The Becoming (The Anna Strong Chronicles, Book 1) [Mass Market Paperback]

Jeanne C. Stein (Author)

Book Description

Release date: November 28, 2006

My name is Anna Strong. I am a vampire.

Existing between the worlds of the living and the dead, bounty hunter Anna Strong is torn by her love for two very different men. Now, as her two worlds collide, fate plunges Anna into the ultimate battle between good and evil.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Anna Strong can't face herself in the mirror—not because she left her teaching career to become a bounty hunter or because she's torn between her boyfriend and a new suitor, but because she's been turned into a reflection-deficient vampire. After being savagely attacked by one of her marks, Anna is left for dead—only to become, surprise surprise, undead. Helping her come to terms with her new, nocturnal lifestyle is an attractive doctor and vampire by the name of Grant Avery. Anna's new assignment is to find and destroy the rogue vamp that turned her and who is leaving a path of violent destruction in his wake. With plot twists, engaging characters and smart writing, this first installment in a new supernatural series has all the marks of a hit. Anna Strong lives up to her name: equally tenacious and vulnerable, she's a heroine with the charm, savvy and intelligence that fans of Laurell K. Hamilton and Kim Harrison will be happy to root for. As Anna tries to temper her new bloodlust with her lingering humanity, the trauma of her "becoming" is as compelling as the action-packed story line. If this debut novel is any indication, Stein has a fine career ahead of her. (Dec.)
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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Ace (November 28, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0441014569
• ISBN-13: 978-0441014569
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (84 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #221,125 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Hi-- I am the author of the Anna Strong Vampire Chronicles.

I have joined the ranks of so many authors who are putting stories up on Amazon. My first venture is an Anna Strong novella called Cloud City. The story takes place in Leadville, CO. I hope you'll give it a read and please, let me know what you think of it!

The ninth book in the Anna Strong series, Blond Bond, has now gone through final edits. I'm still waiting for the cover art. As soon as I get it, so will you.

My collaboration with San Diego author Samantha Sommersby is proceeding, too. We don't have a finalized cover for that one, either. But the book will be called Cursed, the first in the Fallen Siren series. It will be released under the pseudonym S. J. Harper. I am excited to announce that both Blood Bond and Cursed will be released in the fall.

If you haven't yet discovered Anna, please give her a try. If you are a returning fan, I can't tell you how much I appreciate the support. You can reach me on my website wwww.jeannestein.com. I answer every email. I also share a blog with fellow vamp writer Mario Acevedo: http://www.biting-edge.blogspot.com We have a good time with it and I think you will too. Mario and I have the dubious distinction of being a part of a rather eclectic group of Urban Fantasy writers called The League of Reluctant Adults:
http://reluctantadults.blogspot.com/ If you want a laugh, drop in anytime.

I've posted my conference schedule under the Events heading. The only thing I like more than corresponding with readers, is meeting you in person.


Thanks again for being a reader.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

89 of 95 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Not a Whole Lot of Substance. July 30, 2007

By Lindsey R. Nichols

Format:Mass Market Paperback

If anyone's thinking of reading The Becoming by Jeanne C. Stein and giving the Anna Strong series a try, may I recommend that you don't waste your time or money and just skip it. As a fantasy book, the world that Stein presents us with is rather thin and unoriginal. As a crime/paranormal type book, well... there's not really a whole lot to worry your pretty little head over. If you're just looking for a story about interesting, well-developed, realistic characters then you're not going to find that either. The main character's most dramatic reaction to being brutally raped and turned into a vampire is to become strongly annoyed that people are able to read her thoughts. In fact, not only will you encounter thin setup, plot, and characters in this novel, but any feminist notions you might have will probably be offended along the way. Our heroine, who is described as being 'wired for sex', allows herself to be seduced by her super rich and mysterious vampire mentor time and time again. Giving into the seduction isn't even described as a cognitive choice. Instead, the protagonist is simply overwhelmed with desire whenever he gets too close and immediately swoons. It's not until later on that she even thinks about her long term relationship with another man, and the fact that this supposed guide to the vampire world is probably just using her for his own means. But that's ok, I'm sure she was just exploring her crazy new vampiric senses and, after all, she is wired for sex.

By the way, for those of you just looking for a mindless, fun read about vampires and graphic sex? Go back to Hamilton, because Stein glosses right over the juicy details.

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Bland, but for the Drama October 8, 2007

By themistwalking

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Bounty hunter Anna Strong is viciously attacked one night by a skip who turns out to be a brand-new vampire. She lives to walk away, but she soon discovers that she's becoming a vampire herself. Anna then meets and greets the local vamps, flees from some not-too-skilled vampire hunters, and goes on the hunt again for the rogue who assaulted her. All the while she attempts to adjust to her new lifestyle.

The storyline itself is pretty basic. Of course, as an introductory novel to a series, the plot's lack of originality can be overlooked if the world and its characters are given free rein to develop. But, sadly, that doesn't happen. Very little is revealed about vampire society, and, for the most part, the characters seem straight out of central casting. Anna herself is still an enigma by the end of the book, and she's the narrator. But, despite the fact that the story bounces along with Anna from scene to scene, the reader isn't given much background information on her life or insight into her personality.

Unfortunately, what the characters lack in substance they make up for in melodrama. They are often agitated and overly-emotional, and that's what really killed the story for me. There are several conversations throughout the book where the characters treat the smallest slights as if they were mortal insults. Anna gets angry at her partner David, David gets angry at new guy Avery, and Avery gets angry at everybody. And the hissy fits aren't the only problem. There are raging hormones as well. Anna lusts after her vampire mentor, and he lusts after her, leading inevitably to a case of Instant Love Interest (which would have been more believable if Anna hadn't waxed poetically about her -still- current boyfriend only a few hours previously).

The over-the-top emotional states rang false to me, and that made the characters feel even LESS real. I got pulled out of the story several times because I felt like the characters were being manipulated into situations by their emotionally-driven snap-decisions. Plus, I just wanted to slap them for their pettiness and stupidity. Honestly, why would a supposedly street-smart woman move in with a man after knowing him for only 24 hours? And how could a vampire survive in secret for hundreds of years when he's so obviously emotionally unstable?

For a first book, The Becoming isn't awful, but it's not particularly memorable, either. It's a fantasy-mystery-romance hybrid, and, unfortunately, none of its parts feel complete. If the reader is looking for a supernatural mystery/thriller, there aren't enough clever plot twists and pulse-pounding scenes. If the reader is searching for urban fantasy/horror, there aren't enough fantastical elements and world-building facts. If the reader is hoping for a paranormal romance, the emotions feel forced, and the lust falls short of the mark. (Not only does Anna betray her boyfriend in the blink of an eye, the sex with the new love interest takes place off-screen.) The story left me frustrated because I was hoping for something "more," and all I got was a very light read. It didn't pique my interest to read any of Anna's further adventures.

(2.5 stars)

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars ok, but occasionally frustrating. February 2, 2008

By Madame X TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

THE BECOMING starts with a bang - as the book opens, protagonist Anna Strong is only moments away from a violent, but impermanent, death. Stein leads us through the attack, and then skips to the moment when Anna regains consciousness in the hospital. The doctor looking after her, Avery, doesn't seem to have much concern for hospital procedure - Anna has no memory of the attack, but Avery fills her in on all the gruesome details while Anna is still groggy and weak. He sends Anna home that very same day.

...Then shows up at her house later that afternoon, chipper as can be, to tell her what he couldn't before: actually, she's a vampire. He seems surprised that she hasn't already figured it out, and doesn't have any patience for her shock and disbelief. He wants to help her out, tutor her in vampire ways, but he expects her to be excited and happy about her new state pronto.

Avery is a total jerk. But he's suave and good-looking and willing to help, and Anna is completely smitten. She follows him back to his palatial home where he has a pretty easy time getting her into bed with him, despite the fact that she has a boyfriend of two years, Max.

At this point, I put THE BECOMING down. I have no patience for books about supposedly independent, kickass heroines who can't wait to fall into the arms of a big, strong man and let him solve all their problems. But this book had received so many fantastic reviews, and so many of the reviews had praised the twists and turns in Stein's plotting, that after a few days I decided I should pick the book up again and see what happens. Maybe Anna Strong would turn out to be more than just a doormat.

Well, everything I've described happens early on in the book. The plotting does have a lot of twists and turns, and I'm not going to spoil them. The problem that I had at the beginning never quite went away - either because Anna is a little stupid, or the author is a little clumsy, I'm not sure. I'm a little curious to find out what happens in subsequent books; Stein does have an interesting setup here, and if subsequent books are an improvement on the first, they could be very good. But as far as the becoming is concerned, my verdict is a great big, "MEH."