Vamped by Lucienne Diver
Llewellyn Worldwide, 2009
ISBN: 9780738714745
Available: New
Fashion-conscious teen Gina Covello is seriously ticked off when she wakes up dead, in a really ugly dress. Even worse, she can’t see her reflection. Her sire, a former chess geek with a crush on her who’s now a hottie, is a definite plus, but unfortunately, he’s also at the center of a prophecy, being used for a political power-grab by Mellisande, the vampire who sired him. Suddenly, Gina isn’t the center of attention anymore. She doesn’t have any true friends, and the surprisingly large population of vamped out high school students treat her like an outcast. But while Gina may be out, she’s not down. She’s charismatic, outspoken, pragmatic, and politically incorrect, with snarky names for her evil nemesis, and plenty of forward momentum.
Diver succeeds at creating a grim and very creepy atmosphere at times, as well as some very disturbing characters, but she fails to make Gina likable or sympathetic. Instead, she comes across as a former “mean girl”, selfish, insecure, and very high maintenance. It’s a little grating to watch her grow more and more dependent on her “boyfriend” and sire, Bobby, and, given her general approach to life, it requires considerable suspension of disbelief as well. Still, Diver’s writing can be witty, although occasionally repetitive- there are a limited number of times that one can poke fun at a vampire’s vanity by pointing out that she can’t see herself in the mirror. Vamped is a far cry from Twilight. There’s more suspense and intrigue than there is conflicted romance. Teen girls are still clearly the audience for this book, though, and many may enjoy this original riff on YA vampire lit. It’s kind of fun(if a bit surreal)to watch the high school pecking order turned upside down.
Reviewed by Kirsten Kowalewski