Review: Vesper by Jeff Sampson (ARC)

Title: Vesper

Series: Deviants Series

Book #: One

Author: Jeff Sampson

Published: 2011

Source: Star Book Tours 

Rating: 

Emily Webb is a geek. And she’s happy that way. Content hiding under hoodies and curling up to watch old horror flicks, she’s never been the kind of girl who sneaks out for midnight parties. And she’s definitely not the kind of girl who starts fights or flirts with other girls’ boyfriends. Until one night Emily finds herself doing exactly that . . . the same night one of her classmates—also named Emily—is found mysteriously murdered.

The thing is, Emily doesn’t know why she’s doing any of this. By day, she’s the same old boring Emily, but by night, she turns into a thrill seeker. With every nightfall, Emily gets wilder until it’s no longer just her personality that changes. Her body can do things it never could before: Emily is now strong, fast, and utterly fearless. And soon Emily realizes that she’s not just coming out of her shell . . . there’s something much bigger going on. Is she bewitched by the soul of the other, murdered Emily? Or is Emily Webb becoming something else entirely— something not human?

As Emily hunts for answers, she finds out that she’s not the only one this is happening to—some of her classmates are changing as well. Who is turning these teens into monsters—and how many people will they kill to get what they want? (taken from goodreads.com)

 

The entire time I was reading Vesper, I couldn't decide whether I liked the book or not. I had a tough time deciding how to rate it, as well as coming up with a review. There are several aspects that I could pick on, but there are also qualities that I enjoyed. 

The bipolar aspect of Emily's personality drove me a little insane. It was so strange, and nighttime Emily was constantly getting on my nerves. Skimpily-clad and daring, she runs around Seattle smelling guys who are her potential mates. Weird, right? I also felt that there wasn't a legitimate reason behind her dramatic mood swings. I don't want to give anything away about the plot's surprises, but the author doesn't really explain Emily's dual personalities, even after we discover what happened to Emily. 

The plot itself held potential, but the execution left something to be desired. Emily's story is told in the form of an interview. The actual novel is what Emily has recorded for the interviewer, and her story is interrupted periodically by a scene from the interrogation. I looked forward to these little blurbs where Emily had returned to some semblance of "normal." 

After the climax, I sat there thinking, That's it? Thankfully, Sampson sets up a very strong sequel hook. While I don't know that I'd pay to read the next book, I'm intrigued to see where the story is heading. I might end up checking it out. 

Overall, Vesper was a strange novel with a few good points. I'd recommend checking it out from the library if you must, but I wouldn't spend money on a copy for myself. 

* I received this novel from Star Book Tours