Pages: 395 (ARC)
Publisher: Macmillan Children’s Books
Release Date: 2nd September 2010
I didn’t look a day over sixteen, yet - if someone had calculated - on that particular day I officially turned 592.
For more than 500 years Lenah has been a vampire - a life of seduction, blood and destruction. But she is sickened by her dark powers and longs to be human again. To feel the sun on her skin; the grass under her feet; the warm breath of a human kiss. But that requires a great sacrifice, for the soul of a vampire is not easily shed…
I’ve read mixed reviews of Infinite Days and I have to admit that this is going to be a mixed review as I can’t quite make my mind up how I feel about it.
The synopsis promised something completely new from new from vampire fiction, something original and full of potential: a 592-year-old vampire queen becoming a human. But it is inconsistent. If you fell asleep in 1910 a vampire and woke up in 2010 a human, there would be serious gaps in your knowledge, confusion and probably a strong dislike of modern ways. And although Lenah has no idea how to work a laptop or what snorkelling is, she has no objections to bikinis or barely-there dresses which seemed odd from a woman who would have worn corsets and been pretty much covered up from head to toe. There was also a distinct lack of formal, Edwardian English turns of phrase from Lenah which was strange. Although, I did like how her remaining vampire traits (ESP, super-sight, easy acceptance of death) disappeared after significant human experiences and realisations.
But Infinite Days is also peppered with clichés. Lenah is a stunning girl who draws longing glances from the guys and jealous glares from the girls. Then there is the predictable love triangle. Lenah is oblivious to how her cute, funny, guy best friend, Tony, feels about her and instead falls for clean-cut, all-American jock, Justin, who’s girlfriend is the school bitch who instantly hates Lenah. Other than his pretty face and gorgeous body, there wasn’t anything there. I just couldn’t figure out what it was that made her love him, and so quickly, too.
From my review so far you’d think I hated Infinite Days, but there were a few things that I did really enjoy. I loved all of the flashbacks into Lenah’s past. It showed vampires as they should be: cruel, vicious, bloodthirsty and soulless. The peeks into her life as queen of her coven were fascinating and I kind of wished that we saw more of it. And in a more shallow light the dresses that Lenah wore in the flashbacks were amazing. Why don’t we get to dress like that now? Infinite Days is a quite slow-moving novel so the last 100 or so pages were a dramatic change and my favourite part of the book.
Even though I only moderately enjoyed Infinite Days, I’m quite curious to read the sequel, Stolen Nights.
Received as part of UK Book Tours.
For my 2010 Debut Author Challenge, 2010 100+ Reading Challenge
Sophie
I've heard mixed things about this one. I'm planning to read it in the next few days and am interested to see whether I like it.
ReplyDeleteAlison Can Read
The fact that Lenah fell for Justin really bothered me too. I felt Justin was so flat compared to Tony and to Rhodes and Vicken, that I really had a difficult time accepting that Lenah would chose him. Otherwise, I did like the idea of Lenah and enjoyed the flachabacks
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you,Sophie.
ReplyDeleteThere was no chemistry between Justin and Lenah, I wish she had chosen Tony.
I agree about Lenah and Justin too. I didn't get their relationship at all.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a smart review - I'm not sure I'd have noticed the inconsistencies you mention. I'm reading quite a few reviews from people who quite liked this one, but weren't crazy about it. It's a good sign that you'd read the sequel though.
ReplyDeleteI think that the book is great! I also think that the author makes Leneh look like a slut though...if I was Leneh I would stay true to Rhode. Dead or alive(:
ReplyDeleteThanks for the balanced review here. I have this on my pile and at least now I'll have more reasonable expectations for it..
ReplyDeleteSeems like an interesting book, I've seen mixed reviews and liked your balanced one - I may try it but I'm undecided.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the honest review! I have this one in my TBR pile, and I'm looking forward to seeing if I'll love it or hate or even be somewhere in the middle like you are.
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