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Book Reviews of Boys that Bite (Blood Coven, Bk 1)

Boys that Bite (Blood Coven, Bk 1)
Boys that Bite - Blood Coven, Bk 1
Author: Mari Mancusi
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ISBN-13: 9780425209424
ISBN-10: 0425209423
Publication Date: 4/4/2006
Pages: 272
Reading Level: All Ages
Rating:
  • Currently 3.7/5 Stars.
 62

3.7 stars, based on 62 ratings
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Book Type: Paperback
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

7 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

jai avatar reviewed Boys that Bite (Blood Coven, Bk 1) on + 310 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Sunshine is the innocent and sweet identical twin to her dark goth sister Rayne, and one night when Rayne takes her to goth hangout Club Fang, Sunny is mistaken for Rayne. Unfortunately for her, its vampire Magnus, who was assigned to Rayne as her bloodmate that makes the mistake and he bites her and turns her into a vampire. What follows is the story of Sunshine trying to become human again while also insisting she be able to go to the prom. She also insists she does not like Magnus, even though bloodmates are supposed to be connected forever after a bite so you know where that's going. This was an easy, fast read, with some interesting worldbuilding (a chubby acned slayer, three month training, testing and a waiting list to get a vampire mate), but the characters were very one dimensional. I think this is the third/fourth time this month I've read a YA vamp novel featuring a goth character (Rayne) or a cheerleader type character (Sunny), and an older vampire in a young man's body who for some strange reason I can't fathom overlooks the foibles of teens and acts like a teen himself (Magnus).
sharalsbooks avatar reviewed Boys that Bite (Blood Coven, Bk 1) on + 259 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Very fast read and entertaining first book of a new to me young adult series by an author whose work Ive only read are time travels. I have noticed I have become more drawn to and intrigued by paranormal young adult stories. Not sure why. Perhaps the characters seem less jaded and cynical to me than in the adult counterparts. Maybe its that whole the future is so bright, I gotta wear shades mentality that seems to permeate all of the young adult books I have read lately. Its not a bad thing really; the difference is so intriguing because theres a sense of adventure and wonder and yes, even innocence in the story that isnt always present in other series.

This story revolves around identical twins, Sunshine and Rayne McDonald. Ironically, these identical twins couldnt be more different. Sunshine is a dedicated student who maintains a good grade point average, is on the field hockey team and is currently the understudy to the lead in the school play. She has a major crush (who doesnt?) on Jake Wilder who doesnt know she exists and who is also in the school play. Rayne has no interest in school, devoted to maintaining a Goth persona and wants to be a vampire. Rayne all but twists Sunnys arm into accompanying her to a Goth hangout called Club Fang. Sunny meets Magnus who turns out to be a vampire and who proceeds to bite her, not realizing it was supposed to be Rayne he was to bite. Now Sunny will become a vampire in one week unless she and Magnus can find a way to reverse the change.

This story was a lot of fun. Sunnys transformation to the undead was quite humorous and I loved her and Magnus together. Initially, Rayne seemed very self absorbed but she grew on me and I ended up liking her a lot too. Some of the things Sunny experiences as she gets closer to becoming a vampire were very entertaining. The smell of food causes her to be physically ill, her initial taste of blood and her surprise at how much she enjoyed it and the unexpected effects of the Vampire Scent having on guys around her. Sunny is adamant she doesnt want to be a vampire even though she is developing feelings for Magnus and he for her. I enjoyed the conflict. Magnus is willing to do anything to help Sunny get her humanity back in spite of the virtual rejection he is feeling at her reaction to being a vampire.

Along the way, Sunnys mother is convinced she is on drugs, Sunny is called upon to take over the lead in the play, Sunny and Magnus witness the slaying of the vampire leader and have to travel all the way to England to obtain the cure before prom. Oh, and she still needs to buy a prom dress

The ending came as a surprise and ends on a big cliffhanger lead in to the next book. I will definitely be looking for the next book in the series so I can find out what happens next. Overall, if you enjoy reading a vampire series featuring young adults and prefer it to be of the lighter variety, I highly recommend this book.
andi89 avatar reviewed Boys that Bite (Blood Coven, Bk 1) on + 98 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This book started off good. But once Bertha the vampire slayer came into the picture it was all down hill after that. Couldn't finish it.
reviewed Boys that Bite (Blood Coven, Bk 1) on + 34 more book reviews
Very cute book! great fast read
GeniusJen avatar reviewed Boys that Bite (Blood Coven, Bk 1) on + 5322 more book reviews
Reviewed by Me for TeensReadToo.com

Sunshine "Sunny" McDonald was doing pretty well; the hottest guy at Oakridge High School, Jake Wilder, has asked her to go to the prom with him, and life is now complete. At five foot four, with dirty blond hair and unimpressive muddy brown eyes, Sunny would have sworn that Jake didn't even know she existed. Freckles notwithstanding, she's not as easily recognizable as her twin sister, Rayne, who's so into the Goth scene, vampires, and wearing all black that it's not even funny. Yes, life is looking up--until Sunny lets herself get guilt tripped into attending Club Fang, a cheesy Goth club filled with wannabe vampires, and suddenly her life isn't so sunny anymore.

The night starts out okay--yes, the club is the epitome of cheesy and the smoke machine is making her cough--but improves vastly when an Orlando Bloom (Pirates of the Caribbean Orlando, not Lord of the Rings Orlando)introduces himself with a "Good evening..I'm Magnus..I believe you were expecting me" line. Sunny sure wasn't expecting him, and she definitely was not expecting the bite on the neck she gets from the totally hot Magnus.

Suddenly life is taking a dark turn, when Sunny finds out that Magnus is not only a vampire--for real!--but that he mistook her for her twin sister, Rayne. Now Sunny's going to turn into one of the undead--this close to prom!--unless she find the Holy Grail. Which is the one and only thing that can reverse the process of turning into a vampire. But even with thoughts of Jake Wilder on the brain, Sunny's not so sure that being a vampire would be so horrible, or that being in league with Magnus would be the end of her life.

BOYS THAT BITE is a funny, action-packed read that will keep you turning pages long into the night. The characters--from Sunny, Rayne, Magnus, and everyone in between--are all well-rounded people, and the dialogue is smart and funny. As the three race to save Sunny from an eternal life as a member of the undead, she'll have to find out what's most important in life. And the ending, including a stunner regarding Rayne, definitely sets up the scene for a sequel. A great read!
reviewed Boys that Bite (Blood Coven, Bk 1) on + 2 more book reviews
A really fun, easy read....I was a little hesitant to read at first but the characters were fun and made me want to see what was going to happen next.
LexieMama avatar reviewed Boys that Bite (Blood Coven, Bk 1) on + 20 more book reviews
Great book... I so can not wait to read the next book. The only downside is it is a quick read... other than that it ROCKS!