Jeff Sampson

This was one of those books that I chose randomly from my reading pile, devoured in one sitting, then sat there staring at the novel for a while longer.. just thirsting for more. It's kind of like when you watch the season finale of your favorite TV show. They give you an ending, but they leave enough unanswered questions to keep you hooked for the next season. That's how this was. I read it, was perfectly satisfied with the ending because it ended at a good spot - but that didn't stop me show more from going, "Well, what's next? I want to know ... NOW!" I felt like Veruca Salt... I wanted to stomp over to my parents' house and scream, "Daddy, I want the second Deviants novel and I want it now," in a completely horrible fake English accent.

Well played, Sampson.

In all seriousness, I did love this novel. The interrogation transcripts placed between some of the chapters left you guessing about what was happening just as much as Emily's actions kept you guessing. It's a little confusing, but by the end it wraps up nicely. That's the easiest way for an author to win my heart with their novel: keep me guessing until the end! I don't like figuring things out too soon in the book... it makes the novel fall flat for me.

Emily, oh Emily. I loved her willingness to accept her geekdom. She was completely wonderful and all of the pop culture references made me nerd out right along with her throughout the book. Actually, I was probably nerding out a little more. I tend to do that. She was also a strong character and didn't go completely head-over-heels for the romantic interest and spend the rest of book talking about how gloriously perfect he was. This also won me over - have a love interest, but don't make that the whole story! The other characters were pretty spiffy too, though the two characters that caught my eyes the most (Spencer and Amy) didn't take the spotlight as much as I'd like. For the story, you get enough of each character. For the series? I need more. Lots more! ;) And the twists on a certain friendship and romantic interest? My head was spinning because I did NOT see either coming. At all.

Alright, so I'm sure that you've probably figured out that I'm in love with this book. I will sing its praises from the highest mountain tops.. well, if I could. The best way I can do this book justice is to just tell you that if you want a great YA paranormal read, you'll want to pick up this book. This is Jeff's debut novel and he definitely does not disappoint! show less

Emily Webb prefers wearing baggy clothes to hide her figure, watching Buffy or reading to going to parties, but as we're introduced to her, she's trying to sneak out of her room --only she doesn't know why. It's a call from Emily's best friend Megan Reed, Reedy, that startles her back to reality during her sneaking out--a call telling her that Emily Cooke, the 'other' Emily at school has been murdered.

Having a girl murdered just a few streets a way is soon not the strangest (or scariest) show more thing for Emily W., however. Every night after Emily C's death she finds herself a stronger Emily, no longer needing her glasses, and wanting to sneak out of her house in sexy clothing (borrowed from her stepsister)--all things she'd never have dreamed of doing just days earlier.

Referring to her wilder self as 'Nighttime Emily,' Emily W begins to wonder if she's being possessed by the recently murdered Emily C. As Nighttime Emily puts her in more dangerous situations and more students at her high school are shot, Emily knows she needs to figure out what's happening to her. She also needs to find out why, ever time she's 'Nightime Emily' she goes searching for a boy with a certain scent . . . almost as if she's needs to find them

Vesper is a really unique book. While it is a werewolf book--or the start to a werewolf series, it's a lot more about a girl uncovering what's happening to her and around her than werewolves. In fact, there's not actually a lot of werewolveyness in Vesper at all, but I think it's likely that there will be more in the latter books. This book was more of a mystery with Emily trying to figure out why she was turning into a different person every night, someone so unlike herself and finding a way to manage that new self.

I would have liked to have more of the story to know where this was going but since there's not more of it out just yet I guess I'll just have to wait and see where Vesper, Emily, and the 'Deviants' take things. Vesper's definitely a book that would have me picking up the next book in the series if it was available. If you don't like first books in series that are almost like introductions, I would suggest you wait until, at least, there is a release date for Book 2 in this series.

I did enjoy that Emily wasn't an extreme character. She wasn't the one always getting teased, she wasn't the super popular girl, she wasn't terribly awkward . . . yes, she was a geek who liked her sci-fi stuff and wasn't comfortable with her physical appearance, but she was really just, well, average. She was anybody in that sense.

The transcripts of Emily Webb's interrogations with someone from the Vesper Company being included made things almost suspenseful. You knew something was going to happen to Emily--something worthy of her being questioned about--you just had to get to it. After reading the book and knowing why she was being questioned and what all she uncovered, I'm really looking forward to more in this series and seeing just how things do develop.

This is a book that keeps you reading--not necessarily one that keeps you having to know just exactly what will happen in the next instant, but still one that keeps you reading until the end and I can only see it getting better. show less

This is the third, and final, book in the Deviants series by Sampson. This was by far the strangest book of the three, it was still very engaging and very readable. I’ve enjoyed the interesting mesh of paranormal, aliens, and genetic engineering that takes place in this series.

Emily is the leader of the pack of Vespers who can now morph into their hybrid state which combines the best of their normal state, nighttime state, and werewolf personalities. In the last book parts of the puzzle show more as to how Emily and her pack were made like this were solved...this book looks at the why. Emily and crew have to figure out why their parents let BioZenith mutate them. She also needs to find a way to destroy BioZentih before the Shadowmen can start taking over.

This book gets a bit crazy. We find out things about other dimensions, high intelligence alien lifeforms, and there is even a bit of cult worship in here. The story is getting a bit convoluted and out there for me; at times it feels kind of contrived. Still it is a creative story and there are a number of twists and turns that keep the reader guessing.

Emily continues to be a character that is easy to engage with and entertaining to read about. The interactions between her and Spencer are sweet and respectful. I love watching them navigate their way through a relationship with all of the crazy complications they face.

In this book Emily and her fellow Deviants team up with the telekinetic cheerleaders to take on the BioZentith corporation. There are a number of unexpected twists and turns throughout the story and many crazy truths are revealed.

As with previous books in this series the book was very engaging and easy to read. I enjoyed the fast pace and the unexpected twists and turns the story took. The story is mostly a mystery that turns into a battle to save humanity from evil aliens.

The series wraps up in a way that isn’t super surprising but does an excellent job of tying up everything. Fans of the series should be pleased.

Overall this was a decent close to this series. I enjoyed the creative and different take on werewolves, but at times all the crazy twists and turns felt a bit contrived. I did really enjoy the fast pace of the book and the easy to engage with characters. This whole series is recommended to those who like action packed paranormal books featuring werewolves. show less

VESPER, by Jeff Sampson, exceeded my expectations in more ways then one. What I thought was going to be a mystery story turned into a supernatural thriller that made me want more (more! more!).

I connected so well with the MC, Emily. She is in one of those 'in between' groups in high school (where I comfortable set myself long ago). She has one really great and loyal friend who tells it like it is. The book started off with a bang when Emily mentally transforms into a boy-lusting hottie. I show more was immediately intrigued and each subsequent day of her changes made my heart pount in anticipation of what she would do next.

Emily is the type of character that I love to read. She is smart, hilarious, and down to earth. By day she is quite introverted, but by night she is wild and crazy. All rational explainations were thrown by the wayside when she changed. One scene with sleeping pills had me litterally laughing out loud. Emily turned all of her strange thoughts completetely rational.

The plot was very unique as well. I enjoyed unraveling the mystery of what was happening to Emily in relation to the shootings that were taking place in her town. Sampson really knows how to reel you into the story and not let go. I am (not so)patiently waiting for the next book and more adventure for Emily and the other 'deviants'. show less