This one's about vampires, and about the giganticness of love.

Charlotte Has been a vampire for nearly a century. She has lived in major cities of Europe and Asia, always traveling in style. After the death of a friend, Charlotte finds her nails breaking, her skin breaking out, and taste for blood waning. Is she becoming human again or is something else at work?

I have been in love with Francesca's writing since I was 15 so I always have high hopes for every book by her. I enjoyed Pretty Dead, but it left me with mixed feelings. The book starts off presenting Charlotte as a very strong woman. She's seen a lot of tragedy and fashion in her century of life, and she has gone from being controlled by her sire to being free. At least, as free as one can be when they label themselves "a monster." But this story isn't full of self-pity.

What it is full of is mystery, romance, art, and forgiveness. Pretty Dead asks what meaning life has when you have it forever, and does anyone know if they really want mortality or immortality?

The only part I didn't enjoy was the relationship between Charlotte and Jared. They talk so often about being in love, but it still felt like lust to me the entire time. I was willing to accept the fact that they wanted comfort after losing a mutual friend, but what is progressed to wasn't believable for me because they did not have a connecti
on before the death. I have no problem with them lusting after each other, but I wish it hadn't been passed off as love since they are such different things.

The end of Pretty Dead was satisfying. Francesca surprised me by taking her characters places I didn't think they would go, and it felt rewarding to see them battle for the lives they wanted, whether they be mortal or eternal. She shows that evil and goodness do not know gender or age.

I recommend Pretty Dead to anyone looking for a quick vampire read. Francesca's work is poetic and enthralling. ( )

Charlotte has lost many people over the years and, oh how many years it has been. When she is finally on her own she has to find someone to fill up her emptiness, but who is there? She has everything anyone could want, except a lover, except mortality.

This book was short and sweet, maybe a little too short. Unlike Block's earlier works this book seem to be lacking that poetic edge, that twists your stomach in knots and makes you cry out as if you were one of her tragic characters. This book was simply a small glimpse into the life of Charlotte Emerson. It was a good story for what it was. You got to see how she dealt with a very small section of her very long life. A sneak peak into what could have been a much longer novel. The characters were mostly undeveloped, though it seemed to be on purpose. You didn't really feel for any of them because you never got a chance to connect to them. I was quite excited when I found out that the lovely Francesca was doing a vampire novel but after reading it, I was left feeling disappointed. This is not a novel, it is a snippet; An epic poem without the hero. If you want to tick this one off your list then go ahead and read it but don't add it to your pile.

First Line:
"Teenage girls are powerful creatures."

Favorite Line:
"my darling in the red dress" ( )

Reviewed by LadyJay for TeensReadToo.com

Charlotte Emerson used to be a teenage girl. She loved writing, clothes, and her brother, Charles. Charles meant everything to her - he was her world, her reason for living. Rheumatic fever took him too early, leaving Charlotte heartbroken and lost.

Enter William, a dashing young man who offers Charlotte a life of immortality; free from worry, disease, and old age.

Charlotte is exquisite as a vampire; her beauty is unparalleled, but she longs for something more - a companion - someone who can replace her Charles. She finds this in Emily - a teenage girl who has endured so many things. Emily wishes to be turned, but Charlotte refuses to damn her for all eternity.

Inevitably, Charlotte loses Emily. She also begins to lose something else...

I have loved Francesca Lia Block ever since the Weetzie Bat books came into being. Block's use of language and expression creates an incredibly beautiful, yet haunting universe for her characters to mingle in. It is like this in all of her novels. The words flow like liquid across the pages.

With PRETTY DEAD, Block has joined the ranks of other great authors by putting her own twist on vampire mythology. Lovers of the undead will devour this novel...make sure to pick it up! ( )

Pretty Dead was received as a review book from Harperteen. I was anxious to get a start on this book, and soon found that it was well worth the wait. The storyline of Pretty Dead was very similar to that of Anne Rice's Interview with a Vampire, portraying a young girl that was turned in a vampire to satisfy her masters companion desires. Life of luxury is easy to endure, unless terror and destruction follows in your wake. Over time Charlotte tires of pain and destruction and decides it is time to start new and alone. She soon settles into a life with mortals, and begins attending attending school with others that appear to be her age. When she meets Emily life begins to have a whole new outlook, and Charlotte finds unexpected companionship of her own. She learns to live vicariously through her best friend, but envy can be a dangerous thing in the hands of a monster. (Even a monster with a good heart is ultimately still a monster. ) As the reader we follow through this somber story of grief, love, and loss looking for a happy ending that Block successfully provides.

All in all in the first couple chapters separate characters in separate times narrate the story leaving the reader a little confused, but ultimately curiosity propelled me forward in the story to unravel the complex storylines. Charlotte’s character is very loveable; her compassion for those she loves captures the readers attention. William on the other hand was easily disliked, and with little knowledge of the character was effectively made into the villain. I was startled by the Emily twist in the end of the story; this thickened the plot and was an excellent shift in the story. This was my first glance at any writing from Francesca Lia Block, and I am impressed by my experience. This author is very talented as an author, and at no point was her writing predictable. She surely has the wow factor that I love in books, and I look forward to reading more for her in the future. ( )