|
|
|
Wicked Game
Jeri Smith-Ready
Pocket Books
May 2008
Urban Fantasy
Buy from Amazon
|
|
Synopsis:
Recovering con artist Ciara Griffin is trying to live the straight life,
even if it means finding a (shudder!) real job. She takes an internship at a
local radio station, whose late-night time-warp format features 1940s blues,
60s psychedelia, 80s Goth, and more, all with an uncannily authentic flair.
Ciara soon discovers how the DJs maintain their cred: they’re vampires,
stuck forever in the eras in which they were turned.
Ciara’s first instinct, as always, is to cut and run. But communications
giant Skywave wants to buy WMMP and turn it into just another hit-playing
clone. Without the station—and the link it provides to their original Life
Times—the vampires would “fade,” becoming little more than mindless ghosts
of the past. Suddenly a routine corporate takeover becomes a matter of life
and un-death.
To boost ratings and save the lives of her strange new friends, Ciara
re-brands the station as “WVMP, the Lifeblood of Rock ’n’ Roll.” In the
ultimate con, she hides the DJs’ vampire nature in plain sight, disguising
the bloody truth as a marketing gimmick. WVMP becomes the hottest thing
around—next to Ciara’s complicated affair with grunge vamp Shane McAllister.
But the “gimmick” enrages a posse of ancient and powerful vampires who
aren’t so eager to be brought into the light. Soon the stakes are higher-and
the perils graver-than any con game Ciara’s ever played…
|
|
 SRR GRADE:
A+
|
I am a huge vampire story fan, so when I heard that Jeri
Smith-Ready had a new Urban Fantasy vampire novel coming out I was totally
psyched. For even though I had never read anything by Ready, she had come
highly recommended. And let me just be the first to say, boy was that
recommendation spot on!
WVMP is a failing radio station until Ciara Griffin comes on the scene. As a
young con-artist trying to go straight, Ciara applies for a real job- as a
marketing intern at the radio station. She knows the station needs help, but
what she doesn't know is what secrets lie behind the locked station doors.
So, when Ciara gets the intern position and it is revealed that the radio
station DJs are all vampires, Ciara has a bit of a laugh. Then the novelty
wears off as she begins to realize it isn't joke, but a very stark reality.
The station isn't succeeding, and if the station doesn't improve its ratings
it's going to be sold and everyone fired. Since WVMP is a safe haven for the
vamp DJs Ciara can't let this happen, especially since she's really starting
to get the hots for the undead but totally sexy Shane.
I have to admit that it's been awhile since I actually got to read a good
vamp novel, but I couldn't think of a better way to get back on the wagon
than with this delightful book. Ready set the scene beautifully for a unique
story that brought in all the elements of a good vampire read and then some.
And perhaps I'm not really up to date on vampire lore, but to me it seemed
like her idea for what happens to a vampire when staked through the heart
was completely and totally new. It was gruesome and wicked. In other words,
it was awesome! The characters, even the ones you aren't supposed to like,
seem to have a certain allure to them. They're so evil you can't help but
love them. And if that's the case with the ones you aren't supposed to like,
then hold on to your seats when the scenes come to characters you are meant
to like. Woo baby!
Wicked Game is an
urban fantasy thrill ride. Not only is the story incredibly entertaining and
exciting- even a little romantic, but it's also sexy as hell.
|
| ~Reviewed by
Rebekah |
|
|