Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Point (Scholastic Inc.)
Pages
257
Description
Fictional character eighteen-year-old Alexander Banks stalks vampires until incredulously he leaps through a portal into real life where he finds love and friends who want to help, if they can.
Description
Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction.
Amy is in love with Alexander Banks, a brooding, handsome vampire hunter. There's just one problem: He doesn't exist. Alexander is the hero in a series of popular vampire novels, and Amy has breathlessly followed all his fictional adventures.
Then, late one night, fiction becomes reality.
Amy meets a boy who bears an eerie resemblance to Alexander Banks. In fact, he IS Alexander, come to life from the pages of the book. And he's in hot pursuit of Vigo, the ruthless vampire who has also crossed over into Amy's city. As Amy struggles to unravel the mystery behind Alexander's arrival, she must help him track down Vigo before too many lives are at risk. But attraction, danger, and dark secrets soon collide, leaving Amy to wonder if the greatest thing at stake . . . is her heart.
Amy is in love with Alexander Banks, a brooding, handsome vampire hunter. There's just one problem: He doesn't exist. Alexander is the hero in a series of popular vampire novels, and Amy has breathlessly followed all his fictional adventures.
Then, late one night, fiction becomes reality.
Amy meets a boy who bears an eerie resemblance to Alexander Banks. In fact, he IS Alexander, come to life from the pages of the book. And he's in hot pursuit of Vigo, the ruthless vampire who has also crossed over into Amy's city. As Amy struggles to unravel the mystery behind Alexander's arrival, she must help him track down Vigo before too many lives are at risk. But attraction, danger, and dark secrets soon collide, leaving Amy to wonder if the greatest thing at stake . . . is her heart.
Collection
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2011-06-01
Physical description
257 p.; 8 inches
ISBN
9780545386593
Similar in this library
User reviews
LibraryThing member pollywannabook
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy
There are a number of different factors that can cause a reader to buy a book: the cover, the author, the description, or maybe a good review. With THE VAMPIRE STALKER, it was a single sentence concept: A character from a popular vampire series steps out
The story is like TWILIGHT meets Kate & Leopold. There is an uber popular teen vampire series called Otherworld in the book that features two gorgeous guys who hunt vampires. Amy and her friends obsess about the books and characters. They camp out on new release days, write fan fiction, go to signings, and pine for a fictional love. Until one night Amy is attacked by a vampire and rescued by the hunter she loves: Alexander. It doesn’t take her long to accept what’s literally standing in front of her, and once she and Alexander figure out how he came to be in her world, they team up to get him home and track down the vampire who crossed over too.
While the concept couldn’t be more fun, the writing is unremarkable and a bit lacking when it comes to creating emotion. Like the main character Amy, I tend to obsess over my favorite characters, specifically in Paranormal YA, but these characters won’t be joining that list anytime soon. They are supposed to be older teens, but they came off more like tweens. It made it a little difficult to buy into the romance.
One other issue that presented itself very early on: I want to read the book within the book! It takes place in an alternate Chicago where vampires revealed themselves in the 1920’s essentially stalling all technological improvements as humanity struggled to survive. Two cousins lead lives as Hunters, one obsessed with avenging the death of his family, the other helplessly in love with the vampire who fights what she is. Honestly, I hope that the author considers writing it. I’d buy it in a second.
Overall, I don’t know that the characters in THE VAMPIRE STALKER will themselves become the next big obsession and the writing is pretty standard, but it was fun to see a fantasy that so many of us share brought to life in such a sweet and cute way. Younger teens will probably not notice my criticisms, and given that it’s such a quick read, I had fun with it too.
Sexual Content:
Kissing
There are a number of different factors that can cause a reader to buy a book: the cover, the author, the description, or maybe a good review. With THE VAMPIRE STALKER, it was a single sentence concept: A character from a popular vampire series steps out
Show More
of the book and into heroines' reality. That’s it. I didn’t need to see the cover (which is perfect), I didn’t need to know who the author was (this was my first book by van Diepen), and I didn’t even need to read the full description (which just made me want it more).The story is like TWILIGHT meets Kate & Leopold. There is an uber popular teen vampire series called Otherworld in the book that features two gorgeous guys who hunt vampires. Amy and her friends obsess about the books and characters. They camp out on new release days, write fan fiction, go to signings, and pine for a fictional love. Until one night Amy is attacked by a vampire and rescued by the hunter she loves: Alexander. It doesn’t take her long to accept what’s literally standing in front of her, and once she and Alexander figure out how he came to be in her world, they team up to get him home and track down the vampire who crossed over too.
While the concept couldn’t be more fun, the writing is unremarkable and a bit lacking when it comes to creating emotion. Like the main character Amy, I tend to obsess over my favorite characters, specifically in Paranormal YA, but these characters won’t be joining that list anytime soon. They are supposed to be older teens, but they came off more like tweens. It made it a little difficult to buy into the romance.
One other issue that presented itself very early on: I want to read the book within the book! It takes place in an alternate Chicago where vampires revealed themselves in the 1920’s essentially stalling all technological improvements as humanity struggled to survive. Two cousins lead lives as Hunters, one obsessed with avenging the death of his family, the other helplessly in love with the vampire who fights what she is. Honestly, I hope that the author considers writing it. I’d buy it in a second.
Overall, I don’t know that the characters in THE VAMPIRE STALKER will themselves become the next big obsession and the writing is pretty standard, but it was fun to see a fantasy that so many of us share brought to life in such a sweet and cute way. Younger teens will probably not notice my criticisms, and given that it’s such a quick read, I had fun with it too.
Sexual Content:
Kissing
Show Less
LibraryThing member lms8esmith
You know him well. The dark hair. The alluring eyes. His smile. The way he wears his favorite boots. If only he were a real person, right? Allison Van Diepen knows him too, and she creatively weaves a tale of how a book character and reader can fall in love...in reality! This quick read is so not
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like most vampire books, so I was delighted to find just enough drama, suspense, and gentle romance. Many students will like this book! :O) Show Less
LibraryThing member mt256
I was drawn to The Vampire Stalker by Allison Van Deepen after reading the summary. It sounded like something I could easily relate to. I haven't been 'in-love' with a fiction character but I have had a bit of a book crush. There are certain characters in books that really resonate with me and I
The story is told from Amy's point of view. She's just an average girl who has a crush on one of the characters from her favorite book series. Her world is turned upside down when she gets attacked late one night. What is even more bizarre is that her attacker resembles a vampire which technically don't exist. However even stranger than that she's rescued by someone who bears a striking resemblance to Alexander. When she learns Alexander is in fact the same Alexander from the novel; that means her attacker is the none other than the terrifying vampire, Vigo.
The characters in this novel were great. I like both Amy and Alexander. I thought Allison Van Deepen did a wonderful job depicting their reaction to the strangeness of being thrust into a different world. Amy and Alexander have great chemistry together. The supporting characters are great too, including the baddie Vigo. Vigo's character adds drama, mystery and suspense to The Vampire Stalker. The story line was good for the most part. I had to suspend my area of belief just a bit for the explanation as to how Alexander crossed over. I just ended up going with the flow. It didn't take away too much from the story line. Which is good because I really enjoyed this novel.
Overall I thought this book was a fun read. It's a bit like fan fiction but I think that is the point of this novel. I would recommend this book to anyone who has ever fantasized about a character in a novel.
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wish they were in fact real. So needless to say this book had great appeal to me. The story is told from Amy's point of view. She's just an average girl who has a crush on one of the characters from her favorite book series. Her world is turned upside down when she gets attacked late one night. What is even more bizarre is that her attacker resembles a vampire which technically don't exist. However even stranger than that she's rescued by someone who bears a striking resemblance to Alexander. When she learns Alexander is in fact the same Alexander from the novel; that means her attacker is the none other than the terrifying vampire, Vigo.
The characters in this novel were great. I like both Amy and Alexander. I thought Allison Van Deepen did a wonderful job depicting their reaction to the strangeness of being thrust into a different world. Amy and Alexander have great chemistry together. The supporting characters are great too, including the baddie Vigo. Vigo's character adds drama, mystery and suspense to The Vampire Stalker. The story line was good for the most part. I had to suspend my area of belief just a bit for the explanation as to how Alexander crossed over. I just ended up going with the flow. It didn't take away too much from the story line. Which is good because I really enjoyed this novel.
Overall I thought this book was a fun read. It's a bit like fan fiction but I think that is the point of this novel. I would recommend this book to anyone who has ever fantasized about a character in a novel.
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LibraryThing member Bookaliciouspam
The Vampire Stalker is for every person who has ever wanted a character to come off the page into their world. And snog them. Edward Cullen? Mr. Darcy anyone?
We begin with Amy and her friends waiting in line at the bookstore to pick up their preordered copy of book two in the Otherworld series, The
Amy hasn’t seen any IRL guys around that tickle her fancy. She tells us she is mousy and not very pretty but several characters in the book seem to think she is more than average. She doesn’t seem to be one of those knock-down-drag-out gorgeous girls so her thinking herself mousy is not exactly self depreciating.
After spending the weekend locked in her room reading about Alexander in Mists she reaches the end of the book. And what she sees freaks her out. The author has left Alexander in a very bad place. Possibly about to be killed by the big bad himself.
Amy is a very big fan. She is a member of the fan club (Mrs.AlexanderBanks8021) and explains the publishing industry to the reader several times during the novel. She is BFF with the school librarian who is strange and awesome at the same time. She even reads the Otherworld books and can talk to Amy about them and saves her ARCs.
Things come to a head when Amy is walking home from the school dance a week later and is attacked in the park. She sees a flash of silvery hair and then she is saved by the strangest boy. He is wearing a suit and old looking boots. He talks funny, in fact he is kind of exactly like Alexander Banks.
When he introduces himself as such she freaks out thinking he is some kind of obsessed fan, more obsessed than her. She begins to believe him and that sends her on a journey with the real Alexander Banks, the only boy she truly loves, to hunt down and kill Viggo in her world.
The Vampire Stalker is a very engaging, fun read.
We begin with Amy and her friends waiting in line at the bookstore to pick up their preordered copy of book two in the Otherworld series, The
Show More
Mists of the Otherworld. These books are as big as Twilight and I do believe the author is being very tongue-in-cheek throughout the novel. You have a girl obsessed with the “Vampire Stalker” Alexander Banks who spends his life in this quasi Victorian world hunting the vamp who murdered his whole family. Amy is entranced.Amy hasn’t seen any IRL guys around that tickle her fancy. She tells us she is mousy and not very pretty but several characters in the book seem to think she is more than average. She doesn’t seem to be one of those knock-down-drag-out gorgeous girls so her thinking herself mousy is not exactly self depreciating.
After spending the weekend locked in her room reading about Alexander in Mists she reaches the end of the book. And what she sees freaks her out. The author has left Alexander in a very bad place. Possibly about to be killed by the big bad himself.
Amy is a very big fan. She is a member of the fan club (Mrs.AlexanderBanks8021) and explains the publishing industry to the reader several times during the novel. She is BFF with the school librarian who is strange and awesome at the same time. She even reads the Otherworld books and can talk to Amy about them and saves her ARCs.
Things come to a head when Amy is walking home from the school dance a week later and is attacked in the park. She sees a flash of silvery hair and then she is saved by the strangest boy. He is wearing a suit and old looking boots. He talks funny, in fact he is kind of exactly like Alexander Banks.
When he introduces himself as such she freaks out thinking he is some kind of obsessed fan, more obsessed than her. She begins to believe him and that sends her on a journey with the real Alexander Banks, the only boy she truly loves, to hunt down and kill Viggo in her world.
The Vampire Stalker is a very engaging, fun read.
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LibraryThing member hrose2931
This is probably one of the shortest reviews I've done lately. And it's simply because this novel, while okay, wasn't that special. It had the potential, but it just didn't quite make it.
Amy is in love with a fictional character from her favorite series Otherworld. (Who hasn't been there?) He's the
I like Amy. But that's all. I didn't feel her friendships. I didn't feel her sister's animosity. I didn't feel Amy's anger towards her father. And I really didn't feel the relationship between her and Alexander. However, I'm trying to keep in mind they she knew him already through the book. He however did not and is trying to "court" her as they did back in his time/world. Still, they felt shallow and the relationship happened too fast.
It was a great idea and the way Alexander's presence was explained made perfect sense. It just all felt flat to me. There was no spark, no tension, even where there should have been, no feeling from me while I read. Maybe the novel needed to be longer. That way, the characters could have been more developed, had more time together to show their relationships. I was really excited about reading this one. I had imagined a girl, late at night seeing a character step out of the pages of a book, maybe in a bookstore, and disappear into the night with her following discreetly. But, no such luck. And I was left disappointed in general with the book.
Amy is in love with a fictional character from her favorite series Otherworld. (Who hasn't been there?) He's the
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less popular of the male characters, Alexander Banks. But one night, when she finds herself attacked extremely violently she looks into the face of her rescuer and it's Alexander Banks. She gives him a place to stay for a few days with her mother and sister and her and tries to believe what's before her eyes. It's like a dream come true! The nightmare though is that Alexander followed a vicious vampire named Vigo into Amy's world.I like Amy. But that's all. I didn't feel her friendships. I didn't feel her sister's animosity. I didn't feel Amy's anger towards her father. And I really didn't feel the relationship between her and Alexander. However, I'm trying to keep in mind they she knew him already through the book. He however did not and is trying to "court" her as they did back in his time/world. Still, they felt shallow and the relationship happened too fast.
It was a great idea and the way Alexander's presence was explained made perfect sense. It just all felt flat to me. There was no spark, no tension, even where there should have been, no feeling from me while I read. Maybe the novel needed to be longer. That way, the characters could have been more developed, had more time together to show their relationships. I was really excited about reading this one. I had imagined a girl, late at night seeing a character step out of the pages of a book, maybe in a bookstore, and disappear into the night with her following discreetly. But, no such luck. And I was left disappointed in general with the book.
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LibraryThing member jdonnelly14
***NOTE MY REVIEWS OFTEN CONTAIN SPOILERS***
Amy Hawthorne is an avid Chicago reader and die hard fan of the popular Otherworld book series by Elizabeth Howard. A junior in high school, she's never dated and only been kissed once by a boy she met at a friend's party who never called her. Compared to
This is a fast paced and enjoyable read. I hadn't actually intended on reading it tonight, I started glancing through the pages of my recent purchase and found myself quickly drawn in. Before I knew it I'd finished the book.
Both my favorite and least favorite thing about this book is that the writer has actually written to her target audience. It's my favorite thing because too many young adult novels seem to be written more for an adult reader but having a teenager or child for a main character so that they fall into the young adult genre. The source material and the just the way the characters think often seems a little beyond the maturity of many of the teens I personally have encountered. That's not to say I don't love the books, but then again I'm an adult reader, I can better relate to a more mature character. This book however really sounds like a sixteen year old is telling the story. While she has mature moments, her screen name is MrsAlexanderBanks8021 just to name an example of her teen-like behavior. She actually thinks like a teen without the maturity of having seen too much or the disappointments that make us jaded as adults. This type of fresh, immature character used to be common in young adult novels, but you don't see it as much anymore. I have to give the writer kudos for bringing it back. However on the flip side, while I did enjoy reading through the novel the first time, it's not something I'd read twice. If I were still sixteen I'd probably read this novel over and over until it was falling apart. I'd be able to really relate to the character in a way that it's harder to do as an adult because teen years now have that fuzzy haze of the past. It's just not geared to appeal to older readers of young adult novels as much as other books in the genre are.
Though there definitely are elements of darkness, danger, violence and adventure in this novel, it manages to still have a light feel to is as you quickly read through the pages of this well written and entertaining story. Other than the fact it was clearly not geared to me as a reader, the only real issue I had were this novel were a few scenes that were just hard to believe. For example I can't picture Chicago setting a city wide curfew despite any sort of violence going on and I can't picture police officers taking advice from a teenager girl no matter what she did.
The two main characters were definitely multifaceted and fleshed out, but overall Van Diepen didn't really go into a lot of depth with the characters their flaws and strong suits. Most of the minor characters did easily fit into stereotypes with some exceptions like the school librarian. I don't actually think this was a negative thing with this book though, it plays into the feel that it was written to actually fit with teen readers. I don't remember needing a lot of depth to the characters in the stories I read at 13 and I was happy to see them fall in love within a chapter or two even if I don't see that happening realistically now.
Overall it's a well written and engaging story, though I personally feel it will appeal more to a thirteen or fourteen year old than it would an adult. I'm not saying an adult won't enjoy reading this tale, I certainly did. However I doubt many adults will be adding the story to their best books of all time list simply because they won't be able to relate to the characters in the same way that a younger reader would.
Amy Hawthorne is an avid Chicago reader and die hard fan of the popular Otherworld book series by Elizabeth Howard. A junior in high school, she's never dated and only been kissed once by a boy she met at a friend's party who never called her. Compared to
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her favorite character, Alexander Banks, in the Otherworld series, no real life boy really measures up. When Amy is attacked on her way home from a school dance, she is saved by a handsome stranger who claims to be Alexander Banks himself. Sure at first that the boy is insane, when he manages to convince her that not only he, but the psychopathic vampire villain Vigo from the books have crossed over into her world she's not sure what she should do. She's had a crush on the character of Alexander Banks since her freshman year of high school, being confronted with the real life boy seems like a dream come true, until the terror of the books starts becoming regular news in the Chicago of her world. Together Amy and Alexander must stop Vigo and keep the secret of where the two men came from before her world becomes as violent and overrun by vampires as his. But while she's protecting Chicago will she be able to protect her heart?This is a fast paced and enjoyable read. I hadn't actually intended on reading it tonight, I started glancing through the pages of my recent purchase and found myself quickly drawn in. Before I knew it I'd finished the book.
Both my favorite and least favorite thing about this book is that the writer has actually written to her target audience. It's my favorite thing because too many young adult novels seem to be written more for an adult reader but having a teenager or child for a main character so that they fall into the young adult genre. The source material and the just the way the characters think often seems a little beyond the maturity of many of the teens I personally have encountered. That's not to say I don't love the books, but then again I'm an adult reader, I can better relate to a more mature character. This book however really sounds like a sixteen year old is telling the story. While she has mature moments, her screen name is MrsAlexanderBanks8021 just to name an example of her teen-like behavior. She actually thinks like a teen without the maturity of having seen too much or the disappointments that make us jaded as adults. This type of fresh, immature character used to be common in young adult novels, but you don't see it as much anymore. I have to give the writer kudos for bringing it back. However on the flip side, while I did enjoy reading through the novel the first time, it's not something I'd read twice. If I were still sixteen I'd probably read this novel over and over until it was falling apart. I'd be able to really relate to the character in a way that it's harder to do as an adult because teen years now have that fuzzy haze of the past. It's just not geared to appeal to older readers of young adult novels as much as other books in the genre are.
Though there definitely are elements of darkness, danger, violence and adventure in this novel, it manages to still have a light feel to is as you quickly read through the pages of this well written and entertaining story. Other than the fact it was clearly not geared to me as a reader, the only real issue I had were this novel were a few scenes that were just hard to believe. For example I can't picture Chicago setting a city wide curfew despite any sort of violence going on and I can't picture police officers taking advice from a teenager girl no matter what she did.
The two main characters were definitely multifaceted and fleshed out, but overall Van Diepen didn't really go into a lot of depth with the characters their flaws and strong suits. Most of the minor characters did easily fit into stereotypes with some exceptions like the school librarian. I don't actually think this was a negative thing with this book though, it plays into the feel that it was written to actually fit with teen readers. I don't remember needing a lot of depth to the characters in the stories I read at 13 and I was happy to see them fall in love within a chapter or two even if I don't see that happening realistically now.
Overall it's a well written and engaging story, though I personally feel it will appeal more to a thirteen or fourteen year old than it would an adult. I'm not saying an adult won't enjoy reading this tale, I certainly did. However I doubt many adults will be adding the story to their best books of all time list simply because they won't be able to relate to the characters in the same way that a younger reader would.
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LibraryThing member summerskris
All you book fanatics out there, Allison van Diepen has brought our biggest dream to life: she brings a book’s hero to life. Readers will envy Amy as she interacts with Alexander Banks, the handsome hero of the Otherworld series, and teaches him about life in our world. Still, Allison hasn’t
I was insanely jealous of Amy for having the chance to meet the man of her dreams (or fanfiction, should I say?). Who hasn’t dreamt of romance with the hero of a book? I’ve envied many heroines the love they share with guys I know are too good to be true. That’s half the reason for reading—to escape into another world. I myself was enthralled by the tall, dark, and handsome Alexander Banks with his catchy name and moody ways.
I enjoyed watching Amy learn sides of Alexander that Elizabeth Howard, author of the Otherworld series, failed to mention. For example, the other scars he bears from past encounters with vampires, his interest in learning about the way muscle work together, and his humor. It really makes you appreciate characters in a story, and it makes you wonder… do other worlds really exist?
The Vampire Stalker is a quick and highly entertaining novel. A short read, it’s perfect for a summer afternoon with its light mood and memorable characters. There were times when I couldn’t skim the pages fast enough, eager to know what fate would befall the characters, and there were times where I just wanted to savor the mood. All the while, I wanted to know if Alexander and Amy would get together. After all, that is half the reason I picked up the book. To know if a romance could bloom and thrive between two worlds.
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forgotten the other, darker side of the Otherworld. Readers will cringe when it becomes apparent that Alexander has come in pursuit of Vigo Skaar, a vampire and Alexander’s archenemy. And readers will wonder if Alexander must return to his world.I was insanely jealous of Amy for having the chance to meet the man of her dreams (or fanfiction, should I say?). Who hasn’t dreamt of romance with the hero of a book? I’ve envied many heroines the love they share with guys I know are too good to be true. That’s half the reason for reading—to escape into another world. I myself was enthralled by the tall, dark, and handsome Alexander Banks with his catchy name and moody ways.
I enjoyed watching Amy learn sides of Alexander that Elizabeth Howard, author of the Otherworld series, failed to mention. For example, the other scars he bears from past encounters with vampires, his interest in learning about the way muscle work together, and his humor. It really makes you appreciate characters in a story, and it makes you wonder… do other worlds really exist?
The Vampire Stalker is a quick and highly entertaining novel. A short read, it’s perfect for a summer afternoon with its light mood and memorable characters. There were times when I couldn’t skim the pages fast enough, eager to know what fate would befall the characters, and there were times where I just wanted to savor the mood. All the while, I wanted to know if Alexander and Amy would get together. After all, that is half the reason I picked up the book. To know if a romance could bloom and thrive between two worlds.
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LibraryThing member danisnell
Being a diehard fan of several book series myself, the premise of The Vampire Stalker with an obsessed fan girl finding out that the her fictional book boy crush actually exists, appealed to me. However, while the story at it’s most basic was interesting, the execution of the story – especially
By now it should be apparent that I am a fan of character-driven books that boast well-developed casts. Unfortunately, in The Vampire Stalker, I just couldn’t seem to generate any kind of connection to any of the characters, even the main protagonist Amy.
Amy is a girl who has fallen in love with her universe’s equivalent of Twilight and its hero, Alexander Banks, vampire hunter extraordinaire. Amy at first appears as bookish and slightly nerdy, not really part of the popular crowd, but then later in the book she’s clubbing it up and playing it cool. Not that you can’t be bookish AND be a party girl, but she just seemed inconsistent somehow. I couldn’t peg Amy’s personality and I became so preoccupied with trying to figure her out that I never made a real connection with her character.
I also wasn’t able to jump on the “Alexander-Banks-is-dreamy” bandwagon. He was a character that held the reader at arms length – distant. Everything that gave him depth the reader is told outright, leaving little to be discovered. Another barrier with Alexander is that van Diepen gave him a very affected way of speaking. He is supposed to have a more antiquated vocabulary and style, but it came off as forced, unauthentic and pretentious. It was off-putting to say the least, and his odd word choices and phrasing jarred me out of the story on numerous occasions.
The credibility in this story was also an issue for me. I won’t go into detail about what specifically bothered me, as I don’t want to ruin the story for any who might be interested in reading it, but how events unfold – the resulting explanation of events and even some character responses to those situations – I found completely implausible. I’m willing to suspend disbelief when reading the paranormal/sci-fi genres, but the author has got to sell me on the mechanics of their world, their science, the magic or whatever is the cause of events unexplainable, and for whatever reason in The Vampire Stalker, I just wasn’t buying.
I also had issues with the one dimensional villain, the slightly foundation-less romance that bordered on insta-love, and a small PSA about standing up to bullies that felt like a tagged-on afterthought.
Overall, The Vampire Stalker was a great diversion while I was stuck on a cross-country flight. As the rating says, it was “fun, but not a favorite.” Truly, it wasn’t all bad but I just couldn’t get over those few hang-ups to really enjoy it.
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in regard to characters and credibility – left a little to be desired.By now it should be apparent that I am a fan of character-driven books that boast well-developed casts. Unfortunately, in The Vampire Stalker, I just couldn’t seem to generate any kind of connection to any of the characters, even the main protagonist Amy.
Amy is a girl who has fallen in love with her universe’s equivalent of Twilight and its hero, Alexander Banks, vampire hunter extraordinaire. Amy at first appears as bookish and slightly nerdy, not really part of the popular crowd, but then later in the book she’s clubbing it up and playing it cool. Not that you can’t be bookish AND be a party girl, but she just seemed inconsistent somehow. I couldn’t peg Amy’s personality and I became so preoccupied with trying to figure her out that I never made a real connection with her character.
I also wasn’t able to jump on the “Alexander-Banks-is-dreamy” bandwagon. He was a character that held the reader at arms length – distant. Everything that gave him depth the reader is told outright, leaving little to be discovered. Another barrier with Alexander is that van Diepen gave him a very affected way of speaking. He is supposed to have a more antiquated vocabulary and style, but it came off as forced, unauthentic and pretentious. It was off-putting to say the least, and his odd word choices and phrasing jarred me out of the story on numerous occasions.
The credibility in this story was also an issue for me. I won’t go into detail about what specifically bothered me, as I don’t want to ruin the story for any who might be interested in reading it, but how events unfold – the resulting explanation of events and even some character responses to those situations – I found completely implausible. I’m willing to suspend disbelief when reading the paranormal/sci-fi genres, but the author has got to sell me on the mechanics of their world, their science, the magic or whatever is the cause of events unexplainable, and for whatever reason in The Vampire Stalker, I just wasn’t buying.
I also had issues with the one dimensional villain, the slightly foundation-less romance that bordered on insta-love, and a small PSA about standing up to bullies that felt like a tagged-on afterthought.
Overall, The Vampire Stalker was a great diversion while I was stuck on a cross-country flight. As the rating says, it was “fun, but not a favorite.” Truly, it wasn’t all bad but I just couldn’t get over those few hang-ups to really enjoy it.
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LibraryThing member ilikethesebooks
You know the kinds of book series that you are thinking about constantly? The ones that you would not mind at all waiting in a line forever to be the first to get the new installment or to get your book signed? Series like The Twilight Saga, Harry Potter, The Mortal Instruments, The Hunger Games
Amy is utterly obsessed with the Otherworld trilogy and wouldn't mind marrying it's tortured protagonist, the vampire hunter Alexander Banks. When Amy comes face to face with Alexander, her whole world changes. Not only is the extremely good-looking Alexander Banks talking to her, but she also has to come to terms with either she's crazy, Alexander is a fake, or there is some weird science going into novel writing. Oh, and Alexander's existence also means that the villain, evil vampire Vigo is also in town. And that is bad. Really bad.
I really enjoyed this book. With the influx of fandoms surrounding book series, The Vampire Stalker is being released at prime time. So many people can relate to Amy, and it is actually kind of funny to see your own obsession from the outside, see how ridiculous you seem (but still wouldn't change a thing).
Another thing that I really appreciated was the science behind Alexander's existence in modern day Chicago. It isn't just explained as "magic", it is explained in a way that seems somewhat possible. No, I'm not expecting Edward to appear down the block any time soon, but Allison Van Diepen makes it seem less impossible.
This book is pretty straight forward, but I would recommend it. it is a really fun, quick read that any book obsessed person would enjoy. It is your secret dream come true - until your realize that is just might not be what you thought it was. The Vampire Stalker is a must read for anyone who's ever talked about a book series for hours, dreamed about the characters, stood in lines at midnight, and decorated their walls with posters upon posters movie adaption actors.
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(which I still have yet to read...). Now imagine Edward Cullen (because Jacob is a sorry excuse for a point on a love triangle), Harry Potter, Jace Wayland, or your favorite Hunger Games character appeared in the real world. The Vampire Stalker is the story of what happens. Amy is utterly obsessed with the Otherworld trilogy and wouldn't mind marrying it's tortured protagonist, the vampire hunter Alexander Banks. When Amy comes face to face with Alexander, her whole world changes. Not only is the extremely good-looking Alexander Banks talking to her, but she also has to come to terms with either she's crazy, Alexander is a fake, or there is some weird science going into novel writing. Oh, and Alexander's existence also means that the villain, evil vampire Vigo is also in town. And that is bad. Really bad.
I really enjoyed this book. With the influx of fandoms surrounding book series, The Vampire Stalker is being released at prime time. So many people can relate to Amy, and it is actually kind of funny to see your own obsession from the outside, see how ridiculous you seem (but still wouldn't change a thing).
Another thing that I really appreciated was the science behind Alexander's existence in modern day Chicago. It isn't just explained as "magic", it is explained in a way that seems somewhat possible. No, I'm not expecting Edward to appear down the block any time soon, but Allison Van Diepen makes it seem less impossible.
This book is pretty straight forward, but I would recommend it. it is a really fun, quick read that any book obsessed person would enjoy. It is your secret dream come true - until your realize that is just might not be what you thought it was. The Vampire Stalker is a must read for anyone who's ever talked about a book series for hours, dreamed about the characters, stood in lines at midnight, and decorated their walls with posters upon posters movie adaption actors.
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LibraryThing member TheRandomGirl
I fell head over heels for this book. Right after the first chapter I was already in love with the book and the main character, Amy, who tells the story through her perspective. When I first read the summary of the book, I knew that this was the book for me--I was completely sold. Put aside the
Amy was I character I connected to instantly. Fanfics, loving a fictional character, and just who she is as a person made me so excited because I was so like her. I've never come across a book character who I've related to me so well before (okay maybe I've met one). She was so utterly realistic it was unbelievable and her reaction when she met Alexander was so practical. I loved Alexander as well, and all of the characters really. They were so human and the fictional characters were believable too.
The romance was the most amazing thing. Any girl would've wished that happened to her. I mean, come on, we're all book lovers here. Who doesn't dream about the fictional guy falling in love with you? And that's another thing, the whole concept and plot Allison van Diepen has created was so unique and original. Honestly, I've been waiting for something like this to be written (since I have seen any like this so far).
The only problem I had with this book was that is was too short! Really, that's the only problem I had--the length. I finished it within a few hours and after reading, proudly pronounced that it was my favorite book (one of them, anyway). This was so impressive and just...wow. I will wave this book in your face until you grab it from my hands and read it.
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vampires, this was going to be a book that I fell hard for. And call me psychic, I was right.Amy was I character I connected to instantly. Fanfics, loving a fictional character, and just who she is as a person made me so excited because I was so like her. I've never come across a book character who I've related to me so well before (okay maybe I've met one). She was so utterly realistic it was unbelievable and her reaction when she met Alexander was so practical. I loved Alexander as well, and all of the characters really. They were so human and the fictional characters were believable too.
The romance was the most amazing thing. Any girl would've wished that happened to her. I mean, come on, we're all book lovers here. Who doesn't dream about the fictional guy falling in love with you? And that's another thing, the whole concept and plot Allison van Diepen has created was so unique and original. Honestly, I've been waiting for something like this to be written (since I have seen any like this so far).
The only problem I had with this book was that is was too short! Really, that's the only problem I had--the length. I finished it within a few hours and after reading, proudly pronounced that it was my favorite book (one of them, anyway). This was so impressive and just...wow. I will wave this book in your face until you grab it from my hands and read it.
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LibraryThing member IReadToEscape
The Vampire Stalker takes on a very interesting concept, one that is very interesting and unique. The elements of the story play up nicely to a fun and fluffy feel.
Amy has a crush on a popular teen vampire series character a series called Otherworld by Elizabeth Howard: Alexander Banks. Then one
I enjoyed this book a lot mainly because of the characterization. Amy is an admirable protagonist and she’s perfect because people can definitely relate to her obsession with a book character. Alexander is a dark and brooding vampire stalker whose only purpose in life is to kill Vigo.
Some of the other secondary characters were very stereotyped; say for example the jocks but that was fine. The librarian totally caught me off guard; she had a background in Physics! Now, that’s something we don’t see in a book everyday.
I liked the romance and the action; it was very well planned out. Amy and Alexander match nicely together although their time period distance.
Overall, a very cute and charming story, I think everyone will enjoy a nice and easy read from time to time.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Amy has a crush on a popular teen vampire series character a series called Otherworld by Elizabeth Howard: Alexander Banks. Then one
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night as she strolls down the street she is attacked but it rescued by some guy that strongly resembles Alexander and even dresses like him! Of course, Amy finds a hard time believing that but when Alexander proves to Amy that it really is him. Chicago is in danger because Vigo, the villain of the series is also lurking about.I enjoyed this book a lot mainly because of the characterization. Amy is an admirable protagonist and she’s perfect because people can definitely relate to her obsession with a book character. Alexander is a dark and brooding vampire stalker whose only purpose in life is to kill Vigo.
Some of the other secondary characters were very stereotyped; say for example the jocks but that was fine. The librarian totally caught me off guard; she had a background in Physics! Now, that’s something we don’t see in a book everyday.
I liked the romance and the action; it was very well planned out. Amy and Alexander match nicely together although their time period distance.
Overall, a very cute and charming story, I think everyone will enjoy a nice and easy read from time to time.
Rating: 5 out of 5
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LibraryThing member Bookswithbite
I will be the first to admit that it would be so freaking cool to see characters that I believe are just fiction come to life. I mean really, think about. Your reading a book about a hot vampire hunter, you know the way he looks, the way he talks and BAM! He's right there! Right in front of you!
So when this girl Amy is reading her favorite fictional book and her character comes to life I am hooked. I loved the idea of the plot because I have thought about it plenty of times. I loved Amy's reaction to it. She didn't believe it, thought the guy is role playing! LOL! Amy quickly catches on that he is not playing and is who he claims to be. I loved that Amy uses her knowledge of the books as well as the author to help their enemies.
The love interest in the book is what I expected. It's fluffy, romantic, and even a times funny. The light-heartedness of their love brings in some peace with all the fighting with vampires. I adored their little smiles as well as their confession of love for each other. Totally sweet!
The Vampire Stalker is not what you expect. The hopeful beginning of a fantasy come true engages the reader till the end of the book. Brilliant and entertaining, The Vampire Stalker is sweet!
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And now you are caught in the midst of battle that has been raging on for years. Raise your hand up if you ever day dream this? ME!!!! *raises hand high*So when this girl Amy is reading her favorite fictional book and her character comes to life I am hooked. I loved the idea of the plot because I have thought about it plenty of times. I loved Amy's reaction to it. She didn't believe it, thought the guy is role playing! LOL! Amy quickly catches on that he is not playing and is who he claims to be. I loved that Amy uses her knowledge of the books as well as the author to help their enemies.
The love interest in the book is what I expected. It's fluffy, romantic, and even a times funny. The light-heartedness of their love brings in some peace with all the fighting with vampires. I adored their little smiles as well as their confession of love for each other. Totally sweet!
The Vampire Stalker is not what you expect. The hopeful beginning of a fantasy come true engages the reader till the end of the book. Brilliant and entertaining, The Vampire Stalker is sweet!
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LibraryThing member ElizabethMichael
The Vampire Stalker was a very fast read for me. Just short of 300 pages it is jammed pack with romance and action. The idea of this book is just pure brilliance. Who wouldn’t want to meet their favorite fictional character? Even better get the chance to fall in love with them. The Vampire
Amy was such a relatable character for me. She is just your every day typical teenage book nerd. Her favorite series has a fictional character that she is deeply crushing on. I can’t tell you how many characters I have developed crushes on while reading the book. Of course they never became reality for me, but hey a girl can dream. Alexander was intriguing to me. Being put in a modern world he adapted quite well. It was interesting to see a character as strong as him to feel that he didn’t deserve to be loved. I was happy that he could truly find happiness.
The love story between Amy and Alexander was cute but very predictable. I love happily ever after though so it was fine for me. I have to admit at first it wasn’t realistic for me. With Amy already in love with Alexander as a character, I didn’t think it was right to love him when he became real person. The story had the perfect way of working through this. I do think the love was a little rushed into, but it was genuinely sweet to see.
I thought it was fascinating that Otherworld was a mirror image of Chicago. The difference though is that Otherworld is filled with vampires and very much pre dated. It showed what the world would have been like with vampires existing in our world today. It was surprising to see how advanced our world was compared to Otherworld. I love the reactions Alexander has to all the technology.
It was so unique how the Otherworld books came to be by the author. It was a little over my head at first with all the talking about string theory and literary physics, but it was so neat. I love seeing original ideas in books. Plus why couldn’t I have a young hip librarian when I was younger? All the secondary characters were likeable which is strange for me. I normally have someone I don’t like in a book. If I had to choose anyone, maybe Amy’s sister wasn’t that likable, but by the end of the book she grew on you. I think the villain, Vigo, was funny actually. I mean could you imagine walking around in a world that doesn’t believe your kind exists and there is someone giving your secrets away. I would be pissed if I was Vigo. I like how the city handles his “killings.” It was all just funny to me.
As for now there is not a sequel, but I do hope one is written. Though the book had a great ending, this is the kind of book you want to know more about the story and characters. What will happen next for them? I wonder what will happen in Otherworld. Will James and Hannah be able to bring peace? I also want to get to know James more since you only see him for a short while in the book.
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Stalker is a sweet, simple, and adorable book. Amy was such a relatable character for me. She is just your every day typical teenage book nerd. Her favorite series has a fictional character that she is deeply crushing on. I can’t tell you how many characters I have developed crushes on while reading the book. Of course they never became reality for me, but hey a girl can dream. Alexander was intriguing to me. Being put in a modern world he adapted quite well. It was interesting to see a character as strong as him to feel that he didn’t deserve to be loved. I was happy that he could truly find happiness.
The love story between Amy and Alexander was cute but very predictable. I love happily ever after though so it was fine for me. I have to admit at first it wasn’t realistic for me. With Amy already in love with Alexander as a character, I didn’t think it was right to love him when he became real person. The story had the perfect way of working through this. I do think the love was a little rushed into, but it was genuinely sweet to see.
I thought it was fascinating that Otherworld was a mirror image of Chicago. The difference though is that Otherworld is filled with vampires and very much pre dated. It showed what the world would have been like with vampires existing in our world today. It was surprising to see how advanced our world was compared to Otherworld. I love the reactions Alexander has to all the technology.
It was so unique how the Otherworld books came to be by the author. It was a little over my head at first with all the talking about string theory and literary physics, but it was so neat. I love seeing original ideas in books. Plus why couldn’t I have a young hip librarian when I was younger? All the secondary characters were likeable which is strange for me. I normally have someone I don’t like in a book. If I had to choose anyone, maybe Amy’s sister wasn’t that likable, but by the end of the book she grew on you. I think the villain, Vigo, was funny actually. I mean could you imagine walking around in a world that doesn’t believe your kind exists and there is someone giving your secrets away. I would be pissed if I was Vigo. I like how the city handles his “killings.” It was all just funny to me.
As for now there is not a sequel, but I do hope one is written. Though the book had a great ending, this is the kind of book you want to know more about the story and characters. What will happen next for them? I wonder what will happen in Otherworld. Will James and Hannah be able to bring peace? I also want to get to know James more since you only see him for a short while in the book.
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LibraryThing member sensitivemuse
If you ever want a quick entertaining read, look no further. This one is it. This can be finished in a day - because it’s just so entertaining and you want to keep reading until you’re done. I loved how you could almost compare Amy and her friends to the Twilight fans out there, they’re all
The thing that was most interesting is the characters Amy reads exist. Now who wouldn’t like to read that??? (imagine if your favorite characters existed?? that would be so cool!) the plot itself as a whole was fun to read and extremely entertaining. It’s filled with humor and memorable characters - Alexander is extremely crushworthy indeed! there’s a nice blend of paranormal/urban fantasy elements, and also bits of romance here and there as well. It was extremely fast paced with one event happening after another, this is certainly a very quick read.
There was just one thing that didn’t sit too well with me. Some characters just made their appearance and just left and you’re left wondering what happened to them? although this is probably going to explained in a possible sequel (I REALLY HOPE there’s going to be one!) it would have been nice to know just what happened to them and where they were headed. Otherwise, besides that, this book was fun to read.
Most definitely recommended for YA readers. The ending is pretty much open and I’m sure there’s going to be a sequel, and I hope it comes SOON!
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huge fans of a popular series of vampire novels that’s featured in the book (sounds familiar doesn’t it?)The thing that was most interesting is the characters Amy reads exist. Now who wouldn’t like to read that??? (imagine if your favorite characters existed?? that would be so cool!) the plot itself as a whole was fun to read and extremely entertaining. It’s filled with humor and memorable characters - Alexander is extremely crushworthy indeed! there’s a nice blend of paranormal/urban fantasy elements, and also bits of romance here and there as well. It was extremely fast paced with one event happening after another, this is certainly a very quick read.
There was just one thing that didn’t sit too well with me. Some characters just made their appearance and just left and you’re left wondering what happened to them? although this is probably going to explained in a possible sequel (I REALLY HOPE there’s going to be one!) it would have been nice to know just what happened to them and where they were headed. Otherwise, besides that, this book was fun to read.
Most definitely recommended for YA readers. The ending is pretty much open and I’m sure there’s going to be a sequel, and I hope it comes SOON!
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LibraryThing member kmjanek
Highly Recommended
The opening scene will definitely appeal to those readers who have waited in line for a new release. The main character is Amy, who is in line at a book store with her best friends – Luisa and Katie. They are waiting for the 3rd book in a vampire series called The Mists of
I think this book is fun and well written. Who doesn’t love a super smart school librarian??? I think this is a must read book for those of us who wait in line for books on their release date. It’s also perfect for those who have fallen in love with a character from their favorite books. The story is partly realistic in that it takes part in Chicago as we know it. It is also part steam punk because Alex’s world in the other Chicago is technologically stuck in Victorian times. It’s part paranormal because of the vampires and vampire hunters. There is also some romance between Amy and Alex and some secondary characters (human and vampire). Oh, and it’s also part Science Fiction because of the portals between worlds. I enjoyed the story. Even with all the genre elements going on, the story flowed smoothly. I think it’s a great purchase for a school/public library. I think it would make a good book club book with lots to discuss. It’s not overly dark and the story provides a good escape from reality. It will appeal to tweens and teens alike. The portrayal of the school librarian is one of the most positive ones I have ever seen. Nothing objectionable that stood out to me.
The opening scene will definitely appeal to those readers who have waited in line for a new release. The main character is Amy, who is in line at a book store with her best friends – Luisa and Katie. They are waiting for the 3rd book in a vampire series called The Mists of
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Otherworld. As soon as they got their books, they headed for home to read it over the weekend. Amy is in love with one of the vampire hunter characters, Alexander. She is very active on fan fiction websites. On Monday, Amy’s first stop is the school library to visit the school librarian to discuss the newest book. Mrs. P, the school librarian, not only has a Masters in Library Science, but also a PhD in Physics ☺ Later, Amy is attacked by someone on her way home and fortunately someone is nearby to help her. The person who helped save her is very similar to Alexander Banks, the vampire hunter she is in love with from the books. Amy does not believe it really is Alexander, until he starts to convince her with all sorts of facts. Turns out there is a portal linking their two worlds and somehow Alexander has crossed over. Amy and Alex turn to Mrs. P with their problem. Mrs. P believes their story because she was studying these portals for her PhD dissertation, when she was discredited for believing in Science Fiction (!). A romance develops, the mystery of the portal is solved and the Vampire problem is eradicated.I think this book is fun and well written. Who doesn’t love a super smart school librarian??? I think this is a must read book for those of us who wait in line for books on their release date. It’s also perfect for those who have fallen in love with a character from their favorite books. The story is partly realistic in that it takes part in Chicago as we know it. It is also part steam punk because Alex’s world in the other Chicago is technologically stuck in Victorian times. It’s part paranormal because of the vampires and vampire hunters. There is also some romance between Amy and Alex and some secondary characters (human and vampire). Oh, and it’s also part Science Fiction because of the portals between worlds. I enjoyed the story. Even with all the genre elements going on, the story flowed smoothly. I think it’s a great purchase for a school/public library. I think it would make a good book club book with lots to discuss. It’s not overly dark and the story provides a good escape from reality. It will appeal to tweens and teens alike. The portrayal of the school librarian is one of the most positive ones I have ever seen. Nothing objectionable that stood out to me.
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LibraryThing member camibrite
I really wanted to like this book! The concept is very interesting--who hasn't wanted at one time or another for their favorite character to jump from the page to real life?
The story took a while to get going (it's always hard to write about people who read and write) but it picked up when
The scientific explanation for the origin of fictional stories was interesting, but the science of it didn't quite marry with the "magic" of vampires for me.
This book is probably best for younger teen readers. It's a light, fast read with very little risque content to which a parent might object.
The story took a while to get going (it's always hard to write about people who read and write) but it picked up when
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Alexander arrived. However, every time things seemed to get interesting, an easy solution was presented that took the dramatic tension out of the story. Amy is a rather passive character, and it would have been better to see her driving the story more rather than sitting at home and waiting for others to take care of business.The scientific explanation for the origin of fictional stories was interesting, but the science of it didn't quite marry with the "magic" of vampires for me.
This book is probably best for younger teen readers. It's a light, fast read with very little risque content to which a parent might object.
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LibraryThing member Pabkins
From page two I was already wandering if this book was going to be for me. As it progressed past page 50 I was in serious doubt. Oddly enough even though I didn't love it, I didn't hate it.
I do feel the description on the back of the book could use some improving so the reader would know before
Admittedly, I did expect she was going to be a teenager enamored of a fictional character - but the behavior reminded me of when my kid sister was one of those obsessed teenage girls swooning over Edward or Jacob from Twilight. A few times it made my stomach turn because it was rather cheesy. Its teenage infatuation hell meets vampire cosplay.
The characters, good as well as bad just aren't fleshed out well enough. You do feel the connection with Amy but the remaining characters never became real enough to me. How the school Librarian assists Amy and Alexander, and offers explanations just came off to easy and convenient to me. Answers are rarely ever that easy. So that was a bit dissatisfying, along with how willing the police were to accept help and explanations of things from a teenager. Also the whole initiating a Chicago/city-wide curfew. That was VERY unrealistic. Of all the serial killers that are out there in the U.S. - have any of you ever heard of a city actually issuing a curfew? It just wouldn't happen folks.
I probably would have stopped right around page 50 normally but I try to always finish the books that I request for review. However, with all of that I still zipped through the entire thing in a few hours. It was a super quick read and I will definitely be passing it along to my kid sister for her enjoyment (as I know she loved Twilight).
I do feel the description on the back of the book could use some improving so the reader would know before
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they purchase it just what kind of 'young adult' book they could be in for. How that could be done - I have no idea. I read a lot of young adult books and most I consider to be enjoyable for adults as well as teens. However, this one I think would be better for people under the age of 19.Admittedly, I did expect she was going to be a teenager enamored of a fictional character - but the behavior reminded me of when my kid sister was one of those obsessed teenage girls swooning over Edward or Jacob from Twilight. A few times it made my stomach turn because it was rather cheesy. Its teenage infatuation hell meets vampire cosplay.
The characters, good as well as bad just aren't fleshed out well enough. You do feel the connection with Amy but the remaining characters never became real enough to me. How the school Librarian assists Amy and Alexander, and offers explanations just came off to easy and convenient to me. Answers are rarely ever that easy. So that was a bit dissatisfying, along with how willing the police were to accept help and explanations of things from a teenager. Also the whole initiating a Chicago/city-wide curfew. That was VERY unrealistic. Of all the serial killers that are out there in the U.S. - have any of you ever heard of a city actually issuing a curfew? It just wouldn't happen folks.
I probably would have stopped right around page 50 normally but I try to always finish the books that I request for review. However, with all of that I still zipped through the entire thing in a few hours. It was a super quick read and I will definitely be passing it along to my kid sister for her enjoyment (as I know she loved Twilight).
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LibraryThing member mrsdanaalbasha
Fictional character eighteen-year-old Alexander Banks stalks vampires until incredulously he leaps through a portal into real life where he finds love and friends who want to help, if they can.
If you love books and love to talk about them and obsess about the hot heroes in them, this is the book
If you love books and love to talk about them and obsess about the hot heroes in them, this is the book
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for you. But if you love vampire stories and vampire hunters than this book is a must! I started with this book an hour or so ago, and I can't let go though I have a headache! Amy reminds me of myself, how she loves a character in a book, how she prefers reading about a magical guy then meet real boys. If you ever read a book and liked it so much, and you started imagining the characters coming alive in your world, than you are like Amy too. Great book! Show Less
Awards
Red Maple Award (Nominee — Fiction — 2013)
Call number
YA B Van