Bookalicious

From Goodreads: A descendant of legendary vampire hunter Abraham Van Helsing, fourteen-year-old Alex is stuck at boarding school near Lake Geneva, Switzerland, when he finds himself drawn into a web of paranormal intrigue. It turns out that Lake Geneva is also home to a secret school for vampires called the Scholomance—and now to a dangerous vampire clan lord known only as Icemaker, who’s using the Scholomance for his own dangerous endgame. With the help of his friends and of special agent Sangster, it’s up to Alex to fulfill his family destiny and stop Icemaker’s frightening plans once and for all.

Alex Van Helsing is a showstopping hero set to leap off the page—stake, naturally, in hand. Drawing from centuries of actual vampire lore and literature (and with a nod to zombies, too!), Jason Henderson delivers a breathlessly paced thriller that will captivate vampire fans as well as readers who loved Alex Rider.

I really liked that we are following a teenage vampire hunter instead of a teenage vampire. It gave a unique perspective to the reading I have been doing lately. The vampires are scary, eternal, and as a hint: used to write poetry. I love how the author used Mary’ Shelley’s Frankenstein as a key to unlocking the mystery.

I love how Alex is unaware that he is a true Van Helsing, that vampires and bad things exist and we get to discover the underworld of evil with him. Being a Van Helsing gives him some unique powers that I think we will get to see him master in the coming books.

I wish that the boarding school aspect was touched upon more. I think the the side characters lacked some depth that could have been given and I hope to see this in the coming volumes. This is a definite must read summer vacation volume. Fresh, fun, brain candy at it’s best.

If you like Maximum Ride or The Demon’s Lexicon you will enjoy Alex Van Helsing Vampire Rising.