'Tantalize' by Cynthia Leitich Smith

[annwfyn]

I am coming to the conclusion that I am a sucker for food in my young adult fantasy. Every time it turns up, I know I'm going to really like the book, and Tantalize was no exception.

This is an awesome novel - it's a fantastic blend of horror, romance, comedy, and also features some brilliant brilliant descriptions of Italian food, all set in Austin, Texas, which is where the author is from, I believe, and certainly she gives the book a real sense of place. The supernatural world she's created is also a little quirky, a bit different, but definitely holds together. I also liked that she was willing to make the vampires actually pretty evil in this. I am not a fan of sparklevamps, and I liked that there was less misunderstood kitten, and more bloodsucking fiend in this novel.

It's the first book in a sort of trilogy - Eternal and Blessed are set to follow - and I'm looking forward to reading them as well. This isn't deep literature, and I'm not sure if it counts as urban fantasy, young adult or paranormal romance, but it's a really fun, frothy, bouncy read and I'd totally recommend it.

Comments

[inkstone]

I remember reading this book and oohing and aahing over the menu. Until I realized that the squirrel dessert used actual squirrels and wasn't ice cream in the shape of squirrels. (I don't know why I reached the conclusion that it was actually ice cream, tbh.)

[sanguinity]

I got to the squirrels and a bunch of explosions went off in my brain. omgsquirrels! And then I had to read much, much faster. :-D

[sanguinity]

FYI, Eternal is set before Tantalize, and has a different set of characters. (I was confused mightily by the ending of Eternal until I realized that it was a prequel.) Blessed picks up within minutes of where Tantalize left off and uses both casts.