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    The Dark Heroine: A Dark Heroine Romance
    The Dark Heroine: A Dark Heroine Romance
    The Dark Heroine: A Dark Heroine Romance
    Audiobook17 hours

    The Dark Heroine: A Dark Heroine Romance

    Written by Abigail Gibbs

    Narrated by Josie Dunn

    3/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    The Dark Heroine: Dinner with a Vampire, the debut novel from Abigail Gibbs, is a thrilling paranormal novel set in London with unforgettable characters and haunting romance.

    When party girl Violet Lee stumbles upon the charming and wicked vampire Kaspar Varn, she embarks on a dangerous adventure through London’s darkest streets and poshest neighborhoods. As their attraction isundeniable, the pair succumb to their desires, but at what cost?

    Fans of A Discovery of Witches and Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight books won’t be able to resist this tale from Wattpadd-sensation Abigail Gibbs. The Dark Heroine is an edgy and wild fantasy; an impossibly sexy read.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperAudio
    Release dateJul 7, 2015
    ISBN9780062416155
    The Dark Heroine: A Dark Heroine Romance
    Author

    Abigail Gibbs

    Abigail Gibbs was born and raised in deepest, darkest Devon. She is currently studying for a BA in English at the University of Oxford. At age 15, she began posting serially online under the pseudonym Canse12, and after three years in the internet limelight, set her sights towards total world domination. She splits her time between her studies, stories and family, and uses coffee to survive all three.

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    Reviews for The Dark Heroine

    3/5

    141 ratings29 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Wow! This is a Book with capital B. I loved it - so witty, well written and well translated. It is a story about a ordinary girl who finds out that there are vampires living in modern day UK. Now she must decide who she is going to be - prisoner or vampire. I already want to read the second book of this series and third and fourth. One of the best books I have read this year and the year before this.
    • 5/5
      Ooh, I LOVED IT! If you love Twilight you certainly love this book. It's full of secrets and darkness but also love and passion. I actually started to read this book in the in internet but never got to finish it. And what can I say, books are always better on paper.

      But back to the review. It was so amazing. I really liked Violet and I just loved Kaspar. He just seemed to be something good from the beginning. And of course if you like vampire romances this was just that of its best. I cannot wait for the next part to come out and I will definitely be one first ones to read it if possible!

      <3<3<3<3<3
    • 4/5
      I devoured this book in an afternoon, it was much better than I expected. I got slightly frustrated with Kaspar's attitude, but I otherwise enjoyed it.
    • 5/5
      wow i loved it so much i really liked the writing and violet was a great character and kaspar oh god i hated him at first but then i grew to love him a lot he's great. all the characters were great, though i do wish we could've find out more about the king and the other dimensions and stuff. and the ending was great i loved it and hated it at the same time it was perfect
    • 5/5
      I honestly loved this book so much. I read it in Dutch, but still.. It was a real page-turner. I couldn't stop reading, even when I seriously had to sleep cause I had to work the day after. I enjoyed it for a 101%; even bought the second part today! Everyone who loves vampires, love stories and unexpected twists: read this one!
    • 2/5
      This is a poorly written teen novel, and I get that it is essentially written by a young person but it's no excuse for some of the themes (its totally okay for the main love interest for the girl to attempt to rape her? He's still in the running for her heart?) and the lack of logic in some of the situations - I was unable to suspend my belief and go with the flow after awhile. I mean I saw a lot of plot moving scenes, but they didn't make sense except to move the plot forward. This was just very immature writing and execution. I really wanted to like it more.
    • 1/5
      Unlikable characters, predictable story, far too long, teens only.
    • 2/5
      First thing first, if you are going to market your book with a cover sticker that says "the sexiest romance you'll read this year", then you better deliver. The sexiness and romance don't start until about halfway through the book, and at that point, i was only trying to finish the book so i could say that i have fully read it.On another note, the story itself, i found, is to be quite different than most vampire novels out there on the shelves. It tells the story of Violet Lee, who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. She encounters vampires on the streets of London one night, and they kidnap her, since humans aren't supposed to know vampires exist. The vampire "royal" family then holds her hostage and keep assuring her that she is never to return to her human life.I felt that this novel was about 200 pages too long. I felt that the characters that ended up together were not a surprise. Another thing that bugged me was in the beginning of Violets stay at the mansion, when she stole Kaspar's condoms, he almost rapped her. that of course if forgiven and forgotten and he remained the object of her affection, because hes a prince, but when the other vampire was going to kill her and threatened to rape her corpse, of course he is the bad guy. I didnt understand the double standard that the author was going for. Overall, i couldnt find myself to give this book more stars than i did because i could not find a single thing to like about the characters. The only character in the entire novel i felt sorry for was the king, and he was a douche most of the novel.If you pick up this book expecting it to be a steamy, sexy romance novel, then you will be disappointed!
    • 2/5
      The promo for this book says that this is the sexiest romance I will read all year. If so, I am in for a really disappointing year in the sex and romance department. I found the book to be typical of its genre and the characters easily found in every other book of its kind. I was ready to stop reading it at several junctions of the novel but held on just so I could list it as read. Dinner With A Vampire is a unique title since the story has little to do with just having dinner with a vampire. The heroine, a teenage girl full of angst who has recently lost a family member and is rebelling from her powerful and domineering father; witnesses a bloodbath of murder between humans and vampires and instead of killing the lone witness to the massacre the vampires decide to take her hostage. She is held hostage for months and I guess somewhere in there she actually does have dinner with the family of vampires that took her so ties in to the title. Violet, the young teenage girl, who despite witnesses the carnage of thirty or so humans being torn apart by a family of vampires and then being taken hostage by them; remains incredibly brave and snarky. Insulting them as only a teenager could. In time she of course, finds the prince, Kaspar, way too sexy to resist. Kaspar is a angry, violent vampire who manhandles Violet often in the early parts of the novel, constantly threatening her with pain and rape. That may be the sexy romantic part. But of course he is hurt by the loss of his own loved one and that is the reason why he is so angry and violent. Isn't this sort of the reasoning many women use when they stay in an abusive relationship? Yes he treats me bad and says terrible things to me, but deep down he is a good person and in so much pain.... Abigail Gibbs is ambitious in this novel, I will happily say this. Not only are there vampires, but she created a total hierarchy for them. With several families and the politics of how they exist with the human world. Not only this but there are other dimensions and portals between them and somehow, in all this there is a prophecy of hope and doom that will make all these worlds collide. Ambitious and not badly written. In truth, my main issue with the book is that I really found the two main characters; Violet and Kaspar, really really annoying. I could only imagine how much more enjoyable the book would have been without them. Which leaves with a conflict. While I did not care for this book, the next in the series; Autumn Rose: A Dark Heroine Novel looks very interesting. Gibbs introduces Autumn Rose toward the end of this book and the character and the mythos that are created around her are very interesting. Hopefully Violet and Kaspar will play little in this one and I will enjoy it much more.
    • 4/5
      So, my sister recommended that I read “Dinner with a Vampire (The Dark Heroine #1) ” by Abigail Gibbs. I have completed the mission and here are my thoughts.First of all, the books title did not impress me. What it brought to my mind immediately was the restaurant scene in Twilight between Bella and Edward. Maybe that’s just my own ‘connect the dots’ problem but I personally was then expecting a rip-off novel. I was however, so totally wrong. Yeah! Being wrong is cool sometimes, especially when you get to thoroughly enjoy a novel you pre-perceived to be rubbish. So anyway…this Abigail girl is the real deal. At only 18 years old, she writes like a pro. The main character is 17 year old Violet, a petite, tough girl with an attitude. She gets swept up into the vampires world when she inadvertently witnesses a mass murder by the royal vamp clan. So she is forced to stay at their mansion while they decide what to do with her. They don’t want to kill her because her Dad is a high ranking public official and the vamps have a secret agreement with the government to stay out of their affairs in exchange for basically the same respect. Of course there are hot guy vamps and bitchy girl vamps all messing with her at the mansion. And while this all sounds kind of lame the way I am describing it, it goes a lot deeper. There are other “realms” or dimensions, with other powerful and interesting beings and a prophecy of the heroines that comes in to play. There is a lot more to this book than the budding romance between the main characters. The writing is perfectly descriptive and I could not find anything to complain about besides the title.
    • 3/5
      Violet Lee had no idea that a girls' night out would change her life. When she stumbles upon a mass murder perpetrated by men with inhuman strength and speed, she is captured and taken back to Varnley, the estate belonging to the vampire Varn royal family. You can well imagine that Violet is not the first such young woman to find herself the Varns' plaything. However, she just happens to be the daughter of a VIP in the British government, and her abduction might just bring an all-out war between humans and vampires, something that not everyone would like to avoid. Violet's choices are to wait it out and see if dear old Dad can muster a rescue or become a bloodsucker herself of her own free will. She would never choose that. Or would she? After a time, Violet is no longer sure what she wants, and the fact that the royal princes are pretty darn hot don't make things easier. However, it turns out that fate has even more in store for Violet Lee.I'm torn on this one. It held my interest most of the way through. However, I'm not sure that most of it was anything new. Teenaged vampire love--been there, done that. These are not sparkly, sweet, non-violent vampires. They revel in their predatory nature. Violet is shockingly not as shocked and repulsed as one would imagine. Then things got weird and pretty vague. There is a Prophecy about nine Dark Heroines. I'm a little unclear on exactly what they're supposed to do except turn into near-goddesses and work together to bring about peace between humans and all of the dark beings, the inhabitants of "the dimensions." (I'm not really clear on the whole "dimensions" thing, either.) The first Dark Heroine has already been found (you'll get her story in the second volume of the series) in another dimension, and now the search is one for the Dark Heroine of the dimension inhabited by the vampires. Three guesses, anyone?
    • 2/5
      The cover statement "The Sexiest Romance You'll read This Year" Is totally misleading. Obviously the person who thinks that never read a Linda Lael Miller love story! Sexiest? Romance?
      This book seemed to have a good start, but the main character : Violet Lee. HATES Vampires, and hates her destined to be lover Kasper.
      She is a human, they are going to turn her, she doesn't want to be turned until Kapser turns up the charm. The last couple chapters of the book they have sex... nothing to get your motor running... and the end of the book was like pulling teeth to get thru.
      If there is a #2 I am not bothering to read it.
      Too bad, this book had potential but promised way too much...
      Oh and the cover also says Dinner with a Vampire.?. They eat several times in the same room... what is that about???

      Would be 1 star but I think YA audience may enjoy the little kinky inuendos and blood orgy in a funhouse that didn't seem very exciting.
    • 3/5
      Going into this book I was a bit skeptical. This story has gotten lots of mixed reviews. And well, I certainly felt like there is an appeal to it but other parts of the book just rubbed me the wrong way.Plot: I want to talk about what I did like in the story. I liked the plot. I loved the idea of dark heroines chosen for destiny that is far beyond them. The alone captured me enough to read through the story. Every chapter reveals more about the prophecy and what is to come. I'm excited to see what each heroine has to offer and they are destined to do.Love: Now this is the part that bugged me. I'm all for falling for bad boys but this guy was just um...out here. The girl gets kidnapped and then treated horribly. Well, she could have been treated worse , still there are certain circumstance and issue that I didn't really like. Like the fact that Kaspar is just really mean and bitter towards Violet. They argue a lot and play cruel tricks on each other. I guess you can say that is there way of flirting. To me, it seems a little childish. Like Violet is on a school playground and Kaspar comes along and pushes her into the mud. Points and laugh. But that is his way of showing he likes her. You know what I mean? There is a lot of that going on in the story that I couldn't really invest in this love. There are many arguments and unexpected plot turns that it felt like the loved is rush. I guess you can say there is more focus on the world around them rather the on them.Ending: The ending of the book wraps up the story well. I liked how well every secret of the prophecy is revealed and how everything came together. I'm interested in reading the next book cause I would like to see what the prophecy says next.Overall, this is an okay book. The plot definitely has a pull of a dark world with magnificent secrets hiding. With an exciting conclusion, Dinner With A Vampire is pleasing.
    • 2/5
      this book started out great the first 360 pages is a love story. On a late night out Violet witness a mass murder of 30 men by none other then vampires. The leader prince Kaspar is cold and heartless but as the story develops a great love story develops between him and violet. Also there is a love triangle. Anyway at this stage there is a few things that Kaspar does being a predator and Violet excepts,as the love story goes on Kaspar nature comes to light, it's not his past doings, it's what he does even while with her, I found several things hard to believe but I went with it anyway. At the start of the book Violet is strong, sarcastic and feisty a real likable character.

      Then the story picks up a notch and I loved the next 100 pages where a great story kicks in, i got lost in it once again, as the love story took a back seat yet a great story line took over. but then on page 490 I felt like screaming to the extent i didn't finish the book with frustration. This is why.

      (* SPOILER )*

      Okay picture this she loves this guy and he loves her. But she is found out on a secret, that her dad killed his mom NOT HER BUT HER DAD. anyway they drag her by the head of hair outside across gravel, place a knife at her throat and decide to kill her. Kaspar all this time is looking at her as she cries but o no he is way to angry to help her. So he walks away to let her die. But a different guy saves her. Anyway it gets worse.

      Later she asks him would you really have let me die and he says yes he would have, because he was SOOOOOOO angry.
      Now this amazing women that I have followed through the book would have told him to drop dead and I would have stood firmly beside her but NOOOOOOOOOOO she pokes him in the side playfully and asks could he forgive her for not telling him about her dad. He replies it will take time.

      AHHHHHH HE WAS PREPARED TO LET HER DIE, AND SHE BECAME A DOOR MAT. I JUST COULDN'T READ ANYMORE.

      there was a few other things that i didn't like but i overlooked but this i couldn't it was so stupid, and annoying. Pity.
    • 2/5
      Please read that last sentence up there again...a passion that comes at a price, a passion that transcends their worlds. More like transcends a huge message to girls about what type of guy qualifies as Captain of the douchbags.This wasn't terrible, this wasn't great, it just wound up being a book that was not for me. I was expecting romance, real romance and excited about the first marketed fresh new adult book for vampire fans. What I got though was just another depressing look into what authors and publishers think is sexy romance. Kaspar, who in the beginning kidnaps Violet against her will, is held up as the handsome, alluring and dangerous vampire who tragically with his forbidden aura of epic hotness and nightly sex romps with random "tramps" sweeps Violet off her feet. Oh yes this book knows its way right into my heart, a hot guy who sleeps with tons of girls and then wants to infect the gullible trapped in a bedroom girl with his germ ridden pee-pee..{insert snarky anger}..... throw in some horse poo, the typical brainless female, the downplaying of sexually abusive relationships, the promotion of a woman's value to sexually satiate a man while enduring physical, mental and emotional abuse, you get this book in a nutshell. Was there some family drama, vampire politics and shady stuff going on, sure there was, did the book become dull and boring and tedious to get through? No the book itself moved along nicely and the length while holy long, didn't take long to read. Could any of it cancel out the disturbing sex or twisted domestic relationships....NOPE, not for this reader.When I first started this book I had no clue the author was so young, sadly hitting the book at page 3000 340 I figured out the author was either a very young writer (I was thinking 17-19) or a middle aged woman who attended one to many Twilight parties. Learning that she wrote this at 15 and has her book being totted as the "SEXIEST ROMANCE ALL YEEEAAAR" made me throw up in my mouth a little bit. Not because Gibbs lacks skills at writing, I see her potential, its the fact that I was so uncomfortable reading this freaked up love story from a child. It gave me the creeps, a 15/17 year old has no business telling me what sex is like and even if they have a few experiences under the belt, guess what I don't want to hear about it.A crazy hot man who shows love by domination and controlling and threats of violence, this is suppose to be romance? I don't care if the dude is a vampire, and this is fiction, Kaspar's a loser and what he is makes him an ugly turd. You know what he is, in real life Kaspar is Buck Thurman. He repeatedly used force on Violet, while she played the helpless girl falling in love with her captor proving to me once again that many of these books we hail as romance just use a vagina for a man to dominate. Even in the end, up to the very last sentence Violet claims she has no choice.......I hate to be the barer of bad news but there is NOTHING SEXY ABOUT RAPE, being dominated or controlled and girls are worth so much more than what we take from these asinine books.So here's the deal, I know people are going to like this, while the subject matter turned me off...I can see how it could appeal to paranormal fans.
    • 4/5
      For me this was one of those books where you say you're going to read to the end of the next chapter but then cant resist reading more because it's too intriguing not to.

      I loved Kaspar from early on, even though he was a pompous, stuck up his own ass Prince. He's one of those characters who grows on you, especially when he let's his guard down and shows his slightly softer side.

      From how it ended i'm assuming there will be a second book and I will happily read it when it comes out.
    • 2/5
      I don't think I have ever been so conflicted about a book in my entire life...When I started reading Dinner With a Vampire, I was very excited and expecting to be immersed into a unique story that was unlike anything I'd ever encountered before. My expectations were met--this is a story that's very different from anything I've read--but not in a pleasant way. Don't get me wrong, on one hand I enjoyed certain aspects of this book. I appreciate the fact that the author surprised me at times and delivered a somewhat addictive story that is so much more than your average, boring vampire tale. This book is filled with prophecies, intense fight scenes, and other supernatural species that I found interesting; there's even a giant squid! I will freely admit that I frantically tore through this book with alarming enthusiasm to get to the end, because it did have it's captivating moments and I really was very interested to see what the ending would bring. But what ultimately doomed this book for me is the frustratingly inconsistent characters!!! Granted, there were a couple of secondary characters I really liked. However, there were MULTIPLE characters that seriously lacked consistency, and the two that ticked me off the most were the main characters: Violet and Kaspar. The POVs alternate between these two, and I just can't bring myself to get on board with these characters as two separate entities, much less get on board with them as a romantic couple. Violet is way too forgiving and naive, and Kaspar is one of the most infuriating male characters I have ever come across. There are many expletives I could use to describe him, but I will be kind and just say that he's a WALKING TURD. Yeah, I said it! He's not romantic and swoon-worthy, he's a creep.Violet didn't annoy me the entire book; she had her moments where she stood up for herself, exuded strength, and her sassy attitude was amusing. But when certain things happen that are completely unnecessary and lack any sense--like Kaspar declaring his undying love for Violet and then LITERALLY two seconds later turning his back on her as she is about to possibly be gruesomely executed--then I can't support this stupidity! Ugh. Then for Violet to be an idiot and completely forgive Kaspar for this, as well as many other unforgivable transgressions, is just plain ridiculous and rage-inducing. As you can see, this book has brought forth way too many conflicting emotions for me to even name. While the plot is one big unparalleled and dazzling adventure, some of the characters aren't. I feel like this story had so much potential and I truly am sad to report my disappointment.
    • 4/5
      At first, I was a little iffy of this book. I'll admit that. However, it didn't take long for me to fall in love with it. There was a lot about this book that was great--so much--but there were a few things (well, really one thing) that I didn't like that much.One thing I enjoyed immensely about The Dark Heroine is it's originality in the vampire genre. Nowadays, especially after the whole Twilight-craze, the vampire genre is getting so cliche, which is so sad. Why? Because vampire lit is some crazy stuff, especially if the story's done right. Authors now look to Twilight as the precedence for all things vamp, which is so terrible. Blegh. Anywho. This book gave its audience a fresh look on vampires. How? It sort of brought them back to their original state. Blood thirsty. arrogant, and vicious beings who are the superior species. Exactly. I loved it.Violet. She was an interesting heroine. She's not like much others I've encountered. She's very feirce, and determined, which is why I think I can forgive her for her decisions.What decisions?! I'll get to that later.Kaspar. OMG WHERE DO I START? So, this vamp here. He's a real prick. He is, I'm not going to change my mind about that. I honestly spent like 90 % of this book hating his guts. (Kudos to Ms. Gibbs on that one because I was feeling everything Vi was feeling.) He's is like the epitome of jerk. Though I have to say he grew on me just as he grew onto Violet. I have a begrudging affection for him, unfortunately. Other characters: well, there were done well with characterization... I mean, each character had their own unique personality, that much was clear.The mythology (plot)... this is probably my favorite part of the story. The background and world of the story is very interesting and the thing that hooked me that most--apart from Violet and Kaspar's screwed up love.My issues: Okay, well. Here it is. From the get-go, all I kept on thinking was "Stockholm Syndrome." Kaspar takes Vi back to his more or less castle/house and keeps her captive as a political prison. It took me forever just to rationalize why the kept her...then I got that maybe it was their best option considering her father's position in Parliament and his hatred for the vamps. I still can't understand why Vi fell for Kaspar at all, albiet my theory. He is a complete and total fucking asshole to her, pardon my language. But it's the truth. I don't even care that he changed toward the end and realized his stupidity. That's why I can't really forgive Vi for deciding to be with him, even though I like them together. Paradox, right?Another thing that was an issue (not really, but I still want to discuss it) was how the vamps treated Vi. Before you judge them too harshly, keep in mind that they are vampires and absolutely hate humans. Despise them. If you were one of them, don't you think you'd treat a lowly human that same? Like scum. Still though, after Vi and Kaspar got together, I couldn't believe Fabian's treatment of Vi. That was uncalled for, I don't even care who he thinks he is. No need to be a fucking asshat like that. My last issue was how graphic this novel was. And I do mean, explicit. There's a sex scene, and boy, oh boy, is it something. Hot and steamy and really just damn. I'm no stranger to explicit side of literature, but even for me, that scene was something. Also, Vi's almost-rape scene...I couldn't handle that. I couldn't even grasp how she handled that. I think maybe that was Vi and Kaspar's turning point.There were many times in this book where I thought Vi was going to die. It's crazy how much stuff goes on. Reading this, while it was definitely something, I don't recommend it for everyone. It's only for those who care truly appreciate a good vampire story, and withhold judgement until the end.Read with discretion. Enjoy.
    • 3/5
      I loved the idea of this book - it reminded me of the vampires that I remembered growing up (oh gosh here I date myself) The Lost Boys - they weren't all romantic and super pretty boys - they were rough and tough "animals" instead of what Twlight has made vampires out to be. I liked that aspect of the book - the writing and rest of the story...I have to say I was rather annoyed. One second Violet is this tough girl and the next she is balling her eyes out...I hate wishy washy characters like that, if your heroine is supposed to be strong and confident make sure she stays that way (minus of course big extremes where I think anyone would probably break down and cry). I can't stay I hated the book, but with some work I could see this being a good story and I see series. It is very much for the Twlight/50 Shades fans which I can say detested both of these; if you aren't a HUGE fan of those I'd probably stay clear of this book.
    • 2/5
      The Good Stuff Fabulous first chapter - it hooked me in. It was suspenseful and kept me on the edge of my seat Unique take on the vampire genre Some fabulous uses of humour Love the cover Interesting idea that at least kept me reading even-though I really disliked all of the characters See some potential in the writer. She is only 16 and wrote a book, that is pretty impressive. However, she needs more experience, not a book deal. Again I am not a writer, so who am I to judgeThe Not So Good Stuff Kaspar is a dirt bag people. He is abusive, controlling and he threatens to rape Violet - hello this is not a "bad boy" this is a creap Story jumps around so much I completely lost interest quite early on. I refuse to give a dnf when a book is sent to me for review - but honestly I almost gave up a couple of times Girly - seriously - Girly as a term of endearment - ick ick ick! No one but the police and government know about vampires -- yeah, cause that really makes sense character development is erratic. One moment Lyla is an instant best friend and 30 second later she is a total jealous bitch - way too stereotypical for my tastes This genre is awkward. Not really YA and not mature enough for fiction. This will be really difficult to sell. Way too many questions and not enough answers - and honestly I really don't care because I am not emotionally invested in anyone Sex scenes are not hot. After reading middle grade and teen I was looking forward to reading something a little bit passionate - but yeah, not so much Vampires are how old - yet still act juvenile (Hell I am 42 and not mature -- but even I would not act that way) Repetitive - this book could have used some serious editing Sorry I am a Mom - if my child acted like Violet I would lock her in her room - seriously this is not a healthy relationship -- this is not romance people - this is abusive Nothing really makes any sense -- Violet is a vegetarian - but barely reacts when her love interest kills a girl with no guilt Favorite Quotes/Passages "Twenty-four hours ago I would have laughed at that thought. Vampires were works of fiction meant to frighten children. Vampires were mythical creatures girls drooled over. They weren't made to be real.""And if you are thinking of bumping me off, feeding me garlic bread will just make my breath smell; buying me a necklace with a cross on it will just make me look religious; and giving me a shower in holy water will make me smell very pleasant."Who Should/Shouldn't Read Um - if you liked the Twilight series, 50 Shades of Grey or Beautiful Disaster - you probably will enjoy this one Yeah - if you like your heroines strong and your love interest not a potential rapist - I guarantee you will not enjoy this2 Dewey'sI received this from William Morrow in exchange for an honest review -- sorry guys I had to be honest
    • 4/5
      The Dark Heroine (Dinner with a Vampire) by Abigail GibbsReceived from Harper Collins via LibraryThingRelease Date: On Shelves NowReviewed by: Middle Sis JennThe Sisters Say: Macabre and Interesting; But Too LongWhen I won this book from Harper and LibraryThing, I had not heard anything about it, which is great, because I didn’t realize the controversy surrounding it. Supposedly this was Twilight fanfiction before it made a deal, although, after reading the story, I never would have guessed it. The vampires in this story are gruesome and conniving. Many of them take pleasure in killing, and even more so, they take pleasure in punishment. One of the other controversies circling this book was that it was the vampire equivalent of Fifty Shades. Now, I have not read FS and never plan to, but I can say without a doubt (even having not read it), that this book is not even close to the FS. There is one sex scene that doesn’t even closely rival some of the ones I have read in recent NA and adult literature. So, after debunking both of those rumors, I will not jump into my actual review.When I first started reading this one, I was intrigued and actually enjoying it. I liked that the vampires were not all swoony. They were dark and grotesque (not in looks but in actions), and the true nature of a vampire was apparent in them. They weren’t romanticized at all—even with their powers of seduction. This was great because in order to start to like the vampires, you had to get to know them—to see past the bloodlust. I will admit, this was hard to do for me because no matter how hot or sexy or charismatic a vampire might be, I still have a hard time getting past the whole ripping out throats thing. Eventually, I was able to get past this and see Kaspar and the other vampires as more than just evil, killing machines. Now, will they ever make my top 20 of swoony male characters? Absolutely not. Just too much gore for that.Once I hit the middle of the book, though, things started to drag. I felt like there was just too much detail, and not details like the color of the trees, or the way the stones were stacked on the mansion. There was just too much of Violet sitting around pondering her existence and current circumstances. I got bored with her, and I wanted the book to hurry along. I believe Abigail could have cut a good 100 pages from the book, making it flow much quicker and making it a little less daunting (at the current 550 pages).Near the end of the book, things got interesting again. The prophecy started to make more sense, and betrayers and alliances were drawn out into the open. Once this happened, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. Things happened quickly near the end. We got to see more of the vampires traditions and customs, and we were introduced to creatures and people from the other realms (that the 2nd book will focus on). This gave a much needed depth to the novel, and made it feel like there were more secrets and twists to be revealed in the future.I’m kind of wishy washy on whether or not I like Violet. I like that she’s got a smart mouth, yet knows when it’s safer to stay quiet, but I didn’t understand her feelings for Kaspar. He’s more than just a cocky jerk, he is truly violent, and on more than one occasion, he physically harms her. But she just seems to look past that and still fall head over heels for him. And with Kaspar, it seems like he hates her, and that his feelings are all lust right up until the end when he bursts out with his feelings. I just didn’t believe either of them, and their relationship will definitely need to be explored more in the next book.So, overall, this was an interesting read. From the reviews, this seems like a love it or hate it for most people, but for me, it’s just okay. I wasn’t blown away by it, but I still enjoyed the quicker paced parts. I do plan to read the sequel, though, just because I want to find out more about the dark heroines and the other realms.Content Warning: This is a very gory book, so be prepared for bloodshed. There is one sex scene that is somewhat explicit, although not nearly as explicit as many of the NA books out there.
    • 4/5
      After finishing The Dark Heroine, I couldn’t figure out if I even liked this book or not. Sometimes I was hooked and would stay up late reading, while at other points I would put the book down for days, having lost interest. The writing was okay, especially for a teen author, but the storyline wasn’t out of this world creative, so I didn’t understand what all this hype was about. Having scary vampires for once in the YA genre was a nice twist, but some of the events (multiple attempted rapes) seemed a little too adult for a YA audience. This book would have been so much better if I had been able to connect with the two main characters, Violet and Kaspar, but neither had particularly memorable voices. Violet forgave Kaspar way too easily and way too often in a way that made her come across as weak, which is disappointing since we have so many butt kicking YA heroines around these days. Overall, this was a light and fun read and I will probably pick up the sequel to see how the series will end.
    • 5/5
      I loved loved loved this book!! I loved the characters, I loved the story line, I LOVED IT! I am assuming that this will be a series, which I can't wait for the next book. When I first got this book I saw how long it was and though, oh great i'm not going to get through this, but it keep me interested through the whole book. I don't know if I liked Kasper at the begining of the book, but fell in love with him by the end. Can't wait for the story to continue!
    • 4/5
      I am a vampire fan, and generally take a look at any books about them. Most are not so great. But this one, which I sincerely thought was a YA book (it's not), caught me by surprise. I started reading it on the bus on my way to work--and missed my stop because I was enthralled from about page two onward. This book is the beginning of a series, and it's going to be a good one. This isn't your usual romance (also, now what I thought when I first looked at it)--there's tons of tense action and not a minor amount of gore. It's set in a new and interesting world that lies parallel to this one, split into several dimensions. It's also interesting to me that the author began writing this when she was 15, and sold it to HaprerCollins for six figures when she was 18. They are calling her "the new Stephanie Meyer", but I really think, after reading this book, that she is much more creative and nuanced in her writing. It will be interesting to follow her career over these next few years, certainly.
    • 1/5
      This book is awful. I just do not have the words to describe how awful. If there was an editor for this book it certainly doesn't show. The grammar is atrocious and the plot is nonsensical. Does this sound like the 'sexiest romance of the year' to you? "[...], he purred, oily and slick, as he soaked his lips with his saliva." Or this fine line from the middle of a sex scene: "His hand squeezed my other thigh, moving it aside; I wanted to moan so badly but refused to -- couldn't as I screamed, a slash of pain ripping across my thigh, absurd pain -- fangs tearing through skin." I can't even parse that!Worst of all, I think it is not hyperbole to say that the characters are they are some of the most one-dimensional that I have ever read. The male love interest is immature, disrespectful, abusive, and utterly detestable. Every time he addressed the main character as "Girly" I wanted to commit violence (he even referred to her as 'Girly' in his head!) I know this book has been written by a teenager, and I suppose that explains why not a single character acts like an adult (no matter how many thousands of years old they are supposed to be), but surely the publisher should have laid the smack down on this terribly juvenile bad fic. To be honest, the review I originally wanted to write was simply, "This book is awful," but since that was too short, I rewrote it. If you want to know how I really feel, I hope this final version is more helpful:This book makes me want to punch the world.
    • 4/5
      I received this book from LibraryThing Early Reviewers in exchange for an honest review. London...and Violet just had to be at the wrong place, at the wrong time. She just innocently(with her sexy little black dress) was waiting for her friend in the middle of the night....and she just had to witness a blood bath...thirty man being slaughtered right in front of her, with unbelievable inhuman force. She thought she can get away..but she just had to whisper "Jerk", and to her surprise he heard her. Kaspar, a gorgeous(of course) kidnapper. Vampire. He took her away from her family and everything she knew. She has a choice to die human or to turn into a vampire. The longer she stays with him and around his family, the more confusing everything seems to her. Kaspar is sexy, dangerous and she just seems drawn to him even as she tries to resist...What choice will she make? Destroy her family? Or herself? Or even the world she knows?“I knew what I had left behind. The question was: What was I going to find ahead?”If you read the descriptions, it might seem like your typical vampire romance story, but no, this is so much more than just that. This book is full of surprises. It has everything I enjoy in a book, a little laugh, a twist, a hot vampire, a kickass characters and romance. Violet, I honestly loved her character, especially since she had a smart mouth in any deadly situations she found herself in. I'm a sucker for characters like that. She tries to resist, and you can tell she actually tries. She didn't ask for what happened to her, but she deals with it in every way she can. But c'mon what can you do in a house full of vampires who want to eat you? especially with Kaspar. Kaspar, the most dangerous one, a killer, a jerk. I was there right with her, I wasn't swept away by him in the beginning, because he was a big douche. I mean even if you are like vampire beyond hot, if you are a douche, this just not going to work. But I did laugh at his jerk remarks and her smart answers. I loved watching those characters develop, especially Kaspar. As the book moves from page to page, you start to learn more about Kaspar, and why he is the was he is. You also get to see his point of views. Which I though worked really good in this book. As you go on, there is also some crazy twists in the book. I don't want to spoil it so....“Even if that were so, how could I be happy as a vampire? There is no chance of me actually liking the idea of living forever. It's hopeless!'Kasper faced straight ahead, glancing in his side mirror.He spoke softly, something like caring in his voice.'You don't know that, Girly! One day you might just find something worth living an eternity for.”I also see why some people hate it, this book is just 50/50. The author was just 15 when she started writing it, and she finished it after three years. Even though the book is edited(I think) but there were some grammar mistakes...but for me, I barely even notice it. I know how a lot of people hate that(grammar mistakes) but I'm more about the plot and characters. So you decide if you would want to read it, but I definitely enjoy it and I would recommend to give it a try!
    • 1/5
      Yeah, no. Melodramatic, unpolished writing, plus that cliched YA paranormal belief that being a vampire excuses a character from being a halfway decent human being. And that was just in the first one percent of the book. I thought about reading more to see if this train wreck could supercede the special effects of the really dragged out one in the movie Super 8, but then I remembered that I am trying not to be a glutton for punishment.
    • 4/5
      The Dark HeroineBy Abigail GibbsMy "in a nutshell" summary...OMG...London...desires...a vampire...actually many vampires...a young girl taken against her will...this book is a suspense filled odyssey.My thoughts after reading this book...Wow...deception, vampires, treaties, wars, kings, princes and Violet. Violet...who innocently waited for her friend in the streets of London and was caught in the middle of a vampire rampage. She thinks she escapes only to be swept off by the Varns...a vampire family. These vampires keep her a prisoner and unbelievable pieces of information are revealed to her. Her father is involved with the vampires...much to Violet's surprise...and there is much going on behind the scenes to gain Violet's freedom. However, after spending months with this vampire family...is she really capable of leaving? Hmmm...wouldn't you love to know the outcome of this tense, evocative, spine tingling very unusual vampire book?What I loved about this book...Violet was an amazing character. So many out of this world events happened to her...choosing between Fabian and Kaspar...dealing with the vampire King...dealing with everyone who wanted her blood. Violet remained spunky...until the end...whatever that might be...What I did not love...There was so much going on in this book...at times I had to reread parts of it to keep everyone straight.Final thoughts...This is a really different sort of vampire book...unique, very fast paced...and fascinating...it might even warrant a sequel?
    • 4/5
      Review courtesy of Dark Faerie TalesQuick & Dirty: A human and a vampire prince are thrown together under strenuous circumstances and passion ignites.Opening Sentence: Trafalgar Square is probably not the best place to stand at one o’clock in the morning.The Review:Dark Heroine is basically a story of a girl with Stockholm’s Syndrome succumbing to her desires for a sexy, dark, and dreadful vampire. Saying that, this book is so much more. While I may not believe the premise of this story is note-worthy, I must admit that the characters and their world linger in my mind long after the story ends.Violet Lee, daughter of a prominent government official, was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Now she is a “guest” of a family of royalty who just happen to be vampires. Her world now turned on its head, Violet struggles to come to terms in the aftermath. She can never go back to how she was before but is balking against the future laid out in front of her. All of her fears and expectations of her “kidnappers” are challenged again and again, leaving Violet confused on what are the right choices to make. Should she give in and become a vampire by choice or fight until her dying breath to stay human? What should she do about her growing attraction to the sexy and aggravating Kaspar?Kaspar Varn, prince and heir to the throne, has really stepped in it this time. The human he kidnapped happens to be the daughter of a very important man in the human government that is intent on his people’s demise. Now his father wants him to “persuade” her to become a vampire of her own free will in order to avoid a war between their people. That would be easier if she wasn’t such a pain in his neck. Kaspar’s character is arrogant, as befitting his station, and has little patience concerning Violet. She seems immune to his charms and thinks him a monster. But the more time they spend together, the closer they get until the attraction between them leads to its inevitable conclusion. Will Kaspar put everything he has at risk for the sake of one human girl?While I was slightly put off by more than a little predictable plot, I was pleasantly surprised by the twists along the way. The introduction of prophesies and other mythical creatures takes what would be a simple story and adds depth. The complex world that surrounds the characters is fascinating. Not only do you have vampires living in secret among the humans, but you have the introduction of other dimensions that put your imagination in overdrive. I look forward to learning more about the Sagean people in particular in future books.Though the love story is center stage, the political machinations take up any slack and help the story be more evenly-paced. Violet may be young, but she is oddly adept at reading and interpreting the hidden motives of the Varn family. This is most likely because is reminiscent of high school dramas.I would have given this book a lower rating but for the fact the story lingered in my mind even after finishing it. I find that I WANT to know what happens next. I want to see where this series goes from here. I recommend this more to young adult genre lovers that are looking for more kick in their stories.Notable Scene:Suddenly, something cold pressed against my back. “I’m going to suck your blood,” a voice murmured against my neck, and I flinched.“Don’t do that!” I exclaimed as plastic fangs pressed themselves into my neck, arms clad in dark material wrapping themselves around my shoulders. “Kaspar! Get off!”“No,” he replied, pressing his chest into my back. “I quite like it here.”I struggled for a moment, trying to shrug his arms off. “At least stop slobbering all over my neck, and take those stupid fake things out; you have real fangs, for Pete’s sake!”“Keep it down; people will hear,” he muttered, tone alarmed. But all the same he reached up and popped them out, placing them in his palm. He examined them, poking the rounded and exaggeratedly large incisors with the other hand—the one still wrapped around my chest. “Stupid humans. We wouldn’t be able to eat with fangs that size.”“You’re just jealous because you have puny little things.”FTC Advisory: Harper Voyager/William Morrow graciously provided me with a copy of The Dark Heroine. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. The only payment received came in the form of hugs and kisses from my little boys.