Janina's Reviews > Die for Me

Die For Me certainly belonged to my list of most anticipated books of 2011. And although it didn’t disappoint completely, I have to say that it didn’t really wow me either. I’m thinking that the paranormal genre isn’t for me anymore. Maybe I’ve become too nitpicky, or the books have become a bit too melodramatic for my taste, but I have decided to just stick to contemporary and other fantasy for a while now …

I definitely wouldn’t say that this book is right up there with others in its genre in terms of clichés. I wouldn’t say that it is a mere copy of other, more successful novels. It has an intriguing setting that creates a vibrant and at the same time nostalgic atmosphere that I absolutely adored. I had been to Paris only a few weeks before reading it, and it was so much fun to re-discover places I had only just visited myself. For me, it was noticeable that Plum did not chose the city as her setting only because she thought it was cool to have a novel set in Paris, but because she knows the city really well and probably loves it a lot.
The paranormal aspect was a fresh one and – FOR ONCE – the guy wasn’t this really bad but actually nice and therefore tormented creature.
A lot of the secondary characters were promising, but unfortunately not as much in the focus of the story as I would have liked them to be.
The relationship between the heroine and her hero moved at a reasonable pace, and there were no declarations of undying love after knowing each other for five minutes. Also, no love triangle (yet?), which is always a plus for me ;).

But – yes, here comes the big but – nevertheless, there was a lot of stuff I really don’t want to read about anymore. First of all, the lack of parental, or in this case grandparental, presence in the story. I mean, sorry, but do you tell your granddaughter that it is completely fine to sleep at her boyfriend’s house if you actually don’t really know him or any members of his family? Ehm, I vote no. Secondly, why does the heroine have almost no life outside her relationship? She has lost contact with all of her friends at home, she doesn’t have any friends at school, and the only people she hangs out with are either her or his relatives. And then, why does he always have to be stinking rich and live in this really great house? Why does he have to take her out to eat at the most expensive restaurants? (Hey, I’ve been to Paris and I know what a meal costs even at the cheapest restaurants.) Why does he have to give her all these really expensive birthday presents? Why can’t he for once just be a totally normal guy?

But mostly, I just missed the right connection with the two main characters. Kate was an okay heroine, but not one I personally could connect with. She reads a lot, what we have in common, but of course she mostly reads sophisticated sounding classics. Vincent was nice, but also a little dull. Being French does not make up for being boring, sorry. I liked their conversations at the beginning, when they bumped into each other in cafés and everything was a little awkward, but afterwards, the chemistry was missing for me.
Additionally, the mythology was kind of fishy sometimes. This whole connection thing that suddenly worked? Very strange and not really explained in a satisfying manner.

So, all in all: In parts enjoyable, in others not at all. I had a few eye-rolling-moments. Nevertheless, I wouldn’t say: Stay away from it no matter what! For fans of paranormal YA, it could certainly be a great read. Some of the major issues I had with it might not bother others at all. But for me, that certain spark that could have made me overlook at least some of its faults was missing.

Also, a small note on the cover: Really, why did you have to change it? Only because red dresses are in right now? I mean, the scene on the boat that was featured on the earlier cover? Actually in the book. The scene featured on this cover? Not in the book at all. Publishers, I don't understand you. The dark blue would have stood out at least!