Friday, June 12, 2009

Review: Red-Headed Stepchild by Jaye Wells

I was intrigued by this book ever since I saw it mentioned somewhere online and was eager to read my own copy. Red-Headed Stepchild is about kick-ass mixed-blood, outcast vampire assassin Sabine Kane. She is put on a mission to infiltrate a cult that is threatening her vampire community which is where the story really starts with Sabina stuck with a demon who tried to kill her, being stalked by a hot mage and forced to let another vampire suck her blood, all while discovering some unsettling truths about things she had been told from birth. (Just a note this is not young adult fiction - there's plenty of sexual happenings in this book (but no actual sex, heh) plus swearing etc.)
Things To Do:
1. Infiltrate rival vampire cult and assassinate leader.
2. Get rid of demon houseguest.
3. Ditch the hot mage stalker.
4. Betray family.
This book is really sassy, Sabina is a sharp, witty leading lady. The banter in this book is hilarious, especially between Sabina and the demon. The action in this book is full on, Sabina is one tough half-vampire :) It's quite graphic, but not extremely so.

I really enjoyed the storyline, apparently it's 'urban fantasy'. Heaps of mythical creatures all make appearances in the book; vampires, mages, faeries, nymphs, demons etc. All living in secret surrounded by humans in a modern-day setting. It was really interesting, fast-paced reading. It raised plenty of questions and gladly supplied the answers, but there's still enough going on for a sequel, The Mage In Black, which I will be looking out for!

Highly enjoyable, somewhat addictive reading. If you're still into vampires but don't want to go through the teen romance, this one is well worth a read.

Published by Orbit, Red-Headed Stepchild by Jaye Wells is out now.







9 comments:

  1. Oh I was curious about this one! I may pick it up after all. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great review, I've been dying to read this one for awhile now. I really need to hit up a store and find a copy sometime soon. I love vampire books still. You should try Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs by Molly Harper (sequel out in August). It's a vampire adult book again but it's sooo awesome, really funny.

    -Lauren

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you for posting this! I remember seeing it on a blog somewhere but couldn't remember where OR the name of it. So I was scanning urban fantasy titles on amazon trying to find the cover. haha This was so much easier. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Awesome review! I absolutely loved this book, it was so funny! You've gotta love Giguhl! :)

    I've reviewed this book, I'll link to yours from mine :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. That title is hilarious! Red Headed Stepchild, heheheh, classic.
    Not sure you noticed because apearently you've been away (I guess the Lemony Snicket stuff was scheduled. I loved it BTW), but you have an award waiting for you over at my blog, crackinspines.blogspot.com .

    ReplyDelete
  6. This one sounds really good! I never heard of it till now. Good review

    ReplyDelete
  7. This sounds like an awesome book, I'm definitely ordering it now :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. This cookie cutter urban fantasy lost me on the first page. When she killed David, her best lifelong friend, without letting him say a word in his defense she became too cold for me. I have to have alittle compassion and empathy in my assassins. Although she finally realizes her mistake, she never redeems herself in my eyes. I could be sorry for killing my best friend. But then she goes on to do stuff that will bite her in the butt. I am sorry I bought it. I read the reviews before I buy, but these reviews let me down. I read so much that I have become much more critical of the copycat writers out there.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Pretty good post, this is one of the best books that I have ever read!
    essay guarantee

    ReplyDelete