Vampireville

Vampire Kisses #3

by Ellen Schreiber

For goth-girl Raven, dating her dream boyfriend is complicated, especially because Alexander's secret means that they can see each other only at night. And now the pair must be extra wary in the dark with Alexander's archrival, Jagger, appearing around town. As if Jagger isn't enough cause for worry, Luna, his strikingly pale sister, has also surfaced and seems to have her sights set on Raven's longtime nemesis, Trevor. Together, Raven and Alexander must begin a terrifying search for Jagger and Luna's hideout to drive them away -- that is, if it's not already too late to save Dullsville from becoming Vampireville. In the latest installment of her popular Vampire Kisses books, Ellen Schreiber continues the startling story of two teen outsiders -- she from the mortal world and he from the Underworld -- who share a thrilling, extraordinary romance.

Genres: Vampires, Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Supernatural

192 pages, Hardcover

First published July 3, 2006

About the author

Before I took pen to paper, I was an actress. I attended a local university majoring in theatre and spent a summer in London at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts where I learned about the “Old Bard” from amazingly talented teachers.

When I returned from London, I relocated to Chicago where I lived for five years. There, I graduated from the Second City Training Center and performed improv, Shakespeare, comedies and dramas--I even sang and danced on a cruise boat--without falling in Lake Michigan! A classmate of mine from Second City and I created and performed a two woman show for a year before I braved it alone doing stand-up comedy. It was during this time I began to write an adult novel about a rock star--I had always enjoyed writing...

Fast forward a couple of years along with a move home where I was performing “stand-up” at comedy clubs in the area. On a plane to LA to decide my fate-- “to move to LA or not to move to LA” that is the question, my big bro, Mark, coincidentally with the same last name as mine (author of PRINCES IN EXILE, DREAMS OF THE SOLO TRAPEZE and STARCROSSED) handed me a young adult book he found at the library he thought I’d like to read during the flight.

As I read the book, I thought, ‘I can do this!’

I returned from LA, and instead of moving there, I wrote my story about the rock star as a young adult novel and called it JOHNNY LIGHTNING.
Mark, my writing mentor, edited JL for me. He was kind enough to send the manuscript to his publisher in Belgium--Facet--and they published it! In Dutch!

I was now on a new life path!

In 2001 HarperCollins made me an offer I couldn’t refuse! Not only was HarperCollins going to publish TEENAGE MERMAID, but it was in a language I could read and book stores I could walk into! HarperCollins also bought VAMPIRE KISSES and COMEDY GIRL.

It was a dream come true!

Since beginning my new life path, VAMPIRE KISSES, TEENAGE MERMAID, and MY MOTHER, THE CLOWN have been published by Facet in Belgium and JOHNNY LIGHTNING has been published in Germany by Ravensburger.

Then my fabulous editor at HarperCollins asked me for a sequel to VAMPIRE KISSES!
HarperCollins published VAMPIRE KISSES 2--KISSING COFFINS and now the soon to be released VAMPIRE KISSES 3--VAMPIREVILLE. I am currently writing VAMPIRE KISSES 4!

When I'm not writing about the love affair between vampire obsessed, goth girl Raven and my favorite mysterious dark-eyed hottie, Alexander Sterling, I enjoy working on my other novels, shopping for Hello Kitty items, and attempting to gain control of the remote from my boyfriend.

Reviews

[Briar's Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vampireville, the third book in the amazing Vampire Kisses series by Ellen Schreiber, is another excellent addition to my bookshelf!

I love this series and I have a very obvious bias towards it. This series was a big part of my teenage years and it's hard to not jump back into this series and fall in love all over again. Alexander and Raven's epic romance is one of the best YA couples around (go ahead and argue that with me) and I can't help but shout from the hills about them. Jumping back into these books as an adult cemented my love for this series. It's still just as good!

Vampireville is a young YA book - the maturity of this novel isn't strong but that's why I loved it. Lots of YA books take themselves way too seriously, so having a book like this that is so much fun is a real delight. Raven is your stereotypical goth girl (Hot Topic shopping, black lipstick, loves black, black cats, in love with a vampire, etc.) but that makes her so cool. She's the ideal of every 13 year old girl who wanted to be a goth but her parents wouldn't let me (haha... me!). She's sassy, makes mistakes and feels more real than most YA heroines.

Raven and Alexander continue facing a very bumpy ride, but the ride is fun! I highly recommend binging the whole series as soon as possible. I didn't enjoy these books all on their own: I liked reading the entire series from beginning to end to really get this series. It helps that all the books are relatively short and written in a nice form so you can easily jump from book to book.

Five out of five stars! I love this series and I want more!

[Maria · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought the first book was okay since my library didnt have the second book I just went on to the third & I was very very disappointed. See, when I read the first book I was a high school freshman & now I'm a junior in college & this book just seemed so dreadfully disappointing.

First, the author keeps reminding you how "gothic" this girl is. The author basically described shopping at Hot Topic: black lipstick, Nightmare Before Christmas clock, etc. (Don't get me wrong! Nothing is wrong with shopping at Hot Topic but is that all the author can come up with when describing the "goth" aspect of her character?)

Second, if this is how she sees vampires.. WHAT A BORE! Shine a flashlight to a vampire & it immediately retreats??! C'mon, how weak is that?!

Lastly, I think the events in her book progress so fast & I don't like how she writes the romance in the book.

Overall, this is not a worthwhile book!

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Raven dates a vampire, but she faces a major problem: she can't persuade the others that she has a boyfriend! ("you don't see us together, since we should come out of the house only after sunset"). Also, Alexander may be such a sweet and lovely boy, but all vampires are not like him; take Luna and Jagger for example, who threaten to transform other children.

Raven and Alex are trying to stop them in another adventure in Vampireville!

I read all three first books in a day (stuck in traffic into the bus.....). I think it was a nice day though!

[Karen Edith Gallegos · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is the best book ever, how can you imagine that you will actually will be going out with a real vampire. well let me tell you a little about this book. is about this girl named Raven and her boyfriend Alexander. they are but completely in love. then this twins, Jagger and Luna, comes to town to try to get into Raven's nemesis, Trevis, then Jagger tries to bite Raven to turn her into a vampire and Luna is trying to kiss Alexander so she could stay with him until eternity... If you want to know more, you have to read the book.

[Jenny Jo Weir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 3 was not as exciting as the first two books, but it was still a really good book.

I'm a little surprised these books don't get better ratings. I am really enjoying the series and like the authors writing style. These books are very PG and and probably geared more towards preteens and youthful readers, but even so, the stories are light, fun and easy to get into.

In this book, Raven and Alexander's story continues in a way I was not expecting. There are a couple of little hiccups they have to deal with and I think they do the best they can.

Looking forward to book 4 :-)

[Michelle Kampmeier · Rating 1 out of 5]

I barely made it through this one. I read a review that claimed that this one made it worth reading the last awful two books, but they were wrong. It's so boring. The whole thing is just innocent consumer products given dark, malicious names, the word 'gothic' over and over again, and the wussiest, weakest, worst vampires I've ever encountered in books. They can't do anything cool besides fly. They couldn't even tell she was human?? Wtf. NOT continuing this series.

[Dede · Rating 3 out of 5]

More brand names, more goth merch mentioned like Ellen is trying to sell me stuff. I'm so ready to drop this series but im almost done. 😩 fighting to finish the entire series

[Mortisha Cassavetes · Rating 4 out of 5]

The adventure continues in this 3rd book of the Vampire Kisses series. It follows Raven, her vampire boyfriend Alexander and friends as they find a couple of new very pale people hanging around town. Lots of twists and turns in this book and even some cemetery fun. I don't want to give away more of the story line to not spoil the books. I highly recommend if you love coming of age, romance and vampires!

[Dana Al-Basha | دانة الباشا · Rating 3 out of 5]

A love triangle is ensuing here, Luna wants Alexander who wants Raven but Trevor is there and Luna's brother is pursuing Raven to destroy Alexander.

[Mary · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was terrible, and was it really even worth reading . The characters had no depth to them whatsoever, the first two were okay . This one was HORRIBLE !!!!!

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I would have liked this book if I was 12.

[_ Mhtb _ · Rating 3 out of 5]

بلاخره تمومش کردم
یکم این جلد طول داده شد مطالب و وقایع اوایل داستان و یسری روابط و دوستی های سر سری شکل داده نویسنده و نامفهوم و غیر قابل درک بودن برام
خوبی هاش هم بخوام بگم صحنه آخر و کلا بیست صفحه ی آخر هستش که دوسش داشتم و یسری بخش هاش که فراتر از حدسم بود

خلاصه نمیدونم چرا این مجموعه رو شروع کردم ولی تجربه ی جالبیه تا اینجا برام جلد یک و دو برام جذاب تر بود

[Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to have a great balance in romance and action. It holds a ya feel but still isn't so watered down that it isn't enjoyable. The characters are interesting and the action drives the story. I like the depth of the story and hope to find more in this series of this level of reading quality. I liked it a good deal.

[MiMi · Rating 5 out of 5]

My mind is blown how a book so stupid can be so good.


You are? Me too. See if you think too much about the book it is REALLY STUPID SOUNDING

BUT, when you don't think to hard, the book appears REALLY INSANE GOOD! Soooo I try not to think to hard.

And then read this series. Right. Daphne's got it.

See but the thing is I LIKE THIS SERIES! I truly do. See I wasn't able to express this in my reviews of books 1 and 2 because I was tired/had things to do, but here. Read this list.

GOOD THINGS ABOUT THE BOOK/SERIES:
-the romance
-the vampires
-the romance
-the gothness
-the fact that Raven reminds me exactly of Emily the Strange (and even has an Emily the Strange sweatshirt)

BAD THINGS ABOUT THE BOOK/SERIES:
-the fact that the vampires are stereotypical
-the fact that Raven can be soooo stupid sometimes
-the fact that there are just too many coincidences
-the fact that Raven reminds me exactly of Emily the Strange (sometimes they are just too close. I mean I love Emily the Strange but come on)

It is worth the read really. I gave it 5 stars for Pete's sake! But just caution that th book can be stupid if you let it.

Until the next amazing...ish book I read, FANGIRL OUT...ish?

[Starry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alexander Sterling is back in "Dullsville," and Raven couldn't be happier about that. However, Jagger and his twin sister, Luna, are also hanging around, which is the reason why Raven has started carrying garlic in her purse. To make matters worse, now that Luna has been turned into a vampire, she's on the search for her true love, and she's convinced she's found him in Trevor.

Trevor may have been Raven's arch nemesis since kindergarten, but that doesn't mean that she wants him to fall victim to Luna's charms. Not to mention her fangs. So Raven takes it upon herself to protect Trevor--after all, the last thing "Dullsville" needs is a vampire-Trevor!

Raven is also trying to deal with having a nocturnal boyfriend. She mourns the loss of Alexander's company during the day, just as she despises the school that prevents her from being able to keep the same hours as he does. The time they do have together is spent searching cemeteries and other spooky deserted areas for Jagger and Luna's hideout, determined to drive them away before they turn "Dullsville" into someplace infinitely less dull--"Vampireville."

[.·:*¨ × Shannon♥Stelena&Bamon&Sydrian × ¨*: · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alexander and Raven struggle to get rid of Vampire twins Jagger and Luna Maxwell before Luna makes Trevor Mitchell not only a vampire, but her eternally bonded.

Schreiber's writing and plotting continues to get stronger. Raven definitely sounds more mature than when we first met her and I'm happy that Raven is finally starting to realize how much she'll sacrifice should she become a vampire.

I must admit, though. Maybe it's because I finished rereading The Vampire Diaries now too long ago but I'm starting to notice similarities between Alexander and Jagger with Stefan and Damon. As well as the use of a grim reaper costume. Hmm.

I have to say, I'm not a big fan of of Schreiber's backtracking with Jagger going from being a vengeful vampire to a misunderstood one who always wanted to be on the soccer team. I like him being a "normal" vampire, we already have Alexander so there's no need for us to pity Jagger.

Still, the series is getting better and better.

[Carien · Rating 3 out of 5]

It might be just me, but I have the feeling Raven is getting more reckless and unthinking as this series goes on. Although this is once again an enjoyable read, Raven is doing things that made me want to kick her.Yes, she and others might once again be in danger, but she is taking stupid risks.

Alexander isn't always the brightest either, so together they might be steering themselves right towards a shipwreck. I will also confess I miss Becky. In the first book Becky was there to help out Raven and to control her wilder impulses at times, but since Becky got a boyfriend she only has small walk-on roles. If I continue reading this series, I really hope Becky will get bigger roles again.

Of the three books I read so far, this one is my least favorite. Maybe I'm having series fatigue though, and that explains my feelings about this book. If I happen to run into more books of this series at a discount, I might read more, but I won't hunt them down.

[Cynthia Flores · Rating 1 out of 5]

The first one was funny. The second one complimented the first but the teeny bopperishness was starting to wear a little thin for me. I thought, maybe by book 3 something new and interesting will happen to her. She's been waiting for her whole like for this kind of dark excitement. I just can't read anymore due to the teenybopperishness of the character. I've never been a teenybopper so I just can't relate. No matter how "goth" the character tries to portray herself to be, it's just not working for me. I do think this is a great series for the sort of pseudogoth "tween good kid" summer reading series though. ps.... I never thought I would use the term "tween".....ugh.... I'd rather say, jr highish.

[Lissa Smith Reads'~A Bookaholics Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars:
There were some unexpected things in Vampireville but of course Raven and Alexander are still going strong. I wonder when he'll just give in and turn her into a vampire.

Among some of my favorites. Outstanding literary work. The characters are well developed, interesting. The liked characters are likable and the hated are unlikable. The writing is captivating enough to keep you interested until the end and leave you wanting more. It has a fairly original or uniquely well-developed plot. The pretense and romance was well balanced and done with properly distributed amounts of hints, behaviors and chemistry. Not so much predictable if at all. Overall, loved it, I recommend reading!!

[Ariel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This wasn't quite as painful as some of the other ones, but still bad. I think the writing has come a long way. I am seeing Raven as less annoying and the Goth descriptions have calmed down.
Someone really needs to just turn her into a vampire already. I don't see how she could have fooled Luna or Jagger even for a minute about being a vampire.

I also really don't like this depiction of vampires: the garlic, sunlight, coffins, blood. It's all just very childish, but I'm guessing that was the goal? I still feel bad for Billy, the nickname kills me.

I guess we trudge on to the next one (ugh)

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five star rating. I absolutely love this series and it does not wane in excitement, it increases and I can not get enough. I look forward to each book deliriously. I cant read fast enough.
I would like to have seen a bit more action in each book as opposed to one or two big action scenes but then again each scene only brings me closer to each character. I love them all, I love the Gothic descriptions of all things Vamp or goth. A birds eye and unique view into how a TEEN vamp might live if they did in fact exist. On to book 4.

[Ebony · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this series because it's differnt from the Twilight series. Just to set the record straight i LOVE Twilight since the first book was published, but the whole fairy tale story thing is getting old. Alexander is back but of course there are people (or should i say vampires) out there ready to ruin Alexander and Raven's life. Vampire twins Jagger and Luna come for revenge. Wh y you may ask? well You'll just have to find out for yourself.

[Randa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't love this one as much as the first two, but it's still cute. I liked the addition of Luna as a character, she's adorable. But not a lot happened, and it was all so overly dramatic when nothing spectacular was happening. Luckily it's the third book so I'll enjoy it no matter what just because I'm already invested in the characters. But I don't know if I'm going to buy the fourth book when I already have so many other books I want to read instead.

[gail ♛ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was even less enjoyable than the first two in this series, but is that going to stop me from finishing the series? No. There is just something so addicting about these books, and I can't quite put my finger on what it is. It's so unlike anything I've read before, and the only character I really like is the side character Luna. I am interested to see where the rest of this series is headed though.

[Rebekah · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't even finish this one...
I've had it! 2.5 books of the series and I don't even care how it ends.
Not a great read.

[Ashlie Emberlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute but boring

[Grace · Rating 2 out of 5]

Team Trevor!

[Lina · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOOOOOVE IT..<3

[Mary Bronson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a great third book. It was a nice quick read. The characters are getting better and better. I like the plot of the story and I can not wait to read the next book in the series.

[Rants and Bants · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though it’s a light-hearted teen series, it still tries to build the suspense of being in a dark cemetery at night by yourself while there could potentially be vampires around that, while human-looking, still have malicious intentions. It may not be horror, but it’s at least a tad suspenseful. Raven is basically like a goth girl Nancy Drew, trying to solve the mystery of where the vampires are and how to stop them from turning someone and potentially turning the entire town into vampires.

The settings in here are great. There are several different ones that you would expect to find in suburbia for every kind of person—some of it’s a bit cliché, such as “the wrong side of town”, but otherwise, we have the cemetery (and Raven happening upon a grave surrounded by dirt), the swing set (the part with Billy in the window with Nightmare was funny), abandoned factory that used to be a Halloween house, a treehouse, and frankly, I was vaguely reminded of the idea of a vampire hiding out in someone’s garage for some reason while reading this, even though that’s not what happened. But it’s a very creepy thought indeed. Speaking of garages, I found the garage light having an effect on vampires to be a little silly at first, but then I figured it emphasizes the fact that they are creatures of the dark and really cannot handle much more than candlelight or moonlight. Even though this is a light-hearted teen series, it does still have that unspoken stress hanging in the air that Alexander could burn to death if he ever reaches sunlight.

Luna—Luna kind of annoys me with how it seems she goes back and forth between being the bad guy and having nefarious intentions, to then acting all sweet and innocent like a normal teenage girl. I’ll admit that little bit with Raven and her sharing details about their lives to each other would’ve been nice if Luna wasn’t a stalker with malintent. If she weren’t a vampire and were just a normal human, we’d probably see just how creepy she is. I do like how that scene was used to show parallels to real teenage life though, how Luna was like another version of Raven from a different universe, etc. It was corny, but very similar to a girls’ sleepover with the talk of boys, combing each other’s hair, etc. I also like how, style-wise, even though Luna is still “goth” I guess, she still has a different style from Raven anyway. The series is beginning to go a little beyond the bounds of just one archetypical kind of “goth”.

Jagger—Jagger is a bit cartoonish for me, but at least he’s consistent and moves the plot/conflict along.

Trevor—At first I couldn’t really understand why Raven wanted to help him out, but I guess I can understand that even he doesn’t deserve to fall victim to the ulterior motives, not only because he would be in danger, but also because it’s just a shitty thing to do to lead someone on like that. Not to mention the whole town was in danger. I just thought that sneaking into his house was a bit much. I understand why Raven did it, so I have no ill will towards her for it, but wouldn’t it have been easier if she and Alexander had just tried to get Trevor alone somewhere and tell him the truth? And if he didn’t believe them, like she suspected, they could just prove it to him by showing him that Alexander himself is indeed a vampire and therefore he would believe that about Jagger and Luna too. And if they are afraid he would go around telling everyone in town about Alexander, well, he already tried that—and was made a fool. :) Speaking of being made a fool, Trevor was definitely made the fool in the end when Luna was blunt about how she was playing him. And he even admitted, in shock, that Raven was right. I have to say, that was quite satisfying. It also seemed like he actually had some development at the end. As Raven said, he finally knows now what it feels like to be the outcast. How about that.

Becky and Raven—Once again I was glad this book emphasized friendship, and how despite how great it is to have a boyfriend, it’s important to have girl time too. I wish there were more girls in the world like Raven and Becky. They also realistically had a little conflict, but nothing too dramatic. Nothing that wasn’t a mere misunderstanding that got cleared up right away. It also emphasized how Becky doesn’t shit on Raven for her style even though they’re different (as someone who was in abusive friendships where I wasn’t allowed to like certain things, I wish I could’ve had more friends that were that caring and supportive).

Raven herself is also brave and not afraid to go right up to her own enemy and start firing off questions, she isn’t nervous around people at all, quite comfortable with herself. These are not traits that I possess but that I wish I could.

The Dinner with Ruby scene was pretty funny, not nearly as funny as the dinner scene in The Lost Boys, but cute regardless. I’m glad Ruby was a good sport about it all and that her and Jameson managed to work things out.

It was also really good how Raven started rethinking about how “romantic” being a vampire might be. If her own boyfriend Alexander (who she trusts more than anyone) doesn’t like it, how would she? And there is, as she pointed out, something to be said about being able to have the sun shine on you, watching sunsets, seeing your family and friends, seeing your reflection, etc. Even if she can’t do those things with Alexander. And she does still get to spend time with him even if it’s only at night and they are busy trying to investigate Jagger and Luna. They’ve still got a good thing going.

The climax at the cemetery was very well-done. I could definitely sympathize with Raven’s frustration at how it was something she’d loved her entire life and been ostracized for, but now it was considered trendy and stylish now that the popular kid was doing it. I HATE this term, but I guess it was like “appropriation” in a way (disclaimer: I do not believe in “cultural appropriation”, nor any of the SJW dialect/lexicon). It was also admirable that Trevor actually had the decency to be appalled by Jagger’s behavior when he attacked Raven. It was the first time he’d shown any type of humanity toward her, so maybe he is human after all. Pretty pivotal part for him.

Less important stuff:

More references—Alice Cooper, Slipknot, HIM, AFI…all wonderful bands.

I like how the books are all different colors. I believe the first one’s black, the second one’s pink, the third one’s a darkish-maroon color…it also feels nostalgic because my ex-best friend used to read them with me.

Question: What is that symbol at the beginning of every chapter? I’ve been wondering for a while now because it looks pretty.