Review: Team Human by Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan

Hey guys!

How are you all doing? I haven't abandoned you (again), I've been in a  a little vacation this past week. And here's a book I got to read and really enjoyed:

Team Human

by Justine Larbalestier, Sarah Rees Brennan

Published: July 3rd 2012
by HarperTeen
Format: Hardcover, 352 pages

Goodreads:

Just because Mel lives in New Whitby, a city founded by vampires, doesn't mean she knows any of the blood-drinking undead personally. They stay in their part of town; she says in hers. Until the day a vampire shows up at her high school. Worse yet, her best friend, Cathy, seems to be falling in love with him. It's up to Mel to save Cathy from a mistake she might regret for all eternity.

On top of trying to help Cathy (whether she wants it or not), Mel is investigating a mysterious disappearance for another friend and discovering the attractions of a certain vampire wannabe. Combine all this with a cranky vampire cop, a number of unlikely romantic entanglements, and the occasional zombie, and soon Mel is hip-deep in an adventure that is equal parts hilarious and touching.

Acclaimed authors Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan team up to create a witty and poignant story of cool vampires, warm friendships, and the changes that test the bonds of love.

My thoughts:

What a delightful read! Quick, fast-paced and lots of fun, Team Human is a treat for vampire lovers and readers who’ve had enough of vampires alike. An all around awesome read!:)

You know those books where the naive heroine falls in love with the supernatural being, despite him being all scary, dark and deadly, and there’s the best friend who tries to wake her up to reality and make her realize that what she’s doing is all sorts of wrong and dangerous? Well, this book is told from that BFF’s POV, which was unique, refreshing, interesting and oh, so hilarious! We get to see the romantic, dreamy love story as well as the outsider’s take on it. Like I said, lots of fun!

Despite being a tad different and having different interests in life, Mel and Cathy have always been best friends. All’s nice and good in their normal high school life (well, as normal as life can be in a vamp city). They keep to themselves and the vamps stay in their creepy side of the city. And then along comes Francis (I know, right?*) – and everything changes. Cathy’s little obsession with vampires becomes too much – she falls in love with him  instantly (insta-love? check!): he’s handsome, an old school vampire and likes the same things she likes. They’re so perfect for each other and she’s sure she’s finally found her soul mate! *face palm* Their relationship and adoration is so out there and sweet and um… cheesy (and a bit cliché), it’s almost nauseating to watch (and I'm not saying that in a bad way). Of course, the authors put all this in such a way that you can’t not be thoroughly amused by it!:))

“Pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
That was all he said. He gave yet another tiny head bow, then turned and walked away to the principal’s office or the little vampire’s room or wherever. I didn’t care. I had other things to worry about.
Namely Cathy, her big dark eyes open wide and glowing as if she had fireflies trapped inside her head.
“This year is going to be amazing,” she said with deep conviction.
Yeah. We were in trouble.

Except Mel is not amused. She’s disappointed. Aggravated. Annoyed. Incredulous. She can’t believe her BFF falls for all that old school nonsense. And she’s set to do her best to make her see things her way – the right way - before it’s too late and she makes something stupid she can’t reverse. 

Cathy’s eyes were bigger and shinier than ever. There would be no switching classes. I was going to have to keep watch over Cathy. I wondered how her mom would feel about me moving in.

But the more Mel tries to point out Francis’s flaws and to keep her away from him, the more Cathy loves him and becomes engrossed in that dreadful, obsessive relationship. It’s all so irritating (but so damn hilarious to read!). 

“He could be a vampire.”
“Yeah, I can see it,” I said. “He moves with the predatory grace of a penguin."

He had the kind of looks that made normal sensible thoughts turn into stupid poetry: hair like sunlight trapped in shadows and eyes that were an insane cornflower blue. A face like a sculpture on a tomb, all clean white perfect lines.

On top of that, she gets caught up in a crime mystery and before she realizes it, she’s way over her head. There are vampires, zombies, a may be murderer  and possibly Francis and his vamp family involved – yikes!

Thanks God there’s this funny, nice, sweet boy that seems to be as disturbed all this vamp nonsense as she is – despite him living with them and all. Maybe there’s a chance for thing to work out, after all. (that's all I'm saying about him, but I LOVED him! I mean, for once, I was Team Human as well. :D)

This book was like a parody of all the vamps books out there, that’s why I’m saying you can’t not enjoy it! Plot-wise, there’s not much going on (of course, there’s that mystery and a possible murder, but still… It’s lighter that your usual vampire story). Anyway, that’s not the point of this story. It's supposed to be light and fun! 

He did sound English, but it was hard to tell with older vampires, because in the past lots of rich Americans sounded English. Most vampires claimed to have been royalty or one of the Astors or something equally snotty. Astonishing how few peasants and regular people got vamped back in the olden days, when it wasn’t regulated.

Mel is such a great heroine, I loved reading from her POV! She’s smart, witty and she has the best lines. Of course, she’s also determined, caring and very loyal to her friends – she’d do anything to help them. There’s a little romance for her as well, a romance so much nicer and easier to take! LOL 

I shot to my feet and grabbed her hands. “I’ll kill him.”
Cathy’s shoulders shook. “I—I—”
“I’m taking the un out of undead. I swear,” I said.

So if you want a quick, different, highly entertaining read about vampires, give this book a try - you won't be disappointed!;)

*The vampire inclined his head to both of us in a way I knew Cathy would shortly be describing as “courtly.”
“Permit me to introduce myself. My name is Francis Duvarney.”
“Heh, Francis,” I said.
The cornflower eyes iced over.
“Not funny,” I continued. “Obviously. Not a funny name. Does anyone ever call you Frank? Frankie?”
“No,” he said, the word coming down like an icicle dropped on my head from a height, though he wasn’t all that tall.

And one of my favorites: 

Let’s examine what a prize that [becoming a vampire] is one more time: no more direct sunlight ever again, no more laughter. You get eternity, but you don’t have the sense of humor to enjoy it! Also, vampires don’t eat food. You never get to eat chocolate again. Ever.
I’d rather die.
All the vampire wannabes and vamposeurs mystify me. Who would choose the possibility of immortality over chocolate?

Go Team Human, right?:))

Book Excerpt 

Get the book: Amazon  / Book Depository

Find the authors: Justine Larbalestier: Website / Blog / Twitter

Sarah Rees Brennan: Facebook / Twitter / Tumblr

Happy reading!

xoxo