Book Review: Hourglass by Claudia Gray

Review: Hourglass
Series: Evernight – Book 3
Author: Claudia Gray
No of Pages: 339
Release Date: 9 March 2010

Bianca has found refuge again with the Black Cross, and she and Lucas work desperately to keep her secret. In this company, being a vampire is a death sentence, and the two of them live and train alongside the hunters without anyone noticing her increasing need for blood.

Even though she's with the boy she loves more than anyone else in the world, Bianca can't help worrying about the family and friends she left behind. Caught between three feuding worlds, it's starting to feel as though she'll never be entirely at peace again.

When another betrayal puts the lovers in mortal danger once more, they realise that all they truly have in one another. But with the secret of Bianca's birth taking hold, not even Lucas can help her win her toughest fight

My Thoughts:

Between the end of Stargazer and the beginning of Hourglass Bianca had a serious attitude change, and it works so well on her.

I think we can safely assume that Evernight and Stargazer didn’t impress me much, I only really read them because I had the time, Hourglass though is a whole different story, and a whole new reason to read this series.

Bianca and Lucas are first bunking with Black Cross but after they escape Black Cross after being found out Bianca and Lucas’ lives become a whole new story. They need to fend for themselves and they are quickly realising that that isn’t as easy as it sounds.

In Hourglass Bianca grows up a lot. No longer is she the whiny dependant little girl we met in Evernight and Stargazer. No longer does she have the stupid delusions of safety and romance outside of the school. Being faced with the real world is like a shock to her system, and I have to commend Bianca for dealing with it quite well.

She doesn’t do too well with holding down a job, but she tries at least and she doesn’t leave Lucas to do absolutely everything when it comes to setting up house. Granted they aren’t completely self sufficient because they are living in a friends deserted basement but they do pretty well under the circumstances.

Until Bianca gets sick.

She’s been weakening for a long time and it becomes obvious to the reader – unfortunately not to Bianca – that she is at the end of her road. Vampire or Wraith, which will she become? Also kind of obvious if you ask me, but I won’t spoil the ending for you.

I don’t know how Gray did it, but a lot of her style has changed in regards to the Evernight series and after reading Hourglass not only am I eagerly anticipating Afterlife but I will also be sad to see whats has turned into a great series come to an end.

Others in this series:
Evernight
Stargazer
Afterlife

Book Review: Stargazer by Claudia Gray

Review: Stargazer
Series: Evernight – Book 2
Author: Claudia Gray
No. Of Pages: 332
Release Date: 1st April 2009

I kissed Lucas again, more slowly this time. We held each other tighter, and I started to wonder how much closer we could get – and then I remembered what it had felt like when I drank his blood.

Evernight Academy: an exclusive boarding school for the most beautiful, dangerous students of all – vampires, Bianca, born to two vampires, has always been told her destiny is to become one of them.

But Bianca fell in love with Lucas – a vampire hunter sworn to destroy her kind. They were torn apart when his true identity was revealed, forcing him to flee the school.

Although they may be separated, Bianca and Lucas will not give each other up. She will risk anything for the chance to see him again, even if it means coming face-to-face with the vampire hunters of Black Cross – or deceiving the powerful vampires of Evernight. Bianca’s secrets will force her to live a life of lies.

Yet Bianca isn’t the only one keeping secrets. When Evernight is attacked by an evil force that seems to target her, she discovers the truth she thought she knew is only the beginning...

My Thoughts:


Once again this will only be short because I read this September last year, but I wanted it to be reviewed in lead up to the Hourglass review.

Stargazer was a stronger book than Evernight, still a little silly but definitely a more grounded story.

Bianca once again blunders on in her own little way – can we tell I don’t really like her? – But this book moves more from vampires in to the world of teen angst, and more importantly, teen stupidity.

Bianca is constantly making stupid decisions, defying her parents and sneaking around behind everyone’s back to see the person they are trying to protect her from. Lucas...the vampire hunter.

I was actually cheering for Balthazar during this and every time she turned him down, my heart broke a little for him.

I did however love the wraiths appearance in this book though. I love when a being we don’t usually see crops up in a book, like a wraith. Icy, evil, powerful.

Although Bianca is annoying, Stargazer still held my attention for the entire book and I am intrigued to see what happens in the next instalment of this series.

Others in this series:
Evernight 
Hourglass
Afterlife

Book Review: Evernight by Claudia Gray

Review: Evernight
Series: Evernight – Book 1
Author: Claudia Gray
No. Of Pages: 327
Release Date: 1st June 2008

BIANCA WANTS TO ESCAPE

She’s been uprooted from her small hometown and enrolled at Evernight Academy; an eerie Gothic boarding school where the students are somehow too perfect: smart, sleek, and almost predatory. Bianca knows she doesn’t fit in.

Then she meets Lucas. He’s not the ‘Evernight type’ either, and he likes it that way. Lucas ignores the rules, stands up to the snobs and wants Bianca to be careful – even when it comes to caring about him.

“I couldn’t stand it if they took it out on you,’ he tells Bianca, “and eventually they would.”

But the connection between Bianca and Lucas can’t be denied. Bianca will risk anything to be with Lucas, but dark secrets are fated to tear them both apart...and to make Bianca everything she’s ever believed.

My Thoughts:

This will only be short because I read this September last year, but I wanted it to be reviewed in lead up to the Hourglass review.

Bianca is socially awkward and inept. She’s a little bit annoying in all honesty because of her constant moaning and silly mistakes.

Lucas is a tough guy, also a little bit annoying because he gets into fights for no seemingly good reason.
The story is ok though and the secondary characters make it very worth the read like Vic the human surfer guy who is laid back and really funny. Balthazar, I am so on team Balthazar for the outcome of this, he’s soo the better choice, he’s nice, considerate, dependable and protective but in a really cute way.

It took forever for Gray to tell us that Bianca is a vampire though (chapter 8), even though it’s obvious, and she drinks blood. But the story progresses well and keeps you coming back for more which is definitely the makings of a good book.

Evernight is a novel that you as you’re reading it you wonder, why am I doing this? But you just can’t help yourself, even though there are stupid and cringe worthy moments. I got through this in a day, because I had nothing better to do I think.

Other books in this series:
Stargazer
Hourglass
Afterlife