Mini Reviews: Consume by Melissa Darnell and Team Human by Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan

From Goodreads: Tristan Coleman has survived the change from Clann magic user to vampire, much to Savannah Colbert's joy - and despair. By changing the Clann's golden boy and newly elected leader, even to save him from death, she has unleashed a fury of hatred and fear that they cannot escape. As the Clann and the vampire council go to war, Tristan and Sav face a new threat - a fracturing of the all-consuming bond they share. To fight for peace, they must forge a new trust and risk everything to take down their deadliest enemy, even as they must run for their lives. Soon they will learn that some bonds are stronger than love - and some battles cannot be won without sacrifice.

My Rating: 2 hearts 

Thoughts on the Novel: Although I didn’t love Crave or Covet, I’ve kept up with Melissa Darnell’s The Clann series because of their cliffhanger endings. The final book in the trilogy, Consume, was arguably the weakest from all three novels. There was very little action for most of the book because Tristan and Savannah were on the run with their families. What frustrated me more though was that they kept having to come back to their hometown for what I felt were very contrived reasons to move the plot along. Additionally, the romance in Consume was rather nonexistent since Tristan and Savannah were angry with each other for a large portion of the book. 

Consume was released in August 2013 by Harlequin Teen. 

In exchange for an honest review, this ARC was received from the publisher (Harlequin Teen) for free via NetGalley.
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From Goodreads: Mel is horrified when Francis Duvarney, arrogant, gorgeous, and undead, starts at her high school. Mel’s best friend, Cathy, immediately falls for the vampire. Cathy is determined to be with him forever, even if having him turn her could inadvertently make her a zombie. And Mel is equally determined to prove to her BFF that Francis is no good, braving the city’s vampire district and kissing a cute boy raised by vampires as she searches evidence in this touching and comic novel.  

My Rating: 3.5 hearts 

Thoughts on the Novel: After seeing so many novels with heroines falling for vampires, Mel from Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan’s Team Human clearly stands out. Unlike her supposedly smart best friend Cathy who automatically falls for the new vampire attending their school, Mel can’t comprehend why anybody would want to be a vampire and continually discourages her friend from engaging in a romance with Francis. Although she seemed almost prejudiced against vampires, I generally liked Mel because I found her to be snarky and very loyal. Through her interactions with Kit, a human raised by vampires, Mel also comes to realize that not every vampire is evil incarnate.

An entertaining satire about vampire romances, Team Human was released in July 2012 by HarperTeen.