Prom Dates from Hell November 19, 2007

Clement-Moore, Rosemary (2007). Prom Dates from Hell. NY : Delacorte Press. 308 pages.

High-school senior Maggie Quinn isn’t a big fan of the prom. She’s also not a big fan of the Jocks and Jessicas, the clique that rules her school. But when someone puts a curse on the Jocks and Jessicas – not to mention possibly Maggie herself – she has no choice but to try and stop it, even if it means buying a dress, snagging a hot date, and going to the big dance.

Maggie’s witty narration made a fairly decent follow-up to my little Wodehouse binge (see previous entry), which in and of itself was a pretty big hurdle to leap. Happily, the wittiness added to the book and Maggie’s character, rather than detracting – while Maggie wasn’t the most dynamic character ever to grace the pages of a YA novel, she was definitely appealing as an intelligent and subtly vulnerable heroine.

Despite the fact that Maggie claims idolize Nancy Drew, the book itself is an unabashed Buffy tribute, featuring not only a sarcastic heroine with super powers, but also a smart Willow-esque friend, and a suspiciously helpful (and hot) older guy who is, probably, the secret love child of Angel and Giles. Happily, there is still room for an original story with some surprises. I especially liked the nature of the curse and some of the forms it took, from hilarious to near tragic.

The book went by fairly quickly despite its reasonably substantial length – like most horror books, it was really fast-paced. However, unlike other horror books, Prom really isn’t very scary (trust me, I’m a giant wuss, so I’d know) and is really more of a mystery than a thriller, despite the supernatural elements.

If you read this book, keep an eye out for the sequel, Hell Week, that’s coming out in 2008.

Booktalk Hook: What would it take to get you to the place you’d least like to go?

If you like this book: Clearly you should just watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Oh, you’ve done that already? Of course you have. Well, why not check out Bleach, the popular supernatural/horror manga series? Like Prom, it’s low on gore and scariness, and high on suspense and humor.

The Unseen: It Begins November 17, 2007

Cusick, Richie Tankersley (2005). It Begins, the Unseen series. NY : Speak. 296 pages.

After finding a dying girl in a graveyard, Lucy has been plagued by psychic powers she doesn’t understand. Then there’s the problem of finding out whoever murdered the girl – or who kissed Lucy behind the fair tents?

As it turns out, this author wrote what I think must be the first Buffy novel waaaaay back in 1992, before the TV series. However, for someone who has been writing trashy horror novels for over 15 years, Cusick hasn’t really added much to her writing arsenal. Not that this book doesn’t please – it’s thrilling, suspenseful, and sexy. On the other hand, Lucy is an irritating wet blanket who spends the entire book practically regurgitating Evanescence lyrics and indulging in some truly emo whining about How Sad Her Life Is. Once I got started, I couldn’t put the book down, but once I finished? I really didn’t want anything more to do with Lucy.

Also, who goes out onto the terrace in their see-through pink nightie in the rain because they think that maybe they saw a murderer outside? WHO DOES THAT?!! People who deserve to get stalked for three more books, that’s who. Too bad I won’t be reading them…

Booktalk Hook: If books were food, this book would be a Mars bar, deliciously goopy interior, and absolutely no nutritional value. Yum.

If you like this book: Check out fanfiction.net, and read some Buffy or Yami no Matsuei fanfic.