Drink, Slay, Love by Sarah Beth Durst
Published by Margaret K. McElderry Books
Published on: September 13, 2011
Genres: Young Adult
Pages: 402
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
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Pearl is a sixteen-year-old vampire... fond of blood, allergic to sunlight, and mostly evil... until the night a sparkly unicorn stabs her through the heart with his horn. Oops.
Her family thinks she was attacked by a vampire hunter (because, obviously, unicorns don't exist), and they're shocked she survived. They're even more shocked when Pearl discovers she can now withstand the sun. But they quickly find a way to make use of her new talent. The Vampire King of New England has chosen Pearl's family to host his feast. If Pearl enrolls in high school, she can make lots of human friends and lure them to the King's feast -- as the entrees.
The only problem? Pearl's starting to feel the twinges of a conscience. How can she serve up her new friends—especially the cute guy who makes her fangs ache—to be slaughtered? Then again, she's definitely dead if she lets down her family. What's a sunlight-loving vamp to do?
I was on a blog recently, and for whatever reason, people were saying how good this book was, even though it was an older book. So of course I checked it out and then I had to buy and read it almost immediately. I know some of you have probably already read this, but it was completely new for me, and I am sure others probably would enjoy this too. For me it was a really new spin on the vampire world-always a good thing, in my opinion. It’s YA, but totally can be easily enjoyed by adults.
Before I go any further, I should mention the unicorns. And yes I mean the mythological creatures. This book has them, and they are sparkly. Not something I normally would ever read about, but it absolutely worked in this book. Don’t let that turn you off the book because you will be missing out on a really good read.
Pearl is a sixteen year old born, not bitten, vampire. She spends her evenings stealing cars and finding her next “snack” as she calls her victims-which she only sips from. She lives with her family. If her living with her family sounds all domestic, then think again. Her family consists of really strange aunts, uncles and cousins. And her parents are really different. The idea of parental love doesn’t exist here. They are not good people, not by a long shot. Neither is Pearl, which kind of bothered me at first. One night, things happen involving a unicorn and afterwards Pearl starts to change. She becomes the only daywalker that exists and ends up in high school. This is pretty much the story of what happens when she goes to school and when a horrible plot is hatched that will involve horrible human deaths.
To me, this was a refreshingly new premise, rather then a typical vampire book. The characters were really different, and fully realized by the author. The vampires were pretty horrible and the humans were mostly good. The humor in the story was pretty great and Pearl’s snark was off the charts. I so do enjoy a good main character with snark! Of course there is a romance, involving Evan, a boy she meets right after she changes. He was the archetypical, perfect teenage hero.
The story has a lot to say about morals or lack there of, in some of the characters. It addresses all the high school cliques and the hierarchy that exists there. The story made me think back to high school and remember-some good stuff and of course, some bad. The whole book, if you break it down, really was written to make you think, in addition to being just an all around excellently told story.
If you like humor and snark in your paranormal main character, then this book should be a must read for you. If you like evil villain characters, without an ounce of redeeming qualities, you have found your book to read. I found it to be an an exciting ride all the way through and thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing.
I’m Lorna and I live in Maryland. Since retiring, I spend my time mostly reading and reviewing books. My favorite reads are Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, and Young Adult. I read a lot of indie books in addition to traditionally published books. Favorite paranormal creature? Vampires, but I am really liking werewolves more everyday.
There are too many books from the past to exclude them. I am glad that you decided to read this one. I read it when it first came out and I liked it, although it wasn’t that memorable. Until your review I had forgotten much of it. But it was fun at the time.
Great review.
Thanks! I did enjoy it 🙂
I really need to read this one especially since I just read her newest novel and loved it.
Well maybe that is why they were talking about it-that makes sense. I think you will love this one as well 🙂
I’ve seen this one around (well, a while back) and loved the cover but never got around to reading it. I do love the snark and sass but I’m kind of over vamps at the moment (new vamp books, that is). I think I’ll have to add it to my TBR for later, though!
I do tend to read lots of vampire books that’s true, but I really thought this is one of the most different of all of them. And it made you think 🙂
It sounds good Lorna, I haven’t read it either, but perhaps some day …
I know you don’t normally read YA but this one is a good one to try 🙂 Some day.
This is one of those books I would never pick up myself but I was drawn to the pretty cover. I read it a couple of years ago if I remember correctly and really enjoyed it. It was unique and I loved the snarky humor, you know I’m not a YA girl so it had to be good for me to read it…haha Glad you enjoyed it Lorna! Great review.
Thanks! and yes the cover really sells the book I thought 🙂
I’ve heard of this one before but never tried it. I think I was tired of vampires and thought they were going to be like the other vampires I read about. It sounds very interesting.
Hopefully you will think it’s different if you try it! It was different from what I have read 🙂
Sounds good Lorna! I’m adding it to my TBR.
Thanks 🙂
You’re welcome! Hope you like it 🙂
I have had this in my TBR pile for far too long and I actually forgot about it, probably because I am so over the vampire thing, but still I really think I would enjoy this, I love snark and all that. Need to dig this one out.
I have a bunch of those books hidden on my Kindle too-Never seems enough time to read them all. Hope you like the book!
I haven’t heard of this one Lorna, but I have to admit to being intrigued…stabbed through the heart by a unicorn??? Add in humor and snark and I have to check this one out!
I hope you like it 🙂
Now this one sounds fun 🙂
For the most part it is-there is of course a bit of the horrific involved 🙂
Oh wow I’d completely forgotten about this book but yes I saw so many great things about it a while back I had been meaning to read it. And yay for unicorns!! I can’t say I’ve ever read a book with unicorns to be honest haha. I’m glad she makes it work though. It sounds like a great read overall – and I Love me a snarky MC! 😀
Oh yes I love snarky MC’s too! Unicorns aren’t my usual read either but it was pretty fun 🙂
I read this one when it came and really liked it. I keep hoping she will write a sequel to it.
A sequel would make sense for sure in this case 🙂
Unicorns!! I want this!!!
LOL, I hope you like it!
LOVED IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! . This book makers me/made me want to buy all her books . So far I’ve not enjoyed her other books like this one but they have come close . Yaay you read it
Lovely review . We need a sequel . It MUST happen
Thanks, and yes I am surprised there isn’t a sequel yet! I loved it too 🙂
really? unicorns? I love them! It’s so fun to have them in a book. I heard so much about this book and well I still haven’t read it. Maybe one day, or I hope so.
I hadn’t heard anything about it until a week or two ago. Totally worth the read! and yes unicorns 🙂 🙂
I loved this one. It WAS refreshing, wasn’t it? That definitely added to my enjoyment of it. So glad you liked it too!
Thanks, I really did 🙂
Oh, I forgot about this book! I remember when it first came out. I saw the cover, and it just stuck with me. It’s not really my type of read, but I was so drawn to the cover that I wanted to read it. lol Glad to see you enjoyed it so much! 🙂
Thanks, I really did 🙂
I remember when this one released and I always wanted to read it because I love the title. I never did but now I want to again! 🙂 I love snarky heroines and this just seems like a lot of fun. Great review, Lorna!
Thank you! It was a fun read 🙂
I adore off the charts snark. I wonder if I have this somewhere in my stacks from several years ago. Sometimes I just book binge buy and they’ll sit dusty on my shelf for ages…
Oh I have one of those shelves myself-in my Kindle:) No way I will ever read them all! I hope you find it!
I have this book! I just looked. I will have to read it 🙂 Sounds like a fun read!
Yea! I hope you enjoy 🙂
I have heard about this book so many times and it looks so good. I just need to read it. I love the idea of the character!
I hope you like it! The characters were pretty great 🙂
I actually haven’t heard of this one before, but I just added it to my TBR list-love the cover and premise 🙂 Nice review!
Thanks, and yes, the cover is pretty great 🙂 I hope you like it!
I loved this one too. Vampires, unicorns and snarkiness for the win!
Absolutely a win!
Sounds like a light and hilarious inclusion and unicorns and vampires, definitely unique! Lovely review Lorna.
Thank you 🙂 And yes it was really unique with a bit of horror too!
I’m glad you enjoyed it! I loved this book. It was original and a lot of fun to read.
Karen @ For What It’s Worth
Thanks, I did enjoy it 🙂
Oh, man. That summary really made me want to jump to the nearest bookstore and buy it. I’m so glad it was a good read. Thanks for sharing, Lorna! I can’t wait to read it!
You’re welcome! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did 🙂