Review: Risen by Cole Gibsen

Title: Risen

Author:  Cole Gibsen
Publisher: Entangled Teen

Publishing Date:  March 27th, 2018

Pages: 300
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy

Series:  Blood Eternal #1
Source: ARC

 

My aunt has been kidnapped by vampires, and it’s up to me to save her. Only…I had no idea vampires existed. None. Nada. I’m more of a reader than a fighter, and even though I’d been wishing to escape my boring existence in the middle of nowhere, I’d give anything to have it back now if it meant my aunt was safe.

Then there’s the vampire Sebastian, who seems slightly nicer than most of the bloodsuckers I’ve run into so far. Yes, he’s the hottest being I’ve ever come across, but there’s no way I can trust him. He swears he’s helping me get answers, but there’s more to his story. Now I’m a key pawn in a raging vampire war, and I need to pick the right ally.

But my chances of surviving this war are slim at best, when the side I choose might be the one that wants me dead the most.

It's been a long time since I big into a vampire read. I was happy to see this one on NetGalley and happy to get a chance to read it. Look at that cover. It is so so pretty. I was very excited for this read and really didn't remember what it was about when I picked it up to read... except vampires obviously. I enjoyed this book. There were things that were cliche about the read but there were was a bit of uniqueness too that made the story very interesting. 

Charlie has lived with her aunt in the woods secluded for years. Her aunt wanted nothing to do with the world outside her little piece of solitude. Charlie wanted more and couldn't figure out why her aunt kept them so secluded... that was until the day vampires showed up and kidnapped her aunt and tried to kill her. Surprise! There is something special about Charlie. One of the vampires, Sebastian, who was supposed to not care about humans has a need to protect Charlie. There is something special about her and he thinks it can help him uncover his past. Charlie just might be someone very important to another clan's king. So Sebastian with Charlie in tow take a road trip to the den of a vampire clan. Along the way, they meet some vampire hunters, so scarier vampires, and quite a few dangerous situations. Of course, nothing is easier once they get to their destination and that is when all hell breaks loose. 

So I really didn't know what to expect going into this read. I was afraid at first it would be the same human girl falls for vampire boy. Well, there is a little of that but really what makes this book stand out from other vampire books is the story, the world building. The vampires are broken down into different clans and each clan is different, different powers, different beliefs, different ways of living. How vampires were created is really different in this story too. I really enjoyed this most of all. A different take on vampires altogether. I love it when reads are original. 

Another great aspect of this book is that was action-packed. There were tons of fights and fleeing and dangerous moments. Action packed from beginning to end. This makes for a very fast and fun read. There were some slow moments... slow as in not action packed not slow as in boring... These moments were good too. Lots of bickering and witty comments. Sometimes the interactions between Charlie and Sebastion felt forced. Later on in the read, I realized it was because Sebastion and Charlie just didn't know how to be in the same breathing area as another person. So awkward. 

The appreciated the characters. The book was really a quick read so I didn't feel I got to know them as much as I would have liked but I did like what I did get to know. Charlie is a little complicated. She is a little immature but she has been sheltered her entire life. She grows into herself throughout the story though...not just falling for a vampire... she learns that she is big on humanity and compassion and she is tough and brave... she will do anything it takes for those she cares about. 

Sebastion is a bit of a jerk. He is abrasive and obnoxious and doesn't give much thought to others... he is a vampire. However, he grows too. There is a soft spot in him when it comes to learning about his past. He remembers nothing of his human existence and feels he doesn't belong where he exists as a vampire. So he discovers a little humanity and compassion too. 

The romance is nothing really to speak about. It wasn't overdone. It was hate to respect to kind of friends to yup I am in love. When it did hit the love stage it wasn't drowning in it and all mushy or even swoony. A little sweet but kind of something that is shown just enough to know its there, but really they had more important things to worry about like surviving. I like that the romance to second to surviving. Sometimes I feel books are a little unrealistic when people are running for their lives and they have time to canoodle. So it worked well for this story. 

All in all, I enjoyed the read.... except the freaking ending. I hate cliffhangers. Well it wasn't a cliffhanger like is someone gonna die but there were so many unresolved things... things I wanted to be explained and needed to know... Guess this will be in the next book. It did end on a semi-good note though. So there was that. 

A good read... will anxiously await the next chapter to this story.

Growing up, Cole Gibsen couldn't decide what she loved more--dogs or books. So she decided to devote her life to both! Dog trainer (wrangler) by day and author by night, she's the author of over ten books with more on the way.