Book Review: Team Human

[osprey_archer]

I am a great fan of Justine Larbelestier’s work and have read an awful lot of Sarah Rees Brennan’s, so when I heard that they’d written a vampire romance that was a send-up of vampire romances, I hopped across the room like a rabbit on amphetamines because, well, that is what I do.

And finally I got time to read it! And lo, it was fun! It is probably not go to blow the top off of anyone’s brain (there is a little trademark Brennan “My theme? Let me show you it! Sixteen times!”) but if you’re looking for something goofy and fun and possessed of an awesomely awesome heroine, then here you go.

I heart Mel. I want to draw little sparkly hearts around her name and join her in mocking all the vampire romance and cheer enthusiastically for her romance with *spoilers, although you will totally know who he is the moment he steps on the page.*

Mel is awesome! She fences! She does Girl Detective things! She loves her friends! Indeed, the whole plot is driven by Mel’s love of her two best friends, Cathy-who-wants-to-be-a-vampire and Anna-who-is-sadly-not-well-developed-as-a-character. Yay friends!

Also, she is blunt to the point of tactlessness, which is always a winning trait in a fictional character. When she is on not-a-date with a guy and they kiss, and he is all “My only experience with humans before is with vampire groupies who are always up for it, so, just FYI, I do not wish to have sex with you right now,” Mel says:

“When a guy assumes a girl wants to have sex with him on the second occasion they meet, we humans generally regard him as an enormous jerk! In fact, that goes for any guy assuming a girl wants to have sex with him anytime before she says. ‘Yes, sex sounds terrific!’”

OH MEL ILU. Please remain awesome forever and ever and ever!

***

Incidentally, it takes place in Maine. Why do all the supernatural things take place in Maine? Haven. Once Upon a Time. (How many episodes do I need to give that before I decide whether or not to keep going? I saw the first one. It did not blow me out of the water, but neither did I hate it.) Losing Christina, which I guess is technically not supernatural, although Ofelia of Pan’s Labyrinth and Christina could probably have some lovely heart-to-hearts.

When I was but a lass, I wanted to move to Maine. I had never been to Maine, had no relatives in Maine, and knew nothing about Maine. Possibly its supernatural aura was calling me?

Comments

[carmarthen.livejournal.com]

I also enjoyed this book, although I think I am not so neutral on the vampire/human romance. I heart Mel to pieces, though.

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

Do you mean vampire/human romance or the one in this particular book?

I did kind of side-eye the "I am seventeen years old and I am so ready to turn into a vampire to be with my vampire lover FOREVER!" However, if any seventeen-year-old could make that work, Cathy seems like a good bet, and at least she and Francis are actually nice to each other and have stuff in common other than...whatever Edward and Bella have in common.

I'm not sure vampire romance is the best vehicle for a message like "Your friends are allowed to make their own life choices," really. I mean, yes they are...but if they decide to make a really destructive life choice, surely the appropriate thing to do is to scream blue murder?

In the context of the story, becoming a vampire is not like taking meth. But it seems like a very context dependent message to me.

The submessage, "If your friends make bad life choices it is not your fault," was perhaps more fitting.

[carmarthen.livejournal.com]

Yes.

I mean, I think this was as uncreepily as it could be done with teenagers, but...that's awfully young to be choosing stasis.

I'm not sure vampire romance is the best vehicle for a message like "Your friends are allowed to make their own life choices," really. I mean, yes they are...but if they decide to make a really destructive life choice, surely the appropriate thing to do is to scream blue murder?

Yeah, that.

Overall I felt like the book attempted some interesting stuff, but didn't quite fly the way I hoped it would.

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

I think in the original review I should have phrased it "trademark Brennan 'My theme? Let me show you it! Sixteen times! And each time you will be more and more doubtful about whether the theme actually makes sense in the context of the story!"

Because really, this is how I feel about all Brennan's novels.

But I got distracted by the awesomeness of Mel.

[carmarthen.livejournal.com]

I haven't actually read any of her other books.

[goldjadeocean.livejournal.com]

Only you can decide if you want to watch more Once Upon a Time. If you want to look for things to despise, you will find them in discount bulk; if you want to look for things to love, you will find them also. However, there is no time when the sun comes out from behind the clouds and the show achieves soaring sublimeness. It always is what it began as.