A few books ago, Ms. Sparks introduced the dastardly Master Han and his super soldiers, which gave the series lungfuls of fresh air. Readers unfamiliar with the series need not fear: plenty of background is provided in a subtle, and at times very funny, manner. Besides, HOW TO SEDUCE A VAMPIRE (WITHOUT REALLY TRYING) is so wildly entertaining, it wouldn't matter much anyway: the excerpt on the first page is a perfect example of the tone of the book; I was laughing out loud even before chapter one.

This is Zoltan Czakvar's story. Both his mother and his father were killed when he was 14 years old, and he's been trying to find out why and who murdered his father for close to 800 years; his only clue is an ancient arrow. He went as far as asking a trusted vampire friend to turn him so he could continue his search. Russel, one of our good Vamps, has a bone to pick with Master Han, and while in Tibet he helped a tribe of warrior women defend themselves against Lord Liao, a crony of Han. Russel brings back an arrow that bears carvings very similar to the ones on the arrow that killed Zoltan's father. And so Zoltan decides he must go to the valley of Beyul-La, where no men are allowed, save for Russell. And that's when he encounters the fearless, but lovely warrior, Neona and her pet snow leopard, Zhan.

One thing worried me at the beginning: Zoltan can communicate with animals, but that turned out to be one of the very many highlights of HOW TO SEDUCE A VAMPIRE (WITHOUT REALLY TRYING). The banter between the characters is priceless; the author is famous for her sense of humour, but never has it been more evident. Ms. Sparks is a master at world-building and storytelling, and she's getting better at the series goes on.

The love story is tender, sweet and sexy; Zoltan is definitely one of Ms. Sparks' most charming and believable male characters and Neona comes is a very worthy match indeed. The story moves along seamlessly, concludes in spectacular fashion, along with a few unexpected twists that bode extremely well for the future.

Book Summary