Companions of the Night by Vivian Vande Velde is a teenage vampire novel that offers a fresh take on the genre. The story follows Kerry, a 16-year-old girl who unwittingly gets involved with a centuries-old vampire named Ethan. As Kerry navigates the dangerous vampire underworld, she must make difficult choices to save her family from peril. The book is praised for its intelligent storytelling, complex characters, and the way it challenges typical vampire romance tropes.

Companions of the Night is described as a fast-paced and action-packed read that keeps readers engaged until the very end. The writing style is noted for being realistic, gripping, and devoid of typical teenage paranormal romance clichés. The book is commended for its believable plot, likable characters, and the way it explores themes of life, death, and choices within the context of a vampire story.

Characters:

Characters are a mix of flawed and unlikable traits, with Kerry being frequently criticized and Ethan portrayed with a morally ambiguous nature.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is straightforward and accessible, though it can become overly detailed at times, potentially losing the reader's attention.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot involves a young girl getting entangled in a vampire conflict, starting slow and only revealing its main events late in the story, ultimately offering a lackluster resolution.

Setting:

The setting is a modern suburban environment, featuring typical public spaces and lacking modern technology, hinting at an older time.

Pacing:

The pacing starts slow, with some tedious sections, but becomes more engaging as the story progresses, especially leading to the climax.

“What kind of favor?” she asked, sticking a finger in her book to keep her place. It was almost eleven o’clock at night, her second period literature teacher had promised a test tomorrow, and she stil...

Notes:

The novel was published in 1995, before the vampire craze ignited by Twilight.

The main character, Kerry, is a 16-year-old girl who becomes involved with a vampire, Ethan.

Kerry's adventure begins when she goes to a laundromat to retrieve her brother's lost stuffed animal at night.

Kerry saves Ethan from vampire hunters, which leads to a dangerous conflict involving her family.

The vampire in this book, Ethan, is portrayed with complexity; he's not just a traditional romantic hero.

Unlike many YA vampire novels, Companions of the Night avoids romantic clichés and focuses more on friendship and survival.

The writing is described as easy to read, making it accessible for young adult readers.

There is little to no romantic development between Kerry and Ethan, with more emphasis on tension and trust issues instead.

The story explores themes of choices, danger, and moral ambiguity rather than typical teen romance.

Readers have noted the book's pacing, with some feeling the plot took too long to develop, contrasting with its straightforward conclusion.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book includes themes of violence, including threats and death, which may be intense for some readers.

From The Publisher:

Kerry's got a tough night ahead of her. What begins as a simple lost-and-found trip to the Laundromat turns into a nightmarish odyssey of murder, vampires, and-quite possibly-true love. Vivian Vande Velde puts a terrifying spin on what should be a typical night in a small town.

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About the Author:

Vivian Vande Velde has written many books for teen and middle grade readers, including Heir Apparent, User Unfriendly, All Hallow's Eve: 13 Stories, Three Good Deeds, Now You See It ..., and the Edgar Award-winning Never Trust a Dead Man. She lives in Rochester, New York. Visit her website at www.vivianvandevelde.com.

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Companions of the Night

Vivian Vande Velde