For Tommy, there is only one thing he needs to do: survive.
Only surviving isn't that easy. The hunt for blood can be tricky when humans know to fear the night. Desire sits on the edge of his mind, urging him to become the monster humans think he is. Vampire Forces, a special branch of police, is determined to turn every vampire to ash. Tommy included.
The only human Tommy can trust is his twin brother. A bond connects them, and with Danny's help, Tommy starts to understand the human world he struggles to survive in. He'll learn what friendships means and feel the sting of betrayal, find that sometimes the worst monsters are very human, and come to understand that family means more than blood.
Tommy just wants to survive and he knows what he needs to do. But with the number of humans that mean more to him than a meal growing, Tommy learns there's more to life than simple survival. He'll discover being human doesn't mean being a human.
Review:
Vampire books and I have a love-hate relationship. However, as soon as I read the summery for Patricia Lynne's Being Human, I couldn't resist: I had to read it! As it turns out, Being Human is much more than your typical vampire read, as it offers an incredibly personal look into one boy's desire to be human in a situation where it seems vastly impossible.
Being Human revolves around Tommy and Danny, twin brothers who share a bond that is stronger than even an untimely vampire change.
Tommy is a complex protagonist. When we are first introduced to him he's just gone through the "change," loosing all his human feelings and memories. Due to that, Tommy's very straightforward - stilted to a point - not knowing what the social norms are, especially when one is a vampire.
I thought Patricia did a fantastic job of capturing Tommy's voice. Here we have this character who is as inhuman as you can possible get - he doesn't have blood circulating through him, he killed his own parents without a second thought - yet he still craves a place with his brother, a home so to speak.
It is so incredibly easy to feel Tommy's array of emotions displayed, such as his confusion on how to act, his fear of breaking the one bond that means the most to him, and his sadness over not having his own "place" in life. One part of Tommy is so desperate to figure out what will make his brother not fear or hate him while the other part of Tommy questions why in fact he worries so much. It's an intriguing inner dilemma, and one that is steadily developed and tested throughout the novel.
My favorite aspect of this book was seeing the bond between Tommy and Danny develop. It's rare for me to see a book so deeply focused on a relationship between two brothers, but goodness, does Patricia Lynne do it well. Their relationship jumps off the page and comes to life. I admired their need to always protect the other, no matter the cost. It is so easy to see how much they loved each other.
The plot in this is vastly character development based; however, there is still a sprinkle of action and suspense towards the end. I enjoyed the time length Patricia choose for Being Human - I felt like it was the perfect amount of time to really see Tommy's character grow and develop. I also liked how this book didn't focus too heavily on romance - that was a breath of fresh air in some respects.
My only compliant is that it's a little slow to start in the beginning, but once you get through the first hurtle, it's smooth sailing onward.
In all, Being Human is a stand-out vampire read, one that will leave you with the question: what does it exactly mean to be "human"? I look forward to reading Patricia Lynne's other books!
Vampire books and I have a love-hate relationship. However, as soon as I read the summery for Patricia Lynne's Being Human, I couldn't resist: I had to read it! As it turns out, Being Human is much more than your typical vampire read, as it offers an incredibly personal look into one boy's desire to be human in a situation where it seems vastly impossible.
Being Human revolves around Tommy and Danny, twin brothers who share a bond that is stronger than even an untimely vampire change.
Tommy is a complex protagonist. When we are first introduced to him he's just gone through the "change," loosing all his human feelings and memories. Due to that, Tommy's very straightforward - stilted to a point - not knowing what the social norms are, especially when one is a vampire.
I thought Patricia did a fantastic job of capturing Tommy's voice. Here we have this character who is as inhuman as you can possible get - he doesn't have blood circulating through him, he killed his own parents without a second thought - yet he still craves a place with his brother, a home so to speak.
It is so incredibly easy to feel Tommy's array of emotions displayed, such as his confusion on how to act, his fear of breaking the one bond that means the most to him, and his sadness over not having his own "place" in life. One part of Tommy is so desperate to figure out what will make his brother not fear or hate him while the other part of Tommy questions why in fact he worries so much. It's an intriguing inner dilemma, and one that is steadily developed and tested throughout the novel.
My favorite aspect of this book was seeing the bond between Tommy and Danny develop. It's rare for me to see a book so deeply focused on a relationship between two brothers, but goodness, does Patricia Lynne do it well. Their relationship jumps off the page and comes to life. I admired their need to always protect the other, no matter the cost. It is so easy to see how much they loved each other.
The plot in this is vastly character development based; however, there is still a sprinkle of action and suspense towards the end. I enjoyed the time length Patricia choose for Being Human - I felt like it was the perfect amount of time to really see Tommy's character grow and develop. I also liked how this book didn't focus too heavily on romance - that was a breath of fresh air in some respects.
My only compliant is that it's a little slow to start in the beginning, but once you get through the first hurtle, it's smooth sailing onward.
In all, Being Human is a stand-out vampire read, one that will leave you with the question: what does it exactly mean to be "human"? I look forward to reading Patricia Lynne's other books!
Grade: B+
Source: eBook provided by publicist - thanks Jessica at Sunrise Author Services!
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this is a new one to me, but I think I would like it. Especially the bond between the two brothers, it sounds so strong. Great review! :)
ReplyDeleteI do enjoy a good vampire book. I do like books that are character driven as well. I am glad you enjoyed this one!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a different kind of vampire book. It's interesting that the brotherly bond endured the change, but not the bond with the parents. I imagine that it was tough living with the fact that he killed them. Wonderful review, Lauren! :)
ReplyDeleteI don't read a LOT of vampire books but this one sounds promising. And you're right, how often do we read about brother relationships- ESPECIALLY if one's a vampire?? Glad this one worked so well- sounds like it has great character development.
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