Status
Available
Call number
Call number
F SMI
Collection
Publication
Simon Pulse (2008), Edition: Bind-Up, 729 pages
Description
Vampires, werewolves, witches, shapeshifters -- they live among us without our knowledge. Night World is their secret society, a secret society with very strict rules. And falling in love breaks all the laws of the Night World. In "Secret Vampire", Poppy thought the summer would last forever. Then she was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Now Poppy's only hope for survival is James, her friend and secret love. A vampire in the Night World, James can make Poppy immortal. But first they both must risk everything to go against the laws of Night World. Their brother, Ash, is sent to bring the girls back, but he falls in love with their beautiful friend. Fugitives from Night World, three vampire sisters leave their isolated home to live among humans in "Daughters of Darkness". Two witch cousins fight over their high school crush. It's a battle between black magic and white magic in "Spellbinder".… (more)
Original publication date
1996
2008-06-03
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User reviews
LibraryThing member The_Book_Queen
I have read L.J. Smith before, so it was no surprise to me that I loved this book. I fell in love with her books when I first picked up Vampire Diaries a few years ago, and I can't wait until she writes Damon's book. So when I realized that she has written so many other series over the years but
This book contains the first three books in her spectacular Night World series. The Night World isn't a place... no, it's all around you, it's everything. It refers to the creatures that belong to it, no matter where they are in the world. I can't think of a better setting for a series than that, can you? I mean, seriously, what more can you ask for? It's got vampires, both made vampires and born ones, werewolves, shape-shifters and witches. As if that's not enough of an incentive, add magical words like soulmate and true love, along with Ms. Smith's amazing writting skills, and you have the receipe for a perfect read! With the guarantee of more to come in the series, which is just a bonus!
Out of the three stories in this book, I have to say that I felt like the last one, Spellbinder was one of the 'weaker' ones, sorta speak. I liked it, don't get me wrong, but I like the other two more and felt like Eric and Thea's story was kind of rushed, not allowing the audience to really feel the connection that they, as soulmates, have. Still, an interesting story that grabs your attention.
For me, the first one, Secret Vampire was the best one of the series so far because I felt like she was able to tell James and Poppy's story without rushing it. By the end, you were happy, you know how things were going to turn out with them and you could easily imagine, in your mind, what their life would be like after the story ended. The ability to write a story like that defines a great author.
The middle story, Daughters of Darkness, was also very good. I fell for bad-boy Ash from the very start, and I thought that even though the ending was a little bit different from what I would have wanted, it was still good and I can still see their future together, some day, even if it's only in my own mind.
5/5 stars! L.J. Smith knows exactly what she's doing, creating a great fantasy world and mixing it deftly with feelings and emotions, with love and mystery, to provide a great read that any teen, or adults!, will love. Smith twines fantasy and magic with myths and legends, adds in plenty of love and even some adventure or mystery and the end result is world that you can usually only find in your dreams. This is an author that you should definitely keep your eyes on, because I think she's only going to get better as time goes on!
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they are all out of print, I was frantic, waiting for these three-books-in-one reprints. I just wish they'd print them faster!!This book contains the first three books in her spectacular Night World series. The Night World isn't a place... no, it's all around you, it's everything. It refers to the creatures that belong to it, no matter where they are in the world. I can't think of a better setting for a series than that, can you? I mean, seriously, what more can you ask for? It's got vampires, both made vampires and born ones, werewolves, shape-shifters and witches. As if that's not enough of an incentive, add magical words like soulmate and true love, along with Ms. Smith's amazing writting skills, and you have the receipe for a perfect read! With the guarantee of more to come in the series, which is just a bonus!
Out of the three stories in this book, I have to say that I felt like the last one, Spellbinder was one of the 'weaker' ones, sorta speak. I liked it, don't get me wrong, but I like the other two more and felt like Eric and Thea's story was kind of rushed, not allowing the audience to really feel the connection that they, as soulmates, have. Still, an interesting story that grabs your attention.
For me, the first one, Secret Vampire was the best one of the series so far because I felt like she was able to tell James and Poppy's story without rushing it. By the end, you were happy, you know how things were going to turn out with them and you could easily imagine, in your mind, what their life would be like after the story ended. The ability to write a story like that defines a great author.
The middle story, Daughters of Darkness, was also very good. I fell for bad-boy Ash from the very start, and I thought that even though the ending was a little bit different from what I would have wanted, it was still good and I can still see their future together, some day, even if it's only in my own mind.
5/5 stars! L.J. Smith knows exactly what she's doing, creating a great fantasy world and mixing it deftly with feelings and emotions, with love and mystery, to provide a great read that any teen, or adults!, will love. Smith twines fantasy and magic with myths and legends, adds in plenty of love and even some adventure or mystery and the end result is world that you can usually only find in your dreams. This is an author that you should definitely keep your eyes on, because I think she's only going to get better as time goes on!
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LibraryThing member 8F_SAM
This book was pretty good. Well, the first two stories were very interesting, but the last one, Spellbinder, the beginning sorta dragged on a bit, and then there were parts where they should've ended it, but didn't and then it got a little, stretched. But overall it was awesome. It's so cool how
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all the stories kind of connects to each other, but not really mixing. I can't wait for the next one! Show Less
LibraryThing member Polo.Pony
16 year old Poppy finds herself in the hospital the first real day of Summer vacation. Soon, she finds out that she is going to die. It might be a few weeks, or months, no one really knows. Her family is terribly sad, what family wouldn't be? Then, her only chance of living is in her best friend as
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the secret behind him is unfolded and she finds that if she changes her life with the help of him, she has a strong chance of living. What will Poppy choose? Thats for you to find out! Show Less
LibraryThing member bookwormygirl
When Poppy is diagnosed with terminal cancer who does she turn to for support in coping with her fate? None other than her secret vampire BFF - James, who can actually save her by converting her. This was a very cute, PG rated, YA book that I devoured in about 2 hours time (while at work
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*snickers*). It's a teen vampire romance drama, with all the cliches/ trimmings. But other than that, it is a great guilty pleasure read. One thing that I did find new and refreshing was that vampirism had a scientific explanation in this story. It wasn’t just about " I VANT TO SUCK YOUR BLOOD". This is the intro story to the Night World series by L.J. Smith. Show Less
LibraryThing member polliejean
I bought this book after reading the back a few months ago, intruiged by the stories of vampires and witches. I'll admit, being a huge fan of paramnormal romance stories and vampire stories in particular, I'm very happy about the surge of vampire novels that seem to be everywhere after the success
Each book is fairly short, providing a quick and easy read. The characters were interesting and fun and each story was unique. I really liked that although each book featured a different plot and cast of characters, the Nightworld tied them together. Minor characters that had mere 'cameos' in one story were the leads in the next. I am especially interested in what happens to Ash, and really hope that his story is not over and I that I am able to learn something about what happened to him and Mary-Lynette in the future.
This series is obviously one that has stood strong with the test of time, as it's gained some popularity years after publication. I look forward to starting the next installment, and definitely recommend it to fans of the YA paranormal genre.
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of the Twilight saga. I understand these were released years ago as seperate books with different covers, but I had never read them and the new eye catching cover played a big part in why I picked this up.Each book is fairly short, providing a quick and easy read. The characters were interesting and fun and each story was unique. I really liked that although each book featured a different plot and cast of characters, the Nightworld tied them together. Minor characters that had mere 'cameos' in one story were the leads in the next. I am especially interested in what happens to Ash, and really hope that his story is not over and I that I am able to learn something about what happened to him and Mary-Lynette in the future.
This series is obviously one that has stood strong with the test of time, as it's gained some popularity years after publication. I look forward to starting the next installment, and definitely recommend it to fans of the YA paranormal genre.
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LibraryThing member mangochris
I first read these in middle school, but they've been out of print for the last decade or so and I've missed them. If you're looking for fun ya vampire/supernatural romances, you can't go wrong with L.J. Smith.
LibraryThing member dbhutch
A collection of slightly related books put together in one format. The storylines dont interwine, but chatacters do make appearances in other stories. From a girl made to a vampire against the rules of the Night World to save her life, to 3 sister vampires fleeing their contained community, and
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risking exposure by a werewolf, to sister witches fighting over human lovers, the book pulls together all the recent interests in occult culture, bundles it under a "secret" called the Night World, where the paranormal beings are forbidden exposure or relationships with humans. Of course natutal laws of attraction tend not to follow man's nor vampires' witches' or shapeshifter's rules, and tension builds. All 3 stories in this collection were good reading, I prefer the last one above them all. Show Less
LibraryThing member susiesharp
I really enjoyed this trio of books/short stories.They are all sort of love stories that have a common thread that being the Soul Mate Principle.But in the Night World inhabitants are not allowed to fall in love with humans and of course that is what happens in these stories.I found them all
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enjoyable but Spellbinder was my favorite. Show Less
LibraryThing member trish.
I was looking forward to another series of books on the supernatural but felt slightly cheated when i found out that these books are all short stories. Now, don't get me wrong, the stories are good, very imaginative and keep you flipping the page, BUT if you are a person who likes closure, mmmmmm,
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not so much the books for you. I was left wanting more, i wanted to find out what happened after, the endings felt rushed and left me expecting more. Show Less
LibraryThing member TheLRCatCCC
i enjoyed reading the night world books because pf the constant drama and the urge of having to finish them! I would like to see the stories carry on, like where are Poppy and James now? whats happened to Mary Lynette? if we knew what was happening i think it would give the story more of an edge
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but over all i love the night world books! LL Show Less
LibraryThing member ShadowKissed
This book and the others in the series are broken down into separate stories about different people who slowly tie into together. Each story is interesting and fun and have a sweet love story behind them. The plot is GREAT as you go to the other books and I cant wait for the last book! Its a great
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price for a good read. Love all the books! GREAT for teens Show Less
LibraryThing member MonicaLynn
Three books in one. Good read all three books. They all are seperate however they all tie together with the same family. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
LibraryThing member dudettninja728
Night World No. 1 was an amazing book. It contains adventure, romance, and really hard decisions to make. In Secret Vampire I was kind of lured in by what was truly happening to Poppy and James, to see if James was telling the exact truth. Daughters of Darkness was my favorite part out of the
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three! I couldn't get enough. It made me want to continue reading to see if Ash would let out his sisters secret, and if he was truly falling for Mary-Lynette! Spellbinder was interesting, but in the beginning it was a tad bit boring. In the middle it started to get excited, and by the end I was wishing there was more! I even showed true emotions when I was reading, because the sections are so intensley good! I was annoyed at Blaise for trying to take Eric away from Thea, and I was kind of frightened when Randy went to the dance with his face basically ripped! Over all, this book was one of my favorite books of all time! Show Less
LibraryThing member julienne_preacher
This is a very uneven set of novels. The first one (Secret Vampire) wasn't very good. I liked the premise: a girl with fatal disease and a boy who offers vampirism as a cure. The story had potential but it was poorly executed. The characters were underdeveloped and the whole thing felt rushed. It
After the frustratingly bad first novel I wasn't expecting much from the second but Daughters of Darkness turned out to be fantastic! It was definitely my favorite out of the three. The story was well structured and paced, and the characters, especially the female ones, were interesting and well developed. I loved the heroine, who was smart and brave and all-round awesome. The portrayal of the hero was kind of inconsistent, which is my biggest problem with the book, but all in all it worked well enough for me to happily read more Night World if more volumes ever come my way.
The third novel falls somewhere between the previous two. It was definitely better than the first, but not nearly as good and engaging as the second. The plot was fine, but I would've liked a bit more thorough exploration of the soulmate principle. I was puzzled by the character dynamics, especially between the heroine and her trouble-making cousin. Still, it was an entertaining read.
I'm generally not a fan of soulmate stuff, but this series manages to explore the concept in interesting ways. In all the stories there's the same power of the soulmate principle at work, but every couple is different and they handle the situation differently. For some it's easy, for some it's not. I like it better when it's not. Also, I like my romance less mushy, more plotty. No doubt these preferences play their parts in me liking Daughters of Darkness best.
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was like reading a first draft of a novel written by someone who hasn't yet learned the rules of the storytelling. After the frustratingly bad first novel I wasn't expecting much from the second but Daughters of Darkness turned out to be fantastic! It was definitely my favorite out of the three. The story was well structured and paced, and the characters, especially the female ones, were interesting and well developed. I loved the heroine, who was smart and brave and all-round awesome. The portrayal of the hero was kind of inconsistent, which is my biggest problem with the book, but all in all it worked well enough for me to happily read more Night World if more volumes ever come my way.
The third novel falls somewhere between the previous two. It was definitely better than the first, but not nearly as good and engaging as the second. The plot was fine, but I would've liked a bit more thorough exploration of the soulmate principle. I was puzzled by the character dynamics, especially between the heroine and her trouble-making cousin. Still, it was an entertaining read.
I'm generally not a fan of soulmate stuff, but this series manages to explore the concept in interesting ways. In all the stories there's the same power of the soulmate principle at work, but every couple is different and they handle the situation differently. For some it's easy, for some it's not. I like it better when it's not. Also, I like my romance less mushy, more plotty. No doubt these preferences play their parts in me liking Daughters of Darkness best.
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LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
Originally published as three books, Secret Vampire, Daughters of Darknes and Enchantress this is a compilation of those three young adult stories of teen love between otherworldly creatures and regular folk (though often the regular folk aren't always all that regular) The first is a story of a
Overall pretty predictable, probably would be better to take a break between them.
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girl dying of cancer who is offered a second chance by her vampire life-mate. The second is a story of an arrogant vampire who finds love with a lowly human and the third is the story of some witches who find that they can't assume anything about humanity and that maybe, just maybe it's not a good thing to destroy themOverall pretty predictable, probably would be better to take a break between them.
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LibraryThing member hoganedix
I have to admit that I was skeptical of yet another vampire series but these are interesting stories with fairly tame content. Appropriate for 6 grade and up.
LibraryThing member millett23
I liked this book, yet I found myself asking questions like, How did Ash know Poppy was a witch, and what happened after they went to her dad's? I also felt like the ending was rushed, there was the climax and then it just fell flat for me.
LibraryThing member cattytonks1503
i really enjoyed this book but i do agree it ended to quickly and leaving room for more. it left me wondering what happens after the story ended ..
LibraryThing member ImDiffrentSoWhat
Three stories in one, what could be better? I like how they are seprate stories but they tie into one another. A pleasent read, it's just the right mix of seriousness and fluff. Of the three I can't choose a favioret. They are all beautifully mastered and come with surprise after surprise.
LibraryThing member purplerabbit
Smith, L.J. Night World No.1 is the best and interesting book in the series. There are 3 different stories in the book, Secret Vampire, Daughters of Darkness and Spellbinder, with one thing in common: all the main characters fall in love and find their soulmates.
What would you do if your best
Daughters of Darkness is about three vampire sisters, Rowan, Kestrel and Jade running off to their aunt's house, only to find their aunt Opal has been staked and killed. Meanwhile, Mary Lynnette, aunt Opal's neighbour, sees some suspicious things at aunt Opal's house, like aunt Opal's nieces burying something in the backyard late at night. Mary Lynnette decides to snoop around the house and soon realizes they're vampires. The vampire sisters must kill them, but instead they do a blood tie to say they will keep the secret. Ash who has been sent to bring back his sisters, meets Mary Lynnette and they instantly hate each other, and they realize they're soulmates. Will Mary Lynnette and Ash learn to accept their fate or face some serious problems?
In Spellbinder, Thea, one of the last generation of witches faces another high school after her sister, Blaise cause another problem with her magic. On her first day, Thea meets Eric who falls in love with her after she heals him from a snake bite.The problem gets even worse when Thea accidentally releases an angry spirit when she was making a potion to stop Blaise from hurting Eric because he chose Thea over Blaise. The only way to return the spirit back where it belongs, is with Eric's(who happens to be her soulmate) help and some magic.
The Night World law for all three stories is never tell a human about the Night World and never fall in love with a human. In all three stories the main characters broke the law for love.
My favourite one is Daughters of Darkness. I liked it because Ash caused a lot of problems until he met Mary Lynnette, then he found out he really cared about someone and was going to stop causing problems just for her. Mary Lynnette is not like any other girls, when she first met Ash she felt something weird when she shook his hand, like an electric shock, and kicked him in the shins, which was kind of funny. The ending was good but i wished they told us what happens next.
Night World No.1 has the best vampire romance!
What would you do if your best
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friend was a vampire? In Secret Vampire, Poppy, an ordinary girl, who's been having some pain in the stomach, finds out she has cancer that can't be cured. James, Poppy's childhood friend, who happens to be a vampire wants to help her. But the only way to, is by turning Poppy into a vampire. Poppy has only two options, either she dies and loses her life or give up everything she's got and relive her life with James as a vampire.Daughters of Darkness is about three vampire sisters, Rowan, Kestrel and Jade running off to their aunt's house, only to find their aunt Opal has been staked and killed. Meanwhile, Mary Lynnette, aunt Opal's neighbour, sees some suspicious things at aunt Opal's house, like aunt Opal's nieces burying something in the backyard late at night. Mary Lynnette decides to snoop around the house and soon realizes they're vampires. The vampire sisters must kill them, but instead they do a blood tie to say they will keep the secret. Ash who has been sent to bring back his sisters, meets Mary Lynnette and they instantly hate each other, and they realize they're soulmates. Will Mary Lynnette and Ash learn to accept their fate or face some serious problems?
In Spellbinder, Thea, one of the last generation of witches faces another high school after her sister, Blaise cause another problem with her magic. On her first day, Thea meets Eric who falls in love with her after she heals him from a snake bite.The problem gets even worse when Thea accidentally releases an angry spirit when she was making a potion to stop Blaise from hurting Eric because he chose Thea over Blaise. The only way to return the spirit back where it belongs, is with Eric's(who happens to be her soulmate) help and some magic.
The Night World law for all three stories is never tell a human about the Night World and never fall in love with a human. In all three stories the main characters broke the law for love.
My favourite one is Daughters of Darkness. I liked it because Ash caused a lot of problems until he met Mary Lynnette, then he found out he really cared about someone and was going to stop causing problems just for her. Mary Lynnette is not like any other girls, when she first met Ash she felt something weird when she shook his hand, like an electric shock, and kicked him in the shins, which was kind of funny. The ending was good but i wished they told us what happens next.
Night World No.1 has the best vampire romance!
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LibraryThing member tiger98
Night World is basically about vampires, werewolves, and witches. The books are exciting adventures to read.
LibraryThing member 5aweek
This is a combination of my individual reviews for Night World 1: Secret Vampire, Night World 2: Daughters of Darkness, and Night World 3: Spellbinder.
I would give this collection overall a 3.5 out of 5. In this first volume, Smith introduces us to the Night World, a secret existence of vampires,
In Night World 1: Secret Vampire, Poppy is a teenager diagnosed with a deadly disease. Her best friend has the secret that could save her life and end it at the same time. In Night World 2: Daughters of Darkness, Smith considers what could happen if two soulmates dislike each other. In Night World 3: Spellbinder, we get our first taste of witches and the disasters that can come from loving a human.
===
Night World #1: Secret Vampire, by L. J. Smith
I first discovered the Night World series when I was about 10 or 11; I can't remember which. I devoured them then; I've always been fascinated with the supernatural, vampires and werewolves and witches oh my. Now, rereading the series a decade later, I'm happy to find that my nostalgia for the books is valid, as I'm enjoying them this second go around as much as I did the first time.
"Secret Vampire" tells the tale of Poppy, a 16 year old who starts her summer vacation in a rather dismal way: with a diagnosis of incurable pancreatic cancer. A summer that promised to be full of music, hanging out with friends, and just generally having a good time will turn into 3 months or less of pain and agony...but luckily for Poppy, her best
friend James has a secret.
James is a vampire, part of the Night World. The Night World is a secret society of all sorts of supernatural creatures and they have two rules: 1) Never tell humans about the Night World, and 2) Never fall in love with a human. To break these rules is to risk death; but James is more than willing to risk his life, especially after he
discovers Poppy is his soulmate.
All Night World books carry a common theme: the protagonist is always a female teenager, always someone a bit different from all those around her. In each book the protagonist finds her soulmate.
I remember when I was much younger and reading these books. I wanted to *be* the protagonist. I wanted to be a part of the Night World - and who wouldn't want to be? Smith has a gift for writing fiction that speaks to the reader, and makes the reader identify with the main characters. Poppy and James connect in a mental way when he is transforming her into a vampire, a way that makes words seem bulky and useless for real communication. Even though I know life isn't like that, it's still magical to see it done nicely in fiction. And still makes me wish it were possible.
The Night World series has recently been republished in a collection of omnibuses, which makes it a great pickup. The next installment in the series, which I have been waiting for for over a decade, will be published in 2010, which makes this the perfect time to leap into Smith's secret society. "Secret Vampire" is an excellent kickoff to the series, and introduces readers to some of the particulars of the Night World, as well as to two great characters.
My only issues with this book are that it's a little dated, due to being first published in 1996. You don't dial in to the Internet anymore, etc.; but that's just me nitpicking. Also it's a somewhat quick read; I finished the entire book in about 90 minutes or less. But that also makes it a nice diversion that won't take you a week to enjoy.
4/5.
===
Night World #2: Daughters of Darkness, by L. J. Smith
For me, "Daughters of Darkness" is the one sour note in Smith's Night World series. It was the one book in the nine book series that I had to force myself to finish (I am obsessive about finishing everything I read).
The concept is interesting, but I feel it could have used better execution. As with all Night World books, the protagonist is female. Mary-Lynette is a human and unaware of the secret world of vampires, werewolves, and other spooky things that exist around her. She thinks she lives in the quietest, most boring town in the world, but that's all about to change when a series of startling events happens.
When the next door neighbor goes missing just as her three nieces arrive in town, and Mary-Lynette sees them burying something in the backyard, she's immediately suspicious. Unable to leave the mystery alone, she heads next door and meets the new arrivals, who further her apprehension about the disappearance of her neighbor. The girls remind her of predators, which is unsurprising as the girls are lamia, or born vampires.
The mystery of who killed the neighbor takes up a good chunk of the book, and in my opinion, is very over used. It just drags on too long, and every time there was a new twist in the whodunit, I kept thinking, "Okay, that's the end of it now...no, wait...there's more. Sigh."
Ash Redfern also makes an appearance in this book (some readers may remember him from "Night World #1: Secret Vampire," where he waylaid Poppy), and is a starring character along with his sisters. Initially he's on the hunt for the three sisters, who ran away from a vampire enclave. Ash is characterized as the ultimate vampire - humans are vermin and nothing more, to him. Mary-Lynette takes an immediate dislike to him when meeting him for the first time. And here's where the potentially interesting concept comes in - Ash and Mary-Lynette are soulmates, but unlike Smith's other couples, the two can't stand each other.
But something about this book just didn't do it for me. Maybe it was the overly drawn out murder mystery. Or maybe it was that the main character, Mary-Lynette, seemed dry. Or maybe even what seemed interesting - soulmates disliking each other - somehow doesn't fit in a series that's about finding your soulmate.
1/5.
===
Night World #3: Spellbinder, by L. J. Smith
"She knew the drill. Another year of living with them, of walking quietly through the halls knowing that she was different from everybody around her, even while she was carefully, expertly pretending to be the same (p. 4)."
Thea and Blaise are cousins, raised as closely as if they were sisters. They're also both witches, members of the secret Night World. And they are high school students, starting at their fifth high school, having been expelled from four others - mostly because of Blaise. But this time, it's Thea who will jeopardize their future when she breaks the cardinal rules of the Night World; which are 1) Never let humans know about the Night World, and 2) Never fall in love with a human.
On their first day of school, Thea meets Eric, and the two are like swans - they know they are destined for each other immediately. There's only one little problem - Eric's human. Thea tries to push Eric away for his safety, but the two are soulmates and nothing she tries will keep him from her. But will she give up everything for him?
I read "Spellbinder" pretty quickly, in about 90 minutes, and I enjoyed every minute of it. Normally I don't care at all for romances, but mix in some supernatural elements, good writing, and interesting characters, and I'm hooked. I really liked Smith's portrayal of Thea - you start out thinking she's the quiet type, overshadowed by her vivacious cousin, but she develops believably into someone with backbone, someone caught between a rock and a hard place who doesn't know what way to turn, but tries to do the right thing, but sometimes doing it the wrong way. I also rather relished Smith's detail to the spells and especially the components. I had the feeling "Wow this is cool" when reading. The spells also allow for a nice twist at the end.
"Spellbinder" is a great installment in the Night World series, and gives an in-depth look at the witches and their origin in Smith's created world. I for one definitely want to know more about the history of the Night World, and am looking forward to reading more.
4/5.
I would give this collection overall a 3.5 out of 5. In this first volume, Smith introduces us to the Night World, a secret existence of vampires,
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werewolves, witches, and more that live on the fringes of our world. They have two rules: do not tell humans about the Night World, and do not fall in love with humans. The Night World books are what happens when those rules are broken. In Night World 1: Secret Vampire, Poppy is a teenager diagnosed with a deadly disease. Her best friend has the secret that could save her life and end it at the same time. In Night World 2: Daughters of Darkness, Smith considers what could happen if two soulmates dislike each other. In Night World 3: Spellbinder, we get our first taste of witches and the disasters that can come from loving a human.
===
Night World #1: Secret Vampire, by L. J. Smith
I first discovered the Night World series when I was about 10 or 11; I can't remember which. I devoured them then; I've always been fascinated with the supernatural, vampires and werewolves and witches oh my. Now, rereading the series a decade later, I'm happy to find that my nostalgia for the books is valid, as I'm enjoying them this second go around as much as I did the first time.
"Secret Vampire" tells the tale of Poppy, a 16 year old who starts her summer vacation in a rather dismal way: with a diagnosis of incurable pancreatic cancer. A summer that promised to be full of music, hanging out with friends, and just generally having a good time will turn into 3 months or less of pain and agony...but luckily for Poppy, her best
friend James has a secret.
James is a vampire, part of the Night World. The Night World is a secret society of all sorts of supernatural creatures and they have two rules: 1) Never tell humans about the Night World, and 2) Never fall in love with a human. To break these rules is to risk death; but James is more than willing to risk his life, especially after he
discovers Poppy is his soulmate.
All Night World books carry a common theme: the protagonist is always a female teenager, always someone a bit different from all those around her. In each book the protagonist finds her soulmate.
I remember when I was much younger and reading these books. I wanted to *be* the protagonist. I wanted to be a part of the Night World - and who wouldn't want to be? Smith has a gift for writing fiction that speaks to the reader, and makes the reader identify with the main characters. Poppy and James connect in a mental way when he is transforming her into a vampire, a way that makes words seem bulky and useless for real communication. Even though I know life isn't like that, it's still magical to see it done nicely in fiction. And still makes me wish it were possible.
The Night World series has recently been republished in a collection of omnibuses, which makes it a great pickup. The next installment in the series, which I have been waiting for for over a decade, will be published in 2010, which makes this the perfect time to leap into Smith's secret society. "Secret Vampire" is an excellent kickoff to the series, and introduces readers to some of the particulars of the Night World, as well as to two great characters.
My only issues with this book are that it's a little dated, due to being first published in 1996. You don't dial in to the Internet anymore, etc.; but that's just me nitpicking. Also it's a somewhat quick read; I finished the entire book in about 90 minutes or less. But that also makes it a nice diversion that won't take you a week to enjoy.
4/5.
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Night World #2: Daughters of Darkness, by L. J. Smith
For me, "Daughters of Darkness" is the one sour note in Smith's Night World series. It was the one book in the nine book series that I had to force myself to finish (I am obsessive about finishing everything I read).
The concept is interesting, but I feel it could have used better execution. As with all Night World books, the protagonist is female. Mary-Lynette is a human and unaware of the secret world of vampires, werewolves, and other spooky things that exist around her. She thinks she lives in the quietest, most boring town in the world, but that's all about to change when a series of startling events happens.
When the next door neighbor goes missing just as her three nieces arrive in town, and Mary-Lynette sees them burying something in the backyard, she's immediately suspicious. Unable to leave the mystery alone, she heads next door and meets the new arrivals, who further her apprehension about the disappearance of her neighbor. The girls remind her of predators, which is unsurprising as the girls are lamia, or born vampires.
The mystery of who killed the neighbor takes up a good chunk of the book, and in my opinion, is very over used. It just drags on too long, and every time there was a new twist in the whodunit, I kept thinking, "Okay, that's the end of it now...no, wait...there's more. Sigh."
Ash Redfern also makes an appearance in this book (some readers may remember him from "Night World #1: Secret Vampire," where he waylaid Poppy), and is a starring character along with his sisters. Initially he's on the hunt for the three sisters, who ran away from a vampire enclave. Ash is characterized as the ultimate vampire - humans are vermin and nothing more, to him. Mary-Lynette takes an immediate dislike to him when meeting him for the first time. And here's where the potentially interesting concept comes in - Ash and Mary-Lynette are soulmates, but unlike Smith's other couples, the two can't stand each other.
But something about this book just didn't do it for me. Maybe it was the overly drawn out murder mystery. Or maybe it was that the main character, Mary-Lynette, seemed dry. Or maybe even what seemed interesting - soulmates disliking each other - somehow doesn't fit in a series that's about finding your soulmate.
1/5.
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Night World #3: Spellbinder, by L. J. Smith
"She knew the drill. Another year of living with them, of walking quietly through the halls knowing that she was different from everybody around her, even while she was carefully, expertly pretending to be the same (p. 4)."
Thea and Blaise are cousins, raised as closely as if they were sisters. They're also both witches, members of the secret Night World. And they are high school students, starting at their fifth high school, having been expelled from four others - mostly because of Blaise. But this time, it's Thea who will jeopardize their future when she breaks the cardinal rules of the Night World; which are 1) Never let humans know about the Night World, and 2) Never fall in love with a human.
On their first day of school, Thea meets Eric, and the two are like swans - they know they are destined for each other immediately. There's only one little problem - Eric's human. Thea tries to push Eric away for his safety, but the two are soulmates and nothing she tries will keep him from her. But will she give up everything for him?
I read "Spellbinder" pretty quickly, in about 90 minutes, and I enjoyed every minute of it. Normally I don't care at all for romances, but mix in some supernatural elements, good writing, and interesting characters, and I'm hooked. I really liked Smith's portrayal of Thea - you start out thinking she's the quiet type, overshadowed by her vivacious cousin, but she develops believably into someone with backbone, someone caught between a rock and a hard place who doesn't know what way to turn, but tries to do the right thing, but sometimes doing it the wrong way. I also rather relished Smith's detail to the spells and especially the components. I had the feeling "Wow this is cool" when reading. The spells also allow for a nice twist at the end.
"Spellbinder" is a great installment in the Night World series, and gives an in-depth look at the witches and their origin in Smith's created world. I for one definitely want to know more about the history of the Night World, and am looking forward to reading more.
4/5.
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LibraryThing member br14aido
Secret Vampire:
Poppy has always had stomach pains. It's the first day of summer vacation and she's already being rushed to the doctor to check her stomach. This is probably one of the worst day of her life. Her mother and father were devastated when they found out. Her brother, Phillip and best
Daughters Of Darkness:
Rowan, Krestel and Jade want to leave Night World. They go to stay with their Aunt far away from the secret island that holds Night People including the council and leaders. The girls look normal but they aren't. They're witches. When they show up at their aunts house they find her dead... She was staked. The girls bury her in the backyard until later. Her neighbor, Mary-Lynette, sees them burying her and goes to investigate. Mary-Lynette and her brother, Marc, go over one night to check it out and Marc meets Jade. It ends up that Marc and Jade are ' soulmates. ' The sisters have a brother, Ash, who ends up coming to bring them back to the island. Him and Mary- Lynette ablsolutly hate each other. But it turns out that they are soulmates also. Will they learn to like each other? And will they find out who staked their very own aunt?
Spellbinder:
Thea and Blaise have been kicked out of school after school because of the spells Blaise puts on other boys to get them to give her things. She got one boy to light part of the school on fire. Thea and Blaise go to stay with their grandma Harman. On the first day of school Thea tries to save a rattle snake from a bunch of other students who were trying to kill it. She is controlling the snake when a boy runs over and grabs the snake. The snake bites him and Thea heals him. Thea ends up liking the boy, Eric. Blaise tries to get him to love her and fall under her spells. He is in love with Thea. The only problem is it's forbidden that Night People and Humans fall in love of both people will be executed. Will Thea and Eric be able to be together or will Blaise break them up? These three stories all tie together whether it's with characters or places. You don't want to stop reading. I recommend these books to anyone who loves reading.
Poppy has always had stomach pains. It's the first day of summer vacation and she's already being rushed to the doctor to check her stomach. This is probably one of the worst day of her life. Her mother and father were devastated when they found out. Her brother, Phillip and best
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friend, James, took the news much worse. Poppy had cancer and only had a few weeks to live because it had already spread. James could save her life but he must tell her his secret... He was a vampire. He soon explained everything to Poppy and she agreed to the plan if it would save her. He asked if he could change her into a vampire. But does Phillip except whats happening once he finds out what's happening? Daughters Of Darkness:
Rowan, Krestel and Jade want to leave Night World. They go to stay with their Aunt far away from the secret island that holds Night People including the council and leaders. The girls look normal but they aren't. They're witches. When they show up at their aunts house they find her dead... She was staked. The girls bury her in the backyard until later. Her neighbor, Mary-Lynette, sees them burying her and goes to investigate. Mary-Lynette and her brother, Marc, go over one night to check it out and Marc meets Jade. It ends up that Marc and Jade are ' soulmates. ' The sisters have a brother, Ash, who ends up coming to bring them back to the island. Him and Mary- Lynette ablsolutly hate each other. But it turns out that they are soulmates also. Will they learn to like each other? And will they find out who staked their very own aunt?
Spellbinder:
Thea and Blaise have been kicked out of school after school because of the spells Blaise puts on other boys to get them to give her things. She got one boy to light part of the school on fire. Thea and Blaise go to stay with their grandma Harman. On the first day of school Thea tries to save a rattle snake from a bunch of other students who were trying to kill it. She is controlling the snake when a boy runs over and grabs the snake. The snake bites him and Thea heals him. Thea ends up liking the boy, Eric. Blaise tries to get him to love her and fall under her spells. He is in love with Thea. The only problem is it's forbidden that Night People and Humans fall in love of both people will be executed. Will Thea and Eric be able to be together or will Blaise break them up? These three stories all tie together whether it's with characters or places. You don't want to stop reading. I recommend these books to anyone who loves reading.
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LibraryThing member OBridget1
Skipped a lot. Got to the end. Ended how I expected..how it got there, not all the way sure..but I just had to get to the end..Thats why I dont like 3 in one books. I like mine individual!
SECRET VAMPIRE" 5/5
DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS: 4.5/5
SPELLBOUND: 3.5/5
SECRET VAMPIRE" 5/5
DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS: 4.5/5
SPELLBOUND: 3.5/5
LibraryThing member talksupe.blogspot
Anyway, I wish the heroines are more fiesty, they're superhuman afterall, and the Night World operates like the jungle, the fittest survives, so if they keep on breeding "weak" females then their kind will be extinct in a couple of years.
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