Today I am handing the reigns of to my super talented cousin Julie! I asked Julie to do a guest review for me because I’m working weird hours this week and didn’t have a ton of time to devote to the blog. And of course the one week where I’m trying to prove myself at this job…I’m getting sick. This is my life people..never fails.
Where I read mostly romance, Julie tends to gravitate towards mysteries. She said she had picked up V.C. Andrews newest book so I asked her to write up her thoughts for me. Everyone welcome Julie!! *Waving*
Daughter of Darkness by VC Andrews
New York Times Bestselling author V.C Andrews (aka Andrew Neiderman) ventures into the world of vampires in this all-new novel, Daughter of Darkness.
Seventeen-year-old Lorelei Patio is the adopted daughter of a two-hundred-year-old vampire, Sergio Patio. She never realized why her family has had to move often or why she is not permitted to get too friendly with other young people. In fact, except for one shocking moment, that seemed more like a dream, Lorelei never fully realized who and what her father was, nor what her sisters were brought up to do for him. But one day, that all changed.
Daughter of Darkness is a cool title, right? The cover is sexy and the author V.C. Andrews is famous, so…I was confused and disappointed. I feel compelled to preface my review by saying I’ve read about fifty other reviews of this book in preparation to write my own. I did this hoping for an epiphany, seeking some word of wisdom, some tiny morsel of proverbial light, so I could do a headslap, return to the book and see it for the brilliance I had surely missed.
I found no such nugget.
Daughter of Darkness is about 400 pages in length, and there is literally no action or story to be found for over 170 pages. Then, we’re thrown a bone, which is snatched away by page 173 and we’re trapped back inside the main character, Lorelei’s, head for another fifty or so pages. VC Andrews describes the dreary life of Lorelei from her perspective – at length. She had a bizarre upbringing as the daughter of a vampire would. Everything is and I quote “shrouded in secrets and wrapped in a mystery.” She says or thinks these words several times. She’s personality deficient and we’re stuck in her head. I started skimming pages around one hundred looking for a scene outside of her home or with some dialogue which is not easily found. Overall, the story is about Lorelei coming of age, realizing who she is, what her purpose is (to be sexy and bring derelicts home for daddy to eat once a month). Then, as if to interject a shot of humanity, Lorelei decides that isn’t cool and the story begins – around page 300.
Now, I’m a writer. So, writing a review that isn’t upbeat and promotional is tough. There’s usually something redeeming or positive, or maybe a “Hey, this isn’t my thing, but it was well written, poetic, something.” VC Andrews and the publisher surely know more than I do, but as a reader, I was left wanting my time back. Andrews is known for creepy twists, and this was a new perspective in a vampire saturated market. True. However, it took a long time to get it out. Also, the book is filled with incestuous tones and well…I won’t spoil the incest for you…wait. Oops.
All in all, I’m left bored and disappointed. I enjoy action and banter and innuendo. I can only hope there was a purpose to the tome of detail and backstory. Perhaps there’s a sequel afoot? True VC Andrews fans will likely appreciate this in a way I couldn’t. Vampire fans, romance fans, book fans, not so much.
Julie gives Daughter Of Darkness 1.5 stars
Julie’s BIO:
Julie Anne Lindsey is a writer, blogger and an all around caffeine addict. She’s an unpublished author and you can find her tweeting @JulieALindsey or on her blog at Musings from the Slush Pile she shares writing tips, author interviews, personal experience, and opening chapters from her works.
Thank you for stopping by Julie!
