Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey

On Solange’s sixteenth birthday, she is going to wake up dead. As if that’s not bad enough, she also has to outwit her seven overprotective older brothers, avoid the politics involved with being the only daughter born to an ancient vampire dynasty, and elude Kieran Black—agent of an anti-vampire league who is searching for his father’s killer and is intent on staking Solange and her entire family.

Luckily she has her own secret weapon—her human best friend Lucy—who is willing to defend Solange’s right to a normal life, whether she’s being smothered by her well-intentioned brothers or abducted by a power-hungry queen. Two unlikely alliances are formed in a race to save Solange’s eternal life—Lucy and Solange’s brother Nicholas, and Solange and Kieran Black—in a dual romance that is guaranteed to jump start any romance-lover’s heart.

I really got into this novel. It was action-packed and full of the kind of romance that I love. Lucy is suck a kick butt character, I loved everything about her. She was sassy, opinionated, and unique. She had a temper yet carried around a pink rhinestone stake. I wish she were my best friend! Alas, she is not, rather Solange's. Solange was an equally distinct character but completely opposite. She's solitary but still as strong. She liked to wear cargo pants instead of skirts. These two characters and their friendship were what made this novel so special.

Something else that was great was how different this vampire lore was from other contemporary novels out there (again, no sparkly vampires). Actually, it is as close to what you and I know vampires to be: can't go out in sunlight, stake through the heart, etc...but with the addition of different clans of vampires each having their own history and method of "being a vampire". The lore was intriguing yet still familiar enough to appreciate.

Lastly, ah, I love love. Nicholas and Lucy made my heart flutter (perhaps I am a sap). They were snappy and rough with each other yet tender. Their banter, I think, made their developing relationship so interesting and fun. Kieran and Solange's romance developed much later but there was instant attraction. Their relationship developed, I think, more out of the hatred between vampires and Helios-Ra (vampire hunters) more than anything, which also makes their romance special, too.

I would reccommend this to anyone who wants to depart from the usual lusty and flaky vampire tales. This one has beautiful, subtle romance, a lot of history, and a lot of action.

Rating: 4.5