Infinite Days--A Vampire Queen Novel

August 2, 2010
Maizel’s dark and dreamy debut reverses the vampire trend with a heroine whose heart’s desire is to regain her humanity and abandon her evil past. After more than 500 years as the queen of her English coven, perpetual 15-year-old Lenah finally has her chance to become human again when her vampire sire sacrifices himself for the necessary ritual. Determined to live her new days to the fullest before her coven finds and kills her for her betrayal, Lenah explores American teenage life at a boarding school in Massachusetts with best friend Tony and boyfriend Justin. Eventually discovered, abducted, and remade as a vampire, Lenah retains her soul and becomes something entirely new—a compassionate vampire with unexpected powers who can bridge the worlds. She returns to school and her friends, but the coven isn’t far behind, and they aren’t interested in mercy. Maizel’s lustrous style is occasionally uneven, but the captivating characters and intriguing story easily overcome the slight flaws. Vampire fans or not, readers will find a lot to enjoy in this exploration of the power of intent, desire, love, and sacrifice. Ages 12–up.

December 1, 2010

Gr 9 Up-Lenah Beaudonte awakens to realize her greatest wish has come true in this novel (St. Martin's Griffin, 2010) by Rebecca Maizel. After living for 500 years as a vampire, her creator, Rhode, has turned her back into a human, sacrificing his life in the process. Rhode has placed her in a New England boarding school and Lenah begins her life as a 16-year-old high school student. She revels in her humanity-her ability to touch and feel and taste. Lenah befriends Tony, an outsider artist at her school, and becomes infatuated with the most popular boy, Justin. However the coven that she created and once ruled is now on the prowl for her, and her new world quickly disintegrates. Justine Eyre provides an arrogant, nasal British accent just perfect for Lenah. The opening chapters are fascinating and will draw listeners in. Sexual situations are subtly plotted. Lenah's casual remembrances of brutally murdering humans are chilling. The romance is the weak link in the story, making it difficult to believe that the two characters could be soul-sick to lose one another at the story's conclusion. Despite these flaws, Maizel has created a fresh spin on the vampire story, and this is bound to be a popular addition to the romantic horror genre.-Tricia Melgaard, Centennial Middle School, Broken Arrow, OK

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