Cave of Terror
Amber Dawn BellYoung adult
Available from Highland Press Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-9818550-3-5
December 2008
| Cheyenne Wilde learns on her sixteenth birthday that there really are vampires and that she is one but not only is she a vampire, she is the first Vanator, hunter of evil, in over five hundred years. Vanators have a shorter life expectancy than other vampires which could have something to do with being hunted by evil entities for her exceptionally rare blood type. Of course Cheyenne has never been an average teen anyway, she already deals with the expectations that go with being a good student and a top notch gymnast, and while other teens deal with acne now she deals with bloodlust. But when Mandy, Cheyenne¢s best friend, and Ryan, the hottest guy in the school, are threatened, Evil is about to discover that Cheyenne isn¢t to be messed with!
With the popularity of vampire books for both adults and teens, you may not think you need another vampire series but this one is exceptionally good. I loved the juxtaposition of Cheyenne trying to live like a fairly regular teen and the responsibilities and powers that come with becoming a Vanator. An average day for Cheyenne now includes blood supplements, augmented hearing, eyesight, speed, and strength, all needed to fight off the influence of the evil entity out to get her blood. Cheyenne and best friend Mandy are funny and charming, just beginning to realize that there is life outside of gymnastics and noticing boys, when it becomes an accomplishment to just make it to the next day. Cheyenne has to grow up quickly and accept her new responsibilities and lifestyle or someone close to her, maybe even herself, will die. Of course teens think they are invincible anyway which means her friends are even more vulnerable because they have no idea about the evil they could face and continuously place themselves in danger. In this story, there are good vampire clans that live like regular humans, unnoticed by the rest of the world and there are bad vampire clans that want to maintain the old ways like drinking directly from humans and keeping their clans separate from the world. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and Ms. Bell¢s different take on vampires in the world and the very best thing about this story is that the ending makes it clear that there will be more! If you love vampires, suspense, good verses evil battles, and teen fiction then Cave of Terror should be the next book you read!
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Reviewer: Steph B. |
