The Lost Girls

July 15, 2021
Three women vampires seek revenge against their mutual ex, the man who turned them when they were teens. Holly became a vampire in 1987 when she fell in love with Elton, believing she was the only one he loved and had made immortal like himself. Now, 34 years later, she's been abandoned by him and works at Taco Bell, the only job her permanently 16-year-old self can find, which barely pays for the roach-infested motel where she's living. When she meets Ida and Rose, vampires turned in 1921 and 1954, respectively, she discovers she wasn't Elton's first--and that they are back in their Michigan hometown because he's looking to create a fourth. The trio band together with aspirations to end Elton once and for all and protect his latest prey, high school student Parker, whom Holly develops feelings for. This action-packed, revenge-fueled story is a fun and fresh vampire tale. The characterization is thin; the Sapphic romance isn't entirely successful, with love developing so quickly that it's hard to completely buy into. However, the emphasis on female friendships and found family is gratifying, the pacing is quick throughout, the campy body horror and violence are delightfully disturbing, and the twists at the end make for a satisfying conclusion. Characters are implied White. Exhilarating high-stakes action with plenty of bite. (Paranormal. 14-18)

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August 1, 2021
Grades 10-12 Holly was turned into a vampire by her boyfriend, Elton, in the mid-1980s, so she's stuck looking 16 with badly crimped hair for eternity. Since she's basically a teenager forever, she has to survive by getting a job at Taco Bell, where she was almost fired for eating one of her coworkers. When Rose and Ida, two of Elton's other vampiric ex-girlfriends, seek her out and try to talk her into killing Elton before he can turn any more unsuspecting and lovelorn girls into vampires, she's sure they're kidding. But then she meets his new conquest, Parker, and falls head over heels for the unsuspecting high-school senior. While trying to convince Parker to stay away from Elton--without saying the word vampire, of course--Holly, Rose, and Ida find themselves up to their elbows in murder, heists, and blasts from each of their haunting pasts. Holly doesn't take her afterlife too seriously, and even before she gets involved with Elton's exes, readers will be laughing. An undead romp recommended for any collection.

COPYRIGHT(2021) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

September 1, 2021

Gr 9 Up-Holly Liddell has been a vampire since 1987. She was in love with Elton and agreed to let him turn her. But Elton ditched Holly and now she is on her own, forced to follow him to each new place he moves as part of the curse of being turned by him. Now they are back in her Michigan hometown and Holly is working nights at Taco Bell, living in a seedy motel, and wondering why she crimped her hair before she died, causing it to stay that way for eternity. One night after work, Holly learns that she is not the only girl cursed to follow Elton for eternity. She meets his two previous exes-Ida, whom he turned in 1921, and Rose, whom he turned in 1954. The three of them plot to kill Elton before he turns another innocent girl into a vampire. Holly has to come to terms with the fact that she to has hurt people to save Parker, Elton's new conquest and a girl Holly is quickly falling for. The plot and story line will draw in teens interested in vampires, revenge, and love stories. But it is difficult to connect to any of the many characters because none is fully developed. VERDICT An additional choice where vampire tales are popular.-Rebekah Buchanan, Western Illinois Univ., Macomb, IL

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