Kissing Coffins

Ah, yes. Another throwback from my teen years - Kissing Coffins, the second book in the marvelous Vampire Kisses series.

Just a gentle reminder, these books are Young Adult novels with young, lovely characters who act like immature kids (because, they are YOUNG). If you're looking for a True Blood or Game of Thrones level of maturity, you've come to the wrong place.

As a teen, these books were my LIFE. They were a big part of my high school years and I was madly in love with them. I wanted to find my own Alexander and live in a big, spooky house. I idolized Raven and her style (because, let's be honest, she was my inner self). At the time, these books made so much sense - young mistakes, young love, lots of young fun! Reading them as my show more older self, obviously I wouldn't make the same decisions as Raven because I have life experience. But I believe Ellen did a really good job of making Raven feel like a real teen. Well, a real teen from my timeline.

That being said, this book is a lot of fun, full of goofiness and full of adorable romance. Alexander and Raven are a really cute couple and they really deserved the many books they got in this series. I found this series was a lot more fun to binge read then read alone. I wanted the story to keep going because I was so addicted. Not every reader has found this to be true, but I sure did! I love escaping into a YA like this series, and sinking into a fun, not totally realistic book. Did anyone really expect a vampire romance to be realistic? This series is like a vampire, soap opera for teens! It's excellent.

My biggest con for this series was at the time of my initial reading, I had to actually WAIT for the next series in the book. Oh man, was it frustrating. I'm glad I can jump back into this series as an adult and read it all in a row like I dreamed of back in the day. Other than that, I found this book to be fun and flawless! I love Ellen and her books!

Five out of five stars! show less

I enjoyed this sequel to Vampire Kisses. However, I did waver between rating it 3 or 4 stars. I liked the story itself but one character really annoyed me. Trevor just gets worse. You would think he would learn something from what happened in book 1. He learned absolutely nothing and became even more stalker like. Parents and principals would (I hope) do something about a teen that is stalking and harassing a girl publicly. Everyone sees it, so why is nothing done? He isn't even the villain in this book but he is so awful that he takes some of the spotlight from the real villain. I really hope he isn't focused on as much in book 3. I do love the sassy attitude that Raven has. She isn't some weak and whiny heroine. Instead, she is strong show more and stands up for the people she cares about. Book 3 will determine whether or not I continue this series. show less

Rispetto al precedente devo dire che la nota umoristica che l'aveva caratterizzato si è fatta sentire meno in favore, presumo, di un certo livello di azione.

Come il precedente ho apprezzato Raven, testarda ed indipendente, che ha fatto armi e bagagli per andare a trovare il suo 'vampiro' nonostante la bella scena da principe azzurro che aveva fatto abbandonandola.

E cosa ancora più sorprendente, anche quanto alla fine lui riappare sul 'gong' per salvarle la vita, lo abbraccia entusiasta senza farsi balenare per la mente il desisderio di infilzarlo con un paletto per averla mollata come una pirla nel libro precedente.

E' senza dubbio vero amore!

Ovviamente non si esisme dal punzecchiarlo quando il maggiordomo gli fa presente che, se il show more nemico era tornato, avrebbero dovuto lasciare nuovamente la città.

''Batman mi ha

già salvato dal suo nemico giurato. E stanotte lo farà per l'ultima volta.''

Superlativa.



Ottimo per passare due orette davanti al caminetto con una lettura rilassante, ma fondamentalemente un libricino per giovani, niente di più. show less

2.75
This one was better than the first; definitely higher quality in terms of a plot. The characters are improving and we are getting to know them better. I do feel that it would have been better if this and the first book were blended into one solid novel. One remaining negative from the first book is that it is still too insta-love and cheesy for me. However, since the story does appear to be getting better, I think I will continue with the series.

Goth girl Raven is back in this funny sequel to VAMPIRE KISSES. She is still trying to connect with her mysterious true love Alexander Sterling, who has disappeared from his mansion in Raven's small town, which she calls "Dullsville." Raven would like to know, among other things, if he wants to make her a vampire so she can be with him.

She learns that Jameson, Alexander's butler, placed an order for flowers from a nearby town that Raven labels "Hipsterville." Luckily her aunt lives there and she heads over for a visit during her spring break. Hipsterville offers stores specializing in Goth clothes, a Coffin Club night hotspot, and a historical society with clues about local mansions. As Raven tracks down her elusive boyfriend, she draws show more the attention of another vampire, one who also wants to find Alexander, but for dark reasons of his own. While she is enjoying fitting in with the Goth folks in Hipsterville, Raven does not want to draw Alexander into danger. But danger does follow her back to Dullsville...

In addition to piecing the mystery together, Raven tries to figure out what the future will hold for her and Alexander. She loves him but doesn't know if she wants to become a vampire like him. She knows she will always stand out from her family and her town, but will fitting in with him and his kind be the answer for her? show less

Part of Raven's charm is that she's impulsive. In search of what she instantly perceives to be the love of her life. (Can't stand insta-love!) She visits her aunt for the sole purpose of looking for her new boyfriend who has disappeared.

Raven is starting to come over as shallow and selfish. When she encounters another vampire, she quickly hops a bus for home. What is the vampire had decided to torture her aunt to find out Raven's where abouts? Either the thought never crossed her mind or she didn't care. Raven is so one dimensional we don't know what's in her head besides Alexander.

There doesn't seem to be anything deep about Raven and while she complains about being an outsider I think it's not so much about the clothing see wears as show more much as her attitude. The cute quips in some of the conversations still pop up from time to time but I don't think those few episodes will be enough to sustain this series. show less

Reviewed by Andie Z. for TeensReadToo.com

First of all, I just want to say that this is the second book in the series, picking up right where the first one left off, so it is highly suggested that KISSING COFFINS be read after VAMPIRE KISSES. Consider that your warning. Now that that's out of the way, on to the book!

Goth-girl Raven has just discovered that her boyfriend, Alexander Sterling, new to the town of "Dullsville," is an actual vampire. Unfortunately, the morning after this startling discovery, he disappears. Raven is devastated, but doesn't dare ask anyone for help for fear they will discover his secret.

She decides to take the matter into her own hands and sets off to look for clues to his whereabouts, determined to find him and show more convince him that she is perfectly fine with the fact that he is one of the undead. Her search leads her to the Mansion, where she finds a mysterious note in Alexander's bedroom that only says, "Alexander, HE IS ON HIS WAY!" She then takes a trip to nearby "Hipsterville," home of hippies, Goths, starving artists, her aunt Libby, and, hopefully, Alexander.

Following a trail of clues, she visits the Coffin Club (a popular hangout for Goths), the Hipsterville Historical Society (who knew that would be helpful?), and a deserted mansion on the outskirts of town (that's hopefully not really deserted at all).

She also meets the mysterious and slightly creepy Jagger, who offers to help her with her search. But is he just a Goth-obsessed teen like Raven, or is he the real thing? And why does he seem so interested in Alexander?

KISSING COFFINS is a fun, quick read for those looking for a vampire story without the blood and gore. However, the writing is often quite shallow, and the relationship between Raven and Alexander is never really fully developed enough for my taste. I'm not saying I didn't enjoy the book; I'm definitely looking forward to the rest of the series. show less