My Love Lies Bleeding by Alyxandra Harvey

Series: Drake Chronicles 1
Genre: YA Fantasy 
Copyright: January 2010
Pages: 256
Book Source: Review copy courtesy of Allen & Unwin

The Drakes are rather different to your usual neighbours. They are vampires and some of the members of the family date back to the twelfth century. One of the children, Solange, is the only born female vampire known and, as such, she poses a direct threat to the vampire queen. Her best friend Lucy is human, and when Solange is kidnapped Lucy and Solange's brother, Nicholas, set out to save her. Lucy soon discovers that she would like to be more than just friends with Nicholas. But how does one go about dating a vampire? Meanwhile, Solange finds an unlikely ally in Kieran, a vampire slayer on the hunt for his father's killer.

My Love Lies Bleeding (Hearts At Stake in the U.S) was a quick, fun read. Quirky characters, a close friendship, action aplenty, a smattering of romance, original vampire lore, hilarious banter and sarcastic comebacks made for a clean, entertaining YA read.

Solange is prophesied to take the throne of the vampire queen (much to her disgust) but first she must go through the bloodchange, the life threatening transition from human to vampire. With seven over-protective brothers, a kick-ass mother and a fierce best friend watching her back, how hard can it be?

Solange and Lucy share equal billing in My Love Lies Bleeding but for me, fiesty, funny Lucy steals the spotlight. Chapters alternate in first person between the two best friends and in my opinion this really worked. I've always liked the alternating viewpoints style of writing; when done well it gives added perspective and a real feel for the characters' personalities, so kudos to Alyxandra Harvey for pulling this off. The romance between Lucy & Nicholas and Solange & Kieran is sweet and funny, the tension simmers but it stays quite innocent making this a great read for the younger teen.

The original take on vampire lore was something else I really enjoyed; The Host, Hounds and the evil Hel Blar, and what's a vampire tale without vampire hunters? Bring on the Helios Ra. It did take me a while to get all the names and affiliations straight in my head but it definitely made things interesting.

At only 256 pages a little more detail would have made this one a lot more satisfying, a bit like potato chips really; 'moreish' but not very filling. As I happen to love potato chips I'm keen to read the next installment in the Drake Chronicles due for release 1st July 2010. Blood Feud is Logan's story (one of Solange's brothers) but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we'll also see more of Solange and Lucy and their love interests.

For more cool info vist The Drake Chronicles website  and to find out more about Alyx, visit her live journal.

Thanks to Jess from Allen & Unwin Australia for this review copy.