I Am Forever

I Am Forever kept me spellbound, entertained and amused, and I hope that there is another book to come soon. Great writing, unforgettable characters and fantastic world-building.

(no rating)
Received for an honest review.

Firstly, I love the covers in this series. Just beautiful! Moving on ...

I utterly loved What Kills Me (Book #1), so when he chance to review this one came up I bit the tour companies hand off. Wynne has such a way with words, not surprisingly when we consider she is a journalist. But she gave her protagonists a wit and curiosity which intrigued me and warmed me to Axelia instantly.

Starting with the (slightly less awesome), ending with the good.

The first half of the book was slow when compared to the thrill ride that is What Kills Me (Book #1), which provided a continuous pulse of action throughout. The first half also alienated me towards the spunky and previously very likeable Axelia. I found myself screaming at her not to do stupid things, not to take risks with other people's lives. She knew the Empress to be a cold-hearted bitch, yet ignored the rules the Empress had imposed upon other's. This arrogance caused the deaths of innocent vampires, people Axelia considered friends. Then, she was upset or enraged at their loss, as if it had nothing to do with her, but gave as much thought to whether Luke loved her or not. This removed me from the story a few times during the first half. But....

... then I realised what I was doing. I was judging her actions based upon what I would do (as a 41 year old woman with vast life experience. And as someone who hasn't been yanked away from high school, turned into a vampire, and pronounced The Divine - Saviour of Vampires). Once I accepted this, I chilled out, and I'm glad because ...

... the second half of the book is so much better. She grows (or remembers she has) a spine and saves, then sets out to avenge, her family, all while asserting herself over Luke, who ... well read it and find out!

I gave this 4/5.

*NOTE: I very much doubt YA readers will struggle at all, however.

Reasons to love it: The beautiful description, the full on head-rolling, blood spraying actions scenes, and the drama of the plot unfolding are all well worth your time and investment. And I look forward to seeing where Axelia and Luke end up next. :) It's a great series by a talented author>

* I recommend this series to ALL young adult readers of urban fantasy and various other paranormal fiction genres.

I was so excited to get my hands on a copy of I Am Forever, the sequel to What Kills Me! I became extremely attached to the main character and her story after reading the first book, so naturally I fan-girled at the chance to read the second book. Wynne Channing has concocted the perfect writing formula and applied it to this series. I Am Forever is fast-paced, intricate and incredibly imaginative! She's taken your classic vampire story, stomped on it, and morphed it into something fresh and enjoyable--with twists and turns in the plot you will never see coming!

The heroine, Axelia A.K.A. Zee, went through a life-changing transformation in the first book which resulted in her running for her life with the help of Lucas, a fellow vampire--who is also a very handsome and noble guy. This book picks up right where the previous one left off, and it's all about what happens next for Zee now that the tables have turned and the monarchy/vampire race has accepted Zee into their society. But even though the metaphorical waters seem still and calm on the surface, you just know that something is lurking beneath the depths, gearing up to make some monster waves! That is the best way I can describe the feel of this novel, and I loved the suspense and intrigue of it all.

Zee really shows us what she's made of during the course of this novel! She is NOT a chick you want to mess with. There are several fight scenes that are so descriptive and intense that you will think you are right there in the middle of it all; it gives me the shivers just thinking about it. Zee is definitely not afraid to get BLOODY. She kicks some serious butt and I love it!

Speaking of love....The monarchy guides Zee down one path, while her heart is with Lucas; who is on a completely different path. Their relationship is really tested, strengthened and defined in this book. These two make such a great team and their chemistry is untouchable--I can't get enough of their banter and interactions! Zee is still full of snarky and humorous musings, and I enjoyed several laugh-out-loud moments prompted by her. There are some new characters that are introduced that compliment her personality so nicely; her new friend, San, being one example. He cracked me up!

I could gush and profess my love for I Am Forever all day and night. But just take my word for it when I say YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK (after reading the first book, of course)! It is well worth it and it's a fantastic read.

*Special thanks to Wynne Channing for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. =)