Until I Die (Revanant, #2) by Amy Plum

Source: Purchased audio book

Kate and Vincent have overcome the odds and at last they are together in Paris, the city of lights and love.

As their romance deepens there’s one question they can’t ignore: How are they supposed to be together if Vincent can’t resist sacrificing himself to save others? Although Vincent promises that he’ll do whatever it takes to lead a normal life with Kate, will that mean letting innocent people die? When a new and surprising enemy reveals itself, Kate realizes that even more may be at stake—and that Vincent’s immortality is in jeopardy.

In Die for Me, Amy Plum created a captivating paranormal mythology with immortal revenants and a lush Paris setting. Until I Die is poised to thrill readers with more heart-pounding suspense, spellbinding romance, and a cliff-hanger ending that will leave them desperate for the third and final novel in the series.

My Thoughts:

 

3 stars - I wanted to like this one more

I fell in love with book one of this series, Die For Me.  You can check out my review here. 

I was really excited to get time to read the second book.  I've been so busy doing reviews that I don't always read what I want to.  I've been changing that lately and this series was on my list to get caught up on.  

I'll start with things I loved.  This books still does a great job of bringing Paris to life.  I was listening to it and I enjoyed the narrators ability to pronounce all the French words.  That was interesting and enjoyable.  I did get lost in some of the French history that comes up with every location or book that's talked about.  I continue to love Georgian, Kate's sister.  She's so much fun and very wise.  We should always listen to her - just sayin'  I love Jules too.  I'm excited to read his novella next. 

I really like the revenant world.  I'd love to see a spin off with more of this world.  It's different.  Not vampire and not zombie.  It makes sense and doesn't have the magical element so much as an evolutionary one.  It was one of the things that drew me in for the first book.

While I am going to keep reading this series, this one suffers from middle book syndrome.  It's over 300 pages of setting things up for the last book.  That frustrated me.  

The relationship between Kate and Vincent is strange, too.  Is Kate really seventeen?  She doesn't act like it at all.  She's an old soul.  Her sister acts very much like a teen but not her.  Vincent I get, he's really not that age any more but Kate has this sexy boyfriend and she puts him off.  Was that just for the book since it's YA?  I'm thinking most seventeen year olds would have pushed that along.  There just wasn't any heat even when they kissed.  Made me sad actually.  But it's more than that.  Her choices and decisions are just so grown-up.  The only times she makes rash teen decisions there's always someone there to "fix" it for her.

Speaking of fixing it, so much of this book is convenient.  I actually think that gives things away for the next one but it's almost cheesy how things "work out" for everything and every body.   No, I am not worried about what happens next even with the ending.

The story very much set things up for book three.  I wanted to slam the book against a wall when I was done.  Since I was listening to it on my iPhone, I resisted.  Someone on twitter asked me what I thought of the ending and my answer was annoying.  I really don't like cliff hangers that are just meant to bring you back for the next book.  What's worse is this one is obvious.  I actually think I have book three and the ending all figured out.  There were enough clues in this one, I'm not thinking I'll be surprised.  

I started this one in October.  I was side-tracked often.  I finally finished it a couple of days ago.  It was just too easy to put aside for other things.  I'm sure you're thinking I rated it too high but I did enjoy the world.  I do want to know what happens next.  I read over 300 pages to get ready for book three, now bring it.  I'm more than ready.

Trailer

 

About the Author:

Amy Plum is the author of the International Bestsellers DIE FOR ME (Indie Next List pick, Romance Times top pick, and recipient of a starred review from School Library Journal), UNTIL I DIE, and IF I SHOULD DIE. The books have been translated into eleven foreign languages. The trilogy is accompanied by an eNovella entitled DIE FOR HER.

Amy grew up in Birmingham, Alabama before venturing further afield to Chicago, Paris, London and New York. An art historian by training, she can be found on most days either daydreaming or writing (or both) in a Parisian café.

After being raised in Birmingham, Alabama, in a rather restrictive environment, AMY PLUM escaped to Chicago to an even more restrictive environment at a university that expelled people for dancing. (And where she was called to the dean’s office for “wearing too much black”.) After all of that restrictiveness, she was forced to run far far away, specifically to Paris, France, where she only wore black and danced all she wanted.

After five years in Paris, she ventured to London, where she got an M.A. in Medieval Art History, specializing in Early Sienese Painting (1260-1348) mainly because it promised almost no hope of finding a paying job afterward.

Amy managed to find work in the world of art and antiques in New York. But after almost a decade of high-pressure lifestyle in the Big Apple, she swapped her American city for a French village of 1300 inhabitants.

After signing with HarperCollins for the DIE FOR ME series, Amy left her job as an English professor at Tours University to write full-time. She now lives in Paris with her two kids and big red dog Ella.

She is a huge fan of Edward Gorey and Maira Kalman (and collects both of their books/art), as well as David Sedaris, Amadeo Modigliani, and Ira Glass.