Crave by Laura J. Burns & Melinda Metz

Shay has a rare and debilitating blood disease, one that seems to defy a proper diagnosis from all the specialists she has seen throughout her life.  Her life is a series of blood transfusions that help her life a half life - one where she is always watching the other kids at her school go to parties, hang out, and make it through a whole week of school.  Then her stepfather, who also happens to be one of the best doctors around for someone with a blood disease, gives her a transfusion that has Shay fizzing with life, bursting with an energy she has never had before.  Suddenly she is hanging out and being normal, leaving the "Sick Girl" tag behind.  But where does the new blood come from, what makes it so special, and why does she keep having visions of another life where the people around her call her Gabriel - where the people around her are vampires.

Finding a new way to twist the vampire mythology is not easy, especially with all the creative people out there who have tackled not only the vampire mythology, but also the dhampir mythology.  Burns and Metz have done a great job of finding something new here, something that while at times was a little transparent so you could see things coming, was also just a little bit clever.  Jumping in with the action can be a tricky move for a book, but the gamble paid off here with action straight away and the back story coming through slowly as the book unfolds.  This is obviously the first book in a series (judging by the fact that the sequel is already available) and if the series remains as strong as the first book then this will be a good series to read.

If you like this book then try:

• Sacrifice by Laura J. Burns & Melinda Metz
• Turned by Morgan Rice
• Marked by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
• Glass houses by Rachel Caine
• Crusade by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie
• Kissing coffins by Ellen Schrieber

Reviewed by Brilla