Reviews

DNF: Die for Me (Revenants #1) by Amy Plum

Title:  Die for Me
Author:  Amy Plum
Series:  Revenants #1
Publisher:  HarperTeen
Publication Date:  May 10, 2011
Pages:  341

Format/Source:  eBook/Purchased

Age Group/Genre:  Young Adult/Fantasy, Paranormal

In the City of Lights, two star-crossed lovers battle a fate that is destined to tear them apart again and again for eternity.

When Kate Mercier’s parents die in a tragic car accident, she leaves her life–and memories–behind to live with her grandparents in Paris. For Kate, the only way to survive her pain is escaping into the world of books and Parisian art. Until she meets Vincent.

Mysterious, charming, and devastatingly handsome, Vincent threatens to melt the ice around Kate’s guarded heart with just his smile. As she begins to fall in love with Vincent, Kate discovers that he’s a revenant–an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save the lives of others. Vincent and those like him are bound in a centuries-old war against a group of evil revenants who exist only to murder and betray. Kate soon realizes that if she follows her heart, she may never be safe again. (From Goodreads)

I’m not sure what it was about this book, but for some reason I just couldn’t get into it.  And I really don’t like to not finish books, so I kept pressing on with it.  But at one point I realized I had been reading it for 8 days and I was only halfway through.  So I decided it was time to move on to something else.

The plot really did seem interesting to me, and I liked the characters enough, but I just couldn’t get into the book.  I didn’t hate it at all, but I didn’t love it either.  I really didn’t like how Kate continually balked at the fact that Vincent liked her (this is a common occurrence in books that I could go on and on about, but maybe I’ll save that for a discussion post in the future), and I didn’t like how she couldn’t make up her mind about whether he was a monster or not, whether she should be scared of him or not.  Maybe this is all reconciled in the end, but there just wasn’t enough to suck me into the story to keep me reading.

I did enjoy the setting in Paris, and like I said, I think the plot and the revenants themselves were pretty intriguing.  I just couldn’t really get into this book.  Maybe one day I’ll try to read it again.  I do know that there are plenty of bloggers that I follow that really enjoyed it, so I have linked to some of their reviews below.  Just because this book wasn’t for me, doesn’t mean that others won’t love it.

Also, I feel really bad because I won the second book in this series, Until I Die, from a Goodreads giveaway, thinking that it was the first book in the series. When I was notified that I won, I quickly realized my mistake and bought the eBook of Die for Me.  But since I wasn’t able to finish Die for Me, I feel really horrible that I won the next book.  So I will be giving away Until I Die here soon, so be on the lookout for that!

Find it:  Goodreads │ Amazon │ HarperTeen
Disclaimer:  I purchased this book myself.  I was not compensated in any way for this review.

18 Comments

  1. Gwen Cole

    June 7, 2012 at 1:30 pm

    I felt the same way. I did end up finishing it, but I did not enjoy it. It was just very…blah, haha. And I won't be reading the second one :P

    1. Andrea @ The Overstuffed Bookcase

      June 9, 2012 at 2:26 am

      I know there are a lot of other people out there that really loved this book, so I felt pretty bad about not finishing it. But I just really couldn't get into it!

  2. Jessi (Geo)

    June 7, 2012 at 5:46 pm

    Glad I wasn't the only one! It seemed like EVERYONE loved this one. I kind of hated it, to be honest. The romance made me want to hurl and I was bored out of my mind. I finished it; believe me, you're not missing anything.

    1. Andrea @ The Overstuffed Bookcase

      June 9, 2012 at 2:27 am

      I know! It does seem like everyone really enjoyed this story! I just really couldn't get into it. :(

  3. Krista

    June 8, 2012 at 5:50 am

    Sorry you didn't like it. I never really thought the premise was all the interesting. So I'm probably going to skip over it.

    1. Andrea @ The Overstuffed Bookcase

      June 9, 2012 at 2:28 am

      Well, as long as you don't base your decision solely on my DNF review. I do know there are lots of people out there that really like it!

  4. Jennifer @ A Librarians Library

    June 9, 2012 at 6:08 am

    I had a really difficult time with this one too. I did finish it, but only gave it a 2. Like you, I really liked the Revenant plot, but I couldn't get over some of the details of this book. I did get the 2nd book from the library with the expectation that I do not expect a quality novel, but rather an entertaining story.

    so don't worry about not finishing. You aren't alone. =)

    1. Andrea @ The Overstuffed Bookcase

      June 9, 2012 at 8:01 pm

      I'm glad I wasn't the only one! I just saw so many people loved it and I thought maybe it was just me! I really wanted to love it, but just couldn't get into it. Thanks for stopping by!

  5. Eileen

    June 10, 2012 at 1:56 am

    Thanks so much for linking me! :) Sorry you never finished it, but I see where you're coming from. I'll definitely be on the look out for that giveaway because I have the eBook version of Until I Die and I really want a physical copy for my 10-YA-book collection. Yeah, I'm pathetic. ;)

    1. Andrea @ The Overstuffed Bookcase

      June 11, 2012 at 2:31 am

      You're very welcome! :) I'll make sure to let you know when I have that giveaway!

  6. barklesswagmore

    June 13, 2012 at 4:24 pm

    Sometimes it happens and a book just doesn't resonate. There have been so many books that my reading friends adore that made me wonder what I was missing or what was wrong with me because I thought they were so "meh".

    1. Andrea @ The Overstuffed Bookcase

      June 14, 2012 at 4:46 am

      We can't all love everything, can we? :)

  7. Mackenzie @ Oh, For the Love of Books!

    June 13, 2012 at 4:53 pm

    Hm…I've been very iffy on this one and this review makes me think it probably won't be up my alley. I totally agree that I hate not finishing, but there are so many books and so little time that I don't want to waste my time on something I don't like. And I can't stand indecision! Though often times if the plot and whatnot are interesting enough it doesn't bother me as much, but I don't prefer it. Great review!

    All the best ♥
    Mackenzie @ Oh, For the Love of Books!

    1. Andrea @ The Overstuffed Bookcase

      June 14, 2012 at 4:48 am

      I really hate not finishing a book. But you're right – there are so many books and only so much time!

      And I am extremely indecisive myself, but that doesn't mean I want to read about it! :P

  8. Andrea @ Cozy Up

    June 13, 2012 at 5:50 pm

    I'm sorry to hear you weren't able to finish this one. Those books always come around once in awhile. I'm like you and I always try to finish a book. It sucks putting so much time into a book to not be able to finish it.

    1. Andrea @ The Overstuffed Bookcase

      June 14, 2012 at 4:49 am

      It really is horrible to put so much time into a book, only to decide you really can't put any more time and effort into it! It makes me sad. But there's only so much I can do, I guess!

  9. Bittner

    June 16, 2012 at 8:24 pm

    I know it is hard to not finish a book but sometimes it is just what needs to be done. I wish I had that kind of conviction but a lot of the books I'm reading right now were gifts and so I do feel obligated to finish them and to like them!

    1. Andrea @ The Overstuffed Bookcase

      June 30, 2012 at 10:57 pm

      I really hate not finishing a book. Especially if I spend so much time on one. But I am beginning to realize that sometimes I just need to move on.

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