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. Even fans of the genre who’ve seen it all will find a fresh read with kick-butt characters and family dynamics that ring true for all brothers and sisters—vampire or otherwise.

Hearts at Stake

Kelly Casey

This was originally five stars years ago when I first read it, but upon my January 2021 reread I'm lowering it to 4 stars. I don't think it holds up to the test of time. I'm also older now, and although there are many YA I still love, this one just isn't as good as some newer books that have been published. Now that being said I still really enjoyed the book. I really enjoyed the two romances, and if I remember correctly one of the other brothers ends up with a romance too that I love. However, the way Nicholas and Lucy get together just seems weird and kind of juvenile to me now. I remember it being better, but again I'm older now so it may just be that I am not the right intended age demographic. Although, I'm usually in the mindset that a great book can be enjoyed by any age. I'll probably keep rereading the series, but I'm a little disappointed that I don't love it like I once did. I also completely forgot this series existed until someone recommended it to me, and I was like "that sounds familiar". So that's a bit telling. Still I would recommend to teenagers 100%.

Jacalyn Boggs

As her momentous sixteenth birthday approaches, Solange Drake, the only born female vampire in 900 years, is protected by her large family of brothers and her human best friend Lucy from increasingly persistent attempts on her life by the powerful vampire queen and her followers.

Elena Davis

Tijana Kovac

The first novel in a YA fantasy romance series featuring “vampires with bite and girls who bite back. A witty, exhilarating and fresh take on an old tale” (Kelley Armstrong). On her sixteenth birthday, Solange Drake is going to die . . . But that’s okay. As the only daughter ever born to an ancient vampire dynasty, Solange’s sweet sixteen just means she will fully come into her own as an immortal. Unfortunately, it also means a lot of people both dead and undead are now watching her. Especially Kieran Black—a vengeful agent with an anti-vampire league who blames Solange’s family for his father’s death. Luckily, Solange has her human best friend, Lucy, who tries to help her have as normal a life as possible, despite her overprotective brothers and the politics of the undead realm. But when Solange is abducted by a power-hungry vampire queen, it will take all her friends—as well as the daring and dangerous Kieran—to rescue her before she loses her eternal life . . . In this “action-packed” (School Library Journal) story of love, loyalty, and blood ties, Alyxandra Harvey kicks off a saga of thrills with a nail-biter—and a neck-biter—that will have readers eager to devour the rest of the series. Hearts at Stake is the 1st book in the Drake Chronicles, which also includes Blood Feud and Out for Blood.

Hearts at Stake

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