Die for Me (Revenants) [Hardcover]

Amy Plum (Author)

Book Description

Release date: May 10, 2011 | Series: Revenants

In the City of Lights, two star-crossed lovers battle a fate that is destined to tear them apart again and again for eternity.

When Kate Mercier's parents die in a tragic car accident, she leaves her life--and memories--behind to live with her grandparents in Paris. For Kate, the only way to survive her pain is escaping into the world of books and Parisian art. Until she meets Vincent.

Mysterious, charming, and devastatingly handsome, Vincent threatens to melt the ice around Kate's guarded heart with just his smile. As she begins to fall in love with Vincent, Kate discovers that he's a revenant--an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save the lives of others. Vincent and those like him are bound in a centuries-old war against a group of evil revenants who exist only to murder and betray. Kate soon realizes that if she follows her heart, she may never be safe again.

In this incandescent debut, newcomer Amy Plum has created a powerful paranormal mythology with immortal revenants. The Paris setting comes enchantingly alive as a relentless struggle between good and evil takes place in its streets. Rich with romance, atmosphere, and thrills, Die for Me will leave readers breathlessly awaiting its sequel.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I devoured this lush, mysterious romance, which delivers a refreshingly human heroine alongside a hero truly deserving of the title." --Aprilynne Pike, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Wings series.

“I devoured this lush, mysterious romance, which delivers a refreshingly human heroine alongside a hero truly deserving of the title.” (Aprilynne Pike, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Wings series )

“Action and drama abound. Plum has done an excellent job of setting up the rules for her creations and following them closely. Fans of this genre will have their appetites reignited by this new addition.” (School Library Journal (starred review) )

“Move over, Bella and Edward. Plum introduces a world and a story that are sure to intrigue teen readers and will easily attract fans of the Twilight series.” (Booklist )

“The lush Parisian setting and gorgeous characters make this an immersing, franchise-ready story.” (Publishers Weekly )

“Plum’s debut is the perfect combo of romance and thrills, with heart-pumping action that will make you jump and love that will make you cry out for joy. You’ll hang on every word, reading late into the night, waiting to find out what’s next.” (Romantic Times )

“Intense romance, action-packed adventure, filled with danger and uncertainty.” (New York Journal of Books )

From the Inside Flap

MY LIFE HAD ALWAYS BEEN BLISSFULLY, WONDERFULLY NORMAL. BUT IT ONLY TOOK ONE MOMENT TO CHANGE EVERYTHING.

Suddenly, my sister, Georgia, and I were orphans. We put our lives into storage and moved to Paris to live with my grandparents. And I knew my shattered heart, my shattered life, would never feel normal again. Then I met Vincent.

Mysterious, sexy, and unnervingly charming, Vincent Delacroix appeared out of nowhere and swept me off my feet.  Just like that, I was in danger of losing my heart all over again. But I was ready to let it happen.

Of course, nothing is ever that easy. Because Vincent is no normal human. He has a terrifying destiny, one that puts his life at risk every day. He also has enemies...immortal, murderous enemies who are determined to destroy him and all of his kind.

While I'm fighting to piece together the remnants of my life, can I risk putting my heart--as well as my life and my family's--in jeopardy for a chance at love?

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: HarperTeen; First Edition edition (May 10, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062004018
• ISBN-13: 978-0062004017
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 6.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (377 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #110,667 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Amy Plum is the author of the International Bestsellers DIE FOR ME (Indie Next List pick, Romance Times top pick, and recipient of a starred review from School Library Journal), UNTIL I DIE, and IF I SHOULD DIE. The trilogy is accompanied by an eNovella entitled DIE FOR HER, told from another character's point of view.

Amy grew up in Birmingham, Alabama before venturing further afield to Chicago, Paris, London and New York. An art historian by training, she can be found on most days either daydreaming or writing (or both) in a Parisian café. Visit her at http://www.amyplumbooks.com and check out http://www.youtube.com/user/revenantcentral for videos and extras.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 50 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Must Read Paranormal May 14, 2011

By Alison

Format:Hardcover

There are a million and one paranormal romances out there. What makes a particular book stand out from the crowded genre of overdone supernatural creatures and trite romances? I don't think there is one answer for this. I think it depends upon what each reader looks for in a book. What I do know, is that Die For Me has now leaped to the top of the list of post-Twilight paranormal romances (excepting epic books like Vampire Academy and The Mortal Instruments). If you could write out a formula for what I look for in a paranormal romance book, Die For Me would be sitting next to the equal symbol.

What exactly does Die For Me have going for it?

1. Setting: Oooh...Paris. I've only spent 3 days in Paris, but I definitely want to spend more. The Paris in Die For Me is both mysterious and romantic. You have peaceful cafes (as long as nothing is falling from the sky), parks, the Seine, ornate architecture, dark clubs, dangerous catacombs - the contradiction of dark and light that is Paris.

2. Writing: I like books that are well-written. No surprise there. Who would say anything otherwise? As nice as it is to read books of literary quality, for paranormal romance, I'm looking for a balance. I like books that have richly described settings, characters, and mythology backgrounds, but the descriptions of which don't drag the book down. Die For Me does this perfectly. I got a strong impression of Kate and Vincent's world, but the writing was smooth and easy to read. I could lose myself in the plot instead of focusing on the intricacies of the prose.

3. Pacing: This is a subset of writing, but I thought it merited its own discussion. So often paranormals take forever to get going and then have heart-stopping action that has you flipping pages to get to the end.... This isn't a bad thing, but often it feels like a chore. Like having to lick a Tootsie Pop a million times until you finally get to the candy. Die For Me had great pacing. It took awhile for the paranormal element to unfold, but the beginning plot and character development were interesting enough that I never felt like I was trudging through the novel. It got very tense toward the end, but wasn't such a page-turner that I wasn't able to slow down and enjoy myself. Well done.

4. Paranormal Element: There are only so many supernatural creatures to choose from if you're going to stick to traditional legends. Vampires, werewolves, demons, fairies, angels, shape-shifters, ghosts, zombies. Die For Me borrows from traditional paranormal elements, but manages to be unique. The revenants are not ghosts nor are they zombies. They are creatures who are immortal yet die and die again. I've never read anything like it. So refreshing to read something new.

5. Romance: Die For Me does have the other-worldly romance that I often dislike in YA novels. They don't fall instantly in love, but there is an immediate connection. I still fell in love with Kate and Vincent romance. The book occurs over a long enough time span that they actually have time to go on a few dates before being ready to die for each other. Vincent is such a good guy. A mixture of reserve, bravery, kindness, intelligence, and passion that fits my formula for a romantic hero. And good looks of course.

6. Supporting Characters: This is the big one for me. It's what really made Die For Me shine. The story isn't just about Kate and Vincent. There are numerous supporting characters all of whom have well-described, distinct personalities and play important roles in the story. Vincent's fellow revenants are not blood relatives, but they are a family for all intents and purposes. I loved funny Ambrose, boastful Jules, Alice Cullen-like Charlotte, nervous Gaspard, prickly Charles, patriarch Jean-Baptiste, and motherly Jeanne. I felt like a book could easily be written about each character. Much like the Cullens. Of course, you also have Kate's family: Georgia, Mamie, and Papy, but the revenant family was the what I most enjoyed.

Die For Me is not a perfect book. You could argue the romance is nothing new (although I liked it). I also thought it was odd that Kate was grieving her parents' deaths at the beginning of the book, but that theme practically disappeared as the book went on. No problem...no book is flawless. Die For Me had everything I want in a paranormal and for that reason, I can't recommend it enough.

Rating: 5 / 5 Read more ›

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing Change August 5, 2011

By Book Worm

Format:Hardcover

This book has been compared to Twilight, but even though I do see a few similarities, this story is better in my opinion. Yes, Vincent is "undead" like Edward in Twilight, but he isn't a vampire. He is something totally different and unexpected. I'll let the book explain exactly what Vincent and his kindred are and what they can do. But for this I have to give this book bonus points for creativeness. In a sea of paranormal romances about vampire, werewolves, witches etc., this book is a refreshing change. The setting for this book is Paris, which is also another refreshing change. The characters and the city both came to life for me. This is a romantic story and I felt for Kate and Vincent. My only complaint is that at times the misunderstandings between Kate and Vincent felt a bit contrived and I rolled my eyes a few times. But for the most part this is a romantic, exciting, and oh so intriguing story. If you like young adult, paranormal romances, you will likely enjoy this one.

61 of 76 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Dude, Twilight Much? May 13, 2011

By Nina

Format:Hardcover

We don't need to see the Edward/Bella romance over and over and over again. Seriously. We've already seen it. It was called Twilight. They even made a movie about it. We don't need to see Bella with fallen angels and we don't need to see Bella with zombies. Especially when the fallen angels and zombies are carbon copies of Edward.

Does Vincent have godlike good looks? Check. An aura of danger? Check. Is he a virgin immortal? Check. Has he lived without love for decades? Check. Does he fall in love with our heroine for no apparent reason? Check. Is he a stalker? Check. Doesn't sleep? Check. Has a "family" of other immortals, including a Manic Pixie Dream Girl who becomes the heroine's best friend (Alice/Charlotte), one who resents the heroine and isn't thrilled with their immortal existence (Rosalie/Charles), an older figure who mentors/protects (Carlisle/Jean-Baptiste), an irreverent extrovert (Emmett/Jules), and one who trains the others in battle techniques (Jasper/Gaspard)? Check.

Is Kate an introvert? Check. Has she moved away from home? Check. Does she fall in love with the hero because of his looks? Check. Does she rhapsodize constantly about how gorgeous he is? Check. Does she sound more like a forty year old woman than a sixteen year old girl? Check. Does she have any interests outside reading? In a wild fit of originality, the author does give Kate another hobby: sitting around in museums staring at paintings until she goes into an art trance. Luckily, since that hobby is a Mary Sue author intrusion (Amy Plum is an art historian) and in no way resembles something an actual teenager would do, Kate's still on track to grow up and be Bella.

Kate doesn't understand what Vincent sees in her. Sound familiar?... This insecurity is based on the fact that he's the handsomest handsome of all the handsomes there are. Sound familiar? She has a "special" ability most humans don't have. Sound familiar? She fits in great with the immortal "family", most of whom adore her. Sound familiar? She and Vincent have chaste sleepovers. Sound familiar? He's all she thinks about. Sound familiar? He slows her down sexually. Sound familiar? Vincent thinks he should leave her alone for her own good, but is an empty shell without her. Sound familiar? The plot consists of Kate and Vincent falling in love, smooching, and talking endlessly about their relationship until a rushed and predictable action sequence at the very end. Sound familiar? The villain gets to Kate through a family member. Sound familiar?

He's sooooooo good-looking. Sound familiar? You wouldn't believe how good-looking he is. Sound familiar? That Vincent sure is one good-looking dude. Sound familiar?

Vincent is perfect. Sound familiar?

Obsessive love. Obsessive love. Obsessive love.

Sound familiar?

I'm making a plea to all the authors out there. Please do something original. Please. Is your creativity so MIA that you can't create a fresh love story, believably flawed characters, and a plot we haven't seen five thousand times before? Bonus points if you create a villain who's not a cartoon.

I'll say this about Stephenie Meyer: she explored the whole obsessive teen love thing THOROUGHLY. She used hundreds and hundreds of pages to do this trope, so YOU don't have to replicate it. Do your own thing. Give us a love story that surprises and delights.

Give us something we haven't seen before. Read more ›

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Die For Me Review October 2, 2011

By YA Bookie Monster

Format:Hardcover

With a beautiful french atmosphere and setting, a lovely and intimate romance and, well, lots of hot boys (of course!), Die For Me was just my type of book and a fabulous debut from author Amy Plum!

One of my favourite aspects of this book was the fact that it took place in France and I felt like Amy Plum did an great job at capturing the stunning beauty and rich setting of the country. Having had the pleasure of being able to travel to France myself, I can honestly say that it's as beautiful and romantic as it is depicted in this novel. It was really such a joy to get to revisit such a beautiful country through Die For Me!

I thought that Kate, the main character, was so sweet. She had quite a hard time dealing with the death of her parents and her move to France, as I'm sure anyone would, but I really loved watching her start to open up again as she fell in love with Vincent and was once again able to find happiness. I also liked the fact that Kate loved to read and spend time in museums looking at art, I was able to see myself in those aspects of her, and that I really liked the fact that I could relate to her that way. During the course of Vincent and Kate's relationship, there were quite a few bumps and one thing that I didn't really like about Kate was the fact that during some of the hard times in their relationship, she kind of isolated herself from everyone and I didn't think that that was the best decision that she could have made. Despite that, I felt like she was such a smart girl and a great character!

Vincent was such gentlemen and I really enjoyed reading about him. We got to learn about his history and I really liked that part of the book.... I thought that it gave us a really glimpse into his character, the reasons behind some of his actions and how he became the man that he is. Getting to know a character's past is something that I really enjoy in a book because it always gives me such a deeper understanding of that character. Some of Vincent's many other traits that I really liked were that he was kind and romantic, selfless, and loving. I think that these are all great qualities that a character can posess and I was really glad that I found them in Vincent.

I really liked Amy Plum's writing and I felt that it read quite smoothly. I also like that she was able to fit some humour in Die For Me because I love it when a book can make me laugh. As I mentioned before, the beautiful setting of France was well captured in Die For Me through Amy's writing, which added so much to an already awesome book!

I really loved Die For Me and would definitely recommend picking up a copy and reading it for yourself! It was unique, had a lovely cast of characters and a rich french atmosphere! You can be sure that I'll be eagerly awaiting the sequel to this awesome debut, as I'm sure you will be too once you've read it! Read more ›