointed. I read the rest of the books in the series and grew increasingly disenchanted with Simmons' style and lack of editorial discipline (he just writes way more than he needs to, or at least more than I need to read.) I switched to Simmons' Joe Kurtz novels because they were set in my old hometown of Buffalo, NY. Fun and fast, but not terribly memorable. Somewhere in there I read his excellent short story collection, WORLDS ENOUGH AND TIME, which includes lengthy personal notes by Simmons. (Unless you like self-impressed stuffed shirts, skip them).

I guess the gist of this note is that Simmons can be very, very good and pretty bad. Try to find the good ones and skip the rest. CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT is definitely skippable.

One of Simmons best books!!!.......2005-02-11

Dan Simmons is one the best authors out there, although his fame is lesser than that of many much poorer writers. Children of the Night is one of his best books. This dark tale takes place in majority throughout Romania and Simmons describes it superbly. Count Dracula is ready to die and has chosen an heir to take his place, in the form of an infant. This infant gets adopted by an American doctor, who takes him back. She also discovers that the child holds the key to curing AIDS and cancer, but at what price. The child gets kidnapped by Dracula's fiends and is brought back to Romania for a special ceremony, where the child will become initiated into the vampire life. The doctor with a help from a priest and a Romanian student tries to save her adopted child. The characters are riveting, the writing dark and superb (there is not one boring chapter here). An absolute winner of a book - certainly one of the best vampire novels ever written (especially the history of Dracula).

Abarat: Days of Magic, Nights of War (rack) (Abarat)

Average customer rating:

Fantastic Book
More Abarat Please
A Journey Through the Mind of Clive Barker
Still captivating
too much imagination, too little plot

Abarat: Days of Magic, Nights of War (rack) (Abarat)

Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0060596384
Release Date: 2006-09-26

Amazon.com

The eagerly anticipated second volume of Clive Barker's four part fantasy series, Abarat: Days of Magic, Nights of War, picks up right where the highly praised first novel leaves off. Candy Quakenbush is still on the run from the Lord of Midnight, Christopher Carrion, who plans to establish a Permanent Midnight throughout the 25 islanads that make up Abarat. Candy, aided and abetted by a host of colorful new characters, including Malingo (the affable geshrat she rescued in Book One), continues to dodge Carrion's hired assassins, as forces gather on both sides of Day and Night to prepare for the inevitable war between the Hours.

Days of Magic, Nights of War is a true series book--those who have not traveled to Abarat before will have a difficult time picking up the threads of Barker's complex mythical opus without having read the first installment. But teen readers who have been waiting breathlessly for Candy's return are rewarded with a stunning sequel that reveals her true identity at the novel's smashing climax. As in Abarat, Clive Barker's full-colored, organic illustrations of Abarat's inhabitants stalk and swim across the pages like a Stephen King-meets-Dr. Seuss circus. There seems to be no end to Barker's ever-expanding idiosyncratic vision, and for that, fantasy fans of all ages can be grateful. --Jennifer Hubert

Book Description

All things in their time . . .

Candy Quackenbush's adventures in the Abarat are getting stranger by the hour. Why has the Lord of Midnight sent his henchman after her? Why can she suddenly speak words of magic? Why is this world familiar?

Candy and her companions must solve the mystery of her past before the forces of Night and Day clash and Absolute Midnight descends upon the islands.

A final war is about to begin. . . .

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic Book.......2007-07-15

I loved both Abarat book and would highly recommend them to anyone who enjoys fantasy books. It is fast paced and intriguing.

More Abarat Please.......2007-05-20

It had been quite some time since I read the first book of Abarat, but it really didn't matter. Even though I didn't remember everything from the first book this storyline pulled me right in and refreshed my memory.

In this book Candy really grows as an individual and begins to understand her feelings about herself, her family (mostly her father) and also she opens a can of worms in regards to the untold story of Christopher Carrion and Princess Boa. What really happened between them?

Candy also begins to realize her power.

The characters, creatures and landscape are all amazing. So beautiful and intricate that I want to be there. I couldn't put this book down until the very end, and now I want more.

It's a pleasure to see something truly original and inspired for young adults that can also wholly please an adult. It's also a pleasure to see a female in the lead role instad of the obligitory young boy in the lead with females only for supporting characters.

I reccomend this book to anyone who who wants to embark on a voyage into the fantastic and unknown. I reccomend this book to anyone who has a heart, young or old you won't be disappointed.

Put down the harry potter and pick up Abarat! :-)

A Journey Through the Mind of Clive Barker.......2007-05-15

I loved the first book of Abarat so much that I ordered this book four times! (Well, actually, I forgot I had ordered it when I ordered it again, and accidentally ordered it a third time, and then found it at a secondhand shop before the first order came in, and forgot I'd ordered it until after I'd paid for it....or was Candy Quackenbush calling to me from Abarat?) I had been away a long time from the first volume, and the second does NOT contain a "Previously in the Abarat Series" chapter, so I had something of a hard time remembering where we were and what was happening and who was who, or what was who, as the case may be. But once I had mentally refreshed myself, I thoroughly enjoyed Days of Magic, Nights of War. I do understand the criticisms that there is 'not enough plot', but that's not an accurate description of the book--there's plenty of storytelling, but little that is predictable because our plucky heroine, the amusingly named Candy Quackenbush, is not in charge of events but is rather carried along by them, rather like a ragdoll in a hurricane. When I say ragdoll, I mean a ragdoll with two souls, that knows magic and can travel interdimesionally. And when I say hurricane, I mean, a living hurricane with red dreadlocks and three rows of teeth filed down to knifepoints. Because that's the kind of place Abarat is, sort of the Land of Oz, as seen by Dr. Seuss on acid in a mental hospital. It's not for everyone...in fact I'm a little dubious about the 'young adult' label--sure, maybe the really cool, imaginative young adults, but maybe just as much for the young-adult-at-hearts like myself. My only real quibble is that I have to wait for the next two books--although some big plot points were wound up here, many (including those eponymous Nights of War of the somewhat inaccurate title) remain unresolved.

Still captivating.......2007-02-03

As an author and reader of young adult novels, I greaty appreciate the uniqueness of this series. Barker's ability to use his own artwork to bring the characters and scenes to life is truely unusual, and the frequent and amazingly good drawings give the reader a chance to fill in the blanks when his descriptions of the quirky characters are sometimes hard to visualize. The plot in this second book of the series seems to slow a bit in places, but gradually the reader learns more about Candy Quackenbush (my favorite character)and is treated to her continuous and humorous interfaces in the strange Alice of Wonderland like world that Barker has created. This is high fantasy stuff, and readers should not expect to find a story grounded in the least bit of reality. Some of the scenes and characters are a bit replusive, cruel, or obnoxious as well, so sensitive readers take note. But all in all, its a thoroughly enjoyable read and recommended for readers above age eleven.

too much imagination, too little plot.......2006-12-15

I know I'm in the minority, but I've been underwhelmed by this series. Clive Barker clearly has a vivid imagination -- there are more fantastical creatures and settings running around in his brain than he knows what to do with. Some of the creatures are interesting, particularly those like Malingo whom we actually get to know. But too many pages are taken up with inventories of oddities -- some seen by Candy on her travels, others involving the terrible Christopher Carrion and his assorted gruesome hangers-on. Most of these creations are irrelevant or tangential to the plot, so that I wound up skimming through those passages going "blah, blah, blah," while waiting for something to happen that would actually advance the story arc. I don't think I'll bother with the next book.

Average customer rating:

This reads like a 16 year old wrote it...
Hmmmm......
A book that you just have to finish once you pick it up
A First Effort
Astounding

In the Forests of the Night
Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
Manufacturer: Laurel Leaf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0440228166
Release Date: 2000-05-09

Amazon.com

Three-hundred-year-old Risika looks darn good for her age. Thanks to her "blood mother," a vampire named Ather who turned Risika (nee Rachel) into one of the undead back in 1684, she will always look as fresh as a 17-year-old. Now Risika is a world weary night stalker who sleeps in Concord, Massachusetts, by day and prowls New York City by night, in search of fresh blood to slake her inhuman thirst. One of the benefits of living such a long life has been discovering that most of the popular myths about vampires are not true: "Holy water and crosses do not bother me... and silver does not burn me. If someone hammered a stake through my heart, I suppose I would die, but I do not play with humans, stakes or mallets." In fact, there is little in the mortal world that surprises Risika anymore, until she returns from a hunt one night to find a black rose on her pillow--the same flower she was given on the eve of her mortal death. Knowing that the rose is a taunt from Aubrey, a vampire she believes murdered her human brother, Risika decides to confront her nemesis. In a bloody battle with Aubrey, Risika finally unearths her brother's true fate.

While the plot of this vampire tale may not stand out from the fanged masses of the genre, what does stand out is the fact that the author is 14 years old. Teen horror fans of Anne Rice and L.J. Smith will surely want to experience for themselves how In the Forests of the Night stacks up to their favorite adult titles--and will be especially interested in seeing how one of their young peers plies the writing trade. (Ages 12 to 15) --Jennifer Hubert

Book Description

I was born to the name of Rachel Weatere in the year 1684, more than three hundred years ago.

The one who changed me named me Risika, and Risika I became, though I never asked what it meant.  I continue to call myself Risika, even though I was transformed into what I am against my will.

By day, Risika sleeps in a shaded room in Concord, Massachusetts.  By night, she hunts the streets of New York City.  She is used to being alone.

But now someone is following Risika.  Someone has left her a black rose, the same sort of rose that sealed her fate three hundred years ago.

Three hundred years ago Risika had a family -- a brother and a sister who loved her.  Three hundred years ago she was human.

Now she is a vampire, a powerful one.  And her past has come back to torment her.

This atmospheric, haunting tale marks the stunning debut of a promising young novelist.

Customer Reviews:

This reads like a 16 year old wrote it..........2007-10-02

...which is a compliment, I suppose, considering she was 13 when it was penned. It's actually quite impressive for such a young woman, but the sheer wall of angst, the repetitive use of such overdone terms as good, evil and innocence, not to mention 300 year old creatures who react like high school students when approached with conflict...well, suffice it to say that the high rating this novel has received overall leaves me baffled. The tone, conflict and resolution call out the author's adolescence. I suspect in time, as she gets more life experience, she will be quite good at the craft, but for now? Not so much.

If you are in high school yourself, this might be a good read. Otherwise, skip it. There's plenty of YA lit of high enough caliber to appeal to adult sensibilities. On the plus side, this is an extremely short book, so you won't waste too much of your life if you feel the need to actually complete it.

Hmmmm.............2007-05-21

This is a unique book. It's unique in an obvious way in that it's only about 150 pages. It's also unique in that it delves into vampire world without getting sexually explicit (which I appreciated). Now, because it was so short, the book did lack some depth. With that said, I still found it to be quite captivating. A good read by a promising young author, this book is certainly worth your time.

A book that you just have to finish once you pick it up .......2007-05-05

A thrilling experence that you just want to read over and over again and you feel like you're right there watching the action in your own mind. I borowed it from my teacher for a week and I read it about six times.

-Adam Slavik

A First Effort.......2007-03-22

This is the story of a vampire, living today in Concord, Massachusetts. She wasn't always a vampire, though. Back in the sixteen hundreds, she was a real teenaged human being named Rachel, living with her father, younger sister Lynette, and twin brother Alexander. Alexander had been trying to tell her that there were evil things in the world that might try to hurt her, but Rachel ignored him, despite the fact that he seemed to have strange powers himself. Shortly after that, Rachel was transformed into a vampire and given the name Risika.

Risika has been living the life of a vampire for centuries, but still isn't quite satisfied with what she is. She had a hard time adjusting to the lifestyle and being able to kill humans without guilt. She still seeks vengeance for the death of her twin brother at the hands of Aubrey, another vampire who was there when Rachel was transformed. Now the time seems to be drawing near--Aubrey is challenging her and causing her the anger that may lead to her challenging him. But there is a surprise in store for Risika, something she would never expect.

I liked how this book challenged the basic myths about vampires, making them seem more realistic. The writing, though, was simplistic. I saw the surprise at the end coming, but I didn't think it seemed plausible. It didn't fit into the rest of the story.

Astounding.......2007-02-06

This book is yet again another divine book written by the one and only Amelia Atwater-Rhodes. Of course , it is filled with vampires and Witches and mysterys. Aubrey is a popular charactor in some of her other books that is in this book although, the great thing is although some of the charactors and events are similar or close to her other books you do not have to read them in order to understand whats going on in this particular story.

I also need to single out how well she brought in Charactors. She gives them such a personality that I fell in love with some and hated others.
This book had tons and tons of action and Mystery
No matter what kind of reader you are or what , the plot is so amazing that you have got to read it.

Average customer rating:

Make Sure You Can Get the Next Two Books in the Trilogy as Well as You'll Want to Read Them After This!
A Thriling Read
Stine Returns With A Thrilling Trilogy
Moonlight Secrets
Not the Fear Street I would have expected...

Moonlight Secrets (Fear Street Nights)
R.L. Stine
Manufacturer: Simon Pulse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0689878648

Book Description

When you can't sleep,

there's always NIGHTS.

It all started with Lewis and Jamie. They were sneaking out late at night to be together. Then their friends started joining in. First at the old burned-down Fear Mansion. Later at the local bar Nights.

They called themselves the Night People. And they carefully protected their secret world. No parents, no work, no stress. Just chilling with friends in their own private after-hours club.

But then the nights turned dark. Unexplainable accidents, evil pranks...and then, later, the killings. The Night People know they have to stop the horror all by themselves, or else they risk exposure -- not to mention their lives.

Things go bump in the Night....

Customer Reviews:

Make Sure You Can Get the Next Two Books in the Trilogy as Well as You'll Want to Read Them After This!.......2007-04-14

This is book one in a trilogy so you will want to make sure there are copies to purchase of or your library also has Midnight Games and Darkest Dawn as well. A very good and entertaining read.

A group of kids hang out in an abandoned house where the previous deceased resident was rumoured to be a witch. They stumble upon a secret room and find jewellery inside which they steal. For these thieves the bullies amongst them get their comeuppance for the tormentation of Candy (also one of those who stole jewels), in a series of terrifying events which are also very entertaining for the reader.

A Thriling Read.......2005-11-18

Lewis and Jamie sneak away at night to the Fear Street Mansion.Soon there friends start doing the same.One night while at the Mansion a wall falls down revealing a secret room,the room contains the treasures of the Fear Family.Who were terrible and evil.Especially Angelica Fear who killed alot of people.Anyway the kids help themselves to the stuff.Candy takes an amulet pendant.Soon bad things start happening to Candy's friends who are now her emeny's.Really bad things is someone trying to kill them ? Why does Candy always wear that pendant.So they set out to find out before it's to late.

Stine Returns With A Thrilling Trilogy.......2005-11-16

Lewis and Jamie just wanted some time to be alone in-between working hard in school, college applications, and after-school jobs. So the two seniors snuck out together. Each night, after their parents went to sleep, a little after midnight, they would head out. Then the trend caught on. Soon, Lewis and Jamie weren't the only teens sneaking out at night. First, they went to the old burned-down Fear Mansion, where rats and spiders were found in groups, but it didn't bother them much. Then the Fear Mansion was turned down, and the gang started hanging out at a new bar called Nights - built on top of the Fear Mansion. They were the Night People. But Jamie and Lewis, they remember the crazy stuff that happened, the stuff that caused them to be left back, and repeat Senior year, and leave them in the hospital for months. They all just wanted to have a good time, and hang out with their friends with no parents around to interfere with them. But then the nights turned bleak. Accidents began to happen, pranks gone wrong, and death. Now the Night People must find out the truth, before their secret is exposed.

I have been a fan of R.L. Stine since I was 6-years-old, and have loved everything that he's ever penned. Though MOONLIGHT SECRETS, and the FEAR STREET NIGHTS series, in general, has got to be one of my favorite trilogies by him. Jamie and Lewis are eerie characters, whose cryptic memories of that night at the Fear Mansion send shivers up your spine, while many of the other characters - Shark, Nate, Candy - each possess their own strange quirks. Narrated by Nate, MOONLIGHT SECRETS is a fabulous novel, and sets the groundwork for its sequels MIDNIGHT GAMES and DARKEST DAWN.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

Moonlight Secrets.......2005-08-03

Well, I thought that Moonlight Secrets would have been better but it was good.When Candy always used to rub the stone I thought that she would have been doing all that stuff.When ever things used to happen she will be rubbing it and saying words nobody can hear.When cockroaches came out of his mouth that was gross!But the ending was very shocking.Once I found out the stone was fake I was suprised. I will be reading Midnight Games to see what happened.

Not the Fear Street I would have expected..........2005-07-09

The Fear Street series ended with Stine's ambitious 12-part Seniors series back in 1999. That was six years ago. Though it was an interesting and promising undertaking on his part, it finished off with a somewhat disappointing conclusion, like if he was just interested in wrapping it up by that point. I've been a fan of his books since I was in grade school and so having that sort of ending as a "series finale" of sorts made the following absence of newly-written Fear Street books a little difficult to take. When I learned Stine was returning to Fear Street with a new three-part miniseries, I was curious about how a half-decade absence would benefit or hurt the series. Unfortunately, this book seems to hurt more than benefit.

The first thing that surprised me in a positive way comes early in the novel and is relevant to the story: Fear Mansion is finally being torn down to make way for a new shopping center to revitalize the neighborhood. Simply doing this impressed me because not only does it show that Stine is willing to change something about the series in a major way, but also because it makes sense for the place to be torn down after so long. In a way it brings an appropriate sense of closure to all that came before while at the same time promising something new. As one of the characters says, in a line I'm sure has to be self-referential of the book itself, this isn't the old Fear Street. Sure enough, Stine peppers the book with throwaway references of the digital lifestyle of teenagers, ranging from computer programs to Internet-based chat, things that weren't so much in the popular culture during the run of the original series. I liked this because it felt real and suggests Stine has an idea of what teenagers do nowadays, though this may have just pleased me since he's talking about things I like. Despite these things, this one proves to be one of the worst, if not the worst, Fear Street book I've come across.

The plot (what little there is) is basic Stine fare: teenagers disturb something Fear-related and bad, supernatural things start to happen soon after. Nothing wrong with that since it's a staple of the series. The kids call themselves the Night People, and they sneak out at night to escape pressures of school and such and hang out together at the new local bar, Nights, which was built where Fear Mansion used to stand. Said pressures are never indicated so essentially they're just doing it for fun. The story revolves around the three characters Nate, Shark and Candy, and though there are several other characters as well mostly everything revolves around Candy vs. the two boys due to a series of awful pranks played out. Though it isn't expected of Stine to write up characterizations beyond one-dimension, this book proves you can do worse. You will be very lucky to get physical descriptions at all, and the one main example of that has to be a description of a supporting character that contributed nothing to the story besides being there. Even worse, characters are together for the sake of being together. There's no reasoning behind their relationships and nothing to support them except for the fact that Shark and Candy hate each other. That just makes the whole point that these are teens going out and drinking at a bar every night feel tacked on. Also, when one character flat-out reveals their attraction to Nate, you don't know why it happened or why we should care because it feels like Stine needed a few extra paragraphs to pad things out. Yes, it's likely these things will be picked up again and set up the next two books, but the way they're handled here is seriously poor. It's like R.L. Stine submitted a rough draft outline to a book AS a book and I don't understand how his editor let this pass.

The dialogue is worse than any Stine has come up with before, and when taken into the context of certain situations it's downright embarrassing. Detailed descriptions are slim and this disappoints me when looking back at his earliest Fear Street books, where he placed emphasis on detailing the settings and delivering some mood. The book is more dialogue than description. Over the years I've noticed Stine's writing style become more simplistic and quick, most likely due to the demanding schedule of multiple series going on at the same time. But it's been six years since the last Fear Street. I would have expected him to have gotten better or made an effort to deliver something better for his return. The thing that upset me most was that though the book summary says the danger gets amped up when the "killings" begin, only one death occurs and the reaction to it from a supporting character is so stupid because it lacks any logical, emotive punch, especially when you consider just why that particular death occurs. The rest goes for the others involved because it's too unrealistic, like the consequence doesn't register to either the characters or the writer. You don't even get the sense they're concerned about their night lives becoming exposed, so not only are the reasons to going out not really discussed but the urgency to keep it a secret is hardly there at all.

The biggest violation is the fact that by the end of the book you don't know what's going on or who/what the enemy is, and this isn't acceptable for the first book in a trilogy. The book isn't even a stand-alone, it acts like it's expecting you to come back and read the next one for the answers anyway and that isn't fair. Like with the Fear Street Cheerleaders or even Fear Park, there was a clear, self-contained story that offers a cliffhanger to draw you back, but at least they gave you some answers to what was going on during the first book. Here, it isn't the case and so it's just a bunch of disjointed events without resolution. On that note, the book does offer a lot of gruesome ideas in the classic Fear Street tradition, but I think only a fan would appreciate them after not having any new Fear Street in so long.

I understand that I've gotten older since the last Fear Street book came out and I look at things with a different perspective now, and that could account for how I felt with this book. However, as a fan and a reader I'd have expected him to return to the series with something worthwhile and with reasonable quality. As the first entry to a trilogy, it's a really bad one and a letdown. I'm willing to read the next book but the nostaligic factor isn't enough to give me confidence going in. I need to check-up on the other stand-alone novels he's been doing to confirm he still knows how to write.

Average customer rating:

Final Fate of the night people
A Thrilling Conclusion to An Engrossing Trilogy

Darkest Dawn (Fear Street Nights)
R.L. Stine
Manufacturer: Simon Pulse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0689878664

Book Description

When you can't sleep, there's always NIGHTS.

The Night People are safe at last. After all the ugly pranks and vicious murders, things have finally returned to normal. The friends who are left are trying to forget and move on, taking comfort by meeting up late-night at their old hang out, Nights.

It was the ancient spirit of Angelica Fear that caused all the trouble. And now she's been destroyed once and for all. Burned in a fire.

But if it's true that the horror is dead, what did Angelica mean when her voice cried out from the flames?...

"The Evil Lives!"

Customer Reviews:

Final Fate of the night people.......2005-12-09

The horror is over or is it? Jamie and her cusion think so,after all they killed Angelica Fear in Jamie's Garage.Then Why is a blackbird with one eye terrorizing them? Plus what did Angelica mean when she said the Evil lives? Is the blackbird Angelica returning from the dead to seek revenge or can it be Jamie imaging things???You'll have to read the book to find out.

A Thrilling Conclusion to An Engrossing Trilogy.......2005-11-17

The Night People can finally rest at ease. The evil is gone. Done with. And while the memories of the vicious pranks, and horrific murders are still emblazoned in everyone's minds, they are nothing more than a part of the past. Everything is back to normal. At last. The friends who are still breathing - Dana, Jamie, Nate, Shark, Lewis - are trying to put their lives back together, and still meet late at night at their beloved hangout, Nights, where they can forget about the past. After all, it was Angelica Fear's ancient spirit that was wreaking havoc. And now Angelica is dead. Burned in a fire that destroyed her body, soul, and spirit for all eternity. But if it's true. If Angelica is truly dead, then how come Jamie still feels an evil spirit lingering around. And what did Angelica actually mean when she screamed out, "The evil lives," through the crackling of the flames.

It is a huge rarity for me to read an entire trilogy/book series all in a row based solely on the fact that I usually get bored with characters. That obviously doesn't apply to Stine's books, for after finishing MOONLIGHT SECRETS, I quickly moved onto MIDNIGHT GAMES, and finished up the trilogy with DARKEST DAWN, all in a period of two days. Stine's characters truly grow on you through each book, as you get the opportunity to see them over a period of time, and see how their personalities change after each bought of evil they encounter. Narrated by Jamie's sensible, caring voice, DARKEST DAWN is a marvelous ending to an engrossing trilogy.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

Average customer rating:

Welcome to the Night World
"Never Fall in Love with One of Them..."
This book is amazing
A Must Read
secret vampire is the greatest novel i've ever read!

Secret Vampire (Night World, Book 1)
L.J. Smith
Manufacturer: Simon Pulse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0671551337

Amazon.com

If you think light romantic horror has to be poorly written, you haven't tried L.J. Smith. Meet the denizens of the "Night World," a secret society of "creatures of the night" that has only two rules: never reveal its existence to humans and never fall in love with them. Smooth and exciting, this is froth at its best. Smith's fans will also be thrilled and chilled by the re-release of one of her most popular titles, The Hunter.

Customer Reviews:

Welcome to the Night World.......2006-01-21

Poppy North is a typical sixteen-year old--she gets through school by being smarter than her teachers; likes to irritate her straight-laced twin brother, Phil; listens to New Age and techno music; has a secret crush on her best friend, James; and wakes up on the first morning of summer vacation before her senior year of high-school with nothing more paramount on her mind than what she can do with an entire summer spent with James.

Until the pain in her abdomen, which has steadily been increasing, working its way around to her back, keeping her awake at night, and causing her to lose weight, sends her to the doctor. Who then sends her to the hospital for tests. Where doctors then inform her that she has pancreatic cancer--the kind that will kill you within three weeks to three months.

Poppy, of course, isn't ready to die. Watching the reaction of her family--twin brother Phil, her mother, and step-father Cliff--only brings the truth closer to home. Poppy is going to die, there's nothing anyone can do about it, and it's going to be painful.

Except there is someone who can do something about it. James Rasmussen, her best friend from El Camino High School, her secret crush, a boy who now tells her something impossible--he's a lamia, a boy who was born a vampire, a member of the Night World, and he can change Poppy into a vampire to avoid certain death.

Of course Poppy doesn't believe him at first, but then what choice does she have? There's always been something different about James, and now she knows exactly what the difference is. So she agrees to become a vampire, knowing she'll have to leave her family behind, but knowing it's the only way to avoid certain death.

What follows is a fast-moving, interesting story about Poppy's immersion into becoming a vampire, the toll it takes on her brother, Phil, who finds out what they're doing, and the danger it puts James in. Because there are only two rules of the Night World: Never let the humans know it exists, and never fall in love with one of them. James has broken both of those rules.

What a great start to the Night World series! Towards the end of the book we meet some other interesting characters, which I'm guessing will play major roles in future books, so I can't wait to get started on the next read.

"Never Fall in Love with One of Them...".......2005-07-03

L. J. Smith's fantasy/horror series "The Night World" deals with the existence of a secret society of witches, vampires and shape shifters, and how they interact with the inhabitants of the human world. Although humans have long since gained superiority in the world over the "Night World" minority, the supernatural creatures treat humans with distain and prejudice, often calling them "vermin" and plotting ways in which to regain power over the world.

As such, it is fine for Night World inhabitants to deal with humans in whichever way they please as long as 1. Humans never find out about the Night World and 2. They are never fallen in love with. As the introductory page in every books proclaims: "These are stories about what happens when the rules get broken."

The summer holidays are beginning, and teenager Poppy North is looking forward to hanging out with her twin brother Philip and best friend James Rasmussen. Then disaster strikes - she collapses, is rushed to hospital and diagnosed with cancer. The prognosis is terminal and the cure doesn't exist... and she doesn't have much time left.

Her family are devastated but James is in a frenzy - because he thinks he knows of a way to save her. Unbeknownst to Poppy all this time, James is a vampire and knows that a sure-fire way of saving her is to turn her into a vampire like him. There are several problems however: her family for one thing, and the underlying Night World laws that strictly forbid such involvement in human lives. Poppy would not only have to hide from her own family, but the Night World as well - and does James really want to give her a life of such isolation?

But when Poppy finds out, she makes the decision: she wants to live and she and Phillip prepare for her death and resurrection. The bulk of the storyline is concerned with this detailed process of becoming a vampire which is described in technical rather than mystical tones, told from the three conspirators point of view: James, Phillip and Poppy. The third act is devoted to Poppy's new life as a vampire and her displacement within the world - discovering James has endangered himself for her sake, she decides to take off on her own...but can she manage her new life as a vampire and the new dangers it possesses?

"Secret Vampire" is an entertaining enough read, but certainly not the best of the "Night World" series. Poppy is not L. J. Smith's strongest heroine (at some points she's extremely annoying) and the story itself often goes off onto several tangents with poor reasoning and illogical decisions from many of the characters. And of course, the forced happy-ending is a little hard to swallow - it would have been more poignant if everything wasn't tied up in a neat little bow.

It is not quite the strong beginning that it should have been for the first book in the series, but still a promising one, with a lot of potential for later books. The general premise of a Night World is an intriguing one (especially for the pre-teen audience that they are intended for) and the books get infinitely better as the series goes on. Right from the very beginning Smith introduces minor characters that are later used as protagonists in later installations; namely Ash Redfern and Thea and Blaise Harman. Poppy and James themselves turn up again in "Soulmate" as part of a Circle Daybreak meeting.

Sadly, the "Night World" series has never been completed, as the last book "Strange Fate" has not yet been published - something that may make you reluctant to begin this series. However, although the major story-arc is never completed, each book does stand on its own as a separate story and make good "holiday reads" (books that don't require too many brain cells and are easily entertaining).

This book is amazing.......2005-02-28

If you get the chance to read this book do it. I read the entire Night World Series when I was in the 6th grade, 7 years ago, (with the exception of The Chosen because it was out of print so early on) and loved every one of them. A few days ago I saw my copy of this book lying around and thought hhmm...I should read this. I'm 18 years old now and I still loved it as much, if not more, as I did when I was 11. I've decided to read the enitre series all over again, which means I'm rebuying a few of them. Even if you're not really into Vampires you will love it, it has romance and a great story behind it.

A Must Read.......2004-04-10

This was a really great book. It really touches you when James wants to save Poppy. Poppy is dying of Pancreatic Cancer when her best friend James says he can save her by turning her into a vampire. Everyone should definetly read it. It isn't my favourite book in the series but it is a good start. I really like the way L.J.Smith brings out the characters feelings. It makes you feel what the characters are feeling and leaves you quite emotional.It is such a good book it makes you start to think there is a real night world. My Friend and I love the series and want more books out. I recommend this book to people who like vampire,romance,horror and emotional books. It is da best! L.J.Smith is totally cool!

secret vampire is the greatest novel i've ever read!.......2004-02-21

hey! hello to all nightworld readers. i think night world series are really great. i have only read two of l.j. smith novels and i've find it very much nice. when i have read secret vampire i fall in love with james and every line the characters said seem to mark in my soul. i even feel that there is really a night world around, that vampires and witches do exist.i am looking forward in reading the next series. am .... nothing to say........ just...... night world is the best, especially secret vampire.

Book Description

Dragged into a haunted house by his friend Aaron, Max finds some objects that he thinks might help his ghost friends Nicky and Tara. But when he takes them home for further research, he upsets a whole colony of evil ghosts—and sends a crazy human-melting Heat Ghost after the girl of his dreams! When Max realizes what he’s done, he embarks on a wild ride across town to keep the ghost from melting his classmates. Will he make it in time—or will his whole school melt into the ground, with all his friends inside?

Customer Reviews:

Frighteningly Funny!.......2006-10-06

Here we are at book #3 in the Mostly Ghostly series. This particular series MUST be read in order, as they are told in a "to be continued" fashion. Each centers on Max an 11 year old boy and his two ghostly friends (Tara and Nicky) who don't know how they died and cannot find their parents (also dead). We've spend much of the series thus far with the three of them trying to find even the smallest details on the Nicky and Tara problem...I'm a bit disconcerted at this point that he's not bothered to oh, check the library for articles about the house, books by the parents (who were paranormal investigators), or even news paper accounts about the disappearance/death of the family...mostly what we get is Max (who is practically abused by this brother and put down in ways that are demeaning and degrading by his father while his mother sits by and passively allows this to happen...because GASP, Max is smarter than this is athletic...the HORROR) running from place to place trying to find some pendants and looking more nuts to others as each page is turned.

Annoying as this is, the stories in this series are all creepy, packing in some genuine frights, despite the over the top way Stein chooses to portray Max's life. I like that Max is klutzy and nerdy, not in the "in crowd," and there is a lot of humor that goes with the chills and thrills, which I think makes for good story telling...without the humor, I think the series would get bogged down and depressing. But really, is it necessary for every kid's series to have the "hero" of the story be so very abused and misunderstood by his friends and family? Just once, I'd like to see more balance in this area. Complaints aside, I'm still reading because I want to know what happened to Nicky and Tara's parents as much as they do...I genuinely want to know what happens next and I'm willing to keep reading to find out, and that says plenty about the quality of the writing here! I give it a solid B (mostly because I can't rate it higher with all unrealistic drama regarding how Max is treated by his family), we're finally moving on with the story line and Max is seeming more nuts all the time to the people around him, but we've been given more clues and we're anxious to find out what happens next!

Hilarious.......2006-03-16

It about this kid named max and he has to find out why his friend nicky, and tara died and max is the only one that could see them. Alsomax is trying to find an object that can make his friend remember why they died. By doing that max friend at school started to disapere. So max has to find there parents and maybe they could find out what happened to them. while doing this, max incounters a evil spirit in the house

Hilarious.......2006-03-16

great!.......2005-05-16

dragged into a haunted house by his friend, aaron. max finds some objects that he thinks mightb help nicky and tara. but when he takes them home for further research, he upsets a whole colony iof ghosts.

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