Review - Evernight by Claudia Gray

Evernight (Evernight Series, Book 1) by Claudia Gray
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Rating: 3/5 stars
Pages: 352 pages

Summary:  Bianca wants to escape. She's been uprooted from her small hometown and enrolled at Evernight Academy, an eerie Gothic boarding school where the students are somehow too perfect: smart, sleek, and almost predatory. Bianca knows she doesn't fit in.

Then she meets Lucas. He's not the "Evernight type" either, and he likes it that way. Lucas ignores the rules, stands up to the snobs, and warns Bianca to be careful—even when it comes to caring about him. But the connection between Bianca and Lucas can't be denied. Bianca will risk anything to be with Lucas, but dark secrets are fated to tear them apart . . . and to make Bianca question everything she's ever believed.

Thoughts: Let me start off by saying there was a point, just about half way through the book, when I was ready to write a five star review.  I was in love with Bianca - and more importantly, her parents.  They were a real family who enjoyed listening to Jazz and watching 1930s films.  They were perfect, and even Bianca, with all her teenage worry and angst, was lovable.  Watching her pine over the mysterious Lucas was just OMG-squeeful.

But a few pages leter, I wanted to rip the book to pieces.  Without giving away too many spoilers, let's just say that there is a certain honesty one expects from a narrator.  And that Bianca had kept this particular secret for half a book... well, it just kinda made me angry.

After that, I just never really trusted any other characters.  I realised that I needed to be more forgiving - Gray had to write the story the way she did in order to succesfully develop the book.  But I still haven't gotten over it... and that kinda hindered my appreciation of the rest of Evernight.  To be honest, by the time we got to the climax of the story I was so bitter I was rooting for the baddies!  I feel kinda bad about that now, and perhaps I should have taken a break from Bianca before finishing.

Bottom line? While I do think YA fans should pick up Evernight - brace yourself for a shock.  I already have a copy of the sequel Stargazer and have hope that I will love the entire book this time!