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The Silver Kiss
Zoe is wary when, in the dead of night, the beautiful yet frightening Simon comes to her house. Simon seems to understand the pain of loneliness and death and Zoe's brooding thoughts of her dying mother.
Simon is one of the undead, a vampire, seeking revenge for the gruesome death of his mother three hundred years before. Does Simon dare ask Zoe to help free him from this lifeless chase and its insufferable loneliness?
Simon is one of the undead, a vampire, seeking revenge for the gruesome death of his mother three hundred years before. Does Simon dare ask Zoe to help free him from this lifeless chase and its insufferable loneliness?
198 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 1, 1990
161 people are currently reading
9231 people want to read
About the author
Annette Curtis Klause
10 books1,060 followersAnnette Curtis Klause broke new ground in young adult literature with The Silver Kiss, a book that is at once "sexy, scaring, and moving," according to Roger Sutton writing in the Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books. A vampire love story, Klause's first novel is a darkly seductive thriller with heart and message.
Born in Bristol, England, in 1953, Klause became fascinated with grisly things at an early age. "My mother read and sang to me," Klause explained. "But my daddy used to sit me on his lap and tell me the plots to gangster and monster movies. I knew all about Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Jimmy Cagney, and Edward G. Robinson before I ever saw any of their movies." Her father also let her speak to Willoughby, an imaginary little boy who lived down his throat.
When she was seven, Klause and her family moved north to Newcastle-upon-Tyne. She recalls that her first experience with creative writing occurred when she was incapacitated with a twisted ankle at age eight or nine. Klause wrote a poem about her mother ironing and decided from then on to save all her poems in a notebook. Soon she was writing and illustrating her own books, mostly about a cat and the kittens she has. At age ten she and a neighborhood friend began making up plays and performing them on a tape recorder. "The plays usually involved some kind of humorous mistake," Klause recalled, "like a woman calling up a plant nursery instead of a nursery school for her child."
It was also about this time when Klause wrote her first (unpublished) bit of horror, The Blood Ridden Pool of Solen Goom. Each of the chapters ended with ". . . and more blood flowed into the blood ridden pool of Solen Goom." Increasingly she read fantasy and science-fiction books, in addition to Mark Twain and, as she got older, the beatnik books of Jack Kerouac. "I wanted desperately to be a beatnik," she remembered. She also read her first vampire book at age fourteen: Jane Gaskell's The Shiny Narrow Grin, which was Klause's initial inspiration for her first novel many years later. "I was smitten by the pale young man who appeared in a few suspenseful scenes," Klause related, "and became mesmerized with the whole concept of vampires." Initially, Klause responded to this fascination by writing poetry, which she described as "a pretentious, over-written, dreadful sequence of poems interspersed with prose called The Saga of the Vampire[also unpublished]." These early writings would later become invaluable for Klause when she set out on the journey of her first novel.
Klause's life was distinctly changed when she was fifteen and her father moved the family to Washington, DC, for career reasons. In high school Klause continued writing poetry. After finishing college in 1976, Klause went on to graduate school in library science. She took poetry workshops in college, but poetry was soon replaced by short stories once she graduated and started working in libraries. Klause began sending her work out to magazines, collecting numerous rejection letters. Several of her poems and a short story were published in anthologies and small magazine reviews, but it took several years of concerted effort to find her voice and her audience.
"I finally took a writing workshop with Larry Callen, a well-known children's writer," Klause noted. "I knew I wanted to write for young people. I'm still working through my own adolescence, so it seemed appropriate. I continued with further ones. I still go to the writing group Larry Callen introduced me to, and often chuckle about how an idea or action will affect the people in my group even as I am writing." Klause soon graduated from short stories, and with the help and encouragement of Callen, set to work on a novel. "I wanted to write for teenagers, so I thought back to what I liked to read at that age. In a way, I stole from myself with The Silver Kiss, because I looked at my old writing notebooks and found the vampire poem I had written as a t
Born in Bristol, England, in 1953, Klause became fascinated with grisly things at an early age. "My mother read and sang to me," Klause explained. "But my daddy used to sit me on his lap and tell me the plots to gangster and monster movies. I knew all about Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Jimmy Cagney, and Edward G. Robinson before I ever saw any of their movies." Her father also let her speak to Willoughby, an imaginary little boy who lived down his throat.
When she was seven, Klause and her family moved north to Newcastle-upon-Tyne. She recalls that her first experience with creative writing occurred when she was incapacitated with a twisted ankle at age eight or nine. Klause wrote a poem about her mother ironing and decided from then on to save all her poems in a notebook. Soon she was writing and illustrating her own books, mostly about a cat and the kittens she has. At age ten she and a neighborhood friend began making up plays and performing them on a tape recorder. "The plays usually involved some kind of humorous mistake," Klause recalled, "like a woman calling up a plant nursery instead of a nursery school for her child."
It was also about this time when Klause wrote her first (unpublished) bit of horror, The Blood Ridden Pool of Solen Goom. Each of the chapters ended with ". . . and more blood flowed into the blood ridden pool of Solen Goom." Increasingly she read fantasy and science-fiction books, in addition to Mark Twain and, as she got older, the beatnik books of Jack Kerouac. "I wanted desperately to be a beatnik," she remembered. She also read her first vampire book at age fourteen: Jane Gaskell's The Shiny Narrow Grin, which was Klause's initial inspiration for her first novel many years later. "I was smitten by the pale young man who appeared in a few suspenseful scenes," Klause related, "and became mesmerized with the whole concept of vampires." Initially, Klause responded to this fascination by writing poetry, which she described as "a pretentious, over-written, dreadful sequence of poems interspersed with prose called The Saga of the Vampire[also unpublished]." These early writings would later become invaluable for Klause when she set out on the journey of her first novel.
Klause's life was distinctly changed when she was fifteen and her father moved the family to Washington, DC, for career reasons. In high school Klause continued writing poetry. After finishing college in 1976, Klause went on to graduate school in library science. She took poetry workshops in college, but poetry was soon replaced by short stories once she graduated and started working in libraries. Klause began sending her work out to magazines, collecting numerous rejection letters. Several of her poems and a short story were published in anthologies and small magazine reviews, but it took several years of concerted effort to find her voice and her audience.
"I finally took a writing workshop with Larry Callen, a well-known children's writer," Klause noted. "I knew I wanted to write for young people. I'm still working through my own adolescence, so it seemed appropriate. I continued with further ones. I still go to the writing group Larry Callen introduced me to, and often chuckle about how an idea or action will affect the people in my group even as I am writing." Klause soon graduated from short stories, and with the help and encouragement of Callen, set to work on a novel. "I wanted to write for teenagers, so I thought back to what I liked to read at that age. In a way, I stole from myself with The Silver Kiss, because I looked at my old writing notebooks and found the vampire poem I had written as a t
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,322 reviews
May 26, 2008
All I can say is...Wow! This is what Twilight wanted to be, I think. It was published in 1990 and so the themes are a bit dated (no emails, cellphones etc.), but it didn't rob the story of anything. I finished the slim novel in a day and a half. I couldn't help but compare the two characters with those of "Twilight." The heroine, Zoe, was flawed and insecure but focused and honest. The vampire, Simon, was "beautiful" but his physical attributes were not brought up every few pages. He was dignified and in love with Zoe, but his life was not just about Zoe. You could feel their connection through their shared loneliness. They don't depend on each other because the girl needs saving and the guy plays the role of a knight. The author was able to set everything in place so that the reader is convinced of their bond. The story flowed effortlessy, never bogged by the themes it discussed: death, family, loneliness...It was a perfect read for a gloomy day. It's quite rare for a novel to make an impression on me (there were tears).
August 30, 2009
The Silver Kiss was a beautiful book. Very atmospheric and compelling. It had a dark tone but also a beauty that was almost timeless. Simon is a compelling character that will make a reader fall in love with him, although the truth about what he is always lingers in the back of the reader's mind.
To call this a romance might be an overstatement. It has romantic elements that are very appealing and apparent, but it's really a story about coming to terms with death. Zoe is having to face the fact that her mother is dying. This painful realization is almost too much for her and her father, who is very much in love with his wife, to the degree that Zoe feels that she is in the back seat and forgotten.
Zoe is not a selfish character, but she does have some thoughts and desires that seem selfish. But don't we all? I lost my father as a grown woman, and it ripped a hole out of me, even though we weren't that close. I could sympathize with Zoe, and I can certainly understand her 'why me' thoughts about her mother's sickness and how it has affected her life.
Simon comes into Zoe's life during this crucial time. He is drawn to her, because she represents life, home, acceptance, joy to him, when he's been in the dark and so alone for so long. The beastly part of him wants to feed on her, there is no doubt about it. But his soul longs for her. Simon doesn't realize how much his arrival into her life will help Zoe to deal with her mother's eventual demise. Yet he does understand how losing a mother can hurt so badly. In his case, he exists merely to track and destroy the person who killed his mother.
Revealing who this person is would give away too much with this book. But suffice it to say that Simon has a very complicated relationship with his mother's murderer.
The Silver Kiss is in some ways a suspense story as Simon tracks the murderer who is preying on women in Zoe's hometown. This killer is a completely evil being, in a form that few would suspect. I thought this aspect of the story was very well-done, and although this book didn't scare me, that aspect was somewhat menacing and disturbing.
One of the things I liked about this story is that it doesn't sugar-coat vampires. They are creatures of the night, and yes, monsters. Not all of them have to be evil, but the compulsion to kill is an ingrained part of their nature. Some do fight it more than others, but generally the thirst for blood will win and cause most of them to kill their victims. Simon has a duality about him in that he is a good person, but there is evil and darkness within him because of his nature. He has killed some of his victims, although he feels regret that he has done so. I like to think that his enduring love for his mother has encouraged him to fight the beast within him. And meeting Zoe also gives him a peace that helps him to make the right decision when the time comes.
The relationship between Simon and Zoe is beautiful for all its brevity. You want something eternal to come out of it, but realize that that is not possible because of what Zoe is and what Simon is. However, I would definitely put this on my keeper shelf as a vampire romance for the very reason that I found their relationship very appealing. It had an innocence yet a sweet sensuality that I found irresistible.
The Silver Kiss is a book that will leave you with a lingering sadness, a longing for more. A wish that things could be different. By doing this, it really does succeed in being a memorable, poignant tale. Life is so like this, the desire for more, but always knowing that some dreams don't necessarily come true.
This is a young adult book, but has very serious themes and violence that some might find disturbing. However, I think that lovers of vampire fiction of all ages would enjoy this story.
Goodreads doesn't allow half ratings, but this is definitely 4.5 stars.
To call this a romance might be an overstatement. It has romantic elements that are very appealing and apparent, but it's really a story about coming to terms with death. Zoe is having to face the fact that her mother is dying. This painful realization is almost too much for her and her father, who is very much in love with his wife, to the degree that Zoe feels that she is in the back seat and forgotten.
Zoe is not a selfish character, but she does have some thoughts and desires that seem selfish. But don't we all? I lost my father as a grown woman, and it ripped a hole out of me, even though we weren't that close. I could sympathize with Zoe, and I can certainly understand her 'why me' thoughts about her mother's sickness and how it has affected her life.
Simon comes into Zoe's life during this crucial time. He is drawn to her, because she represents life, home, acceptance, joy to him, when he's been in the dark and so alone for so long. The beastly part of him wants to feed on her, there is no doubt about it. But his soul longs for her. Simon doesn't realize how much his arrival into her life will help Zoe to deal with her mother's eventual demise. Yet he does understand how losing a mother can hurt so badly. In his case, he exists merely to track and destroy the person who killed his mother.
Revealing who this person is would give away too much with this book. But suffice it to say that Simon has a very complicated relationship with his mother's murderer.
The Silver Kiss is in some ways a suspense story as Simon tracks the murderer who is preying on women in Zoe's hometown. This killer is a completely evil being, in a form that few would suspect. I thought this aspect of the story was very well-done, and although this book didn't scare me, that aspect was somewhat menacing and disturbing.
One of the things I liked about this story is that it doesn't sugar-coat vampires. They are creatures of the night, and yes, monsters. Not all of them have to be evil, but the compulsion to kill is an ingrained part of their nature. Some do fight it more than others, but generally the thirst for blood will win and cause most of them to kill their victims. Simon has a duality about him in that he is a good person, but there is evil and darkness within him because of his nature. He has killed some of his victims, although he feels regret that he has done so. I like to think that his enduring love for his mother has encouraged him to fight the beast within him. And meeting Zoe also gives him a peace that helps him to make the right decision when the time comes.
The relationship between Simon and Zoe is beautiful for all its brevity. You want something eternal to come out of it, but realize that that is not possible because of what Zoe is and what Simon is. However, I would definitely put this on my keeper shelf as a vampire romance for the very reason that I found their relationship very appealing. It had an innocence yet a sweet sensuality that I found irresistible.
The Silver Kiss is a book that will leave you with a lingering sadness, a longing for more. A wish that things could be different. By doing this, it really does succeed in being a memorable, poignant tale. Life is so like this, the desire for more, but always knowing that some dreams don't necessarily come true.
This is a young adult book, but has very serious themes and violence that some might find disturbing. However, I think that lovers of vampire fiction of all ages would enjoy this story.
Goodreads doesn't allow half ratings, but this is definitely 4.5 stars.
March 30, 2014
so Twilight saw the light of Hollywood and this one didn't???
well FUCK YOU HOLLYWOOD! FUCK......YOU!
anyways... it was a decent quick read with a beautiful clean ending....
definately one of the better vampire novels out there...
well FUCK YOU HOLLYWOOD! FUCK......YOU!
anyways... it was a decent quick read with a beautiful clean ending....
definately one of the better vampire novels out there...
October 22, 2024
The Silver Kiss is a poignant and moving work about loss. It's a coming-of-age story that deals with death in a respectful and reverential manner. There's hundreds of teen vampire books out there but this is the only one that truly deals with what it means to lose someone.
Zoe has a tremendous weight on her shoulders. She is losing her mother to cancer, her dad is pulling away physically as well as emotionally withdrawing, and her best friend is moving. Zoe is completely alone in her despair and anger until she meets Simon, a mysterious teenager whose dealt with his fair share of loss. While Zoe and Simon form a bond based on shared loss a killer stalks the women of the city.
When I first read this as a preteen over 20 years ago, I loved this book even if I didn't truly comprehend what the book was dealing with on a deep level. Now that I've been in Zoes shoes, watching my own mother die of cancer, it really leaves an emotional impact. I found myself tearing up and crying this read through in a way I didn't previously. This book may be aimed at teens but it has enough depth for even an adult to appreciate. I recommend this book for teens or adults who appreciate YA vampire fiction.
Zoe has a tremendous weight on her shoulders. She is losing her mother to cancer, her dad is pulling away physically as well as emotionally withdrawing, and her best friend is moving. Zoe is completely alone in her despair and anger until she meets Simon, a mysterious teenager whose dealt with his fair share of loss. While Zoe and Simon form a bond based on shared loss a killer stalks the women of the city.
When I first read this as a preteen over 20 years ago, I loved this book even if I didn't truly comprehend what the book was dealing with on a deep level. Now that I've been in Zoes shoes, watching my own mother die of cancer, it really leaves an emotional impact. I found myself tearing up and crying this read through in a way I didn't previously. This book may be aimed at teens but it has enough depth for even an adult to appreciate. I recommend this book for teens or adults who appreciate YA vampire fiction.
February 9, 2008
Ehhh....this was a little clumsy, and definitely read like a first novel, but it is apparently a classic of the teen vampire genre. I liked some of the dramatic language and scenes, and especially Simon and Zoe's first kiss, but it never really lead anywhere. Also, I got totally bored when Simon started telling his origin story...it went on forever.
July 8, 2018
RETO POP SUGAR 2018
libro que sea ambientado en la decada que naciste. ( yo naci en el 1994 , mi decada es 90)
ha pasado casi un año desde que lei " la marca del lobo" de la cual tengo muy buenos recuerdos ( la pelicula y el libro) asi que dije ¿porque no leer otro de annette ? bueno me dije me serviria para el reto y ya que ultimamente no estoy leyendo por placer ni nada bien puedo hacer dos pajaros de un tiro
¿no?
la verdad es que no se que esperaba. la sinopsis solo decia de una chica que estaba enamorada de un vampiro de 300 años o 3000 ( eso estaba raro pero bueno)
nada mas. ¿como algo tan sencillo podria volverse mal?
el problema radica que esto no es propiamente un libro para mi es como una HISTORIA ya saben un abreboca , una cosita pequeña para lo verdadero. me gusta tambien las historias pero todo debe ser congruente. esto no era para el numero de hojas.
su libro marca de lobo tiene casi la misma cantidad de hojas y contaba mas hechos , mas sucesos y tenia una cosas mas complicada ( jajajaja , quien lo diria ) pero esto es demasiado sencillo para tantas hojas , asi que siendo sincera HABIA RELLENO.
el relleno tambien tiene su función , el chiste es hacerlo sin que parezca aburrido. tiene que ser como que es SUPER IMPORTANTE pero no... era simplon.
los personajes apartes de lo mas terrible : Sofia ( no sé porque en unas reseñas tiene el nombre de Zoe tal vez le cambiaron) parece una chica de 13 años . se ve a si misma como una niña que no puede vivir sin su mami . luego averiguo que tiene 17 años .
el vampiro Simon de 300 años no parece tener mas de 20 años ( cof cof 15 no mas ) porque tiene unas actitudes medios infantiles.
no sé porque metieron un crimen para hacerlo como " misterioso" pero me ha parecido demasiado para esto.
o haces un misterio bien hecho o haces un romance bien hecho o haces un libro hablando de la vida existencial de ser adolescente y no crecer nunca.
a pesar de las cosas no tan positivas del libro , me ha gustado retomar leyendo esa nostalgia de los vampiros de los 90s. cuando hablabas con tus amigas con el telefono y tenias que pasar por toda su familia , no habia whatsapp , ni camaras digitales. tenias que memorizar los telefonos , y las reuniones SE CUMPLIAN no como ahora que en el ultimo segundo NO VOY A IR , me dejan plantado.
jajajajajaj , los 90s fueron años tan lejanos ahora mismo
¡Dios , tengo 23 !
ya nadie sabe lo que es un cassette , disco de vinilo , telefonos de cables , sin internet , sin celular.
libro que sea ambientado en la decada que naciste. ( yo naci en el 1994 , mi decada es 90)
ha pasado casi un año desde que lei " la marca del lobo" de la cual tengo muy buenos recuerdos ( la pelicula y el libro) asi que dije ¿porque no leer otro de annette ? bueno me dije me serviria para el reto y ya que ultimamente no estoy leyendo por placer ni nada bien puedo hacer dos pajaros de un tiro
¿no?
la verdad es que no se que esperaba. la sinopsis solo decia de una chica que estaba enamorada de un vampiro de 300 años o 3000 ( eso estaba raro pero bueno)
nada mas. ¿como algo tan sencillo podria volverse mal?
el problema radica que esto no es propiamente un libro para mi es como una HISTORIA ya saben un abreboca , una cosita pequeña para lo verdadero. me gusta tambien las historias pero todo debe ser congruente. esto no era para el numero de hojas.
su libro marca de lobo tiene casi la misma cantidad de hojas y contaba mas hechos , mas sucesos y tenia una cosas mas complicada ( jajajaja , quien lo diria ) pero esto es demasiado sencillo para tantas hojas , asi que siendo sincera HABIA RELLENO.
el relleno tambien tiene su función , el chiste es hacerlo sin que parezca aburrido. tiene que ser como que es SUPER IMPORTANTE pero no... era simplon.
los personajes apartes de lo mas terrible : Sofia ( no sé porque en unas reseñas tiene el nombre de Zoe tal vez le cambiaron) parece una chica de 13 años . se ve a si misma como una niña que no puede vivir sin su mami . luego averiguo que tiene 17 años .
el vampiro Simon de 300 años no parece tener mas de 20 años ( cof cof 15 no mas ) porque tiene unas actitudes medios infantiles.
no sé porque metieron un crimen para hacerlo como " misterioso" pero me ha parecido demasiado para esto.
o haces un misterio bien hecho o haces un romance bien hecho o haces un libro hablando de la vida existencial de ser adolescente y no crecer nunca.
a pesar de las cosas no tan positivas del libro , me ha gustado retomar leyendo esa nostalgia de los vampiros de los 90s. cuando hablabas con tus amigas con el telefono y tenias que pasar por toda su familia , no habia whatsapp , ni camaras digitales. tenias que memorizar los telefonos , y las reuniones SE CUMPLIAN no como ahora que en el ultimo segundo NO VOY A IR , me dejan plantado.
jajajajajaj , los 90s fueron años tan lejanos ahora mismo
¡Dios , tengo 23 !
ya nadie sabe lo que es un cassette , disco de vinilo , telefonos de cables , sin internet , sin celular.
February 23, 2022
I still remember when I first learned about this book way back in high school. Another student was giving a book report on it and it sounded interesting: a young girl who's mother is dying finds a new friend who helps her grieve. Then she finished her report, the teacher stood up and was all "oh, by the way, the friend is a vampire." Now, keep in mind this was way before Twilight and the monstrosity that was Bella and Edward. And the fact that the student giving the report didn't even think it warranted mentioning, to me, meant that it wouldn't be another Interview with a Vampire either. So I checked it out of the school library. Twice. And even contemplated ways to sneak it out of the library so I'd never have to return it. What? I was fifteen and had no money. LOL.
I have no idea what I'd think of this if I were to pick it up today, mostly since I'm more or less allergic to vampires now. (Thanks, Edward and all your various derivatives.) But from what I remember, I was clearly impressed with it back then and it made an impact. I liked that the vampire thing really was just there to serve as a vehicle for the plot, rather than a "fix" for the conflict, and didn't go the Anne Rice route. (Lestat could've learned a lot from this guy.) I also have a strong sense of the atmosphere still.
I have no idea what I'd think of this if I were to pick it up today, mostly since I'm more or less allergic to vampires now. (Thanks, Edward and all your various derivatives.) But from what I remember, I was clearly impressed with it back then and it made an impact. I liked that the vampire thing really was just there to serve as a vehicle for the plot, rather than a "fix" for the conflict, and didn't go the Anne Rice route. (Lestat could've learned a lot from this guy.) I also have a strong sense of the atmosphere still.
February 6, 2010
I hadn't really expected much out of The Silver Kiss because it seems like some people just don't like it all that much. I tend to agree with the crowd, but not on this one.
Simon is a three hundred year old vampire, out to avenge his mother's death when he meets Zoe, a sad teenage girl whose life seems to be falling apart. The two connect and it's like a Twilight prequel. Sort of.
Honestly, there were things entirely too similar to Twilight (but this came first, so Twilight is entirely too similar to this). And, I admit, the romance wasn't the greatest, but I still felt their connection and that's all I needed. The ending made me cry.
And I really liked the short stories included in mine, Summer of Love and The Christmas Cat. Without Summer of Love, I don't think I would have liked Simon as much as I did.
Simon is a three hundred year old vampire, out to avenge his mother's death when he meets Zoe, a sad teenage girl whose life seems to be falling apart. The two connect and it's like a Twilight prequel. Sort of.
Honestly, there were things entirely too similar to Twilight (but this came first, so Twilight is entirely too similar to this). And, I admit, the romance wasn't the greatest, but I still felt their connection and that's all I needed. The ending made me cry.
And I really liked the short stories included in mine, Summer of Love and The Christmas Cat. Without Summer of Love, I don't think I would have liked Simon as much as I did.
October 7, 2020
Another Simon that's a vampire? Coincidence? I think so.
The Silver Kiss was interestingly weird. It was weird because the writing didn't always make sense to me.. which is also weird because I love Pride & Prejudice? So yeah, I don't really know what was going on while I was reading this book but I just wasn't connecting. Maybe my brain just needed a break or something.
The characters, Zoe and Simon, were pretty interesting. They did bore me sometimes.. but I think that was due to all the information being dumped on me. I feel like if there was less dumping throughout the book then I probably would've enjoyed it a lot more.
In the end, I'm not even sure I can call that an actual ending. Just seems like there was going to be another book but then ghosted us all.
The Silver Kiss was interestingly weird. It was weird because the writing didn't always make sense to me.. which is also weird because I love Pride & Prejudice? So yeah, I don't really know what was going on while I was reading this book but I just wasn't connecting. Maybe my brain just needed a break or something.
The characters, Zoe and Simon, were pretty interesting. They did bore me sometimes.. but I think that was due to all the information being dumped on me. I feel like if there was less dumping throughout the book then I probably would've enjoyed it a lot more.
In the end, I'm not even sure I can call that an actual ending. Just seems like there was going to be another book but then ghosted us all.
August 28, 2012
Picture sad whiny teen who "no one understands" and you've got the makings of this book. It's like the extreme of some of the key things I like in books to the extent that I no longer like it. There's too much teen angst, too much self pity, too much selfishness, too much insta love, and too much of just everything teen.
First we have Simon, a vampire who gives Edward a run for his money in the self loathing category. He's just got all sorts of internal battles and it bleeds all over the page. He goes around drinking women and then leaving them alive enough, and just being there with no real purpose. He doesn't believe he is capable of love until he begins to love a cat who later dies. His brother (who's a baby vamp because he was turned when he was a little kid and now ant control his urges) is killing women all over the place, but since he's older (in vampire years) than Simon, Simon has a hard time trying to stop him. Simon meets a woman and starts to like her. For him to be 300 years old, he doesn't seem to have grown up at all and still behaves as if he's the same age she is.
Zoe is selfish and seems to beg for your pity. Her mother's dying of cancer and every other page seems to say "Look at me, my mother is dying and my father is beginning to feel sad. I'm all alone and no one cares. Feel sorry for me. No one understands me. Wahhh Wahhh Wahhh." Furthermore, she feels that her turmoil is so much worse than everyone else and that no one else is allowed to be upset for their own issues because obviously her issue beats theirs. I wanted to just smack her multiple times during the book. It's okay to feel sad, and it's okay to want support from those around you, but what I get from her that she wanted everyone to pity her and feel sorry for her and coddle her and say "Oh you poor poor baby" while she soaks it up.
Even the love between Zoe and Simon sucks. First of all, besides agreeing that they are both dealing with death in different ways, what do they know about each other. Zoe knows Simon's story, but who is he really. What does he like to do for fun? What about Zoe? Simon knows that her mother's dying and her fathers never there, he knows that she likes writing poetry. That's it. They don't know each others mannerisms, or fantasy's. They know almost nothing about each other and all of a sudden there's this all consuming love thing between them. Really? REALLY??
If it wasn't already obvious, I hated this book. I will be deleting the audiobook format from my iPod and never ever look at it again. Thank goodness I only borrowed it from the library. Even the conversation and way the book was written wasn't great. It didn't flow and much of it seemed too proper. Honestly, I have a whole lot more to say on the subject of this book, but I feel it would be too mean so I'll just give my rating. 1/2 Stars (only because I don't have a pic for 0 stars.
First we have Simon, a vampire who gives Edward a run for his money in the self loathing category. He's just got all sorts of internal battles and it bleeds all over the page. He goes around drinking women and then leaving them alive enough, and just being there with no real purpose. He doesn't believe he is capable of love until he begins to love a cat who later dies. His brother (who's a baby vamp because he was turned when he was a little kid and now ant control his urges) is killing women all over the place, but since he's older (in vampire years) than Simon, Simon has a hard time trying to stop him. Simon meets a woman and starts to like her. For him to be 300 years old, he doesn't seem to have grown up at all and still behaves as if he's the same age she is.
Zoe is selfish and seems to beg for your pity. Her mother's dying of cancer and every other page seems to say "Look at me, my mother is dying and my father is beginning to feel sad. I'm all alone and no one cares. Feel sorry for me. No one understands me. Wahhh Wahhh Wahhh." Furthermore, she feels that her turmoil is so much worse than everyone else and that no one else is allowed to be upset for their own issues because obviously her issue beats theirs. I wanted to just smack her multiple times during the book. It's okay to feel sad, and it's okay to want support from those around you, but what I get from her that she wanted everyone to pity her and feel sorry for her and coddle her and say "Oh you poor poor baby" while she soaks it up.
Even the love between Zoe and Simon sucks. First of all, besides agreeing that they are both dealing with death in different ways, what do they know about each other. Zoe knows Simon's story, but who is he really. What does he like to do for fun? What about Zoe? Simon knows that her mother's dying and her fathers never there, he knows that she likes writing poetry. That's it. They don't know each others mannerisms, or fantasy's. They know almost nothing about each other and all of a sudden there's this all consuming love thing between them. Really? REALLY??
If it wasn't already obvious, I hated this book. I will be deleting the audiobook format from my iPod and never ever look at it again. Thank goodness I only borrowed it from the library. Even the conversation and way the book was written wasn't great. It didn't flow and much of it seemed too proper. Honestly, I have a whole lot more to say on the subject of this book, but I feel it would be too mean so I'll just give my rating. 1/2 Stars (only because I don't have a pic for 0 stars.
April 16, 2008
Zoe is wary when, in the dead of night, the beautiful yet frightening Simon comes to her house. Simon seems to understand the pain of loneliness and death and Zoe's brooding thoughts of her dying mother. Simon is one of the undead, a vampire, seeking revenge for the gruesome death of his mother three hundred years before. Does Simon dare ask Zoe to help free him from this lifeless chase and its insufferable loneliness?
Hmmm... after reading Blood and Chocolate, I was expecting this one to be almost as good, but unfortunately, it didn't live up to those expectations. There were times I found it a bit tedious, if only because there was less action than I usually like. But that's definitely a personal preference as I'm not one for the more introspective novels. Okay, now I'm not saying this was an introspective novel, just that it was more so than Blood and Chocolate. It seemed that at times the author was trying to get an important life lesson across to her teen readers, which is kind of where I was going with that comment.
Anyway, now that I got that out of the way, this book did have it's good points as well. The author was able to evoke a good deal of sympathy in me for Zoe's character and her situation. And her reaching out to the Vampire when she felt like she had no one else to turn to was touching. It was even kind of sad at the end...
Hmmm... after reading Blood and Chocolate, I was expecting this one to be almost as good, but unfortunately, it didn't live up to those expectations. There were times I found it a bit tedious, if only because there was less action than I usually like. But that's definitely a personal preference as I'm not one for the more introspective novels. Okay, now I'm not saying this was an introspective novel, just that it was more so than Blood and Chocolate. It seemed that at times the author was trying to get an important life lesson across to her teen readers, which is kind of where I was going with that comment.
Anyway, now that I got that out of the way, this book did have it's good points as well. The author was able to evoke a good deal of sympathy in me for Zoe's character and her situation. And her reaching out to the Vampire when she felt like she had no one else to turn to was touching. It was even kind of sad at the end...
January 16, 2013
I've never cried so hard after reading since Deathly Hallows. And now, THIS. It's the kind of cry where tears and snot mix but you don't care to the point where you can't even see properly because your eyes are flooded with tears and it's 5 am and you're half howling half sobbing in your pillow because you can't stop crying and you're afraid of waking up the entire house and let them find you looking like a mess in the wee hours of the morning. And the reason? You haven't slept the whole night cause you were reading and can't make yourself stop because you wanted to know what happens in the end, and when you do... there you are-- a sobbing wasted mess.
I never thought I'd be touched with a vampire novel after all the trauma I've gone through since Twilight, but here I am crying my guts out for a dated, old school vampire story.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I WANT. THE CHARACTERS DID THE RIGHT THING NO MATTER HOW MUCH IT HURTS.
I'm kinda glad that Simon and Zoe's relationship didn't lead anywhere. IT CAN'T LEAD TO ANYWHERE because Simon's a vampire and no matter how much I like him, I still want him dead. I'm so glad Zoe's a strong character and not the dumb whiny mopey type like Bella.
I never thought I'd be touched with a vampire novel after all the trauma I've gone through since Twilight, but here I am crying my guts out for a dated, old school vampire story.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I WANT. THE CHARACTERS DID THE RIGHT THING NO MATTER HOW MUCH IT HURTS.
I'm kinda glad that Simon and Zoe's relationship didn't lead anywhere. IT CAN'T LEAD TO ANYWHERE because Simon's a vampire and no matter how much I like him, I still want him dead. I'm so glad Zoe's a strong character and not the dumb whiny mopey type like Bella.
July 17, 2012
Wow. My new favorite vampire novel!
June 8, 2019
OK first thing this book has 4 stars from me not because it's the best or because at the moment it was good. It has 4 stars because at one time when I read it I loved it so much and I thought I should average that into the mix. I am almost 29 in less than a week and I haven't read this book since I was 12, that's 17 years if my math is correct haha. I remember at that age just thinking this was one of the best books ever written and thinking that the romance was to die for <3 . I am much older and definitely have different views on what I consider good in terms of books and romance now. But still this held so much nostalgia that even though this should at highest be rated a 2 or 3 stars it gets 4 for just making me feel like a kid again :) And after reading again I can definitely say I won't ever read it again lol. I do have to give credit for a good villain, would have definitely now that I am older love to see the story from Christopher's point of view :)
May 21, 2016
This novel was written long before the industry destroyed the YA vampire genre... and it is SO good! I loved the message of this book. In this novel, the protagonist lost her mom to cancer and is struggling with her overwhelming grief. When she meets a vampire, she's given the choice to live forever. But is it better to live a short, but good life, knowing it will end eventually? Or is it better to live an eternal life of solitude and damnation? I love this book so much!
March 25, 2015
This book opened up the door to my love for reading. I remember checking this book out from the school library, about 18 years ago, and loved it! I believe Simon was my first vampire love.
A couple of years back, I remembered this book being the one that stayed with me. So I searched for it online and found a copy. I've shared it with my daughters and now they love it too. Love this book!
A couple of years back, I remembered this book being the one that stayed with me. So I searched for it online and found a copy. I've shared it with my daughters and now they love it too. Love this book!
March 17, 2009
Simon is the last thing Zoё expects to enter her life. Trying to cope with her mother’s illness and the inattention of her grief-stricken father, Zoё mechanically goes through her daily routine of school and returning to the solitude of her empty house, always waiting for the phone call informing her about her mother’s death. But when she sees the silver boy at the park and later downtown, she allows herself to get caught up in another’s past and pain.
After centuries of hunting, Simon is nearer to carrying out his revenge on the monster that killed his mother. But he can’t let go of the fact that he is one of these same monsters—a vampire. When he meets Zoё, however, he is able to feel an emotion other than the hatred he’s carried with him for so long, one that could put her in much more danger than she would ever dream possible.
Ultimately about grief and accepting death, The Silver Kiss is a love story between a mortal girl and a creature of the night, something not too out of the ordinary in the teen-vampire genre. Perhaps not so stereotypical is Zoё’s complexity: she has problems of her own, and her interactions with Simon allow her to come to terms with them. Neither of the two main characters is perfect, both flawed and on occasion lacking common sense (especially Simon during his final attempt at vengeance).
As opposed to a lot of other readers' reviews, I really liked the ending and thought it gave closure that a lot of teen vampire novels lack. This one has got more depth than Twilight and other popular vampire series, and since this is a stand-alone novel there is no pressure to continue with the story.
After centuries of hunting, Simon is nearer to carrying out his revenge on the monster that killed his mother. But he can’t let go of the fact that he is one of these same monsters—a vampire. When he meets Zoё, however, he is able to feel an emotion other than the hatred he’s carried with him for so long, one that could put her in much more danger than she would ever dream possible.
Ultimately about grief and accepting death, The Silver Kiss is a love story between a mortal girl and a creature of the night, something not too out of the ordinary in the teen-vampire genre. Perhaps not so stereotypical is Zoё’s complexity: she has problems of her own, and her interactions with Simon allow her to come to terms with them. Neither of the two main characters is perfect, both flawed and on occasion lacking common sense (especially Simon during his final attempt at vengeance).
As opposed to a lot of other readers' reviews, I really liked the ending and thought it gave closure that a lot of teen vampire novels lack. This one has got more depth than Twilight and other popular vampire series, and since this is a stand-alone novel there is no pressure to continue with the story.
June 17, 2015
Zoe ha 17 anni ma non è una 17enne come le altre.
Non pensa alle feste, non pensa ai ragazzi e nemmeno allo shopping perché la sua vita da normale adolescente si sta letteralmente dissolvendo davanti ai suoi occhi.
La madre di Zoe è malata terminale, costretta a trascorrere il tempo in una stanza di ospedale dalle pareti verde chiaro, il padre di Zoe si destreggia tra lavoro, conti da pagare e la malattia dell’amata moglie, lasciando la figlia a casa da sola.
Simon è un vampiro di 300 anni che disprezza la sua vita dannata, ha come unico scopo quello di scovare e uccidere il fratello, vampiro anche lui, che secoli prima lo ha trasformato e ha distrutto la loro famiglia.
Quando si incontrano Simon e Zoe sono afflitti dagli stessi mali: la solitudine e lo spettro della morte.
Zoe darà a Simon la spinta necessaria per riuscire ad accettare la sua natura di immortale e la forza per prendere la decisione più importante della sua vita.
Simon farà capire a Zoe che, anche se la vita ci mette davanti a difficili prove, non bisogna mai arrendersi alla disperazione e, prima di tutto, non bisogna allontanarci mai dalle persone che ci amano.
Libro molto bello, delicato, che si sofferma con semplicità su temi importanti, spesso, mai affrontati veramente da nessuno di noi.
Il finale è un po’ affrettato e molto triste ma, per me, ha contribuito a mantenere integra la magia e la purezza della storia
Non pensa alle feste, non pensa ai ragazzi e nemmeno allo shopping perché la sua vita da normale adolescente si sta letteralmente dissolvendo davanti ai suoi occhi.
La madre di Zoe è malata terminale, costretta a trascorrere il tempo in una stanza di ospedale dalle pareti verde chiaro, il padre di Zoe si destreggia tra lavoro, conti da pagare e la malattia dell’amata moglie, lasciando la figlia a casa da sola.
Simon è un vampiro di 300 anni che disprezza la sua vita dannata, ha come unico scopo quello di scovare e uccidere il fratello, vampiro anche lui, che secoli prima lo ha trasformato e ha distrutto la loro famiglia.
Quando si incontrano Simon e Zoe sono afflitti dagli stessi mali: la solitudine e lo spettro della morte.
Zoe darà a Simon la spinta necessaria per riuscire ad accettare la sua natura di immortale e la forza per prendere la decisione più importante della sua vita.
Simon farà capire a Zoe che, anche se la vita ci mette davanti a difficili prove, non bisogna mai arrendersi alla disperazione e, prima di tutto, non bisogna allontanarci mai dalle persone che ci amano.
Libro molto bello, delicato, che si sofferma con semplicità su temi importanti, spesso, mai affrontati veramente da nessuno di noi.
Il finale è un po’ affrettato e molto triste ma, per me, ha contribuito a mantenere integra la magia e la purezza della storia
Read
April 29, 2023I'm forgoing a star review because Teen Cat loved this book and Adult Cat is still happy for her.
I listened to the audiobook of the rereleased version, which included a forward from the author, and that honestly summarizes my feelings. This book was written in 1990 and according to the author, was the direct result of reading other vampire novels and wanting more from them. The main character is a grieving, overburdened teenager who wants to be seen, and I think that's something many of us can relate to. Certainly I could and did.
A reread reveals that many books don't stand up to the changes of time. The book pairs a teenager with a 300 year old vampire, which is something that's considered a little more icky these days. There are turns of phrase we've done away with, and worst of all, people in this book can actually purchase something with ten cents LOL
I read this as a jumping off point to my own project. Something in this book had stuck with me for more than a decade, and I wanted to examine it. I'm glad I got to revisit this little slice of my life, even if Teen Cat and Adult Cat have somewhat different tastes now.
I listened to the audiobook of the rereleased version, which included a forward from the author, and that honestly summarizes my feelings. This book was written in 1990 and according to the author, was the direct result of reading other vampire novels and wanting more from them. The main character is a grieving, overburdened teenager who wants to be seen, and I think that's something many of us can relate to. Certainly I could and did.
A reread reveals that many books don't stand up to the changes of time. The book pairs a teenager with a 300 year old vampire, which is something that's considered a little more icky these days. There are turns of phrase we've done away with, and worst of all, people in this book can actually purchase something with ten cents LOL
I read this as a jumping off point to my own project. Something in this book had stuck with me for more than a decade, and I wanted to examine it. I'm glad I got to revisit this little slice of my life, even if Teen Cat and Adult Cat have somewhat different tastes now.
August 1, 2015
Move over Edward & Bella. Hello Simon and Zoe. I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical of this being a good book when I first picked it up. I mean, who needs another vampire story, right? You know plot. Undead boy loves the girl he longs to drain the life-force from. But that's the one place this story doesn't even go. I was pleasantly surprised at the new twist on an old tale. In brief, Simon is a vampire, changed willingly but under false pretenses. He's lost everything. A monster has taken the life of his mother and the monster he has become is forced to watch his father die from afar. His only sibling is dead for all intent and purposes. All things dear are lost. Then he meets Grimalkin (a brave cat)... Then later Zoe (a beautiful, sad girl. The warmth derived of a loving touch and now Simon will never be the same. If this isn't already a movie, it totally should be. 5 stars, 2 thumbs up and 1 well deserved standing ovation.
May 23, 2017
2.5/5 stars
OKAY this was so hard for me to read, I picked it up because I thought it'd be a quick fun vampire read. It wasn't. It was choppy and disjointed in certain places and sometimes I couldn't tell if the book was in first or third person or when they change those two I guess. The ambiance was great, it felt dark and lovely and I loved the character development for Simon, but overall it was kind of boring? The climax wasn't very climax-y and the romance was so sparse that it didn't make up for the lack of climax for me. I'll probably never read this one again, but it's cover is nice so I'll keep my edition
OKAY this was so hard for me to read, I picked it up because I thought it'd be a quick fun vampire read. It wasn't. It was choppy and disjointed in certain places and sometimes I couldn't tell if the book was in first or third person or when they change those two I guess. The ambiance was great, it felt dark and lovely and I loved the character development for Simon, but overall it was kind of boring? The climax wasn't very climax-y and the romance was so sparse that it didn't make up for the lack of climax for me. I'll probably never read this one again, but it's cover is nice so I'll keep my edition
January 29, 2024
Estoy un poco insatisfecha con este libro porque siento que es de esas historias que funcionarían mucho mejor como película que como libro y digo esto porque todo sucedió muy rápido, claro no esperaba un desarrollo lento porque además es un libro corto peeeeero....El villano tuvo muy poco desarrollo, solo se volvió vampiro y malo, era un personaje que me daba curiosidad pero lastimosamente no fue algo demasiado interesante.
Algo que sí me gustó mucho fue como la autora creo una atmósfera lúgubre y melancólica, me gustó leer como los protagonistas se enfrentaban al miedo a la muerte y la enfermedad.
Fue una lectura amena que me mantuvo interesada pero en ocasiones se me hacía un poco tediosa.
Algo que sí me gustó mucho fue como la autora creo una atmósfera lúgubre y melancólica, me gustó leer como los protagonistas se enfrentaban al miedo a la muerte y la enfermedad.
Fue una lectura amena que me mantuvo interesada pero en ocasiones se me hacía un poco tediosa.
July 14, 2012
Before I start dissing and what not on this book.... People who have fell in love or enjoyed this book, I recommend NOT reading this review. I don't plan on hurting people's feelings, I'm only here to give my opinion of the book. Which I have done. So sorry before hand, but hey, What'cha gonna do? ;p
Um...? Someone help me >.< I don't understand how this could be a good book! I mean yes sure different ending of Simon and what's-her-face leaving each other sides at the end: Simon letting son kill him into a pile of ashes, her left with pile of ashes but cries happy tears O.o
WHAT. THE.FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUDGE! (HAH! thought I'd something else huh??? Didn't you?!?!?! XD ) Okay let me get this straight.
What's-her-face: Lonely and has a dying mother
Simon: A vampire who's mother was killed by the kid who made him into a vampire who's technically over like 5 billion years old (And yes I WILL over exaggerate!) and made him 'cause he's special...? I'M SPECIAL TOO!!!! HOW COME I DON'T GET TURNED INTO A VAMPIRE?!?!?!?!?! Oh that's right 'cause Simon killed his kid creator. -.-" Smooth. Real smooth.
Kid creator who's name I forgot and don't care to remember: Kills Simon's mother...? Okay killing someone's Mama Ain't cool. I'd kill him too myself, but its how he killed him!
Plot: girl lonely. boy lonely. He just invites himself into her life. Tries to make out. Boy breaks table but girl forgives him easily Met only one night. Feels trust between the two. Boy asks girl to risk her life to let him get revenge. She does they kill the kid creator who killed boys mother. They win. YEY. Boy let's himself to the sun (Whoops forgot to mention that both kid creator and Simon are VAMPIRES *eye role*) he dies even though he loves girl. girl cries happy tears in the end even though the boy she JUST MET died and she feels for went and killed himself.
Again? What am I reading?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
I mean- I just- he- I- you- what-
Grawr! I'm going all over the place but I'll just be clear on a few things.... or more.
1. Okay who in what universe let's some GUY, a VAMPIRE GUY to be more specific, into their house?! And then just you feel lonely and stupid you let him in. Then you feel a connection of love or whatever you want to call it between him or it or whatever? It doesn't make sense...
2. Okay now if the guy broke something of mine and I'VE JUST FREAK'N MET HIM I'd be all over him and kicking him out right? RIGHT???? But, no. Just 'cause they made out and she feels she can trust him she let's him all over her, be a vampire and want some tasty yum yum blood. (-.-" good grief...) Eat up. Ew. No. That's gross. Make out + blood sucking. Who the heck do you think you are idiot? Are you some kind of God? No. Didn't think so.
3. Now why the heck would you ask the girl you barely know to help you beat this other vampire who made you, killed your mother. And girl, why would you AGREE to helping?? I mean are you that lonely and desperate to die?!?!
Okay enough of me ripping on this book.... for now. I'll say one at least good thing.
Different story line idea... In a way. I mean it's a sad ending and that a very rare thing. Nah never mind it's not THAT rare. But hey I still want to see a happiness of this book? I mean why would you let the guy you love rest his head on your breasts until he dies from the sunlight?
Doesn't anyone else have their creep-o lights flashing in their heads???
I just about threw this book out my window when I finished it. And then bring it back in to only rip out every page and shred it and burn the pages for kindle so I could cook me up some S'mores. That's right, I'd have done it, but I don't want a fine from the library either -.-"
To end before I continue to rip on it some more.
heh, maybe another day....
Horrible.
Don't.
Get.
The.
Point.
Of.
It.
Being.
Published.
I'm usually nice, but this book. Nope. Forget it. I ain't gonna play nice.
So thanks for taking up space of my brain when now I could be reviewing about some other book I might've read that probably would have been a bad book also. X'( What a sad sad sad sad sad sad sad sad sad day.
Again,
Saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad Panda! 8:(
Um...? Someone help me >.< I don't understand how this could be a good book! I mean yes sure different ending of Simon and what's-her-face leaving each other sides at the end: Simon letting son kill him into a pile of ashes, her left with pile of ashes but cries happy tears O.o
WHAT. THE.FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUDGE! (HAH! thought I'd something else huh??? Didn't you?!?!?! XD ) Okay let me get this straight.
What's-her-face: Lonely and has a dying mother
Simon: A vampire who's mother was killed by the kid who made him into a vampire who's technically over like 5 billion years old (And yes I WILL over exaggerate!) and made him 'cause he's special...? I'M SPECIAL TOO!!!! HOW COME I DON'T GET TURNED INTO A VAMPIRE?!?!?!?!?! Oh that's right 'cause Simon killed his kid creator. -.-" Smooth. Real smooth.
Kid creator who's name I forgot and don't care to remember: Kills Simon's mother...? Okay killing someone's Mama Ain't cool. I'd kill him too myself, but its how he killed him!
Plot: girl lonely. boy lonely. He just invites himself into her life. Tries to make out. Boy breaks table but girl forgives him easily Met only one night. Feels trust between the two. Boy asks girl to risk her life to let him get revenge. She does they kill the kid creator who killed boys mother. They win. YEY. Boy let's himself to the sun (Whoops forgot to mention that both kid creator and Simon are VAMPIRES *eye role*) he dies even though he loves girl. girl cries happy tears in the end even though the boy she JUST MET died and she feels for went and killed himself.
Again? What am I reading?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
I mean- I just- he- I- you- what-
Grawr! I'm going all over the place but I'll just be clear on a few things.... or more.
1. Okay who in what universe let's some GUY, a VAMPIRE GUY to be more specific, into their house?! And then just you feel lonely and stupid you let him in. Then you feel a connection of love or whatever you want to call it between him or it or whatever? It doesn't make sense...
2. Okay now if the guy broke something of mine and I'VE JUST FREAK'N MET HIM I'd be all over him and kicking him out right? RIGHT???? But, no. Just 'cause they made out and she feels she can trust him she let's him all over her, be a vampire and want some tasty yum yum blood. (-.-" good grief...) Eat up. Ew. No. That's gross. Make out + blood sucking. Who the heck do you think you are idiot? Are you some kind of God? No. Didn't think so.
3. Now why the heck would you ask the girl you barely know to help you beat this other vampire who made you, killed your mother. And girl, why would you AGREE to helping?? I mean are you that lonely and desperate to die?!?!
Okay enough of me ripping on this book.... for now. I'll say one at least good thing.
Different story line idea... In a way. I mean it's a sad ending and that a very rare thing. Nah never mind it's not THAT rare. But hey I still want to see a happiness of this book? I mean why would you let the guy you love rest his head on your breasts until he dies from the sunlight?
Doesn't anyone else have their creep-o lights flashing in their heads???
I just about threw this book out my window when I finished it. And then bring it back in to only rip out every page and shred it and burn the pages for kindle so I could cook me up some S'mores. That's right, I'd have done it, but I don't want a fine from the library either -.-"
To end before I continue to rip on it some more.
heh, maybe another day....
Horrible.
Don't.
Get.
The.
Point.
Of.
It.
Being.
Published.
I'm usually nice, but this book. Nope. Forget it. I ain't gonna play nice.
So thanks for taking up space of my brain when now I could be reviewing about some other book I might've read that probably would have been a bad book also. X'( What a sad sad sad sad sad sad sad sad sad day.
Again,
Saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad Panda! 8:(
Read
December 8, 2008in a sentence: Zoe's really hit the trifecta - her mom is terminally ill with cancer, her best friend is moving away, and she met (was stalked by) a sexy vampire named Simon.
Zoe spends a lot of her time alone due to her mother being in the hospital and her dad spending time with her mom or trying to catch up on work when he's not dutifully at her hospital bedside. consequently, Zoe is rather withdrawn, doesn't eat much, and begins to feel pretty sorry for herself. and her best friend, Lorraine, has no idea how to talk to Zoe about her mom (she's got her own mom issues) and is having a hard time moving away anyhow. there is just no one there to comfort Zoe...until Simon.
Simon is a vampire who is on the trail of a vicious killing vampire in the neighborhood and stumbles upon Zoe one night at the park. naturally, he is captivated by her beauty and the compassion he sees in her eyes. so he stalks her (yeah, a bit creepy and romantic in a vampire-y sort of way) and begins to share his world, and his history, with her.
i was surprised at how much of the story was about Zoe dealing with her mom's cancer, though it definitely fit with the rest of the story. the alternating chapters between Zoe and Simon provided insight into both worlds, as well as an examination of their character from an outside and inner point of view. there is minimal explanation for the origin of Simon, but as mentioned, about half the book is about Zoe and her mom's situation, so it fit well.
Klause does a nice job of balancing the realistic hurt that Zoe, her mom, and her dad are feeling with the supernatural hurt of Simon and his situation. ultimately, Zoe was able to feel comfort from someone who shared her pain (though in a much different way) and got her first real kiss as an added bonus. it was a quick read, but a very very good one. i'll be reading this again!
fave quote: "Things changed, she realized. People grew, they moved, they died. Sometimes they withdrew into themselves, and sometimes they reached out after needing no one. She remembered Simon's clinging embrace. What would it be like if nothing changed? she wondered. It would be stagnant, she supposed: decadent, terrifying. But why did it have to be painful - all this change? Why did it mean losing people you love?" (192-193)
fix er up: really could have done without the over-mentioning that Zoe had big boobs. yes, seriously. it's mentioned at least 3 or 4 times - once by Zoe, twice by Simon (to himself), and once by her friend Lorraine. it just seemed random and a bizarre point to keep coming back to.
Zoe spends a lot of her time alone due to her mother being in the hospital and her dad spending time with her mom or trying to catch up on work when he's not dutifully at her hospital bedside. consequently, Zoe is rather withdrawn, doesn't eat much, and begins to feel pretty sorry for herself. and her best friend, Lorraine, has no idea how to talk to Zoe about her mom (she's got her own mom issues) and is having a hard time moving away anyhow. there is just no one there to comfort Zoe...until Simon.
Simon is a vampire who is on the trail of a vicious killing vampire in the neighborhood and stumbles upon Zoe one night at the park. naturally, he is captivated by her beauty and the compassion he sees in her eyes. so he stalks her (yeah, a bit creepy and romantic in a vampire-y sort of way) and begins to share his world, and his history, with her.
i was surprised at how much of the story was about Zoe dealing with her mom's cancer, though it definitely fit with the rest of the story. the alternating chapters between Zoe and Simon provided insight into both worlds, as well as an examination of their character from an outside and inner point of view. there is minimal explanation for the origin of Simon, but as mentioned, about half the book is about Zoe and her mom's situation, so it fit well.
Klause does a nice job of balancing the realistic hurt that Zoe, her mom, and her dad are feeling with the supernatural hurt of Simon and his situation. ultimately, Zoe was able to feel comfort from someone who shared her pain (though in a much different way) and got her first real kiss as an added bonus. it was a quick read, but a very very good one. i'll be reading this again!
fave quote: "Things changed, she realized. People grew, they moved, they died. Sometimes they withdrew into themselves, and sometimes they reached out after needing no one. She remembered Simon's clinging embrace. What would it be like if nothing changed? she wondered. It would be stagnant, she supposed: decadent, terrifying. But why did it have to be painful - all this change? Why did it mean losing people you love?" (192-193)
fix er up: really could have done without the over-mentioning that Zoe had big boobs. yes, seriously. it's mentioned at least 3 or 4 times - once by Zoe, twice by Simon (to himself), and once by her friend Lorraine. it just seemed random and a bizarre point to keep coming back to.
June 20, 2014
Sofía está sufriendo una gran pena en su vida: su mamá, una pintora dulce y alegre está muriendo de cáncer y permanece largas temporadas en el hospital. No es justo que alguien como ella se tenga que ir tan pronto y la deje sola siendo tan joven. Su padre está cada vez más apático con ella, apenas si se ven en el día, no la deja ver a su mamá muy seguido y sólo le deja notas diciéndole que no vendrá y ella pasará la noche sola en casa. Su única amiga se rehúsa a tratar el tema de la muerte de su mamá y Sofía solo se conforma asintiendo y se pasa los días escribiendo poesía, caminando por el parque de su ciudad y tratando de lidiar con el dolor. En uno de sus paseos, se encuentra a un joven bellísimo (como no) y muy pálido, que por su ropa negra y chaqueta de cuero no parece de fiar. A pesar de todos sus problemas, este chico parece comprenderla a la perfección y es su apoyo en los momentos duros por los que está pasando...
Reseña completa: http://rapsodia-literaria.blogspot.co...
Reseña completa: http://rapsodia-literaria.blogspot.co...
September 19, 2017
I sure know how to pick them!
I don't usually cry but today I am a huge crying mess. :( My head hurts, my eyes are swollen and my face is red. I feel awful! :S
But whatever, it was worth it!
This book is just amazing and so different from the vampire books we used to read.
I really loved Simon. I feel like I could see into his tortured soul and found there something really beautiful, in spite of his own beliefs.
I wish he had a happy ending but I agree with him. I wouldn't want to be immortal. I would be so terribly unhappy because I wouldn't be able to enjoy everything and live to the fullest. Without change, there is no joy.
I really loved the fact that Zoe and Simon were kindred spirits joined by death. They were both so lonely until they found each other. *Sigh*
I'm glad Simon could see that he was wanted before the end...
I don't usually cry but today I am a huge crying mess. :( My head hurts, my eyes are swollen and my face is red. I feel awful! :S
But whatever, it was worth it!
This book is just amazing and so different from the vampire books we used to read.
I really loved Simon. I feel like I could see into his tortured soul and found there something really beautiful, in spite of his own beliefs.
I wish he had a happy ending but I agree with him. I wouldn't want to be immortal. I would be so terribly unhappy because I wouldn't be able to enjoy everything and live to the fullest. Without change, there is no joy.
I really loved the fact that Zoe and Simon were kindred spirits joined by death. They were both so lonely until they found each other. *Sigh*
I'm glad Simon could see that he was wanted before the end...
October 26, 2012
Yikes, no. I couldn't even finish it. I mean, the male love interest pisses on the female lead's back porch. That's just a world of no. Read my full review on Forever Young Adult.
March 26, 2022
3.5 stars
Quotes I found interesting/confusing:
"He clenched them tight, sank fangs deep into yielding neck, and fed on the thick, hot soup of their life." - I've never heard blood being compared to hot soup before and it made me snort.
"Pale as the milk of death, thin and sharp like pain." - What is a milk of death? Is this a real thing or is the author just making stuff up?
"She was beautiful, dark like the night, but thin, as if one of his brethren had already claimed her... There was something voluptuous about her though, that reminded him of death. Big breasts, too, he thought..." - OK so somehow the the main character is super thin and wasting away but also voluptuous in a way that reminds him of death? Are we talking about like a bloated corpse? In what way is death voluptuous? I'm having some trouble picturing her. He also seems to be pretty fixated on her big breasts throughout the story which is amusing
"I've fed at the breast of death, and now no other food can sustain me." - Again with the breast metaphors. I find this "feeding at the breast of death" confusing
This book feels unique compared to a lot of other vampire romance books I've read. Simon is a much more animalistic character, he even pees on Zoe's doorstep to mark his territory which I found quite weird. The explanations of his abilities and how he shifts are highly interesting and of how he can end up becoming unable to shift back. The romance is not really the main focus of the book, the focus is more on Zoe's relationships- with her best friend who is moving, with her mother who is dying, and with her father who is becoming more and more distant. Zoe is struggling with her relationships and pushing away those who love her. Zoe is extremely lonely and has no one to talk to about death because no one is comfortable talking about it, except Simon of course. Zoe comes across as a bit younger than she is, but perhaps that is due to the things she is going through. Simon is also extremely lonely and brooding, and bent on getting revenge on the one who turned him into a vampire. He loathes his existence as a vampire as he has nobody to love or care for and nobody even knows he exists besides Zoe.
There is something I find oddly comforting about paranormal books, especially ones that are a bit older. I love the angst, the brooding, the clichés, the forbidden romance, the midnight adventures and the horror. I enjoyed The Silver Kiss because it has all of those things and also deals with human relationships, grief, and loss. Zoe is an insecure, moody, lonely, angry teen and I think she's highly relatable, especially to teens. The book is a bit short and I feel like it could've been longer to go more into depth. I also found that the language was a bit weird. Some of the metaphors are really odd and I couldn't picture what is being said, which distracted me from the story. It kind of felt like random words were being thrown around for effect.
Quotes I found interesting/confusing:
"He clenched them tight, sank fangs deep into yielding neck, and fed on the thick, hot soup of their life." - I've never heard blood being compared to hot soup before and it made me snort.
"Pale as the milk of death, thin and sharp like pain." - What is a milk of death? Is this a real thing or is the author just making stuff up?
"She was beautiful, dark like the night, but thin, as if one of his brethren had already claimed her... There was something voluptuous about her though, that reminded him of death. Big breasts, too, he thought..." - OK so somehow the the main character is super thin and wasting away but also voluptuous in a way that reminds him of death? Are we talking about like a bloated corpse? In what way is death voluptuous? I'm having some trouble picturing her. He also seems to be pretty fixated on her big breasts throughout the story which is amusing
"I've fed at the breast of death, and now no other food can sustain me." - Again with the breast metaphors. I find this "feeding at the breast of death" confusing
This book feels unique compared to a lot of other vampire romance books I've read. Simon is a much more animalistic character, he even pees on Zoe's doorstep to mark his territory which I found quite weird. The explanations of his abilities and how he shifts are highly interesting and of how he can end up becoming unable to shift back. The romance is not really the main focus of the book, the focus is more on Zoe's relationships- with her best friend who is moving, with her mother who is dying, and with her father who is becoming more and more distant. Zoe is struggling with her relationships and pushing away those who love her. Zoe is extremely lonely and has no one to talk to about death because no one is comfortable talking about it, except Simon of course. Zoe comes across as a bit younger than she is, but perhaps that is due to the things she is going through. Simon is also extremely lonely and brooding, and bent on getting revenge on the one who turned him into a vampire. He loathes his existence as a vampire as he has nobody to love or care for and nobody even knows he exists besides Zoe.
There is something I find oddly comforting about paranormal books, especially ones that are a bit older. I love the angst, the brooding, the clichés, the forbidden romance, the midnight adventures and the horror. I enjoyed The Silver Kiss because it has all of those things and also deals with human relationships, grief, and loss. Zoe is an insecure, moody, lonely, angry teen and I think she's highly relatable, especially to teens. The book is a bit short and I feel like it could've been longer to go more into depth. I also found that the language was a bit weird. Some of the metaphors are really odd and I couldn't picture what is being said, which distracted me from the story. It kind of felt like random words were being thrown around for effect.
April 24, 2021
3.5 stars
I haven't read a lot of vampire books, but I quite liked this one. Btw, if anyone has any good recommendations, leave a comment :)
Zoe is struggling to come to terms with her mother's terminal illness and her father's distance, feeling left out and afraid. On a late-night stroll in the park she meets Simon, a beautiful and strange boy, who is secretly a vampire. Their paths keep crossing (not accidentally) and they are drawn to each other.
I thought the author did a great job portraying both Zoe and her family's struggles, as well as Simon's loneliness and otherness. For me, its main weakness was the length: it's too short to build enough depth in the relationship between the two characters and make it believable or impactful.
I also liked that it has a 'classic' sort of vampire: definitely a predator, has to be invited in (love this!), can turn into mist or an animal, can entrance humans.
Oh, and that cover is beautiful and fits perfectly!
I haven't read a lot of vampire books, but I quite liked this one. Btw, if anyone has any good recommendations, leave a comment :)
Zoe is struggling to come to terms with her mother's terminal illness and her father's distance, feeling left out and afraid. On a late-night stroll in the park she meets Simon, a beautiful and strange boy, who is secretly a vampire. Their paths keep crossing (not accidentally) and they are drawn to each other.
I thought the author did a great job portraying both Zoe and her family's struggles, as well as Simon's loneliness and otherness. For me, its main weakness was the length: it's too short to build enough depth in the relationship between the two characters and make it believable or impactful.
I also liked that it has a 'classic' sort of vampire: definitely a predator, has to be invited in (love this!), can turn into mist or an animal, can entrance humans.
Oh, and that cover is beautiful and fits perfectly!
November 5, 2023
Stephenie Meyer should really take notes on this ✍🏼
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