03/12/2021
Gr 8 Up—Tansy is a teenage witch who pretty much lives a normal life, hanging with her best friend Skyler and crushing on her other best friend, Vaughn. However, when Skyler starts following a hot new band, The Drainers, and becomes lead singer Travis's number one groupie, life as Tansy knows it is flipped upside down. The Drainers are vampires, and it's more their powers than their musical skills that entrance their female following. Tansy and Vaughn agree to join Skyler at a party where the Drainers are playing. In an effort to break the trance that Travis has on Skyler, Tansy is bitten and is well on her way to becoming a striga vie, or vampire witch, who must save Skyler and other groupies, or "bleeders," before they are sucked dry by the band. This is a fun read for fans of vampire stories. The action starts right away and doesn't slow down until the end, which leaves room for a sequel. However, character development is a bit lacking and holes in the story may make readers think they missed something. VERDICT Readers of vampire fiction will appreciate the romance and slayer action all wrapped up in a light, easy read.—Betsy Davison, formerly at Homer Central H.S., NY
