Friday 4 May 2012

Book Review: Until I Die by Amy Plum.


Product details:
Publisher:Atom
Release date: May 3rd 2012.
Paperback, 320 pages.
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Ages: 14+
Series: Revenants #2
Other books in series: Die For Me
Source: Received from publisher for review.

Kate and Vincent have overcome the odds and at last they are together in Paris, the city of lights and love.

As their romance deepens there’s one question they can’t ignore: How are they supposed to be together if Vincent can’t resist sacrificing himself to save others? Although Vincent promises that he’ll do whatever it takes to lead a normal life with Kate, will that mean letting innocent people die? When a new and surprising enemy reveals itself, Kate realizes that even more may be at stake—and that Vincent’s immortality is in jeopardy.

In Die for Me, Amy Plum created a captivating paranormal mythology with immortal revenants and a lush Paris setting. Until I Die is poised to thrill readers with more heart-pounding suspense, spellbinding romance, and a cliff-hanger ending that will leave them desperate for the third and final novel in the series.


Please note: This book is part of a series. There may be spoilers for previous book in the series in this review.


With the same sumptuous prose and vivid imagery that brought the streets of Paris to life on the pages of her debut novel Die for Me, Amy Plum welcomes us back into the world of romance and revenants in Until I Die where Vincent and Kate must fight destiny and deadly enemies in their quest to be together.

In Die for Me Kate and Vincent fell in love in the City of Lights, while also finding the time to rid the world of the evil numa leader, Lucien, who wanted nothing more than to see Vincent’s head on a plate. So, with their arch-foe out of the way, it should be all plain sailing for our favourite couple from now on, right? No, not quite.

Kate knew that falling in love with an immortal boy would change her life forever.  After losing her parents, Vincent was the one who breathed life into her again, and now she can’t imagine ever being without him.  As a revenant, though, Vincent sacrifices himself to save the lives of others.  It’s his very reason for being. But how do you watch the boy you love die over and over again? The answer is you don’t. Kate can’t live that way, and Vincent wouldn’t expect her to. He’s willing to do whatever it takes to be with Kate, but if he can’t resist sacrificing himself to save innocent lives, then he’ll have to watch Kate grow old and die, while he remains forever young.

The fascinating history of the revenants is richly detailed as Kate and Vincent embark on separate and equally dangerous missions to uncover a solution to the problems that threaten to drive them apart.

Kate and Vincent’s is a love story that I truly can’t get enough of.  They have a beautiful romance, and while they are hopelessly besotted with each other, Plum is careful to add depth to their characters, which she does with a wonderful supporting cast of friends and family.  Though she is in love with Vincent, Kate doesn’t spend her every waking moment with her boyfriend.  The Kate of this book is different to the grief-stricken girl we met in Die for Me..  This Kate is fierce and feisty, and she’s more forthright too, particularly in her suggestive expressions and confessions to Vincent as their relationship progresses. Plum is mindful of her heroine too.  Kate always stays true to herself, no matter what the situation, and she always has time for her sister and her friends. She never lets her love for Vincent completely consume her, and she always makes time for others.

And why wouldn’t she? The friends that Kate makes in Paris are delightfully warm, the kind of characters that you’ll want to become friends with too.   In Die for Me I loved the sisterly dynamic of Kate and Georgia’s relationship, while her friendship with Charlotte, her revenant confidante, was one of my favourites. Though Charlotte is absent for much of this book, Kate makes a new friend in Violette, a centuries old revenant who has taken up residence in Paris.  Then there’s Ambrose who is charming as ever, and Jules, Vincent’s best friend who is an adorable flirt, especially whenever Kate is near.   I know a lot of readers had a soft spot for Jules after reading Die for Me, but  I glossed over his brilliance just a little, so blinded was I by my love for Vincent, and so fearful of the prospect of the dreaded love triangle. There is no love triangle here, though. Above all else, Jules is unflinchingly loyal to Vincent, and I love him for it.  All I’ll say is that I hope it stays that way!

Though some of the plot twists in this book didn’t come as any major surprise to me, I can tell you that nothing prepared me for the ending of this book. Oh, my heart. The final pages of Until I Die just killed me.  I really don’t know how I’m ever going to wait a whole year to find out what happens when the series concludes with If I Should Die in 2013.  I may be reduced to begging for an advance copy of that one. I need to know what happens next!

If you love Paranormal Romance, you can’t go wrong with this series.  It’s one of the best around, and I highly recommend it.





20 comments :

  1. Vivienne_dacosta4 May 2012 at 19:14

    A beautiful review Leanna! I am so glad you loved it just as much as me. 

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  2. Fab review! Can't wait to read this one. I definitely loved Jules, he was my favourite character of all in Die for Me! :P Glad the sequel is just as good.

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  3. I really cant wait to read this one! I loved the first book:)

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  4. daisychainbooks4 May 2012 at 19:42

     Thanks Viv! The year long wait for the next book is going to be hard!!

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  5. daisychainbooks4 May 2012 at 19:43

     Really? More than Vincent? *le gasp!* I know that Jules has lots of fans...I'm very curious as to what will happen with him in the next book...*is trying hard to be cryptic*

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  6. daisychainbooks4 May 2012 at 19:44

     You will love this one too! It's a great read! :)

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  7. I won an ARC of this book recenlty but I still have to read Die for Me first, Argh, I hate it when that happens:)

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  8. daisychainbooks4 May 2012 at 20:24

     Oh, you must read Die for Me. I love these books -- they have Paris and they have THE most perfect boy. He's not one of those bad boy types that we love so, but perfection is good too from time to time. ;)

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  9. Great review, Leanna! I felt the same way about Until I Die. I really enjoy fit and haven't felt that way about an ending since Dimitri in Vampire Academy.  I can't believe we have to wait until 2013!!

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  10. daisychainbooks5 May 2012 at 01:12

     Yes!!  The way I felt about what happened to Dimitri in VA is a perfect comparison to the ending of this!! I don't know how we are going to wait a whole year to find out what happens next! So not fair! *sulks*

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  11. Oh my goodness, I ADORE this book and I'm so glad you do too! This is the book that made me finally realize how sweet and adorable Kate and Vincent are together -- oh, the sweetness of them! I loved how they interacted together instead of just being in love and only talking about how much they were in love. Their entire relationship was totally adorable! :')

    Amazing review, Leanna! That ending pretty much killed me too -- the wait for If I Should Die is going to be torture! x) <3

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  12. daisychainbooks5 May 2012 at 02:22

     Seriously -- I can't stop thinking about the end of the book. It hurt my heart!! Kate and Vincent are sweet and adorable. Love them! <3

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  13. one of the best around? I'll have to read this series then! thanks for the great review!

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  14. The book trailer is adorable just like this series! Kate and Vincent are one of my favourite couples, they're just too cute together. And I agree, it's good that Kate's an independent heroine, who doesn't cling to her boyfriends arm 24/7!

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  15. Great review it's a really sweet love story I love how mature it is compared to most. I also absolutely adore the Paris setting it's my favorite part of this series. Glad that you enjoyed it too, doll!

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  16. Amy Plum sure knows how to make you crave food, lol.

    I just thought this one was alright. I wish Die for Me would just have stayed a standalone, like it was initially written. I just found Until I Die...boring. :( 

    The last line of the book was pretty WOW!

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  17. daisychainbooks8 May 2012 at 17:42

     The last line of the book was amazing! I'll bet that even though you thought this one was just alright you'll still be reading the next one to see what happens. Am I right?

    I didn't know that Die for Me was initially written as a standalone, but I'm glad this one became a trilogy. I can't get enough! :)

    Oh yes - the food descriptions are just delicious!

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  18. I'm not going to read the next one :( It just isn't interesting to me. I hate it.

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  19. daisychainbooks8 May 2012 at 17:48

     Aw! :( I thought the last line would make you come back for more! Me -- I am DYING to find out what happens!

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  20. JessHeartsBooks10 May 2012 at 18:08

    5/5 stars? *fist pumps* Your review has made me so freakin excited! I will get to this over the next few weeks, I will. Really happy that there is no love triangle also!

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