Strange Angels

June 8, 2009
Dru has always known about the poltergeists, vampires and werwulfen
that inhabit the Real World since her father has traveled the country battling them, often with Dru's help. But when he is killed after they move to the Dakotas—and sent back as a zombie to kill her—Dru digs deeper into her history, trying to find out who murdered her mother and who is after her. Graves, an orphan, joins up with her and is soon turned into a loup-garou by a wolf bite, and Dru is able to get some answers from Christophe, a djamphir
(part human, part vampire). In her YA debut, St. Crow (who writes adult novels as Lilith Saintcrow) creates with masterful prose a vivid and dark world that will mesmerize readers. Dru's mix of strength and vulnerability peppered with teenage observations (as when she compares mean teachers to sharks, “machines made for eating, with a finely tuned sense for blood in the water”) make her a fully relatable character, and teens will dig the Buffy-
like blend of supernatural action and wit. Ages 12–up.

July 1, 2009
Gr 9 Up-Sixteen-year-old Dru Anderson has grown up traveling the country with her demon-hunter father. When he tries to tackle a powerful sucker named Sergej in the Dakotas, he is turned into a zombie. After stopping him from killing her, Dru must save herself when she, too, becomes Sergejs target. She is befriended by Graves, a classmate who is quickly bitten and turned into a "loup-garou" (half werewolf), and meets Christophe, a "djamphir" (half-vampire vampire hunter). Dru also learns that she is growing into her own special powers. This is the first book in a series, and a large portion of it is spent developing the three lead characters, which occasionally slows down the action. While Graves seems to be the love interest, it is clear that both young men are attractive enough to draw Drus attention, promising tension in future installments. However, the book is plagued by frequent odd descriptions (a werewolf the size of a Shetland pony and Graves, who is half Asian, described as a half breed), and the choppy pacing is sometimes distracting. Drus inner monologue is a bit wordy during action scenes as well, which drags down the pace. Despite flaws, the similarities to Stephenie Meyers Twilight Saga (Little, Brown) will make this book an easy sell (though Dru is, by far, a tougher heroine than Bella, both in her language and her behavior), and the cliff-hanger ending will leave readers eager for the sequel."Kristin Anderson, Columbus Metropolitan Library System, OH"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2009
Grades 8-11 St. Crows first YA novel delivers a tough heroine who knows how to kick a little otherworldly butt. Ever since her mother died, 16-year-old Dru Anderson and her dad havemovedfrom town to town hunting down zombies, poltergeists, suckers (vampires), and wulfen (werewolves). When they temporarily settle in a snowy Dakota town, Drus father disappears only to return as a zombie that Dru is forced to kill. Alone and hunted, she finds shelter with Graves, a Goth foster kid who lives in the mall. Unfortunately, sinister forces are after Dru and it isnt until the arrival of Christophe, a handsome vampire half-breed, that Dru is able to make sense of her own supernatural identity. Dru is like a potty-mouthed, less quippy version of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, wielding her knives and guns against winged demons and killer wolves. Teens will devour this suspenseful and action-packed read but will have to hold their breath until the sequel is released next year.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)