'Peeps' by Scott Westerfeld is a unique take on the vampire genre, portraying vampirism as a sexually transmitted disease caused by parasites. The story follows Cal, a carrier of this parasite, as he navigates through the underbelly of NYC to hunt down those he has infected and the one who infected him. The novel seamlessly weaves in scientific explanations about parasites, creating a suspenseful and humorous narrative that appeals to both teens and adults. Through alternating chapters on parasites and the main storyline, Westerfeld presents a fresh and inventive twist on the traditional vampire tale, blending elements of horror, science fiction, and romance.

The book is praised for its originality in reimagining vampires as carriers of a parasite, rather than supernatural beings. Readers appreciate the engaging plot structure, the well-developed characters, and the seamless integration of scientific information on parasites into the narrative. The blend of horror, mystery, and romance, along with the unexpected twist at the end, keeps readers hooked and eager to delve deeper into the world of 'Peeps' by Scott Westerfeld.

Characters:

Characters are well-developed, with Cal serving as a typical relatable protagonist, while other characters add depth and support to the narrative.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is engaging and witty, combining a light-hearted narrative approach with informative sections about actual parasites.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot presents a fresh perspective on vampirism, focusing on a parasite that infects individuals through saliva, forcing the protagonist to confront his past relationships.

Setting:

The setting is modern-day New York City, blending urban elements with a hidden underworld related to the parasitic theme.

Pacing:

Pacing fluctuates with alternating chapter lengths, initially slower due to informational content but ultimately builds in intensity and excitement.

It turned out she’d been hiding in New Jersey, which broke my heart. I mean, Hoboken? Sarah was always head-over-heels in love with Manhattan. For her, New York was like another Elvis, the King remade...

Notes:

Peeps is a unique blend of genres: horror, sci-fi, urban fantasy, and vampire lore.

The protagonist, Cal Thompson, is a nineteen-year-old who works for the Night Watch, which hunts vampire-like creatures called "Peeps."

Peeps are the result of a parasitic infection, which is transmitted through saliva, including kissing.

Cal is a carrier of the parasite and does not suffer the negative effects that most Peeps experience, like madness and bloodlust.

The story incorporates real-world biological information about parasites, making the narrative both educational and entertaining.

The chapters alternate between Cal's story and fascinating facts about various parasites, creating a compelling reading experience.

The book reinterprets traditional vampire myths without magic, making them scientifically plausible.

Cal's first task is to track down his ex-girlfriends who have become infected after being with him, blending humor and horror elements.

The narrative has unexpected twists and a satirical tone, with witty commentary by Cal throughout the story.

Peeps has been praised for its clever approach, mixing biology with a contemporary take on the vampire mythos.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book contains graphic descriptions of parasites, sexual themes, and horror elements.

Has Romance?

There is a medium level of romance as the protagonist navigates his feelings for Lace while dealing with the consequences of his condition.

From The Publisher:

A year ago, Cal Thompson was a college freshman more interested in meeting girls and partying than in attending biology class. Now, after a fateful encounter with a mysterious woman named Morgan, biology has become, literally, Cal's life.

Ratings (11)

Incredible (3)
Loved It (1)
Liked It (4)
It Was OK (2)
Hated It (1)

Reader Stats (15):

Read It (11)
Want To Read (3)
Not Interested (1)

3 comment(s)

ColorfulLeo92

Loved It

3 months

It's a very interesting and odd twist on the whole vampire genre. With vampirism being a desease contained by parasites. I loved the whole talk and random facts about parasites as its something I'm genuinely interested in and I loved the whole play with vampire sickness and all that. Didn't quite love the whole story except that but I did really enjoyed some parts of it. 3.8 stars

StephB

It Was OK

3 months

I was happy that a challenge got me to read this one b/c it's been on my TBR list for quite a while. It was different, so I gave it 3★, but story-wise it was about 2 - 2.5 for me. Interesting take on vampires, loved the gory details of all the different types of real parasites and the story was ... ok. The ending had a YA happy ending. Again, interesting, but not enough to make me hunt for book 2 right away. Definitely enough to make me consider [a:Scott Westerfeld|13957|Scott Westerfeld|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1199748511p2/13957.jpg]'s other books though.

funrex232

Hated It

9 months

Gross and weird. I prefer not to think about parasites.

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Peeps?

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About the Author:

Scott Westerfeld's novels include Evolution's Darling, a New York Times Notable Book, as well as the Uglies series, the Leviathan trilogy, the Midnighters trilogy, Peeps, The Last Days, and more. Westerfeld was born in Texas and alternates summers between Sydney,…

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Peeps

Scott Westerfeld

Book 1 in the series:Peeps