Review: Out for Blood by Alyxandra Harvey
Goodreads: Hunter Wild is the youngest in a long line of elite vampire hunters, a legacy that is both a blessing and a curse at the secret Helios-Ra Academy, where she excels at just about everything. Thanks to her friendship with Kieran Black, Hunter receives a special invitation to attend the coronation of Helena Drake, and for the first time, she sees the difference between vampires that must be hunted and vampires that can become friends—or even more. When students at the academy fall victim to a mysterious illness, Hunter suspects they are under attack from within. She will need someone she can trust to help her save the future of Helios-Ra . . . help that shockingly comes in the form of Quinn Drake, a drop-dead gorgeous vampire. Who said senior year would be easy.
I have been reading Harvey’s books since her first in the Drake Chronicles titled Hearts at Stake. I immediately fell in love with Harvey’s quirky characters and fast moving prose. Out for Blood is no exception. With each addition to this series you learn so much more about the rich culture of both the vampire world and the slayer world of the Helios-Ra.
Hunter is a darn good character and very likable to boot. She is smart, and as always in Alyxandra’s books she is hilariously laugh out loud funny. She does not resent her legacy as almost vampire slayer royalty. She embraces but no matter what she has been taught Hunter always does what she thinks is right. To get a taste how bad-ass Hunter is, here is a quote from pgs 63 & 130 of the ARC:
She was right. But that was only because I’d been five years old when Grandpa had started my training. When I’d thought there were monsters under my bed, he taught me how to do a proper sweep to get rid of them.
“Are you ever going to shut up?” I snapped, fear and irritation filled me in equal measures. “This isn’t your monologue, Hamlet. It’s the battle scene, in case you’ve forgotten.”
His eyes narrowed so fast they nearly sparked. They were the color of honey on fire. One of the others growled like an animal. low in his throat. It made all the hairs on my arms stand straight up.
I was going to die for making fun of Shakespeare.
My English Lit professor would be so proud.
Quinn doesn’t take my place as favorite brother but he is a well fleshed out great character. I love the way his mind works and his playboy ways.
As always in the Drake Chronicles a love story is in the air, and again as always that is not the main arc of the plot. The Helios-Ra and vampire royalty must work together to find out what has the blue tinged beast Helblar vampires working on a much more sophisticated level than their normal ways of doing things based on animal instincts.
This book is fun fast paced and a great read of anyone who loves sarcasm humor and thrills.
Why Teens Will Love It:
Harvey breathes new life into vampire myth giving teen readers a dose of vamp lore they may otherwise not read. In addition to that the girls in these books are all very smart, savvy and can take care of themselves, great role model potential. The boys are hot and funny and the plot is relate-able on a teen level even though the book is based in lore.
Why Adults Will Love It:
Adults will love the Drake Chronicles for the same reasons I do. Fun and interesting characters doing great things in a fast paced lore filled modern world. These books are reminiscent of the tomes we read in high-school and have definitely been bumped up to 21st century standards.
Bloomsbury is offering a copy to a lucky reader of this blog. Just comment below and tell me why you want to read Out for Blood!
- Check out Haunting Violet, Alyx’s new book!
- Like the publisher on Facebook to win cool stuff!
- you can add yourself to the Drake Chronicles Facebook.
- Alyxandra has a page on Facebook as well!
- You can check out trailers, videos and lots of cool stuff on the Bloomsbury Youtube.
I received this book from the publisher for the purpose of writing this review.
Interview with Lucy from Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey
I am super excited to bring to you the exclusive interview with Lucy Hamilton. Vampire slayer, and fashionista she slayed me (with snark) through-out the Hearts at Stake novel. You can learn more about Lucy, the author Alyxandra Harvey, and the future books by checking out thedrakechronicles.com. Did you have a favorite character? You can read my review of Hearts at Stake also!
Pam: So Lucy, what’s it like hanging out with a family of ancient vamps?
Lucy: Crowded. There are a lot of boys in that house. It was a big pain when we were younger. We were banned from practical jokes after we tried to fill all the birdbaths with red jello. Mosty, I don’t really think of them as a vampire family, they’re just the Drakes. Of course, over the last few years we’ve had to be a little more careful. Not just with the secret of it, but also because apparently I now smell yummy. Which is, actually, kinda gross when you think about it.
Pam: You and Solange are so different, what makes you best friends?
Lucy: We just get each other. And we’ve been friends for so long it’s really more like we’re sisters. She might seem quiet and calm all the time but she has a wicked sense of mischief when you get to know her, when her undead life isn’t crushing her with stress.
Pam: Your attitude and dialog are refreshing and funny, you had me laughing out loud. Where does your attitude come from?
Lucy: My mom would say I get it from her. Dad thinks I get it from his mom. I just forget that I shouldn’t say everything I think out loud!
Pam: I got the point, you don’t like Tofu, but why it’s an amazing food?
Lucy: Dad makes really good tofu. Mom makes it mushy and disgusting. And really, I just think tofu and ice cream should never meet.
Pam: Can you tell me a bit about the different kinds of vampires?
Lucy: There are three ancient families that carry some kind of vampire gene, which they pass on through birth-only through the male line: the Drakes, the Amritas, and the Joiiks. Together they form the Raktapa Council.
Montmartre is more than 400 years old and an undead jerk. He calls his army the Host. He used to be in love with Lady Natasha who claims to be the vampire queen.
The Hounds are really secretive and I don’t know much about them, except that they’re fierce and superstitious.
And the Hel-Blar are just gross. They’re blue and smell like rot and are vicious feral vampires who will drink from anything at anytime. They scare even Solange’s mom Helena, which tells you something!
Pam: I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but that guy you know the one guy, how did you NOT know you were crushing on him?
Lucy: I think of him as a mosquito bite I didn’t even know I had until it started to itch.
Pam: At the end of book one everything still seems a little tense, do you think the Drake family is safe at the moment?
Lucy: I wish I could say yes. Those boys just attract trouble though (even if it that’s what they say about me).
Pam: Did the Drakes make you give back the crossbow?
Lucy: Shh. I hid it under Solange’s bed. I’m smuggling it out when my parents get back from the ashram.
Pam: What is your fave flavor of ice cream?
Lucy: Chocolate cherry.
Pam: Your sense of style seems fantastic! Can you tell me more about your day to day wear?
Lucy: I like silver jewelery and turquoise. Mom has some great turquoise pieces I “borrow” all the time. And I like shiny things, like sequin scarves.
Pam: Now that you are a vampire slayer / protecter do you wear more sensible shoes?
Lucy: A pair of good boots never has to be sensible! Mine have sky-blue velvet laces. And steel-toes for kicking.
