Thursday, May 03, 2012

Review: Until I Die

Book: Until I Die
Author: Amy Plum
Series: Revenants #2
Release Date: May 8, 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 445
Source: HarperCollins Canada (Thank you so much!)
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon CA | The Book Depository | Chapters
Stars: 4.5/5
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.


(summary taken from Goodreads
MY THOUGHTS:  

Oh sweet goodness, how I loved this book!  

In the first novel, Die For Me, it was the romantic Paris setting and idea of revenants undead beings with the compulsion to die to save others that captivated me. The idea was completely unique and executed with perfection, but even though I loved the characters with all my heart, I was never really sold on the romance. 

But in Until I Die, somehow Amy Plum managed to make everything more intense, more lovable, more breathtaking even the romance! Kate and Vincent have to be the perfect couple. I don't mean that their relationship is without its complications (because it definitely isn't), but I can finally see how they fit so well together. Their banter and interactions are funny and sweet, and being set in Paris, I was constantly swooning off my feet!  

The middle of the book is admittedly a little slower as Kate tries to find out how to help Vincent resist his compulsion to sacrifice himself to save others. But that is my only complaint! 

Otherwise, I loved every second I could spend with my favourite characters again! From sweet and stubborn Kate to Vincent (the perfect dream boyfriend ) to Jules (my favourite playboy of all time without making this a love triangle!) as well as all of the other awesome revenants, both new and old, they were always a blast to read about.  

Beautifully written and ending with one of the most heart-pounding, heart-breaking, and heart-tearing conclusions ever, Until I Die is an unpredictable and captivating installment to a trilogy that is quickly becoming one of my favourites. Amy Plum has made a total fangirl out of me! :)  

BUY or BORROW?: I'd recommend that you buy this even if you haven't read the first book yet! That just means you have to backtrack to the first one beforehand, which you should be doing anyways ;)

-Mimi

35 comments:

  1. I haven't read this series yet. The revenant concept reminds me of zombies and I don't like zombies. =)))) But other than that, this book sounds amazing. I've been hearing good things from other reviewers too. Might as well check it out =)

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  2. Oh sweet Mimi, how I love your reviews!! I remember reading Die For Me last year and thinking it felt a little bit like Twilight -- which is NOT a bad thing! -- but I didn't like it nearly as much, so I wasn't gonna read this one. And yet your gorgeous stamp of Mimi approval has added this to my next order list! :D I want me some more Vincent and Jules and revenants! Kate's stubbornness was totally me but her sweetness was totally you, so it's funny how you mentioned those two things! ;)

    Fanfreakingtabulous review, Mimi! <333333 Vincent and I will soon be reacquainted! :D

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  3. JULES!! HE is SO awesome. I really enjoyed this one too! The Paris setting is what I love the most about this whole series it's so detailed and pretty. Even the culture is in here. Lovely review, doll!

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  4. I definitely should read this series! Actually I should have already read the first one. o: Shame on me! Need, need! Great review. :D

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  5. Despite having a 'little' bit of trouble with this book compared to the first, but with that ending the book delivered to me . . . I'm definitely looking forward to the third book! Great review!

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  6. Great great review Mimi! I didn't love the first book so I was very interested to see how people would find the second and it sounds like the romance picked up so now I am excited! :)

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  7. Awesome sauce review, Mimi! :D Although I really liked Die For Me, I didn't exactly love love love it! I think I'll check out Until I Die sooner than I would have thought :)

    Glad to see you adored Until I Die! xoxo

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  8. I agree Mimi, this second one was definitely a bit slower and it felt like a middle book to me, but I do so love this world and the Revenants. And that ending? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! *falls down dead* I got to the last page and may or may not have fallen off the couch:) Fantastic review!

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  9. I really like the sound of the setting in Paris-so beautiful and not enough YA books are set there. I'm still not entirely sure if this is the book for me (revenants are just so paranormal) but you are such a good YA evangelist!

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  10. Great review! I have some mixed feelings about this book. It was definitely more intense than the first, but also slow in the middle, like you said. I found myself missing the rush we got from the romance in Die For Me! Vincent was sweet but I swear he was off doing 'important things' over half the time LOL. But JULES. He had me getting a little suspicious towards the end there *winkwink* but <33 Loved him so much! I'm really glad you enjoyed this - seriously good review :)

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  11. I found it difficult to be really blown away by the first book but I did still end up enjoying it. I'm glad you mentioned Until I Die is even more intense and enjoyable. I'm hoping the romance will be enough to win me over too. ;) Great review Mimi! I'm eager to see what I make of this. :)

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  12. I really enjoyed this one as well! I love the Paris setting, it's probably what I love most about this series actually. The setting just really sucks me in. I have to say that Jules is hands down my favorite character in this series. I definitely agree that the ending was shocking and heart-breaking. I can't wait for the next book. Great review :)

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  13. I'm 100% with you on this one, Mimi! Kate and Vincent ARE a perfect couple, they are just so tender and loving, both of them. And the secondary characters are all wonderful, I just can't get enough of them OR the setting. A part of me is sad that this is just a trilogy, but a part of me realizes that it'll remain perfect that way.
    We're on the same page about Jules, too, he is hilarious and so nice, there's a whole side of him we barely got to see so far, but I'm sure we will.
    Wonderful, wonderful review, my love. :)

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  14. I haven't read Die for me but I really, really want to. I am looking forward to reading the first book and then the second. I've heard so many great things about them and I can't wait! Great review!

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  15. Yes! This one was more everything! I seriously love Kate's sister, and I was so glad to get some more of her in this one :0)

    That ending about killed me. I seriously don't know how I am going to wait for the next one. Great review, Mimi!

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  16. You know, I haven't read the first book, but hey, I might give it a shot, thank to your uber wonderful review!! I'll go look into it right now! :D

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  17. YAY! I just bought the firstbook in this series formy Nook si oI 'm happy to know that the sequal is a great read as well. Now I'm ready to hop into it. Itx's good to know that the author does a better job of showing why the characters fit together as a couple and doesn't just leave you wanting more from them. And now I'm anticipating and terrified of the conclusion!

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  18. Great review!! I found it hard to connect with Kate in the first book but absolutely loved the concept and the writing. I look forward to picking up this book and hopefully finding a connection :)

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  19. OoOOooo I wanna read this one right now!!! "more intense, more lovable, more breathtaking — even the romance you say? I am so excited to hear this!!!Good thing I have this on my iPad, totally going to read this in the weekend!! I just needed a little push to read it :)

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  20. Everyone seems to be loving this one! I haven't read book one yet (gasp!) but I have it on my Kindle and should be getting to it sometime this month I hope. Why is there not more time in the day to read?! :)

    Wonderful review, Mimi!

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  21. This is a series I am dying to check out. Love Paris, the gorgeous covers and you say it is breathtaking...although I am not happy to hear about the heartpounding, heartbreaking ending...torture right?

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  22. I bought Die For Me, and I hope I get to read it soon. I'm glad you enjoyed this one so much. Don't they have beautiful covers?

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  23. I loved this book - loved it!! And the ending killed me. It broke my little heart right in two! But the book was awesome all the same! Great review!

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  24. Ah, I still need to read Die for Me. I downloaded it last week, so hopefully I can get to it soon!

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  25. Mimiiiiii, I just got Until I Die today! *-----*

    Oh, you know what? I'm the same as you; the first book wasn't quite for me. It was nice, but I didn't love it as much as I thought I would. BUT now you said that you liked Until I Die more, so you can't imagine how excited I am to read it! I've just started, and it's good so far.

    Gosh. I missed those characters. Vincent. Jules ♥ (yeah! he stole my heart in the first book!). I'm happy I can get to read about them again. These days I've been reading all new series, so I'm loving this new reunion or whatever with the characters ♥

    Yay, great review! Now I think what I'll do before I go to sleep (and it's already midnight T__T). But I also got Sweet Evil that's calling me with its super gorgeous cover... Ugh! ANYWAYS. Loved hearing you liked it more. Have a nice Thursday, and remember, tomorrow is Friday! ♥♥

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  26. "ending with one of the most heart-pounding, heart-breaking, and heart-tearing conclusions ever"

    Oh no!!! lol I'm so glad the romance picks up more. I enjoyed the first book but I felt Kate and Vincent fell a little flat and a little insta~lovey. I'm so glad their relationship grows and feels more real and endearing. Can't wait to read it!

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  27. Vinceeentttt! He is puurrrrfect. Oops, sorry for meowing! I can't resist the urge to fangirl all over him LOL! ♥ Die For Me is one of the reasons I'd love to go to Paris someday. I really want to walk to some cafe in Paris, and I don't know... meeting some random guy like Vincent? Well, there's no hurt in believing the impossible, right? ;)

    FANTASTIC review, Mimi! ♥ I'm glad the romance gets more intense in this second book! I can't wait to get my hands on this book! Anyway, in some ways Die For Me reminds me a bit of Twilight LOL! x)

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  28. Mimi, Die For Me was one of my favourite reads last year so I'm so happy that you loved this one more. The Parisian setting was fantastic, I liked the romance, and I adore Jules! I can't wait to get my hands on this one!

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  29. I haven't read Die For Me yet, but the cover is SO GORGEOUS! As is this one! I'm so happy to hear that you loved this book even more than the first. Kate and Vincent sound great together. I love banter between couples--it's so cute! The concept of this series sounds so fascinating. I hope I can start it soon! Wonderful review, Mimi, as usual. Short, sweet, and to-the-point!

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  30. I have the first one but haven't read it yet. But you have me wanting to read it NOW! So glad this one was great too!

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  31. MIMI IDK YOU DO YOUR REVIEWS that every time it makes me want to go buy the book ASAP. I seriously need to pick this book and its predecessor soooon. The idea of this book sounds very cool and being set in Paris is always a big plus. I always love it when a sequel is strong too and it seems like this book doesn't disappoint!

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  32. EEEEE MIMI!!! I read this book recently and it was FANTASTIC! I really loved the romance between Kate and Vincent and the ending made me desperate for If I Should Die!!!

    AWESOME review, Mimi! <3 SO glad you enjoyed it!

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  33. AHHHH FABULOUS review, Mimi! I so adored Die For Me. I did start reading this the other week and was really enjoying it, but I was in a total book slump and paranormal romance wasn't doing it for me. BUT. I do intend to come back to it because I adore the characters and oh my heavens, your review has me crazy excited!! <3

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  34. Excellent review Mimi! I haven't read book one yet, but now I really need to check it out. This series sounds incredibly fascinating! :)

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  35. I loved to read about all these awesome characters again. Vincent's family is just the best and I laughed a lot. And no need to mention sexy Vincent of whom I can't get enough and tough Kate who is such a lovely character with whom I can identify so very well.

    What I liked a lot too was that there wasn't this typical second book relationship problem. Kate and Vincent have their problems that's for sure, but they talk and try to solve the problem just like normal people in real life would do instead of breaking up or anything like that. The problems they have are sometimes heartbreaking though but that's another thing that makes me love a book: feeling with the characters, feel what they feel and get sad and happy when they do which I did a lot reading this book.

    The end was a bit frustrating with its cliffhanger and I want to read If I Should Die like right now but that doesn't change my opinion of the book: it was great and not a bit boring or not worth its pages as sometimes second books in trilogies are.

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